Glass Rook Jll/\/lf CENTENNIAL. A H SETTLEMENT, FORMATION AND PROGRESS DAUPHIN COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA, FROM 1785 TO 1876, >RE?ARJ-jD under the direction of the commissioners of said county, BY GEORGE H. MORGAN, of Harrisburg. HARRISBURG, PA TELEGRAPH STEAM BOOK AND JOB PRINTING HOUSE 1877. TO THE READER. The Commissioners of Dauphin county requested the "Dauphin County Historical Society" to superintend the publication of this Centennial State- ment, respecting the settlement and progress of the county from its forma- tion in 178.5 to the year just closing. The committee appointed for the pur- pose on behalf of the Society, complied with the request of the Commission- ers and have carefully examined and read the work; in portions of it deter- mining many questions in the orthography of proper names; adding a few in- cidents, which it was supposed would be interesting; scrutinizing with some care dates, changing some from those heretofore accepted: in every instance with the intention to make the work a safe reference. In the style of compo- sition and arrangement of material, very slight alteration has been made. Upon perusal the reader will observe that from the necessity of con- densation and arrangement as to bidk, a detailed history of the county could not be expected. This work, therefore, does not profess to be that, but the material brought into form here, and in the very valuable preparation of town- ship maps up to 1848, their publication in 1864, are acts so commendable and useful, that great praise is due those who conducted the affairs of the county in 1848 — in 18G4 — in 187(5, for the contributions they have made toward a com- plete history of Dauphin county. The County Commissioners of these dates were : 1848 — John Shell, Jacob D. Hoffman, Henry Pefffk. 1864 — George Garverick, John J. Milleisen, Robert McCluhk. 1876— Samuel McIlhenny, Eli Swab, Samuel Boyd Martin. Harrisburg, December 30, 1876. Historical Sketch of Dauphin County PRELIMINARY REMARKS. A stranger who peruses a map of Pennsylvania will see towards its south-eastern side a darkly-shaded section ex- tending almost over the entire limits of Dauphin county, indicating, as he believes, a region of mountains and rocks. He turns his eye from it satisfied that this is one of the waste places of the State, affording nothing pleasant for the residence of men. He examines much more complacently a map of the coast and the navigable streams. But let the stranger leave the map and make a personal inspection ! He will find the mountains which he anticipated; but he will find streams also. He will find, too, that some of the first contain inexhaustible beds of the purest anthracite coal in the world, while the latter afford water-power for innumerable mills. He will find the forests also, or the verdant hill-sides where forests have been. He will see valleys rich in agricultural products ; thrifty towns and villages, and breathe an atmosphere of health and buoyancy of which the dwellers in large cities and on the plains know little. Let him come and we will show him a yeomanry well fitted to sustain the in- stitutions of a free country — living, moving men; but more than this, we will point out to him, where among these hills were born or reared, or now reoose in the grave, men of whom he has read and heard ; whose names have gone into their country's history, or who are now almost everywhere giving an honorable name to the county of Dauphin, and doing service to our State and nation. 2 6 Historical Sketch of Dauphin County. The extensive and fertile plains of the West may yield richer harvests than we can reap ; the sunny South may relieve the planter from the' toil experienced by a North- ern farmer; and the golden regions of California may sooner fill the pockets with the precious metals — and all this may stand in strong contrast with our rough hill- land. But the distinguishing traits of a mountain country are not there to give sublimity to the landscape, fragrance and health to the atmosphere, and energy and enterprise to mind and character. OUR INDIAN PREDECESSORS. The Indian tribes who dwelt among the primitive for- ests of Pennsylvania on the first settlement of Europeans, called themselves the Leni Lenape, or original people. This general name comprehended numerous distinct tribes, all speaking dialects of a common language and uniting around the same great council fire. Their grand council house, to use their own expressive figure, ex- tended from the Hudson river on the northeast, to the Potomac river on the southwest. Many of the tribes were directly descended from the common stock; others having sought their sympathy and protection had been alloted a section of their territory. The surrounding tribes, not of their confederacy, nor acknowledging alle- giance to it, agreed in awarding them the honor of being grand-fathers — that is the oldest residents in the region. The Leni Lenape were divided into three principal divisions — the Unamis, or Turtle tribes, the Unalachtgos, or Turkeys, and the Monseys or Wolf tribes. The two former occupied the country along the coast between the sea and the Kittatinny or Blue mountains, their settle- ments extending as far east as the Hudson and as far west as the Potomac. These were generally known among Historical Sketch of Dauphin County. 7 the whites as the Delaware Indians. The Monseys, or Wolf tribes, the most active and warlike of the whole, oc- cupied the mountainous country between the Kittatinny mountain and the sources of the Susquehanna and the Delaware rivers, kindling their council fire on the Minni- sink flats on the Delaware above the Water Gap. A part of the tribe also dwelt on the Susquehanna "in the Kitta- tinny and Cumberland valleys," under the more imme- diate protection of the Susquehanna Indians, and were called by them nephews, in common with the Mohicans. But by whatever tribal appellation our Indian prede- cessors were known, it is certain they found but few spots in the interior of the county which invited their fixed abode. Their settlements were chiefly confined to the alluvial flats along the Susquehanna, below or to some of the larger islands in that river. There were Indian villages on Duncan's Island, one on the present site of Millersburg, one at the mouth of Paxton creek, and another a short distance north of it. On the Cumberland county side of the river there was one at the mouth of the Conedogwinet, another on the high limestone bluff op- posite Harrisburg, and a third at the mouth of the Yellow Breeches creek. This latter was a Shawanese town. It was for many years the fixed landing place of Peter Chartier, an Indian agent, and an individual of some notoriety. He owned at one time six hundred acres of land bounded by Yellow Breeches creek and the Susquehanna river, embracing the present site of New Cumberland. Chartier subsequently removed to the Allegheny river, about 40 miles above Pittsburg, at what was called Old Town or Chartier's Old Town. He subse- quently proved treacherous to the English and joined the French. The village at Peixtan was visited as early as 1707 by John Evans, Lieutenant Governor of the 8 Historical Sketch of Dauphin County. Province, accompanied by Mr. Gray, Messrs. John French, William Tonge, Michael Bezaiilon, and four servants. Their object, as we learn from the Colonial Records, was the arrest of Jean Nicole, a French trader, "against whom great complaints had been made to the Governor." It was a dangerous enterprise — for Nicole was a favorite with the young men of the village — and it was only by strategy that the Governor and his party succeeded in making the arrest. The Indian village on Duncan's Island was visited by the missionary David Brainard as late as 1 745, an inter- esting account of which is given in his published bio- graphy. Twenty years ago remains of these villages, in the shape of stone arrow heads, hatchets, and broken pieces of pottery were frequently turned up by the plough-share on Duncan's Island, and on the flat ground near the mouth of Paxton creek. There are other re- mains preserved in the archives of the State in the shape of quit-claim deeds, of the Indians' titles to their lands. These are signed with uncouth marks, and names unspeakable, and executed with all the solemnity of legal form. This brings us to the purchase, from the Indians, of the land now comprising the county of Dauphin. Prior to Penn's arrival, he had instructed "William Markham, his deputy Governor, then in Pennsylvania, to hold treaties with the Indians to procure their lands peaceably. Markham, a short time previously held such a treaty July 15, 1682, for some lands on the Delaware river. Penn held similar treaties ; and before his return to England in 1 684 he adopted measures to "purchase the lands on the Susquehanna from the Five Nations, who Historical Sketch of Dauphin County. 9 pretended a right to them, having conquered the people finally settled there." The Five Nations resided on the head waters of the Susquehanna. The three divisions of the Leni Lenape already noticed, were again divided into various subordinate clans, who as- sumed names suited to their character or situation. Thus the tribe who occupied the territory along a greater portion of the valley of the Susquehanna styled themselves the "Susquehannas." The next nearest distinctive tribe men- tioned is that of the "Conestogas," who occupied the val- ley south of the Conewago hills. The early settlers and provincial authorities, however, styled those who dwelt here simply the "Indians at Paxtang," or "Paxtang In- dians." These in part consisted of the Shawanese — a restless and ferocious tribe who having been threatened with ex- termination by a more powerful tribe at the South, sought protection among the friendly nations of the North, whose lancniap'e was observed to bear a remarkable affin- ity to their own. The greater part of them settled on the Ohio, and the rest on the Susquehanna. Those from Georgia and Carolina came into the province of Pennsyl- vania about the year 1 689, and settled first by the con- sent of the Susquehanna Indians and William Penn, on the flats of Conestoga; but afterwards consented to leave Conestoga and settled principally in New York ; and Penn's time being too much engrossed to visit them per- sonally, he engaged Thomas Dungan, Governor of New York, to make the purchase of "all that tract of land ly- ing on both sides of the river Susquehanna and the lakes adjacent, in or near the province of Pennsylvania." Dun- gan effected the purchase and conveyed the same to Wil- liam Penn, January 13, 1696, in consideration of one hundred pounds sterling. io Historical Sketch of 'Dauphin County. The above purchase was from Indians who only "pre- tended" a right to the ground , and to show how careful Penn was to do justice in the premises, he made the fol- lowing treaty with the Indians who occupied the soil : "September 13, 1700: Widagh and Andaggy-junguah, kings or sachems of the Susquehanna Indians, and of the river under that name, and lands lying on both sides thereof, deed to William Penn for all the said river Sus- quehanna and all the islands therein, and all the lands situate, lying and being on both sides of the said river, and next adjoining the same to the utmost confines of the lands which are or formerly were, the right of the people or nation called the Susquehanna Indians, or by what name soever they were called, as fully and amply as we or any of our ancestors have, could, might or ought to have had, held or enjoyed, and also confirm the bargain and sale of said lands made unto Col. Thomas Dungan, now Earl of Limerick and formerly Governor of New York, whose deed of sale to said Gov. Penn we have seen." The Conestoga Indians, however, would not recognize the validity of this sale, believing that the Five Nations had no proper authority to transfer their possessions. To secure the lands conveyed to him by Dungan, Penn subsequently entered into articles of agreement with the Conestoga, Susquehanna and Potomac Indians, and the Dungan, Widagh and Andaggy-junguah deeds were confirmed. Notwithstanding all these sales and transfers, the lands on the west, side of the Susquehanna were still claimed by the Indians, for the words in the deed of 1 700 were considered inconsistent with an extensive Western pur- chase ; beside the Indians of the Five Nations still con- tinued to claim a right to the river and the adjoining lands. Finally, the sachems or chiefs with all the others of the Five Nations met in the summer of 1 736 at a great Historical Sketch of Dauphin County. 1 1 council in the country of the Onondagoes in New York, and appointed a deputation of sachems or chiefs, with plenary powers to repair to Philadelphia and there among other things, settle and adjust all demands and claims con- nected with the Susquehanna and adjoining lands. On their arrival at Philadelphia they renewed old treaties of friendship, and on the 1 1 th of October, 1 736, made a deed to John, Thomas and Richard Penn, their heirs, successors and assigns. The deed was signed by twenty-three In- dian chiefs of the Onondago, Seneca, Oneida and Tus- carora nations, granting the Penns "all the said river Sus- quehanna, with the lands lying on both sides thereof to extend eastward as far as the heads of the branches or springs which run into the said Susquehanna, and all the lands lying on the west side of the said river to the set- ting of the sun, and to extend from the mouth of the said river northward, up the same to the hills or mountains called in the language of said nations Tayamentasachta i and by the Delaware Indians the Kekachtannin hills." Thus were the claims of the Indians relinquished to the proprietaries of all the land that lies in the present limits of Dauphin county, except that portion north of the Kit- tatinny or Blue mountain, five miles above Harrisburg. That portion above the Kittatinny mountain was pur- chased, including a large tract of country, in 1749. 12 Historical Sketch of Dauphin County. FIRST SETTLEMENT OF THE COUNTY. The first permanent settlers in the territory now form- ing the county of Dauphin were Scotch-Irish — an enter- prising and daring race, who for many years defended the frontiers against the Indians, and were conspicuous in many of the sanguinary scenes of border warfare. The term Scotch-Irish is used to designate a numerous and honorable people, who immigrated to the Province of Pennsylvania at an early date. A distinguished jurist of western Pennsylvania, de- scribes the race, and how this distinctive appellation came to be applied to this class of early settlers in Pennsyl- vania : "The class of people to whom we give the appellative Scotch-Irish, are very different from the Irish. Neither are they Gaelic, nor a cross of the two races. Not a drop of Gaelic or Milessan blood lurks in their veins. They are as distinct to-day as they were 250 years ago; hav- ing maintained their Scotch lineage unalloyed. * * * As a race, they are only denizens of Ireland, to which they were transplanted from Scotland. * * * More- over, the early Scotch colonists were a select stock. Many of them, though not lords, were lairds, and the bulk of them were men of grit, enterprize and above the average intelligence." This emigration to Ulster, Ireland, began in 1636, was continued under the first Charles, 1642 — was increased in 1662; and under Anne, 1701, the migration to Penn- sylvania commenced, which in 1729, had grown to such proportions as to alarm the proprietary officials, particu- Historical Sketch of' Dauphin County. 13 larly as the emigrants settled on the "best lands," com- monly without consulting- any of the provincial authorities. These Scotch-Irish and their descendants gave to the country some of the best soldiers of the revolution, and the institutions and industries they brought with them, are with us until this day. The first of these that immigrated to this country set- tled near or about the disputed lines between Pennsylva- nia and Maryland. Large numbers settled in Donegal township, Lancaster county, either prior to or soon after the origination of that township in 1722. Among these were Semples, Pattersons, Scotts, Mitchells, Hendricks, Speers, Galbreaths, Andersons, Lowreys, Boyds, Alexan- ders, Macfarlanes, Pedans, Porters, Sterrits, Kerrs, Works, Lytles, Whitehills, Campbells, Moors, Smiths, M'Ewens, Ramsays, Gibsons, Cotters, M'Intyres, Cooks, Howards, Clarks, M'Clellans, Clendenins, Brackans, Wilsons, Alli- sons, Halls, Stuarts, Thompsons, Hughs, Linns, Browns, Collins, Andrews, Forsters, Banes, M'Conkeys, Caro- thers, M'Clures, Marchets, Pattons, Potts, Reas, Fultons, M'Collocks, Brewers, Kellys, and Walkers. From Donegal the Scotch-Irish extended their settle- ments into Paxton, Derry, Londonderry, Lebanon and Hanover townships, Lancaster county, (now Dauphin and part of Lebanon.) It is impossible to determine with any degree of accu- racy the name of the first permanent white settler, or the date of his settlement, in the territory now comprising Dauphin county. The claims of the Indians were not re- linquished to the land south of the Blue mountain until 1736; yet it is certain that surveys were actually made by the Governors of Pennsylvania and Maryland, and settle- ments made in the Kittatinny and Cumberland valleys 14 Historical Sketch of Dauphin County. as early as 1 73 1 . These settlements, however, were made by permission of the Indians, whom the first set- tlers conciliated. The credit of being the pioneer settler is generally awarded to John Harris, a native of York- shire, England, who in his capacity as an Indian trader is said to have located on the present site of the city of Harrisburg, "about the year 171 7." His first warrant for land, however, is dated January 1, 1726. We shall allude more at length to Mr. Harris in our description of the city of Harrisburg. The permanent settlers, cotemporary with Harris, were the Chambers family — James, Robert, Joseph and Benjamin — natives of Antrim, Ireland — who in 1726 took up land and built a mill at the mouth of Fishing creek, now known as Fort Hunter. A few years later they re- moved up the Cumberland valley, and became quite conspicuous characters in the early annals of that region. Col. Benjamin Chambers laid out the town of Chambers- burg. Perhaps as early a settler as either of those was Peter Allen, whose house yet stands in excellent preservation, where it did on the ninth of June, 1729, when the "Town- ship of Peshtank, Beginning at the mouth of Swatara, thence up the river to Kohtohtoning [Kittatinny] hill, above Peter Allen's, thence Eastward," &c, was formed by the authorities of Lancaster county. To erect a stone house in 1876 takes some time, it may therefore be fairly inferred, that Allen's house must have been erected before 1729; its owner probably the first perma- nent white settler north of Paxton creek — and certainly, this particular house is the oldest building in Dauphin county. Historical Sketch of Dauphin County. 15 There appears to have been an extensive body of set- tlers in parts of the townships of Derry, Hanover and Paxton in 1726, as Presbyterian churches existed in each of those townships soon after that period. The earliest list of taxables we have been able to se- sure is that of 1725 — prior to the formation of Lancaster county and of the townships of Paxtang and Derry. It is a portion of Donegal township, Chester county. These names are as follows: James Letort, Jonas Davenport, George Stewart, Esq., Rowland Chambers, John Allison, Thomas Mitchell, James Conik, David M'Cure, James Smith, William Brains, Ephraim Moor, Samuel Fulton, Patrick Campbell, John Harris, Thomas Wilkins, Robert Middlcton, William Wilkins, Peter Allen, James Galbraith, John Galbraith, Andrew Galbraith, John Mitchell, Richard Allison, James Kile, James Cunningham, Widow Downing, James Brownlee, William Hay, James Rody, Hugh White, Thomas Black, John Black & Son, Gordon Howard, Joseph Work, Hugh M'Keen, Alexander Hutchinson, Michael Kerr, John Taylor, John Marish, William Dunlap, Robert Bohannon, William Mebee, James Mitchell, Robert M'Farland, John Sterratt, Robert Brown, Samuel Smith, Alexander M'Keen, Robert Monday, William Bohannon, Michael Wood, John Burt, John Gardner. At the August court, 1729, at Lancaster, James Patter- son, Edmond Cartlidge, Peter Chartier, John Lawrence, Jonas Davenport, Oliver Wallis, Patrick Boyd, Lazarus Lowrey, William Dunlap, William Beswick, John Wilkins, Thomas Perrin and John Harris, were recommended to the Governor as fit persons to trade with the Indians. The following is from the Commissioners' Book of Lancaster county in the Secretary's office at Harrisburg : "March 5, 1730. Ordered that Thomas Gardner, con- stable of Peshtank, be allowed 18 pence. Taxes assessed in said township for 1736 amounted to ^22 10s. 7d. i6 Historical Sketch of Dauphin Comity. For 1 73 7, £2 1 2s. iod. Samuel Montgomery was collector that year. For 1739, £15 5s. 9c!. William M'Mullin, collector. For 1740,^9 13s. 8cl. John Wilson, collector. "October 30, 1 739. The county commissioners agreed to hold an appeal Janaury 4, 1 739-40, at Thomas Lenox's, in Paxton, for the upper end of Lancaster. "January 8, 1 744. The commissioners held an appeal at the house of John Harris, in the township of Paxton. "December 30, 1747. The commissioners again held an appeal at the house of John Harris." Some time previous to 1750 the townships of Derry, Paxton and Hanover, were divided for taxable purposes, the former into "West End of Derry," and "East End of Derry;" Paxton into "West Side of Paxton," "South End of Paxton," and the "Narrows of Paxton;" and Hanover into "West End of Hanover" and "East End of Han- over." The following is a list of the taxables and early set- tlers in these townships in [750, as taken from the tax duplicates of that year : DERRY— EAST END. James Semple, James M'Kee, Joseph Candor, "-"Thomas Hall, James Clarlc, Randel Boon, John Allison, James Shaw, Robert Ramsey, James Russel, Thomas Bowman, James Chambers, Hugh Carrithers, James Carrithers, Robert Bratchey, Hugh Black, Thomas Black, David Black, Robert Chambers, James Long, David Campbell, James Ireland, Patrick Down, John Vanleir, Robert Carithers, William Bradin, Charles Neely, Arthur Chambers, John Tire, John Laird, David Caldwell, Andrew Morrison, John Thompson, Alexander Robeson, John Nicom, John Kerr, William Blackburn, Andrew Lockert, David M'Nair, James Wiley, Christian Saddler, William Mitchell, Moses Wilson, Michael Houry, Moses Patterson, James Russel, William Sterrit, Robert Armstrong, John Welsh. Historical Sketch of Dauphin County. DERRY— WEST END. James Galbraith, Esq., James Wilson, James Campbell, James Walker, John Walker, II. Walker, John M'Cord, David M'Cord, William Robeson, Archibald Walker, David Tyler, John OlT, John Rinagel, William Wilson, James Miller, William Boyd, Robert Boyd, John Cosh. William Sayers, ( reorge Eby, David Mitchell, Leonard Devinnie. John M'Colloch, Charles Conway, David Shenk, David Kleim, Michael Hoover, Honnes Palmer, Henry Peters, Hans Ketrin, Charles Clark, */ Thomas Mackey, Andrew Moore, James Foster, Robert M'Clure, Hugh Hall, Thomas Rutherford, William Rea, John M'Queen, John Rea, Mel M'Allister, Christian Schneider, Neal Dougherty, Thomas Logan, George Miller, John M'Allister, Joseph White, John M'Clelland, Robert Murdoc, Moses Potts, David Jonson, Jacob Reif, Jacob Longnecker, Andrew Rowan, Hugh Hayes, Patrick Hayes, John Kerr, Duncan M'Donnell, Thomas Wilson, James Wilson, John Campbell, Mr. M'Clan, Mr. Sloan, John Maben, Pal rick Kelly, James Duncan, William Hayes, John Foster, Robert Foster, David Foster, Wilson Cooper, John Strean, John Cochran, Hans Adam Xei, Jacob Sailer, Hugh Miller, John Godfrey, Thomas Aiken. Anthony Hemphill. Conrad Wisan, John M'Colloch, John Gingrich, William Miller, John Moor, John Hays, William Huston. PAXTON— WEST SIDE. William Thorn, Hugh Montgomery, Robert Dugan, Thomas Sturgon, John Johnson, John Harris, James M'Xight, James Reed, James Armstrong, Robert Chambers, John Davis, James Harris, David Carson, William M'Calley, Thomas Simpson, James Polke, James Potts, < leorge < I illespy, Alexander M'< lay, John C;'\ it, Andrew Caldwell, John Scott, Samuel Price, Patrick ' HUespy, Jeremiah Sturgeon, Robert Montgomery, John Caldwell, Robert Smith. Samuel Simpson, Samuel Martin, Thomas W Arthur, James ( oilier. Thomas banter. Andrew Stuart, Samuel Campbell, Alexander Sanders, Robert Curry, Moses Wain, Joseph Ross, John Smith. James Thorn, William Armstrong, i8 Historical Sketch of Dauphin County. James Toland, Andrew Steen, John Cochran, Alexander Johnson, Thomas Forster, Esq. James Aiken, James Alcorn, Joseph White, John Neal, John Dougherty, George Gabriel, John Carson, Samuel Hunter, John Daily, William Calhoun, Thomas M'Cormick, John Wiggins, John Wiley, Andrew Cochran, Robert Potter, PAXTON— SOUTH END. William Kirkpatrick, Thomas King, Thomas Meays, William Steel, Robert Tyler, Hugh Stuart, Peter Fleming, John Shields, Kennedy Kanix, John Gray, William Harris, Richard M'Clure, John Wilson, Oliver Wiley, Samuel Galbreath, Martin Shultz, David Shields, Moses Dickey, H. M' Kinney, H. Sellers, Valentine Starn, Thomas Dugan, Alexander Brown, James Lusk, John Means, Andrew Hanna, George Shiets, Timothy M' Night, William Sharp, H. M'Elroy, John Johnson, Charles Gordon, John Montgomery, Timothy Shaw, Matthew Jordan, Andrew Huston, Samuel Words, John Welsh, Alexander White, John Morrow, James M' Night, Francis Johnson, James Wilson, William Dickey, Patrick Kinney. THE "NARROWS" OF PAXTON. The taxable and early settlers along the Susquehanna northward, were John Kelton, Mr. Murray, Robert Armstrong, John Armstrong, Thomas Gaston, William Foster, Thomas Clark, John M'Kee, Robert Clark, Thomas Adams, Harbert Adams, John Watt, George Clark, James Reed, James English, John Given, James Baskins, Thomas M'Kee, Charles Williams, John Mitchell, John Lee, a trader. HANOVER— WEST END. Joseph Rogers, Seth Rogers, Hugh Samuel Sterret, James M'Creight, James Beard, James Riddle, Thomas MaQuire, John M'Cord, Robert Huston, John Gamble, William M'Cleuahan, David M'Clennahan, sr., Daniel Shaw, Samuel Stewart, Robert Love, Historical Sketch of Dauphin Coicnty. *9 Robert Porterfield, Matthew Thornton, William Rogers, William Thompson, Samuel Todd, George Johnson, John Brown, John M'Cavit, James M'Cavit, Thomas French, James French, James Finney, Thomas Sharp, John Sharp, John Dobbins, Mr. M'Cowen, John Hill, Philip Robeson, James Brown, William Erwin, Samuel Barnet, Alexander Montgomery, Thomas Bell, Samuel Robeson, John Henry, Thomas M'Clure, William Barnet, Andrew Wallace, Richard Johnston, Josias Wiley, John Snodey, John Cooper, Thomas Cooper, Francis M'Clure, Michael Neal, H. Hart, Robert Humes, James Robinson, James Rippert, Mathew Snody, John M'Cormick, James Wilson, John Strean, Robert Park, Hugh Wilson, James Wilson, Robert Wallace, Robert Snodgrass, William Laird, John Hutchinson, Samuel Young, James Finney, John M'Nealey, James M'Connel, Thomas Russell, Charles M'Clure, John Wood, Andrew Wood, Matthew Tyler, Andrew Walker, Robert Martin, James Wilson, George Miller, John Miller, John M'Clure, Patrick Gracy, William Cooper, Thomas Martin, John Stuart, Thomas Robeson, James Wallace, Michael Wallace. HANOVER— EAST END. Jacob Musser, Peter Hettrich, Melchoir Henry, Thomas Promer, Henry Bachman, Conrad Clatt, Anthony Rosebaum, Jacob Mosher, Esau Ricker, William Clark, John Libbins, John Schwar, James Young, John Gilliland, Peter Hailman, Widow Work, Frederick Hoke, James Sloan, Widow Gilleland. Jacob Sope, Martin Lichty, Adam Roth, Ludwig Shits, John Stewart, John Forster, John Andrew, Walter M'Farland, Joseph Brechtbill, William Robinson, Philip Kolps, Onwal Jagel, Thomas Orvil, Alexander Swan, Alexander Thompson, John Graham, Samuel Ainsworth, John Martin, Barnet M' Night, Widow Brown, John Humes, William Woods, John Porterfield, Robert Haslet, John Crawford, William Watson, Henry Gantz, James Greenleaf, John Craig, Hugh M'Gowen, John Dickson, Joseph Willson, Adam Miller, Edward M'Murray, Jacob M'Cormick, John Kansey, James Stewart, Humphrey Cunningham, Robert Kirkwood, James M'Corey, William Thomson, 20 Historical Sketch of Dauphin County. John Sops, Rudolph Hoke, Joseph Hoof, Benjamin Clark, Killian Mark, George Tittel, Isaac Williams, Adam Clannean, John Casnet, James Williams, Anthony Tittel, Dennis Keril, Mathias Boon, John Sloan, Daniel Ankel, William Young, Abraham Williams, James Clark, Andrew M'Keehan, Thomas Brewster, John Thomson, James Graham, John Cunningham, William Cunningham, Christopher Sies, John Myers, Patrick Brown, John Andrews, John Strein, Antony M'Elrath, George Shetley, Walter Bell, Leonard Long,' Adam M'Neeley, John M'Clure, John Henderson, Thomas Strain, Matthias Rank, Jacob Steiner, William Stoner, James Tood, John Young, James Dixon, Robert Bryson, William Bryson, Daniel Andrew, David Stevenson, William Cathcart, William Crosby, Benjamin Ainsworth, Patrick Bowen, Adam Harper, Lazarus Stewart, Benjamin Wallace. The above lists represent nearly all the taxable inhab- itants residing in the territory now covered by Dauphin county one hundred and twenty-six years ago. They were the fathers of our county — the men who climbed among the hills with their axes to cut away room for cabins sacred to family prayer and domestic duties; to sow for the good future to come ; whose children foddered their cattle in the snows, and built stone fence while the corn was sprouting in the hills; where the good housewive made coats, cooked the meals, and in case of necessity, handled the rifle in defence of her fireside ; these are the men and women out of whom "we draw our royal lineage." Historical Sketch of Dattphin County. 21 THE FRENCH AND INDIAN WAR. With the exception of occasional personal or individual disputes, a friendly feeling- had existed between the Indi- ans and the inhabitants of Pennsylvania for a period of nearly seventy years. In 1753, however, a different spirit manifested itself in the conduct of some of the Indians in the western part of the colony. They united themselves with the French against the English, many of whom, at the instigation of their new allies, they murdered most cruelly. The inhabitants of the frontiers were in a panic, for the Indians, true to their character, when enemies, struck wherever an opportunity presented itself, sparing neither sex nor age. The settlers in the region now comprising this county, partook in the prevailing alarm, and sent the following petition to Governor Hamilton: "The humble petition of the inhabitants of the town- ships of Paxton, Derry and Hanover, Lancaster county, humbly sheweth, that your petitioners being settled on and near the river Susquehanna, apprehend themselves in great danger from the French and French Indians, as it is in their power several times in the year to transport themselves, with amunition, artillery and every necessary, down the said river — and their conduct of late to the neighboring provinces, increases our dread of a speedy visit from them, as we are as near and convenient as the provinces already attacked, and are less capable of de- fending ourselves, as we are unprovided with arms and amunition, and unable to purchase them. A great num- ber are warm and active in these parts for the defence of themselves and country, were they enabled so to do, 22 Historical Sketch of Dauphin County (although not such a number as would be able to with- stand the enemy). We, your petitioners, therefore humbly pray, that your Honor would take our distressed condi- tion into consideration, and make such provision for us as may prevent ourselves and families from being de- stroyed and ruined by such a cruel enemy; and your petitioners, as in duty bound, will ever pray. Dated July 22, 1754. Thomas Forster, James Armstrong, John Harris, Thomas Simpson, Samuel Simpson, John Carson, David Shields, William M' Mullen, John Coit, William Armstrong, James Armstrong, William Bell, John Daugherty, James Atkins, Andrew Cochran, James Reed, Thomas Rutherford, T. M' Carter, William Steel, Samuel Hunter, Thomas Mays, James Coler, Henry Renicks, Rich. M'Clure, Thomas Dugan, John Johnson, Peter Fleming, Thomas Sturgeon, Matthew Taylor, Jeremiah Sturgeon, Thomas King, Robert Smith, Adam Reed, John Crawford, Thomas Crawford, John M'Clure, Thomas Hume, Thomas Steene, John Hume, John Craig, Thomas M'Clure, William M'Clure, John Rodgers, James Peterson, John Young, Ez. Sankey, John Forster, Mitchell Graham, James Toalen, James Galbreath, James Campbel, Robert Boyd, James Chambers, Robert Armstrong, John Campbell, Hugh Black, Thomas Black. This petition was read in Council 6th August, 1754. Shortly after the defeat of Gen. Braddock, July 9, 1 755, the French and their Indian allies, encouraged by their success, pushed their incursions into York, Cumberland, the northern part of Lancaster (now Dauphin), Berks and Northampton counties, and the massacres which fol- lowed were horrible beyond description. King Shinges, as he was called, and Captain Jacobs were supposed to have been the principal instigators of them, and a reward of seven hundred dollars was offered for their heads. It was at this period, that the dead bodies of some of the murdered and manoled were sent from the frontiers to Historical Sketch of Dauphin County. 23 Philadelphia, and hauled about the streets, to inflame the people against the Indians, and also against the Quakers, to whose mild forbearance was attributed a laxity in sending out troops. The mob surrounded the House of Assembly, having placed the dead bodies at its entrance, and demanded immediate succor. At this time the above reward was offered. The condition of affairs in the interior and western part of the Province are thus described by Gov. Robert Morris in his message of July 24, 1755, to the Assembly, in relation to Braddock's defeat: "This unfortunate and unexpected change in our affairs deeply affects every one of his majesty's colonies, but none of them in so sensible a manner as this province; while having no militia, is thereby left exposed to the cruel incursion of the French and barbarous Indians, who de- light in shedding human blood, and who make no distinc- tion as to age or sex — as to those that are armed against them, or such as they can surprise in their peaceful habi- tations — all are alike the objects of their cruelty — slaugh- tering the tender infant, and frightened mother, with equal joy and fierceness. To such enemies, spurred by the native cruelty of their tempers, encouraged by their late success, and having now no army to fear, are the inhab- itants of this province exposed; and by such must we now expect to be overrun, if we do not immediately pre- pare for our own defence; nor ought we to content our- selves with this, but resolve to drive to, and confine the French to their own just limits." On the 23d of October, 1755, forty-six of the inhab- itants about Harris' 'Ferry (now Harrisburg) went to Shamokin, to enquire of the Indians there who they were, who had so cruelly fallen upon and ruined the settlement on Mahahony creek. On their return from Shamokin, they were fired upon by some Indians who lay in ambush, 24 Historical Sketch of Dauphin County. and four were killed, four drowned, and the rest put to flight. The following- is the official report of this expedition : "I, and Thomas Forster, Esq., Mrs. Harris, and Mr. M'Kee, with upwards of forty men, went up the 2d inst., (October, 1755,) to Captain M'Kee, at New Providence, in order to bury the dead, lately murdered on Mahahony creek; but understanding the corpse were buried, we then determined to return immediately home. But being urged by John Sekalamy, and the Old Belt, to go up to see the Indians at Shamokin, and know their minds, we went on the 24th, and staid there all night — and in the night I heard some Delawares talking — about twelve in number — to this purpose: "What are the English come here for?" Says another: "To kill us, I suppose; can we then send off some of our nimble young men to give our friends notice that can soon be here?" They soon after sang the war song, and four Indians went off in two canoes, well armed — the one canoe went down the river, and the other across. "On the morning of the 25th, we took our leave of the Indians, and set off homewards, and were advised to go down the east side of the river, but fearing that a snare might be laid on that side, we marched off peaceably on the west side, having behaved in the most civil and friendly manner towards them while with them ; and when we came to the mouth of the Mahahony creek, we were fired on by a good number of Indians that lay among the bushes; on which we were obliged to retreat, with the loss of several men; the particular number I cannot ex- actly mention ; but I am positive that I saw four fall, and one man struck with a tomahawk on the head in his flight across the river. As I understand the Delaware tongue, I heard several of the Indians that were engaged against us, speak a good many words in that tongue dur- ing the action. "Adam Terrance." Historical Sketch of Dauphin County. -d "The above declaration was attested by the author's voluntary qualification, no magistrate being present, at Paxton, this 26th Oc'tober, 1755, before us: John Elder, Thomas McArthur, Michael Graham, Alex. McClure, Michael Teaff, William Harris, Thomas Black, Samuel Lenes, Samuel Pearson, William McClure. "N. B. Of all our people that were in the action, there are but nine that are yet returned." Conrad Weiser, an Indian interpreter and a prominent man in the province, thus writes to James Read, Esq., ol Reading, about this period: "Heidleberg, October 26, ) at 11 o'clock Sunday night, 1755. ) "Loving Friend: "About an hour ago I received the news of the enemy having crossed the Susquehanna, and killed a great many people, from Thomas McKee's down to Hunter's Mill. "Mr. Elder, the minister of Paxton, wrote to another Presbyterian minister, in the neighborhood of Adam Reed, Esq., that the people were then in a meeting, and immediately desired to get themselves in readiness to oppose the enemy, and lend assistance to their neighbors. Mr. Reed sent down to Tulpehocken, and two men, one that came from Mr. Reed's, are just now gone, that brought in the melancholy news. I have sent out to alarm the townships in this neighborhood, and to meet me early in the morning, at Peter Spicker's, to consult together what to do, and to make preparations to stand the enemy, with the assistance of the Most High. "I wrote you this that you may have time to consult with Mr. Seely, and other well-wishers of the people, in order to defend our lives and others. Eor God's sake let us stand together, and do what we can, and trust to the hand of Providence. Perhaps we must, in this neighbor- 26 Historical Sketch of Dauphin County. hood', come to Reading; but I will send armed men to Susquehanna, or as far as they can go for intelligence. "Pray, let Sammy have a copy of this, or this draft for his Honor, the Governor. I have sent him, about three hours ago, express to Philadelphia, and he lodges at my son Peter's. Despatch him as early as you can. I pray, beware of confusion; be calm, you and Mr. Seely, and act the part of fathers of the people. I know you are both able; but excuse me for giving you this caution — time requires it. I am, dear sir, "Your very good friend and humble servant, "Conrad Weiser." The near approach of the enemy created the utmost consternation among the outer settlements. The only safety was to flee and leave all to the enemy. They had in vain looked for effectual relief from the Colonial g-ov- ernment. Homes that had been occupied; barns filled with the fruits of a rich and plenteous harvest; newly sowed fields, standing corn, and cattle, sheep, etc., were all abandoned by the hardy and industrious frontier set- tlers, in order to save themselves from being cut off by the barbarous enemy. Even John Harris and his family were threatened with death, as stated by Mr. Harris him- self in the following letter: "Paxton, October 29, 1755. "Sir: "We expect the enemy upon us every day, and the in- habitants are abandoning their plantations, being greatly discouraged at the approach of such a number of cruel savages, and no present sign of assistance. I had a cer- tain account of fifteen hundred French and Indians being on the march against us and Virginia, and now close upon our borders, their scouts scalping our families on our frontiers daily. Andrew Montour, and others at Shamo- kin, desired me to take care, that there was a party of Historical Sketch of Dauphin County *i forty Indians, out many days, and intended to burn my house and destroy myself and family. I have this day cut loop-holes in my house, and am determined to hold out to the last extremity, if I can get some men to stand by me. But few can be had at present, as every one is in fear of his own family being cut off every hour. Great part of the Susquehanna Indians are no doubt actually in the French interest, and I am informed that a French officer is expected at Shamokin this week, with a party of Delawares and Shawanese, no doubt to take posses- sion of our river. We should raise men immediately to build a fort up the river to take possession, and to induce some Indians to join us. We ought also to insist on the Indians to declare for or against us, and as soon as we are prepared for them we should bid up their scalps, and keep our w r oods full of our people upon the scout, else they will ruin our province, for they are a dreadful enemy. I have sent out two Indian spies to Shamokin; they are Mohawks. "Sir, yours, &c, "John Harris. u Edward Shippen, Esq." In the latter part of October, 1755, the enemy again appeared in the neighborhood of Shamokin, and in No- vember of that year they committed several murders upon the whites under circumstances of great cruelty and bar- barity. Not only the settlers on the immediate frontier, but those residing far towards the interior, were kept in constant alarm, as will be seen by the following address, or appeal, to the inhabitants of the province, issued from the present site of Harrisburg: "Pax ion, October 31, 1755. [From John Harris, at 12 P. M.] "To all I lis Majesty s subjects in the Province of Pennsyl- vania, or elsewhere: "Wnereas, Andrew Montour, Belt of Wampum, two Mohawks, and other Indians, came down this day from 28 Historical Sketch of Dauphin County. Shamokin, who say the whole body of Indians, or the greatest part of them in the French interest, is actually encamped on this side of George Gabriel's [about thirty miles north of Harrisburg, on the west side of the river], near Susquehanna, and we may expect an attack within three days at farthest; and a French fort to be begun at Shamokin in ten days hence. Tho' this be the Indian report, we, the subscribers, do give it as our advice, to repair immediately to the frontiers with all our forces, to intercept their passage into our country, and to be pre- pared in the best manner possible for the worst events. "Witness our hands: James Galbreath, James Pollock, John Allison, James Anderson, Barney Hughes, William Work, Robert Wallace, Patrick Henry. John Harris, "P. S. — They positively affirm that the above named Indians discovered a party of the enemy at Thomas McKee's upper place on the 30th of October last. "Mona-ca-too-tha, The Belt, and other Indians here, insist upon Mr. Weiser's coming immediately to John Harris' with his men, and to counsel with the Indians. "Before me. "James Galbreath." Fortunately, the reports conveyed in Mr. Harris' letter, as well as in the above address, proved to be premature, the enemy confining his depredations to the regions of the Susquehanna, about Shamokin, and the Great or Big Cove, in the western part of Cumberland county, a de- tailed account of which would not come within our prov- ince to write. It was not until the middle of the following year that the Indians, incited, and in some instances officered, by their allies, the French, extended their incursions into the interior of the colony, and imagination fails to conceive Historical Sketch of Dauphin County. 29 the peril and distress of the settlers of Paxton, Hanover, and other townships then in Lancaster (now Dauphin and Lebanon counties). Some idea, however, may be formed of their condition from the subjoined letters. " Derry Township, 9th August, 1 756. ''Dear Sir: "There is nothing but bad news every day. Last week there were two soldiers killed and one wounded about two miles from Manady fort; and two of the guards that escorted the batteaus were killed; and we may expect nothing else daily, if no stop be put to these savages. We shall all be broken in upon in these parts. The people are going off daily, leaving almost their all behind them ; and as for my part, I think a little time will lay the country waste by flight, so that the enemy will have noth- ing to do but take what we have worked for. "Sir, your most humble servant, "James Galbreath. "Ed. Shippcn, Esq" "Derry Township, 10th August, 1756. "Honored Sir: There is nothing here, almost every day, but murder by the Indians in some parts or other. About five miles above me, at Manada Gap, there were two of the Prov- ince soldiers killed and one wounded. There were but three Indians, and they came in among ten of our men and committed the murder and went oft safe. The name, or sight of an Indian, makes almost all in these parts tremble — their barbarity is so cruel where they are mas- ters; for, by all appearance, the devil communicates, God permits, and the French pay, and by that the back parts, by all appearance, will be laid waste by flight, with those who are gone and going; more especially Cumberland county. 5 50 Historical Sketch of Dauphin Count v. "Pardon my freedom in this wherein I have done amiss. "Sir, your most humble servant, "James Galbreath." The above murders are corroborated by the follow- ing : "Hanover, August 7, 1756. "Sir: "Yesterday Jacob Ellis, a soldier of Capt. Smith's, at Brown's, about two miles and a half over the first moun- tain, just within the Gap, having some wheat growing at that place, prevailed with his officers for some of the men to help him to cut some of the grain; accordingly ten of them went, set guards and fell to work. At about ten o'clock they had reaped down, and went to the head to begin again; and, before they had all well begun, three Indians, having crept up to the fence, just behind them, fired upon them and killed the Corporal, and another who was standing with a gun in one hand and a bottle in the other, was wounded; his left arm is broken in two places, so that his gun fell, he being a little more down the field than the rest. Those who were reaping, had their fire-arms about half way down the field, standing at a large tree. As soon as the Indians had fired, and without loading their guns, they leaped over the fence right in amongst the reapers — one of them had left his gun on the outside of the field — they all ran promiscuously, while the Indians were making- a terrible haloo, and looked more like the devil than Indians. The soldiers made for their fire-arms, and as three of them stood be- hind the tree with their arms, the Indian that came want- ing his gun, came within a few yards of them and took up the wounded soldier's gun, and would have killed another, had not one perceived him, fired at him, so that he dropped the gun. The Indians fled, and in going oft, two soldiers standing about a rod apart, an Indian ran through between them, they both fired at him, yet he es- Historical Sketch of Dauphin County. 31 caped. When the Indians were over the fence, a soldier fired at one of them, upon which he stooped a little — the three Indians escaped. Immediately after leaving the field, they fired one gun and gave a haloo. The soldiers hid the one that was killed, went home to the fort, found James Brown who lives in the fort, and one of the sol- diers missing". "The Lieutenant accompanied by some more, went out and brought in the dead man; but still Brown was missing. Notice was given on that night; I went up next morning with some hands. Capt. Smith had sent up more men from the other fort; these went out next morning; against I got there, word was come in that they had found James Brown, killed and scalped. I went over with them to bring him home. He was killed with the last shot, about twenty rods from the field — his gun, his shoes and jacket carried off. The soldiers who found him said, that they tracked the three Indians to the sec- ond mountain, and they found one of the Indians' guns a short distance from Brown's corpse, as it had been not worth much. They showed me the place where the In- dians fired through the fence, and it was just eleven yards from the place where the dead man lay. The rising ground above the field, was clear of standing tim- ber and the grubs low, so that they had kept a look out. "The above account you may depend on. We have almost lost all hopes of everything, but to move off and lose our crops that we have cut with so much difficulty. "I am your Honor's servant, "Adam Reed. "To Edward Shippen^ Esq., at Lancaster." Some time in the latter part of October, the Indians again visited Hanover township, where they murdered, under circumstances of much cruelty, several families, among whom was one Andrew Berryhill. On the 2 2d of October, they killed John Craig and his wife, scalped 32 Historical Sketch of Dauphin County. them both, burned several houses, and carried off Samuel Ainsworth, a lad about thirteen years old. The next day they scalped a German, whose name has not been given. From entries made in their duplicates by the tax col- lectors of East Hanover and West Hanover townships for the year 1756, it is shown that the following settlers had fled from their houses in that year. The whole du- plicate contains the names of about one hundred taxables. The names of those who deserted their "clearings," in East Hanover, now principally in Lebanon county, have come down to us, as follows: • Barnhart Bashore, Jacob Bashore, Matthias Bashore, William M'Culloch, Philip Colp, Casper Yost, Conrad Cleck, Christian Albert, Daniel Moser, John M'Clure, John Anderson, Thomas Shirley, James Graham, Barnet M'Nett, Andrew Brown, William Brown, Andrew Karsnits, John Gilliland, John M'Culloch, Walter M'Farland, Robert Kirkwood, William Robeson, Valentine Staffolbeim, Andrew Clenan, Rudolph Fry, Peter Walmer, John M'Culloch, James Rafter, Moses Vance, John Bruner, Frederick Noah, Jacob Moser, Philip Maurer, In West Hanover, all of which is in the present limits of this county, we have a list of those driven from their farms, containing the following, which is as complete as possible: Andrew M'Mahon, Thomas Hume, Thomas Strean, John Hume, Peter Wolf, Henry Kuntz, William Watson, John Stewart, John Porterfield, David Strean, John Strean, Andrew M'Grath, James M' Curry, Conrad Rice, Alexander Swan, John Green. John Gordon, Richard Johnston, Alexander Barnet, James M' Caver, Robert Porterfield, Philip Robeson, John Hill, Thomas Bell, Thomas Maguire, William M'Cord, Robert Huston, Benjamin Wallace, William Bennett, Bartholomew Harris, John Swan, James Bannon, William M'Clure, Thomas M'Clure, John Henry, James Riddle, Widow Cooper, David Ferguson, W T idow DeArmond, James Wilson, Samuel Barnett, James Brown, Widow M'Gowen, Samuel Brown, Thomas Hill, James Johnston, (killed.) Historical Sketch of Dauphin County. 33 Adam Reed, under date of Hanover, October 14, 1 756, thus addresses Edward Shippen and others, on the situa- tion of affairs in his neighborhood: "Friends and Fellow Subjects : "I send you in a few lines, the melancholy condition of the frontiers of this county. Last Tuesday, the 12th inst, ten Indians came to Noah Frederick while plough- ing, killed and scalped him, and carried away three of his children that were with him — the oldest but nine years old — and plundered his house, and carried away everything that suited their purpose; such as clothes, bread, butter, a saddle, and a good rifle gun, &c, it being but two short miles to Capt. Smith's fort at Swatara Gap, and a little better than two miles from my house. "Last Saturday evening an Indian came to the house of Philip Robeson, carrying a green bush before him — said Robeson's son, being on the corner of his fort, watch- ing others that were dressing flesh by him; the Indian perceiving that he was observed, fled; the watchman fired, but missed him; this being about three-fourths of a mile from Manady Fort; — and yesterday morning, two miles from Smith's Fort at Swatara, Mt. Bethel township, as Jacob Farnwell was going from the house of Jacob Meylin to his own, was fired upon by two Indi- ans and wounded, but escaped with his life; — and a little after, in said township, as Frederick Hewly and Peter Sample were carrying away their goods in wagons, were met by a parcel of Indians and all killed, lying dead in one place, and one man at a little distance. But what more has been done, has not come to my ears — only that the Indians were continuing their murders. "The frontiers [people] are employed in nothing else than carrying off their effects, so that some miles are now waste. We are willing, but not able, without help — you are able, if you be willing, (that is, including the lower parts of the county,) to give such assistance as 34 Historical Sketch of Dauphin County. will enable us to recover our waste land. You may de- pend upon it, that, without assistance, we, in a few days, will be on the wrong side of you; for I am now on the frontier, and I fear that by to-morrow night I will be left two miles. "Gentlemen: Consider what you will do, and don't be long about it; and don't let the world say that we died as fools died! Our hands are not tied, but let us exert ourselves and do something for the honor of our country and the preservation of our fellow subjects. I hope you will communicate our grievances to the lower part of our county, for surely they will send us help, if they under- stood our grievances. "I would have gone down myself, but dare not; my family is in such danger. I expect an answer by the bearer, if possible. "I am, gentlemen, "Your very humble servant, "Adam Reed. "Edward SJiippcn and others. " P. vS. — Before sending this away, I would mention, I have just received information that there are seven killed and live children scalped alive, but have not the account of their names." May 1 6, 1757. Eleven persons killed at Paxton by the Indians. August 19, 1757. Fourteen people killed and taken from Mr. Finley's congregation, and one man killed near Harris Ferry, (now Harrisburg). At this period nego- tiations for peace commenced with the powerful chieftain of the Delaware and ShawaUese tribes, when the barbari- ties of the Susquehanna Indians somewhat abated. But the French, and western Indians, still roamed in small parties over the country, committing many depredations. Historical Sketch of Dauphin County. 35 The following extracts are from the Pennsylvania Ga- zette, of 1 757: "We hear from Lancaster, that six persons were taken away by the Indians, from Lancaster county, on the 17th August." "Since our last, we learn from Lancaster, that there was nothing but murdering- and capturing among them by the Indians. That on the 1 7th of August, one Beatty was killed in Paxton — that the next day James Mackey was murdered in Hanover, and William and Joseph Bar- nett wounded. That on the same day were taken pris- oners a son of James Mackey, a son of Joseph Barnett, Elizabeth Dickey and her child, and the wife of Samuel Young and her child, and that ninety-four men, women and children were seen flying from their places in one body, and a great many more in smaller parties. So that it was feared the settlements would be entirely for- saken." "Our accounts in general from the frontiers, are most dismal; all agree that some of the inhabitants are killed or carried off — houses burned and cattle destroyed daily — and at the same time, they are afflicted with severe sickness and die fast. So that in many places, they are neither able to defend themselves when attacked, nor to run away." A letter from Hanover township, dated October 1st, 1757, says that the neighborhood is almost without in- habitants, and on that day, and the day before, several creatures w r ere killed by the enemy in Hanover. On the 25th of November, Thomas Robeson and a son of Thomas Bell were killed and scalped by the Indians in Hanover township; but the Indians immediately went off after committing other murders. The following letter was written to Governor Denny by the commandant at Fort Hunter, a few miles north <>l the present site of Harrisburg: 36 Historical Sketch of Dauphin County. "Fort Hunter, the 3d of October, 1757. "May it please Your Honor: "In my coming back from ranging the frontiers, on Saturday, the 3d inst, I heard that the day before, twelve Indians were seen not far from here. As it was late and not knowing their further strength, I thought to go at day-break next morning, with as many soldiers and bat- taux men as I could get; but in a short time heard a gun fired off, and running directly to the spot, found the dead body of one William Martin, who went into the woods to pick up chestnuts, were the Indians were lying in ambush. I ordered all the men to run into the woods, and we ranged until it got dark. The continued rain we have had, hindered me from following them. A num- ber of the inhabitants had come here to assist in pur- suing the Indians, but the weather prevented them. There were only three Indians seen by some persons who were sitting before Mr. Hunter's door, and they say all was done in less than four minutes. That same night I cautioned the inhabitants to be on their guard; and in the morning I ranged on this side of the moun- tain; but the next day, my men being few in number by reason of fourteen of them being sick, I could not be long from the garrison ; and it seems to me, there is a great number of the enemy on this side of the river. "The townships of Paxton and Derry have agreed to keep a guard some time in the frontier houses, from Manady to Susquehanna; and expect that your Honor will be pleased to reinforce this detachment. "If these townships should break up the communica- tion between Fort Augusta and the inhabitants, they would be greatly endangered. " I am, with great respect, etc., "Christian Busse." We have advices, says the Pennsylvania Gazette, Octo- ber 27, 1757, from Paxton: Historical Sketch of Dauphin County. 37 "On the 1 7th inst, as four of the inhabitants near Hun- ter's Fort, were pulling their Indian corn, when two of them — Alexander Watt and John M'Kennet — were killed and scalped, their heads cut off; the other two scalped. That Captain Work of the Augusta regiment, coming down with some men from Fort Halifax, (the present site of the town of Halifax,) met the savages on Peter's mountain, about twenty of them, when they fired upon him at about forty yards distance; upon which his party returned the fire and put the enemy to flight, leaving be- hind them five horses, with what plunder they had got; and that one of the Indians was supposed to have been wounded by the blood that was seen in their tracks. None of Captain Work's men were hurt." The treaty of peace and friendship between the Eng- lish and Indians, at Easton in 1758, in some measure calmed the apprehensions of the people, and for a time the settlers of this region enjoyed a period of rest. But the English and French were still at war, and cruel mur- ders still continued among the outer settlements down to the close of, and after, the war of 1762. The Shaw- anese, a ferocious southern tribe of Indians, had formed a secret confederacy with the tribes on the Ohio and its tributary waters, to attack simultaneously all the English posts and settlements on the frontiers. Their plan was deliberately and skillfully projected. The border settle- ments were to be invaded during harvest; the men, corn and cattle were to be destroyed, and by thus cutting off the supplies, the out-posts were to be reduced by famine. In accordance with this plan, the Indians fell suddenly upon the traders, whom they had invited among them. — Many of these they murdered, and plundered others of their effects, to a great value. The frontiers of Pennsyl- vania were again overrun by scalping parties, marking in their hostile incursions the way with blood and devas- 38 Historical Sketch of Dauphin County. tation. The upper part of Cumberland county and parts ot the present territory of Dauphin county, was overrun by savages in 1 76$, who set fire to houses, barns, corn, hay and everything that was combustible; and some of the inhabitants were surprised and murdered with the utmost cruelty and barbarity. This well matured onslaught by the Indians, drove the whites to acts of desperation, which only find extenua- tion from the circumstances, that there were no limits to the atrocities of the savages. Wherever they went, murder and cruelty marked their path, and even pro- fessed friendly Indians had fallen under strong suspicions as being, to some extent, concerned in these foul mur- ders. Jonas Seely, Esq., writing from Reading, September 11, 1763, said: "We are all in a state of alarm. Indians have destroyed dwellings and murdered, with savage barbarity, their helpless occupants, even in the neighbor- hood of Reading. Where these Indians come from and are going, we know not. Send us an armed force to aid our rangers of Lancaster and Berks." In another letter from the same gentleman, dated Reading, September, 1763, he writes: "It is a matter of wonder that Indians, living among us for numbers ol years, should suddenly become grum friends, or most d3adly enemies. Yet there is too much reason lor sus- picion. The rangers sent in word that these savages must consist of fifty, who travel in companies of from five to twenty, visiting Wyalusing, Wichetunk, Nain, Big- Island, and Conestoga, under the mark of friendly Indi- ans. Our people have become almost infuriated to madness. These Indians were not even suspected of treachery, such had been the general confidence in their Historical Sketch of Dauphin County. 39 fidelity. The murders recently committed, arc of the most aggravated description." Similar suspicions of treachery among the professed friendly Indians, alluded to in the above letter, had long- been prevalent among - the settlers of Paxton and Done- gal townships. It was strongly believed by them, that the perpetrators of many of the atrocious murders were harbored, if not encouraged and assisted, by a settlement of friendly Indians at Conestoga, now, as then, in Lan- caster county. A deadly animosity was thus raised among the people of Paxton and adjoining townships, against all of Indian blood, and against the Quakers and Moravians — who were disposed to conciliate and protect the Indians — frequently, as the Paxton men thought, at the expense of the lives of the settlers. This feeling among the settlers, finally led to the mas- sacre of the Indians at Conestoga manor, on the night of the 14th of December, 1763. The accounts of this affair, and of similar murders of defenceless Indians in the prison at Lancaster, on the 27th of December of the same vear, are so various and conflicting-, that it is almost impossible to form an intelligent historic narrative of them. The act was most probably committed by the younger and more hot-blooded members of the Rev. Col. Elder's corps of rangers, led by Capt. Lazarus Stew- art, a daring partisan, and a man of considerable influ- ence and standing in the Paxton settlement. He soon afterwards joined the Connecticut men, and became very conspicuous in the civil wars of Wyoming. He was ortce taken prisoner there, and delivered to the Sheriff of York county lor sale-keeping; but his rangers rescued him, and he suddenly appeared again with many of them at \\ yoming. He was slain near Wilkesbarre, during tin: 4-0 Historical Sketch of Dauphin County. Revolution, in the disastrous battle of 3d of July, 1778. The following extracts are from a series of historical papers in the Lancaster Intelligencer & Journal of 1843, written by Redmond Conyngham, Esq.: "Imagination cannot conceive the perils with which the settlement of Paxton was surrounded from 175410 1765. To portray each scene of horror would be impossible — the heart shrinks from the attempt. The settlers are goaded on to desperation; murder followed murder. The scouts brought in the intelligence that the mur- derers were traced to Conestoga. Rifles were loaded and horses were in readiness. They mounted; they called on their pastor to lead them. He was then in the 57th year of his age. Had you seen him then, you would have beheld a superior being. He had mounted, not to lead them on to the destruction of Conestoga, but to de- ter them from the attempt; he implored them to return; he urged them to reflect: "Pause, pause before you pro- ceed!" It was in vain: "The blood of the murdered cries aloud for vengeance; we have waited long enough on Government; the murderers are within our reach, and they must not escape." Mr. Elder reminded them, that "the guilty and innocent could not be distinguished." "Innocent! can they be called innocent who foster mur- derers?" Mr. Elder rode up in front, and said: "As your pastor, I command you to relinquish your design." "Give way then," said Smith, "or your horse dies," pre- senting his rifle. To save his horse, to which he was much attached, Mr. Elder drew him aside, and the ran- gers were of! on their fatal errand." The following narrative was drawn up by Matthew Smith, one of the chief actors in the massacre: "I was an early settler in Paxton, a member of the congregation of the Rev. Mr. Elder. I was one of the chief actors in the destruction of Conestoga, and in storming the work-house in Lancaster. I have been stigmatized as a murderer. No man, unless he were Historical Sketch of Dauphin County. .\\ living at that time in Paxton, could have an idea of the sufferings and anxieties of the people. For years the Indians had been on the most friendly terms; but some of the traders were bought by the French; these cor- rupted the Indians. The savages unexpectedly de- stroyed our dwellings and murdered the unsuspicious. When we visited the wigwams in the neighborhood, we found the Indians occupied in harmless sports, or domes- tic work. There appeared no evidence that they were in any way instrumental in the bloody acts perpetrated on the frontiers. "Well do I remember the evening when stopped at my door; judge my surprise when I heard his tale: "Tom followed the Indians to the Bio- Island; from thence they went to Conestoga; as soon as we heard it, five of us, , , , , , rode off for the village. I left my horse under their care, and cautiously crawled where I could get a view; I saw In- dians armed; they were strangers; they outnumbered us by dozens. I returned without being discovered. We meet to-night at ; we shall expect you with gun, knife and amunition." We met, and our party, under cover of the night, rode off for Conestoga. Our plan was well laid; the scout who had traced the Indians, was with us; the village was stormed and reduced to ashes. The moment we were perceived an Indian fired at us, and rushed forward, brandishing his tomahawk. Tom cried, "mark him," and he fell by more than one ball. ran up and cried: "It is the villain who murdered my mother." This speech roused to vengeance, and Conestoga lay harmless before us. Our worst fears had been realized; these Indians, who had been housed and led as the pets of the Province, were now proved to be our secret foes: necessity compelled us to do as we did. We mounted our horses and returned. Soon we were informed, that a number of Indians were in the work- house at Lancaster. was sent to Lancaster, to get all the news he could. He reported that one of the Indians concerned in recent murders was there in safety. 42 Historical Sketch of Dauphin County. Also, that they talked of rebuilding- Conestoga, and placing these Indians in the new buildings. "A few of us met to deliberate; Stewart proposed to go to Lancaster, storm their castle, and carry off the assassin. It w T as agreed to; the whole plan was arranged. Our clergyman did not approve of our proceeding further. He thought everything was accomplished by the destruc- tion of Conestoga, and advised us to try what we could do with the Governor and Council. I, with the rest, was opposed to the measure proposed by our good pastor. It was painful to us to act in opposition to his will, but the Indian in Lancaster was known to have murdered the parent of , one of our party. "The plan was made: three were chosen to break in the doors; five to keep the keepers, &c, from meddling; Captain Stewart to remain outside with about twelve men, to protect those within, to prevent surprise and keep charge of the horses. The three were to secure the Indian, tie him with strong cords, and deliver him to Stewart. If the three were resisted, a shot was to be fired as a signal. I was one of them who entered; you know the rest; we fired; the Indians were left without life; and we rode hastily from Lancaster. "This gave quiet to the frontiers, for no murder of our defenceless inhabitants has since happened." Matthew Smith, the writer of the above, after the revo- lution, in which he performed excellent service and rose to high rank in military and civil life, removed to Milton, Northumberland county. A letter of the Rev. Mr. Elder to Governor Perm, Jan- uary 27, 1764, states: "The storm which had been so long gathering, has at length exploded. Had Government removed the Indi- ans from Conestoga, which had frequently been urged without success, this painful catastrophe might have been avoided. What could I do with men heated to madness? All that I could do, was done; I expostulated; but life Historical Sketch of Dauphin Comity. 43 and reason were set at defiance. And yet, the men, in private life, are virtuous and respectable; not cruel, but mild and merciful. "The time will arrive, when each palliating' circum- stance will be calmly weighed. This deed, magnified into the blackest of crimes, should be considered as one of those youthful ebulitions of wrath caused by moment- ary excitement, to which human infirmity is subjected." In connection with this subject an extract from a re- monstrance presented to Governor John Penn, from the inhabitants of Lancaster county, is quoted: "We consider it a grievance, that we are restrained from electing more than ten representatives in the fron- tier counties — Lancaster four, York two, Cumberland two, Berks one, Northampton one — while the city and county of Philadelphia, and the counties of Chester and Bucks, elect 26. A bill is now about to be passed into a law, that any person accused of taking away the life of an Indian, shall not be tried in the county where the deed was committed, but in the city of Philadelphia. We can hardly believe that the Legislature would be guilty of such injustice as to pass this bill, and deprive the people of one of their most valuable rig-fits. We protest against the passage of such a law, as depriving us of a sacred privilege. "We complain, that the Governor laid before the Gen- eral Assembly letters without signatures, giving- exagger- ated and false accounts of the destruction of the Indians at Conestoga, and at Lancaster. That he paid but little attention to the communications received from our rep- resentatives and Mr. Shippen; that certain persons in Philadelphia are endeavoring to rouse the fury of the people against the magistrates, the principal inhabitants of the borough of Lancaster, and the Presbyterians of Paxton and Donegal, by gross misrepresentations of tacts; that we are not allowed a hearing at the bar of the House, or by the Governor; that our rangers have 44 Historical Sketch of Dauphin County. never experienced any favors from Government, either by remuneration of their services, or by any act of kind- ness; that although there is every reason to believe, that the Indians who struck the blow at the Great Cove, re- ceived their arms and amunition from the Bethlehem Indians, Government protects the murderers at Philadel- phia; that six of the Indians now in Philadelphia, known to have been concerned in recent murders, and de- manded by us, that they may be tried in Northampton county, are still at liberty; that Renatus, an Indian who was legally arrested and committed on the charge of murder, is under the protection of government in Bucks county, when he was to be brought to trial in the county of Northampton, or the county of Cumberland. Shall these things be? "Matthew Smith, "James Gibsox." The following document, printed at the time, is inter- esting in this connection: "DECLARATION. LET ALL HEAR!" "Were the counties of Lancaster, York, Cumberland, Berks and Northampton protected by Government? Did not John Harris, of Paxton, ask advice of Col. Croghan, and did not the Colonel advise him to raise a company of scouters, and was not this confirmed by Benjamin Franklin? And yet, when Harris asked the Assembly to pay the scouting party, he was told that 'he might pay them himself.' Did not the counties of Lancaster, York, Cumberland, Berks and Northampton, the frontier set- tlements, keep up rangers to watch the motions of the Indians; and when a murder was committed by an Indi- an, a runner with the intelligence was sent to each scouting party, that the murderer or murderers might be punished? Did we not brave the summer's heat and the winter's cold, and the savage tomahawk, while the Historical Sketch of Dauphin County. 45 inhabitants of Philadelphia, Philadelphia county, Bucks and Chester 'ate, drank and were merry.' "If a white man kill an Indian, it is a murder far ex- ceeding any crime upon record; he must not be tried in the county where he lives, or where the offence was com- mitted, but in Philadelphia, that he may be tried, con- victed, sentenced and hung without delay. If an Indian kill a white man, it was the act of an ignorant heathen, perhaps in liquor; alas, poor innocent ! — he is sent to the friendly Indians, that he may be made a Christian. Is it not a notorious fact, that an Indian who treacherously murdered a family in Northampton county, was given up to the magistrates, that Jic might have a regular trial; and was not this Indian conveyed into Bucks county, and is he not provided with every necessary, and kept secured from punishment by Israel Pemberton? Have we not repeatedly represented that Conestoga was a harbor for prowling savages, and that we were at a loss to tell friend or foe, and all we asked was the removal of the Christian Indians? Was not this promised by Governor Penn, and yet delayed? Have we forgotten Renatus, that Christian Indian? A murder of more than savage bar- barity was committed on the Susquehanna; the murderer was traced by the scouts to Conestoga; he was demand- ed, but the Indians assumed a warlike attitude, tomahawks were raised, and the fire-arms glistened in the sun; shots were fired upon the scouts, who went back for additional force. They returned, and you know the event — Cones- toga was reduced to ashes. But the murderer escaped. The friendly and unfriendly were placed in the work- house at Lancaster. What could secure them from the? vengeance of an exasperated people? The doors were forced, and the hapless Indians perished. Were we tamely to look on and see our brethren murdered, and see our fairest prospects blasted, while the inhabitants of Philadelphia, Philadelphia county, Bucks and Chester, slept and reaped their grain in safety? "These hands never shed human blood. Why am I singled out as an object of persecution? Why are the 46 Historical Sketch of Dauphin County. bloodhounds let loose upon me? Let him who wished to take my life — let him come and take it. I shall not fly. All I ask is, that the men accused of murder be tried in Lancaster county. All I ask is a trial in my own county. If these requests are refused, then not a hair of those men's heads shall be molested. Whilst I have life, you shall not either have me, or them, on any other terms. It is true, I submitted to the sheriff of York county, but you know too well that I was to be conveyed to Philadelphia like a wild felon — manacled — to die a felon's death. I would have scorned to fly from York. I could not bear that my name should be marked by ignomy. What I have done, was done for the security of hundreds of settlers on the frontiers. The blood of a thousand of my fellow-creatures called for vengeance. I shed no Indian's blood. As a ranger I sought the post of danger, and now you ask my life. Let me be tried where prejudice has not prejudged my case. Let my brave rangers, who have stemmed the blast nobly and never flinched — let them have an equitable trial; they were my friends in the hour of danger — to desert them now, were cowardice. What remains, is to leave our cause with our God, and our guns. "Lazarus Stewart." When the news of the transactions at Conestoga and Lancaster reached Philadelphia, the authorities removed the savages confined on Province Island, to the barracks in that city for greater safety. This was deemed neces- sary from the fact that large delegations of the frontier inhabitants, who determined that the Assembly should redress their grievances, were marching on Philadelphia, and whose hatred for the Indians was intense. This demonstration produced much alarm, in the city, as all sorts of rumors were afloa.t as to the objects of the set- tlers. The Governor fled to the house of Dr. Franklin, and unnecessary military measures were taken to repel Historical Sketch of Dauphin County. 47 the so-called insurgents. Finding that the excitement was great, upon consultation among themselves, the ma- jority of the Paxtonians concluded to return to their homes in Lancaster and Cumberland counties, leaving Smith and Gibson to represent them in the real object of the march on Philadelphia — a redress of grievances. At various periods between 1752 and 1760 the Pro- vincial Government erected a line of forts between the Delaware river and the Potomac. Of these Fort Hunter, Fort Manada, Fort Brown, and Fort Halifax, were in the territory which subsequently became the county of Dau- phin. Fort Hunter, which seems to have been of considera- ble importance, was situated at the mouth of Fishing creek, about five miles north of Harrisburg. The spot was originally settled by the Chambers, but is now well known as "McAllisters." The precise locality of this fort is not known. Accord- ing to a letter of Edward Shippen, Esq., dated April 19, 1756, it stood five or six hundred feet from Hunter's house. It was surrounded by an entrenchment, which, however, seems to have been leveled in 1 763. Rev. John Elder, who was also a colonel, writing to Gov. Hamilton, says: "I have always kept a small party of men stationed at Hunter's, still expecting that they would have been re- placed by 1 7 or 20 of the Augusta troops, as your honor was pleased once to mention ; and if that post is destined to be maintained, as the entrenchment thrown up there in the beginning of the late troubles, is now level with the ground, it will be absolutely necessary to have a small stockade erected there to cover the men, which may be done at an inconsiderable expense." 48 Historical Sketch of Dauphin County. According to the Commissary General's returns, in November, 1756, the state of the garrison at Fort Hunter was as follows : " 2 sergeants, 34 privates ; ammuni- tion — 4 pounds of powder, 28 pounds of lead ; provi- sions — 1,000 weight of Hour, 2,000 pounds of beef; 2 men's time up." In August, 1757, in a petition to the Provincial Coun- cil the inhabitants of Paxton set forth "that the evacua- tion of Fort Hunter is of great disadvantage to them ; that Fort Halifax is not necessary to secure the commu- nication with Fort Augusta, and is not so proper a station for the batteaux parties as Port Hunter; pray the Gov- ernor would be pleased to fix a sufficient number of men at Hunter's, under the command of an active officer, with strict orders to range the frontiers daily." The Rev. John Elder backed this petition with the fol- lowing letter to Richard Peters, Secretary of Council: "Paxton, 30th July, 1757. "Sir: "As we of this township have petitioned the Governor for a removal of the garrison from Halifax to Hunter's, I beg the favor of you to use your interest with his honor in our behalf. The defence of Halifax is of no advan- taee ; but a earrison at Hunter's under the command of an active officer, will be of great service ; it will render the carriage of provisions and ammunition for the use of Augusta more easy and less expensive ; and by encouraging the inhabitants to continue in their places, will prevent the weakening of the frontier settlements. We have only hinted at these things in the petition, which you will please to enlarge on in conversation with the Governor, and urge in such a manner as you think proper. 'Tis well known that representatives from the back inhabitants have but little weight with the gen- Historical Sketch of Dauphin Comity. 49 tlemen in power, they looking on us cither as incapable of forming just notions of things, or as biased by selfish views. However, I am satisfied that you, sir, have more favorable conceptions of us ; and that from the know- ledge you have of the situation of the places mentioned in our petition, you will readily agree with us and use your best offices with the Governor to prevail with him to grant it ; and you will very much oblige " Sir, your most obedient And humble Servant, "John Elder." Pending the consideration of this question in the Coun- cil, Commissary Young was called before that body. He stated ''that Fort Halifax is a very bad situation, being built between two ranges of hills, and nobody living near it, none could be protected by it ; that it is no station for batteaux parties, having no command of the channel, which runs close on the western shore, and is beside cov- ered with a large island between the channel and the fort, so that numbers of the enemy may even in day time run down the river without being seen by that garrison." He further said that though the fort or block house at Hunter's was not tenable, being hastily erected and not finished, yet the situation was the best upon the river for every service, as well as for the protection of the fron- tiers. The Indians made several invasions near to Fort Hun- ter, and as we have already mentioned, killed a man in 1757. Bartram Galbraith says in a letter, dated Hunter's Fort, October 1, 175-7: "Notwithstanding the happy condi- tion we thought this place in, on Capt. Busse's being sta- tioned here, we have had a man killed within twenty rods of Hunter's barn. We all turned out, but night coming on soon, we could not make any pursuit." 50 Historical Sketch of Dauphin County. When Col. James Burd visited Fort Hunter in Febru- ary, 1758, he says "he found Capt. Patterson and Levis here with eighty men. The captain informed me that they had not above three loads of ammunition to a man. I ordered Mr. Barney Hughes to send up here a barrel of powder and lead answerable. In the meantime borrowed of Thomas Gallagher four pounds of powder and one hundred pounds of lead. I ordered a review of the gar- rison to-morrow morning at 9 o'clock." We continue from Col. Burd's journal: "Tuesday, 19. Had a review this morning of Capt. Patterson's company, and found them complete — fifty- three men, forty-four province arms, and forty-four car- touch boxes — no powder nor lead. I divided one-half pint of powder, and lead in proportion, to a man. I found in this fort four months' provisions for the garrison. "Captain Davis with his party of fifty-five men, was out of ammunition. I divided one-half pint of powder and lead in proportion to them. Capt. Davis has got twelve hundred weight of flour for the batteaux. Sundry of the batteaux are leaking and must be left behind. Capt. Pat- terson cannot scout at present for want of officers. I or- dered him to apply to the country to assist him to stock- ade the fort agreeable to their promise to his honor, the Governor. There are three men sick here." Fort Hunter, or Hunter's mill, like Harris Ferry, was a great shipping point for provisions and military stores up and down the Susquehanna. As early as 1749, when Joseph Chambers resided there, the place was of some consequence. The Colonial Records mention several formal "talks" with the Indians at Hunter's Fort. Fort Halifax was built at the mouth of Armstrong's creek, about half a mile above the present town of Hali- Historical Sketch of Dauphin County. 51 fax. There is nothing now to mark the place, except in a slight elevation of the ground and a well known to have belonged to the fort. The fort was built in 1756 by Col. Wm. Clapham. In a letter to Gov. Morris, dated June 20, 1756, Col. Clapham says: "The progress already made in this fort renders it impracticable for me to com- ply with the commissioner's desire to contract it, at which I was surprised, as I expected every day orders to enlarge it, it being yet, in my opinion, too small. I shall have an officer and thirty men with orders to finish it when I march from hence." In a postscript the colonel adds : "The fort at this place is without a name till your honor is pleased to confer one." Gov. Morris replied to this letter, as follows : "Philadelphia, June 21, 1756. "The fort at Armstrong — I would have it called 'Fort Halifax'." Col. Clapham was under orders to proceed to Shamo- kin, and previous to embarking for that post, he wrote to Governor Morris, under date of July 1, 1756, as fol- lows: "I shall leave a seargeant's party at Harris, consisting of twelve men, twenty-four at Hunter's Fort, twenty-four at M'Kee's store (twenty-five miles above Fort Hunter), each under the command of an ensign; and Captain Miles, with thirty men, at Fort Halifax, with the inclosed instructions, as I have removed all the stores from Harris Ferry and M'Kee's to this place." The instructions to Captain Miles, above mentioned, were as follows: "Fort Halifax, July 1, 1756. "Sir; "You are to command a party of thirty men at Fort Halifax, which you are to finish with all possible expedi- 52 Historical Sketch of Dauphin County. tion, observing not to suffer your party to straggle in small numbers into the woods, or to go any great dis- tance from the fort, unless detached as an escort, or in case of special orders for that purpose. You are to build barracks within the fort for your men, and also a store house, thirty feet by twelve, in which you are care- fully to lodge all provisions, stores, &c, belonging to the province. If the boards purchased for that purpose are not sufficient to finish the banquette, and execute the other designs herein recommended, your men are to be employed in sawing more out of the pine logs now lying near the fort. You are to keep a constant guard, and relieve regularly, to have continual one sentry in each bastion, and in case of attack, to retreat to the fort, and defend it to the last extremity. "If anything extraordinary occurs, you are immediately to dispatch notice thereof to his Honor, the Governor, and to signify the same to me, if any relief or instructions may be necessary. "William Clapham." Besides these regular provincial forts, there were sev- eral others, built by the settlers themselves. Such were Forts Manady (near the present Manada Furnace) and Brown (near Adam Reed's, at the "big bend" of Swatara). Some of the more substantial dwelling houses of the settlers were also converted into block-houses, and, in times of danger, became rallying points for the people. The Colonial Records mention several of those as existing in Hanover and Paxton townships. In a letter, dated October 29, 1755, John Harris writes: "I have this day cut loop-holes in my house, and am determined to hold out to the last extremity, if I can get some men to stand by me." He subsequently strengthened his defences by erecting a stockade, which is mentioned by Edward Shippen in a letter to Governor Morris, under date of April 19, 1756. — "John Harris has Historical Sketch of Dauphin County. 53 built an excellent stockade around his house, which is the only place of security that way for the provisions of the army, he having much good cellar room; and as he has but six or seven men to guard it, if the Government would order six more men there to strengthen it, it would, in my opinion, be of great use to the cause." 54 Historical Sketch of Dauphin County THE COUNTY DURING THE REVOLUTION. The first murmurings of British exaction from Boston excited our population to action, and in nearly every set- tlement of Lancaster county, meetings of sympathy were held, and strong resolves adopted, responsive to the Boston complainings. The tax on tea and the stamp duties were trifles. The people of this county knew nothing of thern, and probably cared no more. The principle of the movement was deeper — more fundamen- tal: the love of self-government; "the glorious privilege of being independent." The excitement was general throughout the county. Individuals opposed it, and from different, though equally pure, motives. Some supposed resistance to the laws to be hopeless at that time, and advised to wait for more strength and resources; others were influenced by religious considerations, just as pure and as potent as had influenced their fathers aforetime. But the county was nearly unanimous in its resistance to British claims, and saw in them the commencement of a colonial servitude, degrading, and threatening the future progress of the country in its destined path to wealth and glory. The remote position of the county from the scenes of strife, and the march of armies, preclude the writer from describing battle-fields, victories won, or villages sacked, anywhere within its limits. We have no means of de- termining the amount of force in men or money furnished by the county in aid of the war. From the tone of the votes and resolves passed at the various meetings, and Historical Sketch of Dauphin County. 55 from the number of officers and men, continental and militia, who joined the army, we may venture the asser- tion, that no county in the State, of no greater population than this, gave more efficient aid in various ways, or man- ifested by its acts more devoted patriotism. At an assembly of the inhabitants of Hanover, Lancas- ter county, (since Dauphin,) held on Saturday, June 4, 1774, Col. Timothy Green, chairman, to express their sentiments on the state of affairs, it was unanimously re- solved, "ist. That the recent action of the Parliament of Great Britain is iniquitous and oppressive. "2d. That it is the bounden duty of the people to op- pose every measure which tends to deprive them of their just prerogatives. "3d. That in a closer union of the Colonies lies the safe- guard of the people. "4th. That in the event of Great Britain attempting to force unjust laws upon us by the strength of arms, our cause we leave to Heaven and our rifles. "5th. That a committee of nine be appointed who shall act for us and in our behalf as emergencies may require." The committee consisted of Col. Timothy Green, James Carothers, Josiah Espy, Robert Dixon, Thomas Copenheffer, William Clark, James Stewart, and John Rogers. These individuals were all prominent men in Hanover township, and with the exception of Captain Copenheffer, they were Scotch-Irish. James Carothers served under Col. Armstrong at Kittatinny, and was wounded. His family emigrated to the west. The descendants of Jo- siah Espy yet reside in the county. Clark, Stewart and Barnett, it is thought, removed shortly after to the Buf- falo valley, and took a prominent part in the struggle for Independence. 56 Historical Sketch of Dauphin County. We have this minute of another meeting: "July 25, 1776. This is to certify that we, the associa- tors of Derry township, in Lancaster county, province of Pennsylvania, in the Fourth Battalion, commanded by James Burd, Colonel, do bind ourselves in all the rules and regulations made by the honorable Congress for the militia of this Commonwealth. Derry township, July 25, 1776. We, the undersigned, are willing: to serve in the Fourth Battalion, commanded by Col. James Burd, agreeable to order of Congress, and agree to serve until the first day of November, 1776, in the land service of the country in favor of the flag of liberty. Frederick Hummel, Samuel Ramsey, Alexander Montgomery, Peter Grove, David Hummel, Mathias Hoover, Philip Blessing, John M'Farlane, Philip Fishburn, George Lauer, Henry Miller, Thomas Rowland. Nicholas Zimmerman, Frederick Hummel was afterwards captain of this company. Contributions in support of the war were not confined to the payment of heavy taxes, but voluntary aid came from associations and individuals in every quarter. John Harris, the first settler, and father of the founder of Harrisburg, was one of those who when independ- ence was agitated thought the Declaration premature. He feared that the Colonies were unequal to the task of combating with Great Britain. But when Independence was formally declared, he read the Declaration from a Philadelphia newspaper to his wife in the presence of their son. When he had concluded it, he remarked: "The act is now done, and we must now take sides either for or against the country. The war in which we are Historical Sketch of Dauphin County. 57 about to engage cannot be carried on without money. Now we have ,£3,000 in the house, and if you are agreed I will take the money to Philadelphia and put it into the public treasury to carry on the war. If we succeed in obtaining our independence we may lose the money — as the government may not be able to pay it back — but we will get our land." She consented, and he carried the money to Philadelphia and deposited it in the treasury, taking certificates in return. After the war he sold these certificates for 1 7s. 6d. in the pound. After the debt was funded, certificates rose to 25s. in the pound. A number of additional facts bearing testimony to the patriotism of our citizens during the revolution will be found, in Dr. Egle's Historical Sketch, in the Appendix. 58 Historical Sketch of Dauphin County. FORMATION OF THE COUNTY. We commence our sketch of the formation of the county with a general history of the townships within that portion of the county of Lancaster, which was subse- quently set off to Dauphin, as well as the territory taken from the latter to form the county of Lebanon; the data, which is derived from a valuable work, now quite rare, prepared by Joseph Miller, Esq., formerly clerk to the County Commissioners, under whose authority it was published. The Legislature of the Province of Pennsylvania, by an act passed May 10, 1729, erected the county of Lan- caster with very extensive limits, not necessary to de- scribe here further than to say, they embraced the pres- ent territory of Lancaster, Dauphin, Lebanon and part of Berks counties. Among the records of the Court of Quarter Sessions, of Lancaster county, are the following entries: "Boundaries of the townships in Lancaster county, as they were settled and agreed upon by the magistrates and inhabitants of the said county, the 9th day of June, and confirmed by the Court of Quarter Sessions the first Tuesday in August ensuing, Anno Domini 1729." Then follow the names and boundaries of a number of townships, covering the territory of the county from its southern lines to the Kittatinny mountain, among which occur the names of Derry, Peshtank and Lebanon townships, which afterwards became Dauphin county, which are severally described as follows: Historical Sketch of Dauphin County. 59 "DERRY, 1729. '"The township of Derry, beginning at the mouth of Conewago creek, thence up Susquehanna to the mouth of Swatara, thence up Swatara to the mouth of Ouitopo- hollo, thence south on a direct line to Conowago, and thence down the same to the beginning.' "The eastern boundary of this township as originally adopted, seems to be involved in some uncertainty; to pursue the letter of the foregoing order, to run south on a direct line from the mouth of the Quittopohilla creek to Conowago creek, would strike the latter something like seven miles lower down than the point which, from every- thing which can now be discovered, seems to have been originally adopted as the southeast corner of Derry township — that, instead of running the eastern line of the township south on a direct line, as the record calls for, the Quittopohilla creek, Killinger's run, and a line south- east from the head of that run to strike the Conowago creek, seems most probable, if not entirely certain. This is inferred from the following facts : First — All the ter- ritory which lay between the Susquehanna river and the eastern boundary of Lebanon township, and between the Conowago creek and the mountain, was at the same time divided into three townships, viz: Peshtank, Derry and Lebanon. To adhere to a line directly south from the mouth of the Quittopohilla, would have left the territory of Derry township very limited as compared with that of the other two townships. By adopting the Quittopohilla, &c, as the eastern boundary of Derry, that township was still less than either of the other two; but of course, bore a better proportion to them. Second — In the year 176S the inhabitants of Derry township applied to the Court for a division of the township, on the grounds that its boundaries were "very large and extensive'' 1 and asking that the division line might be a certain road "leading from Conowago creek, by the widow Hall's, to the Swa- tara creek at Felix Landis', senior." This prayer was granted by the Court, and that road adopted as the di- 60 Historical Sketch of Dauphin County. viding line, and the eastern division directed to be called Londonderry township. Now, if in the year 1768 a line directly south from the mouth of the Ouittopohilla to the Conewago creek was considered as the eastern bounda- ry of Derry township, a division of it by the road before mentioned would have been most objectionable, as it would have left Londonderry township but a mere slip of territory, for some distance not a mile wide. And lastly — If the Ouittopohilla creek, &c, was not considered in 1768 as the originally adopted eastern boundary of Der- ry township, how or when was the township of London- derry brought up to that line ? There is no record or authority found, creating the township of Londonderry other than by the division of Derry in 1768 before men- tioned, nor any afterwards extending the limits of the former eastward, and yet it is certain that Londonderry extended eastward to the Ouittopohilla and Killinger run line in 1799, when on the occasion of a division of Lebanon township, Londonderry was called for on that line as may be seen on reference to Annville township. Upon these grounds the conclusion, that the Ouittopo- hilla creek, Killinger' s run and a line southeast from the head of that run to the Conewago creek, was the origi- nally adopted eastern boundary of Derry township, seems to be warranted ; notwithstanding it must be ad- mitted that that line does not appear to be in strict ac- cordance with the foreofoino- record. "PESHTANK TOWNSHIP, 1729. '"The township of Peshtank, beginning at the mouth of the Swatara, thence up the river to Kohtohtoning hill above Peter Allen's, thence eastward by the south side of the said hill to the meridian of Ouotopohollo mouth, thence on a south course to the mouth of the same at Swatara, and down Swatara to the beginning.' "LEBANON TOWNSHIP, 1729. '"Lebanon township, beginning under the aforesaid hill at the northeast corner of Peshtank, thence by the Historical Sketch of Dauphin County. 6\ said hill easterly to the meridian of the west line of Tol- pohocken Manor, thence southerly and by the said line to the hills bounding Warwick township, thence by the said hills and township westerly to the corner of Derry on Conowago, thence northerly by Derry and Peshtank to the place of beginning.' "Assuming the 'Kohtohtoning hill,' mentioned in the above records, to be the lower or southmost of the range of mountains, the three townships of Derry, Peshtank and Lebanon, at their organization in 1729, embraced all the territory south of that mountain, which subsequently became part of Dauphin county, except that portion of Heidelburg township, which was thrown into Dauphin on the division of Dauphin from Lancaster county. The northeast corner of Lebanon township, as described above, was afterwards cut off by the division line be- tween Berks and Lancaster counties. The Lebanon township record above given calls for the Kohtohtoning hill, from the northeast corner of Peshtank to the meri- dian of the west line of the Tolpohocken manor; that point at the hill has been assumed to correspond with the east line of Lebanon township, as given on Smith's map, and is found by examination of drafts in the Sur- veyor General's office to correspond in position and course with the west line of Tulpohocken manor. "HANOVER TOWNSHIP, 1739. "At February Sessions, 1736-J, a petition was pre- sented to the court of Lancaster county, stating that many of the inhabitants of Derry township, living on the northwest side of the Swatara creek, labored under incon- veniences by reason of the largeness of the township, and asking to be divided from the other part thereof, and that their bounds might be as follows: 'To be divided on the west from Peshtank by Beaver creek, from its mouth to the mountain ; from Lebanon on the east and Derry on the south, by Swatara creek from Beaver creek mouth to the forks, and thence by the north branch thereof to the mountain,' which was allowed by the court 62 Historical Sketch of Dauphin County. and ordered to be recorded, and that the said township be called 'Hanover.' The boundaries of this township are all natural and therefore cannot easily be mistaken; but there is an evident mistake in stating - the petitioners to be inhabitants of Derry township, residing northwest of the Swatara creek, and that their prayer was for a division of Derry township. A glance at the boundaries of Der- ry will show that there was no part of that township on the northwest side of Swatara creek, and the division lines asked for and granted did not touch upon the terri- tory at all. The mistake is not of any practical import- ance, but seems evident that the petition was from inhab- itants of Peshtank, and for a division of that township. Hanover as thus laid off, embraced parts of what was be- fore Peshtank and Lebanon townships. "BETHEL TOWNSHIP, 1739. "The Court of Quarter Sessions of Lancaster county in May, 1 739, on the application of inhabitants of Lebanon township, setting forth that they labored under several disadvantages by the largeness of the township, and pray- ing the same may be divided into two townships, and one of them be called Bethel; 'Ordered by the Court that the division line begin at Swatara creek, at a stony ridge about half a mile below John Tittler's and continuing along the said ridge easterly to Tulpohocken township, to the north of Tobias Pickle's, so as in its course to leave John Benagle, Adam Steel, Thomas Ewersly and Mathias Tice to the southward of the said line; that the norther- most division be called the township of Bethel, and the southern division continue the name of Lebanon.' This division was made by a single line run across the town- ship of Lebanon from the Swatara creek to the original east line of that township, consequently that portion of the territory which was afterwards cut off by the Berks county line, was a part of Bethel township from this divi- sion in 1739 until the Berks county line was run, which was in the year 1752. Historical Sketch of Dauphin County. 63 "BERKS COUNTY, 1752. "The Legislature of the Province, by an act passed March 1 1, 1752, erected the county of Berks, separating the new county on the southwest from Lancaster by the line which subsequently continued to be the dividing- line between Dauphin and Berks counties, and the same which at present divides Lebanon from Berks, and Dauphin from Schuylkill counties. This line, as before stated, cut off a portion of Bethel township, and will be referred to hereafter in relation to the boundaries of townships. "At the time the county of Berks was erected, the townships of Warwick, Heidleburg and Cocalico had ex- istence in Lancaster county: they either adjoined the south and east sides of Lebanon township, or were lo- cated in that neighborhood. At February sessions, 1757, the inhabitants of the township of Heidleburg peti- tioned the court, stating their difficulties arising out of the largeness of their township, and that there was a consid- erable body of land laying between the townships of Heidleburg, Lebanon, Warwick and Cocalico, that had not before then been erected into or annexed to any township, and praying for a reconstruction of said town- ships: upon which the court ordered and designated the boundaries of several townships, among which was Hei- dleburg, as follows: "HEIDLEBURG TOWNSHIP, 1757. "'Beginning at the south side of Joseph Cratzer's land, bounding upon Lebanon and extending by the same northerly to Bethel township; thence easterly along Bethel to Tulpohocken township, in Berks county; thence by the same to Cocalico township, to Valentine Feeman's ; thence by the same and by Elizabeth town- ship to the place of beginning.' This gives the bounda- ries of Heidleburg township as they were when Dauphin county was subsequently taken from Lancaster, and as they remained so long as Heidleburg township was a portion of Dauphin county. 64 Historical Sketch of Dauphin County. "UPPER PAXTON TOWNSHIP, 1767. "At a Court of Quarter Sessions, held at Lancaster in August, 1767, a petition was presented from inhabitants of Lower Paxton township, stating that some time ago Upper Paxton, above the Narrows, was a separate town- ship from Lower Paxton, and had their annual officers; James Murry and William Clark served as constables in said Paxton above the Narrows, and they had their own inspectors, &c; and learning that the inhabitants of Up- per Paxton, above the Narrows, had petitioned the court for a road from the Narrows to James Reed's, and ob- tained an order for a view of the same as in Lower Pax- ton, which alarmed the petitioners, and they therefore prayed the court to grant them relief by confirming a di- vision line of said townships. Whereupon the court 'ordered that the partition line between Upper and Lower Paxton be made from the mouth of Fishing- creek, where it empties into Susquehanna, and from thence along the top of Kittatenia mountain, next to Lozver Paxton, to Beaver creek.' "There does not appear to be any record of the court previous to the date of the above, establishing, or in any way recognizing the existence of Upper Paxton town- ship. The minutes of the Court of Quarter Sessions, which usually exhibit the townships and the names of the constables for each at the commencement of each ses- sion, does not notice either the name of Upper Paxton township, or any constable as from such township, until after the date of the order of 1 767 ; that order is the only record found creating this township at all, and as it has in that order no northern limit assigned, it may be taken that from August, 1767, Upper Paxton embraced at least all the territory subsequently assigned to Dauphin county, from the lower mountain to the Mahantongo creek, subject, however, to a debatable question whether Hanover township extended northward by the second mountain; a question which is noticed more at large under the head 'Hanover, East and West.' Historical Sketch of Dauphin County. 65 "LONDONDERRY TOWNSHIP, 1768. "February Sessions, 1768. — 'The court, taking into consideration a petition preferred to them by the inhab- itants of Deny township, setting forth that the bounds of the said township were very extensive and large, and the inhabitants thereof labored under several inconveniences by reason thereof, and praying the said court to divide the said township into two parts, according to a bounda- ry line agreed upon by the said inhabitants, to wit : '"Along a certain road leading from Conewago creek, by the widow Hall's; thence to Felix Landis, senior, at Swa- tara creek, which said road is to fall into the east part of the said township, and that the said part be known by the name of Londonderry, and that the west part of said township retain the name of Derry. It is considered and ordered by the court that the said township be divided agreeable to the prayer of said petition, and that the said part to the east be known by the name of Londonderry, and the west end be known by the name of Derry, which said division line is hereby confirmed to be and remain firm and stable forever, and as such to be entered of record.' The reasons for adopting the Ouittopohilla creek, &c, as the eastern boundary, are stated under the head of Derry township, and need not be repeated here. For subsequent alterations in the lines of this township, see 'Derry and Londonderry Re-formed.' "DIVISION OF HANOVER INTO EAST AND WEST HANOVER, 1785. "February Sessions, 1785. — 'The court, taking into consideration the limits of the township of Hanover and great difficulties of the several officers therein in dis- charging their respective duties, on due consideration and advisement, do direct a division thereof by a small stream of water running through the same, which is called the West Branch of Priest's run, and rises on the lands of Philip Rank, and from thence by the said stream or run of water until it empties itself into Swatara creek 66 Historical Sketch of Dauphin County. at Michael Brown's mill ; and do further denominate that division which is next to Jonestown, by the name of East Hanover, and the other division thereof by the name of West Hanover.' The stream of water called Priest's run in the foregoing record, is not found by that name on Mr. Smith's map, nor is any one now living in that section of the county who knows of a stream by that name ; but from the best information which has been obtained, that marked on Smith's map and now generally known as Raccoon creek, was the dividing line between East and West Hanover townships down to the year 1813, when Lebanon county was taken from Dauphin, the northwest line of which runs in the neighborhood of Raccoon creek, and, indeed, the head of that creek is made one of the points of that line, and the running of that line so near the dividing line of East and West Hanover townships, made it of but little practical importance where the sep- arating line of the two townships was; it may, however, be assumed with reasonable certainty that Raccoon creek was the line. "There is another question which it seems proper, and in place here to refer to, it is as to the true boundary on the north of East and West Hanover townships; in point of what may be called practice, it seems those town- ships were held to extend to the second mountain at least from an early day; if the records are consulted it by no means is certain that the practice was in accordance with them, or that there was any authority until a later day, for supposing those townships extended beyond the first mountain, other than long usage. When the township of Peshtank was erected, in 1729, it extended from Swa- tara creek to Kohtohtoning hill, above Peter Allen's; where Peter Allen's was, or whether the first mountain of the range was the only one known by the name of Kohtohtoning, it is now impossible to know; the proba- bility is that start from below and running up the river, if it had been intended to pass the first mountain and adopt the second, it would have been so stated; this, however, is but conjecture. The next matter of record Historical Sketch of Dauphin County. 67 bearing on the question, occurs when Hanover township was erected in 1 J2>7'- Beaver creek from its mouth to the mountain, was made the dividing line between Hanover and Peshtank; Beaver creek had its source at the south- ern base of the first mountain, and the division line was extended no farther. It should have been stated before, when referring to the boundaries of Peshtank, that when the Kothtohtoning hill was reached, the line run eastward by the south side of said hill to the meridian of the mouth of Ouittopohilla creek. Again, in the year 1767, the court ordered the division line between Upper and Lower Paxton townships to be made from the mouth of Pishing creek; thence along the top of Kittatinia moun- tain, next to Lower Paxton, to Beaver creek. Hanover township was divided into East and West in the year 1785; the dividing line was a run, having its source on the south side of the first mountain. In this case, like that of the division of Peshtank and Hanover, the record provides no line extending beyond the first mountain. The practice of treating the territory between the first and second mountains as within the Hanovers, probably originated soon after the organization of Dauphin coun- ty, in the year 1785. The question whether East Han- over township extended beyond the first mountain in the year 1 796, occurred in the trial of the case of Gloninger vs. Goddard, in the Common Pleas of Lebanon county, and which is reported in 5th Watts, 221. The under- standing and practice before mentioned was fully proved on that trial ; in the Supreme Court, however, although it was not thought necessary to the question, the Judge who delivered the opinion of the Court clearly intimated that the records showed the first mountain to be the true boundary. This question and these matters relating to it are here merely referred to as a part of the history of township boundaries, and not to be understood as sug- gesting any existing difficulty; incidently the second mountain has become the record line of West Hanover, as ma)' be seen on reference to the records establishing 68 Historical Sketch of Dauphin County. Rush township, in 1820, and the division of West Hano- ver township in 1842. "DAUPHIN COUNTY. " By an act of Assembly passed on the 4th March, 1 785, Dauphin county was erected, the entire territory of which was taken from the county of Lancaster, according to the following boundaries, viz: 'Beginning on the west side of the river Susquehanna, opposite to the mouth of the Conewago creek; thence up the middle of the said creek to Moore's mill; and from thence to the head of said creek; and from thence by a direct line to the southeast corner of Heidleburg township, where it strikes the Berks county line; thence northwest, by the line of Berks county, to the Mahantango creek; thence by the same, by the line of Northumberland county and cross- ing the river Susquehanna, to the line of Cumberland county; thence down the Susquehanna, on the west side thereof, by the line of Cumberland county and that part of the line of York county, to the place of beginning, on the west side of the river Susquehanna.' These boundaries embrace the whole bed of the Susquehanna river, to low water mark on the western shore, and it seems to have followed as a consequence, that all township lines pre- viously butting on the river, were extended to the west- ern shore." The county derives its name from the dauphin of France, (the eldest son of the King,) as a token of re- gard for the assistance rendered by his father, Louis XVI., to the Americans during the Revolution. "MIDDLE PAXTON TOWNSHIP, 1787. "At a Court of Quarter Sessions, held in Dauphin county in the month of August, 1787, an order was is- sued to commissioners to take into consideration the ne- cessity and propriety of dividing Upper Paxton township, who reported a dividing line, 'Commencing at the river Historical Sketch of Dauphin County. 69 Susquehanna, at the mouth of a run emptying into the said river and running from Jacob Strickler's spring, and thence along the different courses of the said run to the place where the said spring extracts out of the earth, and from thence by a direct line to the dividing ridge; thence along the said ridge to the extremity thereof, to the line of Berks county.' "The court directed the township to be divided, agree- ably to this report, from the said line to the: upper boundary of Lower Paxton, to be called Middle Paxton. "HARRISBURG BOROUGH, 1791. "The town of Harrisburg was incorporated and made a borough by an act of Assembly passed on the 13th of April, 1 79 1, with the following boundaries, viz: '"Beginning at low water mark on the eastern shore of the Susquehanna river; thence by the pine apple tree north 60^ degrees, east 79. perches, to an ash tree on the west bank of Paxton creek ; thence by the several courses thereof 323 perches to a white hickory in Wil- liam Maclay line; thence by the same south 67^ de- grees, west 212, to a marked chestnut oak, on the east- ern bank of the Susquehanna; thence by the same course to low water mark ; and from thence by the low water mark to the place of beginning.' "This act of 1791 was repealed by the act passed Feb- ruary 1, 1808, but the first section of the latter act pro- vided that the boundaries of Harrisburg should continue as fixed by the act of 1791. By the 17th section of an act of Assembly passed April 16, 1838, it is provided that from and after the passage of the act 'the northwestern boundary line of the borough of Harrisburg, as incorpo- rated by the act of 13 April, 1791, shall be extended and enlarged, as follows, to wit: '"Beginning at the southwest corner of the present boundary line on Susquehanna river; thence extending along the same, at low water mark, to the upper corner and line of the land of the late William Maclay on said jo Historical Sketch of Dauphin County. river, in Susquehanna township, and thence by a parallel line to Paxton creek; thence along- said stream to the northwest corner of the present boundary line of the said borough of Harrisburof, so as to include the whole village or town of Maclaysburg within the limits of the aforesaid borough of Harrisburof.' "The position of the new line from the river to Paxton creek was established in 1847, m proceedings, to deter- mine that line of Susquehanna township which is given under the head of that township." Further reference to Harrisburg will be found in our description of the towns in the county. "ANNVILLE TOWNSHIP, 1799. "An order of the Court of Quarter Sessions of Dau- phin county was issued at June Sessions, 1799, to com- missioners to examine and report a line dividing the township of Lebanon, as nearly as might be for the con- venience of the people, into two equal parts. To this order the said commission reported the following line of division, to wit: "'Beginning at the line between Bethel township and Lebanon township; thence by lands of Jacob Boltz, John Miller, Adam Heylman, John Heylman, junior, John Heylman, Michael Krider, Christian Long, Abraham Long, Herman Long, Peter Forney, John Gingrich, Martin Carmony, Jacob Hegea, John Heiss, Michael Urich, Christian Bachman, and Robert Coleman, Es- quire, south four degrees, east 2,520 perches, to a marked black oak, at the line between Londonderry township and the township of Lebanon aforesaid.' "This report was confirmed by the Court at September Sessions, 1 799, and it was ordered that it be thereafter designated upon the records of the court by the name of Annville township. Historical Sketch of Dauphin County. 71 "SWATARA TOWNSHIP, 1799. "The court, at their September sessions, in the year 1 799, issued an order to commissioners to view Lower Paxton township, and report to the next sessions, a line dividing said township as nearly as might be for the con- venience of the people, into two equal parts; to which order the commissioners made return, that they had made a division of the said township by a line '" Beginning- at the Paxton creek, where the breast of Landis' mill dam formerly stood ; thence south 85 degrees, east 192 perches, to a hickory in the land of John Neis- ley ; thence south 76 degrees, east 375 perches, to a black oak in the land of Joshua Elder, Esq.; thence south 80 degrees, east 135^ perches, to the fence of the idieb land belono-ino- to the Paxton meeting house ; thence south 85 degrees, east 667 perches, to a chestnut tree in Christian Page's field; thence 340 perches to Mi- chael Cassel's bake oven ; thence 200 perches to the house of George Reese; thence 262 perches to a marked hickory on the bank of Beaver creek, on land of Jacob Siders.' "This report was confirmed by the court, and it was ordered that it be entered of record, and that the south- ern division be designated upon the records of the court by the name of Swatara township. The foregoing shows the divsion line between Lower Paxton and Swatara townships in the year 1799; subsequently Lower Paxton township was again divided and Susquehanna township taken from it by a line from the mountain to somewhere near the centre of the line of Swatara, giving the south- ern section of the division to Susquehanna ; thus making the before described Swatara line in part the dividing- line between Susquehanna and Swatara townships. In the year 1842 the court issued an order to commission- ers to view, ascertain and establish and lay out a line of division between Susquehanna and Swatara townships from the bridge over Paxton creek at the junction of 72 Historical Sketch of Dauphin County. Market and Chestnut streets, in the line of the borough of Harrisburg, to the corner between the townships of Swatara, Susquehanna and Lower Paxton. The com- missioners reported the following line, to wit: '"Beginning at the corner between the said townships of Swatara, Susquehanna and Lower Paxton where the eastern branch of Keenbertz' mill dam crosses the same, and where a public road from said mill crosses said branch ; thence down said branch and mill dam, along the west side thereof by the several courses, 39^ perches to the forks of said dam; thence by the western fork of said dam and branch, and along the north side thereof, by their several courses, 68 perches, to a point where said branch is crossed by a road leading to Keenbertz' mill, and opposite the mouth of a run entering said branch from the southwest; thence crossing said branch and up said run and ravine along which it Flows by their several courses, 94^ perches to a hickory in or near the line of lands of F. Rudy; thence by said line north 88^ de- grees, west 93 perches, to the forks of a stream rising near a stone corner between lands of the heirs of Joshua Elder and Jacob Pancake, deceased, in said Rudy's line; thence down said stream, by the several courses thereof, 88 perches to its junction with Rutherford's run; thence clown Rutherford's run two perches to the mouth of Hile- man's run; thence up Hileman's run, by the several courses thereof, 119 perches to the line of James Her- rington, where a road crosses said run; thence by the line of Herrington's land, south 67^ degrees, west 109 perches, to where said line strikes the head waters of a run which leads across the Downingtown and Ephrata turnpike road; thence down said run, by the several courses thereof, 153 perches to the middle of said turn- pike and a bridge across said run ; thence along the mid- dle of said turnpike road to the middle of the bridge over Paxton creek aforesaid, by the following courses and dis- tances: north 74 degrees, west 68 perches, to an angle; north 74% degrees, west 213 perches to an angle on Al- lison's hill; north 66 degrees, west 51^ perches to the Historical Sketch of Dauphin County. 73 junction of said turnpike with the Jonestown road, and south yS 1 /^. degrees, west 8 perches to the middle of said bridge.' "This report was confirmed by the court on the 18th of January, 1843. The line thus run, so far as it goes, varies materially from the line of 1799 before mentioned. The first division line of Swatara township may be found recorded in Ses. Doc, 1795, i8oi,page 272; the second in Road Doc. A, page 273. "HALIFAX TOWNSHIP, 1804. "At December Sessions, 1803, the court issued an order to certain commissioners to view and lay out a new town- ship out of parts of Upper and Middle Paxton town- ships, who reported the following boundaries of the new township, to wit: "'Beginning on the west side of the Susquehanna river, opposite the end of Peter's mountain; thence along the top of Peter's mountain to the Berks and Dauphin county line; thence along said line to Wiconisco moun- tain ; thence along the top of said mountain to the Sus- quehanna river and across said river, and thence to the place of beginning".' "This report was confirmed by the court at their March sessions, A. D. 1804, anc ^ ft was ordered that the new township be called Halifax. The mountain called 'Wiconisco' in the above report is the same usually called Bern's mountain. "LYKENS TOWNSHIP, 1810. "Upon the petition of inhabitants of Upper Paxton township, asking for a division of said township, the court issued an order at their January Sessions, 18 10, to three commissioners to enquire into the propriety of granting said prayer, and to make a plot or draft of the township, &c. The commissioners reported in favor of a division of the township by the following line, to wit: 74 Historical Sketch of Dauphin County. "'Beginning at a pine tree in the Halifax township line, on the summit of Berry's mountain, at Peter Richard's Gap; thence north 10 degrees, east along and near a public road, which leads from Halifax to Sunsbury through Hain's Gap, 460 perches to a post on the north side of Wiconisco creek, near the said road; thence north 80 perches to a pine; thence running along the public road aforesaid, north 5 degrees, west 470 perches to Buffing- ton's church, leaving the said church on the westward; thence a course north 10 decrees west, leaving the dwell- ing of John Hopple westward 11 50 perches to Mahan- tango creek,' &c, &c. "The report then follows the lines around the two di- visions of Upper Paxton as they were after taking off Halifax township (running the lines across the river.) It is therefore unnecessary to follow them further here, as the line given above shows the division of what was then Upper Paxton township. This report was con- firmed by the court on the 3d of September, 18 10, and it was ordered that the eastern division be called Lykens township. "LEBANON GOUNTY, 181 3. "By an act of Assembly, passed 16th February, 181 3, Lebanon county was erected out of parts of Dauphin and Lancaster counties — principally from the former — with the following boundaries to wit: "'Beginning at the southeast corner of Dauphin coun- ty, where it intersects the Berks county line, about four miles from Newmanstown; thence through Lancaster county to a sand stone house, formerly occupied by George Wigman, and including" the same, on the great 1 1 • f road leading from Shafferstown to Elizabeth furnace ; thence to a house formerly occupied by one Shroyer, de- ceased, and including the same, on the great road lead- ing from Lebanon to Manheim; thence to Snyder's mill on Gonewago creek, excluding the same; thence north- erly to the house of one Henry, at the cross roads lead- Historical Sketch of 'Dauphin County. 75 intr from Harrisbursf to Reading-, including the same; thence to Raccoon creek on the Blue or Kittatinny mountain; thence along the said mountain, on the top thereof, to the Berks county line; thence along said line to the place of beginning.' "By an act passed 21st February, 1814, three commis- sioners were appointed to run and mark the boundary lines between the counties of Lebanon and Lancaster and Lebanon and Dauphin. Their report is on file in the Quarter Sessions of Dauphin county; that part which relates to the line between Dauphin and Lebanon coun- ties, is as follows, to wit: '"Starting from Snyder's mill on the Conewago creek; thence north 14^ degrees, west seven miles and 132 perches, to Andrew Henry's, including the same; thence north 15/4 degrees, west eight miles and 239 perches, to the source of Raccoon creek; thence on the same course 32 perches to the summit of the first or Blue mountain; thence along the same north 64 degrees, east 13 miles and three-fourths of a mile to the Berks county line.' "On the 29th of March, 1821, another act of Assembly was passed, providing '"That so much of the townships of East Hanover and Bethel, in the county of Dauphin, as lies north of the Blue or Kittatinny mountain, shall be and compose a part of the county of Lebanon.' "And by a subsequent act commissioners were ap- pointed to run these extended lines; and as appears by their report — which is recorded in Dauphin county, in Road Docket A, page 7$ — that the southwestern line of Lebanon county was extended from the top of the first to the top of the fourth mountain, a distance of 4 miles and 192 perches; and from thence along the top of the fourth mountain to the Berks county line. These divi- sions took from the county of Dauphin the entire town- ships Heidleburg, Bethel, Lebanon, Annville, East Han- over and a large portion of Londonderry and a small strip of West Hanover, west of Raccoon creek; that is, 76 Historical Sketch of Dauphin County. supposing- all the territory between the first and fourth mountains, taken under the act of March, 1821, belonged to East Hanover and Bethel townships, and no part of it to Middle Paxton township. "SUSQUEHANNA TOWNSHIP, 181 5. "An order was issued by the Court of Quarter Ses- sions on the 30th of January, 181 5, returnable on the 1st April succeeding, to three commissioners to enquire into the propriety of granting the prayer of inhabitants of Lower Paxton township, asking for a division of said township. The commissioners reported in favor of a di- vision, and that they had run the dividing line as follows, to wit:' "'Beginning at the top of the first bench of the moun- tain, north of the plantation of Andrew Stephens, at a hickory tree; thence south 17 degrees, east 1,856 perches to the intersection of the northern line of Swatara town- ship, near the head of Joshua Elder's mill dam; in the course of which division line we passed about 50 perches west of John Beck's, about 20 perches east of Andrew Stephen's, close to the west end of Miller's mill on Pax- ton creek, about 50 yards west of George Hain's, about half-way between Shupp'sand Parthemer's; thence about 50 yards east of Daniel Feree's; thence about 50 perches west of Martin Mayer's, thence west of Christian Eby's about 40 yards; thence east of John Carson's, about 20 perches to the intersection of Swatara line, about 60 perches further on.' "This report was confirmed by the court on the 1st May, 181 5, and it was ordered that the western division be called Susquehanna township. For a subsequent al- teration of the south lines of this township see Swatara township — the mill dam there called Kimbortz, is the same which is called Elder's above. See Road Docket 1809-15, page 431. The township of Susquehanna was and yet is bounded in part by the borough of Harrisburg, the limits of which were extended to the northwest by the Historical Sketch of Dauphin County. 77 act of 16th April, [838. In August, 1847, tnc court ap- pointed commissioners to ascertain the new line of this township, dividing it from the borough of Harrisburg, who reported the following - , to wit: "'Beginning at a point at the river Susquehanna near the house of George Hammond; thence a straight line north 64 degrees, east to a post at the Paxton creek, near a willow tree, 259 perches.' "This report was confirmed by the court on the 24th January, i 848. "MIFFLIN TOWNSHIP, 1819. "At a Court of Quarter Sessions, held the 2 2d day of October, 181 8, an order was issued to three commission- ers to inquire into the propriety of dividing the town- ships of Upper Paxton and Lykens, then embracing the whole of Lykens valley, into three townships, as had been petitioned for by the inhabitants of said valley. The commissioners reported that they were of opinion that the two aforesaid townships ought to be divided into three, and that they had accordingly run and marked the lines of division as follows, to wit: "'The First township beginning at Mahantango creek, a short distance below Miller's Fording, on the old Suns- bury road; thence down the same to the river, and across said river to the mouth of West Mahantango creek; thence down the western shore of Susquehanna to a point opposite to Berry's mountain; thence by Halifax township across said river, and along the summit of said mountain 5 miles, 200 perches to a chestnut oak tree; thence north 7^, west 6 miles 80 perches to the begin- ning, which we have called Upper Paxton township. The Second we have called Berry township, beginning at the chestnut oak aforesaid; thence by the summit of Berry's mountain aforesaid 4 miles 260 perches, to a small chest- nut oak; thence north 6, west 7 miles (through Hain's Gap,) to Mahantango creek aforesaid; thence down the same to the point aforesaid, near Miller's fording; thence 78 Historical Sketch of Dauphin Comity. by the line of Upper Paxton aforesaid, (reversed,) south yyi degrees, east 6 miles 80 perches, to the beginning. The Third beeinnine at the same chestnut oak aforesaid ; • • r • 1 thence along the summit of Berry's mountain aforesaid 10 miles to the line of Schuylkill county; thence by same 8% miles to Mahantango creek aforesaid; thence down the same to Berry township aforesaid; thence by the same south 6 degrees, east seven miles, to the begin- ning, 'and which we have called Lykens township." "This report was confirmed by the court, March 12, 1 819, except so far as the new or centre division, which the court ordered to be called Mifflin township. See Ses. Doc. 1815-23, page 212. "RUSH TOWNSHIP, 1820. "On the 23d of October, 1819, the Court of Quar- ter Sessions issued an order to commissioners to enquire into the propriety of dividing the township of Middle Paxton, who reported in favor of a division and that they had run a dividing line as follows, to wit : "'Beginning on a stone heap on the second mountain, the summit of which separates West Hanover from Mid- dle Paxton township, at the distance 3^ miles from the northwest corner of West Hanover township, thence north 10 degrees west 3 miles 150 perches to a chestnut oak tree on the top of Peter's mountain and line of Hal- ifax township.' "This report was confirmed by the court March 14, 1820, and it was ordered that the new township be called Rush township; for record see Ses. Doc. 1815-23, page 282. The line above described continued to be the di- viding line between Rush and Middle Paxton townships from 1820 to 1832 ; previous to 22d of November, 1831, a petition had been presented to the court, praying for an alteration of the dividing line between those two townships, and on that day the court issued an order to commissioners to enquire into the propriety of granting the prayer of said petition, who made report in favor of Historical Sketch of Dauphin County. 79 altering- the line, and that they had run the line as fol- lows, to wit: "'Beginning at a chestnutoakon the top of Peters' moun- tain, the northwest corner of Rush township; thence a southwesterly course along the summit of said mountain, which separates Jackson and Halifax townships from Middle Paxton and Rush, 7 miles 25 perches to a marked hickory; thence passing- on the line between John Wil- liams and the widow Fortenback south 10 degrees east one mile and 185 perches to a chestnut oak on the sum- mit of the third mountain; thence a northeasterly course along the top of the said mountain 7 miles, intersecting the west line of Rush township.' "This report was confirmed by the court November 19th, 1832. See Road Doc. A, page 74. "DERRY AND LONDONDERRY TOWNSHIPS AS RE-FORMED, 1826. "Between the year 181 3, when the erection of Leba- non county cut off a large portion of Londonderry town- ship, and the year 1825 some proceedings were had in the Quarter Sessions to remodel the townships of Der- ry and Londonderry, none of which however seem to have received the final sanction of the court. At No- vember Term, 1825, the court appointed three commis- sioners to enquire into the propriety of a division, who made report in favor of a division, by a line '"Beginning at a black oak tree on the eastern bank of the Swatara creek, at the mouth of Strickler's run ; thence a due east course 7 miles and 1 20 perches to the Leba- non county line, at the farm of Jacob Longnecker.' "The court confirmed this report on the; 21st of Janu- ary, 1826, and gave to the northern section the name of Derry and to the southern division the name of London- derry. See Road Docket A, page 1 3. So Historical Sketch of Dauphin County. "JACKSON TOWNSHIP, 1828. "On the 23d August, 1828, an order was issued by the Court of Quarter Sessions to three commissioners to view and report upon the propriety of dividing the town- ship of Halifax according to the prayer of inhabitants of the east end of said township, asking for a division, and that the new township might be called Jackson, pre- viously presented to said court. The commissioners re- ported, that in their opinions a division of said township was necessary and proper, and that they had run and marked a division line as follows, to wit : '"Beginning at a chestnut oak on the top of Peters' mountain, in Winn's Gap, on the line dividing Halifax and Middle Paxton townships; thence across Powell's and Armstrong's valleys, north 3*^ degrees, west 6 miles and 280 perches to a hickory on the line between Upper Paxton and Halifax townships, on Berry's mountain, at a small curve in said mountain about three-quarters of a mile west of Woodside's Gap.' "This report was confirmed by the court at November Sessions, 1828. See Road Docket A, page 3/ \ "LOWER SWATARA TOWNSHIP, 1840. By a resolution of the Legislature passed March 18, 1840, Pain. Laws, page 710, it was provided that '"That part of Swatara township, in the county of Dau- phin south of straight lines forthwith to be run by the su- pervisor of said township, commencing at the west end of the bridge over Swatara creek at Nissley's mill, thence to the residence of Daniel Smith, thence to Christian Roop's, thence to Samuel Ncidig's, thence to the river Susque- hanna at the line dividing- the farms of Christian Mumma and John Heagy, and thence immediately by the lower end of Shreiner's island to the York county line shall hereafter form a separate election district, and township to be called Lower Swatara.' Historical Sketch of Dauphin County. Si "And by the _;th section of an act of Assembly passed on the 1 3th June. 1X40, it is further provided that '"That part of Lower Swatara township, in the county of Dauphin, north of straight lines to be run by the su- pervisors of the townships of Swatara and Lower Swa- tara, commencing at the residence of Daniel Smith, thence to Peter Roop's, thence to Christian Good's full- ing mill, and thence to the residence of Samuel Neidig, shall hereafter form part of Swatara township, &c, and that so much of the resolution passed 18 March, 1840, as is hereby altered is repealed.' "WISCONISCO TOWNSHIP, 1840. "The 90th section of an act of Assembly, passed July 2d, 1839, Pam. Laws, page 602, provides " 'That that part of Lykens township, in the county of Dauphin, north of lines to be run by the supervisors of said township: 'commencing at a bridge crossing the head of the widow Snyder's mill dam at the Mifflin town- ship line, thence east to the hand board in the forks of road on the lands of Elder and Haldeman, thence a straight line to a house of Martin Rickert, now occupied by Peter Rickert, at the foot of the Short mountain, thence east along the foot of the mountain (north side) to the Schuylkill county line, shall hereafter form a sepa- rate township to be called Wisconisco.' "By the 54th section of an act, passed April 14, 1840, Pam. Laws, page 342, it is provided that the name of Pe- ter Rickert in the foregoing act shall be taken and con- strued to mean Henry Rickert, and that it shall be the duty of the supervisors to file the survey or plot of said. lines run, in the office of the Clerk of Quarter Sessions of the county of Dauphin. On the 26th June, 1840, the plot or dratt of the lines run was filed as above dire< t< d and are as follows, to wit : "'Beginning at a point on the Mifflin township line, thence north 6$]/ 2 degrees, east 296 perches to cross roads, thence due east 464 perches to a chestnut oak, 82 Historical Sketch of Dauphin County, thence north 8$ degrees, east 52 perches to a chestnut oak, thence north yy degrees, east 30 perches to a chest- nut oak, thence north 53 degrees, east 120 perches to a black oak, thence north 60 degrees, east 79 perches to a chestnut, thence north 65 degrees, east 61 perches to a poplar, thence north 80 degrees, east 450 perches to a white pine, thence north 75 degrees, east 82 perches to a white pine, thence north 70 degrees, east 280 perches to a chestnut oak, thence north 67 degrees, east 186 perches to a chestnut, thence north 64 degrees, east 300 perches to a chestnut, thence north 67 degrees, east 310 perches to a white oak at the Schuylkill county line, making in all 8 miles, 150 perches.' "SOUTH AND EAST HANOVER TOWNSHIPS OUT OF WEST HANOVER, 1842. "The 64th section of an act of Assembly passed March 4th, 1842, provides that the township of West Hanover, in the county of Dauphin, shall, as then divided into three separate election districts, thereafter form three separate townships: the south district to be called 'South Hanover,' the east district to be called 'East Hanover,' and the west district 'West Hanover;' and that the then supervisors should file in the office of the Clerk of the Court of Quarter Sessions of Dauphin county, as the di- viding lines of said townships, the survey and draft thereto annexed, of the election lines run of said West Hanover township, pursuant to law, by M. Robeson on the 17th day of September, 1838. On the 14th March, 1842, the survey and draft of M. Robeson was filed as above directed, and was recorded in Road Docket A, page 253, as follows, to wit: '"Beginning at the Swatara creek, half a mile south of the intersection of Bow run with said creek, at a chest- nut oak on the land of John Fox; thence through land of Conrad Waggoner, Philip Stine, Abraham Hoover, Ja- cob Leasure, and John B. Morehead, to the present resi- dence of J. B. Morehead, leaving the houses on all said Historical Sketch of Dauphin County. 8 o farms north, except Conrad Waggoner — whole distance, 2 miles and 20 perches — course bearing south 82 de- grees west; thence from J. B. Morehead's through other land of said Morehead, Doc. William Simontort, Samuel M'Cord, William M'Cord, Jacob Keiffer, Samuel Shellert- berger, George Bashore, William Bomgardner and Chris- tian Walters, to Beaver creek, to a hickory, leaving- all the houses on said farms north, except J. B. Morehead's present residence, one of Doc. William Simonton's ten- ant houses, now occupied by John Fading; Samuel M'Cord's and William M'Cord's — these five are south — course bearing- the same, viz: south 82 degrees west, distance 2/ s ' miles. Then beginning at the house of J. B. Morehead, (present residence;) thence through land of said Morehead and near land of Daniel Keim, through land of Doc. William Simonton, Alexander M'Fadden, Daniel Keiffer, Samuel Zimmerman, John Snodgrass, Si- mon Stout, Samuel Fleming, Mary M'Creight, Joseph Shoop, Benjamin Snodgrass, Emanuel Cassel, junior, (near Daniel and William Gross,) Joseph Allen, William Crum, (near Daniel Aungst,) E. and C. B. Grubb, George Rhoads, John Rhoads and E. and C. B. Grubb, to the top of the second mountain — the present boundary of West Hanover township — leaving all the houses on said farms west, except Daniel Keim, Simon Stout, Benjamin Snodgrass, Daniel and William Gross, Emanuel Cassel, junior, Daniel Aungst, E. and C. B. Grubb, George Rhoads and John Rhoads; course bearing north 14^ degrees west, distance 8 miles.' -jefferson' township, [842. "In the year 1842, inhabitants of Jackson township pe- titioned the Court of Quarter Sessions, asking for a di- vision of said township: whereupon the said court, on the 23d April, 1842, issued an order to three commissioners to enquire into the propriety of granting the said prayer, who made report, that they considered a division of the said township necessary, and had run a dividing line as follows, to wit: 84 Historical Sketch of Dauphin County. '"Beginning at a white oak on the summit of the divid- ing ridge, at the Halifax township line, and between the farms of Abraham Kinportz and Lewis Culp; thence north 66 degrees east 250 perches to a post; thence north 42 degrees east 50 perches to a post; thence north 66 degrees east 340 perches to a post; thence north 71 degrees east 160 perches to a post; thence north 66 de- grees east 80 perches to a post; thence north 69 degrees east 656 perches to a post; thence 18 degrees east 171 perches to a post; thence north 55 degrees east 28 perches to a post; thence north 39 degrees east 304 perches to a post ; thence along Broad mountain north 1 3 degrees east 140 perches to a post; thence north 7 de- grees west 520 perches to a pine in Deitrich's Gap, on the summit of Berry's mountain, being in length 8 miles and 140 perches.' "This report was confirmed by the court on the 24th of November, 1842. In the year 1844 the inhabitants of Jackson petitioned the court, complaining of part of the division line as made in 1842, and praying for an altera- tion. Whereupon the court appointed other commission- ers to view and report on the propriety of making such alteration. These commissioners reported in favor of alteration, and that they agreed upon and run the follow- ing line : "'Beginning at a pine on lands of John Shoop, senior, corner of former partition line between said Jackson and Jefferson townships; thence north 68 degrees east 13% miles to the Schuylkill county line.' "This report was confirmed by the court November 23d, 1844. "WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP, 1846. "Upon the petition of inhabitants of Mifflin township, asking for a division of that township, the court on the 3d of September, 1845, issued an order to three commis- sioners to view and report on the propriety of granting the prayer of said petition ; who reported that in their Historical Sketch of Dauphin County . ^^ opinions a division of said township was necessary, and that they had laid off the following portion of the same, to be called Washington, to wit : '"Beginning at a post on the line dividing said town- ship of Mifflin from Upper Paxton township, on the pro- perty belonging to Philip Lenker; thence a straight line bearing north 75^ degrees, east 1506 perches, or near 4^ miles, to a post on the line dividing said township of Mifflin from Lykens township; thence by said line bearing south 7 degrees east and about 2^ miles, to the top of Berry's mountain ; thence along the north side of said mountain westward 4^ miles to a stone heap; thence along the Upper Paxton township line north 7 degrees west 2^4 miles to the place of beginning.' "This report was confirmed by the Court on the 23d day of January, 1846. REED TOWNSHIP, 1849. By an act of Assembly approved April 6, 1849, lt ls enacted that "That portion of the qualified voters of Penn election district, Dauphin county, that reside in Middle Paxton township, shall hereafter vote at the regular place of holding elections for said township, and the balance of of the voters of said Penn election district shall hold their election at the new school house on Duncan's island, and shall be erected into a separate township and school dis- trict, to be called Reed township," etc. The township is bounded on the north and northeast by Halifax township, on the west by the Juniata and Sus- quehanna rivers, and on the south and southeast by Mid- dle; Paxton township. CONEWAGO TOWNSHIP, 1850. This township was organized by an act of Assembly, approved April 2, 1850, which enacted "That from and after the passage of this act all that part of the townships of Derry and Londonderry lying within the following boundaries, to wit: 86 Historical Sketch of Dauphin Coicnty. "Beofinninof a t the ConewaQfo creek, the line of the counties of Dauphin and Lancaster, at the place where Brill's run empties into said creek, and from thence by a straight line running- parallel with the line dividing the counties of Dauphin and Lebanon to a point that by run- ning a straight line from said point at a right angle with the aforesaid parallel said straight line will intersect the said line of the counties of Dauphin and Lebanon at a point not more than one-half of a mile north of the Men- nonite meeting house, at or near said county line, and from thence along the line of the counties of Dauphin and Lebanon to the line of the county of Lancaster, and from thence down said line to place of beginning, shall hereafter form a separate election district and township, and shall be called Conewap"o," etc. WILLIAMS TOWNSHIP, 1869. Williams township was taken from Wiconisco town- township on the 7th of February, 1869, and the bounda- ry lines are as follows: "Beginning at a black oak on the Schuylkill county line east 46^ degrees, south 1,380 perches, thence south 81 degrees, west 1,400 perches along the highlands of Berry's mountain, thence due north 490 perches, thence north 60 degrees, east 415 perches to the place of begin- nino-." Historical Sketch of Dauphin County. Sy THE PATRIOTISM OF OUR PEOPLE. The citizens of Dauphin county have always evinced a spirit of genuine patriotism, and have never been tardy in responding to the calls of our government for men and money in times of necessity. We have already alluded to the action of our people during the Revolutionary war. The same fervid patriotism animated the citizens of Dauphin county during the existence of the difficulties between the American government and the French Di- rectory in 1797. At least two military companies from this county offered their services on that occasion to the general government. During the "Whisky insurrection," in the western part of the State, an entire regiment was recruited in the county for service under the general government. In 181 2 thirteen full companies marched to the defence of Baltimore. A company composed of nearly one hundred mem- bers, styled the Cameron Guards, in honor of Gen. Simon. Cameron, were enrolled on the 20th of December, 1 X46, who joined the army and participated in many of the hard-fought battles during the war with Mexico. During the great civil war, Harrisburg, as the capital of the State, was an important point in many respects. The first military camp in the United States, under the President's call, was located here, and named Camp Cur- tin, in honor of the then Chief Magistrate of the State. As such it became widely known. The first public meet- ing held after the firing upon Fort Sumter was held in 88 Historical Sketch of Datiphin County. the court house, Gen. Simon Cameron presiding. The county of Dauphin quickly tendered men and money to the government, and in that bitter, deadly strife fur- nished its full quota of volunteers. Twice Harrisburg was the objective point of the Confederate troops; and at one time, June, 1863, the enemy's pickets were within two miles of the city. Active preparations were made for the defence of the capital of the State. The bluff of the river opposite the city was fortified and called Fort Washington; rifle pits were dug along the river to command the fording place in front of Harris Park, and every preparation made to give the enemy a warm re- ception. Fortunately the victory of the Union army at Gettysburg checked the further advance of the Confed- erates, and with it their last attempt to invade the North. After the battles of Antietem and Gettysburg, many wounded soldiers of both armies were brought to Harris- burg, and school houses and church buildings were trans- formed into temporary hospitals. The charity of the cit- izens of Harrisburg, and of the entire county, in these trying hours was unbounded. A Soldier's Rest was erect- ed near the railroad depots, by several prominent gentle- men, where the maimed and sick soldier on his way homeward found refreshments always ready. Thou- sands in this way were kindly ministered to. Dauphin county lost about six hundred of her citizen soldiers; in every cemetery and graveyard within its limits lie their honored remains, while in the cemetery at Harrisburg the grass grows green alike over the graves of Union and of Confederate soldiers from far-off States. In all the struggles for liberty, for right, and for the in- tegrity of the Union, Dauphin county has been in the van. Historical Sketch of Dauphin County. 89 RELIGIOUS PROGRESS IN THE COUNTY. It is scarcely within our province to become the eccle- siastical historian of the count)'; and yet the true charac- ter and condition of a people cannot well be understood without some study of their religious state. Religious tolerance was almost paramount to all other aims and objects held in view by the early settlers of Dauphin county. Lutherans, Scotch-Irish, Quakers, Hu- guenots, etc., mingled together, and worshiped God as the common Father of all. The concrreeations were insulated, and shut out from the disturbing controversies which agitated some other portions of the colony. The pastors had sought the retired parishes here in the hills and valleys, without much pride of learning and without ambitious views. Their influence was paternal; the eloquence of their example was more potent than the eloquence of the pulpit. There was no affectation of se- riousness in the assembly of parishioners — no mannerism of worship. The thought of nothing in fact, save what met their intelligence, and entered into them by that method. They were like men who had a digestion for strong meat, and had no conception that trifles more delicate could be of account as religious food. Nothing was dull that had matter in it — nothing long that had not exhausted the matter. True, there was a rigor in their piety, a want, perhaps, of gentle feeling; their Christian graces were of a cast-iron nature, answering with a hard, metallic ring. But they stood the rough wear of frontier life none the less durably, for the excessive hardness of their temperament, kept their families, and communed go Historical Sketch of Dauphin County. none the less truly, though it may be less benignly, under the sense of deep religious feeling. If we at this day find something to modify, or soften, in their over-rigid notions of Christian living, it is yet something to know that what we are they have made us, and that when we have done better for the ages that come after us, we shall have a more cer- tain right to blame their austerities. View them as we may, there is yet, and always will be, something magnifi- cent in their stern, practical fidelity to their principles. We confess that we recall the honest, faithful days of the early settlers — days when men's lives went by their con- sciences as their clocks did by the sun — with a feeling of profound reverence. It is more than respectable — it is sublime. If we find a more liberal way, and think we are safe in it, or if we are actually so, we can never yet break loose from a willing respect to their inflexible, majestic, paternity of truth and godliness. To avoid a needless repetition we refer the reader to a brief history of the rise and progress of the several re- ligious denominations in the county, from the pen of Rev. Thomas H. Robinson, D. D., which will be found in the Appendix to this review. Historical Sketch of Dauphin County. g i EDUCATION. The early settlers of Dauphin county were not un- mindful of the advantages of education, and a number of schools were established for the benefit of their children. The schoolmaster in those days did not exactly go about fit out the children's minds with learning as the shoe- maker often did to fit their feet with shoes, or the tailors to measure and cut for their bodies; but to come as near it as possible, he very often boarded round, and the wood for the common fire was supplied in a way equally primi- tive, viz: by a contribution of loads from the several fam- ilies, according to their several quantities of childhood. The children were all clothed alike in homespun; and the only signs of aristocracy were, that some were clean and some a degree less so, some in fine white and striped linen and some in brown tow crash. The good fathers of some testified the opinion they had of their children by bringing fine round loads of hickory wood to warm them, while some others brought only scanty, scraggy, ill-look- ing heaps of green oak, white birch or hemlock. Indeed, about all the inequality among the children centered in the quality of the wood-pile. There was no com- plaint in those days of the want of ventilation ; for the large, open fire-place held a considerable fraction of a cord of wood, and the windows took in just enough of air to supply the combustion. Beside, the larger lads were occasionally ventilated, by being sent out to cut wood enough to keep the fire in action. The seats were made of the outer slabs from the saw mill, supported by slant 92 Historical Sketch of Dauphin County. legs driven into and a proper distance through auger holes, and planed smooth on the top by the rather tardy process of friction. But the spelling went on bravely, and the lads ciphered again and again, always till they got through Loss and Gain. The more advanced of the scholars, too, made light work of Lindley Murray, and went on to the parsing, finally of extracts from Shakes- peare .and Milton, till some of them began to think they had mastered their tough sentences, in a more conse- quential sense of the term than was exactly true. As early as i 786, just one year after the erection of the county — the inhabitants of Harrisburg, in order to assist in bringing into effect the intentions of John Harris, who had granted the rents, issues and profits of his ferry across the river for the endowment of an English and German academy in that town, entered into the following agreement: We, the subscribers, do each of us for ourselves promise to pay, or cause to be paid, to John Hoge, Mo- ses Gilmor, Conrad Bombaugh and John Brooks, or their order upon demand, the sums annexed to each of our names respectively, to be applied by them in pur- chasing materials for and in building a school house in one corner of the public ground in the town of Harris- burg. In witness whereof we have hereunto set our hands, with the sums annexed, this 20th clay of April, 1786: Historical Sketch of Dauphin Comity. 93 John Harris 5 William Speigel 1 I reorge Fridley 1 George Le Ru Thomas Kelso, (a quantity of limestone) Michael Kapp George Hoyer Christian Kunkle Clunie & Kean 1 Adam Kuertzer John A. Hanna Thomas Forster .Jonathan Hudson Stephen Stevenson Jacob Weaver John Rietsworth Alexander BaiT .James Duncan Samuel Grimes Jacob Zollinger Mathew Adams George Allen Robert Stevenson Alex, and William Power. . .1 John Boyd Alex. Porter Robert Ramsey John llui'sha I reorge Devebaugh Joseph Lytle George Reddick Richard Dixon James .M'Xamara Edward Burke Peter Graybill Buckler I. Smith David M'Mullen Levi llollingswortli Adam Hocker 1 John Hocker Malcolm Boyce Dennis Sweeney Note. — The names s. 1. 5 10 10 rv i (•> 10 7 G 7 10 10 10 10 10 10 15 15 10 7 6 15 15 5 7 6 7 G 7 G 2 6 7 6 15 10 15 5 8 4 15 5 15 8 4 7 6 7 (1 2 6 15 15 7 G s. tl. 8 4 rv i G 5 i G 8 4 18 4 7 10 00 00 10 2 9 2 G 8 4 7 G 10 2 G i G 8 4 7 G William Brown Andrew Stewart Ephraim Hunter Francis Le Ru Richard King Andrew Coulter .James Stewart Alex. Graydon 1 Joseph Montgomery 3 David Jordan 1 John Hamilton 1 John .Joseph Henry 1 Faughney C. Farrel 1 William Maclay William M'Croskey Samuel Berryhill Francis Furguson J ohn Norton 1 John M'Gafog Alex. Berryhill Win. Diven Aaron Wright Noah Chamberlin George Hoak Stewart Williams. , John M'Chesney William Murray John Davis Adam Boyd 1 John Galbraith Jacob Geiger Henry Fulton Andrew Armstrong William Philips John Eppert Henry Wingert J< ihn Hoge 1 Moses Gilmor 1 David Ritchie Walter Clark William Glass James Sayers to which no sums are attached HI 10 11 3 10 7 6 7 00 Hi paid either in material or labor. The following additional subscribers are recorded i 79 1, five years after the first subscription: m John Luther 7 Anthony Sayfort 7 •John Dentzel 7 David Harris 10 Stacy Potts 7 Geo. Fisher 7 Wm. Graydon 7 13 d. £ s. d. 7 G G J )avid \ < "'elsong 7 arr 7 6 ii 7 i'» r. 7 (i (> 7 C (i 94 Historical Sketch of Dauphin County. The first trustees of the academy were John A. Hanna, John Hamilton and John Kean. The trustees for 1791 were John A. Hanna, John Kean, John Dentzel, Stacy Potts and Adam Boyd. The following- is the preamble of the constitution adopted by the subscribers to the academy fund: "Whereas, The prosperity and happiness of the free and independent citizens of the United States in a great measure depends on the proper cultivation and improve- ment of the minds of the young and rising generations, whereby they may be qualified to perform their respective duties in civil society as well as the more important obli- gations of religion: wherefore, we, the citizens of Harris- burg, in the State of Pennsylvania, in order to establish a seminary of useful learning have by voluntary contribu- tions built a school house, hoping through the favor of Divine Providence, with the benevolent aid of the hon- orable Leeislature of this Commonwealth, and the charita- ble donations of the well disposed, together with the dili- gent care and attention of the o-overnors and teachers, it may become a respectable institution, renowned for the pious education of future generations; for which purpose we do ordain and establish the following rules for the constitution and o-overnment thereof." o Section 8 of the rules directed that the teachers shall from time to time be obliged to teach such number of charity scholars as shall be recommended by the trustees (not exceeding four) gratis, which the trustees and teachers shall keep secret. October 4, 1 791 . — Samuel Barnes Davis was appointed teacher of the academy for three months; and at a meet- ing of the trustees on January 3, 1 792, it was resolved "that Mr. Davis, the teacher, shall submit for the approbation of the trustees copies of all such extracts or speeches as he intends the children under his care shall speak or de- liver at public exhibition." Historical Sketch of Dauphin County. 95 October 22, 1 795. — Mr. William Moderwell was appoint- ed teacher of the Latin and Greek department of the acad- emy, to commence this day. November 21,1 795. — The trustees determined that the following- books should be taught in the Latin and Greek department in the order in which they succeed each other: Latin — Grammar, Vocabulary, Corderii, &c, Fables- Erasmus Delectas, e Veteri, Selectae e Profanis. Greek — Greek Grammar, Testament, Lucian, Xenophen, Homer, Caesar's Commentaries, Ovid, Virgil, Sallust, Horace, Cicero. The early minutes of the academy, the original of which are in the possession of A. Boyd Hamilton, Esq., of Harrisburg, to whom we are indebted for the privilege of making our extracts, show that like all new and de- serving enterprises the institution had its trials and diffi- culties, but by persevering energy these were finally overcome, and the academy to-day ranks as one of the best select educational establishments in the State. From the adoption of the State Constitution of 1 790 until 1809, no legislative provision of a general nature was made in reference to public schools. An act was then passed "for the gratuitous education of the poor." It re- quired a report to be made by the assessors of the town- ships, wards and boroughs to the commissioners of the respective counties, of all children between the age of five and twelve years whose parents were unable to provide for their education: and that when the lists had been ap- proved by the commissioners, that such parents should be notified thereof, and be permitted to send their chil- dren to the most convenient schools at the expense of the county. Notwithstanding the: many defects of this law, it continued in force until it was repealed by that of 29th g6 Historical Sketch of Dauphin County. March, 1824, which provided that every township should elect three "schoolmen" who should superintend the edu- cation of poor children within their respective townships, and "cause them to be instructed as other children are treated, the expense of tuition to be paid by the county." But each county might authorize the "schoolmen" to di- vide the township into school districts, and to establish schools at the expense of the township, to which all chil- dren belonging to the districts might be sent for three years, at any time between the ages of six and fourteen years. This law was applicable to the whole State, with the exception of certain school districts in the city and county of Philadelphia and city of Lancaster. It was re- pealed in 1826 and the act of 1809 revived. Beside the general provisions for education throughout the State there were special ones enacted for certain lo- calities. Thus in 1818 the city and county of Philadel- phia were erected into a district, called the "First school district of Pennsylvania." By the act of April 1, 1822, the city and county of Lancaster were erected into the "Second school district," with privileges and duties simi- lar to the first. By the act of 1 ith April, 1827, the same system was established at Harrisburg, and by act of 19th February, 1828, at Pittsburg. The act establishing a public school in Harrisburg, authorized the commissioners of Dauphin county to make use of any part of the court house of said county which may be unoccupied, build, or procure a suitable building for the purpose of educating the children directed to be taught at the public expense; to engage a suitable teacher or teachers; and they were required to direct that all children educated at the public expense, who shall reside in the borough of Harrisburg, or within one Historical Sketch of Dauphin County. 97 mile thereof, should attend the school, which was to be taught and conducted on the principle of Lancaster's system of education, in its most approved state. The commission- ers were further empowered to admit children whose pa- rents or guardians were in circumstances to pay for their tuition, and were at liberty to charge in each individual case any sum which may be agreed upon between the parties, which should be applied in all cases to the sup- port of the school. Under the provisions of the act of April 11, 1827, the commissioners of the county established a school on Lan- caster's plan in Harrisburg in the latter part of that year, and erected the building now owned by the school board, on Walnut street, opposite Short, in the city of Harris- burg, for its accommodation. The school, however, does not seem to have been a success, as it was abolished by the act of 20th of May, 1834. The present Common School system was established December 5, 1835, anc ^ from the report of the State School Superintendent for the year ending December 31, 1837, tne following statistics show the progress of the system in the county, in two years' time: Number of schools, 48 ; number of teachers, males, 45, females, 13; number of scholars, males, 1,541, females, 1,320; number of months kept open, 4 months and 20 days; moneys received: State appropriation, $2,037 34' from the county, $1 ,430 17, from the districts, $4,731 89; average salary of teachers, males, $20 80^ , females, $19 16; cost of school house repairs, $1,575 2 9! other expenses, $530 53. Small as are these figures, the result at the time was considered very favorable, and exceeded many counties with a much larger population than Dauphin. But it is 98 Historical Sketch of Dauphin County. only when we compare the report of 1837 with the report of 1875 that the progress of education in Dauphin county is brought out in all its grand proportions. According to the report of the Superintendent of Com- mon Schools for 1875, the whole number of schools in the county was 266*^; average number of months taught, 6.59; number of teachers, males, 130, females, 102; aver- age salaries, males per month, $40 42, females, $35 40; number of scholars, males, 5,51 1, females, 5,025 ; average number attending school, 7,299; total amount of tax levied for school and building purposes, $84,254 22; re- ceipts: from State appropriation, $8,522 ; taxes and other sources, $111,504 28; total receipts, $120,026 36; ex- penditures, cost of school houses, building, repairing, etc., $32,521 oS; teachers' wages, $58,333 71; fuel, etc., $17,- 447 15- Historical Sketch of Dauphin County. 99 ROADS AND TRANSPORTATION. The primitive roads in the territory now forming the county were Indian trails, or paths, which the white traders followed with their pack-horses; these in time be- came the regular thoroughfares of the early settlers. The trails traversed the county eastward to Tulpohocken, thence to Easton; westward to Carlisle, Forts Louden (Bedford) and Fort Pitt (Pittsburg;) northward along the valley of the Susquehanna into New York State, and southward along the river into Maryland, beside short and rough ways for neighborhood use. Seventy-five or eighty years ago it was not an uncom- mon sight to see as many as five hundred pack horses passing the ferry here westward, loaded with merchan- dise, salt, iron, etc. The iron was carried on horse- back, being crooked over and around their bodies; bar- rels or kegs were hung on each side of these. The pack horses were generally led in divisions of twelve or fifteen horses, carrying about two hundred weight each, going single file, and managed by two men, one going before as the leader, and the other in the rear, to see after the safety of the packs. Where the bridle road passed along declivities or over hills, the path was in some places washed out so deep that the packs or burdens came in contact with the ground or other impeding obstacles, and were frequently displaced. However, as the carriers usually traveled in companies, the packs were soon adjusted, and no great delay occasioned. The pack horses were generally furnished with bells, which were kept from ringing during the day drive, but ioo Historical Sketch of Dauphin County. were loose at night, when the horses were set free and permitted to feed and brouse. The bells were intended as guides to direct to .their whereabouts in the morning. When the wagons were first introduced, the carriers con- sidered that mode of transportation an invasion of their rights. Their indignation was more excited, and they manifested greater rancor, than did the regular teamsters when the line of packets or railroad cars came into use about forty years afterwards. As the settlements increased in the interior of the col- ony, the Susquehanna river became an important avenue of transportation, at first by means of canoes, then by keel-bottomed boats, or "broad-horns," as they were often called. Grains and other produce were the chief articles carried in those conveyances. Harris Ferry and Middle- town were noted marts for the storage and sale of grain at this period. In 1790 there were over 1 50,000 bushels of wheat brought down the Susquehanna, and passed through Middletown, for the Philadelphia market. About the year 1794 or '95 the first vessel in the shape of an ark, but of small dimensions, arrived at Harrisburg from Huntingdon on the Juniata. It passed the Cone- wago Falls in safety. About the same time that arks were introduced, the Conewago canal at York Haven, was commenced, and on its completion in 1797 or 1798 keel- bottom boats were passed through, which caused a great portion of the trade in grain to be diverted from Harris- burg and Middletown to Columbia. But in a few years afterwards boats ventured beyond the Conewago falls and thus reached tide-water, when the grain trade was measureably diverted from both Middletown and Colum- bia, concentrating at Port Deposit. Upon the discovery of anthracite coal in the Wilkes- barre region, nearly the entire product of the mines was Historical Sketch of Dauphin County. ioi shipped to eastern and southern markets in arks, by the Susquehanna river. The first anthracite coal ever con- sumed in Harrisburg was brought on an ark from Wilkes- barre, in 1812, and we may remark, en passant, that the cargo was at the time considered more than sufficient to supply the town for a year. It was, however, the article of lumber that proved the greatest bulk of the tonnage carried down the Susque- hanna. This trade commenced shortly after the Revolu- tion and continued to increase rapidly up to the com- pletion of the canal and railroad system of the State; although a very large proportion still continues to descend the stream annually. The earliest official records of roads established by the authorities in this region are the following: On November 4, 1735, the court of Lancaster county appointed Randle Chambers, Jacob Peat, James Silvers, Thomas Eastland, John Lawrence and Abraham Endless to lay out a road from Harris Ferry (Harrisburg) to Balti- more. These gentlemen made report Febuary 3, 1736, of their view of the road, which 'they said was "opposed by a considerable number of inhabitants on the west side of the Susquehanna in those parts," and praying for a review. The court then ordered that William Rennick, Richard Hough, James Armstrong, Thos. Mayes, Samuel Mont- gomery and Benj. Chambers view the road, and make such alterations in it as to them may seem necessary for the public good, and report their proceedings to next court. In May following they made a report stating that they had reviewed the easternmost part of the said road, and find it very crooked and hurtful to the inhabitants, 5 street, Philadelphia, every Monday and Friday. The same proprietor also ran a stage from Harrisburg every Wednesday, which arrived at Sunbury every Thursday, and returned every Saturday, "so that passengers from Sunbury destined for Lancaster and Philadelphia could proceed thence on Mondays." Mr. William Coleman was the proprietor of a line of stages that started every Monday morning at 4 o'clock from the public house of Mr. George Zeigler, southwest corner Market Square, in Harrisburg, and arrived at Philadelphia by way of Reading, every Wednesday at noon. In 181 3 Mr. Nicholas Schwoyer ran a light stage twice a week from Harrisburo- to the Conewa°fo, where it was met by a line established by Mr. Jesse Shaeffer, which run to York. This stage left the Fountain Inn at Har- risburg every Tuesday and Thursday mornings. These vehicles, though decided improvements over the previous mode of passenger conveyances, in time became to be regarded as too slow for the wants of the people, and the fast coach system was introduced. The vehicles were larger, the horses were more numerous and of bet- ter quality, and the relays were shortened. Wm. Calder, the father of the present William Calder, Esq., of Har- risburg, may be regarded as the progenitor of this sys- tem. He, in connection with several other wealthy gen- tlemen, not only established the first of these fast stage lines, but in time became the owner of all the lines run- ning out of Harrisburg. The; extent of this interest, as well as the inlluence it had on the trade of the country, may be estimated, when we state that in the palmiest days of the business no less than fifteen stages left this town daily. Three of these ran to Lancaster; two to 106 Historical Sketch of Dauphin County. Reading; one on the Horse-shoe road to Philadelphia; two to Pittsburg via Chambersburg, and two to the same city on the northern route; one to Columbia; one to York; one to Northumberland; one to Pottsville and one to Gettysburg. The opening of the Pennsylvania canal in 1831 brought additional prosperity to the county, by opening up new and cheaper transportation for freight and passengers. D. Leech & Co. were the first to run a line of packets on this new thorouo-hfare. Their boats carried freight as well as passengers, and run from Pittsburg to Middle- town. The Pennsylvania canal at that time being fin- ished only to the latter point. Here they connected with and took up the freight and passengers brought from Philadelphia by the Union canal. When the Penn- sylvania canal was completed to Columbia, Messrs. Leech & Co. extended their line to that point, where it connected with the State railroad. Two years afterwards Messrs. Wm. Calder, Sr., J. K. Moorehead, Silas Moore and Isaac Peters started the "Pioneer" line of packets, carrying passengers only. They were followed shortly after by Messrs. Slaymaker, Carson and others, who started the ''Good Intent" line of packets. This latter line, however, lived only a short time, when they were bought out by the Pioneer and Leech lines. During the winter the "Pioneer" line ran stages. In addition to these Messrs. Calder, Kapp and S. H. Lloyd ran lines of packets up the Susquehanna and North and West Branches. « Upon the completion of the Harrisburg, Mount Joy and Lancaster railroad in 1836, the passenger packets south and east of Harrisburg were withdrawn, and this town Historical Sketch of Dauphin County. 107 thereafter became the eastern terminus of passenger- travel to Pittsburg which it retained up to the completion of the Pennsylvania railroad to that city. The lines on the North and West Branch and Susquehanna divisions of the Pennsylvania canal continued several years longer, when they were finally abandoned by the completion of railroads in their respective sections. From these early beginnings, the transportation facili- ties have continued to increase hand over hand, until Harrisburg has become the dominating and absorbing centre of a distinct and independent system of railways, radiating from it through every part of the United States, like the spokes of a vast wheel. The Northern Central railroad starts at Baltimore and passes through York to Harrisburg, thence it runs north through Millersburg, Sunbury, Northumberland, Wil- liamsport, and on to Syracuse, Schenectady, Buffalo, and also to New York city. The Pennsylvania railroad starts from Philadelphia, and passes through Coatesville, Lancaster city, Columbia, Middletown, to Harrisburg, thence goes west through Duncannon, Newport, Lewistown, Huntingdon, Altoona, Johnstown, Greensburg to Pittsburg, and from thence by trunk lines to every part of the great west. The Cumberland Valley railroad starts at Harrisburg, and passes through Carlisle, Chambersburg,Shippensburg and Hagerstown to the Baltimore and Ohio railroad, and thence distributes its freight and passengers through- out the Shenandoah valley and the southern States. The Philadelphia and Reading railroad starts from Harrisburg and passes through Lebanon, Reading, and by its various branches, through Easton, Allentown and a scon- more ol large towns to Philadelphia and New York. 108 Historical Sketch of Dauphin County. The Dauphin, Schuylkill and Susquehanna railroad starts at Harrisburg- thence to Pottsville, passing through Dauphin and intermediate towns of the coal region, and from Pottsville distributes its freight throughout the whole of that coal and iron region. The South Mountain railroad, after traversing the newly developed ore regions of York and Cumberland counties, has its terminus at Harrisburg. The new railroad in course of construction from Ham- burg, Berks county, to Rockville, a few miles north of Harrisburg, will connect with the Lebanon Valley rail- road, and carry freight and passengers to Boston, with- out touching either Philadelphia or New York, thus short- ening the present route eighty miles. Thus it will be seen that the Pennsylvania railroad passes through Harrisburg from east to west, and the Northern Central, from north to south, while the Cum- berland Valley goes south, but in a divergent line from the Northern Central road, while the Dauphin, Schuyl- kill and Susquehanna line, although running along the Pennsylvania railroad track to Dauphin, there diverges, and runs up into the anthracite coal region, as previously stated. In addition to these roads, the Harrisburg and Potomac railroad will cross the river near the Pennsylva- nia steel works, and enter the city from that direction. Historical Sketch of Dauphin County. 109 GENERAL DESCRIPTION AND PROGRESS OF THE COUNTY SINCE ITS ORGANIZATION. The county is bounded on the north by Northumber- land and part of Schuylkill counties; on the east by Le- banon and Lancaster counties; on the west and south by the Susquehanna river. Its length is ^ miles, breadth 16, and its area 533 miles. The population in 1790, was 18,177; in 1800, 22,270; in 1810, 31,883; in 1820 (part of Lebanon off), 21,653; in 1840, 30,118; in' 1850, 35,754; in i860, 46,756; in 1870, 60,740. That part of the county below the Kittatinny valley con- sists of undulating slate and limestone lands, beautiful, fertile, and highly cultivated. The other part of the county is very mountainous, but contains a number of narrow and pleasant red shale valleys, and several fertile fiats along the Susquehanna. The mountainous region abounds with anthracite coal, especially Lykens and Wil- liams valleys, at the southwestern termination of the great western coal field of Pottsville and Mauch Chunk. This coal field in the vicinity of Pinegrove divides into branches — the northern one under the name of Wiconisco moun- tain, extending westward several miles beyond the county line of Schuylkill and Dauphin counties to Lykens Valley — and the other embraced between the Stony mountain and a continuation of Sharp mountain, reaching nearly to the Susquehanna river. Commencing with the Kitta- tinny mountain, and traversing the county in a north- western direction, the principal ranges crossed are the Second and Third, Peter's, Berry's and Mahantango 15 1 10 Historical Sketch of Dauphin County. mountains. Between Peter's and Berry's are Short mountain and several minor ridges and broken spurs; and several of a similar character between Berry's and the Mahantango mountains. In these minor elevations the coal beds generally occur. In the southern part of the county are the Round Top hill, near Middletown and Hummelstown, and other isolated knolls, belonging to the Conewao-o rano-e. The Susquehanna river runs a distance of 48 miles along the western edge of the county; its western shore, as we have previously stated, being the boundary line. The scenery along the bank is grand and picturesque, especially where the river breaks through the great mountain ranges. At Harrisburg, Rockville, Dauphin and Duncan's Island the grandeur and beauty of nature are enhanced by magnificent engineering structures. The other prominent streams in the county are the Swatara river or creek, entering the Susquehanna at Middletown; Conewago creek, the southern boundary; Paxton creek, Fishing creek, Stony creek, Clark's creek, Powell's creek, Armstrong creek, Big and Little Wiconisco creeks, and Mahantango creek, the northern boundary. The pioneers of the county were agriculturists. They came here with no knowledge or care for any other pur- suit, and looked for no greater results than the enjoy- ment of religious privileges, the increase of their estates by removing the heavy forests and adding other acres to their original purchases. Of manufactures they knew little. The grist mill and saw mill, the blacksmith and tailor shops — all as indispensable as the plow and the axe — they provided for, as among the necessaries of a farmer's life. The spinning wheel was in every house, and the loom in every neighborhood; and almost every Historical Sketch of Dauphin County. iii article of clothing was the product of female domestic industry. Thus no general manufacturing interest was prevalent. The policy and laws of the mother country had discouraged this. But the iron beds in the coun- try could not lie neglected. Iron was indispensable, and its transportation from the east to the west of the col- ony was laborious and expensive. The manufacture of bloomed iron in this region commenced before the Revo- lution. The ore was often transported from the ore beds to the forges in the neighborhood of Ouitapahillo and Swatara creeks, in leather sacks upon horses. In those days it was not uncommon for bar iron to become a sort of circulating medium, and promissory notes were as fre- quently made payable in iron as in money. Even as late as 1796 the county was not believed to be destined to become a manufacturing county. About that period William Folsom commenced the manufacture of nails in Harrisburg, and he was followed shortly after by a number of others in the same business. Outside of the bar iron already mentioned, wrought nails seem to have been the first marketable commodity manufactured in the county. To show the progress of manufactures in the county twenty-five years after its organization, we submit the following statistics from the census of 18 10. It will be seen that even up to that period most of its products were of domestic manufacture: I 12 Historical Sketch of Dauphin County Cotton goods made in fam- ilies 22,776 yds Number of cotton manu- facturing establishments, 3 Flaxen cloth made in fam- ilies 81,660 yds Mixed cloth and hempen. 245,304 yds Woolen cloth in families. . .77,451 yds Total value of all kinds of cloth manufactured $265,410 Cotton & wool spun in mills, 21,995 lb Value of same $16,497 Looms 761) Carding machines 14 Pounds of wool carded .... 38, 495 Value of same $3,859 Fulling-mills 7 Yards fulled 38,280 Value of same $5,480 Labor saving machinery: Mills 3 Spindles 270 Hatteries 24 Wool and mixed hats made, 10,350 Fur hats 3,468 Value of all kinds of hats made $26,400 Blast furnaces, number of. 1 Tons of iron manufactured, 2,790 Value of same $139,500 Forges 2 Tons of iron forged 390 Value of same $39,000 Nailories . 17 Pounds of nails made 160,880 Value of same $17,318 Gun boring mills 1 Value of same $500 Gun manufactories 2 Guns made 35 Hides made 85 Value of guns and rides. . . $1,480 No. of blacksmith shops. . . 68 Value of same $18,326 Steel manufactured 50 tons Value of same $12,000 Tin and copper ware man- ufactories 7 Number of pieces made. . . 21,000 Value of same $29,400 Tanneries 39 Value of same $15,595 Shoes, boots and slippers made 35,750 pis Saddles and bridles made. . 1,601 Value of shoes, saddles and bridles $76.0:59 Flax seed oil mills 9 Gallons made 10,036 Value of same $10,080 Distilleries 104 Gallons distilled 222, 642 Value of same $111,321 Breweries 4 Barrels brewed 1,150 Value of same $4, 600 Cooper shops 31 Value of products : $14,683 Water turning machines. . . 1 Value of same $2,000 Sugar refineries 1 Pounds made 150 Value of same $18 Paper mills _ 1 Reams made 2,500 Value of same $7,500 Potteries 10 Pieces made 41,973 Value of same $2,400 Book binderies 7 Value of business $3,050 Printing offices 6 Value of same $7,S00 Flour mills 65 Bushels of grain used 377,754 Value of same $377,754 Sawmills 75 Feet of lumber sawed 1,094,198 Value of same $10,069 Brick kilns 9 Number of brick made. . . . < 30,' 00 Value of same $3, 760 Lime kilns 29 Bushels of Lime made 4,360 Value of same $600 Horses 10,(100 Neat cattle 38,341 Sheep, merino and common breed mixed 16 Common sheep 39,511 Historical Sketch of Dauphin County. 113 There were no returns of cabinet, wagon and carriage makers. Limited as the state of manufacturing was at this period, the figures show a very healthy condition, in pro- portion to the population they were intended to supply. Most, if not all the manufacturing establishments in the county, at this period, were located in or near Harrisburg, Middletown, Hummelstown and Halifax. These points constituted common centres for trade with the farmers. The merchants then were the brokers, as they are to some extent in county towns now, and stood between the farmer and the markets. They received all his produce, and supplied all he wished to buy. The thrifty farmer, on settlement, received his annual balance from the merchant, and this enabled him to increase his acres. The discovery of coal in Lykens valley, about the year 1825, gave a new impetus to the business pros- perity of the county, and stimulated the settlement to a region of country that then seemed destined by nature, to be a perpetual waste. The first coals mined, were sent to market on rude lumbering wagons, and averaged possibly a ton or two per day. The mining operations were subsequently carried on by a company, who built a railroad from the mines to Millersburg, on the Susque- hanna. Here the coals were ferried across the river to the Pennsylvania Canal, on the west side, and the coal discharged into canal boats, being chiefly transported to Baltimore, by way of the Pennsylvania and Tide Water canals. The subsequent completion of the Wiconisco canal, on the cast side of the; river, from Millersburg to the head of the Eastern division of the Pennsylvania canal at Clark's Ferry, on Duncan's Island, greatly facil- 114 Historical Sketch of Dauphin County. itated the coal trade of this region, which from that period, has steadily increased. The increase in wealth and prosperity of the county during' the thirty years following iSro, was encouraging if not particularly marked. According to the census of ] 840, there were three furnaces in the county, which produced 3,000 tons of cast iron; three forges and rolling mills, which produced 466 tons of bar iron; the furnaces and forges consumed 5,537 tons of fuel; employed 224 men, including mining operations; and the entire capital invested in the trade, was $120,000. There were mined 8,000 tons of coal in the county; in which 30 men were employed; the capital invested was $150,000. Live Stock — 5,852 horses and mules; 17,429 neat cattle; 15,714 sheep; 27,817 swine; poultry of all kinds, estimated at $13,784. Cereal Grains — 277,248 bushels of wheat; 1,980 bushels of barley; 398,544 bushels of oats; 202,771 bushels of rye; 24,079 bushels of buckwheat; 30^,363 bushels of corn. Various Products — 24,021 pounds of wool; 604 pounds of hops; 1,000 pounds of beeswax; 125,051 bushels of potatoes; 18,008 tons of hay; 3^ tons ol hemp and flax; 46,730 pounds of tobacco; 322 pounds of silk cocoons; 9,024 cords of wood sold. The value of the products of the dairy was $54,208; 172 gallons of wine were made; and the value of home- made, or family goods, was $13,330. Value of manufactured tobacco, $5,000; 8 persons employed in the business, and the capital invested was $3,250. The value of hats, caps and bonnets manu- Historical Sketch of Dauphin County. 115 factured, was $118 50 — 19 persons employed; and the capital invested was $7,350. There were 20 tanneries, which tanned 14,935 sides of sole-leather, and 6,044 sides of upper; employed 58 hands, and the capital invested was $82,200. All other manufactories of leather, saddleries, &c, were 26; the value of the articles manufactured was $58,800; and the capital invested $28,610. Twenty thousand pounds of soap, and 60,000 pounds of candles, were made, with an invested capital of $4,500. There were 1 7 distilleries, which produced 147,000 gallons; four breweries, which produced 466,920 gallons. Four potteries, the value of whose manufactured articles was $2,300; five men em- ployed, with an invested capital of $850. Value of produce of market gardens, $4,850; value of nurseries of florists, $800; 26 men employed; capital invested $2,000. Three commission houses; capital $23,500. Retail dry goods, grocery, and other stores, 133; capital invested $479,110. Ten lumber yards; capital invested $59,000; 47 men employed. Twenty- six butchers; capital invested $19,400. Value of lumber produced $1,228. Fifty barrels of tar manufactured; 1 man employed. Value of machinery manufactured $2,000; 3 men employed. Forty-seven small arms made. Value of bricks and lime manufactured $21,219; 91 men employed. Nine fulling mills; six woolen manufactories; value of manufactured goods $6,215; 31 persons employed; capital invested $4,056. One paper manufactory; 12 printing offices; 6 binderies; 11 weekly newspapers; 113 men employed; capital invested $73,500. Two rope walks; value of products $7,000; 1 1 men em- ployed; capital invested $2,800. 1 1 6 Historical Sketch of DmipJiin County. Carnages and wagons manufactured, value of, $13,- 185; 51 men employed; capital $5,040. Twenty-nine flouring mills; 15,431 barrels of flour manufactured; 35 grist mills; 76 saw mills and 2 oil mills. Value of furni- ture manufactured $14,750; 44 men employed; capital invested $6,040. Sixteen brick and stone houses built during the previous year; ~\>1 frame houses; value of constructing or building, $72,790. Value of all manu- factured articles not enumerated, $5,1 20; capital invested $39,025. Total capital invested in manufactures in the county, $367,315. During the two next decades, notwithstanding the serious, but brief financial depressions of 1842 and 1857, the county increased rapidly in wealth and prosperity. New railroads and additional collieries were opened; new business enterprises inaugurated, and large manu- facturing establishments erected. The natural increase in the population of the county was much augmented by the emigration of families, either to engage in manu- facturing, or agricultural pursuits. New villages were laid out and became flourishing towns; and the price of real estate, both in town and country, appreciated in value. The census returns of i860 give the following as the farm products of the county: Acres of land improved in farms, 170,725; unimproved in farms, 52,852; cash value of farms, $13,000,746; value of farming implements, &c, $439,680; number of horses, 7,587; mules and asses, 152; milk cows, 10.473; work- ing oxen, 10; other cattle, 8,846; sheep, 4,546; swine, 22,892; value of live stock, $1,039,396; wheat, bushels, 363,791; rye, 116,220; Indian corn, 715,816; oats, 544,- 476; tobacco, lbs., 99,270; wool, lbs., 12,815; peas and Historical Sketch of Dauphin County 1 1 beans, bushels, 1,935; Irish potatoes, 231,666; sweet po- tatoes, 5,775; barley, bushels, 1,052: buckwheat, bushels, 16,017; orchard products, value of, $43,546; wine, gal- lons, 441; market garden products, value of, $62,103; butter, lbs., 791,885; cheese, lbs,, 2,333; h av > tons, 39,- 205; clover seed, bushels of, 7,887; grass seeds, bushels, 1,955; hops, lbs., 448; flax, lbs., 1,087; flaxseed, bushels, 136; sorgum molasses, gallons, 164; beeswax, lbs., 405; honey, lbs., 3,501 ; manufactures, home made, value of, $54,234; animals slaughtered, value of, $280,223. The following table illustrates only the leading manu- facturing operations in the county in i860: Agricultural Implements. . . . Boots and Shoes Cars ( joal, Anthracite ( lotton Goods Flour and Meal Iron — bar, sheet and railroad Iron Blooms Iron Castings Stoves Iron. Pig Leather Liquors, distilled malt Lumber, planed " sawed Machinery, steam engines. . . Marble and stone work Printing, oewspapers Tin, Copper and Sheet-iron. . Clothing, men Total of all, including those not enumrratrd above &23,000 29,765 66,000 650,000 1ST, Olio 207,500 60,000 11,500 •24.000 Ll,500 441,000 156,800 25, 000 22,500 75,000 160,500 36,005 13,700 28,500 16,300 34.008 ss,;;|s 18,455 01. son 36,125 191,307 294,920 1 11.0 lo.s 10 12,212 4,350 237,541 99,728 76,887 14,586 00.1:0 126,250 8,433 5,050 10,400 13,387 31,310 23 11.-) 140 525 356 40 29 1!) 13 137 65 16 12 34 105 15 21 36 29 L23 $7,800 24,408 38,400 162,000 63,060 13,608 16,800 8,700 7,800 4,560 48,600 18,624 6,060 3,432 11,040 31,044 4,932 5,160 4,860 7,608 21,756 $35,000 17,771 168,000 '.'(ir,,ooo 319,450 323,115 1.52,01 36,000 21,400 L2,500 363,566 100. -J is 97,600 33,190 so.ooo 237,494 44,353 20,050 39,000 25,217 59,115 321 2,544,558 l.o;-u;:,i; ■_>:;]:, 01 ;. iso 0.0 n;.:;s-j The decade between i860 and 1870, is particularly distinguished as an era of marked prosperity in the his- tory of the county. The civil war created a demand for 16 1 1 8 Historical Sketch of Dauphin County. vast supplies in almost every article of manufacture, and the county, owing to its peculiar geographical location and transportation facilities, contributed more than an ordinary share in the general aggregate of production. The following returns from the census report of 1870 will, by comparing it with the returns of i860, give the reader a very impressive notion of the progress of the county during the intervening decade: Acres improved land, 172,586; woodland, 57.788; other unimproved land, 3,461 ; cash value of farms, $19,053,433 ; value of farming implements and machinery, $582,291 ; total value of farm productions, including betterments and additions to stock, $3,034,199; orchard products, $58,021; produce of market gardens, $40,695; forest products, $11,225; value of home manufactures, $14,- 997; value of animals slaughtered, $475,479; value of all live stock, $1,660,572 ; horses, 7,002 ; mules and asses, 578; milch cows, 10,298; working oxen, 5; other cattle, 10,336; sheep, 4,462 ; swine, 19,239; winter wheat, bush- els, 422,637; rye, 56,527; Indian corn, 714,886; oats, 727,535; barley, 334; buckwheat, I /is fori fa/ Sketch of Dauphin County. 119 Inimstki I.S. - BO ~ » a —. Agricultural Implements Belting and Hose, (leather) Boats Book-binding Boots and Shoes Bread & other bakery products. Brick Brooms ( iarriages and Wagons (airy {freight and Passengers. ( lothing, men's ( loflfee and Spices, ground ( lonfectionery ( looperage Cotton Goods Flowering Mill Products Furniture Gas Iron, Blooms Forged and Rolled. . . Xails and Spikes, cut . Pigs < Hastings Leather, Tanned Curried Moroco Tanned. . . . Lime Liquors, Distilled Malt Lumber, Planed Sawed Machinery, not specified . . . . Cigars... I pholstery Wood -ward Wood. Turned and Carved.. Wood-ware Woolen Goods 1 g 1 1 16 14 •) 15 4 16 (» 2 32 16 1 1 4 1 7 12 16 7 1 2!) 18 14 1:5 4 3 8 1 8 $22,800 5,000 4,500 15,000 23,500 32,80.0 99,634 9,500 67,800 115,770 15,375 4,500 2,700 14,700 251,500 880,1 33,975 14 300,000 20 6,000 802 879,000 17.-). no 1 582,800 313,250 140,001 50,000 18,000 26,200 41,000 30,00 1 237,000 734,700 138 124,150 33 13,800 13 5,900 140 265,000 69 86,075 55 80,000 89 167,000 3 13 22 65 55 210 is !).-, 216 51 7 17 20 282 89 72 294 187 59 18 7 7!) 16 16 (is 212 $7,275 1,812 2. si 10 6,500 26,000 17.S40 42,899 1,500 34,488 79,780 12,990 1,965 3,000 5,350 53,200 17,195 29,350 9,092 3,000 504,004 51,428 132,320 93,400 16,730 7,450 2. si 10 13,393 6,600 6,000 39,840 88,420 220,980 8,980 3,276 47,600 32,915 35,000 29, 882 1 $11,(1*1} 8,91 ! 3,680 92,809 37,800 44,760 22,542 24,557 35,865 577,101 19,499 38,100 10, 173 23,900 247,945 715,1 Hi 21,767 27,045 44.200 2,111,744 333,931 713,271 275,684 130,407 75,744 23,333 32,191 30,000 18,956 202. ion 546,416 597,293 15,768 13,000 59,180 35,460 36,000 72.725 $30,202 15,000 10,500 100,000 72.000 so,; Hi 88,110 30,113 120,315 1,120,221 30,800 41,800 18,300 34,130 326,600 879,844 72,500 60.115 49,300 2,791,554 400.000 iiso,; 07 436,260 182,203 92,384 35,000 54,861 L39,528 32,402 298,596 795,784 861,951 37,168 20,287 222,915 95,165 1 -JIM, OO 130,035 The following, from the same report, is a recapitulation of the manufacturing industries of the county: Number of manufacturing establishments, 587; steam engines, 107; horse power of same, 6,830; water wheels, 102; horse power of same, 1400; total, 4,865; hands em- ployed, 4,865 ; capital invested, $6,557,520; wages paid, i 20 Historical Sketch of Dauphin County. $1,998,486; materials, $9,248,585; value of products, $i3»5 I 4»i56. A much better idea of the magnitude of the progress of the county, within the period indicated, may be had by contrasting the totals of the two census returns, viz: I860. Number of manufacturing establishments 321 1870. Number of manufacturing establishments 587 I860. Workmen employed 2, 315 1870. Workmen employed 4,865 1860. Capital invested $2,544,558 • 1870. Capital invested $6,557,520 1860. Cost of raw material $1,632,656 1870. Cost of raw material $9,248,585 1860. Value of products $2,946,382 1870. Value of products $13,514,156 It will be observed by the above figures that the in- crease in the number of establishments is nearly ioo per centum; in the amount of capital invested, and the number of workmen employed, it is considerable over 200 per centum ; in the cost of the raw material, it is nearly 500 per centum ; and in the value of the products, it is over 400 per centum. The rates of increase in manufacturing operations in the county up to the commencement of the present bus- iness depression, was in no wise diminished; and but for this unfortunate cause, we are satisfied that the next census would have shown an equal if not a greater per centage of increase. Anions the manufacturing establishments not included in the returns of 1870, are the Pennsylvania steel works, at Baldwin, a few miles east of Harrisburtr To show how large a proportion these works bear to the manu- facturing industry of the county, we may state that the average production of steel at these works is about 1 2,000 pounds at each heat, and during the twenty-four hours Historical Sketch of Dauphin County. 121 there are twenty-five heats; thus allowing for all waste, the daily production of steel rails is about 1 20 tons, be- sides a large amount of railroad frogs and crossings. The amount of coal consumed in the forge and rail mills is 2,000 tons per month, and in the Bessemer plants about 1,800 tons per month. These figures, allowing 312 working days in the year, give us the annual consumption and products of the works as follows: Consumption — Pig Iron, 574,040 tons; Coal, 45,000 tons. Products — Steel Rails, 312,000 tons. Other large and important industrial establishments have been put in operation at Middleton, Highspire, Hummelstown, Millersburg, Lykens and Williamstown since 1870, and of course are not included in the re- turns of that year. But our province is merely to sketch, not to elaborate ; and in the retrospect, w r e have given, there is abundant cause for gratitude and praise on the part of all who re- side, or were born and reared in Dauphin county. Truly Providence has most highly favored us. Our resources are varied; our soil is everywhere strong, on the hills and by the streams; we are rich in the most useful min- erals in the world; and our streams of purest water afford facilities everywhere for industrial operations. The; lirst settlers of the county were remarkable men; they were men of strong moral and religious principles — men of cultivated minds — men of industrious and fru- gal habits — full of enterprise and perseverance. They established and set in motion and gave direction to a state of society singularly perfect. Their own character they impressed upon their descendants. The result has i 2 2 Historical Sketch of Dauphin County. been that the county has long been the happy home of a large population, intelligent, virtuous, refined, possessing in a great degree pecuniary independence, and all the privileges, social, moral, educational and religious, which can promote the benefit and happiness of a community. Amid its magnificent scenery, surrounded by happy in- fluences, and enjoying the advantages there afforded, have been trained numerous sons and daughters, who have emigrated to other portions of the country. Most of whom have been prosperous and successful in what- ever business engaged. Many of them have attained high distinction and o-reat usefulness. Historical Sketch of Dauphin County. 12, THE CITIES, BOROUGHS AND TOWNS OF THE COUNTY. HARRISBURG. Harrisburg, the seat of justice of Dauphin county and capital of Pennsylvania, is situated on the east bank of the Susquehanna river, one hundred and six miles from Philadelphia, one hundred and twenty-one from Wash- ington city, two hundred and forty-eight from Pittsburg, eighty-two from Baltimore, and one hundred and eighty- two from the city of New York. By a grant from Thomas Penn and Richard Penh, Esqrs., proprietaries, to John Harris, jr., dated "ye 19th February, 1753," that gentleman was allowed the right of running a ferry across the Susquehanna, from which ori- ginated the name Harris Ferry, by which the place was known previous to the organization of the county. John Harris, jr., issued proposals for laying out a town at his ferry, at least ten years previous to the erection of the county. The town, however, was not laid out until [785, when the original intentions of Mr. Harris were consumated by his son-in-law, William Maclay. The town, as originally laid out, extended only as far south as Mulberry street, and the lot belonging to Mr. Valentine Egle, on the upper corner of Front and Mul- berry streets, was numbered one on the plan of the town. In the course of a few years afterwards it was extended to Mary's alley, and in 1792 the executors of Mr. Harris extended the plan of lots still further southward. 124 Historical Sketch of Dauphin County. There is no house except the stone house on Front street, the property of Hon. Simon Cameron, now stand- ing within the present limits of Harrisburg, which is cer- tainly known to have been erected before the town was laid out. John Hamilton, the grand father of A. B. Hamilton, Esq., erected the first permanent embellishment to the town, after Harris' stone house, by building a brick house on the corner of Front street and Blackberry alley, and a large establishment for his store on the corner of Mar- ket square and Market street. Neither of those build- ings are now standing-. The latter structure was con- verted into a tavern, and was for many years known as the Washington Hotel. It stood on the site of the pres- ent Jones' House. The act erecting the town of Harrisburg into a bor- ough, was passed on the 13th day of April, 1 791 ; and an act to alter the same, without interfering with the boundaries originally laid down, was approved February 1, 1808. The limits of the borough as incorporated in 1 791, began at low water mark on the eastern shore of the Susquehanna river; thence by the pine apple tree north sixty degrees and one quarter east seventy-nine perches to an ash tree on the west bank of Paxton creek; thence by the several courses thereof three hun- dred and seventy-three perches to a white hickory on William Maclay's line; thence by the same south sixty- seven and three quarter degrees west two hundred and twelve perches to a marked chestnut oak on the eastern bank of the Susquehanna; thence by the same course to low water mark to the place of beginning. This made the northern limit of the borough South street. The borough limits were extended by the act of 16th April, 1838, in the following language: The north- Historical Sketch of Dauphin County. 125 western boundary line of the borough of Harrisburg shall be, and the same is hereby extended and enlarged as follows: Extending it along the river line to the up- per line of the land of the late William Maclay on said river; thence to Paxton creek, and thence along said creek to the north-western corner of the present bound- ary; thus annexing the town of Maclaysburg, or in other words, taking in the territory now comprehended be- tween South and Herr streets. The minutes of the first Town Council are not to be found, and the only record we can discover relative to the affairs of the borough in the first year of its incorpo- ration, is singularly enough, a deed of charity, being an account of the Overseers of the Poor, who posted their credit as follows: "To amount of hogs and butter for ye use of ye poor, £\6 is. i^d." The seventh section of the act of March 4, 1 785, erect- ing the county of Dauphin, directs the Court to sit for the said county near Harris Ferry. The design was to leave to John Harris the privilege of naming the town. But the Chief Justice M'Kean, and some of the judges of the Supreme Court conceived the notion that, as the county was called after the Dauphin of France, the town should be called Louisburg, after Louis XVI. Accord- ingly, in the first precept for holding the courts here, the court was directed to be held at Louisburg. John Harris, however, told the judges that they might "Louisburg" as much as they pleased, but that he would never execute a title* for any lot in any other name than that of Harris- burg; and his determination prevailed. The building in which the first court at Harrisburg was held, was a log house, until about thirty years ago, at the corner of what is now Washington avenue and 126 Historical Sketch of Dauphin County. Front street, and the "pillory," or punishing place, was in that neighborhood. The courts were afterwards held in the old log jail which formerly stood on the north-west side of Strawberry alley, a short distance north-east of Raspberry alley, and in a log house which formerly stood on the lot now occupied by the Farmer's Hotel, on the east side of Market street, below Third. From this place the court moved into the building which formerly stood on the site of the present structure. When it vacated this for the use of the Legislature in December, 1812, it moved into the then partially finished brick building owned at the time by Mr. Capp, now known as the White Hall Tavern. While here, the commissioners erected the brick building at the corner of Walnut street and Raspberry alley, into which the court moved and which it occupied until the Legislature vacated the court house. The entire cost of the court building that immediately preceded the present edifice, was £s>979 1 Is - 8^d. The present court house was erected in. i860, at a cost of about $83,000. The original contract of Messrs. Hol- man & Wilt was for $57,012 57, but before the building was completed, an additional expense of some $25,000 for extras was put in, and after some dispute with the authorities, was allowed. The first courts in the county were held by justices, and the earliest record of a court reads — "At a Court of Quarter Sessions, holden near Harris Ferry, in and for the county of Dauphin," &c, on the "third Tuesday of May, in the year of our Lord 1785, before Timothy Green, Samuel Jones and Jonathan M'Clure, Esqrs., Jus- tices of the same court." Historical Sketch of Dauphin County. 127 The sheriff of Lancaster county officiated until the election of that officer by the new count)-. The names of the grand jurymen were, James Cowden (foreman), Robert Montgomery, John Gilchrist, Barefoot Brunson, John Clark, Rowen M'Clure, John Carson, John Wilson, William Crane, Archibald M'Allister, Richard Dixon, John Pattimore, James Crouch, Jacob Awl, Wm. Brown, Andrew Stewart, James Rogers, Samuel Stewart, John Cooper, Alexander Berryhill. Alexander Graydon was the first prothonotary, An- thony Kelker the first sheriff, and Rudolph Kelker the first deputy sheriff. The earliest record of a punishment is that inflicted on William Courtney and Jesse Rowland, who were sen- tenced to receive eighteen lashes and pay fifteen shillings sterling on the 18th of August, 1785, between the hours of four and six in the afternoon. Several records occur in which punishment was inflicted by lashes, and stand- ing in the pillory. A large number of the cases tried during the first term, were for horse stealing. In 1793 Harrisburg was very sickly, the chief ailment being a malarius fever, which took an epidemical lorm. A number of Irish emigrants died, and many ol the citi- zens were more or less affected by it. The chiei cause- was ascribed to a stagnant mill dam belonging to Peter and Abraham Landis, in the lower section of the town. The citizens remonstrated with the owners, who stood on their vested rights and refused to listen; the people then appealed to the authorities, and the case was in a fair way for an interminable litigation. But, in the mean time, the deaths and sickness continued; and the people, 128 Historical Sketch of Dauphin County. exasperated with the stubbornness of the owners, held town meetings and resolved to take the matter in their own hands. Accordingly, one blustery snowy morning, at a signal from the court house bell, the citizens assem- bled, with the implements of destruction in their hands, and proceeded to the dam, which they demolished amid the loud vivas of the assembled multitude. The citi- zens subsequently paid the owners ^2,633 4s. 6d. for the mill property, which amount was raised by taxation. After considerable opposition from various causes, the seat of government of Pennsylvania was established at Harrisburg in 1810. The present capitol building, how- ever, was not completed and occupied until December 22, 1822, the Legislature in the mean time sitting in the court house, which formerly stood on the site of the pres- ent structure. In i860 Harrisburg received the highest corporate honors in the power of the Legislature to bestow — that of being made a city, and that it is destined to become a large and populous city, must be apparent to all who are acquainted with its geographical location and local ad- vantages. In 1850 Harrisburg had a population of some 6,000 inhabitants. Its population in i860 was 13,000; in 1870 it was 23,000; and by a voluntary census, taken by the police under instructions from the authorities, in 1876, it was found to contain 27,000 inhabitants, thus continu- ing to increase since i860 at the rate oi nearly 90 per cent. Since i860 there have been built over four hundred acres of additional ground to what the city occupied in that year, averaging yearly an increase of forty acres of buildings. In i860 the whole district north of North Historical Sketch of Dauphin County. 129 street was little else than meadow land. Now it is built up to Maclay street. Skirting the river from North street to Maclay street, and from the river to Twelfth street, there is a district of at least five hundred acres, of which four-fifths are covered with buildings of the most substantial character. In i860 Allison's hill had but five or six houses on it. Now at least fifty acres are built over, or occupied as gardens, and fifty acres more are laid out in building lots. All this, besides that portion of the city built over from Paxton street to the Lochiel iron works. This increase in the population of the city has carried along with it general prosperity, which is particularly exemplified in the increased value of real estate. The Osier property consisted, inclusive of streets, of five acres of land between Boas and Herr streets on the north and south, and Second and Third streets on the east and west. In i860, the heirs of this estate were offered $2,500 for the tract, or at the rate of $500 per acre gross, that is including streets and alleys. This offer was declined. In 1863 the heirs were offered $50,000, or $1 0,000 per acre for the tract, an increase of $9,500 per acre, which offer was also declined. In 1868, this same piece of ground was sold at public sale, and brought the enormous sum of sixty-three thousand dollars, or $1 2,600 per acre, and those parts of it now vacant could not be purchased at less than $20,000 per acre, or at the rate of $100,000 for the whole, exclusive of buildings. At the present, six years later, Messrs. Fink & Boyer hold about one-half acre of this land for which they have been offered $15,000, making the value of an acre $30,000, which in i860 could have been purchased for $500. Other persons holding lands in the same neighborhood 130 Historical Sketch af Dauphin County. who purchased from the Foster estate, ask prices still higher than those just given. In 1863, the school board bought a lot on Third street, near Briggs, for $100. In 1868, deeming it expedient to sell it, they did so, realizing the sum of $3,500 for the same. Nor are all these excep- tional cases. Many individuals made much better bar- gains than these. In 1865 Dr. George W. Reily threw upon the market eighty-five acres of land, and has since sold it out, except five acres, having thrown it into lots at the rate of $8,500 per acre. This almost a mile be- yond the northern limits of the city in i860. East- ward property has increased at the same rate, as it also has in the portion of our city from Paxton street to the Lochiel iron works. Instances: In 1868 D. Mumma, Esq., purchased from Dr. G. Baily ten acres of land on Allison's hill, for which he paid $16,000. He sold it in less than two years for $32,000. The same gentleman bought from Miller two acres of land, and from Dock four acres of land, situated below Paxton street, in 1865— 6, for $2,500 per acre, and re-sold it in less than a year for $5,000 per acre. Nor is the prosperity of the city confined alone to the increased value of land. Within the last fifteen years manufacturing establishments have been greatly multi- plied, and to-day, in the amount of capital invested in manufacturing and the value of the goods manufactured, it takes rank as the third city in the State — in other words, it is only excelled by Philadelphia and Pittsburg. The city owes much of its prosperity to the prudent, liberal and wise management of its banks. They are eight in number, as follows: The Harrisburg National Bank; the First National Bank, which are national banks of issue, and the follow- ing State and private banks: Historical Sketch of Dauphin County. 131 The Dauphin Deposit Bank; the State Bank; the Me- chanics' Bank; the Farmer's Bank; the Real Estate Bank; Bank of Dougherty Bros. & Co. The extent of the business of the banks is shown in the fact that the aggregate of their average deposits is about $3,000,000, and their average loans and discounts nearly $3,500,000. The fact that our banks passed through the panic of 1S74, without cither suspension or any material curtail- ment of accommodations, is an evidence of their strength and sagacity, as well as the financial ability of our busi- ness men. The stranger is struck with the number, magnitude and fine architecture of the public school buildings in Harrisburg. There are twenty-three in number, of which eighteen are owned by the school board, and five rented. The estimated value of the city school property is over $350,000. The schools afford room for about 5,000 scholars, but the rapid increase of the population has crowded so fast upon the school accommodations that the\ r are behind the requirements of the city. The school system is an excellent one, and under the charge of an efficient superintendent. More than forty churches attest the prevalence of re- ligious zeal among the people of Harrisburg. Most of these edifices are very substantial and elegant, and some of them are remarkably fine specimens of ecclesiastical architecture. The city is supplied with gas whose mains extend for nearly thirteen miles through all the principal streets. The gas produced is of excellent quality, and furnished at a reasonable price. 132 Historical Sketch of Dauphin County. A street railway traverses the city from its northern to its southern end, with a transverse track to the several depots. There are few cities of greater size, equal Harrisburg in business activity, in the extent and wide geographical range of its trade, in the volume of its current financial transactions, in the solid strength and high standing of its business houses and banks, in the external marks of energy and vigorous prosperity, which are visible in the ceaseless whirl and clatter of its work shops, in the rush and shriek of its half hundred trains arriving and departing daily, in the solid and stately architecture of its business streets, in the palatial elegance of many of its private residences, churches and other public build- ings. Its business and industries have increased even faster than its population, while their capacities are limited only by the amount of capital invested in them. Historical Sketch of Dauphin County. i MIDDLETOWN. Middletown — so called from its being located midway between Lancaster and Carlisle — is a post town and borough in Swatara township. It is the oldest town in Dauphin county, having been laid out thirty years before Harrisburg, and seven years before Hummelstown, and is nine miles south-east of Harrisburg, at the confluence of the Susquehanna and Swatara, near which the Penn- sylvania and Union canals unite. We are indebted to Rupp's and Day's historical papers for the following par- ticulars respecting the town: It was laid out in 1755 by George Fisher, father of the late George Fisher, Esq., who lived until his death near the place, on a well cultivated farm which has been in the family since 1750, in the centre of a large tract of land bounded by the Susquehanna and Swatara, con- veyed to him by his father, John Fisher, Esq., a merchant of Philadelphia. The site was that of an ancient Indian village. The proprietor being a Friend, several o! this denom- ination from Philadelphia and the lower counties followed him; and these, with several Scotch and Irish merchants, formed the first inhabitants of the village, who enjoyed, up to the period of the revolution, a very extensive and lucrative trade with the Indian nations and others settled on the Susquehanna and Juniata, and also with the \\ ern traders. Several of the Scotch anil Irish merchants entered the army, whence few returned. During the revolutionary war a commissary department was estab- lished here, where the small boats of General Sullivan's arm)' were built, and his troops supplied with provisions 134 Historical Sketch of Dauphin County. and military stores for his expedition against the Six Nations. After the war, trade again revived and flourished ex- tensively until 1796, after which it gradually declined. Until then the mouth of the Swatara was considered the termination of the navigation of the Susquehanna and its tributary streams. So far down it was considered safe; below this it was believed to be impracticable, on account of the numerous and dangerous cataracts im- peding its bed. In 1 796 an enterprising German miller, by the name of Kreider, from the neighborhood of Hun- tingdon, on the Juniata, arrived in the Swatara in an ark, fully freighted with flour, with which he safely de- scended to Baltimore, where he was amply compensated for his meritorious adventure. His success becoming known throughout the interior, many arks were built, and the next year this mode of transportation became estab- lished. This trade increasing, a number of enterprising young men were induced to examine critically the river from Swatara to tide water, by which they became ex- cellent pilots. The enterprise of John Kreider thus diverted the trade of this place to Baltimore, where Jt principally centered until the Union canal was completed, in 1827, when it was again generally arrested at its old post. It would probably have so continued, if the Penn- sylvania canal had not been continued to Columbia, by which the principal obstruction in the river — the Cone- wago Falls — was completely obviated. Midclletown, or rather Portsmouth, laid out in 1814, by the son of the original proprietor, at the junction of the Union and Pennsylvania canals, again declined. A large trade, however, in lumber and other articles of domestic pro- duce, is still intercepted here, supplying the valleys ol the Swatara, Ouitapahilla, Tulpehocken and the Schuyl- Historical Sketch of Dauphin County. 135 kill. It may fairly be presumed, from the numerous local advantages enjoyed by the town, that it is destined ere long to become one of much importance. The town was incorporated into a borough February 19, 1828, and contained in 1846, Rupp tells us, "about one hundred and fifty dwellings, several stores and tav- erns, a bank, four churches — Lutheran, German Re- formed, Methodist, and Church of God, or Bethel — sev- eral school houses, and the usual number of handicrafts. The first settlers were Irish, English, and some Scotch, but the present population is principally German." The same historian has the following, touching Ports- mouth before it was consolidated with Middletown, which occurred March 9, 1 S 5 7 , then having a population of 750: '•Portsmouth, between Middletown and the Susque- hanna, was laid out in 1809 by George Fisher, Esq., son of Mr. Fisher who laid out Middletown, and at first called Harbortown. The same was changed to Portsmouth in 1814. The Union canal, the Pennsylvania, the Harris- burg and Lancaster railroads all intersect here. "Between Portsmouth and Middletown, on the plain, stands the Emaus Institute, devoted to the education ol poor orphan children, where, it is said, the children are to be carefully trained in the doctrines of the: Evangelical Lutheran Church. Instruction is given in the German and English languages, and the charter has Peru so altered by the Legislature as to permit the establishment of a literary and scientil artment in connection with the ( )rphan House, in which all the branches of modern nin£ are taught. The institution owes its origin to the liberality of Mr. ( George Frey, formerly a distinguished citizen of Middletown. It has only been recently erected (1840), after many years of expensive and vexatious liti- gation, since the death of the donor, some forty years since, (died 1808). T! life of Mr. Frey was marked with 136 Historical Sketch of Dauphin County. not a little of romance. His name, by the way, was not Frey, but Everhart. "When Mr. Fisher, the founder of the town, first came to the place, he used to hire George, who was then a penniless German lad, to assist in plowing the fields and clearing up his new land. George lived with Mr. Fisher some years, until he had saved a little fund; but his am- bition looked above the plow, and investing his money in a stock of trinkets, finery, and orther articles, for In- dian traffic, he mounted his pack and started up the Susquehanna. Passing the mountains, he encountered a party of soldiers from the garrison at Fort Hunter, who arrested him as a runaway redemptioner, (a servant who had been sold for a time to pay his passage from Europe,) a character common in those days, and far more consistent with George's appearance and language than that of a peddler; for what peddler, said they, would risk life and property thus alone and on foot on this dangerous frontier ? 'Ich bin frey, ich bin irey,' (I am free,) repeated George earnestly, in German, in re- ply to their charges. He succeeded in convincing them of his independence, and went with them to the garrison, where he became quite a favorite, the soldiers knowing him by no other name than that of 'Frey,' which they had caught from his first reply to them. He sold out his pack at a fine profit, and continued to repeat his adven- tures, still passing as George Frey, until he was able to start a little store in Middletown, where he afterwards erected a mill. Near the close of the Revolution, when the old Continental money was gradually depreciating, George, who always kept both eyes open, contrived to be on the right side of the account, so that, instead of losing, he gained immensely by the depreciation; and, in short, by dint of untiring industry, close economy, sharp bargains, and lucky financiering, he at length be- came, on a small scale, the Stephen Girard of the village, and owned much of the real estate in and around the town. He had not, however, all the good things of this life; although he was married, Heaven had never Historical SkctcJi of DaupJtin County. 137 blessed him with children — a circumstance which he deeply regretted, as certain worth)- fathers of the Lu- theran church can testify. The property, therefore, of the childless man was destined to cheer and educate the fatherless children of a succeeding age. He died in 1807 or 1 80S, and a splendid seminary, erected about the year [840, is the monument of George Frey's benevo- lence. "After the consolidation of the two towns of Middle- town and Portsmouth, the old time interest in the grain trade was again revived. The reason why the place was so noted a mart for the sale of grain brought down the Susquehanna in keel-bottom boats and canoes was, the Conewago Falls, prevented their further descent. Much of the grain that was sold here was ground into flour at Frey's mill, or stored up and sold to the millers in Lan- caster county. In 1790 there was one hundred and fifty thousand bushels of wheat brought down the Susque- hanna, and passed through Middletown for the Philadel- phia market. "It is worthy of remark, en passant, that in the year 1723 the family of Conrad Weiser, from the province of New York, leaving Schoharie, wended their way in a southwestern direction, traveling through the forest till the)- readied the Susquehanna river, where they made canoes, freighted them with their families, and floated down the river to the mouth of the Swatara creek ; thence worked their way up till the) - reached a fertile spot on Tulpehocken creek, in Berks county, where the)- settled. As an evidence of the moral, material and social pro- gress of Middletown, we ma)' mention that it has eight churches, namely, one each of the Lutheran, (the oldest church, after those of 1 >erry, Paxton and Hanover, in the county, having been erected 1767,) Presbyterian, Bethel, (Church of God,) Methodist Episcopal, New Mennonite, United Brethren, Roman Catholic, and African Metho- dist denominations. It has fourteen common schools and 138 Historical Sketch of Dauphin County. the Emmaus Orphans' School; six well kept hotels and a number of restaurants. It also has one lodge of A. Y. Masons, one encampment of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, one lodge of Knights of Pythias, one De- gree Council of the Improved Order of Red Men, one Circle of the Brotherhood of the Union, two lodges of the American Mechanics, and the Washington Bund, a German society. The location and business facilities of Middletown are not surpassed by any other town in Dauphin county, or of like population in the State. It contains among its manufacturing establishments two furnaces, one car and manufacturing works, a foundry and machine shop, fur- niture manufactory, tube works, five steam saw mills and general lumber yard manufactories; two sash, door and blind factories, a boat yard, paint and varnish works, a steam tannery, and an extensive cigar manufactory. It also has six dry goods and general stores, seven grocery and notion stores, three drug stores, three stove and tin- ware establishments, two breweries, two wholesale liquor stores, two harness and saddlery stores, several millinery and ladies' notion stores, a national bank and good weekly newspaper. The different professions and handi- crafts are also ably represented. The domestic market is well supplied, and carried on in a substantial brick building erected for that purpose. There is a beautiful and tastefully arranged incorporated cemetery and sev- eral others connected with the various churches. The municipal government of the town is vested in a burgess and a town council. It is divided into three wards, all of which are ably represented in the council chamber. The civil order of the place is maintained by Historical Sketch of Dauphin County. 139 constables. There is also an effective fire company, and steam fire engines and accoutrements. The population of Middletown in 1870 was 2,980, but is now fairly estimated at 4,000. The number of taxa- bles, according- to the assessor's return for 1874, was 843; assessed value of real and personal property, by the same authority, was $449,593. HUMMELSTOWN. Hummelstown was laid out by Frederick Hummel, ( )c- tober 26, 1762, and as a town is consequently twenty- three years older than Harrisburg. It was for many years called Frederickstown; the precise date of the change in the name is not known. It is situated nine miles from Harrisburg, on the Reading turnpike, as well as the Philadelphia and Reading Railroad, in a fertile limestone region, highly cultivated by wealthy and indus- trious Germans. Among its earliest settlers were Jacob Hummel, sr., John Fox, Frederick Hummel, George Gish George Fox, Christian Spayd, Frederick Richert, Daniel Baum and Adam Dean. During the Revolution the town was a depot for arms, ammunition, etc., from which the garrisons on the West Branch were supplied. The Swatara creek, along which runs the Union canal, is close by the town. On the banks of the Swatara, a short distance from the town, is a remarkable cave about half a mile in length, which is much visited in the summer season. It abounds with stalactites and stalagmites. Not far from this cave rises the lofty insulated hill called Round Top, from whose summit a fine prospect of the surrounding scenery can be had. 140 Historical Sketch of Dauphin County. Hummelstown was incorporated into a borough by an order of court August 6, 1874. According to the census of 1870 it had a population of 837. being at that time the third borough in population in the county. Its taxable population was represented in 1874 by 249 taxables, and according to the assessor's returns for the same year the assessed value of its real and personal property was $200,589. HIGHSPIRE, A post town, situated between the Susquehanna and the Pennsylvania canal, on the. turnpike from Harrisburg to Middletown, six miles from the former and three from the latter. It is on the main branch of the Pennsylvania Railroad. The town was laid out in 181 4, by two Ger- mans named Barnes and Doughterman, who emigrated from Spire, a small village in Bavaria. By an act of As- sembly passed February 7, 1867, it was incorporated into a borough ; but the act was annulled on the 8th of April, 1868. According to the census of 1870, the town con- tained a population of 612, but it is now fairly estimated at 750. It contains five general stores, one grist and one saw mill, two wheelwright shops, car shops, a distil- lery, a cigar manufactory, three good hotels, two churches, and three common schools, and several other business establishments, etc. MILLERSBURG. Millersburg was laid out in July of the year 1807, by Daniel Miller. The town is pleasantly situated north of Berry's mountain, at the confluence of the Wisconisco creek with the Susquehanna, twenty-three miles north ol Historical Sketch of Dauphin County. 141 Harrisburg, on the road leading to Sunbury. It stands on an elevated spot a short distance from the river. The first settlers of this region were Huguenots. Francis Jaques, or Jacobs, resided some time at Halifax, but afterwards located here, where he had "taken up" several thousand acres of land. Among others, Kleim La- rue, (Laroi,) Shorra or Jury. Werts, Stoever and Shutts, were early settlers here. Millersburg is becoming a place of considerable im- portance, being situated near the coal regions, with which it communicates by the Lykens Valley Railroad, and with Harrisburg by the Wisconisco canal and the Northern Central Railroad. The site of the present town was formerly a pine for- est, and an original lot owner could procure enough ol pine lumber to build a comfortable dwelling. The place was settled some time prior to the time it was laid out. Daniel Miller, the proprietor, and John Miller, his bro- ther, emigrated from Lancaster county about the year 1790, and "took up" some four hundred acres of land and commenced a settlement, probably in the year 1794, which was finally laid out into town lots, as above stated. The prediction of a local historian touching the pros- ' perity of Millersburg has been fulfilled to a large extent, for the Millersburg of to-day is quite a flourishing town, and the centre of transporation of a large amount oi coal. On the 8th of April, 1850, an act was passed and ap- proved by the Legislature of Pennsylvania incorporating Millersburg into a borough. From that time its progress has been rapid. Its business and social interests are now represented by live general and two drug stores and one hardware store, two confectioneries, two stove and tinware stores, two harness shops, a shoe store, a whole- 142 Historical Sketch of Dauphin County. sale tobacco establishment, one national and one discount bank, two hotels and two restaurants, five common schools and three churches, and a newspaper. Its man- ufactories are two tanneries, two steam saw mills, two sash, door and blind and planing mills, one foundry, and one shingle mill. The population of Upper Paxton township, as given in the census of 1870, was 1,371; of which 1360 were na- tive born and 11 foreign; 1,370 white and one colored. The number of taxables, as returned by the assessor in 1874, was 469; the assessed value of real and personal property, $55,289. DAUPHIN. Dauphin was for many years called Port Lyon, and af- terwards Greensburg, taking the latter name from the Hon. Innis Green, by whom it was laid out about the year 1826. It is beautifully situated on the Susquehanna river and on the turnpike from Harrisburg to Clark's Ferry, eight miles from the former place, at the conflu- ence of Stony creek with the Susquehanna. Dauphin was incorporated into a borough by an act of Assembly passed and approved on the 31st of March, 1845. ^ contains three dry goods and grocery stores (combined,) two groceries, two tin shops, a planing mill and sash factory, a furnace, car works, an exten- sive tannery. Its moral and social interests are repre- sented by four churches, one each of the Presbyte- rian, Lutheran, Methodist and Evangelical denomina- tions; three common schools and one select school; also, a lodge of Independent Order of Odd Fellows; a lodge of Patriotic Sons of America; a circle of the Brotherhood of the Union; and an encampment of Odd Fellows. It Historical Sketch of Dauphin County. 143 Has three hotels and a number of good restaurants. It is a post town. According to the census of 1870 Dauphin borough had a population of 739; the number of its inhabitants is now fairly estimated at 825; the number of taxables, as re- turned by the assessor in 1874, was 216; assessed value of real and personal property, $100,965. DUNCAN'S ISLAND. Duncan's Island is the name now applied to the flour- ishing settlement at the mouth of the Juniata, fourteen miles above Harrisburg. The name properly belongs to the narrow alluvial island, about two miles in length, at the point of which the village is situated. This island and its fellow, Haldeman's Island, although apparently in Perry county, are really in Dauphin, Perry having been formed from Cumberland; and the original boundary of that county having been the western shore of the Sus- quehanna. Haldeman's island (so called from its pres- ent owner) is not of alluvial origin, but is elevated far above the neighboring fiat-lands. The farm house on it commands a magnificent landscape comprising many of the wonders both of nature and art. The river here is nearly a mile in width, and is crossed by a wooden bridge. A dam across the river, just below the bridge, creates a pool, upon which canal boats cross by means of a double towing-path attached to the bridge. The canal continues up Duncan's Island, diverging at its upper end into the Juniata and Susquehanna divisions. The Juniata division then crosses the Juniata river on a splendid aqueduct, with wooden superstructure, and continues up the right bank. There is also a fine bridge to the island, across the mouth of the Juniata. 1 44 Historical Sketch of Dauphin County. David Brainerd, the devoted missionary, leaves a record of a visit to that island, which was then called "Juneauta" island, which he made in May, 1745. Writing on Sep- tember 19, 1 745, he says: "Visited an Indian town called Juneauta, situated on an island in the Susquehanna. Was much discouraged with the temper and behavior of the Indians here; although they appeared friendly when I was with them last spring, and they gave me encour- agement to come and see them again. But they now seem resolved to retain their pagan notions, and persist in their idolatrous practices." "This island," says Watson, "was the favorite home of the Indians, and there are still many Indian remains. At the angle of the canal near the great bridge, I saw the mound covered with trees from which were taken hun- dreds of cart loads of human bones, which were used with the intermixed earth, as filling materials for one of the shoulders or bastians of the dam. There was also among them leads, trinkets," etc. The island was originally settled by a Swedish family named Huling, who came from Marcus Hook. Mr. Dun- can's maternal grand-father, Marcus Huling, established a ferry across the mouth of the Juniata, and built a causeway at the upper end of the island for pack-horses to pass. Mr. Baskin established a ferry across the Susquehanna at the foot of the big island, Haldeman's. The trade at that time was carried on entirely by pack horses. When the hostile Indians broke in upon the frontier in 1756, Mr. Huling left here and went out to Fort Duquesne, and afterwards became proprietor of the point where Pittsburg now stands. Becoming discontented with his situation in that disturbed frontier, he sold out for ^"200, and returned to Duncan's island, where he re-established Historical Sketch of Dauphin County. 145 his ferry and made further improvements. A bloody fight occurred on the island between the whites and In- dians about the year 1760. On one occasion news came to Mr. Huling that the Indians were coming down the river to attack the settlement. Huling packed up a few of his valuables in great haste, and putting his wife and child upon a large black horse, Bed to the foot of the island, ready to cross over at the first alarm. Thinking that perhaps the Indians might not have arrived, he ven- tured back alone to the house to try to save more of his effects. After carefully reconnoitering the house, he en- tered and found an Indian up stairs, coolly picking his flint. Stopping some time to parley with the Indian so that he might retreat without being shot at, his wife be- came alarmed at his long delay; and fearing he had been murdered by the Indians, she mounted the black charger, with the child on her lap. and swam the Susquehanna. This was in the spring when the river was up. Our modern matrons would scarcely perform such an achieve- ment. Her husband soon arrived and in his turn became alarmed at her absence;* but she made a signal to him from the: opposite side and relieved her anxiety. Mr. Huling arrived safely at Fort Hunter. A Mrs. Berryhill got safe to the same place; but her husband was killed and scalped. "At one time when William Baskins, grand uncle to Cornelius and James Baskins, having a crop of grain on what is now called Duncan's island, (having, however, previously removed his family to Fort Hunter for secu- rity) returned with part of the family to cut the grain, and while thus engaged, they were suddenly startled by the yell or whooping of Indians, who were hard by; how- ever, discovering they were neighbors their alarms were quieted, but, alas! they were deceived ; for the bar- barous savages, as soon as they were near enough, gave 146 Historical Sketch of Dauphin County. them distinctly to understand their object was their scalps! At this moment they all fled in consternation, hotly pursued, towards the house, and when there, Mr. Baskins, in the act of getting his gun, was shot dead and scalped ; his wife, a daughter of about seven, and a son three years old, were abducted. Mr. McClean, who was also in the field, plunged into the river and swam the Juniata at what is called "Sheep island," and concealed himself in the cleft of rooks, on the opposite side, and thus eluded the pursuit of the savages and saved his life. "Mrs. Baskins effected her escape from the Indians somewhere near Carlisle; the daughter was taken to the Miami country, west of the Ohio, then an unbroken wil- derness, where she was detained for more than six years, when in conformity with a treaty made with the Indians, she was delivered up and returned. She was afterwards married to Mr. John Smith, whose son James is now re- siding in Newport, Perry county, and to whom I am in- debted for this interestino- tradition. The lad that was taken at the same time, was taken to Canada, where he was raised by Sir William Johnson, not knowing the name of the boy, when he was baptized by a missionary, was christened Timothy Murphy. He was afterwards discov- ered by Alexander Stevens, James Stevens' father, who 1 :s in Juniata township, Perry county, by some pecu- liar marks on his head. He has visited his friends in Perry. James Smith, his nephew, when at Canada in de- fence of his country, during the late war, visited him and found him comfortably situated near Maiden, in Upper Canada, and the owner of a large estate." The present Clark's Ferry, near Duncan's island, was called Ouenashawake by the Indians, and the Juniata was spelled "Choniata." This ferry was once a great fording place — a little above it, at the White Rock, on the river side, John Harris had, in 1 y$3, a house and some fields cleared, which was complained of by the In- dians. Historical Sketch of Dauphin County. 147 LINGLESTOWN Is one oi the most ancient towns in the county, having been laid out as early as the year 1765, by Thomas I. in- gle, who called the place St. Thomas. It is located in the north-eastern part of Middle Paxton township, on the road leading from the Susquehanna river to Jonestown. The site is the centre of a highly productive agricultural re- gion, and the surrounding scenery is unsurpassable in picturesque beauty. The town, owing to its isolated po- sition, makes no pretensions as a manufacturing centre. In i860 Dr. \V. E. Smith laid out an addition south of the town, which is gradually being improved. A handsome itery is located near the town, which contains a monu- ment twenty-five high erected by the citizens to the mem- ory of the dead who Tell in the late civil war. The Boston and South Mountain Railroad runs through the town, which when completed and in operation will ; impetus to the business operations of the pla HALIFAX Is pi ed on the Susquehanna river, seven- teen miles from Harris! , laid out by G< ShaefTer and Peter Rise in 1794, but the dccCi was recorded by Philip Brindle and [ohn Norton, attor- neys for (. Winters cm die 8th of May, 1794. It was named a rt Halifax. The town is beauti- fully situated in Armstrong's valley, the Wisi 1 ca- nal and Northern Central Railroad, passing n it and the river. ( )pposite the town is an e kind note d for an Indian mound, which accordin^ to Indian tradition tains the remains of man)- Ind ans. 148 Historical Sketch of Dauphin County. LYKENS. The town of Lykens was laid out by Edward Gratz, and surveyed by David Hoffman in 1848. It is situated in and is the principal trading centre of Wisconisco town- ship. There was a settlement here previous to this which increased rapidly in commercial importance upon and after the discovery of coal in the vicinity. Wisconisco, Williamstown, Baldwin, Gratz, Rockville, Coxestown, Berrysburg, Uniontown, Jacksonville, Fish- erville, Enders, Enterline, Elizabethville, Williamstown, Bachmanville, Union Deposit, Manada Hill, are also im- portant towns and villages, whose thrifty and enterpris- ing citizens are annually developing new resources and addino- to the ao-eregate wealth of the countv. APPENDIX. In every section of Dauphin county, the one hundreth anniversary of American Independence was celebrated with a degree of enthusiasm scarcely equaled since In- dependence bell "proclaimed liberty throughout all the land" in 1776. Nothing was more proper than this out- burst of patriotism. It was a just tribute of respect and regard for our country — and our county — a suitable ac- knowledgment for the virtue, intelligence, good order, prosperity and happiness, which have always prevailed with us as a people. No county in the Commonwealth has been more largely blessed in these respects, none has ever existed, whose history in these particulars is more bright or honorable. Dauphin county occupies a proud position and enjoys an honorable fame. It was right to stop at this point in its progress — the termination of the first and the commencement of the second century of the existence of the National Government — and take a survey of it in the past, to review its leading features and events, to render appropriate honor to those who participated in them, and indulge in the congratulations which such a survey is calculated to inspire. In the city of Harrisburg, and the boroughs of Lykens, Millersburg and Middletown, the celebration embraced civic parades, orations and displays of fireworks. The parade in Harrisburg was gotten up under the immediate auspices of the Odd Fellows and Fire Department, and as a local editor remarks, the large number that partici- pated, and the completeness of arrangements, has never had a parallel in the city. About two hours and a half were 150 Historical Sketch of Dauphin County. consumed in marching over the long route, and atall points the procession was warmly greeted by the large crowds of people who witnessed the spectacle. The day dawned most auspiciously, the sun rising with scarcely a cloud to intercept its gleams. The rain of the previous day had settled the dust on the streets and put them in excellent condition for marching. The city presented a beautiful appearance in its patriotic dress, large arches and flags spanning the principal streets, and thousands of smaller flags waving from windows of private residences and other points. The display of bunting was the most ex- tensive ever witnessed at the capital of the State, and was the subject of much approving comment." After the conclusion of the parade a meeting was or- ganized in the hall of the House of Representatives for the purpose of hearing a number of local addresses read. Mr. A. Boyd Hamilton, President of the Dauphin County Historical Society, announced that the proceed- ings would open with prayer, which was then offered by Rev. Dr. Swartz, of the First Lutheran Church. Mr. S. D. Ingram read the Declaration of Indepen- dence. Rev. Dr. Thomas H. Robinson then delivered the fol- lowing address: THE ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY OF DAUPHIN COUNTY. One hundred years ago the civilized settlements of our country were mainly confined to a narrow strip of terri- tory along the Atlantic coast. The traveler who ventured from the seaside soon found himself approaching the boundaries of the white population. Civilization had only brightened the eastern edges of our great land, and Historical Sketch of Dauphin County. 151 kindled a fire here and there in the deeper forests. This region oi the Susquehanna was, at the time of the revo- lution, on the frontier. Through the district of the Cum- berland valley, now filled with a population of about two hundred and fifty thousand, there was then a scattered people not exceeding forty thousand in number. A few settlements had been made up "the Susquehanna and along its north and west branches, the region of the Juniata was opened, and some settlers had crossed the Alleghenies on their pack horses, and built their homes in the western part of the State. As early indeed as 1720, traders and settlers were pushing their way out into the grand forests along our noble river, and when the war of the revolution began there were men enough who sprung to arms, to form some of the bravest regi- ments of the times. But the country was still primitive, and the type of manners and customs of education and religion, partook of the characteristics of an early time and a hardy race. Dauphin county had not yet been or- ganized but was included in Lancaster. The man who seeks to comprehend the history of this country or any section of it, should know that the Amer- ican people at their birth were emphatically a religious people. It was largely for religion and its rights that they braved the seas and came hither to plant their new gov- ernment in this western world. They were not adven- turers seckin:>- the excitements of a strange land, or speculators in search of an HI Dorado of gold. They wanted to serve God freely and intelligent!}', and scarce- ly, therefore, was the humble cabin of the original settler erected, before the school house and the church were built. Education and Christianity were among the first necessities. 152 Historical Sketch of Dauphin County. Throughout this entire region, from the Alleghenies eastward to the Susquehanna, and still eastward to the line of the counties adjoining our own, the bulk of the earliest settlers were of that class now familiarly known as the Scotch-Irish. This people took to the frontiers> and in the Indian wars stood as a bulwark of protection for the eastern part of the colony. It has only been in later years that they have been gradually and peaceably displaced by the sturdy and solid Germans. It so happened, therefore, from the race of people who settled here, that the first churches organized within the limits of Dauphin county were Calvinistic. They were THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCHES OE DERRY, PAXTON AND HANOVER. These all date back prior to the year 1730, although Hanover had no settled pastor until 1738, when the Rev- Richard Sanckey was settled over the church. The first pastor of the united churches of Derry and Paxton was the Rev. William Bertram, who took charge of them in 1732. Prior to this last date the people of this region were dependent for the preaching of the gospel upon the ministers of the churches in the region further east- ward. For fully one hundred and twenty years these three old churches of Derry, Paxton and Hanover flour- ished in their strength, filling up an eventful and honor- able history. The old Derry church has the honor of being the pioneer church of the county. The venerable buildingf, constructed of oak loes two feet thick and cov- ered with hemlock boards on the outside, is stili standing. It was erected as early as 1720. The congregation that worshiped in it lies buried in the ivy grown graveyard by its side or in others in distant parts of the land. But Historical Sketch of Dauphin County. 153 one of the three early churches now survives — Paxton. The original settlers and their children are gone, and the churches of other denominations occupy the ground. The first Presbyterian organization within the limits of Harrisburg was in 1794, and the first settled pastor was the Rev. Nathaniel R. Snowden. At a very early date there was a Presbyterian church in Upper Paxton. Its building stood on the hill back of the village of Dauphin. The leading ministers of the Presbyterian church in this county in the past were the Revs. John Elder, John Roan, Richard Sanckey and William R. DeWitt, D. D. There are now in the county eight churches of the Presbyterian order, with two or three mission stations. Five of these churches are in the city of Harrisburg. There is now a church membership in the Presbyterian churches of the county of about 1,400, a Sunday school membership of 2,500, sittings in their churches for about 3,500 peo- ple. Their Sunday schools number 10. THE REFORMED CHURCH. The Reformed church was second in date of organiza- tion, a church having been started in Derry in the year 1768. Soon after the laying out of the town of Harris- burg in the year 1785, the settlers who were composed of several denominations, took measures to build a church, and when it was built in 1787, clergymen of dif- ferent denominations, by permission, officiated in it. The building was, however, owned an occupied regularly by the German Reformed and Lutheran congregations. These two bodies used it jointly, each, however, electing their own church officers, trustees, elders and deacons. In 1795 the two churches separated, but continued their worship in the same building, until the year 18 14. 154 Historical Sketch of Dauphin County, The building became the exclusive property of the Re- formed church in 1816. It was the first church building erected in Harrisburg, and stood on the corner of Third street and Cherry alley, near the Salem Reformed church of the present day. Prior to 1786 the early settlers of Harrisburg held divine worship in a one story log school house which stood at the foot of capitol hill, on the north corner of Third and Walnut streets, which is still stand- ing on the south side of Walnut street, between sixth and Canal. The Rev. Anthony Hautz, of the Reformed church was the first settled pastor within the limits of Harris- burg, being here from about 1790 to 1797. Eleven pas- tors have succeeded him in the care of the church, among them the two Helfensteins, Rev. Dr. Zacharias, Rev. Dr. J. F. Mesick and Rev. David Cans. The Reformed church has grown rapidly since that early day, and has now organizations in nearly every township and district of the county, having according to some late statement, about thirty church organizations and preaching stations, and a seating capacity in their church edifices for nearly 14,000 people. THE LUTHERAN CHURCH. The Lutheran church was the third in date of organi- zation in the county, having begun an enterprise in Hum- melstown as early as 1753. In 1787, as already stated, the Lutherans of the town of Harrisburg united with the members of the Reformed church in erecting and occu- pying the first church building in our present city limits. In 1814 they withdrew and purchased a lot on Fourth street and erected a church edifice of their own, and beside it a large two-story brick school house. Historical Sketch of Dauphin Conn ty. 155 Their first pastor was the Rev. F. D. Schaeffer, who began to preach in and around Harrisburg in 1788. Their first stationed pastor was the Rev. Henry Mueller, who began his labors in 1795. He has been succeeded by a number of earnest and able men, among whom may- be named the Lochmans, Rev. Dr. C. W. Schaeffer, Rev. Dr. C. A. Hay and Rev. Dr. G. F. Stelling. The Lutheran church is progressing rapidly in the county. New church- es are being erected; its membership increases ; its Sun- day schools are large and flourishing. According to a late report there are now thirty-six organizations in the county, and room in its church edifices for over ten thou- sand people. The three bodies, the Presbyterian, the Reformed and the Lutheran seem to have been the only religious bodies that had any position and regularly organized existence in the county prior to the year 1800. I Mi: METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH. In the summer of 1801 the Rev. William Rose, an Irishman, organized some classes and preaching appoint- ments for the M. E. Church in the upper end of the county, one at Halifax, another at Millersburg, and a third up Lykens Valley. Here began the Methodism of the county. The first Methodist families in the county are said to have been residents of Halifax. Harrisburg became, however, a preaching station as early a 1802. The Rev. Jacob Gruber, was appointed on the circuit as early as 1802 and preached at this point. The first society formed in Harrisburg was in 18 10. The present fine edifice on State street is the outgrowth of the feeble band of 1802. With characteristic zeal and energy this church has pushed its conquests until to-day ; it has nearly 156 HistoiHcal Sketch of Dauphin County. or quite 25 organizations in the county, a church mem- bership of probably 2,500 to 3,000, about 4,000 children in its Sunday schools, and churches that will seat 6,000 people. THE PROTESTANT EPISCOPAL CHURCH. As early as 1 766, this church had a mission station at Estherton, two miles above Harrisburg, as a few families of that church were residing there, but no church build- ing was erected. It was not until 1826 that a congregation was formed in the county, the present St. Stephen's church of this city. The congregation worshiped for a time in the building already mentioned, on the corner of Third street and Cherry alley, which was built by the people of the Reformed and Lutheran church. The first rector of the church was the Rev. Mr. Clemson. Amone his successors have been those who were greatly honor- ed in this community. The number of church organiza- tions in the county at this date is five. THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH. The first congregation organized of this church in the county was within the present limits of the city of Har- risburg. As early, however, as 18 10, the ground now owned by them on Allison's Hill was in their possession, and the Jesuit Fathers visited the place and had minis- trations. There also was their first graveyard. At a later date the property came into the hands of William Allison, but in subsequent years was re-acquired by the Catholics, and is now held by them. The first church edifice erected by them was begun in 1826, under the superintendence of the Rev. Michael Curran. It was the original of the present pro-Cathedral on State street. Historical Sketch of Dauphin County. 157 The Rev. P. Maher was for nearly 35 years the offi- ciating- minister of this church, and will be kindly remem- bered by persons of all denominations. The present bishopric was formed in 1868. The church is in a flour- ishing- state, having- a large membership and an excellent Sunday school. There are several other organizations of this church in the city and county. THE BETHEL, OR "CHURCH OF GOD." This religious body originated in this county. Its founder was the Rev. John Winebrenner, who withdrew from the Reformed Church and began a new oro-aniza- tion in 1827. Their first church building was erected in Mulberry street between Front and Second streets, oc- cupying the grounds where now stands the city hospital- This church has pushed its work vigorously, and now claims some fifteen or sixteen organizations in the county. Its energy in the work of Sunday schools is worthy of all praise BAPTIST AND FREE BAPTIST CHURCHES. The Baptist church made its first organization on the 2d of April, 1830, in a building known as the Unitarian Church, which has since passed out of existence with the people that built it. The Rev. Dyer A. Nichols was the first pastor of the enterprise. There are at present sev- eral organizations in the county of the Baptist order, about a dozen. Their churches would accommodate about 3,000 hearers. During the last half century several other Protestant denominations have formed churches in the city and county and are pushing forward their Christian work with great devotion and success. Among them may be 19 158 Historical Sketch of Dauphin County. mentioned the United Brethren, whose first organization in Dauphin county was about 1800. They have now 38 churches, about 2400 church members; Sunday schools with a membership of 2700 scholars and teachers. The Evangelical Association, organized about the same time! the Wesley Union church about the year 1830. Our Jewish brethren have also their synagogues, the first of which was formed about 1854. How great the contrast between those early days, and these would take longer time to depict than is alloted me to-day. In 1776 this district, now Dauphin county, had within its borders about 10,000 inhabitants. To-day it has fully 70,000. In 1776 Harrisburg was but a trading post, to-day it is a city of nearly 30,000. In 1776 there were three strong country churches — Derry, Paxton and Hanover, and a few other preaching stations. To-day we have in this city alone over forty churches, and in the county between one hundred and fifty and two hundred. Moved by a generous rivalry and working in the spirit of noble harmony, these Christian Churches have gone forth to possess every part of our county and to carry the gospel with its light and salvation to every home. Not only has this Christian civilization filled our city and surrounding villages, and dotted over the whole county with these houses of holy worship, but it has given us all other needed benevolent institutions. The religious bodies, Protestant and Catholic, have kept pace with the increasing population and have anticipated it in provid- ing the means and the places for religious culture. Great as has been the progress of population in the country from the year 1776 to the present, it has been far outstripped by the growth of the churches. In 1776 there were less than 1,950 evangelical churches in the Historical Sketch oj /hrnp/iiu C ouniy. i 59 United States; according to the census of 1S70 there were then over 72,000. The population in a century in- creased only thirteen fold, the churches increased over thirty six fold. In 1790 there was one evangelical min- ister for every 2,000 of the people, while now there is one for about every 700. In 1 790 there were five mem- bers of evangelical churches for every 100 of popula- tion; there are now eighteen for every 100. In 1776 there were no Bible, tract or missionary socie- ties; not a single religious newspaper published in the- land, nor any house for the publication of religious liter- ature, nor even the publication of religious books to any extent. Our orphan asylums, schools of reform, Chris- tian associations, temperance societies, etc., etc., etc., are all of later date. Truly, the Church of God moves onward. There are but few districts in our great country that are better provided than our own county with the varied advantages of intellectual and religious culture. Our churches are multiplying. The great body of our peo- ple are law-abiding, upright and moral. The Sabbath, Bible, the Church and the agencies of Christianity are honored amony us. When we look back one hundred years and more to the days of our fathers and of the early pioneers of this region, how changed the aspect. The victories of peace have long ago effaced the sad memorials of a war that filled many a lowly cabin with horror. The banks of this broad and placid stream, where once rang the war- whoop of the savage, and where broken families gather- ed in groups to mourn over their slaughtered dead, now smile with orchards and teeming: harvests and gardens, with workshops, and villages, and happy homes. 160 Historical Sketch of Dauphin County. Here, where once was carnage, no sounds prevail but the hum of industry, of peaceful life and joy. When we look upon this beautiful region with its streams and mountains, its cultivated farms, its railroads and manu- factories, its flourishing towns and villages, its institutions of learning and of charity, its multiplied and stately church edifices, and all the indications of the social, in- tellectual and moral condition of its people, and recall that just one hundred years ago our fathers, clad in their linsey woolsey or in their buckskin, with their powder horns at their side and their flint-lock muskets, were pouring forth to join the army of the Revolution, going forth from the lowly homes where they had prayed, and the churches where they had worshiped to fight in a cause that no men understood better than did they, we ask ourselves anew, Do we not owe a debt of grateful mem- ory to them, and of largest thanksgiving to God, for the lives they lived and the work they did for us and for our children after us ? Let us not stint our gratitude to the men who planted in the wilderness homes where intelli- gence and enterprise and religion were all nourished. They were men who spared no cost in preparing the way for more peaceful and happy times. Let us not think lightly of the men who opened out these unbroken forests, who broke up the virgin soil of these valleys, who reared cabins for Christian households, who taught their sons to love freedom, to contend for the right and re- vere the God of their fathers. They were no ordinary men, they brought here the spirit of liberty fresh and warm in their hearts. They sought to lay deep and broad the foundation for righteous ages after them. They learned their political creed as they learned their religion, from the Bible — that Historical Sketch of Dauphin County. 161 Bible which says, "The truth shall make you free." And nearly every man of them who was able to bear arms and endure a soldier's life, entered into the service of his country. And two years before the Declaration of In- dependence was proclaimed, the men of this county as- sembled June 4, 1774, at Hanover, and among other resolutions, passed the following: "Resolved, That in the event of Great Britain attempt- ing to force unjust laws upon us by strength of arms, our cause we leave to heaven and our rifles." . We are living in the past to-day. We are recalling the eventful times, the thrilling adventures, the heroic endurance, the toils and self denials, the services and the virtues of our fathers. And we rightly say this large, rich present is not what we have made it. These things around us are (heir achievement. But now what is to be the practical outcome of all that we have, and learn and feel to-day? What good is it to have had such fathers if we to-day are not worthy of them? What glory to us to look back into such a radiant past, if we are going to mar all the picture by not imitating them and carrying on their work? If they who had so little, did so much for truth, for country, for us and for ( rod, what shall be the measure of our doing who are so rich and strong? ( )ur opportunity of doing good and blessing men are to theirs as our railroads to the Indian trails and moun- tain bridle paths; as the electric telegraph to the old stage coach ; as the modern mower and reaper to the old fashioned scythe; as the steam engine to the slow moving water wheel; as the mighty trip hammers of our steel works to the light blows of some village blacksmith. 1 62 Historical Sketch of Dauphin County. The voices of the past summon us to duty. The men who founded school and church within the sound of the Indians' war-whoop, charge us to make the future as much greater and fairer than the present, as the present is richer and greater in all the achievements of art, and the blessings of freedom and religion, than the past. Historical Sketch of Dauphin County. i6 v Mr. A. Boyd Hamilton, of Harrisburg, then delivered the following- address : HEROES AND PATRIOTS OF DAUPHIN COUN- TY ONE HUNDRED YEARS AGO. Upon an occasion such as this, it is fitting that the present should show its appreciative gratitude to those whose records form a glorious past. It is the province of history to preserve from oblivion recollections of deeds whose character made a name and nation. With these objects in view, this brief account is pre- pared, recalling the memories of those who laid lives and fortunes upon the altar of their country, and who con- tributed to an uncommon extent personal effort as their share to secure that independence, to celebrate which has caused us to assemble this day. The present Dauphin, then part of Lancaster county, presents a remarkable roll of honor, from 1775, when the revolution commenced, to its conclusion in 1 783. It com- prises of officers alone about 150, and of privates nearly 2,000 persons. This exceeds in magnitude any contri- bution made since that period, from any part of Penn- sylvania to the military service of the country. It sug- gests a train of thought very gratifying to those whose ancestry formed a part of this patriotic band. When it is remembered that these soldiers were drawn from a sparse population along the borders of the Susquehanna river, the Swatara, Beaver, Manada and Wiconisco creeks, the aggregate is most surprising. These people were engaged at that time, in preparing rugged forests for future; cultivation, in the; labor common to a frontier life, yet old and young seem to have cheerfully 1 64 Historical Sketch of Dauphin County. forsaken all to follow the fortunes of "a nation that had as yet no flag." This day there are more than a million "starry banners" floating in this single county. No sooner was a call for volunteers issued in 1 775, than we find a company formed in Paxton and Derry to march "for Boston," soon after to Quebec, having as officers and privates Matthew Smith, James Crouch, Richard Dixon, Archibald Steele, Michael Simpson, John Joseph Henry, John and David Harris, sons of Harris, founder of Harrisburg, and other honored names, now seldom re- called, but the remembrance of whose valiant deeds, hardy endurance, and patriotic sacrifices should never be forgotten by a grateful people. The sergeant, Dixon, of "Dixon Ford," on the Swa- tara, and John Harris, Harris Ferry, never returned from the campaign to and assault on Quebec. One of them, certainly, was killed there — the exact fate of the latter is quite uncertain. Alexander Nelson of Derry was also killed in this assault* *Note. — It has been a work of patience and research to recover so much of the roll of Smith's brave men as is herewith presented. It is thought all that marched from the present Dauphin county are embraced in it. I do not think it possible to recover a complete list of the company. It was 87 strong, and all of them from the then, Lancaster county. This roll names 4s of them. Who were the other 39? No papers of Smith, Steel, Simpson or Cross, arc known. Indeed almost all we' know of that celebrated event, or of the heroic men who formed its ranks, is found in the memoir of it by Judge Henry — a l> finite soldier. Lieutenant Michael Simpson commanded, under an order of Gen. Arnold, the company in the assault on Quebec. Captain Smith was sick at Isle Or- leans. An excellent memoir of Gen. Simpson, prepared by George W. Har- ris, Esq., has been published since the foregoing address was delivered. OFFICERS AND PRIVATES. Captain — Matthew Smith, Paxton. 1st Lieut. — Archibald Steel, Donegal. 2d Lieut. — Michael Simpson, Paxton, commanded in the assault. 3d Lieut. — William Cross, Hanover. Boyd, Thomas, Sergeant, Derry, afterwards Captain-Lieutenant 1st P. M. Historical Sketch of Dauphin County. 1 65 It will be impossible in the brief compass to which this must be confined, to do more than refer to the services of those who were subsequently soldiers, afterward, hon- ored and useful citizens of Dauphin county. A recital of the names of most of them is all that can possibly be presented. Of the considerable number of active officers resident in our own and the present Lebanon county, after 1785, the year of the formation of Dauphin county, very little is known of themselves or families. The memories of the brave privates it is impossible to recover. The fe- verish migrations previous to 1820 and of several subse Binnagle, Curtis, Londonderry. Bollinger, Emanuel, resided in Dauphin county in 1813. Black, .lames, Hanover. Black, John, Upper Paxton. Cavenaugh, Edward, resided in York county. "Honest Ned,'' of Judge Henry. Carbach, Peter, enlisted in J. P. Scott's Co. March 12, 1777, afterwards in (apt. Selin's, discharged at Lancaster in 1783. Resided in Dearborn county, Indiana, in 1830. Conner, Timothy, Bethel. Crouch, James, Paxton, afterwards a Colonel. Cochran, Samuel, Paxton, afterwards a Captain of militia 1781. Crow, Henry, died in Derry. Cunningham, Robert, Londonderry, died at Lancaster of disease con- tracted in prison, soon after his return. Dougherty, James, Londonderry, captured at Quebec, and put in h-ons eight weeks. Enlisted afterwards in 12th Penn. Dixon, Robert, Sergeant, killed in front of (Quebec, Nov. 17, 1775. Be- louged to West Hanover. Dixon, Richard, Dixon's Ford. Dean, Samuel, served one year, then appointed Lieutenant in Col. Hart's regiment, Flying camp. Subsequently 1st Lieutenant 11th Pa. Adam Egle, wagon-master at Cambridge, Col. Thompson's regiment. Was in Smith's recruits, from Lebanon township. Feely, Timothy, Dixon Ford. Griffith John, Harris Ferry. Harris, John, Harris Ferry, killed at Quebec. Harris, David, Harris Ferry. Henry, John Joseph, Lancaster, died at Harrisburg. 20 1 66 Historical Sketch of Dauphin County. quent years, dispersed families in localities distant from each other. The loss of home scattered their records and weakened their family ties. Indifference to ancestry, to private position, or public affairs seems to have charac- terized the emigrants from this charming region, to a land supposed to be more fruitful still, beyond the Allegheny mountains. All are aware that the life of a border settler is not conducive to the preservation of records, or of placing in indestructible form accounts of current affairs; and thus it has happened that many things this genera- tion would like to know, are buried so deep in the abyss of oblivion, that it will be the merest accident, if they are ever rescued. Perhaps the imperfect information I pre- Keunedy John, Hanover. Marshall, Lawrence, Hanover. McGranaghan Charles, Londonderry. Merchant, George, Donegal. McEnally, Henry, Londonderry. McKonkey, John, Hanover. Mellen, Atchison, resided in Lycoming comity in 1813. Nilson, Alexander, Deny, killed in front of Quebec, Jan. 1, 1770. Old, James, Deny. Porterfield, Charles, Hanover. Ryan, John, Deny. Simpson, William, Paxton, wounded August 27, 1775, brother of Gen. Michael Simpson. Sparrow, William, Deny. Shaeffer, John, drummer, resided in Lancaster in 1809. Smith, Samuel, Paxton. Taylor, Henry, captured 31st December, 1775; returned 10th Novem- ber, 177(i. Tidd, [Todd,] John, of Hanover. Teeder, Michael, re-enlisted in 5th Penn. Warner, James, died in the wilderness near Chaudiere lake. — Henry, p. 198. Wheeler. , [uncertain, from Paxton.] Weirick, Valentine, Hanover, resided in Dauphin county in 1813. Waun, Michael, Deny. Nilson [Nelson probably] and Waun did not return. The former was killed in the assault. The other died at the "crossing of the Chaudiere." Thus Dixon, Harris and Nilson were killed in the battle. Historical Sketch of Dauphin County. 167 sent is as complete a record as can be gathered at this date, and is the only statement in a permanent form that has ever been collected. If for no other, this is a good reason for its preservation. In only one or two instances, has it appeared that the evils of ignorance, poverty, or vice, have overtaken any of the race of these noble fathers. With these preliminary observations, the subject will be taken up based upon a list of names prepared by and contained in a circular issued by the Dauphin County Historical Society in May last, and with such other infor- mation as has since come to the knowledge of that or- ganization. A great majority of those who served from Pax ton, Derry, Hanover, Upper Paxton and Londonderry, the townships into which the upper part of Lancaster county was divided in 1774, were styled "associators," officered by those of their own choice, and serving short terms of duty as called upon by the supreme executive council. Many of them as early as the first year of the contest, en- tered the Pennsylvania line composed of thirteen regi- ments, enlisted for a term of three years. Whenever it has been possible to separate those who served as asso- ciators from those who were continental officers, it has been done. In a few instances, company rolls have been recovered, but all search has been ineffectual in securing any num- ber of them. We know that Boyd, Wallace, Morrison Hays, McKnight, Wilson, McKee, Armstrong, McClure, Fleming, Pen net, Cochran, and other familiar names marched with Col. Timothy Greene, whilst Forster, Rutherford, Harris, Carson, Elder, Gray, McElhenny, Crawford, Gilchrist, Montgomery, McFarlane, Espy, and 1 68 Historical Sketch of Dauphin County. so on, marched under Cowden, Murray or Crouch. Happily the information respecting the following who in 1776, or afterwards, citizens of Dauphin county is pre- cise, and authentic as to dates and services. Matthew Smith, June 25, 1775, captain in Col. William Thompson's Rifle regiment, which afterwards became the 1st Pennsylvania of the line, Col. Hand; promoted major in 9th Pennsylvania December 1, 1776; Vice President Executive Council, October 11, 1779; prothonotary of Northumberland county, Feb. 4, 1780-83. Died at Mil- ton, 1794; buried at Warrior's Run. Archibald Steel, 1st lieutenant in Smith's company June 25, 1775; wounded at Quebec, losing two fingers ; captured December 31, 1775; carried on the rolls as lieutenant of 1st Pennsylvania. In service 57 years. Dying commander of the Frankford arsenal, aged 97, October 19, 1832. Buried at Philadelphia. Michael Simpson, 2d lieutenant in Smith's company June 25, 1775; promoted captain of 1st Pennsylvania December 1, 1776; relieved from service January 1, 1 78 1. Died June 1, 181 3. Buried at Paxton, aged 65 years. William Cross, 2d lieutenant in Col. Moylan's cavalry regiment ; July 3, 1777, promoted captain 4th Pennsylva- nia regiment. Buried at Hanover, Dauphin county. John Joseph Henry, private in Smith's company. (See his memoirs.) Died April 15, 181 1. John Hamilton, captain of volunteer unattached caval- ry, December, 1776; marched to the relief of Washing- ton before the battle of Trenton ; again called out in 1778. Died and is buried at Harrisburg 1793, aged 43 years. Alexander Graydon, captured January 5, 1776; 3d Pennsylvania battalion, Col. Shee; taken November 16, Histoi'ical Sketch of Dauphin County. 169 1776, at Fort Washington ; exchanged April 15, 1778. Died at Philadelphia, May 2, 1818, aged 67. (See his memoir.) John Harris, commissioned captain of 1 2th Pennsylva- nia, Col. Wm. Cook, October 14, 1776. Founder of Harrisburg. Died July 29, 1 79 1 . Buried at Paxton, aged 65 years. Dr. Robert Harris, Nov. 1, 1 777, commissioned sur- geon's mate of 2d Pennsylvania regiment of the line. Died March 4, 1785, at Blue Ball tavern, Tredyfferin township, in Chester county, of an attack of quinsy, on his way from Philadelphia. James Crouch died an aged man, at Walnut Hill, near Middletown, May 24, 1 794 ; had been at Quebec, Prince- ton, Monmouth, Germantown, and rose from a private at Quebec, to be colonel of one of the Pennsylvania regi- ments. He is buried at Paxton. John Stoner, appointed lieutenant of Capt. John Mur- ray's company, Col. Miles' regiment, March 15, 1776; promoted captain 10th Pennsylvania regiment, Decem- ber 4, 1776. Died at Harrisburg March 24, 1825, aged 7 j. Andrew Lee, died June 30, 1821, aged 80 years. Na- tive of Paxton. Buried at Hanover, Luzerne county. Ambrose Crain enlisted as a private in Capt. John Marshall's company, Col. Miles' regiment; promoted quartermaster sergeant July 1 5, 1 776, and in April, 1 yyy, second Lieutenant of Capt. Anderson's company, Col. Stewart's 10th Pennsylvania. Buried at Hanover. Adam Boyd, second lieutenant on the armed ship Burke, Jan. 23, 1776; promoted to first lieutenant Octo- ber 4, 1776; honorably discharged July 16, 1777; lieu- tenant in the Northampton county contingent August, i 70 Historical Sketch of Dauphin County. 1 777, at Brandywine, Germantown to Yorktown. Died May, 1 81 4, aged 68 years, and is buried at Harrisburg. John Murray, captain, Col. Miles' regiment, March 7, 1776; promoted major April 18, 1777; lieutenant colo- nel of 2d Pennsylvania regiment in 1780; relieved from service January 1, 1781 ; died in Chillisquaque township, Northumberland county. His company was from Upper Paxton and nearly used up at Long Island December 27, 1776. Andrew Forrest, second lieutenant Captain Graydon's company, 3d Pennsylvania battery; captured November 16, 1776, at Fort Washington; exchanged October 25, 1780. A physician and long resident of Harrisburg. Died at Danville 181 5. Captain John Brisban, commissioned January 5, 1776, 2d Pennsylvania battery, Col. Arthur St. Clair; served one year, died March 13, 1822, aged 91; buried at Paxton. David Harris, second son of John the founder, was an officer early in the contest — rose to be a major, removed to and died at Baltimore. Capt. John Marshall's company, Col. Miles' regiment, was raised in Hanover; his lieutenants were John Clark, Thomas Gourley and Stephen Hanna. This fine com- pany was nearly destroyed at the battle of Long Island, August 27, 1776. Samuel Weir, commissioned second lieutenant 1777, had served at Princeton previously, and was an officer at Germantown and Yorktown. Died 1820, aged 76 years, and buried at Harrisburg. Archibald McAllister, commissioned second lieutenant July, 1776; served at Monmouth, Princeton to Yorktown. Died at Fort Hunter, an historical spot in the border wars from 1 750 to 1 768. Died at and is buried at Fort Hunter. Historical Sketch of Dauphin County. 1 7 1 James Cowden, a native of Paxton, Dauphin county ; colonel of Associators. Died in the house in which he was born October 10, 18 10, aged jt> years. Buried at Paxton church yard. The law relative to "Associators" was a very strict one. It was provided that an officer so forgetful of his position as to use profane language was held to pay a fine of five shillings for each oath; a private was fined for a like of- fence one shilling and "further punishment." Thus in- dulgence in profanity was a costly luxury. An officer guilty of drunkenness was visited with ex- pulsion and reduction to the ranks; a private fined and "further punishment." All landlords were forbidden to distress Associators un- der pain of punishment, the grade of which the councils wisely, as it seems to us, did not name. We have met with no instance of this threat being executed. Non-associators were compelled to pay a tax, gener- ally of three dollars, twice a year to the State. It was collected with unusual severity. The patriotism of the "Associators" was encouraged by stirring addresses from the brave and brilliant men who were at the head of the movement — those who were to crive enduring form to institutions which exist to this day. One example is given, an eloquent and inspiring appeal to Pennsylvania, from those who assembled in June, 1776, to form a State constitution. No State paper before or during this contest of arms that followed, breathes more lofty sentiments, purer patriotism or in- tense love of freedom, than this. For these reasons it is quoted at length. It will bear perusal now with as lively admiration as it did one hundred years ago. i 7 2 Historical Sketch of Dauphin County. TO THE ASSOCIATORS OF PENNSYLVANIA. Gentlemen : — The only design of our meeting together was to put an end to our own power in the Province, by fixing upon a plan for calling for a convention, to form a govern- ment under the authority of the people. But the sudden and unexpected separation of the late assembly has com- pelled us to undertake the execution of a resolve of Con- gress, for calling forth 4,500 of the militia of the Province, to join the militia of the neighboring Colonies, to form a camp for our immediate protection. We presume only to recommend the plan we have formed to you, trusting that in a case of so much consequence, your love of vir- tue and zeal for liberty, will supply the want of authority delegated to us expressly for that purpose. We need not remind you that you are now furnished with new motives to animate and support your courage. You are not about to contend against the power of Great Britain, in order to displace one set of villains to make room for another. Your arms will not be ener- vated in the day of battle with the reflection, that you are to risk your lives or shed your blood for a British tyrant; or that your posterity will have your work to do over again. You are about to contend for permanent freedom, to be supported by a government which will be derived from yourselves, and which will have for its object, not the emolument of one man or class of men only, but the safety, liberty and happiness of every indi- vidual in the community. We call upon you there- fore by the respect and obedience, which are due to the authority of the United Colonies, to concur in this important measure. The present campaign will proba- bly decide the fate of America. It is now in your power to immortalize your names, by mingling your achievements with the events of the year 1776 — a year which we hope will be famed in the annals of history to the end of time, for establishing upon a lasting foundation the liberties of one quarter of the globe. Historical Sketch of Dauphin County. 173 Remember the honor of our colony is at stake. Should you desert the common cause at the present juncture, the glory you have acquired by your former exertions of strength and virtue will be tarnished: and our friends and brethren who are now acquiring laurels in the most re- mote parts of America, will reproach us and blush to own themselves natives or inhabitants of Pennsylvania. But there are other motives before you. Your houses, your fields, the legacies of your ancestors, or the dearly bought fruits of your own industry, and your liberty, now urge you to the field. These cannot plead with you in vain, or we might point out to you further your wives, your children, your aged fathers and mothers who now look up to you for aid, and hope for salvation in this day of calamity only from the instrumentality of your swords. Remember the name of Pennsylvania! — Think of your ancestors and your posterity. Signed by an unanimous order of the Conference. Thomas M'Kean, President. June 25, 1776. Powder was scarce and many persons set to making it, under the principal direction of Dr. Robert Harris, of Donegal, afterwards a surgeon in the line. Muskets and their fixtures were still more difficult to obtain; the material and skill, however, was at hand to manufacture them. A large trade was created in their manufacture at Lancaster, and one or two other points in what is at present our territory. Their cost was about nine pounds, or in the currency of that day twenty-five dollars. Judge John Joseph Henry was an apprentice at this handicraft when he ran off to fight against Quebec. He afterwards was the first law judge of Dauphin county. During the first years of the war letters are preserved addressed to the "Lancaster Committee," from officers of the Association, stating that certain privates about Swa- 21 174 Historical Sketch of Dauphin Cotmty. tara were gunsmiths — mostly apprentices — and request- ing their excuse from "duty." In no case was such a request declined; often as it proved, to the great mortifi- cation of the youth whose ambition it was to distinguish himself as a defender of his country. Judge Henry, Captain Shearer and Ensign Young, are prominent ex- amples of this feeling. The first formal call upon the Associators was in June, 1775, although in January a notice of such intention was promulgated to the "Lieutenants" of the counties. The number demanded of Lancaster county was 600 men, of which Paxton, Derry, Hanover, Upper Paxton and Lon- donderry were to furnish about one-half. There arose the usual dispute about rank amongst those who had held commands in the provincial service. This among the Paxton boys, was carried on in the fractious fashion of the race. It ended so far as our relation is concerned, in the retirement of Col. James Burd, the senior colonel of the provincial troops, and in turning over his com- mand to Majors Cornelius Cox, of Estherton, and James Crouch, of Middletown. These gentlemen had a great deal of trouble, ere they were able to get their forces in marching condition. It occupied the attention of Rev. Mr. Elder, still a lieu- tenant colonel in the provincial service, Capt. Joseph Shearer, Capt. John Harris, Capt. Robert Elder, after- wards a lieutenant colonel, Lieutentant William Young and Ensigns Samuel Berryhill, Thomas Forster, Jacob Snyder and William Steel, the whole of a wearisome summer, to get these heroes in good humor. However, they did get to the field of conflict, and no complaint has ever been heard that they were not valiant, as well as obedient soldiers. Historical Sketch of Dauphin County n? At one period or other, besides the officers already mentioned, the following served : James Cowden, Timothy Greene, Robert Elder, Cornelius Cox, John Rogers, Abram Latschall, John Gilchrist, Jr., Anthony McCi eight, .lames Rogers, Patrick Hayes, Jas. McCreight, John Hartenrider. Daniel Bradley, Samuel Cochran, Michael Brown. Jr., William Allen, George Lauer, Robert M'Callen, Jonathan M'Clure, William M'Clure, Jr., William Murray, Matthew Gilchrist, William Hill, Adam Mark, I 'astle Bye is, William Harnett. John Bakestose, William Patterson, John Ryan, George Clark, William Montgomery, John Matthews, John Chesney, John Hallebaugh, I >;iniel Hoffman, Joseph Smith, Thomas Sturgeon, William M" Milieu. COLONELS. I James Crawford, I James Crouch. I,l EUTENANT COLONELS. | Peter Hetericks. MAJOKS. James Stewart, and perhaps others in these grades, the officers of which were continually being (hanged by Congress or the Council. A.INS. Martin Weaver, Andrew Stewart, Geo. M' Milieu, Hugh Robertson, William Johnson, William Laird, John Kean, the elder. Thomas Koppenheffer, Benjamin Snodgrass, James Sayer, Michael Whitley, Frederick Hummel, founder of town of Hummelstown. the LIEUTENANTS. Michael Linnes, George Clark, Emanuel Ferree, Robert M'Kee, Upper Paxton, pro- moted to a majority 1779, John Barrett, John M'Farland, Jacob Latchsar, Peter Brightbel. John Weaver, Jacob Gibbins, Robert Martin, James Wilson, Deny. Henry WCormiek, Balzer Bomgardner, Andrew Rogers. John Hvi'isole, Jacob Pruder, William Branden, James Johnson, Baltzer Stone, John Brown, Jr.. Daniel Stover, William Stewart. I George Taylor, James Reed, William Lochrey, George Treebaugh, Jonathan Woodside, Daniel Hoffman, James Wallace. Robert Greenley, Henry Graham. John Weaver. Jacob Stein, George Killinger. [J 6 Historical Sketch of Dauphin County. Many of those present who hear or read this, will find an ancestral name among" those who form the foregoing- patriotic roll of honor. Very complete notices of Col. Greene, and Rev. Mr. Elder are to be found in printed publications, to which you are referred. Interesting particulars of them could be recited, but the bounds set to this address is limited and all that is left for us to do is to recall the memories of the fragrant past. Several of the very earliest settlers, lotholders in Har- risburg, 1785, were men of the revolution — lived long- enough to see the village of Harris Ferry — four years Louisburg — then Harrisburg — well equipped for its on- ward progress to a prosperous and populous communi- ty. A few moments devoted to them will close this epi- sode, so interesting in the history of a border land before Dauphin county existed. These men, Alexander Graydon, our first prothono- tary; James Sayer, who was at Germantownand Chadd's Ford with Samuel Weir and John Stoner — Adam Boyd, who had served as an officer in the fight at Chadd's Ford, Germantown and Yorktown — Andrew Mitchel who had served four years from Monmouth to Yorktown — John Hamilton, a cavalry officer at Trenton — John Kean, the younger, at Yorktown — Andrew Forrest, an officer who was "in everything," as he expressed it, from Trenton to Yorktown, and Thomas Forster of Paxton. To the names of these excellent fathers, must be added those of William Graydon, Joseph, Hugh and John Mont- gomery, Andrew Gregg, William Murray, Jacob Awl, Conrad Bombaugh, John Hoge, Samuel Grimes (Gra- ham,) Wendel Hipsman, George Hoyer, William Glass, William Milham, and perhaps others of whom we are un- certain, all very early residents of Harrisburg having Historical Sketch of Dauphin County. 17; served for long or short periods during the revolution. William Maclay, one of the first United States Senators from Pennsylvania, was a provincial officer and also one in the revolution. Andrew Lee, long- a respected citizen, was at Yorktown, with Joshua Elder, Most of these gentlemen had been officers during the revolutionary contest, and many of them held high mili- tary rank after the revolution. Especial pains was taken to secure their experience in the Whisky insurrection, and in the militia organizations of which they were the lead- ing spirits. May we all cherish the boon of freedom they were so instrumental in securing, before they laid ••Mortality's raiment softly aside.'" 179 Historical Sketch of Dauphin County William H. Hole, M. D., delivered the following ad- dress : HISTORICAL REVIEW OE DAUPHIN COUNTY. At what eventful era the footsteps of the white man trod the green sward of this locality there is no certain- ty, but from the description of Capt. John Smith, of the Virginia Company, who ascended the Susquehanna as far as the Great Falls (Conewago,) there can be no doubt some of his hardy adventurers explored the country as far as the first range of the Kittochtinny hills. At that period (1608,) the brave Susquehannas reigned here — they yielding subsequently to the conquering Iroquois. Fi- nally (1695-8,) the Shawanese, from the Carolinas, driven from thence by the Catawbas, located at the mouths of the different tributaries of the great river, as high up as the Forks of the Susquehanna. Although, after the founding of Philadelphia, William Penn planned the laying out of a city on the Susque- hanna, it is not certain that the Founder, in his several visits to our majestic river, ever came farther north than the Swatara. The first persons to spy out this goodly heritage of ours were French traders, one of whom lo- cated at the mouth of Paxtang creek, towards the close of the seventeenth century. Of this individual, Peter Beza- lion, little is known, but until the period, when the in- trigues of the French and especially the encroachments of Lord Baltimore began to be feared, he acted as chief interpreter at the principal Indian conferences. He sub- sequently went to the Ohio, as also the other French traders, and after 1725-6 he is lost sight of. At this pe- riod there were Indian villages at Conestoga, at Conoy, i8o Historical Sketch of Dauphin County. at the mouth of the Swahadowry (Swatara,) Peshtank (Paxtang,) Conedoguinet, and Calapascink (Yellow Breeches.) The Cartlidges were located at Conestoga, after the removal of the Le Torts, Bezalion at Paxtane, and Chartier at the village opposite, while roving traders supplied the other Indian towns. It becoming- absolutely necessary to license English traders so as to prevent communication with the French on the Ohio, among the first was John Harris, who per- chance entered this then lucrative field, the Indian trade, at the suggestion of his most intimate friend, Edward Shippen, Provincial Secretary. Of the John Harris, who thus located permanently at Harrisburg, and who gave the name to our city, it may not be inappropriate to refer. "He was as honest a man as ever broke bread," was the high eulogium pronounced by Parson Elder, of blessed memory, as he spoke of the pioneer in after years. Born in the county of Yorkshire, England, although of Welsh descent, about the year 1673, he was brought up in the trade of his father, that of a brewer. Leaving his home on reaching his majori- ty, he worked at his calling some time in the city of Lon- don, where he joined, a few years afterwards, a company from his native district, who emigrated to Pennsylvania two or three years prior to Penn's second visit to his Province. Watson states that John Harris' "entire capital amounted to only sixteen guineas." We first hear of him after his arrival in Philadelphia as a contractor for clearing and grading the streets of that ancient village. In 1 698 his name is appended to a re- monstrance to the Provincial Assembly against the pass- age of an act disallowing the franchise to all persons owning real estate less in value than fifty pounds. The Historical Sketch of Dauphin County. 181 memorial had its effect, and the objectionable law was re- pealed. By letters of introduction to Edward Shippen, the first mayor of Philadelphia, that distinguished gentle- man became his steadfast friend, and through his influ- ence, no doubt, were secured those favors which induced him eventually to become the first permanent settler in this locality. In January, 1705, John Harris received his license from the Commissioners of Property, authorizing- and allowing him to "seat himself on the Sasquahannah," and "to erect such buildings as are necessary for his trade, and to en close and improve such quantities of land as he shall think fit." At once he set about building a log house near the Ganawese (Conoy) settlement, but the Indians made complaint to the government that it made them "un- easie," desiring to know if they encouraged it. As in nu- merous instances when the Provincial authorities were taken to task, they disavowed their own acts. Neverthe- less, the "trader" continued his avocation, making fre- quent visits to the Shawanese villages at the Conewago and Swatara. It is doubtful if John Harris came farther west until after the permanent removal of all the FYench traders. It was during one of his expeditions that Harris first beheld the beauty and advantages of the location at Pax- tang. It was the best fording place on the Susquehanna, and then, as now in these later days, on the great high- way between the North and South, the P^ast and the \\"l desperation, it is true, but their acts are to be honored and their names revered. The discussions which ensued may truly be said to have sown the seeds of the; Revolution, and in a letter of ( Gov- ernor John Perm to his brother in England, written at this time, he thus alludes to the inhabitants of Paxtang, "their next move will be to subvert the government and establish one of their own." No wonder then, when the first mutterings of the storm was heard, that the people of this entire section were ripe for revolution. The love of liberty was a lead- ing trait of the people who settled this delightful valley. The tyranny and oppression of Europe drove them to seek an asylum among the primeval forests of America. Persecution for conscience' sake compelled alike the Scotch- Irish and the German of the Palatinate to come hither and rear their altars dedicated to God and Free- dom to man. With them Independence was as much their dream as the realization. Their isolated position — placed on the frontiers — unprotected by the Provincial authorities — early instilled into their minds those incen- tives to action, that when the; opportune moment arrived they were in the van. Two years before the Declaration by Congress, the people had assembled at their respect- ive places of rendezvous, and heralded forth their opin- ions in plain and unmistakable language, while the citi- zens of the large towns were tearful and hesitating. As early as the spring ol 1 774 meetings were held in the different townships, the resolves of only two of which are preserved to us. The earliest was that of an assem- bly of the inhabitants of Hanover, Lancaster count)-, held on Saturday, June 4, 1774, Colonel Timothy Green, 204 Historical Sketch of Dauphin County. chairman, "to express their sentiments on the present critical state of affairs." It was then and there "Unani- mously resolved:" "i st. That the recent action of the Parliament of Great Britain is iniquitous and oppressive. "2d. That it is the bounden duty of the inhabitants of America to oppose every measure which tends to deprive them of their just prerogatives. "3d. That in a closer union of the colonies lies the safe- guard of the people. "4th. That in the event of Great Britain attempting to force unjust laws upon us by the strength of arms, our cause we leave to Heaven and our rifles. "5th. That a committee of nine be appointed who shall act for us and in our behalf as emergency may require. "The committee consisted of Col. Timothy Green, Jas. Caruthers, Josiah Espy, Robert Dixon, Thomas Copen- heffer, William Clark, James Stewart, Joseph Barnett and John Rogers." So much for patriotic Hanover. Following- in the footsteps of these brave men, on Friday following, June 10, 1 774, a similar meeting was held at Middletown, Col. James Burd, chairman, at which these stirring resolves were concurred in, and which served as the text of those passed at the meeting at Lancaster subsequently: "1st. That the acts of the Parliament of Great Britain in divesting us of the right to give and grant our money, and assuming such power to themselves, are unconstitu- tional, unjust and oppressive. "2d. That it is an indispensable duty we owe to our- selves and posterity to oppose with decency and firmness every measure tending to deprive us of our just rights and privileges. Historical Sketch of DaupJiin County. 205 "3d. That a close union of the Colonies and their faith- ful adhering to such measures as a general Congress shall judge proper, are the most likely means to procure redress of American grievances and settle the rights of the Colonies on a permanent basis. "4th. That we will sincerely and heartily agree to and abide by the measures which shall be adopted by the members of the general Congress of the Colonies. "5th. That a committee be appointed to confer with similar committees relative to the present exigency of af- fairs." Not to be behind their Scotch-Irish neighbors, the German inhabitants located in the east of the county, met at Frederickstown, (now Hummelstown,) on Satur- day, the 1 1 th of June, at which Captain Frederick Hum- mel was chairman, resolving to stand by the other town- ships in all their action. We say they were ripe for revolution, and when the stirring battle-drum aroused the new-born nation, the inhabitants of Dauphin valiantly armed for the strife. One of the first companies raised in the Colonies was that of Captain Matthew Smith, of Paxtang. Within ten days after the receipt of the news of the battle of Lexington, this company was armed and equipped, read)' for service. Composing this pioneer body of patriots was the best blood ot the count)' — the Dixons, the Elders, the Simpsons, the Boyds, the Harrises, the Reeds, the Tods and others. Archibald Steele and Michael Simpson were the lieuten- ants. It was the second company to arrive at Boston, coming south of the Hudson river. It was subsequently ordered to join General Arnold in his unfortunate cam- paign against Quebec, and the most reliable account of that expedition was written by a member of this verj 25 206 Historical Sketch of 'Dauphin County. Paxtang company, John Joseph Henry, afterwards Presi- dent Judge of Lancaster and Dauphin counties. They were enlisted for one year. The majority, however, were taken prisoners at Quebec, while a large per cent- age died of wounds and exposure. In March, 1776, Capt. John Murray's company was raised in Paxtang township, attached to the rifle battalion of Col. Samuel Miles. The officers of this company were First Lieutenant, John Stoner, May 15, 1776; Second* Lieutenant, James Hamilton, March 16, 1776; and Third Lieutenant, Charles Taylor, March 19, 1776. The last named was killed at the battle of Long Island, August 27, 1776. This company participated in the bat ties of Long Island, White Plains, Princeton and Trenton. Captain Patrick Anderson's company was raised in the lower part of the county in January, 1776. It was at- tached to Col. Atlee's musketry battalion, suffered se- verely at Long Island, re-organized under Captain Am- brose Crain, a gallant officer, placed in the Pennsylvania State regiment of foot, commanded by Col. John Bull, and subsequently, in the re-arrangement of the line, the 13th Pennsylvania, under Col. Walter Stewart, so con- spicuous in the battle of Yorktown. Captain John Marshal's company was from Hanover, enlisted in March, 1776, and attached to Col. Miles' bat- talion, participating in the various battles in which that brave command distinguished itself. Of this company the remaining officers were First Lieutenant, John Clark, March 15, 1776; Second Lieutenant, Thomas Gourley, March 15, 1776, promoted to First Lieutenant of the 9th Pennsylvania, December 7, 1776; Third Lieutenant, Stephen Hanna, March 19, 1776. Captain Smith's company, on the expiration of their term of service, re-enlisted in the First Pennsylvania Historical Sketch of Dauphin County. 207 (Col. Hand) wfth Captain Michael Simpson, December, 1776, who retired from the army January I, 1 781. Da- vid Harris commanded a company in this regiment July 1776 (resigned October, 1777,) of which also James Hamilton, formerly lieutenant in Capt. John Murray's company, was promoted major (retiring January 1, 1 783.) Major Hamilton was captured at the battle of Brandy- wine. In the Tenth Pennsylvania (Colonel Joseph Penrose) were Captain John Stoner's company, December 4, 1776; and Capt. Robert Sample's, December 4, 1776, (retired January 1, 1781.) John Steel, First Lieutenant of the former company, was killed at Brandywine September ri > l 777- , In the Twelfth Pennsylvania (Col. William Cook) was the company of Capt. John Harris, October 14, 1776; First Lieutenant, John Reily, October 16, 1776 (subse- quently promoted to Captain, and mustered out with the regiment November 3, 1783;) Second Lieutenant, John Carothers, October 16, 1776, (killed at Germantown. | The foreo-oino- were the different companies raised in this part of the country at the outset of the Revolution — ere the thunder-tones of the Declaration of Independ- ence sounded along the corridors of time. Following those in succession were the Associators, the brave min- ute-men, "Who left the ploughshare in tin- mould, Their flocks and herds without a fold, The sickle in the unshorn grain, The corn, half garner'd on the plain. Ami muster'd, in their simple dress, For wrongs to seek a stern redress, To righl those wrongs, come weal, come woe, To perish, or o'ercome the foe" At one period the entire country was so bare ol men that the old men, the women and the lads of ten and 2o8 Historical Sketch of 'Dauphin County. twelve years not only done the planting- and harvesting, but took up arms to defend their homes in the threatened invasion by Indians and tories after the massacre of Wy- oming. At Trenton, at Princeton, at Brandywine and German- town, at the Crooked Billet and the Paoli, the militia of Dauphin fought, and bled, and died. With over one hun- dred and fifty commissioned officers, of whom my friend, Mr. Hamilton, has so well referred to, there certainly must have been a powerful force. After what has been said, I need scarcely refer to the gallant Burd, Crouch, Green, Weir, Cox, Boyd, Graham, Forrest, Allen and Lee; or the chivalric Stewart, Murray, Wilson, Wiggins and Rogers — and that long line of heroes whose brilliant achievements shed an undying glory on the patriotism of Dauphin county in the Revolution. What was once said of the men of New England can more truthfully be said of our own county, and of Pennsylvania especially: "* * * On every hill they lie, On every field of strife made red By bloody victory. Each valley, where the battle pour'd Its red and awful tide, Beheld "Old Dauphin's bravest" sword With slaughter deeply dyed. Their bones are on the Northern hill And on the Southern plain, By brook and river, lake and rill, And by the roaring main. "The land is holy where they fought, And holy where they fell, For by their blood that land was bought, The land they loved so well. Then glory to that valiant band, The honor' d saviours of the land! " When liberty shall have been crushed to earth — then, and then only will their deeds and their sweet memories be effaced from the hearts of their descendants. Historical Sketch of Dauphin County. 209 With the dawn of peace, the people of the county returned to their usual avocations.- Civil affairs were taken cognizance of, and movements were at once made to secure the formation of a new county, with Harrisburg as the seat of justice. By the act of Assembly of March 4, 1785, the county of Dauphin was separated from Lan- caster, its name derived from the eldest son of the then king of the French — France at that period^ in conse- quence of its efficient aid to the Colonies, being upper- most in the affections of the people. The enthusiasm was unbounded, and, as we shall refer to hereafter, car- ried to extreme lengths. The name was suggested by the prime movers for the formation of the new county. The seat of justice was fixed at Harris' Ferry, then a village of about one hundred houses, although the town was not actually laid out or surveyed until after the pas- sage of the ordinance referred to. In the commissions of the officers of the new county, the town was named Louisburgh, in honor of Louis XVI., suggested by Chief Justice Thomas M'Kean, not only on account ot his French leanings, but to show his petty spite against Mr. Harris, to whom, somehow or other, he held political opposition. This act of injustice was subsequently remedied, when, on the [3th of April, 1701, the town was created a bor- ough, by the name of Harrisburg. It was undecided for awhile whether to call the place Harris' Ferry or Harris- burg. The latter, fortunately, was adopted. On the organization of the count)', Middletown was the largest village in the county, and strenuous efforts were made; by its citizens and the inhabitants ol the townships subsequently forming Lebanon county, to make it the seat of justice; while similar claims were 2 i o Historical Sketch of Dauphin County. made for the town of Lebanon, on account of its central location. The machinery of the new county was soon put into motion, the earliest record of whose courts reads thus: "At a court of quarter sessions, holden near Harris' Ferry, in and for the county of Dauphin," &c, on the "third Tuesday of May, in the year of our Lord 1785," before "Timothy Green, Samuel Jones and Jonathan M'- Clure, Esqrs., justices of the same court." We may imagine the scene, in a small room in a log house near the "lower ferry," at Front and Vine streets, with a jury particularly intelligent — an excellent set of county officers, and such a bar as Ross, Kittera, Cham- bers, Hubley, James Biddle, Hanna, Andrew Dunlop, Reily, Collinson Reed, Jasper Yeates, John Joseph Henry, Thomas Duncan, and Thomas Smith, most of whom rose to occupy the highest positions at the bar or in the Sen- ate — quite a show of famous men to start the judicial engine of the new county, with the net result of convicting William Courtenay, a descendant of one of the proudest houses of England, and sentencing him to eighteen lashes, fifteen shillings fine, and "to stand in the pillory." This instrument of judicial vengeance stood about sixty yards below the grave of John Harris, the elder, or just above the ferry house, at the junction of FYont and Paxtang streets. This, doubtless, was the exact position, as two or three of the first courts were held in a building on what is now the southern corner of Front street and Washington avenue. There was no citizen of Harris- burg on the first jury, except, perhaps, Alexander Berry- hill, but that is not certain. Colonel James Cowden, of Lower Paxtang township, was the foreman of this grand jury. Historical Sketch of Dauphin County. 2 1 1 The sheriff of Lancaster county exercised the same of- fice in Dauphin county. The names of the jurymen were [ames Cowden, (fore-man,) Robert Montgomery, John Gilchrist, Barefoot Brunson, John Clarke, Roan M'Clure, John Carson, John Wilson, Wm. Crane, Archi- bald M'Allister, Richard Dixon, John Pattimore, James Crouch, Jacob Awl, William Brown, Andrew Stewart, James Rogers, Samuel Stewart, John Cooper, Alexander Berryhill. Alexander Graydon was the first prothonota- ry, and Anthony Kelker the first sheriff. The minutes of the second court held in the town are dated at "Harrisburgh," and on the 3d of August, 1786, the following endorsement appears on the docket: The name of the county town, or seat of the courts, is altered from "Harrisburgh" to "Louisburgh," in consequence of the Supreme Executive Council af the Commonwealth, so styling it in the Commissions of the Justices of said town." The courts were held for several successive years in the same locality, but subsequently in the log house re- cently demolished on the south-east corner of Market street and Dewberry alley. From here it was removed to its present location, except during the sessions of the Legislature from 1812 to 1822, when the court occupied the brick building built by the county commissioners on the corner of Walnut street and Raspberry alley. The present edifice was erected in 1S60. The act of Assembly erecting Harrisburg into a bor- ough defined its limits as follows: "Beginning at low- water mark on the eastern shore ol the Susquehanna River: thence by the pine-apple tree north 60% degrees, east 79 perches, to an ash tree on the west bank of Paxton Creek; thence by the several 2 1 2 Historical Sketch of Dauphin County. corners thereof 323 perches, to a white hickory on Wil- liam Maclay's line; thence by the same south 67^ de- grees, west 212 perches, to a marked chestnut-oak on the eastern bank of the Susquehanna; thence by the same course to low-water mark to the place of begin- ning." The borough limits were extended by the act of the 1 6th of April, 1838, as follows: "The north-western boundary line of the borough of Harrisburg shall be and the same is hereby extended and enlarged as follows: Extending it along the river line to the upper line of the land of the late William Maclay, on said river; thence to Paxton creek, and thence along said creek to the north- western corner to the present boundary." Thus annex- ing Maclaysburg, or all the territory included in the bor- ough then lying north-west of South street. During the so-called Whisky Insurrection, 1794, Har- risburg became quite prominent, it being on the great thoroughfare to the Western counties. The court house was then building, and some of the sympathizers with the anti-excise men beyond the mountains hoisted a French flae on that structure. Of course this grave offense and it was quietly removed. Several arrests were made of individuals who expressed sympathy for the Western in- surgents — one of whom, Major Swiney, was confined in prison for nearly a year, when he was released without trial. Governor Mifflin, who was an excellent stump- speaker, made one of his characteristic addresses here, and in two days time no less than three companies from the town were on their march to Carlisle. When Gov. Howell, of New Jersey, and his brilliant staff remained over night, they were so hospitably entertained by the citizens that he returned his thanks in special orders. Historical Sketch of Dauphin County. 213 On Friday, the 3d of October, when the President, the great and good Washington, approached the town, he was met by a large concourse of the people and the en- thusiasm was unbounded. The worthy burgesses, Con- rad Bombaugh and Alexander Berryhill, presented the address of the town, to which the chief magistrate briefly replied, bearing "testimony to the zealous and ef- ficient exertions" they had made. That evening he held a reception at his head-quarters, where the principal citi- zens embraced the opportunity of paying their respects to the venerated chieftain. On the morning of the 4th he crossed the river at the upper ferry, which was fifty yards above the present Harrisburg bridge. About this period came the fever of 1 793-5 and the mill-dam troubles. For two years previous a disease of a malignant type prevailed during the summer season in the borough. Its origin was proved beyond doubt to be due to a mill-dam located in what is now the First ward of the city, on Paxtang creek. In 1 793, during the preva- lence of the yellow fever in Philadelphia, it was thought and even pronounced such. Quite a number of Irish emigrants died, and although many of the inhabitants were attacked there were no fatal cases among them. This was proof positive that the endemic was due to the damming up of the Paxtang creek, which was always "dead water," (its Indian significance,) producing mala- rial poisoning. Our ancestors, reasoning rightly, their next move was to get rid of the nuisance. Meetings were held, committees appointed, funds raised and ten- dered to the owners of the mill, Peter and Abraham Lan- dis, the amount demanded by them the previous year for their property. The impecunious millers now required a greater sum, but the citizens positively refused, and at 26 214 Historical Sketch of Dauphin County. a public meeting they resolved that a further tender be made the Landises and in case of refusal to "prostrate the dam" and pay, if necessary, the "proportionable parts of all legal expenses and damages that might accrue on any suits or indictments which might be brought or prosecuted in consequence of such acts." Our fore- fathers were not to be trifled with, and suiting the action to the word, met at a given hour and opened the dam. Eventually the parties compromised — the Landises ac- cepted a certain sum and the town secured the mill right. The valuable papers relating to this interesting epoch in the history of Harrisburg are in the possession of the Dauphin County Historical Society and being prepared for publication. The entire transaction was creditable to the ancient Harrisburger, and the descendants of the men who then stood up for the rights of the people are among the most prominent of our citizens to-day. In 1798, when a war with France was imminent and a call made by the general government on Pennsylvania for troops, an unusual excitement was created, and sev- eral companies tendered their services to the Governor. The storm blew over, and as in 1807, when a war was threatened with Great Britain — no occasion for troops were required, until five years after — when the second struggle with England took place. Among the promi- nent military organizations which armed for the conflict were the companies of Captains Thomas Walker, Rich- ard M. Crain, John Carothers, Jeremiah Rees, Thomas M'llhenny, Peter Snyder, John B. Moorhead, James Todd, Richard Knight, John Elder, Isaac Smith, Philip Fedder- hoff and Gawen Henry, quite a formidable array. Some of these marched as far as Baltimore at the time of the British attack on that city, while others went no farther Historical Sketch of Dauphin County. 215 than York. None of these companies had an opportu- nity to meet the enemy on the sanguinary field — but I )auphin county men composed the major portion of two companies which joined the Canada expedition. The heroes of this conflict are nearly all passed from off the stage of life. Following in the footsteps of the fathers of the Revolution, they emulated their heroism and devo- tion to the liberties of their country. In the war with Mexico, consequent upon the annexa- tion of Texas, among the troops which went out to that far-off land to vindicate the honor of our country and preserve its prestige, was the -Cameron Guards, under command of Captain Edward C. Williams. They made a good record, their heroic conduct at Cerro Gordo, Chapultepec and the Garreta de Belina, won for them high renown and the commendation of their venerated commander-in-chief. Scarce a corporal's guard remains of that gallant band. Coming down to later times, when the perpetuity of the Union was threatened, and the great North rose up like a oiant in its strength to crush secession and rebel- lion, the events are so fresh in the remembrances of all that we shall only refer to them in brief. The first pub- lic meeting held after the firing upon Fort Sumter in the State of Pennsylvania, and in fact the first in any northern city, was in the court house at Harrisburg, General Simon Cameron being chairman thereof. I )auphin county, fore- most in tendering men and means to the government for that bitter, deadly strife, furnished her full quota of volun- teers. Twice Harrisburg was the objective point of the Confederate troops, and at one time (June, 1863) the enemy's picket was within two miles of the city. Active preparations wttre made for its defense;, and fortifications 2r6 Historical Sketch of Dauphin County. erected on the bluff opposite, and named "Fort Washing- ton." This was the only fortification deserving a name erected in any of the Northern States. Rifle pits were dug along the banks of the river, in front of Harris Park, and every preparation made to give the enemy a warm reception. The Union victory at Gettysburg checked the further advance of the Confederates, and with it the last attempt to invade the North. It would take vol- umes to rehearse not only the heroism of the sons of Dauphin county on the battle-field, but the deeds of mercy and charity and love of the noble-hearted women. Need we speak of the gallantry of the lamented Sim- mons and the six hundred brave dead — stricken down on the field of battle, in the hospital or in the loathsome prison, or yet of the living — Knipe and Jennings, the Awls, Porter, Williams and Jordan, Witman and Davis, Detweiler, M'Cormick and Alleman, Savage and Hum- mel, and many others — a long line of illustrious names — officers and privates of that immense force which Dau- phin county sent out from her midst for the preservation of the Union. The location of the first and greatest military camp in the Northern States was within the limits of Harrisburg — named, by Generals Knipe and Williams in honor of the Chief Magistrate of Pennsylvania, Camp Curtin, which with being the central point of communication, especially with the oft-beleagured Federal Capital, made it a prominent rendezvous. Our citizens were equal to any emergency, and a community which fed gratuitously 20,- 000 returned soldiers, repel with disdain the insinuation made by a malicious correspondent of a New York news- paper, that our people charged soldiers ten cents for a glass of water. This statement is equally reliable with that at the outset of the war, when the same newspapers Historical Sketch of Dauphin t 'ounty. 2 1 7 ignorantly displayed at die head of their columns "I [ar- risburg protected by the Federal gunboats.'' From the commencement of the war, the charity of the citizens was unbounded and without stint, the doors ol hospitality freely opened, and to our honor be it said, two citizens, Messrs. John B. Simon and Eby Byers, es- tablished the Soldiers' Rest, where the sick and wounded patriot, on his way homeward, found rest, and refresh- ment, and gentle care. Thousands were kindly minis- tered to, and until the "boys came marching home" the good work went on unabated. In every cemetery and graveyard within the borders of Dauphin County lie the remains of her brave and true sons, while in the cemetery at Harrisburg - the crass grows green over the graves of 0000 o Union and Confederate soldiers from far-off States. In all the struggles for life, for liberty, for right and for the Union, Dauphin county has been in the van. But these dark days of our country have passed like "a dream that has been told." May the lesson taught be heeded by those who come after us — that the Union of States is not a rope of sand which may be broken at the will of any section. The first newspaper enterprise in the county was by Major Eli Lewis, but even its name and date of issue arc- lost. The first permanent effort, however, in that line of which copies are extant, was The Oracle of Dauphin, and Harrisburg Advertiser, the initial number bearing date October 20, 1792, John Wyeth, editor and proprie- tor. Its forerunner was probably The Harrisburg . Xd- vertiser. The history of newspaperdom at Harrisburg is eventful as it is interesting. When the town became the capital of the State, which it did in 1812, unnumbered ventures were made in that line. Nearly all tell the 218 Historical Sketch of Dauphin County. same story — premature decay. In i 830, with a popula- tion of a little over 4,000 inhabitants, Harrisburg con- tained twelve printing offices, six book binderies, pub- lishing eleven newspapers and one periodical, with an in- vested capital of over seventy-three thousand dollars. Of course that was not the era of railroads and tele- graphs, and newspapers could spring up, and live a while and be extinguished without serious loss. The en- tire circulation of all these papers was not equal to either one of the daily issues of the Telegraph or Patriot. The subject of internal improvements was one which early commanded the attention ol the citizens of Penn- sylvania, and one hundred years ago, as now, communi- cation with the western country was the great aim ol the business men of Philadelphia. The first effort was the removal of obstructions in the various streams, and especially that of the Susquehanna river; and although a considerable amount of money was eventually spent in improving the navigation thereof, the result was far from satisfactory. Previous to the Revolution, (1774,) the at- tention of the Provincial Assembly was called to this matter, and as a preliminary, it was proposed to lay out a town or city on that stream. John Harris, the founder of our city, immediately gave notice of his intention of laying out a town, which seemed to quiet the movement of undoubted land speculators. The Revolution coming on, such enterprises, if ever seriously considered, were abandoned. No sooner, however, came peace, than the business activity of the people sought out new channels — roads were made, attempts at slackwater navigation ven- tured on — until finally the Pennsylvania canal, from Co- lumbia to Pittsburgh, opened up an avenue to trade, and brought prosperity to all the towns on its route. On none had it better effect than Middletown and Harris- Historical Sketch of Dauphin County. 219 burg, and the former place at one period was destined to retain a supremacy in population, enterprise, wealth and influence. It was a great lumber mart; the Union ca- nal, and its admirable location, always made, it a rival to the Capital City. Previous to the opening- of the Pennsylvania canal, the transportation facilities of the town were confined to Troy coaches or stages for passengers, and Conestoga wagons, great lumbering vehicles with semi-circular tops of sail-cloth, drawn by six stalwart horses, for goods of various descriptions. This was expensive — and the com- pletion of the public improvements was an eventful era in the progress and development of this locality. Real estate advanced, commission and other merchants estab- lished themselves on the line of the canal, rope and boat manufactories were erected and various enterprises inau- gurated, giving new life to the town and thrift and pros- perity to the people. Several lines of passenger packets were established, and it was considered a wonderful thing when four packet boats arrived and departed in a single day. The consuming of three days and a half to go to Pitts- burgh beoran to be deemed slow, and the building: of rail- roads opened up another era in the development of the country. In September, 1836, the first train of cars entered the limits of Harrisburg over the Harrisburg, Portsmouth, Mount Joy and Lancaster railroad. Following this effort, other rapid transit enterprises were carried forward to com- pletion until at the present time — when no less than one hundred trains of passenger cars arrive and leave Har- risburg daily tor different points. We give these facts to show not only how great the travel, but the wonderful pro- gress made in transit. Previous to the year [841, the pump or well was the only source ol water supply, lor drinking purposes, and 220 Historical Sketch of Dauphin County. the rain-barrel or cistern for other uses. When this is contrasted with the present abundance of that fluid, and the old fire engines of that day with the ponderous steam apparatus of the present, we wonder how the goodly cit- izens of forty years ago managed to get along. They were not as wasteful as we are ; the river was nigh, it is true, but water carriage cost considerable in laree families when re- quired for laundry purposes. The most serious difficulty was in cases of fire, and frequently the pumps giving out the lines were formed to the river, of men, women and chil- dren, and the supply secured from thence. In those days every one went to the fire; there was work for all, old and young — the leathern buckets were required to be on hand, and all business was suspended while a conflagra- tion was in progress. Far different now. The alarm sounds, and we listen to count the stroke — find out the location — and, should it be at a distance, we quietly re- sume our duties, knowing our presence is not required, for the brave and disinterested firemen with their engines are there and no fears are awakened as to the result. This feeling of security actuates us all, and yet how seldom do we think to whom we are so deeply indebted. It is the brave fireman who is fighting the mad flames, who is endangering his life for our property, and the safety, perchance of our little ones. To him is due the highest meed of praise — surpassing the valor of him who treads the wine-press of the battle-field. All honor to the ever-ready, intrepid fireman ! The first fire engine purchased by the citizens of Har- risburg was the "Union." Contemporaneous with this primitive machine were the Hope and Friendship, both of which organizations are in the highest state of effi- ciency to-day. When their Centennial comes around ma)' "we all be there to see." The Citizen, the Wash- Historical Sketch of Dauphin County. 221 ington, the Mount Vernon, the Paxton, the Good Will and the Lochiel were organized from 1836 to 1874, in the order named. We have alluded to their valuable ser- vices. A grateful community will ever stand by them. On the 1 8th day of September, 1 841 , the water works were completed at a total expense of $120,000 — a large sum in those days, but meagre compared with the sum expended in erecting the present extensive ones — which reach well on to a million of dollars. To no one is this community more deeply indebted for the successful car- rying out the plan of the original water works than to Gen. William Ayres, a distinguished lawyer and citizen of Harrisburg, and for many years the president of the town council. To his energy, forethought and enter- prise, these with other municipal improvements were brought to successful completion — and his name and ser- vices deserve kindly remembrance on this occasion. To notice the various events which have transpired in the county and town is the duty of the faithful annalist — but time, if naught else, forbids. A summary, however, of such as may be of especial interest we recall for pre- servation. The statistics of the churches have been given by Rev. Dr. Robinson. After these organizations the oldest as- sociation in the county, ante-dating the laying out of the town of Harrisburg, is Perseverance Lodge, No. 21, ot Free and Accepted Masons, constituted in November, 1779, and styled among the records as the "Lodge at Paxtang." Its first members were officers of the Revolu- tion, and through its existence of nearly a hundred years it has enrolled the names of many distinguished in the annals of the count)' and State — heroes, statesmen and divines, with men of all professions and trades — while /A ■11 222 Historical Sketch of Dauphin County. charity which has never been a "sounding brass and tinkling cymbal" has been without stint. Of library companies various attempts were made from the year 1 79 1 for a period of fifty years, to establish them — all proving unsuccessful. That there is no large public library and reading room in our city is far from creditable to the intelligence or liberality of our citizens, and it is hoped that measures will be taken for such an enterprise. It is only by endowment that such will prove permanent, and until this can be accomplished proposi- tions are useless and of little avail. Society private li- braries are not permanent. These have their uses — but a free public library will alone meet the wants of a ra- pidly-growing and a reading community like ours. Too much dependence has been placed in the library of the State — which unfortunately has too frequently been one of circulation instead of reference. We have a number of men of wealth among us, any one or two of whom could confer upon their fellow-citizens no favor, nor se- cure for themselves more lasting honor, than by the ju- dicious founding of a free public library. The Lancasterian school system was established at Harrisburg by the act of the nth April, 1827, and was abolished on the 20th of May, 1834, when the free or common schools went into operation. One need only take a survey of the magnificent school edifices, of the high standing of the teachers and the rapid advancement of the children, to fully realize the immense benefits de- rived from the Pennsylvania system of education. They need no encomium at our hands. The Harrisburg Acad- emy established in 1809, is still in full vigor, .and annually sends forth its young men prepared either for a higher collegiate course, or for the active pursuits of life. Historical Sketch of Dauphin County. 223 The Harrisburg Bank was chartered on the 9th of May, [X14, with a capital of $300,000. William Wallace was its first President and John Downey, Cashier. It first went into operation at the then residence of its cashier in Second street, a few doors north-west of Cherry alley, where it remained until 1837, when the present site- was purchased from the Bank of Philadelphia. At this time, in addition, eight banking institutions attend to the financial affairs of our community. The removal of the seat of government to Harrisburg, although suggested as early as 1787, and often moved in the Assembly, did not prove successful until by the act of February, 1810, when "the offices of the State govern- ment were directed to be removed to the borough of Harrisburg, in the county of Dauphin," "within the month of October, 181 2," and "the sessions of the Legislature thereafter there to be held." The first sessions of the Assembly were held in the court house, and that body continued to occupy the building until the completion of the Capitol. No historical resume of Dauphin county can be called complete without some reference to the so-called "Buckshot War" of 1838. At the October election of that year Da- vid R. Porter, of Huntingdon, was chosen Governor, af- ter a hotly contested political canvass, over Governor Ritner. The defeated party issued an ill-timed and ill- advised address, advising their friends "to treat the elec- tion as if it had not been held." It was determined, therefore, to investigate the election, and to do this the political complexion of the Legislature would be decisive. The majority of the Senate was Anti-Masonic, but the control of the House of Representatives hinged upon the admission of certain members from Philadelphia whose 224 Historical Sketch of Dauphin County. seats were contested. The votes of one of the districts in that city were thrown out by reason of fraud, and the Democratic delegation returned. The Anti-Masonic re- turn judges refused to sign the certificates, "and both parties made out returns each for a different delegation, and sent them to the Secretary of the Commonwealth." The Democratic returns were correct, and should have been promptly received "without question." When the Legislature met, the Senate organized by the choice of Anti-Masonic officers. In the House a fierce struggle ensued, both delegations claiming seats. The consequence was that each party went into an elec- tion for Speaker, each appointing tellers. Two Speakers were elected and took their seat upon the platform — Wil- liam Hopkins being the choice of the Democrats, and Thomas S. Cunningham of the opposition. The Demo- crats believing that they were in the right, left out of view the rejection of the votes of the Philadelphia district. However, when the returns from the Secretary's office were opened, the certificate of the minority had been sent in, thus giving the advantage to the Anti-Masons. It was then a question which of the two Houses would be recognized by the Senate and the Governor. At this stage of the proceedings, a number of men (from Philadelphia especially,) collected in the lobby, and when the Senate after organization proceeded to busi- ness, interrupted it by their disgraceful and menacing- conduct. The other branch of the Legislature was in like manner disturbed, and thus both Houses were compelled to disperse. The crowd having taken possession of the halls proceeded to the court house, where impassioned harangues were indulged in and a committee of safety appointed. For several days all business was suspended Historical Sketch of Dauphin County. 225 and the Governor alarmed for his own personal safety, or- dered out the militia, and fearing this might prove insuf- ficient, called on the United States authorities for help. The latter refused, but the militia under Major Generals Patterson and Alexander, came promptly in response. For two or three days during- this contest, the danger of a collision was imminent, but wiser counsels prevailed, and the Senate having voted to recognize the section of the House presided over by Mr. Hopkins, the so-called "Insurrection at Harrisburg" was virtually ended. This was what is commonly known as the "Buckshot War." In the year i860 Harrisburg received its highest cor- porate honors — that of a city. Although at the time arousing much opposition, yet its subsequent growth and prosperity have fully realized the fondest expectations of its earnest advocates. In population it ranks the sixth in the State, and in manufacturing interests it is the third — Pittsburgh and Philadelphia alone exceeding it — while in the Union it ranks high among the inland cities. As a native of the town we are proud of its prosperity, of its importance and its high social position. It may not be out of place on this occasion to allude to the many citizens to whom this city and county of ours are indebted for their position, prominence and influence. Within the city's boundaries rest the remains of Gov- ernors Findley, Wolf, Porter and Geary. Honored and revered in the church were the Reverends Roan, Bar- tram, San key, Elder, Snodgrass, Snowden, Lochman, Castleman, Cookman, I )eWitt, Winebrenner, Berg and Maker. Among the physicians were the Luthers, Ag- new, Simonton, the Wiestlings, Fager, the Roberts, Reily, Hock, Orth, the Rutherfords, and the Seilers, with others celebrated in their day and generation. Of mem- 226 Historical Sketch of Dauphin County. bers of the bar, the names of Graydon, Patterson, Shunk, Douglass, McCormick, Elder, Fisher, Kunkel, Forster, M'Kinney, Wood, Alricks, Ayres, Rawn and Briggs pre- sent themselves. Of valued citizens, representative men, the Harrises, Maclays, Hanna, Hamilton, Berryhills, Wy- eths, Hummel, Beatty, M'Clure, Buehlers, Espy, Sloan, Graydon, Downey, Shoch, Fleming, Bergner, Bombaugh, Kelker, Beader, Bucher, Cowden, M'Allister, Potts, Boyd, Kean, the Gilmores, Rutherfords, Grays, Aliens, Halde- mans, Elders, Cox, Ziegler, Forster, with hundreds of others, may be named — the worthy ancestors of promi- nent Dauphin county citizens of the present. In this Centennial anniversary let us do honor to their memo- ries, recall their names, as we emulate their virtues. Let us not forget on this occasion that within the lim- its of our county of Dauphin were born Lindley Mur- ray the grammarian, William Darby the geographer, Rev. William Graham the founder of the now cele- brated Washington and Lee University of Virginia, Com- modore David Connor, of the United States Navy, Al- exander M'Nair, the first Governor of Missouri, with a long list of statesmen, divines and soldiers, representa- tive men in the homes of their adoption — honored when living and revered while dead. The townships of Peshtank, Lebanon and Derry cov- ered the territory within the bounds of the counties of Dauphin and Lebanon in 1729, when Lancaster county was formed. From the time of the organization of the former county until 181 3, when Lebanon was separated therefrom, the townships were as follows, with date of erection: Paxton, 1729; Lebanon, 1729; Derry, 1729; Hanover from Derry, 1737; Bethel from Lebanon, 1739; Heidelberg, 1757; Londonderry, 1768; Upper Historical Sketch of Dauphin County. 227 Paxton, 1767; West Hanover, 1 7S5 ; East Hanover, 1785; Middle Paxton, 1787; Swatara, 1799; Annville, 1799; Halifax, 1804, and Lykens, 1810. When Lebanon county was created, the townships of Lebanon, East and West Hanover, Heidelberg-, Bethel and Annville were lost to Dauphin. Since that period there have been erected: Susquehanna, 181 5 ; Mifflin, 1 819; Rush, 1820; {ackson, 1828; Wiconisco, 1840; Lower Swatara, with new lines for Swatara, 1840; South, East and West Han- over, 1842; Jefferson, 1842; Washington, 1846; Reed, 1849; Conewago, 1850, and Williams, 1868. The different boroughs and villages were laid out as fol- lows: Harrisburg,i 785; Middletown,i 755; Hummelstown, 1762; Dauphin, 1826; Millersburg, 1807; Halifax, 1 794; Gratz, 1805; Berrysburg, 1871; Lykens, 1847; Highspire, 1 81 4; Linglestown,i765; Rockville, 1839; Fisherville,i854; Wiconisco, 1848; Williamstown, 1869, and Uniontown, 1864. Many of these towns were settled years previous- ly; but the plans were not officially recorded until the year noted. At the time of the organization of the county of Dau- phin, it contained a population of nearly 1 6,000, although in 1790, when the first census was taken, the number was only 18,177, due probably to the emigration of great numbers of the Scotch-Irish, who removed either west- ward or southward. In 1800 — 22,270. In 18 10 — 31,- 883. In 1S20 — 21,653, a decrease, owing to the separa- tion from it of the county of Lebanon, February 16, 18 1 3, which by this census had a population of 16,975. ^ n 1830—25,243. 1111840—30,118. In 1850— 35,754. In i860 — 46,756. In 1870 — 60,740. In 1870 — at least 75,- 000. 228 Historical Sketch of Dauphin County. Of its 233,835 acres of land — 61,249 acres, or almost one-fourth, is unimproved. The valuation of farm property, $20,000,000. As a farming community, how- ever, Dauphin, owing to the large amount of untillable land, comes far down in the list of counties in the State. And yet the portion of the county lying between the Conewago hills and the Kittatinny mountains contains as highly cultivated and productive farms as any in the United States. Thrift and intelligence characterize the staid "Dutch" farmers of Dauphin, and they vie with any community in all that appertains to enterprise and pro- gress. In manufacturing industries Dauphin is the sixth. Allegheny, Berks, Luzerne, Montgomery and Philadelphia alone surpassing her. The earliest indus- trial establishment in this locality was the "nailery" of Henry Fulton in 1 785, although we must give precedence to the enterprise of the "noted Burney," who, five years previous, at his residence "in Upper Paxtang," manufac- tured counterfeit coin. His establishment was soon closed, however, the owner "sent to Lancaster goal," and, although "he left a great quantity of his cash in the hands of several," he never returned to claim it or renew the labors of his manufactory. Fulton's establishment was only a little remote from a "smithy." To look now at the industries of Harrisburg and the county of Dau- phin, the progress within the last fifteen years is really wonderful, apart from the great contrast with fifty years ago. The number of manufactories of iron, alone, its furnaces, foundries, machine shops and nail works, form a list as gratifying to the citizens as it is surprising. The Pennsylvania steel works, the Lochiel iron works, M'Cor- mick's, Wister's, Dock's and Price's furnaces at Harris- burer, besides the Cameron at Middletown, one at Mana- da, and another near Dauphin. The Harrisburg Car and Historical Sketch of Dan pliiu County. 229 Machine works, with a similar establishment at Middle- town, Hickok's Eagle Works, Wilson's, Jennings' and numberless other foundries scattered all over the county. These only represent the iron industries; time prevents an enumeration of the other sources of wealth. The coal mines of the Lykens Valley, with its boundless treasures, the development of the entire county by means of the various railroads projected or running through it, are destined to bring our county of Dauphin in the van of mineral wealth. The future will open up the riches hidden as yet from our view if the enterprise of its citi- zens but will it. And now, fellow-citizens, in the hope that this brief historical record of the transactions of our locality may be acceptable to you and the people of my native town, county and State, I can only wish that in the coming hun- dred years their crowning glory may be the superior in- telligence, the virtue and the integrity of their citizens, the love and loyalty of the people. Through Providence our fathers founded an empire great and grand. % May their descendants, by the same benign and Divine influ- ence, transmit the glorious heritage to the latest posterity. •js GENERAL INDEX. PAOK Allen Peter 11 Antietem and Gettysburg ss Academy, Harrisburg 92, 95 Arks 100 Addresses 149 Dr. Robinson 150 Mr. Hamilton 1 •'.:'» Dr. Egle IT!) Assessments. . 15,16,17,18,19,20,22,32 Ben\vhill Andrew 32 Husse Christian :'><> Berks County 68 Boroughs 133 Conestoga Indians 11 Chambers* family 14 Churches 15 Finley's 34 Derrv 152 Paxton 152 Hanover 153 Harrisburg 153 Reformed 153 Lutheran 154 Methodist 155 Episcopal 156 Roman Catholic 156 Bethel 157 Baptist 157 do Free 157 United Brethren 158 Jews 158 Societies 159 Court, early 15 Canals 106 Coal 113 Cities 12:! Centennial Celebration, 1876.... 14!) Dauphin County, description of, 5,8,12 Duncan's Island 7 Description of, 143, 146 Donegal 1 :> Dauphin, Formation 58, <»* Sec Townships. Boundaries 109 Soil ltd Manufactories 112, 116 Coal LIS Products. ..111. 117, to 120 Acreage 118 Value. lis. 120 1 ron value !'•*•• PAGK Dauphin Borough II.' Port Lyon 1 12 ( Ireensburg 112 Description 112 Value 14:: Early settlers 10, 17 Donegal 13 Elder Rev. John 25 Education Ill to 98 Ecclesiastical History, by Rev. Dr. Robinson 150 to 162 French Wars 21 Porster Thomas 24 Fort Hunter 47, 50 Manada 47, 52 Brown 47, 52 Halifax 47. 4!). 51 Fourth of July. 1876 14!) Galbraith James 29 Harris" Ferry 23 Harrisburg 12:S Site 12:: Harris House 124 Hamilton House 124 Ferry 125 Borough 125, 126 Courts 126 Court House 125. L26 Town Council 125 Louisburg 125 Pillory 126 Grand Jury 127 Prothonotary 127 Sheriff 127 Horses, stealing 127 Sickness 127 Seal of < i-overnment. . 128 City 12s Population 128 Buildings 138 Value of Lots 129 Banks 130, 131 Churches 131 Schools 131 Gas 131 Railway 132 Hummelstown 139 Laid out L39 Early settlers 139 Swatara < Ireek. . . 139 Population 140 232 General Index. PAGE Hummelstown, Value 140 Highspire 140 Halifax 147 Indian owners 6 Leni Lenappe 6 War 21 Peace 37 at Conestoga 39 Lebanon County 74 Linglestown, description of 147 Lykens, description of 148 Mexican War .' 87 Middletown 133 Situation 133 Proprietor 133 Trade 134 Portsmouth 134, 135 Incorporated 1 35 Emaus School 135 George Frey 135 Churches 137 Hotels 188 Lodges 138 Markets L38 Population 139 Value 139 Millersburg 140 ~ First settlers 141 Trade 141 Proprietor 141 Incorporated 141 Schools, Churches. . . 142 Oldest House 14 Officers of the Revolution, 168, 169, 170, 175. 17(5 Paxton 15 Quebec List of Soldiers. . . . 164 to 166 Peed Adam 31, 34 Revolution 54, 55. 56, 57 Religious Progress 39 Roads 99 to 105 Rail Roads 7, 8, 106 TAGE Revolutionary History, by A. B. Hamilton '..163 to 17S Review of the History of Dauphin County. byDr.W. II. Egle, 17!). &c. Susquehanna Indians 9 Shawanese Indians 9 Scotch Irish 12, 13 Stewart Lazarus 39, 46 Smith Matthew 41 Stage Coaches 104, 105 Townships, Derry 59 Peshtank 60 Lebanon 60 Hanover 61 Bethel 62 Heidelberg 63 Upper Paxton 64 Londonderry 65 E. and W. Hanover. 65 Middle Paxton 68 Harrisburg 69 Annville 70 Swatara 71 Halifax 73 Lykens 73 Susquehanna 76 Mifflin 77 Rush 79 Derry, Londonderry, 79 Jackson SO Lower Swatara 80 Wiconisco 81 S. & E. Hanover.... 82 Jefferson 83 Washington 84 Heed 85 Conewago 85 AVilliams 86 Traders 15 Turnpikes 80 Weiser Conrad 25 Whiskey Insurrection 87, 212 INDEX TO DAUPHIN COUHTY SURNAMKS. .A. A. lams IS, <):', Agnew 225 Aiken IT. is Ainsworth 19, 20, 32 Albert 32 Ale >rn is Alexander 13 Alleman 216 Allen 15,60,66,83.93,175,208,226 Allison 13,15,16,28,156 Alricks 226 Anderson 13,28,32,206 Andrews 13,19,20 Ankel 20 Armstrong.. 16,17,22,101,167,189,190 Atkins... 22,189 Aungst 83 Awl 127,176,211,216 Ayres 221,226 Bachman L9 Bailey 130 Bakestose 1 75 Han.' L3 Bannon 32 Haines IK) Harnett L9, 32, 35,55, 175,204 Ban 93 Baum 139 Hash,, re 32,83 Haskins IS. 1 | |.l 15 Beard is Heat tv 35, 226 Bell 19,20,22,32,35,189 Beswick 15 Berg 225 Bezallion 8,180 Binnagh 165 Black. 15,16,22,25,165,190 Blackbui □ 16 Blessing 56 Benner 25 Bertram 15 Bergner 226 Bennetl 32, 161 BeiTyhill 31,93,127,174,211,213 Header 226 Holianan !•"> Bollinger 165 Bombaugh 97,176,213,226 Bomgardner 175 Boon 16,20 Bowman 16 Bowen 20 Boyce '■>'■'> Boyd. . .13,15,17,22,92,94,164,167,170, 176,190,205,208 Bradley IT.") Branden IT.") Brewster 20 I ii iggs 226 Brightbill ■••■....19,175 Brisban 170 Brooks 92 Brackan 13 Bradin 16 Brains 15 Bratchey 16 Brewer 13 Brown 15,18,19,20,32,93,175,211 Brownlee 15 Bruner 32 Brunson 127,211 Bryson ^ Bucber 226 Buehler 226 Burd 50,56,174,204,208 Burke 93 Hurt 15 Byers 175,216 G (alder L05 Caldwell 16,17 Calhoun ( ami r,,n 87,124,215 I ampbell 13,15,16,17,22,190 Candor 16 ( arbach 165 i OO Cassel 83 Carothers 13,16,55,204,207,214 m 17,18,22,127,167,189,211 Cathcarl 20 < lartlidge 15 234 Index to Surnames. ( lavenaugh 1 65 ( 'astleman 225 Cavit 17 ( lhamberlain 93 Chambers 15,16,17,22,101,190 Chartier 15 ( Jhesney 175 Clanne.au 20 Clark 13,16,1 7, is, 19,20,55,64,93, 127,175,204,206,211 Clatt 19 Cleck 32 Clemson 156 Clenan 32 Clendenin 13 Cochran 1 7, 18,22. 105,167,175,189 Collier 17 Collins 13 Color 22,189 Conner : 93, 105, 220 Conway 17 Cook 13 Cookman 223 Cooper 17,19,32,127,21 1 ( lopenheffer 55,175,204 Cosh 17 Cotter 13 Coulter 93 Cowden 127,169,171,175,211,226 Cox 174, 175, 20S, 220 Craig 19,22,31,190 Crain 127,169,200,211,214 Crawford 19,22,167,175,189 Crosby 20 Cross' 164,168 Crouch 127,105,108,109,174,175, 208,211 Crow 165 ( 'rum 83 Cunningham 15,19,20, 1 65 Cuoit... 22, IS'.) Cut-ran 156 Curry 17 T) Daily 18 Darley 226 1 >avenport 15 Davis 17,03,210 Dean 139,165 DeArmond 32 Dentzel 93,94 Detwiler 216 Devebaugh 93 Devinny 17 DeWitt 153,225 Dickey IS.35 Dickson 19 Diven 93 Dixon. . . 20,55,93,127,165,204,205,21 1 Dobbins 19 Dock 225 Down Hi Downey 223,220 Downing 15 Doughteman 140 Dougherty 17,18,22.105, IS!) Douglass 220 Dugan 17,18,22,189 Duncan 17,93, 144 Dunlap 15 Eastland 101 Ebv 17 Egle 57, 123, 165, 179 Elder. .25, 35, 47, 72, 153, 167, 175, 1 70, 177, 191, 202, 205, 214, 225, 220 Endless 101 English IS Eppert 03 Erwin 29 Espy 55, 167, 204, 226 Eversofe 175 IF Pager 225 Farling 83 Fanwell 32 Parrel 03 Fedderhoff 214 Feely 165 Ferguson 32, 93 Ferree 76, 175 Finley 34 Findley 225 Finney 29 Fishburn 56 Fisher 93,133, 226 Fleming 18, 22, 83, 117, 180, 226 Folsom. Ill Forrest 170, 176, 208 Foster 17 Forster....l3, 18, 19, 22. 24, 93, 167, 174, 175, 176, 189, 190, 226 Fortenbach 79 Fox 82. 130 Frederick 32, 33 French 19 F'rey 135 Fridley 93 Fry 32 Fulton 13, 15, 03 Index to Surnames. 235 Gr Gabriel 18 Galbraith. 15,17,18,22,25,29,30,93,190 Gamble is Gantz 1!) ( ;;n is 154 Gardner 15 Gaston 18 Geary 225 Geiger 93 Gibbons 175 Gibson 13 Gilchrist 127,167, 1 75,21 1 Gillespy 17 Gilliland 19,32 Gilmore 92,93,226 Gingrich IT Gish 139 Given 18 Class 93,176 Godfrey 17 Gordon 18,32 Gourley 20(i Graham 19,20,22,25,32,93,175,176, 190,208,226 Gray 18,167,226 GraybiU 93 Gratz 148 Graydon 93,127,168,176,211,226 Gracy 19 Green 32,127,142,167,176,203,204, •JOS, •.' 10 Greenleaf 19 Greenley 175 Gregg-- 176 Griffith , 165 Gross 83 ve 56 Grubb 83 FTa.i1ma.Ti Ealdeman 226 Hal] 13,16,17,59,65 Hallebaugh 175 Hamilton. . 93,95,124,150,163,168,176, 206,207,226 Hammond 76 llanna 18,93,94,206,226 Harper 20 Harris (frequent. ) Hart 1!) I [astenrider ITT Hasletl 19 Hantz 154 Hay 155 Hays 15.17,10] Hayes 17 Hemphill 17 Hendrick 13 I fendersoD 24 Henry. .. . 19,28,32,93,165,168,173,206 Hetrick 19,175 Hill 19,32,175 Hipsman 176 Hoak 93 Hocker 93 Hoffman 148,175 Hoge 92,93,175 [ Hoke 19,20 Hollingsworth 93 Hoof.. 20 Hoover 17,56,82 Hopple 74 Howry 16 Howard 13,15 I I oyer !i:',, 1 76 Hudson 93 Huling 144 Humes 19,22,32,189,190 Hummel 56,139, 1 75,205,2 16 Hughes 13,28 Hunter 18,22,93,189 Hursha 93 Huston 17,18,32 Hutchison 15,19 Ingram 150 Ireland! 16 Jagel 19 Jennings 216 Johnson 17,18,19,22,175,189 Johnston 19,32 Jones 127,21 1 Jordan 93,216 iec Kanix . . . Kansey . . Capp..., Karsnits. KlMII. , . , Keiffer . . Keim . . . , Kelker... Kelly . . . Kelso. . . . Helton . . K i ■ 1 1 1 n'i 1 \ . Keril. . '. is I'.l 93 .121 ,93, 175, 176, 226 83 83 226 :', i ; 93 18 166 20 -Ml. . .1! 236 Index to Surnames. Kerr 13, 15,16 Ketrin 17 Kin- 22,93 Kile 15 K illinger 175 Kinney 18 Kinportz 84 Kirkpatrick 18 Kirkwood 19, 32 Kleim 17 Knight 214 Knipe 216 Kolp 19, 32, S4 Kuertzer 93 Knnkel 93, 226 Knntz 32 Xj Laird 16, 19. 175 Landis 59, 65, 127 Larner 17 Larue 93, 141 Laner 56, 175 Latschaw 175 Lawrence 15, 101 Leasure 82 Lee 18, 104, 169, 177. 208 Lenes 25 Lenker 85 Lenox 16 Letort 15 Lewis 9::. 217 Libbins 19 Lichty 19 Lingle 147 Linn 13 Liniiess 175 Lochert 16 Lochman 225 Lochrey 175 Logan 17 Long 16, 20 Longnecker 17, 79 Love 18 Lowrev 13, 15 Lusk 18 Luther 93, 225 Lytle 13,93 :m: Mahen 17 McAllister 17, 127, 170, 211, 226 MeArtlmr 17, 25 McCallen 175 McCallay 17 McCarter 22, 189 McCaver 32 McCavit 19 McChesney 93 McClean 17 McClellan 13 McClelland 17 McClenahan 18 McClure. .13, is, 19, 20. 22, 25, 32, 126, 127, 167, 175, 189, 210, 211. 226 McConkey 13, 166 McConnel 19 McCord / 17, 18, 32, 83 McCormick 18, 19, 175, 216 McCorey 19 McCowen 19 McCreight 18, 83, 175 McOroskey 93 McCullough 13, 17, 32 McCune 15 McCurry 32 McDonnell 17 McElhenny 167. 214 McElrath 20 McElroy 18 McEnally 166 McEwen 13 McFadden 83 Maefarlane 13, 56, 167 McParland 15. lit. 32 McGafog 93 MeGowen 19,32 McGranaghan 166 McGrath. 32 McGuire 18, 32 Mclntire 13 McKee 16, 17, 18, 24, 167, 175 McKeehan 20 McKennett 37 MeKinney 18, 226 McKnight 167 McMahon 32 McMullin 16, 22, 93, 189 McMurray 19 McMillen 175 McNair 16, 226 McNamara 93 McNealy 19,20 McNight 17, 18, 19, 32 McQueen 15, 17 Mackey 35,124 Maclay 93,177,226 Maher 157, 225 Marish 15 Mark 20,175 Marshall 160, 170 Martin 17, 19, 36. 175 Matthews 175 Maurer 32 Mayer 76 Mays 18. 22, 101. 189 Index to Surnames. .Means 18 Mchee 15 Mellen 166 Merchant 166 Mc sick 155 Middleton 15 Mileham lTii Miller IT. 19, 56, 58, 1 to Mitchell 13, L5, 16, 17, 18, 17G Monday 15 Montgomery... 17, 18. 19. 56, 93, 101, 127, 167, 175, 176, 211 Moor 13, 15 Moore 17 Morehead 82, 83, 214 Morrison 16, 167 Morn >\v 18 Moser 32 Mosher 19 Mueller 155 Mnmma 80, 130 Murdock 17 Murray. .18, 64, 93, 168, 170, 175, 176, 206, 207, 208, 226 Musser 29 Myers 20 Neal 18, 19 Neety 16 Xei 17 Neidig so Nichols 157 Xii "in 16 Xi's ,n 166 Noil >n 93 o Old 166 Orr 17 Orth 225 Orvil 19 Osier 129 Palmer Pancake Park Parthemorc 76, Patterson.... 13, 16, 22. 175. 190, Patton Pearson Pedan 1*1-11 in Peters Philips 29 17 72 in \-r, 226 13 25 i:: 15 17 93 | Polk 17 Pollock 28 Porter 13, 93, 216, 225 Porterfleld 19, 32, 166 Potter 18 Potts 13, 17, 93, 94, 226 Power 93 Price 17 Promer 19 Pruder 175 Patter 32 Ramsey 13, 16, 56. 93 Hank 20, 65 Pawn 226 Pea 13, 17 Reed. . .17, 18, 22, 31, 52, 64, 175, 189 Rees 214 Reddiek 93 Peif 17 Reilv 130, 207, 225 Pennick 22, 189 Rhoads 83 Rice 32, 147 Ricker 19 Rickert 81, 139 Riddle 18,32 Rinagel 17 Rippert 19 Ritchie 93 Ritsworth 93 Roan 153, 225 R( ihertson 175 Robeson 16, 17, 19. 32, 33. 35 Robinson 19, 90, 150, 22 1 Rody 15 Rogers... 18, 19, 22, 55, 175, 190, 204, 208, 211 Roop so Ross 17 Rosebaum L9 Rowan 17 Rowland 56 Roth 19 Rudy 73 Russell 10. I '.i Rutherford 17, 167, ISO, 225, 226 Ryan 166, IT5 Saddler 16 Sample 13, Hi. 200. •.'07 Sanders 17 Bankey 22, 152, 15:;. 190, 325 Bavage 216 Savers 17, 93, 175 2 3 S Index to Surnames. Schneider 17 Schwoyer 105 Scott.' 13, IT Schwar 19 Seiler 17,225 Seis 20 Sellers 18 Seyfert 93 Shaeffer 147, 155, 166 Sharp 18, 19 Shaw 16, 18 Sheetz 18, 19 Shellenberger 83 Shenk 17 Sherer 174 Shetlev 20 Shields 18, 189 Shirley 32 Shoch 226 Shnltz 18 Shank 226 Shupp 76, 84 Shutts 141 Simpson.... 17, 22, 166, 189, 205, 207 Simon 217 Simonton 83, 225 Sloan 19, 20 Smith. .13, 15, 17, 22, 39. 47, 164, 168, 175, 189, 214 Snoddy 19 Snodgrass 19, 83, 225 Snowden 153, 225 Snyder 174, 214 Sope 19 Sops 20 Sparrow 166 Spayd 139 Speer 13 Speigel 93 Staffelbeim 32 Starn 18 Steel . . .18,22,164,168,174,189,205,207 Stcen .18, 22, 175, 190 Steiner 20 Sterrit 13, 15, 16, 18 Stevenson 20, 93 Stewart .... 13, 15, 17, 18, 19, 20, 32, 39, 47, 55,93,191,202,204,211 Stoever 141, 175 Stine 82 Stone 175 Stoner 20, 169, 206 Stout 83 Strean 17, 19, 20, 32 Stuart 19 Sturgeon 17, 22, 175 Swan 19, 32 Sweeny 93 Taylor 15, 22, 166,175, 189, 206 Teaff 22 Teeder 166 Terrance 22 Tice 16 Tittel . . . : 20 Thomson 19,20 Thompson 13,16,19 Thorn 17 Thornton 19 Todd 19, 166, 205, 214 Toland 18,22,190 Treebaugh 175 Tyler 17,18 Vance 32 Vanlear 1(! Vogelsonst 93 Waggoner 82, 83 Wain 17 Walker 13, 17, 19,214 Warmer 32 Warner 166 Watson 19,32 Wallace . . . 15,19,20,28,32,167,175,223 Watt 18,37 Weaver 93,175 Welsh 16,18 Wheeler 166 White 15,17,18 Whitehall 13 Whitley 175 Wiestling 225 Wiggins 18,208 Wiley 16,18,19 Wilkins 15 Williams 18,20,79,93,215,216 Wilson 13,16,17,18,19,32,175,208 Winebrenner 157.225 Wingert 93 Wisan 17 Witman 210 Wolf. 32,225 Wood 15,19,226 Woodside 175 Words 18 Work 13,15,19.28 Wright 93 Wyeth 217,226 Index to Surnames. 239 IT Z Zachaiias 154 Yosl 32 Zeigler 105,226 Young 19,20,22,174,190 Zimmerman 56 Zollin er 93 [Two important errors have crept into Mr. Morgan's sketch, which we deem necessary to correct. On page 47, to Matthew Smith is imputed the authorship of the preceding letter. It was Janus Smith, of Cumberland county. On page 56, the statement is made that ''John Harris, t lie riist settler, and father of the founder," "thought the Declaiation premature.'-' The fiist settler had been dead upwards of twenty-live years, while the founder himself was an early advocate for Independence. : ,' : :• v^ilil: ■;:-: ' •■ :- : '^'M'M l?illlIl|Si! : ; \ ■■['/'■..'■■■