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CONOY TOWNSHIP -
CONOY CREEK
BICENTENNIAL
FALMOUTH BAINBRIDGE LOBATA · LOCUST GROVE SAGERVILLE BILLMEYER
A PICTORIAL HISTORY
OF
CONOY TOWNSHIP
From Colonial Days To 1976
Published by: The Conoy Township Bicentennial Committee Written and Compiled By: Carl Smith, John Lehman, Marguaretta Gingrich Cover design based on map designed by: Christina Biesecker - Locust Grove
Printed By: Forry and Hacker, Inc., Lancaster
MAP OF CONOY TOWNSHIP 1976
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Stony Run
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325
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baker Run
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Pa. Rt 241
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1- Stevens Hill Church
2- Covered Bridge
3- Falmouth Store
4- Luncheonette
5- Fishing Center
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Pa. Rt 241
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30 Conoy Creek
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20- Word of Life Chapel
21- Welding Shop
22- Contractor
23- Contractor
24- TV Repair
25- Furniture Stripping
26- Auctioneer
27- Car Wash
28- Photographer 29- Electrician
30- Antique Shop
31- Soft Ball Field
32- Boat Landing
Pa. R+ 441
6- Rendering Plant
7- Tavern 8- Dairy
9- Fertilizer and Seed House
10- Brunner I. Electric Plant
11- Governor Stables
12- Gas Station
13- Restaurant
14- Falmouth
15- Bainbridge
16- Locust Grove
17- Billmeyer
18- Stackstown
19- Sagerville
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SUSQUEHANNA RIVER
Key:
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CONOY TOWNSHIP
Geographic Setting
Conoy Township occupies the extreme western point of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. Our northeastern boundary is West Donegal Township, and we are bordered on the east by East Donegal Township. The Conewago Creek separates Lancaster County from Dauphin County and makes up our border on the northwest. The Susque- hanna River borders the township on the southwest. The quality of land, soil, and minerals is as good as any found in Lancaster County. Conoy Township is drained by three main streams. The largest is the Conewago Creek. About two miles south lies Brubaker's Run. The third, and most important to the history and development of Conoy Twp., is the Conoy Creek. The entire length of this creek, flow- ing through several townships before emptying into the Susquehanna at Locust Grove, is about thirty miles. The northwest ridge of hills, known locally for "Governor's Stables," is actually an extension of the Blue Ridge Moun- tains of Virginia. The highest point in the Twp. located along this ridge, is known locally as Stevens Hill. The hills extend across the river at Falmouth where it forms a natu- ral dam and caused many problems in early river transpor- tation. Several islands in the Susquehanna River also form a part of our township, the total area of which is 8,866 acres or about 13.8 square miles.
Several small communities make up most of the popu- lation of our quiet rural township. The largest town, Bain- bridge, with perhaps 1000 people, lies about one-half mile north of Conoy Creek. Falmouth, the second largest, but oldest community, lies just below the mouth of the Cone- wago Creek. Stackstown lies on the Conoy Creek about two miles up from its mouth. The present day ghost town of Billmeyer is situated about a mile south of Bainbridge along the river, and the tiny hamlet of Locust Grove is sandwiched between Bainbridge and Billmeyer.
Early Inhabitants
Centuries ago, before the founding of Pennsylvania by William Penn, the area constituting the present Conoy Twp., along with other areas along the Susquehanna River, was the home and hunting grounds of the Susque- hannock Indians. Excavations made by Temple University archeology students in 1966, just below Bainbridge, un- earthed skeletons, beads, pottery, and other items of Indian culture.
Sometime during 1718, it is estimated, the Conoy Indians, as they became called, migrated from the Poto- mac River region to the mouth of the present Conoy Creek
and established a village referred to in colonial records as "Conoytown." The creek and township were hence named after the Indian tribe. The Conoys were of Algonquin stock and thus related to the peaceful Dela- wares. It is established that they remained here as late as 1743 before moving north.
CONDY INDIAN TOWN
Fram about 1718-1743. the Conoy Indian Tribe heid its settlement slightly to the west of here Closely related to the Nanticoke Thibe with when they eventually merged.the Conoy Indians gradu ally migrated into Pennsylvania from the area of Chesapeake Bay
The Conoy Indians figured in the activities of the early European traders. John Harris, the pioneer settler of what is now Harrisburg, as early as 1718 attempted a settlement and trading post near Conoytown. However the Indians here appeared a bit too restless to Harris. It appears that this area was visited frequently by northern Indians who stirred up the Conoys. This unrest may have caused Harris to relocate at Pextang, the Indian village near present-day Harrisburg.
In 1722, due to the great influx and settling of Scotch- Irish settlers, the township of Donegal was organized in Lancaster County, and named for the county of northern Ireland from whence most of these settlers emigrated. This newly created township, in what was then frontier wilderness, included what is now Rapho, West Donegal, East Donegal, Mt. Joy, and Conoy townships. Initially these hardy people, mostly farmers, congregated near the Mt. Joy area, and built the famous Donegal Presbyterian Church. Some of these families eventually settled in the Conoy area and became prominent.
In the same year, 1722, an important Indian council was held at Conoytown. The council was attended by chiefs of the Nanticokes, Conestogas, Shawnees, and
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Conoys, and the purpose was to discuss plans for renew- ing friendship and unity with the Five Nations (Iroquois) to the north. This meeting was evidently so important that two important traders were invited to be present, James LeTort and James Mitchell Esq.
Between 1722 and 1724 there were many Indian traders located in the Conoytown area. A number of these were located at what is now Stackstown. One of the most prominent and well-respected of these traders was Peter Bezaillion, a Frenchman, who emigrated with LeTort in 1686. He traded in numerous places in Lancaster County and throughout the eastern colonies prior to 1719 when he established a post near Conoytown. He had a good stand- ing with the Pa. colonial officials, the agents of the Penns', and the merchants and financiers of Philadelphia. Besides providing the colonial government with revenues through Indian trading, he also played an important part as a liai- son between Indians and whites. Peter, as he was known, lived and traded here until his death in 1742. His trade route, one of the earliest roads in the area, and which probably followed some well-traveled Indian trails, be- came known as Old Peter's Road. It dated from 1707 near Bareville to 1712 near Conoytown, and ran from the Sus- quehanna east to Philadelphia. The exact route from Mt. Joy to Conoytown, is unknown and still open to research. The significance of Old Peter's Road is well illustrated by the following quote taken from the Journal of the Lancas- ter County Historical Society, in an article by David Landis in 1933 entitled: "Conoy Indian Town and Peter Bezail- lion":
Although the entire route of Old Peter's Road is no longer a highway, it was an important road throughout its entire distance in 1729. It was the route of the Indians and the Indian traders and the trains of pack horses carrying the freight of Indian trade, and it was the main artery between Philadel- phia and the West by way of Logan's Ferry, which was then the most important ferry in Donegal.
Old Peter's Road was marked on October 15, 1933 by members of the Lancaster County Historical Society with a bronze plaque mounted upon a large stone on the outskirts of Bainbridge, directly opposite the cemetery.
The early Indian traders can hardly be considered as legitimate full-time settlers. They eventually all had large tracts of land surveyed, but only for speculation. Among the earliest true settlers on the frontier were the tavern owners. Taverns were built strategically along the trails and roads of the traders and were generally well-patron- ized. These places served as a rendezvous for fur traders and, later, soldiers and settlers on the frontier. Such a popular "ordinary", as they were called, was Samuel Smith's tavern located at present-day Stackstown. This was the same place known later as Patrick Campbell's tavern. Since it was near the trading post, on Peter's Road, and near the ferry, it was quite popular. According to Klein's History of Lancaster County, "It was the custom of the traders to assemble at Smith's just before starting with their pack trains for the Indian country. They made things lively while they were there." As the influx of settlers pressed westward, however, the Indians, seek- ing their own land, migrated westward too, and the Indian trade in the Conoy area ceased.
The official in charge of the land and patents office in colonial Pa. at this time was James Logan, William Penn's close adviser. Logan wished to reward his Indian traders
and had several tracts of land surveyed in the Conoy area for Martha Bezaillion, (wife of Peter), Letort, and Mitchell, among others, all prior to 1720. Logan, himself, owned over 3000 acres of land in Donegal. At the present site of Bainbridge, Logan had 300 acres of land surveyed for himself in 1719. In 1720 he gave this land to Jonas Davenport for Indian trading. Evidently a failure in trade, Logan revoked the warrant in 1735. Logan himself had es- tablished a ferry at the present day Bainbridge in 1730. This ferry remained the most important one in the area during colonial times and served as a gateway to the west. It remained in operation until 1832 when the Pennsylvania Canal was built. The traffic to Logan's Ferry was so heavy that in 1733 another road was constructed to it from the Paxton Road, which went from Lancaster to Harrisburg. This road approximates the present route 241 from Eliza- bethtown to Bainbridge.
The average frontage of these various choice tracts of land along the river was generally one-third that of the depth. The Bezaillion tract lay south of the Conoy Creek. The land adjoining the Bezaillion tract to the north was granted to John Galbraith, a Scotch-Irish immigrant, in 1720. In 1734, Logan received a patent to allow Galbraith to operate the ferry (Logan's) for twenty-one years. The Galbraith family, prominent Presbyterians, originally set- tled in what is now W. Donegal Township. The Galbraith family served notably well in the French and Indian War and during the American Revolution. Bertram Galbraith (1730-1804), son of John Galbraith, was a surveyor by trade and settled at Bainbridge. He built a huge stone ferry house and mansion along the river which later was destroyed by fire. The ferry during this period of time be- came known as Galbraith's Ferry. During the French and Indian War he raised a company of "Rangers" and march- ed to Fort Hunter above Harrisburg. He was stationed at this post from 1753-58. During the Revolution he distin- guished himself by raising a battalion of troops and was promptly placed in charge of them. It was also his duty to conduct a draft, collect a military tax, and mobilize the township. However he met violent opposition from many of the settlers who wanted no part of war. One of the con- stables sent to collect the tax was even lynched and mur- dered. All in all, Bertram Galbraith was one of the most prominent pioneer settlers in Conoy Township.
The Scotch-Irish were not the sole immigrant group to the Conoy area. In 1717 several German families, fleeing religious persecution, settled here. Among them were the Brennemans, Brubakers, Hostetters, Greiders, Hersheys, Stonemans, Leamans, Swarrs, and Kauffmans. Melchoir Brenneman, a Mennonite preacher, bought seven hun- dred acres of land from the Bezaillion tract in 1728.
Jacob Engle, a member of the Old Mennonite Church, settled near Bainbridge prior to the Revolution. He decided that the Church lacked vitality and so he organi- zed and held separate meetings. In 1776 a regular organi- zation (not his original intention) developed and became known as the River Brethren. This group today is numer- ous in the Conoy area and owed its name to its general location near the Susquehanna River.
Another early settler, James Rankin, settled in the vicinity of Falmouth around 1770. Due to the falls in the river it was difficult for boats to navigate so Rankin es- tablished a ferry there. However the Rankins were Quaker Tories who opposed the movement for indepen- dence. During the Revolution Washington was eager
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to have Rankin captured. Rankin escaped into the British lines in Philadelphia while General Howe was encamped there and Washington's troops were in Valley Forge. Rankin's lands were then confiscated by the land office. The ferry, tavern, and land then passed into the family of Abraham Collins, of whom more will be said later.
Perhaps the most eminent and well-known name in Conoy Township history is the Haldemans. Jacob Halde- man emigrated from Switzerland in the 1740's. His son, John bought the portion of the Bezaillion tract which John Galbraith had owned since 1738. During his time John Haldeman was one of the boldest and most successful businessmen in our state. He erected a huge stone grist mill, 'saw mill, and distillery around 1790 near the mouth
LENF TOEACC
Built as a Grist Mill by John and Maria Haldeman 1790. Later used by Ben Hoffman for tobacco warehouse-(no longer standing)
of the Conoy Creek at present day Locust Grove. He sent his produce down the river in keel boats to Wright's Ferry and on to Phila. or all the way down the Susquehanna to Baltimore. The first mill burned down in 1800 but was subsequently rebuilt and enlarged. This mill was very large, containing four runs of stones, and his distillery uti- lized seventy-five bushels of grain at capacity. For his saw mill he floated logs up the Conoy Creek from the Susque- hanna. Later his works expanded to include a 20 horse- power steam engine that produced 5000 feet of lumber a day with 8 hired hands. He also kept extensive swine to feed on the refuse grain. The expansion of his works was helped greatly by the canal and railroads. An early pio- neer and businessman, John Haldeman was estimated to be worth 250,000 dollars at his death in 1859. He was also elected to the Pa. legislature in 1800. The Haldeman mansion, built by John Haldeman, is presently being restored by local people of our area who are interested in preserving this historic old mansion. Samuel Stehman Haldeman (1812-1880), son of Henry Haldeman who was the fourth son of John Haldeman became a nationally noted scientist and naturalist. Born at Locust Grove, he specialized in zoology, entomology, and geology. He left Dickinson College at eighteen and continued his own edu- cation by spending much time in the library, often up to 16 hours a day. Of the 150 works he authored, 120 are in the field of natural science, and 30 in language. He and Charles Darwin, the noted evolutionist, seem to have had something in common as Darwin mentions Prof. Halde-
Haldeman Mansion - Locust Grove - built 1782, addition 1811
man in the preface of his book. Prof. Haldeman's emi- nence in philogy is well attested by the credit he received from Noah Webster (1758-1843), for the many words and definitions he contributed to Webster's Dictionary. He re- ceived many awards during his lifetime and was much in demand as a lecturer at universities until his death in 1880.
Other families who pioneered in the settling of Conoy Township in the 1700's include James Cook who settled next to John Haldeman, John Catherwood, the first sad- dler in the township, who resided at Campbell's Tavern, Conrad Wolf, Allen McLean, Francis Mairs, John Wilson, Robert Thompson, and Randal McClure. Andrew Boggs settled along the river between Bainbridge and Falmouth in 1730. An early settler in the Falmouth area around 1770 was Daniel Elliot.
While this constitutes, by far, an incomplete listing of all the early settlers of Conoy Township, we can now gain some appreciation of the importance the Conoy area and its people played in the development of colonial Pa. With the gradual increase in population here as the frontier moved westward, the opportunities in land speculation, businesses, and industries brought about some changes, which led to the development of communities, and finally to the creation of Conoy Township as we know it today.
The Growth of Communities
While some of the earliest centers of population in many places in colonial Pennsylvania sprang up around mills, the Susquehanna River provided a living for people by another means, probably even before any mills in the area existed. At one time shad fisheries were common along the river, prior to the erection of the McCalls Ferry Dam at Columbia which obstructed the annual northern migration of these fish. The fishing industry was important to the local economy. Usually islands in the river provided the most favorable locations for fishing. There were seven principal fishing stations in Conoy Twp., and four were islands. It is notable that on one oc- casion, 5,300 shad were taken on Bainbridge (Haldeman) Island, in a single haul. Several hundred were freed by cutting the net as it was so heavily loaded that it could not be moved. During the fishing season, people came here from all over the county to fish or to buy fish. It was not uncommon to see twenty or more wagons lined up at a station waiting for fish. There was a shad fishery at Fal- mouth operated by Daniel Elliot. Peddlers would then leave our area and go to their respective towns equipped
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with a "shad horn" and the accompanying smell to sell their products. They sold for a "fip" (six and one-quarter cents) each with a purchase of fifty or more. Smaller pur- chases went at a "levy" (twelve and one-half cents) each. Each fish commonly weighed from eight to twelve pounds. Thus the fishing business, even well into the twentieth century, was a very lucrative business in Conoy Twp. This tradition has remained today in a sense that Falmouth is one of the hottest "musky" fishing spots in Pa .!
Several mills were erected in early Conoy Township. Mention was made of Haldeman's at Locust Grove. In 1859 it became the property of John Wiley and in 1898 it was sold to Ben Hoffman who lived there until 1934. Another grain mill was erected about a mile above Halde- man's on the Conoy Creek (in 1797, by Jacob Brenneman). This mill, near Stackstown was later known as Erb's Mill.
Brenneman's Mill - Conoy Creek
Another Mill was built between Bainbridge and Falmouth on Brubaker Run. This one became known as Collins' Mill, and was built in 1840. While Collins' and Locust Grove were important canal and railroad stops, none of these mills attracted large population centers. The com- munities of Conoy Township had diverse beginnings.
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Collins Mill, route 441 - midway between Falmouth and Bainbridge
Falmouth
Falmouth has the distinction of being the oldest community in the Twp. A few landholders seized upon the idea of a lottery on their lands as a means of making a pro- fit. This was a common method of disposal of lots as many
other towns were founded in this manner. In 1772 Philip Schneider bought 187 acres of land at the mouth of the Conewago Creek on its east side, near the spot where Rankin's Ferry was located. He later sold this land to John Bayly, who with his sons-in-law John and Richard Greer, along with a James Hopkins, plotted the town of Falmouth, and named it after Falmouth, England, in 1791. They decided to sell lots by lottery at the price of ten pounds (100 dollars) per lot. A total of 146 lots were sold.
It was hoped that Falmouth would become a major river terminal point since boats could not navigate the falls at this point. It was expected that river freight would be transferred to wagons here and hauled to eastern markets. This idea was furthered by the incorporation of the Greer- Hopkins Turnpike which ran from Falmouth to Elizabeth- town, in 1810. During the years 1810 and 1811, lines of twenty to thirty Conestoga wagons and stagecoaches were seen drawn by four to six horses along the turnpike. Tav -· erns sprung up and were well-supported during the short life of this highway, for caring for the passengers, horses and drivers was a great task. However, a few short years of success was all this venture lasted. On the York County side of the river, a canal was built around the falls en- abling boats to navigate up and down the river from this point. The success of the canal took all the trade from Fal- mouth and the turnpike was abandoned. In later years weeds and pumpkin vines grew over the roadway and it became known locally as the Pumpkin Vine Pike. Today the road is open and is a great convenience to people in this area. The hills are known locally, as mentioned pre- viously, by such names as Stevens Hill, and Governor's Stables. It is said that during the Civil War, Governor Andrew Curtin quartered his horses in his private and well-hidden stables here, on the property now owned by Clyde Fink.
Rocks at Governor's Stables
Another business during the 1800's in Falmouth was the John Keller quarry located between Falmouth and the river. Stone from this quarry was used in the monument to Thaddeus Stevens in Lancaster.
The town of Falmouth did not disappear as a result of its unmet expectations. In 1875 there were an estimated 250 people living there. It also contained a church, school, store, and post office. In 1925 about 300 people lived in Falmouth. The town is about half the size today, and as mentioned before, when someone outside the area mentions Falmouth, the first thing that pops into many peoples' mind is "Muskies." This is partly due to the
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State's program of "Project 70" in which boating and fish- ing facilities were built and the "muskies" were stocked. Falmouth, today is also the home of Kenneth Brandt, our Representative to the General Assembly for the 98th Dis- trict, which includes Elizabethtown, Manheim, Columbia, Mount Joy, Mountville, Marietta, Maytown, and Bain- bridge.
Bainbridge
The town of Bainbridge received its impetus in a simi- lar manner as did Falmouth. In 1813 there were only three buildings at the present town site- a farmhouse and two taverns. One tavern was Galbraiths' and the other was owned by Henry Brenneman. In 1813 Henry Brenneman and John Haldeman bought the farm from a Shaffer who owned it and proceeded to lay out the townsite and sell the lots by lottery. They named the town in honor of the Com- modore William Bainbridge, a naval hero in the Barbary Wars and the War of 1812. The town, thus laid out, was
Commodore William Bainbridge - picture courtesy of the Henry Francis DuPont Winterthur Museum, Inc. Delaware
on the upper side of the main street (Race Street). These lots sold very fast and following this success another town project was initiated. John Smith and John Seiple then purchased land from Jacob Hoffman on the south side of Bainbridge. These lots were also sold by lottery and be- came called the village of Centreville, Race Street being the boundary between the two towns. Eventually the two towns were consolidated into one as Bainbridge. The only reminders today of this early division are the street names: the street at the new fire house is Market Street "C", and the street at the present-day post office is Market Street "B". Many of the lots were bought up by speculators since there was expectation that the town would grow and expand very rapidly. However growth was slow in the first few years and many purchasers lost heavily in the collapse which followed.
In its earliest years the town contained four mer- chants. The first store was owned by John Hartzler. Another was owned by Hipple and Curran; another by May and Hamilton; and another by Jacob Backstresser. The earliest tavern keeper was Andrew Bademan who operated the stone building by the river owned by Gal- braith. Abraham Bracht was the first blacksmith. The pioneer shoemaker was John Breining; the first tailor was Jacob Vogelsong; and David Watson was the first physi- cian. Samuel Hackenberger was the first druggist.
& ELIZABETHTOWN . ..
BAINBRIDGE
NAMED ECR COMMODORE WILLLAN BAINBRIDGE
Although typical of many early towns, it is amazing to note the variety of occupations and the degree of self-sufficien- cy contained in early Bainbridge. The earliest blacksmith shop dates back to 1826 and may even go back further. However this original shop is being restored and operated as a museum and antique shop by Richard Brooks, an amateur smithy, of Bainbridge. This old building lies just off the "square" at Race and Second Streets.
Old Blacksmith Shop, built 1820
Blacksmith Shop - restored 1965 as a Museum and Shop
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As previously stated, the growth of the town was slow for some time. It was not until about 1840 that Bainbridge really began to grow. No motive was found as to why this particular site was chosen to lay out a town. However, the fact that a ferry existed there, two roads passed through the area, and two taverns were in business here, may have influenced their decision. At any rate, two factors which may have played a large part in the period of rapid growth of Bainbridge (from 1840-1860) were the canal and the railroad. As early as 1829 reference was made to canal digging at Bainbridge when Dr. Watson reported a dis- covery made by laborers on the canal of several Indian relics.
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