USA > Pennsylvania > Dauphin County > Centennial : the settlement, formation and progress of Dauphine County, Pennsylvania, from 1785 to 1876 > Part 1
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org.
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16
NYPL RESEARCH LIBRARIES 3 3433 08181516 3
IST Dauph
Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2008 with funding from Microsoft Corporation
http://www.archive.org/details/centennialsettle00morg
CENTENNIAL.
THE
SETTLEMENT, FORMATION AND PROGRESS
OF
DAUPHIN COUNTY,
PENNSYLVANIA,
FROM 1785 TO 1876.
PREPARED UNDER THE DIRECTION OF THE COMMISSIONERS OF SAID COUNTY,
antieen BY GEORGE H. MORGAN, OF HARRISBURG.
NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY
HARRISBURG, PA : TELEGRAPH STEAM BOOK AND JOB PRINTING HOUSE. 1877.
THE YORK PUBL : L. ARY 634743 AS CM I .-. AND
IONS. R 1 ¥3 L
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 1785 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 bulk, 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 1864-in 1876, 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 PEFFFR.
1864-GEORGE GARVERICK, JOHN J. MILLEISEN, ROBERT MCCLURE.
1876-SAMUEL MCILHENNY, ELI SWAB, SAMUEL BOYD MARTIN. HARRISBURG, December 30, 1876.
Historical Sketch of Dauphin County. 5
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 repose 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
7
Historical Sketch of Dauphin County.
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 Bezaillon, 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 1745, 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 1684 he adopted measures to "purchase the lands on the Susquehanna from the Five Nations, who
9
Historical Sketch of Dauphin County.
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 language 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 1689, 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 1700 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 1736 at a great
Il
Historical Sketch of Dauphin County.
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 11th of October, 1736, 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 , 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.
I 2
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
3
14
Historical Sketch of Dauphin County.
as early as 1731. 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 1717." 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.
15
Historical Sketch of Dauphin County.
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, James Galbraith,
Michael Kerr,
Jonas Davenport,
John Galbraith,
John Taylor,
George Stewart, Esq., Rowland Chambers,
John Mitchell,
William Dunlap,
John Allison,
Richard Allison,.
Robert Bohannon,
Thomas Mitchell,
James Kile,
William Mebee,
James Conik,
James Cunningham,
James Mitchell,
David M'Cure,
Widow Downing,
Robert M'Farland,
James Smith,
James Brownlee,
John Sterratt,
William Brains,
William Hay,
Robert Brown,
Ephraim Moor,
James Rody,
Samuel Smith,
Samuel Fulton,
Hugh White,
Alexander M'Keen,
Patrick Campbell,
Thomas Black,
Robert Monday,
John Harris,
John Black & Son,
William Bohannon,
Thomas Wilkins,
Gordon Howard,
Michael Wood,
Robert Middleton,
Joseph Work,
John Burt,
William Wilkins,
Hugh M'Keen,
John Gardner.
Peter Allen,
Alexander Hutchinson,
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 IOS. 7d.
Andrew Galbraith,
John Marish,
16
Historical Sketch of Dauphin County.
For 1737, £21 25. 10d. Samuel Montgomery was collector that year. For 1739, £13 5s. 9d. William M'Mullin, collector. For 1740, £9 13s. 8d. John Wilson, collector. "October 30, 1739. The county commissioners agreed to hold an appeal Janaury 4, 1739-40, at Thomas Lenox's, in Paxton, for the upper end of Lancaster.
"January 8, 1744. 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 1750, as taken from the tax duplicates of that year :
DERRY-EAST END.
James Semple,
David Black,
Alexander Robeson,
James M'Kee,
Robert Chambers, John Nicom,
Joseph Candor,
James Long, John Kerr,
Thomas Hall,
David Campbell,
William Blackburn,
James Clark,
James Ireland,
Andrew Lockert,
Randel Boon,
Patrick Down,
David M'Nair,
John Allison,
John Vanleir,
James Wiley,
James Shaw,
Robert Carithers,
Christian Saddler,
Robert Ramsey,
William Bradin, William Mitchell,
James Russel,
Charles Necly, Moses Wilson,
Thomas Bowman,
Arthur Chambers,
Michael Houry, Moses Patterson,
James Chambers,
Jolın Tice,
Hugh Carrithers, James Carrithers,
David Caldwell,
William Sterrit,
Robert Bratchey,
Andrew Morrison,
John Thompson,
Hugh Black, Thomas Black,
John Laird,
James Russel,
Robert Armstrong, John Welsh.
17
Historical Sketch of Dauphin County.
DERRY-WEST END.
James Galbraith, Esq.,
Hans Ketrin,
Thomas Wilson,
James Wilson,
Charles Clark,
James Wilson,
James Campbell,
Thomas Mackey,
John Campbell,
James Walker,
Andrew Moore,
Mr. M'Clan,
Jolın Walker,
James Foster,
Mr. Sloan, John Maben,
H. Walker,
Robert M'Clure,
John M'Cord,
Hugh Hall,
Patrick Kelly,
David M'Cord,
Thomas Rutherford,
James Duncan,
William Robeson,
William Rea,
William Hayes,
Archibald Walker,
John M'Queen,
John Foster,
David Tyler,
John Rea,
Robert Foster,
John Orr,
Niel M'Allister,
David Foster,
Jolın Rinagel,
Christian Schneider,
Wilson Cooper,
William Wilson,
Neal Dougherty,
John Strean,
James Miller,
Thomas Logan,
John Cochran,
William Boyd,
George Miller,
Hans Adam Nci,
Robert Boyd,
Jolın M'Allister,
Jacob Sailer,
John Cosh,
Joseph White,
Hugh Miller,
William Sayers,
John M'Clelland,
John Godfrey,
George Eby,
Robert Murdoc,
Thomas Aiken,
David Mitchell,
Moses Potts,
Anthony Hemphill,
Leonard Devinnie,
David Jonson,
Conrad Wisan,
John M'Colloch,
Jacob Reif,
John M'Colloch,
Charles Conway,
Jacob Longnecker,
John Gingrich,
David Shenk,
Andrew Rowan,
William Miller,
David Kleim,
Hugh Hayes,
John Moor,
Michael Hoover,
Patrick Hayes,
John Hays,
Honnes Palmer,
John Kerr,
William Huston.
Henry Peters,
Duncan M'Donnell,
PAXTON-WEST SIDE.
William Thorn,
Hugh Montgomery,
Robert Dugan,
James Potts,
George Gillespy,
James Collier,
Alexander M'Cay,
John Cavit, Andrew Caldwell, John Scott, Samuel Price,
Patrick Gillespy,
Jeremiah Sturgeon, Robert Montgomery, John Caldwell, Robert Smith,
Samuel Simpson, Samuel Martin,
Thomas M' Arthur,
Thomas Sturgon, John Johnson, John Harris, James M'Night, James Reed,
James Armstrong, Robert Chambers, John Davis,
James Harris, David Carson, William M'Calley,
Thomas Simpson, James Polke,
Thomas Larner, Andrew Stuart, Samuel Campbell, Alexander Sanders, Robert Curry, Moses Wain, Joseph Ross, John Smith, James Thorn,
William Armstrong,
IS
Historical Sketch of Dauphin County.
James Toland, Joseph White,
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.