USA > Pennsylvania > Juniata County > History of that part of the Susquehanna and Juniata valleys, embraced in the counties of Mifflin, Juniata, Perry, Union and Snyder, in the commonwealth of Pennsylvania. V. 2, Pt. 1 > Part 1
USA > Pennsylvania > Mifflin County > History of that part of the Susquehanna and Juniata valleys, embraced in the counties of Mifflin, Juniata, Perry, Union and Snyder, in the commonwealth of Pennsylvania. V. 2, Pt. 1 > Part 1
USA > Pennsylvania > Snyder County > History of that part of the Susquehanna and Juniata valleys, embraced in the counties of Mifflin, Juniata, Perry, Union and Snyder, in the commonwealth of Pennsylvania. V. 2, Pt. 1 > Part 1
USA > Pennsylvania > Union County > History of that part of the Susquehanna and Juniata valleys, embraced in the counties of Mifflin, Juniata, Perry, Union and Snyder, in the commonwealth of Pennsylvania. V. 2, Pt. 1 > Part 1
USA > Pennsylvania > Perry County > History of that part of the Susquehanna and Juniata valleys, embraced in the counties of Mifflin, Juniata, Perry, Union and Snyder, in the commonwealth of Pennsylvania. V. 2, Pt. 1 > Part 1
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Gc 974.8 H624 v.2 pt.1 1927669
REYNOLDS HISTORICAL GENEALOGY COLLECTION
ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 01151 0283
Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2015
https://archive.org/details/historyofthatpar21 elli
815 HISTORY
OF THAT PART OF THE
SUSQUEHANNA AND JUNIATA VALLEYS. Pa
EMBRACED IN THE
V. 2, pt. 1
COUNTIES OF MIFFLIN, JUNIATA, PERRY, UNION AND SNYDER,
IN THE
COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA
16326 1
IN TWO VOLUMES. VOL II !
PHILADELPHIA: EVENTS. PICK & RICHARDS. 1886.
1927669
COPYRIGHT, 1886, BY EVERTS, PECK & RICHARDS.
JAS, B. RODGERS PRINTING COMPANY,
1
CONTENTS OF VOL. IL.
PERRY COUNTY.
PAGE
CHAPTER 1. .. 895-905 Civil History-County Organized-County Seal Con- lest-Partie Buildings-Election Districts -- Civil List, 1820-1825-Population.
CHAPTER HI.
905-916
Bench and Bar of Perry County.
CHAPTER I
916-934
Physicians of Perry County-Sketch of Medical Sa-
ciely.
CHAPTER IV .
93-1-943
Educational Progress-Teachers' Institute-County
Superintendents.
CHAPTER V
943-962
Borough of New Bkuantiold.
CHAPTER VI .
962-980
Tyrone Township.
CHAPTER VII
9.80-985
Landilaire Borough
CHAPTER VIII.
985-996
Tolayne Township.
CHAPTER LX .
996-1008
Jackson Township.
CHAPTER X.
1008-1033
Madison Township.
CHAPTER XI 1033-1046
Saville Township.
CHAPTER XII. .
10-16-1057
Carroll Townshipe
CHAPTER XIII .
1057-1062
Byr Towaship.
CHAPTER XIV
1062-1067
Borauch od Marysville.
CHAPTER XV ..
CHAPTER XXXI
1168-1170
Penn Townshipe.
1067 1071
PAGE
CHAPTER XVI .
1071-1083
Jancanton Borough.
CHAPTER XVII. .
1083-1091
Centre Township.
CHAPTER XVIIE
1091-1096
Wheatfield Township.
CHAPTER XIX .
1096-1105
Inniata Township.
CHAPTER XX.
1105-1110
'Tuscarora Township.
CHAPTER XXI .
1110-1114
Liverpool Township ..
CHAPTER XXII .
1114-1121
Liverpool Borough,
CHAPTER XXIII
1121-1126
Newjual Boringhi.
CHAPTER XXIV
1126-1131
Oliver Township.
CHAPTER XXV.
1181-1134
Miller Township.
CHAPTER XXVI .
1181-11-10
Greenwood Townslap.
CHAPTER XXVII.
11-40-1142
Millerstown Barongh.
CHAPTER XXVIII
11-12-1145
Butlalo Township.
CHAPTER XXIX .
1145-1162
Spring Township,
CHAPTER XXX.
1162-1164
Howo Township.
CHAPTER XXXI.
1164-1168
Wally Township.
New Buffalo Borough.
1
3
4
CONTENTS.
UNION COUNTY. 1
PAGE
CHAPTER I .
1171-1183
Erection of Northumb
Union Counties-
The Officers' Land Association. County-Seat and
County Division Contests- Civil List of Union -.
Pojaradion.
CHAPTER II .
1183-1226
Bench and Bar.
CHAPTER III .
1224-1234
Medical Profession.
CHAPTER IV .
1234-1239
Agricultural Matters-A County Society-Buffato
Valley Farmers' Mutnal Fire Association.
CHAPTER XIV .
1897-1399
Borough of Hartleton.
CHAPTER XV ..
1399-1407
Lewis Township.
CHAPTER XVI .
1.107-1415
Borough of New Berlin.
CHAPTER XVII .
1-115-1120h
Limestone Township.
CHAPTER XVIII. .
1420h-1420r
I'nion Township.
Gregg Township.
SNYDER COUNTY.
CHAPTER I
1421-1121
Organization-Civil History -Roster of Officers,
1s55 to 1ss5-Population.
CHAPTER II .
1121-1118
Bench and bar of Snyder County-Biographical
Sketches.
CHAPTER III . 1113-1160 Medical Profession of Suyder Comity- A Successful Pioneer Physician-County Medical Society-Bio- graphical Sketches.
CHAPTER IV .
1460-1165
Educational Matters- Contest on School Measures
-County Superintendents.
CHAPTER V.
1465-1468
The County Agricultural Society and Granges.
CHAPTER VI. .
1168-1490
The Borough of Selit's Grove.
CHAPTER VII
1 190- 1497
The Borough of M
CHAPTER VIII .
1 197-1501
Penn Township.
CHAPTER 1X .
1501-1511
Konver Towiclip
CHAPTER X. .
1511 IBIS
PACK.
CHAPTER IX.
1330-1310
Kelly Township.
CHAPTER X .
1310-1351
White Deer Township.
CHAPTER XI .
1351-1362
West Bullato Township.
CHAPTER XII ..
1862-1379
Mifflinburg Borough.
CHAPTER XIII .
1379-1397
Hartley Township.
CHAPTER V.
1239-1292
Borongh of Lewisburgh.
CHAPTER VI .
1292-1310
Buffalo Township.
CHAPTER VII. .
1310-1320
Rast Buffido Township.
CHAPTER VIII .
1320-1330
CHAPTER XI ..
1518-1522
Contre Township.
CHAPTER XII . .
1522-1527
Perry Township.
CHAPTER XIII .
.1527-1530
West Perry Township.
CHAPTER XIV .
1530-1547
Washington Town-hip.
CHAPTER XV. .
1547-1554
Chapman Tegenship.
CHAPTER XVI .
1554-1557
Middle Creek Township.
CHAPTER XVII . .
1557-1569
Franklin Township.
CHAPTER XVIII. .
1569-1572
Jackson Township.
CHAPTER XIX .
1572-1576
Union Township.
CHAPTER XX .
1576-1580
Monroe Township.
CHAPTER XXI .
1580-1586
Adams Town .hip.
CHAPTER XXII.
Spring Township ..
1586-1590
Wiet Beaver Town
PAGE
ILLUSTRATIONS OF VOL. II.
Alleman, Samael.
1132
Backus, W. IF. 1 150
w Beaver, Georgo 1139
Beaver, Thomas 1326 Binginn, Jacob 1583
Barner, Jacob 1112
Boyer, Daniel S 1.161
Bucher, J. C. 1191
Cameron, William .. 1260
Church, First, of Selin's Grove. 1172
Court-llonse, Perry County. 900
Court-House, Snyder County ... 1422
Court House. Union County
1179
Cronse, lere. 1191
Derr, Ludwig, Mill of. 1211
Diven, James I 979
Eby, James B
Erlenmeyer, C. G 1537
.
Farley, Jacob, 1353
Follmer, Daniel 1.120p
Gast, Henry 1376
Hobble, Rev. A. E 1-111
Gudykunst, C ...
nimidy, Jacob
Ha-singer, Joseph 1589
lassinger, J. S. 1548
Hench, Nicholas. 1011
Himmelreich, George W 1807
lotta, Cy rux ......... .
1198
Hulman, M. B.
1120
Hower, Charles.
11335
Jackson, W. W ..
1066
Johnston, Alexander. 995
Johnston, George.
991
Junkin, B. F.
909
1
Kistler, D.
103
Klecknor, David
1362
Lincoln, Richard V. B
1897
Linn, James F 1210
Linn, J. Merrill 1210
Loomis, J. R. 1286
Map of Lewisburgh
1240
Marshall, Jantes, 1195
MeIntyro, Charles J. T.
912)
MeClure, A. K ..........
1028
Middleswarth, Abram K
1518
Middleswarth, Net. 1.125
Milliken, D. B.
Miller, Charles .. 1,500
Miller, Euoch 137x
Miller, George F.
1212
Missionary Institute,
1174
Morgan, John E .. 1939
Mortimer, Frank
Molzer, Martin ..
1032
Moyer, J. G.
15-5
Oakes, John II 11200
Pawling, S. B.
1851
Pellman, Oliver K
11202
,
Pelbnan, Sanml
vi
ILLUSTRATIONS.
PAGE
PAGE
Pontina, Emanuel .. 123x Sponsler, W. A. 911
Pontina, John N. 1305 Rongler, Daniel
Retter, John 1016
Schadle, For. S W. W
Schuine, George, 1186
Scheck, G. Alfred
1196
Schoch, John A. 1663
Shatter, John W. 1292
Shikellimy's ..
Shindel J. G. 1. . 1128
Shriner, Joseph W .. 1309
Weiser, George B., Jr. 1.158
Singer, J. E .. 929
Stifer, Eli. 1290
Sinith, J. A 1130
Snyder, Governor S. 1.178
Snyder, Miss Mary K 1.4.80
Snyder Mansion 1481
Spech, Moses 1513
Springman, Augustus. 1516
Stadden, Willia
1350
Strickler, M B
9:7
Toomey, Ematmel
Tressler, Colonel Jolan.
971
University of lewisburgh
Wagenseller, B. F. 11:3
Wagenseller, P. B :147
Wagner, George A 1161
Walls, John ...
1196
Weist, John ..........
1511
Willard, Rev. Philip 971
Wilmer, Daniel .. 1127
Wolfe, Charles S. 1218
Wright, Silas.
911
Yoder, Magos
1318
-
HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY.
CHAPTER I.
Civil History-The County Organized-County-Seat Contest-Public Buildings-Election Districts- Civil List, 1820-85-Population.
PERRY COUNTY was erected by act of Legis- lature approved March 22, 1820. Its territory was the southern part of the Indian purchase of July 6, 1754, and was separated from old Cum- berland County by the " Kittochtinny," or Blue Hills. The land of the New Purchase was all embraced in Cumberland County, and the north- ern part was formed into counties, of which Mifflin (1789) was the last, many years before Perry was organized. The territory, at the time of the formation of Perry, was embraced in seven townships, of which Tyrone was erected in 1754; "Toboine," 1762 ; Rye, 1766; Green- wood, 1767; Juniata, 1793; Buffalo, 1798; and Seville, in 1817. These townships were all set- tled before any movement was made to form a new county. The increasing population of the territory, the distance from the county-seat (Carlisle) and the high range of mountains they were compelled to eross combined to indnee the inhabitants to present petitions to the Legisla- ture of the State, asking for a county to be formed from the territory north of the Blue Hills. The matter was considered, and resulted in the passage of an ael erecting part of Cum- berland County into a separate county, to be called "Perry," which was approved by the Governor March 22, 1820.
Section 1 enacted that " from and after the first day of September, 1820, all that part of Cumberland County lying north of the Blue Mountain, beginning on the summit of the Blue Mountain, where the
Franklin County line crosses the same, and running thence along the summit thereof an eastwardly course to the river Susquehanna; thence up the west side of the same to the line of Mifflin (now Juniata ) County ; thence along the Miillin County line to the Juniata river; thence along the summit of the Tu-carora Mountains to the Franklin County line; thence along the Franklin county line to the place of beginning, be and the same is hereby declared to be erected into a separate county to be called Perry."
Section 9 authorized the Governor, before the 1st day of September following, "to appoint three disin- terested persons, not resident in the county of Cum- berland or Perry, whose duty it should be to select a proper and convenient site for a court-house, prison and county offices, within the limits of the county of Perry, as near the centre as circumstances should admit, having regard to convenience of roads, terri- tory, population and accommodation of the people of the territory," and provided that, "having viewed the relative advantages contemplated by the People, they should report on or before September 1 following, and they, or a majority, should describe and limit the site or lots of land they had chosen, and transmit such report to the Governor."
Section 10 authorized that "the Commissioners of the County take a deed of the lot chosen as the county site, and also authorized them to assess, levy and collect money to build a court-house and prison."
Section 16 provided that "all prisoners of Perry County be kept in the Cumberland County Jail for the term of three years, or until the Commissioners of Perry County shall have certified to the Court that a Jail is erected and approved by the Court and Grand Jury."
Section 19 provided that "the poor-house estab- lishment (which was included in the County of Perry) should continue to be conducted as heretofore for the term of four years from and after the passage of this act, and at the expiration of the four years the Commissioners of Cumberland Conty shall remove their papers into their own County."
CONTEST FOR LOCATION OF COUNTY-SEAT. 895 /
.
836
JUNIATA AND SUSQUEHANNA VALLEYS IN PENNSYLVANIA.
-The commissioners appointed by the Gover- nor to locate a site for the county-seat of Perry wore William Beale, David Maclay and Jacob Bucher.
A strife began among the citizens concerning the locations and the places, contending for it were as follows :
"I, Landisburg ; 2, (Cedar Run) Toboyue township; 3, Douglas's, near Greenpark ; 4, Elliottsburg; 5, Power's (Captain William); 6, Casper Lupfer's; 7, George Baruett's; 8, Reider's Ferry (Newport) ; 9, Across Anniata from Millerstown ; 10, Clark's Ferry."
Four separate commissions were appointed before it was finally settled. Meetings were held over the county objecting to sites selected and petitions in profest were sent to those having authority. Landisburg started a subscription list, a copy of which is here given :
"We, the undersigned, feeling a deep interest in the location of the public buildings in the County of Perry, being desirous that the same may be fixed iu Landisburg, believing that no seite has or can be of- fered so near the centre of said County aud of the population thereof, which also embraces the import- ant advantages contemplated in the Act of Assembly creeting said County, to wit, the intersection of roads and the convenience and the accommodation of the people, generally, believing also that a liberal sub- scription towards defraying the expense of the public buildings would extend that accommodation by light- euing the burden of taxes upon the poorer class of citizens and thereby relieving the great inconvenience which they would suffer from an increase of taxes, during the present extraordinary difficulties and em- barrassments under which they labour, and that the advantages arising from the division, and erection of the county would be equalized, by throwing the bur- den of the expense for buildings upon those who will be more immediately benefited thereby, and thus give general satisfaction to the citizens of the county, and confiding in the judgment and integrity of the Commissioners appointed by his Excellency, the Governor, to fix the seite for said buildings, do hereby agree and obligate ourselves to pay unto the Commis- sioners, who may be duly elected at the general clec- tion in October next, within three years from the date hereof, in yearly or quarterly payments, as the said County Commissioners may direct, the sun or sums annexed to our several names respectively or to fur- nish materials for the public buildings, or labon for their erection, according to our respective subscrip- tions. The time of payment to be computed from the thirteenth day of June, A. D. one thousand eight hudred and twenty, and the Subscriptions to be bind- ing and obligatory only in case and provided the seite !
for the aforesaid buildings shall be fixed in Landis- burg."
"SUBSCRIPTIONS.
" William Parven $100
Jacob Stroop .. 100
Samuel A. Anderson.
Martin Swartz, 50
Jacob Fritz .. 50
Abraham Fulwiler, to pay in halling, Labour & Materials. 50
John Diven ... 30
Henry Wingert 20
Andrew Mateer. 20
Rees Cadwallader. 5
Abraham Kistler, Jr. 10
William Charters 10
William Smith, in work 10
John Ross 10
George Waggoner 100
Joseph Wilson 20
Thomas Craighead, Jr. 10
Jesse Eweu .. 10
John Abercrombie.
Sammel Stroop, in materials.
100
John Kennedy
2
Fred Linthorst.
Samuel Ross.
5
John Foose, J
5
Henry Gnss.
Leonhart Keck 25
Howland Cantz. 20
Henry Hohenshilt 10
William G. Kennedy 10
William Wilson, 50
20
Abraham Shade.
50
Joseph HT. Kennedy
25
Daniel Stambaugh
50
George Fry 25
50
Jonathan Ross.
10
John Parball.
25
Jacob Stambangh
50
Benjamin Bosler
10
Henry Hipple. 10
Samuel Linn, in work 50
Henry Lightuer 60
Allen Nesbett. 50
Amos Cadwallader. 25
Joseph McKan
20
Christian Lemon. 15
Francis Patterson 15
John Colhoon 15
Heury Titsel. 30
Peter Bower.
15
Conrad Hallman 10
Samuel Misser.
Conrad Correle.
Abraham Bear.
Jonathan D. Elbarger
£
897
PERRY COUNTY.
George Bloom 2
Robert Welch 10
Samuel MeGanghey 10
Nathaniel C. Winston 10
Toboyne township presented the following subscription. It is thought the location here intended was near what is now known as Cedar Run, in Madison township :
"We, the subscribers herennto annexed, do bind ourselves, our heirs and assigns, to pay nnto the per- son or persons legally authorized to receive the same, the sums set opposite to our respective names-pro- vided the offer is accepted & the site for the seat of Justice is finally fixed as offered by Helfenstine & Ury, in Toboyne township, Perry County, and said sums we do obligate ourselves, our heirs and assigns to pay in three equal installments-the first payment to be paid on the first day of April, 1821. The balance in two equal annual installments from said first day of April, 1821.
" TOBOYNE TOWNSHIP, June 22, 1820.
" Ury & Helfenstine $500
Abraham Bower 100
William Owings. 300
Joseph MeClintock 100
Henry Eruest. 100
Samuel MeCord. 100
John & Jacob Beaver 100
Owen Bruner 100
George Douglas. 200
Thomas Addams 100
Jas. Morrison. 100
George Ilollenbough 50
George Gntshall. 50
Solomon Bower. 50
John Clark 50
James Johnston 50
George Black 50
John Stambaugh 50
Henry Wentz. 20
Jacob Briner. 20
John Garber, 25
Conrad Hollenbongh. 20
Conrad Ernest. 50
[German name] 15
Allen Nesbit. 50
Nicklas Borrall. 100
Robert Adams. 30
Michael Kern .. 7
. Ja's Adams flow'r). 25
[German name ). 20)
Juo. Maxwell ...
"This subscription is all good, and we have no ob- jection on condition that the seat of Justice is fixed,
as within stated, that it be made a condition that Five thousand Dollars be advanced towards the public buildings according to the conditions within stated and any addition requisite to this subscription we guarantee payment. HELFENSTINE & GRY.
" Five thousand dollars."
The following was offered by Casper Lupfer, who then lived on the William A. Spon-ler farm, near Bloomfield :
"Proposals by Casper Lupfer to the Commissioners for the seite of Justice in and for Perry County.
" To the Honorable William Beals Esquire David M'Clay Esquire and Jacob Bucher Esquire Commis- sioners apointed by the Govenor of the Common- wealth of Pennsylvania to view that part of Cumber- land County lying north of the blue Mountain which is to Constitute the County of Perry in the Common- wealth of Pennsylvania after the first day of Septem- ber next and there in fix upon a proper and conven- ient Seite for a Court house prison and County offices, within the aforesaid County of Perry. I Casper Lup- fer having a Plan in the centre or thereabouts suita- ble in my opinion for the seite of Justice in and for Perry County. I there fore invite your Honorable Body to come and view the seite for the Court House prison and County offices on My Plantation aforesaid and if you can think with me that my seite is suitable for the Court House prison and Connty offices, I do here by bind myself my heirs Executors and adminis- trators firmly by these Presents that I will Make and Execute a deed of Conveyance to the Commissioners of Perry County or to any person or persons lawfuly authorized to Receive the title for the Seite for the Court House prison and County offices, Grattis and without any fee or Reward what Ever to be for the only proper use benefit and behoof of the County of Perry for ever. whith a warantce there anto anexed to warrant and define the above said seite for the Court House prison and County offices. the Right of the above said Tract of Land is on a patent granted to Jacob Lupfer tested the fifteenth day of may in the year of our lord one thousand Seven Hundred and Eighty Eight and of the Commonwealth the Twelfth and now Confirmed to me the said Casper Lupfer. But if by some unknown Circumstance I shall not be able to Make and Execute a deed of Conveyance in My life Time so as aforesaid. I hereby impower and direct my lleirs Executors and administrators to Execute a deed of Conveyance for the above said seite for the Court House prison and County offices with out recovering any fee or Considera- tion for the same for the only proper use and behoff for the County of Perry for ever in witness where of I have here unto set my hand and scal the 16 day of angust in the year of our lord one thon- sand eight Hundred and Twenty and the Common- wealth the forty fifth
. CASPER LUPFER [SEAL. ]
₣
-
57
898
JUNIATA AND SUSQUEHANNA COUNTIES IN PENNSYLVANIA.
"Signed sealed and delivered to the Commissioners aforesaid in presents of
" MATTHEW MeBUIDE
"WM POWER JR."'
A. Addams, W. Wangh, J. Purcell, C. North, W. North and Benjamin Lease, inhabitants of Miller-town and vicinity, offered a site on a farm in Raccoon Valley, opposite Miller-town, then owned by Houry Lease.
The commissioners, after spending twelve days in examining sites offered, decided upon a site about two miles west of Bloomfield, on the farm of William Powers. Their report is as follows :
" Courses and distances of the lines ran by the Com- missioners, &c., in locating the site for Public Buildings in Perry County, Ang't 17th, 1820.
" Located for Court House and County office-Begin- ning at the Willow tree nearest the house of Win. Power, thence S. 68 W. 87 perches to a corner on a street ; thence
" N 22 W 15 perches & 112 feet to Corner of Public Ground, thence
"5 68 feet to a post ;
" N 22 W 180 feet post ;
" X 63 E 160 feet post ;
"$ 22 E 180 feet post & beginning.
" For Jail-From the last post mentioned & N 22 W 20 feet across an alley to a post, thence
" N 22 W 180 feet to post & stones,
"S 68 W 160 to Chestunt post,
"$ 22 E 180 to post & stones,
"N 68 E 160 to forementioned place of Beginning, excluding the alley."
On the back of this bit of paper are indorse- ments as follows :
" David Maclay, W. Maclay, W. Beales, & J. Bucher, Commissioners, &e., Gentlemen."
These commissioners met first in June, 1820, and made their selection August 16, 1820.
A public meeting was held August 26, 1820, at Landisburg, in protest against this action. A resolution passed at the meeting opposed the site as a place having no intersection of roads, no direct intercourse with adjacent counties, destitute of good water, good millsor even mill- seats.
At the meeting of the next Legislature the citizens of the county asked for another commis- sion, which was granted by an act passed April 2, 1821, which provided for their appointment
before May 1, 1821, and directed that they should examine sites and make their report on or before Inne Ist.
They were appointed and located a site at Reider's (now Newport), at which indignation meetings were held in different parts of the county protesting against the location at that place, it being seven miles from the centre of the county. In consequence of the protest, an act was passed and approved March 11, 1822, in which Moses Rankin, of York, JJames Hind- man, of Chester, Peter Frailey, of Schuylkill, David Fullerton, of Franklin, and James Agnew, of the county of Bedford, were appointed commissioners to select a site for the county-seat, and report on or before June 1, 1822.
These commissioners decided upon Landis- burg as the county-seat.
Four days later (June 5th) a meeting of the citizens of five eastern townships was held at the house of John Koch (Blue Ball, Juniata township), when Frazer Montgomery, John Harper and William Wangh were chosen to draft an address to the citizens of the county on the subject.
The address recited at length the reasons why the county-seat should not be located at Landis- burg, which was within three miles of the Cum- berland County line, and closed by reciting that the selection was mjust to the county at large. On the 16th of October, 1822, a meeting of the citizens of Juniata and Buffalo townships was held at the house of Meredith Darlington for discussing the merits of county-seats. Francis MeCowen was appointed chairman and Wil- liam Power, Jr., secretary. Resolutions were passed favoring the site first located in Lime- stone Valley, at William Power's, which is situated in the centre of the county.
A petition was drawn up, which stated that three different commissions had been ap- pointed under acts of Legislature, and the last commission had moved the location to Lan- disburg, eight miles to the west of the centre of the county, within three miles of the Cumber- land County line, and a distance of thirty-four miles from the eastern settlement. It further requested that the site be where selected by the first commissioners, which was stated to be
899
PERRY COUNTY.
"the admitted centre of territory and population as near as circumstances will admit."
On the 16th of November, 1822, a meeting was held at the house of John Fritz (Bark Tavern), in Rye township, for the purpose of electing delegates to recommend to the citizens of that and other townships to eleet on Decem- ber 7th (election-day) two citizens in each town- ship, to meet at the house of John Fritz on the 10th of December, to designate a certain place for a seat of justice, and draft a petition for the citizens to sign.
No information is obtained as to the meeting December 10th, but that some attention was given to it is shown by the fact that on the 23d of December in that year Mr. Mitchell, a member of the Legislature, presented to the House twenty-one petitions, signed by eight hundred inhabitants of the county, praying that the seat of justice in the county might be fixed where the first commission advised. The commissioners had made a report, and the bill for the confirmation thereof came before the House, on Monday, the 24th of February, 1823, and after considerable discussion passed a first reading. On Tuesday it came up for a second reading, when Mr. Todd proposed a substitute for the bill, offering Barnett's Farm instead of Landisburg. A vote was called, which resulted in thirty yeas and fifty-six nays; thus the pro- position was defeated. The bill was killed in the Senate by the introduction of a bill for another view.
A fourth commission was appointed by the Governor, under an act passed March 31, 1823, composed of the following persons : Joseph Huston, of Fayette; Abuer Leacock, of Beaver; Cromwell Pearce, of Chester ; Henry Sheets, of Montgomery ; and Dr. Phineas Jenks, of Bucks County.
These commissioners agreed to meet at the house of Meredith Darlington on Wednesday, the 28th of May. At the appointed time Messrs. Leacock, Pearce, Sheets and Jenks met at Mr. Darlington's. The weather being stormy, they did not proceed to business until Friday. On that day they arrived at Landisburg, when, after tarrying a few hours and walking around the town and not finding the three first-located sites
satisfactory, and disagreeing with all the former commissioners, on Monday, June 2, 1823, they decided to locate the seat of justice on the farm of Mr. George Barnett, in Juniata township, within about two miles from Captain William Powers', the first-located site.
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