USA > Pennsylvania > York County > The Historical Sketch, and Account of the Centennial Celebration at York, PA., July 4, 1876. > Part 1
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Property of Scan & Protal RD+1 Thomasville, Pa.
O
THE OLD COURT HOUSE.
THE
HISTORICAL SKETCH,
AND ACCOUNT OF THE
CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION
AT
YORK, PA.,
JULY 4, 1876.
Containing an accurate account of the proceedings from the time of the pas- sage of the resolution by the Town Council to celebrate the Nation's birth and the appointment of a committee to carry out the spir- it of the resolution, up to the close of the celebration; the earnest and eloquent Prayer offered by the venerable Dr. A. H. Lochman; the elaborate and instruct- ive Historical Sketch prepared by John Gib- son, Esq. ; the beautiful Poem by E. N. Gunnison, Esq., and the eloquent O- ration delivered by George W. McElroy, Esq.
YORK, PENNA. DEMOCRATIC PRESS PRINT. 1876.
..
Entered according to act of Congress, in the year 1876, by EDWARD STUCK, In the office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington, D. C.
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INTRODUCTION.
At the close of the labors of the Centennial Com- mittee of arrangements of the Borough of York, it was deemed advisable as a matter of record for the information of future generations, that a detailed account of the celebration of the nation's birth, be preserved, commencing with the resolutions passed by the Congress of the United States, and continu- ing with the proclamation of President Grant and Governor Hartranft, the proceedings of the Com- mittee of Arrangements, and the subsequent ob- servance of the Centennial 4th, in all its particulars.
In order to carry the wishes of the Committee into effect, the following resolution was adopted :
"The entire proceedings of the celebration were ordered to be published in pamphlet form, and Edward Stuck was authorized to prepare the same for publication with the assistance of the following committee :- Capt. Frank Geise, I. W G. Wierman, G. W. Winehold, James Dale and Dr. Meisenhelder."
At this meeting, the committee also adjusted its finances, and had the proud satisfaction of find- ing that the funds collected were sufficient to settle all the indebtedness incurred in the celebra- tion. As they were about to adjourn sine die, the idea was suggested and concurred in, that the Com- mittee continue its organization and meet at such time and place as may be convenient, upon the re- currence of each fourth of July and commemorate the national anniversary so long as one member of the Committee shall survive.
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Shortly after the 4th of July, the publication com- mittee met and addressed communications to the authors of the Prayer, Historical Sketch, Poem and Oration, which we append herewith, with the replies thereto, and after considerable work, have the pleas- ure to present the result of their labors to the peo- ple, whose approbation, we hope it will meet.
YORK, PA., July 10, 1876.
JOHN GIBSON, Esq.,
Dear Sir :-- In accordance with the accompanying resolution, passed at the last meeting of the Centennial Committee of the Borough of York, the committee, therein named, respectfully re- quest you to furnish us with a copy of your valuable Historical Sketch, for publication, in connection with the Prayer, Poem, Or- ation and other events connected with that memorable celebra- tion of the nation's birth, and hope you will grant our request. The information it contains, and the interest it awakened at the time of its reading, demand that its presentation be secured in such form as to place it in the hands of the people, as also, to hand it down to future generations.
Very respectfully yours,
THE COMMITTEE.
Centennial Publication Committee.
GENTLEMEN :- Your kind favor has been received. The sketch was hastily prepared, and as far as was possible, it was framed in accordance with the recommendation of Congress. The statistics of our material progress are published from time to time and it does not need any record of such to prove it. Material wealth alone is not the only test of "the progress of our institutions during the first centennial of their existence." Therefore, I have at- tempted to show the part taken by our immediate ancestors in the moulding of our system of free government, the patriotism of our people in the times of our country's need, their public spirit in measures for the common good, and their zealous support of those institutions which are designed to foster the great interests of educa- tion and religion; all these are evidences of our prosperity and of the appreciation at all times by our people of those blessings of civil and religious liberty, bequeathed to us by our fathers.
I have omitted some things which may be thought matters of historical interest, where they were not directly connected with the
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progress of our institutions, and which may be found collected in histories of the county long since compiled. Where I have omitted other facts, I can only say it was from want of information, and that it was not required of me to compose a history of the county, but a sketch illustrative of the part our people had taken in the progress of our institutions, and by that standard only I ask that it be measured.
Very respectfully yours, JOHN GIBSON.
YORK, PA., July 10, 1876.
GEO. W. MCELROY, EsQ.
Dear Sir :- We will be under many obligations to you for a copy of your able and eloquent address, delivered on the occasion of the celebration of the Centennial Anniversary, in Centre Square, for the purpose of publishing it in pamphlet form, to preserve it with the history of that extraordinary occasion.
Yours, &c, COMMITTEE OF PUBLICATION.
Centennial Publication Committee.
GENTLEMEN :- Your note requesting a copy of my address, delivered at our Centennial Celebration on the 4th of Ju- ly last, has been duly received. While I cheerfully comply with your request to have the same published, I cannot but express my regret that a want of sufficient time to devote to its preparation, prevented me from avoiding the many imperfections it contains.
Yours truly and sincerely, GEO. W. MCELROY.
CELEBRATION
OF THE CENTENNIAL 4TH OF JULY, AT
YORK, PENN'A., JULY 4th, 1876.
The following is the resolution passed by the Congress of the United States, on the 1st of March, 1876, and the proclamation of the President, issued in accordance therewith, May 25, 1876 :
WHEREAS a joint resolution of the Senate and House of Repre- sentatives of the United States was duly approved on the 13th day of March last, which resolution is as follows :
"Be it resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That it be and is hereby recommended by the Senate and House of Representatives to the people of the several States that they assemble in their sev- eral counties or towns on the approaching centennial anniversary of our national independence, that they cause to have delivered on such day an historical sketch of said county or town from its formation, and that a copy of said sketch may be filed in print or manuscript in the clerk's office of said county and an additional copy in print or manuscript be filed in the office of the librarian of Congress, to the intent that a complete record may thus be obtain . ed of the progress of our institutions during the first centennial of their existence and whereas it is deemed proper that such recom- mendation be brought to the notice and knowledge of the people of the United States.
Now, therefore, I, Ulysses S Grant, President of the United States, do hereby declare and make known the same in the hope that the object of such resolution may meet the approval of the people of the United States, and that proper steps may be taken to carry the same into effect.
Given under my hand, at the city of Washington, the 25th day of May, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and seventy six, and of the independence of the United States the one hundredth.
By the President,
U. S. GRANT.
HAMILTON FISH, Secretary of State.
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On the 29th day of April, the Governor of Pennsylvania, issued the following proclamation :
WHEREAS, By a joint resolution of the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America, in Congress as- sembled, approved March 13, 1876, it is recommended by the Senate and House of Representatives to the people of the several States that they assemble in their several counties or towns on the approaching Centennial anniversary of our national independ- ence, and that they cause to have delivered on such day an histor- ical sketch of said county or town from its formation, and that a copy of said sketch may be filed in print or manuscript in the clerk's office in said county ; and that an additional copy in print or manuscript be filed in the office of the Librarian of Congress, to the intent that a complete record may thus be obtained of the pro- gress of our institutions during the first Centennial of their exis- tence.
Now, therefore, I, John F. Hartranft, Governor as aforesaid, do hereby favorably commend this resolution to the people and the authorities of the various cities, counties and towns of this common- wealth, with the request that wherever the observance of the in- coming anniversary of our national independence will permit, pro- vision may be made to comply with the recommendation contained therein, so that these historical sketches may be made to embrace all the information and statistics that can be obtained in relation to the first century of our existence as a Commonwealth
Given under my hand and the great seal of the State, at Harris- burg, this twenty-first day of April, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and seventy-six and of the Commonwealth the one hundredth.
JOHN F. HARTRANFT.
M. S. QUAY, Secretary of the Commonwealth.
On the first of June there was. a meeting of the Town Council of the Borough of' York.
JERE CARL, Chief Burgess.
ยท First Ward-John Mayer, T. K. White.
Second " -E. J. Case, Henry Weitzel.
Third -W. H. Griffith, David Emmitt.
Fourth " -Geo. A. Barnitz, Geo. W. Dietz
Fifth 66 -Geo. F. Baugher, John Fahs, Jr.
Sixth ." -Geo. W. Winehold. Jas. B Small. .
Seventh " -Solomon Rupp, I. W. G. Wierman
Eighth " -Henry Wagner, Andrew Harline.
Ninth " -Dr. Ed. W. Meisenhelder, John Herman.
The following resolutions were adopted :
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Resolved, That a committee of five shall be appointed, whose duty it shall be to solicit voluntary contributions from the citizens of York and York county, in order that we may have a proper celebration of this Centennial Fourth of July, as requested by the joint resolution of Congress, approved March 13, 1875, and fur ther advised by the President's proclamation of May 25, 1876.
Resolved, further, That this committee shall be empowered to solicit from the Commissioners of York county such pecuniary aid as they may be willing to give to the furtherance of this project, and in honor of the noble yeomanry of York county, who, a cen- tury ago, were among the first to respond to the call to arms.
Resolved further, That this committee shall have power and are requested to select a suitable person to prepare a historical sketch of York and York county, from its settlement to this date, in order that the same may be delivered here on the 4th of July ensuing, and a copy placed on file in the office of the Librarian of Congress, and in the Clerk's office of this county, in accordance with the aforementioned act of Congress.
Resolved, That this committee shall also select some suitable person to deliver an oration on the centennial anniversary in the Borough of York, at such time and place, on that day, as they may arrange.
Resolved, That it shall further be the duty of this committee to have erected in the public square a liberty pole from which shall be unfurled a national flag of good material, not costing over one hundred dollars, and from the top of which staff shall float a streamer having the inscription "1776 Centennial 1876," and near the lower part of the staff shall be placed the inscription : "Erect- ed by the citizens of York county, to the memory of their patriot fathers."
Resolved, That the committee shall be empowered to make such other arrangements and do such other acts, as shall secure a patri- otic observance of the ensuing centennial anniversary.
A committee, in accordance with the resolutions was appointed, who met on the 5th of June, and recommended the co-operation of a committee of citizens, two from each ward, and issued the following circular:
YORK, PA., June 5, 1876.
At a meeting of the Town Council, held June 1, 1876, it was re- solved that some action should be taken in reference to a proper celebration of the Nation's Centennial, both for the purpose of commemorating that happy event and of paying a fitting tribute to the memory of the brave men who, in that fearful struggle, faithfully represented the sturdy patriots of York county. Now, therefore, that the day may be fitly observed, in accordance with the President's Proclamation of May 25, and the Governor's Proc.
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lamation of April 29, 1876, requesting such action, we extend a cordial invitation to to take an active part in encouraging this worthy object, to the end, that with one united effort, we may make the coming Fourth a day long to be remembered and the demonstration a triumphant success.
York county, one hundred years ago, was the scene of many a stirring event in our National history, and it is proper that here in York which proved to be a city of refuge to the Continental Con- gress when driven out of Philadelphia, there should be enkindled a spirit of enthusiasm worthy of the occasion. Men of York coun- ty in honor of your heroic ancestors who feared neither the edicts of a royal tyrant, nor the treble peril of the halter, battle field, or prison cell, once more to the rescue!
EDMUND W. MEISENHELDER, GEORGE W. WINEHOLD,
T. K WHITE, I. W. G. WIERMAN,
WM H. GRIFFITH.
P. S .- Please advise the Committee of your acceptance of this invitation.
The committee of citizens was composed of the following named gentlemen :
CHAS. W. MYERS, EDW. CHAPIN, EDW'D. STUCK, L. T. DEIN- INGER, ADAM REISINGER, JAS. A. DALE, FRANK GEISE, M. L. VAN BAMAN, H. GIPE, Dr. C. H. BRESSLER, DAVID MYERS, W. S. SCHROEDER, MARTIN BENDER, J. P. FRICK, M. J. SEITZ, W. Y. LINK.
The council and citizens committee, met on the 9th of June, and
On motion, it was agreed that Rev. Dr. A. H. Lochman be requested to offer the prayer.
On motion, it was agreed that Fitz James Evans, Esq., be re- quested to read the Declaration of Independence.
On motion, it was agreed that E. Norman Gunnison, Esq., be requested to write the Poem.
On motion, it was agreed that John Gibson, Esq., be requested to write a Historical Sketch of York county.
On motion, it was agreed that Geo. W. McElroy, Esq., be re- quested to deliver the Oration.
On motion, it was agreed that Frank Geise, Esq., be requested to act as Chief Marshal.
On motion, it was agreed that Prof. Thiele be requested to lead the Instrumental Music, and Prof. H. Gipe the Vocal Music.
On motion, it was agreed that I. W. G Wierman, Esq., be re- quested to procure a Flag Staff 100 feet high out of the ground, in two sections, painted white, and substantially mounted.
It was determined by the town council committee that the sev-
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eral ward committees shall constitute an advisory committee to a ct in conjunction with the regular committee in making the arrange- ments for the proper celebration of the coming Fourth of July.
On the 10th of June the joint committees adopted the following programme:
1. General illumination and ringing of bells from 12 M. to 1 A. M.
2. National airs by chimes of Trinity Reformed church from 4 to 5 A. M.
3. Salute of 13 guns at sunrise on the Commons.
4. Raising of national flag in Centre Square by soldiers of the war of 1812, at 6 o'clock A. M., with music by Citizens' Band.
5. Parade of Military, Fire, Civic Associations, Citizens, &c Parade to form at 9 and move at 93 o'clock, sharp
6. National airs by united bands at close of parade in Centre Square.
7. 1st, Prayer, by Rev. A. H. Lochman, D. D. 2nd, Music, "One Hundred Years ago," Haydn Quartette, 3rd, Reading of the Declaration of Independence, by Fitz James Evans. 4th, Music, by Citizens' Band. 5th, Historical Sketch of York coun- ty, by John Gibson, Esq. 6th, Music, "The Sword of Bunker Hill," by the Haydn Quartette. 7th, Benediction and Dismissal.
8. In Centre Square at 6.30. 1st, Music, "Star Spangled Ban- ner," by Grand Chorus. 2nd, Poem, by E. Norman Gunnison. 3rd, Music, "Hail Columbia," Grand Chorus. 4th, Oration, by Geo. W. McElroy, Esq. 5th, America, by Grand Chorus
9 Doxology.
10. Fire Works-At 83 p. m. the display of fireworks ..
At this meeting it was resolved by the committees that in- vitations be and the same are hereby extended to all military, fire- men, musical, civic and social organizations, and to the soldiers of the wars of 1812, Mexican and the late war, of York county, to participate in the parade and celebration of July 7th next.
The morning of the Fourth was ushered in with 'unexampled enthusiasm. At the stroke of twelve, midnight, a burst of light illuminated the town, and the simultaneous reports of innumerable numbers of small fire-arms were heard in every direction sounding like those of heavy platoons of artillery ; the houses were brightly illuminated and the church, engine and other bells were rung for hours, and the wildest excitement prevailed, which had the effect of stimulating every one with an unusual degree of pa- triotism. At 6 o'clock the raising of the national flag, by soldiers of the war of 1812, in Centre Square, took place. In the morning
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at 9 o'clock the procession, according to the programme, was form- ed in the following order :
Order of Procession .- Chief Marshal, Frank Geise. Aids to Chief Marshal, Geo. W. Heiges, H. S. McNair, John Blackford. Horace Keesey.
Committee of Arrangements .- 1st Division .- Marshal, Lieut. Col. A. C. Stieg. Co. A, 8th Regt. N. G .; Co. C, 8th Regt. N. G .; York Grays.
2d Division .- Marshal, A. B. Jack. Worth Infantry Band, Laurel Fire Co., Rescue Fire Co., Union Fire Co.
3d Division-Marshal, A. T. Patterson. Mt. Vernon En- campment No. 14, I. O. O. F .; Humane Lodge No. 342, I. O. O, F .; Wm. Penu Lodge No. 2, I. O. M .; Dallastown Lodge No. 8, I. O. M.
4th Division-Marshal, Samuel Wallick. Hanover Lodge, Knights of Pythias; White Rose Lodge K. of P., 211; Conewingo Tribe No. 75, I. O. R. M .; Codorus Tribe No. 78, I. O. R. M .; Conewago Tribe No. 37, I. O. R. M.
5th Division .- Marshal, John Mayer. St. Mary's Beneficial Association, St. Joseph's Beneficial Association, Arbeiter Associa- tion, St. Patrick's Beneficial Association (No. 100, I. C. B. U.)
6th Division-Marshal, Geo. B. Cole. Friendly Circle No. 19, B. U. (H. F.) C. A .; Union Circle No. 2, B. U. (H. F.) C A .; York Star Circle No. 47, B. U. (H. F.) C. A .; Mystic Band of Brothers, Eureka Council No. 17.
7th Division-Marshals, W. F. Eichar and G. W. Welker. York Council No. 243, O. U. A. M .; Rose Council No. 316, O. U. A. M .; Codorus Council No. 115, O. U. A. M .; Laurel Council No. 163, O. U. A. M .; Summerfield Council No. 165, O. U. A. M. 8th Division-Marshals, Isaac Rudisill and W. S. Schroeder. Chief Burgess, Town Council and its guests, County Officers, Board of School Control, Borough Superintendent, and a repre- sentative of the Public Schools of York, Soldiers of the late War and the Mexican War, Soldiers of the War of 1812, in carriages, Children of the "Home" in carriages, Historian, Orator, Poet, Reader of the Declaration of Independence, &c., Clergy of York Borough, Citizens of York and vicinity in carriages, Members of the Bar and Bench, Representatives of different industries of York in vehicles, Delegations mounted.
A number of wagons were in procession, upon which a number of our mechanics were at work, in their respective callings. A large-sized Gordon press was placed upon a wagon, by the enter- prising publisher of the York Daily, from which was issued minia- ture copies of his paper and distributed gratuitously along the line. Rupert & Humer, tinners, were in procession making tin-
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ware; Brashears & Son were cutting stone; seven coopers were making barrels upou a large wagon; probably the most interest- ing wagon in line, was the brickyard of Mr. Wm. Wilt. The workmen in the yard were very industrious turning the brick out quite rapidly. One of them was kneading the clay with his bare feet; two music stores-J. W. Weaver's and J. W. Boll's were re- presented in line, with organ playing, as were also hatters, bakers sewing machines, reapers, and other mechanical interests.
The number of persons in the procession is variously estimated at from four to six thousand. Delegations were present from Hanover, Wrightsville, Dallastown and the townships along the line of the Peach Bottom Railroad, and other points.
All along the route our citizens generally contributed a bounti- ful supply of ice water, in many instances, large tubs from which were suspended a number of tincups, by which the participants in the parade were enabled to quench their thirst and refresh them- selves during the march. This action of our citizen cannot be too highly commended and it speaks well for the generosity and pa- triotism of our people.
The procession, after having gone over the route returned to the stand erected in Centre square, where after prayer by the Rev. Dr. A. H. Lochman, music by the united bands, the Declaration of Independence was read by Fitz James Evans, Esq., and the Historical Sketch of York County delivered by John Gibson, Esq.
In the evening at six o'clock, the people again assembled in front of the stand in Centre Square and listened to the Grand Chorus, under the direction of Prof. Gipe, the reading of the Poem by E. Norman Gunnison, Esq., and the Oration by George W. McElroy, Esq. After which the people adjourned to the Fair Grounds and witnessed the splendid exhibition of fire works furnished by the committee of arrangements.
Thus ended the celebration of the Centennial Fourth of July in York, in which the citizens participated with characteristic enthusi- asm, their hearts filled with patriotic emotions and uniting with zeal in the arrangements made by the authorities of the nation, the state and the Borough, making it a success worthy of being re- corded for future generations.
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THE PRAYER Offered at the Opening of the Centennial Exercises on July 4th, 1876.
BY REV. A. H. LOCHMAN, D. D.
Penetrated by a sense of Thine excellent great- ness, Thy infinite Majesty and Thy boundless good- ness, under a conviction of our entire dependence upon Thee as individuals and as a nation, we ad- dress Thy throne of grace.
All nations are before Thee as a drop of the buck- et-Thou weighest the mountains in scales, and the hills in a balance-Thou takest up the isles of the sea as a very little thing-Thou makest the winds Thy chariot-Thy path is upon the mighty deep- Thou reignest in heaven and rulest upon the earth- Thy kingdom is over all, and Thy dominion hath no end, but Thy goodness is equal to Thy greatness, and Thy mercy tempers Thy judgments ; Therefore, whilst we tremblingly adore, we would confidently trust in Thee. We thank Thee, that the lines have fallen unto us in pleasant places, and that ours is a goodly heritage. For the blessings of civil and re- ligious liberty we have so long and richly enjoyed, for that government under which we have so long lived in security at home, and honored abroad. We pray Thee graciously to regard us and bestow upon
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THE PRAYER.
us Thy superintending care in days to come, as Thou hast in days past.
Preserve untarnished the fair fame of our coun- try's glory, and enable us to transmit to our latest posterity, the rich legacy bequeathed to us by our fathers. Make this land a praise and glory in the earth, and a blessing to all nations ; especially do we beseech Thee, to look graciously upon us and the millions of this land, whilst celebrating this our hun- dredth birthday as a nation, and whilst engaged in our festivities may we never forget that Thine eye is upon us-and may our rejoicings be tempered with propriety. We bless Thee that thou hast, for every emergency, called forth and qualified men to carry out Thy gracious purposes.
We thank Thee for that noble, dignified and self- sacrificing patriotic band who this day one hundred years ago penned that unequalled declaration of our rights as freemen, and in its support pledged their lives, their fortunes and their sacred honor. We bless Thee for the trumpet-tongue of the old bell whose echoes roused the spirit of patriotism throughout the land- for the heroism with which Thou didst inspire our revolutionary sires, that they were able to maintain the declaration of their rights and that Thou didst es- tablish us as an independent nation. We bless Thee that ever since we have had an existence as a peo- ple, Thou hast never withdrawn Thy favor-but hast brought us unscathed through the severest trials of foreign aggression and of unparalleled domestic
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