USA > Pennsylvania > Lancaster County > New Holland > The Three Earls : an historical sketch, and proceedings of the centennial jubilee, held at New Holland, Pa., July 4, 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
¥c 74.801 122n 1417443
M. L
GENEALOGY COLLECTION
Ge
ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 00826 4928
m
Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2015
https://archive.org/details/threeearlshistor00diff
THE THREE EARLS.
AN
HISTORICAL SKETCH,
AND .
PROCEEDINGS
OF THE
CENTENNIAL JUBILEE,
HELD AT
NEW HOLLAND, PA.,
July 4, 1876.
NEW HOLLAND: RANCK & SANDOE. 1876. .
PREFACE.
TT 1417443
THIS little book contains an historical sketch of the townships of Earl, West Earl and East Earl, in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, from their earliest settlement to the present time, together with an account of the proceedings of the Centennial Jubilee held in the village of New Hol- land, July 4th, 1876, and the oration delivered on that oc- casion. It is published for the purpose of retaining in a more permanent form than the newspaper and manuscript could afford, the interesting events of the day, as well as the many valuable historical facts which the sketch con- tains.
1
CONTENTS.
PAGE
INTRODUCTION
7
FINANCIAL STATEMENT
12
PRAYER
13
HISTORICAL SKETCH
17
APPENDIX TO SKETCH
77
ORATION
98
INTRODUCTION.
E
5
IN the issue of the New Holland Clarion, bearing date March 4th, 1876, in an article entitled "How shall we cele- brate the Fourth?" attention was called to the fact that in four months the Centennial Anniversary of our National Independence would be celebrated, and it was suggested that a brief history of the "Three Earls," from their earliest settlement to the present time, should be prepared, to be read at the celebration. Subsequently, upon recom- mendation of the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States, in Congress assembled, Gov. J. F. Hart- ranft, of Pennsylvania, issued a proclamation to the people of the State, dated April 21st, 1876, "inviting them to meet in their several counties and towns on the approaching Centennial Anniversary of our National Independence, and that they cause to have delivered on such day an his- torical sketch of said county or town from its formation, and that a copy of said sketch, printed or in manuscript, be filed in the clerk's office of said county, and that an additional copy be filed in the office of the Librarian of Congress."
The matter thus suggested was kept before the people by the New Holland Clarion and the Terre Hill Standard, and a public meeting was accordingly held in Witwer Hall, New Holland, on the 13th of May, 1876, to take the mat- ter into consideration. The meeting was organized by the appointment of Mr. H. A. Roland, as chairman, and A.
1201998 00毫TW
-
8
INTRODUCTION.
W. Snader, esq., as secretary. The chairman briefly stated the object of the meeting, and short addresses were de- livered by G. H. Ranck, esq., J. C. Martin, esq., A. W. Snader, esq., D. S. Rettew and Major A. Setley.
The meeting took the following action :
Resolved, 1. That a suitable demonstration be made in New Holland, on the 4th of July, 1876, it being the One Hundredth Anniversary of our National Independence.
2. That a committee of three persons from each district be appointed to gather material for an historical sketch of the Three Earls, narrating the history of said districts from their earliest settlement to the present time, said material to be placed in the hands of an historian to be appointed by the Executive Committee, to prepare said historical sketch.
3. That a suitable person be secured to deliver an oration appropriate to the occasion.
4. That there be an illumination and pyrotechnic dis- play during the evening.
5. That arrangements be made for vocal music. during the day, and that bands of music be also secured to enliven the occasion.
6. That a Finance Committee of fifteen be appointed to solicit funds to defray the expenses of said demonstra- tion.
7. That an invitation be extended to the neighboring townships to participate in said demonstration.
8. That an Executive Committee of fifteen be appointed, with power to appoint sub-committees to carry out the fore- going resolutions, and that the chairman of this meeting be chairman of said Executive Committee.
The following persons were then appointed, viz :
Executive Committee-Henry A. Roland, chairman; G. H. Ranck, esq., A. W. Snader, esq., Geo. O. Roland, Major A. Setley, D. S. Rettew, Dr. J. B. Kohler, Rev. John W. Hassler, Rev. D. W. Gerhard, Dr. I. Bushong, J. C. Mar- tin, esq., Adam Geist, B. F. Weaver, esq., Levi W. Groff, Dr. M. W. Hurst, I. D. Worst.
9
INTRODUCTION.
Historical Committee-Earl, Rev. Jno. W. Hassler, Rev. D. W. Gerhard, Geo. Davidson; West Earl, Levi W. Groff, E. Burkholder, esq., Clayton Wenger; East Earl, J. C. Martin, esq., W. H. H. Kinzer, Martin E. Stauffer.
The Executive Committee held various meetings at which the following appointments were made :
Historian-Frank. R. Diffenderffer, esq., of Lancaster city, formerly of New Holland.
Orator-E. K. Martin, esq., of Lancaster city.
Reader of the Declaration of Independence-A. W. Sna- der, esq., of New Holland.
Committee of Arrangements-G. H. Ranck, esq., A. Geist, Dr. M. W. Hurst, E. G. Groff, esq., E. C. Diller.
Committee on Music-Rev. D. W. Gerhard, George H. Townsley, D. S. Schlauch, D. Styer, J. W. Sandoe.
Finance Committee-Amos Rutter, W. W. Kinzer, James Diller, Addison Reidenbach, I. H. Hildebrand, M. H. Grube, D. S. Kurtz, A. G. Giffen, T. A. Kinzer, Wm. Good, E. H. Burkholder, esq., W. J. Kafroth, esq., Alfred Horn- berger, Joel Wenger, Adam B. Groff.
Committee on School Statistics-E. G. Groff, esq.
Committee on Pyrotechnic Display-Dr. J. A. Groff, A. G. Sutton, B. J. Silliman, T. W. Wanner, esq., Jacob Shiffer.
The Committee of Arrangements secured the orchard belonging to and opposite the old Hiester mansion, for the exercises of the day. They also arranged for a grand pro- cession, and appointed as Chief Marshal, Dr. J. G. Moore, who selected as his assistants the following aids: M. H. Grube, H. M. Houser, John Diffenderfer and Moses Weaver.
After the day had been inaugurated by the ringing of the church and school bells, at midnight and in the early morning, the large concourse of people that had assembled,
1
10
INTRODUCTION.
was called together in front of the Lutheran church, at 12 o'clock M. by the ringing of the church and school bells, after which the select choir of about fifty voices, sung "Before Jehovah's awful throne," to the tune of "Old Hun- dred," accompanied by the New Holland Brass Band. The procession was then formed in the following order:
Marshal and Aids ; New Holland Brass Band ; Carriages with Historiau, Orator and others ; Citizens on foot, Israel Bair, Marshal ; Juniors on foot ;
Carriages with 39 ladies in white, representing the Goddess of Liberty and the different States of the Union ; Fairville Brass Band ;
Earl Encampment, No. 217, I. O. of O. F., D. S. Rettew, Marshal ;
Earl Lodge, No. 413, I. O. of O. F., Capt. I. Holl, Marshal ; New Holland Lodge, No. 441, Knights of Pythias, Geo. O. Roland, Marshal ; Young Men on horseback, H. M. Houser, Marshal.
After the procession had marched and counter-marched through the town, it reached the place selected for the exercises. Here a large stand had been erected, which was tastefully decorated with wreaths, flowers and numerous American and foreign flags. The number of persons present on the occasion is estimated to have been about 1000. The exercises were conducted under the auspices of the Executive Committee, Mr. H. A. Roland, presiding, according to the following
PROGRAMME. Music-by New Holland Band.
Music-by the Choir, with organ accompaniment,-"My country 'tis of thee."
n
11
INTRODUCTION. .
Prayer-by Rev. J. F. Mower.
Music-by the Choir, "God bless our native land." Music-by the Fairville Band.
Declaration of Independence-by A. W. Snader, esq. Music-by the Choir, "One hundred years ago."
Historical Sketch-by Frank. R. Diffenderffer, esq.
Music-by the New Holland Band.
Music-by the Choir, "Star Spangled Banner."
Oration-by E. K. Martin, esq.
Music-by the Fairville Band.
Music-by the Choir and New Holland Band, "Before Jehovah's awful throne," by special request.
Doxology-by the whole assembly, "Praise God from whom all blessings flow."
The celebration was closed in the evening by the grandest pyrotechnic display that was ever witnessed in this section of country. It is estimated that about 2000 persons were present, all of whom appeared much delighted with the splendid exhibition.
The succeeding issue of the New Holland Clarion closed its account of the celebration in the following appropriate manner : "Altogether the Centennial Jubilee of the "Three Earls" was a splendid demonstration. The order was re- markably good; all the exercises in the orchard were listened to with marked attention; the music, both by the choir and bands, was universally admired, and in every respect the celebration was grand, and future generations, as they read how the patriotic citizens of the "Three Earls" re-affirmed in 1876 the glorious Declaration of 1776, will admire the enthusiastic love and fealty which we mani- fested towards our blood-bought liberties."
·
FINANCIAL STATEMENT.
THE expenditures for the Centennial Jubilee were as follows :
Fireworks,
$135.38
Flags, shields, bunting, sashes, &c., 29.90
New Holland Band, supper, - 7.00
Fairville Band, meals and wagon hire,
24.25
Printing posters, hymns, &c., 11.00
Carriage hire,
4.00
Lumber, labor, &c.,
6.78
Total,
$218.31
1889
PRAYER
OFFERED BY
REV. J. F. MOWER, PASTOR OF NEW HOLLAND CIRCUIT, U. B. CHURCH.
O Lord, we acknowledge Thee the Father of Nations as well as the Dispenser of Events. Thou art above all and over all, God blessed forever more. Thou art the Creator and Preserver of all things. Heaven is Thy throne, earth is Thy footstool. The heavens declare Thy glory, the earth sbeweth Thy handiwork. Thou alone art the sovereign ruler of nations.
We thank Thee to-day for that all-wise providence which has led and preserved us for one hundred years. We thank Thee for the blessed results of the same. We bless Thee for a free country, for free government, for institutions as free as the air we breathe, for religious lib- erty, for Bible teaching as bright as the noonday, as free as the morning.
We thank Thee for the past century, and humbly trust Thee for the opening one. May Thy special blessings rest upon us during this our centennial year. Let Thy bless- ings richly rest on the centennial celebration. Bless our visitors from distant lands. Help us as a Christian nation, while the eyes of many nations are upon us, to set a Christian example that shall favorably impress nations yet under the dark influence of heathenism. May the present centennial celebration result in a closer union of nations. We thank Thee for the peace that now exists. May strife
14
PRAYER.
and enmity cease, and peace and union be preserved. Bless our country to-day while a free people unite in celebrating our great centennial independence. Bless the President of the United States and his constitutional advisers, the Senators and Representatives in Congress. Bless, we pray Thee, the Governor of the State of Pennsylvania.
We ask Thy blessings to rest upon the ministry of our land .- Help, that the voice of the pulpit may be heard reverently condemning sin of every shade; and we humbly beseech Thee, O Lord, God of Heaven, deliver and pre- serve our country from the baneful, degrading influence of infidelity. May the Bible be recognized and received by all men everywhere as the only inspired revelation of God's will to meu; and unto Thee, O Lord, through Him who. hath loved us, will we ascribe all praise now and forever. Amen.
HISTORICAL SKETCH
PREPARED BY :
FRANK. R. DIFFENDERFFER.
ITVILSIE TAOMIOTATH
HISTORICAL SKETCH.
GENERAL INTRODUCTION.
THE prudent business man at certain periods of his busy career, pauses for a time amid the toil, the rivalry and the contentions of his calling, and endeavors to ascer- tain the measure of success he has attained. In commer- cial parlance he takes an account of stock, and the result shows to him whether the preceding period has been one of profit or loss, whether he has increased bis capital or diminished it. But this is not all; these pauses in his commercial life are productive of other and even more valuable benefits; they reveal to him the errors and mis- takes of the past, and thus furnish him with an invaluable guide in the prosecution of future speculations.
In this year of grace, 1876, and on this the natal day of American independence, the people of this great coun- try have seen proper to assemble in their collective capacity in the metropolis of this the Keystone State, to celebrate the Centennial of their national life. The nation has deemed its one hundredth birthday a fitting time to take an account of stock-if we may so call it-to prepare a summary of its lusty boyhood, to exhibit the progress it has made and the results it has achieved, and to bring into striking prominence the manifold agencies through which all these marvellous events have been accomplished.
So, too, in a like manner, the people of the THREE EARLS are this day met to overhaul the log-book of their past history, to revive the already dim and fast-fading me-
-18
HISTORICAL SKETCH.
morials of their ancestors, to recall their struggles, their trials and their triumphs, and to preserve from further oblivion the story of that long-gone time, when the broad and smiling acres which now greet our eyes on every side, were still covered with one dark and almost unbroken forest, traversed only by savage beasts and still more savage men.
In the preparation of this brief sketch, more difficulties have been encountered than were at first anticipated. It was believed materials for the purpose were both abundant . and easily accessible. These expectations have not been realized. The facts have demonstrated an altogether dif- ferent state of affairs. No efforts have been left unat- tempted, and no labor has been spared to collect such particulars as would serve to throw light on the early his- -tory of these townships; but the results have indeed proved meager and unsatisfactory. Time did not allow of such a canvass of the district as might have brought to light the old papers and records which, it is hoped, may still be preserved by the descendants of the early pioneers. The Colonial Records, as far as published, and the Penn- sylvania Archives, have been carefully examined, and while taken up in a great degree by state affairs generally, and also largely with county concerns, they are almost silent concerning township matters : a few brief and unimportant notices only were found in them relative to this section. When we reflect, however, that more than one hundred and fifty years have rolled away since the first settlers entered these townships, it will not seem so strange that so little has come down to us, relative to the first period of their colonization. Not every second man kept a diary in those days as he now does; there was not a newspaper sent forth from every village as there now is; not every metro- politan town had its Historical Society as it has now, with
19
GENERAL INTRODUCTION.
scores of active members ever on the alert to gather pass- ing events and to preserve them. The men and the times were as unlike those of to-day as the liveliest imagination can fancy. The intellectual activity that has planted a school-house on almost every hill top, was then unknown and unthought of; it came with the peace and prosperity of later times. But we anticipate: let us turn back the page of history one hundred and ninety-four years and see under what auspices the land of William Penn was founded.
That spendthrift monarch, Charles the II. of England, among other debts he was unable to discharge, owed the sum of £16,000 to Admiral Sir William Penn; the latter dying, left this unpaid claim to his son William: he, after vainly endeavoring to procure its payment, finally pro- posed to the impecunious monarch, to accept in lieu thereof, the wild and unsettled lands lying within the bounds of this state. It was not often that King Charles was able to pay his debts without money, therefore he gladly accepted Penn's proposition, and in 1681 was granted the charter conveying this magnificent domain to his Quaker subject. In the following year, Penn came over. Under the boughs of a spreading elm tree, at Shakamaxon,* he met the red men of the Algonquin race, and there, as the shrill winds of autumn whistled through . forests shorn of their summer beauty, was made that great treaty with the tribes of the Delaware, the Schuylkill, the Conestoga and the Susquehanna, which Voltaire has elo- quently described as "the only one the world has known, never sworn to and never broken."
*The district of Kensington now occupies the place known as Shakamaxon-an Indian word meaning "Field of Blood," from a famous Indian fight that once occurred there. The "Treaty Tree" stood near the western bank of the Delaware: it was blown down on Saturday night, March 3rd, 1810: in form it was wide spread-
20
HISTORICAL SKETCH.
·
Let us now inquire what manner of men they were who crossed the Atlantic to found this empire in the new world. With Penn, and before him, came Englishmen of his own faith: these were the founders of Philadelphia, in 1682. They were speedily followed by Welsh, Scotch, French and Irish emigrants, who settled themselves on the outskirts of the already rapidly spreading civilization. While the earliest settlements within the borders of the Common- wealth were made by these men, the Earls were settled by people of another race and another faith. As perhaps three-fourths of all those who are this day here assembled, are lineal descendants of these latter, it will not be amiss for us to investigate whence they came, and why they for- sook the civilization of Europe for the virgin forests of America.
On the banks of the Upper Rhine, lie two provinces which have become memorable in the annals of two worlds. These were, 1st, the Lower Palatinate, commonly known as the Pfalz am Rhein, lying on both sides of that river, and 2d, the Upper Palatinate or Ober Pfalz, on the eastern -side. These were for centuries, and are to-day, among the most fertile and best cultivated regions of Germany. The doctrines of Luther and Zwingli took firm root in the Pa- latinate. The sturdy race that inhabited it, was among the first to accept the grand principles of the Reformation -that wonderful event, marking the era whence untram- meled intellectual and religious freedom was first recog- nized as the inalienable birthright of men. We all know how, from the very first, the Papal Hierarchy determined to sweep Protestantism out of existence in torrents of fire and blood. Nowhere was this inhuman and irreligious
ing, but not high ; its girth was 24 feet, and its age, as indicated by the rings of annual growth, 283 years. The treaty made here was one of amity only-not for the sale or cession of lands.
06 -05
21
GENERAL INTRODUCTION.
decree so fully carried out as in the Palatinate. Again and again were these unfortunate districts overrun by a fierce and dissolute soldiery, who offered the alternatives of recantation or extermination. When at last Louis XIV, by the revocation of the Edict of Nantes, in 1689, swept away the last vestige of religious freedom, his armies not only overran the Protestant French provinces, but the Palatinate also. Those great Captains, Turrenne and Tilly had previously burnt scores of its cities and villages, but the flames that once more spread over the land, ex- ceeded a hundred fold, all that had gone before. Melac and Montclas, the generals who now ravaged it, laid a thousand hamlets in flames, and left the country almost depopulated. In mid-winter, while deep snow covered the ground, the former laid waste the fields, destroyed the vineyards and burnt the dwellings of half a million people, who were left shelterless and starving. The sun has never gazed on a scene of greater desolation or one more sad and pitiable.
Yet, while looking with dim eyes on the ashes of their once happy but now desolated homes, their hearts bleeding with a sorrow beyond the power of words to paint, they refused to recant or adjure the faith for which they had already suffered so much. Need we wonder, therefore, that in a single year 30,000 of these persecuted Palatines left the land of their birth, the "Fatherland" so dear to the German heart, and sought quiet homes in the land of Penn? What were the hardships of the New England Pilgrims compared with those of our forefathers? The right of free worship, it is true, was denied them, but did they look on blackened hearthstones, on fields laid waste, and a land drenched with the blood of friends and brothers? Nothing of all this; and while we can never too much extol their self denial, their independence and
22
HISTORICAL SKETCH.
their courage, still we must say, their sufferings seem almost trivial beside those of the heroic race from whom we claim descent. It is an ancestry of which we may well feel proud. We, their descendants, have forgotten or fail to remember their trials and sufferings in the days of old. Not so, however, with those who still abide in the old home · beyond the sea. The traveler who to-day visits the vine- clad hills of the Palatinate, will often hear the farmer call his dog "Melac," "Melac," in detestation of the memory of the inhuman butcher of that name, who, two hundred years ago, made the castellated Rhine run red with inno- cent blood.
FIRST SETTLERS.
As early as 1700, roving and isolated Indian traders had found their way to the banks of the Susquehanna, within the present bounds of Lancaster county, and carried on a profitable traffic with the natives. The first resident settlers came about the year 1708 or 9; they were Swiss Mennonites, and families from the Lower Palatinate, and took up their abode on the northern side of the Pequea creek .* They were speedily reinforced by fresh arrivals from the Palatinate, and Huguenots, and soon quite a number of settlements grew up around them.
On the Conestoga and Octoraro, other colonies were speedily founded. It was not until 1717, however, that pioneers found their way into Earl township. This honor belongs to Hans Graaf, a Swiss refugee, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1696, and after remaining for some years in the vicinity of Philadelphia, first located in the Pequea
*Im Jahr 1709, kamen etliche familien von der Pfalz welche von den vertriebenen Schweizern abstamnten und liessen sich nieder in Lancaster county .- Eby's Geschichter der Mennoniten, p. 151.
23
FIRST SETTLERS.
valley. While in pursuit of his strayed horses, he found his way into what is familiarly known as Groff's Thal, within the limits of West Earl township. Pleased with the country, he had his wife, children and chattels con- veyed thitber, and located on the stream now called Groff's Run, where he soon after took up land .*
*The survey of this land was made on October 4, 1718, and calls for 1150 acres: on the 28th of February, 1724, he bought 250 acres from Martin Kendrick and Hans Herr, who had purchased 5000 acres from Penn, on the 22d of November, 1717. Under these two warrants there were surveyed to him, in a single tract, on a branch of the Conestoga, (Groff's Run), 1419 acres, on October 10, 1727, and for which a deed was made to him by Thomas Penn, on November 18, 1737. This deed, after reciting the circumstances of the survey, goes on and makes transfer-"of all mines, min- erals, quarries, meadows, marshes, savannas, swamps, cripples, woods, underwoods, timber and trees, ways, waters, water-courses, liberties, profits, commodities, advantages, hereditaments and apurtenances whatsoever, to hawk and hunt, fish and fowl in and upon the hereby granted land and premises." The price paid for this goodly tract of land was £141, 18, 0, and one English silver shilling quit rent for every one hundred acres, to be paid annually on every first of March, in the city of Lancaster. Ascertaining in some way, that his tract did not contain the full number of acres called for by his deed, he asked for a re-survey, which was granted on October 16, 1742, when 91 additional acres were given him as shortage.
As he was the earliest settler in these townships, so also was he the wealthiest citizen at the time of his death, in 1746, and I there- fore append, as a matter of curious interest, the inventory of his estate as filed by the appraisers ; it is as follows: "A true Inven- tory of all the Goods, Chattels and Credits of Hance Græf of Earltown in the County of Lancaster and Province of Pennsilvania, late Deceased, made & approved the fifth day of May 1746, by us whose names are hereunto Subscribed. Impris.
£ s. d.
His Wearing Apparell
" Riding Mare, Saddle & Bridle 5 16 3
To Horses, Mares and Colts 15 18 0
" Horned Cattle. 32 00
" Sheep 22 00
" Swines. 2 15 0
0 19 0
" An Old Waggon
5 00
" Little Waggon 3 15 0
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.