USA > Pennsylvania > Bucks County > Bristol > A history of Bristol borough in the county of Bucks, state of Pennsylvania, anciently known as "Buckingham"; being the third oldest town and second chartered borough in Pennsylvania, from its earliest times to the present year 1911 > Part 17
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freight house, struck the passenger coach which had been stored therein, with such foce as to drive its end through the wall of the building, across the open space and through the side of the Stewart dwelling. When the car stopped, its forward end hung suspended over the table where the Stewart family were eating their dinner. No one in the Steward home was injured, although Mrs. Steward suffered severely from shock. The fireman and greaser. of the express train, however, were seriously injured, both of whom suffered the amputation of a foot.
County Elections .- The elections for county officers were held at Bristol until the county seat was removed to Newtown, in 1725, when they were changed to the latter place and continued there for many years. The first division of the county into election districts was by the court in 1742, but no places were fixed for the polls. Bristol, Falls and Middletown formed the first district. The county was divided into two election districts by the act of June 14th, 1777. Bristol was included in the second district and the elections were held at Newtown. In 1794, for the greater convenience of the voters the county was divided into five election districts. Bristol, Falls and Bensalem comprised the fifth district and the elections were held in the old court house, on Cedar Street, Bristol. By 1818 all the townships in the county had become separate election districts, with the exception of Bristol Township and Borough, whose elections were held in the old court house.
Caleb N. Taylor, of Bristol Township, Only Delegate From Pennsylvania, Who Voted for Abraham Lincoln, in the Republican National Convention of 1860 .- At the centennial anniversary celebration of the birth of Abra- ham Lincoln, held in the Colonial Theatre, February 12, 1909, by the school children of Bristol Borough, Charles E. Scott, the cashier of the Farmers' National Bank, in an address, told how in 1860, Caleb N. Taylor, of Bristol Township, went as a delegate to the National convention in Chicago and was the only one of all the Pennsylvania delegation who refused to be tied by the unit rule and
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would not vote for Simon Cameron for President, but cast his vote for Abraham Lincoln, who was eventually nominated.
Mr. Scott said in part: "There is a historical incident of much local interest connected with the anniversary we are celebrating today, of which probably not a half- dozen persons in this building are aware, and most of those who knew of it have forgotten long ago; but I want to transmit it to you, young people, that you may not only bear it in mind as a matter of local pride, but that it may lead you to take a greater interest in each recur- ring anniversary of our martyred president, when you know that you have a peculiar, right to do so.
"Do you know that this town and Township of Bristol, in this County of Bucks, is the only spot in all the State of Pennsylvania that can most fitly commemorate the birth of President Lincoln? When the Chicago conven- tion met in 1860, to choose a nominee for the presidency of these United States, Caleb N. Taylor, of Bristol Town- ship-and I might say of Bristol Borough, for he was the largest holder of real estate in the borough; after- wards president of our Bristol bank and our member of Congress-was selected as delegate from this Congres- sional District, then embracing the counties of Bucks and Lehigh. It was afterwards formed from Bucks County and the Twenty-third ward of Philadelphia, and was not, as at present, composed of Bucks and Montgomery coun- ties. His alternate being a gentleman from Lehigh Coun- ty, who could not attend the convention, Benjamin J. Taylor, of Bristol, was appointed alternate in his stead, and accompanied Mr. Taylor to Chicago.
"When our delegate arrived in Chicago, he was attracted by a man of thoroughly western characteristics, who was looked up to by his fellows as a born leader; as a man of excellent judgment and considerable attain- ments. This man was Abraham Lincoln, of Illinois, and a number of delegates intended to place his name before the convention. After personally judging of his qualifi- cations, and diligent inquiry as to the outlook, for Mr. Taylor was a thorough investigator, and never went into anything blind, whether in politics or business, he de-
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cided to vote for him when a ballot should be taken, and did so from first to last; the entire balance of the dele- gation casting their votes for Simon Cameron, of Penn- sylvania, though knowing full well that Cameron had not a ghost of a chance to succeed ..
"Therefore, I say, that this is the only spot in this whole state that was honored by having one of its citi- zens among the foremost in placing Lincoln's name be- fore the people of the United States for election to that high office."
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EPOCH VII.
PERIOD OF THE CIVIL WAR.
Lincoln Greeted by Bristolians .- February 21st, 1861, was a day long to be remembered in Bristol. President- elect Abraham Lincoln had left his western home a few days before, and started on his long journey to Washing- ton, via New York, Philadelphia, Harrisburg and Balti- more. The news had reached Bristol that Mr. Lincoln was in New York and would pass through here in the afternoon en route to Philadelphia. A large crowd gath- ered at the station and to their great surprise the train stopped at the depot. Surging around the rear platform of the last car, in which Mr. Lincoln and his family were riding, they made the welkin ring with their cheers for the new president. As the tall form of Lincoln appeared in the doorway, Frank Woodington, Sr., bounded up the steps of the car, and grasping the President's hand said : "Mr. Lincoln, when you get to be President, enforce the laws." Lincoln gave Woodington's hand a hearty shake and said: "That I will try to do, my friend." Wooding- ton was followed by a colored man and lastly by Gilbert Tomlinson. The train was moving as the latter gentle- man sprang to the ground, but Lincoln stood in the door- way waving his hand to the cheering crowd, until he disappeared from view.
A Bristol Girl Unfurls First Confederate Flag .- In an old scrap book belonging to Charles M. Foster, was found the following newspaper clipping, which shows that Miss Tyler, a daughter of Robert Tyler, who for many years was a prominent resident of Bristol, but who at the
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breaking out of the Civil War, left the town and cast his lot with the South, was accorded the much to be regretted privilege of unfurling the first Confederate Flag :
"At a little after noon yesterday," says the Montgomery (Alabama) Advertiser, of the 6th instant (1861), "the Congress adopted a flag for the Confederacy, which may be described thus: Three bars, each in width, one-third of the depth of the flag; the upper and lower bars red, and the middle one white; a blue field in the upper left- hand corner, with seven stars in a circle. The secretary of the Congress was ordered to have a flag prepared and hoisted on the Capitol immediately ; and under the direc- tion of Commander Ingraham, and assisted by Lieuten- ant-Colonel Sayre, late of the United States Marine Corps, the ensign of the Federation was prepared and ready for hoisting by a little before 4 o'clock P. M., when it was run up by Miss Tyler (a granddaughter of ex- President Tyler), in the presence of a considerable crowd. The Blues saluted the flag with seven guns, and Mr. Canning's fine band from the theatre, furnished excellent music for the occasion."
Bristol's Patriotism at Sumter's Fall .- Our fellow- townsman, Charles M. Foster contributes this interesting article, in which he tells of that memorable day in Bristol, when on the morning news was received of the surrender of Fort Sumter, the people gave expression to their patriotic feelings by displaying flags :
"April 14, 1861, was a memorable day in Bristol. I was employed by my father, James V. Foster, in the retail dry goods and grocery business at No. 33 Mill Street. At that time my father was serving as a juryman in the United States Court at Philadelphia. I had been reading every day with much interest of the conduct of the seces- sionists in the South, and the attack on Fort Sumter and the Steamer, Star of the West, which had been sent with supplies for Major Anderson.
"Being extra busy on account of father's absence, I had not looked over the morning paper, but on going out on the pavement and looking across the river towards Bur- lington, I saw the large flag flying from the Beldin Hotel,
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and knew it meant something out of the ordinary, as flags were not numerous and not often displayed except on Independence Day, Washington's birthday, and during political campaigns. As I stood looking at the flag, James S. Fine came along, and drawing his attention to it, I asked him if he knew what it meant. He replied : 'Yes, have you not read the morning papers yet? Major Anderson has been compelled to surrender Fort Sumter to the rebels, and people all over the land are showing their patriotism by displaying the stars and stripes.'
"My young heart was stirred with the news which I had heard and immediately going to the housetop, flung my flag to the breeze. At that time few flags were owned by Bristol people and on national holidays but two were to be seen, the one on the Delaware House and the other my own. Charles E. Scott, who is cashier of the Farm- ers' National Bank, had erected a nice flag staff on his father's store on Radcliffe Street, and was the first man to unfurl his flag on that memorable morning and I was the next. We were followed by Lewis F. Pratt, proprie- tor of the Delaware House, and Henry G. Booz, who resided at the corner of Cedar and Walnut Streets. Then flags were swung across the streets by Captain James McClain, of Franklin Street, and William H. White, of Bath Street.
"The demand for flags became so great that I was kept busy for several days giving information how to make them and to rig poles for their display, which information it was a great pleasure for me to give. The larger cities were unable to supply the demand for bunting and other material was brought into use. Samuel Cabeen, of the firm of Bostwick & Cabeen, whose place of business was at the corner of Mill and Pond Streets, purchased a lot of red, white and blue delaine which made very handsome flags. A fine one of that material, twelve by eighteen feet, was soon displayed from the roof of their building. One of the same dimensions was displayed from a high pole on the cupola of Dorrance & Doran's flour mill. W. H. H. Fine's Hotel at the corner of Mill and Bath Streets run up a fourteen-foot flag. W. H. Evans swung a nice twelve-foot flag across the street from his store, corner
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of Mill and Wood Streets. The employees of W. K. Kelly's iron foundry, on Wood Street, purchased a flag for their building. The scholars of the Wood Street and Otter Street public schools collected money for flags, which were displayed from staffs on each of the buildings.
"On April 18, 1861, a mast and topmast, 115 feet high, was erected at the intersection of Mill and Radcliffe Streets, and a handsome flag twenty by thirty-six feet was unfurled to the breeze with appropriate ceremonies, the Rev. P. J. Cox, of the Wood Street M. E. Church, making the presentation speech. The day was bright and very warm, with a fine southerly breeze. This was fol- lowed by a sudden rain and wind storm from the West and before the flag, which a few minutes before had been unfurled with loud cheers and hurrahs, could be hauled down, the wind tore out the top of the pole where the halyards were fastened, and the flag thus released, was carried over the Delaware House towards the river. The lower end of the flag, however, still clung to the halyards, and it was promptly secured without further damage. The next day it was floating as proudly as ever in the breeze.
"Mrs. Lewis T. Pratt, who stood by, remarked it was rather a bad omen, indicating a severe struggle, but as the flag was not lost, its enemies would finally be de- feated and the flag and nation preserved.
"The flag continued to fly nearly every day and was allowed to wear away without being repaired, so that in three years there was little left of it except the union. It was finally loaned to an entertainment out of Bristol and was never returned. I forgot to mention that the flag was made by Mrs. Hal Martin and other ladies of the town, each star bearing the name of the person who made it. The mast and flag were both paid for by patriotic citizens of Bristol and vicinity.
"Toward the close of the war, when the fall of Rich- mond seemed certain, Mrs. Cornelius C. Pratt, aided by others, collected $100 by subscription and purchased a new flag, twenty by thirty feet, and placed it in charge of a committee consisting of John H. Jones, Charles H. Pratt and myself, with positive orders not to loan it, but
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to use it only for national purposes. These instructions were strictly adhered to, except on the occasion of the two-hundredth anniversary of the founding of the city of Burlington, when it was promptly returned in good condition.
"The mast was struck by lightning during the summer of 1879, on the 4th day of August, and so badly damaged that it was cut down. The flag was placed in the custody of H. Clay Beatty Post, No. 73, G. A. R. I find there were a few others who displayed the flag during those exciting days which followed the surrender of Fort Sumter, name- ly : C. C. Douglass' stove and tin store on Mill Street, S. S. Rue, on Wood Street; John Dorrance, on Radcliffe Street; Captain Burnett Landreth, at Bloomsdale; Cap- tain Jackson, on Pond Street; J. W. Hall, on Wood Street; J. H. Chambers, on Mill Street; J. Merrick Brown, corner of Market and Pond Streets ; John Wright, Mill Street, near canal, Robert C. Beatty, on Radcliffe Street. Captain Joseph H. Hutchinson, on Beaver Street, erected a high mast and topmast on his lawn, the flag when run to the top, being seen for several miles around. A large and beautiful flag made of flannel was swung from the store of John Davis across Radcliffe Street, near the Hollow Bridge. Many other citizens, imbued with feelings of patriotism, displayed smaller flags from the windows of their dwellings.
"Thus was the spark of patriotism ignited in this locality, by the firing of the first gun in the Civil War; a patriotism that sent our brave men to the front when Lincoln called for aid; a patriotism that sustained them during those bloody years of warfare; that sent many of them to martyrs' graves, cheering the old flag; that enabled men like Michael Dougherty to withstand the horrors of Confederate hell holes, like Libby and Ander- sonville prisons; that made heroes like Henry Clay Beatty; that brought desolation to many homes; but through it all a patriotism that rose above partisanship, and with but one thought, that of preserving the integrity of the nation, gave to our town a long list of noble patriots, whose names we honor and whose memory will never fade."
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Young America Aroused .- The spirit of patriotism aroused by the fall of Fort Sumter, affected even the chil- dren of the town, and they were not slow in giving public expression to their patriotic feelings. On Monday, April 29, the children of Public Schools Nos. I and 2, made an effective display, in 'a juvenile parade, with banners bear- ing appropriate mottoes, displayed in their ranks. The ceremonies commenced by unfurling to the breeze, at School House No. I, a beautiful American flag, 8 by 12 feet, when J. Magill, Esq., was called to the stand and delivered a patriotic address, the ceremonies closing by the children uniting in singing the Star-Spangled Banner.
The young cavalcade, with their superiors, then re- paired to School House No. 2, where a similar flag was raised and addresses delivered by Amos Briggs, Esq., Colonel Montgomery and Caleb N. Taylor, Esq., closing with three cheers for the Stars and Stripes. Thus, by the patriotic fervor of childhood, was fuel added to the already glowing fires of patriotism.
Patriotic Enthusiasm .- Before the flag was lowered on Fort Sumter, a company roll call for the formation of an infantry corps was opened in Bristol by Wesley M. Lee, Esq., and on the day preceding the fall of Sumter, thir- teen able-bodied men had signed the call for volunteers. A meeting was held in the town hall on the evening of April 13, 1861, at 7:30 o'clock, at which time contribu- tions amounting to $100 were pledged, and others con- jointly promised that $1,000 should be raised. The com- pany, when organized, was to be drilled by Colonel W. R. Montgomery, a resident of the town.
Then followed the surrender of Fort Sumter and the old town was on fire with patriotism. The drum and fife were heard in the streets by day and night. To the credit of the town, the muster roll of the company then forming soon reached eighty, nearly all of whom were young men. A few of the citizens, with praiseworthy consideration, resolved to give encouragement to the patriotic move- ment by at once starting a subscription for the purpose of clothing these volunteers and sustaining their families in their absence-a considerable sum was immediately
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raised. The work of preparing flannel underclothes was commenced by some forty ladies, in the basement of the Presbyterian Church. The Masonic Fraternity promptly offered the spacious lower room of their handsome hall, to the new company, as a place for drill, and there, three times a day, the men assembled for that purpose. Colonel Montgomery took a great interest in the com- pany, and was busily employed day and night, in making them familiar with the manual of arms.
About the first of May the enrolled men went by rail to Philadelphia for inspection, and with the exception of three, who were struck off, passed a most satisfactory and commendable inspection. It was intimated that they might look forward to being accepted as a part of Penn- sylvania's reserve force under command of Colonel Wm. Mann. The enrollment of the company was augmented by the signing of several recruits from Tullytown. An election was held, according to military rule, and William Kinsey, Robert Patterson and John Dorrance were duly sworn and affirmed as an election board, by Jos. B. Pen- nington, Esq. W. S. Thompson was unanimously elected captain, H. Clay Beatty, first lieutenant, and S. J. La Rue, second lieutenant. The company was named the "Montgomery Guards of Bristol," in honor of their fellow citizen, Colonel Wm. R. Montgomery.
Subsequently the ladies of Bristol presented to the Montgomery Guards a suit of silk colors, to be carried with them to the tented field. The Rev. Cox, pastor of the Bristol M. E. Church, made the presentation speech, which was highly patriotic. Lieutenant H. Clay Beatty accepted the colors in behalf of the company in a neat and pertinent speech, glowing with patriotism. A revolver was presented to Captain Thompson, and also to First Lieutenant H. Clay Beatty, and Second Lieutenant S. J. La Rue; each of the gentlemen replied in appropriate terms.
By the time the company was fully equipped, drilled and ready for service, the women of Bristol had made 358 substantial woolen garments. Among those active in the work was an honored matron of 84, Mrs. Mary Street, also another, nearly as far advanced, Mrs. Rebecca James, who with equal zeal, embarked in the labor of love.
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Sword Presentation .- Soon after the formation of the Montgomery Guards, William Kinsey, Esq., made a loan presentation to Captain Thompson, of the handsome sword and sash formerly in the possession of his son, Lieutenant Samuel Kinsey, deceased, attached to the United States Artillery Corps. The friends of Lieutenant Samuel J. La Rue, a few weeks later presented him with a handsome sword; and subsequently a superb sword and belt costing $30, was presented to Lieutenant H. C. Beatty, by his personal friends of Bristol. The presenta- tion was made on the part of the donors, at the Masonic Hall, by the Rev. P. J. Cox, of the M. E. Church.
The Montgomery Guards Inspected .- This fine body of our citizen soldiery, who at the time of their informal inspection on the 18th ult., to be mustered into Colonel Mann's regiment, attracted marked encomiums for their soldiery appearance, again repaired to Philadelphia on Wednesday, May 29, 1861, leaving Bristol on board the Steamer Warner, and on arriving in the city marched to the rendezvous, Girard House, for inspection. The com- pany numbered 88, including the officers-and were fully inspected by Dr. H. H. Smith. Seven were rejected for want of height, two for other causes, and one after in- spection declined serving for the full term of three years or during the war. With these exceptions the company passed an acceptable inspection.
The company then returned to Bristol, with orders to hold themselves in readiness to proceed to Camp Wash- ington, at Easton, to join the nine companies under com- mand of Colonel Wm. B. Mann, which had preceded them, where the regiment was to be instructed in the school of the soldier by well disciplined officers and teachers.
The Montgomery Guards left on Saturday, June I, 1861, at 7:50 A. M., by way of the C. & A. and B. D. Railroad for Easton; but no arms or accoutrements were furnished to the company before their arrival at the camp. (Bache's Index.)
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Bristol's Three Military Companies .- During the Civil War, Bristol raised three military companies, one of which fought through the war from 1861-65, making an honorable record.
Company I (Montgomery Guards), Third Regiment Pennsylvania Reserves, of Bristol, was recruited during the month of April, 1861, by Captain W. S. Thompson, a veteran of the Mexican War. Upon his promotion to lieutenant-colonel, First Lieutenant Henry C. Beatty was elected captain. He was killed in August, 1862, at the second battle of Bull Run, Samuel J. La Rue becoming captain and Samuel Beatty, first lieutenant. During the term of service, nine men of the company were killed outright, and eight died of wounds and disease.
On the 15th of April, 1861, President Lincoln issued a proclamation calling upon the Northern States for 75,000 men for ninety days, the quota of Pennsylvania being 16,000. Steps were immediately taken in Bristol to form a company, but before it was accomplished the state quota was filled.
There being several thousand Pennsylvanians re- cruited in excess of the quota, Governor Curtin was authorized by an act of the Legislature, dated May 15th, 1861, to organize a State Military Corps, to be called the Reserve Volunteer Corps of Pennsylvania, composed of thirteen regiments of infantry, one regiment of cavalry, and one regiment of light artillery. The volunteers were assembled during the last weeks of May in several camps of instruction, where they were formed into regiments.
The Bristol Company was assigned to the Third Regi- ment of Reserves, of which N. G. Sickles was elected colonel, and William S. Thompson, captain of the Bristol Company, was elected lieutenant-colonel.
After serving for about two months in the state service, the regiment was ordered to Washington, arriving there on the evening of July 25th, and was mustered into the United States service on the 27th of July. Its first en- gagement was at Dranesville, on the 20th of October.
The regiment, after participating in the Peninsular Campaign, was moved up to Manassas to support Gen- eral Pope, where it was in action at Gainesville and Sec-
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ond Bull Run, and afterwards took part in the Antietam campaign. Following this, the regiment participated in the attack on Fredericksburg, and the campaign in West Virginia, under General Crook. The regiment was mus- tered out of service in July, 1864.
Company I, Seventeenth Regiment, Reynold's Division of Pennsylvania Militia, was organized in 1862, and Burnet Landreth was elected captain. The company, as originally organized, numbered sixty men. The fol- lowing is a brief history of the object of the formation and story of the short service of the militia of 1862:
On the 10th of September, the rebels having crossed to the northern bank of the Potomac, Governor Curtin, of Pennsylvania, authorized by President Lincoln and General Orders No. 35 and 36, called for 50,000 men. Two provisional regiments of militia went forward next day, followed up by others as organized. Fifteen regi- ments, ten days later, were concentrated at Hagerstown, Maryland, ten regiments at Boonsboro, and the other twenty-five regiments were on the march, or in state of preparation, making 50,000 men in all, constituting what was officially termed the Militia Division. This was commanded by Major-General John F. Reynolds, who was detached from the second corps of the Army of the Potomac to mould the new force into shape.
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