USA > Pennsylvania > Dauphin County > Commemorative biographical encyclopedia of Dauphin County, Pennsylvania : containing sketches of prominent and representative citizens and many of the early Scotch-Irish and German settlers. Pt. 1 > Part 10
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ble location always made it a rival to the capital city.
Previous to the opening of the Pennsylva- nia canal the transportation facilities of the town were confined to Troy coaches or stages for passengers and Conestoga wagons, great lumbering vehicles with semi-circular tops of sail-cloth, drawn by six stalwart horses, for goods of various descriptions. This was expensive-and the completion of the public improvements was an eventful era in the progress and development of this locality. Real estate advanced, commission and other merchants established themselves on the line of the canal, rope and boat manufactories were erected and various enterprises inaugu- rated, giving new life to the town and thrift and prosperity to the people. Several lines of passenger packets were established, and it was considered a wonderful thing when four packet boats arrived and departed in a single day. The consuming of three days and a half to go to Pittsburgh began to be deemed slow, and the building of railroads opened up another era in the development of the country. In September, 1836, the first train of cars entered the limits of Harrisburg over the Harrisburg, Portsmouth, Mount Joy and Lancaster railroad. Following this effort, other rapid transit enterprises were carried forward to completion until at the present time-when no less than one hundred trains of passenger cars arrive and leave Harris- burg daily for different points. We give these facts to show not only how great the travel, but the wonderful progress made in transit.
In the year 1860 Harrisburg received its highest corporate honors-that of a city. Although at the time arousing much oppo- sition, yet its subsequent growth and pros- perity have fully realized the fondest expec- tations of its earnest advocates. In popula- tion it ranks the sixth in the State, and in manufacturinginterests it is the third-Pitts- burgh and Philadelphia alone exceeding it- while in the Union it ranks high among the inland cities. Its citizens are proud of its prosperity, of its importance and its high social position, and look forward to the time when the " Greater Harrisburg " will take prominent place among the cities of the American Union.
On the 19th of July, 1877, while the gov- ernor and commander-in-chief of the forces of Pennsylvania was on his way to visit the Pacific Coast, a general strike was inaugu-
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rated by the employes of nearly all the rail- roads in the United States. In many por- tions of the Commonwealth the municipal and eounty authorities failed to restore traffic, and for several days the rioters, for such many proved to be, had control of affairs. The burning of the round-house depot, and ears at Pittsburgh, and the attack of a reckless and infuriated mob upon the soldiery at that place, gave eause for great uneasiness and alarm. Travel was suspended on all the railroads centering at Harrisburg ..
Sunday, the 22d, was one of great suspense. The authorities, however, were quietly pre- paring for the emergency. That evening, one by one, the City Grays found their way to the arsenal, which had been defenseless. On Monday the Mexican trophy eannon were duly spiked, but the mob, inereased by tramps, showed signs of disquiet, and affairs were assuming such a situation that beeame suddenly alarming. The sheriff, Colonel Jennings, returned to Harrisburg on Mon- day afternoon and found the eity in the power of the mob ; the proclamation of the mayor of the day previous availing little. The sheriff met the committee of citizens, and when Mayor Patterson informed hin that his power to quiet affairs had been ex- hansted, at once took measures to preserve peace and quiet and restore order. A pro- clamation was issued ealling upon the law- abiding citizens to aid him in the faithful discharge of his duty. The city was placed under military rule, and the sheriff sum- moned all reputable eitizens for the support of " law and order."
In the afternoon quite a number of Phila- delphia soldiers, who had reached Fairview on the west side of the Susquehanna, sur- rendered their arms to a handful of the rioters, who, with increasing numbers, brought the former to the city, marching them through Market street to the depot. It was a pitiable sight, and only proved what was in store had not the prompt meas- ures of Colonel Jennings cheeked this ebulli- tion of outlawry.
On Monday night the rioters, several hun- dred in number, began breaking into the stores, ostensibly for guns, but in reality for pillage. At this juneture the sheriff gath- ered the citizens, and placing himself at their head came upon the mob, who soon dis- persed, while upwards of thirty were arrested and placed in prison. On Tuesday twelve hundred of the citizens organized into" law
and order " companies, paraded through the eity, and from that time, during the emer- geney, the eitizens patrolled the city, pre- serving order, without ealling to their assist- anee the military. Governor Hartranft, in the subsequent message to the Assembly, highly complimented the example of the offi- eers and the citizens of the Capital City.
In the meantime the military gathered for the defense of the different railroads so as to insure peace and restore traffic, and when this was aecomplished the eitizen-soldiery returned to their homes.
One of the most important events eon- nected with the erection of the county of Dauphin, and the founding of the eity of Harrisburg, was the celebration of their one hundredth anniversary. As the act for ereeting part of the county of Lancaster into a separate eounty, to be called the county of Dauphin, was passed Mareh 4, 1785, at noon Wednesday, March 4, 1SS5, the bells and whistles throughout the county announced the completion of the first centennial of its existence. On the 14th of April, 1885, the founding of the city was celebrated by the Dauphin County Historieal Society. But owing to eireuinstances, which it is not necessary here to partieularize, the time for the general celebration was fixed for the seeond week in September, 1885. On Sun- day, September 13, 1885, commemorative diseourses were delivered in nearly all of the churches of the eity and county, while interesting serviees suitable to the occasion were held in the various Sunday-schools. The first day's celebration on Monday, Sep- tember 14, was called "Children's Day," when over five thousand pupils of the various schools marehed in procession to Harris Park, where open exereises were held. At noon of that day in the court house commem- orative addresses were delivered by the Gov- ernor of the Commonwealth, Robert E. Pat- tison, the Hon. John W. Simonton, judge of the District, Simon Cameron Wilson, mayor of the city of Harrisburg, Judge Hiester, Major Mumma and others. In the evening at the same place, the historieal address was made by Judge MePherson, followed by the centennial poem by Dr. Charles C. Bom- baugh, a native of Harrisburg, with remarks by General Cameron and Governor Ramsey, of Minnesota. The second day, Tuesday, was " Military and Civic Day." In display and the number of men in line, in connection with the magnificent weather and the large
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attendance, the enthusiasm was exceedingly great. The third day, Wednesday, was " Industrial Day," and the county and city covered themselves with glory ; proud, in- deed, of their achievements, and grateful that their people gave snch evidence of the respect of the world. The fourth day, Thurs- day, was given to the firemen, who wound up the celebration with real centennial splendor. Over and above all, however, wasthe antiquarian display, which had heen inaugurated by the Dauphin County Histor; ical Society and which has been conceded to have been the most unique, as it was the most successful exhibition of the kind ever held in this or any other country. The ex- tent of the exhibition was of a marvelous character and the wonder and surprise of the citizens, as well as of the strangers within the city's gates. The entire centennial anniversary proved one of the greatest suc- cesses in the history of modern times. Per- chance no public manifestation or display of any character did so much to benefit a city as the celebration .of 1885. Through its industrial parade it showed to the world the resources of the city and county, and the grand successes of its varicd industries. Shortly after a board of trade was organized, and through it much has been done to make Harrisburg one of the greatest manufacturing cities in the Union.
The " Greater " Harrisburg is approaching. The first clamor for admission to the mu- nicipality was from the township on the north-the site of that historic spot, "Camp Curtin." Other sections will no doubt soon follow. The ordinance of November 28, 1895, extending the boundaries reads :
"That all that picce or parcel of land be- ginning at a point in the center of Cameron street, thirty-five feet (35) north of the south side of Maclay street; thence westwardly along Maclay street and thirty-five (35) feet, north of the south side of Maclay street, and by this line continued across Susquehanna river, to low water mark on the west shore of the Susquehanna river, about nine thou- sand, six hundred and seventy feet (9,670); thence northwardly along the west shore of the Susquehanna river, and the low water line of the same, about six thousand, one hundred and ten (6,110) feet to the center of Park Jane extended ; thence eastwardly by the center of Park lane extended and the center of Park lane about nine thousand, six hundred and fifty (9,650) feet to the center of
Cameron strcet, as laid out on the City Offi- cial Plat; thence southwardly through the center of Cameron street, about three thou- sand, four hundred and forty (3,440) feet, to the place of beginning, containing one thou- sand and sixty acres, more or less, and being a part of the township of Susquehanna."
Before concluding this historical resume of Dauphin county it is eminently proper that some allusion be made to the intellect- ual and religious culture of our people. The pioneer settlers who opened up this region of country to civilization were not adven - turers, but they came to America for reli- gious liberty, and they planted a new gov- ernment in this western world, resting upon the immutable foundations of education and Christianity. Whether Scotch-Irish or Ger- man, they brought with them their Bible, their minister and their school teacher, and to-day, in referring to the educational history of Dauphin county, the results must speak for themselves. Although within the limits of the county there are no extensive educa- tional institutions, yet, from border to bor- der, the public school system gives to every one the advantages of a high education. Over half a million of dollars is annually expended for tuition and the erection of school buildings. One-sixth of the popula- tion is in attendance upon the schools, and the facilities in the larger citics for educa- tional advancement are such as to fit the pupils either for the ordinary business walks of life or for the advanced curriculum of the leading colleges and universities of America.
As to the religious training of the early settlers, one need only refer to the churches as almost cocval with the coming of the first pioneer. Prior to 1725 the Presbyterian churches of Derry, Paxtang and Hanover were in a state of organization. These have had a remarkable history, but the limits of this brief sketch will not allow more than this allusion. Following these early land- marks of the Scotch-Irish settlement came the organization of the Reformed and Lu- theran churches. With them in order came others, until now within the limits of the county, on every hillside and in every nook and corner of its towns and townships, can be recognized the achievements of the fath- ers, who have bequeathed to us the blessings of literary culture and religious freedom. Keeping pace with these Christian move- ments, benevolent institutions have sprung up in all parts of the city and county. Few
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districts in any State of the Union are better provided than our own county with the ad- vantages the people of to-day possess and enjoy.
ORIGIN OF DAUPHIN COUNTY NAMES OF PLACES.
Dauphin county was formed of part of Lancaster, part of Berks, comprised all of the present Lebanon county from 1785 to 1813. It was named after the oldest son of Louis XVI., whose official title was " The Dauphin." Its official population 1890, 96,- 977.
Harrisburg, from the owner of the site of the town, the second John Harris. For several years after 1785 the name in all of- ficial documents is "Louisburg," in honor of the King of France. The French Revo- lution came to aid public opinion and its proper name was restored. It was incorpo- rated as a borough in 1791, and as a city in 1860. Its population in 1890, 39,335; 1896, nearly 55,000. It has been the seat of government of Pennsylvania since 1812, and the seat of justice since the formation of the county.
Paxtang was one of the original town- ships, formed Angust 17, 1729. The name is derived from the Indian stream passing through it. The township covered part of the present county of Lebanon as far as Rac- coon creek. Derry also trespassed on its ad- joining neighbor, Lebanon township, but was limited in 1813 to the present Derry, Lon- donderry and Conewago. In the ancient surveys it appears to have comprised a greater area, as far east as the Quitopahilla creek, now in Lebanon county.
Derry .- One of the original townships formed August 17, 1729, from the town of that name, in the Province of Ulster, Ire- land. Population, 2,2SS. It has several post-offices, Swatara, Vain, Waltonville, and Derry Church, the latter in the neighbor- hood of the most ancient church in Dau- phin county.
Hanover .- The three townships of this name preserve the memory of the house of Hanover, in the days when those who named them were loyal subjects of the English kings of that insignificant German Electo- rate. The original Hanover was formed in 1737. Then as follows:
East Hanover was formed 1785-popula- tion, 1890, 1,428.
West Hanover formed 1785-population, 1890, 1,013.
South Hanover formed 1842-population, 1890, 1,062.
Union Deposit, in South Hanover, was originally Unionville or Uniontown. Its pro- prietors, Isaac Hershey and Philip Wolfers- berger, when they laid it out in 1845, were at a loss for a name. The post-office depart- ment stepped in, deciding that it should be " Union Deposit P. O."
Hoernerstown, from the family of that name, in South Hanover.
Manadaville, from Manada creek, where it joins the Swatara in South Hanover.
Sandbeach is a post-office in South Han- over.
Grantville, from U. S. Grant, President of the United States. It is in East Hanover.
Earleysville, formerly Schell's " West Han- over post-office," although the village is in East Hanover township.
Manada Hill, in West Hanover, from Manada creek. It is a post-office.
Hummelstown .- Laid out by Frederick Hummel in 1762. He called it " Fredericks- town," but the present name soon superseded that. It was incorporated in 1874. The population is 1,486.
Londonderry township, from the county of that name in the north of Ireland ; formed in February, 1768, originally bounded on the west by Derry and south by Conewago creek. This was changed in 1826, when its present boundaries were fixed.
Geinburg in this township, from a Ger- man family who came to Londonderry about 1762, and whose family burial ground is north of Middletown and Lancaster turn- pike. The site of the graveyard is in culti- vation of crops by the present owners; some tombstones are yet scattered over its site.
Port Royal, in the same township, near the confluence of the Susquehanna river and the Swatara creek, was laid out in the expectation of becoming a considerable town. Hence the high-sounding name.
Conewago township, formed April 2, 1850, from Londonderry, and named from the creek which divides Dauphin from Lancas- ter. Population, 872.
Bachmanville, named after a family of that name, is the site of a post-office.
Deodate is also a post-office in this town- ship.
Swatara township, named from the ereek on its southern border in 1799, when it was
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formed. In 1840, upon the formation of Lower Swatara, its boundaries were fixed as they are now. Its total population in 1890 was 3,329, including Oberlin, formerly Churchville, and Highland, now Enhaute post-office.
Steelton, from the great iron establish- ment there. It was incorporated in 187S and had a population of 9,250 in 1890; now, 1896, well nigh 14,000, including Ewington.
Lower Swatara was formed in 1840 from Swatara proper. Middletown was a borough long before its formation. Population of the township, not including Highspire, in 1890, was 793.
Highspire .- One tradition goes that this striking name was given by Dantermann or Barnes, who laid out the lots in 1813, from Spires in Germany, the birthplace of Dau- termann. A borough with a population in 1890 of 971, now, 1896, claiming nearly 1,500.
Middletown received its name on account of its being nearly equi-distant from Lan- caster and Carlisle, the great interior towns of the Province, when John Fisher began to survey lots in 1759. In 1761 he had sold thirty lots to actual settlers. This is the oldest town and seeond in population in the county ; was formed into a borough in 1S28. Its population, 1890, 5,080.
The Paxtang of 1729 has now dwindled to Lower Paxtang, which it beeame in 1767, when Upper Paxtang was formed. Popula- tion, including Linglestown, 1,517.
Linglestown was "St. Thomas post-office " for a number of years. The land upon which it is built was owned by Thomas Lingle, who set off a village plot as early as 1765.
Susquehanna, a township named for the river, its western boundary. It was formed January 30, 1815. The population was in 1890, 3,653, redueed in 1896 by extending the northern boundaries of the city of Har- risburg.
Rockville, " Fort Hunter post-office," is a village of perhaps 300 persons. It was laid out in 1838.
Estherton [Coxestown], from one of the wives of Col. Cornelius Cox, owner of the land. It was laid out about 1765, and prior to the Revolution was a more important place than it has been since.
Progress, upon the supposition that it was to be a progressive town, in a very rural lo- cality. It is a post-office.
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Upper Paxtang township was formed in 1765 and covered all of the county above, north of the Kittatinny mountain. It is now of moderate area, with a population of 1,494 in 1890.
Killinger, a post-office named after Hon. John W. Killinger, is in this township. Pax- ton is also another post-office named after an English family of that name in Bucks county.
Millersburg, in Upper Paxtang, laid out by Daniel Miller in 1807 and called for him. It is a borough with a population of 1,527.
Halifax township, formed in 1803, and named for the old Provincial fort of 1756 of that name. Its population is 1,208.
Matamoras, from the Mexican town of that name on the Rio Grande. When the town was laid out, General Taylor and Mata- moras occupied the attention of the whole country. Hence the name.
Powell's Valley is a post-office in Halifax township.
Halifax borough contains a population of 515. It was laid out in 1794 on land of George Winter by George Scheffer and Peter Rice, but seems to have fallen into other hands before its plot was recorded. It occu- pies the site of the fort of 1756, named for Lord Halifax by Colonels Clapham and Burd. who superintended its erection.
Middle Paxtang township was formed in 1787. Its population is 1,327.
Ellendale is a post-office in this township.
Dauphin was first Port Lyon, afterwards Greensburg, after Judge Innis Green, who owned the land and laid it into lots in 1824. It was ereeted into a borough in 1854. Population, 740.
Jackson township was formed August 23, 182S, and named for the then President, Andrew Jackson. Its population is 1,137.
Jacksonville in this township, officially "Enders' " " post-office, was laid out about 1825 on land formerly of George Enders.
Fisherville, laid out in 1854, named for the late Major George Fisher. A joke about this locality long time ago was, that in time of war it would be a safe place " for the loca- tion of the Federal Government." At a more modern date a distinguished member of Congress from this district gravely pro- posed that if Washington was a dangerous locality, Fisherville, in Dauphin county, was a safe one. As no one had ever heard of the town, the suggestion was not seriously considered by the alarmed strategists of
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1863. It is in Jackson township, and is a post town.
Washington township, named for the illustrious first President of the United States, was formed September 3, 1845. Its population is 1,698, including Elizabeth- ville (named for the wife of the owner of the land) village, a post-office.
Washington Square is its near neighbor on the Lykens Valley railroad.
Short Mountain is another village at which there is a post-office named from the coal mines in its immediate vicinity.
Reed township, the smallest township in Dauphin county, named for William Reed, who lived abont midway between Clark's Ferry and Halifax. His son, William Reed, resides in the old homestead. Previous to being called Reed township it was Penn election district, formed of portions of Mid- dle Paxtang and Halifax April 6, 1849. When the township was created the portion of Middle Paxtang reverted to the original township. Population in 1890. 267.
Benvenue, a post-office with a fancy name, probably from the Scotch for mountain, and good entertainment therewith. "Choniata" would be a better Americanism.
Wiconisco township, named for the stream of that name, was formed in July 2, 1839. Its population is 2,280.
Wiconisco village (laid out in 1848) and post-office, named for the township.
Lykens is a borough with a population of 2,450. It was laid out in 1848 by Edward Gratz, and is the principal town of the Ly- kens Valley coal district.
Lykens township was so named for one of the earliest settlers of the locality, and was formed in 1810. Erdman post-office is in this township.
Williams township, formed February 7, 1869, named for an early seitler. Its popu- lation is 1,485.
Williamstown, a post-office and thriving borough. Population, 2,324.
Rush township, formed October 23, 1819. The least populous of the townships, con- taining only 151 inhabitants, named for Benjamin Rush, a signer of the Declaration of Independence.
MifHin township, named for Governor Thomas Mifflin, and formed October 22, 1S18. Population, 546. Rife and Specceville are post-offices in this township.
Berrysburg, originally called Hellerstown, a borough of 1871 in this township, named
for a family of that name. This village has 426 inhabitants.
Uniontown, at first called Snydertown, of- ficially Pillow P. O., after Gen. Gideon J. Pillow, a soldier of the Mexican war, formed in 1864. Population, 333.
Curtin, for Governor Andrew G. Curtin, is a post-office. Mifflin township has therefore five post-offices.
Jefferson township, named for Thomas Jefferson and formed April 23, 1842. Popu- lation, 317. Carsonville is a post-office in this township.
Gratz borough was laid out in 1805 by Simon Gratz, incorporated in 1852. Popu- lation in 1890, 490.
Wayne township, named for the gallant Gen. Anthony Wayne, is the youngest of the townships, formed from the east and most populous portion of Jefferson in May, 1878. Population, 512.
Enterline, named for a family of that name; also in this township. Waynesville P. O. is in Wayne.
Penbrook, the latest incorporated borough in the county. It adjoins Harrisburg on the east.
Having reviewed the various civil sub-di- visions of the county, we turn to an expla- uation and deseription of its valleys and streams.
On the south are Conewago ereek and val- ley. The stream is found on all early charts, spelled as at present.
Then we have the superb Swatara and its fertile valley. It enters the county in East Hanover and finishes its course at Middle- town. The old Union canal was laid ont on its northern bank. Its tributaries are Bow, Manada and Beaver creeks. All early sur- veys give the same names.
The Paxtang has its source ncar Lingles- town and discharges itself into the Susque- hanna at Harrisburg. It is so spelled in the early surveys and should be so now, although it is frequently written Paxton.
Fishing creek has its source in West Han- over and discharges itself at Fort Hunter. It is almost entirely in Middle Paxtang.
Stony ereek, the origin of the name is very patent. Its whole course is turbulent, over a rocky bed, crowded into the narrow valley between the Kittatinny and Sharp mountains. It discharges itself at Dauphin.
Clark's creek and valley, named for the Clark family who settled there about 1728. Its source is in Schuylkill county, through
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