USA > Pennsylvania > Montour County > Danville > Danville, Montour County, Pennsylvania : a collection of historical and biographical sketches > Part 6
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cheered those who, in pioneer days, had long been deprived of this valuable fruit. On the eastern side of the orchard was a row of cherry trees, which bore profusely, and afforded a good supply of that fruit for the neighborhood. Near by there was also a number of peach trees, bearing fine crops of that luscious fruit.
The cider-mill and press were of the best construction, built by that skillful workman, Jacob W. Maus. The mill was composed of double cylinders ; the press was worked with a powerful screw, a foot in diameter. Eight or ten barrels of cider could be manufac- tured daily with them. I have seen none to excel them since.
Mr. Daniel Frazer had an orchard just east of his stone mansion ; it was planted at a later period than the others ; the trees were young and thrifty, and bore good fruit, and were in good bearing in 1820.
These were all Philadelphians, who had in that fine market ac- quired a just appreciation of good fruit, and made laudable efforts to procure it. Some of the trees were obtained in that city, some at Burlington, and some at Northumberland. In the latter place several English emigrants had introduced many choice varieties of fruits, and devoted much care to their successful cultivation.
Mr. Paul Adams, a mile or two north-eastwardly from Danville, had a small but prolific orchard, chiefly of winter apples. I well remember at an early day seeing the trees bending under the burden of a luxuriant crop, and some of the boughs breaking off, notwith- standing the props placed under them for their protection. Mr. Adams was an elder in the Presbyterian church, a just man of most venerable, and, I may with no impropriety say, apostolic appearance ; and this aspect was made the more impressive by his wearing a muslin cap of pure white on his venerable head, which was wholly destitute of hair.
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GENERAL DANIEL MONTGOMERY.
Three generations have enjoyed the fruits of these orchards, planted on the borders of civilization by the provident early settlers, but several of them are now occupied by the dwellings of the citizens within the corporate limits of the borough.
In addition to these, John and Alexander Montgomery, the Sechlers, the Gaskinses, the Sanderses, the Diehls, the Rishels, the Fousts, and others, had orchards of which I knew so little, that I shall not attempt to describe them.
The apple is said by Professor Salisbury to be highly nutritious, and he claims to have demonstrated that it is superior to the potato in the principles that go to increase the muscle and brain of man. Doctor Johnson highly esteemed it for culinary purposes. He said : " If possible, have a good orchard. I knew a clergyman of small income, who brought up a family very reputably, which he chiefly fed on apple dumplings."
Before closing, I must mention the noted peach orchard of Mr. Michael Blue, two or three miles out on the hills. He was a Jersey- man, and they are said naturally to take to watermelons and peaches. It was congruous, therefore, that he should have the best peach orchard in the settlement. It was an extensive one, of natural fruit, consequently of small size, but much of it good flavor, yet not such as would compete with the large and luscious fruit from Delaware and New Jersey, now offered by the fruiterers in the Baltimore, Philadelphia, and New York markets.
General Daniel Montgomery.
General Daniel Montgomery was born in Chester county, Penn- sylvania, and while yet a boy came to this place with his father, General William Montgomery. He was the most active and enter- prising member of the family. To him, mainly, we are indebted for the town itself and the current of trade that nourished its young life and growth amid the struggles of its early days. For him the town was properly named, "Danville." He opened the first store in the place, where the Montour House now stands, and he also engaged in many enterprises, both in and out of the town, but all tending to build up and to give substantial importance to the place. Like his father, he was elected to Congress, and held many public trusts that will appear in the progress of this volume. He died in Danville, in 1831.
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HISTORY OF DANVILLE.
General Daniel Montgomery, from the universal testimony of his cotemporaries, was in all respects one of the best men that ever in his life work blessed the people of this place. He was not only active and enterprising, leading the way in every progressive im- provement, but he was at the same time just, considerate, and generous, kind, and charitable. Daniel Ramsey says, that in times of scarcity, often experienced in frontier settlements, General Daniel Montgomery would never refuse a poor man a sack of flour, but freely give it without payment ; but no man could buy grain or flour from him at any price, only for his own use. Speculators were not allowed to make " a corner" in those days. His death, in 1831, was felt as a severe blow to the progress of the town, and he was sincerely mourned by many who had shared his bounty, as well as by the people in general. His funeral was one of the largest ever witnessed in this place. It was not the " hollow circumstance of woe," but the stern reality. His memory is still gratefully cherished by those who knew the sterling character of his mind and the ever- lasting goodness of his heart.
Items of Yore.
The fort or block-house nearest to Danville was at Washington- ville. It was erected at quite an early day on ground now partly owned by Joseph Hartman. The fort stood a little up the creek from the spot where Snyder's mill now stands. Very recently, musket balls and other war-like relics have been found on or near the site of the old fort.
Reverend Isaac Grier, father of Judge Grier and of M. C. Grier, late of Danville, deceased, was an eminent scholar, who graduated at Dickinson College in 1788 and entered the ministry in 1791. He taught as principal of the academy in Northumberland for some years, and died in that place on the 23d of August, 1814, in the fifty-first year of his age. He was not only a scholar, but a Christian in the full sense of the word.
The first Bible society of Pennsylvania was organized at Milton, in 1816. Reverend J. B. Patterson, long the beloved pastor of the Presbyterian church in Danville, was the first president of the society.
The old " Franklin Court " was located in the rear of the Mansion House, built by John Moore. It was a noted place of resort in the
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THE OLD BLOCK-HOUSE.
olden time. There are some still living who can remember the gay and jolly times they had in old Franklin Court in the days of auld lang syne. It has now disappeared, all but its crumbling foun- dation, and many of its old habitues like its ancient walls have gone into the shadows of the past.
There was a celebration of the 4th of July in Danville, in 1807, at which Daniel Montgomery was president, James Laird vice presi- dent, and Andrew Russell secretary. On this occasion James Boyd offered a very curious toast. Political parties at that time were those who called themselves " Democratic Republicans," the Fed- eralists, and there was also an offshoot of the regular Democrats who opposed Simon Snyder and favored Spayd or some other Democrat for Governor. These were called " Quids." The toast referred to was as follows: " The Quids-a jackass a piece to them and a snail's horn for a spur, so that each mule may ride his own ass."
The Old Block-House. -
The spirit of improvement has rudely laid its relentless hands on the time-honored memorials of auld lang syne. One by one the old, familiar objects that were wont to greet our eyes, are passing away. Among these cherished objects, is the old block-house. There in days gone by, the cheerful pop of ginger beer, enlivened the scene in the sultry summer time. Then how imposing the edifice stood when May became a squire and it became a temple of justice. The elements battered and the floods rolled into its cellar in vain. How the weather-beaten structure seemed to loom up among the loftier buildings reared around it, and how proudly it wore its chimney crown as the "Rangers " and the " Buglers " gathered beneath its ancient shingles when " court was called and the squire showed them that the " way of transgressors" is jailward. There too they con- centrated their forces in the long winter evenings to while away the passing hours, as he of the ermine regulated the fitful motion of some quaint or crazy, old clock; or stewed the bivalves on that curious little stove. And when the trying time arrived to choose town officers, how they probed the character and weighed the chances of each sovereign whose name was presented for office. Finally when the ticket was agreed upon, then they passed the hat around for con-
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HISTORY OF DANVILLE.
tributions to meet the expense of printing. On one occasion the hat had an unfortunate hole in the crown; but the statesman was equal to the occasion. With solemn mien he held his open hand under the place where the hole was, and deftly caught the pennies as they sifted through. The next thing in order was to raise a unani- mous boom for the candidates chosen and as a rule they were suc- cessful.
Venerable old building ! you came down to us from a former generation. Where now will the Rangers congregate? I almost imagine I see them mournfully turning away, each with a chip as a memorial ; for lo! the jack-screw was applied and the time of de- parture came. Farewell old block-house. The judge and the court may pass away, but a new legend shall be woven to charm a future coterie, when you have gone to kindling wood. In the palmy days of its glory the village statesmen assembled there and often displayed more solid sense than Congress or the cabinet. But it departed. It does not lie in ruins like Baalbec, Palmyra, or Pompeii ; but it went away bodily by force of jack-screws and rollers, and left not a chip be- hind. Even the kindly host, who once amid the cheerful voices and sage discussions of the aforesaid village statemen dealt out to them the steaming oysters and the popping, foaming small beer, he too with solemn mien took a bottle in one hand and a stew-pan in the other, and followed the venerable structure as it slowly rolled up Mulberry street.
Population.
The population of Danville, owing to its large manufactories, is somewhat fluctuating. Though of late years even the once floating element is becoming more permanent. The reason is found in the fact, that many of the workingmen have secured homes of their own, and have made this their settled residence.
In 1840 the population of Danville was about 2,000. In 1850 it was 3,333, and in the census taken by the writer of this book, under the town authorities in 1855, the population was 5,422, of whom 2,583 were females and 2,839 were males. In making this enumera- tion, I was assisted by Doctors Cromlish and Richter. In 1860 the official report of Doctor Caldwell, enumerator under the authority of the United States, was 6,580. In 1870 L. O. VanAlen was ap-
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RANDOM ITEMS.
pointed to take the census. He reported the population of Danville to be 8,129. In 1880 H. B. Strickland, P. C. Murray, John K. Geringer and Charles H. Gulick were the Government enumerators. They reported a population of 7,698. First ward, 2,029 ; Second ward, 1,392 ; Third ward, 2,276 ; Fourth ward, 2,001.
Random Items.
The steam mill on Church street was built by P. Baldy, senior, in 1839. It is a solid, stone structure and is still in operation. Abram Sechler, the pioneer of band music, was for many years the engineer at the stone mill .. It is at present idle.
The Cross-Keys was one of the early taverns in this place. It stood on the river bank, on the site now occupied by Robert Mc- Coy's residence. It was long kept by Mrs. Donaldson and was in its day the noted hostelrie of Danville. There the officers of the " Codorus," the pioneer steamer up the Susquehanna, were ban- quetted, on their ill-fated voyage ; and there on many a joyous oc- casion the villagers met in the olden time.
The old charcoal furnace, and the first in this place, was built by B. Patterson in 1838. It stood near where the Catawissa railroad crosses the street, just beyond the Mahoning steam mill. When anthracite coal began to be used, the old furnace was abandoned and suffered to fall into ruin. The last vestige of the old stack has long since disappeared.
Doctor Petrikin built a woolen factory near the present location of the co-operative rolling-mill, about 1830. After being in opera- tion for some time it stood idle for many years, as a habitation for " the owls and the bats." Some time between 1856 and 1860 Dun- can C. Hartman converted it into a planing-mill and did quite a lively business. It was afterwards used as a spike and bolt factory by the proprietors of the Rough and Ready ; but was swept away by fire in the winter of 1871.
There was a bank of discount and deposit opened in 1871 in the room now occupied by the "New York tea store," where Alex. M. Diehl presides, takes greenbacks and the " dollars of the daddies," on deposit, and issues fine groceries, fruits and notions on which there is no discount. The bank, after some time, paid its depositors and discontinued the business.
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HISTORY OF DANVILLE.
THE KEYSTONE BUILDING, an elegant structure adjoining the Opera House, was built by Colonel A. H. Brown in 1874. It is now occupied by Sheldon & Co.'s dry goods store. Colonel Brown, as he is familiarly called, is one of those jovial, cheerful and gener- ous hearted men we meet only once in a while. He served in the One Hundred and Eighty-fourth regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteers, and was wounded in battle. He was a gallant soldier, a man among men.
There was a grist and plaster-mill, known as the John Montgomery mill, that occupied the site of the stone mill that was burnt a few years ago. The stone mill was built in 1825 and there was a woolen factory and a carding machine at one end. This establishment did ยท an extensive business in its day. Just back of Daniel Ramsey's residence there was a woolen factory built by General William Montgomery, who left it to Daniel and Alexander, his sons; after- wards it was operated by Alexander alone, until 1839. The build- ing has now entirely disappeared ; but it was a great public benefit in early days.
There was also a saw-mill a little further south, in the rear of C. Laubach's residence. This is also gone without leaving a vestige to mark the place where it stood.
Some distance down the canal was General Daniel Montgomery's mili. The ruins are yet visible in the crumbling foundation of a building that was of so much benefit to the public, and the scene of so many acts of kindness to the destitute of that day.
In 1816 the ground occupied by the Montour House was an orchard, except the corner occupied by a small, two-story brick house, where Daniel Montgomery opened the first store in Danville. The ground from Mill street up the canal was a swamp extending up to General Daniel Montgomery's farm, which has since been known as the Pineo farm, and on which the asylum for the insane is now built. There in that extensive swamp the tall rushes grew and the bull-frogs held their evening concerts.
A meadow, between the canal and Mulberry street, extended from Mill street up to the Pineo farm. It was partly overgrown with tall rushes and low shrubbery through which the creek mean- dered in the tortuous channel chosen by itself, and the green sward was on a level with its banks. Large and beautiful willows stood where now the cinder covers the ground and has almost buried the
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MONTGOMERY BUILDING.
stream that struggles through its narrow bed far below the bald and barren surface of to-day.
" Franklin Court " was an old-time cafe, that stood in the rear of the Mansion House, and was the theater of many diversified scenes in the drama of human life. The foundation walls can still be seen among the accumulating rubbish ; but it has almost passed out of the memory of man.
JOHN C. BOYD came to Danville about 1820. He was a descend- ant of a prominent and patriotic family of Chester county, Penn- sylvania. His remote ancestors were from Ireland. After he came to Danville he married a daughter of General Daniel Montgomery, and engaged in merchandising, in the room that had been occupied by his father-in-law. In 1824 he sold his stock of goods and located on a tract of land that had been given to Mrs. Boyd as a marriage portion, by General Montgomery, and since known as " Boyd's farm." It is some two miles up the river on the opposite shore. There he built a flouring-mill that is still in operation. He also enlarged the farm by purchase of adjoining lands, built the home- stead and greatly improved the property. The snow-white and cheerful homestead affords a pleasant and beautiful view, with its surroundings, from the heights round about Danville. Mr. Boyd also joined with much energy in the various enterprises and public improvements of the day. Affable in his manners, generous, firm and enterprising, he won the respect of his fellow-citizens and made for himself an honorable record, and his children may be proud to bear his name through the world. But death came in the midst of his usefulness and closed his career while it was yet high noon. He died on the 18th day of August, 1849, in the fifty-sixth year of his age. His sons inherit much of the sterling qualities of mind and heart that characterized their honored father, John C. Boyd.
Montgomery Building.
Alexander Montgomery, who was born in the old mansion across the street from this building, and who died at the age of three score and ten, in the very chamber of his birth, was the founder of this edifice, as well as one of the early founders of Danville, and it still bears his name. The town received its name from his brother, General Daniel Montgomery, by whom its original foundation was
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HISTORY OF DANVILLE.
laid. Highly respected in their day, their memory is still grate- fully cherished by their descendants and those with whom they were associated in life. But to the building. The first wing, or that on Bloom street, was erected in 1841, by Alexander Mont- gomery, and the other portion of the structure was erected in 1845.
On the 28th day of April, 1848, it was entirely destroyed by fire, involving a loss of some $15,000. It was occupied at the time of the fire by A. F. Russell's dry goods store ; M. C. Grier's drug store ; the office of the Danville Democrat, published by Charles Cook, Esquire ; Mrs. Lenhart's dwelling ; and J. G. Maxwell's dry goods store. Mr. Russel lost about $4,000. Mr. Grier's loss was near $3,000. Mrs. Lenhart's furniture and the office of the Demo- crat, with the building, were all a total loss. During the same season Mr. Montgomery contracted with A. G. Voris for its re- building, but Mr. Montgomery died before its completion. The executors, Andrew F. Russell and Michael C. Grier, however, car- ried out the contracts, and the present Montgomery building was completed the same year. It is advantageously situated, at the cor- ner of Mill and Bloom streets, in the center of business operations, and is still one of the prominent objects of the town. It has a front of sixty feet on Mill street, extending fifty feet on Bloom street, and is three stories high.
Journalism,
Generally speaking, journalism in Danville is not in the front line of local progress. There is an evident want of the compre- hensive power and consequent influence of the progressive news- paper. It should lead the way in giving tone and character to its locality presenting its advantages, inviting the investment of cap- ital, extending the labor market, and thus aid in building up the town and giving it character abroad. It should reflect in its columns the material progress, the intellectual, social, moral and religious tone of the community.
The local journal should be on the front line of progress, and at the same time the steadfast conservator of established principles. It should not only disseminate the current news of the day ; but its manifest power should be devoted to the welfare of the community. On a higher plane than a mere agent of news, it should defend the
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JOURNALISM.
right and oppose the wrong on all subjects involving human rights, moral ethics or social economy. An intelligent people at the present day will demand something more of a family visitor than a mere dispenser of news. Positive ideas are required, and always pointing in the right direction. The local journal should lead the way in every wholesome enterprise, presenting local advantages, in- viting the investment of capital, extending the labor market and thus aid in building up and giving tone and character to its locality. It should reflect in its columns the material progress, the intellectual, moral and social advancement of the community.
When we survey the active and growing trade in our midst, with the noble work of our moral and religious institutions, and then peruse our local journals, we pause and wonder what has become of the boasted power of the press. On the other hand there seems to be a misapprehension in relation to the claims and the importance of the newspaper. I know by experience that the local journalist has many difficulties to encounter, not the least of which is the want of appreciation, especially when he essays to lift the standard above the common level, and fails to charm the prurient desire for that which is akin to gossip. Too often, the journalist who panders to the depraved appetite of the unthinking will thrive and grow rich, where he who aims to elevate society would starve to death. Much of the character of the local journal depends on the community. If the public prefers to pay for trash, petty gossip or party twaddle, then is the community in a measure responsible for the trifling character that too often marks the public journal of the present day. The American under the control of its founder, established a repu- tation throughout the State, not because it carefully noted local oc- currences but because it was a reflex of its locality, presenting con- tinually the past, the present, and the future probabilities of Dan- ville. The business enterprises, its vast capabilities and its general sentiment were known and judged by the standard presented in its columns. But a local journal should be a reflex of public sentiment only when that sentiment is right, or negatively, in its efforts to cor- rect that which is erroneous. It should be progressive, leading pub- lic sentiment onward and upward, instructing the young and guid- ing their ambition in a proper direction. It should inform all who read its pages, not only on the current events of the day but on
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HISTORY OF DANVILLE.
all subjects that lie within the scope of newspaper discussion. It should lead the way in every material interest and in all that can minister to the public welfare. In a word, it should be a household companion, whose cheerful presence adds to the sunshine of life, whilst it also educates, ministering to the pleasure and profit of all who peruse its columns. Such is a model newspaper. And now for a hasty sketch of the Danville newspapers during the last sixty-seven years.
Newspapers.
The history of the pioneer newspapers in Danville is very meager. No files were kept and their very names are almost forgotten. One copy of the Express, dated 1818 is all I could find. It is faded with time and contains little about the local situation at that day. The Columbia Gazette was published by George Sweeny in 1813 and this was no doubt the first newspaper enterprise in Danville. In 1815 Jonathan Lodge established the Express. It was after- wards published by Lodge & Caruthers. Judge Cooper was also among the early editors of this place. The Watchman was estab- lished in 1820 by Mr. Sweeny, on the corner of Market and Ferry streets, now occupied by the residence of Doctor Simington. All these papers were mainly reprints of foreign and domestic news ; except when Judge Cooper and George Sweeny pointed their sharp goose quills at each other. This was the introduction of newspaper war in Danville; and that spirit has marked the course of local journalism ever since. It is a war that is not over yet," though it shakes no " bloody shirt."
" The Danville Intelligencer. "
The Danville Intelligencer was founded by Valentine Best, in 1828, as the organ of the Democratic party. Valentine Best was a man of strong will, ardent passions and in his dealings scrupulously honest. He stood deservedly high in the respect and confidence of the public generally, though his paper was intensely Democratic and one of the most bitter and unrelenting against a political op- ponent. The Intelligencer from its first issue in 1828, to the present time, has been the local organ of the Democratic party. In the days of Mr. Best it was arrayed against the Whigs, and many a
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