USA > Pennsylvania > Franklin County > Chambersburg > Historical sketch of Franklin County, Pennsylvania : prepared for the centennial celebration held at Chambersburg, Penn'a, July 4th, 1876, and subsequently enlarged by I. H. M'Cauley John M. Pomeroy, publisher. To which is added a valuable appendix by J. L. Suesserott, D. M. Kennedy and others, and embellished by over one hundred lithographic illustrations, drawn by W. W. Denslow > Part 12
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 (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34
116
Historical Sketch of Franklin County.
which their forefathers delighted in of tilling the soil, and making the waste places to blossom as the rose, and have betaken them- selves to the pursuit of wealth and happiness in other channels, such as merchandize, medicine, divinity and law. The plodding, pains-taking, economical, law-abiding and steady-going Germans have taken their places, and now, thousands of acres, and hundreds of farms, that fifty years ago were the possessions of the descend- ants of those who were their first owners, under titles from the pro- prietaries or the colonial authorities, know them no more. Their very names are almost forgotten in the land for which they did so much, and suffered so many privations ; and if remembered at all, it is because of some deed of daring or act of bravery, that has gone upon the pages of history, and will serve to keep them in grateful remembrance long after all personal recollections of them shall have passed away in the regions in which they lived, and acted, and died.
OUR "MEN OF MARK" IN POLITICS.
In this free country we are all sovereign by birth, and the highest office in the gift of the people is open to the humblest son of the land. Each and every native born citizen has an equal right to as- pire thereto, and to all the other high places of honor and profit under the government. And the very fact that a man has thus been trusted and honored, and elevated by the people, has ever been con- sidered as honoring the district of country in which he was born. Viewed in this light Franklin county is entitled to a full share of the honors attaching to the great men of the nation.
James Buchanan, the fifteenth President of the United States, was born in our county, on the 23d day of April, 1791. His birth place was a wild and romantie spot in the gorge of the Cove, or North mountain, about four miles west of Mercersburg. Previous to his elevation to the Presidency he had served ten years in the House of Representatives of the United States ; and ten years in the Senate of the United States ; had been Minister to Russia ; Secretary of State for the United States, and Minister to England.
William Findlay, the fourth Governor of Pennsylvania, was born at Mercersburg, in our county, on the 20th of June, 1768. In 1797 he was elected to the House of Representatives of Pennsylvania from this county; and re-elected in 1804-'05-'06 and '07. On the 13th of January, 1807, he was elected State Treasurer by the Legis- lature, whereupon he resigned his seat in the House ; and from that date until the 2d of December, 1817, a period of nearly eleven years, he was annually re-elected State Treasurer, in several instances by a unanimous vote. In 1817 Mr. Findlay was elected Governor by the Republicans, and resigned the Treasurer's office on the 2d of Decem- ber of that year. He filled the gubernatorial chair for three years,
117
Historical Sketch of Franklin County.
was re-nominated in 1820, and beaten by Joseph Heister. At the session of the Legislature in 1821-122, he was elected to the United States Senate for the full term of six years, and after the expiration of his Senatorial service he was appointed by President Jackson,
. Treasurer of the United States Mint at Philadelphia, which position he held until the accession of General Harrison to the Presidency, when he resigned.
During his term as United States Senator his brother, Colonel John Findlay, was the representative of this congressional district, in the lower house, for the years 1819 to 1827, and his brother, Gen- eral James Findlay, represented the Cincinnati district of Ohio, from 1825 to 1833, thus presenting the unusual spectacle of three brothers sitting in the Congress of the United States at one time, a spectacle only once paralleled in the history of the government, namely, by the Washburn brothers, within the last few years.
Robert M'Clelland was born in Greencastle, in this county, on the 1st of August, 1807. In 1831 he was admitted to practice the law in our epurts, but removed to Pittsburg, and from thenee, in 1833, to Monroe, in the then territory of Michigan. In 1838 he was elected to the State Legislature of his adopted State, and was elected Speaker of the House of Representatives in 1843. In the same year he was elected a member of Congress, and was re-elected in 1845 and 1847. In 1850 he was a member of the Constitutional Convention of Mich- igan. In 1851 he was elected Governor of the State, and was subse- quently re-elected. In 1853 he was appointed by President Pierce Secretary of the Interior, which position he retained during the administration of President Pierce.
William Maclay, a native of our county, was a member of the Senate of the United States from this State, for the years 1759 to 1791.
Samuel Maclay, also a native of our county, was a Representa- tive in the lower House of Congress from 1795 to 1797, and a mem - ber of the Senate of the United States, from this State, from 1803 to 1808, when he resigned.
John Maelay, also a native of our county, was a magistrate in colonial times, and was a member of the Carpenter's Hall Confer- ence, at Philadelphia, from Cumberland county, in June, 1776, He was also a member of the Legislature from this county for the years 1791-'92, and 1793-'94. He died in Lurgan township.
These gentlemen were brothers, born in Lurgan township, in our county, and received their education at a classical school taught by Rev. John Blair, pastor of the three "Spring" churches, which was probably the first school of that character in the Cumberland Valley. William removed to Harrisburg and married a daughter of John Harris, and died there in 1804. Samuel Maclay removed
118
Historical Sketch of Franklin County.
to Mifflin county at the close of the revolution, and filled a number of important local offices there prior to his election to Congress.
Stephen Adams, also a native of our county, removed, at an early age, to the State of Mississippi, where he was subsequently elected to the House of Representatives of the United States, and also to the Senate of the United States.
The following gentlemen, natives of our county, served in the House of Representatives of the United States, and in the other positions indicated, viz .: James M'Lene, served in Congress in 1779-'80, was a member of the Provincial Conference of Pennsyl- vania held at Carpenter's Hall, Philadelphia, on the 25th of June, 1776; was a member of the convention that formed the constitution of 1776, for the State of Pennsylvania ; a member of the Supreme Executive Council of Pennsylvania, from Cumberland county, from November 9th, 1778, to December 28th, 1779; was elected to and served in the Council of Censors, from October, 1783, to October, 1784; was elected in October, 1784, a member of the Supreme Exec- utive Council from this county, and served for three years ; and was * also a representative from this county, in the convention of 1789, which formed the State Constitution of 1790; he was also a member of the House of Representatives of Pennsylvania from this county. in the sessions of 1787-'88-1788-'89-1790-'91, and 1793-'94. He died March 13th, 1806, and was buried at the Brown's mill graveyard.
John Rea, a native of this county, represented the Franklin and Bedford district in Congress from 1803 to 1811, being the 8th, 9th, 10th, and 11th Congresses. He was also in the 13th Congress, in the years 1813 and 1815. He was also the first Coroner of the county, elected in October, 1784, and served in the House of Representatives of Pennsylvania, for the years 1785-'S6-1789-'90-1792-'93-1796-'97- 1797-'98 and 1800-1801 ; and was in the Senate of Pennsylvania from 1823 to 1824, when he resigned, and Jaines Dunlop was elected in his place.
William Maclay, also & native of our county, represented the Franklin, Adams and Cumberland district in Congress for two terms, from 1815 to 1819. He had previously represented this county in the House of Representatives of Pennsylvania, for the years 1808 and 1809. He died in 1825.
David Fullerton was elected to Congress from this district in 1819, and took his seat at the opening of the first session of the sixteenth Congress, December 6th, 1819. He resigned in the summer of 1820. He afterwards represented this county in the State Senate from 1827 to 1839.
Thomas G. M'Culloh succeeded him, and filled out his term in Congress. Mr. M'Culloh also represented our county in the House of Representatives of the State in the sessions of 1831-'32-1832-'33 and 1834-'35.
--
W.W.D
RES.& OFFICE OF DR. B. FRANTZ , W. MAIN ST. WAYNESBORO, PA.
Page 274.
RES. OF HON. W. S. STENGER. CHAMB'G. PA.
119
Historical Sketch of Franklin County.
John Findlay, of our county, represented this district in Congress from 1821 to 1827.
James Findlay, his brother, also of our county, was in Congress from the Cincinnati district of Ohio, from 1825 to 1833.
Hon. Alexander Thompson, who was a native of this county, represented the Bedford district in Congress in 1824-'26. He was subsequently our President Judge from 1827 to 1842.
John Thompson, also born in our county, was a member of Con- gress from Ohio from 1 25 to 1827, and from 1829 to 1837.
Thomas Hartley Crawford, a native of Chambersburg, was in Congress from this district from 1828 to 1832. He also represented the county in the lower branch of the Legislature in 1833-'34. Was Commissioner of Indian Affairs and Judge of the Criminal Court of the District of Columbia for many years.
George Chambers, also a native of our town, was a representative of this district in Congress from 1832 to 1836. Was a delegate to the convention that framed the constitution of 1838, and a Justice of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania by appointment from Governor Johnston from April 12th to December, 1851.
James X. M'Lanahan, was born in Antrim township, in this coun -; ty, in 1809. He served in the Senate of Pennsylvania from this dis- triet in 1842-'43 and '44, and represented the district in Congress from 1848 to 1852.
David F. Robinson, also a native of Antrim township, represented our district in Congress for the years 1854 and 1856.
Wilson Reilly, a native of Quincy (formerly Washington) town- ship, in this county, represented this district in Congress in the years 1857 and 1858.
Hon. John A. Ahl, who a few years since represented the Cum- berland district in Congress, was born at Strasburg, in our county. His father was a physician, resident there many years ago, and engaged in the practice of his profession.
Hon. Win. S. Stenger, our present representative in Congress, was born at Loudon, in this county, on the 13th day of February, A. D. 1840. He was three times elected District Attorney of our county, and held and discharged the duties of the office from 1863 to 1872.
Hon. William A. Piper, a member of the present House of Repre- sentatives of the United States from the State of California, was born in Amberson's Valley, Fannett township, in our county, in the year 1825.
Hon. Alexander Campbell, a member of the present House of Representatives of the United States, from the State of Illinois, was also born at Concord, Fannett township, in our county, on the 4th of October, 1814.
120
Historical Sketch of Franklin County.
There are no doubt others who were born in our county who from other States and Territories held places in the National govern- ment, but I have not had the time nor the opportunity to look up their records. These names have been obtained through a cursory examination of some of the journals of Congress, and from other sources.
Besides these, our county has furnished Speakers to both branches of our State Legislature in the persons of Hon. Thomas Carson, in the Senate, and Hon. Frederick Smith, and Hon. John Rowe, in the House. The latter also held from 5th May, 1857, to Ist May, 1860, the important and responsible position of Surveyor General of our Commonwealth.
Messrs. James M'Lene and Abraham Smith, who represented our county in the Supreme Executive Council of the State from 1784 to 1790, were both natives of the county and residents in Antrim town - ship. The latter, if I am correctly informed, was a brother of Wil- liam Smith, the founder of Mercersburg. He was Lieutenant of Cumberland county for the years 1780-'81 and '82, and I am satisfied that he was a member of the House of Representatives from our county in the sessions of 1784-'85-'85-'86 and '86-'87. He was then, . and continued to be until April, 1803, the owner of a tract of near three hundred and fifty acres of land in Antrim township, which in 1803, he sold to Jacob Snively, of that township, when he removed to Mercersburg, where he died. An examination of the assess books of the county from 1786 to 1794 shows also that he was taxed in Antrim township for three hundred and thirty acres of land, and horses and other cattle, all these years, and that he was the only man of his name assessed in the county. He was appointed Lieutenant of Franklin county on the 7th of April, 1786; was elected to and served in the Supreme Executive Council from 1787 to 1790; was a member of the State convention that formed the State constitution of 1790, and represented the Senatorial district, composed of Franklin and Bedford counties, in our State, for the years 1790 to 1794. In his deed to Jacob Snively he is styled Colonel Abraham Smith, a title most probably attached to his former posi- tions as Lieutenant of the County, as it is not claimed that he did any military service, and a comparison of his signature to that deed with the signature of Abraham Smith, Lieutenant of Cumberland county in 1781, shows that they were written by one and the same person.
From 1790 to 1876, covering a period of eighty-six years, twenty- four persons have represented our county in the State Senate. Of these just one half (12), viz. : Abraham Smith, Thomas Johnston, James Poe, Archibald Rankin, Robert Smith, John Rhea, James Dunlap, David Fullerton, James X. M'Lanahan, Thomas Carson, George W. Brewer and Calvin M. Duncan were natives of our coun-
121
Historical Sketch of Franklin County.
ty; and two others-A. K. M'Clure and Chambers M'Kibben-were residents of the county at the times of their election.
It is worthy, also, of a passing notice, that the twogentlemen who ยท have filled the position of Clerk of the House of Representatives of the United States for terms longer than any others, should have been natives of adjoining counties, Franklin and Adams, in our State. Matthew St. Clair Clark was born at Greencastle, in our county, was admitted at our bar in 1811, and practiced the law here for several years ; was elected Clerk of the House of Representatives December 3d, 1822, and served until December 2d, 1833, and was elected again May 31st, 1841, and served until December 6th, 1843, making a total service of twelve years, six months and six days, the longest period the office has ever been held by one person. He was a whole-souled, genial fellow, an intimate associate of Clay, Web- ster, Calhoun, and all the great men who sat in Congress during his period of service.
Edward M'Pherson is a native of Adams county, and after serving this district for two terms in Congress, filled the office of Clerk of the House of Representatives for six consecutive Congresses-or from 1863 to 1875-being twelve years. Mr. M'Pherson's was there- fore the longest continuous service; Mr. Clark's the longest actual service.
Why may not we, as Pennsylvanians, and as citizens of Franklin county, justly feel proud when we look over this roll of " men of mark," and rightfully claim a portion of the honor that their deeds has reflected upon their country ?
OUR " LOST ARTS."
In the earlier years of our county's existence there were quite a number of trades and occupations carried on in various parts of the county that have long since been wholly abandoned, or are now very feebly continued. This result is owing mainly to the improve- ments made in the last one hundred years in machinery, whereby the great majority of the articles that were formerly made by hand are now turned out with the aid of machinery much more rapidly, more perfect, and greatly cheaper than they could be made at the present day in the old way.
In the year 1787 a man named - Mulholland commenced the manufacture of potash at Strasburg, which he continued till his death, in 1808.
In the year 1789 Patrick Campbell and - Morrow engaged in the same business at Chambersburg, and continued it until 1797, when the firm was changed to Patrick & Terance Campbell. They had their manufactory in the stone house near the west end of the Wolfstown bridge.
16
122
Historical Sketch of Franklin County.
From about 1800 or 1805 to 1825, William Drucks and Anthony Van Pool manufactured iron shovels and pans, in Greencastle, did a large business, and made considerable money.
The manufacture of mill-stones was established in Chambersburg about the year 1792, by James Falkner, Jr., and was extensively coudneted for many years. The stones were brought here in the rough, upon wagons, were then shaped up and put together, and large numbers sold in the county, and to other points further west, to those having need for them.
In 1820 George Walker and George Roupe carried on a " burr mill-stone mannfactory " on the Baltimore turnpike, about two miles east of Chambersburg.
Andrew Cleary also manufactured mill-stones in Chambersburg as late as 1829, he being the last person who carried on the business in the county. His shop was on West Market street None of these avocations are now carried on in our county that I know of.
In the latter part of the last century and in the carlier years of this century there were quite a number of oil mills in various sec- tions of the county, where oil was regularly manufactured from flax seed, much of which was annually raised by the farming community. There may yet be some places in the county where this business is carried on, but I do not know their locality if such there be.
Flax mills were also quite numerous in those early days, where the hemp raised by the farmers was broken and prepared for use. For one oil or hemp mill that can now be found grinding or pound- ing away, there were ten then.
In the last century there were few, if any, cut nails used. Almost all nails were then made by hand, upon the anvil, out of the iron bar. Every blacksmith did more or less of such work, and was looked to by his neighbors to supply them with all the nails they' needed for feneing, shingling, house building, &c. Early in the cen- try Hugh and Michael Greenfield established a large nail factory at Chambersburg, where they made all kinds of nails by hand. Their shop stood on the lot on which the Foundry of T. B. Wood & Co. now stands. In the year 1819 they declined the business, and handed over the shop to John R. Greenfield & Co., who continued it until about 1820.
From 1808 to 1810 or 1812, there was a nail factory carried on by the County Commissioners in the Jail, the prisoners being the work - men. Large sums of money were annually paid to Col. Samuel Hughes, by the county, for iron to be manufactured into nails in the county nail shops.
In the year 1814 Messrs. Brown & Watson established their "Con- ococheague Rolling Mill and Nail Factory." They made rolled iron, cut nails, brads, sprigs, &c., and were, I think, the first manu- facturers of cut nails in our county.
123
Historical Sketch of Franklin County.
In the year 1821 Christian Etter commenced the manufacture of cut nails in Chambersburg. His manufactory was located "on the north side of the Falling Spring, opposite the English Presbyterian church.
Thomas Johns commenced the manufacture of augers of all sizes at Chambersburg, at a very early day. They were made by hand, out of flat bars of iron, were twisted in the common vise, the edges filed down and burnished upon a large emery wheel, and the inner surface of the twist was painted black. It required considerable skill and experience to make a perfect article.
William Ferry also subsequently followed the same business ex- tensively for many years He had his manufactory at his dwelling on West Market street.
Philip Sholl, at a very early period, carried on at Chambersburg, the manufacture of cards for fulling mills, and for all other purposes.
George Faber, also, at a later period, followed the same business quite extensively. For many years he had his "card factory" on the lot where the Gillan property now stands, on West Market street, opposite Miller's Hotel. Mr. Faber gave employment to many females at "setting" or sticking cards. That work was then all done by hand, and it is said that many even of the better class of our females did not disdain to take work from Mr. Faber, and thus earn an honest penny. In after years he invented an ingenious machine for sticking his cards, and did away with female labor. He removed to Pittsburg about the year 1824.
Glove making was also carried on at this point for many years by a man named - Rians, and others.
About the year 1794, Anthony Snider commenced the manufac- ture of seythes and sickles where the upper brewery of David Wash- abaugh formerly stood, on West King street.
John and Thomas Johns, about the year 1812, commenced the manufacture of sickles and scythes in Chambersburg, and carried on the business largely and successfully for a long time, down to near 1820. Their factory was in "Kerrstown," on South Main street, on the lot south of Heart's pottery.
In the year 1820 a man named Jacob Smith commenced the man- ufacture of tacks of all sizes at Chambersburg. Each tack was made by hand, as no machinery for their manufacture had then been in- vented, or if invented had not been introduced here.
The manufacture of hats, which were then all made of wool and furs of various fineness, was carly commenced at various points in our county. John M'Clintock carried on in Waynesboro in 1810; John Rowe, Jacob Krepps and Jolin Weitzel about the same time at Greencastle; John M'Murdy and Thomas Carson at Mercersburg; and Jacob Deekert and others at Chambersburg. In the year 1815, Mr. M'Clintock removed from Waynesboro to Chambersburg, and
124
Historical Sketch of Franklin County.
for many years these gentlemen and others at other points in the county carried on the trade quite extensively. Now there is not a wool or fur hat made in the county. The seething "kettle" no longer sends up its steam clouds towards Heaven, its "planks" are riven and dry, the twang of the "bow" no longer is heard o'er the "hurl," and the song of the jolly "jour" at the midnight hour disturbs not the repose of the guardians of the night. For thirty years past, since the introduction of silk and machinery, the shiny "stove pipe" has supplanted the easy wool and felt of our fathers' time, and the business has been wholly abandoned, except here and there, where large factories exist.
Copper-smithing, too, is a calling almost wholly abandoned in our county. In former years it was largely and profitably carried on here by Jacob Heyser and others. Mr. Heyser came here from Ha- gerstown in the spring of 1794; at the same time William Baily, Jr., was carrying on the business in the shop occupied by his father for a number of years previously. Now copper stills and kettles and other articles are kept for sale by all our tinners and stove dealers, but they are generally obtained from abroad, from those who make them with the aid of the latest and most approved machinery.
Wagon making and whip making were, for many years, carried on most extensively at Loudon, in our county, after the completion of the turnpike to Pittsburg, and the fame of London's manufac- tures had spread far and wide over both the east and the west. Now there is not one wagon or one whip made at Loudon, where fifty years ago there were one hundred made.
The old family "spinning wheel," and the "domestic loom," by the aid of which our ancestors, one hundred years ago, were used to manufacture their yarn and thread, and weave the "linsey wool- sey" worn by their wives and daughters, and the corn-colored cloth worn by themselves, are now almost forgotten. They are "centen- nial curiosities" in the present day, and few of our young people know even what these machines look like, and fewer know how to use them.
OUR TOWNSHIPS.
I have been very desirous of ascertaining, if possible, when the various townships in our county were organized and out of what territory they were severally created. The territory now embraced in Franklin county was first in Chester county until May 10th, 1729, when Lancaster county was fo: med; then in Lancaster county until January 29th, 1750, when Cumberland county was formed ; and then in Cumberland county until September 9th, 1784, when the aet creating our county was passed.
The first authenticated action I have been able to find, looking to the bringing of this valley under the operation of the laws of the
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.