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 20
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Durham, Jack, convicted of murder,
59
Early settlements in county,
14
Election districts, old,
30
Elections, first,
29,51
Episcopal clergy,
189
Executive Council, Supreme,
16-
Fannet township, erection of,
129
Fenton, Colonel James, his regiment,
95
Findlay, Captain John, company roll,
99
" Elected Colonel,
105
First regiment, Cumberland county, .
74,5
15
104
7
26
-
First township, Cumberland county, . Flanagan, Captain John, company roll, Franklin county, acreage in, Area and location,
In the Revolution,
Railroad,
53
Surveyors,
42
Historical Sketch of Franklin County.
205
PAGES.
Franklin county, First election in,
29
Geological features,
28
Organization of,
24
.. Population,
16,50 27
Franklin township, erection of, .
French and Indian wars of 1744-'56,
Frontier forts,
17
Furnaces,
113
Gordon, Captain Samuel, company roll,
97 7
Grant to William Penn,
135
Guilford township, "
128
Hamilton township, " =
128
Hanna John. conviction for murder, .
58
Harper, Captain Michael, company roll,
94
Hays, Captain Patrick,
93
Hopewell township, formation of,
15
House of Representatives, members of,
166
Independence, war for,
22, 23
Inn Keepers in 1786-'88,
38
Irvine, Colonel William, his regiment,
77
Irwin, Colonel Jared, his regiment,
90
Jail, old,
32,34
Johnston, James, Şr.,
69
John,
70
١١ Colonel James,
69
Thomas,
69
Dr. Robert, .
69
Judges, President and Associate, .
35,168
Under constitution of 1776, 1790,
36
Judicial districts,
53,168
Jury Commissioners,
187
Justices in 1786-'88,
38
Justices who were Judges,
35
Land in the county,
26
= State,
7
Lancaster county, organization of,
8
Laws in force in 1784-'88,
28
Letterkenny township, organization of,
130
Liberty poles, erection of,
49
Lieutenants and Sub Lieutenants,
154
Lost Arts,
121
Lurgan township, organization of,
126
Soil, topography, &e.,
37, 135 - 16
Green township, erection of,
35
206
Historical Sketch of Franklin County.
PAGES. 187
Magaw, Colonel Robert,
74-6
Magaw, Dr. William,
74
Maryland, Grant for,
12.
Mason & Dixon's Line, history of,
11
M'Cammont, Major James, .
65
M'Kean John, convicted of murder,
59
Men of mark in politics,
117
Mennonite clergy, list of,
189
Merchants in 1786-'88, .
38
Metal township, erection of .
136
Methodist clergy, list of,
188
Mexican War,
108
Military Record,
63
Militia, lieutenants of,
154
Minerals in county,
113
Montgomery township, erection of,
133
Mormonism, history of, .
190
Murders, convictions for,
58
Murtaugh John, conviction for murder,.
60.
New Castle, location of,
13
New England, extent of,
12
New Jersey, grant for,
12
Newspapers in Franklin county,
42
Offices, Public, location of old,
33
Paper, mánufucture of,
55
Patton, Captain Samuel, company roll,
7
.. Landing of, .
13
Pennsylvania, grant for
7,13
Location and price of,
7
16 " 1876, list of,
193
Piper, Colonel William, his regiment,
90
Poor House, history of,
180,84
Population in 1786 and since, Changes in,
115
Post Offices, establishment of,
41,139
Postal facilities in 1788,
40
Potter, General James,
64
President Judges,
169
Presbyterian clergy, list of,
187
Prosecuting Attorneys, list of,
186
Protestant Episcopal clergy, list of,
189
Penn, William, grant to,
8
.. Death of,
Physicians in 1786-'88,
38
50
Lutheran clergy, list of,
Historical Sketch of Franklin County.
207
PAGES.
Prothonotaries, list of,
171
Provincial Conference of 1776,
23
Public buildings and offices,
30,33 90
Quincy township, erection of,
138
Ramage, Josiah, conviction of murder,
58
Railroads in our county,
53
Rebellion, the war of,
56,107
Reformed clergy, list of,
188
Reges, Captain Henry, his company roll,
92
Registers and Recorders, list of,
171
Representatives, list of,
29,166
Rippey, Captain William, his company roll,
80
River Brethren, clergy of,
189
Robison, Captain Andrew, company roll,
103
Route from east to west,
21
Saint Thomas township, erection of,
137
Schools, common, establishment of,
56
Scotch Irish, history of,
18
Senators, list of,
164
Seventh Day Baptists, clergy of, .
190
Sheriff's, list of,
173
Slavery, abolition of, -
60
Smith, Captain Abraham, his company roll,
78
Smith, Colonel Abraham,
78
Smith, Colonel James, .
63
Smith, Captain John, survey by, .
12
Snider, Colonel Jeremiah, his company and regiment
90,91 52
Stake, Captain Jacob,
95
Steele, Reverend Captain John, Soldiers, Three Month's Men,
68
Six Month's Men, .
111
Nine Month's Men,
109
One Year's Men,
111
Three Year's Men, .
107-10
Nine Month's, drafted, .
110
Independent Batteries, . Militia and Emergency Men,
112
Southampton township, erection of,
135
Stewards of the Poor House, list of,
182
Straw Paper, manufacture of,
55
Superintendents of common schools, Supreme Court,
187
54
Supreme Executive Council,
164
Stage Coaches,
107
112
Purviance, Colonel John, his regiment,
208
Historical Sketch of Franklin County.
PAGES. 185
Surveyors, county,
Swedish colony,
12
Talbott, Colonel Jeremiah, company rolls,
82
Taxables in county,
50
Taxes, early, .
15,36
Thompson, Colonel William,
70, 75
Towns and villages in county,
140
Townships, formation of,
15, 37, 124
Transportation last century, .
21,51
Treasurers of Poor House,
183
Troops in Whisky Insurrection, .
49
Tunkers, list of their clergymen,
190
Turnpikes, list and history of,
52
United Brethren in Christ, clergy of, .
188
War for Independence,
22
War of 1812-'14,
89
War with Mexico, .
106
War of the Rebellion,
107
War Losses in Rebellion, Warren township, erection of,
137
Washington, General, visit of,
47
Washington township, erection of,
132
Water Works, history of,
55
Whisky Insurrection, history of,
47,89
Young, Captain William, his company roll,
105
56
-
APPENDIX.
INTRODUCTORY AND EXPLANATORY.
The object of this Appendix is to give brief descriptive, and in a manner historical, sketches of the illustrations contained in Mr. M'Cauley's full and accurate History of Franklin County. The pictures are from the pencil of Mr. Denslow, and the sketches writ- ten by D. M. Kennedy, with one or two exceptions. They are . entirely distinct from Mr. M'Cauley's work, and are intended only as minute descriptions which could not have been em- braced in so general a history as the foregoing. Many of the buildings illustrated have long been prominently identified with the local history of the county. Some contrasts have been embodied in the artist's work, such as the old and new Court House. In the residence of Dr. J. L. Suesserott we see a sample of the strong and massively built Flemish bond house, a style largely predominant previons to the M'Causland raid, in 1864. The more modern system of architecture appears in the neat and attractive homes of Mrs. Louisa Ludwig and Hon. W. S. Stenger. Handsome mereantile buildings are shown forth in the drawings of the houses of Brand & Speer, George A. Miller & Son, Hoke & Co., W. C. M'Nulty and others, while such a house as that of Colonel B. F. Winger strongly reminds us of days lang syne, when orna- mentation was secondary to utility. The historical matter has been very difficult to obtain, owing to the fact that so many records were destroyed by fire. We have given all that could be obtained from the present proprietors of the buildings. We therefore commit drawings and sketches to the public, resting assured that they will appreciate our efforts to more fully carry out Mr. M'Cauley's contri- bution to historic lore through the medium of these illustrations. We feel certain that future generations will be glad to see how the business houses, churches and public buildings of old Franklin appeared in 1877.
D. M. K.
27
210
Appendix.
H. SHEPLER & SON, STEAM SAW MILL, WITH COAL AND LUMBER EXCHANGE.
In the year 1857, Mr. Henry Shepler and Rev. Joseph Clark, of Chambersburg, associated themselves in a co-partnership for the purpose of carrying on a general carpentry business, together with all classes of turning work, such as hubs, spokes, serews, etc. On what is now called Broad street they had erected a large frame mill, which was fitted up with all the new and improved machinery necessary for the work purposed to be carried on. A brick engine house was added, with an engine of thirty horse power, sufficient to drive the large humber saws and all the machinery. Operations were immediately commenced, and the firm floated on the tide of prosperity. Some fifteen or twenty hands were continuously at work. Large contraets were undertaken, and the immediate neigh- borhood soon became a busy hive of unceasing industry.
About 1859 Mr. J. P. Culbertson was admitted as a partner, and the firm name was changed from Shepler & Clark to Shepler, Clark & Co. Under the new management the business still further in- creased, until as many as forty workmen were employed. This state of affairs kept up until after the breaking out of the war, when rebel raids made it very uncertain whether a large lumber mill of one day would not be a large pile of ashes the next. After the battle of Gettysburg, in 1863, Mr. J. P. Culbertson was in Hagerstown and the defeated army of Lee captured him, together with a num- ber of our citizens. "On to Richmond " they were taken and were ushered into Libby prison. Some months later Mr. Culbertson re- turned from his forced visit to rebel realms, and shortly after his return, Rev. Joseph Clark had his arm crushed while hauling logs to the mill. This accident resulted in the death of Mr. Clark, which made a change in the firm necessary. An incorporated com- pany was then formed, which, after several years of existence, sold out the entire works and good will to Messrs. Shepler & Myers. At this time the business had become somewhat reduced, necessitating the employment of a limited number of workmen. However, trade brightened, and a very good ram of business was the consequence. This firm continued the work until July Ist, 1877, when the junior member retired, William H. Shepler, a son of the senior partner, having purchased his interest. Messrs. Shepler & Son are now running the mill, with every prospect of continued snecess.
The specialties to which they pay particular attention, are lathe work, turning all kinds of wooden serews, every variety of fine scroll sawing and carpenter work generally. The firm have also added to their business a coal exchange. It is their purpose to sell the different kinds of coal, and also, for the benefit of farmers, to take their lumber and logs in exchange for any sort of coal or work
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211
Appendix.
they may desire. Since the erection of the inill, the firms connected with its management have had a high standing in the opinions of the business men of the county. This opinion will certainly be sustained by the gentlemen whose names stand at the head of this article.
J. HOKE & CO , WHOLESALE AND RETAIL DRY GOODS AND NOTION HOUSE.
The majority of the readers of this sketch will remember the old- fashioned, two story brick house which stood on the north-east corner of the diamond, before the fire of 1864. This house was ereeted in 1800 by a Mr. Eberly, and was owned by him and his heirs until 1855. At that time it was purchased by the present pro- prietors, J. Hoke & Co. Samuel Nisely commenced business on the corner about 1828. In 1832 James Kirby bought him out and ran the business until 1845, when David Oaks became the proprietor, and was succeeded in 1848 by J. Hoke. In 1855 Jacob and H. E. Hoke formed a partnership and continued business under the pres- ent firm name. They dealt in a general assortment of dry goods, . notions, groceries, &c.
In 1863 Gen. R. E. Lee, with sixty thousand of his friends, bought out the entire line of groceries, and paid for their purchase in cur- rency of the Confederate government. After this bargain Hoke & Co. gave up the groceries and confined themselves to dry goods and notions. In 1864 the firmi lost the house in which their store was located, and all goods which had not been shipped away. Shortly after the fire the present building was ereeted and the business re- sumed. In 1865 Mr. D. K: Appenzeller went into the store as a salesman, and ten years afterward was admitted as a member of the firm. Mr. Appenzeller has now the charge of the active business of the house. The wholesaling became a feature of their trade in 1864. Hoke & Co. are among the largest dealers in dry goods outside of the cities, and are doing an immense business at the present time.
KEYSTONE GROCERY, BRAND & SPEER.
On South Main street, at the corner of the alley between Market and Queen, is located one of the oldest business stands in Cham- bersburg. As early as 1785, Samuel Calhoun kept a house of gen- eral merchandize, and since that time the room has never been exempt from barter and trade. Before the great fire of 1864, a large stone house occupied the position of the present three storied brick one. It was for many years the residence of Judge Thomson, but throughout his life this room was always used for mercantile pur- poses. The proprietors, in years gone by, were James Marshall,
212
Appendir.
James Ross, David Oaks and John Armstrong, who kept what are now denominated "country stores." Myers & Brand kept a hard- ware store, succeeded by Brand & Flack, who bought the property and at the time of M'Causland's raid had a hardware store. After losing almost their entire stock, they energetically rebuilt the house that now occupies the lot. George A. Miller succeeded them in the business, and occupied the room until April 1st, 1877. At this time Messrs. J. S. Brand and John Speer went into a partner- ship to carry on a wholesale and retail grocery business. As the building was partially owned by Mr. Brand, Mr. Miller vacated and the new firm took possession. The store room, about ninety feet in length, was refitted entirely with a view to the grocery line, and the new firm are progressing very successfully, as they fully deserve.
CHAMBERSBURG EAST OF THIRD STREET.
Third street, through which that which was originally known as the Franklin Railroad runs, and which, since its absorption by the Cumberland Valley Railroad, has extended to Martinsburg, Va., at the time of the building of the railroad in 1838, was almost the extreme eastern boundary of the town. The elegant residences of Messrs. Nixon, Sharp, Dunean, M'Lellan, Hoke and M'Knight, to- gether with many others that now adorn the eastern section of this borough did not cast the faintest shadow on the misty future of the town. The now attractive yards and gardens were then used as pasture lands and for other agricultural purposes, and they who were wont to climb the Academy hill in pursuit of knowledge, and also often in other pursuits not so honorable, could look out all over the broad expanse of country and meditateof things other than the crea- tion of a town in a few years. The original settlement having been in the neighborhood of the Woolen Mill, the village expanded from that center in all directions, but more rapidly toward the western end of Market street, as that was the direction of the bulk of travel, and by reference to a map made as late as 1858, it will be seen that comparatively few houses of any pretension were erected east of Third street, on either Market, Queen or Washington streets, but with the more recent advance of the town in an easterly direction. and the rapid growth of the village of Stoufferstown, the prediction is not a preposterous one that within the next decade the consolida- ted borough of Chambersburg will measure from three to three and a half miles in width, in the direction from east to west.
The very eligible locations for building purposes that can be found east and south-east of the present borough limits, give prom- ise of a rapid extension of the town in those directions. A number of lots that have been laid out and sold by Dr. J. L. Suesserott on Washington street and Baltimore avenue have already been built
213
Appendix.
upon, and others that have been sold, and many more yet to sell by the same person, together with the lands of Frederick Byers, F. A. Zarman, Wm. Huber and others, will afford such a space for im- provement that when once occupied by houses that which was orig- inally the center of the town will hold a position in one extreme, for the insurmountable reason that the location of the Cedar Grove cemetery, the natural condition of the land west and north-west, and other causes will make building, to any great extent, in any other direction than that indicated impracticable.
The present generation has seen Chambersburg extend itself to more than double its proportions of forty years ago, and now with its splendid water supply, gas works and railroad facilities, few towns in this State or any other State have a more brilliant future before them, surrounded as this is by one of the most fertile agri- cultural regions, which covers inexhaustible deposits of iron and other valuable ores, and bristling with timber that is suited for al- most any purpose.
WATCH AND JEWELRY HOUSE-A. V. REINEMAN.
In the year 1832 Mr. A. Reineman came from Zeigenhein, Prussia, to this country. The family came to Pennsylvania and located at St. Thomas. In 1834 Mr Reineman came to Chambersburg and be- gan work on a small scale in the front room of a log house which stood where the residence of Mr. Frank Henninger now stands, on south Main street, a few doors north of the Reformed church. Af- ter living there two or three years he married and moved across the street to a house which he bought and still owns. Gradually getting trade he bought out a jeweler by the name of Holsey, who carried on his business in a one story weather-boarded house which occu- pied the site upon which is now located the residence of Mr. H. M. White, on south Main, a few doors from the Diamond. A two-story stone house owned by Pritts and Gilmore was next bought by him. It stood one door north of his shop, where John Jeffries, Esq., now lives. In 1849 he sold this house and moved his store to the corner where Repository Hall now stands. It was then a two-story brick house, and had for many years been in the occupancy of a Mr. Scott, who was also a silversmith. Thence he went to the house built by Sheriff Hoffman on south Main, between Queen and Wash- ington streets. Here he remained for many years. His was one of the few houses, which were not destroyed by the rebels in 1864. In 1869 he bought the- property on the corner of the alley on south Main street, between Market and Queen streets, and removed his store there. In the same year he took his son, Mr. A. V. Reineman, into partnership with him. Three years afterwards Mr. A. V. Reineman bought out his father's interest in the store and has been
214
Appendix.
carrying it on since. In November, 1877, the house was also bought by the son from the father, and the whole establishment is now in the possession of Mr. A. V. Reineman.
When Mr Augustus Reineman came to Chambersburg he carried his entire stock and tools in a satchel. Nobody knew him, and it was an up-hill work to seeure any share of the publie patronage. A kind hearted gentleman heard of a clock which no -jeweler had been able to put in running order for many years, and thinking it a good chance to test his skill took Mr. Reineman to see it. The owner of the clock was loth to allow him to try his workmanship, but after some talk the task was given him with the assurance that if he spoiled the time-keeper it would go hard with him. It is needless to say that the clock was put in perfect order and ran to the entire satisfaction of the owner. To this little incident, Mr. Reine- man is no doubt indebted for his success. Chambersburg was a small town then, and when it became known that this stubborn clock was again ticking away the hours, everybody had a clock to be repaired. Mr. Reineman has turned out many good apprentices from his workshop, and there are yet some of the old bulls-eye watches in the county which had their origin from his skilful hands.
The present proprietor is kept busily engaged, and also deals large. ly in all kinds of silver ware and ornamental jewelry.
HARDWARE-GEO. A. MILLER & SON.
The site, south-east corner of Main and Queen streets, Chambers- burg, now occupied by George A. Miller & Son, is one of the oldest hardware stands in the Cumberland Valley. The lot was purchased about the year 1815, by the late Barnard Wolff, Esq., who com- meneed the general hardware business nearly fifty years ago. After a long time, during which the business was conducted with con- siderable pecuniary profit to its owner, it passed into the hands of his son J. G. Wolff, and afterward, by him sold to Huber & Tolbert, who continued until the fire in 1864 In September, 1876, arrange- ments were made by Geo A. Miller & Son with C. HI. Wolff and B. Wolff, Jr, sons of B. Wolff Sr., and present owners of the property, for the erection of a building on the old corner for their business. The drawings for the store were made by F. Keagy, Esq., architeet, and built by Henderson and Gillespie, carpenters. The whole structure is 106 feet deep on Queen street, by 23 feet, on Main. The store room is 79 feet 9 inches by 20 feet 4 inches, with a ware- house 26 by 20 feet 4 inches for iron, in rear, divided from store by a glass partition. The interior fixtures are of yellow pine and black walnut, shellacked. The shelving is made adjustable. The building was completed by March, 1877. Geo. A. Miller commenced the
EIGHTH ST
WASHINGTON
ST.
BALTIMORE AVENUE.
7
DR J. L. SUESSEROTT'S PLOT OF BUILDING LOTS, SOUTH EAST OF THE BOROUGH OF CHAMBERSBURG.
Page 212
RES OF J. L. SUESSEROTT M.D. COR. MAIN & WASHINGTON, CHAMB'G. PA.
Page215
215
Appendix.
hardware business in Chambersburg in October, 1870, by purchasing the stock of Brand Flack & Co., occupying their old quarters until he removed to the present location. January 1st, 1876, he admitted his son, Geo. A Miller, Jr., into partnership with him, under the firm name of Geo. A. Miller & Son. They have now one of the best arranged stores in the valley, and carry a large stock of goods, embracing a very general assortment of Builder's Hardware, Cut- Jery, Tools, Coach Trimmings, Saddlery Hardware, Shoe Findings, Paints, Oils, Iron, Steel, House Furnishing Goods, Wood and Wil- low Ware, Terra Cotta Pipe, Vases, de., de. They also have the agency for the following well known manufactories. Dupont's Powder Works, of Wilmington, Delaware; Calumet Sewer Pipe and Fire Brick Works, of Ohio ; Hall's Safe and Lock Co., of Cin- cinnati ; and Saluvia (Fulton Co.) Taninery.
DR. J. L. SUESSEROTT'S RESIDENCE.
The residence of Dr. J. L Suesserott, the house in which he was born almost 50 years ago, situated on the south-west corner of Main and Washington streets, Chambersburg, was erected by his mater- nal grandfather, Jacob Dechert, three or four years after the incor- poration of the town into a borough in 1803. Mr. D., was a native of Reading, Pa., and migrated to this county about the year 1796, and established himself at once on the property where this house now stands. He was by occupation a hatter, for the purpose of which branch of industry he erected the building south of the corner, now in the occupancy of T. A. Mohr as a tin and stove store. After the erection of the corner house the intervening space was used as an open alley for a number of years, until the proprietor be- cause of his increased force of workmen, experiencing the want of more house room, caused the upper portion to be closed with an archway, leaving the lower part open until early in the year 1818, when he converted that also into a room for the accommodation of the post office, he having been appointed Post Master April 7th, 1818, and continuing in that capacity until March 20th, 1829. After that the room was ocenpied as a finishing room for the hat estab- lishment by his brother Daniel Dechert, who succeeded him, and who continued to use it for that purpose until April, 1854, when it was converted into a physician's office by its present occupant.
Jacob Dechert's name appears upon the list of the first borough council, which was elected in 1804, and although greatly disabled by an injury to one of his limbs, he continued to occupy a promi- nent position in the affairs of the town until the time of his death, which occurred March 26th, 1829.
The publishers of this work have secured a sketch of this house, not because of its possessing any particular architectural merit, al-
216
Appendix.
though being of brick, laid in the old Flemish bond, as is the one directly opposite as well as the one a few doors south, now owned and used as a dwelling by Mrs. L. M'Kesson, all of which were erected within a year or two of each other ; it is one of the most substantial buildings in the town. But it occupies another and more important position in the history of Chambersburg, it being the point where the fire that had been kindled by rebel vandals on the 30th of July, 1864, was arrested.
The portion of the town south of this property, which covers a considerable space, with the exception of the houses that have been erected since the memorable burning, are of the old style of archi- tecture, and were, if we except three or four, all built after the one now under consideration, and constitute the only section of this now beautiful town that will be recognized by visitors who were familiar with it prior to its destruction.
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