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 6
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The meeting was held in the "Coorthous"-Mr. John Riddle
49
Historical Sketch of Franklin County.
delivered "a very animating address" to the people-Resolves were passed and drawn up for the people to sign, pledging them to sup- port the Justices in their efforts "to bring the Royators to tryal," and General Chambers continues: "I am now happy to have in my power to request you, Sir, to inform his Excellency, the Gove-" nour, that these exertions has worked the desired Change. The mag- istrates has sent for the men, the very Same that Errected the pole, and I had the pleasure of Seeing them, on Saturday Evening, Cut it down ; and with the Same waggon that brought it into town, they were oblidgeed to draw the remains of it out of town again. The Cir- enmstanee was mortifying, and they behaived very well. They seem very penetant, and no person offered them any insult. It has worked such a change. I believe we will be able Shortly to Send our Quota to Carlisle."
Liberty poles were also erected at Carlisle and other places, and the people everywhere in the eastern part of the State were very reluctant to turn out at the call of President Washington against the " whisky boys," whose grievances they believed, for the most part, to be well founded. Secretary Dallas, in his report to the Senate, under date of September 10th, 1794, said : "According to the information I have received from several parts of the country, it appears that the militia are unwilling to march to quell the in- surrection. They say that they are ready to march against a foreign enemy, but not against the citizens of their own State."
The troops called into the field under the requisition of President Washington, dated the 7th of August, 1794, numbered 12,950, and were from Virginia, Maryland, New Jersey and Pennsylvania. Those from New Jersey and Pennsylvania assembled at Carlisle. Governor Thomas Mifflin, of Pennsylvania, and Governor Richard Howell, of New Jersey, had command of the quotas of their re- spective States-met them there, and in company with President Washington reveiwed them. The Pennsylvania troops were in one Division of 5,196 men, under the command of Major General Wil- liam Irvine. It was composed of three Brigades, the first com- manded by Brigadier General Thomas Procter, the second by Briga- dier General Francis Murray, and the third by Brigadier General James Chambers, of our county. General Chambers' Brigade was composed of 1,762 men, 568 of whom were from Lancaster county, 550 from York county, 363 from Cumberland county, and 281 from Franklin county. These troops passed through our county by way of Strasburg, from whenee they crossed the mountains to Fort Lyt- tleton on their march to Pittsburg, which place they reached in the month of November following. Happily the supremacy of the laws, and the enforcement of order, were secured by this display of power on part of the General Government, without firing a gun, and without any of the sufferings or losses incident to a state of actual 7
50
Historical Sketch of Franklin County.
war. On Tuesday, the 15th of November, 1794, the Pennsylvania troops left Pittsburg on their return home. They marched by way of Greensburg, Ligonier, Bedford, Sideling Hill, Fort Lyttleton, Strasburg and Shippensburg, to Carlisle, where they were disbanded.
POPULATION.
According to the assessment lists for the year 1786, the taxables of our county numbered two thousand three hundred and twenty- two, divided among the several townships as follows, viz. :
Free- holders.
Non-Free- Free-
holders.
men. Total.
Antrim,
186
83
54
323
Franklin,
102
8
53
163
Fannett,
126
55
36
217
Guilford,
105
38
30
173
Hamilton,
145
53
46
244
Letterkenny,
162
47
41
250
Lurgan,
58
24
21
103
Montgomery,
143
55
31
229
Peters, .
113
72
39
224
Southampton,
79
27
27
133
Washington,
151
60
52
263
Totals,
1,370
522
430
2,322
In 1793 our taxables had increased to three thousand five hundred and seventy; and our whole population has been as follows, viz. :
In 1790,
15,655
" 1800,
19,638
" 1810,
23,173
“ 1820,
31,892
" 1830,
35,037
" 1840,
37,793
" 1850,
37,956
" 1860,
42,126
"
1870,
45,365
So that we have not quite tripled our population in the last eighty-six years.
GUBERNATORIAL ELECTIONS.
The following statement of the votes cast in our county at several of the earlier elections for Governor may be of interest as showing the progress of the county in population :
51
Historical Sketch of Franklin County.
In 1790.
For Governor,
Thomas Mifflin
received, 1508 votes.
For Senator,
Abraham Smith
985
Robert Johnston
565
For Representatives, James Johnston
6
1656
(two eleeted)
James M'Lene
1564
66
For Sheriff,
Henry Work
66
792
James Irwin
55-
For Coroner,
George Clark
1648
George Stover
1640
For Commissioner,
James Poe
818
66
Daniel Royer
5SS
66
In 1799.
For Governor,
James Ross
1413
Thomas M'Kean
66
992
In 1802.
For Governor,
Thomas M'Kean
1368
66
James Ross
686
66
In 1805.
For Governor,
Simon Snyder
1369
Thomas M'Kean
66
1228
66
The election districts and vote at this last election were as follows, viz. : .
Snyder. M' Kean.
Chambersburg,
· 395
366
Strasburg,
. 310
93
Fannett,
155
40
Metal,
90
33
Mercersburg,
239
310
Greencastle,
152
152
Waynesboro,
28
234
Gen. Arthur St. Clair
193
TRANSPORTATION LAST CENTURY.
There were no turnpikes, no canals and no railroads in those days. All transportation of merchandize, such as groceries, iron, salt, &c., was, as already stated, by pack horses, from Winchester, Hagers- town, Chambersburg, and other points in the east, across the mountains to Bedford, Fort Cumberland, Hanna's town, Pittsburg, and other points in the west. The people of all sections of the country, east and west, had long before this realized the fact that the pack horses of the day were not equal to the demands of the times in furnishing transportation facilities. The Provincial great
-
52
Historical Sketch of Franklin County.
roads, opened by Pennsylvania and Virginia for the use of General Braddock's army, from Loudon town and Winchester to Fort Cum- berland, were originally poorly and hastily constructed, had become much out of repair, and so far as the needs of Pennsylvania were concerned, were useless beyond the town of Bedford. Accordingly, attention was turned towards making better roads. Private citizens subscribed money for this purpose, many of the townships along the lines gave pecuniary aid, and in 1789 the first wagon that passed over the mountain barriers separating the east from the west, went from Hagerstown, Maryland, to Brownsville, Pennsylvania. It was drawn by four horses, contained two thousand pounds of freight, and was near a month passing over the road, a distance of about one hundred and thirty miles.
TURNPIKES.
The first turnpike company incorporated in the State of Pennsyl- vania, was "The Philadelphia and Lancaster Company," April 9th, 1792. In a few years quite a number of others were incorporated, but it was not until about the years 1814-'21, that the making of turnpikes seized hold upon the publie mind. During those years the State became a large subscriber to the stock of various turnpike companies, I suppose because the Legislature thought that the public treasury should aid in the making of improvements designed for the public benefit. The Carlisle and Chambersburg road received nearly $100,000 from the State; the Chambersburg and Bedford road $175,000 ; and the Waynesboro', Greencastle and Mercersburg road about $25,000. The State got but few, and very small dividends on these investments, and some twenty-five years ago these stocks were sold by the State Treasurer at the nominal prices of from fifty cents to a dollar per share. The roads, however, remain ; and in the days of wagoning and staging they were of vast use to the people, repaying them an hundred fold the publie moneys invested in their construction.
We have now eighty-eight miles of turnpike in our county, viz. : Waynesboro', Greencastle and Mercersburg, forty-two miles; Cham- bersburg and Bedford, nineteen miles ; Chambersburg and Carlisle, eleven miles ; Chambersburg and Gettysburg, nine miles; Green- castle and Maryland line, five and a half miles ; and Waynesboro' and Maryland line, one and a half miles.
STAGE COACHES.
The first stage coach line from Chambersburg to Pittsburg was established in the year 1804. The doom of that mode of travel was sealed when the locomotive scaled the heights of the Alleghenies; but in their day the old Concord coaches were the most speedy and most pleasant means of passing from the east to the west, and those who can remember will bear me out in saying that the arrival or
W.W.D
EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH OF GREENCASTLE PA Par- 285
REV. FED'K KLINEFELTER PASTOR. ERECTED 18 - - DIMENSIONS - 48 X 85 FEET ..
1
SE
RES. OF JACOB P. STOVER GREENCASTLE ANTRIM TWP. FRANKLIN GO. PA.
Page 296
53
Historical Sketch of Franklin County.
departure of half a dozen coaches of the rival lines, with horns blowing, streamers flying, and horses on the full run, was one of the most inspiring of scenes. It was witnessed about twice a day, at any time, in our good old town, some thirty years ago.
RAILROADS.
We have now three railroads in our county, viz. : The "Cumber- land Valley," which embraces the old "Franklin Railroad," and extends through the valley from Harrisburg to the Maryland line, a distance of about sixty-eight miles; the "Mont Alto Railroad," twelve and thirty one-hundredths miles long; and the "Southern Pennsylvania Railway," twenty-one and four-tenth miles in length, making a total railroad mileage in the county of about fifty-nine and thirty-four one-hundredths miles. The Cumberland Valley Railroad was incorporated in 1831. Work was commenced upon it in 1835, and in August, 1837, it was opened from Harrisburg to Carlisle, and in November, 1837, to Chambersburg. Thomas G. M'Culloh, Esq., was its first President. Upon his resignation Hon. Frederick Watts, of Carlisle, succeeded him, and served for some twenty-five years .. In 1850 the road was relaid with heavy T' rails, at a cost of about $270,000. About the year 1865 a consolidation with the Franklin Railroad was effected, whereby the Cumberland Val- ley Railroad was extended to Hagerstown, Maryland. In 1873 Thomas B. Kennedy, Esq., of Chambersburg, succeeded to the Presidency of the road, upon the resignation of Judge Watts. It now has a continuous line of road, 94 miles in length, from Harris- burg, Pennsylvania, to Martinsburg, West Virginia, whilst the total length of the main line and its connections is one hundred and twenty-five miles. The Cumberland Valley Railroad is most sub- stantially built, with convenient and tasteful station-houses, clean and neat cars, first-class engines and rolling stock, and accommo- dating and gentlemanly conductors and other employes ; and there is no better constructed or better managed railroad in the Common- wealth than it is. The total cost of the road has been about $2,500, 000 ; and its property is now worth fully $3,500,000.
JUDICIAL DISTRICTS.
By an act of Assembly passed the 24th of February, 1806, the State was divided into ten judicial districts, Adams, Cumberland and Franklin counties being the ninth district. By the 15th seetion of the same act the Associate Judges of the courts were reduced from four to two in each county, as their commissions expired. On the first of March, 1806, Hon. James Hamilton, of Carlisle, one of the most distinguished lawyers of the State, was appointed President Judge of this district, and served until the 13th of March, 1819, when he died suddenly at Gettysburg whilst holding court.
-
54
Historical Sketch of Franklin County.
SUPREME COURT.
By the act of the 11th of March, 1809, the Southern District of the Supreme Court, composed of the counties of Cumberland, Franklin, Adams, Bedford and Huntingdon, was created, the sessions to be held annually at Chambersburg. This act was repealed and the district abolished by the act of the 14th of April, 1834, reorganizing the Supreme Court, but during the intervening twenty-five years, the Supreme Court sat annually in our old court house, and Chief Justices Tilghman and Gibson, and Justices Yeates, Breckenridge, Duncan, Huston, Rogers, Tod, Smith, Ross, Kennedy and Ser- geant, delivered there some of the ablest and most important judi- cial opinions to be found in our State Reports.
BANKS.
The first bank established in our county was started in the year 1809, under "Articles of Association," with a capital of $250,000, in two thousand five hundred shares of $100 00 each. It was called the "Chambersburg Bank," and was simply a private organization, re- ceiving deposits and discounting notes, drafts, &e. Edward Craw- ford was President and Alexander Calhoun, Cashier, and the follow- ing persons were the first Board of Directors, viz. : John Calhoun, Mathias Maris, John Holliday, Jacob Whitmore, John Shryock, Wm. M. Brown, Jacob Heyser, Patrick Campbell, (of Peters), Peter Eberly and James Riddle. It continued to do business under these articles of association until the year 1814, when it was merged into the "Bank of Chambersburg," under the Omnibus act of that year, next referred to.
On the 21st of March, 1818, au aet was passed by the Legislature "Regulating Banks," which divided the State into twenty-seven districts and provided for the creation of forty-one new banks, with a capital of over $17,000,000. It gave the county of Franklin two banks, one to be called the "Bank of Chambersburg," with a capi- tal of $600,000, the other "The Farmers' and Mechanics' Bank of Greencastle," with a capital of $250,000. Governor Snyder vetoed the bill, but at the next session, on the 21st of March, 1814, it was "log rolled" through, notwithstanding the veto.
The 'Bank of Chambersburg," now the "National Bank of Cham- bersburg," has been in full operation ever since, and deservedly ranks as one of the best conducted and most reliable banking insti- tutions in the State.
"The Farmers' and Mechanics' Bank of Greencastle" was duly organized under its charter of 1814, but from some canses now un- known, soon got into trouble, and about the year ISIS failed most disastrously, entailing financial trouble and ruin upon almost every person connected with it.
55
Historical Sketch of Franklin County.
In addition to the National Bank of Chambersburg, which has a capital of $260,000, we have now in operation in this county, the National Bank of Greencastle, with a capital of $100,000; the Na- tional Bank of Waynesboro', capital $75,000; the Franklin County Bank, at Chambersburg, with a capital of $65,000; and the Farmers' Bank of Mercersburg, with a capital of some $20,000. The last two are banks of discount and deposit alone, owned by individuals.
WATER WORKS.
About the year 1818 the first attempt was made to introduce water into our town. It was taken from the Falling Spring, about a half mile east of the railroad bridge, being forced thence to the reservoir (which was where the dwelling of Samuel Myers now is) by the power of the stream acting upon the buckets of a large water wheel placed in the current. The pipes extended through Market street to Franklin, a short way on Second street, and on Main street from King street. to German. There were no fire plugs-nothing but hydrants for family use-and the reservoir being small, the works were wholly useless in times of fire. The pipes soon rotted out, and by the year 1823 the whole thing was abandoned. Being very prim- itive in all their appointments, these works could not have been very expensive, although some of our old citizens say that they eost abont forty thousand dollars.
Our present excellent water works are the property of the borough, constructed through the energy of our Town Council. They are said to be well built, and reflect great credit upon all connected with their erection. Their total cost is about fifty-five thousand dollars.
MANUFACTURE OF PAPER.
The manufacture of writing and printing paper was commenced at Chambersburg, or Chambers' town, as it was then called, by John Scott & Co., in September, 1788, and for about eight years thereafter the newspapers at Pittsburg, and west of the mountains generally, were supplied from this point. The paper was transported upon pack horses, hundreds of which could at any time, as late as 1796, be found loading with merchandize at Strasburg, Loudon, Mercersburg and Chambersburg, for the western country.
STRAW PAPER.
Straw paper was manufactured at Chambersburg as early as 1831, by George A. Shryock and Dr. Samuel D. Culbertson. It never got into general use in the mercantile community, being too brittle for wrapping ; but in the shape of binders' boards, and in other styles of manufacture, it met with large sales, and proved very remuner- ative to those engaged in the business.
..
56
Historical Sketch of Franklin County.
COMMON SCHOOLS.
By the Constitutions of 1776 and 1790 (each) it was provided that a system of Public Free Schools should be founded in each county, for the instruction of the poor; and this was done by the public paying those who kept private pay schools to instruct the indigent poor who were sent to them. It was not, however, until about the year 1836 (or forty years ago) that the present magnificent Common School System of our State was established. At first it was bitterly opposed in many parts of the Commonwealth, and many years elapsed before it was generally adopted. In our county there were last year two luumdred and fifty-four schools, kept open an average of six months, having in them one hundred and ninety male, and seventy-two female teachers. The number of male scholars in these schools was six thousand three hundred and seven, and of females five thousand two hundred and twenty-eight. The total receipts were $86,860.42, and the expenditures $52,623.45, of which $49,698.47 were applied to the payment of teachers' salaries, and the balance to other expenses.
COLLEGES AND ACADEMIES.
1
In addition to the facilities afforded by our common schools to the youth of our county, both male and female, to obtain a complete education, we have the "Mercersburg College" at Mercersburg, in a department of which Theology is also taught, of which Professor E. E. Higbee, D. D., is Principal ; the "Chambersburg Academy" at Chambersburg, of which Professor J. H. Shumaker is Principal ; the "Kennedy Academy" at Welsh Run, of which Rev. J. H. Fleming is Principal ; the "Wilson College" (for females) at Cham- bersbarg, of which Rev. W. F. Wylie, A. M., is President ; and the "Mereersburg Female Seminary" at Mercersburg, of which Rev. J. H. Hassler is Principal. Besides these there are a number of other private schools of a high grade in various parts of the county, where both a common and classical education may be acquired.
WAR LOSSES.
In the late war of the Rebellion our county suffered more, and our people lost more, than any other county in the northern States.
Ours was the debatable ground over which friend and foe alike passed at diseretion in the carrying out of their military operations, and by each were our people caused to suffer. Under the authority of a Union Governor of Pennsylvania, the horses, saddles, bridles, &c., of our rural population were seized and taken for the public use, and many of these seizures have never been paid for. The Confederate troops raided upon our county several times and stripped our people of their horses, their wagons, their carriages, their cattle,
Page302.
PUBLIC SCHOOL BUILDING. WAYNESBORO PA.
"ANTIETAM HOME"FARM PROPERTY OF I. N. SNIVELY M.D. NEAR WAYNESBORO PA.
Page277.
57
Historical Sketch of Franklin County.
their merchandize and their money; and in 1863, Lee, the great captain of the hosts of the rebellion, with the pride and flower of his following, near one hundred thousand strong, invaded our county and held it in his undisputed control for three weeks or more.
During all the years of the rebellion the people of the border. counties were in all things loyal to the government. Upon us the waves of the rebellion beat, and our sufferings and losses were the protection of the people of other parts of our Commonwealth. Dis- interested, unprejudiced and sworn appraisers have, for the third time, said that the losses of the border counties were $3,452,515.95, distributed as follows, viz. :
Somerset county,
$ 120 00
Bedford
6,818 03
Fulton
56,504 98
Franklin
846,053 30
Chambersburg,
1,625,435 55
Adams county,
489,438 99
York
216,366 15
Cumberland and Perry counties,
211,778 95
$3,452,515 95
And yet the representatives of the great State of Pennsylvania have hitherto turned a deaf ear to the petitions of our plundered people, many of whom lost their all. Not one penny has ever been given to the peoples of any of these districts, save to the burned out population of Chambersburg, who, after much tribulation and many years waiting, obtained less than fifty per cent. of their losses.
In the great fire of 30th July, 1864, by which the town of Cham- bersburg was destroyed; the following buildings were burned, viz. :
Residences and places of business, 278
Barns and stables,
98
Out-buildings of various kinds,
· 173
Total, · 549
The total losses of the people of the town have been appraised at $1,625,435.55, of which near $785,000 was for real estate alone. The county was also a great sufferer, and her losses are not included in this estimate. Our beautiful court house, which, in 1843, cost us $44,515 16, was totally destroyed, and the rebuilding of it cost on people $52,083.25, though the old walls were used. But the greatest loss our people sustained was in the destruction of the large mass of our public records, which were burned with the court house. Their loss is irreparable. They never can be restored, and it is only among the legal fraternity that the magnitude of the calamity is duly appreciated. , I have known more than one case where minors have lost their whole estates, by reason of the destruction of these 8
!
٠
58
Historical Sketch of Franklin County.
records, and their consequent inability upon coming of age to prove who were their guardians, or the bail of these guardians; and in other cases where the names of the guardians were known, but have become insolvent, the moneys in their hands have been lost, because of inability to prove who their securities were.
OUR CRIMINAL HISTORY.
Nine-tenths of the first white inhabitants of the Cumberland val- ley were, as has already been stated, Scotch-Irish, with some Eng- lishmen and pure Scotelimen amongst them. They were generally of the better class, brought up to regard the laws of God and man ; the most of them being members of some church. They were, therefore, desirable additions to the population of the country ; good citizens, who generally lived at peace with each other, and when they did violate the law, their crimes were not of a very heinous character. Their morality was regulated by the ideas of the age in which they lived, and in those days many things were thought quite proper and right which would not now meet with approval. The use of strong liquors was general amongst them, and to an excessive indulgence in them, was attributable most of their departures from the rules of right and good conduct. Hence the crimes that our courts in early times were most often called upon to try and punish were petty larcenies, assaults and batteries, riots, &c. The higher crimes, such as arson, burglary, robbery and murder were of rare occurrence among the inhabitants of this valley. Indeed, I do not know of a single instance, in this county, at least, where a Scotch - Irishman was convicted of either of these offences. There have been but five capital convictions in our county, so far as I have any record, since its organization, over ninety-two years ago. Four of these were for murder and one for rape.
At a court of Oyer and Terminer, held at Chambersburg, in No- vember, 1785, before Hon. Thomas M'Kean, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, Jolm Hanna, of Franklin township, and Josiah Ramage, of Letterkenny township, were severally convicted of murder in the first degree.
The names of the grand jurors who found the indictments were as follows, viz. : James Maxwell, foreman, William M' Dowell, Thomas Johnston, George Matthews, John M'Clay, James Findley, John Allison, James Watson, Frederick Byers, William Scott, Elias Davidson, Richard Beard, Charles M'Clay, Nathan M'Dowell, James Chambers, Patrick Maxwell, William Rannels, Matthew Wilson, James Moore and James Campbell.
John Hanna was charged with having murdered John Devebaugh, on the 22d day of June, 1785, near the Catholic church in Cham- bersburg, by striking him with an iron stone anger. The names of
59
Historical Sketch of Franklin County.
the jurors who tried him were Robert Wilson, John Cunningham, John Lawrence, John Gaff, Robert M'Farland, Robert Patton, James Withers, Matthew Ferguson, William Strain, John Young, Thomas Lucas and James M'Farland. The crime was committed in the heat of passion, growing out of a sudden quarrel, and strong efforts were made for his pardon. Such was the influence brought to bear in his favor that the Supreme Executive Council at its next meeting, on the 17th of December, 1785, refused to issue a warrant for his execution.
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