History of Cumberland and Adams counties, Pennsylvania. Containing history of the counties, their townships, towns, villages, schools, churches, industries, etc.; portraits of early settlers and prominent men; biographies; history of Pennsylvania, statistical and miscellaneous matter, etc., etc, Part 126

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Publisher: W. Taylor
Number of Pages: 1280

USA > Pennsylvania > Adams County > History of Cumberland and Adams counties, Pennsylvania. Containing history of the counties, their townships, towns, villages, schools, churches, industries, etc.; portraits of early settlers and prominent men; biographies; history of Pennsylvania, statistical and miscellaneous matter, etc., etc > Part 126
USA > Pennsylvania > Cumberland County > History of Cumberland and Adams counties, Pennsylvania. Containing history of the counties, their townships, towns, villages, schools, churches, industries, etc.; portraits of early settlers and prominent men; biographies; history of Pennsylvania, statistical and miscellaneous matter, etc., etc > Part 126

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"The Gettysburg Sentimental Society" was the first debating club organized in the county, Its first meeting was on the night of October 2, 1807. Will-

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HISTORY OF ADAMS COUNTY.

iam Reed was secretary. Question: "Are our senses fallacious?" The question was argued long and fairly, it seems, by volunteer speakers, and the decision, by a vote of the house, was unanimously in the affirmative. But dis- putants had become excited, especially those who did not agree with the decision, and they poured long communications into the columns of Harper's paper. They finally forced a re-argument in, but were again voted down; and for years afterward discussions on the vexed question were to be heard by those who regularly occupied seats on store boxes in front of the store in all good weather.

The next question was more practical, but did not elicit such earnest dis- putants. It was "Should a Representative be guided by the will of his constituents instead of his own?" The question as the reader will see, was loosely stated, but closely and ably argued. The next: "Should bank notes be made legal tender?" These old-fashioned statesmen decided this in the negative. At the next meeting John Edie became secretary, and the question discussed was "Is female timidity constitutional or acquired?" This called out a torrent of the latent eloquence of the village. The bald heads and gray beards in eloquent measures said it was "acquired;" the callow brood of young Demosthenes vowed it was the most "constitutional" thing in the world. And thus back and forth they plied each other with pelting quibs and quillets of the brain, but when the momentous hour arrived, late at night, for a vote as to which side had the best of the discussion, it was over- whelmingly voted in favor of "acquired."

A. M. McIlhenny was now elected secretary. Question: "Are theatrical performances injurious to society ?" As there was no immediate prospect of any of the cheap humbug troupes that now so frequently inflict their pres- ence upon the town, this question did not elicit such intense interest as the girl question. Then in its order the society discussed the subject "Is duelling a mark of courage?" This was decided in the negative. Then came the tremendous question "Idomeneus, king of Crete, made a vow to Neptune, to sacrifice the first he should meet on his return from Troy. He met his own son. Was he in the right to fulfill his engagement, or not?" This was a ponderous and intricate problem of life. It had a classical twang, and a spice of mythology, fable and moral duty about it that set it to bump- ing around in the brain of every classical mind in the community. These people were the immediate descendants of an age of intolerance; when men were prone to discussions on the most nebulous subjects which they did not at all understand; an age when every one had to profess to believe, without the ability or the effort to understand, what the generality believed, or be looked upon as a proper subject for extermination. These people were then just building the American head upon the Old World German trunk, with its Anglo-Saxon mask. They were the sons of the men of such an age and of such blood as we have described, and, therefore, they could find in this question a field for endless disputation. This question at all events seemed to fill out the remainder of the season and the "Sentimental Society" adjourned sine die. It was revived again the next winter, but it was in an enfeebled condition. The last winter's question probably had overtaxed it; at any rate it now seems to have gone into a dormant state that lasted some years.

In 1809 another debating society was formed in the town, called the "Pol- uglassic Society;" heavens, what names! This club met at the house of Na- thaniel Paxton. The first question discussed was "Whether is the prodigal or miser the worst member of society?" We are not informed how it was de- cided. Did the good people of those primitive days have either misers or prodigals ?

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HISTORY OF ADAMS COUNTY.

A communication from J. Howard Wert, of Harrisburg, who has his fa- ther's papers, gives the particulars of the revival of the Sentimental Society. Mr. Wert wrote under the impression that this was the original organization of the club, and was not aware of the previous history of the society as given above. He says:

"December 9, 1813, there was organized in the schoolhouse of Robert Hor- ner, Gettysburg, a society styled 'The Gettysburg Debating and Sentimental Society.' The schoolhouse stood on the corner where the school property now is, and the teacher was the grandfather of the present Dr. Horner.

"The society appears to have been flourishing for a time, but to have gone down about September, 1816. I have the records now in my possession, and the last meeting recorded was August 31 of that year. There were on that occasion but five members present, when the meeting commenced; one expelled member was readmitted by a vote of three to two, and another member pre- sonted himself and took his seat before adjournment.

"The last record in the book is in the handwriting of Adam Wert, recently de- ceased, and the records have been in his care ever since that time. About ten years ago Judge Zeigler visited father for the purpose of seeing these old rec- ords. As far as he knew there were at that time one or two survivors besides father and himself.

"The first member to die was George W. Spencer (the first signer of the constitution), killed at the battle of Bridgewater, in Upper Canada, July 25, 1814. To the best of my knowledge father was the last survivor, dying No- vember 17, 1885, more than seventy-one years after Spencer. * The book con- tains the resolutions adopted at the reception of the intelligence of Spencer's death: also a copy of the same printed in the office of the Centinel.

"The original members numbered thirteen; the added members thirty-one; total, forty-four. I append the list. Some are quite familiar names to a majority of your citizens, but many are but dimly recollected even by the oldest inhabitants."

ORIGINAL MEMBERS.

George W. Spencer,

Richard Abbott,

David Middlekauf,

John Agnew,

Henry Welsh,

David Horner,

Isaac R. Smith,

James Galloway,

Adam Wert.

Thomas J. Cooper,

James McFarland, George MeKnitt, R. G. Harper.

ADMITTED MEMBERS.

David Garvin,

John Scott,

Matthew Gegan,

John M. Duncan,

William Miller,

James Cornelius,

David Brown,

James B. MeCreary,

Thomas Durborow,

Alfred Crawford, Philip Varnum,

Horatio Wales,

Alexander Mellvain,

Hugh Mr Kalip,

Evan Watkins,

William Scott,

Samuel McFarland,

David Sweeney,

Alexander Cobean,

Clement MeKnitt,

T. Lloyd,

James Gettys,

John Horner, David Zeigler,

Daniel Ogden,

James Rowan.

Solomon Hetser,

Samuel Cobean,

Jacob Middlekauf,

Henry II. Owings,

Simon Shoppy,

*A mistake. James McCreary is now living in Great Bend, Penn., aged eighty-seven years. A younger brother, Henry McCreary, though not a member of society, is living near Pittsburgh .- ED.

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HISTORY OF ADAMS COUNTY.

CHATER XXII.

NEWSPAPERS-THE CENTINEL-INTERESTING ITEMS-NECROLOGY-THE STAR AND SENTINEL-THE COMPILER-THE CENTURY-YORK SPRINGS COMET- WEEKLY VISITOR-WEEKLY LEDGER-CRYSTAL PALACE-LITTLESTOWN PRESS-LITTLESTOWN NEWS-THE COURIER-LITTLESTOWN ERA-NEW OX- FORD ITEM-INTELLIGENCER-WOCHENBLATT-YELLOW JACKET RECORD.

THE story of the coming of the first newspaper to the county, and its strug- gles for existence, as well as those of the enterprising publishers who fol- lowed in the course of time, is the interesting chapter of a county's history. Here only can the historian find the imperishable traces of the ancestors of those now here-the true mirror of their daily lives that is so eloquent in its simplicity.

On Wednesday, November 12, 1800, Robert Harper issued the first paper published in the county, The Centinel, a four column paper, long and slim in appearance, and, as was the style at that time, without either general or local editorials. The greater portion of its space was given to foreign news. The advertisements (a subject of great interest in old newspapers) were the printers offering for sale at the office, "Three Sermons, Proving the New Testament," " A short and easy Method with the Deists" and the "Christian Prompter." In the profane line the "ads" were: "Wanted-To Rent a Store," and "Old Rags Bought at This (printing) Office," and a notice for sale of a book "Con- taining all the Eulogies, Elegiac Poetry and ' Masterly Orations' on the Death of Washington."

The next issue has a communication from Moses McClean, of "Carroll's Delight." He had failed to vote, it seems, for governor elect, and was dis- missed as deputy surveyor for this county. He snaps his fingers at the gover- nor; tells him to go too. "I have my compass in good order and am still the same honest man I ever was, and I intend to continue surveying in the pri- vate way."

November 26, Conrad Laub, of York, gives notive to the distillers of Adams County to pay duties to Walter Smith of Gettysburg at once.

With the third issue the paper suspends for want of support, but is re- vived January 7, 1801. On this date George Morton advertises for an appren- tice in his " spinning-wheel and chair factory." Robert Bingham advertises his plantation for sale, "seven miles from Gettysburg." William Hamilton, executor of estate of John Gaudy, gives notice.

In the number January 28 Samuel Cobean, William Gilliland and Alexan- der Russell, trustees, give notice of sale or lease of a "Tavern Seat" in Frank- lin Township, "the property of James Black, a lunatic." This property was at the intersection of the York and Chambersburg and the Baltimore and Ship- pensburg roads.

The paper of February 11, 1801, has for sale the lands of Robert Mc- Canaughy, deceased, by John McCanaughy and Robert Hays, administrators. The premises were situated three miles from Gettysburg. A good dwelling, double log barn and a good still are on it. James Marsden advertises an estray steer, and Ignatius Shorter offers $10 reward for his wife, "eloped on the 14th of January."

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HISTORY OF ADAMS COUNTY.

Of date February 18 is an advertisement of "Dickinson's Five Lectures on Eternal Election [no reference to Ohio, it is presnmed ], Original Sin, Jus- tification by Faith," etc.

Another notice is by John and Hugh Patterson, giving notice that "Thomas Patterson, deceased. gave unto Samuel Scott, late of Hamiltonban, but now of Kentucky, a bond, dated October 21, 1793," etc., and warning people against buying the same.

February 25 announced the election of Thomas Jefferson. The news was sent by express to Baltimore, and in eight days it was known to the readers of the Centinel. In the issue of March 4, is this, the total editorial or original matter in the paper: "We received no Philadelphia papers by this week's mail." Mary Warren and Edward Warren, executors of Frederick Warren, of Menallen, give notice. The next issue announces that the governor has ap- pointed Hon. William Gilliland a major-general of militia, and Dr. William Crawford fourth associate judge of Adams County. March 4 there was a meeting in Gettysburg to rejoice and jollify over the election of Jefferson. The meeting was held in Col. Gettys' inn. Dr. William Crawford made the address. A committee reported ringing resolutions, and then all sat down to feast, and toasts were given. From the number of toasts we select the fourth: "John Adams; to the right about, face-a lesson to all future presidents, that an honest man may be dnped by bad ministers." The seventh: "A speedy repeal of the naturalization laws." The resolutions were drawn by Dr Will- iam Crawford, William Reid and William Maxwell.

John Bender announces that he will not act longer as justice of the peace, since he had learned he "would not be fined for refusing to act." March 18 issue has letter list. James Brice. P. M. The letters are to "John Craw- ford, South Mountain, care Robert Scott, inn-keeper, Nicholson's Gap; Moses Davis, Francis Hill, Isaac Mott, Robert Simpson." Matthew Longwell offers his frame house and lot in Gettysburg for sale. James Gettys, lieuten- ant-colonel of Twentieth Regiment, gives notice to officers. March 27 Commis- sioners R. McIlhenny and Jacob Grenemeyer give notice to pay ground rent for lots in Gettysburg to John Murphy. April 15 Dr. Samuel Agnew's card as a physician appears, and James Cobean had just rented and opened to the public Gettys' Inn. August 19, 1801, the four columns of the first page are filled with a communication signed "Old Maid." discussing celibacy. Then follows an address of two columns "To the Republicans of Adams County," by "Edomite." Then the third communication follows, a little over a col- umn. There are yet no editorials in the paper.

The paper reached its Vol. II, No. 1, December 2, 1801. The total of its "ads" for this issue are: James Duncan, register; Samuel Brown and Will- iam Gilliland, executors for Alexander Brown (deceased), and James McCreary and John Agnew, executors for James Agnew (deceased), of Liberty Township; David Moore, administrator of Margaret Douglass, of Cumberland, and Michael Neuman (Newman), "Tanning & Currying" in Benjamin Beubach's tannery.

In running over the first two years of the files of the Centinel the modern newspaper man, or reader, would be impressed with the absence of editorial or local matter, and the many communications, political, religious and personal, and the extreme length of the communications. The editor invited everybody to say their say in his paper, and everybody, it seems, responded at length. When the paper had been going about six months these communications poured in, and even the editor, who took a lively hand, especially with Dr. William Crawford, wrote as a contributor under an assumed title for some time. Mr.

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HISTORY OF ADAMS COUNTY.

Harper's paper evidently was responsive to the public wants and sentiments of his day; that is in its make up and matter. The editor himself was a Feder- alist, and he hated Jefferson cordially, and this dislike grew as did Jefferson become more and more the idol of the Republican Democrats. Thus we are furnished with a splendid view of the people of that day, because the people wrote and exploited themselves in their county paper. The majority of Har- per's and Dr. Crawford's papers, fired at each other, were simply bitter per- sonal attacks, in which the private lives and morals were exposed ad nauseam, when at the same time the law of the commonwealth was very severe against Sabbath breaking and profanity.

In the issue of September 9, 1802, A. Russell has a communication contrib- uted to the Harper-Crawford controversy, in which is the following: "Dr. William Crawford (now a junior judge) did in my presence and in the presence of many other gentlemen, on the 28th of March, 1793, swear seven profane oaths by the name of God, for which a conviction and adjudication stands on my Docquet."

The total amount of revenue collected in 1800 was $4,466.34.

April 18, 1804, is a communication from Dr. Samuel Agnew about cow- pox. It ably combats the public prejudice against vaccination.

In May, 1805, the paper was changed to magazine form with a title page, and for the first time a large display German text letter head. In this issue John Clark advertises a valuable grist-mill, three miles from Gettysburg. William McPherson offers $20 reward for an escaped slave. Davis advertises his chair factory, and "Pay up," says William Merritt, as " I am going to remove from the county."

A letter dated January 29, 1806, answers certain questions as to the price of farm lands in this part of Pennsylvania, and says " lands are worth from $23 to $12 per acre."

The county commissioners made their annual statement from the 3d day of February, 1805, to the 31st of January, 1806. The total revenue of the county was $7,095.49. This included $1, 769.62, balance on hand; $1,626, ontstanding tax collected, and $199, ground rent for town lots.

An entire change in the State judiciary by the Legislature, in 1806, was the cause of adjourning the Adams County courts from February to April.

November, 1806, John Adair advertises for sale a tract of land in the South Mountain, " at the forks of the road leading to Baltimore." Henry Weaver, a stray cow. Proclamation for an oyer and terminer and jail delivery court, William Gilliland, John Agnew, William Scott and William Crawford, judges, is made by Sheriff Jacob Winrott. Stephen Snodgrass offers for sale a valu- able plantation in Mountpleasant Township. James Brown, clerk, advertises for wood for the court house and jail.

By this time R. Harper is keeping quite a bookstore at his printing office, and his list of books for sale is an interesting and instructive study. It covers nearly two pages of the paper, and nearly every one is a work on religion, com- mencing with "Addison's Evidences of the Christian Religion;" "Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress;" "Blair's Sermons:" "The Death of Legal Hope;" "The Life of Evangelical Obedience;" "Brown's Shorter Catechism;" "Beauties of Hervey;" "Devont Exercises;" "Navigation Spiritualized, or a New Com- pass for Seamen, Consisting of thirty-two points of Pleasant Observation of Profitable Applications, and of Serious Reflections, all Concluded with so many Spiritual Poems;" "Life of Joseph, the Son of Israel, in Eight Books; Chiefly Designed to Allure Young Minds to a Love of the Sacred Scriptures:" "Temple of Truth, or a Vindication of various Passages and Doctrines of the

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HISTORY OF ADAMS COUNTY.

Holy Scriptures: Lately Impeached in a Deistical Publication, Printed in Philadelphia; together with a Reply to two Theological Lectures Delivered in Baltimore;" "The Sinners' Guide" [the ungodly in these days call it "steer- ing in grangers" ]; "Instructions of Youth in Christian Piety;" "Watt's Mis- cellany;" "The Immortal Mentor," etc., etc., etc.

In addition to these libraries of religious books, Mr. Harper commenced the reprint of books of sermons, which he sold from his office by subscription. These were the books all people who read at all then purchased and placed in their family libraries, and diligently read and meditated upon the future, God, heaven and the burning lake. This was to their intensely religions natures joyful mental food. They reveled in death dirges; they poured forth their solemn chanting songs over a dead world-dead in sin and iniquity. Their ears were closed to the joyous spring-time and the carolings to heaven of the mounting birds in their upward flights, and they saw only the windowless grave, the worms, and festering decay, and the entire background to this ter- rible picture was an angry, inappeasablo God, who was ever creating to etern ally punish. Their lives, their religion, their literature, their best enjoyment. was this gloomy, solemn, silent, dogmatic and austere existence that was natural to them, was ingrained into their blood and very bones. It had come to them by inheritance, by education. by the bent of the age, by their own and their ancestors' surroundings. They were as severe and illiberal in their politics as in their morals and dogmas. But, like their fathers, there was in all of them the saving qualities of a manly self-reliance, and a deep seated, all- conquering love of liberty.

In the Centinel of May 6, 1807, James Duncan, register, gives notice to Elizabeth Dell, of the estate of Sally Dehl; and Esther McGrew and William MeGrew, of the estate of William McGrew; and Shem Greybel and Joel Grey- bel, of the estate of Joseph Greybel: Walter Smith and John Adgy, estate of Jonathan Adgy; John Stoner and Martin Hoover, estate of Abraham Stoner: Anna Maria Diffendall and Jacob Rider, estate of Samuel Diffendall; Michael Bushey and Christian Bushey, estate of John Bushey; Daniel Swigart, estate of Jacob Swigart. of Berwick Township; Barnet and Peter Augenbaugh, of the estate of John Augenbangh.

September S. 1807. is advertised for sale, by James Black, a valuable plan- tation, 130 acres, the property of the estate of James Black (deceased), in Franklin Township, adjoining the lands of Matthew Black, Joseph Wilson, Samuel Russell and Peter Comfort. "then the well known stand called the Cross Keys." Another sale of lands of about four acres in Franklin Town- ship, adjoining John Kerbaugh, Frederick Booher and Peter Morritz. On same day Sheriff Winrott offers for sale a tract in Liberty Township, adjoin- John Bingham and John Speers. The tract belonged to Solomon Kephart. Alexander Cobean and James Dobbins, executors of the estate of John Forster. of Franklin Township, gave notice to debtors.

Necrology .- William Bailey of Mountpleasant Township, died November 5, 1806. aged fifty-seven years. ... Mrs. Abigail King, wife of Hugh King, of Tyrone, died Saturday, April 18, 1807 .... Mrs. Isabel Ewing, wife of John Ewing, died April 15, 1807. ... April 17, 1807, Alexander McAllister died, in the seventy third year of his age. . . . Henry Weaver, aged seventy-six years. died in Gettysburg. September 1, 1807 .... Thomas Ewing, aged forty-one years, died September 20, 1807 .... Mrs. Margaret Agnew, consort of John Agnew, died April 13, 1808; was buried in Lower Marsh Creek grave-yard . ... Died, in Hamiltonban, October 8, 1807, in the eighty-eighth year of his age, Henry Rowan. ... July 13. 180S, John Sweeny, aged sixty three years, died in

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HISTORY OF ADAMS COUNTY.

Gettysburg .... Rev. Alexander Dobbin died in Gettysburg, June 2, 1809 .... Judge John Joseph Henry, the first president of the court in the county died in Lancaster, April 15, 1811, aged fifty-three .... James Brown treasurer of the borough, died in 1810. .. . Hon. John Agnew, who had resigned his office of commissioner from the infirmities of old age and sickness, died on his farm in Hamiltonban June 6, 1814, aged eighty years, full of years and unsullied honors. His loss was deeply deplored and his memory widely respected for his many good qualities of head and heart .... November 23, 1814, James Edie died in Gettysburg, aged fifty-six years .... James Barr, of Mountjoy, died November 19, 1814.

The same year Adams County was separately organized Robert Harper established in Gettysburg his newspaper, the Centinel. He died in 1817, and his son, Robert G. Harper, took charge of the paper and continued its sole proprietor until 1867, when it was consolidated with the Star, and became what is now The Star and Sentinel. The Star was established in 1828, and was published regularly until it became consolidated as above stated. It had been conducted by Mr. John T. McIlhenny for many years, ably and successfully, and upon his death it was purchased by Hon. Edward McPherson and A. D. Buehler, and consolidated with the Sentinel, the firm being Harper, McPher- son & Buehler. On the death of Mr. Harper his interests passed to the other proprietors, and now A. D. Buehler & Co. are proprietors. The paper was Federal, Whig and Republican in politics, always battling bravely for its cause; always able and consistent.

The Compiler was started September 16, 1818, by Jacob LeFevre. He continued the publisher until 1839, when his son, Isaac, took it and conducted it successfully until February, 1843, when he sold it to E. W. Stahle, who was succeeded by his son, H. J. Stable, the present proprietor. It commenced a small five-column paper, and its coming supplied a long felt want to the lone. some Democratic minority in the county. It has been enlarged four times, and is now a nine-column paper, full of vigorous and interesting matter for its readers.

The Star and Sentinel and The Compiler, with their neat pages and crowd- ing advertisements, are a credit to the county and bear evidence that the peo- ple duly appreciate the enterprise and public spirit of the publishers.

The Century was published in Gettysburg for some years. On April 4, 1877, it was removed to York Springs; A. L. Heikes was then publisher. He sold to I. W. Pearson, and he changed the name to York Springs Comet.

The Weekly Visitor was the first paper started in Littlestown, in 1847, by W. C. Gould and W. Barst-neutral in politics. Then followed the Weekty Ledger, by Henry J. Miller; then the Crystal Palace and the Littlestown Press, by Mr. Miller. In 1874 Preston O. Good started the Littlestown News. When he retired A. F. Barker was publisher and H. J. Miller, editor. Mr. Miller was the writer and chief director of all the many publications in the town. He . was a grandson of the founder of the first paper. In 1875 Barton H. Knode became proprietor of the News. It suspended in 1878, Mr. Knode purchasing the Hanover Citizen, the Democratic journal of Hanover. The press and office of the Littlestown paper was purchased and taken to Emmettsburg, Md. In 1879 L. Huber started a paper in Littlestown-The Courier. It was very short in its career. In August, 1880, appeared the Littlestown Era, A. E. Keeport, proprietor; suspended a few months ago.

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Author: Publication date: Publisher: W. Taylor Number of Pages: 1280

Author:
Publication date:
Publisher: W. Taylor
Number of Pages: 1280