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 136

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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 136
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 136

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Down the creck from Beechersville are the Roth Mills, established about fifty-eight years ago, on the David McConaughy lands of 1733. About this time Mr. McConaughy built the first grist-mill on this tract.

In 1807 John Mumma erected the present grist-mill. The MeConaughy tract was patented to Moses Harland, by the Penns, in 1745. Harland was led there by Indians, who spoke highly of the soil and water-power. It is strange that an industry established by David McConanghy 153 years ago should find a home here still-stranger is it that a grandson or great-grandson of this useful pioneer should be interested in a grist-mill some six miles south, at Gettysburg, to-day.

CENTRE MILLS AND MENALLEN POSTOFFICE.

The two traets, to which the above names are given. are very old settle- ments. A reference to the original assessment rolls of Menallen and Franklin Townships, from which Butler Township was detached in 1849, points out a number of names identified with this division of the township for over 100 years. Over half a century ago the old postoffice of Menallen was the ninth, in point of business, within the county, the receipts for postal stamps being

226

HISTORY OF ADAMS COUNTY.

$28.54. It was the first point of gossip, for it is related that men would come in from the neighboring country every evening, and were there not news to satisfy them " they would make news." In August, 1885, J. G. Weaver was appointed postmaster of Menallen or Centre Mills, succeeding J. H. Bushey.

Hance Hamilton died here in 1772, and was interred in Black's Cemetery. whence his remains were removed to Evergreen Cemetery on the suggestion of H. J. Stahle, of the Compiler. This old settler, who took such a leading part in the early history of York and Adams Counties, is said to have been a brother of Col. John Hamilton (who built the first stone house in Mountpleasant), a native of Ireland, and an uncompromising enemy of the loyalist factions from 1758 forward.

TABLE ROCK.

This is the name given to a settlement below Bender's Church, when a postoffice was established there some years ago. It is also known as the "Lower Settlement," on account of the lower grist and saw-mills, lower store and lower blacksmith shop. Hiram L. Harris was the postmaster.

Bender's Church, a union of Lutheran and Reformed societies, dates baek to April 7, 1781, when both congregations were organized. In 1811 a build- ing was erected by Conrad Lower on the site of the first house of worship. Of the Reformed society the following named have been pastors: Lebrecht Hineh, 1781; B. F. Schneck. Jacob Bair, S. S. Gutelius, J. G. Fritchey, John Sice, C. H. Hoffmeier, H. Aurand, F. Neteher, J. Zeigler, D. W. Wolf, A. J. Heller and M. H. Sangree.

The pastors of the Lutheran society have been Rev. Melsheimer, 1751; John Herbst, C. H. Weyl, John Ulrich, J. K. Miller, Rev. Martin, M. Snyder, D. M. Blackwelder, D. Long, A. J. Heirler and G. W. McSherry. The logs of the original church are now in Samuel Deardorff's house, a mile distant from the present church.

The Friends' Grove Quaker Meeting-House, abandoned in 1838, is said to have had its origin in 1743, the same year in which the Warrington monthly meeting was separated from the Gadsburg (Chester County) meeting. Joseph Elger, Isaac Everett and Abel Thomas were the first preachers. The latter from 1801 to 1817, in which year he died.

TEXAS.

This is a small settlement on the Gettysburg and Bendersville road, south of Biglerville. The altitude of the place-all that is remarkable about it-is 603 feet.

MISCELLANEOUS.

The Gillilands settled on lands now owned by William Bream, where a fort was built about 1754. Isaac, the Indian, lived with his sister in a hut on Opossum Creek, below the old Gilliland Mill, better known as "Fisher's Mill."

The Farmers' Association of Butler and Menallen Townships was organized in 1879, and the first meeting was held at A. W. Griest's house.

The Butler Township Lyceum was organized in November, 1866.

The first settlers of Butler mustered in the cause of the Revolution in 1775, and among the 300 men from this county who marched from Littlestown, in Wayne's command, to abolish the first vestige of British oppression at Yorktown, Va., were some of the yeomanry of Butler. Clarence M. Camp, James H. Walter and William Reary, residents of Middletown, were the first troops from Butler Township to respond to the call of April. 1861. They

227

CONOWAGO TOWNSHIP.

were mustered in with Company E, Second Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry.

The Gettysburg & Harrisburg Railroad runs through the township in a somewhat tortuous course from north to south. The postoffices in Butler Township are Bigler, Menallen, Guernsey, Goldensville and Table Rock,

CHAPTER XXIX.

CONOWAGO TOWNSHIP AND BOROUGH OF MCSHERRYSTOWN.

YONOWAGO TOWNSHIP is a division of the county that was formed out of C Heidelberg and Manheim Townships in 1801, and organized that year. Its original name was Digges' Choice, bestowed upon it in 1727. In 1730 the Lillys settled here and gave to it its Indian name, Conewako.

Little Conowago Creek forms the whole western and southern line of Cono- wago Township, McSherry Creek, called in early years "Plum Creek," is a native stream, rising in the ore hills in the southeastern districts, and flowing in a general northwesterly course to its confluence with the Little Conowago on the Devine farm. Each stream affords water-power for mills, while serving to drain the entire township. The township north of McSherrystown is de- cidedly hilly, but both hill and dale afford some of the finest limestone land in the whole county. The elevation of McSherrystown above the Atlantic is 518 feet.

The geological outcrop shows slaty limestone, argillite with dendritic stain, roofing slate, slate impregnated with iron, all just southwest of Hanover Junction. Light blue, white and slaty limestones are found north of the Gettysburg & Hanover Railroad. Light blue, pure limestone, granular speckled, light cream, light-white-streaked lime is found in the Barnitz, Meyers' and Hen- dricks' quarries, east and north by east of McSherrystown. Slaty conglomerate, chlorite, slate, compact limonite, argillaceous limonite, sandy slate with spec- ular iron, micaceous ore and magnetite, mesozoic mud rock. The "Blue Spring." near Conowago Chapel, was sounded over a century ago by one of the Jesuit fathers, but the plummet found no resting place. It is said to be a bottomless well.

In September, 1881, the shy blacksnake of Round Top was seen by Hiram Warren, who states his length to be fifteen feet. For over a quarter of a cen- tury this reptile has been known to reside in this neighborhood. Rattlesnakes having as many as sixteen rattles are found among the younger ones. In August, 1876, a turtle was found near Round Top, marked "I. P., 1825." Locusts visited the county in 1834, 1851 and 1868, making their headquarters in this township at every visit.

In 1821 a stone hatchet was found by Miss Mary McCreary in the rear of Conowago Chapel, on the old John McCreary land, and on the site of the old Indian wigwam which stood there when the whites first came, and where, it is said, the first missionaries of the Catholic Church held the first Christian ceremonies in the county. Many such relies of Indian occupation have been since nnearthed. Historic turtles were found on the Hoke farm in November, 1877. One was marked "A. Storm, 1821;" the second, "John Sindorff, 1846;"

228

HISTORY OF ADAMS COUNTY.

third "M. S., 1829, and "F. S., 1834," and the fourth "G. M. and R. F." The Storms lived on the Hoke farm for about forty years and the Sindorffs were a mile distant.

The population in 1800 was 448 in the Heidelberg and 22 in the Manheim divisions; in 1810 about 700; in 1820, 1,030, including MeSherrystown, 191; in 1830, 878; in 1840, 899; in 1850, 775, including 8 slaves; in 1860, 950, including 2 colored; in 1870, 1,029, including 9 colored; and in 1880, 1,211 including McSherrystown. The number of taxpayers (1886) is 231; value of real estate, $454,991; number of horses etc., 233; number of cows, etc., 259; value of moneys at interest, $37,092; value of trades and professions $6,995; number of carriages, 73; gold watches 14; acres of timber land, 275. The retailers of foreign merchandise in 1828, according to the sworn statement of Constable Jacob Eyster, were William Albright and Adam O. Aster. They were, in fact. the only traders in the township.

Among the old bridges of the township are a few which have stood both flood and travel for over forty years. In 1825 a wooden bridge was built over the Little Conowago at Dellone's, near MeSherrystown, for $550, by Henry Eck. Kitzmiller's Mill wooden bridge on the Littlestown and Hanover road, was erected in 1837 for $1,690, by John Camp. In 1848 Adam Slagle erected a wooden bridge over the Little Conowago near the chapel for $780. In 1857 John Finley built the covered bridge over the Little Conowago on the Gettysburg and Hanover road for $1.274. In 1862 J. M. Pittenturf built a covered wooden bridge over the Little Conowago at Lilly's mill for $1, 193.

On September 10, 1857, the first train of cars in Adams County move across the line, and was received by William McSherry, David Wells, H. J. Stahl and others. After some speeches had been delivered the train passed over the Hanover Branch Railroad to the Junction. The construction of the Hanover, Littlestown & Frederick City Railroad was begun July 4, 1857, and completed to Littlestown, through Conowago, Union and Germany Townships June 26, 1858. In 1871 the extension to Frederick City was completed. The McSherrystown and Hanover pike road was built in 1882.

The original assessment of Conowago, made in 1801. gives the following list of property owners and assessed values, together with the names of single men:

NAME.

VALUE.

NAME.

VALUE.

Jacob Adams.

$1,454

James Gallagher

Magdaline Adams.

1,379

Jacob Hostetter. .

611

Richard Adams.

Barnhard Hilbush

123

Francis Brosius.

7,270

John Heagy

Martin Black.

Henry iHemler

222

Conrad Dutero.

2,422

Jacob Heagy

2,744

Charles Droskıl.

Jacob Herether.

Michael Emlet

628

Christian ,Hoffman

276

Joseph Eck.

274

George House.

Eliza Eyster.

2,650

John Kuntz.

George Itzlor.

2,417

George Kitzmiller*

4,345

John Fox.

John Kitzmiller.

1,638

Henry Finck

845

Nicholas Kieffobert

2,699

Jacob Freed.

Jacob Kuhn.

751

Peter Freed.

2,098

Abram Kagy.

1,842

George Gelwix.

Jacob Kagy

1,842

Leonard Geistler.

956

John Kuhn.

2,395

Anthony Gereshten.

Jacob Kubser.

Peter Grumbine. .

130

Henry Kolstock

William Gitt.

2,249

John Leonard.

Nicholas Ginder.

178

Conrad Long.

S42

Michael Graft.

George Lontzell.

100

* Grist-mill, saw-mill, oil-mill, homin y-mill and slaves valued at $250.

+ Distiller.

Smith Borr

231

CONOWAGO TOWNSHIP.

NAME.

VALUE.

NAME.

VALUE.

Philip Long.

550

Henry Sheetz.

Samuel Lilly*

140

HIenry Slagle.

2,250

Joseph Lilly

4,786

George Stine.

1,172

Jacob Lork.

John Stine.

John Lilly

582

Joseph Shene.

322

James McSherryt

John Swobe.

1,600

Jacob Martin ..

Jacob Sherman.

Paul Metzgar

$ 22

Jacob Staub.

148

Leonard Middlecoff.

3,634

Dauiel Schroeder.

132

George Mouse. .

4,242

Joseph Sneeringer

2,123

David McCreary

3,156

Andrew Shrivert.

4,458

David Mealhorn.

170

Peter Shenfelder

1,916

Andrew Mealhorn

199

Ludwick Shrivers

2,600

Nicholas Noel.

Philip Staub ..

2,432

Peter Overbush.

192

George A. Stumb.

Adam Oaster.

113

John Thomas.

2,658

Anthony Obold.

3,146

Jacob Trine.

126

Joseph Obold. .

4,480

George Will.

Thomas Owings

420

HIenry Waltman.

266

Patrick Owings.

3,030

Fred Wagonman.

Robert Owings

2,556

John Wisler

984

Robert N. Owings

114

Martin Will.

1,615

George Reinicker

294

Jacob Will.

2,650

John Sneeringer

108

Michael Will.

1,200

Andrew Smith

Henry Will.

1,376

Englehart Small

104

Marks Worst.

2,812

Mary Small. .

Nicholas Walter

Francis Shaeffer.

Henry Wershlerj

2,328

Mary Slentz.

168

Jacob Wershler.

The single men of the township in 1801 are named as follows: William Adams, James Plunkett, Anthony Ditto, Michael Atzler, Daniel Eister, Will- iam Erwin, Andrew Gostwiler, George Groft, John Groft, Joseph Heagy, Christopher Kelly, Jacob Kitzmiller, John Obold, Patrick Owings, Frederick Plate, Jacob Shriver, Andrew Shriver, Henry Stoner, Henry Waltman, Jacob Worst, Peter Weiser, David Will, Christopher Weisler and John Youett. From these a poll-tax of 75 cents each was collected. The total valuation was $117,548.20, on which 16 cents per $100 was collected.

CHURCHES.

The Church of the Sacred Heart, better known as Conowago Chapel, and its history belongs rather to the history of the Christian Church in America than to any present division of the United States. It was here before the sturdy Irish and Germans crossed the Susquehanna, and may be said to be contemporary with the Church of St. Peter's, at Baltimore. From what has been learned of the beginnings of this church, it dates back to the period of the Iroquois and Algonquin wars. The Caughnawagas, a branch of the Algonquin race, rambled south from the great lakes, settled for a time in this vicinity, and were here to offer a welcome and a home to the first Jesuit fathers. Josiah Grayton, S. J., often called "Father Creighton," was the first of the fathers who made any direct reference to Caughnawaga of the Susque- hanna. In 1720 he came here and offered up services in the wilderness, mak- ing. it is said, the wigwam a temple. Within a few years a cabin was erected,

He was one of the four inhabitants of York County commissioned by Congress as a member of the Board of Commissioners of Attainder in 1778.

+ Ground reat.

1 Distillery.

₹ Grist-mill and distillery.

Grist-mill.

5-4

2,730

Mary Shorp.

1,440

John Lorentz. Paul Miller.

Peter Storm.

232

HISTORY OF ADAMS COUNTY.

which was used until 1740, when Rev. William Wappeler, S. J., had a new log building erected in the vicinity of the present church. Mrs. Elizabeth Sourbrier, of Maryland, herself a centennarian, remembers an old church cabin* of which many old settlers knew nothing; while the German immi- grants of 1735 " passed a mass house, built of unhewn logs, while en route from York to Christ Church settlement." Samuel Lilly, family and household, and the Robert Owings family settled here in 1730, and were the first actual white settlers and members of the church. Then came the McSherrys, Mc- Crearys, Marshalls, Sanderses, Riellys-all from the north of Ireland-the Sneeringers, Shrivers, and a host of others from Holland and other parts of Europe. In 1787 what is now a part of the present brown stone church was erected by Father James Pellentz. The transepts were added in 1850-51 by Father Enders; in 1873 he erected the tower and spire, and in 1877 built the marble altar. The paintings and frescoing are of the highest order.

The missionary priests who attended Conowago from the close of the seven- teenth century to 1720 belonged to Baltimore, while the Canadians claim that the fathers from Montreal, and even Quebec, crossed the Susquehanna about this time. In 1720 Father Grayton, who died in 1752, was here; he was fol- lowed by missionaries from Baltimore until 1740, when Father Wappeler, S. J., came to build a new mission house. Then came Matthias (Sittensberger) Man- ners, the first resident priest, whose mission contained 116 German and seventy-three Irish Catholics; then Fathers Frambach and Deitrich; next, in 1758, Father James Pellentz, who discovered and opened the brown stone quarries at East Berlin, and had the first stone church erected of this material in 1787; Rev. Demetrius Augustus Gallitzin, born at The Hague in 1770, where his father was Russian ambassador, assisted Father Pellentz up to 1799, when he left to establish the Catholic colony at Loretto, where he died in 1840. Father Pellentz died in 1800. Then Revs. Charles Sewell and Sylvester Boarman took charge. Father Brosius, the great and first school teacher at the mission, with Fathers Cerfoumont, Manley and Sockley followed, and had charge of the church at Littlestown, Carlisle, and other points. In 1820 Father A. L. De Barth became superior. (He it was who said the first mass, at Hanover, in an old shop, fronting on the alley in rear of Baltimore Street.) With him were Fathers Britt and Byrne, Russians, and Larhue and Divin. Father Britt fell dead on the altar in 1822. In 1826 Rev. Nicolas Mertz came. In 1828 Rev. Matthew Lekeu, who came to the mission in 1823, was appointed superior. Prior to 1845 he built the two schoolhouses in front of the church, and purchased a confiscated convent bell, one of a cargo brought hither, which he placed in the belfry. Revs. Michael Dougherty, C. Paul Kohlman, Ferdi- nand Helias and Nicholas Steinbacher were all on this mission during his ad- ministration. In 1836 Revs. Virgil Barber, Milesius Gibbons, Pester, Zachi, Hatting, Colting were here. Then came Fathers Villiger, F. X. Denecker, Catani, Tuffer, Domperis, B. Villiger, J. J. Bellwalder, Peter Manns, Peter Flanagan, I L. Jamieson, Emig, B. F. Casey, Finigan, Di Maria, and others referred to in the history of other churches. Rev. Joseph Enders succeeded Father Steinbacher as superior in 1847. Father Foran was appointed superior in July, 1883. Father Enders died September 10, 1884, aged eighty-three years.

St. Matthew's (formerly St. Michael's) Lutheran Church, of Conowago, was organized in April, 1743, but prior to this year the members of this church were visited by the preacher of a still older congregation at Creagerstown, Md.

*This was on the Robert Owings tract, where also the old Catholic cemetery was located. The beginnings of the present cemetery date back to 1752.

233

CONOWAGO TOWNSIHP.

"The original officers were David Candler, pastor; Lehnert Barnitz, Johannes Morningstar, Andreas Herger, Fred Gelwicks, Nicolas Biedinger and Christoffel Schlegle. The preachers in charge of the whole circuit, in order of service, were Revs. D. Candler, 1713 *; L. Nyberg, John George Bager, C. F. Wild- bahn, R. Schmidt, F. W. and John F. Melsheimer, Jonathan Ruthrauff, Jacob Albert, Dr. Hay, D. P. Rosenmiller, M. J. Alleman, S. Yingling and J. C. Koller. The first building of this society was erected in 1743, on an acre do- nated by John George Kuntz: the second across the line of Adams in 1756; the third, in Hanover, in 1803, and the fourth on the site of the third in 1879. The value of property is placed at $35, 000, and the number of members at 717.

The Lutheran and Union Church, near Schwartz's Schoolhouse, was built in 1878.

CEMETERIES.

Conowago Chapel-yard .- The home of the greater number of the pioneers of Conowago is known as the Conowago Chapel-yard, in which interments have been made regularly since 1771. In 1752 the body of Dudley Digges, who was shot by Jacob Kitzmiller, was buried here. The following list gives the names and dates of death of old people interred here:

Frederick E. F. Brn. De Bulen

Patrick Dougherty 1855

Bertholff.

1805

Philip Flishman. 1851

Joanna Maria Theressa, his wife* 1804

Adam Oaster .. 1846

Dudley Digges. 1752

Mary E. Oaster 1844

Arthur O'Neal. 1846

Catherine Becher 1790

Elizabeth, his wife .. 1842

Richard Adams. 1813

Elizabeth, wife of Jacob Michael. 1883

Elizabeth Dell. 1801

Elizabeth, wife of Samuel Isaacs. 1862

Christian Lawrence. 1853

Frederick Wise .. 1868

Catherine, his wife.

1868

Joseph Storm.

1815

John Rimbael. .

1868

Patrick Kelly.

1848

Catherine, his wife.

1847

Cristopher Kranz. 1869

Catherine Merthin 1798

Aloysius Miller. 1848

Elizabeth Snyder. 1832

Catherine Miller. 1862

1711

John Eckenrode .. 1849

John Stiger 1813

Sister Maria Tharsella, daughter of Geo. Kuhn ... 1844

Michael Burke. 1862

N. G. O'Clare, eld half-breed slave .. Johannes Miller.

1821

Jacob Adams.

1822

Mary, his wife.

1843

Joseph Schaffter

1847

Elizabeth, his wife.

Joseph Schaffter's wife. 1865

Geo. T. Lantzell ..

1804

Juliana Sneeringer. 1813

Nicholas Ginter.

1850

Peter Shancfilter. 1878

Edward Rielly

1848

Johannes Storm.

1805

Martin Klunk. 1195

Robert Owings. 1815

Peter Noel. 1868

John Kuhn. . 1826

Theresa, his wife. 1821

1799

Edward MeCabe. 1814

Jacob Weis. 1794

Geo. Lawrence. 1866

Caspar Weis. 1803

Anthony Feller. 1858

John Faller ..

1829

Peter McClaine. 1880

Matthew Timmin.

1863

Wm. McCreary. 1850

Johannes Heidler.

1806

Sebastian Weaver 1864

Jolın Bederman.

1865

llugh Colgan. 1870

Jolın Snyder. . 1847

Jane Rielly. 1816

Charles Smith. 1839

Maria B. Field. 1843

Aloysius Owings 1809

Jacob Smith. 1863

Jacob Delone. 1863

Maria, wife of Jacob Delone .. 1867

Catherine Ehrman.

Sebastian Weis. 1802

Joseph Smith. 1863

1799

Jean Brady. 1841

Wmn. Devine. . 1835

Rosa McBarron.

1844

Nicholas Lingg. 1877

Anna M. McKenrothen. 1790

Renl Miller. .

Elizabeth, his wife. 1840

Christian Dabber. 1789

Joseph Kulın. 1821

Anna M. Dabber. 1788

*Died in 1744, in the log house which was his residence as well as church.

234

HISTORY OF ADAMS COUNTY.

Edwin Colgan. 1865

Conrad Alwinc. 1846

Thomas Adams.

1879

Joseph Felix. .. 1876

Joseph J. Kuhn. 1878

Bartholomus Sullivan. 1848

His wife Jane. 1883

Joseph Eckinrode. 1850

Samuel Sneeringer 1872

Heury Fink Sr. 1822

Geo. Eline.

1852

B. Altrogge. 1849

Nancy A. Murphy

1852

Jos. Sneeringer. 1868

Joseph Cooper.

1854

Jacob Adams. 1865

Adam Long.

1854

John Lilly. 1869

Ignatius Miller.

1859

Samuel Lilly. 1853

John O'Brien. . 1858

John Lilly. 1822

Joseph Ehrman 1798

Henry Hemler. 1838

Ablohn Ehrman.

1801

Joseph Hemler. 1835

John Orendorff. .

1841

Ann M. Hemler, wife of Joseph Hem - ler,

1837

Mary, wife of John Smith .. . 1833

Joseph Burkec.

1870

Eve Byers, wife of Ch. Orendorff. 1850

John Lynch. 1869

Jacob Ililp. 1867

Peter Shoenfelter.

1836

Anthony B. Smith. 1855

Elizabeth Shoenfelter.

1841

Mary Stine ..

1836

Eva Maria Meverin.

1,79

.James Timmons.

1868

1851

Joseph Shanefelter. .

1810

Catherine, widow of Alexander C. Harrison.

1810

Patrick Brady. 1814

Maryanne Weisin.

1781

Francis Renault. 1857

Martin Clunk

1795

Peter Miller. . 1835

Jacob Smith 1863

1866

Thomas Adams.

1776

Joseph Black ..

1801

Maria Regina Briegner

1787

Peter Noel.

1882

Catherine Schorbin.

1784

John Rice.

1877

Johannes Schorbin.

1815

Ignatius O'Bold.

1866

Johannes Faller.

1781

Jacob Sourbier.

1881

Jacob Breigner. 1789

Henry Strausbangh

1884

Frederick Brand. 1822

Geo. M. Willet. 1876

Mary Well.

Samuel Strausbaugh. 1876

Lawrence Magers. 1839

Landelin Loosman. 1876

Catherine, wife of Jacob Starner 1840

John Kellenberger. 1872

James McLane .. 1825

Eliza, wife of John Gurdorffer, Sr. 1859

Theresa McLane. 1790

Samuel Forsythe. 1858

Eliza, his wife. 1862

Michael Cottou. 1855

John Marshall.

1850

J. McMaster 1852

Niehold Field.

1823

Charlotte McMaster. 1878

John Cook.

1846

Frederick Dunn.

1828

Anthony Bivenauer.

1835

Joseph Noel. . 1849

Peter McFarland.

1826

James Robinson 1872

Peter Boyle. .

1805

Joseph Arntz. 1869

Mary, wife of Adam Foller. 1835

John Schultz. 1875

Mary McDavith. .

1804

Patrick Dougherty 1855

The Keagy Cemetery, a private burial ground, southeast. of Conowago Chapel, contains a number of graves; among the monuments are five, bearing the following records: Henry Keagy, 1829; J. A. Keagy, 1828; John Keagy, 1826; Abram Keagy, 1833; Johannes Erisman. 1827.

St. Michael's Lutheran Cemetery was to be seen near McSherrystown up to the close of the war. It is thought that there Rev. David Chandler, the first Lutheran preacher, was buried in 1744. In 1865 the ground was purchased by George Young and cleared for the use of the living. Some of the head-

*Buried in chapel.

Peter Little. 1860

Margaret Little. 1859

Christian Hemler. 188 2

Jacob Hemler. 1856

Jacob Stauh, Sr. 1821

Peter Smith. 1884

John Kuhn 1853

Jacob Klunk.

1871

John Hemler.

1853

John L. Gubernator. John Bushey 1881

1823

Thomas Wills

1858

Joseph Clunk

1853

Anna Margaret Kleinen. 1796

John Camp.

John Riddle.

1872

John Myers. 1870

John Kellar, old half-breed slave

Catherine Keller.

1782

John Smith.

Samuel Lilly. 1758

235

CONOWAGO TOWNSHIP.

stones were moved to a grave-yard northeast of Hanover, among which is that of Rev. John Bager, and some to the grave-yard in Hanover, where a person born in 1647 finds a home, and some to Mount Olivet, south of Hanover.

The Littlestown Branch Railroad passes through the southeastern portion of the township. The postoffices are MeSherrystown and Centennial.

BRUSIITOWN.

This place, located on the Gettysburg road, is a little settlement dating back to 1811, when Peter Little erected a house here. After the Council of Pennsylvania settled the Digges and Carroll claims, the lands in this vieinity were deeded to William MeClay and Thomas Boyd in an instrument dated December 24, 1759.

MISCELLANEOUS.

Conowago Township, through its delegate, J. Lilly, voted "nay" in the Gettysburg Convention of November 4, 1834, in re school law adoption. The subject attracted much attention for some time; but the people, observing how the new system worked in the townships which adopted it, fell into line.

BOROUGH OF MeSHERRYSTOWN.

This borough is situated almost in the central part of the township, on slightly rolling land. It consists of one long, well built up street, and may be considered the parent town of Hanover in order of time, or a western addi- tion to that town in point of progress and appearance. The site was deeded to Patrick McSherry by the Digges brothers and Charles Carrol, Sr., November 14. 1763, and two years later the new owner surveyed part of the tract into sixty lots, thirty north and thirty south of a road running east and west.

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

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