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 2

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Publication date:
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 2
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 2

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

CHAPTER XLIV .- READING TOWNSHIP .. ... 328-333 Topography-Geological Features, cie .- Bridges - Census -School Law - Assessed Valuation, 1799 - Churches - Hampton - Round Jill-Miscellaneous.

CHAPTER XLV .- STRABAN TOWNSHIP ...... 333-311

CONTENTS.

PAGE.

Topography - Census - School Law - Bridges and Railroad-Assessed Valuation, 1800 - Military - Early Land Entries- Churches - Hunterstown - Churches and Cemeteries - New Chester - Plainview- Granite Hill.

CHAPTER XLVI .- TYRONE TOWNSHIP ...... 341-344

Boundary -Topography - Bridges-Cen- sus-Assessment Valuation, 1801-School

Law-Military-Old Mill-Heidlersburg- Churches-Miscellaneous.

CHAPTER XLVII .- UNION TOWNSHIP ........ 344-346

Topography - Geological Features - Or- ganization-Census-Bridges-German Emi- grauts, 1735-52-Early Settlers-Land Troub- les - "Digges' Choice"-Churches-C'eme- teries-Sell's Station-Church Station.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES-PART III.

Gettysburg, Borough of. 3-49

Huntington Township and Borough of York 455

Springs ..

467

Latimore Township.

Liberty Township ... 471

Conowago Township and Borough of McSherrys- town ..

388

Cumberland Township.

405

Mountpleasant Township 485

Franklin Township. 416

Oxford Township and Borough of New Oxford .. 492

Freedom Towaship.

Reading Towuship. 503

Hamilton Township and Borough of East Berlin 437

Hamiltonban Township ... 441

452

Union Township.

514

1Iighlaod Township.

PORTRAITS-PART III.

Barr, Smith.

129

Bonner. W. F ..

169

Bream, William ..

O.Bold, Vincent.

347 199

Byers, John G.

Picking, John.

239

Cole, Francis .. 289

Riley, P. H.

439 69

Coulson, Catharine R

399

Schlosser, Amos

429

Durboraw, Samuel. 299

159

Sheely, Noah.

449

Gilliland, S. A

259

Slaybaugh, Jesse

Goldsborough, C. E., M. D.

109

Tipton, W. H.

Hersh, James.

369

Welty, Henry A

339

Himes. George.

Kendlehart, D.

Wilson, N. G ..

319

Mcclellan, Col. J. H .. McPherson, Hon. Edward

MISCELLANEOUS.

Part I

12-13

Map of Cumberland and Adams Counties.

Part I

113

Map Showing Various Purchases from the Indians ...

Part I

118

Table Showing Amount of Anthracite Coal Produced in Each Region since 1820.

Part I

119

Table Showing Vote for Governors of Pennsylvania since Organization of State.

Part 1 134-135

Relief Map of Cumberland Valley ..

Part III 152

Map of Gettysburg Battle-field ..

229

Martin, William A

139

Miller, Ephraim ...

359

Bell, Maj. Robert

279

Mumma, E W., M. D. 209

Myers, H. J. 249

Buehler, Samuel H.

409

Coulsoo, Francis.

between 308 and 311

Schick, J. L ..

149

Diehl, Daniel. 379 Diehl, Peter

Sell. Daniel ..

329

Garretson. Israel 389

Shorb, Joseph L.

179

Gitt, Joseph S ..

219

Stahle, H. J.

Griest, Jesse W.

269

Tyson, C. J ..

419

Hendrix, J. W.

119

Wierman, Isaac E

Wills, Judge David.

189

Kitzmiller, J. A ..

Witherow, J. S

Menallen Towaship 473

397

Mountjoy Township. 482

Germany Towuship and Borough nf Littlestown 417

Straban Township. 506

Tyrone Township. 513

O'Neal, J. W. C ..

.between 30S and 311

Seiss, R. S.

459

Diagram Showing Proportionate Annual Production of Anthracite Coal since 1820.

Part I 132

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PART I.

HISTORY OF PENNSYLVANIA,

BY SAMUEL P. BATES.

"God, that has given it me through many difficulties, will, I believe, bless and make it the seed of a nation. I shall have a tender care to the government that it be well laid at first. . . - I do, therefore, desire the Lord's wisdom to guide me, and those that may be concerned With me, that we may do the thing that is truly wise and just." WILLIAM PENN.

HISTORY OF PENNSYLVANIA.

CHAPTER 1.

INTRODUCTORY -CORNELIS JACOBSON MEY, 1624-25-WILLIAM VAN HULST, 1625- 26-PETER MINUIT, 1626-33-DAVID PETERSEN DE VRIES, 1632-33-WOUTER VAN TWILLER, 1633-38.

TY the early colonization upon the American continent, two motives were principally operative. One was the desire of amassing sudden wealth without great labor, which tempted adventurons spirits to go in search of gold, to trade valueless trinkets to the simple natives for rich furs and skins, and even to seek. amidst the wilds of a tropical forest, for the fountain whose healing waters could restore to man perpetual youth. The other was the cherished purpose of escaping the unjust restrictions of Government, and the hated ban of society against the worship of the Supreme Being according to the honest dictates of conscience, which incited the humble devotees of Christianity to forego the comforts of home, in the midst of the best civilization of the age. and make for themselves a habitation on the shores of a new world, where they might erect altars and do homage to their God in such habiliments as they preferred, and utter praises in such note as seemed to them good. This pur- pose was also incited by a certain romantic temper, common to the race, es- pecially noticeable in youth, that invites to some uninhabited 1spot, and Ras- selas and Robinson Crusoe- like to begin life anew.

William Penn, the founder of Pennsylvania, had felt the heavy hand of persecution for religious opinion's sake. As a gentleman commoner at Ox- ford, he had been fined, and finally expelled from that venerable seat of learn- ing for non-comformity to the established worship. At home, he was whipped and turned out of doors by a father who thought to reclaim the son to the more certain path of advancement at a licentious court. He was sent to prison by the Mayor of Cork. For seven months he languished in the tower of Lon- don, and, finally, to complete his disgrace, he was cast into Newgate with com- mon felons. Upon the accession of James II, to the throne of England, over fourteen hundred persons of the Quaker faith were immured in prisons for a conscientious adherence to their religions convictions. To escape this harassing persecution, and find peace and quietude from this sore proscription, was the moving cause which led Penn and his followers to emigrato to America.

Of all those who have been founders of States in near or distant ages, none have manifested so sincere and disinterested a spirit, nor have been so fair ex- emplars of the golden rule, and of the Redeemer's sermon on the mount, as William Penn. In his preface to the frame of government of his colony, he says: " The end of government is first to terrify evil-doers: secondly, to cher- ish those who do well, which gives government a life beyond corruption, and

HISTORY OF PENNSYLVANIA.

makes it as durable in the world, as good men shall be. So that government seems to be a part of religion itself, a thing sacred in its institution and end. For, if it does not directly remove the cause, it crushes the effects of evil, and is an emanation of the same Divine power, that is both author and object of pure religion, the difference lying here, that the one is more free and mental, the other more corporal and compulsive in its operations; but that is only to evil-doers, government itself being otherwise as capable of kindness, goodness and charity, as a more private society. They weakly err, who think there is no other use of government than correction, which is the coarsest part of it. Daily experience tells us, that the care and regulation of many other affairs more soft, and daily necessary, make up much the greatest part of government. Governments, like clocks, go from the motion men give them, and as govern- ments are made and moved by men, so by them are they ruined, too. Where- fore, governments rather depend upon men, than men upon governments. Let men be good, and the government cannot be bad. If it be ill, they will cure it. But if men be bad, let the government be never so good, they will endeavor to warp and spoil to their turn. * * * That, therefore, which makes a good constitution, must keep it, men of wisdom and virtue, qualities, that because they descend not with worldly inheritances, must be carefully propagated by a vir- tuous education of youth, for which, after ages will owe more to the care and prudence of founders and the successive magistracy, than to their parents for

their private patrimonies. * * * We have, therefore, with reverence to God, and good conscience to men, to the best of our skill, contrived and composed the Frame and Laws of this government, viz .: To support power in reverence with the people, and to secure the people from the abuse of power, that they may be free by their just obedience, and the magistrates honorable for their just administration. For liberty without obedience is confusion, and obedi- ence without liberty is slavery."

Though born amidst the seductive arts of the great city, Penn's tastes were rural. He hated the manners of the corrupt court, and delighted in the homely labors and innocent employments of the farm. " The country," he said, "is the philosopher's garden and library, in which he reads and contemplates the power, wisdom and goodness of God. It is his food as well as study, and gives him life as well as learning." And to his wife he said upon taking leave of her in their parting interview: " Let my children be husbandmen, and house- wives. It is industrious, healthy, honest, and of good report. This leads to consider the works of God, and diverts the mind from being taken up with vain arts and inventions of a luxurious world. Of cities and towns of concourse, beware. The world is apt to stick close to those who have lived and got wealth there. A country life and estate I love best for my children."

Having thus given some account at the outset of the spirit and purposes of the founder, and the motive which drew him to these shores, it will be in place, before proceeding with the details of the acquisition of territory, and the coming of emigrants for the actual settlement under the name of Pennsyl- vania, to say something of the aborigines who were found in possession of the soil when first visited by Europeans, of the condition of the surface of the country, and of the previous attempts at settlements before the coming of Penn.

The surface of what is now known as Pennsylvania was, at the time of the coming of the white men, one vast forest of hemlock, and pine, and beech. and oak, unbroken, except by an occasional rocky barren upon the precipitous mountain side, or by a few patches of prairie, which had been reclaimed by annual burnings, and was used by the indolent and simple-minded natives for the culture of a little maize and a few vegetables. The soil, by the annual

HISTORY OF PENNSYLVANIA.

accumulations of leaves and abundant growthis of forest vegetation, was luxu. rious, and the trees stood close, and of gigantic size. The streams swarmed with tish, and the forest abounded with game. Where now are cities and hamlets filled with busy populations intent upon the accumulation of wealth, the mastery of knowledge, the pursuits of pleasure, the deer browsed and sipped at the water's edge, and the pheasant drummed his monotonous note. Where now is the glowing furnace from which day and night tongues of flame are bursting, and the busy water wheel sends the shuttle flashing through the loom. half-naked, dusky warriors fashioned their spears with rude implements of stone, and made themselves hooks out of the bonos of animals for alluring the tinny tribe. Where now are fertile fields. upon which the thrifty farmer turns his furrow, which his neighbor takes up and runs on until it reaches from one end of the broad State to the other, and where are flocks and herds, rejoicing in rich meadows, gladdened by abundant fountains, or roposing at the heated noontide beneath ample shade, not a blow had been struck against the giants of the forest, the soil rested in virgin purity, the streams glided on in majesty, unvexed by wheel and unchoked by device of man.

Where now the long train rushes on with the speed of the wind over plain and mead, across streams and under mountains, awakening the echoes of the hill's the long day through, and at the midnight hour screaming out its shrill whistle in fiery defiance, the wild native, with a fox skin wrapped about his loins and a few feathers stuck in his hair. issuing from his rude hut, trot- ted on in his forest path, followed by his squaw with her infant peering forth front the rough sling at her back, pointed his canoe, fashioned from the barks of the trees, across the deep river, knowing the progress of time only by the rising and setting sun, troubled by no meridians for its index, starting on his way when his nap was ended, and stopping for rest when a spot was reached that pleased his fancy. Where now a swarthy population toils coaselessly deep down in the bowels of the earth, shut out trom the light of day in cutting out the material that feeds the fires upon the forge, and gives genial warmth to the lovers as they chat merrily in the luxurious drawing room, not a mino had been opened, and the vast beds of the black diamond rested unsunned beneath the superincumbent mountains, where they had been fashioned by the Creator's hand. Rivers of oil seethed through the impatient and uneasy gases and vast pools and lakes of this pungent, parti-colored fluid, hidden away from the coveting eye of man, guarded well their own secrets. Not a derrick protruded its well-balanced form in the air. Not a drill, with its eager eating tooth de- scended into the flinty rock No pipe line diverted the oily tide in a silent, ceaseless current to the ocean's brink. The cities of iron tanks, filled to burst- ing, had no place amidst the forest solitudes. Oil exchanges, with their vex- ing puts and calls, shorts and longs, bulls and bears, had not yet come to dis- turb the equanimity of the red man, as he smoked the pipe of peace at the council fire. Had he once seen the smoke and soot of the new Birmingham of the West, or snuffed the odors of an oil refinery, he would willingly have for- feited his goodly heritage by the forest stream or the deep flowing river, and sought for himself new hunting grounds in less favored regions.

It was an unfortunate circumstance that at the coming of Europeans the territory now known as Pennsylvania was occupied by some of the mest bloody and revengeful of the savage tribes. They were known as the Lenni Lenapes, and held sway from the Hudson to the Potomac. A tradition was preserved among them, that in a remote age their ancestors had emigrated eastward from beyond the Mississippi, exterminating as they came the more civilized and peaceful peoples, the Mound-Builders of Ohio and adjacent States, and who

HISTORY OF PENNSYLVANIA.

were held among the tribes by whom they were surrounded as the progenitors, the grandfathers or oldest people. They came to be known by Europeans as the Delawares, after the name of the river and its numerous branches along which they principally dwelt. The Monseys or Wolves, another tribe of the Lenapes, dwelt upon the Susquehanna and its tributaries, and, by their war- like disposition, won the credit of being the fiercest of their nation, and the guardians of the door to their council house from the North.

Occupying the greater part of the teritory now known as New York, were the five nations-the Senacas, the Mohawks, the Oneidas, the Cayugas,, and the Onondagas, which, from their hearty union, acquired great strength and came to exercise a commanding influence. Obtaining firearms of the Dutch at Albany, they repelled the advances of the French from Canada, and by their superiority in numbers and organization, had overcome the Lenapes, and held them for awhile in vassalage. The Tuscaroras, a tribe which had been expelled from their home in North Carolina, wero adopted by the Five Na- tions in 1712, and from this time forward these tribes were known to the English as the Six Nations, called by the Lenapes, Mingoes, and by the French, Iroquois. There was, therefore, properly a United States before the thirteen colonies achieved their independence. The person and character of these tribes were marked. They were above the ordinary stature, erect, bold, and commanding, of great decorum in council, and when aroused showing native eloquence. In warfare, they exhibited all the bloodthirsty, revengeful, cruel instincts of the savage, and for the attainment of their purposes were treacherous and crafty.

The Indian character, as developed by intercourse with Europeans, exhibits some traits that are peculiar. While coveting what they saw that pleased them, and thievish to the last degree, they were nevertheless generous. This may be accounted for by their habits. "They beld that the game of the for- est, the tish of the rivers, and the grass of the field were a common heritage, and free to all who would take the trouble to gather them, and ridiculed the idea of fencing in a meadow." Bancroft says: "The hospitality of the Indian has rarely been questioned. The stranger enters his cabin, by day or by night, without asking leave, and is entertained as freely as a thrush or a blackbird, that regales himself on the luxuries of the fruitful grove. He will take his own rest abroad, that he may give up his own skin or mat of sedge to his guest. Nor is the traveler questioned as to the purpose of his visit. He chooses his own time freely to deliver his message." Penn, who, from frequent intercourse came to know them well, in his letter to the society of Free Traders, says of them: "In liberality they excel; nothing is too good for their friend. Give them a fine gun, coat or other thing, it may pass twenty hands before it sticks; light of heart, strong affections, but soon spent. The most merry creatures that live; feast and dance perpetually. They never have much nor want much. Wealth circulateth like the blood. All parts partake; and though none shall want what another hath, yet exact observers of property. Some Kings have sold, others presented me with several parcels of land. The pay or presents I made them, were not hoarded by the particu- lar owners, but the neighboring Kings and clans being present when the goods were brought out, the parties chiefly concerned consulted what and to whom they should give them. To every King, then, by the hands of a per- son for that work appointed is a proportion sent, so sorted and folded, and with that gravity that is admirable. Then that King subdivideth it in like man- ner among his dependents, they hardly leaving themselves an equal share with one of their subjects, and be it on such occasions as festivals, or at their common meals, the Kings distribute, and to themselves last. They care for

HISTORY OF PENNSYLVANIA.

little because they want but little, and the reason is a little contents them. In this they are sufficiently revenged on us. They are also free from our pains. They are not disquieted with bills of lading and exchange, nor perplexed with chancery suits and exchequer reckonings. We sweat and toil to live; their pleasure feeds them; I mean their hunting, fishing and fowling, and this tablo is spread everywhere. They eat twice a day, morning and evening. Their seats and table are the ground. Since the Europeans came into these parts they are grown great lovers of strong liquors, rum especially, and for it exchange the richest of their skins and furs. If they are heated with liquors, they are restless till they have enough to sleep. That is their cry, 'Some more and I will go to sleep;' but when drunk one of the most wretched spec- tacles in the world."

On the 28th of August, 1609, a little more than a century from the time of the first discovery of the New World by Columbus, Hendrick Hudson, an English navigator, then in the employ of the Dutch East India Company, hav- ing been sent out in search of a northwestern passage to the Indies, discovered the month of a great bay, since known as Delaware Bay, which he entered and partially explored. But finding the waters shallow, and being satisfied that this was only an arm of the sea which received the waters of a great river, and not a passage to the western ocean, he retired, and, turning the prow of his little craft northward, on the 2d of September, he discovered the river which bears his name, the Hudson, and gave several days to its examination. Not finding a passage to the West, which was the object of his search, he returned to Holland, bearing the evidences of his adventures, and made a full report of his discoveries in which he says, "Of all lands on which I ever set my foot, this is the best for tillage."

A proposition had been made in the States General of Holland to form a West India Company with purposes similar to those of the East India Com- pany ; but the conservative element in the Dutch Congress prevailed, and while the Government was unwilling to undertake the risks of an enterprise for which it would be responsible, it was not unwilling to foster private enter- prise, and on the 27th of March, 1614, an edict was passed, granting the privileges of trade, in any of its possessions in the New World, during four voyages, founding its right to the territory drained by the Delaware and Hudson npon the discoveries by Hudson. Five vessels were accordingty fitted by a company composed of enterprising merchants of the cities of Am- sterdam and Hoorn, which made speedy and prosperous voyages under com- mand of Cornelis Jacobson Mey, bringing back with them fine furs and rich woods, which so excited cupidity that the States General was induced on the 14th of October, 1614, to authorize exclusive trade, for four voyages, extend- ing through three years, in the newly acquired possessions, the edict designat- ing them as New Netherlands.

One of the party of this first enterprise, Cornelis Hendrickson, was left behind with a vessel called the Unrest, which had been built to supply the place of one accidentally burned, in which he proceeded to explore more fully the bay and river Delaware, of which he made report that was read before the States General on the 19th of August, 1616. This report is curious as dis- closing the opinions of the first actual explorer in an official capacity: " He hath discovered for his aforesaid masters and directors certain lands, a bay, and three rivers, situate between thirty-eight and forty degrees, and did their trade with the inhabitants, said trade consisting of sables, furs, robes and other skins. He hath found the said country full of trees, to wit, oaks, hick- ory and pines, which trees were. in some places, covered with vines. He hath

HISTORY OF PENNSYLVANIA.

seen in said country bucks and does, turkeys and partridges. He hath found the climate of said country very temperate, judging it to be as temperate as this country, Holland. He also traded for and bought from the inhabitants, the Minquas, three persons, being people belonging to this company, which three persons were employed in the service of the Mohawks and Machicans, giving for them kettles, beads, and merchandise."

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

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