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 45

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Publisher: W. Taylor
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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 45
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 45

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The first minister and the first ordained older of the " Upper" Church was Christopher Johnson, and David Ecker, from Adams County, was (1836) the second elder. John Eby was chosen in 1841; Joseph Sollenberger, in 1813; Allen Mohler, in IS46; Daniel Hollinger removed to the " Upper" Church from the " Lower " one in 1548; Daniel Keller, chosen in 1851; George Hollinger, about 1858; Daniel Demuth, in 1860; Daniel Hollinger, in 1868; Caspar Hos- felt, in 1873.

Until 1555 the Lower Congregation had no house of worship of its own, but had an allotment in union houses built in Mechanicsburg in 1825, at Shep- herdstown and at Cochlin's, in some of which meetings are still held. In IS55 Baker's Meeting-House was built on the Lisburn road, in Monroe Township; Miller's a mile from Sterrett's Gap, in 1558, and Mohler's, in 1861, six miles southwest from Harrisburg, on the State road. In 1863 a good brick build- ing was erected near Huntsville, and a few years later a union church was built in Frankford Township, one-third of which the German Baptists own, and in 1575 a house of worship was put up by them exclusively at Boiling Springs. Four miles north of Shippensburg is the Fogelsanger Meeting-House.

UNITED BRETHREN.

This aggressive denomination owes its organized form largely to the efforts of William Otterbein, "a pious and zealous preacher from Germany," and began about the opening of the present century. Its numbers have increased rapidly, and congregations may be found in all portions of the county. The following have been some of the members who have served as its preachers: Revs. H. A. Schlichter, W. O. Quigley, A. H. Rice, W. H. Wagner, J. C. Wiedler, J. German, J. P. Anthony, J. R. Atchinson, B. G. Huber, D. R. Burkholder.

In Mechanicsburg-The church in Mechanicsburg began, in 1846, in the labors of Rev. Jacob S. Kessler, who served three years. His successors in work were the following reverend gentlemen: Alexander Owen, J. C. Smith, Samnel Enterline, W. B. Wagner, William Owen, John Dickson, Daniel Eb- erly, W. B. Raber. J. Philip Bishop, S. A. Mowers, C. T. Stearnthen, H. A. Schlichter, J. T. Shaffer, J. B. Funk and J. R. Hutchinson, the present in- cumbent.

From 1846 to 1557 the congregation occupied the old Union Church. In the latter year a house was built by the congregation, and it answered all nec- essary purposes till 1574, when the present brick structure was erected at a cost of $6,000. The membership of the congregation is 220, and the pastor's sal- ary $550.

In Shippensburg. - The congregation in Shippensburg began in 1866. In June, 1869. a good house of worship was dedicated. The congregation has been growing rapidly in numbers and influence.

THE MENNONITES.

This religions body began to appear in Cumberland County at the opening of the present century (Cir. 1903). The first effort to establish a congregation was made at Slate Hill, a mile south of Shiremanstown, under the labors of

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HISTORY OF CUMBERLAND COUNTY.

George Rupp, Sr., and Henry Martin. In 1818 was erected a large brick building, which was reconstructed and improved in 1876. The congregation increased quite rapidly, enjoying the labors of Jacob Mumma and Henry Rupp.

About the same time preaching began about two miles east of Carlisle, resulting in the forming of a congregation which, in 1832, erected a building since known as the "Stone Church." Some of the preachers were John Erb and Christian Herr, and latterly Henry Weaver and Jacob Herr. Under the direction of such ministers as Messrs Rupp, Mumma, Martin, Abram Burgert, Martin Whistler, and others whose names are not recalled, preaching has been supplied, in German or English, at a number of places in the county: Martin's Schoolhouse (1828), Union Church near Michael Cochlin's (1848), Union House, at Jacob Herr's, near Boiling Springs, Diller's Mill, Union Church in Mechan- icsburg.

The Reformed Mennonites, who claim to hold, in greater reverence, the doctrines and usages of the primitive church than those from whom they sepa- rated, have a number of congregations: One at Winding Hill, two miles and a half from Mechanicsburg; One near Middlesex, and one at Plainfield. Some of the early settlers, about 1825 or 1830, were Samuel Bear, Dietrich Steiner, Peter Miller, Christian Genrich, Samuel Newcomer and others. Most of their preachings have been conducted by men living without the limits of the Cum- berland, George Keiser being a resident minister.

EVANGELICAL ASSOCIATION.

This society owes its commencement to Jacob Albright, who began to form societies about 1800. The first church organized in Cumberland County was in 1833, in the house of David Kutz, a mile or two east of Carlisle. Among the first members were John Kratzer, Christian Ruhl and David Kutz. Revs. J. Barber and J. Baumgartner were the first ministers. Letort Spring Church, where the first organization was made, is a building of no ordinary pretentions, and is attended by an influential congregation. There are several hundred communicants in the county, and there are church buildings at following named points: Carlisle, Cleversburg, Hickorytown, Leesburg, Letort Spring, McClure's Gap, Middlesex, Mifflin, Mount Holly, Mount Rock, New Kingston and Wagner's. The Carlisle congregation had its inception in a class of some dozen persons, which was formed in 1866, and for a time they held meetings at the house of Rev. J. Boas; in 1867 the meetings were held in Rheem's Hall. May 15, 1870, St. Paul's Evangelical Church, a substantial brick building on Louther Street, was dedicated. This congregation has been served by Revs. J. G. M. Swengel, J. H. Leas, H. B. Hartzler, J. M. Ettinger, J. M. Pines, H. A. Stoke, A. H. Irvine. The church is thriving and prosperous.

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HISTORY OF CUMBERLAND COUNTY.

CHAPTER XIII.

POLITICAL-SLAVERY IN CUMBERLAND COUNTY, ETC.

THERE is little to say concerning the political leaning of the inhabitants of Cumberland County through the century and a quarter and more of its existence. We have followed its soldiery through several wars and learned how they fought and fell; we have seen that, with so few exceptions as hardly to be accounted, the people have been at all times arrayed on the side of home and country, and given of their means and of their life blood to attain their preservation. Where these motives are uppermost there is little need of ask- ing what is the political belief of the citizens, for they can not go far in the wrong in any event. For many years the majority of the voters in Cumber- land County have cast their ballots with the party of Jefferson and Jackson, the Democratic majority at the local election in the autumn of 1885 being over 1,000. At times, however, the popularity of candidates on the side of the Re- publican, or minority party. is sufficient to win for them responsible positions, as in the case of the present president judge, Wilbur F. Sadler.

SLAVERY IN CUMBERLAND COUNTY.

Many of the early residents of Cumberland County owned slaves, and on the old assessment records we find property holders taxed often with one or more " negroes." according to their position and means. One instance only is given that of Carlisle, in 1768, when the following persons owned the num- ber of negroes set opposite their respective names:

John Armstrong, Esq., two; Robert Gibson, one; John Kinkead, one; John Montgomery, Esq., two; Robert Miller, Esq., three; James Pollock, tavern-keeper, two; Charles Pattison, one; Rev. John Steel, two; Joseph Spear, two: Richard Tea, two-total, eighteen.

Even ministers, it is seen from the foregoing. adopted the common custom of owning slaves, as well as the people, yet the public feeling in the Colony- or State-was never in favor of that form of bondage, especially among the Quakers, the Scotch and Irish settlers looking at it more favorably and having numbers of negroes, then not exceedingly valuable in market. It is said that "slaves were generally allowed to share in all family and domestic comforts, from long residence in families they attained to much consideration and affec- tion, and seldom were made the subjects of cruelty. In many respects their position in the families to which they belonged was preferable to that which was awarded to hirelings for only brief terms of service." The attention of the Assembly was called to the subject of slavery by the Supreme Executive Council, James McLene* at the time representing Cumberland County. that body referring to the matter February 15, 1779, in the following language: " We would also again bring into your view a plan for the gradual abolition of slavery, so disgraceful to any people and more especially to those who have been contending in the great canse of liberty themselves, and upon whom Providence has bestowed such eminent marks of its favor and protection. We

·Resided In Antrim Township, now Franklin County, and died March 13, 1806.

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think we are loudly called on to evince our gratitude in making our fellow-men joint heirs with us of the same inestimable blessings, under such restrictions and regulations as will not injure the community and will imperceptibly enable them to relish and improve the station to which they will be advanced. Hon- ored will that State be in the annals of history which shall abolish this viola- tion of the rights of mankind, and the memories of those will be held in grateful and everlasting rememberance who shall pass the law to restore and establish the rights of human nature in Pennsylvania. We feel ourselves so interested on this point as to go beyond what may be deemed by some the proper line of our duty, and acquaint you that we have reduced this plan to the form of a law, which if acceptable we shall in a few days communicate to you."

The Assembly did not act upon the matter at that meeting, but through the exertions of George Bryan, the author of the proposed law in the council, who subsequently become a representative in the Assembly, the bill was passed March 1, 1780, by a vote of 34 to 21, and slavery was abolished in Pennsyl- vania. The act provided for the registration of every negro or mulatto slave or servant for life, before the 1st of November, 1780, and that " no man or woman of any color or nation, except the negroes or mulattoes," so registered should thereafter, at any time, be held in the commonwealth other than as free. Exceptions were made in the servants of members of Congress, foreign min- isters, and people passing through or not stopping longer than six months in the State. In 1790 Cumberland County had 223 slaves; in 1800, 228; in 1810, 307; in 1820, 17; in 1830, 7; in 1840, 24; and in 1850, none, those registered as such by the act of 1780, and so continuing through life, having passed away. Negroes were often advertised for sale in the early newspapers of Carlisle, showing up their desirable qualities; and such notices appeared as late as 1830.

During the exciting years last preceding the civil war of 1861-65 more than one fugitive from the terrors of slavery was assisted on his way to freedom and safety by sympathizing citizens of this county. The county was so near the border of a Slave State that it was an easy matter for kidnapers to make bold raids into it and carry off unsuspectingly colored persons over the border into slavery. One incident occurred in Dickinson Township worth mentioning: Some time in the spring of 1859 a mulatto named John Butler settled with his wife and child in a small house near Spruce Run. The child attended the Farmers' Academy and the parents worked at such employment as they could find. On the night of June 10 following they disappeared suddenly. under circumstances which pointed to a case of kidnaping. Measures were taken to secure the perpetrators of the crime and punish them. Emanuel Myers, of Maryland, a noted negro catcher, was apprehended by the sheriff soon after, while in Pennsylvania, and placed in jail at Carlisle. The people in Maryland and South became angry over the matter, claiming he was decoyed into Penn- sylvania to be captured, The Northern papers united in demanding that Myers be tried and punished. His trial came off in August, the common- wealth being represented by A. Brady Sharpe, Esq., and Hon. Fredk. Watts, of Carlisle. Myers was found guilty, but promised to return Butler and his family if he himself might be set free. Sentence was suspended, he was re- leased on his own recognizance to appear at a subsequent session of court, and soon after the colored family returned to Dickinson Township. The common- wealth practically dropped the case then. The war soon followed, and slavery was ended in the entire country.

g. D. Rea

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HISTORY OF CUMBERLAND COUNTY.

CHAPTER XIV.

AGRICULTURAL - CUMBERLAND COUNTY AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY-GRANGERS' PICNIC. EXHIBITION. WILLIAMS' GROVE.

T THE advancement of science has been seen in the improvements which characterize the culitivation of the soil, and the progress that has marked the introduction of agricultural implements. Farming, stock-raising, bee cul- ture and fruit- growing were, formerly, largely matters of chance. Inherited knowledge sufficed for the average husbandman. He plowed and sowed and reaped as his ancestors did. Drainage, fertilization, the improvement of stock, the use of improved implements of husbandry-these subjects did not agitate his mind. Not so the intelligent modern farmer. He keeps abreast of his age, and rends the latest and best literature bearing on his chosen field of labor. A knowledge of physiology, botany, mineralogy, geology and vege- table chemistry seems to be a necessity for him. He realzes that his occupa- tion affords a superior opportunity for making and recording observations that will be valuable, not only to him but others similarly engaged. He rises above the narrow selfishness that too often characterizes his fellow-laborers, and be- comes a philanthropic scientist whom the future will rise up and call blessed.

To this class belongs Hon. Frederick Watts of Carlisle, who, though engaged in the intricacies of the legal profession, always had both time and inclination to advance the true interests of the farming community. He was both a theo- retieal and a practical farmer, and to him more than to any other man in the Cumberland Valley may be attributed the improvements in agriculture in that region.

In June, 1539. Judge Watts was driving a carriage, containing himself and wife, from New York to Philadelphia, no railroad at that time connecting the two cities. Near Trenton, N. J., he was met on the road by Lient. William Inman, of the United States Navy, and asked, " Watts, where are you going?" Being told, he took the Judge to his farm, on which was growing an excellent quality of wheat. It proved to be a Mediterranean variety. three bushels of which were brought by him a year or two previous from Italy, near Leghorn. He sent Judge Watts six barrels of the seed, which were sown on his farm near Carlisle. By these two men was introduced into the United States, and espec- ially into the Cumberland Valley, this popular variety of wheat.

During the harvest of 1840 the first McCormick reaper over used in Penn- sylvania, was taken by Judge Watts into a twelve-acre field that would yield about thirty-five bushels of wheat per acre. It was a trial of the machine. There were present from 500 to 1,000 spectators to witness "Watts' folly," as it was called. The cutting of the wheat was rapid and perfect. but the general verdict was, that "one man could not rake off the grain with sufficient rapidity." A well-dressed stranger came up, and gave some suggestions which aided the raker somewhat: but even yet the team could not be driven more than ten or fifteen rods before a halt was called to ease up on the raker. Finally, the well-dressed gentleman stepped upon the machine, and raked off the wheat with perfect ease, compelling the spectators to reverse their some- what hasty decision and say,. " It can be done." The well-dressed man proved

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to be Cyrus H. McCormick, the inventor of the American reaper. This little episode marks the introduction of the reaper into the Cumberland Valley, and relieves "Watts' folly" from the odium which first attached to it.

Similar difficulties attended the introduction of the left-handed, steel mold-board plow. Farmers had been accustomed to use a right-handed, wooden mold-board implement, clumsy and burdensome, and were loth to make a change. Repeated trials, however, brought the better class of imple- ments into favor, and thus introduced a higher order of agriculture into the county.

The County Agricultural Society, an account of which is given below, was the legitimate outgrowth of these public exhibitions. Judge Frederick Watts was its founder, and for many long years its president and chief patron. What- ever of good it has accomplished for the farming interests of the county may be ascribed largely to the efficiency which he imparted to its management.

CUMBERLAND COUNTY AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY.

This society was organized in 1854, through the instrumentality of Judge Watts. It has been a well managed and prosperous institution from its first existence to the present, holding its annual meetings (the only failures in this respect being one or two years during the late war), and the interest and good influences that have marked its career are plainly evidenced all over the county.

The society purchased the first lot of ground, containing six acres and six perches, August, 1855, and have at different times made additional purchases, until they now have enclosed and in a high state of improvement twenty-two acres, a fine half-mile driving track, amphitheater, boarding houses, halls, booths, pens and all other necessary buildings of a substantial and commodious kind are on the grounds. In short, everything necessary to conduct a first- class county fair has been prepared in an unstinted manner.

There are 200 life members, and the directors run the institute in a liberal and generous spirit, paying out on an average, each year, in premiums, from $2,000 to $2,500.

The following is a list of the officers of the society:

First corps of officers: President, Frederick Watts; vice-presidents, And. Fra- sier, Skiles Woodburn, Daniel Coble, Geo. H. Bucher, Thos. Bradley, W. M. Henderson; secretary, Richard Parker ; treasurer, Geo. W. Stouffer; man- agers, Chas. Tetzel, Samuel Myers, Robert Laird. Geo. Brindle, John Paul, Jos. Culver, Wm. Schriver, Robert Bryan aud Robert G. Young.

1855-President, Geo. H. Bucher ; secretary, Robert Moore; treasurer, George W. Sheaffer.

1856-President, Thomas Paxton; secretary, Robert Moore: treasurer, Geo. W. Sheaffer.

1857-President, Thomas Galbraith; secretary, Robert Moore; treasurer, Geo. W. Sheaffer.

1858 to 1866 (inclusive)-President, F. Watts; secretary, D. S. Croft, treasurer, Geo. W. Sheaffer.

1867-President, Thomas Lee; secretary, W. F. Sadler; treasurer, Henry Saxton.

1868-Same as 1867.

1869-President, John Stuart; secretary, John Hays; treasurer, Ephraim Cornman.

1870-President, F. Watts; secretary, Lewis F. Lyne; treasurer, Henry Saxton.

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1871 Same us 1870.

1972 -President, Charles H. Miller; secretary, Lewis F. Lyne; treasurer, Henry Saxton.

1872 to 1886-The last-named officers have held their positions contin- uously, except Henry Saxton, who died in ISS2, and was succeeded in 1883 by the present treasurer, Joshua P. Bixler.

GRANGER'S PICNIC-EXHIBITION, WILLIAMS' GROVE.

From the smallest beginnings in 1873, this has now became a National in- stitution. A few individuals, farmers mostly, were led to give this beneficent institution their favorable attention by the efforts of Mr. R. H. Thomas, pro- prietor of the Farmer's Friend and Grange Advocate, of Mechanicsburg. Thirteen years ago the Patrons of Husbandry selected Williams' Grove as a place for holding social rounions, and held successful meetings at this point. Then others saw the possibilities that might be made to shape and grow out of these meetings; and with a view of bringing the farmer and manufacturer in closer relationship, the picnic of 1874 was appointed, and the manufacturers of the country were invited to bring the work of their shops and mills, and, with the farmers, side by side to display the products of the farm and factory. The beginning, of necessity, was small, because as wise as was its purposes it had to be advertised to the country. But it told its own story, its fame rap- idly extended throughout all the States, and soon it reached proportions that may be called National. In 1885, without entering into dry details, there were over 300 car loads of agricultural implements and machinery displayed upon the grounds, and the people in attendance estimated at 150,000. Farmers were present from twenty-nine States of the Union, and the manufacturers had quite as extended a representation. Goods sold upon the grounds, and orders taken aggregated over $300,000, and over $1,000,000 worth of machinery was on exhibition.

R. H. Thomas, general manager, Mechanicsburg, oponed the fair of 1886, on Monday August 30, with an unprecedented attendance and the widening interest evidently increasing and extending.

The grounds occupied are called the Williams' Grove picnic grounds. There are forty acres in the inclosure. These are leased by the picnic exhibition management; a co-lease is held by the D. & M. Railroad, and frequently the place under their management is used as picnic grounds. Two amphitheators, a National Grange Hall, a two-story hotel, and quite a number of smaller build- ings used by exhibitors and visitors. Williams' Grove is on an island in the Yellow Breeches Creek, on the D. & M. Railroad, thirteen miles southwest of Harrisburg. The constant addition of new improvements and spacious build- ings, etc., make this the most elegant grounds in the country for these pur- poses, and the spot is surpassingly beautiful and inviting. One admirable and attractive feature of this inter-State exhibition is that it is a free show-no admittance charge, and back of it are no grasping board of directors or stock- holders eager only to make money. It is run at a minimum of expense, and this is collected by a small fee from exhibitors, the booths and stands really paying the larger part of the expenses. Several of the large manufacturers are now about erecting permanent and spacious buildings upon the grounds, and still others are soon to follow this good example. A twenty acre field (wheat stubble) adjoining the grove has now been secured for trials of plows, harrows, rollers, drills, etc.

The inter-State picnic institution is unique in its arrangement, having no predecessor, and its success phenomenal. Away from the great cities, in the

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cool and grateful shades of the groves, in the quiet retreat of the rich and beautiful Cumberland Valley, here the real farmer and actual manufacturer meet and learn to know and appreciate each other, and certainly it is the be- ginning, already vast and extended in its proportions, of a happy fraternizing and of mutual benefits to these two most important classes of men in our Nation.

CHAPTER XV.

THE FORMATION OF TOWNSHIPS.

ITHE Cumberland (then known as the North) Valley was first divided into the townships of Pennsborough and Hopewell. This was in 1735, years before the formation of the county, which was then a portion of Lancaster. At this time the Indian title to the lands had not yet been extinguished, for it was in October of the following year that the Penns finally purchased their title. White settlers, by permission of the Indians, had come into the valley about the year 1730, but they were few in number, and Cumberland County was not formed until fifteen years after the formation of these two townships.

The First Proprietary Manor .- A small portion in the lower part of the North Valley, and which was afterward a portion of Pennsborough Township, was surveyed at a still earlier period (1732) into a "Proprietary Manor on Conodoguinette," the more effectually to keep off white settlers as opposed to the rights of the Indians, which had not yet been satisfactorily purchased. This manor was also called "Pastang" or "Paxton Manor," and after the formation of Cumberland County "Louther Manor," in compliment to a noble- man of that name who had married a sister of William Penn.

About sixty families of the Shawanese Indians, who had come from the sonth, settled there about 1698, by permission of the Susquehanna Indians, to which the first proprietory, William Penn, afterward agreed. In 1753, com- plaint is made "that they had not been paid for the lands, part of which had been surveyed into the Proprietory Manor on Conodoguinette."

This manor embraced all of what is now East Pennsborough, Lower Allen, and a corner of Hampden Townships. In other words, it was bounded on the east by the Susquehanna River, opposite John Harris' ferry, and included all the land lying between the Conodoguinet and Yellow Breeches Creeks, past the Stone Church or Frieden's Kirche, and immediately below Shiremanstown. It was surveyed by John Armstrong in 1765, and by John Lukens, Esq., sur- veyor-general under the Provincial Government, in 1767, at which time it was reported to contain 7,551 acres.

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

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