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 60

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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 60
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 60

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MISCELLANEOUS.

Southampton Township is favored with two railroads, the Cumberland Val- loy and the Harrisburg & Potomac, the former running through the more north- erly part of the township, and the latter through the center portion. The postoffices are Shippensburg, Middle Spring, Cleversburg and Lee's Cross Roads.

CHAPTER XXXV.

SOUTH MIDDLETON TOWNSHIP AND BOROUGH OF MOUNT HOLLY SPRINGS.

YOUTH MIDDLETON TOWNSHIP was originally a portion of Middleton, which was created from Pennsborough in 1750, but divided into its north- ern and southern townships in November, 1810. It lies just south of Carlisle, bounded on the north by North Middleton and Middlesex; on the east by Mon- roe; on the south by the counties of York and Adams, and on the west by Dickinson and a small portion of West Pennsborough. The character of the soil is not the same in all portions of the township. In its southern extremity the South Mountains slope gradually, like a great wave, broken into cre- vasses and smaller valleys, until it reaches the rich limestone lands below. There is a great contrast. The former is serub pine and forest mountain land, and was long ago described as "a wild and desert region covered with forests, which yield fuel for furnaces in them or on their borders; but offering little at- traction to any except the woodcutter and the hunter," while below the soil is of almost exceptional fertility, with highly cultivated farms, good buildings and large barns.

If one reaches the South Mountains he finds that the rocks are of a differ- ent character from those of the level region. Lying along this range he meets with compact white sandstone, some portions timbered, some barren, others with laurel undergrowth and brush. At Pine Grove, on Mountain Creek, there is a detached bed of limestone land, with brown argillaceous earth and hematite iron ore, which had always furnished a plentiful supply to the fur- nace of that place.

Among the numerous branches of the Cumberland Valley Railroad the South Mountain, originally built to Pine Grove Furnace for the transportation of the iron ores and manufactured products of that region, but now extended to Gettysburg, is exceedingly interesting on account of the wildness of the scenery. The view as you pass along over these mountains toward Gettys- burg is varied by intervals of forest, rude rocks, abrupt or broken declivities, deep chasms, over which the road is supported by trestle work, reminding one still of the unbroken and silent wilderness, but into which civilization is already

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HISTORY OF CUMBERLAND COUNTY.

pushing its way. These remarks apply only to the southern or mountainous portion of the township, for the greater part, the northern and limestone land consists, as we have said, of fertile fields and farms.

ROADS AND STREAMS.

Of the numerous roads which lead in every direction, and many of which are well macadamized, we may mention particularly the old Carlisle and Han- over turnpike, which was for many years the principal route to Baltimore, and which was laid out principally by parties who lived in South Middleton Town- ship in 1812.

The streams by which the township is well watered are the Yellow Breeches Creek, Letort Spring, Boiling Spring and Mountain Run; the former flow- ing through nearly the center of the township, east and west, and the two lat- ter nearly north and south. *

EARLY SETTLEMENTS.

This portion of Cumberland County, which is now South Middleton Town- ship, was settled at a very early period. James Le Tort, a French-Swiss, and one of the old Indian interpreters, lived in the township at the head of the spring which bears his name, as early, it is said, as 1720. William Patterson afterward owned this farm at the head of the Letort, and Hugh Stuart, the grandfather of Jos. A. Stuart, also occupied this "Patterson tract." The earliest warrant of land which lay in what is now South Middleton, of which we have any knowledge, was one granted to George Brandon, in 1743, of a tract of land which lay on the York County line on the turnpike.

The Craigheads were among the earliest settlers on the Yellow Breeches Creek. Most, if not all, of these earlier settlers were Scotch-Irish. Such were the Craigheads, Stuarts, Pattersons, Mahaffeys, Eges, Grahams, Moores, Saundersons, McClures, Dennys, Holmes, and others, all of which names date back to the formation of the county. Among other old families, besides those mentioned elsewhere, are the Burkholders, Gliems, Myers, Zugs, Weakleys, Bradleys, Givins, Ritners, Searights, Ahls, Flemmings, Kauffmans (whose descendants laid out Boiling Springs), Peters, Goodyears, McFeeleys, Eisen- haeurs, and others.

The name "Trent" is found at a very early period, and the gap uow known as Mount Holly was originally called Trent's Gap. Of the present families who live upon the lands originally settled, James B. Weakley occupies part of the original tract taken up by his grandfather, James Weakley; William Moore and the Craigheads also occupy a portion of the lands first settled by their families. The only land in the vicinity of Boiling Springs which is still in possession of (maternal) descendants of first settlers of it is that now owned by A. M. Leidich. Andrew Holmes owned a large tract in the township, up- on a portion of which Mr. George W. Hilton now lives. The Pattersons were early settlers, and occupied a large tract on Letort. Stephen Foulk lived in the township, on a farm near the toll gate, now owned by Joseph Stuart. George A. Lyon, Esq., and James Hamilton, Esq., both lawyers of Carlisle, owned large farms in the township.

Above the Richard Peters' tract, west of Boiling Springs, large tracts were taken up at a very early period by Joseph Gaylie and Patrick Hasson. On the south side of the Yellow Breeches Creek large tracts, extending to the mountains, were taken up by Charles and Guian Mahaffey; while to the east of

*Letort Spring rises in the towaship, from a large fountain as its source, near Carlisle ; Boiling Spring flows hut for a short distance; Mountain Creek flows down through the winding orges of the mountains, and, at a point near Craighead's Station, empties into the Yellow Breeches Creek.

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SOUTH MIDDLETON TOWNSHIP.

Boiling Springs lands were taken up originally by James and Andrew Crock- ert. In the vicinity of Boiling Springs there are three tracts which are par- ticularly worthy of mention: The ore banks, a large tract adjacent, and the land upon which the town of Boiling Springs is built. The three ore banks seem to have been taken up at a very early period, nnd afterward the large tract surrounding them. This latter is described as "one tract in Middleton [ now Sonth Middleton | Township, in the county of Cumberland, containing 1,644 acres, surveyed in the name of John Rigby & Co. on the 8th, 9th, 10th and 12th days of July, 1762," and which was returned in pursuance of certain warrants issued by the proprietaries of Pennsylvania, dated May 31, 1762, "to John Rigby, Francis Saunderson, and Joseph, Samuel and John Morris, Jr." This truet was divided into sixteen equal parts. John Armstrong and wifo owned two in 1764, but re-conveyed them to Michael Ege in 1792. Two parts belonged to Robert Thornburg, and the rest remaining in the original owners or their descendants, the whole tract passed, by various conveyances, to Michael Ege, the elder. The earliest mention in these various deeds or conveyances of the Carlisle Iron Works is in 1765, but they had been evidently, at this pe- riod, for a number of years in existence. The probabilities are that they were started when this original grant was given, in July, 1762, if not at a still ear- lier period. At these works, it is said, the earliest cannon manufactured in the United States were made, one of which is said to have been captured dur- ing the Revolutionary war and removed to the Tower of London. The three ore banks were described as having about twenty acres cach, but these tracts were embraced in an original sale of land made by William Penn to Adam Kroesen, then of Holland. by deed of 7th of March, 1682, the right whereof was afterward vested in Richard Peters, secretary in the land office in Phila- delphia, who, in April, 1761, conveyed to Jacob Yoner, of Lancaster, 1,000 acres of the said land; but Jacob Yoner, in pursuance of a warrant from the proprietaries, dated April 16, 1761, caused to be surveyed to him, instead of the 1,000 acres, the three ore banks above mentioned. By deed of Jacob Yoner, 6th of November, 1761, these banks, were conveyed to John Rigby and Nathaniel Giles, and a patent of confirmation was granted, and by various conveyances they became vested in the firm known as Rigby & Co., which con- sisted of John Rigby, Francis Saunderson, and the Morrises, of Philadelphia. They afterward came into possession of Michael Ege, the elder, who was at this time one of the most prominent iron men in Pennsylvania, at one time owning the forges and furnaces at Pino Grove, at Mount Holly and at Boiling Springs.

The third tract was the one upon which the Carlislo Iron Works and the town of Boiling Springs is built. It is described as "a tract of 398 acres, 132 perches, and all called Boiling Springs, situated on the Yellow Breeches Creek, granted by the proprietaries of Pennsylvania to Richard Peters, by pat- ent dated 13th of October, 1762."

A portion of this tract was granted to John Dickey, embracing the head of Boiling Springs; another portion to David Reed, embracing the upper or smaller spring, and about twenty-nine acres to Rigby & Co. for the Carlisle Iron Works. It was a portion of this tract of land, originally granted in Oc- tober, 1762, to Richard Peters, which, after being owned by John Dickey and his descendants, came into possession of Michael Ege, the elder, and afterward, by deed dated April 4, 1808, became the property of John and Abraham Kauff- man.

SOME EARLY REMINISCENCES.

The following letter, written by Thomas Craighead, Jr., in 1845, is full of

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HISTORY OF CUMBERLAND COUNTY.

interesting reminiscences: "John Craighead settled at an early date on the Yellow Breeches Creek, near Carlisle. * *

* He married, spent the fortune, all but a few webs of linen, with which he purchased from the proprietor 500 acres of land on Yellow Breeches, which is now descended to the fifth generation by inheritance, and the sixth is born on it. * * * I have seen many a pack-horse loaded with nail-rods, at Ege's Forge, to carry out to Somerset County and the Forks of Youghiogheny and Red Stone Fort, to make nails for their log cabins, etc. I have known the farmers' teams to haul iron from the same forge to Virginia, load back corn for feed at the forge. All the grain in the county was not enough for its own consumption. I have known fodder so scarce that some farmers were obliged to feed the 'thatch' that was on their barns to keep their cattle alive. James Lamb bought land in Sher- man's Valley, and he and his neighbors had to pack straw on horses across the mountains. He was on the top of the mountain waiting until those going over would get up, as they could not pass on the path. I saw the first mail that

passed through Carlisle to Pittsburgh. *

* I happened, a short time ago, to visit a friend, Jacob Ritner, son of that great and good man, ex-Gov. Ritner, who now owns Capt. Denny's farm, who was killed during the Revolutionary war. The house had been a tavern, and, in repairing it, Mr. Ritner found some books, etc., which are a curiosity. Charge, breakfast, £20; dinner, horse feed, £30, and some charges still more extravagant; but we know it was paid with Congress money. So late as 1808 I hauled some materials to Oliver Evans' saw-mill at Pittsburgh. I was astonished to see a mill going without water. Mr. Evans satisfied my curiosity by shewing and explaining everything he could to me. He looked earnestly at me and said: 'You may live to see your wagons coming out here by steam.' The words were so im- pressed on my mind that I have always remembered them. I have lived to see them go through Cumberland County, and it seems to me that I may see them go through to Pittsburgh; but I have seen Mr. Evans' prophecy fulfilled be- yond what I thought possible at that time; but things have progressed at a rate much faster than the most gigantic minds imagined, and we are onwards still."

Think of it! the old wagons, the thatched barns, the narrow roads, and we may form some faint conception of those times.

SCHOOLS.

This township is among the most advanced in the matter of education. There are nineteen schools, some graded, and with the schoolhouses in good condition, supported for six months in the year by public and for three months additional by private funds. So, here, as in every portion of the county, some contemplative Jaques can see

* * "the whining school boy, with his satchel And shining morning face, creeping like snail

Unwillingly to school."

RAILROADS AND POSTOFFICES.

The South Mountain Railroad, from Carlisle to Pine Grove Furnace, was built in 1869 and 1870 by the South Mountain Iron Company. In 1883 it was extended to Gettysburg and organized under the name of the "Gettysburg & Harrisburg Railroad." It now extends from its junction at Carlisle to Round Top, beyond Gettysburg, which is one of the prominent points of that famous field. J. C. Fuller was the first president; William H. Woodward, first super- intendent, treasurer and secretary.

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SOUTH MIDDLETON TOWNSHIP.

The Harrisburg & Potomac Railroad, which runs east and west, passing through uearly the center of the township, was incorporated in May, 1869, as the " Meramar Iron Company." Its name was afterward changed to its present one. Work was begun on the road in October, 1871, und that part which extends between Mount Holly Springs and the Dillsburg branch of the Cumberland Valley Road was completed before 1875. Daniel V. Ahl was the first president.

The Cumberland Valley Railroad runs partly along the northern border of the township, forming the greater part of the boundary line between it and North Middleton Township.

The postoffices in the township are Mount Holly Springs, Boiling Springs, Hatton and Hunter's Run.

BOILING SPRINGS.

This place was laid out by Daniel Kauffman, son of Abraham Kauffman, who owned all the land upon which the town is built, during the year 1845. The first survey of the town was made in the fall of this year by A. M. Leidich, who also purchased the first two lots, Nos. 1 and 2, where he now resides and the one adjoining. At this time there were but two buildings, the stone tavern built by Philip, and the stone farm house opposite, built by Frederick Brech- bill. The village of Boiling Spring is beautifully situated in the rolling bluffs of rich land which lie almost at the foot of the South Mountain. The town is handsomely laid out, part of it fronting on the beautiful sheet of crystal water, from which the tract originally, and the town afterward, derives its name. Under this beautiful sheet of water there are subterranean springs, coming from cylindrical rocks, where the water is thrown perpendicularly upward from its rocky bed to the surface which it disturbs, at places, giving to them the appearance of water which is "boiling," thus suggesting naturally the name by which it is known. The largest of these outlets is said to have a capacity of about twenty hogsheads per minute. The main body of the water, however, has an untroubled surface, and is deep and clear. Handsome shade trees near it also enhance the beauty of this spring, the water of which flows into the Yellow Breeches Creek near Island Grove, a beautiful spot not far distant from the village. The town itself is laid out in wide streets, on which there are a number of handsome residences: First, Second, Third and Fourth Streets running east and west, and Front, Walnut and Cherry north and south. The town has many shady trees and, situated as it is upon the beautiful spring from which it derives its name, and with exceptionally beautiful scenery surround- ing it, promises to become, if it is not already, as beautiful a town as can be found in the Cumberland Valley. It has postoffice, railroad, iron works und forge, three churches (one Lutheran, one Methodist and one Dunkard), one double and two single schoolhouses, many private dwellings, and a population of about 500.

The furnace which stands near the spring came into the possession of C. W. and D. V. All, in 1850, from the assignees of Peter F. Ege. It was op- erated successfully until 1882, when a large anthracite furnace was erected by C. W. Ahl and son, which is still being operated under the firm name of C. W. Ahl's Son. There are ore banks near the town, which were leased in 1873 to the Pennsylvania & Reading Railroad Company, under the management of Asbury Derland, and other banks in the South Mountains, which are being successfully operated by J. C. Lehman, a citizen of Boiling Springs.

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HISTORY OF CUMBERLAND COUNTY.

BOROUGH OF MOUNT HOLLY SPRINGS.

Lying almost within the shadow of the South Mountains and at the entrance to the gap from which it derives its name, is the beautiful borough of Mount Holly Springs. The town lies partly in the mountain gorge called Holly Gap, and partly in the mountains called Upper Holly, through which flows Mountain Creek. Holly was the name originally given to the gap at a very early period, on account of a large holly tree which stood where Upper Holly now is.

The borough now comprises what was formerly known as "Upper and Lower Holly," "Kidderminster" and "Papertown." In the original plan of the town, in 1815, it was also known as South Middleton.

It appears that prior to the year 1812 there were not over one-half dozen houses between what is now called Upper Holly and the present paper-mills of William A. and A. Foster Mullin. Ås to who built the first house we have no record, but it is certain that the oldest house of any importance erected within the present borough limits was the old stone mansion of Mrs. Jane Thompson, which stands back in a yard nearly opposite the present Holly Inn, and which was erected as early as 1812 or 1817. There was also, at a very early date, an old log tavern-stand belonging to Mrs. Thompson, on the site of the pres- ent Holly Inn, which was replaced in 1822 by a stone structure, which was then an inn, and which still stands as a portion of the present hotel. Mrs. Thompson was the mother of Elizabeth Thompson, who married the Rev. Jas- per Bennett, who resided in the old stone mansion above mentioned till about 1857. Two small log schoolhouses occupied successively the lot where Mr. Simeon Fisk's residence now stands, which was built also for a schoolhouse in 1855, and afterward used as such until it was purchased by him and converted into a residence. A small story-and-a-half building stood near where the late Mr. Samuel Schriver's house now stands, and was purchased by him many years ago. It was then owned by Rev. Jasper Bennett, who owned all the land within the borough, from the present Holly Inn to where the Methodist Church now stands, including that lot on the east side of Baltimore Avenue, and most of the land on the west side. The Carlisle and Hanover Turnpike was then what is now called Baltimore Avenue. A small log house stood where William A. Mullin's house now stands, and another where Daniel Stees' house is erected, and these, with the old paper-mill of W. A. & A. F. Mullin, were the only buildings in the place in the year 1812.

EARLY SETTLEMENT AND INDUSTRIES.

Tradition has it that Elizabeth Mckinney, grandmother of Mary Smith, was the first settler in Holly Gap. Their house stood on the present site of the old stone house adjoining the residence occupied some years ago by A. Mansfield. They moved out of the fort at Shippensburg which the people had erected to protect themselves against the incursions of the French and Indians. The building occupied by the Mckinneys was a log structure, and was torn down by Mr. Foulk preparatory to the erection of the present stone building.

An early settlement of the lands around Mount Holly Springs was occa- sioned by reason of the large deposits of iron ore which were found in its vicin- ity. Furnaces were built there at a very early period, and the manufacturing of iron was for many years the sole employment of its inhabitants. The first furnace of which anything definite is known was built by Stephen Foulk and William Cox, Jr., about the year 1785. It was called the "Holly Iron Works," and was situated near the present site of the paper-mill at Upper Holly. It is quite probable that the first iron works were established at Mount Holly before

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SOUTH MIDDLETON TOWNSHIP.

the yeur 1765, and that these carly works were frequently remodeled and rebuilt. Tradition says that there was a furnace at Upper Holly before the furnace built by Foulk & Cox, but nothing authentic on this subject can now be definitely ascertained. In the year 1803 this furnace of Foulk & Cox was sold at sheriff's sale, and was purchased by Michael Ege.

During the year 1812 George Ege, a son of Michael Ege, built a new furnace near the site of the former furnace erected by Foulk & Cox. It was known as the Mount Holly Furnace, and stood upon the site of the present paper-mills at Upper Holly. It is stated on good authority that prior to the erection of Holly Furnace, a forge for the manufacturing of cannon occupied the furnace site, that a mill for the boring of the barrels stood near the toll gate on the turnpike, and that the oldest cannon at present in the United States was manufactured at this forgo. A former historian says: "The lumber used in building the Carlisle Barracks was sawed upon a mill erected in Holly Gap. The parties were Englishmen." More probably they were Hessians, captured at Trenton, who built the Carlislo Barracks.

At this time there was very little improvod land between Mount Holly and Carlisle. In 1812 a paper mill was erected by William Barber on or near the site of the mill now owned by the Mullin brothers. It was subsequently owned by Messrs. Barber & Samson Mullin, the grandfather of the owners of the present mill. It afterward passed into the hands of Messrs Knox and MeClure, and was burned December 25, 1846. The present mill was then erected in the succeeding year by William B. Mullin, the father of the present owners. This earlier paper-mill was the first ever erected at Mount Holly Springs. Paper making now became the chief industry of the place, so that the name Holly Iron Works was rarely applied to it, but it everywhere began to be known by the name of Papertown.

About the year 1827 that portion of Mount Holly Springs in the vicinity of the brick mills now owned by the Mount Holly Paper Company, was called Kidderminster, from a factory for the weaving of carpets there erected by Samuel Givin, near the present site of that paper-mill. It was a five-story brick building, and was afterward converted into a mill for the manufacture of paper by Robert and Samnel Givin, for which purpose it was used until its destruction by fire in 1864. The present paper-mill in Lower Holly, belong- ing to the Mount Holly Paper Company, and which was built near the site of the old Kidderminster factory, was erected in 1866.

The large mill at Upper Holly was built by the Mount Holly Paper Company at its organization in 1856. Its original incorporators were Samuel Kempton, of Baltimore. William B. Mullin, Sylvester Megargee, of Philadel- phia. and Robert and Samuel Givin.

There was another old paper-mill to the north of the town, which was destroyed by fire, the ruins of which still stand.

The land belonging to the Mount Holly Paper Company, with many other tracts sold to private individuals, belonged originally to Charles McClure, who took out a patent in 1772. Later the Eges owned much of the mountain land. The Givins came into their estate by deed dated 1827, Mr. James Givin, of Ireland, being the original settler and grantee. The handsome residence of Robert Givin, which stood in the beautiful grove northwest of the brick mill, was consumed by fire in March, 1865.

WAR OF THE REBELLION.

Mount Holly Springs responded promptly to the proclamation of the Presi- dent for troops to put down the Rebellion, so that many of its citizens are

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HISTORY OF CUMBERLAND COUNTY.

found in the various regiments. On the call for the State troops in 1862, one company (Company G, Twelfth Regiment), under the command of Capt. Charles H. Mullin, was raised entirely from the town.

If, in this connection, we may for a moment drop the dignity of the his- torian, we would like to picture a panic-one of those little comedies in the real tragedy of war, which occurred here in this part of the great world-stage, in the first act, in the year 1861. The object of history is not only to pre- serve dry skeleton statistics, but to present to the reader also panoramic pic- tures of the past; and whether they make us laugh or cry does not much matter, in this world where the two are kin, and both are brief. Well, the report reached here that the Confederate Army was advancing; that they were marching toward Holly Gap from Hanover Junction, that the Carlisle Bar- racks was one of their objective points, and that they were spreading desola- tion without delay and consternation with ruthless hands. A company, quickly organized, uuder Capt. Robert McCartney, of Carlisle, marched to protect the village. Upon reaching the town they took a fortified position in the Gap, ready to sweep like a besom of destruction upon the foe. To achieve this mighty victory (alas, the grandest scene of all the war was played within their hearing), and to immortalize themselves like those sturdy Spartans in a pass of old, they came with flint-lock muskets, many minus locks, and others armed with knives for closer conflict in the mountain passes. The company had come prepared to die in the last ditch, and many of the farmers joined to show "the mettle of their pasture;" but after holding peaceable possession of the Gap, they finally concluded that the reports which had disturbed them were untrue, and when the first rays of the morning sun had dispelled both the mists of the mountain and the fears of invasion, they departed, some of them, we have no doubt, reluctantly, to their homes, where some remained, hav- ing no doubt become unfitted to perform further military duty on account of disease contracted at the bloodless battle of Mount Holly Gap.

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

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