USA > Pennsylvania > Dauphin County > History of Dauphin County, Pennsylvania > Part 39
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"At about one mile above Port Lyon (Dauphin ), at the mouth of Clark's creek, is situated the Emeline Furnace; five miles up Clark's valley, and adjoining the Stony creek estate, is located the Victoria Furnace; a mile further up and one-third of a mile from this property, is Victoria Forge. Both of these furnaces employ hot-air blasts and charcoal."
In speaking of the proposed establishing of a great national foundry at this point-near the village of Dauphin-Mr. Taylor continues in his report to give reasons why the government would be almost certain to here locate its great works in the following lan- guage :
(1) It has uninterrupted canal transportation for boat bear- ing fully eighty tons, to tide-water at Havre de Grace, which short distance being sufficient to secure their position from any sudden hos- tile approach of an invading enemy.
(2). A continuous canal and rail transportation up the Sus- quehanna and its tributaries with lines east and west; from the Ohio to the Hudson; from the Chesapeake and Delaware to the Lake frontier.
(3). That of ready access to the seat of government.
(4). Being in the midst of a boundless coal field.
(5). Its facilities for obtaining several varieties of iron ore. (6). The water-power of Stony creek, for which sites pre- sent themselves at nearly every half mile, for from fifteen to. twenty miles.
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(7). The abundance of fine timber for both lumber and char- coal purposes.
(8). A most favorable site for testing and proving cannon, between the sloping points of Short and Second mountains.
(9). Fire-clay for bricks, lining, crucibles, etc .; limestone for Hux; plastic clay for common bricks.
(10). Facilities for easily procuring provisions, as it is on the main thoroughfare over which passes most of our grain, flour, pork and other provisions.
(II). The town of Dauphin (Port Lyon) and Stony Valley affords a healthy site for working population to almost any imagin- able extent.
(12) Low prices of coal and iron ore.
Berry's Mountain Mills, near Berry's mountain, in Middle Pax- ton township, were built in 1797. It was a large saw mill, and cut much of the early day lumber in that section. It was the property of Mr. Barr. Shurr's mill was but a short distance above.
In 1900, the population of the township was 1, 265. The State reports show that in 1904 the assessed valuation of all real estate in the township was $453,330. The total number of schools in 1905 is eight, and the number of pupils enrolled 272.
Lykens Valley. The Wiconisco, or Lykens Valley, includes that section of the "Upper End" of Dauphin county that is watered by the Wiconisco creek. As much of the history of the township is so closely allied, it has been deemed best to here give such facts re- lating thereto as do not appear or specially belong to the township proper. The early history of this valley is one of unusual interest, considering that he for whom it was named was among the first set- tlers. In 1732 Andrew Lycans (such was the form of the family name) settled on the Swatara creek, taking up two hundred and fif- ty acres of land, joining that of Robert Young, and which was sur- veyed by him April 4, 1737. About 1740 he sold out, and with several other settlers removed to the west side of the Susquehanna river, where he made other pioneer improvements. This not being included in the last Indian purchase, the Shawanese, who had a few scattered villages on the Juniata, complained of the encroachments of these few settlers and demanded their removal. To pacify the Indians the Provincial authorities, in 1748, sent the sheriff of Lan- caster county, with three magistrates, accompanied by Conrad Wei- ser, to warn the people to leave at once. But notwithstanding all this, the settlers remained, determined not to be driven away, by threats at least.
May 22, 1750, after more decisive measures had been decided upon by the government, a number of high dignitaries who had been
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appointed by the lieutenant-governor, held a conference at the house of George Croghan, in Pennsborough township, Cumberland coun- ty. Subsequently, accompanied by the under-sheriff, they went to the place where Lycans and others lived, and after taking the set- tlers into custody burned their cabins, five or six in all.
They were subsequently released by the governor of the Prov- ince, when Andrew Lycans removed with his family to the east side of the river, beyond the Kittochtinny mountains, and by permission "settled on a tract of land of two hundred acres, situated on the northerly side of the Whiconescong creek." Here he made "con- siderable improvements," acording to a document now on file.
Until the spring of 1756 these pioneers on the Wiconisco were not disturbed in their homes, but following after Braddock's defeat, everywhere along the frontier, the savages began their work of de- vastation and death. Their implacable cruelty was stimulated by the promise of reward for scalps on the part of the French, besides the further one of being put into possession of their lands. On the morning of March 7, 1756, Andrew Lycans and John Rewolt went out early to fodder their cattle, when two guns were fired at them. Neither being harmed, they ran into the house and at once prepared for defense in case an attack should be made. The Indians then got under cover of a hog-house near the dwelling, when John Ly- cans, a son of Andrew, John Rewolt, and Ludwig Shott, a near neighbor, crept out of the house in order to get a shot at them, but were fired upon by the savages and all wounded, the latter (Shott) in the abdomen. At this moment Andrew Lycans saw one of the Indians over the hog-house, and also two white men running out of the same and get a little distance therefrom. Upon this, Lycans and his party attempted to escape, but were pursued by the Indians, about sixteen in number. John Lycans and Rewolt being badly wounded and not able to do anything, with a negro who was with them, made off, leaving Andrew Lycans, Shott and the boy engaged with the Indians. The savages pursued them so closely that one of them coming up to the boy, was about to strike his tomahawk into him, when Ludwig Shott turned and shot him dead, while Lycans killed two others and wounded several more. At last, being ex- hausted and wounded, they sat down on a log to rest themselves ; but the Indians were somewhat cautious, and remained some distance from them, and they consequently returned to look after their own wounded. Lycans and all his party managed to get over the moun- tains into Hanover township, where they were properly cared for. Here Andrew Lycans died, leaving a wife, Jane Lycans, and chil- dren-John, Susanna, Rebecca, Elizabeth, Mary, and Margaret.
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It is not known when this family returned to their homes, but not until all danger was over; and although on a number of occasions they were obliged to leave all and flee before the savages, yet this was the only occasion where they narrowly escaped with their lives. Besides the erection of the forts at Shamokin (Sunbury), and at Armstrong's ( Halifax), and at Mckees, at the foot of Berry's mountain, was perchance ample protection from the annual raids of the Indians, which up to 1764 kept the frontier inhabitants in a ter- rible state of apprehension and fear.
John Lycans, son of Andrew, became an officer in the Provin- cial service, commissioned July 12, 1762. In June, 1764, he was. stationed at Manada Gap. It is likely he removed from the valley prior to the Revolutionary war. His mother, Jane Lycans, had a patent granted her in 1765 for land on which her husband had lo- cated. The Lycans cabin stood until about 1863, on the McClure farm. Ludwig Shott died about 1790, leaving a large family, de- scendants of which still reside in the valley. Rewolt removed to an- other part of the Province.
Andrew Lycans has given his name to the beautiful valley of the Wiconisco, owing perhaps to the terrible encounter with the In- dians as narrated. The orthography has been changed within the last seventy-five years, but we have not learned the reason therefor. Whether Lykens or Lycans, we trust that no attempt may ever be. made to deprive the first pioneer of the name which has been appro- priately given to it.
After Andrew Lycans' the first house built at Oak Dale Forge was erected by Henry Shoffstall for Joel Ferree, of Lancaster coun- ty, then owner of the Lycans tract, about the year 1771. Its loca- tion was about seventy-five yards northwest of where the present bridge crosses the Wiconisco creek. The property was purchased by Mr. Ferree from Jane Lycans, the widow of the old pioneer. On the death of the former it became the property of Isaac Ferree, of Lancaster county, whose son, Isaac, Jr., moved into it in 1800. At the period when Andrew Lycans lived on the Forge property there. was an Indian village on the land now owned by Henry Bohner, and the spring at his house is the head of the run which empties into the head of the Forge dam and called the "Indian Town Run." This Indian town property, when it was abandoned by the Indians, was taken up by Joel Ferree, first named. When the house was built by Mr. Shoffstall, there were few settlers in the neighborhood. There were, however, Shott (now Kottka), George Buffington, near Buf- fington's Church, John Nicholas Hoffman, and Philip Umholtz, near Gratz. In Williams Valley the nearest person was Conrad'
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Updegraff, at (now) Williamstown, and next Daniel Williams, who had a grist-mill there, at or on the property now owned by Martin Blum, east of Williamstown. Another person about this time, by the name of Daniel Hain, built a saw-mill where the Summit Branch Railroad crosses the creek at Lykens, taking the water from Rattling creek by a race to Wiconisco creek.
Oak-Dale Forge was built about the year 1828, by James Bu- chanan, who at the same time, or the year following, built six or sev- en houses for his workmen. The houses were located on the south side of the creek, and were occupied by John Ginter, Thomas Nutt, George Conner, Samuel Boon, Joseph Dunlap, and others. Mr. Buchanan came from Harrisburg. He subsequently removed to Baltimore, where he died. He kept a store at the Forge, and also the post-office, which latter was established about 1830, the mail be- ing carried by pack-horse. Previous to that time the post-office was at Millersburg, each neighbor taking his turn to bring the mail from there weekly.
From 1795 to 1800 there were only three houses built between the Forge and Lykens. One was located on the property now of Henry Bohner, and then occupied by Joel Ferree, the younger, who died at Baltimore, in the War of 1812. The second house was built by George Setzler on the property now of Isaac Seebolt. The third on property now owned by John Wallace, erected by Peter Shoffstall and occupied by him for a time, subsequently by Peter Minnich. This cabin stood near the old house on Wallace's farm, and was in later years occupied by Solomon Shoffstall, who erected the present old log house on the premises.
The first election held in the valley, or in Lykens township, was probably in Gratz, about the year 1815. Hoffman's church was the first place of religious worship.
The importance of Lykens Valley may be dated from the year 1825. In that year coal was discovered by Jacob Burd, Sr., and Peter Kimes, then living near the lower end of the Short Mountain, in what was then Lykens township. They had gone out one Sun- day morning to take a walk, and reaching the top of the mountain they paused, one of them having a stick in his hand, carefully dug into the earth, when it revealed black dirt. This gave rise to the opinion that there must be coal in the mountain. A short time after- wards a wagon road was made, and men commenced to dig. This was the first beginning of the coal operations which gave rise to the Lykens Valley, Short Mountain, and Franklin Coal Companies. This was in the same year that anthracite coal was first burned successfully in Philadelphia, and its advocates, after having undergone the usual
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derision that men of new and progressive ideas have to contend with, began to reap their reward. No doubt this combination of cir- cumstances determined the action of the shrewd Simon Gratz. He at once bought the land in and east of the Gap from one Frey, its owner up to that time.
Through the kindness of Professor Sheafer, of Pottsville, we are enabled to publish the following graphic account of the later de- velopments of this gigantic enterprise :
"The Wiconisco Coal Company was organized in 1831, com- posed of six members,-Simon Gratz, Samuel Richards, George H. Thompson, Charles Rockland Thompson, all of Philadelphia, and Henry Schreiner and Henry Sheafer, both of Dauphin county.
"They began work at opening their mines bydrifts in the gap at Bear creek, a tributary of Wiconisco creek, and sold coal in the vicinity in 1832. The first miners were three Englishmen, James Todoff, John Brown, and William Hall, who came in from Schuyl- kill county.
"The Lykens Valley railroad, the fourth railroad in the United States to carry anthracite coal, and the first in Dauphin county, was located by Mr. Ashwin, an English civil engineer, and extended from the mines in Bear Gap, sixteen miles, to the Susquehanna river, along the north foot of Berry's mountain. This road was con- structed under the direction of John Paul, civil engineer, Henry Sheafer, superintendent, and Simon Sallade, director. The road was completed and began transporting coal in 1834, by horse-power, on a flat strap-rail. A number of ark-loads of coal were shipped from Millersburg in March and April, 1834. Then the coal-cars were boated across the Susquehanna from the end of the railroad at Millersburg to Mount Patrick, on the opposite side of the stream, in Perry county. Here the Lykens Valley Company had a set of chutes on the canal, where they shipped their coal to market. The first canal-boat load of Lykens Valley coal, now so famous, was sent April 19, 1834, by boat No. "76," forty-three tons, Captain C. Faunce, consigned to Thomas Borbridge, Columbia, Pennsyl- vania. Shipments continued in this manner until 1845, when the railroad was worn out and abandoned for fully three years. The road was then regraded and laid with a new T rail. The Wicon- isco canal, connecting the Pennsylvania canal at Clark's Ferry with Millersburg, was built and shipments made in 1848. Up to 1859 the total shipments of coal from the Lykens Valley mines amounted to 848,781 tons, and the grand totals on the Susquehanna were 3,234,78 I tons, including shipments by the Union canal.
"At that early date this portion of the country was yet wild, and seemed far removed from civilized life. Lykens Valley is the broad expanse, three to five miles wide, of fertile, red-shale
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soil, between Mahantango mountain on the north and Berry's mountain on the south, with the Susquehanna river on the west. The south portion is named after its early settler, Williams, who built a grist-mill near Williamstown, also named for him.
"One familiar with the picture of Bear Gap and its wild sur- roundings in 1832, all forest, its lofty mountains and rushing streams, no work of the hands of man apparent, no sound but the roaring of the creeks, the streets of the town of Wiconisco, as lo- cated by Henry Sheafer, and those of Lykens, by Isaac Ferree, Sr. (an intelligent emigrant from Lancaster county), can appreciate the great development. Fifty years of earnest labor has sent mil- lions of tons of coal from its long-sealed tomb to land and sea, build- ing towns, railroads, canals, churches, and schools, and lighting and warming all the people with its cheerful glow. But few of the original parties who began this enterprise remain among us. It but remains for us to make this brief record of their work, that our citizens may know somewhat of the enterprise of the early pion- eers."
CONEWAGO TOWNSHIP.
Conewago township is in the southeast corner of the lower sec- tion of Dauphin county, and as now constituted is bounded on the north by Derry township; on the east by Lebanon county; on the south by Lancaster county; and on the west by Londonderry and Derry townships. It was organized by Act of the Assembly ap- proved April 2, 1850, which stated "that from and after the passage of this act, that part of the townships of Derry and Londonderry, lying between the following boundaries, to wit: "Beginning at the Conewago creek, the line of the counties of Dauphin and Lancaster, at the place where Brill's run empties into said creek; thence on a parallel with the line dividing the counties of Dauphin and Leba- non, to a point that by running a straight line from said point at a right angle with the aforesaid, will intersect the said line of the coun- ties of Dauphin and Lebanon, at a point not more than one-half mile north of the Mennonite meeting-house, at or near said county line; and from thence along the line of the counties of Dauphin and Leb- anon to the Lancaster county line, and from thence down said line to place of beginning, shall hereafter form a separate election dis- trict and township and shall be called Conewago."
The township was named from the creek which forms its entire south line. It is four and one-fourth miles in length by three and one-half miles in width. The southern part is a beautiful plain. gradually sloping from its northern margin, the granite ridge, towards the beautiful creek. Sections of this township, however, are
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much broken by rocky elevations, between which may be found many rich fields and valuable farms. In the northern part are sand- hills, with a few spurs belonging to that system of which Round Top, in Londonderry, is the most striking. Beautiful springs gush out of these hillsides, and as the early settlers built near running wa- ters, some of the oldest farms are found in this locality.
Indian implements are frequently found-tomahawks, axes, and arrowheads. The hominy-stones, capable of holding a peck, are in existence, having been preserved. In this locality is found a high fence surrounding a plat of ground, erected by the Indians for en- trapping deer. Concerning the early settlement of this township it may be stated that among the number were Christopher Shoop, John Buchs, Leonard Wallers, Rev. John Roan, Robert Carothers and David Johnson. The tract of land which Moses Potts had sur- veyed to him March 29, 1755, was sold in 1770 to Michael Shenk. The Hoffers came in about 1800. The Longneckers, Rissers, Grubbs, Lehmans and a few more came at about the same date and a short time thereafter. In 1799 Goss' mill, which was both a grist and saw mill, was erected. In about 1780 distilleries were built on the farms of John Risser and Benjamin Longnecker. In 1770 Ris- ser's mill was built, and in 1776 Mr. Redsecker's.
A Mennonite meeting-house, near the Derry line, was built about 1780; the Brethren's church in 1854, and the Union meeting house in 1869.
The pioneer schools were taught during favorable weather by the ministers, under large trees and at other places. In 1790 there were but five schools in that section, chiefly German. About 1795, an English school was established where Henry Shenk lived after- wards. Stephen Templeton was the teacher. He taught in a one- story log building twelve by sixteen feet-divided into three rooms -so neither could have been very spacious. In fact, one was a kitchen, one a bed room, and the remaining one a school room. On each side a portion of a log was left out for a row of window-panes, and it is presumed vagrants did not push up the sash for ingress to lodge, nor was the faithful pioneer teacher troubled for lack of plenty of fresh air. It is stated that as many as sixty pupils were at times crowded into this building. The next school was established by a Mr. McMullen. From 1800 on, schools were held at some of the private houses. The names of Abraham Snyder and others, to- gether with those of Rev. Speck, Samuel Hoffer, Joseph Clark and the Techtmyers, of a later period, appear as teachers in Conewago township. The Mennonite meeting-house was finally used for school purposes to the time when free schools came into general use. Not-
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withstanding the hardship endured, there was a zeal to secure an ed- ucation, which puts to shame many a school patron of to-day, and boys and girls went forth from these primitive school rooms to be- come persons of learning and great service to the Commonwealth.
Two villages have graced the township-Bachmansville, in the northeast part, Mt. Harrison (or Foltz Store) near the center. It was named Mt. Harrison by the Kreiters, who operated a store there during the Harrison presidential campaign of 1840. The populace of the township were provided for in the way of three grist mills --- Redsecker's, built in 1776, in the southwestern part; Goss', near the center, in 1799; and Risser's in the southeast corner, erected in 1769. At an early day the grain was all hauled to Philadelphia, over poor roads. All night the teams halted by some stream, the feed-trough being attached to the tongue of the big wagon, and there the poor animals would eat and sleep, no matter how severe the weather might be, while the teamster would stow himself away under the wagon cover in the "fuhrmons bet." Four, five and some- times six horses made up the team.
The population of Conewago township in 1900 was given by the United States census returns as 830 persons. In 1904 the as- sessed valuation of all taxable real estate within the township was $548,480. In 1905 there are six school houses in the township and an enrollment of 184 pupils.
CHAPTER XIII.
TOWNSHIPS: SOUTH HANOVER-HANOVER (ORIGINAL) -RUSH -JACKSON-JEFFERSON-WAYNE -- REED-UPPER PAXTON.
As now comprised, the smallest subdivision of Dauphin coun- ty is South Hanover township. It is south of the other Hanover townships-West and East Hanover-with the Swatara and Beaver creeks on its entire eastern, southern and western boundary. It is a well watered and most excellent farming district. The history of its original organization has been referred to in the chapter on Han- over (original) townhip. By an Act of Assembly in 1842 it was set off for election and general civil purposes.
In 1900, it had a population of 922 people. Its assessed val- uation (by State reports), was in 1904, $426,501. In 1905 it has seven school houses and an enrollment of 216 pupils.
The towns or hamlets within its borders are: Union Deposit, Hoernerstown and Manadaville. The former was platted by Phil- ip Wolfersberger, July 30, 1845, and called Unionville. It com- prised twenty-three lots. The same season an addition was made by Isaac Hershey. The place has always been known as Union Depos- it, from the fact that it became a sort of store house, or deposit place, for all the grain and farm produce generally in that region, where it was shipped by canal by Mr. Wolfersberger, who owned several boats and also operated a general store. The first physi- cian to locate there was Dr. D. C. Keller, in 1848. A post office was secured in 1857, David Wolfersberger being the pioneer post- master. McCormick's furnace was built in 1857, and in the eigh- ties a spur railroad connected it with Swatara Station, a mile dis- tant. In 1847 a brick church was built by the Lutheran and Re- formed people, and the United Brethren built in 1848. The hamlet is nicely situated on the Swatara creek, the old Union canal, and is but a mile from Swatara station.
Hoernerstown is situated in the southwestern part of the town- ship, one and one-half miles north of Hummelstown. It derived its name from John Hoerner, born 1782, of one of the earliest families that settled in this region. Its business was chiefly that of country stores, shops, a post office ; its churches-United Brethren, and Ger- man Baptist.
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Manadaville is in the extreme eastern part of the township, at the junction of the Manada with Swatara creek. A saw-mill, grist- mill, cabinet shop, store and school house, supplied the small settle- ment for many years. Among the first to locate there were: J. Ream, G. F. Yengst, D. Houck, John Gordon, Dr. Samuel Eby, H. Styles, J. Dougherty, D. Ritter and S. Rose.
(ORIGINAL) HANOVER TOWNSHIP.
This subdivision of Dauphin county has met with many changes as regards its territory and the boundary lines thereof. It will not be considered of enough importance to trace out all of the enactments that have taken place to cut it down to its present limits, as known by South, East and West Hanover, in this county, and East Hanover of Lebanon county. But, in brief, it may be said that in February, 1736-37, a township was formed, embracing parts of what had been "Peshtank" (Paxton) and Lebanon townships, named Hanover, from the House of Hanover. During the period from 1768 to 1775 frequent efforts were made for a division of this large township, those in the east part favoring it, and those living in the western portion opposing the proposed divisions. The war for Independence came on, and nothing more was attempted until efforts were made to erect the new county of Dauphin. At the February session of the court at Lancaster, in 1785, it was ordered "that di- vision which is next to Jonestown, by the name of East Hanover, and the other part to be called West Hanover." Then Hanover township was divided east and west in 1785, the dividing line being a "run" having its source on the south side of the First mountain. The practice of treating the territory between the First and Second mountain, as within Hanover, probably originated soon after the organization of Dauphin county in 1785. The assessment lists up to the formation of Dauphin county were designated as East and West End of Hanover, hence both will be given in this connection, a little later on in this work. When Dauphin county was formed in 1785, came another change of Hanover territory and what is. now East Hanover, in Lebanon county, was taken therefrom, leav- ing a little more than two-thirds of the territory in Dauphin county, which was again reduced in size by the division into East and West Hanover, of Dauphin county, in 1842, which names they still bear.
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