USA > Pennsylvania > Dauphin County > History of Dauphin County, Pennsylvania > Part 42
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The place became an incorporated borough in 1850, was re- incorporated in 1864. The following were elected as burgesses in the order here given: 1857, G. M. Brubaker; 1860, Charles Pen- rose; 1862, George Slate; 1864, B. G. Steever; 1865, Simon Wert; 1867, A. Douden; 1869, Simon Wert; 1871, John S. Musser; 1875, Henry Frank; 1882, John L. Freck; 1884, J. H. Rowe; 1887, W. L. Poffenberger; 1889, W. L. Brubaker; 1892, S. S. Bowman; 1895, N. C. Freck; 1900, H. C. Neagley; 1902, Wil- liam A. Hoffman.
The following have been the postmasters since 1865: B. G. Steever, Jesse Auchmuty, John J. Bowman, Rowland Freck, D. W. Neagley, J. B. Seal, F. S. Bowman, R. E. Woodside.
The borough is supplied with good water works facilities by a home company; also an electric light plant.
CHAPTER XIV.
TOWNSHIPS: WICONISCO --- WASHINGTON-SUSQUEHANNA-LY- KENS-MIFFLIN-WILLIAMS-HALIFAX-LOWER SWATARA -SWATARA.
Nestled in among the mountains, in the northeastern portion of Dauphin county, is Wiconisco township. It is bounded on the north by Lykens township; east by Williams, south by Jackson and west by Washington township. It was formerly included in Ly- kens township, but by the Act of the General Assembly, passed July 2, 1839, and another Act of April 14, 1840, Wiconisco town- ship was created.
The early history of this township is embraced in that of the valley proper. The erection of the new township divested the one known so long as Lykens, of its coal mining operations of all col- lieries and coal-beds now lying in the new township.
In 1900, the population of Wiconisco township was 2,674, ex- clusive of the borough of Lykens, which had 2,762, making a total of 5,436. Its school houses numbered in 1905, twelve, with an enrollment of 616 pupils. The state official reports gave this township an assessed valuation in real estate of $710,748 in 1903- 4, exclusive of the boroughs of Lykens and Wiconisco.
As much concerning the general history of this historic spot in the county has been treated in other township and general chapters, it will suffice to pass on to a review of the village and borough his- tory of the township now being considered.
The land where Lykens and Wiconisco now stand was owned by James Way of Chester county, who died in 1825, before receiv- ing a patent therefor from the State. His executor, George Pearce, obtained a patent for the land February 2, 1826, and after having that with other tracts surveyed by Isaac Ferree and his son Joel B. Ferree. After the survey had been completed the lots were put up at public sale at the brick mill and sold, the condition being that at least $25 must be in hand paid, as soon as the sale was made.
LYKENS BOROUGH.
The tract of sixty-seven acres on which the borough of Lykens stands was struck down to Jane and Rachel Ferree for nineteen dol-
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. lars and ninety cents. The sale really was to their father, Isaac Ferree, but for prudential reasons he ordered the deed for this tract to be made in the names of his daughters, Jane and Rachel. Isaac Ferree formerly owned a considerable amount of land in this. section, and operated a powder-mill, the products of which he sold all over the country, and frequently took long drives up the river to his customers. He brought the saltpetre from Philadelphia by teams. Joel B. Ferree and his sisters subsequently laid out a town on this tract, named it Lykenstown, and the two sisters sold the lots. for eleven dollars each. They were all numbered and drawn by lottery, and some hundreds of lots were thus drawn and paid for. Upon these lots log houses were built by William Zerby, Isaac Fer- ree, Martin Blum, Jacob Staley, Kate Bordner, Benjamin Drum, John Shehan, and Patrick Martin, south of the railroad, some of which are yet standing. The first log house, however, was built by Joel B. Ferree, in the lower part of the borough, in April, 1832, the stone-work of which was done by Richard Nolen. This was the extent of Lykens in 1832.
In 1803, Simon Gratz recovered a judgment for a small amount against Isaac Ferree, and kept it alive by successive writs of scire facias. In 1835 said judgment was issued upon, and the land sold as belonging to Isaac Ferree, the court holding, in the legal contest which followed, that his daughters only held the prop- erty in trust for him. Therefore the purchaser, Simon Gratz, pur- chasing at sheriff's sale the interest of Isaac Ferree, it is presumed, received a good title. After the death of Simon Gratz, the land was conveyed to William Hawkins, who the same day sold it to Edward Gratz. He bought up a tax title to the same, held by Jacob M. Haldeman and Thomas Elder, July 8, 1847, which gave him an undisputed title. He then caused it immediately to be laid in lots a second time, as they now are, by Daniel Hoffman, in 1848. The first purchasers, under the Ferree sisters, all lost their lots, with the exception of those whose deeds were recorded at a certain date.
Since its first settlement the town has rapidly increased in wealth influence, and population. It is the centre of the coal trade of the Upper End, and much of the industrial development of that sec- tion is due to the energy displayed by its citizens.
Lykens became an incorporated borough in 1871, and has always managed its finances well.
Banking was at first started in Lykens by a branch of the Ly- kens Valley Bank, in 1870. Two years later, May 6, 1872, the Miners' Deposit Bank was incorporated with $60,000 paid up cap- ital, with J. M. Blum president, who was succeeded in turn by
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HISTORY OF DAUPHIN COUNTY
Messrs. Savage, Reigel, Ray and Englebert. In 1905 the officers were James B. Whiting, president; F. H. Voss, cashier.
Newspapers-The first newspaper here was the Farmers' and Miners' Journal, which first appeared August 16, 1856, published by an association, with Dr. J. B. Hower as editor. For details of other newspapers see "Professional" Chapter.
VILLAGE OF WICONISCO.
This place is located on a tract of land sold in 1826 by George Pearce, executor of James Way. It was a forty-eight acre tract, bid off by John Gilbert, who failed to pay the twenty-five dollars required per lot, and it fell into other hands. It was subsequently sold at fifty dollars per acre by the heirs. The town was laid out in 1848 by Thomas Couch and Peter W. Sheafer. It is largely settled by miners, who with their families compose an industrious and thrifty class of people. It is separated from Lykens by the Wiconisco creek.
The Methodist Episcopal Church edifice is the oldest, having been erected in 1854, and remodeled and enlarged in 1878.
The Evangelical Association is the oldest of the village, hav- ing been formed in 1831.
Henry Sheafer opened the pioneer store in a small log build- ing in 1832. His brother Michael was also another very early settler; he died in 1849. Benjamin Carman kept a store there several years prior to 1848, but moved it to Lykens about that date. George D. Moyer & Son owned and operated a tannery at this point, and was for many years the principal business of the village.
This village was finally overshadowed by the growth of Ly- kens, and has never become a place of great importance.
WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP.
Washington was taken from part of the territory of Mifflin township September 3, 1845. The record of this affair reads thus :
"Beginning at a point on the line dividing said township of Mifflin from Upper Paxtang township, on the property belonging to Philip Lenker; thence a straight line bearing north seventy-five and a half degrees east fifteen hundred and six perches, or near four and three-quarter miles, to a post on the line dividing said township of Mifflin from Lykens township; thence by said line bearing south seven degrees east and about two and three-quarter miles to the top
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HISTORY OF DAUPHIN COUNTY
of Berry's mountain; thence along the north side of said mountain westward four and three-quarter miles to a stone heap; thence along the Upper Paxtang township line north seven degrees west two and three-quarter miles to the place of beginning."
This report was confirmed January 23, 1846. The early his- tory of this section of Dauphin is comprised in that of the Valley proper, for within the confines of the township Andrew Lykens the pioneer settled and has already been mentioned at length.
In 1900 the population of this township, exclusive of Eliza- bethville, was placed at 970. The state reports for 1903-4 give the assessed valuation of real estate at $592,455. The 1905 en- rollment of scholars in the public schools of the township was 278, and the number of school houses nine.
ELIZABETHVILLE.
This is an enterprising town of about 900 people, situated on the Summit Branch railroad, nine miles from Millersburg. It was platted in 1817 by John Bender, who owned a large tract of land in that locality. For many years it was known as "Benderstoettle," but was finally renamed for John Bender's wife. Before it was laid out Richard Peter had built a house on the ground. After the platting, the first house was built by John Bender. Martin Paul was the pioneer blacksmith in the place, but John Smith had one nearby prior to that, as did also his father, Adam Smith. The first store in the place was conducted by Benjamin Buffington, in 1842, at which time there were not to exceed a dozen houses in the place. John Bender, founder of the town, had the first hotel, which being on the old Harrisburg road was quite a resort for travelers and teamsters. The first wagon maker was Benjamin R. Buffington. The earliest physician was Dr. John B. Stroup, who came in 1852.
Among the early churches of this locality are the Lutheran and Reformed, a stone structure erected in 1833, by John Adam Heller for $300. The Methodist people built in 1871, but sold to the United Brethren Society in 1877. Salem Lutheran Church, as it stands to-day, cost about $8,000.
SUSQUEHANNA TOWNSHIP.
Aside from odd descriptions of lines defining Susquehanna township, as first formed from Lower Paxton territory, there is but little of record value in dwelling upon the subject. Suffice to say
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HISTORY OF DAUPHIN COUNTY
that the present township was, like all the others, much larger in extent than now. It was set off from Lower Paxton on May 1, 1815, by confirmation of the court. It is bounded in part by the corporation of Harrisburg, the limits of which were extended to the northwest by an Act of April 16, 1838. In August, 1847, commissioners were appointed to ascertain the new line of this township, dividing it from the then borough of Harrisburg, who reported the following, to wit : "Beginning at a point at the river Susquehanna near the house of George Hammond; thence a straight line north sixty-four degrees east to a post at the Paxtang creek near a willow-tree two hundred and fifty-nine perches."
This report was confirmed by the court on the 24th January, 1848. By the act of 1860, incorporating the city of Harrisburg, the boundaries of Susquehanna were further trenched upon. The township as now constituted is bounded on the north by Middle Paxtang township, east by Lower Paxtang township, south by Swa- tara township and the line of the city of Harrisburg, and on the west by the Susquehanna river to the western line of the county. It is named for the river. The lower portion of the township was included in the manor of Paxtang. This township comprises some of the richest of farm lands, especially that portion fronting the river.
Concerning "Coxestown," the late Dr. Egle wrote as follows:
"Estherton, the place known to this generation as Coxestown, was laid out during the French and Indian war by Dr. John Cox, Jr., of Philadelphia, and named by him for his wife Esther. In point of time it was probably the second town laid out within the limits of the county of Dauphin, Middletown preceding it one or two years. The first notice we have of Estherton is on the 2d of October, 1767, when Dr. John Cox, Jr., and his wife Esther, of Philadelphia, by deed did grant and confirm to "The Incorporated Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts" a lot of ground situate in the "New Town" on the east side of the Sus- quehanna, lately laid out by the said John Cox, and called Esther- ton, bounded by Third Street to the westward, by lot No. 65 to the northward, by a sixteen and one-half feet wide alley to the eastward, by lot No. 79 to the southward, in breadth north and south sixty- six feet and two hundred feet long, "for a site for a church and burial-ground for a religious society in communion with the Estab- lished Church of England for ever." During the Sullivan cam- paign of 1779 Estherton was an important point, being the depot of supplies for that army, from whence they were conveyed in batteaux built at Milldetown up the Susquehanna. Major Cornelius Cox, deputy commissary of purchases during the Revolution, who resided
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HISTORY OF DAUPHIN COUNTY
at Estherton, was a son of the original proprietor, and it was under his management that the supplies were furnished to Sullivan's army, aiding in a great measure the successful accomplishment of that ex- pedition. The village probably contained more houses fifty or a hundred years ago than it does to-day. There is nothing at pres- ent to aid its growth or prosperity. It contains a Methodist Epis- copal Church connected with Dauphin Circuit."
Another hamlet within Susquehanna township is Rockville, five miles from Harrisburg, and on the river. It was first settled in 1774, by one named Roberts. The place was platted, however, by Mrs. Matilda Cox, in 1834, and added to in 1838 by Miss Mc- Allister. "Brushy Rock" was its pioneer name. The post office was called Susquehanna. Here is constructed one of the finest railroad bridges within the state-that of the Pennsylvania system. It has forty-three piers and is three-quarters of a mile in length.
As early as 1881 the Methodist and United Brethren denom- inations had churches at this point. The location of this hamlet is between the old canal and river, at the foot of the First moun- tain. In early lumbering days it was an important point on the river, as it afforded a good landing.
Another and more modern hamlet is Progress, in the south- eastern part of the township, two miles to the east of Harrisburg. It is chiefly a residence suburb of Harrisburg, and is finely located for homes, and many of its inhabitants are employed in the city.
At the date of 1905 the total assessed valuation of all real estate property within Susquehanna township was placed at $1,698,- 210. There are fourteen school houses, and a good class of schools maintained. The total enrollment of scholars was 623. The popu- lation in 1900 was 3,622.
LYKENS TOWNSHIP.
The extreme northeastern sub-division of Dauphin county is now known as Lykens township. It was formerly a part of Upper Paxton, but in January, 1810, the court appointed three commis- sioners, who subsequently reported favorable to dividing the town- ship as follows :
"Beginning at a pine-tree in the Halifax township line on the summit of Berry's mountain at Peter Richert's gap; thence north ten degrees east along and near a public road which leads from Halifax to Sunbury through Hains' gap, four hundred and sixty perches to a post on the north side of Wiconisco creek near the said
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HISTORY OF DAUPHIN COUNTY
road; thence north eighty perches to a pine; thence running along the public road aforesaid north five degrees west four hundred and seventy perches to Buffington's church, leaving the said church on the westward; thence a course north ten degrees west, leaving the dwelling of John Hopple westward eleven hundred and fifty perches to Mahantango Creek," etc.
The report then follows the lines around the two divisions of Upper Paxtang as they were after taking off Halifax township (running the lines across the river). It is therefore unnecessary to follow them further here, as the line given above shows the divi- sion of what was then Upper Paxtang township. This report was confirmed by the court on the 3d of September, 1810, and it was ordered that the eastern division be called Lykens township. Ly- kens township was reduced in 1819 by the formation of Mifflin township from Upper Paxtang and Lykens, and further in 1840 when that portion south of the north side of Coal or Thick Moun- tain was erected into Wiconisco township.
This township and the valley is named for Andrew Lycans, one of the earliest pioneers of this section, and to whom full refer- ence has been made in the sketch of Lykens Valley proper.
Gratz Borough was platted in 1805, by Simon Gratz. It is distanced thirty miles from Harrisburg, on the Millersburg and Reading road. It was incorporated April 3, 1852. In 1838 Mrs. Frey kept a tavern, and Soloman Shindle a store at this point.
Among the pioneers thereabouts was Squire Hoffman, who was a magistrate about forty years. When he came to Gratz in 1819 there were but five houses. The first house was built by Ludwig Schoffstall. The next was built by Lewis Faust. The early bur- gesses of the place after it was incorporated included these :
Theodore Gratz, Daniel Good, Jonas Laudenslager, Daniel K. Osman, Daniel Lehr, Geo. Hoffman, Dr. Schminkey and Frank Fidler.
There are several churches within this township, including St. Simeon's Evangelical, Lutheran and Reformed congregations, or- ganized in 1823. In 1832 a joint meeting-house was erected. Rev. Isaac Gerhart was the first pastor of the Reformed church, and Rev. John Peter Shindel the first to have charge of the Lutheran. Another old church edifice is the Hoffman Reformed church, built about seventy years ago. The land upon which it stood was do- nated by Squire John Hoffman, who died in 1877. The Union church of the Lutheran and Reformed churches was erected near the Schuylkill county line.
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HISTORY OF DAUPHIN COUNTY
In 1905, there were eight school houses within this township, and an enrollment of 324 pupils.
In 1900 the United States Census placed the population of the township at 1, 155. According to State reports in 1904 the total valuation of the real estate property within Lykens township was $542,980.
'MIFFLIN TOWNSHIP.
Mifflin is the central of the three northern townships in this county. Northumberland county is to the north; Lykens town- ship to the east; Washington township to the south, and Upper Paxton to the north of this township. The Mahantango moun- tains extend along the entire length of the upper part of this town- ship. It is well watered by never-failing streams and springs and has numerous highly productive farms within its borders.
It dates its organization from March 12, 1819, when three townships were made from the then existing territory of two-Ly- kens and Upper Paxton. The court ordered that it be henceforth known as the townships of Upper Paxton, Lykens and Mifflin.
Much of the history relating to this township is identified and has been reasonably well covered in the sub-chapter on Lykens Val- ley. There are, however, two important towns within this township- Berrysburg and Uniontown.
Berrysburg is situated on the road leading from Millersburg through Lykens into Schuylkill county, thirty-five miles from Har- risburg, and contains about 400 population. It was incorporated into a borough December 14, 1869. The town was laid out by John Adam Heller in December, 1819, who owned a large tract of land, including the present town and a farm adjoining, now owned by Daniel Romberger. Heller was of a pioneer family in the valley, but removed in 1839 to Sugar Valley, and subsequently to Ohio. John Paul, Jr., surveyed the town for Heller, who called it Berrysburg, from the mountain named Berry's, lying in the vi- cinity, but for many years went by the name of the proprietor.
A school was organized in Berrysburg about 1826. The dif- ferent organized churches owned small tracts of land, from ten to twenty acres, on which a school-house was erected, all one story with divisions, one part to be occupied by the teacher and his family and the other as a school-room. About this time the townships now called Mifflin, Washington, Lykens, Wiconisco, and Williams had nine schools,-a territory of one hundred and fifty square miles. All the schools were taught in private houses except three, which were built by the citizens. The land in some cases was purchased
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HISTORY OF DAUPHIN COUNTY
for a few dollars and some donated, but in either instance only suffi- cient to erect the building. On a fixed day the inhabitants assem- bled at the place where the house was to be built, and some went to felling trees, others to hauling the logs, and the rest erected the house. In two or three days the house was finished. The furni- ture was made of pine or oak boards nailed against the wall; the benches made of slabs.
Among the earlier officers of this borough may be named: Burgesses-Jonathan Tobias, Valentine Lenker, John Singer, Jona- than Miller, John Rampell, Jonathan Rock, William Shretzer, Jos- eph Bender and J. D. Willier. Town clerks of an early date were : Peter S. Bergstresser, John Roop, P. W. Bischoff and J. A. Brug- ger.
Among the early high standard schools of the place was the Berrysburg Seminary, organized about fifty years ago. It was re-organized in 1879. Many-it has been said one-half-of the teachers in the north' half of Dauphin county have been connected with this school at some time in their history. It was built by Rev. H. S. Bolser, and its first teacher, in 1851, was Edward Whitman.
UNIONTOWN.
This borough is in the northeast part of the township, between Deep creek and Mahantango creek. It was platted in 1864, and has developed into an enterprising place of about 600 population. Its post office name is Pillow.
One here finds numerous churches including the Lutheran and Reformed (Union), Evangelical and United Brethren. Near by, on Deep creek was erected many years ago, a cotton mill and a saw- mill; and at Mahantango is an extensive flour mill.
The early settlers of this region were the Deiblers, Bonawitz, Millers, Jurys, Koppenheffers, Bohners, Weists, Boyers, Witmers, Weavers, Willards, Shepleys and Hess.
Mifflin township had in 1900, according to the United States census, a population of 534. In 1905 the total number of schools within her borders was seven with an enrollment of pupils 146, out- side the borough. The assessed valuation of the taxable real estate of the township in 1904 was $428,856.
WILLIAMS TOWNSHIP.
Among the smallest townships in the county is Washington, bounded on the north by Lykens township; on the east by Schuyl- kill county, on the south by Jackson township and on the west by
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HISTORY OF DAUPHIN COUNTY
Wiconisco township. It was originally embraced within Wiconisco, but on February 7, 1869, was set off by itself, with the following lines : "Beginning at a black-oak on the Schuylkill county line east 46 1-2 degrees south 1380 perches; thence south 81 degrees west 1400 perches along the highlands of Berry's mountain; thence due north 490 perches; thence north 60 degrees east 415 perches to the place of beginning."
It forms what is commonly styled the Williams Valley coun- try. While its domain is small, it is of much general importance as a township. It is the center of the Lykens coal basin and the termination of the Summit Branch railroad. The chief industry of this township is the mining operations.
In 1900, exclusive of the town of Williamstown, this township had a population of 1,790. Total number of schools seven; total enrollment of pupils 285. In 1903-4 the State reports gave the assessed real estate valuation of the township, proper, at $431,750 ..
WILLIAMSTOWN.
This great coal mart is near the Summit Branch railway. The Williamstown Colliery is among the most extensive in America. As early as 1873 it shipped 301,926 tons of coal. Operations really commenced here in 1866. The town was laid out by the Coal Company, by Martin Blum, Mr. Heilinder and Henry Work- man, which party owned all the land upon which the place was platted. What is the town proper was once offered in exchange for five thousand shingles, and subsequently sold for a span of horses, not worth over three hundred dollars, by a Mr. Updegrove. The first store in the place was kept by Jacob Hartman, and the next three were opened by George Hains, Daniel Batdorf, and Jos- eph W. Durbin. The oldest house in or near town is that of John Hartman, built before the coal trade opened. Jacob Hartman kept the first tavern and George Hains the second, both in connec- tion with their little stores. Joseph W. Durbin was the first regular merchant on a large scale, and located here in May, 1866. The town was laid out in 1869, and is the largest mining town in the Upper End.
In 1900, Williamstown had a population of 3,000 and had come to be a good commercial point and trading center for the en- tire northeastern portion of Dauphin county.
HALIFAX TOWNSHIP.
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