USA > Pennsylvania > Dauphin County > History of Dauphin County, Pennsylvania > Part 43
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Halifax township is in the northwestern part of Dauphin county, and is bounded on the northwest by the Susquehanna river ;
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on the north by Upper Paxton township; on the east by Jackson and Wayne townships and on the south by Middle Paxton township. To show the extent of Halifax prior to its sub-divisions, the follow- ing record description will be given :
In December, 1803, the court issued an order to commission- ers to view and lay out a new township, out of parts of Upper and Middle Paxton townships, and they reported this: "Beginning on the west side of the Susquehanna river, opposite the end of Peter's mountain, thence along the top of Peter's mountain to the Berks and Dauphin county line; thence along the top of said mountain to the Susquehanna river, and across said river and thence to place of beginning." This report was confirmed by the court in March, 1 804, and the name then designated was "Halifax." Much of the history of this township centers about Fort Halifax and the town of Halifax, both treated elsewhere.
The township adopted the free school system in 1836. Among those most influential men in bringing this about were Judge Lan- dis and John Mutch.
Opposite the town of Halifax is Clemson's island, once the site of a Shawanese Indian village as late as 1701. A large mound on the island partly examined shows that it was the burial place of the aborigines, which tell of some great, uncommon struggle or sudden calamity, where the large number of dead required their sepulture in one common grave. Various surmises and traditions have come down to us concerning this Indian mound, but whether the result of the famed "grasshopper war" of the Indians centuries ago we know not. Many implements of the Stone Age have been ex- humed.
On one of the islands opposite the borough, prior to 1820, was a noted roosting-place of bald eagles.
Matamoras is an old village, about two miles south of Halifax. Three churches were built at this point-the Church of God, the United Brethren, and the Methodist Episcopal. Good schools have prevailed usually. The post office was named "Powell's Val- ley."
This township has several other churches-a United Brethren, with graveyard, is found south of this village, and to the north is a Union church and cemetery, with another United Brethren church in the northwest part of the territory, just back from the river. A Lutheran and Reformed church was located two and one-half miles northeast of Halifax borough, and the Mennonite, a building a few rods from the last named.
In 1900, Halifax had (exclusive of Halifax borough), a pop-
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ulation of 1, 155. The State reports gave the real estate assessed valuation in 1904 as $559,830. The total number of schools in the township in 1905 was ten with an enrollment of 256 pupils.
Lytle's Ferry .- In the fall of 1773 Joseph Lytle removed from Marietta to the spot later known as Lytle's Ferry. The property was obtained by a warrant issued severally to John Kroker, Samuel Hun- ter and Joseph Lytle, comprising in all about two hundred acres. This place is about four miles north of Halifax, two miles south of Millersburg, and about one-half mile below Berry's mountain, then a formidable barrier to journeying along the river. Here Joseph Lytle established the well-known ferry which became the most im- portant one between Harris' Ferry and Sunbury ( Fort Augusta) . The property was surveyed in December, 1773, and styled Fair- view. Mr. Lytle continued to operate the same until his death in 1791, when the ferry property was purchased by an only son, John Lytle, and Michael Bauer. After a period of about fourteen years -possibly a few years longer-William Moorhead purchased it. He came from Soudersburg, Lancaster county. He tried to estab- lish a town also. It was located on the old Moorhead homestead, about two miles to the south of Millersburg, more recently styled the Finney farm, but now best known as the Miller farm. With all the advertising possible, the town site failed to attract attention, and so without a building ever being erected on the plat, the con- templated county-seat town never materialized, but did make a fine farm-home for generations who have there lived and died.
HALIFAX BOROUGH.
This town is beautifully situated on the Susquehanna river, seventeen miles from Harrisburg. It was platted by George Sheaf- fer and Peter Rise, July 18, 1784. Thomas and John Penn, pro- prietaries, issued the first deed to white men, in this locality, to Rob- ert Armstrong, dated February 8, 1775, the warrant for the same having been made April 17, 1764. There seems no doubt that Armstrong was the first settler-the valley and creek still bear his name. The price for this land was equivalent in United States money to about seventy cents per acre, with an addition of a half penny per acre rental, annually to be paid the Penns. Robert Arm- strong's house has withstood the storms and changes for many a decade. Of old Fort Halifax, proper mention is made in the "Mili- tary Record" Chapter. There remains nothing to mark the spot save a slight elevation of the ground and an old well known to have belonged to the fort. The town of Halifax is on lands deeded to
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HISTORY OF DAUPHIN COUNTY
James Aston, September 29, 1773, and was called Flat Bottom. Another tract near by was also conveyed to Aston, and was known as Scanderoon. From 1729 to 1785 Halifax was in Upper Pax- ton township, Lancaster county. The plat of the town site ex- tended from the river to the alley of the Henry Shamond property, and from north to south extended the present length of Front street, from Boyer's to Singer's lands. When first surveyed by John Downey lots sold at twenty dollars each, by means of a lottery system. In ISOI most of the houses were built along the river. The first settlers were mostly of the Scotch-Irish class, who were soon forced away and succeeded by Germans. Abraham Landis built a tannery, and subsequently others were built by George Lee- bricks, John Shammois, and Hassingers. About a century ago four cooper shops did a flourishing business at this point. There were also four distilleries near by, and a few years later was built and operated a hat factory by Isaac Jones.
In those early days Halifax was a booming town, receiving its business life from the above factories and the shad fisheries, the largest, best paying of any along the Susquehanna river. Fre- quently from fifty to sixty teams came from a distance to haul the fish to markets. There was once a race-track, along the river bot- tom, where many early-day horse races took place, and in two in- stances men were killed-one named Brubaker, and another Bower.
Not until May 29, 1875, was Halifax incorporated, its first burgess being Dr. H. W. Bischoff. The present population is about 900. The Halifax Bank was organized August 1, 1871. The Halifax Herald, a local paper, was founded February, 1844, by . Anthony Wayne Loomis. It was a Democratic organ, and faithfully supported the campaign of 1844 for Polk and Dallas.
In 1799 and 1800 several Methodist Episcopal families settled in the neighborhood, including James Ferguson, Robert Bowes and Thomas Burrell, who came direct from Ireland, and soon a class was formed. The old log meeting house in Halifax was probably the first Methodist edifice in Dauphin county, and was built in 1806. A more detailed account of. this society will be found in the "Relig- ious History" chapter.
LOWER SWATARA TOWNSHIP.
Lower Swatara, one of the subdivisions of Dauphin county, is situated at the confluence of the Swatara and Susquehanna rivers, and is bounded on its north by Swatara township. It was formed by an Act of the Assembly passed March 18, 1840, which directed :
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"That a part of Swatara township, in the county of Dauphin, south of a straight line forthwith to be run by the Supervisors of said town- ship, commencing at the west end of the bridge over Swatara creek at Nissley's Mill; thence to the residence of Daniel Smith; thence to Christian Roops; thence to Samuel Neidigs; thence to the river Susquehanna at the line dividing the farms of Christian Mumma of John Heagy; and thence immediately by the lower end of Shrei- ners Island to the York county line, shall hereafter form separate election district and township to be called "Lower Swatara."
June 13 of the same year, by Act of Assembly, the boundary was changed to read "That part of Lower Swatara township in the county of Dauphin, north of straight lines to be run by the su- pervisors of the township of Swatara and Lower Swatara, com- mencing at the residence of Daniel Smith; thence to Peter Roops; thence to Christian Good's fulling mill; and thence to the residence of Samuel Neidigs, shall hereafter form part of Swatara township, and that so much of the resolution passed March 18, 1840, as is hereby altered is repealed." Hence the bounds of Lower Swatara township were fixed in 1840 as on the east by Derry and London- derry townships, from which it is separated by Swatara creek; on the south by the Susquehanna river to the York county line and on the west and north by the township known as Swatara.
Prior to the war of 1812-14 a post-town was laid out within the limits of this township, designated Highspire; it was by an Act of Assembly incorporated into a borough February 7, 1867; such act was annulled April 8, 1868; but it again became a borough in 1904.
It was situated between the Susquehanna river and the Penn- sylvania canal, on the turnpike from Harrisburg to Middletown- six miles from the former and three from the latter. It was on the main line of the Pennsylvania railroad.
The village commenced to grow rapidly in 1842, when the following were freeholders within its limits: Conrad Alleman, George Boyer, Jacob Baker, John Carr, Henry Cook (colored), Widow Carr, Jacob Erisman, Henry Fleisher, John A. Fleisher, Henry Fogle, Michael Frantz, Abraham Funk, Andrew Gayman, John Geirstweite, Peter Goul's Estate, Christian Hoover's estate, John Hocker, Lehmen & Stoner, Widow Long, Michael Raymond, David Mumma, Christian Mumma, Jacob Nisley, John O'Brien, John Parthamore, Jacob Roop, Jr., John Roop, Mary Senor (widow), Henry Stoner, Michael Steutz, Swartz and P. Garman, Elizabeth Stoner (widow), Michael Strayer's estate, Michael UI-
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HISTORY OF DAUPHIN COUNTY
rich, Jr., Henry Wolf, Jacob Waggoner, Matthias Winagle, Rob- ert Wilson.
Two additions were made to the town-one by Major David- Mumma, and one later by Judge Isaac Mumma. The old- est houses in the place were those of Jacob Bender, Michael Stoner, Samuel Mumma, Alfred Carman (old "Cross-Keys" tavern), and Jacob Roop. These were all erected prior to the platting of the town in 1814. The first store was kept by a Mr. Leverich, who was succeeded by Conrad Alleman, who operated thirty-five years.
John Sener came from Lancaster and kept the first tavern. The next inn was that of Mrs. Early, the "Cross-Keys." Afterwards Conrad Alleman kept a tavern in connection with Matthias Win- agle.
John Sener, about 1800 and later, made edge-tools for this whole region. The first blacksmith was Benjamin Ebersole, whose successor was Jacob Roop, who carried on the shop for forty years. During part of this time Jacob Wolf also had a shop at the other end of town. John Roop succeeded Wolf, and Daniel Long fol- lowed Jacob Roop. The first cooper was Benjamin Roop, whose successor was the late Abraham Funk.
In 1775 John Hollingsworth erected a large stone grist-mill, which stood in constant operation until destroyed by fire, March 3, 1860, when owned by the Demmys. In 1863, it was rebuilt of wood by John and Elizabeth Buser, who have since operated it. It is one of the oldest mills in this part of the county, being ten years older than Frey's mill at Middletown.
Lower Swatara being connected with Swatara township until 1840, was by a majority opposed to the establishment of free schools, and year after year voted against it. But the town of Portsmouth, having a population of seven hundred and fifty, was nearly unanimous in favor of the common school system. It was not until 1843 that the township accepted the law, and then only through the efforts of Martin Kendig, William F. Murray and a few others, who took advantage of the almost impassible roads, gathered up every voter in Portsmouth and vicinity that could possi- bly be got out and carried them to the polls, rightly supposing that the farmers who were, as a rule opposed to the law, would not put in an appearance. Enough votes were thus obtained, not alone to accept the proposition, but also to elect directors who favored its execution.
In 1875 a fine large school building was erected by the board consisting then of George W. Pathemore, A. Ebersole, J. Binga- man, J. Yingst, Isaac Mumma and J. J. Lehman. The architect
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was G. Fisher. The present number of school houses in the town- ship is twelve; enrollment, 468; property valuation, $1,240,000. The population in 1900 was 1,993.
The oldest and most important industry of the borough of Highspire is the Highspire Distillery, which plant was established in 1823 by Robert Wilson, who operated it until 1870. From 1870 to 1873 the operators were Robert Wilson & Son. From 1873 to 1876 it was controlled by B. G. Peters & Co .; from 1876 to 1877 James J. Dull operated it. During the decade from 1877 to 1887 it was handled by A. P. Lusk; from 1887 to 1892 by the Wilson Distillery Company; from 1892 to 1901 by the Wilson Distillery Company, limited; from 1901 to date (1907), the Highspire Dis- tillery Company, limited, has been the owners.
This distillery has produced on an average for the past five years 5,500 barrels per year. Rye is exclusively used, and is brought from the States of Pennsylvania, New York, Michigan and Wiscon- sin. The mashing capacity of the present plant is 508 bushels per day. The warehouse capacity is 53,000 barrels. The present stock (all bonded) amount to 32,000 packages. The number of men employed, outside of office help, is twenty. Most of the cooperage used by this distillery comes from Baltimore, Maryland.
The present officers of this company are: Charles Goldsbor- ough, chairman; Francis Henry Purnell, of Snow Hill, Maryland, treasurer; Joseph C. Smith, of Harrisburg, secretary and general superintendent.
Prior to the establishment of this plant in 1823, whiskey was. made at private stills, from almost every community by the farmers. Thus, they converted their rye into spirits, which in casks they rafted down the streams to Havre de Grace and Baltimore.
SWATARA TOWNSHIP.
An order was issued to the commissioners by the court in Sep- tember, 1799, to view Lower Paxton township and report at the next session a line dividing the township as near as possible into two equal parts; to which the commissioners returned as follows: "Be- ginning at the Paxtang creek, where the breast of Landis mill-dam formerly stood; thence south 85 degrees east 193 perches to a hick- ory in the land of John Neisley; thence south 70 degrees east 375 perches ; thence south 80 degrees east 135 1-2 perches to the fence of the Glebe land belonging to the Paxtang meeting-house; thence south 85 degrees east 667 perches to a chestnut tree in Christian Page's field; thence 340 perches to Michael Cassels bake-oven;
-
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thence 200 perches to the house of George Reese; thence 262 perch- es to a marked hickory on the bank of Beaver Creek on land of Ja- cob Siders."
The court adopted these lines in 1799 ; but later Lower Paxton was again divided, and Susquehanna township taken therefrom, by a line from the mountain to near the center of the line of Swatara, giving the south section to Susquehanna. Again in 1842 the court ordered the commissioners to view, ascertain, establish and lay out another line between Susquehanna and Swatara townships from the bridge over Paxtang creek, at the junction of Market and Chestnut streets, in the borough of Harrisburg, to the corner between the township above mentioned and Lower Paxton, which became a law January 18, 1843.
Many of the incidents referred to in the general chapters of this work as occurring in Paxton township, really transpired in what has come to be known as Swatara. The township is situated in one of the finest valleys of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and the land, for the most part, is highly cultivated and improved. In fact, but little poor land can be found within its borders as now described.
The marks of time have obliterated from all records the details concerning the early schools of this township, but suffice to say that with so thorough going a religious sentiment as was found among the early pioneers band, the schools were at least on a par with those of others about them. The church supported a school for many years. At this date (1905) the township has twenty-one school- houses, and an enrollment of 1,024 pupils. The population in 1900 was 4,816. The assessed valuation of the township was in 1903-4, $1,928,000.
Steelton (Borough), the modern-day manufacturing center of Dauphin county, as relates to steel products, is in the southeastern part of Swatara township, and has had a phenomenal growth.
In 1866, within the territory now comprising the boundaries of the flourishing town of Steelton, there were only six families residing. The Pennsylvania Steel Company were organizing and prospecting for a site for their contemplated works. The board of directors came by a special train and quietly examined the land now occupied by them. The object of their visit was not surmised. A few weeks afterwards Rudolph F. Kelker and Henry A. Kelker were ap- proached and solicited to make sale of the land. The land was cov- ered by a warrant to Thomas Renick, bearing date of March 27, 1738, and by a patent to Richard Peters, bearing date of March 19, 1747, "a tract of land in Paxtang township, Lancaster county." Frederick Kelker purchased the first tract of land of the heirs of
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John Snavely, April 1, 1830, at thirty-seven dollars per acre, and another tract of the heirs of Felix Landis in 1843. When Dr. Lam- born, for the Pennsylvania Steel Company, observed what was to be the character of the works they intended to construct, Mr. Kelker consented to transfer the land to them. The matter was noised abroad, public interest was awakened, and different places desired the works to be located near them. There were gratuitous offers of land, and competition was strong. At Harrisburg subscriptions were. invited, and a mass-meeting of its citizens held in the court-house, where impromptu speeches were made. The majority were in favor of locating the works below Harrisburg. The amount of land pur- chased by these contributions was as follows: From Rudolph F. Kelker thirty-eight acres and one hundred and thirty-four perches at three hundred dollars per acre, and from Henry A. Kelker, forty- three acres and one hundred and fourteen perches at three hundred dollars per acre. The line extends from the centre of the canal to the river at low-water mark. The deed was given January 8, 1866. The entire amount was estimated at $24,577.50. Subsequently the company bought with their own means fifteen acres and fifty-two. perches from Rudolph F. Kelker at $300 per acre, equal to $4,597 :- 50. So the total cost of the land was $29, 175.
Having disposed of this quantity of their land for the Pennsyl- vania Steel-Works, Rudolph F. Kelker bought forty-five acres from Abraham Wolf, and twenty-two acres from Jacob Bender, and also fifty acres for Henry A. Kelker. Completing their purchases, Mr. Kelker commenced to lay out building lots, and offering them for sale. They were only sold to purchasers intending to build, and not with a purpose to advance the plans of land speculators. This land was the first laid out, and was done by Rudolph F. Kelker in person. The lots were in what was formerly known as Lower Baldwin. The surveying was done in April, 1866, by John W. Cowden. Arrange- ments were made to have streets fifty feet in width, and alleys twen- ty feet, and each lot to front on a street, and also on an alley. The prices received for the lots varied from one hundred to two hundred and fifty dollars each, according to location. Henry A. Kelker im- mediately afterwards began to lay out his lots in what was after- wards called Central Baldwin. Adjoining the latter was the farm of Walter L. Trewick. A part of this was sold to the Steel Com- pany, the remainder to Charles L. Bailey, of Harrisburg, who sub- sequently sold to Josiah Dunkle.
After the location of the steel-works, the officers of the com- pany conferred with Rudolph F. Kelker as to the name of the pros- pective town. They suggested the name of Matthew Baldwin, a
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distinguished philanthropist, and the founder of the Baldwin Loco- motive Works at Philadelphia. The name, however, presented dif- ficulties which perhaps were unforeseen. There was a town in Alle- gheny county called Baldwin, and also a post-office in Butler county of the same name. When the need of a post-office arose, the name chosen was "Steel-works." The post-office was established in 1871, and Joseph B. Meredith appointed postmaster. In October, 1880, the post-office name was changed from Steel-works to Steelton, and the town, including the surrounding villages, subsequently incorpor- ated as Steelton.
The steel-works are situated between the river and the canal, on a level tract of bottom land. Steelton until its absorption of Ewing- ton was located mainly on the turnpike running from Middletown to Harrisburg, and extends nearly a mile. The old turnpike runs paral- lel with the canal. There are streets which are laid out running back upon the adjoining lands.
In 1875, Messrs. Purdy and Ewing laid out a town on the river directly above the steel-works, which was called Ewington. After the incorporation of the borough of Steelton application was made to the court to include within its limits the town of Ewington, which was directed. The latter had as remarkable a growth and prosper- ity as the old town of Baldwin. Comprised in one municipality, Steelton is the second town in population in the county, containing over 12,000 population.
The most important industry upon which the business life of this place depends, is the plant known as the Pennsylvania Steel Works, one of the most extensive in the United States. It was formed in June, 1865, beginning with $200,000 capital. Samuel M. Felton was its first president. They adopted the Bessemer pneumat- ic process of steel making, when first discovered. The plant began operations in May, 1867, but their extensive steel-rail mills were not ready for work until May, 1868, since which time every conceivable new and useful patent has been bought and put in operation to bet- ter supply the growing demand for steel goods, in every shape and form. It is not the province of this volume to go into the scientific and commercial details of so great a plant, but it should be added that their growth has been remarkable, for by the following figures up to the early "eighties," this is evidenced :
1868-Gross tons steel produced, 4,118
1869-Gross tons steel produced 7,097
1870-Gross tons steel produced 11,340 1871-Gross tons steel produced . 17,28I
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HISTORY OF DAUPHIN COUNTY
1872-Gross tons steel produced 20,616
1873-Gross tons steel produced .
24,924
1874-Gross tons steel produced. 29,200
1875-Gross tons steel produced . 40,919
1876-Gross tons steel produced. 56,263
1877-Gross tons steel produced . 68,995
1878-Gross tons steel produced 83,765
1879-Gross tons steel produced . 92,486
1880-Gross tons steel produced . I12,886
1881-Gross tons steel produced . 127,658
1882-Gross tons steel produced . 178,180
The output of this plant in 1902 was four hundred and sixty thousand tons.
As an evidence of the thrift of these immense works and the growing demand for steel, the subjoined opinion of the president, Mr. E. C. Felton, is given, being his contribution to a symposium on the business condition of the country and the outlook as reflected in the condition of the steel trade :
"I have no hesitation in saying that, in my judgment, it is the best-that is, the soundest condition I have ever seen in the steel industry. Perhaps the volume of business is no greater than it was at the height of the boom period of 1902; but at that time people were ordering far in excess of their needs, anticipating that, with the great rush of orders, deliveries would be slow and that it was well to get in orders in advance of actual needs. Now there is a strong, healthy demand. The wants of the country are great, and those actual immediate wants fully occupy the capacity of the steel plants of the country."
Brewing Plant: The greatest industry added to the borough of Steelton in 1905 was a brewing plant erected by the National Brewing and Ice Manufacturing Company, owned by Bollinger Brothers, of Pittsburg, Pennsylvania. It has a capacity of 45,000 barrels per annum. It is an eight-story building, 100x178 feet, combining a brew-house, bottling-works and ice plant.
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