USA > Pennsylvania > Dauphin County > History of Dauphin County, Pennsylvania > Part 44
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Steelton Schools: The matter of providing adequate school rooms for the rapidly increasing school population, was beginning to tax the best figurers within the borough. To build a lot of small buildings would seem but folly, and yet the law allowed but certain taxation for such purposes; but the management of the great steel company, knowing much of the burden in taxes, must eventually fall upon them, they wisely concluded to erect a magnificent building,
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suitable for many years to come, and that at their own expense, which they did. And it was a modern, fire-proof, steam heated and fully equipped structure. Its site, on an elevation, one of the most charming in all the State. Its size was 80x148 feet. Its material, brick, trimmed with brownstone. The present school facilities are forty-seven schools having an average enrollment of 2,053 pupils.
(See "Religious History" Chapter, for Churches. )
"Chambers' Ferry."-This old landmark of Provincial days is located a short distance below Steelton. It was on the main route to Carlisle, as teams going west crossed here, saving several miles from that going by Harris' Ferry. In later years it went by the name of "Half-way House." Through many generations the ferry privileges were preserved, and in all subsequent transfers of proper- ty these have been specially noted and reserved.
MIDDLETOWN TOWNSHIP.
The oldest town in Dauphin county is Middletown, so named on account of its having been midway between Lancaster and Car- lisle, a great early-day thoroughfare between the east and west. By turnpike road it is nine miles southeast of the city of Harrisburg, near the confluence of the Susquehanna river and Swatara creek, at which point also the Pennsylvania and Union canals unite. Long before the white men knew ought of this goodly sec- tion, here stood an ancient village of the Susquehanna Indians. It is certain, however, that white men effected settlements of some im- portance earlier than 1720, as preparations were made by the Pres- byterian people to erect places of worship at about that date. In 1731 the settlement had increased sufficient to enable a demand to be made upon the authorities for a provincial road, and one was lo- cated from Lancaster to Shippensburg in 1736, connecting with one between Philadelphia and Lancaster.
In 1723 the family of Conrad Weiser, with about twenty other families, from the province of New York, leaving Schoharie wended their way in a southwestern direction, traveling through the forest, till they reached the Susquehanna river, where they made canoes, freighted them with their families, and floated down the river to the mouth of Swatara creek, and thence worked their way up till they reached a fertile spot on Tulpehocken creek, in Berks county, where they settled.
In 1732 the provincial land-office was opened for the sale of patents. Previously, several pioneers, the ancestors of a cultivated and patriotic race, "rough Irish," as Logan, Penn's man of all work,
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wrote of them, made "claim of settlement," at or near the mouth of the Swatara; principally along the southern part of its valley. When the land-office was prepared for business, four hundred and twenty-three acres, at the mouth of the Swatara, was in the posses- sion of Jacob Job, acquired from a previous owner, "one Anderson." Job was a merchant of Philadelphia, who had acquired his right in adjusting a mercantile venture with a trader of the border.
On the 14th day of May, 1743, Edward Smout, deputy sur- veyor under Blunston, surveyor for Lancaster county, surveyed for John Fisher, of Philadelphia, "in right of Jacob Job," a tract of land situate in the township of Paxtang, in the county of Lancaster, minutely describing the four hundred and twenty-three acres above named.
On the draft by Smout, it is noted that this tract was "claimed by what I can find settled about fourteen years ago by one Anderson (who before I know not), from whence this wright proceeds." Now fourteen years before 1742 would show "claim" as early as 1728. As has been stated, the locality began to assume importance as a frontier settlement before that.
Smout's survey states that Samuel Means was a landowner on the west line and up the river; that Samuel and William Kirkpatrick owned on the north; east was "Cooper's land by wright of Stewart." These names are found on the assessments of 1750, by which time the Coopers had established themselves on the east bank of the Swatara. The Cooper tract comprised 268 acres.
The south line of the survey is carried four thousand five hun- dred and five feet, or nearly a mile, when it intersects the Swatara; following its west or right bank, two thousand seven hundred and eighty-nine feet, to its confluence with the Susquehanna river; thence up the Susquehanna three thousand and thirty-six feet, to nearly the north point of the present South Ward of the borough of Middle- town. This survey is a copy of the original, indorsed "Lancaster, No. 98, May 22, 1782, Jno. Lukens, Sy. G."
The claim of Job came into possession of John Fisher in 1742. Its history has been preserved by no less an individual than Dr. Ben- jamin Franklin. Some years after Fisher became possessed of his "right," a dispute arose between the Proprietary land-office and the settlers on the Susquehanna and Swatara, mostly Scotch-Irish, re- specting the charges for fees and interest in that important depart- ment. It brought the present site of Middletown into the contro- versy of 1756. It was used as an illustration of the grasping ten- dency of the heirs of Penn, who then claimed to own the fee of all lands in Pennsylvania.
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In the "Historical Review" (appendix) Franklin states that "John Fisher, in right of Jacob Job purchased 423 acres of land in . Paxtang township, Lancaster county," under a warrant dated 1742, issued to said Job. Fisher was called upon to pay for the land with ten years interest, in 1747, £141 4s. 6d.
Franklin says further that "The purchaser not being skilled in accounts, but amazed at the sum, applied to a Friend to examine it." The Friend told him he had been overcharged at the land de- partment of the Province.
"The Anderson Job tract" is the one upon which Middletown now stands. John Fisher, a Philadelphia Quaker, appears to have given it to his son, George Fisher, about 1754. Samuel Means and William Kilpatrick, adjoining owners, are on the tax list for 1749- 50, but Fisher is not until 1855-56. The land was heavy with ex- cellent timber-"oak, hickory, walnut, chestnut, poplar and laurel trees." It so continued until about 1800, when George Frey had "clearing done on the McClenaghan farm," formerly Kilpatrick's, the tract north of Middletown. For some years prior to 1750 pop- ulation grew apace in the vicinity of the mouth of Swatara creek. The location was well known to the head men of the province, who spoke of it as the "South End of Paxtang township, Lancaster county."
February 24, 1747, John, Thomas and Richard Penn, Pro- prietaries of the Province, by patent granted to John Fisher, mer- chant, of Philadelphia, 691 acres. The said Fisher and his wife, January 27, 1759, granted unto George Fisher, their youngest son, the above land. Upon this tract the said George Fisher laid out the town of Middletown. The exact date of the platting is not now known on the records, but those best posted, place it from 1755 to 1766. There are, however, some evidences of the town having been in existence as early as 1759, at least. The first deed on record for property within its limits was given by Fisher and wife to Peter Spangler, March 1, 1761, for lot No. 18. The consideration being "seven shillings and six pence and one English copper farthing to be paid annually on the first day of May. The only other condition was that a house not less than twenty feet square should be built within one year. So it is quite certain that legally, the town had its birth in 1760. The reason the size of the lots vary in some blocks, is by reason of the fact that chains were not used in this survey, but ropes, which in dragging over the wet grass and then drying out made a variation, when measured after having contracted, in one case and being longer in the other case.
With so many golden opportunities to offer, the place grew
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HISTORY OF DAUPHIN COUNTY
rapidly. From the head of the river to this point, navigation was comparatively safe, but it was believed on account of the rapids be- low this point, it was impassible. Hence this being the end of navigation all the produce from the upper country found its way to this general distributing point, much was even sent to Maryland and Virginia.
The Germans, who succeeded the Scotch-Irish, were much slow- er and lacked the spirit of enterprise of their predecessors, and Har- risburg, though nearly three decades younger, soon outstripped Mid- dletown in population. During the Revolutionary War this place became a depot for Hessian prisoners, and a commissary depart- ment was here established.
After the Revolution was ended trade greatly revived and con- tinved until 1796, when it gradually declined. Until then the mouth of the Swatara creek was considered the termination of the Susque- hanna and tributary streams. It was not thought safe for boats below that point. In 1796 an enterprising German miller named Kreider, from the neighborhood of Huntingdon, on the Juniata, ar- rived in the Swatara in an ark, fully freighted with flour, with which he safely descended to Baltimore, where he was amply compensated for his adventure. His success becoming known throughout the in- terior, many arks were built, and the next year this mode of trans- portation became established This trade increasing, a number of enterprising young men were induced to examine critically the river from the Swatara to tide-water, by which they became excellent pi- lots. The enterprise of John Kreider thus diverted the trade of this place to Baltimore, where it principally centred until the Union ca- nal was completed in 1827, when it was again generally arrested at its old post. It would probably have so continued if the Pennsyl- vania Canal had not been continued to Columbia, by which the prin- cipal obstruction in the river, the Conewago Falls, was completely , obviated. A large trade, however, in lumber and other articles of produce is still intercepted here, supplying the valleys of the Swa- tara, Quitopahilla, Tulpehocken, and the Schuylkill.
Dr. Egle, a local historian adds :
"For a long period it was the great timber and lumber mart of the Susquehanna river. Every spring and fall the mouth of the Swatara was crowded with rafts and arks loaded with boards, shingles, grain, whiskey, plaster, and other marketable products of the up-river country, and not only was the mouth filled, but the shores of the river some distance below and for two miles about the 'point,' were lined with every kind of river craft. During the raft- ing season all was bustle and activity, and the handling, counting,
.
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and measuring of the lumber, grain, etc., gave employment to large numbers of men, some of whom came from great distances to work, returning to ther homes when the busy season was over. The spring and fall freshets were harvest times for the merchants and tavern- keepers. Laborers were in demand and received good wages, and most of them were liberal patrons of the stores and inns. The 'Yankees,' as all the up-river men were styled, were generally a boisterous class, and when released from the restraint of their homes usually took a spree, spending their hard earnings freely, but before returning to their families laid in a supply of the necessaries for home consumption sufficient to last until they could make another trip. A row of store-houses lined the road facing the Swatara (some of which have been converted into dwelling-houses and are still stand- ing, but so changed in appearance as not to be recognized), and these were frequently filled from cellar to garret with grain, whiskey, etc. These articles, with lumber of all kinds, were transported in wagons from this point in every direction, teams coming from Delaware, Maryland, and Virginia. After Kreider had succeeded in running the falls with boats, Thomas Burbridge, a merchant of Wyoming, in the following year (1797) freighted and ran in one season ninety-nine arks loaded with coal, a few of which failed to reach their destination for want of skillful pilots. Much of the trade with this place was carried on in keel-boats (or Durham boats, as they were sometimes called after their first projector), and they were the only ones that ascended and descended the Susquehanna. These boats were fifty or sixty feet in length and about nine in width, and required a crew of eight expert polemen and a steers- man to each boat. Considerable trading was done by these boats during their trips. Their approach to the villages along their route was signaled by the blowing of a horn, and those who were desirous. of making purchases or of disposing of any surplus products were offered an opportunity. In order to avoid the rapids known as the 'Conewago Falls,' a short canal was made, reaching from the head of the falls to York Haven, on the York county side of the river. This enabled these small boats to pass up and down in safety, but on the completion of the Pennsylvania canal that channel was aban- doned, and York Haven, which at one time promised to be a place of note, was 'finished.' The Scotch-Irish settled here first, but they were unable to succeed in farming as against the German immigrants, who soon got 'forehanded' where the former could not make a liv- ing. Then again, there began to be intermarrying between the young people of the two nationalities, which displeased the Scotch-Irish Presbyterians, who gradually sold out their possessions and moved away.'
The following is a list (from record) of the taxables in Mid- dletown in 1782-just after the close of the war for Independence :
HISTORY OF DAUPHIN COUNTY
469
Frey, George, 40 acres.
Tebemak, Frederick, 71 acres.
Castle, Nicholas.
Miller, Jacob.
Patimore, Philip.
Moore, Thomas H., 2 stills.
Crabb, William.
Wickersham, Ab., 10 acres.
Shaffner, Henry.
Wolfley, Conrad, 20 acres.
Bombach, Conrad, 5 acres.
Miller, Adam.
Davis, Henry.
Myer, Henry. Shuster, Peter.
Defrance, John.
King, Christian, 73 acres.
Dowdle, Daniel, a tan-yard.
Lowman, George.
Harrigan, Patrick.
Walker, Valentine.
Gross, Abram.
Farr, Abram, a tan-yard.
Gross, Michael.
Shertzer, Samuel.
Gregg, Joseph.
Shoky, George, 703/4 acres.
Hollenbach, John.
Jamison, Alexander.
Minsker, Thomas.
Seebaugh, Christian.
McCann, Henry.
Shirts, Christian, 10 acres.
Conrad, Michael.
Shaffner, Henry.
Bolinger, Emanuel.
Backenstoe, John, 5 acres.
Minsker, John 212 acres.
McClure, David.
Sneider, John, a tan-yard.
Parks, Samuel.
Lenning, Dr. John.
Lipse, Anthony.
Conn, Daniel.
Suader, Jacob.
Kennedy, Robert.
Hemperly, Ludwig.
Kissinger, John.
Space, Christian.
Sneider, Mark.
Graft, Philip.
Gross, George, Jr.
Bydle, Michael.
Atlee, David, silversmith.
Lytle, John, I servant.
Atlee, Philip.
Hepick, Christopher.
Gross, George, Sr.
Cremer, Elizabeth.
Sneagonce, George.
Miller, Peter.
The highest valuation is that of George Frey, eight hundred dollars. He returned five horses and nine cows.
George Fisher remained until death on a well cultivated farm home near the town. It had been bequeathed to him by his father, John Fisher, a noted Philadelphia merchant. He too, being of the Quaker faith, was followed by other Quakers, who with a "good sprinkling" of the Scotch-Irish people made up the settlement and greatly enjoyed the village up to the Revolution. An extensive trade with the Indians and whites from up the Susquehanna and also from the Western traders, was carried on. The Scotch-Irish nearly all followed the trail of emigration southward.
Jeremiah Job was the first actual settler on lands now compos-
Hemperly, Martin. Harris, Henry.
Hubley, Frederick, 11/2 acres, a tan- yard.
Cryder, Christian.
Wells, William, 5 acres.
Barnet, John.
Rickert, Peter.
Crabb, Thomas.
Scott, Patrick.
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HISTORY OF DAUPHIN COUNTY
ing Middletown. In 1805 and 1806 two of his daughters, maiden ladies, Polly and Sally, taught school at this place.
When Emanuel Bolinger, a Revolutionary soldier came to the place there were but four persons buried in the old (first) Lu- theran grave-yard. Christian Seabach was the first hatter in the town, and Jacob Shertz the pioneer black-smith. A nailmaker named Jacob Peeler taught school in 1808-09. A Mr. Crabb kept the first inn, and about ISoo one was kept by Charles Wade, at the east end of the village. The Washington house was built in 1836, Peter Young becoming the landlord. In 1807 the only store of the place was kept by John Landis, on Main street. To know that he enjoyed a good trade, it needs but to be stated that the pioneer cooper, Conrad Seabach made for him nine hundred (fifty pound) tubs in one year, in which to pack the butter he had traded for. The first store in town was kept by George Frey, whose clerk, Christopher Frederick Oberlander, later became his partner. Oberlander was born in 1748, and died October 21, 1795. The first to engage in the lumber business was Enoch Skeer, whose "yard" was piled under and around a tree to keep the high waters from sweeping it away! John Snyder succeeded him in trade. In 1809 John Smith dealt in plaster, and conducted a good hotel. As high as fifty teams at one time came for plaster for "enriching land." Jacob Rife, Sr., purchased the Keystone tannery in 1830, and with his sons it was carried on over fifty years. Between 1810 and 1825 John Snyder had a pottery on the corner of the Square, where Ringland's drug store later stood.
Among the pioneer physicians were Dr. Romer, who located prior to 1770. Also Dr. Charles Fisher, who was born in 1766 and died in 1808. Dr. James McCamman began his practice about 1800; he died in 1813. Dr. Abraham Price was contem- porary with him. Then came Drs. McClelland, Brown, etc. In 1883 the oldest practicing physician there was Dr. Benjamin J. Wiestling, who had at that date been in active practice for more than forty years. Dr. Meyrick practiced from 1795 to 1815, and Dr. Simonton read medicine with him.
On May 25, 1811, the yearly market at Middletown was first advertised to commence June 1Ith following, at which time and place a great number of valuable horses, cows, sheep, lambs, calves, and hogs, with many other articles, such as pickled oysters, roast beef, punch, and wine, were to be offered for sale. These "old- time fairs" were noted days in the town and vicinity. The whole place would ring with drums, banjos, bagpipes, trumpets, fiddlers, and fifes, besides many other noises. The "Square" was the grand
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HISTORY OF DAUPHIN COUNTY
centre of attraction for the multitude of strangers and citizens. In one place might be seen the juggler performing all manner of tricks; in another rope-dancers were pirouetting; in still another anacondas, tame elephants, learned dogs, and a host of other rare and curious animals were exhibited. These, however, were only accessories and adjuncts to the fair, which, in truth, was a great commercial mart, where goods and chattels of almost every kind were sold, from a hank of yarn to a mammoth bull. In several parts of the Square booths of entertainment were erected, where revelry, mirth, and feasting were indulged in with a degree of license unknown at other times and seasons. In other booths again the more staid farmers and the large households that they brought with them could provide themselves with food at a reasonable price and in a decent manner. Through the streets and alleys in the neighborhood of the Square would float a mixed multitude of all sorts,-buyers, sellers, mins- trels, musicians, old women, beautiful girls, young children, "Yan- kees," wagoners, all jostling, bustling, talking, laughing, singing, and joking in the utmost good humor. So demoralizing, however, did these fairs become that they were expressly forbidden by law.
The following persons "took out licenses to keep houses of public entertainment" in Middletown from 1793 to 1803, and some of them continued to do so many years after: Henry Moore, Lud- wick Wolfley, Peter Kipe, John McCann, George McCormick, Frederick Rothfong, John Blattenberger, Christian Rodfong, Michael Hemperly, John McCammon, William Crabb, Benjamin McKinley, John Benner, John Smith, George Toot.
PORT ROYAL.
On the 29th of January, 1774, a patent was issued to William Breden for eighty-seven acres and one-half of an acre, which he located at the mouth of the Swatara. On the 10th of May, 1774, Breden sold this land to Henry Wearer, "miller," of Caernarvon township, Lancaster county, Elijah Wickersham, merchant, and Joseph Leacock, of Philadelphia, as tenants in common. They laid out a town, naming it Port Royal, into four hundred and six- teen lots. On June 15, 1774, Leacock sold his interest to Wearer and Wickersham, and upon the same day Wearer and Wicker- sham made an equitable division of the lots between them. Each took alternate lots. Wearer got two hundred and eleven lots and Wickersham two hundred and five, with a large lot on Salmon street.
After the river became a highway for the transportation in "arks" and keel-boats, to the mouth of the Swatara, thence over-
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HISTORY OF DAUPHIN COUNTY
land to Philadelphia and Baltimore, Port Royal was an important point. But the construction of the canal around Conewago Falls, through which keel-boats passed down the river, destroyed its pros- pects.
Again, to show the reader of to-day how wild and enthusiastic were some of the early day land owners, as well as in these modern times, an advertisement of "Harborton," by the proprietor, George Fisher, who had already reaped well from his venture at Middle- town, will be here annexed :
"HARBORTON !"
"The subscriber having laid out a new town at the confluence of the Swatara with the Susquehanna, in the county of Dauphin, proposes to dispose of the lots at sixty dollars each, when deeds in fee-simple are delivered for them. As the object of the proprietor is to promote immediate improvement and not present emolument, and as many of the lots will now sell for from one hundred to three hundred dollars, and none of less value than forty dollars, the pref- erence will be determined by drawing the several numbers from a wheel.
"The navigation of the Susquehanna thus far down is perfectly safe; but from this to Columbia, a distance of twenty-one miles, it is obstructed by the Swatara and Conewago Falls and many other rapids, so as to render it precarious and hazardous, and sometimes impracticable.
"The well-known harbor formed by the mouth of Swatara is not only the most capacious, but the only safe one on the river, and as produce to more than a million dollars annually floats down the Susquehanna, a great proportion of which, it is presumed, will be transported from here to the Philadelphia market on the turnpike road now making and nearly completed to Lancaster, a distance of twenty-four miles, and the contemplated canal from the Susquehanna to the Schuylkill, which will enter the harbor through this town. The extensive command of water here for the turning of mill machinery and other water-works, and its vicinity to the great iron- works owned by Messrs. Coleman & Grubb, added to the facility with which an abundant supply of coal of the Susquehanna and Juniata may be had, when all combined, will fully justify the asser- tion that no town on the Susquehanna offers more advantages, nor none more certain prospects of gain to the enterprising merchant and mechanic than this.
"The site is an inclined plain, gradually rising from the margin of a bank from ten to fifteen feet above low water to a summit of fifty feet, commanding many beautiful prospects, as well land as water, and is as healthy as any on the river.
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HISTORY OF DAUPHIN COUNTY
Tickets may be had of the subscriber, and at other places, where plans of the town may be seen.
"GEORGE FISHER." "Feb. 16, 1809."
On the 17th of March, 1814, George Fisher and wife con- veyed to John Swar, of Lancaster county, that portion of "a cer- tain tract of two hundred and twenty-five acres on which the town of Portsmouth is laid off." John Swar and Anna, his wife, con- veyed the lots to various persons. "Portsmouth" was between Middletown and the Susquehanna river, and in it the Union Canal, the Pennsylvania, Harrisburg and Lancaster railroads all inter- sected. On March 9, 1857, Portsmouth then having a population of seven hundred and fifty, was consolidated with Middletown.
THE KING'S HIGHWAY.
The old road from Philadelphia to the Ohio, passed through Middletown and formed what is now Main street. This road was laid out about 1730. Over this thoroughfare nearly all the travel between Philadelphia and Pittsburgh passed. After the above- named turnpike companies were incorporated they adopted a large portion of the old road as their line. The macadamizing of the road enabled much greater loads to be taken than before. Dry- goods, groceries, etc., were loaded at Philadelphia in large wagons, called "Pitt" or "Conestoga" wagons, hauled by teams of six horses and delivered at Pittsburgh or intermediate points, and returned laden with Western produce, such as flour, bacon, feathers, and whiskey. The time occupied by the wagons for the round trip between these two cities was usually from six to eight weeks, accord- ing to the condition of the roads. Passengers and mails were drawn in stages by four horses, relays of which were provided at regular stations some miles apart. They were generally driven at a rapid rate, and the distance between here and Philadelphia was made in two days. The coaches held nine passengers inside, with room for one on the outside with the driver. The mail bags occu- pied a recess beneath the driver's seat, and the baggage was stored in the "boot" at the back of the stage.
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