USA > Pennsylvania > Dauphin County > History of Dauphin County, Pennsylvania > Part 7
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James Laird, Jr.
Abraham Landis.
Michael Bahm.
Abraham Weltmer.
Friederich Boll.
Peter Landis.
Martin Ram.
John Landis.
Christian Stover. Henry Etter.
David Brand.
Phillip Hammacher.
Abram Brand.
Samuel Hammacher.
Jacob Singer. John Singer.
Daniel Baum.
John Snider.
John Baum.
Abraham Strickler. -
Johannes Schefer.
William Laird.
Jacob Hersha.
Johannes Bucke.
Thomas Ogle.
Sam'l. Laird.
Georg Balesbach.
Felix Landis.
Hannes Balesbach.
Jacob Speitel.
Alexander Fleck.
Benjamin Caruth.
Abraham Rinebach.
David Jonston.
Adam Rinebach.
John Sharer.
Andrew Blesig.
James McClister.
Kurorc Bautz.
Jno. Curry.
Phillip Fischborn.
Martin Rhouse.
Thomas Long.
William Grab.
Adam
Aphram Little.
Martin Brand.
Martin Speitel, young and old. James Alison.
Thomas Eavens.
Henrich Stafer. -
Kunrath Buck.
Johannes Berst.
Peter Berst.
Morrats Maister. John Fox.
Hannes Gingrich.
Matt W. Calhoon.
Samuel Johnson.
James Gold.
Abraham Meier.
William Jamison. Wendel Minch. James Wilson.
John McFarland.
Georg Kass.
James Laird, Sr. Phillip Hoover.
Stefen Felix. Dines Stahl.
David Martin.
Joseph Rife.
Conrad Doere.
Jacob Gingrich. Abraham Gingrich.
Jacob Shaffner. John Graham.
Moses Campble. John Campble.
Thomas Kerr.
Hannes Reser. Peter Rieser.
Lourane Dimsey.
65
HISTORY OF DAUPHIN COUNTY
Josias Candour.
George Alison. John Long. Andrew Shredly.
Jacob Hasseter. Phillip Shot. James Paton. James Kile.
Wm. Laird.
To His Excellency the President and the Honorable the Supreme Executive Council of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
The Petition of the Subscribers, Freeholders and Inhabitants of the County of Dauphin Humbly Sheweth.
That your Petitioners and many other Inhabitants of the said County did lately remonstrate and petition to the Honorable House of Assembly at the last session, setting forth the grievances of the Inhabitants, and the Hardships and Inconveniences under which they labour in resorting to the very verge of the County, to the present Seat of Judicature near Harris's Ferry and pray- ing that the Seat of Justice be appointed at a more convenient part of the county To which Remonstrance and Petition, and to the Act entitled "An Act for erecting Part of Lancaster County into a separate county," Your Petitioners humbly refer your Excellency and honorable Body. That the Commissioners and Township Assessors of the said county have declined to as- sess and levy any monies on the Inhabitants for the Purpose of building a Court House and Prison at a Place so inconvenient, as the commissioners and Assessors are well acquainted of the General Dissatisfaction of the Inhabitants of the said County to pay any such assessments. That your Petitioners are ap- prehensive, that in the present Recess of the Assembly, application may be made to your honorable Body, accusing the County Commissioners for neglecting their Duty in not assessing the sum or sums of money judged necessary by the Trustees mentioned in said act of Assembly for the Purposes aforesaid, and therefore in case of any such application to your honorable Body your Peti- tioners humbly pray that your Excellency and Council will be pleased to sus- pend the Infliction of any Fines or Penalties on the Commissioners of Dauphin County for having declined to comply with the Requisitions of the said Trus- tees until the issue and event of the Remonstra ce and Petition aforesaid be determined by the Legislature: and your Petitioners will pray, &c.
IV. Paine. Christof Zibolt. Mathias Premir. his Mali X Grow. mark. Peter Guenther.
Matthias Groh. Auggust Gerst. David Tice. Gorg. Miller. Carll. Schaack. Johannes Shally. Philip Sourman. Nicolaus Dinges. Wilhelm Min. 5
his Peter X Miller. mark.
Johannes Haack.
George Reem.
Georg. Roth.
Michael Wolfart.
Carle Brenner.
Daniel Diehl.
George Lentz.
Joseph Voltz.
Heinrich Brill. Frantz Stahlschmidt.
Friederich Kreitzer. Christian Abbrecht. his Christian X Grimm. mark.
66
HISTORY OF DAUPHIN COUNTY
Jacob Schaack.
Johannes Schwartz. Philip Schaack. Johannes Glasbenner. Andreas Schaack.
Adam Zimmerman.
David Krause. Jacob Bicher.
G. Frederick Nagel.
Anthony Doebler.
Leonhart Batdorff.
Hans Noll.
Michael German.
Michael Kopp.
Peter Dorft.
Philip Erb.
Christian Buhn.
Leonard Yung.
Hans Eshelman.
Peter Thomas.
Thomas (illegible) .
Jorg. Xander.
Harmon Lang.
Mardin Meires. his Josef X Bomberger. mark.
Hannes Duedwiler.
Abraham Dill.
Heinrich Miller.
Michael Bachman.
Andres Kapp. his
Jacob X Bame.
mark. Anthony Schulz. Adam Stoever. his John X Stoever. mark.
Tobs Stoever.
Nicklaus Zollinger.
Mardin Greitter.
Dorst Toma.
Christian Dill.
Nicklaus Dessler.
Ulrich Burckholter.
Philip Mathues.
Michael Ihli. Abraham (illegible). Jorg. Lang.
Jacob Sauetter. John Sonnet.
Johannes Gasser.
Georg. Spengler.
Nicolaus Gast.
Rutolph Reitzle.
Johannes Saltzer.
Michael Lack. his Michael X Barnhart. mark.
Christofel Waldorn.
Michael Krebs.
Nickolaus Gebhart. his Martin X Licht. mark.
Samuel Meyli.
George Megundel.
John Huber.
Daniel Henning.
Leonard (illegible).
Conrad Merck.
Henrich Dubs.
George Bühler. John Stone. Christian Buehler. Adam Orth.
Chn. Kuchen.
James Wood.
Peter Arnolt.
Georg. Bauman. Miller.
John Thome. Adam Rice.
Frederick Stoever.
John Greenawalt. Simon Lauck.
Georg. Reinoehl. Peter Harter.
Peter Spruckman.
Cristof Zibold, Jr. Johannes Arnolt. Henrich (illegible).
George (illegible). Christian Kramer. Martin Zensel. Johannes Schloderbeck. Heinrich Reinoehl. Franss Zerman. Conrad Reinoehl.
67
HISTORY OF DAUPHIN COUNTY
Philip Gruenawalt. F. Hubley.
Cornelius Dewees.
Philip Stoehr. Gotfried Eichelberger.
John Finkle.
Philip Weiss. ' his
Daniel Fetzberger.
Henry Gilbert.
Jacob Embich.
George Gloninger.
Jno. Gloninger.
Jacob Weirick.
Christoph Embich.
Henry Buehler. his
Peter X Miller ( farmer). mark.
Anthy McCreight.
Benjamin Moore.
Jacob Pfeiffer.
Philip Greenawalt, Jr.
Abraham Wulf.
Michal Miller.
Michael Stock.
Heinrich Kring.
Hannes (illegible ).
Johannes Dubs.
Philip Dibo.
Michael Kindler, Jr.
Jacob Shue.
Charles Schaffner.
Johannes Zimmerman.
Christian Greenawalt.
John Stoehr ( Miller).
Jacob Wise.
his Johannes X Mor. mark. David (illegible).
Jacob Lang.
Alexr. Switzer.
Leonhart Immel.
Martinus Spengler.
Georg. Wierich.
Philip Breitenbach, Jr. Simon Bassler. Thomas Koppenhoefer.
John Krause. his Jacob X Mellinger. mark. Benjamin Spycker.
Peter Fisher. John Umberger. Jacob Fullmer. Hugh McCullouch.
Martin Ulrich.
Nicolaus Greenawalt. Casper Loeb. Peter Schmidt.
Adam Bartt.
his Conrath X Mentzinger. mark. Abraham Kaufman. his John X Martin. mark.
Hannes Buchman.
Joseph Horsh.
Johannes Heilman.
Rudolph Kelker.
Philip Fernsler.
Michael Zimmerman.
Andras Kopp. Philip Eakerd.
Jacob Unbehend.
Michael Meess.
Nicklaus Schwager.
Conrad Stumbt.
Johannes Becker.»
Jacob Roessle. his Johan X Jaeger. mark. Henry Kelker.
John Keller.
Martin Muyrs. Christian Noacker. fallendin Urich. Joerg. Simmon. Jacob Lehn. Hannes Lene. Frantz Boltz. Simon Bassler, Jr.
Georg. X Drum. mark. Abraham Doebler. Cunrath Fassnacht.
Peter Miller.
68
HISTORY OF DAUPHIN COUNTY
his John X Holler. mark. Michael Spengler.
John Philip Beck. Michael Ulrich.
Hans Ulrich Schnevely.
Philip Haffelfinger.
Christian Ley.
Johannes Heffelfinner.
Adam Spengler.
Michael Moyer.
Nickglaus Sander.
Jacob Nieb.
Johannes Wunderlich.
Johannes Killinger.
Johannes Groff.
Christian Lang Sr.
Robert Bell.
Wm. Graheme.
Johannes Stroh.
John Bell.
John McCinney.
Thommas Atkinson.
Robert Lusk.
Gorg. Koemmerling.
Adam Heilman.
Lorentz Siegrist.
David Steel.
George Kellner.
Michael Lotz.
. Adam Wieber.
Jacob Bolz.
Jonathan Clowes.
Vallindin Boger.
Adam Wertz.
Hannes Scheneble.
Conrath Meyer.
Michael Ihli, Jr.
Jacob Fetterhof.
Jacob Wild.
Johann Harper.
Jacob Dups.
Balzer Stein.
Christofel Winder.
Friederich Fernsler Jr.
Friederich Beyer.
John Aindsworh.
John Hume.
John McClintock. Gundrum.
Martin Meily. Peter Brenner. his Abraham X Miller. mark. Philip Eisenhauer.
Balzer Fetterhaff. Peter Burckhard.
his Heinrich X Beck.
mark.
Johannes Miller. his Philib X Hurver. mark.
Ludwig Huber.
Johannes Schweickert, Imboden. his Nickalaus X Schack. mark. Alexdr. Montgomery.
Vallindin Kob.
Leonard Rice.
Andrew Weber.
Friedrich Zimmerman.
Michael Breidenbach.
Benj. Mohr. Jacob Frey. Edward Brynes.
Peter Weiling.
Jacob Fersler.
Heinrich Yingst.
Georg. Merck.
Philip Stone.
Hannes Kitzmiller.
Balzer Fetterhof, Jr. his William X Wetzel. mark.
Conrad Hackendorn.
Michael Miller.
Heinrich Gilbert. John Stone. Jacob Meily.
Peter Beyer. John And. Acheback. his Daniel X Hoofnagle. mark. Valedin Hoofnagle. Bernat Embich.
69
HISTORY OF DAUPHIN COUNTY
Adam Stoehr. Peter Dorst. John Bitner. Rudolph Miller. Jorg. Peters. Daniel Stauffer. Daniel Ensminger.
George Maddern.
Christin Hershperker.
David Meier.
James Young.
Nicolaus Schneider.
Jacob Merck.
Johannes Petry.
Abraham Latcha.
Henry Wender.
Peter Miller (at poor house).
Georg Kob.
John Pettycreu.
Georg. Ward.
John Bartt.
Patrick Cunningham.
Wm. Cunningham.
Henrich Scherb.
James Caldwell.
Hugh Andrew.
Allexander Sloan.
Jacob Keller. Adam Straw.
Johannes Walter.
Peter Walter.
Wm. McNutt.
Jacob Goldman.
Henry Swarth. his Dewald X Wentling. mark.
John Stewart. Adam Merck.
Archbald Sloan.
Martin (illegible).
Andw. (illegible).
Anthony Fuch.
John Bickle. Conrath Stoht. John Minnich. James Pettycreu. Tobias Greider.
. Andrew Stewart. Heinrich Wagner. Jacob Leman. Paul Sieg.
Johannes Meier. his John X Eversol. mark. Gotlieb Orth. his George X Shambach. mark.
Robt Young.
Henry Graham.
Isaac Harrison. Jacob Menser. James Brown. James Young.
Michael Zimmerman.
Philip Ulrich. Georg. Ulrich. Lenhart Zimmerman. Daniel Buchter. Jacob Bahm. Martin Wuest. Robt. Kirkwood. John Stewart. Wm. Campble. James Stewart. James Long. Peter Schanz. John Batty.
Michal Leideg. Robt. McCreel. Johannes Imboden.
John Carman.
Robt Boal.
Fredrick Byer.
Michael Maulfer.
John Matter. Heinrich Reinoehl.
George Smith. Justus Vogell., his
George X hotz. mark. Ambros Crean.
David Ramsey.
George Espy.
Wm. Cunningham.
fredrick Williams.
Johannes Karmeine.
Johannes Klein.
Gottfriet Xander.
70
HISTORY OF DAUPHIN COUNTY
Heinrich Worst.
his
John Miller .:
Johannes X Sieger. . mark.
Felix Jung.
Michael Jung.
Hans Stroefer.
Christ Dochman.
Peter Heilman.
Christian Boucher.
George Merke.
Jacob Sigrist.
John Moser.
Friderich Wollfesberger.
Jacob Wirick.
Johann Adam, Imboden.
Hannes Hetrich.
Allexander Martin.
Ludwig Zearing.
Nickalous Kob.
Meickel Minnick.
Wilem Lang. his
Johannes Frank.
Jacob X Stiman. mark.
Christopher Frank.
Baltzer Orth.
William Robinson.
Peter Ensminger.
Jacob Motter.
Johannes Miller.
his George X Greider. mark
Georg. Meily.
Jacob Greider.
David Strain.
William Stoy.
Michal brown.
Lenhart Koehler.
Christof Ulrich.
The memorials were of no avail, however. The following is the text of the legislative act of March 4, 1785, erecting the county of Dauphin and fixing the county-seat at Harris' Ferry :
"AN ACT for erecting part of the County of Lancaster into a separate County.
"Whereas, The inhabetance of the upper part of Lancaster County have by Petition set forth to the General Assembly of this State that they have long labored under many inconveniences from their being situated at so great a distance from the seat of Judica- ture in the said County, and have prayed that they may be relieved from the said inconveniences by erecting them into a separate County, and as it appears but just and reasonable that they should be relieved in the premises
"Be it therefore enacted and it is hereby enacted by the Repre- sentatives of the Freemen of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in General Assembly met, and by the Authority of the same, That all that part of Lancaster county lying within the Bounds and lim- its hereafter described shall be erected into a separate County,-that is to say, beginning on the west side of the River Susquehanna, op- posite the mouth of Conawago Creek; thence up the middle of said Creek to Moors Hill; and from thence to the head of said creek; and from thence by a direct Line to the South East Corner
Peter Hinrich.
George Rank.
Mahantango Creek
Long
nyder'
Likens Valley
4
Fishing
aver
Neighbor's
Hanover
rubyo ...
Bethe'll
Miley's Stumps
-Swataw
Little
Myers Towit > Tulpehor
Loyer
Lechme
Town
Clark's
Newman's
Heidleberg
MA
Lebanon
Cre
Creek
Vernace Ca
E
N
derry
Cu this
Bell's
Campbella
town
00
L, Paxtane
Humele's
AHRIS JElder's
Town
London
Snyder's
Towns
Middle
@ \Sharer)
Fry's
a
Conewag
Township Lines
-Surveyors District Lines
A Road where it is a Township Line
-A Bridle Road or Horse Path
A House of Worship
A Forge
A Grist. Mill
Roads
A Saw Mill
An Indian Path
+ Minerals
A Water which Sinks
. ADwelling House
A County Line
EXPLANATION
Berry
Franksy
a An Indian town
O+ A Furnace
A Road where it is a County Line
och Hice
ters
Creek
Chambe
dawra
Ch ubs G
Will Hunters
Carson's
Esterton
-- Paxtang
Wallis's.
Bow Cr
.
Condi
Quitipikille Mot
Moyers
Encher's
Canal
Lebanon
"Reed's
N. D
Creek
Heidleberg
Stony
Fishing
F Hallifax
Armstrongs Creek
Creek
T
15
Wolfe
Jonesshown
Powott
Spring Cf.
Ipson's's
Fishing ('y
berry
0
swatawre
DAUPHIN COUNTY, FROM MAP OF PENNSYLVANIA BY READING HOWELL, 1792.
72
HISTORY OF DAUPHIN COUNTY
of Heidelberg Township, where it strikes the Berks County line; thence north west by the Line of Berks County to Mahantango Creek; thence along the same by the Line of Northumberland County and Crossing the River Susquehanna to the Line of Cum- berland County; thence down the Susquehanna on the West Side thereof by the line of Cumberland County, and that part of the Line of York County to the place of beginning, on the west side of the river Susquehanna, to be henceforth known and called by the name of Dauphin County : * * *
"And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, That the district elections for the said County of Dauphin shall be held for the Townships of Derry and Londonderry at Hummels Town in the township of Derry aforesaid, for the township of upper Pax- tang on the north side of Peter's Mountain at Peter Hoffman's in said township, for the township of Lower Paxtang on the South side of Peter's Mountain, and West Hanover at the Court House of the said County, or at John Harris' until such Court House shall be erected, and for the Townships of Lebanon, East Hanover, Hei- delberg, and Bethel at the Town of Lebanon in the said Township of Lebanon, where they shall elect at the times and under the Regu- lations stipulated and directed by the Constitution and Laws of this State, a Councillor Representative to serve them in General Assem- bly, Censors, Sheriff, Coroners, and Commissioners, which said Officers when duly elected and qualified shall have and enjoy all and singular such powers, authorities, and privileges with respect to their said County as such officers elected in and for any other County, may, can, or ought to do. And the said Election shall be Conducted in the same manner and from and Agreeable to the same rules and regulations as now are or hereafter may be in force in the other Counties of this State.
*
"And be it further enacted, That it shall and may be lawful to and for Jacob Awl, Joshua Elder, Andrew Stewart, James Cowdan and Wm. Brown of Paxtang, or any three of them to take assur- ances to them and their heirs for such lot or peas of ground as shall be laid out and approved of by the said Commissioners or any three of them for the erecting a Court House and Gaol thereon, in trust and for the use of the inhabitants of the said County of Dauphin and thereon to erect a Court House and prison sufficient to accom- modate the public service of the said county.
"And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, That Joshua Elder, Thomas Clark, John Glendellor, Bartram Galbraith, James Cunningham, or any three of them shall be Commissioners to run and mark the County Line, in the same manner as is before in the second section of this act, which line when so run and marked shall be the boundary between the Counties aforesaid, and that the
73
HISTORY OF DAUPHIN COUNTY
said Commissioners shall receive for their Services at the rate of twenty-two shillings and sixpence per day, each, and no more, to be paid half by the County of Lancaster, and half by the County of Dauphin by draughts from the Commissioners of the respective Counties on the Treasurer of the same, which the said Commis- sioners are hereby authorized and directed to grant.
"Signed by order of the House.
"JOHN BAYARD, Speaker.
"Enacted into a Law at Philadelphia on Friday, the fourth Day of March, in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hun- dred and Eighty five.
"Inrolled 4th June, A. D. 1785."
The name of Dauphin was derived from the eldest son of the king of France, that country at this period, in consequence of its efficient aid to the colonies, being uppermost in the affections of the people. The enthusiasm was unbounded. The name was suggested by the prime movers for the formation of the new county. The seat of justice was fixed at Harris' Ferry, then a village of about one hundred houses, although the towns of Lebanon and Middle- town were then more important places within the new county. Alex- ander Graydon, in a letter in response to one from Mr. Jedediah Morse, the Geographer, who desired a detailed account of the newly formed county, wrote in part as follows :
"The county comprehends ten townships, viz .: Paxton (or Paxtang which is the original Indian name), Upper Paxtang, Mid- dle Paxtang, East Hanover, West Hanover, Derry, Londonderry, Lebanon, Bethel and Heidelberg-and ten Towns, viz: Louisburg or (Harrisburg), containing about 130 dwelling houses, a gaol be- ing a plain stone building and a German church a log building; Le- banon, containing about 180 houses and two German Churches built of wood; Middletown containing 90 odd houses and one Ger- man Church of Wood; Hummelstown containing about 35 houses and one German Church of Wood; Annville (or Millerstown) 35 houses; Heidelberg (or Shafferstown) containing about 70 houses and 2 German Churches one of which is a Handsome Stone Build- ing; Newmantown containing about 25 Houses; Williamsburg (or Jonestown) containing about 40 Houses and one German Church of Wood. N. B. . In Lebanon one of the Churches belongs to the Lutheran and the other to the Calvinists, so in Heidelberg, but in the other towns, where there is but one, it generally belongs to both societies and is used by them alternately.
"I am Sir, Your very h'ble Servt,
"ALEX. GRAYDON."
"To MR. JEDEDIAH MORSE."
74
HISTORY OF DAUPHIN COUNTY
The ground work now having been laid for a county govern- ment it only remained to elect officers for the various depart- ments. The following is a list of the first officials of Dauphin county :
Sheriff, Anthony Kelker (under Constitution of 1776) ; Deputy Sheriff, Rudolph Kelker; Prothonotary, Alexander Graydon; Trea- surer, John Thome; Deputy Surveyor, John Elder; Collector of Excise, Dr. Andrew Forest; Register and Recorder, Joseph Mont- gomery; Commissioners, Christian Uhler, William Smith; Coroner, Peter Miller; President Judge, Timothy Green.
The first courts in Dauphin County were held in a log house which, until about 1840, stood near the "lower ferry," and the record of the first court reads as follows :
"At a Court of Quarter Sessions holden near Harris' Ferry, in and for the County of Dauphin, etc." on the 3rd Tuesday of May, in the year of our Lord, 1785, "before Timothy Green, Samuel Jones and Jonathan McClure, Esqr's., Justices of the same court."
It is said these justices were not "learned in law," which was the requirement under the Constitution of 1790.
The sheriff of Lancaster County exercised the same office in Dauphin County. There were admitted that first day of the first court, the following attorneys: Stephen Chambers, John Wilkes Kittora, John Clark, Joseph Hubley, John Andre Hanna, James Riddle, John Joseph Henry, Peter Huffnagle, Jacob Hubley, Col- linson Reed, George Ross and John Reily, most of whom rose to. occupy high places in the bar of the State, as well as in the legis- lative halls.
The courts were afterwards held in the old log jail, which stood until about 1880, on the northwest side of Strawberry alley, a short distance northeast of Raspberry alley, and also in a log house, located at one time at No. 311, on the east side of Market street, near Dewberry alley. From 1792 to the year 1799, in- clusive, were occupied in the construction of the first court-house, as appears from bills of expenditures covering that period, on file in the Commissioners' office. The old jail was built about 1790, possibly a few years earlier, as appears from bills paying for "erect- ing a stone wall around the Gaol."
As has been heretofore related, the new county was not estab- lished without friction. The opposition was so great that the commis- sioners of the county refused to assess and levy a tax for the purpose:
75
HISTORY OF DAUPHIN COUNTY
of erecting the court-house and prison, on the demand of the trus- tees, believing that a change of the location of the county-seat would eventually be accomplished, and until this question was permanently settled the people should not be put to any expense for the erection of the county buildings. As a result, the trustees accused the com- missioners and assessors of dereliction of duty, and the power of the Supreme Executive Council was called to the aid of the trustees. At this juncture the following memorial, signed by all the inhabi- tants in Heidelberg, Lebanon and Bethel, and by many elsewhere, was sent forward to the executive authorities :
"To His Excellency the President and the Honorable the Supreme Executive Council of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
"The Petition of the Subscribers Freeholders and Inhabitants of the County of Dauphin, Humbly sheweth : That Your Petitioners and many other inhabitants of the said county did remonstrate and petition the Honorable House of Assembly at the last Session setting forth the grievances of the inhabitants and hardships and incon- veniences under which they labor in resorting to the very verge of the county, to the present seat of Judicature near Harris' Ferry, and praying that the seat of justice be appointed in a more convenient part of the county, etc. To which remonstrance and petition, and the act entitled 'An Act for erecting part of Lancaster County into a separate conuty, your petitioners humbly refer your honorable body.
"That the Commissioners and Township Assessors of the said county have declined to assess and levy monies on the inhabitants for the purpose of building a court house and prison at a place so con- venient, as the Commissioners and Assessors are well acquainted of the general dissatisfaction of the inhabitants of the said county to pay such assessments.
"That your petitioners are appreciative, that in the present re- cess of the Assembly, application may be made to your honorable body accusing the County Commissioners for neglecting their duty in not assessing the sum, or sums of money judged necessary by the trustees mentioned in the said Act of Assembly for the purpose aforesaid, and therefore in case of any such application to your honorable body, your petitioners humbly pray your excellency and council will be pleased to suspend the infliction of any fines or penal- ties on the Commissioners of Dauphin County for having declined to comply with the requirements of the said trustees until the issue and events of the remonstrance and petition aforesaid be determined by the Legislature."
1
76
HISTORY OF DAUPHIN COUNTY
Finding that the law was imperative, the proper officers at- tended to the performance of their duty, and further proceedings in opposition thereto ceased. But at once, another move was set on foot to secure a division, adding, if possible, a small portion of Berks and Lancaster, with the town of Lebanon as the county seat. Determined opposition confronted them at first, but when the legis- lature decided to locate the State Capital at Harrisburg, the ap- proval of the chief opposition was secured. At each session of the General Assembly for about twenty years, petitions and remon- strances for the erection of a new county were presented, the pro- posed name being "Hamilton," in honor of Alexander Hamilton, who fell in a duel with Aaron Burr, and whom it was thought fit to honor by his admirers in Pennsylvania, but for some cause, prob- ably political, this was objectionable. Finally, the name of the principal town was given to that of the new county, it having been derived from the original township, and the measure passed in that form.
ORIGINAL TOWNSHIPS.
The names of the original townships of Dauphin county, as set off from Lancaster county, the same also comprising all the ter- ritory now within what is known as Dauphin and Lebanon counties, were these: Derry, Londonderry, "Paxtang" (Paxton), Lower Paxton, West Hanover, Lebanon, East Hanover, Heidelberg, Bethel, Middle Paxton.
FORMATION OF LEBANON COUNTY.
On February 16, 1813, Governor Simon Snyder approved an "Act erecting parts of Dauphin and Lancaster counties into a sep- arate county to be called Lebanon," the first section of which recites "that all those parts of Dauphin and Lancaster counties lying and being within the limits following to wit :
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