USA > Pennsylvania > Dauphin County > History of Dauphin County, Pennsylvania > Part 8
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"Beginning at the southeast corner of Dauphin County, where it intercepts the Berks County line, about four miles from New- manstown; thence through Lancaster County to a sand stone house. formerly occupied by George Wyman, and including the same, on the great road leading from Schaefferstown to Elizabeth Furnace: thence to a house formerly occupied by one Shroyer, deceased, and including the same, on the great road leading from Lebanon to Man- heim; thence to Snyder's mill on Conewago creek, excluding the same; thence northerly to the house of one Henry, at the crossroads leading from Harrisburg to Reading, including the same; thence to
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HISTORY OF DAUPHIN COUNTY
Raccoon creek, on the Blue or Kittatinny mountain; thence along the said mountain, on the top thereof, to the Berks county line; thence along the said line to the place of beginning, shall be, and the same are hereby, according to said lines, declared to be erected into a county henceforth to be called Lebanon."
By an act approved 21st February, 1814, three commissioners were appointed to run and mark the boundary lines between the counties of Lebanon and Lancaster, and Lebanon and Dauphin. Their report is on file in the Quarter Sessions of Dauphin county. That part which relates to the line between Dauphin and Lebanon counties is as follows, to wit :
"Starting from Snyder's mill on the Conewago creek; thence north 14 3-4 degrees, west seven miles and 132 perches, to Andrew Henry's, including the same; thence north 15 1-4 degrees, west eight miles and 239 perches, to the source of Raccoon creek; thence on the same course 32 perches to the summit of the first or Blue mountain; thence along the same north 64 degrees, east 13 miles and three-fourths of a mile to the Berks county line."
On the 29th of March, 1821, another Act of Assembly was approved, providing,-"That so much of the townships of East Hanover and Bethel, in the county of Dauphin, as lies north of the Blue or Kittatinny mountain, shall be and compose a part of the county of Lebanon."
These divisions took from the county of Dauphin the entire townships of Heidelberg, Bethel, Lebanon, Annville, East Hanover, and a large portion of Londonderry, and a small strip of West Han- over west of Raccoon creek.
From time to time, changes in the subdivision of Dauphin county have taken place, by formation of new townships to suit the advancing stages of the development of the county. The follow- ing comprise the townships of Dauphin county at the present date- March, 1907 :
Conewago, Derry, East Hanover, Halifax,
Jackson, Jefferson, Londonderry, Lower Paxton. Lower Swartara,
Lykens, Middle Paxton, Mifflin,
Reed, Rush, South Hanover, Susquehanna,
Swartara, Upper Paxton,
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HISTORY OF DAUPHIN COUNTY
1 Washington, Wayne, West Hanover,
Wiconisco. Williams, (Total number twenty-three.)
RECORDED PLATS, ETC.
The following gives some account of the original plats of the various boroughs and cities of Dauphin county-name ; date of plat- ting ; by whom and where located :
Dauphin, in Middle Paxton township, platted in 1826, by Innis Green, for the Dauphin and Schuylkill Coal Company. First named Port Lyon, later Greenburg. When it became a post town the name Dauphin obtained. It was incorporated 1845.
Elizabethville, located in Washington township, was platted about 1817, by John Bender, and for many years known as "Ben- derstoettle ;" finally named Elizabethville, in honor to John Bender's wife Elizabeth.
Gratz, situated in Lykens townsihp, platted in 1805, by Simon Gratz. It was incorporated in April, 1852.
Harrisburg, the seat of justice and now the State Capital, was originally platted by John Harris, Jr., July 6, 1785, under the fol- lowing circumstances : The town proposed by Mr. Harris was laid out in the spring of 1785, by William Maclay, who was a son-in- law of Mr. Harris. Mr. Maclay made a draft of the town and drew up the following conveyances from John Harris to the Com- missioners :
"July 6, 1785.
* * "By virtue of which said several grants, devices and conveyances the title of the land on which the town of Harrisburg in the county of Dauphin is situated is legally vested in the said John Harris his heirs and assigns; and whereas in and by a certain bond of obligation duly executed by the said John Harris to the State of Pennsylvania for the sum of five thousand pounds lawful monies of the same state bearing date the 4th day of March in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty-five, conditioned for the faithful performance of all and singular the agreements, prom- ises, engagements, articles, matters and things which he had therein undertaken to do and perform, among other things did covenant to and with Jacob Awl, Joshua Elder, Andrew Stewart, James Cowden and William Brown as follows :
"Whereas the representatives of the freemen of the said com- monwealth in General Assembly met, in and by a certain bill before them now depending have resolved to erect part of the county of
So
HISTORY OF DAUPHIN COUNTY
Lancaster into separate county to be known and called by the name of the county of Dauphin, and that the seat of justice in the said county of Dauphin shall be fixed at or near the place of said John Harris' residence, and that Joshua Elder, Jacob Awl, Andrew Stew- art, William Brown and James Cowden, or any three of them shall be commissioners for certain purposes, in the said bill mentioned; And Whereas, the said John Harris in order to promote the good intentions of the said General Assembly in fixing the seat of justice at the said place, to enable the said commissioners to regulate the laying out of a county town there to public advantage, and to pro- mote the more speedy settlement thereof by a liberal encouragement to purchasers, has promised, covenanted and agreed to and with the said commissioners or a majority of them shall direct, which streets shall be confirmed for public use forever; and that he will also lay out a large street along the river for public landing places ; And Whereas the said John Harris in consideration of the premises and other good causes hath also promised, covenanted and agreed to and with the said commissioners that in case the said bill shall be passed into a law, he will, upon request, convey to the said com- missioners, or any three of them and their heirs a good and sufficient lot of ground for erecting a court house and gaol thereon in trust
* * for the use of the inhabitants of the said county of Dauphin. *
"Now this indenture witnesseth that in consideration of the sum of five shillings lawful money of Pennsylvania to them, the. said John Harris and Mary his lawful wife, in hand paid by the said Jacob Awl, Joshua Elder, Andrew Stewart, James Cowden and Wil- liam Brown at and before the ensealing and delivery of these pres- ents the receipt of which sum of five shillings they the said John Harris and Mary his wife do hereby acknowledge, and thereof and every thereof do acquit release the said Jacob Awl, Joshua Elder, Andrew Stewart, James Cowden and William Brown their and each of their heirs, executors, administrators and assigns, and every of them have granted, bargained, sold, released, enfeoffed and con- firmed and by these presents do grant, bargain, sell, alien, release, enfeoff and confirm unto the said Jacob Awl, Joshua Elder, Andrew Stewart, James Cowden and William Brown, their heirs and assigns, all the streets, lanes or highways as laid out by the commissioners of, in, and for the town of Harrisburg aforesaid, in the county of Dau- phin, the butts, boundaries, courses, distances, length and breadth thereof, are as follows: Front, Paxton, Second, Market, Third, Pine, Locust, Walnut, Chestnut and Mulberry streets, River, Rasp- berry, Barbara, Cranberry, Strawberry, Blackberry and Cherry al- leys. And in consideration of the further sum of five shillings law- ful money aforesaid to them the said John Harris and Mary his wife, in hand well and truly paid by the said Jacob Awl, Andrew Stewart, Joshua Elder, James Cowden and William Brown, the
.
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HISTORY OF DAUPHIN COUNTY
receipt thereof is hereby acknowledged and thereof and every part thereof the said Awl, Elder, Stewart, Cowden and Brown, their and each of their heirs are fully acquitted and forever discharged, have granted, bargained, sold, released, alliened, enfeoffed and con- firmed, and by these presents, do grant, bargain, sell, alien, release, enfeoff and confirm unto them the said Awl, Elder, Stewart, Cow- den and Brown, their heirs and assigns, four certain lots of ground in the aforesaid town of Harrisburg, marked on the general plan of said town Nos. 120, 121, 142, 143, situated and bounded as fol- lows: Beginning at a corner where Raspberry alley intersects Mar- ket street, thence along the line of Market street to the line that divides lots Nos. 141 and 142; thence on the same division line crossing Strawberry alley to Walnut street; thence on the line of Walnut street to Raspberry alley ; thence down the line of said alley to the place of beginning."
Halifax, in Halifax township, was platted July 18, 1784, by George Sheaffer and Peter Rise. The original survey was executed by John Downey for the proprietors. It was incorporated May 29, 1875.
Hummelstown, located in Hummelstown township, was platted 1762, as "Frederickstown," by Frederick Hummell, but subsequent to his death was changed to Hummelstown. It was incorporated as a borough August 26, 1874.
Lykens, in Wiconisco township, was platted about 1832, and incorporated in 1871.
Uniontown, in Mifflin township, was platted in 1864.
Steelton, first called Baldwin, was platted in April, 1866, by Rudolph F. Kelker and Henry A. Kelker. A post office was es- tablished in 1871, called "Steel-works." In 1880 its name was changed to Steelton. Later, this and surrounding villages were in- corporated as Steelton.
Williamstown, in Williams township, was platted in 1869, by a coal company made up of Martin Blum, Mr. Heilinder and Henry Workman.
Millersburg, in Upper Paxton township, was platted July, 1807, by Daniel Miller. It was incorporated April 8, 1850.
Middletown, in Lower Swatara township, was platted thirty years prior to Harrisburg, and seven before Hummelstown-about 1755, by George Fisher, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Highspire, in Lower Swatara township, was first incorporated as a borough in February, 1867, but annulled April 8, 1868. But
6
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HISTORY OF DAUPHIN COUNTY
again, seeing the advantage of a borough government, it was in- corporated a borough in 1904.
Other hamlets and villages in this county, not named above, are :
Bachmansville, in Conewago township, named for the early family of Bachmans, who located in that vicinity.
Carsonville, in Jefferson township, is near the Indian village of Shawanese.
Derry Post Office, where Old Derry Church stood, in Derry township, is a mere hamlet, and near it Hershey was platted in 1905.
Estherton, in Susquehanna township, later styled Coxestown, was laid out during the French and Indian war by Dr. John Cox, Jr., of Philadelphia, and named for his wife Esther. In point of time it was probably the second town laid out in Dauphin county, Middletown only preceding it two years. It dates from October 2, 1757.
Fisherville, in Jackson township, was platted in 1854, by Adam Fisher.
Hoernerstown, in South Hanover township, was settled in 1830.
Jacksonville was platted about 1825, by George Enders and Joseph P. Lyter. It was named for Ex-President Jackson. A post office was established at this point in 1854, called "Enders post office."
Linglestown, in Lower Paxton, at the base of First mountain, was platted by Thomas Lingle, 1765, and called, at first, St. Thomas. It was noted at an early date for the interest its citizens took in free-school matters.
Rockville, five miles from Harrisburg, in Susquehanna town- ship, was first settled by a Mr. Roberts, in 1774, platted by Mrs. Matilda Cox in 1834, and added to by a platting made in 1838, by Miss McAllister. At first it bore the name of Brushy Rock, but later took the present name. The longest stone-arch bridge for railway purposes in America spans the Susquehanna at this point. See history elsewhere.
Progress is a small hamlet in the southeastern portion of Sus- quehanna township, two miles east of Harrisburg. It is chiefly a residential settlement.
Shellsville (sometime called Earlyville), in East Hanover township, was named for Major John Shell, who platted it in 1821, and there opened a hotel at a much earlier date.
,
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HISTORY OF DAUPHIN COUNTY
Grantville, in East Hanover township, was platted since the Civil War.
Penbrook is a modern. suburb of Harrisburg.
Hershey, in Derry township, about one-quarter of a mile from Derry Post Office, is on the line of the Philadelphia & Reading Rail- way, and was platted in 1904-5. It is being rapidly built up by the interests of the great Hershey Chocolate Works which were moved from Lancaster in the spring of 1905.
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CHAPTER IV.
DATES OF FIRST EVENTS-FREEMASONRY BEFORE COUNTY WAS FORMED-ARRESTED FOR SEDITION-INDIAN VISITORS-IN- DIANS AT THE GRAVE OF HARRIS-TRAVELING A CENTURY AGO-INDIAN COUNCIL AT HARRIS FERRY-FIRST COURTS -FIRST NEWSPAPER-A SLAVE ADVERTISED-INDIANS' RE- VENGE-DAUPHIN AGAINST THE AMENDMENT-LIST OF SLAVES-TOMATOES FIRST USED-THE LAST SLAVE IN THE COUNTY-MAPLE-SUGAR MAKING IN 1864-THE CENTEN- NIAL ANNIVERSARY-CELEBRATED MILL DAM CASE.
To the reader of local history there is ever much interest in fixing in mind the beginnings, or first events transpiring in the terri- tory under consideration. It is by these "mile-stones," so to speak, that the whole journey of progress is easily traced out. While many of these "first events" will necessarily find place in the various chapters of this work, there will many be given by themselves in this connection. Also other events of a special nature, not being be- fitting for any one chapter, or sub-division of the work.
The following is a list of important events in Dauphin county and the city of Harrisburg :
County was organized March 4, 1785.
The first court was held "The third Tuesday in May," 1785. The first regular court house was erected in 1799.
The present court house (except addition ) was erected in 1860.
The first permanent white settler in the county was John Har- ris, Sr., about 1719.
The first borough incorporated was Harrisburg, in 1791.
The first town platted was Middletown, about 1755.
The first State House was completed at Harrisburg, January 2, 1822.
The first church erected was "Old Derry," in 1720.
The first regular pastor to settle in the county was Rev. Wil- liam Bertram, of the Derry church, in 1732.
The first post office was established at Harrisburg, in 1791.
The first county prison was erected in 1790.
The first newspaper printed in the county was the Oracle of Dauphin and Harrisburg Advertiser, in 1791.
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HISTORY OF DAUPHIN COUNTY
The first bridge spanning the Susquehanna in Dauphin county was the old "Camel's back," completed in 1817.
The first train of steam railway cars in the county was on the Harrisburg & Lancaster Railway, in 1836.
The first illuminating gas was made at Harrisburg, 1850.
The first street cars were operated at Harrisburg in 1865-6.
The first water works system was at Harrisburg in September, 1841.
The first electric lights in the county were at Harrisburg, in 1880.
The first corner-stone that was laid in the locks of the Penn- sylvania canal, was laid in "Lock No. 6," at the foot of Walnut street, in Harrisburg, March 14, 1827. There was a Masonic procession, followed by the Governor and heads of departments ; members of the legislature; the borough burgesses and citizens. The Speaker of the House, Mr. Ritner, delivered a befitting address. Governor Carroll, of Tennessee, was present, as a guest of the town.
The first highway was made from Harrisburg to Philadelphia in 1736.
MASONRY BEFORE ORGANIZATION OF COUNTY.
The history of Free-Masonry in this part of the State, begins some years previous to the county organization-a bit of information perhaps not generally known, even by members of the fraternity here. "Perseverance Lodge No. 21," of Free and Accepted Ma- sons, was formed under a dispensation by the first Grand Lodge of America, at Philadelphia, Pa., which body declared itself free and independent of the Grand Lodge of England, September 25, 1786- just after the close of the Revolutionary War. The Harrisburg Lodge (No. 21), was chartered by act of the Grand Lodge, March 15, 1787. But before passing to the early history of this lodge, it will not be without interest to the reader to know something con- cerning the organization of the first Grand Lodge in this country, as above referred to.
Prior to the war for Independence, Masonry had worked in this country under the Grand Lodge of England, but September 25, 1786, the Masons after "mature and serious deliberations" unani- mously resolve, "That it is improper the Grand Lodge of Pennsyl- vania should remain any longer under the authority of any foreign Grand Lodge," and the Grand Lodge did thereupon close sine die.
"And whereas, The said grand convention did then and there resolve, that the lodges under the jurisdiction of the Grand Lodge
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HISTORY OF DAUPHIN COUNTY
of Pennsylvania, aforesaid, lately held as a Provincial Grand Lodge under the authority of the Grand Lodge of England, should, and they then did, form themselves into a grand lodge to be called the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania, and Masonic Jurisdiction thereto belonging, to be held in the city of Philadelphia, as by the records and proceedings of the said convention, remaining among the ar- chives of the grand lodge aforesaid, may more fully appear."
Then comes the action concerning the formation of the first lodge in what later came to be known as Dauphin county. Grand Master William Ball and his co-workers, the Worshipful Col. Mat- thew Smith, Master; Wm. Boyd, Senior Warden; Wm. McCul- lough, Jr. Warden, with the lawful assistants, were appointed to hold a free and accepted lodge of Masons at Lower Paxton town- ship, Lancaster county, State of Pennsylvania, number 21.
"Given in open grand lodge, under the hands of our Right Worshipful Grand Officers, and the seal of our Grand Lodge, at Philadelphia, this fifteenth day of March A. D. 1787, and of Ma- sonry 5,787.
"ATHERTON HUMPHREYS, "Grand Secretary."
Under this warrant the lodge was held in a school house, and afterwards in the dwelling house of one of the officers, some three " miles from where Harrisburg now stands; where many of the more intelligent and respectable of the inhabitants of the then sparsely settled country joined, and met as brethren of the mystic tie. After Harrisburg was laid out as a town, and some- what built, the lodge began to meet here, where they have continued to ever since, except from 1828 to 1841, when its labors were sus- pended in deference to public opinion, which in this part of the state, was at that time very hostile toward secret societies. It is related by masons, that "the opposition of that time but tested the integrity of its members, and the real strength and value of the institution."
In July, 1818, Mark Master's Lodge was opened here, of which Hon. Daniel Scott, then president judge, was the master. In December, 1818, a Royal Arch Chapter was opened, with Wil- liam Green as high priest. "Webb's Masonic Monitor," published in 1816, speaks of Harrisburg having an Encampment of Knights Templar in 1797, but the earliest record found speaks of an En- campment having been formed in 1827, under the authority of De Witt Clinton, then Grand Master of Christian Chivalric Knighthood in the United States.
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HISTORY OF DAUPHIN COUNTY
After public opinion had somewhat changed and in 1842, the Lodge and Chapter were both resumed and re-constituted-Benja- min Parke being elected Master and High Priest. Since then masonry in Harrisburg and vicinity has been highly prosperous. In 1858 Perseverance Lodge of Harrisburg ranked third among the working lodges of Pennsylvania, then numbering 312. Penn- sylvania then had about fifteen thousand masons-the Harrisburg lodge enjoying a membership of about two hundred.
VARIOUS EVENTS.
Arrested For Sedition .- The only arrest made under the "Ad- ams Sedition law," is chronicled in the columns of the Oracle of Dauphin, of August 28, 1799:
"On Saturday morning last, William Nichols, Marshal of Pennsylvania, arrested Benjamin Moyer and Conrad Fahnestock, printers and proprietors of the 'Dutch Aurora' of Harrisburg bor- ough, for publishing a false, 'scandalous and malicious libel against the laws and government of the United States.' They have given bail for their appearance at the District Court of the United States held at the city of Philadelphia, October II, themselves in $2,000, and four securities in $1,000 each. The Marshal who made the arrest was accompanied by a troop of horsemen, and they made their entry into town up Front street."
Indian Visitors .- "Last Friday crossed the Susquehanna near this town, on their way to the President of the United States, sixty- three Indians and seven Squaws, having in their custody a white man prisoner, (charged with having murdered one of their chiefs), whom they mean to demand of the President, in order to sacrifice according to their custom, (pineknot splinters and the stake) and agreeable to treaty. It is said they are the principal Indians who fought at St. Clair's defeat."-Oracle, June 6, 1798.
Squirrels By the Barrel .- "According to modern prediction, the ensuing winter will be very severe; for never, perhaps, since the memory of man, were there known to be a greater quantity of squir- rels than has been in this neighborhood since some days. We are told that during last week several hundred per day crossed the Sus- quehanna from Cumberland into this county. Some of the inhab- itants, it is said, who live near the banks of the river, have been en- abled to salt barrels of them for their winter use."-Oracle, Septem- ber 26, 1796.
Indians At The Grave of John Harris, Sr .- When George W. Harris, Esq., was a boy, he remembered seeing a dozen Indians at his father's house, on Front street, above Vine. They came from
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HISTORY OF DAUPHIN COUNTY
New York State, and were on their way to the seat of Government. One of the number, an old chieftain, formerly lived in this locality, and had been well acquainted with John Harris, Jr., and possibly with John, Sr. He came this route on purpose to see John Harris, or his father, and was greatly grieved to learn of their death. Robert Harris invited them in to breakfast; after which they re- paired to the grave of the elder Harris, on the river bank, where the old chieftain sobbed audibly as he pressed the soil which covered the remains of one whom, from his earliest infancy, he had been taught to regard as the Redman's friend. .
"Rose that wild and deep lamenting
Of the downcast forest dwellers Like forsaken children wailing, Hopeless o'er a buried father."-Mrs. Sigourney. .
The first regular road from Harrisburg to Philadelphia, by way of Lancaster and Chester counties, was procured in 1736, by petition of sundry inhabitants of said counties.
The wife of John Harris, the first settler, rode once on urgency to Philadelphia, the same horse, in one day! At one time when at Big Island, on the West Branch of the Susquehanna, hearing of her husband's illness, she came down in a day and night in a bark canoe"-Wl'atson's Annals.
Traveling Accommodations / Century Ago .- With the hourly day and night, fast flying trains of these opening years of the Twen- tieth Century, it may be of interest to more thoroughly acquaint our- selves with the modes of travel in the days of our fathers and more remote generations.
A stage line was operated by Messrs. Matthias Slough and William Gear (each proprietors of an independent line) running between Lancaster, Harrisburg, Carlisle and Shippensburg, in the year 1797. Slough's "stage coaches" set out from the house of Captain Andrew Lee, in Harrisburg, ( later known as the "Washing- ton House" now the "Commonwealth"). The fare on this route was, from Harrisburg to Lancaster, two dollars; from Lancaster to Carlisle, three dollars; from Lancaster to Shippensburg, four dol- lars.
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