USA > Pennsylvania > Dauphin County > History of Dauphin County, Pennsylvania > Part 9
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Gear's line of stages set out from the house of William Feree, in Lancaster, on every Tuesday and Saturday morning at six o'clock, proceeding to the westward; and from the house of Samuel Elder, in Harrisburg, every Wednesday morning, arriving at Shippensburg the same evening. This line connected with stages, which started from "White Horse Tavern," Market street, Philadelphia, every
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HISTORY OF DAUPHIN COUNTY
Monday and Friday. The same proprietor also ran a stage from Harrisburg every Wednesday, which arrived at Sunbury every Thursday; and returned every Saturday. "So the passengers from Sunbury destined for Lancaster and Philadelphia, could proceed thence on Mondays."
William Coleman was the owner of a line that started every Monday at four o'clock, from the public house of George Zeigler, in Harrisburg, and arrived at Philadelphia by way of Reading, every Wednesday at noon. In 1813, Mr. Nicholas Schwoyer ran a "light stage," twice each week from Harrisburg to the Canal, at York Haven, where it was met by a line established by Jesse Shaeffer, running to York. This stage left the "Fountain Inn" at Harris- burg every Tuesday and Thursday mornings.
These several modes of conveyance would not meet the require- ments of this progressive steam and electric age, but were then counted a decided improvement over the old "Post-Horse" system previously employed.
Mails were equally slow. In 1798. Postmaster General Joseph Habersham issued proposals for carrying the mails, once in two weeks, on the following routes : "From Harrisburg, by Clark's Ferry, Millerstown, Thompsontown, Mifflinton, Lewistown, Huntingdon, Alexandria, Bellefonte, Aaronsburg, Mifflinburg, Lewisburg, Northumberland and Sunbury to Harrisburg. The mail to leave Harrisburg from October 15 to April 15, every other Monday at 6 o'clock A. M., returning the next Monday by 7 P. M. ; other sea- sons of the year in proportion to days' length."
Council with Indians At Harris' Ferry .- January 8, 1756, a council with the Indians was held at the house of John Harris, Jr., in Paxton, composed of Hon. Robert Hunter Morris, Governor, James Hamilton, Richard Peters, Secretary, Joseph Fox, and Conrad Weiser, interpreter; two Indians of the Six Nations, called "the Belt of Wampums," a Seneca, and the "Broken Thigh," a Mo- hawk. The Governor addressed the two Indians as follows :
"BRETHREN: I am glad to see you and your families in good health. You have ever been esteemed our hearty friends, and you show you are really so by residing among us at this time, when so much mischief is done on every side of the Province.
"I sent Mr. Weiser to acquaint you that I had kindled a coun- cil fire here, and had invited the Indians on the Susquehanna to meet me at the beginning of this moon, and that I expected you would stay here till I come, and afford me your assistance in council.
"I thank you for staying here. You see that agreeable to my message, I come at the time appointed; but I find no other Indians
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here than you two, and indeed I expect no more, as I believe my messengers were prevented going to Wyonsink by the ravages of the Indians, which began in their neighborhood at the time they were preparing to set out on their journey.
"The public business requires my presence at Carlisle, where I am now going, and I invite you to go along with me. If you incline to take any of your families with you, I shall readily agree to it, and provide a carriage for them and for you."
To this "The Belt" replied :
"BRETHREN: I thank you for sending to us for council and for your kind speech. What you have said is very agreeable.
"Brethren : The sky is dark all around us. The mischief done to you I consider as done to the Six Nations, and I am sorry for what has happened, and heartily condole with you upon it; but be not disheartened. As the public business is committed to you, nothing should be suffered to lie in your minds that might in any way impair your judgment, which is now more necessary than ever. Let me therefore, by this string, intreat you to put away all grief from your heart, and dry up your tears, that you may think and see clearly when you come to council. I accept your invitation and shall follow you to Carlisle." (Gave a string).
At the time this council was held there appears to have been but a single house and few conveniences at Harris' Ferry, and "Mr. Weiser was asked if it might not be better to hold it at Carlisle, where all the business of that county could be done at the same time, and proper entertainment provided, as well as for the Governor and his company as for the Indians, should they prove numerous." They then went to Carlisle.
First Court at Harris' Ferry .- The first courts in Dauphin county were held by Justices of the Peace, and the earliest of such records reads: "At a Court of Quarter Sessions holden near Har- ris' Ferry, in and for the county of Dauphin, etc." on the "third Tuesday of May, in the year of our Lord 1785," before "Timothy Green, Samuel Jones and Jonathan McClure Esqrs., Justices of the Peace in same court."
The sheriff of Lancaster county exercised the same office in Dau- phin county. The names of the jurymen were: James Cowden, (foreman) Robert Montgomery, John Gilchrist, Barefoot Brunson, John Clark, Rowen McClure, John Carson, John Wilson, William Crane, Archibald McAllister, Richard Dixon, John Pattimore, James Crouch, Jacob Awl, William Brown, Andrew Stewart, James Rogers, Samuel Stewart, John Cooper, Alexander Berryhill.
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The earliest record of a punishment is the account of one in- flicted on William Courtenay and James Lackey, who were sen- tenced to receive eighteen lashes and pay fifteen shillings sterling, on the 18th of August, 1785, between the hours of four and six o'clock in the afternoon. Several records occur in which punish- ment was inflicted by lashes and "standing in the pillory." The greater number of punishments in this first term of county court, in 1785, were for horse stealing.
The first public market-house in the county was at Harrisburg, in 1807, when a small affair was provided.
The Oracle, published at Harrisburg, in its February, 1795 issue, had the following advertisement, and it serves to show the advancement made in the matter of liberty since that period :
"A healthy, stout negro wench, about thirty-three years of age. She is excellent for cooking, washing, and any kind of house and kitchen work, and understands feeding cattle, and any work neces- sary on a farm. For terms, apply to the Printer."
An Historical Table .- During the Columbian Exposition at Chicago, in 1893, through the efforts of Mrs. R. J. Haldeman, president of the auxiliary from Dauphin county, there was placed on exhibition from Harrisburg, a very unique and elegant table made from wood of historic character. The ladies' society engaged Albert Hughes, the local cabinet-maker, to make and finish the arti- cle, which was used at the opening ceremonies of that great World's Fair. The center piece of the top was of olive wood from the sacred Mount of Olives, brought to Harrisburg by a resident; around this was panels made from parts of the famous old mulberry tree to which John Harris, Sr., was once tied to be burned by the Indians but were prevented from it ; pieces of the support of the old Philadelphia Liberty Bell and also pieces from its platform; pieces of dark walnut from Old Derry Church; strips of mahogany from the old State house solid doors; pieces from the old house at Valley Forge, where Gen. Washington was quartered that memorable win- ter; also strips from the window sill of the old Ross house on Arch street, Philadelphia, where Betsey Ross made the first American flag.
Two of the panels forming the top were ivory buttons which came from the line-of-battle ship "Constitution." This table, replete with history and artistic beauty, was much prized by Mrs. Potter Palmer, the president of the Woman's Department of the Ex- position.
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An Indian's Revenge .- George W. Harris, descendant of the founder of Harrisburg, is authority for this incident:
"A party of Indians from the Susquehanna at one time went off on a war, or predatory excursion against the Southern Indians. In the course of his expedition a hostile Indian was killed, and one of his relatives determined on revenge. He was from the Cataw- bas, in South Carolina. He came alone, and eventually reached the bank of the river opposite the site of Harrisburg. He there secreted himself to observe the fording place, and watching an opportunity of glutting his revenge. Having observed the ford below the isl- and (owned later by General Forster), he one night crossed the riv- er and cautiously approached the Indian town a short distance be- low. As he advanced a dog barked, and an aged squaw came to the opening of her wigwam to learn the cause of the disturbance. The Indian leaped forward and sinking the hatchet into her brain, he drew his knife and scalped her; and then raising the war whoop, he ran to the river bank, leaped into a canoe and started for the other shore. The town was aroused and the warriors gave chase, but though closely pursued, he made good his escape, bearing away in triumph the bloody trophy, the evidence of his courage and bar- barity."
Rev. George Whitefield Hereabouts .- Descendants of the Harris family give the following concerning the famous preacher Whitefield-the same being published in 1858, in "Annals of Har- risburg :"
"When the celebrated preacher, George Whitefield, was pass- ing through Pennsylvania about the year 1740, he remained some- time in and about Harris Ferry, and repeatedly preached to the peo- ple, who flocked from all quarters to hear him. So great was the fascination of his eloquence, that many of the people neglected the cultivation of their farms, and their fields were left unsown. John Harris remonstrated with them, but ineffectually; and the conse- quences of their improvidence were likely to prove serious, since not a few at the end of the season, found themselves in want. Seeing their destitute condition, Mr. Harris sent a considerable quantity of grain to the nearest mill, and gave directions that meal should be furnished to any of his poor neighbors who might apply for it. Thus were the families of those who had not listened to the prudent coun- sels of Mr. Harris saved from distress by his liberal kindness."
Indeed, with all of the benevolent sprit of the present time, no community can boast of the equal of the above. The early pioneer, as a rule was a man of broad, noble-minded impulses, and to them is due a great debt of gratitude from their descendants.
The County Against the State Constitution of 1873 .- In
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the vote for and against the adoption of the State Convention of 1873, including the 14th and 15th Amendments to the United States Constitution, Dauphin county voted 3, 119 "For" and 4,032 "Against" adoption, which was hardly in keeping with the motto of. the Commonwealth-"Virtue, Liberty, Independence."
CELEBRATED MILL DAM CASE.
About the year 1793, Harrisburg borough was exceedingly sickly. A fever of a violent character, similar to the yellow fever, prevailed, especially among the new foreign settlers. Philadelphia was stricken by yellow fever at the same time and great fears were entertained of its introduction in Harrisburg. A patrol was stationed at the lower end of town to prevent infected persons from entering the borough. Many Irish immigrants died and some of the regular citizens, while most families of the place were to some extent afflicted.
The Supposed Cause, A Mill Dam : It was generally conceded that the cause of this terrible scourge was the mill dam owned by two men named Landis. The citizens of the place met in mass- meetings to take steps for its removal. Committees were appointed, funds were raised and tendered the owners of the dam which had been erected the year previous on the Paxtang, a sluggish stream, within six hundred yards of the middle of the borough, on its east- ern side. This dam spread the waters over an area of about nine acres.
The origin of this dam was as follows: April 16, 1790, John Harris, the founder of Harrisburg, sold to Peter, John and Abra- ham Landis, a mill-seat, with the privileges of a mill-dam and race- way, comprising three acres of land, situated in what is now the First Ward of the city, on Paxtang Creek. Subsequently the Lan- dis family purchased an additional tract of land from Gen. John A. Hanna and erected their mill thereon. The citizens of the bor- ough believing this mill-pond the cause of the sickness then so fear- ful in its extent, took decisive measures to abate the nuisance. May 5, 1794, a meeting was held at the house of George Reitzel and a committee was there appointed to wait on the Messrs. Landis to treat for the purchase of this mill property. The following day the committee met and agreed to pay Landis 2,500 pounds, as fol- lows: 1,500 pounds in thirty days and 500 pounds May 1, 1795, and 1796, with interest. To enable the committee to comply with the proposition for the purchase of the mill property, the following agreement was signed May 7, 1794:
"We, the subscribers, to enable the Burgesses to complete the said pur-
·
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HISTORY OF DAUPHIN COUNTY
chase and for the said considerations, do severally, but not jointly, bind our- selves, our heirs, executors and administrators unto the said Burgesses for the time being and their successors in such sum or sums of money as may be annexed by us, to our names, to be paid to the said Burgesses and their suc- cessors in the manner and at the time hereinafter specified to wit: one moiety or half part in two equal annual payments from the first day of June with lawful interest for the same. Provided, nevertheless, that if the said purchase should not be completed by or on behalf of the said Borough within one month from the date of these presents, that then the above obligation to be void and of no effect, otherwise to be and to remain in full force and effect. In witness whereof we have severally hereunto set our hands and affixed our seals this seventh day of May in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and ninety-four:
£. . d. .
£. s. d.
George Fisher
20 O
O
Lawrence Bennett
4 10 O
James Duncan
20 14 O John Bucher
6 14
0
Adam Boyd 23 0
O Jacob Ebright
6
14
0
George Peffer
9
O
0
Alexander Graydon 18 0 0
Jacob Wain 3
O O
Galbraith Patterson 20 O
4 10
0
Abraham Mooney I 16 0 Henry Fulton
16 I6
18 0
David Owen 0 1 5 0
Thomas Gregg 6
6
0 0
Benjamin Fenton 6 12 O
Joshua Elder
22 10 0
George Allen 4 16 0
J. Kean
25 5
0
John Ritz I IO 0
Andrew Forrest 6
18
William Martin 3 12
I
W. Graydon
4 16
0
Thomas Bennett 3 4
O Samuel Grimes II
5
O
John McChesney 3
O
O J. Dentzel
9
O
0
John Wyeth
2
8
O Tobias Seyboth 9
O
0
Thomas More
3
O
0
Wm. Crabb
4 16
0
John Boyd
2 14
0
3
0 O
Jacob Frush 2 O
H. Isett
6
O
0
Irwin Glass
4 16 0 Maj. Swiney
0
Michael Fuskiner
Thomas Elder
Following this "an estimate was made of the portion of each citizen of Harrisburg to purchase the mill belonging to the Landis family, in order, with divine favor, to restore the borough to its former state of health and prosperity," and which was to be taxed to the names on the list. In addition to the fund thus to be raised, the heirs of John Harris, Messrs. David Harris, Robert Harris, William Maclay and John A. Hanna, paid $1,600, which amounted in all to more than the property had cost its owner.
These proceedings did not, however, accomplish anything, as the Messrs. Landis refused to sell their property for the sum pro- posed by the citizens' committee. At a meeting of the inhabitants of the borough of Harrisburg on the 16th day of January, 1795, it was unanimously agreed "that two thousand and six hundred pounds
-
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HISTORY OF DAUPHIN COUNTY
be immediately assessed on the property of the citizens of the said borough; that one thousand and six hundred pounds of the said sum be collected on or before the 6th day of March next; that the re- maining one thousand pounds be secured to be paid, with interest, in two equal annual installments, and that the whole (to wit, the sixteen hundred pounds in cash and the residue in bonds) be ten- dered to Peter and Abraham Landis, or either of them, proprietors of the mill and other water-works, with the appurtenances thereto belonging, near the borough aforesaid, as a full compensation for their property in the same; and that in case they refused to accept the said sum as a full compensation
for the said mill, with the appurtenances, that then we unanimously agree to prostrate the dam erected on the waters of Paxtang Creek, for the purpose of conveying water to said mill, and pay our proportionable parts of all legal expenses and damages that may accrue on any suit or suits, indictment or indictments that may be brought or prosecuted in consequence of such act or acts."
A committee, consisting of Stacy Potts, Moses Gilmor, Wm. Graydon, Jacob Bucher, John Kean, John Dentzell, and Alexander Berryhill was appointed to wait upon Peter, John, and Abraham Landis and negotiate for the purchase of the mill property.
The committee called upon the Messrs. Landis and tendered them for their property the price demanded the previous year, which they indignantly refused. The owners now asked two thousand dol- lars for their water-right alone, and a much greater sum for their entire property than the committee felt inclined to give. Appre- hending that the owners of the mill property intended to take ad- vantage of the situation to extort an unreasonable price (£4112 Ios.) from the people, Galbraith Patterson, a noted lawyer of his day, the Oracle of Dauphin of March 23d, among other things said :
"Upon the present occasion Mr. Landis sees the people pressed by their calamities, exceedingly anxious, and although he took his work from a man last year, for not subscribing his share of 2,600 pounds, he may see his way clear this season in levying a contribu- tion of 4, 112 pounds upon the inhabitants of the borough.
"Fellow citizens, you have acted justly and you have acted with patience, in offering to pay the man's price, before you came to the resolution of destroying this reservoir of contagion. You have done more than the people of Carlisle, and other places, who have removed nuisances of this kind without asking who owned them and without dreaming of any compensation. Go on gentlemen, in an undertaking which is founded in such justice-make up the 2,600
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HISTORY OF DAUPHIN COUNTY
pounds and tender it according to the man's terms; and if he does. not receive it, have respect for yourselves, for your families, and for your solemn resolutions, TEAR DOWN THE MILL DAM! Will you be played upon this way? Will men who have invested their all here, and are in business, live in a continual state of anxiety about their families, after making up their minds to sacrifice to the. amount of this man's demands, will they let him assess their happi- ness, by caprice and sordid principles, at 1,512 pounds for seven months ? No, gentlemen, we can't desert our property and interests. Let us therefore remove the mill-dam, clean out the creek, and put the land in cultivation; and be the means under God's blessing, to give health to the place, which I have no doubt, will be followed by prosperity to the rich and poor, who are industrious."
The following proceedings of the "Committee of Seven" are of interest in this connection :
"At a meeting of the Committee of Seven, appointed to super- intend and direct the appropriation of the moneys raised for the de- molition of the milldam and for the further removing the nuisance in Paxtang Creek, April 8, 1795 :
"At Brindle's : present, Potts, Gillmor, Berryhill, W. Graydon, Dentzell, Bucher, Kean.
"John Kean was appointed secretary and treasurer.
"Ordered, that the treasurer take up the bonds due to Adam Boyd and to George Allen.
"Adjourned to Saturday evening next, at six o'clock, at Mr. Berryhill's.
"Saturday, IIth .- The committee met and viewed the dam, and adjourned till Monday evening, at six o'clock, at Berryhill's.
"Monday, 13th .- Met, and the members mentioned the names. of persons wishing to borrow money. Agreed, that the money be. retained in the treasury a few days longer.
"Agreed, that on Saturday next at one o'clock the bell be rung, and the inhabitants assemble and demolish the remainder of the. dam.
"Saturday, 18th .- The committee met and proceeded with a number of the inhabitants to the dam. Committee hired four per- sons to open the bed of the creek twelve feet wide, which was done, and the persons employed were paid six dollars, which was raised by voluntary contribution on the spot."
Saturday, April 25, 1795, the committee met with Peter, John and Abraham Landis and they agreed to take $2,000 for the water- right, which the committee positively refused.
During the same month, however, the Messrs. Landis sold to.
.
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HISTORY OF DAUPHIN COUNTY
Stacy Potts, Moses Gilmore, William Graydon, Jacob Bucher, John Kean, John Dentzell and Alexander Berryhill (a committee chosen at a public meeting held in court room in Harrisburg) the mill, etc., for 2,633 pounds, four shillings, and six pence "to hold and to have the said two pieces of land, houses, mills, mill machin- ery, etc."
This sum was raised by taxing the citizens. The payments were made in three annual payments. It may be remarked that some of the citizens who refused to contribute to the subscription, were obliged to leave town, as no one would give them employment.
This mill was erected about as low down as the old "White House," between the "old mill road" and the canal. The property was put up at public auction and sold Nov. 18, 1797, in the court house. Thus ended one of the most perplexing cases ever experi- enced in Harrisburg.
A LIST OF SLAVES.
March 1, 1780, the General Assembly of Pennsylvania in session in Philadelphia, passed an act for the gradual abolition of slaves in this State. In order to prevent any slave-owner from evad- ing the law, a heavy penalty was prescribed for those who refused to register all slave children born after March 1, 1780. In the prothonotary's office in Dauphin county is a record of slaves in the county, from 1779, to August, 1825. Among other items to be found in this old record-book is the following :
"Dauphin Co. SS .:- Be it remembered that on the 18th day of May, A. D., 1790, John Wilkes Kittera, Esq'r, executor of the testament and last will of Curtis Grubb, late of the county of Dau- phin, iron-master, deceased, enters and returns upon oath, agree- ably to the act of Assembly, one female negro child named Fanny, aged about seven months, and one other female negro child, named Sarah, aged about six months."
Following this appeared this item:
"Harrisburg, May 7, 1791 .- Sir : Please to register on records according to law, a male negro child named Henry, born on or about the 8th day of January last, born in the county of Dauphin at the house of John Maye; the mother's name is Grace ( Father Unknown). The mother owned by me.
"DANIEL HIESTER, "of Reading, Berks county.
"To Alexander Graydon, Esq.
Please file this paper."
7
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HISTORY OF DAUPHIN COUNTY
After a neatly arranged index, comes the names of slaves reg- istered, the last slaves, it may be said, that were ever owned in Dau- phin county, for as they attained the age of 28 years they were emancipated. The following is the list :
James Scott of Derry township leads the list with a female ne- gro child, named Lucy. Then comes Daniel Bradley, East Hanover, with a male slave named Peter, and a female named Dinah, James Burd, Paxton township, with Lucy and Jacob Cook, of Londonderry, with Sampson. These were the first four slaves registered. Then came the following in regular order, the name of the owner, his place of residence and the name of the slave being given in the book :
Jonathan McClure, Paxton, Dinah. James Crouch, Paxton, Rachel, Sam- uel and Francis.
John A. Hanna, Paxton, Sarah.
James Cowden, Paxton, Kate, mu- latto.
Samuel Sinclair, Lebanon, township then part of Dauphin county, reg- isters for Jacob Grubb, Jacob and Rachel.
John Gelchrist, the younger, Leah, Andrew and Margaret.
George Cream, West Hanover, Jack and Madge.
David Ritchey, Paxton, Peter, Violet, Dinah and Isaac Czar.
James Byers, Paxton, Saul.
Hugh Andrews, East Hanover, Peg and Isaac.
John Ainsworth, East Hanover, Hager.
James McKee, Paxton, George, Bess, Isaac.
Cornelius Cox, Paxton, Gris and Tom.
Archibald McAllister, Paxton, Judy and Mary.
Michael Kapp, Louisburg, Dinah. Stephen Stephenson, Paxton, John.
Jacob Awl, Paxton, Rose and Fran- cis.
Andrew Keefer, West Hanover, Peter.
Robert Boal, East Hanover, Tom.
Margaret Campbell, East Hanover, Sal.
Hugh Andrews, East Hanover, Phil- lis.
William Crabb, Harrisburg, Ned. Joshua Elder, Harrisburg, Peter. John W. Kittara, for Curtis Grubb, Jenny and Abe.
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