USA > Pennsylvania > Erie County > History of Erie county, Pennsylvania. Containing a history of the county; its townships, towns, villages schools, churches, industries, etc > Part 36
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276
HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY.
turpentine on board, which ignited by coming in contact with the coals of the furnace. The Erie having been newly paiuted and the wind being high. the flames spread with amazing velocity, and in an inconceivable brief period of time the boat was burned to the water's edge. Two hundred and forty-nine persons were lost, of whom twenty-six were residents of Erie. Between 120 and 130 bodies rose to the surface and were recovered. An act of heroism oc- curred in connection with the disaster which deserves to be handed down to the farthest generation. The wheelsman, Augustus Fuller, of Harbor Creek, on the discovery of the fire, immediately headed the boat for the shore, and stood at his post till surrounded by flames, when he fell dead from suffocation. The Erie was valued at $75,000. Her cargo was worth about $20,000, and the emigrants, it is calculated, had with them $180,000 in gold and silver.
Another calamity of an equally horrible nature took place in 1850. The steamboat G. P. Griffith burned near Chagrin, Ohio, and 250 souls were lost.
The propeller Henry Clay foundered in 1851, and nothing was ever heard of any one on board. Nineteen lives were lost by the foundering of the propeller Oneida in 1852.
In the summer of 1852 the steamboat Atlantic collided with another vessel, and sunk off Long Point, opposite Erie. One hundred and fifty lives were lost.
The propeller Charter Oak foundered in 1855. Eleven persons were missing.
Fifty six persons met with an untimely end in 1856 by the burning of the Northern Indiana.
The sloop Washington Irving, of Erie, Capt. Vannatta, left this port for Buffalo on the 7th of July, 1860, and was never heard from again. She is supposed to have foundered. All on board-seven persons-were drowned.
The steamer Morning Star was sunk by a collision with the bark Cortland in 1868, and thirty-two persons were lost.
The loss of life on all of the lakes in 1860 was 578, and of property over $1,000,000.
Coming down to the season of 1882, the notable disasters were the found- ering of the Canadian steamer Asia, in Georgian Bay. on the 10th of Septem- ber; the wreck of the schooner Henry Folger, on Salmon Point, on the night of December 3; the burning of the steamer Manitoulin, in Georgian Bay, on May 18; and the burning of the steam barge Peters, on Lake Michigan, in December. The loss of life was as follows: In connection with the Peters, 13; the Manitoulin, between 30 and 40; the Asia, upward of 100, and the Folger, 9.
One of the severest gales ever known occurred in November, 1883, lasting from the 11th for several days, and extending over the whole chain of lakes. Nothing like it had been seen for many years. From fifty to sixty vessels were lost, and the damage was scarcely less than a million dollars.
DISTANCES BY LAKE.
The following are the distances by water in miles from the harbor of Erie:
Alpena, Lake Huron 578
Bay City, Lake Huron. 4074
Bayfield, Lake Superior 376
Buffalo, Lake Erie. 79
Chicago, Lake Michigan. 827
Cleveland, Lake Erie.
100
Coburg. via Welland Canal. 172
Copper Harbor, Lake Superior. 727
Detroit, Detroit River. 188
Duluth, Lake Superior .. 933
East Saginaw, Lake Huron 421
Samuel Rea ( DECEASED.)
279
HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY.
Hamilton, Lake Ontario.
130
Marquette, Lake Superior.
694
Milwaukee, Lake Michigan 762
Port Sarnia, Lake Huron. 253+
Sandusky, Lake Erie. 150
Sault Ste. Marie, Lake Superior
5:44
Superior City, Lake Superior
933
Toledo, Lake Erie.
197
Toronto, via Welland Canal
126
OPENING OF NAVIGATION.
The season of 1834 was unusually backward. Navigation opened the 24th of March, but was much retarded by ice and storms. On the 14th of May, snow fell along the south shore of the lake to the depth of six inches.
The lake was open and navigation was in full operation between Erie and Detroit in April, 1835, but Buffalo Creek was closed till the 8th of May.
The Revenue Cutter Erie sailed from the port of Erie to Buffalo about the last of December, 1837, without interruption. In February, 1838, the steamer Dewitt Clinton came into Erie from Buffalo and went from Erie to Detroit without obstruction.
In the winter of 1844-45, the steamer United States made a trip every month between Buffalo and Detroit.
On the 13th of December, 1852, a steamboat passed up the lake and another on the 10th of January, 1853. Generally speaking, the port of Erie is open about two weeks before that of Buffalo, as is shown by the following table:
OPENING OF THE HARBORS OF ERIE AND BUFFALO.
ERIE.
BUFFALO.
ERIE.
BUFFALO.
Year.
Month.
Day.
Month.
Day.
Year.
Month.
Day.
Month.
Day.
1826
April
·2d
May
2d
1855
May
10th
April
21st
1827
April
24th
May
11th
1856
May
6th
May
2d
1828.
March
5th
April
1st
1857
April
27th
April
27th
18:29
January
29th
May
21st
1858.
April
3d
April
15th
1830
April
18th
April
6th
1859
April
8th
April
7th
1831
April
14th
May
8th
1860.
April
21st
April
17th
1832
April
21st
April
'27th
1861
April
15th
April
13th
1833
April
12th
April
28th
1862
March
81st
April
6th
1834
March
24th
April
8th
1863
February
27th
April
7th
1835
April
11th
May
8th
1864.
April
1st
April
14th
1836
April
25th
April
27th
1865
April
10th
April
27th
1837
April
17th
May
16th
1866
April
14th
April
22d
1838
March
29th
March
31st
1867
April
5th
April
19th
1839
April
9th
April
11th
1868
April
9th
April
11th
1840
March
27th
April
27th
1869
April
3d
May
1st
1841
April
10th
April
14th
1870
April
15th
April
16th
1842
March
12th
March
7th
1871
March
25th
April
""1st
1843
April
11th
May
6t :
1872
April
12th
May
6th
1844.
April
1st
March
14th
1873
April
17th
April April
18th
1846.
March
23d
April
11th
1875
April
15th
May
12th
1847.
April
7th
April
23d
1876.
April
7th
May
5th
1848.
March
20th
April
9th
1877
April
23d
April
17th
1849.
March
25th
April
11th
1878.
March
16th
March
16th
1850.
March
11th
March
29th
1879.
April
26th
April
25th
1851
April
1st
April
2d
1880.
March
16th
March
₣17th
1852
April
1st
April
20th
1881
April
27th
May
3d
1853
May
9th
April
14th
1882
March
6th
March
10th
1854
April
8th
April
'29th
1883.
April
13th
28th
1845
March
29th
April
8d
1874.
March
28th
Navigation on Lake Erie usually closes about the 1st of December, but is sometimes extended to the middle of the month. Ice, as a rule, forms first in
280
HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY.
the shoal water of the western part of the lake. Vessel insurance begins generally on the 1st of May and always closes on the 30th of November.
COLLECTORS AT ERIE.
The collection district of Presque Isle embraces the whole coast line of Pennsylvania on Lake Erie. Below is a list of the collectors, with the dates of their commissions:
Thomas Forster, March 26, 1799; Edwin J. Kelso, July 1, 1836; Charles W. Kelso, July 10, 1841; Murray Whallon, June 19, 1845; William M. Gal- lagher, April 29, 1849; James Lytle, April 22, 1853; John Brawley, October 15, 1857; Murray Whallon, March 11, 1859; Charles M. Tibbals, November 1, 1859; Thomas Wilkins, June 22, 1861; Richard F. Gaggin, May 7, 1869; James R. Willard, February 19, 1874; Hiram L. Brown, March 22, 1878; Matthew R. Barr, December 1, 1880; H. C. Stafford, July 17, 1883.
DEPUTY COLLECTORS.
Under Col. Forster, Thomas McConkey, James Maurice; under E. J. Kelso, Murray Whallon; under C. W. Kelso, A. C. Hilton: under M. Whallon, first term, A. P. Durlin; under W. M. Gallagher, William S. Brown; under Messrs. Lytle, Brawley, Whallon (second term) and Tibbals, W. W. Loomis; under Thomas Wilkins, R. F. Gaggin; under R. F. Gaggin, Thomas Wilkins; under J. R. Willard, William F. Luetje; under Messrs. Brown and Barr, R. F. Gaggin; under Mr. Barr, from March, 1883, Andrew H. Caughey; under Mr. Stafford, E. H. Wilcox and Alfred King.
The Collectors are appointed by the President for a term of four years, unless sooner removed. Messrs. Forster, Edwin J. Kelso, Whallon, Lytle, Brawley and Tibbals were appointed as Democrats; the others as Whigs or Republicans. The emoluments of the office are as follows: Collector, $1,000 salary, and fees not to exceed $1,500 (averaging $1,800 in all); Deputy Col- lector, $1,600; Inspectors, $3 a day during the season of navigation.
Collector Forster's salary for the year 1817 was as follows: Regular pay, $250; fees, $267.95; emoluments, $8.01.
VESSELS OWNED IN ERIE.
The following lists of vessels owned in Erie at the opening of navigation in 1860 and 1880 are given for the purpose of comparison:
1860.
Brigs .- Paragon, 212 tons, Andrew Scott and William Christian.
Barques .- American Republic, 459 tons, Charles M. Reed.
Schooners .- W. M. Arbuckle, 170 tons, C. M. Tibbals and John M. Gray; West Chester, 208 tons, E. L. Nason; Armada, 235 tons, John Dunlap and G. J. Morton; W. A. Adair, 82 tons, E. Longley; Post Boy, 95 tons, Andrew Scott and Mary Day; Huntress, 351 tons, W. A. Brown & Co .; E. C. Williams, 157 tons, J. Hearn and W. L. Scott; Pacific, 186 tons, George J. Morton; Washington Irving, 111 tons, A. Scott and James Marshall; St. James, 286 tons, Charles M. Reed; Columbia, 166 tons, J. Hearn and W. L. Scott; St. Paul, 304 tons, Charles M. Reed; Mary Morton, 246 tons, George J. Morton; Arrow, 281 tons, J. Hearn and W. L. Scott; N. G., 61 tons, A. R. Reynolds & Brother; Mary M. Scott, 361 tons, J. Hearn and W. L Scott; Susquehanna, 271 tons, Charles M. Reed; Milton Courtright, 389 tons, J. Hearn and W. L. Scott; L. D. Coman, 178 tons, J. Hearn and W. L. Scott; Citizen, 150 tons, Charles M. Reed; St. Andrew, 444 tons, Charles M. Reed; Illinois, 110 tons, E.
281
HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY.
L. Nason and T. W. Roberts; Storm Spirit, 214 tons, A. Scott and J. H. Ran- kin; Geneva, 197 tons, J. Hearn and W. L. Scott. Total, 5,924 tons; valua- tion about $300,000.
1880.
Propellers .- Alaska, 1,288 tons, Anchor Line; Annie Young, 1,007 tons Anchor Line; Arizona, 924 tons, Anchor Line; China, 1,239 tons, Anchor Line; Conemaugh, 1,610 tons, Anchor Line; Conestoga, 1,726 tons, Anchor Line; Delaware, 1,732 tons, Anchor Line; Gordou Campbell, 996 tons, Anchor Line; India, 1,239 tons, Anchor Line; Japan, 1,239 tons, Anchor Line; Juni- ata, 1, 709 tons, Anchor Line; Lehigh, 1,705 tons, Anchor Line; Lycoming, 1,610 tons, Anchor Line; Philadelphia, 1,464 tons, Anchor Line; R. Prinda- ville, 246 tons, Anchor Line; Winslow, 1,049 tons, Anchor Line; Wissa- hickon, 1,620 tons, Anchor Line; City of New York, 417 tons, A. E. Shepard.
The China, India, Japan and Winslow are elegant passenger boats. Tug Propeller .- Erie, 58 tons, Anchor Line.
Tugs. - Hercules, 8 tons, R. O'Brien; Thomas Thompson, 19 tons, J. & T. Mahoney.
Steamer .- Mary Jarecki, 646 tons, A. E. Shepard.
Sloop. - Rambler, 11 tons, A. Steinmetz.
Schooners .- Allegheny, 664 tons, Anchor Line; Annie Sherwood, 622 tons, Anchor Line; Charles H. Weeks, 325 tons, Anchor Line; Keepsake, 287 tons, Anchor Line; Schnykill, 472 tons, Anchor Line; Thomas A. Scott, 741 tons, Anchor Line; Charles H. Burton, 515 tons, Thomas White; John Sherman, 322 tons, James McBrier; Frank W. Gifford, 452 tons, J. C. Van Scoter and Levi Davis; J. S. Richards, 311 tons, J. C. Van Scoter and George Berriman; Harvest Queen, 299 tons, Margaret Christie; Julia Willard, 214 tons, H. W. Spooner and Samuel Rea, Jr .; Wanderer, 11 tons, E. D. Ziegler; James F. Joy, 583 tons, R. O'Brien and M. Christie.
Steam Pleasure Yachts .- Emma V. Sutton, 23 tons, J. D. Paasch; J. H. Welsh, 14 tons, John and William Stanton; Mystic, 75 tons, W. L. Scott; S. H. Hunter, 27 tons, James Hunter.
Total-Propellers, 18; tug propellers, 1; tugs, 2; steamer, 1; sloop, 1; schooners, 14; steam yachts, 4; in all 41; enrolled tonnage, 28,690; cash valuation, $1,675,000.
BUSINESS OF THE PORT.
The entrances at the port of Erie during 1800 were 655, and the clearances 678, with a total tonnage of about 300,000. The following persons and firms were in the lake business in that year: Coal and shipping, Walker & Gilson, John Hearn & Co., Charles M. Reed, Josiah Kellogg, Starr & Payne, George J. Morton, Scott & Rankin; coal and iron, Curtis & Boyce; grocery and ship chandlery, Andrew Hofsies. Besides these there were about half a dozen saloons in operation on the docks, and a grocery at the mouth of the canal.
During the season of 1880, the entrances were 1,025, and the clearances 999, with a total tonnage of 1,565, 183. The revenue collected for three years was, from July 1, 1878, to June 30, 1879, $9,163; from July 1, 1879, to June 30, 1880, $4,910; from July 1, 1880, to December 31, 1880, $19,448. The largely increased receipts of the last year were owing to heavy importations of barley from Canada. With the exception of the lumber business, the whole trade of the port is now done by the Anchor Line and William L. Scott & Co. The former do all the grain and miscellaneous business, and the latter firm control the entire coal and iron ore trade.
282
HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY.
LIGHT-HOUSES AND THEIR KEEPERS.
The first light-house upon the chain of lakes was erected at Erie in 1818, on the bluff overlooking the entrance to the harbor, a tract of land for the pur- pose having been ceded to the United States Government by Gen. John Kelso. A new structure was built of Milwaukee brick in 1858, but proved to be defect- ive, and it was replaced by a third building of stone in 1866, at a cost of $20,- 000. For some unexplained reason, and against the protests of all the lake men at Erie, the officer in charge of light-houses upon the lakes concluded to abandon it; the buildings and grounds were sold at public auction on the 1st of March, 1881, and the light-house was demolished.
About the year 1830, the Government added a beacon light on the north pier at the entrance to the harbor of Erie. It consisted of a tall wooden tower, resting upon a heavy bed of masonry. This structure was carried away by a sailing vessel in the summer or fall of 1857, and was replaced by the pres- ent wrought iron tower in the summer of 1858. The light-house was modeled and forged into form in France, reaching Erie with nothing to be done except to bolt the pieces into their proper positions. A neat frame dwelling for the keeper, the same that still exists, was erected while the tower was being put together, John Constable and Ed. Bell being the contractors. Five different lights are maintained at this station, all fixed, white, sixth order lenses, and used as ranges. In addition to these and for the further protection of navi- gators, there is a 1,200-pound Meneely fog bell, which is operated by clock work, and tolls three times each minute in snowy and foggy weather.
A third light-house station was established on the north shore of the penin- sula, and a handsome brick tower erected for the purpose, from which the first light was exhibited on the night of July 12, 1873. It is known as the Flash Light, and cost the Government $15,000. The keeper's family are provided with a snug residence, but the isolated situation renders their life anything but a cheerful one.
No regular journal seems to have been kept by any of the keepers until 1872, when Mr. Frank Henry commenced a daily record, which, it is to be hoped, will always be continued as a part of the duties of the position. By the kindness of various gentlemen, we have been able to make up the following partial list of keepers.
LAND LIGHT.
1818-1833-Capt. John Bone, of Erie.
1833-Robert Kincaide, of Erie.
1841-Griffith Hinton, of Harbor Creek.
1845-Eli Webster, of Mckean.
1849-James W. Miles, of West Mill Creek. He died in the summer of 1853, and the duties were performed by his wife, Isabel Miles, till the ensuing spring.
April 1, 1854-John Graham, of Erie.
April 1, 1858-Gen. James Fleming, of Erie.
October 27, 1858-A. C. Landon, of Erie.
July 15, 1861 -- John Goalding, of Erie.
April 1, 1864-George Demond, of Erie. August 1, 1871-A. J. Fargo, of Fairview.
Mr. Fargo retained the position, with his wife as assistant, until the light- house was abandoned. The pay was $560 per year to the principal and $400 to the assistant.
BEACON LIGHT.
William T. Downs, Erie, years unknown.
283
HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY.
Benjamin Fleming, Erie, years unknown.
John Hess, Erie, years unknown.
Leonard Vaughn, Summit, years unknown.
George W. Bone, Erie, appointed July 19, 1861.
Richard P. Burke, Erie, March 1, 1863.
Frank Henry, Harbor Creek, May 1, 1869.
In June, 1873, upon the addition of another light, James Johnson, of Erie, was appointed assistant keeper. He was succeeded in September of the same year by C. E. McDannell, of East Mill Creek, who still holds the position. The pay is $520 per year to the keeper and $400 to the assistant.
FLASH LIGHT.
July 12, 1873-Charles T. Waldo, of Fairview. Spring of 1880-George E. Irvin; A. J. Harrison.
Fall of 1880-O. J. McAllister, of Wattsburg. Fall of 1880-George E. Town, of North East. Spring of 1883-Clark Cole, of Erie.
Messrs. Waldo, McAllister and Town all resigned, finding the lonely life incident to the position more than they could stand. The pay of the keeper is $520 per year.
CHAPTER XVII.
COUNTY BUILDINGS.
T' HE first court in the county was held in the "big room" of Buehler's Hotel, at the corner of French and Third streets, Erie, which was then and for many years afterward the central portion of the town. From there the place of holding the court was changed to the log jail on Second street, and the quarters in that modest structure being found too small, another removal was made to apartments in Conrad Brown's building, on the opposite corner of Third and French streets from Buehler's. These premises were occupied until the completion of the first court house in 1808. The latter was a small brick building that stood in the West Park, at Erie, a little north of the soldiers' and sailors' monument. The county was too poor to afford the total expense, and the State generously granted $2,000 toward the erection of the building. On Sunday morning, March 23, 1823, between the hours of 12 and 3 o'clock, this court house was destroyed by fire, with all the books, papers and records, inflicting a loss to the county which cannot be measured in dollars and cents, and the effects of which were felt for fully a generation after the event. The fire was caused by taking ashes out of a stove on Saturday, throwing them into a nail keg and neglecting to move them out of doors. When . the flames were discovered, they had advanced too far to permit the saving of any of the contents of the building. The ensuing May term of court was held in the Erie Academy, and that edifice was rented for county purposes and occupied by the various county officials for two years.
On the 2d of April, 1823, P. S. V. Hamot, Rufus S. Reed, Thomas Laird, Robert Brown, James M. Sterrett, John Morris and Thomas H. Sill entered into an agreement to advance $2,000 for one year, without interest, to the county for the purpose of rebuilding the court house. This proposition was accepted by the Commissioners, who advertised at once for proposals. The
.
284
HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY.
job of filling the cellar of the old building, and packing it with clay, was let to Abiather Crane on the 21st of April ensuing. On the 24th of May, a con- tract for rebuilding the walls ou the old foundation was let to Thomas Me- haffey and Joseph Henderson for $1,950. The carpenter work and furnishing was awarded on the 14th of January, 1824, to William Benson and William Himrod, of Waterford, for $2,000. September 7, 1824, the Commissioners contracted with Thomas Mehaffey to lath and plaster the building, and on the same day with John Dunlap to finish the carpenter work, the consideration being $434 in the first instance, and $100 in the second.
The new building was completed and occupied in the spring of 1825. It stood nearly on the site of its predecessor, and was a two-story brick structure, surmounted by a wooden cupola. The entrance fronted the south, and opened into a vestibule, from which three other doors gave access respectively to the court room proper and to the galleries. The interior consisted of one room, with galleriee around three sides. For nearly thirty years, this was the principal hall of the town, being used miscellaneously for religious worship, political meetings, entertainments, and in fact for almost every public purpose. The building was long the most elegant court house in Northwestern Pennsyl- vania, and its erection was a heavy burden upon the county. The County Commissioners'hesitated for some time about levying a tax to meet the expendi- ture, the credit of the county fell to a low figure, and no improvement took place until a member of the board was elected who was not afraid to do his duty. In the cupola of the court house hung a bell which had quite an in- teresting history. It belonged originally to the British ship Detroit, captured by Perry in the battle of Lake Erie. From that vessel, it was transferred to the United States brig Niagara, one of the lake fleet, where it was in use till 1823, when it was placed in the navy yard at Erie. On the abandonment of the navy yard in 1825, when most of the material was sold at auction, the old bell was bought by R. S. Reed, who disposed of it to the County Commission- ers, by whom it was hung in the cupola of the court house. In 1854, after the arrival of the bell for the present court house, the old bell was stolen, but was recovered in the course of a few months, and finally purchased by the city of Erie for the sum of $105.
A little to the west of the court house was a two-story building containing the county offices.
The corner stone of the third and present court house was laid on Tuesday, August 17, 1852, at 2 P. M., an address being delivered on the occasion by Hon. John Galbraith, President Judge. The building required nearly three years to complete, the first court held therein being on the 7th of May, 1855. It was modeled upon the court house at Carlisle, Penn., after plans by Thomas H. Walter, an architect of considerable celebrity. The Commissionere under- took to do the work without contract, and to that end employed John Hill to superintend the carpenter work and William Hoskinson the mason work, both at $3 per day. Daniel Young, of Erie, furnished the brick; William Judson & Co., of Waterford, the timber and lumber; Levi Howard, of Franklin Town- ship, the stone; and Cadwell & Bennett, of Erie, did the roofing. On May 1, 1854, after about $30,000 had been expended, a contract was made with Hos- kinson & Hill to finish the building, put up the fence, grade the grounds, and do all work pertaining to the completion of the edifice, for $61,000, deducting what had already been expended. Afterward, there was an allowance of $2,392 to these parties for extras, making the cost of the building when ac- cepted by the Commissioners over $63,000. Subsequent repairs, additions and improvements have increased this sum to about $100,000.
285
HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY.
The court house is 61 feet by 132 in size, and contains all the county offi- ces, each in a separate fire-proof room. The first story, apart from the en- trance hall, is equally divided by a vestibule running the full length, which is crossed by another in the center. At each end of the two vestibules is a door, making four in all, opening into the building. On the right hand, entering from the front, are the Prothonotary's and Recorder's offices, and on the left, those of the Sheriff, Treasurer, County Commissioners and Clerk of the Courts. The court room, a large apartment capable of holding nearly a thousand per- sons, with high, plainly frescoed walls and ceilings, is in the second story, be- ing reached by two flights of stairs beginning in the hall on the first floor and terminating in another on the upper. The part of the roon assigned to the bench and bar, which is at the north end, opposite the entrance, is railed off from the balance and neatly carpeted. The seats for spectators rise gradually from the bar to the door, and are more comfortable and convenient than usual in buildings of this sort.
Portraits of some of the former Judges and older members of the bar adorn the walls. The room is an excellent one for the purpose, aside from a defect in its acoustic properties, to remedy which several attempts have been made without avail. In the rear of the court room are the grand jury room- which is also the receptacle of the law library-two other jury rooms, a ladies' room, wash room, etc. A narrow stairway back of the court room is used by the officers and attorneys and for bringing in prisoners. The building is heat- ed by steam, lighted with gas, and supplied with water by the city water system. Taken altogether, with several serious defects, it is one of the handsomest and most convenient court houses in the State, a credit to the county and an orna- ment to the city of Erie.
A tasty brick building for the janitor was erected during the year 1880, between the court house and jail, at a cost of about $800. The lot on which the court house stands was purchased for the County Commissioners in 1804 by Judge John Vincent, who was present at the dedication of the building in 1852. It was upon this lot within the old jail ground that Henry Francisco, the only person ever executed in the county, was hung by Sheriff Andrew Scott, in 1838.
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