USA > Pennsylvania > Lancaster County > History of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men > Part 20
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Ilis grandfather, John Brandt, was born Feb. 24, 1767, and indentured to George Root in 1784 to learn the joiner and spinning-wheel maker trade, where he served an apprenticeship of three years and eight months. He was married (1791) to Frena Bucher, born 1772, died 1857, a sister to Anna Bucher, born 1769, the paternal grandmother of Bayard Taylor, the noted traveler, author, and poet, of Chester County, and removed to what has since been known as the " old Brandt homestead," near Maytown. His children were Varonica (born 1792), married to James McGinnis, and after his death to Samuel Bossler, who died 1874; Anna (born 1793), married to Joseph Clepper, and after his death to Jacob S. Haldeman, who died 1880; Christian, born 1795, died 1870; Jolin (born 1797), married to Catharine Hossler, died 1854; Joseph (born 1800), married to Anna Niesley (widow), who died 1845; Elizabeth (born 1803), mar-
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BOROUGH OF MARIETTA.
ried to John Hollinger, who died 1829. Mr. Brandt was a house-carpenter during the few years after his marriage, and then became a farmer. He died Dec. 14, 1842.
His father, Christian Brandt, was born Sept. 12, 1795, and married (1827) to Elizabeth Long (born 1808), daughter of Abraham Long, who resided near Donegal Springs. He was a farmer, and resided on the old Brandt homestead during his lifetime. Ile was a member of the Mennonite Church, and an exemplary Christian. His death occurred Jan. 7, 1870. His eight sons were Jacob, born Oct. 11, 1829, who died from accidental scalding at the age of three years ; John, born Jan. 1, 1831, and married to Mary Ann Hlossler ; Abraham, born Ang. 19, 1833, married to Anna Mary Creider; Christian, born April 19, 1836, married to Susan Rhoads; David, born April 6, 1840, married to Maria Hess; Samuel, born Oct. 16, 1841, married to Mary Stauffer ; Solo- mon, born Feb. 8, 1845; and Joseph, the subject of this article, who was born May 21, 1847, abont one and a half miles northwest of Maytown, where his father, brothers, and sisters were born and reared. He worked on his father's farm and attended the public school of the neighborhood until eighteen years of age, when he began teaching school, and continued in the profession until 1878. In 1867 he attended a summer session at the Millersville Normal School, and the following year graduated from Crit- tenden's Commercial College, Philadelphia. In 1875 he received a teacher's permanent State certificate. In 1876 he was the chosen candidate of the Demo- cratic party for the State Legislature, but the county having been overwhelmingly Republican at that time, he was defeated. The same year Mr. Brandt was married to Miss Agnes May Nissley, oldest daughter of Rev. Joseph Nissley, residing near Hummelstown, Dauphin Co., and removed to Maytown. In 1878 he was elected justice of the peace for his township, East Donegal, and fulfilled the duties of the office, in connection with surveying and conveyancing, until the spring of 1880, when he was appointed cashier of the Exchange Bank of Marietta, which position he still holds.
facture of their goods. The officers for 1883 were: President, James Duffy; Treasurer and Secretary, George W. Mehafly ; Manager, George F. Stibgen.
The Marietta Marble-Works were established on Walnut Street in 1842 by M. Gable, who is still en- gaged 'in supplying all kinds of marble-work for Marietta and the surrounding country.
The Marietta Machine-Shop and Foundry was es- tablished by George Roath, and it is now owned by Spangler & Rich, and operated by Samuel B. Gramm.
In 1807 or 1808, Henry Cassel established the lum- ber business on the site now occupied by his son, A. N. Cassel, who, in 1848, became identified with the business, and in 1872 built the planing-mill now operated by him. About three acres of ground are covered by the lumber and buildings of Mr. Cassel. His transportation facilities are of the best, being supplied by both eanal and railroad. The business office is adjoining his lumber-yard, corner of Bank and Third Streets. This firm gives employment to about fifteen men.
The saw-, planing-mills, and lumber-yard of B. F. Hiestand & Sons was established in 1850 by B. F. Hiestand. The mills are at Chikis, and the ma- chinery driven by water-power, while the lumber- yard and business office is at Bank and Second Streets, Marietta. They also have canal and railroad facilities equal to any other firm, and are connected with Columbia, York, and Lancaster by telephone. They employ about twenty men in their business.
In 1858 a steam saw-mill was built on the site now occupied by the depot of the Pennsylvania Railroad by G. W. Mehatly, James Duffy, and a Mr. Vande- voort, and subsequently destroyed by fire and never rebuilt.
Klumpp's tannery is located on Locust, between Second Street and Prospect Alley, and was built as early as 1815 or 1816, by P. Moyer, who conducted the tanning business here for several years, when it became the property of Kline & Wolf, who operated it for many years, when it finally passed into the ownership of the present proprietor, Jolin C. Klumpp, who remodeled the tannery and applied steam-power in the process of tanning, and is now able to turn out nearly ten thousand sides of first-class leather per annum.
Industries .- The present Marietta Hollow-Ware and Enameling Company was organized and com- menced business in 1876. Their works are located on The Sultzbach tannery is located on the corner of Locust and Walnut Streets, and was built by Henry Sultzbach, who was a native of Switzerland. Just when it was built is not now known, but no doubt as early as 1812 or 1815. It subsequently passed into the hands of liis son John, thence to llenry Sultz- bach, father of Henry L. Sultzbach, the present owner, who took possession in 1870. Since his oceu- paney he has added one story to the main building, which is of brick, re-sunk the yard, and added steam the north side of Pennsylvania Railroad, a short dis- tance west from the railroad station, and cover one acre of land, donated by Mr. James Duffy, who also subscribed ten thousand dollars towards the original twenty-three thousand dollars stock of the company. The present company secured by purchase at a nom- inal sum the plant, blocks, machinery, etc., of a former company, whose buildings and property were de- stroyed by fire, and have also added new machinery, tools, etc., to facilitate work and lessen the cost of" to the motive-power. The tannery has at present a production of this kind of goods. Seventy-five men capacity of ten thousand sides of leather annually, and employs six men in their manufacture. are employed annually by this company in the mann-
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HISTORY OF LANCASTER COUNTY.
The "Lancaster County Vaccine Farm" was es- tablished in April, 1882. under the firm-name of Alexander & Grove, consisting of Dr. H. M. Alex- ander and David M. Grove. In October, 1882, Mr. Grove withdrew, and Dr. H. M. Alexander became sole proprietor. The buildings erected for this special purpose are as well arranged and equipped as any in the country. The stables are the only heated vaccine stables in the United States. Shipments of virus in large orders are made to all surrounding States, as well as to Missouri, New Mexico, Texas, California, Montana, Georgia, Louisiana, Florida, and all New England States. It was sent safely to Canada and South America.
Schools .- Joseph Jeffries, an Irishman, was one of the first teachers in the place. Prior to the time he taught in Marietta he had been teaching at the log school-house at Donegal Church, and he also taught at Brenneman's, near Canoy. He did not stay long in one place. The only scholars now living who went to his school are Dr. Nathaniel Watson, John Paulis, Hon. A. E. Roberts (now of Lancaster), Rev. A. B. Grosh, Mrs. Ann Strickler.
William Pierce taught school for a few seasons, and in its connection was also a scrivener. He gave up teaching, and devoted his whole time to the publica- tion of his newspaper and magazine. He came to Marietta after the war of 1812, and remained there several years.
Samuel Ross was the first person who taught school in the hall over the market-house, about the year 1817. He was also chief burgess, and was a person of some prominence.
James Townsen was contemporaneous with Ross, but taught school only one or two winters.
William Ebbles came from Elizabethtown to Ma- rietta in 1817. He opened a scrivener's office, and also for a short time taught school.
William Hull taught school in 1820. There were several other teachers during the first decade in the history of the town, whose names are not now re- membered; none of them, however, are worth par- ticular mention. They belonged to that peripatetic class of teachers who came around in the fall of the year and remained three or four months, and then took up their line of march for some other locality.
During that time no effort was made to establish a classical or higher grade school; that was left for a future and more progressive generation.
A person named Stoner and a Yankee named Whitman also taught in the Bell school house. Mr. Geary taught school where Brisco was in 1820.
Mr. Stansbury was one of the first teachers in the place. He removed. to Columbia sixty years ago, where he opened a school, and taught there a number of years.
John V. Smith taught school in 1822, and remained for two years.
the borough. He taught school for a number of years' in the one-story brick house east of the market-house, adjoining Maj. Huss' printing-office. The last of his scholar; now living is the venerable ex-Judge John J. Libhart.
William Rankin belonged to the old school of teachers. He was an Englishman, and was one of the few classical scholars of his calling. He taught at Maytown some years, and came from that place to Marietta about the year 1822, and opened a school in the large room above the market-house. He believed in corporal punishment, and the writer can bear witness to its practical operation. He is gone, but not forgotten.
Aaron B. Grosh, son of Judge Jacob Grosh, was s bright and talented young man who taught school & few years in the Bell school-house, commeaciag about the year 1822. A year or two later he and his brother published a newspaper. He also became at- tached to the Universalist Church, and at differeat periods of his honorable career preached for that de- nomination. Of the teachers born in Marietta he was the most brilliant. He was equally distinguished in the realm of letters. He is living in New York State, aged eighty.
William Carter, a young man who had been study- ing law in the borough of York, came to Marietta about the year 1827, and taught school for several years. He returned to York, and commenced to gather material for a history of York County. He and Mr. Glossbrenner published the history about fifty years ago. It was about as large as the New Testament.
Rev. Abel Charles Thomas, the most accomplished and gifted of all the early teachers, came to Marietta about the year 1828, and taught school in the log building east of the Cross-Keys tavern, on Second Street. He was a Universalist preacher, and a fine elocutionist and writer. His character was above re- proach, and he died loved and respected by his friends and neighbors. He moved to Philadelphia about forty-eight years ago. He embraced Universalism probably after he came to Marietta, and became a . preacher.
Rev. Thomas Marshall Boggs, the pastor of Done- gal and Marietta Presbyterian Churches, was a trained teacher of a number of years' experience. Both in Marietta and Mount Joy he had a class of boys he prepared for college. Ilis brother, Jobn Boggs, who was a graduate of college, started an academy, and taught the higher branches. The school went down for want of patronage. Mr. Boggs was a must excel- lent and enmpetent teacher, and it was a subject of regret among the citizens that his school was not a success. He entered the ministry of the Presbyteriau Church.
Rev. Timothy Simpson, a graduate of Montpelier College, Vt., came to Marietta in 1831, and took
George Briscoe was one of the earliest teachers in | charge of the school above the market-house, which
631
BOROUGH OF MARIETTA.
Mr. Rankin left in rather a demoralized condition. He taught there oue or two years, when he moved into a new two-story frame school-house built by the late James Wilson, one square northeast from the market-house. His school gradually increased, when he commenced to teach the higher branches.
One other college student, named Graves, came from a Vermont college to assist Mr. Simpson. IIe had a Latin class, composed of eight or ten students, whom he prepared to enter college. The last two years of his term the school assumed the dignity of an academy. Mr. Simpson became a Presbyterian minister, and was stationed at Harper's Ferry before the war. He was the first teacher in Marietta who introduced into the school at the close of each session what was then called an exhibition. It was a pleasing feature in the exercises, and the boys looked forward with a good deal of trepidation lest there might be some failure on their part. The boys that were ambitious and sharp went through easily.
George M. Clawges came from Clermont, Delaware State, where he had been teaching, to Marietta in 1836, and took charge of Mr. Simpson's academy.
He became a zealous member of the Presbyterian Church, and afterwards of the Methodist Church, in which for twenty-five years he was a local preacher.
He had been a wild young man. He became an ardent friend of the cause of total abstinence. He has been a teacher for fifty years, forty-eight of which was spent in this county in various towns and dis- tricts.
G. Washington Baker established a school for ad- vanced scholars in 1847. He first taught in the "St. John's House," and from there he went to the Sus- quehanna Institute, and had charge of that institu- tion for a short time. He was an accomplished scholar and a brilliant man, but somewhat erratic. He studied law and was admitted to the bar in Lancaster in 1847. He married a niece of President Buchanan. He went to California some years ago.
Marietta Academy .- The academy started by Mr. ' Baker formed the nucleus for another academy that was destined to longer life and greater success. This also started in the St. John's House, by a young man who had been teaching in the lower end of the county, who was a native of Chester County, and was edu- cated in the Quaker schools of that county, which have always and deservedly stood high in the com- munity. IIe had but little experience as a teacher, but it was soon demonstrated that he was fully equipped in "each and every particular" to make his school a great success. This young man's name was James P. Wickersham, so well known in school cir- cles throughout the country. Ifis suecess was phe- nomenal from the start. He purchased the large three-story brick building on the southwest corner of Market Square, and also erected a two-story brick academy building , adjoining it on the east. Ilis academy soon filled'up, and many scholars came from
a distance. The late Maj. Pyfer, of Lancaster, and Dr. Pugh, ex-member of Congress from New Jersey, were some of his pupils.
The school, under his master management, flour- ished while he had charge of it. He was called to a larger and wider field of usefulness, and was com- pelled to give up the school he created and made a grand success.
I need not follow him any further in this con- nection.
High School .- After Mr. Wickersham left Mari- etta, the citizens, despairing of securing the services of a successful teacher, turned their attention to a public high school, which was soon erected at the rear end of the old Bell school-house. J. R. Sypher, who had been one of Mr. Wickersham's scholars, and a young man of unusual promise, was called to take charge of the school. He was a successful teacher, but ambition led him to seek a wider field, where there was a better prospect of being advanced in the legal profession.
He was followed by Professor Isaac S. Geist, who took charge of the high school in 1863. He filled the chair of Natural Science at Millersville State Normal School. From thence he took charge of a school in Rohrerstown, and remained there five years. From thence he removed to Magnolia, Putnam Co., Ill., where he took charge of an academy. From theuce he came to Marietta, as before stated, where he bas continued in charge of the high school to the present time.
The common schools of Marietta are excelled by few in the State. The board of public school direc- tors have wisely selected teachers who are best fitted for their vocation, and not chosen from favoritism. Much more might be said in commendation of her schools, but space will not permit a more extended notice.
A Female Seminary was established in the second story of the school building erected by Mr. Wilson, where Mr. Simpson and Mr. Clawges taught. It lasted about two years, when it became a public school.
Susquehanna Institute .- Judge John J. Libhart, James Mehaffey, A. N. Cassel, and several other public-spirited citizens organized a boarding-school by issuing stock and raising a fund from that source. In the year 1840 the large three-story briek building at the eastern end of the town, built by the late IIenry Cassel, was fitted up and arranged for an academy.
Edward A. Seiker and a corps of able teachers were selected. The school started fairly, and was quite successful for some time. The stockholders sold their interest to Mr. Seiker, who reorganized the academy and made an effort to establish it upon a firm basis. Although an accomplished scholar, he was no manager. He became involved financially, and the academy was sold by the sheriff.
3
632
HISTORY OF LANCASTER COUNTY.
Newspapers .- Few, towns in the State outside of the cities have been more prolific in the publication of newspapers than Marietta. In the month of No- vember, 1813, John Huss, who had just gradnated from the Journal offiee in Lancaster, then under the management of William Hamilton, came to Marietta and established a newspaper called The Pilot, which he printed in the long one-story brick house on the south side of High Street, just below the market- house. In September, 1814, he elosed his printing- office and marched to Marcus Hook as lieutenant of Capt. Grosh's company of volunteers, and when Capt. Grosh went to Harrisburg to take his seat as a legis- Jator, Lieut. Huss took command of the company.
William Pierce purchased or took charge of the Pilot office and published a newspaper called the Village Chronicle. In 1816 this publication ceased, and he then commenced the publication of a monthly called the Ladies' Visitor, which was continued about two years, when he again embarked in the newspaper business and established the Pioneer in the fall of 1826, which he named after a steamboat of that name which worked its way up the river from the bay. In 1827 he sold the paper to Charles Nagle, who in the year 1828 sold it to A. Bayard Grosh and his brother, Rufus K. Grosh, who condneted the paper with great ability. Under their management it became a politi- cal paper, and supported the " Adams" party. In the year 1829 they sold the paper and presses to Sheaff & Heinitsh, who had just started the Courant in Co- lumbia, who served subscribers of both papers.
The Marietta Advocate was started by William R. MeKay. Dr. Woodhull, who was an accomplished speaker and writer, took charge of the editorial de- partment. He came from New Jersey, and returned there in the fall of 1833. The paper lived until the following spring, when it was taken to Lewistown, Pa.
The Ant was started in 1840 by Thomas Taylor, and was followed in 1841 by the Orb, published by Israel Goodman. In 1842, Taylor & Goodman started the Washingtonian, a temperance paper. In the year 1844 the Weekly Argus was started bv Israel Good- man and Frederick L. Baker ay a Whig paper.
The Little Missionary, published by John F. Wei- schampel, was contemporaneous with the Argus.
The Mariettian was established on the 11th day of April, 1854, by a joint-stock company, with the view of advancing the material interests of the borough. It was neutral in politics. It was published by Israel Goodman ; James P. Wickersham, late superintend- ent of the schools of the State, then principal of the Marietta Academy ; John Jay Libhart, one of the associate judges of the County Court; Abraham N. Cassel, formerly a member of the Legislature of the State and a prominent business man ; and Samnel Patterson, a prominent business man; and in 1856, Dr. William K. Mehaffey became sole editor, and Frederick L. Baker publisher. In 1860, Mr. Baker purchased the outstanding stock and became sole
proprietor, and he published it as an Independent Republican journal. Its name was changed to Mari- etta Register. In 1874 he sold the paper to Joseph L. Wolfensberger, who was one of the publishers of the Columbia Spy. In 1875 he sold the paper to Percy P. Shrock and Linville Hendrickson, and in 1880 the latter sold to Mr. Schrock, who is now the sole editor and owner.
The Marietta Times was established Nov. 25, 1876, by George Gilbert Cameron, by whom it is still pub- lished. It was originally a four-page, seven-column paper, twenty-four by thirty-six inches. April 1, 1883, the paper was enlarged to nine columns, and size of sheet twenty-eight by forty-two inches.
Marietta Lyceum.1-During the winter of 1836 -37, Josiah Holbrook made a scientifie missionary tour through parts of Lancaster County, lecturing on the natural sciences, and stimulating the establish. ment of lyceums and the formation of libraries, and the collection of natural objects. Among other places, he sojourned for a short season at Marietta, Pa., which resulted in the organization of the Marietta Lyceum of Natural Sciences. This association continued for some years, its places of meeting being the old Bell school-house and the Mennonite meeting-house, on Walnut Street, and occasionally the Bazaar Cotillion HIall. It held lectures and discussions on scientific and other subjects, procured a set of philosophical implements, and made a respectable collection of books, minerals, ete. Mr. E. Code, Professor Hal .; deman, Judge Libhart, A. N. Cassel, Esq., and others, delivered lectures before it. Although it stimulated the pursuit of the natural sciences in a few, yet the general interest in it soon waned, and after an active existence of three or four years it was dissolved, the individual property in it withdrawn, and the re- mainder either divided or specially deposited else- where. It never revived, and therefore became ex- tinet. Its influence, however, so far as it pervaded the minds of its members, never died, and perhaps never will.
The Libhart-Marietta Museum.1-John Jay Lib- hart was an artist by profession, a man of marked scientific attainments and more than ordinary me- chanical skill; and, even before the organization of the Lyeenm, had commenced a collection of objects of vertu. ITis specialty in natural science was orni- thology, and soon after the dissolution of the Lyceum much of the available space in his house was devoted to prepared specimens of birds, mammals, reptiles, fishes, shells, fossils, minerals, etc. These, with the addition of works of art, soon culminated in a mu- seum ; and, about 1840, he effected a lease on the large upper room of the market-house, which at that period, and for a long time previous, had occupied a part of the Centre Square of Marietta, and the Libhart Mu- suem accordingly went into active operation.
1 By S. S. Rathvon.
633
BOROUGH OF MARIETTA.
This museum was very artistically arranged in portable cases, and for a period of ten years was the only museum open to the public in the county of Lancaster. The market building had been erected daring the " speculation fever," soon after the ineor- poration of the borough, about 1815, but never had been a very firm structure, and about 1860 it was de. clared insecure, and under a decree of the Town Conneil it was torn down and a market-house built oo Walnut Street. No other room in the borough at that period being available for the reception of the museum, it beeame disintegrated, if not obliterated, but perhaps not entirely extinet, except as a whole. Many of the mammals, birds, fishes, reptiles, and minerals were donated specially to the Lancaster Athenaum, and subsequently transferred to the Lin- mæan Society. Another portion was transferred to the upper rooms of the old town hall, on Walnut Street, and others (drawer specimens) the proprietor retained in his own possession. But, as a living, ae- tive, publie institution, it has been as thoroughly extinguished as has been the building that once con- tained it.
The Pioneer Fire Company of Marietta1 was Incorporated by the Legislature May 21, 1840, the Incorporators being James Wilson, Samuel M. Yost, Jacob Stibgen, Robert Ramsey, John Bell, John Hustou, William A. Spangler, Henry Charles, James T. Anderson, Samuel Algier, David Rinehart, John Park, Samuel Oberlin, John B. Maloney, Simon S. Nagle, John J. Libhart, Samuel D. Miller, Joseph Inhoff, and A. N. Cassel, of whom Simon S. Nagle, Hon. John J. Libhart, Joseph Inhoff, and Hon. A. N. Cassel are living. The first meeting of the company was held at the public-house of John Barr on Tues- day evening, Jan. 19, 1841. John Jay Libhart pre- sided; A. N. Cassel was chosen secretary. The aet of incorporation was read. A. N. Cassel, IIenry Charles, John Huston, J. T. Anderson, and John Jay Libbart were selected a committee to draft by-laws for the company. Adjourned to meet Saturday evening, 23d, at same place. The second meeting: The company met agreeably to adjournment Saturday evening, Jan. 23, 1841. The committee on by-laws made their re- port, which was unanimously adopted. The company was then organized by the election of the following officers : John Jay Libhart, president ; J. T. Ander- Bon, vice-president ; David Rinehart, treasurer ; A. N. Cassel, secretary ; Robert Ramsey, messenger; John Park, John B. Maloney, Henry Charles, Simon S. Nagle, and William Spangler, directors. The subse- quent officers have been as follows :
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