USA > Pennsylvania > Lancaster County > History of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men > Part 25
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The " Rogers'" tavern was kept in turn by Samuel Breneiser, Jacob Regar, Henry Regar, John Swei- gert, Leonard Betz, Mr. Kaiser, Jesse Bitzer, Jacob Spatz, Emanuel Frederick; Edward Stutenroth, Mar- tin L. Weidner, Isaac Coldren, Franklin Knauer, and others. This was an old tavern, and kept as such as early as 1772.
Of " Rohrers'" tavern, kept some sixty years ago, but little is known, and lacked the custom of the traveling public to keep it long in existence.
Stores-Early and Later .- The pioneer store in Adamstown was kept by Samuel Addams, a grandson of the founder of the town, who commenced business here about 1813, in an old log building standing on the corner lot, and occupied by Henry Ilaller. Mr. Addams subsequently sold his store to Henry Flick- inger, Sr., who, in 1820, erected on the same lot a large two-story stone dwelling, and store adjoining, and continued the mercantile business till 1845 (his son, John Flickinger, being a partner during the latter years), when the stoek was sold to John Musser, In 1848, Mr. Musser removed the goods into his new building, on the opposite corner (where he at present resides), and kept store there until 1876, when he sold his stock of goods to A. C. Snader and D. II. Landis, who moved the same to the brick building erected by Custer & Zeigler in 1876, where they still continue the mercantile business under the firm-name of Sna- der & Landis.
In 1818, a Mr. Jones started a store in opposition to Flickinger, in an old house then standing on the site now occupied by the residence of William Red- cay, Sr. Mr. Jones kept store but a short time, and was sold out.
On the opposite corner, in 1827, Michael Kegerries, Jr., erected a large two-story stone dwelling, with store attached. Mr. Kegerries died several years after. His father, Michael Kegerries, succeeded his son in the store, and was himself succeeded by John Ging- ler, Esq. Ilis successors in business have been Abi- ram Kegerries, llenry Staufer, HI. II. Miller, A. S. Raudenbush, William A. Niebel, William Artz, Peter Gerret, William L. Masburger, and Rufus M. Hyman.
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ADAMSTOWN BOROUGH.
Mohn's store-house was built in 187-, when he com- menced the mercantile business, and continued till 1881, when he sold his stock to Fetter & Prutzman, who still continue the business of general merchan- dising.
John Musser, son of Peter Musser, who was also a native of this county, was born in Adamstown bor- ougli, June 12, 1815. When Mr. Musser arrived at the age of twenty-two years, he married Miss Keziah Miller, a daughter of Sebastian, one of Adamstown's old and highly respected citizens. Soon after his marriage, Mr. Musser went to Whitehall, now Rein- holdsville, where he engaged in the mercantile busi- ness, where he remained five years, when he returned to Adamstown, and purchased the stock of goods of Henry and John Flickinger, and continued the mer- cantile business till 1876, when he sold his stock of | goods to Snader & Landis, and retired from active service, having been in trade for a period of thirty- six years continuously. In 1848, having built the residence in which he now lives, he moved his stock of goods into it, where for twenty-eight years he car- ried ou a business in which he gained the love and esteem of all with whom he had dealings. He has three children, -P. M., Kate, and Lizzie, all living.
Hat-Factories .- The principal industry of the town is the manufacture of wool hats. The pioneer hat-maker of Adamstown was the late Jacob Fich- thorn, father of William and Philip and grandfather . of the older Fichthorns of Adamstown. William Fichthorn and Levi Hendel were among the early hat-makers of this place. All these made their hats "by hand. The pioneer machine hat-maker was Ab- salom Ruth, who operated his machinery by water- power. The first to apply steam in the manufacture of hats in this town were John, Jacob, and William Fichthorn, who built a steam hat-factory on the creek, adjoining the American IIotel property. The factory was subsequently purchased by Levi Ilendel, who removed the building and machinery to his hat-fac- tory, at the crossing of the Bowmansville and Lan- caster and Reading roads.
The next steam hat-factory in Adamstown was by Esaias Billingfelt, Isaac Sowers, and Henry Stauffer, who, in 1866, converted the old distillery into a hat-fac- tory, adding one story to its height, and making other additions and improvements to the building. This factory was purchased in 1876 by E. H. Coldren, the present owner. The Hendel hat-factory at the Cross- Roads was sold after Mr. Hendel's decease to Coldren & Prutzman, and subsequently to other parties, and was idle in 1883. The brick hat-factory now stand- ing on Willow Street was built in 1875 by Henry I1. Miller, who also built a block of twelve dwellings ou Willow Street, and a first-class private residence on Main Street. The Miller factory was idle in 1883.
Bollman's hat-factory was established in 1875 by George Bollman, and in 1879 the buildings were de stroyed by fire. In 1880, Mr. Bollman rebuilt, and
in 1883 his mill had a manufacturing capacity of eighty dozen hats per day. An average of fifty per- sons are given employment annually.
Coldren's hat-factory, located on Main Street, was originally a distillery converted into a hat-factory in 1866, and purchased in 1876 by E. HI. Coldren, the pres- ent owner and operator. The capacity of this factory is eighty dozen hats per day, and gives employment to an average of fifty persons annually,-S. J. Coldren, foreman and book-keeper.
Fichthorn, Redeay & Co.'s hat-factory was estab- lished in 1876 by Samuel Fichthorn, Daniel Redcay, and Ludwig D. Custar, who gave employment to twenty men. At present (1883) there are employed thirty persons in the manufacture of hats, who turn out sixty dozen per day.
Tanneries .- The first tannery in Adamstown was established by George Gensamer about eighty years ago, and in a few years thereafter sold the same to Se- bastian Miller, Sr., who in 1822 erected on the premises a large and commodious two-story stone mansion house, wherein he resided and carried on the tannery until the year 1844, the time of his death. His two sons, Sebastian and Henry, then became the owners and carried on the business in copartnership until the year 1866, when Henry moved to Pine Grove and engaged in the same business, leaving Sebastian sole proprietor, who is still engaged in tanning.
A second tannery was established sixty-five years ago, by Peter Bicher, on a lot north of Kegerries' store. He carried on the business till about the year 18-, when he sold the establishment to Sebastian Miller, Sr., by whom it was continued in connection with his other establishment for a number of years, when he discontinued the Bicher tannery.
Distilleries .- In the early part of the present cen- tury there were many distilleries for the manufacture of "apple-jack" in the vicinity of Adamstown. All of them, however, have gone out of existence, and the apple crop is being used for better purposes.
In 1800, Michael Kegerries erected a distillery in Adamstown for the manufacture of corn and rye whiskeys on the site now occupied by the extensive wool-hat factory of E. II. Coldren, together with the large stone house and barn adjacent, the latter being built in 1809, and numerous other and necessary ont- buildings, Mr. Kegerries was at that time the owner of the " Hill," or woodland, containing many aeres, situate to the north of the town, which by him was divided into numerous lots, after having cut off most of the timber, the wood of which he used as fuel in carrying on the distillery. Said lots are now owned by different parties. farmers and others, and are now (1883) covered with a growth of first-class chestnut rail timber.
In 1830, Michael Kegerries and Esther, his wife, sold the distillery property and twenty-six acres of land to his son-in-law, John Echtenach, whp con- tinued the business till 1855, when he sold the same
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HISTORY OF LANCASTER COUNTY.
to his step-brother, Henry Eehtenach, who continued the business till 1864, when the last gallon of the [ and Jacob Hain ; one cabinet-shop, by R. Reiher; celebrated " Echtenach Rye Whiskey" was mann- faetured in Adamstown.
In 1865, Henry Echtenach sold the property there, containing twenty-two acres, fronting on both sides of Main Street, between Mohn's mill and the old ground-rent lots, to E. Billingfelt.
In 1866, Mr. Billingfelt sold a two-thirds interest in the " old still-house building" and one-half acre of land, with water privileges, unto Ilenry Staufer and Isaae Sowers. The three jointly converted the old distillery into a wool-hat factory with steam- power and modern machinery. The hat-factory has been vested in several owners until 1876, when it was purchased by its present owner, E. H. Coldren.
The balance of the land fronting on Main Street Mr. Billingfelt divided into building lots, and has sold them to different parties, who erected thereon more than a dozen first-class dwellings, also the steam hat-factory of George Bolhnan and, in 1853, the new brick Evangelical Church edifice.
Grist-Mill.1-The grist-mill at what is now Adams- town was built by Daniel Moore on the site of the present mill. It was next owned by his son Daniel, and ranked high in the estimation of his fellow-citi- who was succeeded by Jacob Moore, and Moore by Abraham Kappis. The next owners were Sebas- tian Miller and Philip Vanida. Miller was the father of the present Sebastian Miller, of Adams- town. Vanida was at one time a member of the State Legislature, and had a son named Philip. The mill was subsequently owned by Jacob, a son of Philip Vanida, Sr. The next owner was William Mohn, father of H. G. Mohn, the present owner and opera- tor. During this time the mill was twiee rebuilt and enlarged.
Stawfer's Cigar-Factory was established in 1875 by Samuel E. Stawfer, the present proprietor, with a ' the foundation upon firm soil of the sturdy and ster-
working force of one man and one woman. In 1883 . his works had increased to the capacity of a working force of two hundred persons, and a manufacturing capacity of sixty thousand cigars per day.
The oldest cigar-factory in this town is that of C. G. Mohn, who has been in the business about ten years, and at present employs about twenty hands annually. William Arts is also engaged in the bu-i- ness, and employs but few work men.
Printing .- A job-printing office was established in Adamstown in 1873 by Abraham Lutz, who still continues the business, in connection with his duties as postmaster.
Adamstown, 1883 .- In 1883 there were in Adams- town one Evangelical Association Church, two hotels, three stores, Fetter & Prutzman, Snader & Landis, and R. M. Hyman ; two physicians, Richard Sweitzer
and W. D. Fink; two blacksmiths, Benjamin Steffy three wool-hat factories; three cigar-factories, and . pos-office, with Abram Lutz as postmaster.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
SEBASTIAN MILLER.
Sebastian Miller, the grandfather of Adamstown's well-known citizen of that name, emigrated from Germany to America prior to the Revolution, and settled in Berks County, Pa., near Sinking Spring. There he lived until his death. His son Sebastian (born 1786) was apprenticed to the trade of a tanner at Sinking Spring, and worked some time for his brother John. He married Catharine Ruth, of Berks County, by whom he had eight children, of whom four are living, and shortly after his marriage removed to Adamstown, at which place he had purchased the tannery previously owned and operated by George Gensamner. Mr. Miller was a man of sterling worth, zens. He was industrious, careful, and thrifty in his business, and became a prosperous manufacturer, He died in 1843, sincerely lamented, leaving his business to his two sons, Sebastian and Henry.
Sebastian Miller (last named) was born March 23, 1814. in Adamstown, upon the place he now occupies as a home, and ocenpied also for years by his father before him. His early education was gained in the village school, and when at the proper age he wns trained by his father in the business of tanning. Thus early in life he received the valuable lessons that self-reliant industry ever teaches, and so laid ling qualities that gave to him the success that came to him in later years. His close attention to busi- ness and ready intelligence pushed him rapidly for- ward as a skilled tanner, and even when a young man he was an acknowledged master of his calling. Upon the death of his father in 1843, he and his brother Henry came into possession of the tannery, and car- ried it on together with much success until 1866, when Henry retired and removed to Pine Grove, Schuylkill Co. Since 1866 Sebastian has been the sole proprietor of the tannery, and still con- ducts it with the same careful management and shrewd judgment that marked his carly efforts. In 1840 he married Mary, daughter of Henry Regar, of Adamstown, well and long known in that section as a stock dealer and landlord. Mr. Miller has for twenty years been an active member of the Evangel- ical Church. Business has ever claimed his closest and most earnest attention, and aside from serving the borough as burgess several years, he has not per- mitted himself to take any part in publie life.
1 The original grist-mill at Adamstown, built or owned by William Addams, the founder of the town, stood about seventy-five yard- fourthri up the stream than the present one, and was removed when the list above-mentioned mill was built.
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WASHINGTON BOROUGH.
W. W. FETTER. eral commendation. His opinions were the expres- sion of careful and deliberate thought, and gained additional value because they were known to repre- sent conscientious conviction. In 1876 he represented Adamstown borough in the Republican County Com- mittee, atid in that fieldl, as in his other important trusts, marked his course with competent judgment and faithful adherence to his duty. In October, 1881, he formed a partnership with Samnel Prutzman for the purchase and conduct of the store business until then carried on by Cyrus G. Mohn, and by his ener- two years, and for two years thereafter at Adams- i getic tact and pushing enterprise has placed the firm in the front rank of Adamstown's merchants. In 1882 he was chosen a director of the Mohnsville Building and Savings Association, and still serves. The record herein briefly sketched tells in plain lan- " guage the story of an active and useful career. For a young man Mr. Fetter has gained a record that not many of his age can boast. Since the day when he found himself able to take his place among men, he has been not only a worker but he has been likewise a leader. He has never been content to follow merely, but with a commendable ambition has striven to step out of the beaten track and stand at the front when- ever and wherever he felt the publie good demanded an earnest advocate. Ile is a firm apostle of the creed of advanced thought, and believes in the theory of active progression in all matters that tend to show the value of intelligence and enterprise. His aim urges him to occupy a place as a useful citizen, aud the common verdict is that none occupy it more fully.
W. W. Fetter, leading merchant of Adamstown borough, was born at Ilinkletown, Lancaster Co., Sept. 17, 1850. In Lancaster County his ancestry goes back at least a hundred years. Until he reached the age of eighteen he remained at home, obtaining, meanwhile, such educational advantages as the vil- lage school afforded. That he improved those advan- tages is manifest in the declaration that upon ending his career as pupil he became himself a teacher. At | Muddy Creek, in East Cocalico township, he taught town. Oct. 19, 1872, he married Elmira, daughter of Samuel Prutzman, of Adamstown, a. well-known woolen hat manufacturer, who died March 5, 1878. After his marriage Mr. Fetter worked at hat-making in Adamstown for three years, and subsequently taught school at Adamstown one year. In 1878 he was brought forward as the people's candidate for borough justice of the peace, and elected by a hand- some majority. His determination was to retire to private life upon the conclusion of his term, but the popular voice insisted upon his reacceptance of the office, and against his desires he was again made the citizens' candidate. A sharp contest followed, but his popularity once more asserted itself in his re- election iu the spring of 1883. As a warm advocate and earnest worker in the cause of publie cducation, Mr. Fetter has long been in the front rank. In Feb- ruary, 1880, he was chosen a member of the board of borough school directors, and since that time hay likewise been secretary of the board. In school matters he is alert and active, and serves with watch- ful care and zealous fidelity the important interests of that department. In Sunday-school work he has for more than eight years been an important factor and leader. In 1875 he was called to take charge of the Sabbath-school of the Adamstown Evangelical Church, and from that time to this he has been con- tinuously its superintendent. The school has a mem- bership of two hundred scholars, and in its direction Mr. Fetter has displayed administrative ability of no common order, while in the development of harntony and system he has brought the school to a high standard, and made it a model of its kind.
From 1876 to 1882 he served as clerk of the Town Council, and in 1877 was largely instrumental in the adoption of the measure that conferred upon Adams- town the privileges of the act of 1851, whereby the jurisdiction of the borough was enlarged. There was strenuous opposition to the change, but Mr. Fetter took the ground that the popular good demanded it, and he accordingly devoted himself with unflagging energy to what he considered his duty as a citizen. The result proved long ago the wisdom of his course and the value of the work he aimed at. During the existence of the Adamstown Press he was its junior editor, and in the service of literature wielded a grace- ful and trenchant pen, whose work won for him gen-
CHAPTER XXXVI.
WASHINGTON BOROUGH.1
Site, Limits, and Extent .- Washington borough extends a distance of one mile on the east bank of the Susquehanna River, and is surrounded on its north, east, and south sides by Manor township. It is one mile long from north to south, and one-fourth of a mile wide from east to west, and is situated three miles south of Columbia. A full view is had of Columbia and the river as far north as the bend just south of Marietta, while a fine view is also had of the river to the southward as far as the bend at the upper end of Turkey Hill. There is a large and fertile island in the river opposite Washington, and there are also several small islands. The river is fordable at some points here at certain times. The borough is divided into two wards, corresponding to the two original vil- lages of Washington and Charleston, the former vil- lage now comprising the lower or southern ward, and the latter the upper or northern ward. The borough is bounded on the north by William Ortman's land.
1 By I. S. Clare.
654
HISTORY OF LANCASTER COUNTY.
On the east are the lands of William Ortman, Wil- liam Shertzer, William Siple, John Brush, Daniel Kauffman, Levi Haverstick, and Jacob B. Shuman. Isaac Shultz's farm-the old Blue Rock farm- touches the borough line on the south. William Ortman and John Brush own many lots in the bor- ough, and Isaac Shultz also owns several. The Co- lumbia and Port Deposit Railroad, running along the river entirely through the borough, was completed in 1876. The population of Washington is now over nine hundred, about one-half in each ward.
Present Condition .- Washington borough was formed by consolidating the villages of Washington and Charleston, and was legally incorporated by act of Assembly, approved April 13, 1827. Washing- ton village-originally Woodstock-was laid out by Jacob Dritt, first before 1800, and afterward in 1811. Charleston was laid out contemporaneously by Joseph Charles. Years ago it was a flourishing little town, but it has since deteriorated, and only recently began to improve. The principal business features are lunt- ber and fish. The inhabitants are generally an indus- trions class of people, and many of them earn their livelihood by piloting rafts down the river, and also by farming tobacco. Washington borough has at present two churches, Methodist Episcopal and Church of God; three schools, one graded and two primary ; two hotels, one a temperance house; two | he had laid out a town containing three hundred lots, stores, one blacksmith-shop and edge-tool factory, two' cigar factories, one confectionery, one shoemaker- shop, three carpenters, one plasterer, and two stone- masons.
Past History of this Locality .- The upper part of Charleston-that part north of the old Conestoga Manor line now corresponding to the road leading from Charleston to Lancaster-was a part of the tract granted to Chartier, the French Jesuit and Indian trader, about one hundred and seventy-five years ago. All the remainder of the borough territory formed a part of the Conestoga Manor, as surveyed for the Penn family by Jacob Taylor, surveyor-general in 1717-18. The lands on the site of the present bor- ongh of Washington were first surveyed in 1737, and in addition to all the northwestern portion of the old Conestoga Manor, in all about three thousand acres, were for some time retained by the Penn family. Jolin Keagy afterward settled in that portion of the Conestoga Manor, and sold much of his land to his son-in-law, Charles Smith Sewell, of Maryland, who sold this tract to other parties, as will presently be seen.
Founding of Washington and Charleston .- On June 1, 1810, Charles Smith Sewell and Ann Catha- rine, his wife, sold one hundred and ten acres to Jacob Dritt, E.g., of Windsor township, York Co., Pa. There was a spring of water in the corner of this tract. Upon this tract -Dritt laid out the town of Washington. He sold lots June 11, 1810, to Jacob Hlabecker, distiller, and to Joseph Habecker, pump-
maker, one acre and eight perches, in lots which came to the river.
On Jan. 11, 1811, Andrew Kauffinan, Esq., of Manor, and Barbara, his wife, and Charles Smith Sewell and George R. Stake, both of the same place, both house and lot at corner of Lots Nos. 6 and 7, Lot No. 4 being a part of the one hundred and ten acres which Charles Smith Sewell and Ann Catharine, his wife, sold to Jacob Dritt, of Windsor township, York Co. Stake sold to Sewell April 11, 1811.
On Sept. 10, 1811, John B. Haldeman, of Donegal, and Aun, his wife, sold to Joseph Charles, of Manor, for six thousand five hundred dollars, a tract of one hundred and thirty-four acres, beginning at the river. This tract was part of four tracts, the one-half part of which Jacob Gish, of Donegal, and Mary, his wife, sold to John B. Haldeman Dec. 17, 1808. By writ of partition the above-named tract was allotted to John B. Haldeman in 1809. John B. Haldeman had married a daughter of John Stehman, who had owned the land.
On the site of Washington the town of Woodstock had been laid out Jan. 8, 1807, as a " free port, situ- ated on the east bank of the Susquehanna River, near the Blue Rock, in Manor township, in Lancaster County." Jacob Dritt, Esq., of Windsor township, York Co., was the proprietor, and he advertised that exclusive of four appropriated for public worship by the Mennonite, Presbyterian, Lutheran, and Mora- vian congregations, and one for a market-house. These lots were to be sold by lottery, and were ad- vertised to be drawn Saturday, March 14, 1807, tickets 8- cash. The proprietor agreed to give eight hundred dollars cash to the person who drew No. 16, for the lot one thousand feet front granted to the public on the river for landings. Ile obtained an act of Assembly for the privilege of erecting a bridge across the Susquehanna River at that place. A ferry was also to be established here.
On July 15, 1811, Jacob Dritt laid out a town " on the east bank of the Susquehanna River, near the Blue Rock, in Manor township, Lancaster Co." This town contained one hundred and twenty-two lots, to be disposed of by lottery, each ticket to draw a lot. This was the town of Woodstock of 1807, and was now named Washington. The lottery took place and all the lots were drawn. Mr. Dritt advertised that he would meet the "adventurers" at the house of Mrs. Jeffries, in Columbia, on the 17th and 18th of May, 1811, and execute the titles for the lots. All who resided in Lancaster or north of that place were privileged to call on Henry Carpenter, surveyor, for their titles after the above date. Jacob Dritt made a will in 1815, and Jesse Roberts and Samuel Bonham were appointed his administrators for the Washington lots. Dritt was drowned while crossing the river in a boat in 1822.
The town of Charleston, now constituting the upper
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