History of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 26

Author: Ellis, Franklin, 1828-1885; Evans, Samuel, 1823-1908, joint author
Publication date: 1883
Publisher: Philadelphia, Pa. : Everts & Peck
Number of Pages: 1320

USA > Pennsylvania > Lancaster County > History of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men > Part 26

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WASHINGTON BOROUGHI.

ward of the borough of Washington, was laid out by Joseph Charles, Jan. 4, 1811. It contained sixteen acres, divided into forty-seven lots, sixty feet front, with a spring at the south side. This town was in Manor township, seven hundred feet along the east banks of the Susquehanna River, three miles south of Columbia. The lots were laid out by Joseph Charles, and were sixty by one hundred and eighty feet. The wedge-shaped tract of land to the north of Charleston, separating that village from that of Fairview, was owned by a man named Scott, who afterwards sold his land to the late Henry Ortman, and it is now owned by the latter's son, William Ortman.

Joseph Charles had bought the lower part of the tract upon which Charleston was built from John Stehman. He had bought the upper part from John B. Haldeman, of Donegal, who had married a daugh- ter of Stehman, the previous owner of that tract. That part of Charleston north of Lancaster Street was laid out first. Joseph Charles advertised lots Jan. 4 and Aug. 16, 1811. The lots were drawn by lottery Sept. 6, 1811, and were assigned to lot-holders Sept. 27, 1811. On Oct. 6, 1811, one hundred and forty-three parchment deeds were ordered. Joseph Charles died in 1814. The bulk of Charles' lots were drawn by Chester County people,-the Greenes, the Micheners, the Robertses, and the Mendenhalls.

Early Progress-Washington Borough .- In the several decades after their foundation, the villages of Washington and Charleston made considerable pro- gress, and many new buildings were erected. There was great speculation in building and in buying and selling lots from 1811 to 1820. This speculation was prosperous for a time, and lots brought from twelve hundred to fourteen hundred dollars ; but eventually disaster came, and many were reduced to bankruptcy and ruin. The villages of Washington and Charles- ton were incorporated as the borough of Washington by act of Assembly, approved April 13, 1827. There were not many new buildings from 1820 to 1860, and there was a stagnation of about thirty years until about the time of the breaking out of the late war. There has been some progress of late in building, and the most substantial and costly buildings have been erected in recent years. The best buildings have been erected since 1860. There have been more new build- ings erected in the last five or six years than in twenty years before.

Washington, Past and Present .- In the earlier days of Washington-in the days of its prosperity- its leading business men were Jesse Roberts, lumber- man ; John Herr, George Brush, Joseph Green, Rhinehart Michener, store-keepers; Joseph Shock, and others.' Dr. Benjamin Green was a physician in Charleston about 1820. There were then from twelve to fourteen hotels in the town. The river was at that time, each spring, lined with rafts for four miles, atal these hotels were required for the accommodation of the raftsmen. In the days of Washington's prosper-

ity there were a great number of coopers in the town, where none are now to be found.

Williauf Ortman, Isaac Shultz, and Jolin Brush, the datter two now residing outside the borough lim- its, are the chief tobacco-growers. The Columbia and Port Deposit Railroad, which runs through the town, along the river, was finished in 1876. The population of the borough is now over nine hundred. Washing- ton at present pays fifty dollars per month to each of its three teachers, employing only such teachers as hold permanent certificates or diplomas from normal schools, and has a school term of six months in each year. The present burgess of Washington is George Roberts. The justices of the peace are Harvey Brush, son of John Brush, and S. B. Urban. Joseph Miller, store-keeper, is at present (1883) postmaster. The leading citizens of Washington borough in recent years have been Willian Ortman, tobacco farmer and owner of a large property in and north of the bor- ough; John Brush, justice of the peace for a long time, and also school director and a large property- owner in and out of the borough, now living just east of the borough limits, on the road from Charleston to Lancaster.

Present Business Men and Tradesmen .- John Brush and William Ortman are large property-own- ers in the borough. Drs. Binkley and Grey are prac- ticing physicians. Andrew Kane keeps a hotel in the Lower Ward, and Henry Wertz keeps a temperance hotel and summer resort in the Upper Ward. The business men and mechanics are Joseph Miller, store- keeper and postmaster, and Charles Doerstler, store- keepers; William Mann, confectioner and tailor ; George Evans, shoemaker; Lewis Green, Abram Kil- liard, and Henry Kise, carpenters ; Emanuel Fishel, plasterer ; John D. Baker and Uriah Douglas, stone- masons ; Henry Mellinger, blacksmith and edge-tool manufacturer; A. G. Kise and Brown & Wilson, cigar manufacturers. Levi Haverstick has a lumber- yard and a saw- and planing-mill just north of the borough limits, and Joseph K. Shultz & Brother have a coal- and lumber-yard just south of the borough, on the Blue Rock farm, owned by his father, Isane Shultz.

Lumber, Fishing, and Tobacco-Farming .- In the old prosperous days of rafting the lumber trade was the most active line of business in Washington, and there were large lumber-yards in the place. In the earlier days of this town Jesse Roberts was a large lumber dealer. Afterwards Louis Urban had a large lumber-yard. Other lumbermen were Washington Wrighter, Daniel Neff, and House & Shuman. From about 1860 to 1875, Julius L. Shuman, who was elected a member of the Legislature in 1873, had an extensive lumber yard here. At present, Joseph K. Shultz & Brother have a lumber and coal-yard on their father's Blue Rock farm, just sooth of the borough limits. Levi Haverstick has a steam saw- and planing-mill, and a lumber-yard just north of the borough limits. Fishing has also been one of the means of earning a

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HISTORY OF LANCASTER COUNTY.

livelihood by many residents of this place. Great . Steiner. This building was torn down in 1848, and quantities of bass are caught, and they supply the a brick edifice was erected in its stead. It was re- built in 1872. The congregation of the Church of God in Washington erected a house of worship in 1845, the work being done by Jacob Manning. The old edifice was torn down when the present one was built. markets of Columbia, Lancaster, and the surrounding country. As rafting began to decline, tobacco-farm- ing became a means of support for many of the citi- zens of this town. The most successful tobacco- growers have been Isaac Shultz and his sons, William Ortman, and John Brush, who have realized large profits from the sale of their erops.

General Character of Washington .- Washington and Chariestou were regularly laid out in streets and "alleys, and these remain as they were originally laid out. The borough limits are mainly confined within tracts laid out by Dritt and Charles in 1811. The old buildings of the town are mostly frame structures, but there have been some new substantial brick buildings erected in recent years.

CHAPTER XXXVII.

STRASBURG BOROUGH.'

THE borough of Strasburg is located about nine miles southeast of Lancaster City, with which it is connected by an excellent turnpike road. It is situ- ated on an elevated ridge of the richest limestone soil, its greatest length from east to west being nearly two miles, while its greatest width from north to south is less than one-fourth of a mile. On account of its peculiar situation the drainage of the town is natu- rally very good, and the place is very healthy.

The history of Strasburg, owing to want of records previous to its incorporation, must of necessity re- main hidden beneath the veil of obscurity. Tradi- tion tells us that the first dwelling in the town was built in or about the year 1733 by one Iloffman, and that it soon became considerable of a village, fre- quently passing under the name of Bettlehausen (Beggar-hou-es).

By an act of Assembly passed March 13, 1816, the town of Strasburg was erceted into the "Borough of Strasburg, bounded and limited as follows, viz. : Be- ginning at a stone the corner of Widow Herr's land, thence along lands of George Lefever and John lowery south seventy-four degrees west two hundred and six perches and eight-tenths of a perch to a stone; thence along lands of John Howery north six- teen degrees west forty-nine perches and a half of a perch to a stone; thence along lands of John Kindig, Widow Longenecker, Tobias Herr, and Henry Breck- bill south seventy-four degrees west two hundred and seventy-six perches and one-half of a perch to a post ; thence along lands of John Kindig and John Breck- bill south fifteen degrees and one-quarter of a degree east one hundred and thirty perches to a stone ; thence along lands of Jacob Fritz and John Funk north

1 By H. G. Book, Esq.

Rafting .- For a considerable period half a century ago, when rafting was at its height on the Susque- hanna, Washington was an enterprising little town, and was noted as a stopping-place for raftsmen. There were then from twelve to fourteen hotels in the place. The river in the vicinity was lined with rafts for three or four miles. Timber and lumber were brought down the river in rafts. Boards, shin- gles, and laths were brought down the river in arks, as were also wheat, oats, coal, and pig-iron. After 1810 rafting gradually declined, and within the last ten years very little has been done in that line of business, once so conducive to the prosperity of Washington borough, many of whose inhabitants earned their livelihood by this occupation. Some of the raftsinen took their horses and mules along on the rafts for the purpose of riding back to their homes, while many walked when they returned.

Great Freshets .- Washington borough has suf- fered at various times in the past from the destruc- tive effects of ice and water-freshets. A water-freshet in 1832 took away Jacob Manning's distillery. The streets were covered with water sufficiently deep to adınit the sailing of boats. The ice freshet of 1873 also came up into the streets and caused considerable damage.

Churches .- There are at present only two church congregations in Washington borough, -Methodist Episcopal and Church of God. There were at one time in the past four denominations in the place, -- Methodist Episcopal, Church of God, Evangelical, and Presbyterian. But the latter two congregations have gradually dwindled down and ceased to exist. The old Blue Presbyterian Church was built about 1826, the building being put up by Israel Cooper. For a long time the Presbyterians of Washington borough worshiped in this building. The congrega- tion of the Church of God in Washington at a later period rented the church from the Presbyterians. The building was bought by Mr. John Brush, and torn down by him in 1861, after having for some . time been used as a tobacco-house. The Evangelical congregation in Washington borough built a frame edifice for worship about 1838, the work being done by Joseph Stoner. The Evangelical congregation gradually dwindling down, this building was also purchased by John Brush, and has likewise been used as a tobacco-house. The Methodists of Wash- ington erected a frame edifice for religious service about 1837, the building being put up by John

657

STRASBURG BOROUGH.

seventy-four degrees east two hundred and thirty- nine perches and one-third of a perch to a stone; thenee along lands of said John Funk south seven- teen degrees east thirty-nine perches and one-half of a pereh to a stone ; thence along Abraham Graff's land north seventy-five degrees and three-fourths of a degree east two hundred and forty perches and one- half of a perch to a stone; thence along lands of Widow Herr north fifteen degrees west one hundred and twenty-nine perches and one-half of a perch to the place of beginning."

According to the provisions of the second section of the charter the qualified voters of the borough were | directed to meet at the public-house of Thomas Craw - ford, in said borough, on the first Tuesday in April next following, "and then and there, between the hours of one and six o'clock in the afternoon, elect by ballot one eitizen residing therein, who shall be styled the chief burgess, and one other citizen who shall be styled the assistant burgess, and seven citizens who shall be styled a Town Council, and one citizen who shall be styled the high constable, all of whom shall be residents of said borough."

From the minutes of the Council it is learned that at said election the following officers were elected : Chief Burgess, James Whitehill ; Assistant Burgers, Jacob Miller ; Town Council, Nathaniel W. Sample, i the time the grading was finished the funds became Thomas Crawford, John Connelly, Robert Spencer, , exhausted and the enterprise seemed about to fail ; Peter HIoll, Samuel Miller, and William Hauge; High Constable, John Markley. At the first meet- ing of the Council, George Hoffman was treasurer, and Martin Fouts clerk.

The minutes of the Council as kept by the clerk, Mr. Fouts, are a marvel of neatness and legibility.

The Council held its regular meetings at the public- house of Thomas Crawford, on the northwest corner of Centre Square, which has since been greatly en- larged, and has for many years been occupied as a dwelling and general store by C. Rowe, who several years ago was succeeded by D. K. Landis, and is one · of the largest and best-conducted country stores in the county.

Soon after the incorporation the Town Council turned its attention to the improvement of the streets and pavements, and the former were macadamized with stone and the latter were paved with pine plank, which were soon found to be rather unsatisfactory on account of the frequent repairs which were needed. Wooden pavements were, however, made until about ten years ago, when the Town Couneil by resolution prohibited their construction, and directed that all pavements thereafter made should be made of brick or stone. This resolution seemed to stop all paving for several years, and the wooden pavements continued to wear out, until in many cases, they were worse than none at all, and what seemed to aggravate the pavement trouble was the fact that a large por- tion of the town was paved on only one side of the street. Finally, in 1881, some of the more enterprising

of the citizens interested themselves in the election of borough officers who would enforce the resolution of the previous Councils, and were successful at the potls, and the following year succeeded in re-electing the same officers, and as a result the old wooden pavements have nearly all disappeared, and the town is now paved throughout its entire length with sub- stantial brick pavements, and it is thought it may be called one of the best paved towns in the State.

The business interests of the town are represented by one national bank, with a capital of $80,000, rep- resented by eighty shares of a par value of $100, which are now selling at $145 per share (Joseph MeClure is the president, and George W. Hensel, Jr., is the cashier); seven general stores, one hardware-store, three hotels, one restaurant, one jewelry-store, one drug-store, one saddlery, three confectioneries, three tin-shops, two wagon-maker shops, three blacksmith- shops, two furniture manufactories, one shoe-store, one extensive bakery, a printing-office, five eigar manu- factorie, working from five to thirty hands, one livery- stable, and various other smaller enterprises.

Strasburg, too, has its railroad, connecting it with the Pennsylvania Railroad at Leaman Place. The charter for this road was procured about the year 1832, and work was commenced upon it, but about

but alter years of waiting and hoping new life was infused into the enterprise, and the road was com- pleted and put in running order in 1851. About ten years later it met with its second financial embarrass- ment, and the whole concern went into the hands of the sheriff and was sold by him, the stockholders re- ceiving about seven dollars on each share of one hun- dred dollars. At the sheriff's sale it was purchased by Hon. Ferree Brinton, in trust for himself and Henry Brackbil, Cyrus N. Herr, John F. Herr, John E. Girvin, Henry Musselman, Ilon. Thomas E. Franklin, Hon. Thaddeus Stevens, John S. Ken- vagy, Davis Gyger, Henry Musser, Hon, O. J. Dickey, Robert M. Girvin, John Mussehnan, John Miller, D. G. Elleman, Abram Eshleman, Samuel Keneagy, Bower & Holl, Jacob Bachman, John Bachman, and B. B. Gonder, for the sum of thirteen thousand dol- lars.

The partners one after another sold out their re- spective interests in the same to John F. Herr and Cyrus N. Herr, until they owned the whole road jointly. In 1866 they took into the partnership A. M. Herr, and the business was carried on under the name of llerr & Co. About this time they connected with the railroad depot a large steam flouring-mill, and afew years after attached a large planing-mill and machine-shop, in which a large business was done until Jan. 16, 1871, when the whole building was destroyed by fire, entailing immense loss upon the enterprising owners. On the return of spring they commenced rebuilding, and erected a very fine

658

HISTORY OF LANCASTER COUNTY.

railroad depot, machine-shop, and planing-mill, but did not rebuild the merchant flouring-mill.

Unfortunately for the business interests of the com- munity, and the town of Strasburg in particular, the firm never recovered from their loss, and the finan- cial crash and business depression of 1873 coming so closely upon the heels of their disaster, the firm were compelled to make an assignment in April, 1875, to Isaae Phenegar, who at the time served them in the capacity of book-keeper. At the assignee's sale the road, depot, and rolling-stock was purchased by Thomas and Henry Baumgardner, of Lancaster City, for the sum of twelve thousand seven hundred and twenty-five dollars, and they have since leased the road to Isaac Phenegar, who has operated it since April 1, 1876, at a paying profit.

Many years ago, when all the freighting between Philadelphia and the interior towns was done by Conestoga wagons, Strasburg was one of the prin- cipal stopping stations, and the town contained some- times as many as eight and ten hotels, and about as many stores, but since better modes of communica- tion and travel have been devised many people do much of their purchasing in the larger cities of Lan- caster and Philadelphia.

Education .- From its earliest days Strasburg has given much attention to education, and has taken a leading position in educational matters. Prior to the nineteenth century teaching was mostly done by itin- erant teachers going from house to house. About 1808 a brick building now standing was built on the east side of North Jackson Street by private contri- bution, which was incorporated by an act of the Leg- islature a few years after. This school was taught in its best days by a William Mackey, assisted by his sister, and was largely attended by pupils from the town and surrounding country. Another brick build- ing of about the same dimensions and similar in gen- eral appearance stands about fifty yards from the south side of East Main Street, which was built some ! time after the enactment of the free school system ; both are now occupied as dwellings.

The statement may be startling that the Pennsyl- vania free school system is a Strasburg idea. In Jan- uary, 1831, discussion arose in the store of George Hoffman, Esq., one of the most prominent residents of the borough, of whom more will be said hereafter, which led to a call for a public meeting in Jackson Street school-house, at which George Diffenbaugh acted as chairman, and James McPhail, Esq., as sec- retary. This meeting sent the first petition to the Legislature in favor of general education, resulting in the passage of the act of 1831, appropriating cer- tain moneys towards the establishment of public schools at some future time. The citizens of Stras- burg, and particularly those who attended this meet- ing, never lost sight of the measure until the free school system of Pennsylvania was formally estab- lished in 1835.

Strasburg Academy .- In 1836 was founded the Strasburg Academy, with Rev. David MeCarter, A.M., as principal. The school was established on the premises now occupied by Daniel Greiner, on East Main Street, to which was attached the academy proper by Richard B. Groff, now a resident of the State of Iowa. This school was very largely attended by young men from all parts of the United States and even from the West Indies. After a prosperous existence of about twenty years it began to decline. About this time Mr. McCarter resigned or sold out, and a new high school building had been erected, which circumstances drew largely upon its patronage, and the institution became non-paying. In 1864 or 1865 it was converted into a Soldiers' Orphans' School for a short time ; after that time it was occupied by the Misses Girvin as a private school for a few years. In 1873 it was torn down and converted into a dwelling.

In the year 1856 was erected on North Jackson Street the Strasburg High School building, which was considered a fine building and large enough for the accommodation of the children of the borough. Previous to this, or rather at the time of the enact- ment of the free school system, the Strasburg borough school district had come into possession of the two buildings above alluded to by purchase. These three buildings were sufficient for the educational require- ments of the borough until 1870, when a large and imposing two-story brick structure was erected on the south side of Franklin Street, west of Fulton.

This building accommodates all the schools of the borough, divided into first and primary, grammar and high school, each having a separate teacher, with a superintendent or principal who has charge of the whole.

The Strasburg High School has been in charge of Professor Charles B. Keller since 1872, and ranks as one of the best in the State, being almost self-sustain- ing from tuition fees of pupils attending from without the district.

In the school building is a very excellent reference library, placed there at a cost of more than a thou- sand dollars. Since 1876 from five to eight young ladies and gentlemen have graduated from the high school annually, most of whom have since tanght very acceptably throughout the county. The annual attendance at all the schools of the borough is about two hundred and twenty-five.

Religion and Churches .- While it is probable that the people of Strasburg as a rule were not an irre- ligious or godless people, yet it is the fact that there are no well authenticated church records of the borough before 1812, when the Lutheran Church on East Main Street was built. The donor of the ground upon which this church stands lies buried beneath the sidewalk in front of the church.

The church was built by lottery, and one old man now living says that he drew the sum of fifty dollars at the drawing upon a ticket purchased by his father,

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STRASBURG BOROUGH.

he being but six years old at the time. It is a large two-story brick structure, with gallery and organ-loft, in which is a pipe-organ made by one Michael With- ers, residing in the neighborhood. Rev. J. J. Strine was its pastor from the time of its erection until the time of his death. It was also occupied by the Methodists at the time of its erection, but the noise made by them at the time of their revivals was too much for their Lutheran brethren, and they were obliged to seek other quarter .. A large brick steeple had at one time been erected at the east end of the church, but when it had reached a few feet above the roof of the church proper the funds were ex- hausted, and in a few years after it was torn down and the material was used for the construction of the Strasburg Academy.

About 1815 the " Old Methodist Church," as it is now called, was erected at the south end of South Decatur Street, which was occupied by the congrega- tion until 1839, when a new and larger edifice was erected on West Main Street. In 1868 this was found to be too small, and an attachment was built to it, and it was otherwise renovated and improved in the interior.

The Presbyterians likewise held their first meet- ings in the Lutheran Church, and for some years acted without any regular organization. In 1832, November 21st, a meeting was held which resulted in the election and final ordination of William Russel and David Shirk as ruling elders, and the church edifice now standing on the corner of South Decatur and Franklin Streets was soon afterwards erected upon land purchased of David Shirk. The pastors who have served the church are Revs. Joseph Barr, David McCarter, Solomon MeNair, J. M. Ritten- house, John B. Kugler, John McNair, D. D. Heury, E. Spayd, R. K. M. Baynum, and Ezra Haney, the present incumbent. The present trustees are Josiah A. Martin, D.D.S., William Spencer, Martin Dru- linger, Jacob Bachman, and John Girvin.

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History of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 26

Author: Ellis, Franklin, 1828-1885; Evans, Samuel, 1823-1908, joint author Publication date: 1883 Publisher: Philadelphia, Pa. : Everts & Peck Number of Pages: 1320

Author: Ellis, Franklin, 1828-1885; Evans, Samuel, 1823-1908, joint author
Publication date: 1883
Publisher: Philadelphia, Pa. : Everts & Peck
Number of Pages: 1320