USA > Pennsylvania > Lancaster County > History of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men > Part 27
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In 1871 the United Brethren in Christ purchased the old Methodist Church and renovated it, and hell services in it until 1881, when debts had accumulated upon them to such an extent that they were obliged to sell it, the Good Templars becoming the purchasers, who converted it into a temperance hall by enlarging and otherwise improving it.
In 1870, when the school board sold the Jackson Street school buildings, they were purchased by Dr. Benjamin Musser, who afterwards conveyed the high school building to the Reformed Mennonite Church, that has since held services therein.
Public Hall .- In the northeast corner of Centre Square stands Massasoit Hall, a large three-story brick building, the third story of which is occupied by two secret beneficial societies,-the Independent Order of Odd-Fellows and the Junior Order of United American Mechanics.
In 1870, George B. Eager commenced publishing |
the Strasburg Free Press, a weekly paper, and con- tinued as editor until Jan. 1, 1879, when he sold the concern to J. W. Sandoe, who continued the paper until December, 1881, when it was sold by the sheriff to A. G. Sutton. The office remained closed until March, 1882, when George B. Eager again purchased it, and has since been doing only a job business.
Literary and debating societies have at various times flourished here, and have been largely attended, probably the most successful seasons being those of 1880, 1881, and 1882, when meetings were held in Massasoit Hall, which has at times been densely packed by spectators. There also existed at one time many years ago a scientific society, but its records, if ever there were any, are lost.
Burying-Places .- Within the borough limits there are no less than five burying-places, namely, one Lu- theran, one Presbyterian, two Methodist, and the Strasburg Cemetery, inelosing about two and one- half acres, which is by far the largest and best regu- lated. Several large and costly monuments adorn its inelosure, and in the early season, when trees bedeck themselves in living green and flowers bloom their . prettiest, it is a beautiful place.
Noteworthy People .- Among noteworthy individ- uals of Strasburg borough may be mentioned Thomas II. Burrowes, who was born Nov. 16, 1805, in a small house, a few doors west of Centre Square, which was torn down about the year 1870 by David Reese, on the site of which stands the house now owned by Christian Kreider. He received a liberal education at Quebec and Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland, where his parents resided for some years. In 1831 he was elected to the House of Representatives, and was re- elected in 1832. Being a Whig, and that party being in the minority in the House, he did not attain to any leading distinction. In 1835, when his party came into power by the election of Joseph Ritner as Gov- ernor, he was called to the office of Secretary of the Commonwealth, to which the superintendency of com- mon schools was then ex officio attached. From this time Mr. Burrowes made the work of popular educa- tion a most careful study, and prepared a revised school bill, which was adopted by the Legislature in 1836, and from that time bent all his energies to the execution of the law. In 1837 he published a plan and drawing for the improvement of school-houses and furniture which was widely used.
In 1839, upon the retirement of Governor Ritner and the advent of a different administration, the superintendency of common schools passed into other hands, and Mr. Burrowes returned to Lancaster and devoted the next seven years of his life to agricultu- ral pursuits on his farm near Lancaster. Owing to pecuniary losses he was obliged to sell this in 1845, and he returned to his profession as a lawyer.
In January, 1850, at the convention of the friends of education, held at Harrisburg, he was temporary chairman, and acted as chairman of the committee
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HISTORY OF LANCASTER COUNTY.
" to consider the best means of invigorating the gen- eral superintendence of the common school system, ' harmonizing its local operations and spreading the knowledge of its true nature" and benefits, its prog- ress and necessities, the report of which committee recommended the establishment of a separate State department of education and the publication of a monthly educational State journal for the dissemina- tion of matters pertaining to the interests of educa- tion among the friends of the cause in all parts of the commonwealth. The report was unanimously adopted by the convention. In 1851 a number of teachers of Lancaster County met in convention and chose Mr. Burrowes as their chairman, and measures were adopted for the promotion of a permanent educa- tional association in the county. At this meeting resolutions were adopted authorizing the chairman to commence the publication " of a monthly paper de- voted exclusively to the spread of information rela- tive to education."
This was the origin of the Pennsylvania School Journal, a work which until a few years before his death occupied much of the time and attention of Mr. Burrowes.
By the act of 1855 the Pennsylvania School Journal was made the organ of the school department, and one copy was directed to be sent to each school dis- triet in the State, at the expense of the State. In 1854, Mr. Burrowes prepared for the State descrip- tive matter for "Pennsylvania School Architecture," a volume of two hundred and seventy-six pages. After having written nearly all the important school bills passed by the Legislature after 1836, probably the crowning aet of his life was the drafting of the Normal School law, which is regarded by its friends as being unsurpassed by any legislation on this sub- ject either in America or Europe.
In 1858, Mr. Burrowes was elected mayor of Lan- caster City, which office he held for one year. In 1860 he was again called upon to administer the school system of the State. In 1864 he was appointed by Governor Curtin superintendent of soldiers' orphans' schools, and established these institutions in different parts of the State. In 1869 he was elected president of the Agricultural College, a position which he held at the time of his death.
To Thomas H. Burrowes probably more than to any one else belongs the honor of being the father of the Pennsylvania free school system. He did more than any other one man to place it upon a permanent basis, and in its establishment he has erected for himself a monument more enduring than stone. . Ile died March 25, 1871.
George IToffman was born in Strasburg, March 9, 1784. He obtained the first rudiments of education from an old German schoolmaster named Buch, of whom very little is known, -but who, according lo Mr. Hoffman's recollections of him, must have bech a man of considerable knowledge. Of Mr. Hoffman's
parents but little is known. When George was fifteen years old he was placed in the store of James White- hill, then the most extensive of Strasburg's merchants. Ilere he remained until he was twenty-one years old. During the next eight or ten years he served as.clerk in other stores in the place. In 1809 he was married to Barbara Maynard, of Safe Harbor, and went into business on his own account. About five years later he moved to Strasburg, where he continued to reside and keep store until the time of his death. In 1816 he was appointed by Governor Snyder the first justice of the peace for Strasburg borough after its incorpo- ration, which office he held until the winter of 1827 -28, when he was elected to the Legislature.
As a magistrate he is said to have been one of the most useful and upright men who ever filled that office, his aim ever being not to make money for himself, but to do good to those around him. No eivil case that could be adjusted amicably did he ever push onward to a suit for the sake of making costs for himself or the constables. Ile was emphatically a peacemaker, and many had cause to bless him for his efforts in that direction. He possessed the rare faculty of making persons who were wrong and angry perceive their error and the folly of their ill temper, and this he could do without giving them the least offense. Ile seemed to know by intuition how to treat every person with whom he came in contact, and in all cases without departing in the least from his habit- ual dignity.
Ilis friendship for the young was at all times re- markable. No man ever took a greater interest than he in those who fell in his way. To them he was like a father. Ilis interest in a certain poor, deserv- ing boy led to a remark by him in his store, in the presence of some of his friends, which resulted in the meeting in the Jackson Street school-house, above referred to, and to the day of his death he never lost his interest in our free school system.
Ile was at all times a firm believer in the rights of man, without distinction of race, nationality, or color. Ile was one of the few who stood by Charles Burleigh when he delivered his anti-slavery lecture in Stras- I burg, and was always a decided abolitionist. IIe died in 1845 of typhoid fever, leaving four children, -Barbara (who was married to Jacob Erb, of Cones- toga township), Ann (the wife of B. B. Gonder), Jesse Hothuan, and Margaret Warren (wife of Wil- liam S. Warren). Mrs. Gonder and Jesse Hoffman are still living in Strasburg.
Rev. George Duffield was born in Strasburg, July 4, 1796, in the house long occupied by James McPhail, and now owned by the heirs of Dr. Benja- min Masser, deceased. ITis father, also named George, was a merchant, and for nine years was register and comptroller-general under Governor MeKean. His grandfather, also named George, was chaplain of the Continental Congress.
The subject of this sketch graduated at the early
STRASBURG BOROUGH.
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age of sixteen at the University of Pennsylvania. He read theology, and was licensed to preach by the Presbytery of Philadelphia on the 20th day of April, 1815. In 1817 he married Miss Isabelle Bethune, a daughter of a well-known merchant and a sister of Rev. George Bethune, D.D.
In 1837 he was called to the Broadway Tabernacle as the successor of the Rev. Charles G. Finney. In 1838 he was called to the First Presbyterian Church of Detroit, a position which he at once accepted, and continued its sole pastor until April 27, 1865. In ability and learning he is said to have ranked with such men as Drs. Lyman Beecher, Sprague, and others. He died at Detroit, June 26, 1868.
Stephen Russel, a man of whom very little is known by the greater portion of the people of Strasburg to- day, was born about the year 1820 in the house ad- joining the Duffield house on the east, now owned by two Weaver sisters. His father, William Russel, was one of the two first ruling elders of the Presbyterian Church of Strasburg. Not very much is known of the family at the present day. From one of Stephen's schoolmates it is learned that an older son of William Russel worked his way by some means into a com- mercial house in Philadelphia, and through his in- fluence Stephen also obtained a situation as a clerk in a store. From here he worked his way into the custom-house. While here he read law during his leisure hours, and was admitted to the bar. He then drifted to New York, and practiced his profes- sion, and dealt in stocks in a small way, and figured in politics to some extent. His practice soon became paying, and then became lucrative. He was at one time corporation counsel for the city of New York at a salary of sixteen thousand dollars per annum.
Some time after he left this place his father died, leaving a wife and an imbecile son to be cared for by his sons. For some time they rented quarters, Stephen paying the rent. When he came to be in easy circumstances, he returned to Strasburg, pur- chased a lot of ground, built a large and comfortable two-story brick house for her use, moved her and his brothers into it, and provided for them as long as they lived. The house is now owned and occupied by Mrs. Harriet Leche. It is said that Mr. Russel's wealth to-day is counted by millions.
Borough Officers .- The burgesses in the borough of Strasburg have been as follows :
1816. James Whitehill.
J817. George Diffenbangh.
1818. John Connelly. 1819. John Gyger. 1820-21. Archibald McAllister.
1822-23. Jacoby Moure.
1824. Archilund McAllister.
1×25 Francis Burtower
1826. Hugh MeClung.
1827. John Connelly.
1828-29. Andrew Char'es.
1867. Michael Book.
1868. William Robinson.
1869. J. A. Martin.
1870. Joseph H Lefevre.
1872. Harvey Brackbill.
1876-80. Jacob Hildebrand.
1873. W. T. Mc Phail.
1881-82. II. G. Book.
1474 Adam Holl.
1883. Chtistinn Rowe.
1855. Christian Bachman.
The assistant burgesses have been :
I>16-19. Jacob Miller 1850-51. Francis Caughey.
1820-21. George Ihffenbaugh. 1852. Edward Stency.
1x22. James Adams. 1853. John Warntz.
1823-21. John Lutz.
1854 Andrew Charles.
1825 l'hilip Weitzel.
1855. William Black.
1826. John Callwell.
1856-57. Robert Spencer.
1827. Robert Wallace. I458. Adam Ross Black.
1828-29. John McAllister.
1859. Henry Bear.
1830-31. Jacob Hoover.
1860-62. James Linvill,
1832. William Black. 1863. Michael Book.
1833. Joseph Bow man.
1864 A. H. Black.
1831. David Shink. 1865. Willlam Smith.
1835. Isaac Irwin. 1866-67. Henry Spielman.
1836. John McAllister
1864-75. Jacob Hildebrand.
1837-05. Joseph Bowman. 1876-78. C. Bachman.
1839. John Connelly. 1879. Joseph Bowman.
1×40-43. Joseph Bowman. 1880, Joseph Holl.
1844 John R Stoner. 1881-82 A. M. Herr.
1845-49. Samuel Taggart.
' 1883. George W. Hensel.
The following have been members of the borough |Council :
Nathaniel Sample, Thomas Crawford, John Connelly, Robert Spencer, Peter Holl, Samuel Holl, William Hange, Michael Johnston, An- drew Charles, Peter Holl, Jr., George Miller, James Adams, John Gurmly, Wilham lonissell, Caleb Evans, Arcinbald McAllister, Wil- linin Black, Robert Wallace, Philip Weitzel, Henry Speilman, George Diffenbaugh, John Leitz, Juhn Funk, Jacob Bear, John Caldwell, John Barr, John Markley, William Echternach, John Cramer, William Busset, Hugh MeChung, James McChesney, Wil- Ham Glass, Samuel Shroy, Wilham Smith, Francis S. Burrowes, James Lytle, Jacob Hoover, Daniel Miller, James Blair. George Fondersmith, David Lutz, Robert Seaman, John Miller, George Kessler, David Wiley, John Steacy, William Guiles, David Gyger, Adam L. Ragy, James Whitehill, John Bart, Amos Gilbert, Joseph Bow man, Isaac Girvin, John Fullmer, John Me Alheter, Istac Ragy, David Everly, George Hoffman, Jacobs Bower, Joseph Burk, Jantes . lanvili, James M. Phail, William Russell, Joseph Gonder, David Shirt, Jr, Daniel Potis, John Groff, John Murdock, John Moore, Jacob Fritz, William Fletcher, James Warren, Henry Aument, Wil- Imam F. Markey, Samuel Taggart, George Haughman, Samuel Shroy, Daniel Miller, Robert Evans, William Giles, Elias Khorer, Samuel Bower, John Steel, Jacob Rhorer, William P. Robinson, Alexander Shultz, Levi Wantley, John Werutz, W. J. S. Warren, Sumuel Ken- ngy. Joseph Holt, Josiah Mutin, Charles Foulk, Jacob Hoffman, John Kilburn, Jacob Buchwalter, Michael Book, Rudolph Shub, John Suath, A. M Herr, Chatist Bachman, Benben Fellenbaum, George Maynard, Frederick Myers, Miller Funlk, J. G. Weaver, Isaac Holl, Daniel Potts, Christ. Rowe, James Frew, J. F. Shertz, F .. 1. Musselman, Henry Hall, I K. Witmer, Joseph D. Gonder, Her- vey Brasklaff, Joseph M Potts, William O. Buir, Isaac Groff, Elam Monney , Jacob Carpenter.
The clerks have been :
1816. Martin Fouts. 1836-38. Jacob Bower.
1817-19. Joseph Cramer. 1839. Samuel P. Bower.
1820-25 Gentgo Miller. 1840-57. Jacob Bower.
1826-28. J McPhail. 1858-62. Jacob Hildebrand.
1829-35. T. 11. Valentine.
1503-83. Isaac Walker.
The treasurers have been :
1816-28. George 11-Oman. 1847-50. D. S. Warren, J. Werutz.
1×29-30. I-na Girvin. 1851-65. Jolin Werntz.
1831. David Shink 1856-58. William Spencer.
1830. David Shirk.
1831. John Connelly. 1832-43. Abraham Smith.
1841 George Diffenbangh. 1815-48. Joseph Bow man. 1849-50. Andrew Charles. 1851-53. Joseph Bowman. 1854. Jacob Hildebrand. 1855-58. James Me Phail.
1859. Alexander Mc Cloy. 1860-64 Jageph Bow man. 1865. Henry Neff. 1866. Jacob Hildebrand.
1832-44. George Hoffman. 1859-81. Christian Rowe.
1813-46. Samuel Bower. 1882-83. D. K. Landis.
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HISTORY OF LANCASTER COUNTY.
The high constables have been :
' 1816. John Markley. 1860-61. Thomas Eager.
1817. Daniel Miller.
1862. William Findley.
1818. Henry Myers,
1863. Robert Wiggans.
1819-21. Michael Shindle. 1804 Joseph Wutk.
1822. William Cummins, 1865-72 William Findley.
1823-30, Daniel Wenditz.
1873. Samuel Kuitz.
1831-33. Thomas Eager.
1874. George Lock wood.
1834-41 Daniel Wenditz.
1875-77. William Findley.
1842-52. Thomas Eager.
1×78. John Wauters.
1853-56. William Cummins.
1×79. Christian Herr.
1857-58. Thomas Eager.
1880-83. John F. Hull.
1859. Henry Waldley.
The following have been the justices of the peace since the incorporation of the borough :
George Huffman, from 1816 to 1827. John Markley, from 1821 to 1834.
George Mckinney, elected in 1872 ; term of service not known. James McPhail, from 1830 to 1872. Julin Germany and John Stracy, election aud termi not known. Samuel P. Bower, from 1840 to 1860 Jacob Hildebrand, from: 1860 to the present time.
Henry G. Book, from 1873 till the present time.
The past growth of the borough of Strasburg has been rather slow but sure, and while the number of houses has been increasing very slowly, those which are erected are of a su- perior order. The taxes of the place, while not low, are certainly not high, compared with other cor- porations, and considering the fine educational and social advantages which the inhabitants enjoy. The number of inhabitants has stood at about eleven hun- dred for a number of years, but there are changes now being made which cer- tainly must increase the number very materially. The great need of the place toona, Pa. ; Benjamin F., a teacher in Strasburg
close of the eighteenth century. He was a shoemaker by trade, but located in East Lampeter towuship, where he engaged in agricultural pursuits. His wife was Barbara Book. David Book, the oldest son of the emigrant, was also a shoemaker by trade, and was born Nov. 2, 1771. He married Catharine (born 1769), daughter of Adam Hoak, and had a large family of children, viz., Daniel, born Feb. 10, 1793; David, Sept. 29, 1794; Catharine, Sept. 30, 1796; Mary, Oct. 8, 1798; Elizabeth, May 17, 1801 ; John, Jan. 30, 1804; George, April 11, 1806; Michael, Jan. 23, 1811 ; Magdalena, April 5, 1813.
George Book learned the trade of a shoemaker with his father, but spent his days in farming. In 1868 he purchased a small farm about one mile east of Stras- burg village, which he oc- eupied until his death, in 1879. Ile was no aspirant for public position, but lead a strictly moral, cor- rect, and modest life. Ilis wife was Harriet (born March 11, 1814), daughter of Philip and Barbara Geist, of Strasburg town- ship, and a representative of one of the early families of Lancaster County, also of German origin.
Philip Geist, born March 7, 1763, was the ancestor of the family in this coun- try, and left his native land to avoid compulsory military service. The children of George and Harriet Book are six in number, viz .: Mary, wife of John F. Wiggins, of Providence; Jacob G., an extensive farmer in White- side County, Ill. ; Henry G .; Levi L., principal of the high school at Al- borough ; and Amanda, wife of Aldus Weaver, who
is better railroad facilites, which are likely to be afforded at no distant day. In closing it is proper to , occupies the homestead tarm with her mother.
say that the past history of the town has been rather uneventful, and it is probably safe to predict a pros- perous future. Henry G. Book was born in West Lampeter town- ship, on Feb. 20, 1843. ]Fis earlier years were passed in farming pursuits, and in attendance upon the dis- trict schools of his locality. He subsequently enjoyed BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. the benefits of academie instruction at the Millersville State Normal School for two sessions. Immediately after leaving schoof he engaged in teaching for six years in Strasburg township, and subsequently HENRY G. BOOK. adopted the profession of a surveyor and conveyancer, The Book family is of German descent. Michael, the great-grandfather of the subject of this sketch, which has continued to occupy his time and attention ever since. Ile has transacted a large amount of emigrated from Wittenberg to this country near the | business in the drafting and execution of papers, and
Queet Hil di franco
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663
STRASBURG BOROUGH.
has surveyed many tracts of land in this section of Lancaster County.
Ilis services are in constant demand, and he is one of the active, busy residents of a borough that is remark- able for its quiet, rural simplicity. He was elected jus- tice of the peace in 1873, and has since performed in a competent and satisfactory manner the various duties of that office. He has acted as executor, adminis- trator, and guardian in many cases. He was elected chief burgess of Strasburg borough in 1881, and re- elected in 1882. He has always taken a deep interest in local and township affairs, supporting, with a lib- eral and progressive spirit, all movements tending to promote the interests of his locality. He married, Dec. 15, 1870, Annie, daughter of Adam and Susan Mowery, of Strasburg township, and has three chil- dren living at the present writing,. viz., Lillian M., Charles Edgar, and Elsie G. Book.
JACOB HILDEBRAND.
Jacob Hildebrand was born in East Hempfield township, Lancaster Co., on Nov. 16, 1822. Ilis father was Jacob Hildebrand, a butcher by occupa- tion, who passed his active business life in East Lam- peter and Paradise townships. His mother's maiden name was Mary Heiny, and the children who com- pose the family are : John, a merchant at New Provi- dence; Jacob; Elizabeth, wife of John Wiker, of Muscatine, lowa ; Henry D., who is in trade at Bal- timore, Md .; G. James, an innkeeper at Quarryville, Lancaster Co .; Susan, wife of Dr. Kendig, of Cones- toga Centre; Hoover II., a farmer at Muscatine, Iowa; Louisa, wife of John P. Eager, of Strasburg; and Ella, wife of Samuel Kendig, of Lancaster.
The subject of this sketch was thrown upon his own resources at the early age of eight years, when he left his home and began the labors of life by work- ing upon a farm in Paradise (then Strasburg) town- ship for his board and clothes. Between the ages of thirteen and twenty he worked for Benjamin Herr, of the same township, and derived from him what little education he received, as well as habits of study and investigation which proved useful to him in all his subsequent career. lle attended the district school of the township for a few seasons only, four days in each week.
At the age of twenty-one he entered the cabinet- shop of Joel Rice, of Strasburg, for the purpose of learning the trade of a cabinet-maker, and remained in his employ for two years. At the expiration of that time he embarked in business for himself in Strasburg, and engaged in cabinet-making and ear- pentering until 1852, when he established a store in the lower end of the village and entered upon the life of a merchant. Two years later he removed to the east end of the village, and, forming a partnership
with William S. Warren, engaged in trade for two years longer as Warren & Hildebrand, terminating that connection, however, and pursuing the occupa- tion of a contractor and carpenter until 1862. In 1860 he was elected to the office of justice of the peace, and immediately began to familiarize himself with the higher duties of the station, discouraging petty and vexatious litigation, and applying himself to the study of surveying, conveyancing, and the drafting of wills and other papers. He has continued to hold the office of justice ever since. In 1871 he was elected county surveyor of Lancaster County on the Republican ticket, and held that office for three years and a half. During that period he prepared, with great labor and careful research, connected drafts of the land originally derived by patent in the pres- ent townships of Strasburg, Paradise, East and West Lampeter, Bart, Eden, and Providence, and in por- tions of Salisbury, Sadsbury, Martic, Drumore, and Colerain.
Squire Hildebrand, as he is more familiarly known, is recognized as one of the most substantial and use- ful of the citizens of Strasburg. From a small be- ginning, with scarcely any educational advantages, by patient industry and study, he advanced to a posi- tion of honor and trust in the community, and has transacted a large amount of important business, act- ing as executor, administrator, and guardian in many cases. Ile has surveyed a large portion of the county, and is familiar with the metes and bounds of many important traets of land. He served as chief burgess of Strasburg from 1875 to 1880, and has been a con- sistent member of the Methodist Episcopal Church of that borough since 1861, holding an official relation to that body for many years. He has always taken a deep interest in all movement's tending to develop and strengthen the institutions of his locality, and has been a member of the Independent Order of Odd- Fellows since 4849, and a Master Mason since 1851. Ile was a member of the building committee in the erection of the town hall, and has participated in other local improvements.
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