History of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 7

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 7

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

James Perrottet was a bound apprentice to the late firm of Merrick & Son, of Philadelphia. IIe after-, wards went to the State of Louisiana and thence to the West Indies, where he creeted and took charge of machinery in sugar-mills built by him. Their spe- cialty has been the manufacture of sugar machinery. for Cuba and other sugar-making countries.

William J. Hoyt also learned his trade in Phila- delphia, and worked for Merrick & Son. He was pro- moted by that firm to various positions, and remained with them until they sold their works in 1870.

There is a machine-shop connected with the Keeley Stove-Works which manufactures small stationary engines, and is conducted by Zimmerman Supplee, which is a separate establishment from the stove- works. Their business is increasing, and the works in the near future are to be enlarged.

Saw-Mills .- Jacob Strickler erected a saw-mill on the bank of the river, a short distance above Fair- view Grist- Mill, about the year 1818. A wing wall was built some distance up the river from the mill, which caught the current. There was only two or three feet fall of water. When the dam was con- structed across the river, in 1838, for the Susquehanna and Tide-Water Canal, this mill was taken away, and another and much larger one built a short distance farther down the river. A sluice was left in the breast of the dam, which gave a greatly-increased power. This mill has been rebuilt and enlarged by its present owner, Frederick S. Bletz.

573

BOROUGH OF COLUMBIA.

. In 1830, John McKissick, Jr., John Forry, Jr., and Samuel B. Hise erected a saw-mill along the river shore, a short distance above the present outlet-locks at the canal, in the northwestern section of the bor- ough. The falls were called Little Conewago. A wing wall was built which gave about three feet fall of water. It was partially destroyed repeatedly by floods in the river. It was torn down in 1847, and a new mill built by Dr. J. J. and J. S. Grier & Co., which was wholly run by steam-power. After the public works were sold by the State, the mill was torn down, they having to depend entirely upon the pat- ronage awarded them by their party friends.

In 1844, Jonathan Pusey built a saw-mill at the mouth of Shawanese Run, which was run by steam- power. It was afterwards owned by his son Isaac, after whose death, fifteen years ago, it was sold to Abraham Bruner, and about ten years ago it was torn down and a much larger mill was built by Abraham and Cyrus Bruner along the river shore, close by the old mill-site.

Planing-Mills .- The first planing-mill was built on the south side of Union Street, between Second and Third Streets, by Jacob F. Markley & Co. This mill was built in 1837. The Daniels patent planer was used. The grooves and tongues of the flooring were made entirely with a series of circular saws. The Woodworth patent rotary planer entirely super- Beded this mode of making flooring. The mill build- ing was converted into a lamp-black manufactory by J. H. Mifflin. The place is now occupied by dwell- ing-houses.

In 1850, Joseph Pownall, Joseph Dickinson, Hiram Draucher, and John B. Bachman leased ground from John L. Wright at the rear end of his mansion, and erected a planing-mill, where not only flooring- boards were manufactured but all kinds of house-car- penter work. The mill was removed farther away from the railroad to make room for more tracks, and finally taken down and rebuilt along the river shore. It is and has been for years owned wholly by John B. Bachman, Esq. It is now one of the best-equipped planing-mills in the State. The business is conducted by John B. Bachman and Jobn Forry.

In 1881, Edward Smith erected a planing-mill on the river shore above Union Street. Additious have been made since its erection, and new and modern machinery is constantly being added to it, and in a few years it will rank among the best in the State.

Frederick S. Bletz erected a planing-mill below the mouth of Shawanese Run, along Front Street, in the year 1848. All kinds of building material are also manufactured at this establishment. It has been in operation ever since, and is still owned by Mr. Bletz.

Michael Liphart erected a planing-mill at the cor- ner of Lawrence and Second Streets in 1870, which was destroyed by fire some years ago, and has not been rebuilt.

Tbe Keeley Stove-Works, located on the corner of

Second and Maple Streets, were erected in the sum- mer and fall of 1882. They are operated by a stock company, whose charter was dated May 5, 1882, with a capital stock of $100,000, and subsequently in- creased to 8150,000. The works have a capacity of twenty thousand stoves per annum, and employ in their manufacture nearly two hundred men. The following-named persons are the present officers of the company: President, George W. Haldeman ; Treasurer, S. S. Detwiler ; Secretary, J. W. Ziller ; Manager, W. H. Pfahler.

Tanneries .- Samuel A. Atlee, son of Col. Samuel John Atlee, erected a tannery on Shawanese Run near the Lancaster turnpike in 1798, which he sold to William Todd a few years later. He sold to - Houston and Joseph Mifflin. On the 13th day of March, 1835, it was entirely destroyed by fire. It was rebuilt by them, and in a few years they sold out to Andrew John, who sold the property to the Chestnut IIill Iron Ore Company.

John Hollinger erected a tannery on the same run on the north side of the Lancaster turnpike about the year 1868. The establishment is a very large one. Mr. Hollinger also erected an additional currying- shop farther down the stream, at Fourth Street.

The Columbia Water Company was organized under an act of Assembly approved the 29th of May, 1823. William Wright was made president. The company met with but indifferent success, and failed to answer the expectations of the people. In 1858, after being in operation for thirty-four years without making a dividend or furnishing a proper supply of water for domestic use, the company was compelled to make an assignment for the payment of debts, and some time during that year the charter, with franchises and all the property, was sold at public auction to Samuel Shoch for fifteen thousand three hundred and fifty dollars, when a new organization was made.

The new company by an expenditure of more than $100,000 has erected a dam, two large reservoirs, with important improvements, and laid through the streets of Columbia large iron pipes in place of the smaller ones laid by the old company, by which the several steam-engines for the extinguishment of fires and other machinery requiring water can be abundantly supplied as well as the demands for domestic use. A full quantity of excellent water is drawn from natural springs north of the town and also from the Susque- hanna River.

The capital has been enlarged to the sum of $100,000, and the affairs of the company are man- aged by Samuel Shoch, president ; Joseph H. Black, Col. Wm. W. McClure, Samuel Truscott, K. A. Fon- dersmith, James A. Meyers, and W. Latimer Small, directors ; Simon C. May, secretary and treasurer ; W. B. Foeseg, superintendent.

Columbia Gas Company .- By act of Assembly of 10th April, 1851, the Columbia Gas Company was char- tered, and, after erecting suitable buildings, went into

574

HISTORY OF LANCASTER COUNTY.

operation for the purpose of making and supplying gas. Samuel W. Mifflin was elected president, and Amos Slaymaker Green treasurer and secretary. The capital was at first 837,500, but afterwards increased to $60,000, at which it remains. I. G. Hess was at one time president. In 1865, Samuel Shoch was elected president, and still continues in that office. In 1874 the Lowe process of making gas out of oil was intro- duced, by the use of new apparatus and machinery, and thus far has proved an entire success. The gas produced is of the best quality. The company is at present under the management of Samuel Shoch, president ; H. M. North, Samuel Truscott, H. F. Bruner, William W. McClure, Charles HI. Henkle, C. E. Graybill ; Charles H. ITenkle, secretary and treas- urer ; Robert Beecher, superintendent.

Riots .- From the day the manumitted slaves of Isard Bacon and others, of Virginia, located in Co- lumbia (in 1818-19) their numbers were largely iu- creased from that source, and fugitives from human bondage in their flight to a land of freedom-who were not a few-tarried with them, and thus increased the number of colored people to more than a thou- sand. They did all the labor for the lumber mer- chants along the river during the most profitable and busy seasons of the year. This excited the envy and hatred of not a few white people.

Stephen Smith, who was born a slave in Paxton, and was purchased for a limited time (until he ar- rived at the age of twenty-eight years) by Gen. Thomas Boude in 1802, was a bright and intelligent boy, and he soon developed a business talent not easily checked in an ambitious youth. Before he was nineteen years of age Gen. Boude gave him the entire management of his lumber-yard, and in the same year he was clan- destinely married to a beautiful mulatto girl, who re- sided in the family of Jonathan Mifflin. HIe proposed to Gen. Boude to buy the remainder of his servitude, and that gentleman agreed to take one hundred dol- lars. He went to his friend John Barber and told him of his designs, wben that large-hearted gentle- man handed him one hundred dollars. He pur- chased his freedom, and then, with fifty dollars he had saved by doing extra work, he commenced to buy a little lumber and speculate in every venture in which he could turn a penny to profit. His profits increased rapidly until he owned one of the largest lumber-yards along the shore. Ile also invested money in real estate, and whenever a property was offered for sale he was one of the foremost and liveliest bidders. In the height of his prosperity, in 1834, he was served with the following notice:

" You have again assembled yourself among the white people to bid up property, A4 you have been in the habit of doing for a number of yeurs back. You must know that your presence is not agreeable, and the less you appear in the assembly of the whites the better it will be for your black hide, as there are a great many in this place that would think your absence from it a benefit, as you are considered an injury to the real value of property in Columbia. You had better take the hint and leave.

MANY."

To this he gave but little attention. James Wright, William Wright, and John L. Wright promptly of- fered a reward for the detection of the author of this notice. In the spring of 1834 there had been a num- ber of riots in several cities in the Northern States against «the colored people. Excitement ran high everywhere.

On the 11th day of August, 1834, some person or persons broke into Smith's office, which stood on Front Street, a short distance below the round- house, and destroyed his books and papers. This was a great loss to him, but one that he could bear. He stood up manfully for his rights, and did not quail before the men whom he was well assured were en- couraging a clamor against him and invoking mob law. This lawless feeling against a worthy colored man, who was not to be " browbeaten" or driven away by threats of personal violence, was turned against his less courageous colored friends who resided in the northeastern section of the town. On the 16th, 17th, and 18th of August, 1834, a mob drove the col- ored people from their homes and destroyed much of their property. They fled to the hills surrounding the town and to Bethel's Woods for safety, and some of them remained there several days withont shelter or food. David Miller, high sheriff of the county, swore in a large number of "deputies," who went from Lancaster to Columbia and arrested a number of persons supposed to be the leaders in the ricts. They were tried, but none of them were convicted and sent to prison as they deserved to be.

Mr. Smith removed to Philadelphia in 1842, where he engaged in business. He also retained his lumber- yard in Columbia, and gave William Whipple, a col- ored mau, who resided in Columbia, an interest.

First Steamboat on the Susquehanna .- On Sat- urday evening of June 11, 1825, the first steamboat that attempted to navigate the Susquehanna River from its mouth to its source arrived unexpectedly at this place. The following day was spent in taking pleasure-parties to "Big Island," "Goose Island," etc. The citizens turned out in a body to witness the novel sight. The churches were all closed, and the Sabbath-schools presented an array of empty benches. It required several days to bring the boat from the mouth of the river to this point. Between these points the distance is forty-five miles, and the river at Columbia is two hundred and sixty feet higher than the head of tide-water, which is five miles above the mouth of the river. The channel is tortuous and rocky, and at that time it was exceedingly dangerous for any craft to attempt to navigate the stream against the current. Men ran out to the rocks on shore in advance of the boat in canoes, with anchors, to which ropes were attached, and on the bow of the boat the other end of the rope was fastened to a capstan, and the boat was " warped" over the most dangerous places. The boat left Columbia on Tuesday, the 14th of June, 1825, and it required three days to get it

BOROUGH OF COLUMBIA. 1760640

575

through Little Conewago Falls, above the outlet lock, and at Chikis Rock. The citizens of Marietta welcomed its arrival with booming of cannon and fire-works. The boat was taken up the river as far at Wilkesbarre, where the boiler exploded and de- stroyed it.

Asiatic Cholera .- Columbia was suddenly visited by this dreadful disease in September, 1854, and it raged with great fury for ten days, and threatened at the height of the epidemic to destroy the entire population. It was confined entirely to the town, and was altogether one of the most remarkable epi- demics in this country of which history gives any account. The month of August and first week in September of that year was unusually dry and hot. On Thursday, September 7th, a warm wind came across the river from the south, wafting noisome odors, which was supposed to come from the decaying vege- table matter in the river. This was a subject of re- mark, and many citizens thought it foreboded no good for the health of the people. They anticipated malaria only, and never dreamed of the impending danger, which visited the town almost as suddenly and unexpectedly as a bolt of lightning.

When the railroad cars came from Philadelphia in the evening of Sept. 7, 1854, they left a family of emigrants. Two of them were sick, father and son, and they were taken to an unoccupied dwelling on Front Street. Physicians were called to attend them, and they pronounced the disease Asiatic cholera. Two or three citizens waited upon them during the night. The father died in the morning, and the son some time during the day.

No uneasiness was felt on the part of the citizens, and the death of these two emigrants caused but little remark. On Friday, the 8th of September, Francis Bradley, a notary public and worthy citizen, was taken sick suddenly with the disease, and in an bour or two he was a corpse. When Saturday morn- ing, the 9th, dawned it found its citizens in a panic. During Friday night many persons were seized with the disease, and when daylight came long processions of men, with despair or anxiety depicted upon every countenance, were hurrying to the drug-stores or to the physicians. The disease spared neither age or sex, rich or poor, high or low in society, but swept all before it. -

The large list of deaths on Saturday and Sunday attest the severity of the disease. On Sunday the hegira of the citizens commenced, and half of the population fled from the place. Fortunately for them and the country the disease did not spread any far- ther, although there were many cases in Pittsburgh, brought there by some emigrants who came to this country with those that were left with the disease in Columbia. A number of physicians came from other places to assist those here. Several citizens distin- guished themselves by their benevolence and untiring efforts in behalf of the sick. There was one who de-

serves special mention. I refer to Daniel R. Craven, . who volunteered as uurse, and was a most faithful one.1

A number of persons apparently in good health were taken sick suddenly on the street, and in an hour afterwards they were dead. A large number of those whose names we give were taken sick, died, and were buried on the same day. Following is a list of the victims of this epidemic :

Friday, 8th.

Francis Bradley, Front Street.

Saturday.

Robert Spratts, Fourth Street.

Mrs. William Hippey, Cherry Street.

E. A. Howard, Front Street.

Dr. R. E. Cochran, Walnut Street.

J. J. Strickler, Herr's hotel.

John Green, Perry Street.

H. H. Lichty, Locust Street. Samuel Hinkle, Union Street. James Keely, Harkins' tavern. Mrs. S. Lysle, Lanrens Street.

Mrs. Samuel Atkens, Laurens Street.

John Gilbert, Perry Street.

Miss Ano Harnly, Locust Street. Mrs. Stephen Felix, Fourth Street. Mrs. C. David, Union Street.

John Boyd, Locust Street.

Charles Beuner, at Jacob Hardy's, Union Street.

Peter Reailer, Perry Street.

- Weaver, at Minich's tavero. Margaret L. Hagan, Walunt Street. Charles Jackson (colored).

Web-ter Fox (colored).

Mathias Neidinger, Union Street, at Mack's brewery.

Sunday.

Simon Snyder, Front Street, Mrs. J. W. Shuman, Front Street. Mrs. Jacob Crosby, Union Street.

Mrs. llarris, Perry Street.

Mrs. Harriet Hiatoo, Walant Street.

Mis. Rider, Third Street.

Mrs. William Reee, Cherry Street.

Mrs. R. Dick, Second Street.

Andrew Bentz, at G. Brandt's tav- ern.

Lorenzo Krab, Third Street.

Peter Hun's child (colored).

William Carson, Enny's office.

Mrs. Shillo, Thud Street.

Mrs. Eli Derrick, Locust Street. Mrs. Clarissa Richards, Third Street.

Thomas Goodman (colored).

Two Germans and a boy, names ankaown.

Monday.

J. W. Shuman's child, Front Street.

An Englishman, name uoknowo, hospital. Henry Barney (colored). Eliza Stots (colored).

Tuesday.

Robert Irwin, in the country.

John Loucks, hospital.

Samnel Slater, hospital. Henry Bell's son. Mrs. Boyd, Cherry Street.

Evan Green, Front Street.

Henry Davis (colored).

Wednesday.

Henry Smith's son, Locust Street. A. M. Haines, Manor township. George Boyd's child, Cherry Street. John Kingbell, Fourth Street. Mrs. Waltman, at Lancaster. George Beaver's child, Locust Street.

Alwels Leitfinger, hospital.

Samuel Reed's child, Cherry Street. Mrs. Ziegler, Walnut Street.

Mrs. George Plumm, Union Street. A German, onme unknown, hos- pital.

A German and child, names un- known. Stranger, canal basla.

1 Fo the following year, 1855, when the yellow fever visited Norfolk, Va , Dr. J. Clarkson Smith, a brilliant and promising young physician of this place, and Daniel R. Craven volunteered and went to the assist- ance of that city, which sent up a cry for help. In two or three days after their arrival both took the disease sod died the same day.

Richard Costello, Union Street.

Miss Margaret Fisher, Cherry Street.

William Waites, Third Street.

A German, name unknown, hos- pital.

Whitemine Benner, at Lancaster.

Stephen Wikes (colored). William Wye (colored).

Samuel Bough, Front Street.

Mrs. Catharine Swartz, Perry. Bernard Campbell, Union Street. Mrs. Elton Kimburg, Third Street. Juha Miesberger, hospital. Mrs. Payne's child, Walnut Street. Mrs. H. K. Minich, Front Street.

John Kidders, Locust Street. Jesse Harry, Cherry Street. Hannah Wilson, Cherry Street.

576

HISTORY OF LANCASTER COUNTY.

Thursday.

J. W. Shuman's child, Front Street. Anna Parker (colored), hospital. Sarah Hall (colored), hospital. Michael Baker, Walnut Street.

Friday.

William Bell, Perry Street. Mrs. Sweeny, Fourth Street.

William McBride, Third Street.

Mrs. R Wright, Germantown. Mra. Odell, Walnut Street.

Mrs. Hippy, Cherry Street. George Sheneberger, York County. Julin Fotch, hospital. James Brown, Locust Street.

Saturday.

John Craig's child, Cherry Street. Zacharialı Richard, Front Street.

Jeffrey Smedley, Charlestown, Chester Co.

Mre. Evans, corner Fowith and Chenry Streete.

Timothy Toole, hospital. Henty Gormley, Mount Joy.

Sunday.

Samuel Baldwin, Fourth Street. James McKeever, outlet lock.

Mrs. George W. Hinkle, Harris- burg.

Jolin Jordon'schild, Fourth Street.

Monday.

John Kock, St. Charles Furnace. William Pearson, Chestnut Hill. Mrs. Welsh, canal basin.

Sol. Turner (colored).

Tuesday.

Mrs. Lentze, Peques. Leonard Kock, St. Charles. John Shaffer, at Brandt'e. Albert White (boy), canal basin.

Frederick Snyder, Locuet Street.

Wednesday.

Daniel Zahm, Locust Street. Mrs. Jarvis, Locust Street.

Irish woman, canal basin.

Irish child, canal basin.

Bre. Mary Grismeyer, hospital.

Thursday.

John Shuman's child, Front Street. Friday.

Lewis Stross, at Brandt'e. Irish child, canal babin.

-- Tinckle's child, Second Street.

Sunday.

Mre Morrison, Laurene Street. | Jobn Hamilton's boy, canal basin.

Railroad Strike .- In the early part of the summer of 1877 there was a great deal of agitation among railroad employés all over the country. Secret or- ganizations were formed in every town and city bor- dering along the trunk lines of the great railways, which embraced very nearly all employes of the sev- eral railroads, day laborers only excepted. The sev- eral classes of employés had distinct and separate organizations, and worked under various titles, but all had one common object, to wit, the securing of more remunerative wages, and helping each other in case of sickness, etc. The aggregate number belong- ing to these several societies embraced many thou- sands. In July, 1877, the Baltimore and Ollio Rail- road Company declined to accede to a demand made by some of their employes, and the latter suddenly quit work. The news was flashed over every tele- graph wire in the country, and gradually others quit work for this company. The members of the different secret societies sympathized with their friends along the Ballimore and Ohio Railroad, and were carried away by the excitement of the hour, and were drawn into the " strike." There was no outward indication that the storm started in Virginia was about to burst upon the Pennsylvania and Reading Railroad Com- panies.

On Saturday, July 21, 1877, the employés com- menced to " strike" at Harrisburg, and on Sunday, July 22, Columbia received the shock, and the engineers and others refused to permit the moving of any freight trains.

A mass-meeting, composed of railroad employés, numbering several hundred, met on the same evening at the public ground below the bridge. Committees were appointed whose duty it was to obstruct entirely the movement of the rolling-stock of the railroad. A mob of disorderly and disreputable persons took pos- session of the town. Some of them marched around among the farmers and enforced contributions from them for the support of alleged "strikers."

Saloons and taverns were ordered to be closed by the " strikers," and in one or two instances the mob forced some of the grocerymen to give them flour, groceries, and provisions.

The company was at the mercy of the strikers, and they were very much afraid that their property in the borough, which amounted to a million dollars or more, would be destroyed by fire. The danger-point was not passed until the leader and chief conspirator; Truxell, was arrested and taken to jail, which oc- curred on Thursday, July 26th.

Fire Companies .- Just when, where, or by whom the pioneer fire apparatus of the old Columbia Com. pany was purchased we cannot ascertain, as the earliest records are lost or destroyed. However, we find that the company was organized and owned a fire-engine as early as February 27, 1806, and an account of one hundred and fifty dollars having been paid towards its purchase, and the same year eleven dollars was charged by the treasurer as having been paid for re- pairs to the carriage. This is supposed to mean the hose-carriage, though not definitely stated. In 1814, at a reorganization of the company, the following persons were enrolled as members: Samuel Miller, William F. Houston, William B. Hunt, John Wilson, John Haldeman, Michael Elder, William F. Beaty, Joseph Jeffries, John McKissick, Joseph MitHlin, Jacob Williams, Thomas Wright, Thomas M. Mifflin, John Forrey, John Brumfield, Robert W. Houston, C. Brenneman, Dominick Hanghey, E. Green, Amos H; Slaymaker, Benjamin Brubaker, John L. Wright, John Gontner, Jr., James Willson, Jr., John Mathiot, A. B. Breneman, Jolin Greenleaf, Peter Yarnall, John Evans, James Clyde, James Sweeney, Thomas Lloyd, Joshua King, William Wright, James E. Mifilin, Charles N. Wright, Hugh MeCorkill, William Liston, John W. Patton, Israel Cooke, James Collins, Nathan Roberts, Jr., Benjamin Worrell, Henry Martin, Robert Barber, Jacob Mathiot, Casper Peters, John Hippey, Th. A. Willson, Robert Magill, Thomas Trump, John Dicks, William Kirkwood, George W. Gibbons, George Mason, James Todd, George Peters, Christian Halde- man. The engine- and hose-house of this company is located on Locust Street, between Second and Third, and is conveniently and elegantly fitted up for the

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

History of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 7

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