History of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 74

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 74

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Mr. Hambleton was married in 1869 to a daughter of Jeremiah Brown, and granddaughter of Slater Brown, one of the pioneers of Fulton township. In 1876 he moved to hi- unele William Neal's, to eare for him in his declining years, Mrs. Neal having died in 1875.

In 1877, Mr. Neal was, at the. request of relatives, declared a lunatic, and Mr. Hambleton was appointed by the proper authorities to continue the care of him. In the mean time Mr. Hambleton purchased the farm upon which he now resides (formerly owned by the great-grandfather of Mrs. Hambleton ), upon which he has erected the most elegant and sightly buildings in Fulton township. At this place Mr. Neal made his home during the summer season; and at which place he died June 30, 1ss0, in his eighty-eighth year. In the settlement of Mr. Hambleton's accounts as committee of William Neal, he was forced into several years of litigation, which was finally decided in his favor in 1883, by the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania. Mr. Hambleton is one of the wide-awake, enterprising farmers of Fulton, as the general appearance and products of his farm will fully attest. He has three children,-Annie Estelle, William N., and Mary Elsie Hambleton.

ROGER HI. KIRK.

Roger II. Kirk, son of Josiah and Phebe Passinore home, and without money or friends, and no demand | Kirk, was born on the Foth day of the Third month, for the kind of labor he desired, although he was then in the Sierra Nevada Mountain -. He finally obtained work in a saw-mill, where he remained two months, when at the urgent request of the directors of the school he had left in Warren County, Ohio, he returned to teaching again, much improved in health. Ile remained here a teacher until 1861, when he went to MeLean County, Ill .; to assist his brother in the improvement of a prairie farm, where he remained 1815. His parents having died when he was very young, Roger was apprenticed to a miller. After fin- ishing his trade he followed the business for a num- ber of years. ITe married Deborah Brown, daughter of Levi and Hannah Brown, of Fulton township, Lancaster Co., and subsequently moved to that por- tion of Fulton township, Lancaster Co., known as " Pleasant Grove," appropriately named from its beauty, fertility, and picturesque surroundings, two

866

HISTORY OF LANCASTER COUNTY.

miles distant from the Susquehanna River. By in- dustry and good taste he has acquired the beautiful farm which is his present home.

IIe took an active part in the erection of the Con- owingo bridge, which spans the Susquehanna, connect- : ing Cecil and Harford Counties, Md. He was instru- mental in organizing a banking company at Oxford, Chester Co., Pa., soon after the completion of the Baltimore Central Railroad. He has taken an active part in many enterprises in this flourishing village, and has many personal interests in it. His children are Levi B., Lewis H., Merey A., and Hattie B. II. Deborah, wife of Roger H. Kirk, died 28th of Seventh month, 1879.

CHAPTER LVII.

EAST HEMPFIELD TOWNSHIP.I

Natural Features .- The township is well adapted for cultivation. "Chestnut Hill" suddenly termi- nates in the eastern section of the township. The . to dispose of the same. land upon it has generally been divided into small farms, which produce per acre, perhaps, as much grain as is grown in the rich limestone valleys upon either side of it. The land in the valleys is gently rolling and easily cultivated. A number of small streams flow into Little Conestoga Creek, which forms the eastern boundary of the township, and they supply an abundance of water to every farm through which they pass. A portion of the township also borders " TO FFRD IS TAYIOR upon Big Chikis Creek, in the northwestern section .. The water shed of at least three-fourths of its surface inclines to the Conestoga. Its area is fourteen thou- sand one hundred and forty-five acres.

Hempfield was one of the original townships, and was thus named from the large quantities of hemp grown. ל

Its boundaries were as follows : " Beginning at the mouth of Conestoga, thence up the Susquehannah to Chickasalunga ; thence up the said Creek to Peter's Road by the Log Cabins; thence to Little Conestoga, and down the same to the ' Manor' line; and thence down the said line to Great Conestoga, and down the same to the place of beginning."

As described, it embraced the present territory of East and West Hempfield and Manor townships. Along its western boundary there were several In- dian towns, a description of which will be found under the head of " Manor and Columbia."

The " Manor" was surveyed and laid out by J. Taylor in 1716, and contained seventeen thousand acres. None of this land was divided and sold to ac- tual settlers for more than sixteen years after it was laid out into a manor, with the exception of five hun- dred acres surveyed for the Conestoga Indians, and

one thousand acres between that place and the Con- estoga. A more extended description will be found under the head of " Manor township."

It was impossible for Mr. Taylor, the surveyor of Chester County, to keep up with the advancing tide of emigration. Many futile attempts were made by the loan commissioners and Penn's agents to prevent set- tlers from locating or squatting npon unsurveyed land. They complained that a number of Germans, upon their arrival in Philadelphia, hastened to the back parts of Chester County and took up land near their countrymen withont first procuring a warrant of sur- vey. As we advance farther in our history we find that in many instances several generations had passed away before patents were issued and confirmation deeds made for land taken up by Germans, who neg- lected to take the oath of allegiance and comply with the conditions imposed by the loan commissioners.

These were, however, only exceptional cases. The only inconvenience which arose from this irregularity was the inability of such settlers or their descendants to convey a clear title to their land when they chose

John Funk and Christian Herr, two of the pioneers of the Swiss Menuonites, who were ever active in be- half of their friends and countrymen, were always on the alert to select and locate their friends upon desirable land, in communities of a dozen or more upon contiguous tracts. The following throws some light upon their manner of proceeding :

" PHILADA. 27th 7th: 1717

"John flunk & Christian Herr applyed yesterday on behalf of their Countrymen that are loudly arrived fini several parcels of land near their settlements but before I could have the consent of the Commissioners the time is so far spent that I cannot get the Warrants ready being just taking horse for Duck Creek, however thy design of being upou survey- ing thereabouts in so little time as thou mentioned when here. Thon may lay out for the following pelsous the several parcels of land inder- mentioned (viz)

for Peter Leman & Henry ffunk 5 or 600 acres

Abraham Herr 3 or 400

Hans Popather ( Brubakeri. 4 or

500

Hans Papather, Jacob Pupather, & Peter Swar

Christian Hershey ...

400

Hans Tubwt.

300

Woulrich Houser

200

Hans Burkbuhler. 700

Michael Shank.

700

Henry Pare (Bate) .. 500

" The Ware's for ve above lands will be ready in the office, and it is again ordered by the Commissioner, that no Return or Survey be made to any body without then Bonds tuken at the same time,

"J. Logan says his coming up will be very uncertain. So wishing thee bealth atul success in the woods when there,

" I renmin thy Loving ffriend

"JAMES STEEL

" Thou need not insist on these mens bouds, because they are to pay down their money without delay."

The plan of the surveys of the land for these parties, hereto annexed, was made late in the fall of 1717, from which it will be seen that some additions were made to the names as set forth in Mr. Steel's letter. Melchoir Erisman, Christian Stoneman, and Isaac Kauffman, whose names appear upon the lower part of the draft, evidently settled along the banks of

1 By Sumuel Evans, Esq.

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EAST HEMPFIELD TOWNSHIP.

Little Conestoga at the time the other parties came. Their close relationship and family ties, as developed hereafter, seem to indicate that they came from the same place and at the same time. Farther np Little Conestoga Creek, and upon the west side, a few years later the following-named persons settled: Hans Adam Lephart, John and Michael Niseley, John, Isaac, Martin, and Jacob Kauffman, and others.

A majority of those we have named settled upon land which lies in the township cut off and now known as East Hempfield. The township is bounded on the north by Big Chikis Creek and the line of the old Peter's road (which has been closed for many years), upon the east by Little Conestoga Creek, which forms the boundary line between it and Man- heim and Lancaster townships, upon the south by the Lancaster and Columbia turnpike, as far west as the point where the run crosses the same, nearly a mile east of Mountville. This also forms the division line between it and Manor township. On the west it is bounded by West llempfield township and Big Chikis Creek.

Early Settlers .- Hance Brubaker located near the west bank of Little Conestoga, and his land extended on both sides of the creek, and lay principally be- tween the Lancaster and Harrisburg and Lancaster and Marietta turnpikes. He also owned one hundred and fifty-one acres where the Lancaster and Columbia turnpike crosses the same stream. Upon this tract he erected a grist and saw-mill, which was contem- poraneous with the one erected by Dr. Nell' five miles further east upon Big Conestoga.

On the 27th day of September, 1717, Hance Bru- baker and Christian Hershey took out a warrant for one thousand aeres, which they held as tenants in common. In the year 1718 they agreed to divide the above traet, the former to take the lower half, con- taining five hundred acres, and the latter the upper five hundred acres. On the 13th day of May, 1729, he soll the mill and the lower farm of one hundred and fifty acres to Christian Stoneman (at the time of his decease, however, he owned nearly eight hundred acres), Jacob, the son of Hance, having married Susannah, the sister of Stoneman.

Hans Brubaker died in 1748, and left a widow {his second wife), Anna. He married his first wife in Germany, where his children by her were born. They were John, Jacob, and Elizabeth. John mar- ried the first time Maria Newcomer, and the second Mary Doner, of Lancaster. His children by his first wife were John, 1752, married Anna Eby ; Ann, 1753, married Hans Myers, of Ephrata ; Maria, mar- ried Hans Baer, who lived at Hanover Creek ; Jacob, 1758, settled on Hanover Creek, removed to Keller's mill, in Cocalico township ; Magdalena, married Henry Bruckhart, and removed to Virginia, but re- turned to this county ; Elizabeth, 1764-1803, married Christian Martin ; Fanny, 1766-1824 ( Bomberger), who settled in Warwick township; Barbara, 1768-

1846, married Alexander Martin, who lived in Mount Joy township.

Jacob, son of lance, married Susannah Stoneman. They had a son Jacob. Jacob, first spoken of, re- ceived one hundred and sixty-one acres of the lower part of his father's land, to which he added five other tracts of contiguons land by purchase, amount- ing to four hundred and forty acres. For convenience he exchanged seventy-four and one-fourth of an acre for sixty-two and three-fourths of an acre, with Ben- jamin llershey, the son of Christian Hershey. Part of this land is now owned and occupied by his de- seendants.

Elizabeth Brubaker married Daniel Eshleman, and had two children, Daniel and Benjamin. Daniel Eshleman married the second time Magdalena -, by whom he had several children. He died in March, 1749.

llance Brubaker, by his second wife, had a large family, to wit: Abraham, Peter, Daniel, who married the first time Feronica Tauner, second time the widow of Peter Eby. His children were John, remained in Warwick, and purchased fifty acres from his uncle John ; Daniel removed to Heidelburg, Lebanon Co .; Ann married Michael Greybill. He settled along Hammer Creek, and in 1765 he purchased from his youngest brother, Christian, one hundred and fifty acres ; a number of his descendants reside there. Henry ; Joseph, who married Elizabeth, the widow of Jacob Downer, deceased in 1752, and the daughter of John Woolslagle; David; and Christian, the young- est son, who was a minor in 1760; and Ann, who mar- ried Abraham Buckwalter, and left a large family.

Hance Brubaker was a man of strong common sense. His wife, Anna (" Annally"), survived him. He must have been very much attached to lier, and when he came near the end of his journey through life he gave particular directions to his children that they were not to drive-his widow from her home if she chose to marry again, and she was free to do so. This was an unusual request, for it was then the custom to deprive the widow of the full enjoyment of the homestead if she married. lle also directed that the oldest son should receive no more of his estate than his youngest son. It was then the custom for the oldest son to receive two shares. It did honor to the old man's head and heart, in his declining years, that he was willing to allow his widow to follow the path- way where love led him a second time, and accord her the stumne privilege after he had ended his pil- grimage upon earth. This plain and unostentatious old German was quick to perceive the injustice of the old law in making a discrimination in favor of the oldest sou, and he was wise in following the dictates of his judgment.

llis children carried out his wishes faithfully. A> before stated, Hance Brubaker and Christian Hershey agreed to make an equitable division of their land, but before titles were executed Mr. Hershey died,

868

HISTORY OF LANCASTER COUNTY.

and some years later Mr. Hershey's eldest son died, before the actual division was made. From Hance | fifteen or twenty acres from James Anderson and Brubaker's sons, if the roll was called, would number many hundred descendants of the name. divided it into builling lots along the northeastern boundary of Marietta. Upon the plan of the town it is marked "Long's Addition."

Jacob Brubaker, the eldest brother of Hance, and their friend and countryman, Peter Swarr, had ad- vanced and paid the purchase-money on one thousand acres to Hans, to whom the commissioner> issued a warrant in his name. This was an inadvertent error. The land was occupied by the respective parties as tenants in common. The legal division of the prop- was made by their children after the principals had gone to their long home.

Those pioneer Mennonites, John Herr and Martin Kendig, in 1730 took up one hundred and twenty- four acres of land for Jacob Brubaker, about one mile due southwest from the present village of New Provi- dence, near Big Beaver Creek. Ile also took up sev- eral hundred acres of land in Manor township in 1737, about two miles above the mouth of Little Conestoga. Ile left three sons, Peter, Jacob, and John.

John Brubaker was the first constable of Hempfield township. He rendered valuable aid to the sheriff and the proprietors in quelling the disturbances on the west side of the river, caused by Cresap and others. He was one of the first persons who gave information to John Wright and Samuel Blunston, Esq., of the overt acts of Cresap and his cousins, the Lowes, in killing the stock of James Patterson and others. This was in 1732, shortly after which he moved to Hammer Creek.

Christian Hersbey came with the Brubakers. He was also a Mennonite. He was the head of a long line of descendants, who retain the name and are scattered over a number of States. When he came, joined his other land upon the southwest. He left in 1717, he was well advanced in years and his chil- dren were grown up. He died in 1729 and left a widow, "Oade," and three children, Benjamin, An- drew, and Ann, who married Herman Long.

Benjamin was a Mennonite preacher. He married Magdalena, a daughter of Ulrich Rhode. He resided upon the homestead farm. Their children were Ben- jamin, Elizabeth ( Landes), Mary ( Nell').

Andrew (1702-92), also a Mennonite preacher, took up five hundred acres of land east of Big Chikis Creek and south of the Lancaster and Harrisburg turnpike, in West Hempfield township. He married and had two sons, Christian, a preacher, who lived in Manor, and Andrew, who married Magdalena Bachman. In 1768, Christian Hershey, of Manor, bought two hun- dred acres of land from James Ewing, the son of Thomas Ewing, on the west side of Little Chikis | grist and saw-mill and twenty aeres of land belong- Creek, and'along the Marietta and Lancaster turn- Cing to the saure, which lay upon the Manor side. pike.

Ann Hershey, who married Herman Long, was the mother of eleven children, John, Christian, Herman, Abraham, Joseph, Jucob, Benjamin, Martin, Am (Hoffinan), Elizabeth (Landes), and Samuel. Ben-

jamin was a large landholder. The latter purchased

Christian Stoneman was one of the Mennonite pio- neers who came to America with the Brubakers. In 1729, Hans Brubaker sold his mill and lower farm, upon which it was erected, containing one hundred and fifty acres. to Mr. Stoneman. This mill was erected along Little Conestoga Creek, at a point where a road leading from the Susquehanna River to Conestoga crossed. For the convenience of travelers and customers who carried their grist to his mill, Mr. Stoneman erected a bridge over the creek at his mill, which was completed in 1730. He continued to carry on milling at this place for more than twenty years. He was an exemplary member of the Society of Men- nonites. On the 31st day of August, 1750, he con- veyed one acre of land upon his farm to John Jacob Brubaker and Ulrich Roadt, elders and trustees for the Society of Mennonites, upon which they had already built a meeting-house, and for a burying- ground. It adjoined the lands of Melchior and John Miers, and stood near the Columbus turnpike, upon the Abbeville farm, in Lancaster township.

There is nothing to mark the spot where this meet- ing-house stood except a few neglected graves upon Mr. Hager's farm, near his barn, in Lancaster town- ship. In the year 1791 the building was removed to the land of one of the Brubakers about a mile northeast of Rohrerstown, and in East Hempfield township. The present meeting-house succeeded the former one. Mr. Stoneman also purchased sixty- nine acres in " Andrew Hamilton Manor," which ad- six children, namely : Elizabeth, Susannah, Maria, John, Christian, and Jacob, Elizabeth married John Newcomer, of Hempfield; Susannah married Jacob Brubaker; Maria married Christian Hershey.

On the 9th day of January, 1755, the three daugh- ters above named sold the grist- and saw-mill and the , one hundred and fifty acres to John Stoner, who died in 1760. His administrator conveyed the property to his son John, who erected a new grist-mill in 1767 of stone, and a large double stone dwelling-house. Some additions were made to the mill in 1755 by Jacob Kauffman. This John Stoner's wife's name was Barbara. Benjamin Bear, of Hempfield, and Henry Musser, of Lancaster borough, executors of the estate of the latter, on July 10, 1790, conveyed to Christian Stoner, " miller," of Manor township, the

John Stoner, a brother of Christian, got the residue of Stoneman's one hundred and fifty acres, which laid in Lancaster township. John left three children,- Christian, John, and Catharine.

John, Tobias, and Christian Stoneman probably

869

EAST HEMPFIELD TOWNSHIP.

belonged to the same family. The former settled in Conestoga township about the same time that Chris- tian settled on the Little Conestoga Creek. This name has entirely disappeared from the annual assessment-roll, although there are many descendants scattered throughout the county who are now known as Stayman, Stehman, Steyman, ete.

Peter Swarr was also a Swiss Mennonite, and came to America in 1717 with the Brubakers. His propor- tion of the one thousand acres of land taken up by Hans Brubaker lay at the extreme upper end, along Swarr's Run, and was known as Kanthnan's Run a number of years ago, and thus named on Scott's map published more than sixty years ago. This land lay along the King's Highway, which led from the Pax- tang Indian town (now Harrisburg) to the Conestoga (now Lancaster City ). He erected a grist- and saw- mill upon Swarr's Run; his son John erected a brick-mill upon the same ground in the year 1778. He employed the Hessian prisoners at Lancaster borough to do the work. Skilled labor was very . scarce at this time, and he employed these prisoners in the absence of other help. In the latter part of December, 1763, when the "Paxton Boys" destroyed the Conestoga Indian town, a number of the lu- dians were absent, several of whom on that fatal De- cember morning were at Peter Swarr's. They had been for a few days in that neighborhood selling and bartering brooms and baskets with the farmers.

They and several other scattering members of this tribe were taken to the work-house in Lancaster borough for protection, which only proved to be a trap and enabled their enemies more easily to accom- plish their deadly work.

In 1718 wargants of survey were issued to Michael Kauffman for five hundred and thirty acres of land at Chikis Creek. The laud was divided and patent- issued to his children, and in 1734 a patent was is- sued to John Kauffman for two tracts of land contain- ing several hundred acres. Henry Musselman and George Shellaberger owned the adjoining land. About a mile northeast of John Kanftman's tract Michael Kaufman had a farm of one hundred and thirty-eight acres, and Martin Kauffinan adjoined on the south with two hundred and forty-two acres, and Isaac and Jacob Kauffinan owned the land on the cast side of Martin Kauffman, John and Michael Niseley owned farms on the south side of Martin's land.

These farms embraced the land along Kauffman's Run and the valley southeast of Landisville. They were all pioneer settlers, and located in the valley in 1718 and 1720. Some of their descendants reside upon and own some of the lands. A number have moved to the West, where they are in prosperous circum- stances.

Michael Baughman was one of the most enterpris- ing of the German land speculators in the county. Ilis name first appears upon the records of the loan- office about the year 1730. On the 4th day of June, 1734, he took up one hundred and sixty acres -on Middle Creek, and in 1738 four hundred and forty- nine acres more along the same creek at a Dutch settlement, And in the same year he took up thirty- one acres at his great spring in Manheim township. He took up a number of other tracts of land in Leb- anon township and also in Conestoga Manor.

The following letter throws some light upon the manner in which some of the land was disposed of by the proprietors :

" MAY 23, 1738

" FRA JOHN TAYLOR.

"I desire thee to survey to Michael Baughman the quantity of 100 acies & allowance &c. in the County of Lancaster, on the tertus mien- tioned in the lately proposed Lottery scheme , and make return thereof lu me.

" BENJA EASTBURN."

In 1738, Baugluman also took up four hundred aeres along Chikis Creek, where Roody Boehme lived. The Hon. Benjamin Champneys married a Miss Bachman, a descendant of the family. There are few of the family who now retain the name and reside within. the county.

Jacob Neff, Sr., was a son of Daniel Neff and a descendant of Francis Neff, brother of Dr. Hans Neff. He died in 1798, leaving a widow, Elizabeth, It seemed to have been a providential circumstance that they were absent from their village on that event- a few weeks. and eleven children, viz. : John, Jacob, who got farm adjoining Swarr's and Tobias Miller's ; Barbara, mar- ful night, but their span of life was only lengthened ! ried, first, to Abraham Meyer; Anna (Swarr), Eliz- abeth (Miller), Susanna ( Ruth), Magdalena (Sehner ), Catharine (Cassel), Polly, and Henry.

John Huber, Esq., died in 1803, and left his wife, Ann, and Christian, Mary (Steman), Elizabeth ( Bach- man), and Anna (Steman.) John Huber built a grist-mill on Little Conestoga prior to the Revolu- tionary war, which wors burned down in 1797. Chris- tian rebuilt it in 1798. The mill is now owned by Mary and Barbara Hamaker. The stone mansion- house is one of the largest and most substantial build- ings in the county: The Hubers built it in 1769. There were one hundred and seventy acres connected with the mill, which lay in East Hempfield and Manor townships.

Hans Peter Sunny, Sr., a Palatinate Mennonite exile, arrived at Philadelphia in 1733, on the brigan- tine " Richard and Elizabeth," commanded by Capt. Christopher Olymer, with family, consisting of wife and sons, Hans Jacob, Hans Peter, Jr., Otto Fritz, Hans Michael, and Johannes. The two latter were minors. Two of the sons settled in the Catawba Val- ley, North C'arolina, where descendants still live. The Rev. George Summy, of Covington, Ky., is a de- seendant of this branch. Johannes and Hans Jacob settled in Lancaster County. The descendants of the former are in Somerset and Westmoreland Counties, i this State, and in Jo Daviess County, II. Hans Jacob

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History of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 74

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