History of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 84

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 84

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Graeff's Tavern .- A large two-story stone tavern was built by George Graeff, Esq., on the north side of Conestoga Creek, due south of Lancaster, and at a point where the extension of South Queen Street crosses the creek, at the close of the Revolutionary war. Prior to this time the fording of the creek was not at this point, but farther up and down the stream.

In the spring of 1807, Henry Slaymaker, Esq., of Lancaster, erected a county bridge, which was a stone arch one, for eleven thousand dollars at this point, which made this tavern a valuable stand, and when the Conestoga Creek was made navigable from its mouth to this point its importance and value was further increased.

It fairly ranked with Witmer's tavern a few miles above, which did not have the additional advantage of the trade brought by the " slack water navigation." Although this tavern, has declined in importance for some years, it is still a valuable property. The town- ship elections are held at this tavern, and have been for some years.

Abbeville Institute .- Langdon Cheves and his wife Elizabeth, on the 3d -lay of April, 1830, resold seventy-three acres of his country-seat to William Coleman; who, for the sum of ten thousand dollars paid on the Ist day of October, 1835, sold the same to the board of trustees of Abbeville Institute.

Dr. Muhlenberg, D.D., took charge of this school, and while under his management it ranked among Elizabeth married Christian Snyder, and had i the best in the State. For several years it was well

910

HISTORY OF LANCASTER COUNTY.

patronized by its friends in Lancaster City and Colum- bia and elsewhere.

After Dr. Muhlenberg was called to take charge of a college at Flushing, L. I., the school declined rapidly. Some of the most prominent members of the Lancaster bar owe something of their success to what they were taught at this school. The late Wil- liam E. Barber, E-q., a prominent lawyer of the West Chester bar, was a graduate from this school.

On April 6, 1840, Samuel Bowman, D. D., John L. Atlee, M.D., Thomas E. Franklin, attorney-at-law, George W. Hamersly, editor and publisher of the Lancaster Examiner, and Thomas F. Potter, trustees of this institute, sold the school buildings and tarm of seventy-three acres to the Hlon. Alexander L. Hayes, who sold the same to John Kelley, who sold to the Gonters, who sold to Christopher Hager.

Wagner's Academy for Boys was organized in 1874. It is located on the north side of the Lancas- ter and Columbia turnpike, about half a mile west from Lancaster. The academy is under Catholic control, and is attended by a number of students from abroad. It was established by Professor J. II. B. Wagner, who is now an attorney at the Lancaster bar.

Internal Improvements .- The Philadelphia and Lancaster turnpike, the Lancaster and Columbia turnpike, the Laneaster and Marietta turnpike, the Lancaster and Miller-ville turnpike, the Rockville turnpike, the Stumptown turnpike, and the Cones- toga Slackwater Navigation (now out of use) have given the citizens of the township unusual facilities for getting their produce to Lancaster market.

The Millersville Railroad and Quarryville Rail- road pass through this township also. (See chapter | three stories high, and to erect a dwelling-house near

on internal improvements.)

JUSTICES OF THE PEACE.

Caspar Nouman, April 14, 1840. Jacob Eisenberget April 15, 1845. Charles Thon, April 13, 1847. Charles Thon, April, 1875

Williamu Carpenter, April, 1872.

George J. High, April, 1>74.

Harris Boardman, May 23, 1859. llarris Bontdinan, April 12, 1-61. Albert E. Carpenter, IstiG.

Hurum G. West, Aput, 1876.

Charles Thon, 1877.

H D. Rohrer, 1877

Ilarris Boardman, April, 1883.

B Sentier Hess, 1878.

Jolin Jolins, April, 1sti9. Jehu Johns, April, 1871.

Samuel D. Bausman, 1882. W. 11 Inman, Is83.

Justices from 1811 to 1840 are found in District No. 2, civil list of county.

Graff's Town was laid out by Sebastian Graff (who bought Dr. Hans Nell's land) in 1738. It was laid ont along the road which led from Lancaster to Dr. Nefl's Ford, and adjoined the eastern boundary of the borough (now city ). It consisted of twenty-five | blacksmith-shop, four brick houses, one story high. lots, which were subject to ground-rent. In the year 1776 there lived in the village Peter Werl, Jacob Heininger, Simon Herman, Frederick Bader, George Sandal, Jacob Sando, Christian Keller, Casper Mayer, and Ludwig Fritz.

where this quaint village stood. The only object of interest in the place was a beautiful spring, which supplied the inhabitants with water. It may prop- erly be classed among the lost towns of the county.

Humesville grew up around the " Old Factory," and was peopled principally with those who worked in the factory. After that establishment languished and went into decay, all life left the village, and it is · a mere hamlet now. The city is gradually but surely growing up to it. It was thus named from James Ilumes, one of the proprietors of the factory.

Manufactures .-- In 1805, Jacob Miller purchased the old mill and water-power, and one hundred and fifty-nine acres of land from John Swarr, which was part of the Francis Nell' property. On the 28th day of March, 1812, an agreement was made between Jacob Miller, who resided upon and owned the farm and mills, and Samuel White, dry-goods merchant, Lan- caster, James Humes, who owned a fulling-mill on Mill Creek, near the crossing of the Philadelphia and Lancaster turnpike, and now owned by the es- tate of Eshleman, James Houston, cashier of the Branch Bank of Pennsylvania, located at the corner of West King Street and Prince, in Lancaster City, and now owned by the Hon. Anthony E. Roberts, and Joseph Ogilby, Jr., who associated themselves as Jacob Miller & Co., in the business of carding, etc., for the period of ten years and six months.

Each of the parties paid upon the day the agree- ment was made into a common fund the sum of one thousand dollars, and agreed to pay an additional sum of three thousand dollars each. Jacob Miller agreed to erect, at his own cost, a mill-house of stone near his saw-mill, sixty feet long by fifty feet wide, the mill-house, and also a stable. The dwelling was to accommodate thirty-five persons, each above the age of ten years, in addition to any family it may be rented to.

The other parties agreed to pay Mr. Miller six per cent. on the cost of building, which were erected, but before their completion an act of incorporation was granted, and on the 15th day of September, 1815, Jacob Miller, Matthias Waddle, Samuel White, James Humes, Joseph Ogilvie, Jr., and James Hous- ton, doing business as Jacob Miller & Co., released to the manufacturing company one four-story stone mill, one one-story brick house, erected for a weaving- shop, one log and frame house, one story high, one frame house, two stories high, one stone house, two stories high, one one-story frame house, a frame

These works were situated on the west side of the Conestoga Creek, a short distance beyond the limits of the southeastern seetion of the city. The war with England created a great demand for domestic mann- factures, extraordinary prices were realized, every species of property became inflated, which set the

The dwellings were one-story log, a few weather- boarded. But one house remains to mark the place | people wild, and they entered into speculations of

Philips Hausman

LANCASTER TOWNSHIP.

911

all kinds. This company increased its facilities for manufacturing, and seemed to be on the high road of permanent prosperity. A number of new dwellings were erected, every one was busy, and seemed to be in a great hurry with their work. A revulsion in business came, and disaster followed in the wake of what seemed to be one of the most promising business enterprises ever started in the county.

A society was formed in Lancaster called the "American Society of the County of Lancaster, for the promotion of domestic manufactures and national industry." A public meeting was held in the court- house on the 14th day of May, 1817. Robert Cole- man was elected chairman ; William Kirkpatrick, vice-president ; James Humes, secretary ; and Adam Reigart and Samuel White, counselors and committee of correspondence. Many persons apprehended a! crash in business, which seemed to be pending, and this movement was intended to avert it if possible.

water-power of Conestoga Creek, but in addition use steam-power also.

Population .- The population of Lancaster town- ship since 1810 has been as follows:

1810 592 1850 811

1820 ....

7.10

1830.

735

1×70

1002

1840.

509

1880

1261

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

PHILIP BAUSMAN.

His paternal grandparents, Henry and Barbara Bausman, in Laubersheim, Germany, were farmers and vine-dressers, and there both died. One son, Andreas (1778-1868), remained in Germany, where he died. Another son, John, father of our subject, born in Laubersheim, on the west side of the Rhine, The factory company was doomed. On the 30th day of July, 1818, the entire works, including twenty- five aeres of land, were sold by the sheriff. There were twenty-eight hundred spindles. This property was purchased by a new company called the Lancaster Cotton-Works, who offered the property for sale July 30, 1818. On Jan. 30, 1519, James Humes, agent for the Laneaster Manufacturing Company, advertised a large assortment of domestic goods. Feb. 5, 1780, being drafted into the French army, refused to fight against his own countrymen, fled his country, came to America, and settled in Lancaster County with his uncle in 1802. His unele, Andreas Bausman, from Germany, settled in Lancaster County, Pa., near Lancaster City, in 1755, purchased three hundred and seventeen acres of land on what is now the Millersville turnpike, for which he paid sev- enteen hundred guilders (six hundred and eighty dol- In the year 1820 the Conestoga Manufacturing Company elected directors. Their capital stock was increased to $500,000. The board of directors were John Swarr, president ; Henry Bear, Ilenry Keffer, Samuel White, James Houston, William Diekson, Christian Herr, Jr., Joseph Ogilby, Jr., John Bomberger, Benjamin Ober, James IFumes, Henry Huffnagle, Christian Stouffer, Jr., Henry Cassel, and Christian Rohrer. lars), and had in 1802 obtained a large competency in real estate and other property. John Bausman inherited a large part of this estate upon the death of his unele, and was his executor, with ex-Sheriff John Reitzel. He married, April 4, 1805, Elizabeth, sister of Hon. Abraham Peters, of Manor township, the first president of the State Normal School at Millers- ville. She was born Dec. 19, 1779; and died Dec. 18, 1851. He died Nov. 20, 1861. Soon after his mar- These efforts to place the establishment on the |riage he settled on a part of the Andreas Baus- road to stycess were failures, and a great deal of money was sunk in it.

The name was changed frequently, but it was better known as flumes' Factory.

man property, now the homestead of ITenry Baus- man, his son, where he reared his family, and after he quit farming he removed to the Andreas Bausman homestead. Andreas Bausman built a spring-house For a number of years the works were idle, and everything was permitted to go into decay. on the homestead in 1775, which remains in 1883, with other relies of the "olden time." He was a A few years ago the large four-story stone mill was burned down, and nothing remains standing but the bare walls. farmer and distiller, and it is said of him that in marketing his rum at Pitt-burgh the distance was made with horses or mules, loaded with two casks A few of the quaint one-story houses remain, but their walls look dirty and everything around them is neglected. of rum, one on each side of the horse's back. John Bau-man was also a farmer and distiller, and added to the property received from his unele, which was Levan's Flour- and Woolen-Mill is located on the bank of the Conestoga, about one mile south of the ! dren of John and Elizabeth Bausman are Andrew divided among his children at his death. The chil- (1806-1875), a farmer in Manor township ; John (1808- 1848); 'Abraham, born Dee. 26, 1810, a farmer in Large additions were made by him, and a woolen-mill | Manor township; Jacob, born Oet. 12, 1812, banker in Lancaster City; Samuel, born Feb. 23, 1815, a

city limits. It was built by John Levan about twenty- ; eight years ago, and was first used as a grist-mill alone. added. It is now owned by John Levan & Son. The mill is a four-story brick, measuring about fifty by ; farmer in Lancaster township; Elizabeth, born March one hundred feet, and is the largest grist- and fulling- 11, 1817, wife of Henry Haverstick, of Manheim mill in the county. They not only use the entire | township; llenry, born Feb. 22, 1819, before men-

912

HISTORY OF LANCASTER COUNTY.

tioned, on the homestead; Philip, born May 30, 1821, ; the homestead farm, where he has ever since lived in subject of this sketch ; and Rev. Benjamin Bausman, . retirement. D.D., a graduate of Marshall College, and of the ! At different times he served in important offices, Western Theological Seminary in 1852, a minister of . having been director of the Farmers' National Bank the Reformed Church at Reading, Pa.

of Lancaster, school director for a term of fifteen years in lancaster township, and he is at present on the board of managers and one of the superintendents of the Lancaster and Millersville Street Railway, and one of the managers of the Manor Turnpike Com- pany.

Philip Bansman obtained a practical education during his minority. He married, March 15, 1859, Mary S., daughter of David Herr and Susan Shenk, of Lancaster township, and granddaughter of Chris- tian Herr. Their children are Susan; Andrew Frantz, a stock-dealer in Lancaster with Levi Sen- Though retired to private life, Mr. Bausman is always active, either in the arena of business or in keeping a careful supervision over his beautiful farm. His success in life is due to the sterling traits of char- acter which he exercised since his youth. Unassum- ing and genial in manners, he is held in highest esteem by all who know him. His children are John A., senior member of the firm of Bausman & Burns, in- surance and real estate, Lancaster; Henry D., a farmer on the homestead; Mary, wife of Isaac Ranek, a mil- senig; John H., and David H. Bausman. Philip Bansman succeeded to the homestead formerly owned by Andreas Bausman, upon the death of his father, and carried on farming there until 1879, when he erected his present substantial and elegant briek resi- dence upon a commanding site on the opposite side of the street, the Millersville turnpike, which will rank favorably with the best modern residences of Lancaster City and County. He has served as school director and treasurer of the board for a number of , ler on the Big Conestoga, near Lancaster; Annie, years, as a director of the Farmers' Bank of Lan- caster, and on the board of auditors for the township of Lancaster. The family of Bausman is identified with the First Reformed Church of Laneaster, of which Mr. Bausman has served officially as deacon, and is now an elder. wife of John E. Hershey, of Lancaster township; Samuel D., of the firm of Shenk & Bausman, insur- ance, Lancaster ; Benjamin F., a graduate of Frank- lin and Marshall College in the class of '80, and of the Reformed Theological Seminary at Lancaster in the class of '83; and Walter J. Bausman, educated at Franklin and Marshall College, and organist and chorister of St. Mary's Episcopal Church, Buffalo, N. Y.

The facilities which Samuel Bausman had for an education were limited, and he could only avail him- self of a common-school training. In early life he connected himself with the First Reformed Church of Lancaster, where he served for many years as dea- con, and afterwards as elder. In more recent years he held both the office of trustee and elder in the Reformed Church at Millersville.

In 1841 he married Miss Elizabeth Doner, a daugh- ter of Jolin Doner, a farmer, who resided near Lan- caster, on the Philadelphia turnpike. Her paternal grandfather was one of the three brothers who came from France, and together were the progenitors of the long line of Doners which spread over Lebanon, . Creek, and one mile south of Lancaster City. Here Cumberland, and Lancaster Counties, and into the Western States.

Mr. Bausman assumed control, as his portion of | will Jacob Huver, before-mentioned, obtained the

his father's estate, of the fine farm of one hundred

and twenty-five acres in the suburbs of Lancaster, I and erected the present brick residence, commanding lying along the Millersville turupike, which is still i a fine view of the river and opposite hill-side, in

owned by him, but occupied at present by his son Henry. He erected the house and barn thereon, together with many other buildings, including spa- cious tobacco-barns for his extensive tobacco cul- ture.

Through industry, integrity of purpose, and a sound judgment in the affairs of business he attained a good degree of prosperity. It was about the year 1857 that he purchased an adjoining farm, known as the Brenner estate, which he sold a few years ago to S. S. Spencer and J. C. Hager, of Lancaster.| In 1873 he built the commodious residence opposite |

MICHAEL L. HUVER.

llis paternal grandfather, Jacob Huber (now spelled Huver), died at Adamstown, Lancaster Co., leaving a widow and three children,-Jacob, Anna, and Susau. The widow, Susan Hess, married Michael Kreider, and about 1800 settled with her family on one hundred and fifty acres of land lying on the west side of the Conestoga, at the confluence of Mill

she died in 1836, aged seventy years. Mr. Kreider died about 1827, at nearly the same age, and by his

property. Jacob Hluver spent his life on this farm,

1843. Ile was a representative farmer, a good citizen, and a man of striet integrity. He died June 1, 1859, aged seventy-one years. His wife, Anna, a daughter of Benjamin Landis, of Manheim township, died about 1826, aged twenty-eight years, leaving chil- dren,-Elizabeth, the wife of Daniel Landis; Susan, first the wife of Abraham Long, second, of Jacob Brubaker, and third, of Christian Lintner; Michael L., subject of this sketch, and Jacob L. Huver, a re- tired farmer of East Hempfield township. Jacob Huver married a second time Mrs. Jacob Wissler, by whom he had children,-Barbara, wife of Benjamin

Michael LHuner

913

LEACOCK TOWNSHIP.

Kauffman, of Manor township, and Ephraim S. Iluver, of Manheim township.

Michael L. Huver, born at this homestead Sept. 19, 1819, succeeded his father in its possession by will, and added to the buildings in 1860 a comino- dions and fine barn, and in 1880 a tobacco house. He has, outside of farming, been interested in local matters of his township, and served as judge of elec- tion, and for a number of years on the board of school directors.

He married, in 1842, Mary, daughter of Samuel and Maria (Stauffer) Barr, who was born in 1821. Their surviving children are Catherine B., wife of Henry Hess, near Shannon, Carroll Co., Ill. ; Mary Ann, wife of John G. Tangard, Strasburg township; Em- Lizzie B., wife of Frank J. Kreider, who manages the homestead farm, and Martha B. Huver.

LANGDON CHEVES.

Langdon Cheves was a resident of this township who had a national reputation. In 1826 he purchased from William Coleman, iron-master, seventy acres of land, settled by Ilance Brubaker in 1717, and sold to Christian Stoneman in 1729. Mr. Cheves also pur- chased from Benjamin Hershey several hundred acres adjoining this. IIe resided upou that part known as " Abbeville," and his mansion was used for " Ab- beville Academy." After passing through several hands, the mansion and land adjoining is owned by the heirs of Christian Ilager. His intimate associa- tion with James Buchanan while in Congress doubt- less led Mr. Cheves to select this location for a summer residence. The mansion he fitted up is still stand- ing, with the same general appearance as when he left it, but the grounds around the dwelling have been much beautified.

Mr. Cheves was a native of South Carolina, born in 1776. He became an eminent and wealthy lawyer, a member and leader in the Legislature of his native State, and prior to and during the war of 1812 a member of Congress, where he was the associate of William Lowndes and John C. Calhoun. He was chairman of the Naval Committee in 1812, and of the Committee of Ways and Means in 1813.

lle succeeded Henry Clay as Speaker of the House, and held that position until 1815. He became one of the judges of the Supreme Court in his native State immediately after the close of the war, and was also chief commissioner under the Treaty .of Ghent for settling some of its provisions. Although he looked on the ultimate withdrawal of the Southern States nullification schemes of the hot-heads in his native State. As a literary man he was-known not only by his speeches, but by occasional letters and reviews. HIe died at Columbia, S. C., June 25, 1857.

CHAPTER LXIL.

LEACOCK TOWNSHIP.

Its Organization .-- After Lancaster County bad been set off, in 1729, from Chester and erected into a separate county, a meeting of magistrates and inhab- itants of the county was held on the 9th day of June, 1729, to settle upon the names and boundaries of townships. The boundaries of seventeen townships were fixed upon and names given to them, Leacock township being one of the seventeen. For what reason the name Leacock (then spelled Laycock ) was given there is no account. The boundaries fixed upon and names given to these townships were con- ma B., wife of Henry H. Shenk, of East Hempfield ; | firmed by the Court of Quarter Sessions, held the

first Tuesday in August, 1729. What is now Upper Leacock township was at that time included in the boundaries of Leacock. Ou the 19th of June, 1843, the township was divided, Upper Leacock being taken off' and legally organized as a separate township.

Present Boundaries .-- Leacock is now bounded on the north by Earl township, east by Salisbury, south by Paradise, west by East Lampeter, and northwest by Upper Leacock. Its area is eleven thousand two hundred and seventy-two aeres, consisting chiefly of good limestone land, nearly all of which is arable, there being scarcely any waste land in the township. The land is rolling, of excellent quality, and is very productive. As the population increases many of the large farms are being divided into smaller sections and into lots.

Streams .- The southern border of the township is traversed by Pequea Creek, and on a portion of its northern boundary is Mill Creek. Muddy Run and C'attail Run, with their branches, are smaller streams flowing through the township and supplying the re- gions through which they pass with fine running water.

Valuation, etc .- The valuation of real and per- I sonal property taxable the present year (1883) is 82,599,075. Number of taxables in 1882 was five hundred and ten. Population, according to census of 1880, was two thousand one hundred and forty-two.

Settlement .- It is stated that Hatwell Varnon (or Vernon), a native of Wrexford, Ireland, settled in Leacock township in 1728.2 He was a member of the Grand Inquest at November sessions of court in 1730. It is probable therefore that some consider- able settlements had been made in the township be- fore those dates. Emigrants from the north of Ireland appear to have been chietly the first settlers. Many emigrants of this description arrived in the country about that time, and settled at various places in the

from the confederacy as a necessity, he opposed the ! State. At a later date emigrants from other part- of Europe, or the descendants of such emigrants, being chiefly Germans and Swiss, settled in the township.

1 By W. Kennedy, Esq. " Friends' Miscellany, vol. iv. 25.

914

HISTORY OF LANCASTER COUNTY.

The present population is mainly composed of the descendants of the several classes of persons before named. .

The greater part of the land originally consisted of large traets, which were afterwards divided and sub- divided, and sold in smaller tracts, which were at length patented by different persons. The boundaries of lands for which warrants were issued, and of those granted by patent deeds, were not specifically defined in degrees of the compass, as the boundaries of lands now conveyed usually are. The descriptions given in patent deeds are somewhat like this : Beginning at a point (mentioned ), thence north such a distance, or east such a distance (and generally a long distance), or thenee northeast so many chains, or southwest so many chains, ete., and a large allowance was made in the surveys for roads. Nearly all the lands that were patented (and all, or very nearly all, of the lands sitnated in Leacock township were) have been much eut up and divided, and the pieces have generally passed through many different hands, and have been from time to time held under various names. From these circumstances and other causes it is hard, at the present day, to know with certainty in what particular patented traet the smaller pieces and par- eels of land were originally included. The chief practicable thing, therefore, is to go back as far as possible in time to the former owners of lands in the township, withont attempting to state who originally took up the lands, located them, or had them pat- ented.

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History of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 84

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