History of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 87

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 87

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The military organization known as " Associators," consisting of officers and soldiers associated for the defense of American liberty was large, and existed at the time of the Revolutionary war. Its articles of association for Pennsylvania were adopted in the year 1775. A paper which has been preserved gives a list of " Associators" for Leacock township. The follow- ing is a correct copy taken from the paper. The list of names are spelled in copying exactly as they are found in the original paper. The paper is headed thus:

"The Associators of Leacock township belonging to Capt. Roland's Company.

.Issocited ith day of July, 1773.

James Scott (in Leacock).

William MeCommueck (listet).

John Roland, Julin Scott im Lumupeter town-

Henry Swope. John Mour. George Lyne.

sluip .. Jolin Creake (mn Lampeter town- ship) David Crawford un Lampeter township ). William Shelar (in Leacock town- ship). George Lumbart.

Adamı Swope.

Abraham Lyne.

Henry Foltz.

Stofle Weaver.

George Finfrook. Sicmont Shower.

John Epy.

Marteen Hillar.

John Suavly .

Daniel Swope.

Jacob Swope.

Adam Rombargar.

Jarob Baingut. Davul Lyne.

Juseph Bigart. Jacob Bear (lister ) David Benter.

Ilenry Foltz, Jr.

Phillip Shower.

John Maxyel.

Huzh Sle Donel.

Balear Rombarger.

Jacob Maxvel

Marteen Maxvel, Jr.

John Miller

George Bard.

Jacob Hamer.

J.uurs Hamilton.

Henry Epy.

James Kearns ( listet). Henry Wengri (Sener). Jolin Fultz,

Peter Barngnt.

Patrick Conet (of Leacock town- ship). Endorsed "MIR. JUIN FREE CORNEL .. "

The following is a list of justices of the peace for the township since 1840 :

Josept Miller, 1810. John Seldomridge, 1862.

Davideiran, Jr., 1810. William Kennedy, 1864.

David Graff, Jr , 1-45. Abraham Bair, Isch,

Robert Taguert, 1845. William Kennedy, 1869. Abraham Bair, 1871.

David Graft, 1850.

Abraham Bair, 1851. William Kennedy, 1874

Davai Gratl, 1855. John Seldonuidge, IsiG.

Jolin Seldomridge, 1857. William Kennedy, 1879.

Abraham Bair, 1861. Julin Seldounidge, 1881.

The first constable appointed by the court for the township of Leacock, in 1729, was Henry Jones.

CHAPTER LXIII.

UPPER LEACOCK TOWNSHIP.1

Geographical and Descriptive .- Upper Leacock township occupies a central position in Lancaster County. It is situated between Mill Creek and Con- estoga River, and originally formed a part of Leacock (Laycock) township. On the north it is bounded by West Earl township, on the east is the township of Earl, and on the southeast Leacock, being separated from it by Mill Creek. South and southwest is the township of East Lampeter, and on the northwest is Manheim township. The Cone-toga separates Upper Leacock from Manheim. The township has a plain surface generally, except in the western part, where is Snake Hill, or Bard's Hill. This hill extends from East Lampeter township, near the Conestoga, into the interior of Upper Leacock as far as Mechanicsburg. Ilere it curves to the north, and then trending in a northwest direction, making its way to the Conestoga, forms a semicircle, thus inclosing one of the most fertile areas in Lancaster County. The steep acclivities of these hills, the ser- pentine trending, and the ornamental evergreens deck- ing the slopes, make the region very romantic, while the scenery is more than passing grand. In the south- east the foot-hills of the Welsh Mountains extend into the township.

Origin of the Township .- In 1729, when Lancaster County was organized, this township was included in Leacock. It extemled from Conestoga to New Mill- ' town along Pequea Creek, a distance of sixteen miles. Its average width was about five miles, Owing to the inconvenience which arose from this distance, at a meeting of the citizens at a township election, and on complaint of some of the people that there was not a close enough supervision of the general interests of the district, a petition was presented to the Lancaster County court, praying for a division of Leacock town- ship, the lower or southeastern part to retain its origi-

1 By R. R Pleam.

Officers .- The county offices held by citizens of Leacock township since the year 1840 are but few. John Seldomridge, Esq., was elected prothonotary in 1863, and served three years. Daniel M. Eby be- came a county auditor in 1873, and was re-elected. Amos Hershey was a prison inspector for a term of ; nal name, while the northwestern part was to be three years, commencing in 1876, and one of the present county auditors.

Andıraom Bear.

John Butts. William Lyne. Adatn Hoofstetter. Peter Eby. Samuel Epy. Peter Epy, Jr.

Emanuel Carpenter (of Earl town- ship).

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HISTORY OF LANCASTER COUNTY.

named Upper Leacock. The dividing line, as set Nothing positive is known of the parents' death. Dr. forth in the petition, was to commence at a point , fleury Carpenter had three sons-John (afterwards Dr. John), Henry, and Abraham-and several daugh- stream in its winding course to the Stumptown bridge, ters. Dr. John Carpenter was the great-grandfather and from thence the line was to extend directly north to East Lampeter township. On the 19th day of June, 1843, by a decree of said court at Lancaster, Upper Leacock was established and created a new township.

Pioneer Settlers and Incidents .- Among some of the first pioneers of this township were the Bushongs, Carpenters, Weidlers, Buekwalters, Groffs, and Mixels.

The Bushong Family .- John Bushong, a French Huguenot, arrived in Philadelphia in September, 1731, and immediately came to Lancaster County and took up land near what is now Heller's Church. The Bushongs who reside in this township are the descendants of this John Bushong, who had a family of six boys - John, Philip, Peter, Henry, Jacob, and David-and three girls,-Mary, Barbara, and Elizabeth. In 1737 Mrs. John Bushong died, and Mr. Bushong married a second time. llis son Peter emigrated to Virginia, where a prominent branch of this family still resides. Jacob went to what is now Berks County, and the noted bank- ers of Reading-the Bushongs-are the descend- ants of Jacob Bushong. David went to Ilinois. Philip Bushong inherited his father's estate. John Bushong, son of Philip, is the grandfather of Faac Bushong, E-q., an influential citizen of this township and county. Amos Bu-hong, miller, of East Lam- peter, and Dr. Bushong, New Holland, are of this family. Isaac Bushong, of this township, has in his possession a copy of the will written by John Bush- ong, bearing date June 5, 1749.

The Carpenter Family .- The pioneer settler of the northwestern part of the township, that bordering on the Conestoga, was the celebrated Emanuel Car- penter, who ventured from Lampeter Square when quite young, Ile was a son of Henry Carpenter, a family of Swiss extraction, the paternal name being Zimmerman. Other families of the name of Carpeu- ter, also numerous, are of English descent. Heinrich Zimmerman ( Henry Carpenter) was born about the year 1678-80, and came to what is now Lancaster | most suitable place for the seat of justice. Wright's County, Pa., about the year 1715, and settled near what is now Lampeter Square. He came from Switzer-' land, bringing with him a son about five years of age, , places most strongly recommended. It is held that

named Emanuel. He had afterwards five other sons, viz., Gabriel, Henry (afterwards Dr. Henry, a cele- brated physician of his day), Christian, Daniel, and Jacob; besides two or more daughters, one of whom married a man by the name of Grubb, and another, Mary, married Daniel Ferrce. The first three named sons were located by the father on land he owned near aud along Conestoga, and in what is now Upper Leacock and West Earl townships; and the other three on his land near his residence in Lampeter. The parent was intermarried with Salome Ruffher, The old log house, in which the court met on the from whom the above-named children descended. Carpenter Place, is now standing in Mechanicsburg,

near Hoover's mill, on Mill Creek, and to follow that

of Col. Reah Frazer, of Lancaster City. Henry was the father of Henry Carpenter, a land-surveyor and conveyancer, who died Dec. 14, 1840, and the grand- father of Abram Carpenter, a son of Dr. Abram Car- peuter, a physician of renown, who died in 1836. The ancestor, Dr. Henry Carpenter, died on his farm near Lampeter, where he was buried May 20, 1840. Dr. Henry, and James C. Carpenter, probably the oldest land-surveyor living in the county, both of Lancaster City, are lineal descendants of the original Dr. Henry, and sons of the above-named Henry, who died in 1846.

Emanuel Carpenter was five years old when he came to this county, and it was thought that it was prior to the year 1723 when he settled in this town- ship. "His influence was salutary, and he had the unbounded confidence of his fellow-citizens." In 1747 he was appointed overseer of the poor, and held that position ( no lucrative one) for a number of years. In 1756 he was elected to the Assembly, and was annually re-elected until 1772, when his health failed him, and he died in the year 1780. His re- mains repose in Carpenter's graveyard, along the New- port road, where a suitable monument many years afterwards was erected to his memory by his great- grandson, Mr. Reigart. Emanuel Carpenter, Jr., also a prominent member of the Carpenter family, was elected to the Legislature and held that position during the Revolutionary war. Jacob Carpenter is the only descendant of this noted family who still resides in this township.

On a part of the estate, formerly owned by Emanuel Carpenter but now by Jacob Kurtz, near Mechanics- burg, it is said by tradition that the first court that ever convened in Lancaster County was organized in the year 1729, in a little log house. There seems to be sufficient evidence to confirm the oft-repeated statement, for immediately after the erection of Lan- caster County a violent discussion arose as to the Ferry (now Columbia), Lancaster, and Postlethwaite's (about seven miles south of Lancaster) were the three the court met first on the Carpenter Place, and was in session some time until a dispute arose about the location. Finally it was agreed to remove the court to Postlethwaite's farm in Conestoga township, it being thought that this place possessed superior ad- vantages. The courts were helt there in an old log house owned by Po-tlethwaite, until August, 1750. when the increasing influence of the Lancaster party enabled them to procure the removal of the seat of justice to what is now Lansaster City.

925

UPPER LEACOCK TOWNSHIP.

opposite the Lutheran parsonage, and is occupied as a was purchased by Andrew Ilershey, and was held by wood-shed. The logs in this building are very large | him until the year 1854, when S. G. Groff became the and heavy, being about two feet in width. The wood proprietor, who divided the farm among his three sons, Wershey, Milton, and Ezra, who are the oecu- pants, and hold deeds of the different places. - is well preserved and shows few signs of decay. The building was erected by Emanuel Carpenter about one hundred and sixty years ago. It is surely one of the most ancient landmarks of the township. MIr. Kurtz points out the place on his farm where the court-house stood,-the foundation of it is yet in the ground. He has also in his possession an old bench which was used by the court.

The Heller Family .- Jacob Heller, a German, to seenre his emigration to America, was sold, with his wife, for a limited time, to earn their passage for the voyage across the Atlantic. After his liberation, which was about the year 1729, he received a grant of land of one hundred acres south of what is now Hel- ler's Church. This is one of the most beautifully located farms of the township. It has been succes- sively occupied by the Ileller descendants until 1865, when Peter Ileller, who is now eighty-three years of age, sold the farm to Kinzer W. Bender for his son, John W. Bender. It is now in possession of the widow of J. W. Bender, and is also worked by her.

The Mixel Family .- Martin Mixel was one of the early pioneers who sought a home in Upper Leacock. A brother accompanied Martin to America, but was either lost or captured by the Indians. Nothing definite is known of the date of the arrival of the Mixels except that Martin was a landholder in 1735, ; he, his wife, and an only child remained during that and that he died at " a great old age" during the early winter." In the spring of the next year, having se- cured by a warrant dated Nov. 22, 1717, a large tract of land, he erected a house near the cabin. The spot where he erected the house is still pointed out by his descendants. He had six sous, -Peter, David, John, Daniel, Marcus, and Samuel,-und was known as "Graaf der Jäger" ("the huntsman"). part of the American Revolution. The land which was held by Martin Mixel extended from Mechanics- ! burg to Bareville, on the south side of the pike, and east of the Garber plantation it was on both sides of the pike. Universal tradition has it that Mixel built bis first house near a spring on a farm now owned by Adam Miller, but occupied by his son Sheaffer. No traces of this house can be seen except the cellar ex- cavations. Martin had three sons, -Jacob, John, and

" Hans Groff, after serving his day and generation, the public on several occasions, and having divided his land among his sous, died, leaving a large family George. Jacob married and inherited his father's | connection. Perhaps there is no family in the county estate in portion, and also erected the Midway Hotel, more numerons," especially in Upper Leacock, more "respectable, and more useful citizens than the Groffs." between Mechanicsburg and Bareville. Jacob had one daughter, an only child, who married ITiram Batten, whose son, Israel, still resides upon a small tract of land of the original Mixel plantation, and is the only lineal descendant of this noted family.

The Good Family .-- Hans Good, who was appointed the first constable of Leacock at the organization of the county, was one of the early adventurers of this county. He was of a roaming disposition, and de- lighted in adventure. Ile did not settle permanently until 1734, when he took up a tract of land of nearly three hundred acres, which lies between Bareville and Mill Creek in this township. After holding this tract of land and breaking the soil for a period of ten years, it passed into the hands of Andrew Bare. The noted book. firm of Lancaster City, Bare & Sons, are the descendants of Andrew Bare. Afterwards this farm |

The Groff Family .- The whole eastern part of this township was included in a warrant of land granted to Hans Groff, who afterwards disposed of it to different settlers. Hans Groff, with one of his brothers, were among the persecuted Christians who fled from Switzerland to Alsace, then a province of France, about the year 1695-96. He came to Ger- mantown, where he remained for a short time only ; afterwards he settled in Pequea Valley, but, not being content here, he then settled in Grotf's Dale (Graaf Thal), which was named in honor of him, and by which the settlement is known to this day.

The following is the circumstance which led Mr. Grofl' to settle in Groff's Dale: "His horses having strayed from Pequea, while in pursuit of them in a northern direction from the inhabited parts he dis- covered a fine spring in a heavily-timbered spot, the head of Grove's Run. 'In this Elysian dale,' said he, ' will I fix my permanent abode.' He neverthe- less pursued his horses till he found them, and re- turned to Pequea. A short time afterwards he dis- posed of his effects, when he returned to the spring, and about half a mile down, on the north side, he erected a cabin under a large white-oak tree, in which

The Yonder Family .- Jacob Yonder was the first to seek a home on Grotf's land. In 1734 he received a deed for a tract of over three hundred aeres, upon which he immediately erected a log house and stone barn, the latter still standing, though improved. Jacob had a son by the name of Jonas, who inherited this farm and held it until 1801, when he died. Dora, the only child of Jonas Yonder, was married to a Mr. Haines, who then fell heir to the farm. During this time, and until 1833, traets of land were sold from the original farm, reducing it to one hun- dred acres, when it was purchased by John Grabill, Sr. It is now held by John Grabill, Jr.

The Ferree Family .- John Ferree married Mary

1 This name is variously spelled Groff, Graaf, Groef, and Graffe.

926

HISTORY OF LANCASTER COUNTY.

Warenbuer, and resided in the town of Lindan, in France, not far from the river Rhine. They were HInguenots, and were made to feel the full force of religious persecution then raging throughout Europe. He was a silk weaver, and in religious be- lief a follower of John Calvin. While troops were murdering his friends in the town he gathered up a few articles and fled with his family to the neighbor-

died in Germany, leaving a widow, Mary, and six children, who came to America in the year 1709 and settled in Ulster County, N. Y. When they left the Palatinate they were accompanied by a young man named Isaac Le Fevre, who stated that his family, who were also lluguenots, were nearly all put to death by the soldiers, and that he escaped with difli- culty unhurt. He came with the family to America, where he married Catharine Ferree.

From Isaac Le Fevre the name has spread over several States,

Mary Warenbuer in 1711 took out a warrant for two thousand acres of land in New Strasburg. Mar- tin Kendig, who seems to have been the agent for the early pioneers, appeared before the commissioner of property, 10th Seventh month, 1712, with Maria and her son Daniel, and desired that a patent might be granted and confirmed to Maria, but upon due con- sideration of the matter it was deemed best to con- firm the same to her son Daniel and son-in-law, Isaac Le Fevre. She died in Conestoga, Cones- toga township, in 1716. There must have been sonie neglect or delay, for we find that a patent was issued to Daniel Ferree and Isaac Le Fevre in 1733. Some years subsequent to this time, when the parties di- vided the land, it was discovered upon a resurvey of the same that it contained three hundred acres more than the original survey, and a confirmation deed was made which embraced all the land.

Isaac Le Fevre also received a patent in his own name, Fourth month 15, 1713, for three hundred aeres. Philip Ferree received a warrant 24th Sixth month, 1716, for three hundred acres. Daniel Ferree-Lyne had a son by the name of David, who married 4th Eighth month, 1716, six hundred acres. John Ferree, 2d Fourth month, 1716, one hundred acres.

The Lightner Family .- Adam Lightner and Maud, his wife, in the year 1709, fled from the religious per- secutions along the Rhine, which drove thousands of Protestants to Holland, thence to England. They were Lutherans. Their son William was born in Germany. Nathaniel was born in 1709, while his i judgeship of the County Court.

parents were eneamped near London. They came to America in the same year, and settled in Ulster County, N. Y., among the La Rues, Ferrees, and Le Fevres.

They came to l'equea Valley in the year 1723, and settled upon land near the old Peter's road, upon the northern boundary of Leacock township, and about ; mile northeast from the village of Intercourse.

Nathaniel married Margaret La Rue, who was born

in France in 1713. He settled upon the homestead farm in Leacock. From him came the Lightners of this county. They had nineteen children, and, with one exception, a child was born to them every year, and to make up for what they may have considered " lost time" twins were born in the year 1744.

William Lightner, son of Adam, returned to Ger- many. lle owned laige sugar and spice planta- hood of Strasburg, where he remained two years. Ile : tions upon one of the islands in the Eastern Ocean, and he became possessed of a very large estate, to which a multitude of his descendants are now turn- ing their eyes, anxiously waiting to divide and enjoy this accumulated wealth. His brother George also returned to Germany.

The Johns Family .- The Jolins family, who are numerous and wealthy citizens of this town-hip, are all descendants of John Johns, who came to America with Hans Groff, and followed him to the " White- Oak Tree," in Grotf's Dale, where he became a laborer for Mr. Groff. Mr. Johns was a religious refugee of Switzerland. Ile had hid himself in the attic of his house to seelude himself from his pursuers, and while looking out of a window he saw his large herd of cattle was being slaughtered by those who were in search of his blood. IIe was then compelled to flee and leave his estate to the mercy of his persecutors. After having accumulated some money by hard work for Mr. Groff, he purchased a tract of land of two hundred and thirty acres of Emanuel Carpenter, whereon he erected a house, which, with additions and improvements, is still occupied as a dwelling. This farm has never passed out of possession of the Johns family. Reuben Johns, who owns this farm at present, is the fourth generation of Johns that has owned it.

The Lyne Eamily .- West of Heller's Church the first pioneer settler was John Lyne, who had taken a warrant for a tract of land of over one thousand acres. Philip Scott, a Scotchman, had been a laborer and blacksmith for Mr. Lyne, and had his shop some- where near what is now Weidler Kachel's shop. John Miss Scott. David had six boys,-John, William, Daniel, George, Chester, and Gabriel. Chester Lyne was a soldier of the war of 1812, and some of his descendants now reside in the eastern part of the county. All the other boys went west, except Wil- Ham, who went to Cumberland, where he became a learned jurist, and was afterwards elected to the

The Hamilton Family .- William Hamilton died in January, 1782, and left a wife, Jean, and the follow- ing children : Hugh, who died in 1810, was father of John Hamilton ; William, who moved to the West in 1810, where he died; and John, son of Hugh Hamil- ;ton, was appointed to settle his estate. The thir.l son was John, and the fourth James Hamilton, who was a colonel in the Revolution; Robert, who was the father of John; and Ann, who married James Wal-

927

UPPER LEACOCK TOWNSHIP.

lace; Naney, the seventh child, married Thomas 'Jean, and two children, George, an only son, and one Wade. For full sketch of Col. James Hamilton, see . " Appleton's Encyclopedia."

The Owen Family .- It appears that among those who sought a home towards the closing years of the last century in what is Upper Leacock was Benjamin Owen, of Quaker descent. He bought land north of Monterey, and near a large spring he erected a house and barn, William Wallace died in Leacock, in August, 1793, which are now occupied by Daniel Kolp. Mr. Owen's | and left children,-Robert, James, Hannah, married a Mr. Calhoon, and was the mother of three sons and one daughter; Mary married a Mr. Lennegan; Margaret, Josiah, William, and Thomas.

influence was felt in the township for good, for he was a man of refined taste and culture. He served what was then known as Leacock township as justice of the peace for a number of years; afterwards he died in 1786, leaving three children, Aun, Jonathan, and Benjamin.

John Glenn, another pioneer of Leacock, or what is now Upper Leacock, died in 1740, leaving a wife, Isabella, and four children,-Thomas, Jean, Mary, and John. The witnesses to his last will and testa- ment were John Beard, Robert Elliott, and Elizabeth Beard.

John Lyon died in what is now Upper Leacock in 1748, and left a wife, Elizabeth, and three children,- John, Ann, and Thomas.

John Morgan, another of the early residents of this township, died in 1748, leaving a brother, Matthew, and two sisters, Elizabeth and Mary.

James Miller died in this township in 1749, leaving a wife, Ruth, and six children. One of the daugh- ters married Thomas Millhouse, another Thomas Iliatt, and another married Isaac Jackson, who bore him children,-Thomas, James, Katharine, William, Isaac, Nathaniel, and Elizabeth. The fourth daugh- ter married William Jackson, of Chester County, Pa., and the fifth daughter married William Farquar, also of Chester County. The only son of Mr. Miller was named James.

Joli Stund, who died in this township in 1749, left a widow, Maria Catharine, and six children,- George, Zelous, Peter, Christian, Stephen, and Maria Stump. There were also brothers and sisters of Mr. Stump that survived him.

Andrew Eby, who died in 1763, was a brother of John.

. Stewart Herbert, Sr., died in November, 1778, and left five children,-Stewart, Daniel, Elizabeth, Moses, and Jane. His sister Margaret married Peter Dells. Dec. 31, 1778, ninety-three acres of the Herbert farm was sold to James Clemson, of Salisbury, the same having been patented to Stewart Herbert in 1756.

daughter, Esther, who married John McCausland, and bore him two children, Esther and Jane.

Jolin Whitehill, third son of James Whitehill, of Salisbury, died in January, 1779, and left a wife, Mar- garet, and three children, Robert, William, and John Whitehill.

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History of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 87

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