History of Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, Part 214

Author: Bean, Theodore Weber, 1833-1891, [from old catalog] ed; Buck, William J. (William Joseph), 1825-1901
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: Philadelphia, Everts & Peck
Number of Pages: 1534

USA > Pennsylvania > Montgomery County > History of Montgomery County, Pennsylvania > Part 214

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).

£ a. d.

" Money by them collected 12 1 2

£ a. d.

Disbursed

7 12 0

By loss

14 0

£3 15 2

For collecting .

15 2

Balance due .

£3 0 0

"To be delivered to the overseers, George George and Simon Creps, for the year 1741)."

This praiseworthy act was continued, as the books show, until the year 1807.

The following may interest the reader:

"The overseers of the poor are ordered, by a number of the inhabitants of New Ilanover, to furnish Frantz Epple with a linsey jacket, a pair of tow trousers, a new shirt, a pair of new stockings, a pair of new shoes and a linsey uoderjacket.

"Signed by order of the inhabitants, "JOHN RICHARDS. "JOHN BROOKE. " BENJ. MARKLEY. " CASSIMER MISSIMER. " ANDREW SMITH.

"March 20, 1784."

By an act of the Legislature, passed September 13, 1785, the freemen of the townships of Limerick, New Hanover, Douglas, Upper Hanover, Marlborough and Upper Salford were to hold their elections at the tavern of Michael Creps, in New Hanover. This remained in force till 1807, after which the elections only of Douglas and this township were continued at the same place, now known as New Hanover Square. This township became a separate election district by making Douglas township a separate election dis- trict by act of Assembly, approved April 16, 1827.

By the assessment of 1785, the first made under the officials of Montgomery County, there were in the township four taverns, five grist-mills, two saw-mills, three tanneries and one slave.

" MONTGOMERY COUNTY, SS.

"A tax of three shillings and sixpence in every hundred pounds (and . from 34 to ten shillings per head on all single freemen), laid on the Estates, real and personal, of the Freebolders and Inhabitants within New Hanover Township, for defraying the expenses of the public Build- ings and other Expenses of said County. Given under our Hands this 20th day of March, 1792.

" NATHAN POTTS, "JOHN MANN, Commissioners."

"CONRAD BOYEa,

Under the assessment of 1792, two hundred and sixty-onc land-holders were assessed to the aggregate amount of £75 188. 7d.

. The following is a list of the single men taxed ac- cording to this order in the said township: Philip Yerger, Henry Smith, Tobias Yerger, Jacob Dachen- bach, John Liebengood, John Erney, Henry Gilbert, Frederick Hartman, Jacob Malsberger, Joseph Walk- er, John Ruth, Isaac Bingeman, Michael Feadly, Henry Egolf, Adam Egolf, John Reifsnyder, Abra- ham Dotterer, John Lick, George Gousenger, John Loch, Christian Fryer, Adam Bartman, Andrew Hank, Philip Haun, Lewis Linsehegler, Michael Hoph, John Rusher, Johanas Reifsnyder, John Looch, Jacob Stalpt and Jacob Achey.

The following exhibit from the mercantile apprai- ser's list of 1884 shows the business advancement of this township: F. Brendlinger, dry-goods; I. Christ- man, flour and feed; N. G. Drace, merchandise; Jonathan Erb, butcher; Elias Fagley, merchandise; Charles Fox, merchandise; Good-Will Grangers, Pa- trons of Husbandry, merchandise; W. B. Groff, mer- chandise; Solomon Hoffman, butcher; John Hoff- man, butcher; John Kehl, feed; and live stock;

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NEW HANOVER TOWNSHIP.

Washington Leidy, live stock; J. Lenhart, flour and ment, which were as promptly accepted by Governor Curtin. The President's call had been made on the feed; Aug. Schaffer, flour, feed; Henry Schneider, leather; C. Weyant, merchandise; J. M. H. Walter, | 15th of April, 1861 ; on the 16th, Colonel Hartranft tlour, feed; Weyant & Co., live stock; George Weand, live stock; Henry Zern, butcher.

The present number of taxables is 471; value ot improved lands, $848,051; value of unimproved lands, $35,300; value of 461 horses, $36,263; value of 1200 cattle, 836,284; total value of all property taxable for county purposes, $988,228.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

JOHN FREDERICK HARTRANFT.1

John Frederick Hartranft, who was one of the most prominent generals in the Union army in the great war of the Rebellion, afterwards Governor of Pennsylvania, and is now collector of the port of | his services, and was accepted as a volunteer aid on the staff of Colonel W. B. Franklin. He passed safely

Philadelphia and major general commanding the National Guard of the State, is a native of Mont- through the battle, though he performed services for which he was afterwards mentioned in complimentary terms in Colonel Franklin's report of the action.

gomery County, born on the 16th of December, 1830, in New Hanover township, which was then the home of his parents, Samuel E. and Lydia (Bueher) Hart- ranft. In 1844 they removed from New Hanover, and took up their permanent residence in Norristown, where, for several years following that time, their son, John F., attended the Treemount Seminary, then under charge of the Rev. Samuel Aaron. Afterwards he passed freshman year at Marshall College, Mer- ing of the new regiment a comparatively easy task. cersburg, Pa., and in the twentieth year of his age entered Union College (Schenectady, N. Y.), where he was graduated in 1853.

After leaving college his first employment was as an assistant engineer on a preliminary survey of the line of a proposed railroad from Chestnut Hill, via Doylestown, to New Hope, and also of the route he- tween Mauch Chunk and White Haven. In the following year Michael C. Boyer, sheriff' of Mont- gomery County, appointed him a deputy, which of- fice he continued to fill under Mr. Boyer and his successor, Sheriff Rudy, until 1859. During his last term as deputy sheriff he commenced the study of the law, and was admitted to practice October 4, 1860.

Prior to the commencement of his law studies he had joined the military company called the Norris City Rifles, of which he was afterwards successively elected lieutenant and captain, from which latter grade he was promoted, by election, to the coloneley of the Fourth Regiment of Pennsylvania militia in the spring of 1859. Two years later, when the war of the Rebellion had been opened by the attack on Fort Sumter, and President Lincoln called for seventy-five thousand troops to support the government, Colonel Hartranft promptly offered the services of his regi-

reported to the Governor at Harrisburg ; on the 20th the seven Montgomery County companies forming the Fourth Regiment left for the rendezvous at Harris- burg, and two days later the regiment was on its way, via Perryville and Annapolis, to Washington, D. C., where it arrived May 8th, and remained until the 24th of June, when it crossed the Potomac into Virginia.

The Fourth had been mustered into the service for three months, and during that time no collision with the enemy had occurred ; but on the day of the expi- ration of the term an order was issued for a general advance of the army, which resulted in the battle of Bull Run. On the day of the advance to that field of disaster the regiment was ordered to the rear for mnster out, but there were a few of its members who preferred to go to the front, though not compelled to do so. Among these was Colonel Hartranft, who offered

At the close of the Bull Run campaign Colonel Hart- ranft returned home, and, under authority which he had asked while the Fourth was yet in the field, com- menced the raising of a regiment for the three years' service. The story of his gallantry at Bull Run had given him great popularity, which rendered the rais- On its completion it was designated as the Fifty-first of the Pennsylvania line. and was assigned to the command of General A. E. Burnside at Annapolis, Md., to form part of an expedition to be led by that general against the enemy's forces and strongholds in North Carolina.

The expedition sailed from Annapolis on the 9th of January, 1862, and after a long and stormy pas- sage passed Hatteras Inlet, and entered Pamlico Sound. On the 7th of February occurred the battle and victory of Roanoke Island, in which Colonel Hartranft and his regiment participated with con- spicuous gallantry. Again, on the 14th of March, it formed a part of the column that assaulted and car- ried the strong works at Newbern. In August fol- lowing, the regiment, with the other commands of Burnside's army, moved, by water transportation, from North Carolina to the Potomac River, and, disembark- ing, marched into Virginia to the relief of General Pope, who was then hard pressed by the enemy. In that campaign Colonel Hartranft and his regiment took part in the engagements of Second Bull Run and Chantilly.

Crossing the Potomac with the army, they were engaged in the battle of South Mountain, where General Reno was killed, and again, on the 17th of September, fought in the great battle of Antietam

1 For portrait of General Hartranft, see page 196.

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HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY.

where, in the heat of the conflict, the Fifty-first was ordered to cross the stone bridge on the extreme left of the Union line, which was held by the enemy and commanded by his guns. The order was promptly obeyed and the bridge was carried, Colonel Hartranft leading his command across in the face of a terrific fire from the enfilading batteries. In General Burn- side's report of that battle he paid a high compli- ment to the gallantry and other soldierly qualities of Colonel Hartranft, and recommended him for promo- tion to the grade of brigadier General.

A more minute account of the services of the Fifty- first and its commanding officer, Colonel Hartranft, from their first gallant fight at Roanoke Island to their crossing of the historic stone bridge at Antietam, as also of the part they took in the bloody storming of the Heights of Fredericksburg, on the 13th of December, 1862, will be found on pages 204 to 208 of this history.

In April, 1863, Colonel Hartranft and his regiment, with others forming the Ninth Corps, moved from New- port News, Va., by river and rail to Kentucky, whence, after a few weeks of active service, they were trans- ported to Mississippi, taking part in the fight at Jackson, on the 12th of July, and in the occupation of that city, on the 18th. From Mississippi the com- mand then moved back to Kentucky, where Colonel Hartranft was prostrated by illness, and remained for some time nnable to do duty. On his recovery he rejoined the regiment at Lenoir, East Tennessee, where he was placed in command of the Second Divi- sion of the Ninth Corps, and immediately afterwards fought the battle of Campbell's Station, from which he retired to Knoxville, where, largely on account of the engineering skill which he displayed in the forti- fying of the place, it was successfully held until the siege was raised by the approach of General Sher- man's troops from Chattanooga.

Early in Jannary, 1864, the regiment re-enlisited, and, receiving the veteran furlough, returned home to recruit. On their arrival, Benjamin E. Chain, Esq., in an address of welcome delivered on behalf of the citizens of Norristown, said: "It is to you, Colonel Hartranft, that the regiment owes the character it bears. Your discipline in the camp, your foresight on the march, your coolness, bravery and judgment on the battle-field have won the confidence and love of your men, and made them heroes in the fight. They knew you never ordered when you did not lead."

At the expiration of the veteran furlongh the regi- ment (having received a large number of recruits) proceeded to Annapolis, Md., where, in the absence of General Burnside, the entire corps, numbering twenty thousand men, was for the time placed under the com- mand of Colonel Hartranft, to whom all new regi- ments were ordered to report, and to whom was com- mitted the supervision of the work of organization and equipment. In the Wilderness campaign, which

followed (the Ninth Corps having in the mean time joined the Army of the Potomac on the Rapidan), he commanded a brigade, with the proper rank of brig- adier-general, to which he had long been entitled, he having received that promotion nearly two years after it had been urged by General Burnside in recognition for his gallant service at Antietam.

In the engagements at Spottsylvania, Cold Harbor, Poplar Springs, Hatcher's Run, Weldon Railroad, Ream's Station and the mine explosion, General Hartranft and his brigade fought gallantly and well. But the action in which he won his highest renown was the recapture of Fort Steadman, before Peters- burg. On the morning of March 25, 1865, in the darkness just preceding the dawn, the Confederates assaulted the fort suddenly, and with such impetuosity that in a few minutes they had carried the work, tak- ing a large number of prisoners. About a mile away was the headquarters of General Hartranft, who was then in command of the Third Division of the Ninth Corps, composed largely of raw troops. At a little before four o'clock the general was awakened by the noise of the Confederate assault, and, immediately learning that the fort had been taken, he formed his division to resist a further advance of the enemy. Having done this, he soon received orders from General Parke (then temporarily in command of the army) to sus- pend the attack until the arrival of the Fifth Corps. Notwithstanding this countermand of his orders, feel- ing confident of his ability toretake the work without reinforcement by the Fifth Corps, he determined to make the attempt, and moved quickly on, with only his own and the First Division, himself leading the assault. The Confederates, though surprised, made a most obstinate resistance, but were driven back with heavy loss, and the work was retaken, with ahout three thousand prisoners.

It was a complete victory, and acknowledged to be one of the most brilliant achievements of the Peters- burg siege. General Hartranft's services on this oc- casion were promptly recognized by his promotion to the brevet rank of major general, as nominated by Lieutenant-General Grant, on recommendation by Generals Meads and Parke. The following official communications show the action taken in the mat- ter.

" HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC.

" March 27, 1865. "To Major-General J. G. Parke, commanding Ninth Army Corps :

"GENERAL The commanding general directs me to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of this date, recommending Brigadier-General llartranft, United States Volunteers, for the brevet of major-general of volunteers for his conspicuous gallantry in re-capturing Fort Steadman during the action of the 25th instant, as well as for his industry and efficiency in organizing and disciplining his division, composed of new regiments. In reply, I am directed to inform you that before the receipt of your letter a communication to the same effect had been made by the commanding general to Lientenant-General Grant, to which a response was received that his nomination had been made to the Secretary of War, and a telegraphic answer returned that the appointment should be made. Since then the commanding general is informed by telegraph that Brigadier-General Hartranft is breveted

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NEW HANOVER TOWNSHIP.

major general, and the appointment has been forwarded by mail. Your communication, however, has been forwarded to complete the record.

" Iam, general, very respectfully, your obedient servant.

"GEORGE D. RUGGLES, A. A. G."

" HEADQUARTERS NINTH ARMY CORPS.

March 28th, 1865.

" Brevet Major-General J. F. Hlartranft, commanding Third Division : "GENERAL-The commanding general instructs me to transmit here- with a copy of communication from the commanding general of the Army of tbe Potomac, of yesterday's date, which will explain itself.

He bids me say, however, in connection therewith, that such prompt recognition of your services on the 25th instant by the President, thic lieutenant general, and major general commanding the army, affords him the greatest pleasure, and he begs you will accept his hearty con- gratulations on your well-deserved promotion.

"I am, general, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

"P. M. LYDIG Brevet Lieutenant, Colonel and A. A. G."

On the 2d of April, one week after the recapture of Fort Steadman, a general assault was made on the inner defenses of Petersburg. In the fighting of that day a prominent part was taken by the division of General Hartranft, who, at dawn on the 3d, entered the city, and passing through it, pursued the retreat- ing enemy to Nottoway Court-House. Six days later came the closing scene of the war, at Appomattox, and soon afterwards General ITartranft was mustered out of the volunteer service. The government, wishing to retain the services of so able and gallant an officer, proffered him the appointment of colonel of the Thirty- fourth Infantry of the regular army, but declining this, he returned to civil life.

In 1865 the Republicans of Montgomery County urged the claims of General Hartranft for the office of auditor-general of Pennsylvania. In the convention that assembled at Harrisburg on the 17th of Septem- ber in that year, he was unanimously nominated on the second ballot, and in the ensuing election he received a majority of twenty-two thousand six hun- dred and sixty votes. "His long tour of duty in the army, and the frequently manifested hostility of his original party friends (the Democrats) to the adminis- tration charged with the prosecution of the war had had not incurred the rancor that often arises when a man shifts his political ground. Still the Democracy watched his administration of the finances with Argus eyes. But the simple honesty of purpose that had carried him through the war without reproach en- abled him to close his first term with the report that, in connection with Governor Geary and the Legisla- ture, the State debt had already been reduced several millions. . . In 1871 he had filled the post of auditor-gen- eral so fully to the acceptance of his party that he was re-nominated almost by acclamation. It was admitted that during his second term he had drawn before the light of day some parties who had been evading State taxes, and were about to realize large sums which belonged to the commonwealth. . . . Although there was a relentless clamor raised against him by the opposite party, alleging corruption and nearly every possible offense, he was so fully vindicated in the judgment of his party as to obtain, on the 9th of

April, 1872, the gubernatorial nomination on the first ballot."

In the election of 1872, General Hartranft was elected Governor of Pennsylvania by an absolute majority of thirty-four thousand four hundred and forty-seven, and a plurality over his Democratic opponent, Buck- alew, of thirty-five thousand six hundred and twenty- seven. He was inaugurated January 21, 1873. " True to his ancestry, who were pious German refu- gees to America for the sake of conscience, the Gov- ernor opened and closed his first inaugural, as, in fact, all his subsequent papers of the kind, with a rec- ognition of the Divine power that rules the world, and confessing his dependence upon Him for direction and success. True also to his generous sympathy with the humble, while the pageant to his honor was in prog- ress, he stole aside to take by the hand a large num- ber of soldiers' orphans, who had gathered at Harris- burg on the occasion."

In 1875, Governor Hartranft was re-elected, and was inaugurated on the 18th of January, 1876. Dur- ing his second term as Governor (in 1877) the quell- ing of the terrible railroad riots in the State (princi- pally at Pittsburgh) subjected his executive ability, firmness and judgment to the severest test to which they had ever been brought in all his military and civil career. "This popular commotion found the Governor on the way to the Pacific in company with some friends. Having, however, efficient subordi- nates in Secretary Quay and Adjutant-General Latta, he was able to direct movements immediately on being apprised of the outbreak. In ordering out the whole military power of the State at once and appeal- ing to the Federal Government also for help (the lat- ter probably unnecessary), he met the trouble as Washington did the Whiskey Insurrection,-fright- ened the rioters at the out-start. The result proved the wisdom of the measures adopted, and it is worthy of remark that after the Governor arrived on the detached him from them, and yet his prudent reserve | scene of the disorder scarcely a life was sacrificed

either on the part of the military or of the people."

With reference to these outbreaks, and their sup- pression, Governor Hartranft, in his next succeeding message, said : "Thus ended the great railway strike of 1877 in Pennsylvania, which resulted in violence, murder and arson, which caused the death of over fifty civilians and five soldiers and the wounding and maiming of a hundred or more, and the destruction of millions of dollars' worth of property. While it is true that the workingmen who began it contemplated no such terrible results, it cannot be denied that the manner in which they proceeded to enforce their demand, by stopping inland commeree and seizing the property of corporations and individuals, and driving citizens from their occupations in defiance of law, made the breach through which the lawless ele- ments of society poured to plunder and destroy. By thus inconsiderately inviting the co-operation of the criminal classes, labor did itself a great and grievous

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HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY.

injury, and it will be long before it can remove the suspicion and distrust with which the people will view its strikes and organizations."

The last term of Governor Hartranft expired on the 21st of January, 1879. On the 23d of the same month, his successor, Governor Henry M. Hoyt, appointed him Major-General commanding the Division of the National Guard of Pennsylvania. His friends urged on President Hayes his appointment to the Berlin Mis- sion, as the successor of Bayard Taylor, an office which he was eminently qualified to fill, though it was not known that he wished it. Political considerations pre- vented the selection as desired by his friends, and he was tendered the appointment of Postmaster of Phila- still in possession of the family, and soon after en-

ISAAC F. YOST

Philip Yost (or Jost), the great-grandfather of Isaac F. Yost, emigrated from Nassau, West Ger- many, abont the year 1740. He was born in 1718, and married Veronica Dotterer, of Limerick town- ship, where he afterwards settled. His children were three sons-John, Harman and Philip-and several daughters. The death of Philip Yost occurred in his eighty-seventh year. His son Philip was born An- gust 24, 1757, in Limerick township, and on attaining a suitable age learned the trade of a wheelwright. He removed in the year 1768, with his father, to the farm in Pottsgrove (then New Hanover) township,

Isaac I. Most

delphia, which was promptly confirmed by the Senate, tered the Revolutionary army. On his discharge and which, after some hesitation, he accepted. He continned in the office until July 15, 1880, when he entered upon his duties as Collector of the Port of Philadelphia. He was confirmed by the Senate, and commissioned for four years, in the following Febru- ary. In February, 1885, he was re-appointed, con- firmed, and re-commissioned for a second term of four years. On the 30th of November, 1883, he was re- appointed by Governor Pattison, Major-General of the National Guard, for a term of four years, from the expiration of his previous commission, January 23, 1884.

from service and return to his home he married, in 1783, Rosina Berminger, and had children,-Mary Magdalene, wife of Henry Sheffey; Tobias; Jacob; Benjamin; Salome, wife of Frederick Linderman; Elizabeth, wife of Isaac Linderman; Rosina, who married Jacob Schlichter; Herman; Jonas; Sarah, wife of Samuel Gilham; and Philip. After his mar- riage Mr. Yost removed to a farm in the present Pottsgrove township, where his death occurred on the 28th of August, 1832. His son Benjamin was born in 1787, in Pottsgrove (formerly New Hanover) township, where his death occurred September 30,

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NORRITON TOWNSHIP.

1858, in his seventy-first year, his life having been spent in the occupations of a farmer. He was a man of influence in the county, having held the offices of county commissioner, county treasurer and register of wills. He married Sarah, daughter of Isaac Feather, of New Hanover township, and had children, -Isaae F., Sarah, Benjamin, Herman, who died in youth, and Elizabeth, wife of Frederick Knoll. Isaac F. was born on the homestead farm, in Potts- grove township, on the 2d of March, 1815, and after a common-school education engaged in teaching, the winter being devoted to this pursuit and the summer to farm labor. In 1844 he purchased a farm in Pottsgrove township, which he continued to eulti- vate until 1869, when Swamp, in New Hanover town- ship, became and is now his place of residence. Judge Yost is still engaged in farming, though not as extensively as in his younger days. He was, on the 1st of November, 1838, married to Rosina, daughter of Daniel Miller, of Pottsgrove, whose children are Daniel M., Louisa M. (deceased), Benjamin M., Ro- sina (deceased), Amelia (Mrs. Tobias Shelley), Salome M. (Mrs. William S. Bliem), Isaac M., Mary Ann (Mrs. James B. Stauffer), Josiah M., Philip M., Emma, Rebecca (Mrs. Franklin Binder), Hannah E. (deceased) and John R. Judge Yost, always an ardent Democrat in politics, has been frequently hon- ored by his constituents with positions of importance. He filled the office of county auditor, was in 1854 made county commissioner and in 1871 elected asso- ciate judge of the county, being the last incumbent of that office. He also served for twelve years as school director and held minor township positions. Judge Yost's religious faith is in accord with the doctrines of the Reformed Church, his membership being with the Falconer's Swamp Church of that denomination, in which he has officiated as elder. The death of Mrs. Yost occurred January 7, 1885, in her sixty- eighth year.

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History of Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, Part 214

Author: Bean, Theodore Weber, 1833-1891, [from old catalog] ed; Buck, William J. (William Joseph), 1825-1901 Publication date: 1884 Publisher: Philadelphia, Everts & Peck Number of Pages: 1534

Author: Bean, Theodore Weber, 1833-1891, [from old catalog] ed; Buck, William J. (William Joseph), 1825-1901
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: Philadelphia, Everts & Peck
Number of Pages: 1534