USA > Pennsylvania > Northumberland County > History of Northumberland Co., Pennsylvania. With illustrations descriptive of its scenery, palatial residences, public buildings, fine blocks, and important manufactories > Part 19
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Good Will Fire Company, of Harrisburg, twenty-five men. The boys were in line with their steamer, named in honor of the Mayor of Harrisburg, William 'T. Verbeke.
Harrisburg Band, fifteen men.
Mt. Vernon Hook and Ladder Company, of Harrisburg, thirty-four men in line with carriage and Indders.
Washington Steam Fire Engine Company, of Williamsport, fifty-seven men, with steamer in line.
Drum Corps of Harrisburg, with eight men. They belonged to the " Hope" Fire Company, of that city.
Hope Stemm Fire Company, No. 2, of Harrisburg, forty-six men. The boys had in line a large and beantiful four-wheeled hose-carriage, nicely trimmed, called "Jeunie Cameron." The Hope boys were in mourning, on account of the sad death of n member, George Lower, who was struck by n bridge in looking out of the ear window, at Danphin, on their way up, and almost instantly killed.
Sunbury Boys in Blue, nnder Captain William Heim. These were young fellows of ages ranging from 12 to 16 years, fired with military ardor and a desire to do honor to the occasion, which they did.
Sunbury Boys in White, called the "Washington Guards," under Captain Robert Grant. These were still more juvenile in age and appearance. They marched like veterans, and with their improvised wooden-guns, presented a strong military resemblance.
The entire fire department of the parade looked well, and all behaved admirably. The utmost good order prevailed as well as good feeling among all the organizations.
The Line of March .- The route of procession was from Market square to Front street ; up Front to Arch ; out Arch to Fourth; down Fourth to Wal- not; out Walout to Front; up Front tu Chestnut; ont Chestnut to Fifth; up Fifth to Market; out Market to Market square, when at about twelve-and- a-half o'clock, the procession was dismissed for dinner. The procession numbered about one thousand men.
The Great Dinner .- The Sunbury Company provided dinner, through the Methodiet congregation, at the new church, for visiting companies, where abunt four hundred meu partook of a well-prepared meal.
It was estimated that there were not less than ten thousand strangers in town, but the liberality of the citizens was sufficient for the emergency. Among the most hospitable, was General Clement, who opened his house to dinner one linndred and fifty military and conclaves. Many others did likewise; among them Hon. J. B. Packer, Hon. Alexander Jordan, and others.
Afternoon Exercises .- At two o'clock, the time appointed, the afternoon exercises commenced. A stand twelve by thirty-two feet had been erected at the western end of Market square, and trimmed with spruce and flags. A large portrait of General Washington, loaned by H. B. Masser, Esq., adorned the center in front, while two large silk flags procured at Harris- burg, by A. N. Brice, Esq., hung from either end. The meeting was organ- ized nt the time named by calling Hen. William L. Dewart to the chair.
The following Vice Presidents, all of them over sixty-five years of age, were appointed :
Sebastian Boughner, Esq., Philip Renn, Col. Elisha Kline, Jacob Seasholtz, Jaceb Eckman, Isnae Klige, Mr. Kuouss, Samuel T. Brown, Peter Baldy, of Danville, John Moore, Hugh Teats, Esq., Dr. John Raker, Jolin D. Con- rad, Daniel Hileman, Mr. Stresser, Jacob Bloom, Benjamin Knous (Trevor- ton), John Starner, Jehn Taggart, Jesse Horton, William Forsyth, John Hilemau, Francis Bucher, Jehn Shive, Heury Billington, George Prince, William H. Muench, Mordecai Lawrence, Andrew C. Hnsten.
Of these old heroes of more than half-a-century, George Prince, was then eighty-four years of age. He kept many years ago the St. Lawrence Hotel, in Sunbury. He is now deceased. Sebastian Bonghner was then seventy-four years of age. He was a soldier of 1812, nud fought at the enp- ture of Fort Erie, in 1814. Andrew C. Huston, an old printer, was then eighty-five years old. He now residles in Northumberland, where, some seventy years ago, he learned his tende with Andrew Kennedy, in the North- umberland Gazette office. All these old men labored actively in the early historie times of this neighborhood and County.
Secretaries :- Solomon Mulick, Esq., A F. Brice, Esq., of Sunbury ; M. B. Priestly, of Northumberland; B. M. Bubb, of Georgetown ; Frank Johu, of Shamokin, C. O. Buchman, of Watertown, and R. M. Frick, of Milton.
Major Dewart then called the meeting to order, and briefly addressed the crowd as follows :
" Fellow Citizens :- It is with pride and plensure that I assume the duties assigned me by the committee and yourselves. This is a glorious day for old Sunbury -- a glorious day for Solomon Malick, Esq., our worthy and most excellent Chief Burgess, who conceived this successful centennial cele- bration of our town. This is a great day, because it is the recurring anni- versary of our National Independence, as well as the one-hundredth anniver- sary of our existence as a hurough. We are here assembled to celebrate the centennial of our now wide awake town. We will not all likely be present at the next hundredth anniversary. It is likely that I will be the only one present at that coming celebration. I was not here at the Inst celebration. I think my wife was sick, or I was cutting grass. But I will not take up time with these introductory remarks. I return to you, and all the organizations present, the heartfelt thanks of all our people for your participation in these ceremonies on this great occasion. I now have the honor of introducing to yon, as the orator of the day, a gentleman who has lived among us for fitty- seven years-a gentleman of large judicial experience and ability-the HON. ALEXANDER JORDAN."
Judge Jordan occupied about thirty-five minutes in the delivery of his ad- dress. He said the meeting was called for three objects. First, to celebrate the centennial anniversary of the borough of Sunbury ; second, to celebrate the anniversary of our National Independence, and third, to select a spot in the public square, on which to ereet a monument to the memory of the brave men who fell in the great Rebellion. He referred to the probable condition of the place on which Sunbury is located, at the time of its location one hun- dred years ago, by whom the survey was made; the reason why its growth twas not more rapid ; its population in 1815 ; the number of briek and other buildings at that time; and its present population and improvements.
In speaking of the second object, he referred to the oppressive system of taxation adopted by the British Parliament in reference to the colonies; the otal disregard by the King and Parliament to the appeals made by the colonies for redress, and the determination of the colonies to be free. The adoption of the Declaration of Independence ; the war and its glorious termi- nation ; our growth, prosperity, happy form of government, influence of our Republican principles in other nations, and how our government could be perpetuated.
In reference to the third object, he spoke of the propriety and duty of living to erect endorsing monuments to the memory of the men who fell in battle during the lute rebellion ; of the loss of valuable life; of the strength of our Government; that it could not be destroyed by the unhallowed touch of treason, and of the final settlement of the momentous question of starving, and the right of secession; and that we could now emphatically sing, " This is the land of the free and the home of the brave."
ERECTED BY JOHN B. DDUTY, JULY 1866
PLATE XII
WILLIAM H. DOUTY.
GEWES. DEL
PROPERTY OF WILLIAM H. DDUTY, CORNER SUNBURY & ROCK STS ., NORTHUMERLAND CO., PA
RES. OF WILLIAM H. DOUTY , SUNBURY ST. NORTHUMBERLAND CO, PA
55
HISTORY OF NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.
According to previous arrangement, Hon. A. Jordan and Hon. Simon Cameron then proceeded with axe, stakes, and tape-line, together with the soldier's committee, A. N. Brice, Heber Printer, General Clement, S. H. Knowles, and E. M. Bueher, to measure off the site for a County Soldiers' Monument to be erected in Market square. These gentlemen then mens- ured off the ground for the base which will be fifteen feet square, and located nearly opposite the residence of S. J. Packer, Esq. After the measurement had been made, and stakes driven, General Cameron stepped to one side, and by invitation of the committee addressed a few remarks, in substance as follows :
" My Friends of Old Northumberland County: I am proud to be among you to-day. Siuce my boyhood days, and since I left this portion of Penn- sylvania, to enter more actively into the race of life, very many of the old familiar faces have disappeared. I take pleasure in visiting your town at least once in a year, and very frequently much oftener. I remember well the time when you did not have any railroads, and long before the time when the canul was dug on the other side of the river. At that time, I suggested that the caual should go on the eastern side of the Susquehanna, because of the coal which filled these mountains; but the projector of that enterprise hooted at the iden, and said the canal was intended to be used in transport- ing the produce of the rich farms beyond the western side of the river, and so it went there. I refer with pleasure to the fact that I presided at the first railrond meeting held in your old court house, to project the first rail- roud to your town. The untold wealth underlying the hills which surround you, as yet but little improved and delved, will gradually populate and im- prove the valley, until the Susquehanna Valley will be the richest and the most populous in the State. The time will come when Northumberland and Sunbury will form one city, a community of interests, and of population, all bent on one object-improvement. The time will come when the bridges between Sunbury and Northumberland will be thrown open to free travel, and other bridges will be erected across this river ; and some of you may live to see the day when a large and growing town will be built over on the Blue Hill. These may seem like idle prophesies, but I have been accustomed to look forward to the future, aud you may live to see more than this fully realized. When I left your midst, I thought for many years I would come back here and make this my home aud my final resting-place, but that will not be so now. I remember how I went forth a poor boy, but I did not go without friends. Everybody in this County seemed friendly toward me, and took me kindly by the hand. And let me say here, that kind words giveu to a hoy are worth tons of money in after life. In later years the friendli- ness of the people of your Conuty has been warmly extended, hy both Re- publicans and Democrats, and I have felt your generous words and acts of approval as you have said, go ahead, Simon, And so I say to you all, go ahead ! and God bless you."
After the above remarks had been concluded, Judge Jordan aml General Cameron went back to the stand.
A. N. Brice, Esq., Chairman of the Committee to raise funds for the Sol- diers' Monument, then announced the following subscriptions to that object :
Colonel James Cameron Post, $350 00
Hou. A. Jordan, 200 00
Hon. Simon Cameron, 200 00
Hon. J. B. Pucker, 200 00
William I. Greenough, Esq., . 200 00
Hon. William M. Rockefeller, 100 00
Hon. William L. Dewart, 100 00
S. P. Wolverton, Esq., 100 00
Colonel George Wagenseller, 50 00
Hollowing Run Council, No. 285, O. U. A. M., 25 00
An account of the Soldiers' Monument Association will be found under its appropriate henil.
The next speaker was T. H. Purdy, Esq., who delivered a historienl ova- tion, which was subsequently published. Before he was through, however, a heavy shower interrupted the proceedings, and the rain did not cense till five o'clock. Hon, J. R. Packer and Hon. Frank Bound were ulso to speak, but the rain prevented.
THE BALLOON ASCENSION.
Prof. Light's balloon " Aerial" which had been inflating during the day, was detained on account of the heavy fall of rain, but at 6 o'clock the Pro- fessor sailed out in his balloon into mid-air. He moved rapidly in a northi- easterly direction. He landed about three miles from town near Charles
Moore's farm, after an ascent of about half-au-hour. In decending, his fall was rapid and nocontrolable, and he injured his ankle. The Professor and his balloon were brought into town the same evening. The balloon ascension cost the committee about five hundred and seventy-five dollars.
A display of fire-works was had in the evening from a flat on the river, at a cost of one hundred and sixty-five dollars. Thus ended the festivities of the one-hundreth anniversary of the settlement of Sunbury.
CONCLUSION.
The same causes wbich made Sunbury an important Indian town, make it an important American city. It is a railroad and commercial centre-a city in its infancy, surrounded by all the elements of wealth and by nature's richest scenery, To be convinced of this, go to the grave of John Mason, upon Blue Hill, or up to the old prospect chestnut, upon Catawissa road, and feast your eyes upon the uumatched beauty of the scene. From out the misty distance come the creeping trains upon six lines of rail. The old canals unite their waters with the gentleness of age. The mighty rocks rise up as sentinels on either side. Two growing towns lift up their spires, and from their stacks send up the smoky eusign of a nation's toil. View next the green-clad islauds, which seem to rise and slumber in the silvery sheen below, laved with the rippling waters from these mingling Susquehannas, coming, as they do, from Wyalusing and Wyoming on the north, to join the mists of Clearfield, and the sdvery fountains of Emporium. What more could Nature add, unless it were the broad, blue mirror of Shamokin dam?
"These are statety Susquehannas, Joining waters for The bay, And on either side ure looming mountain summits, grim and grey. 'Tis a master-piece of Nature, pleture-like from Nature's bands, And amidst It In Its beauty, our otd Indian city stands. Queen of all these rolling rivers, rich In history sublime, Crowned with glories undiminished, from the unremembered time. Stored with rettes rare and olden, relles which no charm outvies, Reaching with their shadowy Ingers back to sacred memories! What the marvel, that such beauty breathes upon the heart a spell ? What the wonder, that such grandeur wakens enterprise as well ? Why should Nature not ennoble, Unked with art's cochanting chain, Giving impulse to our labor, benith and briffinney to brain ? Yes, from out this regal elty, slittng on Its wave-washed throne, Towers a standard for the people, for us nil to guze upon; "Tis the standard of limprovement, 'tls by freedom's toll npheld, And the furonce-blast shall fon it, and out of nature's field Sunit come the coal and lumber, and the iron from eurtls's breast, To reward us for our labor, and our sons muy tell the rent, When the moss-grown elock of ages, shall have totled for you und me, And have measured off the summers of nhother century !"
THE SUNBURY AMERICAN.
The first number of the Sunbury American was issued September 12tb, 1840, by Messrs. H. B. Masser and Joseph Eiscly, Mr. Masser being editor and proprietor, and Mr. Eisely, the publisher. It had a sudden and unex- pected birth by virtue of the following circumstances: Northumberland County was at that time largely Democratie, and a nomination was almest equal to nn election. A split occurred in the Democratic County Convention on the selection of a candidate for the Assembly, Jesse C. Horton, of Point, being the choice of the upper end, uud C. W. Hegins, of Sunbury, that of the lower end of the County. The friends of Mr. Hegins, not satisfied with the action of the delegates, withdrew aud recommended him as the candidate of the people.
There was, at that time, only one paper published in the lower part of the County-the Sunbury Gazette,-which, unexpectedly to the friends of Mr. Hegins, espoused the cause of Mr. Horton. Two other papers, the Milto- nian (Whig,) and Ledger ( Democratic), were both published at Milton. As the latter also supported Mr. Horton, the Hegins party was left without an organ. This party embracing many of the most influential and intelligent citizens of the County, it was resolved, at once, to establish a new paper.
The result was, that, in a very few days, the Sunbury American made its appearance, under the management of H. B. Masser, and the late Hon. Chas. G. Dounel. Mr. Masser subsequently became sole conductor of the new jonrual, and the American soon became a fixed institution. It took, from its start, a firm stand for protective tariff.
In 1843, the "Amerikaner," a German paper, was started in the same office, and was continued till 1863, when it ceased to be published.
On the first of April, 1848, Mr. Eisely retired from the American, which was conducted by Mr. Masser, till September, 1864, when Mr. Emanuel Wil- vert became a partner. In April, 1866, Mr. N. S. Engle was taken in as a partner, and the firm became Masser, Wilvert and Eugle. In April, 1869, Messrs, Masser and Engle retired from the business, and the American has
56
HISTORY OF NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.
since been under the exclusive control of Mr. Wilvert, who has since enlarged the establishment, by the addition of steam and power-presses, and other essential materials.
In the latter part of President Buchanan's administratiou, the American, which was previously a Democratic journal, espoused the enuse of the gov- ernment, and vigorously supported the administration, through the terrible struggles of the late Civil War, and has continued a staunch Republican advocate.
NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY DEMOCRAT.
The Northumberland County Democrat, published at Sunbury, was estab- lished March 8th, 1861, by T. H. Purdy and Cyrus O. Bachman. The Sun- bury Gazette had, up to that time, been the recognized organ of the Democratic party, of Northumberland County, when it threw off' its fealty to that party, and became a Republican paper; hence the establishing of the Democrat, which has since done unremitting service for the Democraey. Mr. Bachman retired several years after the paper was established, and left Mr. Purdy sole proprietor, who continued as such till January 1st, 1867, when J. E. Eichholtz and John J. Auten, took control. This firm continned in existence but six months, after which J. E. Eichholtz was sole proprietor, till July 1st, 1868, when Alvin Day became associated with him. This firm continued for three years, when Mr. Eichholtz again became, and still eontinnes, as sole editor and proprietor.
SUNBURY DAILY.
The Sunbury Daily was established December 6th, 1872, and has been published ever since, except for a single month. J. E. Eichholtz was the projeetor of the enterprise, and has remained its proprietor, ever since. It has, however, been edited and published by various parties, and the editor and publisher, at present, is G. G. Frysinger. It is published in Mr. Eiehboltz's Democrat office.
THE SUNBURY GAZETTE.
The establishment in which the Gazette is printed is one of the oldest in central Pennsylvania. It was established in 1812, by John G. Youngman, who, coming from Maryland, where be had been working as a journeyman printer, in Hagerstown, Frederick and Baltimore, started the publication of a German newspaper iu Sunbury, with the title of the Northwestern Post, a name which was considered appropriate to this section of country at that time. It was Republican in politics, advocating the Jeffersonian principles. This name was continued until the building of the canals by the State, when it was changed to the Canal Boat, suiting the popular interest that then pre- vailed in regard to internal improvement.
About 1833, the publication of the German paper was diseontinned, and an English paper was started, named the Workingmen's Advocate. This name was continued until 1839, when it was changed to the Gazette, by which title it has been known since. When the name Gazette was assumed, theoriginal proprietor, John G. Youngman, connected his eldest son, George B. Young- man, in partnership, in its publication, and they continued it until 1855, when it went into the hands of its present proprietors, A. A. and John Youngman, with John Youngman as editor. The politics of the English publication (Workingmen's Advocate and Gazette) were Democratie until 1861, when the Gazette took sides with the Republican party, and still re- mains in connection with that political organization.
Its circulation is quite extensive in the County in which it is published, besides extending to neighboring counties and beyond the limits of the State. John G. Youngman, the original proprietor, died in September, 1871, at the advanced age of eighty-six years. He did work as a compositor iu the office within a year previous to bis death. George B. Youngmau, who was con- nected with his father in the publication of the paper, engaged in agriculture in 1861, and has been quite successful in fruit-raising and wine-making.
SUNBURY MILITARY RECORD.
The following exhaustive record of Sunbury in the late Civil War, is from au oration delivered by A. N. Brice, Esq., on Decoration-day, May 29th, 1875.
On the morning of 15th of April, 1861, three days after the attack on Sumpter, word was received in Sunbury, that President Lincoln has issued a call for seventy-five thousand men to serve for three months, in putting down the Southern Rebellion.
The whole community at once hecame wild with excitement, aud eulist- ments commeneed under the auspices of Captain C. J. Bruner and Lieu- tenant J. P. S. Gobin. The following extracts from Mr. Briee's diary will bring in present review, the exciting seencs of that eventful time:
" April 19th, '61 .- The excitement is growing inteuse. The people are wild with enthusiasm. The Star Spangled Banner has been raised aloft, and proudly waves from every prominent building. Party-lines and controversies have disappeared, and every heart beats to the eall of country. Troops from all parts of the State are pouriug in.
"Saturday, April 20th, '61 .- Part of a company, numbering about thirty men, was raised in Sunbury, and started for Harrisbng.
"Sunday, April 21st, '61 .- The remainder of the company, numbering between forty and fifty men, was raised, and in the afternoon, at the benting of the drum, the men met and drilled, and in the evening, marched to the Lutheran church, where Rev. Rizer preached a sermon on the 'crisis.' The house was immensely crowded. The ladies were engaged all day in making shirts and necessary articles for the soldiers. Sunday turned into battaliou- day for the protection of the flag! Long may it wave!
"Monday, April 22d, '61 .- At an early hour the people began to as- semble at the depot to bid farewell to the remainder of our volunteers. By the time the ears arrived, thousands had collected, and the scene was truly grand and inspiring. Au immense train of soldiers came down. They were greeted with wild shouts by the multitude. Our boys were soou aboard the train. The silent tear wus shed, the farewell given, and they were off, amid the rattling of drums and the shouts of the excited populace, for the war.
" Tuesday, April 23d, '61 .- The excitement continues unabated and still inereasiug. Companies are passing through, and are greeted with wild cheers by the exeited throng. The ladies of Sunbury are vieing with each other in their offices of benefaetion and love. They are carrying armfuls of provision to the soldiers, who, in turn, ery, 'God bless the ladies of Sunbury, and three ebeers !'
" Wednesday, April 24th, '61 .- The quota of seventy-five thousand men is filled."
I desire to record here my tribute of praise to the noble women of the war. It is with a very large degree of pride, that I call to mind their self- sacrificing efforts for the relief and comfort of the troops as they passed through to the front. I doubt whether a town in the United States did more through its patriotic women than ours. While a member of the Army of the Potomac, and of the James, I frequently heard soldiers from different States speak in the highest terms of praise of the ladies of Sunbury. Many of those large-hearted women who took an active part then, who cheered and labored for the soldier, have gone also to their rest. Let the tear be shed for them as well. Let the heart beat for them. Let the evergreen be spread and the flower strewn npon their graves also, and the living we will remember till the last roll-call summons the last of us to the other land.
The man who deserves the honor of first leaving Suubury for the war, was Isaac R. Dunkleberger, who afterwards rose to the rank of brevet-colonel iu the regular army. He is now living in California.
THE FIRST SACRIFICE.
One of the first who left Suubury was Col. James Cameron, commander of the celebrated New York Highlanders. He was in the first battle of Bull Run, iu July '61, and was there killed. His name will be carved ou our granite monument as the 6rst soldier from Northumberland County who gave up his life in the war.
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