History of Perry County, Pennsylvania, including descriptions of Indians and pioneer life from the time of earliest settlement, sketches of its noted men and women and many professional men, Part 115

Author: Hain, Harry Harrison, 1873- [from old catalog]
Publication date: 1922
Publisher: Harrisburg, Pa., Hain-Moore company
Number of Pages: 1102

USA > Pennsylvania > Perry County > History of Perry County, Pennsylvania, including descriptions of Indians and pioneer life from the time of earliest settlement, sketches of its noted men and women and many professional men > Part 115

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The first pastor was Rev. Allan Brittain, and his successor was Rev. Daniel Hartman. At the time of its erection there were few members, but forty were added.at one time shortly thereafter as the result of a revival meeting. The church was rebuilt in 1875-76. The first Sunday school superintendent was Owen Bruner, and the first teachers were Sarah F. Thompson, Mary S. Urban and Benjamin McKelvy.

In 1900, during the pastorate of Rev. Edwin L. Eslinger, it was replaced by the present fine edifice, known as the Elizabeth Livingston Rhoads Me- morial Church, she having contributed about one-sixth of the cost of the church and its furnishings. Its cost was $3,435.66. Prior to its dedication Rev. Eslinger had been succeeded by Rev. F. C. Byers. The building committee was composed of E. B. Miller, president ; J. B. Jackson, secre- tary and treasurer ; G. W. Rider, I. B. Free, Thos. J. Free, Wm. H. Jack- son, S. M. Weltmer and John W. Noblet. The church occupies a corner on the northern side of the public square. It belongs to the Liverpool charge, and its pastors have always been the same as those of the Meth- odist Church there. See Liverpool chapter.

NEWPORT BOROUGH.

Newport is the leading business town in Perry County, owing to its central location and shipping facilities. It has a greater number of busi- ness establishments than any other town and is surrounded by a larger agricultural district. Its streets meet at right angles and its dimensions are uniform. Few towns in the state are more prettily laid out than Newport.

It is located on the west bank of the Juniata River, within the limits of Oliver Township. It was incorporated as a borough in 1840. On Febru-

Photo by Miss Minnie Deardorff.

NEWPORT, PERRY COUNTY'S LARGEST TOWN.

Showing a view of the Juniata River, looking North, with Buffalo Mountain's famous "Round Top" to the right. This mountain can be seen from the mountains west of New Germantown, the extreme western part of the county, and from the windows of a train, passing over the Northern Central Railway, from a point below Millersburg. Newport was known as Reider's Ferry, then as Reidersville. This old ferry carried the "Dispatch Riders" with messages to the Canadian Frontier during the second war with Great Britain.

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ary 8, 1775. * David English patented a tract of land where Newport is now situated. He had warranted it and another tract in December 30 and 31, 1762, one called "Antiqua," and the other, "Grenada." He sold 199 acres to his son, David English, on June 12, 1783, who on April 2, 1789, sold the same tract to Paul Reider. Through his will, dated August 6, 1804, the property descended to his sons, Paul, John, Daniel, Abraham and Ephraim. Of these sons, Paul, John and Daniel, after coming into pos- session, plotted the property into fifty-four lots, with the necessary streets and alleys. The first plan of the town extended only from Mulberry Street to Oliver, at the tannery, and from the river to Second Street. They kept the upper part and laid out the town along the Juniata River and Little Buffalo Creek. The town was first known as Reider's Ferry, and then as Reidersville, as houses began building. Paul Reider was the grandfather of the late O. H. P. Reider.

The Reiders established a ferry, which was in use until 1850, when its further use was ended by the diversion of traffic to the bridge. The Reider's Ferry Bridge Company was incorporated April 4, 1838, with six hundred shares of stock at $20 per share. The company was composed of the following: Thomas O. Bryan, James Black, Abraham B. Demaree. John Leas, Jonas Ickes, Jacob Leas, Jacob Loy, Samuel Sipe, Robert Mitchell, John K. Smith, John W. Bosserman, William Wallace, James Jackman, Charles Wright, Sr., George Kepner and Abraham Reider. The bridge was not built, however, until 1845, when the act of April 7th incor- porated the Newport Bridge Company, with the following directors : Samuel Leiby, John Fickes, Robert Mitchell, John W. Bosserman, Benj. McIntire, Wm. Cumbler, Abram B. Demaree, Kirk Haines, John Wiley, John Patterson, James Jackman, Wm. Wallace, John Kibler, and Benjamin Musser. The shares were $20. These men were advance agents of modern progress and their names should go down to posterity, for that bridge and its successors have been of incalculable value to several generations of citizens whose homes were and are "between the rivers." As a boy, born and bred in that section, and later a resident of Newport, whose people of four generations have used it, the writer knows from a practical stand- point its value to that territory and to Newport in a business way. It was not, however, built until 1851. Garret Kirkpatrick was the contractor It was 700 feet long. All the river bridges in those days were toll bridges, and this one remained so until 1884, when it was purchased by the county and made free, at a cost of $13,583, a county jury deciding the amount, as viewers and owners failed to agree on a price. Perry County was one of the first counties in the state to free its bridges.

This ferry at Reider's was crossed by dispatch bearers on horseback from Washington, D. C., to Niagara, in the War of 1812-15. The exact date of plotting the town is unknown, but it is supposed to have been about 1804. Within what is now the borough's limits the first house to be erected was on Little Buffalo Creek, the second at Market and Water Streets, where Jesse Butz, Sr., was long in business, and the third where Hombach's marble works are located. The latter house was built by a Mr. Meredith, of Milford, and was later owned by James Smith. The fourth and a blacksmith shop were built by Fred Orwin.

*David English first patented a tract of land, on May 13. 1774, from Thomas Penn and John Penn, "True and absolute Proprietaries and Governors in chief of the Province of Pennsylvania, and the counties of Newcastle, Kent and Sussex, upon the De'aware." The document is made out to "David English, of Rye township." is signed by John Penn, "February 8, 1775, in the 15th year of the reign of King George, III," and calls for 1021/2 acres, which he named "Antiqua." This is not the Newport tract, but the one immediately north of it. The Newport tract was named "Grenada." The plot of these lands is yet in the possession of Mrs. Ephriam Rider and daughter, of Newport.

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HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

The old hotel, at the corner of Market and Water Streets, later owned by J. and B. H. Fickes, was built by Ephraim Bosserman in 1825. It was still standing in 1898. In 1825 there was also a house above the Jones warehouse, on Front Street. A man named Collar built the first hotel on the site of the Central Hotel (Mingle House), in 1827. In 1829 the land west of Second Street was all in wheat. The first house built above the line of the Pennsylvania Railroad through the center of the town, was where the Joshua S. Leiby house, more recently owned by H. H. Hain, and now by Hiram M. Keen, is located. The next was built where the old photograph gallery was later located. Samuel and H. Gantt built and owned them. The first house on Second Street was built by Dr. Dolan, where Mrs. John Fleisher resides. In 1829 Daniel Reider erected the first house built of sawed logs. It was located where William H. Hopple was so long in the undertaking business, now L. M. Kell's. There was only one store in Newport then, and that was kept by E. Bosserman and Samuel Beaver. Samuel Leiby went into business in Newport in 1826, then but twenty-two years of age.

With the opening of the canal, in 1829, the name of the cluster of houses was changed to Newport-for it was a new port and a busy one, as it was the gateway to Sherman's and Buffalo Creek Valleys.

In 1835 the first hotel was opened, by John Sipe, in a rented building on the old Jesse Butz corner. This was the first hotel along the Juniata from Duncan's Island to Lewistown where whiskey was sold. Prior to that it was necessary to go to Milford for "bitters." The second house on Second Street was the warehouse later operated by Kough's as a grain and commission house. In it was stored the first lot of flour ever placed on sale in Newport. It was shipped from the mouth of Little Buffalo Creek in an "ark," as the river boats were then known, to Port Deposit. Besides the flour the cargo consisted of pig iron from Juniata furnace, then operated by Mr. Everhart.

Samuel Sipe bought the plot where the Central Hotel stands and erected another building for a hotel. The opening of this house closed the other hotel (John Sipe's) and its proprietor went to Milford and took charge of that tavern. On March 6, 1856, this hotel in Newport was partly burned down. This building was later replaced by Jesse L. Gantt, father of the late W. H. Gantt, but on June 25, 1874, it was destroyed by fire. This fire was the most disastrous one that has ever taken place in New- port. It started in a small building standing next to the Jones warehouse, and consumed everything south to Market and along Market and up Sec- ond Street the entire length of the eastern side of the Square. Mr. Gantt then erected the present building. It was once known as the Gantt House, then the Central Hotel, and now the Mingle House. Mr. Gantt was the proprietor for thirty years. Among the earlier hotels were the "Farmers & Drovers" and the "Ninth Ward House."

The first tannery to be built in Newport was located upon the southeast corner of Water and Walnut Streets. It was built by Robt. B. Jordan in 1837. He later sold it to John Wiley, from whose estate Charles A. Ripp- man purchased it in 1865. Mr. Rippman conducted it until 1883, when it lay idle until it was destroyed by the great flood of 1889. Mr. Rippman is still in possession of part of the ground upon which it stood.

The first brick house was built by Philip Reamer, but was later torn down by Henry Myers to erect his new brick house, now the property of Samuel D. Myers, on South Second Street. The lands above Fourth Street were not settled until long afterwards.

The building of the Pennsylvania Railroad, in 1849, gave the town an- other impetus and was the occasion of much contention. The officials

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wanted to lay the tracks on Second Street, but were prevailed upon to locate the line on Third Street. The right of way was granted in 1847. On September 1, 1849, the first regular train passed through, the line having been opened to Lewistown on that date. With the building of the canal and railroad Newport became a great grain shipping centre, and as many as four large grain warehouses did a lucrative business at the same time, until the building of the narrow gauge railroad, which diverted much of that trade. It was no unusual thing to see on the streets of Newport from ten to thirty four and six-horse teams bringing grain or bark to market. They came from as far as the head of Sherman's Valley above New Germantown, a distance of thirty miles. These warehouses were operated by different men at different times, but will largely be remembered by the older folks as Jones Brothers (Alvin and D. Meredith), Fickes Brothers (Benjamin and Gibson), William Kough & Sons, and W. F. H. Garber. In the chapter entitled "River and Canal Transportation," there is an account of a shipment of flour and pig iron from Newport in the old-time ark, the forerunner of the canal boat. That Jones' warehouse was built before the canal days must be a fact, if the statement is correct that the Reformed Church congregation was organized in the building in 1820. The business of the Jones firm, however, dates only to 1866, when John Jones-a grandson of the founder of Milford-started in business, later taking in his sons, D. Meredith and Alvin. This business was in the names of the Jones family until the present century's first decade had passed.

The Bloomfield Advocate and Press of April 13, 1859, has a report of the work of the Perry County Medical Society, signed by Drs. Isaac Le- fevre, James Galbraith and J. E. Singer. Among other things it tells of the unhealthy condition of Newport prior to the building of the Pennsyl- vania Railroad, in 1849, especially mentioning "remittent fevers epidem- ically during the autumnal months." The draining of a marsh of six or eight acres at the west end of town (west of Walnut Street) by the rail- road authorities is given credit for the healthier condition.

Newport was incorporated in 1840, the act having been signed by Gov- ernor David Rittenhouse Porter, on March Ioth. The first borough elec- tion was held on March 20, 1840. Samuel Leiby, Sr., was the first burgess. The school directors elected were Henry Switzer, George Zinn, John W. Bosserman, Samuel Leiby, Samuel Sipe and A. W. Monroe. The first school tax of the new borough totaled only $144.68. William Kinsloe taught the school four months at $25 per month. It had an early expe- rience at expansion, but not of a permanent nature. An act of the Penn- sylvania Legislature, dated April 9, 1856, extended the limits "to include mills and residence of John Kibler, the farms of Catharine Loy, Samuel Leiby, Benjamin Himes, Isaiah Corl, and so much of the lands of John Fickes as lies south of the Ickesburg road." In 1859 another act repealed this one and threw these lands back into Oliver Township. The town was extended northward in 1897.

Newport had a brass band as early as 1850, John S. Demaree being the leader. It was known as the Newport Sax Horn Band.

There was an early school building in Newport known as "the Old Mansion," where the children of Reidersville parents were taught to "read, write and cypher," by George Monroe. Then for a few years they attended the various places in Oliver Township, of which it was a part, until 1826, when the school was removed from the Henry S. Smith place to a small, one-story house belonging to John Reider, east of the street leading to Little Buffalo and near the creek. This is the successor to the school spoken of in the history of Oliver Township, which had originated

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HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

in the old Josiah Fickes residence. John Ruth and John Ferguson taught here from 1825 to 1828. This house was swept away by the waters of the creek. Then there was a school at Clouser's, near the present home of Capt. James Hahn. This building was later destroyed by fire. A. W. Monroe, John Ferguson and Jacob Gantt taught there.

In 1832-33 Dr. Dolan kept a school in a building known as "the Bar- racks," located between the Central Hotel and the Pennsylvania Canal, with two rooms, one for the boys and one for the girls. The old brick schoolhouse on Second Street was built by contributions in 1834, and in it the next season was held the last pay or select school, as the free school law was passed the following year. John Ferguson taught that year. The lower schoolhouse was built in 1841, by Joseph Tate, contractor, for $190. In it Arnold Lobaugh was a teacher. Other early teachers were Stewart Low. C. P. Barnett, Isaac Mutch, Margaret A. Monroe, R. Wolf, Jesse L. Butz, John Adair, H. G. Milan, I. H. Zinn, J. D. C. Johns, A. M. Gantt, J. E. Bonsall, Isaac T. Woods and Miss H. Cooper.

In the fall of 1842, the borough's second year, the school term was made three months, and two schools opened, the teachers being C. P. Bonsall and Joseph Meetch. The salaries were $18 and $16, respectively. Later there was only one school again.

The old school building which was superseded by the present one, not in- cluding the wings on either side, was built in 1865, George and John Fleisher being the contractors. Its cost was $6,000. George W. Bretz was the first teacher in this building. In 1867 the number of schools had increased to three, and were graded for the first time. During the summer of 1867 Silas Wright, later county superintendent of schools, opened his Normal School in this building. The one wing or addition to this old building was built in 1874, and the other, in 1888. This entire building was demol- ished in May, 1911, and during the summer, the present building-the finest one in Perry County-was erected.

The first graduating class of the Newport High School was graduated May 10, 1887, under Prof. Silas Wright. Its members were: Jene F. Boyer, Jessie E. Charles, Wm. C. Hombach, Willis G. Mitchell, Turie S. Ickes, Curtis H. Gantt and Edwin H. Constantine.

The business men of the last half century would include Jesse Butz, who first opened a store on May 22, 1861; James B. Leiby, who first opened in the spring of the same year, and with the exception of one year was continuously in business until his death; Philip Bosserman, one of the pioneer merchants of the period; J. W. Frank, T. H. Milligan, Marx Dukes, David H. Spotts, William Henry Bosserman, Joshua Leiby, B. M. Eby, Rudolph Wingert, (). H. P. Rider, John Fleisher, W. H. Hopple, A. V. Hombach, A. B. Demaree, A. Fred Keim, R. H. Wingert, William Wertz, W. H. Gantt, B. F. Demaree (after 1882), J. C. Barrett and others. John C. Hetrick was a contractor for a thirty-year period following 1866. He erected the Episcopal and Reformed churches in Newport, the Meth- odist church in Duncannon, and the Juniata County courthouse. Miss M. L. Bell kept a millinery store there as early as the fall of 1854. Dr. S. H. Whitmer long practiced dentistry, prior to his death, in 1002.

Up until about 1832 the territory around Newport depended upon Mil- ford and Millerstown for medical attention. About that time Dr. John H. Doling located here and remained several years. He then removed to Milford, where he practiced the balance of his life, except for a short period gold hunting in California. Dr. Bell succeeded him and practiced there two years. In 1837 Dr. S. R. Fahnestock was located here. Joshua E. Singer was born in Sunbury, in 1809, and graduated from Jefferson Medical College, locating in Newport in 1838, where he practiced until

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within a few years of his death, which occurred in 1881. Dr. Singer was a remarkable man, a good physician, interested in business and in church work. He was the moving spirit in the organization of the People's Bank, the forerunner of the present First National Bank, and was the organizer of the first Bible class in the county-it being formed in the Newport Reformed Church. Dr. Robert S. Brown settled in Newport before 1850, and was in practice here until 1860, when he died, part of the time being associated with Dr. Singer. Dr. William R. Howe, a native of the county, commenced practice here in 1857 as an associate of Dr. Brown, a brother- in-law. After a few years he removed to Blain, where he died in 1860. Both were graduates of Jefferson Medical College. Dr. R. B. Hoover located here in 1856, and Dr. W. (. Baldwin in 1859, neither remaining long. In 1860 Dr. Joseph Eby located here, coming from Milford, where he had practiced three years. He was born near New Germantown, in 1830, and graduated at the Eclectic Medical College in Philadelphia. He was married to a daughter of Dr. Jonas Ickes, of New Bloomfield. He died in 1872. Mrs. Gibson Fickes, still residing in Newport, is a daughter. Dr. William Mateer located there in 1860, and practiced for a few years. Dr. George W. Mitchell, after graduation in 1860, practiced here a year or two, and then removed to Andersonburg. From about 1862 to 1868 Dr. J. M. Miller practiced here, then going West. Several years prior to 1866 Dr. Williams practiced at Newport.

Dr. James B. Eby was born in New Bloomfield, in 1840. He graduated in 1866 from the University of Pennsylvania, and located at Newport, being associated with Dr. Joseph Eby. After a year he removed to New Buf- falo, where he remained until 1870. He then returned to Newport, where he practiced until his death, which occurred in 1911. He was a skillful practitioner and had large business interests. He was the father of Lieut. Colonel Charles McHenry Eby, U. S. A. Dr. Fishburn located at New- port about 1866, where he practiced for several years, then removing to the West. Dr. H. O. Orris, still in active practice in Newport, located there in 1867, the year of his graduation. He has had a large practice in the county and is a successful physician. In 1867 Dr. Harry Stites, a son of Dr. Samuel Stites, of Millerstown, located there, where he practiced for several years, leaving to become a surgeon in the United States Army. After practicing for a short time in Millerstown Dr. George W. Campbell, a graduate of Jefferson Medical College, located here in 1879, where he continued in practice until his death in 1912. During the last few years of his practice he had associated with him Dr. Lenus Carl, mentioned be- low. Dr. Campbell had a large practice and was successful. Dr. C. E. DeLancy's location in Newport dates to 1883. Dr. W. H. Hoopes came later and practiced until about 1917, when he was found dead in his sleigh while making a professional call. In 1908, as stated above, Dr. Carl lo- cated here. The present physicians are Dr. Orris, Dr. DeLancey and Dr. Carl.

One of the industries of a past generation which is yet remembered by many is the W. R. S. Cook planing mill, which was located in west New- port, Oliver Township. In June, 1875, this industry was started on lands purchased from Dr. J. E. Singer, with a twenty-five horse-power, portable sawmill, with a capacity of ten thousand feet of lumber a day. It was located along the Pennsylvania Canal, and soon thereafter a sawmill and a shingle mill were added. In 1881 the two-story mill was built, and in 1885 the planing mill was added. These mills jointly had a capacity of over sixty thousand feet of finished product per day. The capacity of the mill was being continually increased.

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HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

The wagon manufacturing plant of the late J. C. Frank had its begin- ning when his father, Philip Frank, mastered wagonmaking and opened a shop at Girty's Notch, in Buffalo Township, in 1843. In that shop J. C. Frank learned the business, later opening a shop near Newport, and in 1876 erecting a manufacturing plant in Newport, which, for the next quar- ter of a century, was one of the town's busy industrial plants. Snyder & Kahler later erected a factory at Fourth and Mulberry Streets, and also did a large business for a like period.

The Newport Planing Mill. In 1863, eighteen or twenty citizens of New- port organized the Newport Manufacturing & Building Company, which built a planing mill and operated it until 1865. At that time the remaining stockholders sold out to George Fleisher, John W. Smith, Henry C. Smith, Win. Henry Bosserman and B. F. Miller. Gradually George Fleisher pur- chased the other interests until 1885, when sole ownership rested with him. He operated it successfully until 1900, when he in turn sold it to his son, J. Emory Fleisher, who operated it until 1920, when it was sold to a newly organized corporation known as the Newport Planing Mill Company, of which C. Z. Moore is president, and E. B. Callow, secretary. The product of this mill during the long ownership of the Fleishers-father and son- and since, has been high-grade mill work for building purposes. From twenty-five to forty men have found employment there for many years. An everlasting credit to this plant is the fact that Daniel W. Gantt served in the capacity of foreman from 1865 to the present (1920). As an expe- rienced mill man Mr. Gantt's equals are seldom found. George Fleisher attained his boyish ambition, whichi was to own a planing mill. He erected many homes in Newport during his lifetime and helped make the town what it is.

The Oak Extract Company. Through the efforts of Mr. H. H. Bechtel, a practical tanner and a resident of Newport for many years, who after- wards located at Cincinnati, Ohio, and became vice-president of the Ameri- can Oak Leather Company of that city, the Oak Extract Company was in- corporated in Pennsylvania for the manufacture of tannic acid, and the plant located at Newport, of which Mr. Bechtel was also first vice-presi- dent. This company was chartered March 17, 1899, the business being really an auxiliary one of the American Oak Leather Co. of Cincinnati, having plants at New Decatur, Alabama; Harriman, Tennessee; Louis- ville, Ky., and at Cincinnati. Also having leather stores at Boston, Chicago and St. Louis.

Fifteen acres of the Gibson Fickes farm, lying immediately north of Newport Borough, were leased and subsequently purchased by the Oak Extract Company, upon which the plant was to be erected and the con- struction of the plant started March, 1899, and manufacture began Marchi 10, 1900, and the plant has been in continuous operation up to the present time with the exception of occasional shutdowns for repairs, etc., such as all manufacturing plants are subjected to. Its present acreage also com- prises the old Clemsen property adjoining, containing four and one-half acres. Ten larger and smaller buildings comprise the plant. Fifty to eighty men have been continually employed. Until January 1, 1921, its general disbursements have been over $3,500,000, of which amount $2,- 157,000 was paid for wood alone.

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History of Perry County, Pennsylvania, including descriptions of Indians and pioneer life from the time of earliest settlement, sketches of its noted men and women and many professional men, Part 115

Author: Hain, Harry Harrison, 1873- [from old catalog] Publication date: 1922 Publisher: Harrisburg, Pa., Hain-Moore company Number of Pages: 1102

Author: Hain, Harry Harrison, 1873- [from old catalog]
Publication date: 1922
Publisher: Harrisburg, Pa., Hain-Moore company
Number of Pages: 1102