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 25
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).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101 | Part 102 | Part 103 | Part 104 | Part 105 | Part 106 | Part 107 | Part 108 | Part 109 | Part 110 | Part 111 | Part 112 | Part 113 | Part 114 | Part 115 | Part 116 | Part 117 | Part 118 | Part 119 | Part 120 | Part 121 | Part 122 | Part 123
The County Commissioners in the first few years of the existence of the County received $1.50 per day, and their yearly compensation averaged about $107.00. The Commissioners now receive $1,000.00 and their ex- penses per year.
The amounts of the tax duplicates and collectors for the year 1821 were as follows :
Daniel Motzer, Toboyne Township, $1,200.26
Henry Kline, Tyrone Township, 1,575.89
Nicholas Ickes, Saville Township, 692.54
Philip Bosserman, Juniata Township, 915.22
Anthony Kimmel, Rye Township, 754.71
Isaac Pfoutz, Greenwood Township, 863.99
Henry Steaphen, Buffalo Township,
421.25
Total,
$6,423.86
A total of the duplicates for the county in 1920 was $62,950.64.
On Sept. 7, 1821, an order was given to Jacob Bishop, Keeper of the prison of Cumberland County, for $102.15 for maintaining 5 prisoners sent from Perry County. The daily charge was 20 cents. Among the items 104 lbs. beef at 5 cents per lb. and 8 quarts of soap at 614 cents per quart. One of the prisoners made 45 pairs of shoes in 15 weeks, and a credit at the rate of 40 cents per pair was allowed for his labor.
The election boards in those times consisted of 3 judges, I inspector and 2 clerks.
On Oct. 24, 1821, Jesse Miller was reappointed Clerk to the Commis- sioners and his salary was increased to $100.00 per annum.
On Nov. 3d, 1821, $10.00 was paid for one year's rent for the office of the Commissioners. On Dec. 6, 1821, $51.50 was paid to Allen Nesbet for one year's rent for the Court House and 6 mos. interest on the first semi-annual payment.
On Dec. 7, 1821, $27.00 was paid to William McClure, Deputy Attorney General, as his fees in 9 criminal cases.
On Dec. 7, 1821, $5.00 was paid to John Albert for "a bell to call the court."
On March 12th, 1827, the Commissioners held their last meeting in Lan- disburg and removed their offices to Bloomfield.
CHAPTER XIII.
THE FIGHT FOR THE COUNTY SEAT
I N the locating of its county seat Perry County had almost as much trouble as the United States had had just three decades before, when for a long period Trenton, New Jersey, and the present site were rivals; when, in 1789, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, in the United States Senate, offered to deed ten miles square around any one of seven towns, which in- cluded Harrisburg and Car- lisle, and when it was pro- posed to select a site on the Susquehanna instead of the Potomac.
In accordance with the pro- visions of the act creating the county Governor William Findlay was empowered to appoint a commission of three men from without the ATCHEL & MANN NG county to select a location for the county seat. This com- COURTHOUSE AT NEW BLOOMFIELD. mission was appointed eight days later and was composed of William Beale, of Mifflin County ; David Maclay, of Franklin County, and Jacob Bucher, of Dauphin County. The following extract from the Executive Minutes, Volume II, page 168, records the appointment :
Thursday, March 30th, 1820.
The Governor this day appointed and commissioned the following named persons to the offices annexed to their names, respectively, that is to say.
William Beale of Mifflin County, David Maclay of Franklin County, and Jacob Bucher of Dauphin County, to be commissioners to fix upon a proper and convenient site for a Court house, prison, and County offices, within the County of Perry, as near the Centre thereof as circumstances will admit, having regard to the convenience of roads, territory, population and the accommodation of the people of the said County generally; and the said Commissioners, or a majority of them having viewed the relative advantages of the several situations contemplated by the people, were re- quired on or before the first day of September next by a written report under their hands or under the hands of a majority of them, to certify, describe and limit the site, or lot of land which they shall choose for the purpose aforesaid, and to transmit the said report to the Governor; and to do all other matters and things required of them in and by an act of
221
222
HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
the General Assembly, passed on the 22d day of March last, entitled, "An Act erecting part of Cumberland County into a separate County to be called Perry."
There have been many political fights in Perry County during the past century, but from what can be gleaned from old news- papers and records that county seat fight eclipsed them all. The many different locations proposed complicated the situation. Landisburg, with a taste of the dignity attached to the temporary seat of justice, put up a stiff fight. An old subscription list shows that the citizens obligated themselves for $1,610.00 to help secure it. Cedar Run (vicinity of Cisna's Run, Madison Township), then in Toboyne Township, raised the sum of $2,907.00. There was a provision that the plot to be used was to be that of Helfen- stine and Ury (now Wm. H. Loy's), who agreed to raise the amount to $5,000.00, on such condition.
Casper Lupfer offered a free site on his "plantation" which was adjoining the present site of New Bloomfield, later owned by W. A. Sponsler, then John R. Adams, and now in the possession of Robert E. McPherson. Inhabitants of Millerstown and vicinity offered a site in Raccoon Valley, Tuscarora Township, opposite Millerstown, owned by Henry Lease. Other proposed locations were Clark's Ferry (now Duncannon), Reider's Ferry (now Newport). George Barnett's (the present site), Captain William Powers', west of New Bloomfield. Elliottsburg, and Douglas' place, near Green Park.
Before the matter was finally decided and the present location selected there were four different commissions appointed to select a site. Public meetings were held at various places over the new county and petitions gotten out protesting against different sites and favoring others. The first commission, after examining the various sites offered, which required twelve days of their time. which shows that they covered it pretty thoroughly, decided on the site on the farm of William Powers, about two miles west of New Bloomfield. On the back of the report are the signatures: David Maclay, W. Maclay, W. Beale and J. Bucher. How "W. Maclay" came to have an interest in it records do not tell, but he was not on the original appointment. Their first meeting was in June, 1820. and they made their report August 26, 1820. Millerstown held a meeting, December 2, and resolved "that the commission did its duty by locating it at the centre of the county."
llardly had the report been made public when Landisburg, on December 2, held a public meeting to protest. A resolution was passed opposing the site as a place "having no intersection of roads, no direct intercourse with adjacent counties-a strong point with Landisburg-destitute of good water, good mills or even mill sites." Protests came from all over the new county. At the meeting
223
FIGHT FOR THE COUNTY SEAT
of the next legislature many citizens of the county petitioned for another commission, which was granted by an act dated April 2, 1821, which required that the new commission should examine sites and report before June 1. This commission was composed of William Irwin, of Centre County; Isaac Kirk, of York County. and Christian Ley, of Lebanon County.
At times a story has been told of William Powers and the com- mission digging a well and getting no water, of Powers and his negro servant hauling water into the well and of the commission, "discouraged, resolving to stop work on the well." Nothing in any record, in any newspaper, or used by the opposition at the time would help to substantiate that story, and it is one of those mythical stories which sometimes gain considerable circulation, but which are unfounded and will not stand when scrutinized. Had such been the case the other points seeking the location would have grasped the information quickly and utilized it. Furthermore, the commission had neither the authority nor the time to go into the well-digging business.
The following entry appears on Executive Minutes of the State, Volume II, page 359:
Saturday, April 28th, 1821.
Under the authority contained in an Act of the General Assembly passed the second day of the present month, entitled, "A supplement to an Act entitled 'An Act erecting part of Cumberland County into a separate County to be called Perry,'" the Governor this day appointed William Irwin, of the County of Centre; Isaac Kirk, of the County of York, and Christian Ley, of the County of Lebanon, Esquires. Commissioners to re- view the scite lately determined upon by the Commissioners appointed in pursuance of the original act aforesaid, for the seat of justice of the County of Perry, and if they, or a majority of them shall be of opinion that the said scite does not combine the interests and advantages of the inhabitants of the said County generally, then, and in that case, they or a majority of them, are authorized and required to select and fix upon some other scite for a Court house, prison, and County offices, within the said County of Perry, as near the Centre thereof as circumstances will admit,- they, the said Commissioners to execute the said Commission according to the true intent and meaning of the above recited Act of Assembly, and of the ninth section of the Act to which the same is a supplement; and to make a report to the Governor in writing, under their respective hands and seals, on or before the first day of June, next, certifying, describing and limiting the scite or lot of ground which shall have been chosen by them as aforesaid.
Sites were proposed by a committee of one from each township, but in the voting the result was as follows: Clark's Ferry (now Duncannon), 5; Barnett's, 2; Landisburg, 9; county poor farm, o.
This second commission located the site at Reider's (now New- port), which resulted in indignation meetings being held in the other sections of the county. The fact that it was seven miles from the centre of the county resulted in another lot of petitions
NEW BLOOMFIELD, THE COUNTY SEAT, LOOKING NORTH,
225
FIGHT FOR THE COUNTY SEAT
to the State Legislature, which, at the next session, on March 11, 1822, passed an act which created the third commission, the mem- bers of which were named in the act.
On Friday, September 14, 1821, a meeting was held at the home of Captain William Powers to protest against the site at Reider's Ferry. The delegates to this meeting were :
Buffalo .- Col. Robert Thompson, Frazer Montgomery.
Juniata .- Wm. English, Finlaw McCown, John Kyser.
Rye .- John Chisholm, Abraham Brunner.
Saville .- Robert Hackett, Andrew Linn, Conrad Rice.
Toboyne .- Wm. Anderson, Robert Adams, Col. John Urie.
Tyrone .- Francis Gibson, Allen Nesbit, Wm. Wilson.
This third commission was composed of Moses Rankin, of York: James Hindman, of Chester ; Peter Frailey, of Schuylkill ; David Fullerton, of Franklin, and James Agnew, of Bedford. They were to report before June 1, 1822. From Executive Min- utes, Volume II, page 527, is reproduced their official notification from the chief executive:
Wednesday, March 27th, 1822.
A certified copy of the Act of the General Assembly passed the eleventh instant entitled "A supplement to an Act entitled 'An Act erecting part of Cumberland County into a separate County to be called Perry,'" was this day transmitted by mail to each of the Commissioners named therein, to wit: Moses Rankin, of York County; James Hindman, of Chester County ; Peter Frailey, of Schuylkill County ; David Fullerton, of Frank- lin County, and James Agnew, of Bedford County; who were at the same time respectively notified that the Governor by virtue of the power in the said Act of Assembly given to him, has fixed upon the seventh day of May, and the Town of Landisburg, in the said County of Perry, as the time, and place of meeting of the said Commissioners.
This commission-the third-decided upon Landisburg as the proper location. A few days later, on June 5, citizens from the five eastern townships held a meeting at the home of John Koch, which history tells us was at Blue Ball, Juniata Township, and ap- pointed a committee to draw up an address to the citizens of the county on the subject. Frazer Montgomery, John Harper, and William Waugh composed the committee, whose report recited at length reasons why the county seat should not be located at Lan- disburg, which was within three miles of the Cumberland County line, and protested the unjustness of the location to the county at large. On October 16, 1822, a meeting of the citizens of Juniata and Buffalo Townships was held at the home of Meredith Dar- lington to discuss the merits and demerits of the various proposed sites. Of this meeting there is some record ; Francis McCowen was the chairman and William Power, Jr., secretary. Resolutions were passed proposing the site first selected on the Power farm. west of New Bloomfield. This site, we are told, is at the exact centre of the county.
15
226
HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
'That weapon of every cause, the petition, was again brought into being and stated that three different commissions had been ap- pointed under acts of the Pennsylvania Legislature, the last com- mission having moved the location to Landisburg, a place which is within three miles of the Cumberland County line and a dis- tance of thirty-four miles from the eastern settlement. The pro- posed place for its location on the Power farm is named as the admitted centre of territory and population as near as circum- stances will admit.
On November 16, 1822, a public meeting of protest was held at the home of John Fritz, at the Bark tavern, in Rye Township (now Centre, near New Bloomfield), for the purpose of electing dele- gates and recommending or requesting the citizens of the other townships to do likewise, such delegates-two from each township -to meet at the home of John Fritz on December 10, 1822, to designate a place for the location of the county seat, and draft a petition accordingly. No record of the meeting is handed down to posterity, yet it evidently was held, for on December 23, 1822, Mr. Mitchell, a member of the legislature, presented to the House twenty-one petitions, signed by eight hundred of the inhabitants of the county, praying that the seat of justice for the new county be fixed at the point suggested by the first commission. The mem- ber of the General Assembly from Perry County at that time was not Mr. Mitchell, but F. M. Wadsworth, and again history fails to tell us why the petitions was not presented by him. The com- mission having fixed the site at Landisburg, as far as they were concerned, reported, and an act for the confirmation thereof came before the House on Monday, February 24, 1823, and after con- siderable discussion passed first reading. It came up on Tuesday for second reading, and a Mr. Todd proposed a substitute for the act, naming Barnett's farm instead of Landisburg. On a vote this proposition for the Barnett farm was defeated fifty-six to thirty. The bill was killed in the Senate by a proposition to create another commission.
The fourth commission was appointed by Governor Joseph Heister, in accordance with an act passed March 31, 1823, being composed of the following men: Joseph Huston, of Fayette; Ab- ner Leacock, of Beaver; Cromwell Pearce, of Chester; Henry Sheete, of Montgomery, and Dr. Phineas Jenks, of Bucks. The first stated meeting of this commission was to be at the home of Meredith Darlington, on Wednesday, May 28, 1823, but the weather being stormy, they postponed business until Friday. On that day they met at Landisburg and decided to ignore all three of the sites previously chosen. Then, on Monday, June 2, 1823. they decided to locate the county seat on the farm of George Bar-
227
FIGHT FOR THE COUNTY SEAT
nett, in Juniata (now Centre) Township, within about two miles of the Powers location, the one named by the first commission.
They reported, and in January, 1824, the act was introduced in the legislature, when Jacob Huggins, then the member of the Gen- eral Assembly from Perry County, presented nine petitions for confirmation of this site and nine petitions for the site at Landis- burg. On February 5, 1824, he again presented petitions, which shows that those early Perry Countians had contracted the petition habit. On this occasion there were nine for the New Bloomfield (or Barnett ) site and seven for Landisburg. On February 27 he presented seven for Landisburg and one for New Bloomfield. The matter had now narrowed down to the two sites and Mr. Huggins stated that he was privileged to withdraw the petitions of Abraham Reider and William Power.
The report of this fourth commission is on record in the office of the enstodian of public records at the State Capitol and is repro- duced below :
To Joseph Hiester esquire Governor of the Commonwealth of Penna.
Sir : In compliance with an Act of the Legislature of this State passed the 31st day of March, 1823, entitled An Act Supplementary to an Act entitled A Supplement to an Act entitled an act erecting a part of Cum- berland County into a separate County to be calld. Perry and in accord- ance with our appointment we the undersigned Commissioners wiz: Ab- ner Laycock, Cromwell Pearce, Henry Sheets and Phineas Jenks, having met (for the purpose of carrying the requisitions of the said act into ef- fect) at the house of Meredith Darlington in Juniata Township on the 28th day of May and after taking the requisite oaths proceeded to view the several sites contemplated by the people as well as those fixed upon by former Commissioners.
And from the view we have taken of the territorial bounds of said County, the relative situation of its inhabitants, convenience of roads, waters etc. we are of opinion that neither of the sites fixed upon by former Commissioners are calculated to combine the interests or render that satisfaction and accommodation to the Citizens of said County con- templated by the law under which we act.
Therefore we have after due deliberation unanimously agreed, and have located a site for the seat of Justice of Perry County on the farm of George Barnett in Juniata Township described and bounded as follows, viz: Beginning at a Post in the field west of the barn South 68 degrees West 9 perches & two tenths from a wild Cherry tree then from said post South 64 degrees West 34.2 perches to a post thence North 26 degrees West 41 perches to a post thence North 64 degrees Fast 34.2 perches to a post thence South 26 degrees East 41 perches to the place of beginning, which lot or parcell of ground as above described we do hereby adjudge and confirm as far as our power extends as laid down by said act to be the proper site to erect the Court house, prison and County offices of said County of Perry upon, and as such make report and return the same to the Governor as we are by law directed.
Given under our Hands this second day of June An dom 1823.
A. LACOCK. HENRY SCHEETZ.
CROMWELL PEARCE. PHS. JENKS.
228
HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
Apropo of the location having been finally determined the fol- lowing documents, in the possession of the Barnett sisters, of New Bloomfield, may be of interest :
"30th of May, 1823.
"Know all men by these presents, that I, George Barnett, of Juniata township, in the county of Perry, do bind myself, iny heirs, executors, or administrators to give as a donation for the use of Perry County, five acres of Land in Case the Seat of Justice be Located on my farm, but none of the principal springs to be included in said five acres, but is hereby Reserved for the use of the Town & I will also Give five acres of wood- land for the use of the County of Perry." GEO. BARNETT.
Present, Jeremiah Madden.
A copy of the original petition used in order to have the present location chosen is also reproduced, the signatures being omitted. It follows :
"May, 1823.
"To Joseph Huston & others, Esquires, Commissioners appointed by an act of the General Assembly passed the 31st day of March, one thousand, Eight Hundred and twenty three to fix and locate the Seat of Justice in Perry County.
"The Petition of the Citizens of said County Humbly Sheweth,
"Whereas the Seat of Justice has been located by three different set of Viewers in said County but not to the Satisfaction of a Majority of the Inhabitants of our County we therefore Humbly set fourth and Represent the Plantation of Mr. George Barnett in our County it being the most Centerable scite for the Seat of Justice accommodated with Roads from the four quarters of the County and a Variety of never failing springs in a wholesome Pleasant situation. We are of opinion had the seat of Jus- tice in our County been located on the above said Plantation by any of the former Viewers the Contest now would be at an end-and if fixed there now it would have the same Effect.
"We therefore Pray to take the above into Consideration & your Peti- tioners will Ever Pray, &c."
On April 12, 1824. George Barnett conveyed to the commission- ers of Perry County eight acres and one hundred and thirty-six perches of land which was selected as the county seat site by the commission appointed under the Act of March 31, 1823. The deed bears the date of April 12, 1824.
A century has rolled around ; the gig, the phaeton and all of their kind have been superseded by the automobile for trips of any length and, after all the phases of the contest have been settled, the experience of a century shows that in the final conclusion 'twas well done, and to-day an automobile from one end of the county can reach the seat of justice as quickly as from the other.
In 1849 and again about 1886 movements were begun in efforts towards having the county seat removed to Newport, but with no success. The movement inaugurated in 1849 went so far as to have a bill introduced into the legislature changing the county seat, but it was reported negatively and died, and with it the attendant agitation. The later movement, while resulting in nothing in so
229
FIGHT FOR THE COUNTY SEAT
far as the changing of the county seat was concerned, was the beginning of the movements which resulted in two railroads, the Perry County and the Newport & Sherman's Valley, being built into western Perry County.
Three other near-by Pennsylvania counties, Mifflin, Adams, and Franklin, each had three commissions before the sites of their seats of justice were finally determined, but Perry County required the fourth.
With the final conclusion of the location of the seat of justice "on George Barnett's farm" the officials of the new county got busy to comply with the sections of the act creating it, one of which-Section 10-authorized the county commissioners to ac- cept title to the site selected and to "assess, levy and collect money to build a courthouse and prison." As these matters could not be done in a short time the act-Section 16-provided that "all pris- oners of Perry County shall be kept in the Cumberland County jail for the term of three years, or until the commissioners of Perry County shall have certified to the court that a jail is erected and approved by the court and grand jury." Then, on May 17, 1824, the commissioners of the new county of Perry advertised that twenty-five lots on the public ground recently conveyed to the county by George Barnett would be sold at "public vendue" on Wednesday, June 23, 1824. By referring to the chapter in this book relating to "Bloomfield Borough, the County Seat," the reader may learn something of the sales of these first lots, also of the taking up of this plot of land by the pioneers.
Three sales of lots were held to dispose of the lands donated by George Barnett to the county of Perry. The first was on June 23. 1824, and Robert Elliott, Samuel Linn, and John Maxwell, the commissioners, sold lots to the value of $1,913, one-third of which was payable in cash on August 3d, and one-third annually for the two succeeding years. On September 14, 1826, a second sale was hell by Robert Mitchell, Abraham Bower, and Abraham Adams, then commissioners, and lots disposed of to the amount of $594. The third sale was on June 28, 1828, when Abraham Bower, John Owen, and George Mitchell, the board of commissioners, sold a single lot for the original price, $200, on which the former bidder had paid $32 and then defaulted. Thus it will be seen that the county not only received the ground for its public buildings, but also $2,539.00 from the sales of lots. In addition $267.50 was subscribed and paid in cash into the treasury of the new county.
The contract for the jail was first let. On July 7, 1824, the county commissioners, Robert Elliott, Samuel Linn, and John Maxwell, advertised for proposals for erecting a stone jail, the dimensions of which were to be 32x50 feet, two stories high, with walls two and one-half feet in thickness. The lower floor was to
230
HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
have four rooms and the upper one six. John Rice was the con- tractor, the cost to be $2,400, but its final cost proved to be $2,600. The few prisoners from the new county were transferred back from Cumberland on its completion. John Hipple was awarded the contract on October 1, 1827, to build a stone wall enclosing the jail yard at a cost of $950, which he completed the following year. This original jail, with slight alterations and improvements served the use of the county for the remainder of the century. On April 4, 1902, bids were received for the erection of a new brick jail, not to be enclosed by the ancient high wall, in which was also to be the residence of the sheriff. Dean & Havens, contractors, re- ceived the contract at $26,000, but changes in the plans increased its cost to over $30,000. It was occupied January 1, 1903. It is modern in every respect, it is said, but not greatly needed in Perry County. On many occasions there have not been any prisoners within its walls, and the average population is less than two persons.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.