History of York County Pennsylvania, Volume I, Part 117

Author: Prowell, George R.
Publication date: 1907
Publisher: J. H. Beers
Number of Pages: 1372

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George Nebbinger, nailer, I horse, 5 persons.

258

Caleb Kirk, storekeeper, I horse, I person.

John Neuman, butcher, I horse, 2 persons. 40 83

William Norris, saddletree-maker, 6 persons

John Jones, innkeeper, 4 horses, 5 persons.

John Hay, storekeeper, 3 horses, merchandise, 200£, 8 persons

926

Samuel Leedy, cordwainer, 10 persons. 240

William Love, I chair, I horse, 6 persons

Conrad Laub, clerk, I horse, 7 persons.

THE GLOBE INN, WHERE LAFAYETTE WAS ENTER- TAINED IN 1825

FIGURE OF JUSTICE IN COLONIAL COURT HOUSE

649

THE CITY OF YORK

Valuation

Widow Silvers, I horse, 6 persons.

102

John Wolff, Jr., tobacconist, 3 persons 153

Mathias Stoehr, potter, 2 persons

120

John Wolff, Sr., tailor, 3 persons 99

Rudolph Spangler, storekeeper, plate If Ios, 2 horses, 10 persons

Jacob Sittler, 2 horses, 8 persons.

579 348 350

Henry Wolff, Jr., tanner, I horse, I tanyard, 4 per- sons 391

Peter Sensing, doctor, I chair, I horse, 8 persons .. Martin Sugars, innkeeper, 4 persons

443 363

William Welsh, hatter, I horse, 7 persons. 248

John Wall, saddler, I person, tax. If IOS

William Wall, laborer, 8 persons 43

Michael Welsh, tailor, 4 persons 333

Henry Walter, storekeeper, plate If 5s, I horse, merchandise 106₺, 5 persons. 589

Joseph Smith, 3 persons

Michael Welsh, cordwainer, 8 persons 233

Lawrence Small, locksmith, 6 persons

IJ3

Frederick Weh, baker, I horse, 6 persons 143

Widow Stillinger, 6 persons

John Wahl, distiller, I distillery, 7 persons 163

Jacob Smierer, blacksmith, 7 persons

Widow Welsh, I person

Ludwig Weisang, mason, 4 persons. 50

George Wolff, weaver, 3 persons 93

I slave, 2 horses, merchandise 350£, 5 persons. 1119 Christopher Stoehr, potter, 8 persons. 243

Ludwig Sheip, barber, 4 persons

George Wampler, pump-maker II9

Conrad Welshantz, gunsmith, 3 persons 40

George Stake, Esq., storekeeper, plate 3£, I stage,

I slave, 2 horses, merchandise. 350£, 8 persons. . IIOI

Christian Stake, I slave, I horse, I person 310

John Strohman, cordwainer, 8 persons

Peter Swartz, clockmaker, 4 persons

Zachary Sugars, innkeeper, plate 9s Iod, I horse, 6 persons .272£ IOS

Daniel Spangler, saddler, I person, tax If I2s 6d

Philip Stentz, I horse, 7 persons 243

Widow Spickert, 4 persons I03

Tobias Seibart, bluedier, 4 persons 150

Jacob Shafer, Sr., cordwainer, 3 persons II3

John Shaal, butcher, I horse, 6 persons. 134£

15S

Conrad Stanzenberger, cryer, I horse, 7 persons .. I3I

128

George Koch, butcher, I horse, 14 persons.

I 48

Jacob Shenck, cordwainer, 7 persons.

Ludwig Krafft, bluedier, 3 persons

133

Andrew Sulsberger, poor, 3 persons

John Keffer, 25

Jacob Shuck, innkeeper, I horse, 10 persons

333 113

John Lindy, 4 persons 30

Jacob Streebig, cooper, 5 persons

II3

Jacob Letter, locksmith, 4 persons 243

Henry Shatter, potter, 3 persons

Frederick Laumeister, wagon-maker, 6 persons .. 173

Killian Small, joiner, 2 horses, 8 persons.

349 Christopher Lauman, turner, plate 15£, 10 per- sons 193

Peter Straber, joiner, 2 persons

William Martin, 4 persons ..

Martin Shroeter, weaver, 6 persons, tax.

George Shuck, joiner, 6 persons

173

John Smuck, cordwainer, 5 persons

118

Henry Steiner, turner, I person

Jacob Welshhantz, gunsmith, 5 persons 40

William Thompson, joiner, 7 persons

Samuel Updegraff, breeches-maker, I horse, 9 per- sons

348 213

Ambros Updegraff, hatter, 9 persons

Nathan Updegraff, hatter, I horse, 6 persons. 225

Jacob Upp, cordwainer, I horse, 8 persons 43

Herman Updegraff, storekeeper, I chair, I horse, merchandise 25£, 6 persons 170

Joseph Updegraff, hatter, I horse, 10 persons. 298 Joseph Updegraff, saddler, 5 persons 23

Jacob Updegraff, heel-maker, 8 persons 226

Jacob Updegraff, Jr., heel-maker, I horse, I person, tax . If I2s 6d

Joseph Updegraff, heel-maker, 4 persons

John Welsh, plate If, I horse, I tanyard, II per-

sons 822

Francis Worly, cutler, 2 horses, 9 persons. 298

George Weller, I horse, 9 persons 233

Henry Wolf, Sr., plate 15£, 2 horses, 4 persons ....

313

Widow Smuck, 4 persons 103

Jacob Shreiber, wagon-maker, 7 persons

243

George Michael Spangler, innkeeper, I horse, 9 per- sons

Martin Snyder, mason, 3 persons

248 20 253

Jacob Siecrist, laborer, 5 persons 43

Col. Michael Swope, storekeeper, plate 32£, I chair,

Baltzer Spangler, innkeeper, plate 3£, I chair, 1 horse, I slave, 10 persons

54I

Philip Weber, wagon-maker, 5 persons II3

Philip Waltenmyer, carpenter, 6 persons 93

John Way, laborer, 2 persons 50

Jacob Wagner 150

John Wolff, saddler, 9 persons 323

93 Joseph Welshans, Sr., gunsmith, 4 persons. 323

Benjamin Walker, innkeeper, 3 persons 100

Adam Wolff, innkeeper, 4 persons. 173 88

Jacob Welshans, carpenter, I horse, 7 persons.

David Welshans, nailer, 7 persons.

Robert Wilson, weaver, 4 persons. 123

George Wehr, laborer, 3 persons 44 206

Frederick Yous, blacksmith, 10 persons. Mathias Zimmer, tinman, I horse, II persons. 389

Gotleib Ziegle, innkeeper, 2 persons

230

John Kunkle, Sr., cooper, I distillery, 4 persons.

123

Joseph Kraft, saddler, 3 persons, tax.

If 4s 9d

Henry King, saddler, I horse, 4 persons.

253

Adam Sneider, laborer, I person

Patrick Sullivan, I horse, 8 persons.

William Lang, tailor, 6 persons

Gen. Henry Miller, sheriff, plate 15£, I slave, 2 horses, 10 persons 621

George Test, saddler, plate of, 2 horses, 5 per- sons

243

Joseph Welshhantz, Jr., gunsmith, I person

William Burgis 50

Jacob Small, joiner, I person, tax. I£

In 1775, when the Revolution opened, the town of York contained 1600 inhabi- tants, and in 1783, when the war closed, the estimated number was 1800. Most of these people were of German descent, but there were a number of Quakers and Scotch- Irish Presbyterians who exerted a strong influence in the community and in the pub- lic affairs of York County. There were a number of stores, and mechanics plied their

James Smith, lawyer, plate 72£, 2 horses, 8 per- sons

715 33 2£

Jacob Mosser, carpenter, 2 persons.

Francis Thomas, mason, 7 persons

Christopher Sheely, butcher, 2 horses, 7 persons ... 158

Jacob Shafer, Jr., cordwainer, I horse, 3 persons .. George Stoll, cooper, I person, tax .. I £ IOS 50

John Welsh, tailor, 4 persons I43

Widow Weidner, 6 persons 83

Christian Sinn, butcher, 2 horses, 6 persons

650

HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

trades in small shops. No large factories the room had no decorations, and during the then existed. Hats were made and shipped last years in which the court house was in use, the room looked rather dingy. People who came to attend the sessions of the court sat on high-backed benches, which were fastened to the floor and stood in parallel rows behind the stove. to Philadelphia and Baltimore and the man- ufacture of copper stills was a leading in- dustry. Three tanneries and two breweries stood within the limits of the town. York prospered because it was surrounded by a fertile agricultural region. The people of the town and the entire county were largely interested in farming. The increase in population was slow and steady for York contained only 2000 people when it was in - corporated into a borough in 1787. The days of wagoning to the large towns from the rural districts began as early as 1783, and when the town became a borough, it had within its limits, twenty taverns, where the teamsters stopped for the night and where travelers were entertained. The population of York in 1800 had increased to 2,503. At this period one Lutheran church, one Reformed, one Presbyterian, one Epis - copal, one Moravian, one Methodist Epis- copal church and a Friends' meeting house stood within the limits of the town. The York County Academy stood at the foot of Beaver Street, having been founded in 1787. The centre of interest in the

The First early town of York was the Court House. provincial Court House, erected in Centre Square in 1755-6. It was fifty-five feet long and forty- five feet wide. The court room was on the first floor. The desk in the west end of the room, where the president judge and his associate sat, was reached by winding steps on both sides. Above the judges' desk hung the coat of arms of Pennsylvania. Beneath it on a small shelf, stood a statue of justice, blindfolded and holding in her hand scales evenly balanced. To the right and left of the judges, two long desks, ex- tended along the walls, behind which the twelve jurors sat in the trial of a case. In the middle of the room was a rec- tanguar pillar, eighteen inches across, which passed through the second story, and aided in supporting the building. Close in front of this beam stood a large ten plate stove in which huge blocks of wood were burned to heat the room. An eight-inch pipe extended upward about eight feet and then eastward a distance of twenty feet or more to the eastern wall, where it entered the chimney. The walls in the interior of

There were two entrances to the Court House, one from North George Street and the other from South George Street, the lat- ter being the main entrance. To the right of the doorway a hall extended eastward to winding stairs which led to the second floor. This story was used originally for the county offices, and later for public meet- ings, lectures and entertainments. In early days public lectures were given in the court room, which had been the scene of many dramatic incidents during the dark days of the Revolution, when Congress held its ses- sions in this room, with closed doors. Within these walls were heard the voices of such distinguished men as John Hancock and Henry Laurens, presidents of Congress at different times, John Adams, Samuel Adams, Richard Henry Lee, Benjamin Har- rison, Robert Morris, and many other il- lustrious men who were delegates to Con- gress. It was in this room that the defeat at Germantown, the triumph at Saratoga, and the news that the French government would aid in the cause of American Inde- pendence, were announced to Continental Congress.

There were six windows facing North George Street, six facing South George Street, and four at each end of the building. Each window contained two sashes, and each sash had eighteen panes of glass, making in all 720 small panes of glass. On the night of July 2d, 1791, there was one candle at every pane of glass in the Court House to illuminate that building and Center Square, in honor of the presence of George Washington, who stopped in York over night on his way to Philadelphia.

The Court House was remodeled in 1815 by placing gable ends on the sides facing North and South George Street. At the same time a steeple was erected upon the building and in this steeple a large clock was placed as a companion to the historic bell which had been hung in the belfry in 1776. To the west of the Court House in colonial days stood the original market

651

THE CITY OF YORK

shed, built soon after the town was founded king of France and secured his assistance in 1741. This market house with slight in our struggle for independence. It rang in joyous welcome to President Washington when he entered York on July 2, 1791, 011 his way to Philadelphia. changes stood until 1887, when it was torn away. In 1793, a two-story brick building was erected a short distance east of the Court House, leaving a drive-way between The bell remained in this position the two buildings. Both the first and sec- ond stories of this building were used for the county offices. The building was some- times called the State House. The origin of this name is not certain because it was erected by order of the County Commis- sioners and not by order of the state. Under the constitution of 1790 and down to 1838, all the county officials, except the sheriff and the county commissioners were appointed by the Governor.

In early days and as late as 1775 the polling place for the entire county at the general elections was the County Court House. Later about a dozen townships, together with the borough of York, voted in one of the rooms of the office building which stood east of the Court House. In 1840 the office building was torn down and on the same site a market house was erected which stood until 1887.

In 1774 an historic bell had been obtained for St. John's Episcopal Church. It was procured in England and brought from Philadelphia in a wagon. At this time the Episcopal Church had no cupola. The bell was placed on a pole in front of the home of

· Joseph Updegraff, who resided at the south- west corner of the square. It remained there for two years. According to well founded traditions, in 1776, when James Smith returned from Philadelphia, after signing the Declaration of Independence, he and Archibald McClean had the bell placed in a small tower that surmounted the Court House. The Declaration was then read to hundreds of people who had gathered in the square and the bell was rung in glad acclaim in honor of the event. In this small belfry or tower this historic bell was rung for ser- vices in the Episcopal Church, on North Beaver Street, to announce the opening of the courts and for public meetings. It

pealed forth its glad tunes when the news of Burgoyne's surrender came to Congress at York in October, 1777. It rang a paean of praise when the news was received on May 5, 1778, that Benjamin Franklin at the Court of Paris had won the favor of the

The until 1815, when it was temporarily First removed and the clock placed in Town the steeple. It was then returned Clock. as the companion to the town clock and remained in the tower until 1841, when the Court House was torn down. The bell was then taken from the position where it had hung for so many years and placed on the pavement in Center Square. From this position it was conveyed by Sam- uel Hays and two other members of the Episcopal Church and placed under the stairs leading to the gallery of the church. It was kept there until a belfry had been placed on the church, and having been re- cast, it now hangs in the tower of the church. On the top of the belfry of the Court House, before the Revolution, was an arrow for a weather vane, upon which arrow was carved an emblem of the British crown. Soon after the opening of hostili- ties between the colonies and the mother country, following the example of the patriots in removing the statue of King George in New York, and similar actions elsewhere, the citizens of York removed the arrow from the York Court House.

In 1779, soon after Count Pulaski left York with his legion for Savannah, Georgia, where he lost his life, fighting for American independence, a weather vane in the form of a dragoon was placed on the summit of the cupola where the arrow had rested for twenty years. This dragoon was made by Charles Fisher, one of the early copper- smiths of York. It was to represent one of Pulaski's soldiers. The clock which was in the steeple from 1815 to 184I was at that time removed to the steeple of Christ Luth- eran Church, where it remained in service for nearly forty years. It then gave place to a new clock and was afterward removed to another position in the same steeple.

A building which stood in the Historic Buildings. southwest angle of Center Square before the Revolution had been occupied by James Smith, a leader of the Bar and signer of the Declaration. The Committee on Foreign

652

HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

Affairs which during the Revolution per- nearly to King Street during and after formed the duties now belonging to the De- the Revolution. His son-in-law, James partment of State, met and transacted its 'Kelly, a lawyer, resided at the north- business in this building. Thomas Paine, west corner of King Street. James Smith's law office was situated on the corner at the south side of Mason Alley. His residence was a short distance to the south. It was a building with a rough coat and a high porch which led to a door in the centre. This building and the adjoining law office were destroyed by fire in 1805, one year before James Smith died. His law library and many letters which he had received from distinguished men of the Revolution were also burned. His law office was used by the Board of War when Congress met at York. the noted patriot, was secretary of this com- mittee, and while in York wrote his "Fifth Crisis," a political document addressed to King George III on the issues of the war: Years after the Revolution, Martin Austin, who tried to make the best fitting suits in town for the gentry of York, had a store and tailor shop in this building. During the twenty years or more that he plied his trade at this place, he had numerous journeymen who assisted him. One of these afterward achieved distinction in another field of labor. He was Isaac Singer, the inventor of the Singer sewing machine, who amassed a for- tune of $13,000,000, as the result of his in- vention. Isaac Singer, while residing here, married Lizzie Sponsler, of York.

The building which stood on the site of the Colonial Hotel had long

Out George been known as "Tyler's corner."

Street. It was occupied by committees of Congress during the Revolution at stated times and before 1800 was used as a hotel. Jacob Upp for many years was the proprietor. Dritt and Gardner began the mercantile business here in 1816. They were succeeded by Michael Gardner in 1818 and by Gallagher & Wertz, and later by Matthew Tyler. The building immediately south of the Colonial was used as a hotel by Conrad Laub, who had been elected sheriff of York County in the year 1789, during one of the most spirited contests in the early history of York County. It is said of Sheriff Laub that he imitated the cultured. manners of the educated German. He al- ways wore a powdered wig and was well dressed. Tradition says he went to the barber shop twice a day. Robert Ham- mersly came to York from Lewisberry and conducted a hotel at this place. In 1819, Andrew Jackson and his train of attendants dined here and the same evening left on their way for West Point. Thomas Mc- Grath kept a hotel here and later moved to the Globe Inn, in Centre Square. George Fahnestock, and later Charles A. Morris, kept a drug store in the same building.

James Smith, the signer of

The War the Declaration, owned the Department. property from Mason Alley

On the southeast corner of Centre Square and George Street, on the site of the Hart- man building, Gottlieb Ziegle kept a hotel, during the Revolution and as late as 1800. Clement Stillinger, somewhat noted as a hotel keeper at York, moved here in 1819, and named his hotel the "Sign of General Jackson." John Hartman purchased this property in 1824. Next door south, Alex- ander Klinefelter kept a hotel. George Hal- ler, the father of Dr. Haller and his brother Major Haller, resided in the next building south. John Koch, a near neighbor on the south and his son Richard, were silver- smiths. Krafft, the saddler, lived at the corner of Mason Alley. He made harness and collars for the village folk and the farm- ers round about. The First Lutheran Church, built soon after York was laid out, came next with the parochial school to the rear, where Bartholomew Maul, Philip Deitch, and later, Michael Bentz, taught their pupils both English and German. The first house south of the church about 1800 was owned by Dr. John Rouse, son of Lucas Raus, one of the earliest pastors of the church. This property has since been owned by the Rouse descendants. At the northeast corner of George and King Streets stood the county jail, built soon after the county was laid out in 1749. This jail was enlarged in 1769. It was constructed of blue limestone, was three stories high and stood there until 1855, when it was removed.

January 27, 1778, while Congress was in session at York, according to an official record, the following loyalists, British offi- cers and soldiers were held as prisoners of war in this jail :

-----------

--------

WESTERN ENTRANCE, TO YORK

The Sei've over the Coderus, and the Balticun Railroad, nor seen in the crown. The Market But as in the Cruiser figure, what the heck the aid Court House occupied by Cungrows, in 177-95.

WESTERN ENTRANCE TO YORK, IN 1844

Mulheran Church 2 Count House

(4 Academy ist Sehrschwech

3 Common Acformach. 16 willis Hill

SOUTH FROM THE REAR OF ST. JOHN'S EPISCOPAL CHURCH, IN 1840

ـاتولم حة وت

653

THE CITY OF YORK

Colonel John Connelly, John Holland, John Mosely, John Holbrook, William Cook, Thomas Henderson, Richard Carriss, Richard Ruff, Henry Abbott, James Gibson, William Davidson, Joseph Bevell, John Hil- ton, Thomas Newnham, Charles Kennedy, Alexander Shaw, John Kirkham, Henry Childs, William Donalds, Thomas Button, James Patterson, Isaac Farron, John Freed, John Langdon, Watson Law, and James Hanighan.

The following were imprisoned by order of the Board of War:

William Montgomery, Benjamin Davis and Beats Dawsey. The following desert- ers from the army were held as prisoners : Edward Keaton and Henry Mitchell.

Where

On the southwest corner of the square and Market Street, dur-

Lafayette ing the early part of the last

Stopped. century, William Spangler and Daniel Schriver carried on a general merchandising business. The lat- ter was the father of General Edmund Schriver, a graduate of West Point, who had a brilliant career in the Civil War. General Schriver served as chief of staff to the commander of the First Army Corps, took part in many battles and had the honor of conveying thirty-one battle flags and other trophies of victory to the War De- partment at Washington. He rose to the rank of major general before the close of the war. From 1820 to 1840 Thomas McGrath was proprietor of the Globe Inn, a first class hotel situated at this corner. It was here that Lafayette was entertained when he visited York in February, 1825. In 1822 Samuel Spangler built a large three-story building next door west of the Globe Inn. The next year he moved from the Black Horse Inn, directly opposite, to his new building, and opened a hotel which he called the "York House," advertising that he could accommodate "a few genteel boarders." This property afterwards was the residence of Henry Welsh, president of the York Bank and one of the owners of the York Gazette.

The

President's

House.

The next building west was owned and occupied in 1810 and later by Jacob Spangler, who served in Congress in the years 1817-1818, as a Federal-

ist. He resigned his seat in Congress, be-

came a Jackson Democrat, was later ap- pointed surveyor-general of Pennsylvania, and died in 1843. Colonel Michael Swope, who commanded a regiment of 600 men from York County, most of whom were killed, wounded or captured at the battle of Fort Washington in the fall of 1776, resided here during the Revolution. His residence was occupied by John Hancock and Henry Laurens while they served as president of Congress at York. West of the Jacob Spangler residence from before 1816 George Hay kept the Indian King, afterward the Indian Queen, tavern. He was succeeded in 1822 by John Hay, who also owned prop- erty a few doors westward. Both of these proprietors were sons of Lieutenant Colonel John Hay, who served as sub-lieutenant of In York County during the Revolution. the next lot stood the dwelling house of Charles A. Barnitz, for thirty years the leader of the York County Bar, who served as a member of Congress from 1833 to 1835, elected by the Whig party. About 1830, Mr. Barnitz erected a country home on South George Street, later owned by his great-grandson, Grier Hersh. The build- ing next to the site of Trinity Reformed Church was the residence and store of Gen- eral Jacob Upp, noted as a commander of militia.

The handsome residence where

Hartley's Colonel Thomas Hartley died Residence. in 1800, stood on the lot in front of Trinity Church. It was built shortly after the Revolution and was the most ornamental building in the borough of York. The carving in the in- terior of this house, and the stairway, was designed and executed by skilled mechanics brought here from Philadelphia, where Colonel Hartley had spent nearly twelve years as the first member of Congress, rep- resenting the district west of the Susque- hanna. When this noted soldier and states- man died, the property descended to his son, Charles Hartley. For many years it was used as a hotel called the Franklin House. Trinity Reformed Church now occupies the premises. On the lot adjoining the Hartley residence was the home of George Upp. In 1817, Thomas McGrath opened a shoe store in the same building. Jacob Eichelberger, who served as sheriff of York County from 1804 to 1807, resided in the adjoining prop-

654

HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

erty west. In the same building Jacob Em- min Franklin and now in possession of the mitt kept a boot and shoe store as early as 1825, and as late as the time of the Civil war. The next property, now occupied by the Hay Building, was originally owned by George Eichelberger, who died in 1752, and whose widow, in the latter part of the same year, married John Hay, previously men- tioned as an officer in the Revolution. She died in 1757, when the property was bought by her husband, who afterward married Juliana Maul, a daughter of Bartholomew Maul, a Lutheran parochial schoolmaster. John Hay resided here until the time of his death. In 1797 a large fire destroyed this residence, together with the German Re- formed Church adjoining. After the death of John Hay, the property was owned by his son, John Hay, mentioned as the pro- prietor of the Indian Queen, a few doors above, and whose son, George Hay, a cabi- net maker and undertaker, and colonel of the Eighty-seventh Regiment during the Civil War, occupied the premises from 1830 until his death in 1879. The property is now in the possession of his descendants.

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History of York County Pennsylvania, Volume I, Part 117

Author: Prowell, George R. Publication date: 1907 Publisher: J. H. Beers Number of Pages: 1372

Author: Prowell, George R.
Publication date: 1907
Publisher: J. H. Beers
Number of Pages: 1372