History of York County Pennsylvania, Volume I, Part 118

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

USA > Pennsylvania > York County > History of York County Pennsylvania, Volume I > Part 118

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).

The Reformed Church built in 1742 was rebuilt and dedicated in 1800. In this church President Washington attended re- ligious services July 3, 1791, when he visited York, and the funeral services of Philip Livingston, signer of the Declaration of In- dependence from New York, took place here, the members of Congress attending. David Candler owned and occupied a resi- dence on the lot immediately west of the church during the Revolution. About 1800 the property was purchased by George Bar- nitz, who was appointed associate judge of York County in 1813 and served continu- ously until 1840. He was a brother of John Barnitz. Their personal appearances were so nearly identical that many people did not know one from the other, except in conver- sation. The property at the corner of Bea- ver Street was owned for nearly a century by Francis Koch and his descendants. Dur- ing most of this period it was occupied by the Koch family as a jewelry store.

In a building which stood at the First southwest corner of Market and Printing Beaver Streets, the first printing Press. press in York was set up, late in November, 1777. It was a Hall & Sellers press, originally owned by Benja-

Historical Society of Pennsylvania. Upon this press, on the second story of the build- ing, the "Pennsylvania Gazette," the organ of Continental Congress, was printed dur- ing eight of the nine months that Congress held its sessions in York. Upon the Hall & Sellers press many government docu- ments were printed. Under act of Con- gress passed April 11, 1778, and the year before, about ten million dollars, continental money in denominations of one, two, three, five, eight, ten, twenty, thirty and forty dol- lar notes were printed upon the same press. This money was used as bills of credit for the transaction of business and for the pay- ment of the army in the field. This was one of the eleven issues of continental money made during the Revolution. John Clark, who served as a major in the "Flying Camp," was a colonel on the staff of General Greene, and as major general of the militia after the war. He enlarged this property shortly after the Revolution and resided here until the time of his death in 1819. He was a gallant soldier and a lawyer of ability. On patriotic occasions, like the 4th of July, during the last years of his life, Major Clark dressed in his Revolutionary uniform, sat in a chair on a small porch in front of his resi- dence and with eager interest observed the military parades and other ceremonies and celebrations of the occasion.

On the first floor of this building H. & J. Love & Company, prominent members of the Society of Friends, in the York Meet- ing, opened a store. This firm was suc- ceeded in order by Hammersly & Rosenmil- ler, and A. W. Sterling. William Wagner owned a drug store west of the Clark prop- erty. The "Shakespeare Inn," a popular tavern named in honor of the Bard of Avon about 1800 and later stood on the third lot west of Beaver Street. This hostelry was kept by Thomas Jameson, a son of Dr. Jameson of the French and Indian War, and the Revolution.

Farther out West Market Street Captain toward Water Street, stood the Hahn. residence of Captain Michael Hahn, a patriot of the Revolution and a man of public affairs. In 1783, when the war closed, Captain Hahn owned a gen- eral store at this place. He was then as- sessed with merchandise to the amount of

---

655

THE CITY OF YORK

450 pounds, in continental money. He also owned a private carriage and two horses. His family was composed of six persons. The mark of distinction in those early days for a resident of York or any other Penn- sylvania town, was to own a carriage, called a "chair," and silver plate. Captain Hahn is reported as having owned silver ware to the amount of nine English pounds. In 1791 Jacob Hahn succeeded in the owner- ship of the store, and was followed by John Schmidt. The residence standing on this site in 1906 was built before 1800, with the best quality of bricks. It is antique in design and both the interior and exterior appearance show a colonial style of archi- tecture. Almost the entire plot of ground lying south of Market and west of Water Streets to the creek, was owned by the Dou- dels from 1750 or thereabouts for a period of more than a century. On the lot at the corner of Water and Market Streets, Harris & Donaldson kept a store about 1790. Wil- liam Nes succeeded here in the store busi- ness in 1797. Robert Hammersly, who was born near Lewisberry, served in the legis- lature in 1806 and held other public offices. He moved to York and opened a hotel at this corner in 1816. Hammersly afterward moved to a hotel on South George Street and Michael Doudel, the owner of a large amount of property in this vicinity, contin- ued the hotel business at this place for many years. He built, and resided in, a large mansion on the lot immediately west of the hotel, which was named the "Golden Horse." Adam Eichelberger, who was sheriff of York County from 1833 to 1836, took charge of this hotel at the expiration of his term of office.

In the large yard to the rear of the hotel, political meetings were often held, and in 1840, during the presidential campaign, James Buchanan and other notable persons delivered speeches from the balcony to the rear of the hotel. Martin Carl, who had been a merchant in Franklintown, moved to York about 1835, and kept the Golden Horse hotel for several years. He was the father of Jere Carl, prominent in the finan- cial and business interests of York. Michael Doudel was married to Sarah Hoke in 1815, and after her death, to Sarah Ebert. From 1810 to 1861, the time of his death, he had a large tannery to the rear of his residence.

He served as sheriff of York County from 1824 to 1827 and was prominent in the militia affairs of York County, having served as brigade inspector. A small en- gine house belonging to the Vigilant Fire Company in 1816, stood on the lot adjoin- ing the Doudel property near the creek.

According to official records,

Out Baltzer Spangler purchased the

West lot 65x230 feet at the northwest

Market. corner of Market Street and Cen- tre Square, when York was laid out in 1741. He obtained a license from the Lancaster court to open a tavern, and in 1750, when the first county officials were chosen, the election was held at his tavern. It was here that the disturbance occurred described in another chapter of this volume, on page 579. Upon his death, he be- queathed to Daniel Spangler twenty feet fronting on Market Street and Centre Square and the western part of the lot, forty feet front on Market, to Baltzer Spangler, Jr. In 1795 John Grier purchased the cor- ner property and opened a store. In 1810, Penrose Robinson and Daniel Schriver suc- ceeded in the mercantile business at that corner. This firm was succeeded in order by William Nes and Demuth & Gardner. Baltzer Spangler, Jr., opened a hotel known as the "Black Horse." It was one of the popular hostelries of its day. After his death the property descended to his son, Samuel Spangler, who continued the hotel until 1822, and was succeeded in this busi- ness in order by Henry Krug, John Koontz, and Jacob Stair. The place was afterward occupied as a store by the descendants of Jacob Stair. In 1800, Daniel Spangler owned the building west of the Black Horse tavern. Later Captain Jacob Upp and his son, George Upp, opened a liquor store in this building. John Craver, one of the early hatters of York, had his factory and his home in the next building to the west in 1800 and later. Jacob Hay, a son of Lieu- tenant Colonel John Hay, of the Revolution, and the father of Dr. Jacob Hay, Sr., owned a general store in the building west of Craver's hat store in 1783 and before. In 1782, Captain Hay was appointed a justice of the peace, by virtue of which he sat on the bench as associate judge of the county courts. After his retirement from busi- ness, Ignatius Lightner owned and occu-

656

HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

pied this property. He was a skin-dresser, York Volunteers at the battle of North and in 1783 owned two slaves. He was ap- pointed justice of the peace in 1806 and had his office at his home for many years.

Frederick Rummel, a native of Germany, during the Revolution opened a tavern in the building on the next lot west. He named it the "King of Prussia," and on a swinging sign in front of it was the por- trait of Frederick the Great, the much adored King of the Fatherland. Thomas Taylor, a leading Quaker of York, owned a store before 1800 in the adjoining building. He was followed in the ownership and man- agement of this store by Garretson & Dins- man, also members of the Friends' Meet- ing in York. Michael Weidman had his private residence in the adjoining building in 1800 and later. John Forsythe, promi- nent in public affairs of the town and county, occupied the next building as his home in 1801. Jacob Dritt, of the Revo- lution, became the next owner of this prop- erty in 1822. In 1800, John Eichelberger opened a tavern in the second lot east from Beaver Street. In order to have an attract- ive sign and one that would interest every- body he called it the "York County Wagon." Upon his sign post, about ten feet high, he had a swinging sign with a painting of a big Conestoga wagon, such as were used extensively before the time of railroads. In 1823, Andrew Newman be- came proprietor of this inn and named it the "Buck Tavern," removing the wagon and placing on the sign the painting of a large buck deer with long antlers. Daniel Small, the surveyor, who served as postmaster from 1829 to 1839, kept the postoffice in this building in 1836 and later.

On the corner lot, where the National Hotel stands, Peter Dinkel, a leading citi- zen of York, opened a general store before the Revolution and dealt extensively in hardware. He furnished a large number of copper stills to the farmers of York County. Upon this site Ziba Durkee afterward built White Hall, a three-story hotel, then the largest in town. In 1839 he entertained Martin Van Buren, while on his way from Washington to his home near New York. In 1842, Charles Dickens and his wife stop- ped here for the night. John Welsh was for many years its proprietor. Captain Michael H. Spangler, who commanded the

Point, in 1814, resided at the northeast cor- ner of Beaver Street and Clark Alley. Dr. John Spangler, a leading physician of York in the early part of last century, had his office across the street.

Wayne's

Headquarters.

George Irwin, one of the patriots of York, who helped to raise money to

send to Boston in 1775, owned and occupied the northwest corner of Market and Beaver Streets. He kept a store at this place during the Revolution and as late as 1790. He also built the house on Beaver Street, standing in 1906, next his corner property. This building was used for twenty years by the York Daily. George Irwin belonged to the gentry of York dur- ing its colonial history. He was one of the earliest to purchase a pleasure carriage and in 1783 owned four slaves. His residence at the corner of Market and Beaver Streets, standing in 1906, was used as the headquar- ters by General Anthony Wayne for nearly three months of the year 1781, before that great soldier started to march south, where he aided in the capture of Lord Cornwallis at Yorktown, Virginia. A well founded tradition says that in 1791 Major John Clark, Colonel Thomas Hartley and George Irwin sat on chairs underneath the tall sycamore trees in front of this house, and engaged in conversation with Washington, who had stopped in York on his way to Philadelphia. These trees were cut down in 1906. George Irwin was succeeded in the store business by Henry Irwin, Candor & Stahle, Henry. B. Funk, Penrose Robin- son and Charles Hay.

On the lot west of the Irwin building, Philip Gossler, who had served as a soldier in the Revolution and followed the occupa- tion of a carpenter and joiner, opened a hotel about 1785. Gossler commanded a company of Light Infantry which marched down the road toward the Susquehanna to meet John Adams and his attendants and escort them into town. This event occur- red in June, 1800, when President Adams was on his way for the first time to Wash- ington, to become the first occupant of the White House. Conrad Laub, who had served as sheriff of York County, was also proprietor of this old time hostelry. In 1814, the York Bank, the first financial in-

------------

- ----------- 1 4

---- --

657

THE CITY OF YORK

stitution in York, was opened in this build- honor, sitting near to Gates, arose from his ing. John Barnitz, a representative busi- ness man, had his residence a short distance below the bank. Captain Rudolph Spang- ler, who commanded a company of York soldiers in the Revolution, resided on the site of the Hay property. He owned a store and had a family composed of ten persons, when he went off to the war. In 1803, he was elected to the state senate and filled other positions of trust and responsibility. On this site Dr. Jacob Hay, Sr., conducted a drug store for nearly half a century and was succeeded by his son, Dr. Jacob Hay.

chair, and offered a toast to "General Washington, the commander-in-chief of the American army." Then amid profound si- lence he took his seat. Nothing more can clearly be said of this dramatic incident ex- cept information gathered from a letter . written by Henry Laurens, of South Caro- lina, who was then president of Congress, and the entry made by Lafayette in his diary, and afterward republished in his " Memoirs." He described the whole in- cident in four lines in which he said : "When I offered my toast, I saw their faces redden 'with shame."

Early in the history of York, a dwelling house was built on the lot next to the cor- It was supposed that the object of the ner of Market and Water Streets. In the banquet was to invite persons inimical to building immediately east lived Joseph Up- degraff, a Quaker. Other members of the Society of Friends owned homes on the same side of the street between this and the Hay property. In a letter written from the Updegraff home during the Revolution, the writer stated that General Horatio Gates resided in the building immediately west of the Updegraff home.

Washington and thus exert an influence over Lafayette whose toast put an end to what became known to American history as the "Conway Cabal." Sometime after this event, a controversy about this affair arose between Conway and General Cad- wallader. It resulted in a duel in which Cadwallader fired a ball which passed through Conway's mouth. The wound did not prove fatal and even after this duel, Conway wrote a plaintive letter in which he said he had never conspired against Washington. Later he went to England and is supposed to have died in obscurity in the city of London.

General Gates came to York A Famous Banquet. shortly after he had captured Burgoyne with his army of 6,000 British and Hessian troops, at Saratoga. Congress appointed Gates president of the Board of War. In February, 1778, when Lafayette was here, At the northeast corner of Gates invited General Conway, Lafayette East Market Market Street and Centre and other distinguished men to a banquet. North Side. Square, Andrew Billmeyer resided and kept a store during the Revolution. This property was purchased in 1809 by George Small, the son of Killian Small and grandson Toasts were offered to every interest of the new government except the head of the army. It is believed by many historians, as was believed by Lafayette himself, that Gates and Conway had planned this ban- of Lorentz Small, who came to York quet for the purpose of winning the great with the earliest settlers. George Small Frenchman, and securing his influence was married to Anna Maria, the daugh- against Washington for the head of the ter of Captain Philip Albright, who commanded a company in Colonel Miles' regiment, during the Revolution. For army. Gates aspired to the position of commander-in-chief, and a large number of delegates then in Congress from the thir- many years, George Small conducted a hardware store and was succeeded by his two sons under the firm name of P. A. & S. Small. The original store was on the cor- ner and George Small resided in a dwelling at the angle. The next property east on Market street during the Revolution was owned by Elizabeth Billmeyer. In 1812, George S. Morris and Samuel Small kept a general store in this building. Charles A. teen states approved the plan of giving the command of the American army to the hero of Saratoga. Conway is reported to have been the chief of the conspirators although Gates and he always disclaimed that they ever intended to cause the removal of Wash- ington from the head of the army. After all the toasts had been drunk and enthusi- asm prevailed, Lafayette as the guest of

658

HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

Morris, who first opened a drug store on and Duke and resided there until his death South George street, removed to the third in 1875. His brother, Samuel Small, Sr., door on East Market street in 1823. He resided at the northeast corner after 1839 was a public-spirited citizen of York, identi- for nearly half a century.

fied with its financial institutions and ben- evolent associations. Charles A. Morris 'carried on the drug business for half a cen- tury and was succeeded by William Smith & Company. In the adjoining property to the east, Jacob Billmeyer resided shortly after the Revolution. In the same building John Greer kept a store in 1789. William Spangler at a later period kept a tobacco store in this building. Charles F. Fisher, tinsmith and coppersmith, carried on his business in the next building to the east. Before and after 1800, he made a large num- ber of copper stills used by York County farmers. On the next lot, since the found- ing of York, has stood a hotel, the first be- ing known as the Black Bear Inn, whose history is given elsewhere in this volume. In 1783, and later, George Heckert, saddler, had a store next to the tavern. This build- ing was later used as a cigar store by Charles Mitzel.

During the early part of last century, Peter Ahl, a well known hatter of York, had a factory for a long time in the next build- ing. In the lot above, Michael Spangler kept a hotel in 1783 and later. After the Revolution it was known as the "Sign of General Washington." It retained the name Washington House until its removal in 1885. At this hotel more public men were entertained than at any other place in York. Its history is given elsewhere. On the second lot west from the corner of Mar- ket and Duke, Dr. William McIlvain, one of the leading physicians of York, resided during the first half of last century. At the corner property, for many years the resi- dence of Philip A. Small, Isaac Kepner, a century ago, followed the trade of a shoe- maker in a small two-story building. Fol- lowing him came Jacob Fry, tailor, suc- ceeded in order by Jacob Brown and Cooper Oram, tailors. In 1824, the Laurel Engine House stood near this corner.

Centre Square Eastward. When Philip A. Small was married, in 1823, he took up his residence at the northeast corner of Market and Duke Streets. In 1839 he built a large residence at the northwest corner of Market

At the southeast corner of Market Street and Centre Square, during the Revolution, a building stood which was used as a de- pository for flint lock muskets, rifles and other arms for the American soldiers. Benjamin Hersh built a two-story brick building which has since stood on this site. In this building Hersh opened the Golden Swan tavern. At a later period Ludwig Michael had a tin store in this building. Dr. Thomas Jameson had his residence and office in the same building. In 1808, Samuel Weiser, the ancestor of the Weiser family, became the owner of this property. He had previously carried on the hat business a few doors east of the corner. In the corner property, he opened a dry goods store, but continued the making of hats until 1822. During the war of 1812, he employed about fifty workmen making hats, and sent wagon loads of them every Monday morning to Baltimore. Samuel Weiser was succeeded in the mercantile business by his sons, Jacob and Charles, who were also identified with the banking institutions of York. At the second door from the corner, Michael Welsh, the tailor, resided in 1783. Later he had a fashionable hat store in this property.

The next property, known as the Hotel York, has been the site of a tavern for more than a century, known at various periods as the White Horse, Turk's Head and the Met- zel House. In the next property to the east, Samuel Weiser for more than a decade, had his hat factory. John Irwin from 1800 to 1811 kept a store and tavern next door west of the present Court House. He was succeeded in the store business by John Hartman. It was later known as the Gin- der House and then the Marshall House. The site of the Court House covers two lots. In the west one, Killian Small, Sr., a car- penter and joiner, lived. Peter Small, his son, also a carpenter and builder, succeeded in the ownership of this property. Fred- erick Youse, an interesting personage of the olden time, resided on the upper lot of the Court House site. Frederick made cow bells for the country folk and carried on a successful business to the end of his days. In 1822, Peter Rupp succeeded in the owner-

659

THE CITY OF YORK

ship of this property, which together with Dixon's line from the Susquehanna River the lot of Peter Small, was sold in 1840, to to the top of the Alleghany Mountains. the county commissioners as a site for the Four of his brothers accompanied him when performing this work, which was done un- der the direction of Mason and Dixon, the English surveyors and astronomers. Arch- ibald McClean had served in several county offices under the provincial government. He was an ardent patriot during the Revo- lution and when the seat of government was moved in the fall of 1777 to York from Phil- adelphia, which had been captured by the British, his home was used as the treasury department of the new government. It was here that Michael Hillegas, treasurer of the United States, kept the continental money that belonged to the government. The depreciation of this currency was disas- trous to the interests of Archibald McClean. When the war closed he owned a large amount of this money, which became nearly worthless. Late in life, he moved to the foot of the South Mountains in the western end of Adams County, where lie died.

Court House. About 1800, Henry Smyser owned the site of the Security Title and Trust Company building. At a later date, this building was used for law offices, and in the rear, David A. Frey published for twenty years, the York Pennsylvanian. The Arcade, a mercantile building. also intended for theatrical purposes, stood on the next lot to the east. It was built by George and Daniel Heckert. Dr. Alexander Small had his office in this building. Henry Small, carpenter and builder, owned and occupied the next building, later the home of V. K. Keesey, a prominent attorney. The next property east has been owned successively by George, Jacob and David Heckert for nearly a century. Michael Bentz, for a third of a century, organist of Christ Luth- eran Church and teacher of the parochial school connected with this church, resided during nearly his whole life in a building which he erected on the adjoining lot to the east. Later it was the home of his son, Peter Bentz, also a noted musician and dealer in pianos and organs. In 1790 and for thirty years later, Jesse Hines owned the corner lot and resided in a small one and a half story house with a blacksmith shop to its rear. Here he shod the horses and did other work belonging to the blacksmith's trade for his patrons in town and country. Peter DeBarth, a Frenchman. erected a large two and a half story building on this lot about 1820. He had a little store in the basement part of the building. The Fates were not propitious with Peter, and when his property was sold, it came into the pos- session of Michael W. Ash, a member of the York County Bar. The widow of David Cassat, a woman of culture and re- finement, resided here after the death of her husband. Charles Weiser, the banker, was the next to purchase this property, which for many years has been the home of Jere Carl, whose wife was a daughter of Charles Weiser.

U. S. Treasury. The northeast corner of George Street and Centre Square was historic ground before the Rev- olution. Archibald McClean re- sided here as early as 1767 when he was the principal surveyor in running Mason and

Jacob Barnitz, who had received two wounds in the battle of Fort Washington while carrying the flag for Colonel Swope's regiment, was married to Mary, a daughter of Archibald McClean, and for a third of a century or more, they lived in this house, while Barnitz performed his duties as a county official. During the first half of last century, this building was owned and occu- pied by John Evans, a member of the York Bar, who had married a daughter of George A. Barnitz, an associate judge for twenty- seven years. During the Revolution and later, Henry Miller, a soldier and patriot. who won his spurs in many a battle, resided in the house in the angle of the Square, east of the McClean building. It was here that he lived when York was incorporated in 1787, and he became the first chief burgess. He returned from the army under Wash- ington with a brilliant record, and during the War of 1812 was made a brigadier-gen- eral. Later he lived in Baltimore, but re- turned to Pennsylvania and died in Carlisle in 1824. David Cassat, a leader of the bar in 1800 and later, became the owner of the Miller home and resided here during his professional career. He had his law office in the same building. He was the father of Isabelle, the wife of Samuel Small, Sr. Late in life, David Cassat bought the residence at

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.

History of York County Pennsylvania, Volume I, Part 118

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