History of York County Pennsylvania, Volume I, Part 151

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

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W. D. Gobrecht, who published a local newspaper, began the practice of law at gold and silver, and eventually had a full Hanover about 1840. Jacob F. Welsh dental outfit. Dr. Bange was succeeded in opened an office in 1840, and afterward re- the practice by his son, Dr. Faber Bange.

Dr. H. C. Derr, a professional dentist, opened an office in Hanover in the year 1850. He practiced the art of dentistry here with success until he removed else- where.

moved to Texas. James E. Naille per- formed the duties of an attorney and justice of the peace for a period of twenty years. Alfred E. Lewis, H. C. Dean, a native of New England, Philip Gossler, and J. W. Johnson, afterward a practicing lawyer of Lancaster, began the legal profession at Hanover. Daniel K. Trimmer of York, also began his career as a lawyer in this

Dr. H. C. Ruth and Dr. J. A. Thomas learned under the instruction of Dr. Derr. Others who have practiced dentistry as a science and an art at Hanover, have been borough. Charles M. Wolff was admitted E. Z. Buchen, M. D. Bishop, J. Ross Black, to the York County Bar in 1877 and soon Fayette H. Beard, Charles E. Stine and Clayton P. Walcott.

When the Province of Penn- Legal Profession. sylvania was under the rule of the English King and Parlia- have been successful lawyers at Hanover. ment, justices of the peace transacted much of the legal business of Col. R. M. Russell who served as a soldier in the Mexican War and was the lieutenant the community. The office was always colonel of a Pennsylvania cavalry regiment, filled by men of the highest integrity and practiced law in Hanover for several years business ability. Richard McAllister, the after the Civil War. John W. Heller of

after settled in Hanover, where he was the only practicing lawyer for several years. Charles E. Ehrehart for twenty years and Charles J. Delone for ten years or more York, began his professional career at Hanover in 1865, and William E. Bushong in 1900. John J. Bollinger was admitted to the bar in 1902 and Thomas F. Crostwaite

founder of Hanover, was the original jus- tice of the peace in this region. He was also one of the judges who held the courts at York before the Revolution. He pre- sided over that court for a period of three in 1904. years. Under the State constitution of 1776 MILITARY COMPANIES. and until the year 1791, the county courts were presided over by three or five of these The records of the first military com- court justices. Henry Welsh, a leading citi- panies at Hanover and vicinity are found in zen of Hanover, was a justice of the peace the Pennsylvania Archives for the year

to the small towns and villages and through the country in pursuit of his profession. He took with him his instruments and the head- rest which could be attached to any chair for the use of the patient. He introduced the modern practice of filling teeth with

844

HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

1775. This was at the opening of the Revo-

The military spirit continued at lution, when Richard McAllister, the War of year two volunteer companies were Hanover after 1800. About that organized and their officers commis- sioned by the Governor of Pennsyl- One of these companies was com- founder of Hanover was chosen colonel of a battalion of local « militia, composed of 1812. eight companies, known as the Second Bat- talion of York County Associators. These vania. companies were distributed through the manded by Captain Frederick Metzgar and southwestern part of York County and the the other by Captain John Bair. Both of southeastern part of Adams County.

these companies paraded in uniform and Immediately after the adop- In the tion of the first state constitu- regularly drilled once a month on the Public Common. Soon after the second war be- Revolution. tion in 1776, Richard McAllis- ter was chosen by the State tween England and the United States opened in 1812, about a dozen men from legislature to fill the new office of county Hanover enlisted in the American army. After the destruction of the public build- ings at Washington by the British under General Ross, he appeared at Baltimore and threatened that city. It was believed if the

lieutenant. His duties required him to or- ganize all the able-bodied men in York County, which then embraced Adams, into militia companies, ready to be called out at anyemergency. When Continental Congress, British were successful at Baltimore, they through the appeals of General Washi- would march to Philadelphia. For the pur- ington, called for 10,000 troops from Mary- pose of joining in the defence of Baltimore, land, Pennsylvania and New Jersey, Colonel

Governor Snyder of Pennsylvania, in re- McAllister marched with his battalion to sponse to an order from President Madison, the defence of New York, near which city called out the militia. About 1,000 troops the Flying Camp was organized. In Au- gust 1776, his battalion was organized into the Second Pennsylvania Regiment of the Flying Camp. This regiment was present at the battles of Long Island and Fort Washington, in the northern part of Man- hattan Island. Several of his officers and inen were captured when the fort was sur- rendered to the British in November, 1776. rendezvoused at Hanover and 6,000 on the Public Common at York. Previously to the arrival of these troops from the central and eastern parts of the state, Captain Spang- ler's company from York and the Hanover companies marched to the defence of Balti- more. There were only three Pennsylvania companies recorded in the official reports and in Thomas Runkle's lithograph, en-

Colonel McAllister's regiment took a graved soon after the engagement, that prominent part in the affair on Staten Is- took part in the famous battle of North

land where his command captured sixty oners of war during the Revolution. His son, Archibald McAllister, was a lieutenant

Point. These companies were commanded Waldeckers, the first Hessians held as pris- by Captains Metzgar and Bair of Hanover,

The two companies left Hanover on the in the first expedition to Canada, and a cap- march to Baltimore, Sunday morning, Au- tain in a Pennsylvania regiment at the gust 28, 1814, in response to the governor's battles of Brandywine. Germantown and orders. They reached Baltimore at 9 A. Monmouth.

Captain Martin Eichelberger who resided a short distance southeast of Hanover, com- ish approached Baltimore and on Septem- manded a company of militia during the ber 12, the memorable battle of North Revolution. After the close of the war, Point took place. One or two men of Cap- different companies existed and paraded on tain Metzgar's company received slight the Public Common. These companies were formed under the militia laws passed wounds, and one of Spangler's men was severely wounded, and two were slightly in- by the State legislature. One of the com- jured. The sank and file of Captain Metz- panies was commanded by Henry Welsh, gar's company will be found on page 346. the first postmaster of Hanover, and for a third of a century, a leading citizen of the diers who formed the rank and file of Cap- town.

and Captain Spangler of York.

M., Tuesday, and soon afterward were at- tached to a Maryland regiment. The Brit-

The only names that are known of sol- tain Bair's company are Frederick Messing,

845

THE BOROUGH OF HANOVER

Jacob Young. Frederick Bittinger, George became chief musician of the 87th Regi- Grove, John P. Storm, Samuel Flickinger, ment, was fifer for this company. Joseph Adam Forney, George Grumbine, Samuel Bange who was severely wounded while serving in the 76th Pennsylvania Regiment, About. 1820, a local military company, played the bass drum, and Mahlon H. fully armed and equipped, was commanded Naill, afterward drummer in the 26th Penn- by Captain George Frysinger. This com- sylvania Regiment, played the tenor drum Weigle and John Beard.

for the Marion Rifles. On April 21, 1861, two days after the riot of the Civil War as a place for military en- at Baltimore, the Marion Rifles enlisted in campment and manouvering. The Warren Greys organized in Warren 1830, under the State laws, was a call for troops, made by President Lincoln, pany drilled on the Public Common which was used from that date until the opening

a body in the 16th Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteers. They responded to the first Greys. well-trained company of sixty and served for a period of three months members. It was commanded under General Patterson, near Harper's and drilled by Captain Luther R. Skinner Ferry, Va. When the company entered and existed for seven years. The company the army, Joseph A. Renaut was chosen was armed with flintlock muskets, which first lieutenant to succeed John R. Adams. continued to be used until after the Mexi- Shortly before his term of service had can War, when percussion rifles came into ended, Captain Myers had taken sick. He use. J. W. Baughman in 1907 was the last was removed to a hospital at Chambers- survivor of the Warren Greys. burg, Pa., where he died about the time his company was mustered out of service.

The United Blues was a military com- pany of riflemen, organized by Captain A. W. Eichelberger in 1842. The company was composed of sixty men, in full uniform, Infantry. and continued to drill for seven years.

The Hanover Infantry was a

Hanover military company, organized in 1858, with F. M. Baughman, captain. The Fourth Dragoons was a company This company ob- tained muskets from the State of Pennsyl- organized in 1849, composed of fifty men. vania, and drilled regularly for a year. In It was a cavalry company, having a full uni- 1860, Cyrus Diller was elected captain of form of blue coat, light blue pantaloons the company and recruited it to a member- with cavalry sabers, furnished by the State, ship of fifty men. On Sunday morning, and was commanded by Captain Eichel- April 21, 1861, in response to the first call berger. They drilled once a month, for five for troops, they assembled in Concert Hall, years on the Public Common. Of this com- at the southwest angle of Centre Square, pany, Cyrus Diller was first lieutenant; A. where they volunteered to enlist in the G. Schmidt, second lieutenant; Dr. W. H. three months' service. On the same day, Bange, first sergeant.

amid great excitement, this company and Marion Rifles, a military com- the Marion Rifles left Hanover about two Marion pany composed of fifty men, rank o'clock, on a special train to York, where Rifles. and file, was organized in 1857, they both joined the 16th Pennsylvania with Rufus J. Winterode, captain; Regiment under Colonel Thomas A. Zeigle John R. Adams, first lieutenant; Jacob W. of York. Bender, second lieutenant; Joseph A. The future history of these companies Renaut, first sergeant. This company ob- will be found in the chapter on the Civil tained rifles from the State of Pennsylvania, War. A complete account of the battle of Hanover will be found in a preceding chap- and after practicing the manual of arms for two or three years, became somewhat noted ter beginning on page 424. for the efficiency of its military drill. H. Major Jenkins Post, No. 99, G. Gates Myers succeeded as captain in 1859, G. A. R. A. R., was instituted May 7, when the company purchased new uni- 1878. Several previous at- forms, and obtained a silk flag, at a cost of tempts in Hanover to organize the veterans $40. The company drilled with fine effect of the war of 1861-5 failed through a mis- at the noted military encampment at York apprehension of the purpose of the organi- in 1859. Lewis I. Renaut, who afterward zation, it being feared the intention was to

846

HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

make it a political machine. The post was Etzler, Alexander Forsythe, Charles Gel- named after Joseph S. Jenkins, a gallant wix, Francis Heim, Peter Winebrenner, Hanover officer, killed before Petersburg, Henry Welsh. Virginia. There were twenty-three char- Paul Metzger owned a hotel on the south side of Frederick Street, near the square, in 1791. ter members. At first recruits came in rapidly, the list numbering over sixty before the close of the first year. In all, the names In 1818, three years after the incorpora- tion, there were eight taverns in the bor- ough, kept by Henry Bear, John Bart, have died, many have removed to other Peter Eckert, Jacob Eichelberger, David Mayer, Henry Morningstar, David La- motte and John Emig. of 214 veterans have been borne on the ros- ter of Major Jenkins post. Of these sixty-six places and a few have relinquished their membership. In 1907 there were about ninety members in good standing. The Farmers' Inn for many years a members represent all branches of the mili- Farmers' noted stopping place, stood on tary service, with only one representative of Inn. the east side of Baltimore Street, a short distance north of St. the navy. The average term of army ser- vice of the members was eighteen months, Joseph's Catholic Church. This tavern was the longest being that of Lewis I. Renaut, opened by David Lamotte about 1800. On fifty-one months ; five served four years and over, and nearly 100 three years and up- wards. The Post Commanders have been : M. O. Smith, Jacob Shultz, Daniel Carter, Cyrus Diller, P. H. Bittinger, L. B. Johns, Isaac Wagner, Jacob Gundrum, L. Y. Diller, Jacob H. Bange, Silas Beard, Frank A. Zeigler, Jacob Baughman, Samuel E. Trone, Henry L. Miller.

TAVERNS AND HOTELS.

one side of it was a large yard for the accommodation of teams. In the days of wagoning to Baltimore, this yard was often filled with teams, which had stopped at Hanover for the night. These teams be- longed to farmers from the Cumberland Valley and the adjoining region, and were engaged in hauling produce, grain, whiskey and other products to the Baltimore markets. Pittsburg teams also stopped here for the night. Some of the proprietors

Soon after Adam Forney settled at the of this hotel were George Emmert and site of Hanover in 1731, he obtained a li- Peter Shultz. William Albright took the cense from the Lancaster court to open a hotel in 1843; his son, D. Q. Albright in tavern. When Richard McAllister settled 1847, and Jeremiah Diehl in 1852. The place was discontinued as a hotel in 1855. Central Hotel was established in

on Digges' Choice about 1745, he opened a store and public inn for the convenience of his "neighbors and the traveling public". This store and tavern building stands on the northeast corner of Baltimore and Middle streets. It was built of logs and later cased in with bricks.

The the northwest angle of Center

Central. Square, about 1810 by Jacob Eichelberger. Before the time of railroads this place was known as the "Stage Office". It was the stopping place for stages on their way from Baltimore

The town of Hanover was founded in 1763, on the line of the Monocacy Road. through Hanover to Carlisle, Harrisburg This road was laid out in 1739, and ex- and other points to the north, and on their return southward. Stages going from Philadelphia through Lancaster and York to Maryland and Virginia, also stopped here. It was one of the relays for the ex- change of horses. The owners of stage lines kept a supply of horses at several relays along the route, so that passengers could be driven rapidly from one point to another. The Eichelberger Hotel was tended from the Susquehanna at Wrights- ville across the present area of York County into Western Maryland. It became a famous route of travel to the southwest. Hanover was therefore an important stop- ping place for the early emigrants, and for wagon and pack horse travel toward Mary- land and the Valley of Virginia long before the Revolution. During that war and as late as 1790 public inns were kept in Han- famous as a stopping place for stage over and immediate vicinity by seven dif- travelers for a period of thirty years or ferent persons : Daniel Barnitz, Andrew more. During the Civil War this hotel

847

THE BOROUGH OF HANOVER

was owned by Davis Garber and kept by brought here, but quite a number from the Thomas McCausland. He was somewhat battlefield of Gettysburg. noted as. a hotel keeper, and after the Hotel Hanover, a five-story cavalry battle, the room at the southeast Hotel. building, situated on the south- west corner of Carlisle and Chestnut Streets, was built in 1870 by Colonel Cyrus Diller, at a cost of corner of the second story was used as the Hanover. headquarters for General Judson Kilpatrick, commander of the Union cavalry. Van Amig and Arnold Kleff were proprietors of $14,000. This property was purchased in this hotel for a number of years.

1883 by Alfred F. Barker. He refitted and refurnished the building and named it the Barker House. From the time he pur- chased it until 1904, Mr. Barker was owner and proprietor. He kept a first class hotel and had a large patronage. In 1904, this property was bought by Peter H. Strub- inger. After remodelling the building and making additions, he changed the name to

This corner had been used as the site of a hotel from 1820 until the large building was erected by Colonel Diller.

Hotel O'Bold, at the southeast

The corner of Center Square was

O'Bold. erected in 1893 by Vincent National Bank of Hanover, and a prominent

The Franklin House on York Street was O'Bold, president of the First kept by John Hershey from 1825 to 1849, when he was succeeded by his son-in-law, farmer residing near McSherrystown. It is Jeremiah Harmony, for a period of five now the property of the Hanover Realty years. Henry Ruth, Frank Mckinney and Company.

others kept this hotel. The property has been owned in recent years by Mrs. Street and Park Avenue, has long been kept as a hotel.

The American House, corner of Railroad

Bowman.

The Colonial, near the railroad station,

About 1845 a large hotel was erected at the northeast corner of Frederick and High erected in 1906 by Clayton R. Graves, is a Streets. Frederick Bittinger kept this hotel four-story building with all the conveniences for a first-class hotel. from 1850 to 1860. There was a large yard to the rear of the building used by teamsters The City Hotel on Abbottstown Street was conducted for many years by Henry V. Klunk. E. D. Bortner was the proprietor in 1907. in the days of wagoning. During a part of the Civil War, this hotel was kept by David Newcomer, who discontinued the business several years before his death in 1874. The HISTORICAL NOTES. property . was afterward owned by C. W. Forney and his heirs.

The Drovers' Hotel was built by Jesse over longer than in many neighboring Kohler in 1852 on Carlisle Street beyond the railroad. He kept it for many years.

The large building facing Pleasant Street and now used as a residence, was originally a hotel property. Adam Fisher carried on the business here before the Civil War and of various kinds. These fairs finally be- came a nuisance and were discontinued

The old time fairs were kept up in Han-

towns. They attracted large crowds of people, who spent the time in general en- joyment. The square on these occasions was nearly filled with tables owned by ven- ders of trinkets, jewelry and merchandise

was suceeded by Adam Forney and Captain Jeremiah Kohler. After the cavalry en- about 1830. gagement at Hanover, this building was The newspaper announcements for reli- used as a United States Hospital. Not only gious services before 1830 usually read as the soldiers wounded at Hanover were follows: "The Rev. Mr. Samuel Gutelius

David Garber rented the hotel to David C. Fleming and after his death it was con- ducted by his son John H. Fleming. Vin- cent O'Bold purchased this property, and owned it until the time of his death in 1904. The hotel property was then bought by Clinton J. Huff and Jacob P. Delone, who had conducted the hotel business here for a period of ten years previously. The Cen- the Hotel Hanover. tral Hotel has always been an excellent house of public entertainment with a very large patronage.

John A. Sheeley was proprietor in 1907, and the property is owned by the Hanover Realty Company.

848

HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

will preach this evening at early candle light in the German Reformed Church."

The "Hanover Guardian," March 6, 1828, says: "A meeting of the friends of General Andrew Jackson, as president, and John C. Calhoun as vice-president, will be held at the house of Martin Shearer in the town of Jefferson."

D. Shultz in March 1828, advertised for two brickmakers to make 300,000 bricks.

George Forney offered fresh lime for sale He was the last of the Revolutionary sol- for fertilizer at his kiln in Heidelberg Town- diers to live in Hanover.

ship in 1828.

In 1828, William Bair advertised hats of his own make, as follows: "fashionable elastic, waterproof, castor, black and white wool hats, also drab hats for summer wear, in Baltimore Street."

The Hanover Tract Society held its meet- ings at the school room of Mr. Corr, on York Street. Henry Myers, secretary of the Hanover Sunday School, announced a meeting to be held at the home of Luther H. Skinner, on York Street.

The following advertisement appeared in the Hanover Guardian, February, 1829: "6 cents, I chew of tobacco, and 39 lashes, erick Street. reward-Isaac Baugher ran away from George Shrum. The above reward but no charges will be paid if brought home."

There are no newspaper files in existence from 1829 to 1844, when the Hanover lic Common, December 1848. The proces- Spectator was started by Senary Leader. sion was under the command of Samuel This paper supported the Whig party dur- Diller. Speeches were made by James E. ing the remarkable campaign, when Henry Naille and Matthias E. Trone.

Clay was candidate for President. October 2, 1844, this paper announced that Thomas E. Cochran and D. M. Smyser, would ad- dress the Whigs of Hanover at the last rally before the election.

The Hanover Lyceum, a literary society, held regular meetings in the Academy, in 1844, and often gave dramatic performances.

On February 24, 1847, George Blint- zinger, soldier of the Revolution, died at Hanover at the age of eighty-six years. He had served in the First Pennsylvania Regi- ment, under Col. Richard McAllister, and was present at the battle of Fort Washing- ton. Blintzinger was a noted musician, and after he was eighty years old, performed the duties of fifer to Captain Eichelberger's military company, called the United Blues.

Daniel Barnitz and Burd Coleman, of the

The first Battalion of the 89th Regiment, Castle Fin Iron Works, shot thirty-eight Pennsylvania Militia, commanded by Col- jack snipes in a few hours on Michael Slagle's farm, in 1848. onel Joseph Kuhn, drilled on the Common, in 1828.

Capt. A. W. Eichelberger, James A. Naille, Dr. Goldsborough, Senary Leader and Rev. Charles Hay, in 1848, were ap- pointed a committee to draw up a constitu- tion to regulate a public library association. Henry Wirt, Jr., L. F. Melsheimer, William H. Bange, William Bange, Samuel Shirk, John S. Barnitz, J. S. Gitt and Abraham Rudisill, were appointed a committee to so- licit members. This is the origin of what became known as the Hanover Public Library.

In 1848, William Berlin established a gallery for taking daguerreotypes in Fred-

The Whigs of Hanover celebrated the election of General Zachary Taylor as Pres- ident of the United States, by a parade through the streets and a feast on the Pub-

A new mail line was established between Hanover and Baltimore and York Springs in 1849, on account of increased traveling.

Elijah Garber opened the first livery stable at Hanover in February, 1850.

The Steam Mill which had recently been built by Philip Kohler near Hanover, was destroyed by fire, March, 1850. The dis- its fire apparatus.

David Eckert took charge of the Wash- ington House at the southwest corner of Centre Square in 1850. Mr. Gardner, an ac- complished magician, gave an exhibition of his "wonderful and unrivaled feats," at the Washington House.

In August, 1846, John Trayer, the aster induced the fire company to increase "steeple king," ascended the spire of St. Matthew's Lutheran Church and replaced the ball, vane and star which had been re- moved for repairs. After completing his work, he performed "such evolutions as as- tonished all who favored him with their at- tention."

849

THE BOROUGH OF HANOVER

In August, 1845, "Rockwell & Stone's the country north of Georgetown and along Mammoth Circus, generally acknowledged the upper road, I resolved to pass through to be the most powerful company in the Fredericktown in Maryland, and York and world, being composed of over 120 men and Lancaster in Pennsylvania." horses, gave an exhibition. The holiday sports of Old Spain or the Bull Fight

President Washington arrived at Taney- town on the evening of June 30 and lodged formed one of the splendid features of the there for the night. On July 2, he makes entertainment." the following entry in his diary :

DISTINGUISHED VISITORS.

"Set out a little after 4 o'clock and in about six miles crossed the line which divides the states of Maryland and Pennsyl- vania; the trees were so grown up that I could not perceive the opening though I kept a lookout for it. Nine miles from Taneytown, Littlestown is reached. Seven miles further we came to Hanover (com- monly called McAllister's town) a very pretty village with a number of good brick

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History of York County Pennsylvania, Volume I, Part 151

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