History of York County Pennsylvania, Volume I, Part 154

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

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Dillsburg was incorporated with limited powers in 1833. At the first election John Lynch was inspector; Jacob Heiges and Charles Stough, judges; Dr. George L.

center of Carroll Township, in the north- western part of York County. It is ten miles from Carlisle, twenty-two miles from Gettysburg and twenty-one miles from Shearer was chosen chief burgess; Daniel York, seats of justice for the three adjoin- Ahl, assistant burgess; Daniel Bailey, Rob- ing counties. This town, which bears the ert Hammersley, John Bradley, Mode Grif-

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fith and Charles Stouch, councilmen; Peter Presbyterian Church of Philadelphia, where Leitner, high constable; Jacob Heiges, col- he is said to have established the first lector; and Alexander Cathcart, clerk. prayer meeting ever held in any Presbyte- When the town was incorporated in 1833 there were forty dwellings and a population of 200. In 1840 the population was 268; 1850, 270; 1860, 293; 1870, 281; 1880, 455; 1890, 587; 1900, 732. In 1907 there were sixty mercantile establishments and other places of business. rian Church in that city. Mr. Duffield was a man of marked ability, and an earnest and fearless advocate of civil and religious lib- erty. He was chaplain to Continental Con- gress and held that position while Congress sat in York. He was one of the two per- sons who, under the direction of Congress, In 1873 a charter was granted for the construction of a railroad from Dillsburg to ican edition of the Bible in English, pub- Mechanicsburg, a distance of nine miles. The incorporators were: Dr. George L. Shearer, Christian Bender, John N. Logan, James G. Moore, Colonel S. N. Bailey, S. P. Nelson, George Lau. The first passenger train entered Dillsburg, July 18, 1873. superintended the printing of the first Amer- lished in Philadelphia in 1782. He served as colonel in the Revolutionary War, and was the first stated clerk of the Presbyterian General Assembly. His portrait hangs in Independence Hall. His second wife was a sister of General John Armstrong, the hero The Presbyterian Church in of the battle with the Indians at Kittanning, Pennsylvania, whose son was secretary of war under President Madison.

Presbyterian Dillsburg, Church. ecclesiastically known as the "Monaghan Church," derives its name from the township in which it was originally located. Religious services were held here as early as 1737. The original house of wor- ship was a log structure and stood a short distance southwest of the town, near the old graveyard. During the time of the French and Indian War and after the defeat of the English troops at McCord's Fort in the Juniata Valley, this region was in danger of incursions from the Indians on the western frontier. For the sake of protection, ram- parts were constructed around the building and the male members of the congregation were accustomed to take their firearms to church. Rev. Dr. John McDowell, after- ward Provost of the University of Pennsyl- vania, attributed his conversion, when but a youth of eight years of age, to a sermon preached in that first house of worship by Rev. George Duffield, from the text, " Turn ye to the stronghold, ye prisoners of hope ;" in which he took occasion to illustrate from the surrounding fortifications, the fact that the Lord Jesus Christ is the only sure de- fense for sinners.

The first pastor of whom there is any knowledge was Rev. George Duffield. Since 1761 he had been pastor of the Presbyterian Church in Carlisle, and in November, 1769, he was installed over the church of Mona- ghan for one-third of his time, at a salary of fifty pounds a year. He continued until 1772, when he accepted a call to the Third

Monaghan Church was unwilling to part with Duffield, her first pastor, and Andrew McDowell, James Dill, Colonel Matthew Dill, Robert Stephenson and Joseph Dodds were sent to Presbytery to remonstrate against his removal but he felt constrained to go.

The next pastor was Rev. Samuel Waugh, who began his labors in 1782, and whose charge consisted of Monaghan and Silver Spring Churches. He was a native of Car- rol's Tract, in Adams County, Pennsylvania, graduated from Princeton in 1773, and April 14, 1783, was married to Eliza, daugh- ter of David Hoge, of what is now Hoges- town, Pennsylvania. He remained pastor of Monaghan Church until his death in 1807.

The following are the names of the con- tributing members toward the support of Rev. Samuel Waugh, while he was pastor of this church :

George Dickey, William Barber, James Crocket, George Crocket, John Crocket, Matthew Trotter, William Scott, Samuel Scott, Thomas Haines, Robert Leech, John Lamb, William Ross, John Nesbit, Alex Nesbit, William Nelson, Alexander Ross, John McClellan, William Mitchell, Andrew Sans, Allen Torbet, Charles Brewster, Peter Leman, John Fulton, Daniel Williams, An- drew Wilson, John Anderson, Graham An- derson, Andrew Bailey, Samuel Nelson, Henry Logan, Alex Hannah, Edward O'- Hail, William Wall, Isaac Wall, Jr., James

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HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

Blair, William Gillespie, Jus Dennison, Wil- that the old and long cherished Rouse ver- liam Farra, John May, Thomas Black, sion of the Psalms gave way to the Psalms and Hymns of Watts, a measure which occa- sioned no little dissatisfaction and alienated some of the members from the church.

Thomas Gray, John Cross, Joseph Dickson, James McCullen, Robert Moody, Thomas Dill, Thomas Campbell, James Dill, Robert Cunningham, John Caruthers, Daniel Car-

The next pastorate was that of Rev. An- penter, James Kennedy, Thomas Bonner, derson B. Quay, which extended from 1830 John Bonner, George Robinett, George till 1839. He was the father of United Smith, Alex Sanderson, John Moorhead, States Senator Matthew Stanley Quay, born Lawrence McCafferty, William Porter, at Dillsburg in 1833. Abram Williams, Joanna Young, Jessie Ful- ton, Daniel McCurdy, John Devlin, George Dill, Matthew Dill, Joseph Roseberry, Wil- liam Trimble, John Swan, John Williams, Robert Elliott, Thomas Dill, John Wilson, John Bailey, Joseph Elliott, John White, John Brankerhoof, William Dorson, John Blair, William Fleming, Paul Thompson, John McCormic, Francis Boggs, George Burns, John Daugherty, Joseph Bradley, Daniel Glass, David Ayres, James McKin, John Mitchell, William Parks, Thomas Hummer, William Morril, Widow Dorson.

In 1782, the first year of Mr. Waugh's pastorate, a second church was built and the location changed to the one at present occupied. This was a stone structure about fifty feet long, forty feet wide and fifteen feet high, to the ceiling, entered by two doors, the one at the south and the other at the east. The pulpit which was small and elevated, with a sounding board suspended overhead, was at the north side. A small stone building about fifteen feet square, with a fireplace in the northwest corner, was at- tached to the north side of the church. This was the pastor's study but was also used as a school room.

In March, 1809, Rev. Jolin Hayes became Mr. Waugh's successor, and continued until 1815. In 1807 he published a volume en- titled " Rural Poems, Moral and Descrip- tive." He resigned his charge on account of ill health, and died a few months after- ward, in Cumberland, Maryland.

In 1813 the church was partially de- stroyed by fire.

After Mr. Hayes retired the church had no regular pastor for fifteen years. Among the supporters during that period were Rev. Dr. Alexander McClelland and Rev. Na- thaniel Snowden. Rev. Nathaniel Todd, afterward a venerable preacher in western Pennsylvania, supplied the congregation for some years. It was during his incumbency

The meetings at this church in 1831 were so largely attended that on one occasion, while Rev. James Williamson, of Silver Springs, was preaching to those who found room inside the church, Dr. Duffield, of Car- lisle, was preaching to those outside. It was during this pastorate that there occurred the first agitation of the temperance cause in this neighborhood. One Sabbath morning as Mr. Quay was about to enter the pulpit a note was put into his hands, asking him to announce an anti-temperance meeting to be held in the church on a certain day. When the proper time came Mr. Quay read the note and then announced " There will be no anti-temperance meeting held in this church or if there is, I will take my little family by the hand and leave the place immediately." The anti-temperance meeting was held out- side the church.

Mr. Quay's pastorate was succeeded by an interval of stated supplies ; among them Rev. A. T. McGill, D. D., of Princeton The- ological Seminary, and for two years, Rev. Edmund Mckinney, who afterward went as a missionary among the Indians.

April 13, 1842, Rev. Joseph Murray, D. D., was installed as pastor and remained for sixteen years. This was his first and only charge and was relinquished on account of impaired health. W. D. Patterson, a young man, then supplied the pulpit for about eighteen months, when he died. For a time the pulpit was filled by Rev. John R. Agnew, an uncle of Mr. Patterson, and in June, 1863, Rev. John O. Proctor was installed as pas- tor. Resigning in 1865 he was followed by supplies among whom was Rev. S. S. Orris, late of the Princeton College faculty.

In October, 1872, Rev. A. W. Hubbard, afterward a missionary to Turkey, began a pastorate of eighteen months. He was fol- lowed by Rev. J. Q. A. Fullerton, who re- mained from June, 1873, till May, 1879, dur- ing which time a parsonage was built. Rev.

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I. P. Barber began his labors in the autumn ducted by Rev. J. R. Focht. On the 25th of 1879 and was installed pastor June 14, 1880.

Of the many sons and daughters of this church who have gone forth to honorable service in other fields were Revs. Calvin W., John and Robert Mateer, missionaries to China; Rev. Thomas Black, Rev. Thomas Elcock, Rev. George L. Shearer, D. D., of the American Tract Society, New York; Rev. Fred. E. Shearer, editor of the Occi- dent, San Francisco; Rev. W. H. Logan, and Rev. B. B. Blair.

October 23, 1882, the 100th anniversary of the occupation of the present site of the church was made the occasion of a reunion of former members and friends, most pron- inent among the exercices of which was the delivery of historical addresses by Rev. Drs. Joseph A. Murray and George L. Shearer.

Dr. James Fraser was pastor for several years and was succeeded by Rev. C. Benja- min Segelphen, who was pastor in 1907.

Methodist Church.

The first Methodist preacher to visit Dillsburg and hold services was Elisha Butler, from the Gettysburg Circuit, about the

year 1834. The first preaching services were held in the house of Mrs. Marks, on Main Street, west corner of the first alley west of the public school building. Preach- ing was afterward held in a small house on the public square. Later services were held in a small school house east of town.

The first class was organized about the year 1836 in the house of Mrs. McGuire, on South Railroad Street, and was composed of William Burns, leader, and Mrs. Burns Mrs. McGuire, Widow Marks and Mrs. Alexander Billifelt. In 1843 the church on West Main Street was built. Rev. Thomas Myers was then pastor, with Thomas Ful- ton, class leader. Mr. Fulton afterward en- tered the ministry and John McMullen be- came leader.

The original board of trustees was com- posed of Thomas Jones, John S. McMullen, Jacob Dorsheimer, John Hyer, Jacob Byer, George Webbert and Robert Nelson.

The church was dedicated by Dr. Durban, then president of Dickinson College.

The first religious services under Lutheran the auspices of the Lutheran Church. Church in Dillsburg, were held in the school house, and were con-

of August, 1855, a meeting was held for the purpose of taking into consideration the question of building a church. Nine persons were appointed a committee to solicit sub- scriptions. December 1, $760 were raised, and on the 15th a building committee was appointed, and on the same day a lot was purchased on which to build a church. The building cost $1,250. The cornerstone was laid May 3, 1856, and the church dedicated November 16, of the same year. Rev. Ben- jamin Kurtz, D. D., of Baltimore, preached the dedicatory sermon. . The congregation was not properly organized until the spring of 1857, when twenty-four members signed the constitution. The following pastors have served it: J. R. Focht, Aaron Fin- frock, J. R. Groff, J. T. Williams, August Kalb, J. K. Bricker, Daniel Sell, H. D. Kuntz, E. Stidebecker, J. F. Dietrich, E. Minter, Adam Stump.

A banking institution was estab- Bank. lished in Dillsburg in the year 1873, in the house of David Shaffer, with Captain William E. Miller, president ; Jo- seph Deardorff, vice president, and John N. Logan, cashier. The institution was organ- ized with a capital stock of $50,000, as the First National Bank of Dillsburg, in 1878, with Joseph Deardorff, president; Jacob Coover, vice president; John N. Logan, cashier: Joseph Deardorff, Jacob Coover, A. G. Blackford, Andrew Bentz, Henry Bowman, William Sadler and Edward Dick, directors. The business house of T. L. Spahr was purchased and used as a bank until 1884, when a larger building was bought and used by the institution. George WV. Cook was elected teller to succeed M. J. Blackford. The capital stock was increased to $60,000. The bank deposits between 1878 and 1884 had increased six fold and the same prosperity has attended since its or- ganization as a national bank. Mr. Logan resigned the position as cashier and was succeeded by George W. Cook.

The post office was established by Post the United State's government at

Office. Dillsburg, January 8, 1816, and William Gillian was appointed first postmaster. At that time the nearest post- offices were Carlisle, Harrisburg, York and Lewisberry. Dillsburg was then a small village, but mail was received at this office

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HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

for a distance of eight miles. At this early of York County. Mr. Beitzel sold the pa- date there were no postage stamps, which per and the printing establishment to E. W. Shapley, who continued it for several years as a good local newspaper. William M. Ellicker succeeded as editor and publisher of the Bulletin, which has kept up a good cir- culation. were first used in 1847. Envelopes were not yet made. Letters were written on large sheets of paper, folded in the form of an envelope and the ends pasted together with sealing wax. The mail was brought to Dillsburg from Harrisburg and York, E. W. Shapley recently began the publica- tion of the " New Era," a weekly paper. first only once a week, and for many years twice a week, until daily mail routes were The first school in this vicinity established within the past quarter of a cen- tury. The cost of sending letters depended upon the distance they were sent. The per- son receiving mail was required to pay the postage. A letter received at Dillsburg from Detroit, Michigan, in 1836, cost twenty-five cents for postage, and one from Philadelphia about the same time, cost ten cents. When stamps were first used in 1847 the uniform cost of five cents was required to mail a letter to any point in the United States. This was reduced to three cents in 1853. The two-cent postage stamp came into use by act of Congress at a later date.

Asa Sawyer became the second postmas- ter at Dillsburg and he was succeeded by the first postmaster, William Gillilan. The other postmasters in order of succession have been Dr. George L. Shearer, J. B. Hurst, Mrs. Mary Stewart, H. G. Sidle, Dr. T. L. Cathcart, A. N. Eslinger, Lemuel Ross, A. N. Eslinger, Lemuel Ross, D. W. Street, near the southern edge of town. The Beitzel and Captain George W. Mullin.

Dr. George L. Shearer was postmaster at Dillsburg for seventeen years. A. N. Es- linger filled the position for twenty-two years in succession, and after the retirement of Lemuel Ross, served during another presidential term of four years. The annual salary in 1906 was $1, 100.

George W. Nichols, who had Newspapers. previously been connected with M. O. Smith, in the pub- lication of a newspaper at Glen Rock, intro- duced the art of printing into Dillsburg, in 1876. He named his paper the " New Era," and published it twice a month. Mr. Nich- ols disposed of his paper to other parties, who continued it as a weekly paper, and changed its name to the "Dillsburg Bulle- tion of four schools.

tin." The next owner was D. W. Beitzel, who continued it as an enterprising journal for several years, and extended its circula- tion throughout the entire northern section

Schools. stood near the site of the old Presbyterian Church, a short dis- tance west of the site of Dillsburg. Here the children of the early Scotch-Irish set- tlers were educated. From this time until the year 1836, the village school was sup- ported by subscription. When Dillsburg was incorporated in 1833, it remained a part of the school district of Carroll, which town- ship was laid out by authority of the York County Court in 1831. The act of Legis- lature, establishing the common school sys- tem, was signed by Governor Wolf in 1834. Dr. George L. Shearer and Thomas B. Blair urged their neighbors to accept the provi- sions of the new school law. They suc- ceeded in accomplishing their aim in 1836, when both Dillsburg and Carroll Township introduced the present school system. As the population increased a school building was erected on the east side of Baltimore

borough then supported its own schools by local taxation and the appropriations re- ceived from the state. Samuel B. Heiges, afterward county superintendent of schools, and other progressive teachers gave an im- petus to the educational sentiment in this borough by the enthusiasm they put forth in their professional work. They held edu- cational meetings and conducted teachers' institutes, which exerted a healthful influ- ence throughout the entire upper end of York County. In 1877 a two-story brick building was erected at a cost of $3,500. For a dozen years or more two schools were taught in this building. In 1894, owing to the increase in the school population, the building was enlarged for the accommoda-

Hon. Matthew Stanley Quay, who was born at Dillsburg, attended the village school for one or two years, and there ob- tained the rudiments of his education.

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When the Civil War opened in died about 1843 at an advanced age. In Military. 1861, there were sixty-six men between the ages of twenty-one and forty-five residing in Dillsburg. Soon after hostilities opened many of these en- listed as volunteers and joined different commands in the army. During the entire period of the war fifty-seven men, residing service in defence of the Union. In 1865, when President Lincoln made his last call 1775 he enlisted in Captain Matthew Smith's company, and joined General Arnold's ex- pedition in the march from Boston through Maine to Quebec. While on the way thither by a miraculous circumstance, Cavenaugh, or "Honest Ned," as he was called, saved the lives of John Joseph Henry, in the borough, entered the United States one of his comrades, who afterward be- came president judge of Lancaster and York Courts, and of General Michael Simp- for troops there were only nine men in the son, whose biography is found elsewhere. borough subject to a draft. A. N. Eslinger has furnished the names of forty-one citi- zens of Dillsburg, who entered the army. The names of the other sixteen could not be obtained. The following is the list: Wil- liam Reitzel, Solomon Arnold, S. M. Chron- ister, William Harbold, Americus Wickey, Capt. T. B. Hurst, Solomon Smith, H. C. Smyser, Henry Lau, Dr. James M. Shearer, Dr. W. D. Bailey, William Arnold, of D., William Arnold, of H., Andrew Weimer, J. L. McClure, D. D. Bailey, R. A. Moore, G. W. Reed, Addison Sheffer, Thomas Smith, Henry Reed, William Bittinger, John Bow- man, Henry Sheffer, Abram Rhoads, Jacob Koontz, Andrew Kinter, Henry Harman, Thomas Gardner, Col. S. N. Bailey, Jacob King, George Ditmer, George L. Britcher, William Mckeever, Mr. Uhler, Alex. Mc- Keever, Adam Mountz, Edward Moore, William Chronister, David Chronister, Dr. N. H. Shearer. The men attempted to swim the Dead River, when both, being overcome with exhaustion, were rescued by Cavenaugh who himself was captured by the British, in front of Quebec, and being a native for- eigner was compelled to enter the British service for a time. A few months later, when he was supposed to be true to Eng- land, he and a British soldier were put on guard by the palace at the outer walls of the city, when Conner, one of Cavenaugh's old comrades, who was also compelled to enter the British service, came and gave the British soldier a drink of rum. At that instant Cavenaugh struck him with the butt of his gun, which so stunned him, that he and his friend Conner escaped to American lines, after making a leap of twenty-five feet from the wall into a pile of snow, and being fired upon by a relief guard. He afterward became a hero with his comrades, and Con- gress granted him a special pension. The above incident was related by Judge Henry, an eye witness to it. In 1810 Judge Henry visited him, when he lived at Dillsburg. At the military parades at Dillsburg, "Ned " Cavenaugh was the hero. In 1842 he was taken to an encampment near town in a carriage, drawn by four black horses.

Dillsburg, early in history was a noted place for military parades, Fourth of July celebrations and encampments of the vol- unteer companies. About 1840, Jacob Spi- del had a well drilled company and Colonel S. N. Bailey, at a later date, became a trained military officer. On battalion days he was frequently the commander of all the The semi-centennial of Amer- militia and volunteer soldiers that assembled Semi- ican Independence was cele- here and at Lewisberry. During the Civil Centennial. brated at Dillsburg, July 4, 1826, with imposing ceremo- nies. The citizens assembled at the house War he entered the service as colonel of the Seventh Pennsylvania Reserves. Henry Logan, Thomas Campbell, J. Williams, of George Howard. "The Dillsburg James McClure and J. Eslinger, father of postmaster A. N. Eslinger, were soldiers in the War of 1812, who lived to an advanced age.

Probably the most noted military A Hero. character of Dillsburg, was Ed- ward Cavenaugh, an Irishman, and a brave soldier of the Revolution, who

Guards," Captain Bradley, attended the cel- ebration followed by citizens and two Rev- olutionary soldiers. The procession moved to a spring on the farm of Colonel Freder- ick Eichelberger. A meeting was organized and William Diven was chosen president and Colonel Eichelberger, vice president. The Declaration of Independence was read

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HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

by Dr. G. L. Shearer. The party then sat one of the framers of the state constitution down to a repast provided by George W. of 1790. For his services in the army, he Howard.

Toasts were responded to by Captain J. Bradley, Lieutenant Henry Sidel, Dr. Jacob Sawyer, Washington H. Lewis, Samuel Henry, Jacob Sawyer, George Dare, Peter Leibner, William R. Gilleland, John Galla- tin, Martin Carl, Dr. Jacob Weaver, John Cannon, Daniel Brawley, John Vanest, Thomas Methran, G. L. Shearer and Col- onel F. Eichelberger.

Matthew Dill was one of

Biographical. the first settlers of the vicin- ity of Dillsburg, locating there about 1740. He came from Mona- ghan, Ireland. The name Dill is Danish. The ancestors moved to England and some of them from thence to Scotland, during the time of the Commonwealth under Oliver Cromwell. Matthew Dill, in 1749, became one of the court justices of York County, but before this he had commanded a com- pany against the Indians. He died October 13, 1750, aged fifty-two years. His body was buried in the Presbyterian churchyard, a short distance west of Dillsburg, and the spot is marked by a marble slab. He had several sons, but none of the descendants by the same name now live in the village. The late Dr. A. B. Dill, of York Springs, was a descendant.

Colonel Matthew Dill, son of the settler, was very prominent in York County during the Revolution. Colonel Richard McAl- lister, founder of Hanover, was chosen lieu- tenant of York County, an office created by the government to organize all the militia during the Revolution. He was married to a sister of Colonel Dill, whom he appointed sub-lieutenant of York County. Colonel Dill served in that office from January 1781, to April, 1783, during which time he paid to various captains of companies, $2,136, in government money. The names of these persons, most of whom lived in the upper end of York County, according to his ac- count, paid by the government, July 1, 1788, were William Dodds, Alexander Nesbitt, John O'Bleanes, Andrew Wilson, Thomas Gould, John McMaster, William Coulson, William Ashton, Daniel Williams, Peter Spese.

Colonel Dill commanded the Fifth Battal- ion of York County for three years, and was

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History of York County Pennsylvania, Volume I, Part 154

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