History of York County Pennsylvania, Volume I, Part 176

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

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John W. Gable engaged in the mercantile business which he continued for a period of thirty years, and also manufactured cigars, employing a large number of workmen. Mr. Gable was first appointed postmaster in 1874 and held that office continuously for a period of thirty years, except during Presi- dent Cleveland's two administrations. When John W. Gable retired from the business he was succeeded by his nephew. Frederick Gable and David Gilbert under the firm name of Gable & Gilbert. George Paff. who conducted a store in the east end of the town, was postmaster from 1884 to 1888, and Lemuel R. Crumbling from 1892 to 1896.

completion of the Wrightsville and York trolley line has caused additional growth to Hellam, which has four churches and con-

Loucks has been the agent for the company since 1878. He owns a fine private library. John Kline, a short distance from this place raised the first orchard which bore what has since become a popular apple, known as the " York Imperial."

Dr. John Houston practiced medicine in Hellam Township as early as 1770 and for a time was a surgeon in the Revolution. Dr. Jonas Deisinger, the first physician to practice the healing art in the village of Hel- lam settled here in 1861, and after continu- ing his profession at this place for many years, moved to York. Dr. James A. Arm- strong was the resident physician at Hel- lam from 1873 to the time of his death in 1905. Dr. Charles N. Wolf and Dr. Frank Horning have practiced their profession in Hellam in recent years.

The Lutheran and Reformed

Church Church is known as "Kreutz

History. Creek Church," though it existed nearly half a century before the name "Kreutz Creek " came into use. During the time of the early German set- tlement, west of the Susquehanna, the Luth- eran and German Reformed people of this community worshipped with the settlers near the Codorus, so that it is entirely prob- able that the first religious services by the Germans west of the river, were conducted in this valley until 1741, when the town of At the extreme upper end of the present town of Hellam, Henry Sultzbaugh built a tannery about 1810. He continued this business for a period of forty years or more, when he was succeeded by his sons, John and Henry, who later disposed of the busi- ness to Frederick Sultzbaugh, who was elected a member of the State Legislature in 1859, being the first Republican ever chosen to that office from York County. After his death in 1863, the tanning business York was founded. A synodical meeting was held in this valley in the year 1745. It was between that date and 1751 that the first church at Hellam was built of logs on a tract of fifty acres, obtained by grant from the heirs of William Penn, " at the rate of 15 pounds, 10 shillings per 100 acres with a quarterly quit-rent of one half penny per acre." The land was deeded to Martin Shultz, Jacob Welshoffer, Henry Smith and George Amend in trust for the use of the was continued by his widow and her son, German Reformed and Lutheran congrega- Milton Sultzbaugh. Within recent years a number of cigar factories have been estab- lished.

tions. In 1777, a stone church was built, and used until 1860, when a brick church, 60x44 feet, with end and side galleries, was erected. It is located at a beautiful site to Hellam.

Hellam has been stretched out a distance of nearly a mile along the turnpike. The the north of the turnpike near the village of

June 2, 1825, Thomas Cadwalader, of Philadelphia, as attorney for the heirs of tains a population of about 600. The Penn- Penn, deeded "to Jacob Welshoffer, Jacob sylvania Railway station is situated half a Libhart, Conrad Dietz, trustees of the Ger-

988

HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

man Reformed congregation, John Blessing, Rev. E. M. Sando was elected. The con- Simon Fries and Lawrence Fisher, trustees gregation has a membership of 125 and the Sunday School 200 members. of the German Lutheran congregation, forty acres and one hundred and thirty-three perches for a consideration of $108, sur- veyed and lying within the Manor of Spring- ettsbury in the township of Hellam."

Strickler's Mennonite Church, named in honor of one of the early settlers, is sit- uated in Hellam Township, two miles east of Wrightsville. It is one of the oldest churches of this denomination west of the Susquehanna. The present house of wor- ship was erected more than one hundred years ago. Michael Strickler was the dea- con in 1907.

From the record of the First Reformed Church at York, it is ascertained that a con- gregation of that denomination existed at Hellam in 1751, and from these records it is shown that Rev. Jacob Lischy was the first pastor. He was succeeded in order by St. Paul's United Evangelical Church in Hellam was founded in 1902 by Rev. L. E. Revs. John C. Werts, William Otterbein, Daniel Wagner, George Geistweite, Daniel Crumbling, who for a period of two years Zacharias, D. D .; Daniel Ziegler, D. D .; R. before that date had conducted religious Rahauser, E. G. Williams, A. Wanner, D. services in the large room in David New- comer's cigar factory. A church building at a cost of $4500 was erected in 1902. The congregation and the circuit to which it be- longs purchased a parsonage in the town of Hellam, in 1905, when Rev. C. J. Raffens- D .; Gideon P. Fisher, William Korn and E. M. Sando. The early history of the Luth- eran congregation is closely identified with that of the First Lutheran Church at York. It is known from records that a Lutheran congregation was organized at Hellam by perger became pastor of the congregation. Rev. Lucas Raus in 1764. The congrega- High Mount Church situated two miles north of Hellam village was one of the early churches of the Evangelical Association in York County. A house of worship was tion was visited and children baptised by David Candler, Handshuh and Henry Mel- choir Muhlenburg. The succeeding pastors were Nicholas Hornell, John G. Bager, erected here in 1893, which took the place Nicholas Kurtz, Jacob Goering, J. G. of an older building which had stood on the Schmucker, Charles A. Morris, John George same site for half a century. The congre- Craver, Jonathan Oswald, George P. gation in 1907 had 100 members and a Sun- Weaver, A. W. Lilly, L. K. Sechrist, Her- day School of 225.

man L. Kroh, R. S. Stair, E. E. Hoshour

In 1884, a congregation was organized in D. B. Lau, John H. Meyer and Joseph B. Druck Valley by the United Brethren in Krout.

In 1896 both the Lutheran and Reformed building at stated times. These congrega- tions have also erected churches within the village of Hellam.

St. James Church was erected by the Lutheran congregation at Hellam in 1894. This was done during the pastorate of Rev. R. S. Stair. Rev. Joseph B. Krout became pastor of this congregation of 200 members, October 1, 1906, holding services alternately at Kreutz Creek and St. James Churches. He is also pastor of a congregation in the Canadochly valley.

Trinity Reformed Church in the village of Hellam was erected in 1901 by the con- gregation which worships in Kreutz Creek Church. At this time, Rev. G. P. Fisher

Christ and a stone building erected at a cost of $1,200. The church is situated in the valley after which it is named.

congregations held religious services in this the northern part of Hellam Township in

The fertile lands of Hellam

Historical Township and the alluvial soil Notes. along the streams was the favorite resort of the Indians before the white settlers arrived. Many specimens of Indian life, such as stone arrow heads, spear points, axes and hatch- ets, and utensils used by the Indians, have been found along the Susquehanna and else- where in Hellam Township. Before the time of the white settlements Indian traders who lived on the opposite side of the river, bought furs and other products of the chase from the Indians of the Hellam Valley.

During the Revolution many troops was the pastor. He was succeeded by Rev. from Virginia and Pennsylvania marched W. A. Korn, who served until 1907 when through Hellam Township, on their way to

989

HELLAM

join the army under Washington, to fight 2,400 men, mostly from the State of for independence. In June, 1777, Conti- Georgia, passed through Hellam Township, nental Congress came up the road, now down the turnpike to Wrightsville. He commanded the advance of Early's division of Confederate soldiers, which arrived at York, three days before the battle of Gettys- burg opened. Gordon had with him a bat- tery of four guns. He fired a few shells into Wrightsville, in order to drive the Union soldiers there, across the bridge to Colum- bia. The complete account of these inci- dents will be found in the Civil War on page 415. Gordon remained about twenty hours in that borough and in response to the orders from General Early, he returned to York on Monday over the turnpike. known as the Wrightsville Turnpike to York, which for nine months was the capi- tal of the United States. Many times dur- ing the Revolution, British prisoners of war were marched over this route on their way to York, Frederick, Maryland and Win- chester, Virginia. During the last days of December, 1778, about 4,500 British and Hessians, who had surrendered with Bur- goyne at Saratoga the year before, crossed Hellam Township in charge of the Penn- sylvania Militia. They were marched to Charlottesville, Virginia, where they were held three years. During the war of 1812 when Baltimore was threatened by the British, 3,000 Pennsylvania Militia crossed the river at Wrightsville and encamped at York.

Gen. James Ewing, who won distinction as a soldier in the French and Indian war resided in the eastern part of Hellam Town- ship for a period of fifty years. During the Revolution he was present at the battles of Trenton and Princeton in command of the Flying Camp and Pennsylvania troops. After the war, he was a member of the Legislature, and also served as President of the Supreme Executive Council, which body until the Constitution of 1791 was adopted, corresponded to the State Senate.

General Ewing for more than half a cen- tury was one of the most noted men west of the Susquehanna. He died at his home a short distance west of Wrightsville at the age of seventy years in 1806.

Rachel Bahn of Hellam Township was a descendant of one of the earliest families who settled in the Kreutz Creek Valley. She obtained a fair education but when quite young became an invalid and for fifty- five years was confined to the sick room. During this long period, Miss Bahn was a diligent student of the Bible and poetic literature. She wrote and published a book of poems containing many beautiful thoughts. Although she suffered nearly all the years of her life, she never complained and offered words of comfort and good cheer to every one who came within her presence.

Anderson's Ferry, about three miles above Wrightsville, at Marietta, seems to have been a crossing place as early as 1725. In the spring of 1725 there are records that Presbyterian clergymen of Donegal, Lan- caster County, crossed here to visit settlers "along the Conewago on the west side of the river". Bertram Boyd "missionated" in York County about this time. This ferry was used very extensively during the colo- nial period of our history, as well as much later. It was chartered November 17, 1742. Richard Peters, secretary of the Province of Pennsylvania, in writing to the proprie- taries under the above date says "James Anderson's petition for a ferry was pre- sented to Mr. Thomas Penn, and he gave me verbal orders to make out the patent."

General Gates, after his success at Sara- toga in the capture of General Burgoyne and his army, crossed the river at this ferry on his way to Congress then in session in York. He remained over night with Colonel Alexander Lowry, who lived on the Lancaster County side of the river. Many of the congressmen, and others who had business with 'congress also crossed at this ferry.

The Morgan house in the western end of Hellam Township is an historic building. During the Revolution it was the home of William Morgan who lived a quiet life as a farmer. On one dark night of 1781 Wil- liam Morgan was aroused from his bed by men in front of the house. They asked him to open the door and give them something to eat. He declined to do this, whereupon

On Sunday morning, June 28, 1863. Gen. the men fired a musket through the door John B. Gordon, commanding a brigade of and severely wounded him. It was after-

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HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

wards discovered that these men were sol- ship by a line commencing at William Sin- diers who had escaped from the British clair's mill; thence up the Codorus to the prison, then situated in the extreme north- Fork; thence leading to the branch of the western part of Windsor Township near

Codorus past Charles Diehl's mill; thence Longstown. A complete account of this in a straight line to the head branch of Deer prison pen will be found on page 233.

When the roll was called in camp, it was discovered who were absent. The men who had wounded Morgan were condemned to death and hanged from a pole near the Geiselman, William Gemmill, and William camp. Thus ended one of the saddest epi- sodes during the dark days of the Revolu- tion.

Creek, continuing along it to the provincial line." The petitioners asked that the new township be called "Hopewell." William Ehrhart, Peter Brillhart, John Orr, Michael

Nelson, were appointed commissioners to make the division. They reported to the court June 23, 1767, making a division as

Daniel A. Minnich, a noted acrobat, con- requested by the petitioners. The report was tortionist and circus clown, was born in confirmed during the July session of that Hellam Township near Wrightsville in year, by Justice John Blackburn, and his 1805. When he was a small boy, he was four associate justices. This township was taken from his home by a magician without formed the year before Mason and Dixon's line was run along its southern boundary. The name Hopewell is given to a number of other townships in the middle and south- ern states.

1783. acres of cultivated land, IO negro slaves, and a population of 866. The original settlers were generally Scotch-Irish Presbyterians. Some Germans settled in the northern part a few years later.

The following is a complete list of the taxables of Hopewell for the year 1783, to- gether with the amount and the valuation of real estate :

John Anderson, 74 acres £91

Nehemiah Armstrong, 35 acres 35

Robert Anderson, 106 acres 103

Widow Anderson, 150 acres 86

Samuel Adams 8

John Adams 10

Alexander Allison, 100 acres

Jacob Alt . : 6

Patrick Burn, 50 acres 33

John Brown, 60 acres 60

---------

the knowledge of his parents and was ab- sent four months before they knew of his whereabouts. He first performed in a travelling circus as an acrobat and contor- tionist and became one of the first tight The northwestern part of the original Hopewell Township is drained by branches part by Muddy Creek, and the southwest- rope walkers in this country. As early as 1824, he became somewhat famous in his of the Codorus; the northern and eastern line, and by 1835 was one of the best known all around circus men in this country. He ern part by the head waters of Deer Creek. continued this occupation as an actor until The surface is undulating, though certain after he was fifty years of age, when he parts are quite level. There is considerable was still a man of physical vigor and ac- woodland, and here and there scattered over the cultivated land and along the roadside. stand giant oaks and chestnuts. The soil in general is fertile and productive, and the land valuable. tivity. In his palmy days, Dan Minnich could turn forward and backward somer- saults, handsprings and do a forward somer- sault from the knees and ride a bare back horse before the modern artists in that line Hopewell for the year 1783, Hopewell contained 136 dwelling houses, had come upon the stage. About 1855, Daniel Minnich retired from the circus and in 91 barns, 4 grist mills, 15,223 lived with his brother at Bedford, Pa., where he died at the advanced age of eighty- six years.

THE HOPEWELLS.

The area now embraced in Hopewell, East Hopewell and North Hopewell town- ships, was included in the township of Hopewell, which was laid out in the year 1767. From 1743 to 1767, Hopewell formed a part of Shrewsbury Township. The peti- tion for the separation reads as follows : "The inhabitants of Shrewsbury Township are under a disadvantage on account of the great extent of the township, the same being by a moderate computation, twenty- five miles long and sixteen miles in breadth. We therefore request a division of the town-

991

HOPEWELL

John Blasser, 150 acres

20I

Abraham Blasser, 100 acres, 2 mills

127

Christian Blindmeyer, 100 acres

Daniel Miller, 50 acres 52

I02

John Beard, 30 acres

Benjamin Manifold, 119 acres

William Bell

206

William Brackenridge

John Manifold, 136 acres

Andrew Brown, 50 acres

124 James Maffet, 105 acres

William Collins, 150 acres

108

Thomas McKell, 160 acres

118

Casper Climmer, 106 acres

Alex. Moore, 150 acres

153

William Douglass

139

Michael Morrison, 150 acres

Nicholas Dipple, 50 acres

156

John Montgomery, 50 acres

Jerry Delong, 150 acres

II3

Robert Dickson, 100 acres

Samuel Martin, 150 acres

William Edgar, 130 acres

155

Samuel Mosser, 60 acres

Christian Ealy, 150 acres

184

David Manson

120

John Forkner, 17 acres

John McCleary, 200 acres

Andrew Fulton, 100 acres

150

88 Widow McIsaac, 50 acres

William Farress, 100 acres

James McAllister, 50 acres

125

Andrew Findlay, 100 acres

68 William Orr, 200 acres

136

John Forsythe, 50 acres

276 Andrew Proudfoot, 200 acres

John Garting, 300 acres, 2 slaves

Patrick Purdy, 100 acres

Widow Gibson, 250 acres

250

Robert Proudfoot, 160 acres

William Good, 60 acres

115

James Patterson, 150 acres

David Griffith, 100 acres

I3I

John Quarterman, 30 acres

30 35

David Gamble, 200 acres

205

Alexander Ramsey, 135 acres

Jacob Householder, 60 acres

John Richey, Sr., 60 acres

Robert Henry

Adam Reed

I4I

James Hutchison, 80 acres

John Raney, 170 acres

James Harper, 150 acres

162 Jacob Saddler, 300 acres

Stoffel Harkle, 100 acres

William St. Clair, 110 acres

Samuel Harper, 100 acres

119

Jacob Sherer, 100 acres

Boston Hickman, 100 acres

I22

I2I

Jacob Hiestand, 150 acres

Jacob Shafer, 150 acres

William Jameson, 160 acres

Abraham Sinnerd

40 16

Christian Krug, 100 acres

James Smith, Sr., 210 acres, I slave

Barnet Kousley, 150 acres

I37

Francis Sechrist, 200 acres

144

James Kerr, 112 acres

118

Joseph Kooper, 80 acres

John Sharer, 50 acres

217

Joseph Smith, 200 acres

David Kennedy, 150 acres

William Smith, 200 acres, 2 slaves

Christian Leib, 100 acres

Jonathan Smith

William Liggett, Sr., 200 acres

138

William Liggett, Jr., 200 acres

132

Peter Trexler, 60 acres

115

Anthony Miller, 50 acres

.46

9I David Waltemeyer, 50 acres

John Marshall, 100 acres

268

Charles Waltemeyer, 100 acres

Richard McDonald, Sr., 350 acres

Richard McDonald, Jr., 160 acres

209

David Wiley, 150 acres, I slave

263

George McMullen, 100 acres

125

Conrad Miller, 50 acres

William McClark, 50 acres

188

Barnett Blindmyer, 100 acres

Thomas McCarroll Joseph Manifold, 322 acres

II4

Frederick Brose, 30 acres

William Morrow, 80 acres

127

James Criswell, 50 acres

William McClurg, 100 acres

128

Samuel Dickson, 150 acres

Courad Miller, 60 acres

Anthony Duncan, 210 acres

155

Hugh McClurg, 66 acres

153

Matthew Drohrbach

121

Henry Miller, 50 acres

William Edie, 200 acres

James McFarland, 200 acres

126

Samuel Fulton

183

Moody Moine, 100 acres

David Fulton, 100 acres

174 Martin Obermiller, 180 acres

100

Jacob Feaster, 62 acres

John Pearson, 170 acres

17I

Widow Godfreys, 25 acres

Widow Pain, 60 acres

James Gibson, 150 acres

I37

David Proudfoot, 55 acres

104

William Gemmill, 150 acres, I slave

Elisha Pew, 25 acres

I04

Johnston Griffith, 126 acres

IQI

Samuel Patterson, 50 acres

John Griffy, Jr., 100 acres

213

Robert Richey, 50 acres

140

John Graton, 200 acres, I slave

103

John Richey, Jr., 71 acres

Henry Householder, 50 acres

I34 Samuel Rosebrough

195

John Herring, 100 acres

James St. Clair, 100 acres

Michael Hively, 100 acres

134

Nicholas Streher, 50 acres

154

Laurence Heindel, 100 acres

Samuel Smith, 130 acres

106

Nicholas Henry, 144 acres

John Shafer

Thomas Jamison, 50 acres

III

Jacob Junt, 100 acres

37 James Steel

John Shinnard, 80 acres

Widow Kilwell, 100 acres

Thomas Kelly, 100 acres

144

John Smith, 50 acres

343

Henry Kirsmoyler, 45 acres

153 Robert Slemmons, 25 acres

Jacob Landmesser, 50 acres

154 Peter Strayer, 100 . acres

Herman Miller, 25 acres, I slave

Alexander Thompson, 150 acres

John Miller, 50 acres

84 James Wilson, 100 acres

William McElling

James McDonald, 156 acres

Philip Taylor, 156 acres

200

James Smith, Jr.

Frederick Saddler, 30 acres

William McClevey, 50 acres

992

HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

Henry Wiest, 200 acres 169

James Wilson, 149 acres

100

William Wilson, 150 acres

106

John Wilson, 100 acres 90

Francis Weinmiller, 150 acres

IOI

Andrew Warrick, 80 acres

106

Rudy Yount, 150 acres

257

Michael Ziegler, 100 acres

Township A petition signed by a large

Divided. was presented to the court at York, presided over by Hon. John Gibson, asking for a division of Hope- well into two townships. The reasons given were that many of the electors were required to go a long distance to the voting places. It was claimed that great conve- nience would result from the division of the township. This petition was heard by the court and B. F. Koller, H. M. McCall and Thomas G. Cross were appointed commis- sioners. It was decided however that it was best to divide Hopewell into three town- ships. In order to accomplish this object, a second petition was presented in August, 1884, to the court, signed by a large number of landowners, asking for the division of Hopewell into three townships to be known as Hopewell, East Hopewell and North Hopewell. The commissioners reported in favor of the division which was confirmed by the court, June, 1885.

The population of Hopewell in 1810 was 1,597; in 1820, 1,630; in 1830, 1,941; in 1840, 2,095 ; 1850, 2,380; 1860, 3,288; 1870, 3,618; 1880, 3,773; 1890, 1,540; 1900, 1,376. In 1890 East Hopewell had a population of 1,234 and in 1900, 1,074. North Hopewell in 1890 had 1,199 inhabitants and in 1900 had 1, 122.

Hopewell Centre. Hopewell Centre is situated in East Hopewell Township. Wil- liam Wallace, in 1849, pur- chased a tract of land at this place for $13.50 an acre. The same land now, and many of the surrounding farms are fertile and productive and worth many times their original cost. In 1850, Mr. Wal- lace secured the establishment of a post office, and named it "Hopewell Centre." He opened a store in 1851 which he conducted until 1874, when his son James W. Wallace succeeded him as proprietor. William Wat- son was postmaster for a time, and then James W. Wallace was appointed. During the Buchanan administration John Mani-

fold, who was a member of the legislature, for a period of four years, was postmaster.

In 1825 Captain James Wallace organ- ized a rifle company, called the Washington Greens, composed of 125 men. They were uniformed in green suits trimmed with red, and wore helmets. The members were from Fawn and East Hopewell townships. This company continued to exist with a dif- ferent uniform, but under the same name for nearly half a century. The men were drilled regularly and are said to have been one of the finest looking companies in the country. The commanding officers at dif- ferent times were Captains James Wallace, Sampson Smith, Robert Alexander and Josiah Campbell. John T. Wallace was lieutenant. In 1860, members of the Wash- ington Greens and others formed them- selves into a company named Hopewell Centre Guards, and were commanded by Captain William Wallace. This company drilled frequently, but eventually thirty-two of the fifty men, which composed it, entered the Union army, eleven of whom died in service or were killed in battle.

Meadestown is the name given to a small collection of houses in East Hopewell Township, about one mile from the Mary- land & Pennsylvania Railroad. It was named in honor of Aquilla Meade, later a resident of Cross Roads borough.

Presbyterian

The Hopewell Presbyterian Church was known during Church. the first ten years or more of its existence as the Shrews- bury Congregation, having taken its name from the township in which it was then situ- ated. During this period the people prob- ably worshipped in a tent or some private house suitable for such service. The date of the actual organization of the old Pres- byterian churches is not a matter of record, but has to be estimated to a greater or less extent. An early manual of Donegal Pres- bytery No. 2, gives the founding of this church to have been in the year 1756, and it appears there is good grounds for accepting this date.

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History of York County Pennsylvania, Volume I, Part 176

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