History of York County Pennsylvania, Volume I, Part 26

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

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Church. The first constituents of this organization separated from the Cloister Church, at Ephrata, Lancaster County, in 1735, and organized in 1738 in York County. Many of them were Seventh-day Baptists. The church was considered an offspring of Ephrata, but for a while they worshipped with the Brethren. Some of the founders of it were: Philip Gebel, Peter Beissel, Henry Lowman, Peter Miller and George Adam Martin.

Some of the prominent persons who com- posed its membership in 1770 were: Fred- erick Reuter and wife, Daniel Fahnestock and wife, Peter Henry and wife, Paul Troub and wife, Dietrich Fahnestock and wife, John Cook and wife, Peter Bender and wife, Melchoir Webber and wife, John Lehr and wife, John Messerbach and wife, George Reiss (Rice) and wife, George Neiss (Nace) and wife. Benjamin Gebel (Gable) and wife, Philip Beissel and wife, Baltzer Smith and wife, Widows Dorothy and Stauffer, several families by the name of Frick, from whom descended Henry C. Frick, of Pitts- burg; John Bentz, wife, daughter, and four sons ; John Miller, wife, and two sons ; Peter Beissel, wife, son, and two daughters. This list includes both Seventh-day Baptists and Brethren. Later in the history of the church the Seventh-day Baptists, or "Sieben Tager," as they were called, maintained a separate organization, but as a church ceased to exist in this county about 1820. Some of the members about that time were Frederick Reider, Jacob Kimmel, Michael Kimmel, John Meily, Samuel, Daniel, and Boreas Fahnestock, and others.

Codorus Church.

Danner, a prominent man in the early history of the county and one of the five commissioners appointed to view and lay off York County in 1749. Jacob Danner, Heinrich Danner and their father were among the most intelligent of the first Ger- man emigrants west of the Susquehanna, and figured very prominently in their day. Jacob Danner was a poet of no mean repu- tation. About the year 1750 he and Rev. Jacob Lischy, of York Reformed Church, engaged in a vigorous religious controversy. The manuscripts containing Danner's argu- ments were written in verse in his native German language. Jacob Danner moved to Frederick County, Md. The controversy showed considerable ability on the part of both clergymen.

Prominent among the first members of the Codorus congregation, in 1758, were Rudy Yunt, Peter Brillharth, John Brill- harth, Henry Neff and wife. After Jacob Danner went to Maryland, Henry Neff was called to the ministry and remained pastor until after 1775. He was highly appreci- ated by his people, and kept careful official records. Some of the other members of this church, in 1770, were Jacob Tillman, wife and daughter; Jacob Spitler, wife and two daughters; Jacob Neiswanger and wife, Anna Neiswanger, and Elizabeth Seip, George Beary and wife, John Harold and wife, William Spitler and wife, Christian Eby, Wendell Baker and wife, Michael Berkey and wife, George Etter and son, Matthias Sitler and wife, Susanne Weltner, Catherine Beightley.

The celebrated Baptist preacher, Morgan Edwards, of Philadelphia, visited his Dun- ker Brethren in York County in 1770 and afterward wrote an interesting report of their prosperity here.

Being non-resistants in principle and in church discipline, the first who emigrated to York County had no difficulties with the In- dians. During the Revolution most of them took the oath of allegiance.

"The annual conference was held first in

The "Codorus Church was or- York County in 1789 on the Great Cone- wago." The following named elders or

The ganized in the Township of Co- dorus, eleven miles southeast of bishops were present : Daniel Leatherman, York, in 1758," and soon after Martin Urner, Jacob Danner, Heinrich

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THE GERMANS

Danner, John Funk, Jacob Stall, Heinrich French Huguenot settlers of New Jersey. Neff, Conrad Brombach, Daniel Utz, An- The locality from whence they came was dreas Eby, Samuel Gerber, Herman Blasser, Jacob Basehor, Abraham Oberholtzer. Some of these may have been visitors from Lancaster County or Maryland.

The Dunkers, or Brethren, were so numerous in York and Adams Counties that a second meeting of the conference was held on the premises of Isaac Latchaws in 1819, when the following named elders or bishops were present : Benjamin Bauman, Samuel Arnold, Daniel Stober (Stover), Daniel Gerber, Christian Lang (Long), Jacob Mohler, John Gerber, John Stauffer, Benjamin Eby, John Trimmer, Jacob Preisz (Price), Daniel Reichardt, Fred- erick Kline, Daniel Saylor, the ancestor of D. P. Saylor, a prominent minister of the church who recently died. Nearly all these elders then lived in York and Adams Counties.

The services in general down to about 1810 were held in private houses, barns and schoolhouses. They now have plainly con- structed but comfortable meeting houses.

Nearly all the congregations of this de- tion as soldiers, statesmen and promoters in nomination have meeting houses. The almost every line of human activity. County of York is now divided into three Prominent examples of these are Alexander districts. The upper Codorus district has J. Cassatt, President of the Pennsylvania within its limits four meeting houses, Railroad Company; Thomas A. Hendrix, Vice-President of the United States during President Cleveland's first term; Daniel H. Voorhees, late United States Senator from Indiana, and Senator Banta. namely-Black Rock, in Manheim Town- ship; Jefferson, near Jefferson Borough; Wildasins, four miles southeast of Hanover, and Beaver Creek. near Abbottstown. The bishop or elder of this district is Henry As already noted, the planting of the Hoff, of Black Rock. The preachers are D. Dutch and Huguenot colony in York N. Bucher, of Abbottstown ; Joseph Price, of Black Rock; Aaron Baugher, Jefferson ; David B. Hoff, Edwin Miller, of Black Rock ; Moses Murray and David Hoff.

THE HUGUENOTS.

The following article relating to the Dutch and Huguenot colony on the Cone- wago was read before the Historical So- ciety of York County, in the year 1905, by Rev. A. Stapleton :

The history of this colony is perhaps the most remarkable in the annals of Pennsyl- vania. In fact, we know of no other set- tlement in the United States having such unique characteristics.

Hackensack and Schwallenberg, in Bergen County. In the early records of the Dutch Reformed Churches of these places, the reader who wishes to carry his investiga- tions further will find the family records of most of the colonists. The colonists, who numbered probably over one hundred families, did not come to York County in a body, but gradually, during a period of twenty years prior to the war of the Revo- lution. They located mostly in Mt. Pleas- ant and Straban Townships, now in Adams County.

A remarkable feature of the colony was its mobility. Its people were restless, and for over half a century continued to break up into smaller bodies, founding new set- tlements on the distant frontiers. This dis- integration continued until about 1800, by which time but a comparatively small num- ber of the "Jersey" families remained on the Conewago.

A large number of these colonists, as well as their descendants, attained distinc-

County embraced a period of many years. It would be interesting to know who its pro- moters were and what special inducements were held out to the Jersey people, to trans- plant themselves to this region. That it was the outcome of a well-defined scheme, and under the direction of promoters is quite probable. In the absence of complete records on this interesting subject we are obliged to prepare its history from various sources.

An examination of the official

Where records of York County shows that They from 1760 to 1770 there was a Came considerable influx of colonists

From. from New Jersey. Many of them The people composing this colony were were well advanced in years at the descendants of the Dutch (Hollanders) and time of their settlement here, as may be

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HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

noted in their wills and other mortuary tucky, where he was killed by the Indians papers on file in the York County Court during the Revolution; Magdalena, born House. From the recently published rec- 1741; David, born 1743; Jacob, born 1751; ords of the Schwallenberg Reformed Stynte, born 1755; Elizabeth, born 1757, and Church we gain a knowledge of their family history, and also that they intermarried.

Among the first of the Jersey colonists to locate in York County was James Petit, whose ancestor was one of the early Hugue- not refugees to New Jersey. As early as 1740 James Pettit possessed a considerable estate on the Conewago. He died in 1771 at an advanced age. Abram La Rue, who died in 1757, and Adam de Gomois, Hugue- not pioneers from New Jersey, were among the earliest settlers, and no doubt had much to do with the subsequent influx.

Some of the leading families of the colony were :

David Demorest (Demore) was born in died in 1824, and Jacob, born 1778, died 1731, and died in 1808. He was a descend- ant of a Huguenot refugee of the same name, born in Beauchamp, France, in 1620, and who came to New York in 1663 because of religious persecution.

Frederick Banta was the grandson of the firm of P. A. & S. Small. For many Prof. Epke Banta, a Dutch colonist who died at Schrallenberg in 1719.

John Bodine, who died at Conewago in 1776, at a very advanced age, was the grandson of the Huguenot refugee, Jean Bodine, who died on Long Island, New York, in 1695. In 1794 George Brocaw died, whose ancestor, Pierre Brocaw, a French refugee, located in New York prior to 1680. Audri Ridett died in 1776; Michael Le Boob, in 1781 ; Adam de Goma in 1772; Cornelius Corsine, in 1786; Peter Corsine, in 1779: Peter Montford, the pro- genitor of a noble family, died quite aged in 1769. George Brinkerhoff, who was born in 1719, died in 1810. A marble shaft marks the resting place of this patriarch in the cemetery of the colonists on the Conewago, near Hunterstown.

Francis Cazart (Cassatt), ancestor of Alexander J. Cassatt, President of the Pennsylvania Railroad, was born at Mill- stone, Somerset County, in New Jersey, in 1713. He was a grandson of Jacques Cazart and his wife, Lydia, French refugees, who came to America in 1657. He was married prior to 1740 and had children as follows: Peter, one of the early colonists of Ken-

Francis, Jr., who went to Kentucky. Fran- cis Cazart was very prominent in the affairs of Pennsylvania during the Revolutionary period. His sons likewise shared in the struggle for Independence. In 1776 he was elected a member of the Provincial As- sembly, and was a member of the committee that framed the first constitution of the state in 1776. He died sometime after 1787, at which time he divided his estate among his children.

It is worthy of note that a considerable number of the descendants of Francis Ca- zart attained distinction in various walks of life. Among others were David, born 1768, 1839; both were sons of David, the eldest son of Francis. David Cassatt, Jr., was a lawyer of ability. At an early day he lo- cated at York, where his daughter, Isa- bella, married Samuel Small, Sr., member of

years he was one of the leaders of the York County Bar and held various offices of responsibility. His remains repose in the graveyard of the First Presbyterian Church of York. Jacob Cassatt, the brother of David, Jr., was also a lawyer and citizen of Gettysburg. For many years he was quite prominent in the politics of the common- wealth and was a recognized leader in the legislature at the time of his death.

Dennis Cassatt, who was a brother of Jacob and David, died sometime prior to 1824, leaving an only son, Robert, of Pitts- burg, who was the father of Alexander J. Cassatt. Many of the descendants of Peter Cassatt (son of Francis, the Pennsylvania pioneer, and who was killed by the Indians in Kentucky in 1780) are widely distributed in the west.

From a valuable article on the

Names of history of the Dutch and Early Huguenot colony of York

Church County by Rev. J. K. Demorest,

Members. of Gettysburg, we are able to reproduce the membership list of the Dutch Reformed Church of Cone- wago, prior to 1775. The names given are males, and supposedly heads of families :

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THE GERMANS

Aelsdorf, John, Aaten, J. Ackerman, Henry, Ammerman, Anderson,

Ditch, William,

Van Neues, Vanderbilt,

Van Voost, -

Van der Veer, Henry.

Fontein, Charles,

Van Orden,

Vantine, Thomas,

Fontein, Thomas,

Vaunest,

Vantine, Charles,

Freer, James,

Van Aarsdale, Abraham,

Vorhees, Ralph,

Griggs, William,

Van Aarsdale, Simon,

Banta, Albert,

Harfen,

Van Aarsdale, Garrett,

Vorhees, Aaron,

Hutson,

Van Aarsdale, Luke,

Vorhees, Garrett,

Haal, Hulick, Isaac,

Van Aarsdale, Isaac,

Hulick, Ferdinand, Hols, John,

Hoff, Abraham,

Houghtaling, Hezekiahı,

Brocaw, Peter,

Brocaw, John,

Brocaw, Ferdinand,

Brocaw, George, Blank, -

Brunner, Abraham,

Jewel, William,

Jewel, Cornelius,

Jansen (Johnson) Thomas

Jansen, Abraham,

Jansen, Andrew,

Bergen,

Karmigal, Peter, Kline, Henry,

Benner,

Brower, Abraham,

Klopper, Cornelius,

Brower, John,

Ketcheon, Richard,

Bodine, John,

Kipp, John,

Bodine, Abraham,

Kipp, Bernard.

Brinkerhoff, George,

Brinkerhoff, Jacob,

Brinkerhoff, Ralph,

Brinkerhoff, Luke,

Learamer, -

Brinkerhoff, William,

Lea Grange,

Leittel, Henry,

Leott, Cornelius, Midday, Ephraim, Myers, -

Mark, Michael,

Cazart, Francis,

Masden, Peter,

Cazart. Peter,

Montford, Francis,

Cazart, David,

Montford, Peter,

Cozine, Peter,

Montford, Jacob,

Cozine, Cornelius,

Montford, Laurens,

Cozine, Gerritt,

Nevins, Martin,

Cozine, John,

Owens, William,

Crownover, John,

Oblenins, John,

Parsell, Isaac,

Parsell, Richard,

Chamberlain,

Peter, Peter,

Commingore, Henry,

Peter, Garrett,

Ringland, Joseph,

Cover, Isaac, Cover, John, Cover, Daniel, Durye, - Dates,

Durboraw,

Dennis, John, Ditmans, - Dunn, Samuel,

Schamp, Joseph, Striker, Henry, Sickles,

Dubois, -

Sebring, George,

Demorest, David,

Smock, Jacob,

Demorest, Samuel,

Smock, John,

Smock, Bernard,

Snedicker, Christian,

Demorest, Albert, Demorest, Garrett, de Baum, Joseph, de Mott,

Snyder, - Speden, Terlume, Te Moth, Isaac,

de Baum, Abraham,

de Baum, Isaac,

Titsworth, Mark,

de Graff, Michael,

de Graff, William,

de Graff, Abraham,

Dorland, Garrett,

Van Dyke, Peter, Van Cleef. Isaae,

The members of the Conewago

A colony early established a congre- Pioneer Church. gation of their own faith, the Dutch Reformed, which has the distinction of being the only church of that denomination west of the Susquehanna River before 1800. A house for religious worship was erected near the present site of Hunterstown, soon after the establishment of this colony. The church records begin in 1769. The congregation was under the care of the New Brunswick classes of the Dutch Reformed Church. The first regular pastor was Rev. John M. Van Haling, from Millstone, New Jersey, who was a relative of the Cassatts. The second pastor was Rev. John Leydt. of New Brunswick, New Jersey, who was succeeded . by Rev. Cornelius Corsine, who died in 1788. Rev. Corsine was followed by Rev. George S. Brinkerhoff, who began his labors in 1789, and was the last regular pastor.

When Brinkerhoff assumed charge of the congregation, the colony was already greatly weakened by removals and no longer able to support a minister. He ac- cordingly accepted a call, in 1793, to Sem- pronius, in New York, where a great many of his parishioners had located, and where he died in 1813.

In 1817 a few of the surviving colonists petitioned the Pennsylvania Legislature for permission to sell the church and land con- nected with it. The proceeds of the sale were expended in the erection of a massive stone wall surrounding the cemetery of the colony. In this historic burial ground, now much neglected, sleep the patriarchs of this colony; their children became common- wealth builders, and bore a conspicuous part in the history of this great nation.

Williamson, David,

Van Harlinger,

Williamson, William,

Van Shaak,

Williamson, George,

Van Horn, Michael,

Van Riper,

Williamson, Frederick. Yeury, Benedict.

Hoagland, Houts, John, Houts, Christoffel,

Van Dine, Dennis,

Westervelt, John,

Van Sant, Peter,

Westervelt, Abraham,

Van Hues, Cornelius,

Burnet, George,

Herris, Daniel, Hanners, Baldwin,

Van Aarsdale, John,

Wykoff, Westervelt, Jacob,

Banta, Henry, Banta, Abraham, Banta, David, Banta, Peter, Bise, Daniel, Bedan,

Banta, Samuel,

Vorhees, Cornelius,

Bayard, George, Breen, Phil, Breen, Jeremiah, Bogart,

Kneff, John,

Krace, Leaschells, George,

Brinkerhoff, Henry, Brinkerhoff, John, Clark, Carmine, Peter, Cole,

Crownover, Cornelius, Coshon,

Ringland, Phares, Ringland, John,

Remsen, Sloot, Benjamin, Stag, James,

Demorest, Cornelius,

Titsworth, Isaac,

Van Dyke, John,

Eichim, Richard,

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HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

The reader will be interested in the dis- original colony in Kentucky they located persion of the Conewago colonists and their another colony on the Salt River, in Mercer County, and still another in Shelby County, Kentucky. re-location elsewhere. Before taking up this subject, however, the question natur- ally arises, why they did not remain here ? To this query no satisfactory answer can be given. They were restless, adventurous and intensely patriotic. During the Revolution they furnished a number of men who fought for independence. A considerable number became prominent, among them Francis Cazart, Abraham Banta and John Chamber- lain. Three of the colonists were captains in active service, namely Simon Van Ars- dale, William Houghtaling and George Brinkerhoff.

From various sources it is learned that these people planned to form a new county with the town of Berwick (now Abbotts- town) as the county seat. It is possible that the adverse treatment they met with in this venture created a dissatisfaction which eventually led many of them to sell their lands, most of which was fertile and well situated, and remove to virgin soil. As early as 1774 they had sent agents to Ken- tucky, who located a tract of ten thousand acres near the present town of Pleasantville, in Henry County. During the Revolution a considerable number of these people re- · moved to their new possessions in Ken- Descendants.

tucky. Among the first families to migrate thither were Henry Banta and his numerous sons, some of whom were heads of families; several sons of the pioneer Cassatt, Voor- hees, Durye, Dorlan, Hendricks and Mont- ford. The colonists became associated with the Kentucky pioneer, Daniel Boone, and did valiant service for the new common- wealth.

At a later period the Kentucky colonies formed settlements in Darke County, Ohio, and Johnson County, Indiana. These colonists early foresaw the opening of western New York for settlement in conse- quence of the ceding by the Six Nations of their lands to the government. In 1793 they sent a prospecting party to that region, who located a fine tract of land at the outlet of Owasco Lake. Upon securing the land, the shareholders lost no time in occupying it, so that by the following year a consider- able number had already disposed of their properties on the Conewago and removed thither. Among the emigrants to this new point of location were Jacob, Ralph and George Brinkerhoff, sons of the Conewago pioneer, already mentioned; Thomas and Andrew Johnson, Abraham Bodine, Charles Vandine, James Dates, Isaac Purcell, Jacob Leyster and George Brocaw. (In 1797 they erected their first church, which was re- placed by a more substantial structure in 1827.)

In conclusion I may be per-

Their mitted to add a few notes regarding a few eminent de- scendants of the Conewago colony. Hendrick Banta had twenty chil- dren, nearly all of them sons, some of whom were soldiers in the Revolution, while Hen- drick was a member of the committee of observation for York County. The whole Banta family went to Kentucky at the close of the Revolution. Among the celebrities of this family was Albert Banta, who re- moved from Kentucky to Indiana. He was identified with many of the early interests and movements of that commonwealth. A descendant is David Banta, of Franklin, In- diana, for many years a judge but later dean of the law department of the State Uni- versity. He is the author of a number of books of permanent value. A. B. Banta, of Harrodsburg, Ky., is one of the best known men of that state.

In 1780 the Kentucky colonists petitioned the Congress for permission to organize their settlement for the proper administra- tion of law and the better security of their lives and property. In 1795, the colonists having organized themselves into a congre- gation, petitioned the classes of New Bruns- wick, New Jersey, for a minister of their own faith with the result that Rev. Peter Lebach was sent to minister to their spirit- ual wants. Rev. Lebach was a native of Several of the Voorhees family Hackensack, New Jersey. He remained Noted have attained distinction. Daniel their pastor for upwards of half a century, Men. WV. Voorhees, nick-named "The tall sycamore of the Sangammon," was dying in 1858 at the age of 85 years. Several decades after the establishment of the born in Indiana in 1828; member of

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THE GERMANS

Congress from 1861 to 1865, and from 1869 Scriptures. They went to George Miller, a to 1871 ; United States Senator in 1877 and thereafter many years. He figured prom- inently in national affairs.

Probably the most noted descendant was Thomas A. Hendricks. He was born in Ohio in 1819, but early in life moved to In- diana among his kindred. Notwithstanding his conservatism, his integrity and probity were recognized by all, regardless of party lines. In 1863 he entered the Senate of the United States and thereafter was the

political leader of his state until his death. He made an unsuccessful run for vice- president in 1876 with Samuel J. Tilden at the head of the ticket. His second run for the office in 1884, with Grover Cleveland, brought him the second highest honor within the gift of the American people.

The River Brethren.

The River Brethren, sometimes known among themselves as "Brethren in Christ." is a sect

that originated along the Sus- quehanna River, in Conoy Township, Lan- caster County, in 1786, and soon after a con- gregation was formed in York County. The authentic history of this sect is rarely given. There have been published accounts which claimed to trace the origin to Germany in the year 1705. This statement has been published time and again in encyclopedias, but it is nevertheless, inaccurate.

The name is sometimes confused with the United Brethren (Moravians) and the churches. Their love feasts, annually held, United Brethren in Christ.

The first services which afterward led to the organization of the River Brethren, were held in the house of Jacob Engel. a Mennonite, who lived near Bainbridge, Lancaster County, and who afterward be- came the first bishop of the new church body. A temporary organization was ef- fected in 1776. It was not then fully deter- mined to form a new denomination. In 1784 the celebrated evangelist, Martin Boehm, conducted a noted revival in Done- gal Township. Among the many who lis- tened to the great preacher were six men : Jacob Engel. above mentioned; Hans (John) Engel. John Stern, Samuel Meigs and C. R. Rupp. The other cannot be given. These men met frequently for prayer and to search the Scriptures. After many meet- ings they concluded that trine immersion was the only legal mode enjoined by the distance east of York.

minister of the German Baptist (Dunker) faith, and asked him to baptize them, but told him they did not wish to join his church. Upon that condition the right of baptism was refused them by the Dunker minister. They then, in imitation of the Brethren, cast lots along the shore of the Susquehanna and one of them drew the proper ticket; whereupon he baptized the others and one of them in turn baptized him. From documents written at the time and still in existence the facts herein given were obtained. This interesting ceremony took place in 1786. Jacob and John Engel and C. R. Rupp became the first ministers of the denomination. This sect has, ever since its origin, been entirely distinct from the Dunker Brethren. The sect, in 1880, had about eighty ministers, 100 congregations and 9,000 members in the United States, mostly in southern Pennsylvania, Ohio, In- diana and Kansas. Their religious services were conducted originally in the German language. At present English is much used. As a class these people are strictly non- resistant, but upright and honorable in the highest degree. There are about three hun- dred families of the sect in Lancaster County and in York County.

This religious sect worships in private houses and barns, for the members are op- posed to the erection of meeting houses and usually across the river, are eventful oc- casions.

Rev. John Casper Stoever was the pioneer clergyman of the Lutheran Church west of the Susquehanna. He traveled over a large extent of country, performing his mission- ary duties and kept an accurate record of baptisms and marriages. His earliest records begin in 1735, six years before the town of York was founded. Pastor Stoever was the founder of the first Lutheran churches west of the Susquehanna, and the congregation formed at the site of York in 1733 was known as the "Evangelical Luth- eran Church on the Codorus," and the one at Hanover as the "Evangelical Lutheran Church on the Conewago." The word Conojohela was the Indian name for the valley, incorrectly called the "Conodochly." The Kreutz Creek region was a short

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History of York County Pennsylvania, Volume I, Part 26

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