History of York County, Pennsylvania : from the earliest period to the present time, divided into general, special, township and borough histories, with a biographical department appended, Part 114

Author: Gibson, John, Editor
Publication date: 1886
Publisher: F.A. Battey Publishing Co., Chicago
Number of Pages: 1104

USA > Pennsylvania > York County > History of York County, Pennsylvania : from the earliest period to the present time, divided into general, special, township and borough histories, with a biographical department appended > Part 114

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D. Klinefelter's), and from Jacob Metzger's (now Grumbine & Brockley's) to Mrs. Dan- ner's (now John S. Young's). We are unable to find any record of the paving ordinance of Frederick Street, but the points above given will enable the reader to fix the built up limits of the borough, about forty years ago. These limits had been so far extended in 1851, that the pavements on Carlisle Street were ordered to be laid as far as the borough line, and on Baltimore Street as far as the residence of Adam Forney (now Michael Strubinger's).

In 1872, while L. F. Melsheimer was chief burgess, the streets and pavements of the borough were thoroughly regraded; all the streets were macadamized, and the pavements relaid at a uniform grade and of the width of twelve feet. Since this date the roadways and sidewalks have been kept in good repair, and during the past few years iron bridges have been placed over the gutters crossing the streets, and iron foot bridges at the street crossings. It is now the boast of the people of Hanover that no city or town in the State possesses better pavements or more level and solid streets. The beautiful fountain which ornaments the square was a gift to the town by Mrs. Jacob Wirt, A. W. Eichelberger and Jacob Forney. The total assessed valuation of real estate for the borough of Hanover, in 1883, was $1,009,711.

INCORPORATION.

The town of Hanover formed a part of Heidelberg Township from the time it was first laid out until 1815. On the 4th of March, of that year, it was chartered as a borough by the legislature. The first elec- tion was held at the house of Jacob Eichel- berger, on Frederick Street, and resulted in the selection of George Nace, as burgess; Henry Winebrenner, Peter Winebrenner, Jacob Ritz, George Frysinger, John Scholl, William Young and Daniel Barnitz, council- men; John Bart, was chosen constable. The following-named persons have served as chief burgesses since the incorporation to the year 1885.

1816-Jacob Eichelberger.

1817-Hon. Jacob Hostetter.

1818 -- Dr. Peter Mueller.

1819-Hon. Jacob Hostetter.

1820-George Frysinger.

1821-Charles Barnitz.

1823-24-25-Jacob Eichelberger.

1826-George Eckert.

1827 -- George Barnitz.

1828-Henry Wirt, Sr.

1829 -- Luther H. Skinner.

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BOROUGH OF HANOVER.

1830-David Shultz.

1831-Jacob Kline.

1832-George Trone.

1832 to 1838 no records.

1838-Joseph W. Schmidt. 1839-John Flickinger.

1840-41-William Bair.

1842-George Young.

1843-Charles Barnitz.

1844-Michael Bucher.

1845-Jacob Wirt.

1846-David Slagle.

1847-Jesse Frysinger.

1848-Charles Barnitz.

1849-John Bair.

1850 -- George Trone.

1851- Christian Smith.

1852-Jacob Wirt.

1853 -- Joseph Althoff.

.1854-David Bixler.

1855-George Metzger.

1856-David Slagle.

1857-Rufus Winterode.

1858-Washington Bair.

1859-Henry Wirt.

1860 -- William Grumbine.

1861-62-Jeremiah Kohler.

1863-Joseph Slagle.

1864-Stephen Keefer.

1865-David S. Tanger.

1866-Henry C. Schriver.

1867-Cyrus Diller.

1868 -- William Bange.

1869-Henry Wirt.

1870-Allowies Smith.

1871-D. S. Tanger.

1872-73-74-L. F. Melsheimer.

1875-76-Dr. F. A. H. Koch.

1877-Daniel S. Barnitz.

1878-A. G. Schmidt.

1879-Dr. F. A. H. Koch.

1880-W. F. Stair.

1881-George Bange.

1882-L. F. Melsheimer.

1883-William Boadenhamer.

1884-Charles Young.

1885-Stephen Keefer.

Members of the present council: John Warner, Alexander J. Gitt, Samuel Schwartz, Lewis A. Utz, W. Chester Stick, John D. Jenkins, George S. Krug, William Anthony; J. H. Brough, secretary.

THE PUBLIC COMMON.

Col. McAllister died in 1795. The origi- nal draft of the town having been lost, his ex- ecutors, Archibald McAllister, Jesse McAllis- ter and Jacob Rudisill, caused McAllister's entire tract, including the town site, to be re- surveyed in 1797, and sold off all the land

and town-lots belonging to the estate. The tract known since as the " Public Common " belonged to the estate and was partially covered with timber. The citizens deter- mined to secure this tract, which contained twenty-three acres and seventeen perches, as a public common; the executors agreed to sell it for £351 1s. 10d. Over 100 persons sub- scribed to the purchase money in sums rang- ing from 7s. 6d. to £8. July 17, 1798, the land was granted by the executors to George Carl, Paul Metzger, John Hinkle, Henry Welsh and William Gitt, as trustees, to be held " in trust for the proper use of an open air and free public common for all and every one of the citizens and inhabitants of the town of Hanover and their successors for- ever, and for no other use or purpose what- soever." The land was used for a public cow pasture for many years; at length, about 1839, lots began to be leased by the borough authorities. Parties who leased them gener- ally refused to pay the rent, claming that the land did not belong to the borough, but to the people of the town of Hanover. Suits were commenced and continued for years, with offers of compromise made and agreed to and then rescinded. In 1852, when the Hanover Branch Railroad was built across the common, a depot, warehouse, etc., were built upon the public ground. The borough authorities ordered the railroad com- pany to stop work until the damages were assessed. In 1853 the damages were fixed by a jury at $775. The company would not pay; the borough council entered suit, and then offered to compromise for half the dam- ages awarded. Finally, March 17, 1858, the matter was settled, the company paying $50 cash, and agreeing to pay a yearly rent of $12 forever. The railroad being opened, lots on the common, near the railroad, were in demand. This led to a proposition to sell or lease, in perpetuity, the entire tract. The legislature was appealed to, but that body was opposed to having lands leased in per- petuity. Efforts were then made to get au- thority to sell the tract, and Michael Bucher surveyed it and layed it off into streets and building lots, there being eighty of the latter. A strong party of the citizens opposed this scheme and desired to see the land remain a public common. To sell this land in lots would doubtless result in removing the center of the town business thereto, and in thus reducing considerably the value of real estate in parts of the town remote from the railroads, the people of which had contributed liberally toward the building of the roads. The other side urged the unproductive-

580

HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY.

ness and uselessness of the common as it was, argued that it might easily be made a source of revenne to the borough, and considerably reduce the burden of taxation. Many trips were made to Harrisburg by representatives of both sides, but all attempts to secure legisla- tion failed. In 1854, lots began to be leased at $14 each. Then, in 1858, a contract was made with Evans & Mayer, attorneys of York, to secure a title equal to a fee simple title, to the land for the borough authorities for the sum of $500. An order was obtained from the court, appointing F. E. Metzger trustee for the people of Hanover; and soon after, in accordance with an order of the court, Mr. Metzger offered the tract at public sale. It was bought by Henry Wirt for the bor- ough at the nominal sum of $5,400. Under this title the borough to-day holds the Public Common. Many lots are leased to sundry par- ties, and on them have been erected dwellings and other buildings. Larger tracts have also been leased for lumber and coal yards, cattle yards and to the railroad.

THE POSTOFFICE.

The present United States postal system went into force in 1790, when the capital of the United States was at Philadelphia. The statistics of the Post Office Department, at Washington, given below, show that the first quarterly report made by Henry Welsh, the first postmaster at Hanover, was sent in Jan- nary 1, 1795. His appointment was evi- dently three months before this time. The following letter illustrates that the income for the quarter mentioned was not very large:

GENERAL POSTOFFICE. PHILADELPHIA, May 15, 1795. S

Sir-Yours of April 19, with your quarterly ac- count, and one dollar and seventy-five cents, was duly received. I am Sir,

Your obedient servant.

To Henry Welsh, CHARLES BURRILL.

Postmaster, Hanover, Penn.

James Bolton was the second appointee. George Nace, the third postmaster, had the office in a building on the lot on Carlisle Street, now owned by Samuel Michael. Dr. Peter Muller succeeded, and kept it first on Baltimore Street, where John Bair now lives. He removed it to Frederick Street, and there kept it until his death, in 1842, when his daughter, Mrs. Theresa Myers, received the appointment, holding the office until 1864. The postoffice was thus held by members of one family for over half a century. The Postoffice Department at Washington fur- nished the following information:

Postmaster.

Date of Appointment .

Henry Welsh. .*. January 1, 1795

James Bolton .January 1, 1796

George Nace. .April 1, 1799

Peter Muller. . February 26. 1813

Theresa C. Myers. November 4, 1842

Vincent C. S. Eckert.

.March 11, 1864

William F. Stair.

August 29. 1864

John S. Forrest. August 28, 1866

Anthony J. Smith. August 4, 1868

William F. Stair. March 14, 1873

Mahlon H. Naill. May 26, 1877

The following statistics, compared with report of Postmaster Welsh, in 1795, will give an idea of the growth of the business of the office. In the third quarter of 1872, there were sent 19,766 letters, and 3,000 pa- pers; and 22,730 letters, and 4,200 papers were received. This did not include county papers received, nor town papers mailed from the newspaper offices. In the third quarter of 1884, 7,186 1 cent, 25,044 2 cent, 348 4 cent, 229 5 cent, and 222 10 cent stamps were sold; besides 8,369 postal cards and stamped envelopes, amounting to $177.37. Money orders issued, 179, amounting to $2,- 106; paid, 83, amounting to $1,261.86. Postal notes issued. 252, aggregating $525.74, and 51 paid, aggregating $140.03. Registered letters sent, 118; received, 212.

The money order system went into force in 1864; Hanover became a money order office August 6, 1866. The office, for many years, was kept in the Newman property, west of Central Hotel. It is now on Carlisle Street.

Dr. Peter Muller, who, for a period of thirty years, less one day, was postmaster at Hanover, was born in Coblentz, Germany, May 17, 1765. He received a classical and medical education in France, was well in- formed in Latin, Greek and Hebrew, and could converse in three or four modern lan- guages. He immigrated to Norfolk, Va., in 1802; during the following year came to Hanover, and began the practice of medicine there, which he continued until his death, October 14, 1842, having for a period of thir- ty-nine years, enjoyed a large practice in that community.

HANOVER SAVING FUND SOCIETY.

A charter for the organization of this banking institution, was granted April 14, 1835, the cash capital being $10,000, with the privilege of increasing it to $50,000. The commissioners under the charter were Benjamin Welsh, W. D. Gobrecht, Charles E. Creamer, Daniel Barnitz, Dr. Henry C. Wampler and Matthias N. Forney. The first

*This is the date of rendering his first return; unable to- give the exact date at which the office was established.

581

BOROUGH OF HANOVER.

election was held July 1, 1835, and resulted in the choice of Jacob Eichelberger, Jacob Forry, Martin Klunk, D. P. Lange, Jacob Young, John Sholl, Jacob Newman, Dr. H. C. Wampler and Daniel Gobrecht, as direc- tors. The board organized with Jacob Eich- elberger as president; Matthias N. Forney, as treasurer, and F. E. Metzger, as secretary. The presidents, in order of succession, have been Jacob Eichelberger, Jacob Wirt, Henry Wirt, R. A. Eichelberger. The treasurers have been Matthias N. Forney, F. E. Metz- ger, Matthias E. Trone, R. A. Eichelberger, and J. N. Slagle, who is the present treasurer; H. Y. Sprenkle, teller; Paul Winebrenner, book-keeper. Board of directors for the year 1884: R. A. Eichelberger, president; Henry Wirt, vice-president; R. M. Wirt, sec- retary; Henry A. Young, Samuel Hostetter, Conrad Moul, J. P. Brockley, W. P. Little, Reuben Young. The deposits, August 25, 1875, were $590,228. The bank then paid 5 per cent interest on deposits. Deposits September 29, 1884, were $502,332. The interest on deposits then paid was 3 per cent. The bank now owns a handsome large new building.

Robert M. Wirt was elected president of this institution in 1885, upon the death of R. A. Eichelberger.

THE FIRST NATIONAL BANK.

This institution was organized 20th day of November, 1863, through the efforts of F. E. Metzger, Jacob Forney and Henry M. Schmuck, there being eleven subscribers to the capital stock of $50,000.

At the same time Jacob Forney was ap- pointed chairman, and Henry M. Schmuck, secretary, when the stockholders adopted and executed the certificate of organization, and articles of association.

November 25, 1863, Jacob Forney was elected president, and F. E. Metzger, cashier. The latter resigned as cashier February 28, 1866, when J. H. Aulabaugh succeeded until December 1, 1868, when Stephen Keefer was elected, and served till March 19, 1873, followed by C. W. Forney, serving till May 3, 1876, and succeeded by J. H. Alleman, the present cashier. George Kline- felter is clerk and Frederick Stambaugh assistant and messenger.

March 16, 1874, capital stock increased to $100,000 April 28, 1875, : " $200,000

March 7, 1877, " $300,000

Jacob Forney served as president until January 13, 1875, when Dr. J. P. Smith was elected. He was followed by Henry M. Schmuck elected January 19, 1881.

The present board of directors is composed of Henry M. Schmuck, president; Vincent O'Bold, A. S. Himes, George D. Gitt, A. J. Snively, G. H. Shirk, Andrew Rudisill, John Krug and Samuel Basehore.

This institution, now in a very prosperous condition, a few years ago built a large iron front building, in which the bank is kept.

CHURCHES.

St. Matthew's Lutheran Church. -- The first German emigrants to this section of York County, about 1731, were soon followed by their religious teachers, and their first serv- ices were held in private dwelling-houses. In 1738,* Rev. David Candler, according to the church record books, now in the posses- sion of Rev. J. C. Koller, pastor of St. Matthew's Lutheran Church, preached here. He was a clergyman of very fair ability, having been educated for the ministry in Ger- many. The first permanent organization was effected by him in May, 1743, and called the "Evangelical Lutheran Church of the Conewago." Rev. Candler organized "The Evangelical Lutheran Church of the Monoc- acy," near Frederick, Md., the same year, and then became the regular pastor of both congregations, but resided near Hanover, about one-half mile, northwest of the site of the present town. A log-church and school- house combined, was built the same year of the organization. The location of this building and the graveyard that adjoined it, was on the fork now made by the Hanover & Gettysburg Railroad and the turnpike to McSherrystown. The first elders were Lenhart Barnitz, Johan- nes Morningstar, Andrew Hergar and Freder- ick Gelwix. Among the principal contributors to the erection of the church were Philip Morn- ingstar, Michael Karl, Nicholas Biedinger (Bittinger) and Christopher Schlegel (Slagle), the last of whom was the heaviest contributor, giving £1 3s. 9d .- each of the others gave £1.

Among the baptismal records we find that of John Frederick Gelwix, in 1734, and Rev. Candler's own children in 1738. The first recorded baptism after organization was that of Jacob Euler. The first marriage was Jacob Rohrbaugh to Margaret Bart. Her name is written Bartlin; the termination "in," the Ger- man ending to denote feminine gender, was frequently added to the name of an unmarried female at that time.

This church was the Second Lutheran Church built in Pennsylvania, west of the Susquehanna, taking its beginning a century and a half ago, when Pennsylvania was an infant colony, under George II, of England.

*See history of First Lutheran Church at York.

582

HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY.

It was organized under the unaltered Augs. burg Confession.

The original log-church lasted thirteen years. Rev. Candler died in 1744, and his remains were interred in the graveyard adjoining the church. There are now no traces of the church, and not even of the historic graveyard. The land is now culti- vated. Rev. Lars Nyberg, a Swede, was the second pastor, under him Peter Schultz, Andrew Hergar, Michael Karl and George Sponseiler were wardens. Rev. Nyberg was at the same time pastor of a congregation at York and Lancaster. He was not true to the Lutheran tenets, and seems to have been justly accused of trying to introduce the Moravian faith. He retired in 1746, and Rev. Nicke preached during the interim, until the election of Rev. Valentine Kraft. During his pastorate the Monocacy Church was separated from this charge.

In 1752 Rev. John George Bager, the an- cestor of the Baughers of the Lutheran ' Church, became pastor. He was then thirty- eight years of age, an emigrant from Nassau, Germany, in which country he received his education for the ministry. He preached in the old log-church until 1756, when a new log-church was built about one mile from Hanover, near the Carlisle pike, on the farm now owned by the heirs of David Sprenkle. It was built eight years before the town of Hanover was laid out by Richard McAllister, and seven years after York County was erected, and was named St. Michael's Church. The German Reformed people were allowed to hold services in it, and any other denomi- nations having regularly ordained ministers. This was about the time of the rise of infi- delity in America; hence we find recorded on the old church books that atheists, deists, unitarians, and such as profess no faith, were forbidden the use of the church. It was dedicated in 1756, and the following-named persons selected as church officers: Nicholas Bittinger, Frederick Gelwix, Philip Morn- ingstar, Jacob Schlegel (Slagle), Jacob Ber- lin, Jacob Lipp, Ludwig Miller, Henry Schlegel, Michael Weybrecht, and Thomas McCartney. Rev. Bager officiated until 1763, when he resigned, and for a time was pastor of a church in New York, and Christ's Luther- an Church at York. He returned again and lived in the vicinity, when he became enfee- bled and died. Karl Frederick Wildbahn, a parochial teacher, who had been engaged to teach in Winchester, Va., but was driven away on account of a raid made by the Indians on that settlement, came to Hanover and was licensed to preach by the special

request of the congregation. He remained from 1765 to 1782. The first date marks the passage of the Stamp Act, and the last the close of the Revolutionary war. Among the list of names above recorded as church officers we find several who were sol- diers of that war. When Rev. Wildbahn resigned, Nicholas Bittinger went to the synod, which met in Philadelphia. He was delegated to secure a pastor. Not succeed- ing, he was authorized by that body to read printed sermons from the pulpit, and, if necessary, to perform other ministerial duties.

Rev. Daniel Schroeder became pastor in 1784, of whom not much is known, and for the succeeding six years, the history is not very definite. There are records, however, of Rev. William Kurtz of Baltimore, and Rev. Jacob Goering of York, occasionally preaching. In 1790 Rev. F. Valentine Mels- heimer was called. At his first communion he reports 117 members. The congregation was still worshiping in the log building, which served them forty five years. The graveyard which surrounded this church is still enclosed. There are now no remains of this, the second church building, in which the congregation so long worshiped, except the outlines of the foundation. In the center of the graveyard, marked by a marble headstone, rest the re- mains of Rev. Bager. He died in 1791, aged sixty-six years. A few of the old tomb- stones are marble, but most of them sand- stone, with the inscriptions generally carved in the German language. The familiar names of Young (Jung), Welsh, Slagle, Schlentz, Karl, Metzger, Etzler, Aulebaugh, etc., are found on the tombs a hundred years old. In 1801 a new church was begun on the site of the present one in the town of Hanover. The lot was donated by Hon. Jacob Rudisill. Col. Henry Schlegel, George Carl and Henry Schultz were the building committee. It cost £1,992 16s. 2d. The spire, which still stands, was completed soon afterward at a cost of $1,300. The dedicatory services lasted three days, and took place in 1807. Rev. Melsheimer was a learned man, and much respected by the congregation, which he served twenty-five years. His remains lie in the church-yard adjoining the present building. His son, Rev. John F. Melsheimer, succeeded him, and continued twelve years. In 1827, when Rev. Jonathan Ruthrauff became pastor, En . glish preaching was introduced. The name of the church was changed to St. Matthew's, and a charter obtained.

Rev. Jacob Albert was elected in 1837. During his pastorate the church was re-

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BOROUGH OF HANOVER.

modeled and repaired. In 1848 Rev. Charles A. Hay, now of Gettysburg Theological Sem- inary, was called. He remained one year. The congregation was two years without a pastor, when Rev. D. P. Rosenmiller served six years. After his resignation Rev. M. J. Alleman was elected, in 1857. The most noteworthy event of his pastorate was the organization of St. Mark's Lutheran Church, in 1865, from the large membership of St. Matthew's. Rev. Alleman became the pas. tor of St. Mark's, and Rev. Samuel Yingling was called to St. Matthew's. The building was partially destroyed by fire, which broke out on Sunday morning during the regular services. The loss was about $1,000. Rev. J. C. Koller, the present efficient pastor, en- tered upon his work in 1877. The next year the old brick church, which had stood about seventy-five years, was torn down, all except the spire, and the present one built at a cost of about $20,000. It was dedicated in No- vember, 1879.

The present membership of the church is 800 communicants, the largest congregation in York County. The Sunday-school numbers 400 pupils and teachers. Since Rev. Mr. Koller has been pastor, 425 members have been added, and there has been a net gain during that time of 220 members. A par- sonage was built in 1884, at a cost of $3,500.

Emanuel's Reformed Church .- The Re- formed Church at Hanover, though not for- mally organized before 1775, dates its local origin from an earlier period, prior even to the founding of Hanover. As early as the 5th of May, 1747, the Reformed people of the vicinity partook of the holy sacrament at the hands of the pioneer missionary, Rev. Michael Schlatter, in a schoolhouse, situated where Christ's Church now stands, near Littlestown, Adams County.

The next place of worship was in a build- ing one mile northwest of Hanover. Here, conjointly with the Lutherans. they built a small church, where, at irregular intervals, they enjoyed the ministrations of Rev. Ja- cob Lischy, of York.

As soon as the Reformed people learned of Richard McAllister's intention of found- ing a town, they secured from him a plat of ground for a church, a parsonage, a school - house, and a grave-yard. Though the deed was not drawn and signed till April 13, 1771, the Reformed members, six or seven years previously, had taken steps toward the erec. tion of a church. A subscription list, amounting to £78, was secured in 1764-65. The list is headed with a subscription of £5

by Philip Meyer, followed by smaller sums from Abraham Hull, John Starck, Conrad Hoke, Conrad Starck, John Nicholas Forney, Philip Forney, Marks Forney, Richard McAllister, Adam Forney, Michael Carl, Ja- cob Slagle, Adam Eichelberger, Henry Sla- gle, Esq., George Zacharias, George Wine- brenner, Michael Newman, Peter Shultz, Henry Eckert, George Motter, Nicholas Fisher, Nicholas Newman, Conrad Felty, Henry Forney, Ludwig Schriver, etc., most of whom have living representatives in the present congregation.

The date when the log church was begun cannot be ascertained, but there are records which show that it was in an unfinished state in 1766, though occupied for purposes of worship. The bell was imported from Eu- rope at a cost of £62; Col. Richard McAllis- ter and two others contributing £3 each toward it.

For nine years there was no regular pas- tor. Rev. Jacob Lischy, founder of the church in North Codorus Township, took great interest in the new Hanover Church, and doubtless rendered occasional services. A baptism administered by him, in 1769, is on the church record. The first notice of the administration of the Lord's Supper is under date of 1770.

1775-81 .- April 28, 1775, the hitherto shepherdless flock secured a pastor, Rev. Carl Ludwig Boehme. Rev. Boehme, who was of foreign birth, had previous- ly served the Reformed Church at Lan- caster (1770-1775), from which place he was called to Hanover, where he remained till 1779, resigning to accept a call to Balti- more. It was under Pastor Boehme that the Reformed people at Hanover were formally organized by the election of a consistory -- David Newman, Christian Muehlheim, Phil- ip Meyer, as elders; Peter Winebrenner, Jacob Clay, and Abraham Hull, as deacons, were set apart to their respective offices, Oc- tober 29, 1775. In connection with the Hanover Church, Rev. Boehme supplied Christ's Church and the Abbottstown and Lower Bermudian congregations. A school- house built of logs, adjoined the parsonage and church. It is yet standing, being one of the oldest buildings in Hanover. The fact that fifty-eight persons were confirmed by the first pastor, during a ministry of less than four years, is an evidence of his ear- nestness and zeal, and of the youthful vigor of the Hanover congregation.

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History of York County, Pennsylvania : from the earliest period to the present time, divided into general, special, township and borough histories, with a biographical department appended, Part 114

Author: Gibson, John, Editor Publication date: 1886 Publisher: F.A. Battey Publishing Co., Chicago Number of Pages: 1104

Author: Gibson, John, Editor
Publication date: 1886
Publisher: F.A. Battey Publishing Co., Chicago
Number of Pages: 1104