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 125

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 125

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Jesse Wickersham taught school in this building about the year 1812. At a much later date Joseph Wickersham, now a prom- inent citizen of Newberry Township, was a popular teacher of this school.

THE BALL HILLS.

In the southwestern portion of Newberry Township is a section long since known as the "Ball Hills" or "Bald Hills." Most of the land is a pure red shale. The "red rock" protrudes to the surface, making some of the hills "bald" or devoid of vegetation. The summits of them are the shape of a "ball" so either name may apply. Mr. Ashenfelter, a dozen or more years ago, introduced the culti- vation off small fruits in this section, which has since proven to be a productive industry. Besides the immense amount of strawberries raised, large quantities of grapes and peaches are also grown by many farmers.

In this section there are two churches, one owned by the Church of God, and the other by the Lutherans and Evangelical Associa- tion.

YORK HAVEN.

This village, located at the foot of the Conewago Rapids of the Susquehanna, and in the extreme southeastern part of Newberry Township, was for more than a third of a cen - tury, one of the most important business cen- ters in southern Pennsylvania. The history of the Conewago Canal once located here is given in the chapter on "Public Internal Im- provements," page 331. The interests of this place were first managed by the Conewa- go Canal Company, composed of intelligent and wealthy men, mostly from the city of Philadelphia. On November 20, 1810, Thomas Willing Francis, of Philadelphia, who then represented and managed the com- pany, whose interests consisted of a large merchant-mill, nail factory, ferry and land all assessed at $40,000, transferred all right and title to John Weatherburn, Thomas Wil

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HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY.

son and Joseph Townsend, of Baltimore, rep- resenting a number of merchants of that city, who, on September 24th, of the same year, formed a company for the purchase of this property. The names of these gentlemen were as follows: William Cole, William Wilson & Sons, William Gwynn, Joseph Townsend, Hackman & Hoppe, Isaac Burn- ston, Thomas Hillen, John Weatherburn, Dennis A. Smith, Jacob Stansbury, William McMechen, George Repold, James Nelson, John Davis and Joshua Stevenson. They were prominent and influential citizens of Baltimore, and associated themselves together for the purpose of purchasing wheat of this section, and the large quantity that was then floated down the Susquehanna in flat-boats, and manufacturing it into flour in the large merchant-mill already erected, and others which the company designed to build. This new company was formed with a capital of $100,000, divided into twenty-five shares of $4,000. Thomas W. Francis who disposed of the property for the Philadelphia com- pany, retained an interest in the new enter- prise to the amount of four shares, or $16,000. Joseph Townsend became manager for the Baltimore company; Joseph Weatherburn and John Wilson, trustees. The land pur- chased at this time was a tract of 151 acres, a tract of 643 acres called "Hopewell," and another tract of 12 acres, projecting into the river called "Cape Francis." The first two tracts were conveyed to Thomas W. Francis, in 1801, by Charles Willing Hare, a lawyer, of the city of Philadelphia. The conveyance, in 1810, granted to the new company all the "ways, woods, water-courses, water, mill-works, rights, liberties, privileges, hereditaments and appurtenances." The contract signed, sealed and delivered in the presence of Elisha Powell and John Amy, before Willigin Tillingham, chief justice of the State of Pennsylvania. The interest at once began to loom up. Three new mills were built, one having a capacity of 150 barrels of flour a day ; for that time this mill had the largest capacity of any in the State. Cooper shops, hotels and private residences were soon built.

The Town of York Haven was laid out in 1814, when a neatly designed plan was pre- pared under the direction of the "York Haven Company." There were two sections: the "upper town" was located on the hill to the west of the present site of the railroad, and the "lower town" was down by the canal. The lots were thirty feet wide and 130 feet deep. Several hundred of them were laid off. This being before the era of railroads, river navigation was the subject of great

public interest, and it was expected that York Haven would become an important town, and great business center. The names of streets parallel with the river were Canal, Baltimore, Hillen, Stansbury, Wilson, Town- send, Weatherburn, Cole, and Gwynn, after members of the company. The alleys were named after the creeks flowing into the Sus- quehanna. The cross streets were numbered from first to seventh in order. The plan in- cluded a large public square. On the print- ed deeds of the town lots the name David Cassat, of York, appears as attorney for the company. On each of the deeds the com- pany's seal was beautifully stamped, which was circular in form, with the representation of a canal and lock, and an overhanging wil- low tree. The words "York Haven Com- pany" surrounded these. Such was the "paper city" of York Haven, which, if it had not been for the invention of railroads and construction of canals, might have become an important city.

Business Industry and other Facts. - There was considerable business enterprise at York Haven for many years. Some of the business men at different times were the fol- lowing: Charles M. Poor, who for a time managed the company's store and the large hotel. Samuel Inloes kept a dry goods store and had two or three large cooper shops to make flour barrels, and employed twenty or more workmen, he also owned a distillery. Charles Bishop, Jesse McConkey, owned hardware stores, and the last-named at one time kept a large hotel. A Quaker named Rummel owned a nail factory. It was run by water-power. He employed a number of workmen. John T. Ubil who was manager of the company for a time, was a "slave catcher." He afterward moved to Pottsville, became very poor, and turned out a teamster. There were two large saw-mills built on leased lands. One was owned by Andrew Lightner and the other by Elijah Webb; Henry Small, father of David E. Small, of York, bought the first-named mill. Lewis Harlan managed the cooper shops belonging to the company. Keel-boats with immense quantities of wheat came down the Susque- hanna; these were run in the canal and un- loaded near the mills. Some of these boats carried 1,000 bushels of grain. Wagoning to Baltimore, to haul the flour to market, be- came an important business. In 1820 80 cents a barrel was paid to haul it to Baltimore. Thirty or forty teams were present at one time. The horses had bells and the turnpike 'was alive with interest when these teams started off on their journey. The turnpike

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was completed to York Haven in 1812, and the large bridge over the Conewago Creek was built below York Haven the same year, by A. Miller. It was taken away by the flood of 1817, and rebuilt soon after by H. Slaymaker. The "ferry and tavern house" was kept by Philip Etter for many years, to March, 1816, when Peter Veal became the lessee. Christian Fensel was for a long time postmaster. The "Canal Road" to Abbotts- town was opened about 1814. The large, fine building owned by the company, for many years known as "Waters' Hotel," was a very creditable building. During the summer season there were many city boarders at it.

General LaFayette, when on his way to Harrisburg, in January, 1825, stopped here for a short time. Joseph Major, an intelli- gent gentleman, now living near this place, remembers seeing him come out on the balcony of the hotel. In 1834 Gen. Lewis Cass, while being taken across the Susque- hanna, below the falls, was caught in a dense fog and his ferryman got lost in the stream. They wandered around in the stream for hours, and were finally saved during the night by some people who lived at Eib's Landing. He was then secretary of war under Andrew Jackson, and when he got back to York Haven again, made himself known, He was on his way to visit Simon Cameron.

The old time fairs were held here, and ac- cording to the stories of old people, they were days of great hilarity. The love of gain- bling became a mania, especially at the "big hotel," but Rev. John Fohl, an earnest evan- gelist of the United Brethren Church, quelled it in part by starting an enthusiastic revival in the ball room of the hotel. The whole community was aroused. Friday, December 15, 1815, John, a thirteen year old son of Joseph Sturges, of Baltimore, while riding along the canal at York Haven, fell with his horse down the embankment and both were drowned.

The business interests at York Haven, after the completion of the canal along the river, gradually declined, and when the railroads were built it entirely ceased. Thomas C. Hambley, of York, was manager of the estate which finally passed into the hands of the Glenns, of Baltimore, who in the spring of 1885, sold it to the Conewingo Paper Com- pany.

THE LARGE MILL BURNED.

At 10 o'clock on the night of August 16, 1826, the large mill which was built about ten years before was destroyed by fire. Its origi- nal cost was $40,000, and when burned con-

tained 1,200 bushels of wheat and considera- ble flour. The total loss was $50,000. Says a newspaper of the day, "It was one of the very largest mills in Pennsylvania, and was capa- ble of manufacturing 150 barrels of flour a. day." The mills did not run the entire year, and at the time of the fire, this one was not going. Mr. Hyson, then the manager, was at his home in Baltimore. The flames broke through the roof, before it was seen in any other part of the mill. No fire was used in the mill that day, hence many thought it was the work of an incendiary. Yet there always was a mystery about this fire. A mill owned by the same company located at Port Deposit, Md., burned on the same night; both were insured. Daniel Jackson, the good- natured mulatto watchman did not stay at York Haven after this event. "But I'll tell you, boss, it was a big fire," is all he could say about it. This mill had six pairs of buhrs. It was never rebuilt.

A TERRIBLE TRAGEDY.

The fifth story of the large hotel was an immense ball and card playing room. On the night of September 12, 1819, Thomas Frelich, of Washington, D. C., killed Bar- ney Hand, an Irishman. For nearly half a century afterward the blood-stained marks on the floor were shown to the visitor. They were playing at cards, and the stakes were heavy. A large crowd of lookers-on were breathlessly awaiting the result. Hand be- came enraged, seized the stakes and cards, threw them to the far end of the room, and kicked over the table. The excited crowd. rushed down stairs, the lights were put out, and the two men engaged in a deadly strug- gle. In the center of the room was left a pool of blood. Frelich had gotten the bet- ter of Hand and threw him out of the win- dow, and his mangled body was found in a ditch near the house. In the meantime, the. victor went down stairs, washed his hands, asked for his own horse, and drove away un- molested. He was afterward captured and. brought back to York, tried for man-slaugh- ter, but acquitted. And, "as certain as York Haven was once a prosperous place, and we hope will be again, that house was always haunted after that event," says an old resi- dent.

THE YORK HAVEN PAPER MILLS.

The history of these mills, destined to be one of the most important manufacturing en- terprises in York County, has just begun. The site of the flouring-mills and the right of,

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HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY.

water-power, was purchased from the Glenn estate for $30,000 during the spring of this year (1885). About 200 men, for months, have been constantly employed, opening and widening the canal. The water-power, when completed, will be 3,000 horse-power. The fall of water in canal one mile in length, is twenty-nine feet. Extensive mills will be erected here during the present year at a cost of $400,000. When these are com- pleted the town of York Haven will again become a prominent business center.

York Haven Quarries, of pure dolerite, are owned by the Northern Central Railway Com- pany, and were worked by that company for many years, to obtain building stones for bridge piers and public buildings. A vein of this stone crosses Newberry, Warrington, and northern part of Washington Townships, into Adams County, and fine quarries are worked near Gettysburg. F. T. Scott & Co., of York, leased the York Haven quarries in 1882. The following year the firm received a contract to furnish this valuable stone for a decorative wall around the Capitol at Washington, and another order was received for a similar purpose in 1884.

The piers of the new railroad bridge at Harrisburg were built of the York Haven granite. About thirty men are regularly employed at these quarries.

THE TOWNSHIP OF FAIRVIEW.

[THE name first designated by the petition- ers for the formation of this township out of Newberry was "Franklin." The town- ship now bearing that name had not then been formed. The viewers in crossing the ridge dividing the Fishing Creek Valley from the Redland Valley, with delight and admiration began to "view the landscape o'er." The fertile valleys mostly within the limits of the proposed new township, and the broad ex- panse of Cumberland, Dauphin and Lancas- ter Counties were presented within the ex- tended horizon that bounded their field of vision. The name "Fairview" was then suggested as more appropriate. It was accepted and so confirmed by the court.

The original settlers here were English and English Quakers, who commenced to locate in the township as early as 1730; by the year 1735 the most valuable lands were occupied. The English language has always been used by citizens of this township.

TOPOGRAPHY.

The shape of this township is very irreg- ular. The southern boundary is an artificial line nearly in the form of a bow, separating it from Newberry. The remainder of the boundary is natural, with the Stony Run separating it on the southwest from Warring- ton, forming a winding line of about four miles. A portion of the western division is a small stream which divides it from Mon- aghan, a distance of four and one half miles, and empties into the Yellow Breeches, whose remarkably winding current washes the re- mainder of its western and northwestern boundary and separates Fairview from Cum- berland County. The river, here over one mile wide, for a distance of six miles passes along the north and northeast, separating it from Dauphin County.

A ridge of bills crosses the center of the township, and, extending in almost a due north and south direction, illustrates a singu- lar geological feature. It is the only ex- ample in the county of a ridge extending in that direction. The local name given is the "Pinch Mountain," a name, if it ever was appropriate, is not very poetical and not especially noted for its beauty of sound. It was named by early settlers as the "Free Mountain," from the fact that the original occupants of the land along its slopes were squatters, occupying the land for a consider- able time without legal titles.

The "River Mountain," a ridge of wooded hills, containing much valuable timber, ex- tends from the Middletown Ferry, skirting almost the entire northeastern boundary. The Northern Central Railway passes along here on the north side of them. One of the characteristic geological features is the abundance of huge bowlders of basaltic rocks. A part of the extreme eastern section is of trap formation. The large crevices in the rocks yet afford a convenient lurking place for the fox, and the large hollow trees for the raccoon and opossum. The wolf once had his haunts in these forests and much later wild turkeys in the thickets. The township is drained by the Yellow Breeches Creek, Miller's Run, Bennett's Run, Fishing Creek and other smaller tributaries of the Susque- hanna. The soil is generally very fertile and productive, growing all the cereals com- mon to this latitude with equal success. The northwestern or Marsh Creek section is the lower end of the rich limestone region, which extends into Fairview from Cumberland County. The Fishing Creek and Redland Valleys are of mostly red sandstone forma- tion, frequently passing into the red shale

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soil. These valleys are in a high state of cultivation, as is the alluvial soil along the Yellow Breeches Creek.

BOUNDARY DIFFICULTIES.

Much of the land now embraced in Fair- view was part of Pennsborough Township which was laid out pursuant to an act of the Provincial Assembly in 1739, and then in- cluded nearly the whole of the present limits of Cumberland County. When first formed it was a portion of Lancaster County. York County, when separated from Lancaster Coun- ty in 1749, had no definitely established northern boundary. Many disputes arose, and these were attempted to be settled by commissioners from York and Cumberland Counties. They met along Yellow Breeches Creek. This occurred in 1751, one year after the formation of Cumberland from Lan- caster County. The Cumberland County commissioners claimed the original boun- dary line which was from a point oppo- site the Swatara Creek through the Fishing Creek Valley, nearly in the same direction of the present dividing line between Fair- view and Newberry. The dispute was final- ly decided by a special act of the Provincial Assembly in 1751, which made the Yellow Breeches Creek the boundary between the counties, and placed the whole of the pres- ent territory of Fairview in York County and annexed it to Newberry Township, of which it remained a part until 1803.

THE TOWNSHIP FORMED.

In the years 1801 and 1802 several peti- tions, signed by a large number of citizens, were presented to the court at York, asking for the formation of a new township out of " the upper end of Newberry," stating fur- ther that "said township was too large for the convenience of the inhabitants."

The court appointed on the third Monday of November, 1802, as viewers : John Heck- ert, John Forsythe, Valentine Emig, Col. Henry Reisinger, Rudolph Spangler, Esq., and Peter Hoke, Sr. The surveyor's draft, made by Gen. Jacob Spangler, represents the dividing line to begin "opposite the mouth of the Swatara at Joseph Glancy's fer- ry, through lands of John Nicholas (now Silas Prowell's), nearly in a direct course to Lewis- berry; thence in a southwesterly direction to Leeche's Fording on Stony Run. The report of these viewers was confirmed at February term of the court of quarter session in the year 1803.

The following significant paragraph was

published in the columns of many papers a year ago:

Fairview, one of the most flourishing townships in York County, is peculiar in many respects. There is not a postoffice or a hotel within its borders. It has one distillery, but persons who wish to imbibe spirituous liquors must go to some other place to be accommodated. It has thirteen school districts, and eight churches belonging to various religious denominations, but no preachers, and no physicians who reside in the township. The justices of the peace and constables have not enough business to keep a record, and are compelled to make a living at some other business. It is very seldom the sheriff has any official business in Fairview, except it is to make an appraisement in the settlement of an estate. It is pronounced the "Eden" of York County.

In 1884 the township had 631 taxable inhabitants, with a property valuation of $1,045,381. Population, 1880, was 2,164; State tax, $267; county tax, $3,651. There are postoffices around its borders at New Cumberland, Lisburn, Lewisberry, Yocum- town and Goldsboro. The business interests of this township largely center at Harrisburg, being near that city.

THE VILLAGE OF NEW MARKET.

The land along the Susquehanna from New Cumberland down to the Haldeman farm, was first owned by John Harris, father of the founder of Harrisburg. He was an Indian trader, and at the mouth of the Yellow Breeches was a considerable Indian village, when the first settlements were made. David Priest settled in the vicinity in 1737. Dr. Benjamin Mosser located in the vicinity, coming from Lancaster County about 1775, and became a prominent physician of the neighborhood. This section was then densely populated. He had three sons-John, who also became a physician, and died in 1826; Christian and Henry. Each of these sons in- herited a farm, one of which is now owned by H. R. Mosser, a descendant, another by Dr. E. H. Coover, and the third by Martin Kauff- man.

The second son, Henry Mosser, and Will- iam Culbertson, in 1807 laid out the village of New Market in 120 lots. Isaac Kirk made the survey. William Culbertson died July 8, 1824. In 1840, the town had 170 inhabitants; twenty-five dwellings and one store. The York & Harrisburg Turn- pike, tlien much used, passed through it, over which line the Northern Central Rail-

way now extends. Washington Kirk for many years owned a store. A considerable business has been done by various parties since. The Pennsylvania Steel Works are located on the opposite side of the river. Within the past few years a number of the

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HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY.

employes of those works reside in New Mar- ket, which has caused a considerable increase to its population, now numbering nearly 400.

A Lutheran Church was built within the village in 1858. The pastor was Cyrus Write- myer, and trustees H. Mosser, John Row, John Horn and Jacob Grissinger. There are two schools, which are graded. A short distance up the creek is Hake's Distillery, at which a large business is done. Eichinger's distillery in the "Marsh" was a considerable industry. A fine farm near by, now owned by Owen James, was deeded to his grandfather by same name in 1774. The name of its owner has never since changed. The Susquehanna Mills near by were built in 1785.

Jacob Haldeman, Sr., started a forge at the mouth of the Yellow Breeches in 1806, and used up a large amount of timber from York County. He laid out the town of New Cumberland in 1814. Much of what is now fertile land below New Market, was at one time a swamp, with the Marsh Run passing through it. Farther down is a small stream called Rattling Run, named after "Jim Rattler," a colored man, who had a cabin along it many years ago.

GEN. MICHAEL SIMPSON.

Gen. Simpson was a son of Thomas Simpson, an early Scotch-Irish settler, at Paxtang, below Harrisburg, in 1720. Mi- chael was born in 1740. When the Indian forays, following the defeat of Gen. Brad-

| dock, below Pittsburgh, in 1755, occurred, although yet very young, he became an ensign to a company that marched to the frontier with Gen. Forbes' expedition. In 1775, he became lieutenant in Capt. Mat- thew Smith's company, which marched to Boston, and there soon after joined Gen. Arnold's expedition against Quebec, on that dreary march through the forests of Maine to Canada. After returning, he was made a first lieutenant under Gen. Hand, of the First Pennsylvania Line, and commanded the com- pany at the battle of Long Island. De- cember 1, 1776, he was commissioned cap- tain, and afterward showed great bravery as a commander in the battles of Princeton, Brandywine, Trenton, Germantown and White Plains. He served in the American army six years, during the Revolution. In 1784, soon after the death of William Ches- ney, who also was a patriot of the Revolu- tion, he purchased of the heirs of Chesney, the farm and ferry rights across the Susque- hanna, below New Market, and now known as the Haldeman property, and in 1797 was appointed a justice of the peace, under the

constitution of 1790. He was a man of dig- nified bearing, and somewhat haughty in spirit. He won local distinction as a briga dier-general of the militia of York County, and was highly esteemed as a commander. He built an elegant stone mansion on his farm, and in 1794 had the honor of enter- taining President Washington in it, when on his return from the Whisky Insurrection.

He died on his farm, June 1, 1813. His property was valued at $12,900, a consider- able sum for those days. Jacob Haldeman lived on this farm for a number of years. During the civil war be was appointed as minister to Norway and Sweden, by Presi- dent Lincoln.

His large mansion, that cost several thous and dollars, was burned a few years ago.

A VISIT OF GEORGE WASHINGTON.

In the afternoon of October 3, 1794, Presi- dent Washington, accompanied by a portion of his cabinet, arrived in Harrisburg on his way to quell the Whisky Insurrection in the western part of Pennsylvania. In the even- ing he was presented with the address of the burgesses, and to which he replied the next morning. On the 4th he went to Carlisle, and reviewed the troops there. He passed on through Shippensburg and Hagerstown, Md. At Fort Cumberland he reviewed the Virginia and Maryland troops, arrived at Bedford, Penn .. and remained until October

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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 125

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