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 126

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 126

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21. By that time the trouble had ended without bloodshed, and he returned. Coming down the Cumberland Valley, he remained over night, October 24, at Shippensburg, and on the night of the 25th, which was Saturday, he was the guest of Gen. Michael Simpson, who then owned what is now known as the Haldeman property. This place was chronologically known in 'early days as Chambers', Chesney's, and Simpson's ferry property, and was on the route of much travel from Philadelphia and Lancaster to Carlisle and points south and west. Whether Washington spent a quiet Sunday there, can- not be definitely stated. It is very probable that he did, as he arrived in Philadelphia on the following Tuesday afternoon. There is no record that he spent Sunday at any inter- vening point between the ferry and Philadel- phia, which was then the capital of the United States.

CHURCHES.

Salem Church .- This church, familiarly known to the community as the "Stone Church," stands near the center of Fishing Creek Valley. It was originally erected as

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FAIRVIEW TOWNSHIP.

a Union Church, but is used almost exclus- ively by the denomination of United Breth- ren in Christ. The doctrines of this sect were first preached in the valley by Rev. John Fohl, who was then stationed at the village of Shiremanstown, Cumberland Coun- ty. David Fisher, Sr., who recently died, and others, having made the acquaintance of Rev. Fohl, invited him to visit Fishing Creek Valley in 1842. Fulfilling their request he be- gan a protracted meeting in the schoolhouse, which was located one-half mile above the present site of the church. The result of his labors being successful, he effected an organization. The congregation continued to worship in the school for a number of years.

At a meeting of the quarterly conference held in this valley April 22, 1844, John S. Prowell, Henry B. Kauffman and Jacob Miller were appointed trustees of the congregation already formed. Mr. Prowell who has served in that capacity forty-one years is still a trustee.

On the 4th of October, 1852, the trustees purchased of David Fisher oue-half acre of land as a church lot and graveyard. The survey was made by Jacob Kirk, Esq.

A convenient stone church was built at a cost of $1,000. Much of the hauling and work was done gratuitously by the people of the vicinity.

Rev. J. O. Smith, now of York, Rev. Kessler, Bishop John Dickson and Rev. Daniel Eberly were some of the more promi- nent pastors who have ministered to this congregation. Rev. Wagner for the past few years has officiated. A few years ago the building was much improved, being re- painted, calcimined, and received a new roof. New seats and an organ were also purchased.

The present trustees are John S. Prowell, James L. Reed, John W. Prowell, David Kauffman and David M. Fisher. A Sunday- school regularly meets in the church.

Mount Olivet Church, known as the "Marsh Church," is located near New Market.

Shortly after the Revolutionary war, land was obtained here from one of the Mosser farms, on which was built a union meeting house and schoolhouse. No services were to be held "during candle light."

The oldest citizens remember School- masters Couples and Allison who reigned supreme in this building as early as 1820. Abraham Hursh taught in 1832 and Jacob Ketterman in 1835, first under the common school system.

This historic old building, after being used three-fourths of a century, was torn down in 1860.

That year Rev. J. Dickson, now one of the bishops of the United Brethren in Christ, increased the membership of the congrega- tion here by a series of revival meetings. In the language of the venerable clergyman, "to hold the ground a church was needed," as the old schoolhouse had become dilapi- dated. The historic old graveyard adjoin- ing it, was the burying place for the inhabit- ants of the surrounding neighborhood, hence others besides members of the United Breth- ren Church contributed liberally, and the present brick church was built in 1860, at a cost of $1,600. The building committee were A. B. Hursh, Francis Hollar and Rev. Dick- son. It was dedicated the same year by Bishop Glossbrenner; Rev. D. Eberly, J. C. Smith, J. X. Quigley, B. G. Huber, J. Snoke, S. Proffit and Thomas Garland, were some of the succeeding pastors.

The Sunday-school was superintended by J. S. McDanel for twelve years; he was fol- lowed by David Strine, Dr. J. W. Roop and H. T. Miller.

Mount Olivet Cemetery adjoining the church is a tract of about four acres of land. It was laid out in 1870. The first directors were H. R. Mosser, John Miller, Owen James, Dr. A. W. Nichols, Allen Ross, Dr. George R. Hursh, Elias Hake, Washington Master and Jacob Carpenter.

Mount Zion Lutheran Church .- Religious services were first held in a schoolhouse, about one and a half miles from Mount Zion Church, in Fairview Township. As the mem- bership increased the schoolhouse became too small, and the people felt the need of a larger building. One acre of ground was bought. A building committee composed of J. Pledger, J. Neff and A. Zinn, was chosen. The corner-stone was laid April 17, 1858, by Rev. C. F. Staver, of Mechanicsburg, and was dedicated in the fall of the same year. In 1873 some repairing was done, and it was rededicated December 7, by Rev. S. E. Herring. The following ministers preached in this church : Revs. Staver, Groft, S. Dasher, N. B. Winten, A. N. Warner, J. E. Honeycutt, S. E. Herring, G. D. Gross, C. B. King, and A. B. Erhard. Its officers are Messrs. Hoover and Shetrone, elders ; Bent- zel, Neigly, Herring and Hart, deacons. The Sunday-school is kept up only during the summer season ; superintendent, Mr. Kunkle; assistant superintendent, Mr. Bentz. The membership of this congregation is not so large, it having been without a pastor for some time, but it is at the present in a pros- perous condition.

Emanuel's Church of the Evangelcial As-

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HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY.

sociation .- This church is located near the borough of Lewisberry. Its organization dates back as far as 1850. Services were first held in the Pinetown schoolhouse, in the vicinity. In 1871, under the pastorate of Rev. H. A. Dietrich, the present church was built at a cost of $1,200. Rev. Dietrich, John Kline and William Downs formed the building committee. The first trustees were J. Parks, William Bushey and George Seitz. The dedicatory services took place in Janu- ary, 1872. The officiating clergymen were Revs. H. B. Hartzler, U. F. Swengel and H. A. Dietrich. The pastors who have preached regularly in this church since its erection were Revs. H. A. Dietrich, A. W. Kreamer, J. A. Irvine, E. Swengel, S. E. Davis, B. F. Anthony and L. Dice. The present mem- bership is thirty ; number of Sunday-school pupils thirty-five.

Friends' Meeting House .- On the farm of William Maulsby near the upper end of Fairview was located a Quaker Meeting House. For the particulars of it, the reader's attention is directed to the article on "The Friends" in this work, page 278.

INSURANCE.

Fairview Mutual Fire Insurance Com- pany .- This company was organized, about six years ago, as a local co-operative associa- tion for mutual protection against fire. The following is a list of the names of the board of managers : Henry Atticks, president ; D. Smith, secretary ; John S. Prowell, treas- urer ; Andrew Sipe, John Eichinger, and John T. Zinn. The company has been re- markably fortunate since its existence, having had only one or two small losses to pay.

HISTORICAL FACTS AND INCIDENTS.

There were quite a number of Revolution- ary soldiers from Fairview Township, some who lived to old age; among them were Gen. Michael Simpson, Jacob Greenawalt (a farmer, a large man), who lived as late as 1827; William Sharp, J. Enfield. William Smith lived to 1820, or later. He served in the Second Regiment of the Pennsylvania Line, under Capt. Watson, from February 16, 1776, one year, and accompanied Michael Simpson on Gen. - Arnold's expedition to Canada. He afterward enlisted in the Fourth Pennsylvania Regiment. In 1818, he became a pensioner. A man known as "Red Jacket" Miller was also a soldier who lived to an old age.

The following discharge of one of Fair- view's soldiers is in the possession of Josiah McDanel:

This is to certify that William Hagerty, formerly a soldier of the Fifth Pennsylvania Regiment and in Capt. James Parr's company, was discharged from the service while the army lay at Valley Forge, his term of enlistment having expired. Given under my hand, April 19, 1782.

JAMES CHAMBERS, Col.

The document is endorsed as follows:

William Hagerty is not to be molested by any party. as it appears he is discharged from the service.

WILLIAM BUTLER,

Lieut. Col. Fourth Penn. Regiment,

Commanding at Carlisle. CARLISLE, April 26, 1782.

During the war of 1812 Jesse Pearson, who lived a few miles north of Lewisberry, deserted from the military service, and came home. He was followed by soldiers dressed in Quaker suits, but avoided being captured by concealing himself underneath the floor of a building. Several times a sword was passed up and down along the cracks between the boards; as he was lying along the length of a board, he escaped uninjured, and was never found by the soldiers, even though they were led to believe he was in the build- ing. Col. John Steele, who lived in Fishing Creek Valley, was a soldier on the Niagara frontier in 1812. In old age he moved to the West.

James McDanel was in Capt. White's company that rendezvoused at Gettysburg in 1814. He was afterward a captain of mili- tia of Fairview for fourteen years, commis- sioned by Gov. Shulze in 1827. His father, Josiah McDanel, settled in Fairview in 1766, coming from Scotland. He was married, April 14, 1774, to Margaret Hunter, sister of Gen. Hunter, of the Revolutionary army. Philip Fetrow was drafted in 1812. Joseph McAfee went as his substitute. James McAfee, son of Joseph, enlisted in 1812, and came home without leave, and was searched for by soldiers dressed in Quaker suits.

Samuel Fisher, now over eighty years of age, remembers when the "River Mountains " were infested with wolves, and when wild turkeys and foxes were plentiful. There is still a sufficient number of foxes.

" Robber" Lewis, noted in Cumberland, Perry and Juniata Counties, frequently vis- ited the mountains of Fairview Township, and resorted at a place since known as "Lewis' field." He was accustomed to rob the rich and give to the poor. In 1825 he es- caped from Chambersburg jail. He had a wonderful career.

"In September, 1796," says the Harrisburg Oracle, published then, "several hundred squirrels per day crossed the Susquehanna from the Cumberland and York County side.

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FAIRVIEW TOWNSHIP.

Some of the inhabitants were enabled to catch them as they swam the stream, and salt barrels of them for winter use."

In 1803 the yellow fever raged in the vicinity of Lisburn and Lewisberry. It was an epidemic in Philadelphia that year.

The voting place of Fairview is called " The Bunches." A tavern was once kept there by a man who was deformed. He had a "bunch " on his back-hence the origin of the name.

PINETOWN.

Pinetown is the name of a small collection of houses in the northwestern part of town- ship. In this vicinity a considerable business is done in the cultivation of fruits and ber- ries, which are sold in the Harrisburg market.

THE INDIANS.

At the mouths of the Conodoguinet, Paxton and Yellow Breeches Creeks, in 1719, there were Indian villages, when John Harris located on the site of the present city of Harrisburg, who secured a charter for a ferry across the Susquehanna, and became an Indian trader. He after- ward purchased the alluvial lands along the river at New Cumberland and in Fairview Township immediately below the mouth of the Yellow Breeches. His son, John Harris, founder of Harrisburg, born in 1727, was "the first white child born in Pennsylvania west of the Conewago Hills who attained the age of manhood." John Harris, the father, once narrowly escaped being tortured to death by a squad of Shawanese Indians who came up the river, stopped at his stone man- sion and demanded rum. This being refused the Indians tied him to a mulberry tree and were about to torture him when he was mi- raculously rescued by some friendly Paxton Indians, who were his neighbors. Under that mulberry tree the remains of Harris were interred at the time of his death many years later. The place is still marked by a tombstone surrounded by a fence.

The visit of the celebrated preacher, George Whitfield, in 1740, to Harris' Ferry, was a noted event to the early settlers. For many miles in every direction they collected along the banks of the river to hear him preach.

In 1742 twenty-one Onondago and seven Oneida Indians obtained a pass of the au- thorities of Lancaster County, to pass across it (now western part of York County), on an expedition against the Tallapoosa Indians in Virginia. The noted Half-King, Monoa- tootha, died at Harris' Ferry October 4, 1754,

while there on a visit. His home was at Loggstown, fourteen miles below Pittsburgh. It was believed by his twenty Indian heroes who accompanied him, that the French had be- witched him, and they obtained a conjurer to ascertain the cause of his sickness. His re- mains were interred by John Harris. This was the same Indian chieftain that Washing- ton visited in 1753 in order to obtain par- ticulars of Fort Du Quesne.

During the French and Indian war in America there was great fear and disturb- ance along the Susquehanna, and, in fact, in all of York County, of the hostile Indians who were committing depredations in Cum- berland County and up the river. The white settlers of tliose sections flocked into the secluded places and thick settlements of York and Lancaster Counties, and some went farther east. January 8, 1756, a council with the friendly Indians was held at the mouth of Yellow Breeches. Conrad Weiser, the great Indian interpreter was present.

In 1757 many depredations were com. mitted by Indians in Dauphin, Lebanon and Cumberland Counties, and it was contem- plated to massacre the people in Paxton Church, two and one-half miles below Har- risburg, during time of service. The people discovered the plot and went to church armed afterward for many months. April 1, 1757, to avert further trouble, a conference was held with the Six Nations and their al- lies, nine tribes in all, on the banks of the river below Harrisburg. There was an In- dian trail observable to a late date, extending from the mouth of Fishing Creek at Golds- boro up through the valley to the mouth of the Yellow Breeches Creek at New Cumber- land. It was a famous pathway for the Conoy and Shawanese Indians. Indian relics have been found at various places in Fairview.

PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

Fairview Township was one of the seven districts of York County that at once ac- cepted the provisions of the act of 1834, establishing the common school system. Samuel Prowell, who was sent as the delegate to represent the township in the first conven- tion which met in York to take action in the matter, cast the first affirmative vote of that body. There were but six other delegates voted in favor of accepting the system. This occurred in May, 1835.

There are now fourteen schools, with the following names: Walnut Grove, Prowell's Cross Roads, Marsh Run, Oak Grove, Hick- ory Grove, Cedar Grove, Brick, Navoo, South

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HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY.

Point, Locust Grove, Pinetown, and at New Market two-a primary and grammar school.

For 1885 the school board was composed of the following-named members: John G. Brenneman, president; D. M. Fisher, sec- retary; Wendell Rehm, treasurer; Samuel B. Hoff, Abraham Reiff, Martin Kauffman.

A PAUSE.

In one of the fertile valleys of Fairview which, in springtime and summer, is con- tinually clothed in rich verdure, in autumn in radiant beauty, and in winter in still sombre hues, each of which furnish special charms to the writer, was spent the time of earliest hopes and purest joys. Near the rippling waters of a pure mountain stream, a tributary to the Fishing Creek, stood the familiar "old schoolhouse," within whose sacred portals and around it, 'neath the spreading branches of the giant maples, walnuts and oaks, in innocent study and rollicking play, the early school days were spent. The reign of the Yankee schoolmaster with his profound knowledge of the three "R's " -- "Reading, 'Riting, 'Rithmetic," had not ended when those days began. It is yet remembered how well he taught his pupils to pronounce big words, and to "mind the pauses," to write a "large round. hand," and to " ci- pher the Single Rule of Three." To him, Cobb's and Comley's Spellers, and Walker's Dictionary, were next to the Bible in import- ance, and the pupil who did not con them well, would have little time to "slide down hill" on the snow, or play "town ball" during the noon hour. He had many virtues worthy of admiration. His faculty of talk- ing history to the boys on "rainy days," in- stilled many useful facts in the minds of his pupils. On a hilltop a few hundred yards south stood, many years before the time above designated, one of the first school- houses in the county. No vestiges of it are left, and nothing to indicate the spot where it stood, save the color of the soil, and the taller grain, or grass, that marks it in summer time. The farm of which the site forms a part, and where the writer spent his early days, was taken up under a title issued by the Penns, to George Hall, in 1732, and has since been owned successively by John Nicholas, Joseph Prowell, Samuel N. Pro- well, and Silas Prowell.

While some may sing in raptures of the beautiful Hudson, chant the praises of the "Blue Juniata," wander in silent admira- tion along the mirrored waters of the peace- ful Mohawk, or weave fanciful stories of fairies and angel-loiterers among a thousand

"Sleepy Hollows," the recollection of the scenes of one's own childhood are more en- dearing than them all. Here,

Smiling Spring her early visit paid, And parting Summer's lingering bloom delayed.

THE TOWNSHIP OF MONAGHAN .*

T THE township of Monaghan is bounded on the north by Cumberland County, on the east by Fairview, on the south by Warring- ton, and on the west by Carroll. Its greatest length is five miles, and greatest breadth four and one-half miles. The surface is undulat- ing. There is a rich deposit of magnetic ore in the northwest corner of the township, and outcropping of micacious and magnetic ores at other points. Monaghan formerly com- prised its present territory, Carroll and Franklin Townships. It was organized in 1745, and received its name from a county in the northern part of Ireland. The early set- tlers were the English and Scotch Irish. Later came the Germans. Among the first two were the McMullins, Dares, Baileys, Parks, Elliots, and others. Among the last were the Myerses, the Kimmells from the " Barrens," the Hartmans, Shaffers, Fort -. neys, and Brennemans, who came from Lan- caster and Berks Counties. Dennis Cannon landed in America July 4, 1800, and shortly afterward settled in Monaghan: The oldest house in the township, now owned and occu- pied by Jacob Bigler, was built by Benjamin Elliot in the year 1769. The first kilns for burning lime were on the farm now owned by G. D. Shaffer; also on Mr. McMullen's farm, and some of the lime burned was hauled to the Susquehanna, the stone being quarried and hanled from Cumberland County. The early distilleries were Bailey's, Rice's, Fort- ney's, Williams', Smith's, Coover's, Myers' and Cannon's, with Cocklin's apple and peach distillery. They are all things of the past, as none have been in operation for more. than twenty years.

Monaghan furnished many brave soldiers to defend and preserve the Union in the war of the Rebellion. Many of her sons lie on Southern battle-fields. Five died in Ander- sonville Prison, and many bear the scars of battle as evidence of their valor.

The census of 1880 gave to this township a. total population of 1,054; 532 males, 522 fe- males; three of whom were colored. Num-

*By James W. Shaffer.

Jacob Cocchite

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MONAGHAN TOWNSHIP.

ber of births in 1880 was 30; number of deaths, 11.

In 1783, the year the Revolution closed, there were 106 houses, 5 mills, 12 negro slaves; population, 781, and 17,797 acres of land "taken up." The township then had its original limits. In 1883, 100 years later, there were 317 taxable inhabitants; the real estate valuation was $624,276; county tax, $1,298; State tax, $63.25.

SIDDONSBURG.

The site on which this village is located was, in early days, a parading ground for militia companies. In 1825 William Divin and Benjamin Siddon conceived the idea of starting a town, which was named after the latter. James G. Fraser was the first post- master, being appointed in 1826, and con- tinued many years. There have been a num- ber of changes since. J. A. Myers is the pres- ent postmaster; he also has a general store. The town is about seven-eighths of a mile in length, and the upper end is locally known as Mount Pleasant. According to the census of 1880 there were 147 inhabitants, 72 males and 75 females. Of these, 37 were of school age. Dr. W. R. Prowell practices medicine here.

ANDERSONTOWN.

Andersontown is named in honor of Ren- nox Anderson, who built the first house. This town is situated about two miles south of Lisburn, and two and one-half miles east of Siddonsburg. The census of 1880 gave it a population of thirty-five-seventeen males and eighteen females. Several years ago a postoffice was established, with Jacob A. Sultzberger postmaster, who also has a gen- eral store. Many of the inhabitants of the village are engaged in the cultivation of small fruits, such as grapes, raspberries and strawberries.

CHURCHES.

Lutheran and Reformed Church, known as "Filey's Church," after the person who do- nated the ground. This church was organ- ized about 1800. The first building was of logs, and served as a schoolhouse and church. It had two rows of desks along the side walls, facing the center desks. The pulpit was a concavo-convex, or like a goblet cut through the center, it being usually called the " bird cage."

In 1838 it was thought advisable to build a more convenient house, and more on mod- ern style. The members of both denomina- tions elected a building committee, two of

each denomination, to erect a union church. The building committee consisted of Jacob Hartman, David Fortney, Jacob Coover and Jacob Heikes. The corner-stone was laid August 20, 1838, and the church was dedi- cated the same year. The building is brick. From 1838 to 1885 the congregation was served by the following pastors: Revs. Kemp- fer, Focht, Rightmyer, Bricker, Dasher, Sei- fert, Winton, Dietrich, Heilman, Day, Minter, Stump and Erhard. Its officers at the pres- ent are Lewis Pressel, Michael Coover, Charles Williams, David Bucher, Henry Spahr and David Huntzberger. The membership at the present is eighty-two. There is a large Sun- day-school under the supervision of Charles Williams.

The Church of God, at Andersontown, was organized about 1830. Rev. John Wine- brenner, the founder of this denomination, was originally a clergyman in the German Reformed Church. He preached on certain occasions in Andersontown and vicinity. This denomination, according to doctrine and discipline, is an order of Baptists, with no definite creed, but "acknowledges and re- ceives the infallible teachings of the inspired Word of God, as a guide in all matters of Christian faith and practice."

The names of the first members of the church at Andersontown were John Hutton, William Tate, Jacob May, John Ayers, Sam- uel Arter, Henry Beck and a few others, whose names are now forgotten. Others were gradually added, among whom were John P. Wiley, Jacob Traver and wife, George Wiley and wife, and a few others.

In 1842 a revival, under the labors of Revs. McElroy, William Miller and D. Maxwell, resulted in the addition of many new mem- bers-William Anderson and Mrs. Mary Kline being of the number. In 1843 a re- vival of three months' duration resulted in the addition of more than 100 members. Prior to 1848 the services were held in the schoolhouse. During that year a new frame church was built at a cost of $600, Elder S. Fleegle being the minister. In 1871 the building was encased in brick, costing $500. Number of members, forty-two.

Mount Pleasant Bethel (Church of God) .- This church was organized in 1843, in an old building opposite the present public house of W. K. Burns, by members, principally, of the church at Andersontown. The first rul- ing elders were George Myers and James Machlin. Thomas Kerr donated a small tract of ground, and in 1844 a frame meeting house was built, at a cost of about $500. The original number of members, was twelve.

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HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY.

In 1859 a new brick church was built in the upper end of Siddonsburg, and called the Mount Pleasant Bethel, at a cost of $2,300. During the pastorate of Elder H. E. Reever, in 1882, the building was remodeled at an expense of $1,100. The membership is eighty-eight.

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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 126

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