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 128

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 128

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The council for 1885 is as follows: E. W. Shapley, president; Lemuel Ross, J. H. Graff, A. D. Altland, Peter Spathe and H. R. Spahr; Emanuel Myers, is clerk to coun- cil and is also justice of the peace. The other justice is William Beitzel. Popula- tion of borough about 600; number of taxable inhabitants, 220; valuation of real estate in 1884 was $119,528.

BUSINESS INTERESTS.

The Dillsburg Bank organized as a private banking institution under the style of Miller, Deardorff & Co., began business September 4, 1873.

Andrew G. Miller, then cashier of the Farmers & Mechanics Bank of Shippens- burg, Penn., and James N. Blair, Esq., a capi- talist of Dillsburg, Penn., were the projectors of the institution. When the object of their enterprise became known they were joined by Jacob Cover, Joseph Deardorff, William Beit- zel, George Wick and John N. Logan. A per- manent organization was effected September 4th, 1873 in the house of David Sheffer of Dillsburg, which had been secured for the business. Captain William E. Miller (son of A. G. Miller, Esq.), a leading hardware merchant of Carlisle, Penn., was elected presi- dent, and held the office for two years. Joseph Deardorff, Esq .. the leading capitalist of Carroll Township, was elected vice. presi- dent and John N. Logan, Esq., was elected the cashier. The board of directors con- sisted of William E. Miller, A. G. Miller, Joseph Deardorff, William Beitzel, Jacob Coover, James N. Blair and George Dick. The early history of the bank was a very try- ing one. Scarcely had the new enterprise been started, when the terrible panic of 1873 plunged the whole nation into the greatest financial crisis in our country's his- tory. And the years 1873-78 were such as

*The Indian name for Yellow Breeches was Callapascink. It signified "where-it-turns-back-again."

654

HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY.

to severely try the solvency of any financial institution. But the principal stockholders stuck to it with a determined will, and in 1878 reorganized it as a National Bank. Joseph Deardorff, Esq., became president in 1875, and upon the death of Geo. Dick, Esq., his son, Edward Dick, was elected to his place in the board, while A. G. Blackford, Esq., was elected to fill the vacancy caused by the retirement of N. G. Miller, Esq., on the failure of the Farm- ers & Mechanics Bank of Shippensburg, Penn., and in 1877 Mr. William Beitzel sold out his stock to M. J. Blackford, who upon the retirement of Daniel W. Beitzel, Esq., the first teller of the bank from its organization, succeeded him as teller. In September, 1878, a charter was obtained for the Dills- burg National Bank, and on November 1, commenced business as a National Bank with the following officers : President, Joseph Deardorff ; vice president, Jacob Coover ; cashier, John N. Logan ; teller. M. J. Black. ford ; directors : Joseph Deardorff, Jacob Coover, A. G. Blackford, Andrew Bentz, Henry Bowman, William Sadler and Ed- ward Dick. Paid up capital. $50,000. With the advent of better times came great prosperity, and those of the stock- holders who stood by the old institution lived to see a flourishing business built up in the new bank. The officer bought the fine business house of T. L. Spahr and removed the bank there and conducted the business in that house until 1884, when they bought the present building in which the bank is now situated. In 1880, Mr. M. J. Blackford, the teller, was elected to the Pennsylvania Leg- islature, and George W. Cook, Esq., a nephew of Mr. Deardorff, was elected teller. In 1880 the capital stock was increased to $60,000. The National Bank has been quite a success, and the business grew from a small deposit in 1878 of $20,- 000 to $120,000 in 1884. In the winter of 1884 Mr. Logan's health failed, and he was obliged to tender his resignation as cashier ; but it was not accepted by the board of directors until August of the same year, when Mr. G. W. Cook was elected to succeed him. When Mr. Logan retired the bank had a capital of $60,000. Surplus and undivided profits of $5,000, a deposit of more than $100,000. The present officers are Joseph Deardroff, president ; George W. Cook, cash- ier; John B. Firestone, teller. Directors : Joseph Deardorff, M. J. Blackford, Andrew Bentz, Henry Bowman, Jacob Coover, Lewis Strayer and William Sadler. *

The tannery business was carried on by va- rious parties at an early date and there were several distilleries in the vicinity. Daniel Bailey owned a tannery for many years. The Underwoods manufactured their celebrated whips in Dillsburg for a time. Jacob Heiges was known far and wide as a chair-maker.

General stores were kept by Jacob Lau- man, Johnson Moore, Elcock Metzgar & Co., Henry Sidel & Son, who are now prominent citizens of Minneapolis, Minn., Lewis Spahr once owned a dry goods store. Calvin Riegle and John Arnold started the first hardware store. Beitzel & Bend- er, M. Arnold & Son and A. D. Altland now own dry goods and grocery stores; J. A. Ar- nold, hardware; L. H. Watts, drug store; Noah Heiges and J. F. Rearick, shoe stores; John A. Smith & Co., stove and tin store; J. M. Porter, clothing store; F. Lau, flour and feed store; S. N. Bailey & Bro., and W. H. Bryson, warehouses; Augustus Hursh and Atticks & Co., lumber yards. There have been a number of coach shops and cabinet- maker shops at different times.

The Nelson House, for a long time the site of Sidel's tavern, was built in 1863. The Howard House has long been a hotel stand.

After the completion of the Dillsburg & Mechanicsburg Railroad, the business inter- ests of the town began to increase rapidly, and it has since been known as an important grain market.

The Dillsburg Bulletin is a wide-awake local journal, under the proprietorship and editorial management of E. W. Shapley. Special attention is paid to its local depart- ment, and it has thus become one of the es- sentials of the town and surrounding coun - try, enjoying a large patronage, and is much valued by its readers. The paper was start- ed in 1876 as the New Era by G. W. Nichols.

Physicians. -- Dr. Armstrong Dill, a young man of great promise in his profession, and a graduate of the University of Pennsylva- nia, died here December 31, 1788, at the age of twenty-seven years.

Drs. William Wireman and Solomon Mar- teemie lived in the vicinity when the town was laid out and many years later. Drs. Armstrong and Torbet owned a drug store in the village in 1826. Dr. George L. Shearer, a man of fine intelligence, and great public spirit, practiced medicine in the village for fifty-two years, and died in 1880. The names of other physicians who have practiced here are James Shearer, Ebert, Ziegler, Longeck- er, Free, W. H. Coover, W. W. Farrell, P. D. Baker, W. D. Bailey, M. L. Wolford,

*The Dillsburg Bank item is contributed by J. N. Logan.

W.D. Bailey 16.2

655

CARROLL TOWNSHIP.

George P. Arnold, George Carmony and J. O. Hoffman.

Postoffice. - The postoffice was established at Dillsburg in 1815. Mr. Gillen was postmaster before 1828, and during that year Dr. George L. Shearer was appointed and served seventeen years. His successors in order of appointment were J. B. Hurst, in 1845; Mrs. Mary Stewart, 1849; Henry G. Sidel, in 1853; Alexander Wentz, in 1858; Dr. T. L. Cathcart, in 1861; Augustus N. Eslinger, in 1863, and served with great acceptability until July, 1885, when Lemuel Ross was appointed.

CHURCHES.

Dillsburg Presbyterian Church .-- The Pres- byterian Church in Dillsburg, ecclesiastically known as the "Monaghan Church," derives its name from the township in which it was originally located. The exact year of the organization cannot be ·determined, but preaching services were held as early as 1737. Hence, it is one of the very oldest churches in the county.

The original house of worship was a log- structure, and stood about a quarter of a mile southwest of the present site at what is known as "the old graveyard." The com- mittee to judge of the location was appoint- ed in 1760, and it was likely built during the following summer. Tradition says that for some years after the church was built the Indians continued to lurk in the region near to it, or make hostile incursions into the neighborhood, so that for the sake of protection, ramparts were built around the church, and a part of the congregation were accustomed to bring their firearms with them. It also says that the Rev. Dr. John McDowell, afterward provost of the Univer- sity of Pennsylvania, attributed his conver- sion, when but a youth of eight years of age, to a sermon preached in that first house of worship by Rev. George Duffield, from Zech. ix: 12: "Turn ye to the stronghold, ye prisoners of hope;" in which he took occa- sion to illustrate, from the surrounding for- tifications, the fact that the Lord Jesus Christ is the only sure defense for sinners.

The first settled pastor of this church, of whom there is any knowledge, was Mr. Duf- field, above referred to. Since 1761 he had been pastor of the Presbyterian Church in Carlisle, and in November, 1769, he was in- stalled over the church of Monaghan for one- third of his time, at a salary of £50 a year. He continued till 1772, when he accepted a call to the Third Presbyterian Church of Philadelphia, where he is said to have estab-

lished the first prayer meeting ever held in any Presbyterian Church in that city. Mr. Duffield was a man of marked ability, and an earnest and fearless advocate of civil and religious liberty. He was for a while chap- lain of the Continental Congress; was one of two who, under the direction of congress, superintended the printing of the first Amer- ican edition of the Bible in English (pub- lished in Philadelphia in 1782); served as colonel in the Revolutionary war; and was the first stated clerk of the Presbyterian General Assembly. His portrait hangs in Independence Hall. His second wife was a sister of Gen. John Armstrong, the hero of the battle with the Indians at Kittanning, Penn., whose son was secretary of war under President Madison.

Monaghan Church was very loth to part from this her first pastor, and Andrew Mc- Dowell, James Dill, Col. Matt Dill, Robert Stephenson and Joseph Dodds were sent to Presbytery to remonstrate against his re- moval, but he felt constrained to go.

The next pastor was Rev. Samuel Waugh, who began his labors in 1782, and whose charge consisted of Monaghan and East Pennsborough (Silver's Spring) Churches. He was a native of "Carrol's Tract," in Adams County, Penn., graduated at Nassau Hall in 1773, and on the 14th of April, 1783, was married to Eliza, daughter of David Hoge, of what is now Hogestown, Penn. "He was a sound divine, a very acceptable preacher, and highly esteemed by his people,"-" a most worthy and excellent man." He remained pastor of Monaghan Church till his death in 1807.

The following is a copy of the subscrip- tion paper for Mr. Waugh's support. The original is in the hands of Mr. John O'Hail, of Dillsburg :

"We, the subscribers, do promise to pay, the sums annexed to our names yearly, on the Ist of May, unto the Rev. Samuel Waugh, or any collector, for his use while he continues minister of the united congre- gations of East Pennsborough and Monaghan, and we continue in the bounds of said con- gregation, or in case any of us fail to make payment on the 1st of May aforesaid, we will. before the administration of the sacra- ment in said year, give a note for said pay- ment on short credit.

"Witness our hand April 28, 1791.

£. S.

George Dickey

. .

William Barber

James Crocket 10

George Crocket 7

John Crocket . .

. .

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HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY.

Matthew Trotter

William Fleming.

William Scott

Paul Thompson.

Samuel Scott.

John McCormic.

Thomas Haines

. .

Francis Boggs 15

George Burns ..

John Lamb

John Daugherty.

John Nesbit

Daniel Glass.

Alex Nesbit

David Ayres

William Nelson

James McKin.

Alex Ross.

John McClellan

William Mitchell

Andrew Sans

Allen Torbet

Charles Brewster

Peter Leman

John Fulton

Andrew Wilson

John Anderson.

Graham Anderson.

Andrew Bailey

-10

Samuel Nelson

Henry Logan

Alex Hannah

Edward O'Hail.

Isaac Wall, Jr.

James Blair

William Gillespie.

Jus Dennison

William Farra

John May

Thomas Black

Thomas Gray

John Cross.

Joseph Dickson James McMullen

Robert Moody

Thomas Dill.

Thomas Campbell. 1

James Dill.

. . . .

Robert Cunningham.

John Caruthers.

Daniel Carpenter.

James Kennedy

Thomas Bonner.

John Bonner. 10

George Rohinett.

George Smith. 10

Alex Sanderson. 15

John Moorhead.

Louis Williams

Lawrence McCafferty

William Porter. 1

John Porter.

12 6

Abram Williams.

Joanna Young.

Jessie Fulton ..

Daniel McCurdy 1

John Devlin.

George Dill.

. .

Matt Dill.

Joseph Roseberry.

William Trimble.

John Swan.

John Williams

Robert Elliott.

Thomas Dill.

John Wilson.

John Bailey.

Joseph Elliott.

John White.

John Brenkerhoof.

William Dorson.

John Blair. 7

In 1782, the first year of Mr. Waugh's pastorate, a new church was built and the location changed to the one at present occupied. This was a stone structure, about 50 feet long, 40 feet wide, and 15 feet high to the ceiling, entered by two doors, the one at the south and the other at the east. The pulpit, which was small and elevated, with a sounding board suspended overhead, was at the north side. A small stone building about fifteen square, with a fire-place in the north- west corner, was attached to the north side of the church. This was called "the study," but was also used as a school-room, a session- room, a prayer-room, and a fuel-room.

In March, 1809, the Rev. John Hayes- antecedently Professor of Languages in Dickinson College, where he was graduated in 1805-became Mr. Waugh's successor, and continned till 1815. He was a poet of no mean reputation. In 1807, he published a volume entitled "Rural Poems, Moral and Descriptive, to which are added Poems on several Subjects." He resigned his charge on account of ill health and died a few months afterwards, among his friends in Cumber- land, Md.

During the pastorate of Mr. Hayes (1813), the church building, described above, was burnt, the fire originating in the small build- ing attached, but in the following year it was repaired, and entirely remodeled inside.

After Mr. Hayes retired this church seems to have had no regular pastor for fifteen years. But during much of that time the pulpit was supplied by many different minis- ters. Among these were Rev. Dr. Alexander McClelland, and Rev. Nathaniel R. Snowden, grandfather of Col. A. Louden Snowden. The Rev. Nathaniel Todd. afterward a venerable preacher and teacher in western Pennsylvania, supplied the congregation for some time, and it was during his incumbency that the old and long cherished Rouse version of the Psalms gave way to the Psalms and Hymns of Watts-a measure which occa- sioned no little dissatisfaction and alienated

William Ross

. .

Joseph Bradely.

John Mitchell.

William Parks.

Thomas Hummer. 7

William Morril

Widow Dorson.

Robert Leech.

William Wall

Daniel Williams.

657

CARROLL TOWNSHIP.

some of the members from the church. Of the others who supplied during this long vacancy may be mentioned Rev. Drs. Cath- cart, of York; Krebs, of New York; Duffield, of Carlisle, and DeWitt, of Harrisburg.

The next pastorate was that of Rev. Ander- son B. Quay, Which extended from 1830 till 1739. In 1831, this church, in common with the other churches of Carlisle Presby- tery, enjoyed a season of refreshing. The meetings at this church, in 1831, were so largely attended that on one occasion, while Rev. James Williamson, of Silver's Spring, was preaching to those who found room inside the church, Mr. Duffield, of Carlisle, was preaching it to those outside. It was during this pastorate, perhaps, that there occurred the first agitation of the temperance cause in this neighborhood. One Sabbath morning as Mr. Quay was about to enter the pulpit, a note was put into his hand asking him to announce an anti-temperance meeting to be held in the church on a certain day. When the proper time came Mr. Quay read the note and then announced: "There will be no anti-temperance meeting held in this church, or, if there is, I will take my little family by the hand, and leave the place im- mediately !" . That anti-temperance meeting was held outside of the church.

Mr. Quay's pastorate was succeeded by an interval of stated supplies; among them Rev. A. T. McGill, D. D. of Princeton Theo- logical Seminary, and, for two years, Rev. Edmund Mckinney, who afterward went as a missionary among the Indians.

April 13, 1842, Rev. Joseph Murray, D. D., then a licentiate of the Presbytery of Carlisle, was ordained and installed and re- mained sixteen years. His was not only one of the longest pastorates, but, in many re- spects, the most noteworthy and interesting, though the salary at that time was only $450 per year, this was his first and only charge and was relinquished on account of impaired health. W. D. Patterson a young man then supplied the pulpit for about eighteen months when he died. For a time then the pulpit was filled by Rev. John R. Agnew, an uncle of Mr. Patterson, and in June, 1863, Rev. John O. Proctor was in- stalled as pastor. He, resigning in 1865, was followed by supplies, among whom were Rev. S. S. Orris now of the Princeton Col- lege faculty.

In October, 1872, Rev. 'A. W. Hubbard, now a missionary of the American Board Christian Foreign Mission in Sivas, Turkey, began a most earnest and fruitful pastorate of eighteen months. He was followed by

Rev. J. Q. A. Fullerton, who remained from June, 1873, till May, 1879, during which time the present very tasteful and commodi- ous parsonage was built. The present in- cumbent, Rev. I. P. Barbor (to whom we are under many obligations for this sketch), began his labors in the autumn of 1879 and was installed pastor June 14, 1880.

The names of the ruling elders of this church prior to 1830 cannot now he given, but the following is a complete list of those who have served since that date: George Crockett, James Porter, James Black, G. W. Howard, Goorge Dare, William Ross, Wash- ington Jones, Jacob Ritner, Jacob B. Hurst, James Clark, Daniel Bailey, Matthew Porter, Washington Williams and John N. Logan.

Of the many sons and daughters of this church who have gone forth to honorable service in other fields, may be mentioned Revs. Calvin W., John and Robert Mateer of China, Rev. Thomas Black, Rev. Thomas Elcock, now a venerable pastor in Van Wert, Ohio, Rev. George L. Shearer, D. D., of the Amer- ican Tract Society, New York, Rev. Fred. E. Shearer, editor of The Occident, San Francisco, Rev. W. H. Logan of Millerstown, Penn., and Rev. B. B. Blair, who, with Rev. Thomas Blaek, died soon after entering the ministry.

October 23, 1882, the 100th anniversary of the occupation of the present site of the church was made the occasion of a very delightful reunion of former members and friends, most prominent among the exercises of which was the delivery of historial ad- dresses by Rev. Drs. Joseph A. Murray and George L. Shearer, from whose manuscripts are gleaned most of the facts given above.

Methodist Episcopal Church .- The first Methodist preacher to visit Dillsburg and hold services, was Elisha Butler, from the Gettysburg Circuit, about the year 1834. The first preaching services were held in the house of Mrs. Marks on Main Street, west corner of first alley west of public school building. Preaching was afterward held in a small house on corner of public square, where now stands the store room of John Smith. After this, in a small schoolhouse east of town, near the old York road. Revs. Brown and Jones were then pastors.

The first class was organized about the year 1836, in the house of Mother McGuire, on South Railroad Street, and was composed of William Burns, leader, Mrs. Burns, Mother McGuire, Widow Marks, and Miss Eliza Johnson, (now Mrs. Alex Billifelt). In 1843 the church, on West Main Street, was built. Rev. Thomas Myers was then pas-

658

HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY.

tor, with Thomas Fulton, class leader. Mr. Fulton afterward entered the ministry, and John McMullen became leader.

The original board of trustees was com- posed of Thomas Jones; John S. McMullen, Jacob Dorsheimer, John Hyer, Jacob Byer, George Webbert and Robert Nelson.

The church was dedicated by Dr. Durban, then president of Dickenson College.

The first Sunday-school was organized in the church by Miss Rebecca Culver, then a teacher in the public school, from Carlisle, and Miss Eliza Johnson.

The church was repaired and enlarged in 1879.

The congregation was served by the fol- lowing pastors, viz .: Revs. Elisha Butler, Young, Monroe, Jones, Brown, Myers, Kel- ler, Cook, N. S. Buckingham, C. Graham, R. Norris, (Bishop) Hurst, G. W. Dunlap, Pret- tyman, Alem Brittain, Moorehead, Melville Brittain, J. A. Ross, J. W. Feight, J. B. Shaver, H. R. Bender, C. W. Marshall, G. M. Hoke, F. Rogerson, Dr. Clark, W. A. Carver, R. H. Gilbert, J. Eckersley and J. F. Anderson, present pastor. Present member- ship is sixty-five, with Alex Billifelt as class leader. The Sunday-school numbers 115 ·with John Mumper as superintendent.

St. Paul's Lutheran Church .- The first religious services under the auspices of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Dillsburg, were held in the schoolhouse, and were con- ducted by Rev. J. R. Focht. On the'25th of August, 1855, a meeting was held for the purpose of taking into consideration the question of building a church. Nine per- sons were appointed a committee to solicit subscriptions. Of this number but two, H. C. Smyser and George Lau, are now living. December 1, $760 were raised, and on the 15tb, a building committee was appointed, and on the same day a lot was purchased on which to build a church, which, by contract, was "to be forty five feet long, thirty-five feet wide, and eighteen and one-half feet high. The comb of the roof to contain a gallery on one side." The contractor was George Lau. The building was to cost $1,250. The corner stone was laid May 3, 1856; and the church dedicated November 16, of the same year. Rev. Benjamin Kurtz, D. D., of Baltimore, preached the dedicatory sermon. The congregation was not properly organ- ized, until the spring of 1857, when twenty- four members signed the constitution. The following pastors have served it : J. R. Focht, from March 5, 1855, to March 5, 1859; Aaron Finfrock, from May 26, 1859, to November 26, 1864; J. R. Groff, July 16,

1865, to October 1866; J. T. Williams, from November 9, 1866, to July 16, 1867; August Babb, from April, 1868, to March, 1869; J. K. Bricker, from March, 1869, to February 1, 1871; D. Sell. from January 1, 1872, to May 10. 1874 ; H. D. Kuntz, from April 1, 1874, to January, 1875; E. Studebaker, from February 18, 1875, to January 1, 1876; J. F. Dieterich, from Janu- ary 1, 1876, to October 1, 1877; E. Minter, from November 15, 1877, to March 29, 1881; D. Stock, from May, 1881, to November, 1881; Adam Stump, from November 1, 1881, to present, time. Some of these persons were only supplies. The Sunday-school is in a good condition.

SCHOOLS.

The schools of Dillsburg have long had an excellent reputation. The site of the old school building is where the present one stands. In that building Prof. S. B. Heiges and his brother, George W. Heiges, Esq., who are natives of this village, taught, and greatly assisted in popularizing the cause of education in the town and vicinity. A num- ber of other persons who have since gained more or less prominence, taught here.

The fine two-story, brick schoolhouse, lo- cated in the south end of Baltimore Street, was built in 1877, at a cost of $3,500. The teachers of the grammar department since then, have been George W. Nichols, W. W. Grove, M. R. Beck, J. B. Firestone, R. For- rest and S. H. Bradley; of the primary de- partment, Ida M. Diller, J. C. Mumper, J. B. Firestone, Kate Gohn and Sallie J. Kerr. The board of directors for 1885 are Dr. M. L. Wolford, president; M. J. Bailey, sec- retary; S. M. Chronister, L. H. Watts, John Atticks and Samuel Altland.

CONFEDERATE INVASION.

During the invasion of 1863, on a Sun- day evening in June, a detachment of Gen. Ewell's corps of Confederate soldiers, com- ing from Carlisle, entered Dillsburg un- der command of Col. Jenkins. They en- camped south of town a quarter of a mile, and sent out foraging parties through the country and in the mountains to capture horses. There were many horses concealed in the South Mountains, which were taken by them. The day after the engagement at Hanover, a portion of Stuart's cavalry, under command of Gen. Fitz Hugh Lee, passed through town toward Carlisle, and ac- companying them was a part of same troop, under command of Gen. Wade Hampton. The two leading stores were robbed of about

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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 128

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