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 134

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 134

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MILLS.

One of the old landmarks of Paradise Township is the place known as Jacobs Mills in the upper end of the township, near the Adams County border. The land was origin- ally taken up by a land warrant issued to George Jacobs in 1750. Soon after this date a mill was erected which has, ever since that event, been owned by a lineal descendant of the original settler. 'At present it is owned by Amos Jacobs, who has a wool carding-mill, grist-mill and saw-mill. They are run by water and steam. The old stone mansion near by was erected in 1780. Hollinger's Mill and Noel's Mill on Beaver Creek have long existed. Masemer's Mill, on the Beaver Creek and Berlin Road is a very old mill site. The stone building now standing, was erected in the year 1794 by Abraham Swigert and was long known as the "Beaver Creek Mill." The mason who constructed it, John Nagle, left his name and the date of erection on a large stone tablet in the west end of the mill. The large bridge across the Conewago mear here was taken away by the flood of 1884, as well as the bridge over the Beaver Creek. Handsome iron bridges have taken their place by authority of the county com- missioners.

SCHOOLS.

There are now seven public school build- lings in Paradise, all of which are new and in excellent condition. Their names are as follows: Harbold's Church, Eisenhart's, Mil- ler's, Gable's, Stoner's and Bigmount.

For the year 1885, John A. Trostle was president of the school board, Amos Jacobs, secretary; Henry Marshall, treasurer; the other directors are Daniel Jacobs, George W. Baker and Aaron Moul. State appropriation received for the year 1885 was $360.

'THE CONFEDERATE INVASION.

The most notable events in the history of Paradise and Jackson, occurred during the Confederate invasion of Pennsylvania in 1863, when during the night of the 27th of

June, Gen. Early, the commander of the di- vision which led the advance of Gen. Lee's Southern army, encamped for the night in the former township, and Gen. Gordon's brigade in the latter. Gen. Gordon was since a United States senator from his native State, Georgia, and now a railroad magnate of the South. Gen. Early, now at an advanced age, is living at Lynchburg, Va. In private letters to the writer, dated Lynchburg, March 5 and June 4, 1885, among many other facts he gave the following information, which will doubtless be read with interest:

The night before my force reached the town of York, the place where I stayed, was at the house of a German widow (Mrs. Zinn, the house is now owned by George W. Trimmer), about three and a half miles east of East Berlin. I had reached there on the afternoon of June 27, on my way across the South Mountains on the road from Mummas- burg, via Hunterstown, Newchester, Hampton and East Berlin. I moved on that road with my main force, while Gen. Gordon with his brigade had moved east on the pike from Gettysburg to York. He camped four miles south of me along the pike. When I had placed the different parts of my com- mand in the positions they were to occupy for the night, having no camp equipage or baggage wagons, I looked out for a place for myself and staff to stay. Near the road was a cornfield into which I directed my detachment of cavalry to turn their horses. Not far distant, I saw a large barn, but failed to observe a correspondingly large farm house. My troops were not a little astonished at the large Pennsylva- nia barns of your prosperous farmers. I did not stay with that farmer over night. He could not speak a word of English, at least he would not for me, possibly he was scared so badly that he could not speak. I therefore gave up the idea of quarter- ing with him, and rode ou a little farther, where I found quite a decent looking brick house with a porch in front, and several rooms to the house. As I rode np, the woman who owned the house, came out to the gate in great trepidation, exclaiming in broken English, "Are you goin' to destroy us, are you goin' to take all that we've got?" I told her, "No madam, and to give you the best protection possible I will stay with yon, with my staff and no one shall trouble you." I directed my staff to take possession, stating that the porch would do for sleeping. I then rode southeast four miles with a small escort to give Gordon final instructions about entering Yorkthe next day, and did not returu until 9 o'clock P. M. My staff had eaten supper. The old lady who was now calmed of all her fears, had reserved supper for me, and I found it a very plen- tiful one, with about fifteen varieties of food-meats, vegetables, coffee and milk. While I was eating the old lady was very talkative. A good and clean bed was given me, and I rested for the night. A battalion of cavalry under Lieut .- Col. White had been sent by me along the railroad from Gettys- burg,to Hanover, and from thence to Hanover Junction to burn all the bridges, and to go from thence to York. I then proceeded on the morning of the 28th of June toward Weigelstown, and at that point, sent a small regiment of cavalry (the Seventeenth Virginia) under the command of Col. French, to the month of the Conewago Creek to burn the railroad bridges there.

Gen. Gordon's brigade entered York first on the pike. and later I entered the place myself from the uorth, on the road from Harrisburg, having two

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JACKSON TOWNSHIP.

brigades in camp north of the town near some mills.

The bridge across the Susquehanna, between Wrightsville and Columbia, was destroyed by the Federal force there, on the approach of Gordou's brigade which I had sent there on the 28th to seize it.

On the 29th, in examining the depot, car fac- tories and railroad depot at York, to see if they could be burned without setting fire to private houses, and while discussing with your mayor and others about my requisition on York for $100,000, I was nnexpectedly approached by a messenger bearing a dispatch from Gen. Ewell, who had gone to Carlisle with the rest of the corps, containing the information that the Federal army had crossed the Potomac, and was moving north. The message ordered me to retrace my steps to join the army of Gen. Lee. I told the gentlemen around me that I would see them in the morning concerning my demands on the town, well knowing that they would not see me in the morning, as I intended to move my force by night. I left the town before sunrise the next day with my troops, and you all know where we went. I did not send a message to Gen. Stuart, ordering him to attack Gen. Kilpa- trick at Hanover. Gen. Stuart ranked me, and I could not have ordered him. Before we crossed the Potomac, we had been ordered by the com- manding general to co-operate in the event of our coming together, but I had received no information from him and did not know on that day where he was. Kilpatrick did not impede my progress toward Gettysburg. At East Berlin a small squad of Federal cavalry was seen and pursued by my cav- alry, but it soon made its escape. While in East Berlin (as I retreated westward through that town, north of the pike) I received a message from Col. White, whom I had sent from York toward Gettys- burg, on the pike, with his battalion, that a force of Federal cavalry had been in Abbottstown, and that it was the advance of Kilpatrick's cavalry. This is all the force I heard of until I reached the vicinity of Gettysburg.

Gen. Gordon on his way to York on the night of the 27th of June, encamped east of Farmers Postoffice, now a village of twenty houses, on the turnpike, a few miles east of Abbottstown. He remained over night at the house of Jacob S. Altland, on the north side of the pike, and slept that night in a feather bed. His staff officers had a tent close to this house. Near by twelve cannon were planted. He arrived at that point at 3 P. M. A large number of valuable horses were taken from the surrounding country. Early the next morning. between 5 and 6 o'clock, the brigade began the march down the pike to York. Gen. Gordon himself rode to York on one of the "borrowed" horses. It was a fine animal belonging to Samuel L. Roth, a Mennonite preacher. This horse, we believe was afterward recovered.

The squad of soldiers that passed back over the pike on the 30th, when near the former camping ground of Gordon's brigade, hear- ing the booming of the cannon at the en- gagement then taking place at Hanover, planted cannon on Henry Ramer's farm, in Jackson Township, expecting the arrival of

the Union troops. Scouts soon returned re- porting there were none near, and they then, proceeded to join Early at East Berlin.

THE TOWNSHIP OF . JACKSON.

"THE area now embraced in this township,

for 110 years was a part of Paradise. In 1857 a petition was presented to the court, Judge Fisher presiding, asking for the ap- pointment of viewers to lay off a new town- ship. The request was granted, the report confirmed, and the new district was called. Jackson, a name well known to history. 23 counties, 120 townships, and 30 towns- and villages in the United States, have the same name.

Jackson Township in this county, corres- ponds in shape, to the State of Indiana, and its democracy is of the same sterling kind. Most of its inhabitants support the principles advocated by the gallant "Hero of New Or- leans," with unflinching fidelity. The early settlers were nearly all Germans, except a. few English Quakers, the Richardsons, Coateses, Tuckers, etc., who settled with Peter Dicks, founder of Spring Forge, in 1756. The German language now predomi- nates in the township. The land is fertile and very productive, and its owners are industri- ous and prosperous. There are many valua- ble limestone and sandstone farms in the high- est state of cultivation. Jackson is drained by the head-waters of the Little Conewago, and small tributaries of the Codorus. Val- uable iron ore has been taken out from vari- ous parts of this township. The Conewago: Iron Company, located at Middletown, Penn., have been the chief operators of late. Om the farm of Michael H. Myers, this company leased a bank in January, 1881. From that date to March 1885, they took out 16,263. tons of brown hematite ore. Thirty-five men are regularly employed. Lewis Krall is superintendent. The percentage of iron is 47. At the "Jackson" bank, on the farm of Samuel H. Bechtel, from January, 1881, to- November, 1882, with 20 workmen, 4,892 tons of brown hematite ore, 47 per cent of iron were taken out. At the "Spring Grove" Bank, on the farm of John Roth, from Jan- uary, 1881, to April, 1883, with 20 workmen, 4,792 tons of specular ore, 47 per cent iron, were obtained; at the "Oak Hill" bank, from November, 1881, to January, 1883, with 20 workmen, 2,663 tons of specular ore, 45 per

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HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY.

cent iron, were obtained. All these mines were operated by the Conewago Iron Com- pany. Ore has been taken out in this town- ship for nearly a century, and there are vast deposits there yet. Jackson Township, though not large, is quite thickly settled. Its population in 1880 was 1,836; the number of taxables in 1883, was 562; value of real estate, $972,303; county tax, $3,736; State tax, $255. The York & Get- tysburg Turnpike crosses the township. The west end of the township along the pike is densely populated, and Farmers Postoffice has been in existence there since 1830. Thomasville is a collection of a dozen or more houses toward the east end of the Jack- son, on the pike. Nashville is a beautiful hamlet located on the York and Hanover road. Its population is sixty. This point is noted, according to tradition, as being the place Gen. Washington was met on July 2, 1791, by a York delegation while on his way Eastward. The famous "York Imperial" and "York Stripe" varieties of apple originated here a dozen years ago with William Johns- ton

Spangler Valley, located north of Pidgeon Hill Church, and extending from a point near Farmers Postoffice eastward below Span- ler's tavern, obtained its name from the fact that the land was "taken up" by the Span- glers during the time of the first settlement. The spring on the farm now owned by the Rev. Aaron Spangler, of York, was a resort for the Indians when the white settlers first came. There were wigwams at this place. Much of the valley was a vast, woody swamp, hence the name "Holz-schwamm." It was cov- ered with large hickory trees. Bernhart Spangler and his brother were among the first to commence cutting these large mon- archs of the forest, and to clear the land for farming. The head-waters of the Little Con- ewago Creek are in this valley.

The Wiest property, near where the Han- over and Spring Grove roads diverge, was for a long time the site of a hotel, and an im- portant stopping place. Dr. John Wiest, of York, has in his possession an advertisement dated 1808, of Tempest Tucker, offering for sale this "well-known tavern stand on the road from Philadelphia to the Federal city."

The " Jackson and Codorus scare, " caused by a false report that all male citizens were to be impressed into the service during the Confederate invasion, is not yet forgotten.

REFORMED AND LUTHERAN CHURCH.

The Reformed and Lutheran Church, gen- erally known as the "Pidgeon Hill Church,"

was originally a'nnion church for three de- nominations, Reformed, Lutheran and Men- nonite. Abraham Roth on the 15th of Au- gust, 1785, deeded thirty acres of land in trust for church purposes, for which £6 14s. and Sd. were paid. The trustees were Barnhart Spangler, Abraham. Roth and Christian Wiest. A log church was first built, then the log building was weather-boarded. In 1845

The the present brick church was built. original grant of land was to the Reformed Church only, but the other two sects were allowed to worship in the church. The Reformed element in this community at the time of the building of this church, was the strongest. The celebrated clergy- man, Rev. William Otterbein, soon after his arrival in America, preached to the German Reformed congregation here, and held en- thusiastic meetings. The same clergyman who officiated at Paradise and the Dover Churches, ministered to the congregations here. Of the Reformed pastors the follow- ing could be obtained in order of succession: Revs. John Ernst, Charles Helfenstein, F. W. Vandersloot, John Umrich, Daniel Zieg- ler, D. D., eighteen years; Jacob Kehm, Ja- cob Ziegler. Rev. I. S. Wiesz, D. D., is the present pastor.

The first Lutheran preacher known to have ministered here was Rev. Albert, who was then pastor at Hanover. Rev. A. G. Deininger succeeded him and preached fifty- two years. Rev. Daniel Sell, who now has charge of Paradise, Dover and Red Run Churches, is the Lutheran pastor.

Emanuel Eppleman is trustee for the Re- formed congregation, which numbers 160, and Levi Stover for the Lutheran congrega- tion of 120 members, Elders Henry Stouch and John Roth of the Reformed, and Fred- rick Stambaugh and Andrew Spangler of the Lutherans. One of the best remembered personages who lived in this community nearly a century ago was Hans Adam Wertz, the parish "schulmeister," who for many, many years taught the rudiments of a Ger- man and English education to the descend- ants of the early Teuton settlers of this region. Tradition says " he was very smart." Just seventy-one years ago, when nearly four- score years old, he emigrated to Ohio, where he soon after died.

SPRING GROVE BOROUGH.

This thrifty and prosperous town sprung into existence within the last decade as the di- rect result of the prosperity of the paper-mill. The history of the forge will be found in the

JACKSON TOWNSHIP.

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P. H. GLATFELTER

CAPACITY 30.000 LBS. PER DAY.

MANUFACTURER OF PRINTING PAPER

Spring Jorge Pa.

article on the "Early Iron Industries," page 484, in this work. Most of the inhabitants of the borough are employed in the manu- facture of paper. The postoffice of this place was originally known as "Pidgeon Hill," and was located one mile north of the forge. It was established in 1828, with Abraham Bletcher as postmaster. Mrs. Bletcher, Michael Fissell, William Wilson and George Waggoner have since been post- masters. C. W. Bauer was appointed in 1885. The present name of the office is Spring Forge. Since the incorporation of the town, the streets have been graded, pave- ments laid, the town illuminated by electric lights, a number of new streets opened, and houses furnished with hydrant water from a reservoir. Many houses have been built lately. An immense freight business is done here by the railroad. The company in 1885 built a fine depot and freight office. There are a dozen or more stores, and most of the mechanical trades are represented. Drs. Bahn and Hoke are the physicians of the town.

SPRING GROVE PAPER MILLS.

The manufacturing of paper was begun by Jacob Hauer soon after the iron business was discontinued. He conducted this new business until his death in 1853, after this event it was continued by his heirs, and managed by Mr. Bradley for a time, and then leased to a firm in Philadelphia. In 1863 the present owner Mr. P. H. Glatfelter purchased the paper mill and all its interests for $14,000. He had carefully learned the art of paper-making with the firm of Loucks & Hoffman at Paper Mills, Md., having been in their employ from the year 1857 un-

til the time he purchased the Spring Grove Mills. The capacity then was 1,500 pounds of paper a day; which by improvement was increased to 4,000 pounds in 1868. He be- gan the erection of new buildings in 1874, and furnished them with entirely new machinery, at a great expense. The capacity of the new mill was 10,000 pounds of paper a day, and its entire cost, $200,000. Owing to the continued prosperity of his business, Mr. Glatfelter built additions and purchased new machinery, until the present capacity is the enormous amount of 30,000 pounds a day, or about 3,700 tons yearly, and is con- tinually worked to fullest allowance. The buildings as they now stand, cover about five acres of land and with the machinery are valued at $450,000. The printing paper is manufactured from wood, straw and waste paper. The wood used is hickory-poplar and pine, and it costs $8 a cord delivered. The machinery is run by one 300-horse power engine and three forty-horse power engines, which for effective completeness is unsurpassed. Water is also utilized as a motor. The process of making printing- paper at this mill is completed from the raw material in ten days. About forty tons of coal are consumed daily. There are now 110 employes. The mill is run day and night and is lighted by electricity. One of the smoke stacks is 100 feet high, one 90 feet and another 70 feet. During the past few years, over $500,000 worth of business was transacted annually, and the demand for paper frequently exceeded the amount manu- factured. The disbursements yearly to em- ployes is over $50,000. The valuable print- ing paper made here is sold in nearly every section of the United States. Mr. Glatfelter

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HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY.

owns and runs a number of his own cars which are specially constructed for his pur- pose. The location is most admirable, being on the railroad and convenient to pure water, which is essential to the production of paper. A siding runs from the railroad to the establishment, and connects with the Frederick Division of the Pennsylvania Rail- road.

Mr. P. H. Glatfelter, the enterprising proprietor of this extensive manufacturing industry, is a native of York County. He was born in 1837 on a farm in Spring Garden Township, where his father still resides. The first twenty years of his life he spent on the farm, and received his education in the common schools of his native township. He spent seven years as an employe of Loucks & Hoffman, who owned a manufactory on the Gunpowder River at Paper Mills, Md. At the age of twenty-seven he purchased the Spring Forge Mills which, until the time he became the owner, had made paper only in small quantities. He began paper-making here for himself, with a small amount of capital, but by abundant native energy, natural adaptability to the business, and judicious care in management, continually increased his trade until he gained a reputa- tion equal to any manufacturer in the same business. Mr. Glatfelter was one of the first persons to engage in the manufacture of paper from straw and wood pulp. His mill is the largest establishment devoted ex- clusively to the production of printing paper in America. The now prosperous village of Spring Grove owes nearly everything to him, for its substantial and rapid growth. In matters of public improvement for the material, educational and moral interests of the town, he has always shown a generous and philanthropic hand. He is ably assisted by his son William and his brother Edward.

CHURCHES OF SPRING GROVE.

St. Paul's Lutheran Church. - On the east side of Main Street, in Spring Grove, stands the conspicuous building, St. Paul's Evan- gelical Lutheran Church, which was erected in 1879, through the efforts of Mr. and Mrs. P. H. Glatfelter, together with others. P. H. Glatfelter and Abraham Reiff were the building committee. On Whit Monday, 1879, the corner-stone was laid by Rev. Drs. Hauer and Lochman, in the presence of Revs. A. W. Lilly, Peter Anstadt, John H. Menges, A. G. Fastnacht, Daniel Schindler, M. J. Alleman, and a large audience. The building was completed in 1880. On the 11th of March, of the same year, a congre-

gation was organized by Rev. Daniel J. Hauer, D. D., consisting of twenty-six mem- bers. On Easter, 1880, the dedication took place. The ministers present were Revs, Hauer, the pastor, Anstadt and Alleman. The edifice is a handsome and commodious brick Gothic building, with a tower, in which is placed a sweet toned bell. In the audi- ence room, the recess behind the pulpit con- tains an excellent pipe organ. The build- ing is lighted by electricity, and in the winter warmed by steam. It is an ornament to the village, and was designed by J. A. Dempwolf, the architect, of York. The cost of the erection, with the furniture, amounted to $13,200. On the day of dedication it was ascertained that only $3,000 had been secured, when Mr. P. H. Glatfelter gener- . ously came forward, and in the name of him- self, Mrs. Glatfelter and his children; as- sumed the payment of the balance, viz .: $10,200.

After the dedication, Rev. Hauer resigned the pastorate, and Rev. M. J. Alleman suc- ceeded until the autumn of 1881, when he resigned. Rev. Hauer was then recalled. There are at present 140 persons whose names are on the records as members. The membership of the congregation is 140. The Sabbath-school, under the superintendence of P. H. Menges and Edward Glatfelter, is growing, and more room is needed to accom- modate the scholars.

Mount Zion's Reformed Church .- On an elevated site to the north end of the borough stands the Reformed Church, a fine brick building erected in 1883. The congregation was organized by Rev. H. Hilbish, of Han- over, who was its pastor for a time. The building committee were George Hoke, George Rennoll and Zachariah Miller. Rev. Hartman, of Hanover, in 1885, is the regular pastor of the congregation, which has fifty members. A Sunday school of sixty pupils is held in the church.

SCHOOLHOUSE.

When the Colemans owned the forge, they donated a tract of land on which was built a house for public religious worship and for school purposes. A school was well kept in it nine months of the year, for a long time. Different religious denomina- tions were allowed the use of the building. It was finally rented by the township direc- tors for public school purposes. A few years ago it was torn down and the present excellent school building put up on the same site by the township authorities at a cost of $1,200. Of this sum P. H. Glatfelter contributed

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MANHEIM TOWNSHIP.

$600 gratis. J. A. Dempwolf was the archi- tect and Michael Little, contractor.

BRICK YARD.

Peter S. Alwine, who owns a brick yard in Paradise Township and one near New Ox- ford, Adams County, commenced burning brick at Spring Grove in the year 1879, and makes at Spring Forge about 700,000 bricks annually. Ten men are regularly employed. June 26, 1884, the great flood destroyed nearly the entire yard to the amount of $2,000; but in the autumn of the same year it was in full operation at a more secure place. He consumes 300 cords of wood each year.

THE TOWNSHIP OF MANHEIM.

S YOME of the first settlers of the southwest- ern part of this county, emigrated from the Grand-Duchy of Baden, near the historic old town of Manheim, on the Rhine. Michael Danner, who, quite early in the settlement became a large land-owner in this section, when this township was organized, in 1747, requested that it should be called after his native place. It then included almost the entire area of Manheim, West Manheim, Peun and Heidelberg Townships, in York County, and portions of Union and Conewa- go Townships, in Adams County. Heidel- berg was organized in 1750, but originally included what, in the early settlement, was known as "Digges' Choice," and was nearly surrounded by Manheim. In 1816 a peti- tion was presented to court, asking that the northern part of Manheim be added to Hei- delberg. The signers to this petition were Daniel Dubbs, Andrew Garrett, Peter Over- dier, John Thomau, Christopher Wolford, Conrad Sherman, Andrew Robenstein, Charles Warner and Henry Sherman. The court ap- pointed George Spangler, Jacob Smyser and Charles Fisher viewers. Their report was confirmed, and the area of Manheim was re- dnced to include its present territory and that of West Manheim.

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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 134

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