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 143

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 143

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In topography, the central portion is gently rolling, and the parts bordering on Fishing Creek and Muddy Creek are hilly, and the part bordering on the Susquehanna River is mountainous. The soil,~ in the northern half of the township, is exceed- ingly rough and stony, while the southern half is clean and productive. The principal stream is Otter Creek, which rises in the western part of the township, and flows east and southeast until it enters Lower Chance- ford Township, a short distance from its mouth at the river.

Chanceford and Lower Chanceford were separated by an action of court, February 15, 1806; a division line was run by Jesse Cornelius, surveyor, beginning at a chestnut

tree, on land of James Gibson, at Muddy Creek, and running northeast 2,430 perches, to the Susquehanna River, near Burkholder's Ferry. Jesse Cornelius recommended that the township be called Sharon, but other counsel prevailed, and the name of Chance- ford, retained by the upper division, was confirmed by the court in May, 1806.

The settlement of Chanceford was first made in the southern half of the township, about the year 1735, by the Scotch-Irish, a line of whose settlements extends from New Castle, Del., through the southern tier of counties of Pennsylvania, to the West; and a race that has furnished so many presi- dents of the United States, successful gen- erals of the army, and in every walk of life, whether professional, civil or social, has given evidence of the highest qualities of humanity. The settlement of the northern part of the township took place at a latter date. After the Revolutionary war, some par- oled Hessian prisoners located here. Much of this part of the township, as before stated, is very rough, and remained in the hands of the proprietaries until the Revolution. The Hessians brought their families with them.

The descendants of these people, under the benign influence of the common schools, and the general enlightenment of the age, are good citizens.

Recurring to the original settlers, we find them, as before stated, making a set- tlement in a wilderness, and necessarily enduring privations of which we of to-day can form no idea, one of which, and not the least was the want of timber for building. The country having been burned over by the Indians in order to improve their hunting grounds, was nearly denuded of timber; yet these hardy pioneers boldly meeting all disadvantages, built up homes where they could worship God according to the dictates of their own consciences.

Among the first buildings put up in the township was a hotel or tavern, near what is now known as the York and Peachbottom road; of course it had none of the appointments of a modern first-class hotel, but a rude build- ing made of such material as was at hand, at which the weary immigrant could ob- tain rest and refreshment in his journey toward the setting sun. It is told that one of those travelers seeing that the house had no sign, proposed to the inn keeper to give him one, and suiting the action to the word, hung up a wooden shoe, known as a brogan, and said, "let that be the sign, and henceforth let it be known as 'The Brogue,' " which name it carries to this day.

* By B. F. Porter, M. D.

3.7. Porter M. D.

735

CHANCEFORD TOWNSHIP.

Pari passu with the settlement of the township, came the church and the school- house; of the former we find the first to have been the Guinston congregation of the United Presbyterian Church, then known as the Associate Reformed Church, which was organized in 1754; and of the latter three are known to have existed before the Revo- lution. The number seems small when com- pared with the present number (sixteen), but the results were even greater, comparatively, for they learned to know their rights, and the principles of liberty for which they have given so much labor and self-denial; so that when on the 19th of April, 1775, "a gale from the Northi brought to their ears the clash of resounding arms," we find them true to the principles of liberty, and ready to seal them with their blood. They shouldered their arms and sought the tented field, and even to this day in the language of the poet:

"Still from the sire the son doth hear Of the stern strife, and carnage drear, Of many a bloody field,

Where shivered was Old England's spear. And broken was her shield!"

Of their special field of service we have but meager accounts; this much we know, how- ever, that two companies under Capts. Gra- ham and Reed, left the township, and were in the dreary winter encampment at Valley Forge. We are also told that Lieut. William Young of Col. McAllister's flying camp, a Fort Washington prisoner, captured Novem- ber 16, 1776, was exchanged December 8, 1780, at Elizabethtown, and returned to. his home in Chanceford Township, York Co., Penn., a distance of 166 miles.

Among the successful men who are natives of Chanceford, we may mention Rev. William Bingham, D. D., of Lincoln University, Rev. William G. Stewart, Rev. A. Thompson Stewart and Rev. Lemon Grove among cler- gymen; William F. Smith, M. D., now of Lower Chanceford, Joseph A. Murphy, M. D., now of Wilkesbarre, A. P. T. Grove, M. D., the late James Clarkson, M. D. late of Columbia, Penn., and A. Clarkson Smith M.D., late of Columbia, Penn., among physicians; James Smith, Esq .. and W. F. Bay Stewart, Esq., among lawyers, form a galaxy of professional men, who by their commanding talents, professional success and high personal standing, unite to do honor to the township of their birth.

In this connection we may mention an- other native of Chanceford, the late John- son K. Duncan, brevet major-general of the Confederate army. His record is as fol- lows: Admitted as a cadet to the military

academy at West Point, July 1, 1845; graduated No. 5 in a class of forty-three members in June 1849; appointed brevet second lieutenant, Second Artillery, July 1, 1849; second lieutenant Third Artillery, Octo- ber 31, 1849; first lieutenant Third Artillery,. December 24, 1853; resigned January 31, 1855; joined in the Rebellion against the United States; died January 1863, at Knox- ville, Tenn., aged thirty-six. While in the Confederate service, he commanded the de- fenses of New Orleans and the lower Missis- sippi, and was regarded as the best artillery officer in that service.

Agriculture is now the almost sole occupa- tion of the people of Chanceford. The vast improvement in machinery and in the man- agement of the soil, that has marked the last half century, have had their effect; and the township, from having had occasionally to import grain, is now a large exporter of grain and many other agricultural products. Agriculture has passed through several phases before coming to its present condi- tion, which is thought to be far from perfec- tion. At first the timber was cleared off and the virgin soil cropped and recropped, until it would produce no more; it was then turned! out, and was known as "old field." Then came the discovery that lime would renovate- the soil and make it again productive, and almost every farmer built a lime-kiln on his. place. Limestone was hauled from the river, and wood used for burning it to quicklime. It was soon found, however, that lime could be procured at the river already burned with coal, much more cheaply than by hauling the stone to the home kilns and burning it there; so the home kilns passed into decay. Now liming has given place, almost com- pletely, to the use of artificial fertilizers, such as gnano, super-phosphate of lime, etc. Chanceford has three flouring-mills within its borders; to wit: Samuel Warner's mill, A. S. Warner's mill and the mill belonging to the heirs of William L. Shaw, deceased. These mills are confined exclusively to local custom work, and are the only manufactur- ing establishments now in the township. In the western part of the township Sarah Ann Furnace, or Manor Furnace, was located. It obtained ore from Chestnut Hill. The ore found on the property proving of poor quality, and having no means of getting it but by wagons, it was soon found to be un- profitable, and after sixteen years, in which it was operated by different parties, it. "blowed out," never to be again relighted; and the stock and houses of the operatives are passing into shapeless ruins. During

736

HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY.

the early part of the present century, a distillery was located in the northern part of the township, owned by a Mr. Witmer.

New Bridgeville is located along the river, by the canal. James P. Robison, at pres- ent a member of the legislature, conducts a general store and keeps a hotel at this place. Stony Island fishery, famous as a place to catch shad, is near here.

At Lockport, a short distance below New Bridgeville, there was formerly a dam across the Susquehanna for transporting boats over the stream to Conestoga navigation, which extended from Safe Harbor to Lancaster. An extensive business was done over this route for many years.

CHURCHES OF CHANCEFORD.

The Guinston United Presbyterian Church. -This congregation was first connected with the Associate Presbyterian Church, which was formed by a secession from the Estab- lished Church of Scotland, in 1733. It was organized either in the fall of 1753, or early in 1754. Soon after a rude church was constructed of small logs. Accomoda- tions becoming insufficient, in 1773 a house of stone was built, which still stands. Con- cerning this church, the following was legal- ly recorded: "To all Christian people to whom these presents shall come, we, Thomas Curry, James Wallace, Guin Allison, Andrew Fulton, Alexander Moor of Hopewell, farm- ers, John McClurg, John McNeary and George Campbell of Chanceford, farmers, John McCay and John Stewart of Windsor, farmers, send greeting: whereas, in and by a certain deed poll bearing date April 23, 1773, made between James Cooper of Chester County, of the one part, and the before-named trustees of the second part." By this act James Cooper conveyed two acres of land, on which the "Old Scotch Presbyterian Meeting- House stood; whereas there is now to be erected a large building for public worship, called and forever hereafter intended to be called, the Scotch Presbyterian Church, who are now under the pastoral care of Rev. James Clarkson, and professing to adhere to the whole doctrine, worship, discipline and government of the Church of Scotland, as the same was exhibited in her public stand- ards; viz .: the Westminster confession of faith, catechisms and propositions concern- ing church government and ordination of members, as these are received in the several acts of Assembly, passed between the years 1644 and 1649." Concerning its further history the present pastor furnishes the fol- lowing: On August 25, 1773, Rev. James

Clarkson was placed in charge, by the Asso- ciate Presbytery of Pennsylvania. He con- tinued till 1808, when he was released.

After a period of ten years, during which the congregation was vacant, Mr. Alexander Gordon was ordained pastor, August 20, 1818. For many years his full time was de- voted to this field. But in 1822 an arrange- ment was to be made, by which a fourth of the time was to be given to Lower Chanceford. On the 20th of October, 1825, the relation of Mr. Gordon to the congregations of Guins- ton and Lower Chanceford was dissolved.

The services of a stated pastor were not now enjoyed for eight years when Rev. John Adams, through the action of the Presby- tery, on the 11th of September, 1833, was set apart as the person who should break to these congregations the bread of life. He continued to be pastor at Guinston and Lower Chanceford till the 26th of April, 1855, when he tendered his resignation to the Associate Presbytery of Philadelphia, which was accepted.

On the 19th of August, 1856, Rev. Francis McBurney was ordained and installed as pas- tor at Guinston and Lower Chanceford. This relation continued until after the union was formed between the Associated and Associate Reformed Churches, which was consumated on the 26th of May, 1858, in Pittsburgh, con- stituting the United Presbyterian Church; Guinston congregation went heartily into this union, and has been in it ever since.

The Associate Reformed Church was organ - ized on the 31st of October, 1782, by virtue of a union effected between a portion of the Associate Church and the Reformed Presby- terians or Covenanters. Messrs. Marshall, minister, and Clarkson of Guinston and some elders did not go into this union, and so kept up the organization of the Associate Church. After long years had passed, it was thought that these two branches of Zion, so near to each other in principle and practice, should be united. The move made accordingly was successful, and in 1858 the history of the United Presbyterian Church had its begin- ning. Rev. Francis McBurney remained in Guinston till October 6, 1868.

From that time the congregation was de- pendent upon supplies till 1870. A call was made out in the autumn of that year, and pre- sented to Rev. Samuel Jamison, which he ac- cepted. He commenced to labor regularly in this field on the first Sabbath of Decem- ber. On the 25th of April, 1871, he was installed by the Presbytery of Big Spring. It was so arranged, that for a short time he preached every Sabbath in Hope-

737

CHANCEFORD TOWNSHIP.

well. His whole time was then given to Guinston, and so continued. The congrega- tion has a membership of 192.

Space will not allow an extended history of this church; suffice it, that from a handful of emigrants, who first met at the house of Alexander Wallace, to renew their covenant obligations to their God, they have been blessed by Him in a most signal manner, for although they sometimes passed through dark days, which were necessary to their health, for we are told that " He loveth whom He chasteneth," yet they were eventually brought forth into the sunshine of earthly prosperity; for the desert in which they settled now blossoms as the rose, and their congregation large, intelligent and influential, with all the attributes that adorn the highest type of Christian civilization, and whose membership aud influence are found and felt in the hun- dreds of United Presbyterian congregations scattered over the broad West, speaks in lan- guage too plain to be misunderstood, that God is indeed with them, and in blessing has blessed them in a remarkable degree.

Lutheran and Reformed Church. - The second church in point of age in Chanceford Township, is the one known as "Stable's Church," situated in the northern part of the township, and founded by Jacob Stahle and George Souders in the year 1784. Two de- nominations, the Lutheran and German Re- formed, united in building the church, and held services alternately therein. The first building was a rude affair, but after being somewhat enlarged and repaired served to ac- commodate the congregations until the year 1866, when their present handsome and com- modious brick church was built; Peter Blouse, Jacob Kohler and George Wise were the build- ing committee. The following are the names of the Lutheran pastors who have officiated here since 1784: Revs. Bentz, A. Gearnal, Heisley, J. Harman, J. Kempfer, J. Cono- way, P. Warner and E. Lenhart. The Re- formed pastors were Revs. G. Hablinstein, W. F. Vandersloot, H. Rynecka, Sr., R. Ra- hauser. The Reformed congregation is now without a pastor. The Lutheran member- ship is about eighty-five and the Reformed twenty.

New Harmony Presbyterian Church. - The Presbyterians of Chanceford Township belonged to the Chanceford Presbyterian Church situated in Lower Chanceford Town- ship until 1847, when a meeting was called and committees appointed to select ground and prepare to build a house, which was accomplished; and in the following year (1848) the house was finished, and De-

cember 3, 1848, was dedicated to the wor- ship of God. Twenty-four persons presented letters from the Chanceford Church, and four from Hopewell or Round Hill. Hugh Long, Esq., John A. Murphy, and James Stewart were elected its first elders, and the name adopted by the organization was "New Harmony Presbyterian Church." On the 18th of October, 1853, Rev. J. J. Lane, then of Wrightsville, was installed the first pastor of the church. The next pastor was Rev. J. L. Merrill, and the next and last was Rev. A. F. Morrison. Since Mr. Morrison's death the church has been served by supplies, the last six years by Rev. J. J. Lane, its first pastor. From its organization to the pres- ent time, the growth of the church has been constant and healthy. It was chartered in 1881, and its future career, under the blessing of God, has everything that is hope- ful and promising. The number of commun- icants at this time is 191.

Bethel Methodist Episcopal Church. - This is located in Chanceford, near the vil- lage of Grahamville. It was founded by Rev. John McKinley and Mr. Daniel Kline. The first church was erected here in 1821, and was used by the congrega- tion until 1870. It was during this year the present fine appearing church was built, at a cost of about $2,500. It is lo- cated in a shady grove, with an adjoining schoolhouse. There is also a large grave- yard near by, neatly fenced and well taken care of. The roof is of an excellent quality of the famous Peach Bottom slate, which lends attraction to the appearance of the structure.

Trinity Church of the Evangelical Asso- ciation. - This church was built in 1871, in the western part of the township, and in the Logansville Circuit of the Central Pennsyl- vania Conference; its membership at present is sixty five.

The Chapel in the northern part of the township, built in 1872, with a membership of about fifty, and Mount Pleasant Church built in 1880, in the southern part of the township, and having about forty members; and both of the Evangelical Association, are thriving churches, and are evidently do- ing much good.

One more church and the list ends: St. James, in the southwestern part of the town- ship (sometimes knowu as the Fifth Ward), was built in 1879, and is of the Lutheran per- suasion, and under its present pastor, Rev. Mr. Lenhart, is rapidly increasing in strength, and is becoming a power for good in the . community in which it is located.

738

HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY.

THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

When the public school law first went into operation, there were five schoolhouses in the township. The schools were supported by subscription and such small aid as the State afforded for the tuition of indigent pupils. The number of schoolhouses now is sixteen; well built and commodious, as a rule, and in which all the children of the township can be accommodated. Sabbath schools, well offi- cered and managed, are held in many of the schoolhouses, as well as in all the churches, some of which are very large, and Sabbath morning sees the children with their parents wending their way to the house of God- for the citizens of Chanceford, as a rule, are a church-going people.

HON. VALENTINE TROUT.

Hon. Valentine Trout, of Chanceford, was elected associate judge of York County, in October, 1873. The bench then, the last bench in York County in which there were any associates, consisted of Hon. Robert J. Fisher, president judge; Hon. John Moore, associate judge; and Hon. Valentine Trout, associate judge.

By the constitution of 1873, the office of associate judge, not learned in the law, was abolished in counties forming separate dis- tricts. The bench still retained its two-fold character for a time, as the constitution pro- vided that all associate judges in office at its adoption should serve out their full terms. Judge Moore's term expired in 1875; Judge Trout's in 1878.

December 3, 1878, a large number of the personal friends of Judge Trout assembled at the Lafayette House, in York, to partici- pate in a supper tendered him on his retire- ment from the bench, and as the last of a line of illustrious lay judges. He was pre- sented with a pair of gold spectacles and a silk hat The Daily of the 4th said: "Hon. Valentine Trout, whose term of office expired on Monday, leaves the bench with a charac- ter untainted and unblemished, and bears with him in his retirement the respect and approval of all parties and of the bar." Judge Trout was born in 1817.

THE TOWNSHIP OF LOWER CHANCE- FORD.

T THE name "Chanceford " is a compound word meaning a chance ford. The word was first known to history in 1745, when, by the division of Lower Hellam Township, the upper section of it, upon petition to the court, was called by the early Scotch-Irish settlers "Chanceford," and the lower section "Fawn," after which event Lower Hellam disappears as a name of a township west of the Susque- hanna. It would seem that in neither his- tory nor geography is the word Chanceford elsewhere used to designate a place. Chance- ford Township was organized under the au- thority of the provincial court at Lancaster. The following copy of an official document contains some facts relating to the early local history of this section, and is signed by the first settlers:

TO THE WORSHIPFUL JUSTICES OF THE COUNTY OF LANCASTER:

The petition of the Inhabitants of Chanceford in the County Shewith-That ye said Township to- gether with ye Township of Faun was formerly In- cluded in one Township under ye name of Lower Hallam, But upon ye Unanimous Petition of ye In- habitants of ye s'd Township in General, ye same was by your Worships Divided into two Townships by a Branch of Water Called Muddy Creek, which is and was to ye Satisfaction of ye Inhabitants in General and of Equal Ease and Conveniency to all Persons in Each Township that are Liable to Exe- cute any Publick Office, &c. Yett notwithstanding, a Certain number of ye Inhabitants of Faun at Last May Sessions Petitioned your worships to allter ye said Devision and allow of a Division of ye s'd Township by a South West Line from Ashmore's ferry which would make s'd Township of Chance- ford to Consist only in about Eighteen or Twenty Poor Families Liveing mostly four or five miles asunder and some further amongst s'd Hilley and Remote Parts of ye s'd Townships thereby making ye same near Thirty miles Long and about six wide, which would Render ye same Insufficient for a Township and be an Unreasonable Piece of Cru- elty upon any of ye Inhabitants to Execute any Office which of course according to their number and ye Several Services Incumbent on them must fall to Each Man's Lott, once in Three years, and if any Poor to maintain it will be only one Poor maintaining another, for which Reasons and many others-we Humbly Pray your worships in your wisdom to Consider and Prevent ye Unequalness and disagreableness of such an attempt of makeing a new Devision of ye s'd Township whereby one will Consist only of some Poor Scattered familys about one fourth of ye Inhabitants in ye whole and ye other near Three fourths of ye Best in Substance when ye first Division Equally Devides ye Inhabit- ants and ye s'd Ill conveniency, &c.

and your petitioners as in Duty Bound shall Pray &c.

Chanceford, June 12, 1747. ALX'R. MCCALL. JOHN CAMPBELL.

HUGH ROSS. JOHN BOKANAN.

MOSES WALLACE. ROBERT MORTON.

DAVID MCCARTHY. JAMES SMITH.

739

LOWER CHANCEFORD TOWNSHIP.

ROBERT HOWARD.

WM. SMART.

WM. ANDERSON. THOMAS JOHNSON.

JAMES ANDERSON. CHARLES CALDWELL.

CHARLES CARSON. ADAM MOMACHAN.

PATRICK McGEE.

WM. McCOME.

ORGANIZATION OF LOWER CHANCEFORD.

The township of Lower Chanceford was erected in 1805. A petition signed by a large number of citizens of Chanceford, set forth

That your Petitioners have, for a long time, labored under many disadvantages arising from the great length and contracted breadth of our township many of our citizens never attend our township meetings. The supervisors can not examine into the state of the roads. Our collectors also fail in collecting the several taxes from transient persons who slip off and leave them as soon as they hear of the collectors being in the neighborhood. These, with other reasons, have induced your Petitioners that a division of Chanceford Township be made.

The court, Hon. John Joseph Henry, pre- siding, appointed John Sample, Patrick Purdy and James Gordon, commissioners, to view and make the division.

The surveyor, Jesse Cornelius, wanted the upper section called "Sharron" and the lower part retain the name Chanceford. The view- ers wanted the upper division named "Cen- tre." The same difference of opinion pre- vailed among the citizens, whereupon the court decided on the names which these dis- tricts now bear. According to the draft when the division was made, Lower Chance- ford contains fifty-two and one-half square miles or 33,600 acres. The southwest end of the division line began at a chestnut tree along Muddy Creek on the land of James Gibson, and from thence extended in a direct line northeast seven and four-fifth miles to a point thirty rods above Burkholder's Ferry.

The eastern part of the township, as at present formed, is drained by Otter Creek, Saw Mill Run and other smaller tributaries of the Susquehanna. The western part by Orson's Run, Tom's Run and the other small tributaries to the Muddy Creek, which stream washes the entire southern and western boundaries and separate this township from Fawn, Peach Bottom and Hopewell. The old York & Peach Bottom Ferry road, laid out as early as 1748, diagonally crosses Low- er Chanceford on the watershed which sepa- rates tributaries of the Susquehanna from those of the Muddy Creek.

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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 143

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