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 149

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 149

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June 20, 1752, Nathaniel Morgan, John Griffith, Alexander Wallace, Hugh White- ford and Archibald White reported to the court at York that they had "laid out a road as directed, from Peach Bottom Ferry, so called, to the road leading to the town of York."

Robert Fulton, the inventor of the steam- boat, was born opposite Peach Bottom in Fulton Township, Lancaster County.

Much of the land of this region was taken by John Cooper, an Episcopalian, who came from Kendall, England, about 1720. As early as 1725 he came to Peach Bottom. Some of his descendants reside here, and his remains are interred on the farm of Levi Cooper. John Cooper was married to Agnes Gill, whose father lived on the site of Balti- more before the city was built. They had five sons and two daughters. The names of the sons were John, Stephen, Alexander, Nicholas and Thomas. The last-named, the grandfather of Levi Cooper, in 1774 built the house now owned by his grandson. Thomas Cooper married Mary Abercrombie, by whom he had four children. He died in 1799. Stephen Thomas Cooper, his son, was married to Kezia Bell, of Washington County, Penn. He was a member of the Pennsylvania leg- islature in 1826, 1827 and 1828, and died in 1855. Levi Cooper, who owns the home- stead property, is his son.

John Kirk, an English Quaker, established a mercantile business, and conducted a grist- mill at Peach Bottom for many years. He began in 1798, and afterward Maj. McConkey became associated with him, and eventually succeeded him. (See biographical part of this work, page 165.)

A postoffice was established here in 1815. The first postmaster was John Kirk, who con- tinued in the position until 1826. Since then there have been thirteen appointments, as fol-

lows: September 1, 1826, James McConkey; December 5, 1835, Andrew McConkey ; December 11, 1839, James McConkey; Jan- mary 8, 1855, Jerry Kirk; March 29, 1865, Isaac Parker; June 22, 1868, A. F. Wiley; June 15, 1869, Elmira Geiger; February 16, 1870, M. C. Geiger; November 18, 1870, Elias Fry; October 11, 1871, C. G. McGlaughlin; April 9, 1875, S. D. Fry; March 9, 1876, John Q. A. McConkey.

Joseph Webb, an English surveyor, who once was an employe in the government land office, and who in 1810 started Palmyra Forge at Castle Fin, made a plan for a town at Peach Bottom Ferry in 1815, which he named "Sowego." It proved only to be a paper city of 150 lots, a number of which were disposed of by lottery. The old Mc- Conkey mansion was the only house built on the site of the proposed town. Joseph Webb died in 1840, and willed sixty-nine acres of his land to the Pennsylvania Colonization Society.

Slate Point is an interesting geological cu- riosity, located a short distance below Peach Bottom Ferry. It is the eastern terminus in York County of the valuable vein of slate. This point is a perpendicular bluff 320 feet from the Susquehanna, and is much visited by lovers of romantic scenery. From its sum- mit there is a fine view up and down the riv- er, the waters of which seem to pass almost underneath the observer. To the west of it a hill rises 150 feet higher. Near by a quar- ter of a century ago was opened a valuable slate quarry.

Indian Hill, near by, is a romantic spot.

Shad fishing was an important business. The fishing places are known as Independent Battery, Boyd's Battery, Hawkin's Battery, etc. As many as 3,000 shad were caught in a seine fifty yards long at Slate Tavern, near Cully's Rapids in the Susquehanna.

Gen. LaFayette, on his way to Yorktown, Va., in 1781, with his army, crossed the Sus- quehanna at Bald Friar Ferry, a few miles below Peach Bottom.

THE BOROUGH OF DELTA. '

The land upon which the Borough of Delta is built was deeded by the proprietaries to Alexander McCandless in 1744. The town, however, is of recent origin. William Orr built the first house within the borough limits. There was a collection of a dozen or more houses before any specific name was given. The citizens met, once upon a time, to decide upon a name. The word Delta was suggested and accepted. The fourth letter of the Greek

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HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY.

alphabet is Delta, but the word in English is used to designate a triangular piece of land, drained by the different mouths of a river, and having the shape of the letter named.

The original postoffice was named "Mine Hill," established September 20, 1866, and situated in Harford County, Md. It was re- moved to the young village June 15, 1869, and changed to Delta. The court granted a decree incorporating the town into a borough June 24, 1880. The first municipal elec- tion was held August 30, 1880. V.G. Stubbs was chosen burgess, H. R. Loyd, H. C. Robert, E. J. Blain, T. A. Battie, Howell Williams and Robert Ramsay, councilmen. The pop- ulation at present is 500. The town is rapidly increasing in size. The borough is well represented by the following business interests: E. Arnold & Co., V. G. Stubbs & Son and Loyd & Blain in general merchan- dise; William F. Mclaughlin, hardware; A. M. Clarke, jewelry; L. B. Rankin, drugs; Mary A. Colmary, millinery and fancy goods; Bullet & Poist, carriage-makers; Dr. J. W. Hickman, druggist and physician. The other practicing physicians are W. H. Kilgore and W. McCurdy. J. T. Crawford is justice of the peace and surveyor. V. G. Stubbs & Son have recently started a creamery.

Corporal Baer Post No, 277, G. A. R., of Delta, was organized under a charter granted August 22, 1882, with twenty four members and the following officers: Commander, A. M. Clarke; S. V. C., R. L. Jones; J. V. C., S. M. McLoughlin; quartermaster, J. P. Baker; Chaplain, Richard Ruff; Officer of the Day, W. G. Macomber; Officer of the Guard, James Poff; Adjutant, H. J. Baer. These officers served to January, 1883, and were then re- elected for one year. W. G. Macomber was Commander during the year 1884. The offi- cers for the year 1885 were as follows: Com- mander, H. J. Baer; S. V. C., Thomas Fisher; J. V. C., James Poff; Quartermaster, A. M. Clarke; Chaplain, Amos Stevens; Officer of the Guard, William D. Williams; Adjutant, W. G. Macomber.

Of the members of this post the following belonged to Maryland regiments: Thomas Fisher, Company C, Seventh Regiment Infan- try; Amos Stevens, Company H, same regi- ment; James Poff, Company I, Indiana Regi- ment; W. G. Macomber, Company C, Thir- teenth Regiment; Henry Fisher, Battery B, First Indiana Artillery; Samuel Fisher, same regiment.

The Delta Building & Loan Association was organized in April, 1884. Its stock consists of 320 shares, par value $100, held by 105 stockholders. Its present directors

are: A. M. Clarke, president; E. Arnold, vice-president; J. T. Crawford, secretary; Robert L. Jones, treasurer; V. G. Stubbs, Dr. W. McCurdy, Richard Rees, W. S. Whiteford and A. H. Scarborough.

CHURCHES.

Delta Methodist Protestant Church .- About the time of the incorporation of Delta (1880) a few of the members of Mount Nebo Methodist Protestant Church arranged for religious services here, and secured preach- ing at irregular intervals by Rev. Mr. Litz- inger, pastor of that congregation. Having purchased a lot from R. S. Parke they, in 1883, under the pastoral care of Rev. J. W. Charlton, commenced the erection of a honse of worship, which, when fully completed, will cost about $3,000. The building com- mittee were: Rev. J. W. Charlton, John Macomber, J. W. Stanley and James Ritch- ies. The trustees are: John Macomber, J. W. Stanly, Daniel Culp, Thomas Holden, Robert M. Moore and E. C. Garrettson. The present pastor is Rev. A. D. Dick, and the membership is 110. The Sunday-school is under the charge of John Macomber, as super- intendent, and seven teachers. The number of pupils in 1884 was 107.

Peach Bottom Baptist Church. - This con- gregation was organized in 1872 in a school house about four miles northeast of Delta under the leadership of Rev. John W. Jones. The congregation then elected James W. McCurdy, deacon; L. J. Dodson, church clerk, and Henry J. McCurdy, treasurer. The same church officers are still serving. Upon the death of Rev. Jones, in 1873, Rev. A. W. Eastman became his successor, and served until 1879, when the present pastor, Rev. Alfred Wells, was called. He is also pastor of the Drumore Baptist Church in Lancaster County. There are thirty-five members in the Delta congregation. In 1883 the convenient and comfortable frame church was built in the borough of Delta at a cost of $1,800. The building committee were: Rev. Wells, W. J. McCurdy, L. J. Dodson, H. J. McCurdy and H. A. Johnson. After the completion of this new building, the Baptist congregation at Phoenixville, Penn., presented the Delta congregation with a pipe-organ, valued at $800. Miss Allie McCurdy is organist.

BRYANSVILLE.

This hamlet was named after Dr. J. Y. Bryan. It was first a schoolhouse site, and being located on a slight eminence was originally called "Mount Pleasant." Evans

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PEACH BOTTOM TOWNSHIP.

Gregg opened the first store. J. W. Van- sant, who was engaged in the mercantile business here, secured the establishment of a postoffice in 1850. For many years Dr. Bryan himself was postmaster, and interested in the mail routes through the lower end of the county. His daughter, Mrs. Belle Gal- lagher, is postmistress here at present.

Dr. James Yeaman Bryan was born in Bucks County, Penn., in 1805. His ances- tors are of French Huguenot stock, and emi- grated from France to England, during the religious persecutions in the former country. The original family name was LeBrene, which in England was contracted to Bryan. Dr. Bryan became a medical student in the. office of. Dr. George Mcclellan, of Philadel- phia, father of the late Gen. George B. McClellan. In 1832 he moved to the present site of Bryansville, which was named after him. He had a large practice for many years and died October 6, 1874.

Byransville Seminary was kept by him for a time. Among the instructors were J. A. Lippincott, now of Dickinson College; Revs. T. R. Vickroy and J. B. Ackers.

The church of the Evangelical Association at Bryansville, was completed in 1882, and dedicated the same year; Rev. P. W. Raida- baugh officiated at these services. Rev. G. H. Schleh was then pastor. The church is a neat frame structure delightfully situated.

PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

Peach Bottom was one of the first town- ships to accept the public school system. The names of the schools are as follows: Bellview, Union, Byransville, Mount Holly, Slate Dale, Glenwood, Pleasant Valley, Mount Joy, Pike's Peak, Slateville, Peach Bottom, Graded School. The members of board of directors for the past year were James A. Stewart, T. C. Ramsay, Robert S. Parke, James H. Fulton, John I. Davis and Thomas Watson.

THE TEMPORARY LINE.

At or near the fourth milestone, west of the Susquehanna, this line between Pennsyl- vania and Maryland is clearly defined by re- ference to old deeds and maps, now in pos- session of James Powell. It runs at this point about forty-five rods south of Mason and Dixon's line; it seems to run a little north of west, thus causing the two lines to converge.

Reference is made to this line in a lease dated February 13, 1755, for a tract of land called "Tom's Knolls Resurveyed" wherein "the Hon. Edward Lloyd, Esq., agent

and receiver-general of the Right Hon. Lord Proprietary of the Province of Maryland" lets for the term of ninety-nine years the said tract to Asbel Brannon. This tract was sold in 1788 to Thomas Steel, and in all the deeds the temporary line is mentioned. (See page 55.)

THE SLATE QUARRIES.

The slate quarries of this township for half a century have been famous. They have given popularity to the name Peach Bottom over a large extent of country. In- dustrial statistics show that five-eights of the slate used in America is quarried from North- ampton and Lehigh Counties, in this State, and the valuable quarries of Peach Bottom. For roofing purposes the slate of this town- ship is unexcelled on account of its durabil- ity. The roof of the Slate Ridge Church was placed on it in 1805, and is still well preserved. The quarrying of the slate of this region for use as tombstones began at a very early period, but for roofing purposes slate was quarried only in small quantities before 1800.

The land on which the quarries are locat- ed, was originally the McCandless property and now owned by the Williamson estate. A Baltimore company opened some quarries and did a considerable business as early as 1812. Peter Williamson, a native of Scotland, be- came the lessee and Maj. Thomas S. William- son succeeded, and eventually purchased the lands. He quarried slate extensively for many years. The slate is first blasted out, then hoisted by steam to the bank in large irregularly-shaped blocks. These blocks are then broken or "scalloped" into smaller blocks, and then split into sheets of required thickness. For that purpose a chisel or knife about eighteen inches long is used. The slate as it lies in distinct veins, splits readily wherever the knife is put in, if in- serted when the block is wet, or "green," as it is called by the workmen. They denomi- nate the original moisture in the slate "sap." After the blocks become dry, they harden and cannot be split easily. After the blocks are split, the sheets are dressed or trimmed into shingles of the required shape, by means of a machine worked by foot-power, which is from 6x12 inches to 14x24 inches.

Slate is packed and sold in "squares," which contain 100 square feet, or sufficient to cover a space of 10 feet by 10 feet, when laid on the roof. One square of slate covers the same area as 1,000 shingles. For more than a third of a century the quarries at Peach Bottom have been operated by the Welsh, among whom are John Humphreys

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HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY.

& Co., William E. Williams & Co., E. D. Davies & Co., James Perry & Co., William C. Roberts, Thomas W. Jones & Co., John W. Jones & Co., Foulk Jones, Hugh E. Hughes & Co., Kilgore & Co., and others, all of whom are intelligent men. Many of them worked in the slate quarries of North Wales before coming to America. John Humphrey located here, coming from Wales in 1849. The means at the disposal of miners for getting out and dressing the slate were then very limited and chiefly con- fined to an ordinary crane and derrick. At that time the mines were not deep like now. The slate ridge which crosses the township south of Delta is neither high nor steep, but preserves a rather uniform outline as far as it can be followed by the eye from the valley below.

From 3,000 to 3,500 squares of slate of the best quality and 1,000 tons of second quality have been obtained yearly from some of the best quarries. Some of the quarries are 200 feet deep. Prof. Agassiz, the great naturalist, visited these quarries in 1870.

Enos Frey & Co. have recently commenced operations in mining slate on an extensive scale in this region. There is a valuable vein of serpentine in Peach Bottom Town- ship.

WEST BANGOR .- THE WELSH.

The village of West Bangor is situated on the summit of the slate ridge, and contains a population of about 300, all of whom are Welsh. The town was started about 1850, and a postoffice was established July 31, 1861, which became a money-order office July 6, 1876.

The Welsh, who began to locate in Peach Bottom as early as 1843, coming from the slate region of North Wales, are an intelli- gent and industrious people. Many of them have become remarkably prosperous as operators of the mines. There are in all 500 Welsh people in this commu- nity who speak a language which had its origin as far back as the sixth century, or 700 years before the origin of the English language. They are representatives of an ancient Celtic race, of which there are 1,500,000 in Wales, and 400,000 in America, mostly in the West. Welsh children are all taught English in their native country as well as in America. In Peach Bottom they attend the public schools; most of them are bright and intelligent pupils. They are taught, however, to hold in great reverence their na- tive tongue, scarcely a word of which is iden-

tical with the English. All of their religious services are conducted in Welsh in a solemn and impressive manner. There is no nation- ality more faithfully devoted to the cause of Christianity. As a people, the Welsh are matter of fact, and do not read frivolous stories. There are no works on infidelity pub- lished iu the Welsh language, and none were ever written by a Welshman. Infants are baptized only when their parents are mem- bers of church. The remains of the dead are placed in -the tomb facing the east. As a people they love sacred music, and some are great singers.

In the Slateville churchyard among many Welsh tombs, is one with the following in- scription: "Er Cof am William Morris Y Can- or, Bu farw Hydref 27. 1869. Oed 44." Will- iam Morris, who died here at the age of for- ty-four years, was a noted singer. On one occasion, with his sister, he sang the Un- broken Covenant with great feeling and ef- fect to an audience of thousands collected in Caernarvon Castle, the birth place of the first Prince of Wales.

The Calvanistic Methodist Church at West Bangor was erected in 1854, on land donated by the late Maj. Williamson, under the direction of John Humphrey, D. E. Will- iams and Robert Davis, the first trustees. The first pastor was Rev. E. J. Hughes, who was succeeded by Rev. Evan F. Jones, who remained about eleven years, after which the pulpit was vacant for three years, when Mr. Hughes returned to the charge, which he continues acceptably to fill. Mr. Jones went to Wales, where he has attained celebrity as a pulpit orator. The membership of this church numbers about 100, composed entirely of Welsh immigrants and their descendants, the services being conducted in that lan- guage. The Sabbath school numbers 150, of which Timothy Morgan is superintendent.

The Welsh Congregational Church, of West Bangor was organized November 21, 1855, at Slateville, with thirty seven members. Hugh Williams and William Morris were first dea- cons. The worship was then held in the vestry of the Presbyterian Church. and the con- gregation had no regular pastor. In 1857 the society purchased, for a nominal sum, a lot in West Bangor, of Thomas S. Williamson, and in the same year erected a commodious frame church. The trustees then were Grif- fith Davies, Robert Hughes, David C. Will- iams, Hugh Williams and Elias Rowlands. The church was dedicated in 1858, by Revs. Morris R. Remsen, of New York, and David Price, of Utica. The late William Morris assisted greatly in paying for the church,

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PEACH BOTTOM TOWNSHIP.

Rev. Thomas Williams, now at East Bangor, this State, was the first pastor and served ten years. In 1884, after being nearly ten years without a pastor, Rev. Dglyn Jones, a young man from Wales, was called. On account of ill-health he returned to his native land. In 1885 the present pastor, Rev. John Cadwallader, then of Columbus, Ohio, accepted a call to this church. The church membership is seventy, with a con- gregation of 250; membership of Sunday- school, 100 pupils.

HISTORICAL NOTES.

By the village of Delta stands an histori- cal farm-house. Originally it was built of logs, by Alexander McCandless, one of the first settlers in that section. It became his- toric by being the birth-place of that eminent orator and statesman, James Ross, who afterward lived in Pittsburgh, and who for a number of years was a representative in Congress from the western part of the State, and from 1797 to 1803 was United States senator. In 1805 and 1808 he was the Fed- eralist candidate for governor of Pennsyl- vania. The first time against Gov. Mc. Kean and the second time against Gov. Simon Snyder. There was a singular co- incidence in his life, worthy of notice. While he was a farmer's boy in Peach Bot- tom, his future political opponent for gover- nor of Pennsylvania, Simon Snyder, was learning the tanner's trade in the town of York. The gubernatorial contest of 1808 was one of the most animated in the annals of Pennsylvania. It was just after England had insulted our American seaman off the coast of Virginia, and during the bitter con- troversy concerning the management of State affairs. Senator Ross, late in life, paid regular visits to his place of birth. The old Ross mansion is now owned by Robert Ram- say, whose late wife's mother, Elizabeth Ross Whiteford, was a sister of the senator. Mr. Ramsay, who has lived here since 1827, in 1814 was a soldier in Capt. Amos's com- pany of 100 men, who marched to the de- fence of Baltimore when attacked by the British. The company started from the village of Dublin, Md., in the month of August; on the way remained one night in the court house at Bel Air, and the next day arrived at Baltimore. This was two weeks before the arrival of the British. Mr. Ram- say, now at the age of ninety-one, is tall and erect, and walks witk a firm step and steady tread. He delights to talk of the past, and pictures with great accuracy the bombard- ment of Fort McHenry, as he saw it amid

the booming of cannons and the explosion of shells on that eventful night, when Fran- cis S. Key wrote the "Star Spangled Banner" while a prisoner of war on a British vessel. In 1805, while on his way to school, near Ramsay's Tavern, Mr. Ramsay narrowly escaped being captured by a drove of wolves. At the election in November, 1884, he cast his sixteenth presidential ballot, voting first for James Madison. His wife, Jane White- ford, died in 1876, fifty-five years after their marriage.

John Flehearty, who lives near the village of Fawn Grove, was born in the year 1790, during the first term of Washington's ad- ministration, which fact makes his life some- what historic. When young he was employed as a teamster from Harrisburg and points east to Pittsburg. He is nearly ninety-six years old, and is strong, healthy and vigor- ous.

Joshua Kilgore, who died in this town- ship in 1885, aged ninety-one years, was a soldier of 1812.

William Edgar, William Rowland, Will- iam Luckey, Robert Luckey, David Smith, John Morrison and Robert Martin were ap- pointed viewers in 1748 of "a road from the Ashmore ferry-road to York running south to the temporary line to David Smith's patented land."

Dr. Whiteford, born in Peach Bottom Town- ship, was a surgeon in the war of 1812, and at Baltimore, and afterward a very prominent physician.

Dr. James Montgomery, one of the first physicians of the lower end, after removing to Baltimore, won distinction and prominence in his profession.

Rev. Dr. Martin, Hugh Glasgow, Rev. Mr. Parke, Joseph Wiley, Nathan Beamis and Hugh Whiteford were among the first persons to introduce pleasure carriages into this section. They were then a novelty. Patrick Scott and others soon followed their example. As these nabobs approached Slate Ridge meeting-house with their "wheel con- cerns," they were the observed of all ob- server's.

For a period of ten years there were only eight persons in this township who voted the old Federalist ticket. They were John Kirk, James McConkey, Joseph Webb, John T. Cooper, Daniel Mitchell, Wilson Mitchell, Joseph Mitchell and Robert Ramsay. The last mentioned is still living. Most of the voters here in the early part of the present century were followers of the principles of Thomas Jefferson.

Col. Mathew Clark was, as early as 1810,

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HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY.

a prominent commander of volunteer and militia companies. He was a member of legislature in 1804 and 1805, and was elected county commissioner in 1824. Major Andrew McConkey succeeded him, and organized a uniformed company during the year 1827, which served a period of seven years. A few of the members of this company are still liv- ing.

Rev. James Ross Ramsay, son of Robert Ramsay, was born at the homestead near Delta. For thirty years he has been a suc- cessful missionary among the Seminoles, in Indian Territory. He is now located at Wewoka in the Territory named. His daugh- ter is a teacher of a school of sixty Indian youths, under the direction and management of her father.

Joseph Ross, the father of Senator James Ross, moved from Chanceford to Peach Bot- tom early in life.

Mrs. Coulson, an aunt of ex-Gov. Kirk- wood, died in the vicinity of Delta, during the year 1884, at the advanced age of ninety years. Her distinguished nephew visited her while he was a member of Presi- dent Garfield's cabinet.

"Coulsontown" is a small village of twelve or fifteen houses occupied chiefly by Welsh slaters. It is located below West Bangor, south of Slate Ridge.

Slateville Postoffice and store are now kept by S. M. Jenness Foulk Jones, well known as a retired slate operator, owns the property. His residence is near by. There is a collec- tion of a dozen houses composing the hamlet. Hugh Whiteford and Patrick Scott, two prominent persons among the early settlers, were the first to erect large houses in this township.

Shortly after the completion of the Sus. quehanna canal, this section had an abun- dance of its small currency in denomina- tions of 5 cents to $1. These "shin-plas- ters" at one time became nearly valueless.

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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 149

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