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 79

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 79

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PATRICK SCOTT.

Patrick Scott was a man of great individu- ality of character, and one of the first set- tlers who attained prominence in the local affairs of Peach Bottom Township. He was an Irish Presbyterian, and early in the his- tory of Slate Ridge congregation, became an influential ruling elder. When the church building was moved from the month of Scott's Run to its present position, he took an active part in the work. He was known far and wide among the Scotch-Irish of the lower end, as " Paddy Scott, the coffin- maker." When a new road was to be laid out, Patrick was either one of the viewers, or else had considerable to say about the road. One of the first large houses among the early settlers of that section was built by him. When the Revolution began he became an ardent supporter of the new gov- ernment, and was chosen a representative to the first convention that met in York, on December 16, 1774. He assisted in raising a fund of £6 from his township to be

sent to Boston. In 1775 he belonged to the Committee of Safety for York County. In 1783-84 he was a member of the House of Reprepentatives. He was doubtless a man of considerable force of character, and great individuality. As a mark of prominence in church affairs, he built for himself a much larger pew than any one else, and was a con- spicous figure in it. Many an early settler of the lower end was laid beneath the sod by his direction, in the pursuit of his occu- pation. It was even said that his own casket was made at his direction before his death. Characteristic of the Irish, he never would tell the date of his birth, but on the granite slab, that marks his tomb, at the southeast corner of the Slate Ridge Church, is found the following inscription : "In memory of Patrick Scott, who departed this life August 8, 1825, in the ninety-sixth year of his age." Three wives died before him, and each was remembered by a granite slab similar to his own. The fourth wife survived him.

MATTHEW DILL.

Matthew Dill was one of the first settlers

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in the vicinity of the present town of Dills- burg. He was of Scotch-Irish ancestry. During the troubles immediately before the French and Indian war, he was one of five commissioners, one of whom was Benjamin Franklin, appointed to make a treaty with the Indians at the Croghan fort, which was located near the Susquehanna, in the lower end of Cumberland County. He afterward took a part in the French and Indian war. In 1749, he was one of the eight justices of the peace, and justice of the court of Com- mon Pleas of York County, He died before the Revolution. His remains, together with those of many of his descendants lie in the family grave-yard a few hundred yards west of Dillsburg, this county. His daughter married Col. Richard McAllister, founder of the town of Hanover.

Col. Matthew Dill of Revolutionary fame, was a son of Matthew Dill. In October. 1764, he was appointed justice of the peace and of the Court of Common Pleas, under the Colonial Government, and con- tinned in same office upon the adoption of the constitution of 1776. Served in the General Assembly in 1877-78-79. During the year 1779 was appointed sub- lieutenant of York County, to organize the county militia, and in March 30, 1780, was appointed one of the three commissioners to seize the personal effects of Tories in York County. For a short time after the Revolu- tion he was president justice of the Court of Common Pleas.

MAJOR JOSEPH PROWELL.

Major Joseph Prowell, a grandson of James Prowell, who was one of the first Welsh emi- grants to Pennsylvania, locating in the north- ern part of Chester County, as early as 1715. The children of James Prowell were Charles, Mary, and Thomas. Charles joined a Chester County regiment at the advanced age of six- ty years; and was lost, either killed or cap- tured, in the first Jersey campaign, during the Revolution. Martha was married to Rich- ard Buck, in the First Presbyterian Church of Philadelphia. Thomas Prowell, the young- est son, in 1752, was married to Rachel Grif- fith, in the Old Swede's Church, Philadel- phia. Many of her relatives, by same name, located with the early Quaker emigrants in Warrington Township, this county. He, hav- ing been there earlier in his life, soon after marriage, removed to Warrington, and pur- chased a tract of land near the Conewago Creek. Their children were Joseph and Will- iam, the first of whom was born in York County, and the latter in Chester County, to

which place the parents returned in 1760, and Thomas died in 1765, leaving an estate of £412 1s. 9d., in Chester County, of which David Thomas and Joseph Coates were executors; and an estate of £336 in York County, of which Robert Nelson and Peter Gardner were executors. His will bequeathed equal shares to his widow and two sons, and named Rev. Owen Thomas as guardian of his son Joseph, and Joseph Coates guardian of his son William; and further requested that both sons should be " put to trades" at the age of fifteen.

Joseph Prowell, the subject of this sketch, upon attaining manhood, became a member of the City Troop, a noted military organiza- tion of Philadelphia; and during the War for Independence participated with his com- pany in the Jersey campaign and the battle of Brandywine. In 1778, at the age of twen- ty-six, he became major of Colonel Patton's Regiment, and joined in the march of Gen. Sullivan's expedition against the Indians in the Genesee country, New York.

After the Revolution, he became a pros- perous merchant on the high seas, and en- gaged in trade with many foreign ports. On June 4, 1804, he took sick while on board his vessel, which he landed on the Barbadoes Islands, east of the West Indies, and the same day made his will. From this sickness he partially recovered, landed at Philadel- phia, and a few days later added a codicil to his will, in his own hand-writing : "at the house of my esteemed friends, Captain James Josiah and his estimable lady, near Phila- delphia." There he died on April 3, 1805, aged fifty-three years. He was buried with "the honors of war" by the City Troop of Philadelphia.

Major Prowell is remembered traditionally as a bold, daring and fearless officer, and had a romantic history. He participated in the sailors' troubles with the pirates of the Bar- bary States, and afterwards owned large posses- sions in the Colony of Dernaii, bequeathed to his daughter Rachel, then living with Robert Pulsford of London, whose son she married. He owned a plantation called "Washington," in the Colony of Berbice, which is the eastern division of British Guinea on the west coast of Africa, and there assisted the British Gov- ernment to quell an insurrection in 1803. When taken sick on the Islands of Barbadoes, he released his three servants or slaves, namely, "Harry Christmas," "Old John" and "Captain," and granted them £20 a year. The executors of Major Prowell's estate were David Lennox, of Philadelphia; Robert and William Pulsford, of London; and John

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Donglass of the Colony of Berbice-in each of which places he had possessions.

William Prowell, the second son of Thomas Prowell, moved to Warrington in 1779, hav- ing previously been engaged in manufactur- ing powder in Chester County for the Con- tinental Army. He married Mary Nelson, daughter of Robert Nelson, and a few years later moved to Fairview Township, where he purchased land. His children by first mar- riage were Joseph, Samuel and Jane; children by second marriage were William, Thomas, Jacob, Mary, Ann and Elizabeth.

The writer of this, a grandson of Joseph and a son of Samuel N. Prowell, is a lineal desceudant of the Welsh emigrant, James Prowell, of the sixth generation in America.

ENSIGN JACOB BARNITZ.

Ensign Jacob Barnitz was born in York, of German ancestry, and early in life was a brewer. When the Revolution opened, he be- came ensign of Capt. Stoke's company in Col. Swope's regiment, which formed a part of the famous "Flying Camp." He was then eighteen years old, and marched with his regiment from York to New Jersey, and from thence to the defense of the city of New York, and after the battle of Long Island joined the garrison of Fort Washington. When the British attacked this fort, Ensign Barnitz was wounded in each leg, and when the garrison surrendered he was left on the field. The enemy stripped him of every- thing but his stockings, which were filled with blood. He lay where he fell during that night and the next day. As the evening closed, a Hessian soldier ap- proached and was about to bayonet him, when a British officer, who chanced to be near, took pity on him and thus saved his life. He was then thrown on a wagon and taken a prisoner of war to New York City, then in the hands of the British, where he re- mained fifteen months, suffering from his wounds. Upon his exchange he was re- moved on a wagon from New York City to his home in York. He partially recovered. from his wounds, and in 1785 was appointed register and recorder of York County, serv- ing continuously until 1824, a period of thir- ty- five years. Ensign Barnitz, which name he always retained, carried a British ball, re- ceived at the attack of Fort Washington, for thirty years, but the shattered bone length- ened, and in 1806 he was compelled to un- dergo amputation. For a long time kind Providence permitted him to live, the sole standard-bearer of the "Flying Camp." Soon after the war he married Mary, daugh-

ter of Archibald McClean, mentioned else- where in this chapter. Their eldest son was Hon. Charles A. Barnitz, an eminent lawyer and member of the twenty-third Congress. His second son was Jacob Barnitz, a gal- lant soldier of the war of 1812, who bore a distinguished part as an officer of volun- teers at the baltle of North Point. Ensign Barnitz lived to the age of seventy years, and his remains now rest at a conspicuous spot north of Zion Lutheran Church in York.

GEN. WILLIAM REED.

Gen. William Reed was an officer in the Third Battalion of York County Militia during the Revolution. He was chosen a member of the convention which framed the second constitution of Pennsylvania in 1790; became brigade inspector of York County Militia, April 25, 1800 and member of the State Senate from 1800 to 1804; appointed adjutant-general of the State of Pennsylvania August 4, 1811, and took sick and suddenly died June 15, 1813, at New Alexandria, West. moreland Co., Penn., while organizing the State militia during the war of 1812-15. His remains were interred near Millerstown (now Fairfield), Adams County.

CAPT. THOMAS CAMPBELL.

Capt. Thomas Campbell was a private in Capt. Doudel's company that marched to Boston in 1775; commissioned first lieuten- ant in the Fourth Pennsylvania Regiment, January 3, 1777, and wounded in the battle of Germantown; commissioned captain of his company, January 1, 1781 and returned home January 1, 1783; member of the House of Representatives of Pennsylvania, from 1797 to 1800 and a member of the State Senate from 1805 to 1808; one of the original order of the Society of Cincinnati. He died in Monaghan Township, in 1815.

BENJAMIN TYSON.

Benjamin Tyson, of Windsor Township, was of Scotch-Irish ancestry. During the war of the Revolution he took an active part in supporting the cause. As a farmer he was above the average of his section. In 1783 he was appointed commissioner of taxes, and in 1790 was elected by York County to be one of its representatives to assist in fram- ing the second constitution of the State of Pennsylvania, and in 1791 was appointed a justice of the peace under its provisions. He died in Windsor.

JAMES EDGAR.

James Edgar was born near Slate Ridge

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Church, Peach Bottom Township, in 1744. In 1776, at the age of thirty-two, he repre- sented York County in framing the first con- stitution of Pennsylvania. He moved to western Pennsylvania in 1779, located in Washington County and became one of the most substantial citizens of his locality, and was chosen one of the first associate judges of his adopted county. During the time of the Whisky Insurrection in western Pennsyl- vania, in 1794, he used his utmost influence and power to quell it without resort to arms. He is described by a writer of his day as " a truly great and good man. In theological and political knowledge he was superior to most professional men, had as clear a head and pure a heart as ever fell to the lot of mor- tals, possessed an eloquence, which, although not polished, was convincing and persuasive; · yet he lived in retirement on his farm, except when the voice of his neighbors called him to serve the church or the state." In the early part of the year 1794 he addressed in a church a congregation of 2,000 people, on the subject of the Whisky Insurrection, with a clearness of argument, solemnity of manner, and tenderness of eloquence that reached the understanding and penetrated the hearts of his hearers. The consequence was, very few of his neighbors were connected with those lawless riots.

HON. HUGH HENRY BRACKENRIDGE.

Mr. Brackenridge emigrated when but a child, with his parents, to America from Scotland. They settled within the present area of Peach Bottom Township. His early education was obtained in the schools of the first settlers in that region. He afterward entered Princeton College, where he gradu- ated in 1771; studied theology, was licensed in the ministry of the Presbyterian Church, . and served in the American Army as chaplain during the Revolution. He relinquished the ministry, was admitted to the bar, and about the time of the closing of the war removed to the western part of Pennsylvania. In the legal profession he soon gained prominence and distinction, and won a high reputation as a scholar, lawyer and jurist. In 1800 he was appointed judge of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania.

Judge Brackenridge's opinions while on the supreme bench were original, and are remarkable for their keen analysis of the case before the court and for their humor. This last faculty he possessed in a high degree. His book, called ," Modern Chivalry, or the Adventures of Capt. Farrago," is a satire after the order of Hudibras, in which the

captain and his man Dennis wander, like Don Quixote and Sancho Panza, through the world in quest of adventure. The book presents a fair picture of the state of society at the time. The judge, with Albert Gallatin and other prominent men, participated in the whisky insurrection, and wrote in vindication of it. He died at Carlisle, in 1816.

HON. JAMES ROSS.

Among the distinguished men of whom York County has been the place of birth, may be mentioned James Ross. He was born July 12, 1762. He was admitted to the bar in the year 1784, and he selected Washing. ton, Penn., as the place of his residence. He was a member of the Constitutional Con- vention of 1789, and took an active part in its debates. In 1794 he was appointed a senator of the United States, and was made at one time president pro tem. In 1797 he was elected a United States senator, and was a member until the 4th of March, 1803. He was appointed, together with Jasper Yeates, a judge of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, and with Mr. Bradford, attorney-general, was appointed a commission to settle the disturb- ances occasioned by the whisky insurrection. He distinguished himself by his maintenance of American rights on the Mississippi before the cession of Louisiana. He was candidate for governor of the State, in 1799 and in 1802, against Thomas Mckean. His failures here did not injure in any degree his fame as an upright and tried statesman. He died, hon- ored and respected, at Pittsburgh.

ARCHIBALD STEELE JORDAN.

Col. Jordan was one of the most promi- nent men and politicians of his day. He served as Brigade Inspector of the County of York for twelve or fourteen years, hold- ing that office during the war of 1812-14, and was in constant correspondence with the authorities of the State and Federal govern- ments, and in active duty during the rendez- vous of the Pennsylvania troops at York on the occasion of the invasion of Maryland and attack on Baltimore. In connection with that office, he was made paymaster for the York County troops, who were engaged or drafted from the county at that time. He served four years as a member of the House of Representatives, and was in high standing as such. He was a son of Thomas Jordan, Esq., of Hopewell Township, who was one of the justices of the peace under the Con- stitution of 1790, in the Thirteenth District composed of the township of Hopewell, com- missioned August 10, 1800. His son, Joseph

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Jordan, became possessed of the homestead, which is now possessed by Col. James Jor- dan, son of the latter. Several of the brothers acquired distinction. Samuel Jor- dan, of Peach Bottom Township, was elected to the legislature two or three terms. Benja. min Jordan was quite a prominent man in his day. He served in the custom house as clerk under Mr. Steele, his mother's brother, after which he became president of the Mid- dletown Bank, which position he held for several years. At the time the United States Bank question arose, he became a Whig. He represented Dauphin County in the House and Senate at the time Hon. Adam Ebaugh was there from York.

Archibald S. Jordan married Miss Turner, and they had fourteen children. twelve of whom grew up. A son and four daughters are yet living. Benjamin Franklin Jordan, the son, lives in Baltimore County, Md., near New Market, and is a prominent politician. He was commissioner of Baltimore County several years. The eldest son, John, settled in Chester County and died there. James Potter settled in Ohio, and is deceased. James Ross lived on the old homestead of his father in Hopewell: was a thrifty farmer (single) was kicked by a horse and died from the effects of the injury received. Edward was a practicing physician in Baltimore city, who died two or three years ago. Samuel died a few years ago, and is buried in the Presbyterian churchyard at Stewartstown. The sisters, Mrs. Mary J. Arthur, Mrs. Har- riet Long, Mrs. Rachel McComas and Aman- da, wife of Mr. Robert Smith, are still liv- ing. The three first named are widows. Mrs. Arthur and Mrs. Long are living in Stewarts- town, and Mrs. McComas is living in Har- ford County, Md.

JAMES STEEL.

James Steel was born in Philadelphia, about 1774. His father, James Steel, emi- grated to Pennsylvania from Scotland prior to the revolution, and with his brother, Thomas settled at Philadelphia. Being a zealous patriot and possessed of ample means, he contributed largely to the struggling gov- ernment; and when Philadelphia fell into the hands of the British. he removed to Harford County, Md., and purchased a tract of land. About the same time, Thomas obtained a warrant for the land now owned by McSparren, north of Slate Ridge, in York County. James Steel represented Harford County twice in the legislature of Maryland, and was one of three commissioners appointed to revise the State constitution. He was a

man of liberal education and for many years was noted as an accomplished land surveyor, in the lower end of York County ; was employed to locate and survey the lines of Peach Bottom Township, when it was erected from Fawn. He visited Kentucky in 1815, or thereabouts, and purchased 31,000 acres of land in the Green River Valley, 28,000 of which he sold soon after to a man named Morrison. He died in 1849, at the age of seventy-five years.

HON. THADDEUS STEVENS.

There are a few citizens who will remember the career of this distinguished "American Commoner" while he was a teacher in the York County Academy and a student at law in York. He was born in Danville, Vermont, April 4, 1792. His father was a shoemaker, of dissipated habits, who died of a bayonet wound in the attack on Oswego, while bravely defending his country during the war of 1812. His mother, whom he never wearied praising, was a woman of strong natural sense and unconquerable resolution. In his youth, Thaddeus was one of the most diligent readers, ever known in America, and at the age of fifteen he began to found a library in his native town. He entered Burlington Col- lege, first graduated at Dartmouth in 1815, and a few months afterward was engaged by Rev. Dr. Perkins, then principal of the York County Academy, as an assistant. Amos Gilbert, the famous teacher of the Lancastrian School, who resided for a short time at York, during the period that young Stevens was here. says: "he was a modest, retiring young man, of remarkably studious habits." Feel- ing somewhat displeased with the actions of some of the members of the York bar, he made application for admission at Gettysburg, which at that time con- tained but few lawyers, as the county was only fifteen years old. Not having read law, according to requirements, under the instruc- tions of a person learned in the law, he was rejected. The laws of Maryland were not so rigid; he then went to Bel Air, where he was admitted under Judge Chase. The committee on examination he said asked him only three questions, whereupon the judge promised if he would buy the champagne for the party, a certificate would be forthwith granted. He agreed to this; the certificate was signed, but before being handed over, two more bottles were demanded of the young lawyer. To use his own words, "when I paid my bill the next morning, I had only $3.50 of the $45 that swelled my pocket-book the evening before." From there he went to Lancaster, crossing

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the Susquehanna at McCall's ferry, York County. Here his horse took fright at some of the timbers of the new bridge, which was then being built across the river at that point, and horse and rider would have fallen into the stream, had it not been for the bravery and presence of mind of one of the men working on the bridge. He arrived at Lancaster, and the next day came to York, and a few days later located as a lawyer in Gettys- burg. He did not succeed at first, and while attending a public meeting at Littlestown, Adams County, he told a number of persons that he was going to leave the county as he could not make a living in it at the practice of law. A terrible murder was committed a few days later and he was employed as counsel for the defendant. From this case he drew a fee of $1,500, which was the beginning of his career of fortune and fame. For a num- ber of years, his familiar form was seen . in the court houses of York, Adams and Franklin Counties, always being employed in the most intricate cases. Subsequently as a lawyer, member of the Pennsylvania Legis- lature, a distinguished member of the Lancas- ter bar, and the great American congressman and debater, his name and fame are familiar to every intelligent American citizen.

JUDGE LEWIS.

Hon. Ellis Lewis was born in Lewisberry, this County, May, 16, 1798, and was a son of Eli Lewis, the founder of the village. He attended the schools of his native town, and as remembered by some of the oldest citizens now living. was an unusually bright pupil. He learned the printing trade, then stndied law, and was admitted to the bar at Williamsport, in 1822, and two years later was elected to the Pennsylvania Legislature from Lycoming County. In this sphere he soon showed his ability as a lawyer and leg- islator. Gov. Wolf. in 1833, appointed him attorney-general of Pennsylvania; soon after he was appointed president judge of the Eighth Judicial District, and in 1843 was made judge of the Second District, which em- braced the courts of Lancaster County. In the year 1851 he was elected judge of the su- preme court of the State of Pennsylvania, and succeeded to the position of chief justice. In 1857 he declined the unanimous nomina- tion for re-election to the supreme court, and retired to private life. In 1858 he was ap- pointed one of the commissioners to revise the criminal code of Pennsylvania. On ac- count of his extensive knowledge of medical jurisprudence, the medical college of Phila- delphia conferred upon him the honorary

degree of M. D. He received the title of LL. D. from Transylvania University and from Jefferson College. Judge Lewis' legal opin- ions on important and difficult cases are fre- quently cited with approval. He published a work, of which he was the author, entitled "An Abridgement of the Criminal Law of the United States." He was a profound jurist, and a man of great versatility of talents. Some fine specimens of literature from his pen found their way into the periodical journals. In early life, during the year 1828, he became an honorary member of the York bar, but never practiced here regularly. His death occurred in Philadelphia ou March 9,1871.

G. CHRISTOPHER STAIR.

G. Christopher Stair was born August 21, 1824. When he grew to manhood he taught school for a number of years; served also as school director, and in 1855 became the second county superintendent. He was a great reader, and was possessed of a large fund of general information. He had a fondness for that kind of information, which had the keenest wit. His own conversation displayed a humor that might have been com- mitted to writing with advantage. For many years he edited the People's Advocate, a pa- per noted for its dignified attitude and liter- ary standing. He was feeble in health and constitution, and died December 4, 1861, aged only thirty-seven years. He was so- cial to a high degree, and was familiarly known, to a large circle of friends, as "neigh- bor Stair."

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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 79

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