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 80

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 80

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THE REVOLUTIONARY BUTLERS.

Thomas Butler and Eleanor, his wife, came to America in 1740, from North Ireland, fol- lowing the Scotch-Irish immigration and took up a tract of land in York County, "near ye Conewago on ye west side of Susquehanna" May 10, 1743. Here "they lived some time." Of these parents were born five sons, "a gallant band of patriot brothers." They were called in Revolutionary times, "the five fighting Butlers."

Gen. Richard Butler, the eldest of the family was born April 1, 1743, in York County was educated in Rev. Mr. Allison's classical school in Chester County, Penn., and then studied law. In 1764, he served under Col. Henry Bouquet, of the English Army, in his expedition against the Indians in western Pennsylvania. At the outset of the Revolu- tion, he was chosen major of the Eighth Pennsylvania Regiment, and soon after, lieutenant and colonel of Morgan's Rifles,

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HISTORICAL BIOGRAPHIES.

He assisted in the capture of Burgoyne's army at Saratoga, in October, 1777, and was at the battle of Monmouth, in June, 1778. He soon afterward became colonel of theNinth Pennsylvania Regiment, which he commanded at the battle of Stony Point. He remained several months with a portion of Wayne's army at York, and in 1781, marched with his regiment from York to Yorktown, Va., and witnessed the surrender of Lord Cornwallis. After the war, he lived at Carlisle, and in 1785 was appointed on a committee to assist in treating with the Indians, of the North- west. In 1788, he returned to Carlisle, and became a member of the General Assembly of Pennsylvania.

Col. William Butler, the second son, was born in York County, June 6, 1745, was Lieu- tenant Colonel of First Pennsylvania Reg- iment. He died in Pittsburgh, Penn., in 1789.

Col. Thomas Butler the third son, was born May 28, 1748. The other two, brothers, Col. Percival Butler and Capt. Edward But- ler were born in Cumberland County.

REV. LUCAS RAUS.

The Rev. Lucas Raus, son of Lucas and Justina Raus, was born in May, 1723. His native city was Hermanstadt, the capital of Transylvania, which formerly was annexed to Hungary, but now belongs to Austria. The family to which he belonged, had pro- duced many eminent divines in Hungary; and among them may be mentioned his own father, and his maternal grandfather.

Mr. Raus spent the first twenty years of his life in the city of his birth. There he pursued his studies under the direction of his father, preparing himself for the pulpit. Hermanstadt being mostly a Catholic city, Lucas was induced to visit the institutions of other places, in order to complete his studies. Accordingly, he left the paternal mansion in 1743, and proceeded to Presburg, the capital of Hungary. At this place he continued four years in the prosecution of his studies, when in May, 1747, he removed to Leipsic, in upper Saxony. In the year 1749 he removed from Leipsic to Jena, the place which, on the 14th of October, 1806, wit- nessed the triumph of the French over the Prussian Army. At Jena he resided but a few months, for he had now completed his studies, and was, by travelling, adding the polish to the polite world to the erudition of the scholar. His intention was now to visit Holland and then to return directly to the residence of his father. He proceeded to Amsterdam, where, at the time, there was a general spirit of migration to America.

Much that was inviting was said of this part of the world; and emigrants from various parts were sailing weekly from that city. Mr. Raus caught some of the feeling which then prevailed; and as a good opportunity offered itself, he determined to cross the Atlantic, spend a few months in this country, which was represented as the land of promise, and then, returning to Europe, commence the labors of his holy calling. Accordingly in the year 1750, Mr. Raus sailed from Amster- dam, and arrived at Philadelphia.

In a few years after his arrival in that city, he changed his views as to his future residence: for, although youthful affection still bound him to Hermanstadt, which he had not visited since he first left it in 1743, yet he determined to spend the remainder of his days in this country.

Soon after he determined to remain in this country, he commenced his ministerial Jabors. Being invited to settle in Germantown, he accepted the invitation and preached in that place and its vicinity for three or four years, when he removed to York,

Mr. Raus was married at Germantown, in 1753, to Sophia, daughter of Mr. George Gemling, then deceased.

At York, Mr. Raus continued to reside, until the time of his death, as the minister of the German Lutheran Congregation in this place. In connection with the church in York, he presided over the spiritual con- cerns and occasionally preached to four or five congregations in the vicinity of the town.

This faithful servant in the vineyard of Christ, was at length called to rest from his labors. In the latter part of June, 1788, he was attacked with a billious fever. The dis- ease raged with great fury for the space of about two weeks, when, on the 11th of July, 1788, the subject of it departed this life, in the sixty-fifth year of his age.

Mr. Raus was eminent as a scholar. Hav- ing devoted nearly all the first thirty years of his life to undisturbed and undivided study, he was not only a profound theologian but an accomplished scholar in the polite branches. Among the languages with which he was familiar, were the German, the Eng- lish, the French, Latin, Greek and Hebrew.

Mr. Raus was the father of twelve chil- dren, four of whom surrvived him, viz. : Margaret, Elizabeth, Catharine and John.

REV. THOMAS BARTON.

The Rev. Thomas Barton was a very im- portant personage in the colonial history of York and Cumberland Counties. He was

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HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY.

born in Ireland in 1730; educated at the university of Dublin. In 1753 he came to America, and was employed as a teacher for two years in the academy of Philadelphia. At certain intervals he visited the church people at York, Huntingdon (now York Springs, Adams County) and Carlisle. After making the acquaintance of the English peo- ple at these places, he was induced by them to return to England, obtain clerical orders from the proper authorities, and become the officiating rector for the people of the Epis- copal Church in York and Cumberland Coun- ties. He came back to America in 1755, and immediately began to organize congregations at the three places above mentioned. Ves- trymen and wardens were settled in each of the places. He visited other settlements, administered the religious rites to the church people. While here in York and Cumber- land Counties, as early as 1756, his attention was called to the unfortunate condition of the poor Indians, with whom he frequently associated while on his ministerial tours. Some Indians came to Carlisle to sell for and deer skins, he invited them into his church or building, in which he was conducting religious services. The few of them, who could understand English, at once became interested in him. When they returned they brought some of their friends to visit him, and shake hands with them. He then had great hopes of converting many of them to Christianity, but the direful French and Indian war broke out, and all hopes of his prosecuting his missionary work among them ceased. At this period he found himself and his parishes exposed to the incursions of the exasperated red man, and he became chap- lain of the troops under Gen. Forbes on the Western expedition, and became a prominent personage in that important campaign. After the French and Indian war, he served as rector of St. James' Church at Lancaster, for a period of twenty years. In 1770 he received the honorary degree of A. M. from King's College, N. Y. During his pastorate at Lancaster, he frequently conducted relig- ious services at York. When the war of the Revolution came on, Mr. Barton found him- self considerably impeded in the perform- ance of his ministerial duties, and was ulti- mately obliged to retire from his field of labor altogether. He was not willing to take the oath of allegiance to the commonwealth, and was permitted to sell his property and pass within the British lines. He arrived in New York in November, 1778, where he died of dropsy May 25th, 1780, aged fifty years. He was married in 1753, at Philadel-

phia, to a sister of the celebrated David Rit- tenhouse. At his death he left a widow and eight children; one of his sons, Benjamin Smith Barton, was a distinguished professor in the University of Pennsylvania, and died in 1815. William Barton, his eldest son, wrote the life of David Rittenhouse. The widow died at the age of ninety years. Rev. Barton published a sermon on Braddock's defeat. Hon. John Penn said of him: "He was a most worthy pastor and missionary, and as such, his name should go down to pos- terity."

REV. JACOB LISCHY.

The "Schweitzer Prediger " was promi- nently identitied with the early religious his- tory of York County among the first German settlers. He worked as a missionary, attend- ing to the spiritual wants of the people in various sections. His record book of his first labors in this county, when the settlement was yet sparse, is still in existence. As a man he had a vigorous intellect, of consider- able force of character, and yet his career was anomalous and strikingly singular and erratic. Most of his life was spent in the ministry of the German Reformed Church, and yet he neither began nor ended his career within that church. Jacob Lischy was a Swiss German, and immigrated to America, landing at New York May 28, 1842, in company with twenty-seven other German emigrants, in the sailing vessel, called "Snow Catharine," commanded by Capt. Gladman. He was not a minister when he came to this country, but was soon recog- nized as a man of intellect above the ordin- ary German emigrant. Soon after arriving in Pennsylvania he was brought under the influence of Count Zinzindorf, the apostle of the Moravian Church in America, who came to this country in 1741. At the instance of Zinzindorf, he was ordained a missionary when yet a young man. According to his own words he adopted the Christian religion under the preaching of the Moravians at Basle, in Switzerland, when fourteen years old. Making a success of his missionary work as a layman he was ordained as a min- ister at Bethlehem in January, 1743, and sent out to preach the gospel under the di- rection of Count Zinzindorf. Soon after his ordination he preached to newly formed congregations at Mode Creek and Kissels' farm in Lancaster County. An old record says, "he was a warm-hearted, gifted and approved preacher, and made a great im- pression wherever he went." In his own words he " was preaching for the congregation

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of God in the Spirit," and consequently used different types and modes of worship, which he claimed was a union of the Moravian, Reformed and Lutherau faith. For this reason he got into frequent controversy. About this time he received at least a dozen calls to preach. Some of them came from his native country.

On the 12th of August, 1744, a written invitation was sent him to take charge of the German Reformed congregation in York, which had not yet had a settled pastor. An old record says: "In 1744 the well-known Jacob Lischy, who had been sent out by the congregation at Bethlehem, Penn., came into the neighborhood of York to preach the gos- pel to all who were willing to hear him. He professed to be a Reformed minister, and was invited to preach to the German Reformed congregation at York; on the 29th of May, 1745, he accepted the pastorship of this church." In 1746 " a brethren synod " was held in Kreutz Creek, at which Rev. Lischy and Rev. Nyberg, a Lutheran preacher, lately from Sweden, who also belonged to the "Union Church," were the prominent cler- gymen. Nyberg took charge of the Luther- an Church of Hanover that year. It was about this time that the elders of the congre- gations at York and Kreutz Creek became aware that their pastor, Rev. Lischy, had some Moravian proclivities, and when he wished again to preach in York many per- sons had collected in front of the church with great noise, and for a time forbade him to preach in their church. In connection with Rev. Christian Henry Rauch, an open air meeting was held along the Codorus, and a large audience attended. For a time pub- lic services were held at Immel's house on the Codorus. There was a great religious awakening among the German settlers dur- ing the years 1745-46. It was brought about by the united efforts of the clergymen of the German Reformed, Lutheran and Mo- ravian denominations. This gave rise to great controversy as to which denomination should eventually gain the ascendancy. Lischy's sphere seemed to be that of a con- troversionalist. His preaching was, how- ever, effective, and he continued the regular pastor until 1754 of York, Kreutz Creek and other congregations in York County formed by him. During his pastorate here he had repeated calls elsewhere. But his career in York was uot all harmonious. On May 2, 1747, the celebrated Rev. Michael Schlatter visited York, and according to his journal "found a large German Reformed congrega- tion. But on account of Lischy's semi-re-

formed and semi-Moravian tenets, the brethren (Moravians) in connection with Rev. Lischy, has brought much confusion among them."

Rev. Lischy. through the instrumentality of Rev. Schlatter the distinguished clergyman of the Reformed Church, was regularly or- dained a minister of the German Reformed Church, on September 29, 1747. He then invited Mr. Schlatter to come from the synod at Philadelphia, to York, to assist in restor- ing harmony. He was not allowed to admin- ister the holy sacrament for a time. By May 17, 1748, when Rev. Schlatter returned again to York, he found that "confidence in Lischy had been restored and their affection for him was kindled anew." On the 18th of May he was asked to preach before Rev. Schlatter and the congregation, without having much time for preparation, in order to test his orthodoxy. The following was the text selected: "For many are called, but few are chosen." This was the first time he had preached in the church since the disturbance, more than a year before. His sermon was a success, and he was afterward allowed to preach in the church regularly. After separating from the brethren (Moravians) he became violent against them, both in writing and speaking. In this he showed a side in his nature not to be admired. When he left York charge in 1754, a series of resolutions were passed and signed by eighty seven male members, and the name and work of Dominie Lischy was long remembered among them. There were, however, many inconsistencies in Do- minie Lischy's extraordinary character, which sometimes overruled his great preten- sions to piety. For an unfortunate calamity- that befell him he was suspended from the ministry of the German Reformed Church June 8, 1757. Final action was taken in his case by the synod of Holland, during the year 1760. Shortly after this event he moved to a farm, which he had before purchased, in what is now North Codorus Township, this county, on the right of the road leading from Spring Grove to Jefferson, and nearly mid- way between the two places. He opened a school and organized an independent church and did not disappear from the ecclesiastical arena. For a time his son taught a very successful school on his farm. Rev. Lischy organized, in 1765, what is now known as "Lischy's church," in that vicinity. In this quiet community he spent the remainder of his life, and was respected by the people among whom he labored. Among the taxa- ble lists for 1780, we find the following as- sessment: "Rev. Jacob Lischy owned 100

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acres of land, 40 of which was cleared, had three horses, two cows and five sheep. En- tire valuation £1,600. He paid a tax that year of £30. The continental currency then was much depreciated. In the family graveyard, on what was his farm, we copied the following. inscription: "In memory of Rev. Jacob Lischy, V. D. M., born in Switzerland, in Europe. Departed this life A. D. 1781." A few other persons are inter- red in this same "neglected spot," among them, his wife, who died in 1754. A large pear tree has grown up by her grave. The burying ground is on an elevated plane, with a commanding view of the surrounding country.

REV. JACOB GOERING.

The Rev. Jacob Goering, second son of Jacob and Margaret Goering (emigrants from Germany), was born in Chanceford Township. in this county, January 17, 1755. His father was a farmer. Young Goering was soon distinguished for as- siduity in the pursuit of knowledge. Such was his economy of time, and his passion for study, that scarcely a moment of his youth was spent in idleness. At an early age he was a teacher of English school in the neigh- borhood of his father's house; he when about eighteen years old moved to Lancaster to pursue his studies under the direction of Rev. Mr. Helmuth. From there he went to Carlisle, and preached to the Lutheran con- gregations in that town and vicinity. After a few years residence in Cumberland County, he removed to Dover township, this county, and preached to the Lutheran congregations in that neighborhood, still continuing his stated services at Carlisle. While residing in Dover Township he was married to Eliza- beth, daughter of the Rev. Nicholas Kurtz, who was at that time pastor of the German Lutheran congregation in York. About the year 1786, he was invited to take charge of the Lutheran congregation in York. After preaching six years here, received and ac- cepted an invitation to preach to the congre- gation in Hagerstown, Md. He was at length induced again to take charge of the congre- gation at York.

M'2. Goering continued to minister to the congregation in York until his death, on November 27, 1807.

Mr. Goering wrote much, though he pub- lished but little. His manuscripts contained much that marked his original and energetic mind. These valuable papers, with all the letters he had received, he committed to the flames during his last illness. The manu- scripts of Mr. Goering did not contain dis-

quisitions on theological subjects only- they embraced many inquiries into the orien- tal languages, with translations, from the most beautiful works of Arabic poets.

He was a man of profound thought and deep investigations, a fine scholar, an elo- quent public speaker, and a warm-hearted and charitable Christian.

REV. SAMUEL BACON.

Samuel Bacon was born at Sturbridge, Mass., on July 22, 1782. Having prepared himself in an underschool, he became a student in the university of Cambridge, at which institution he was afterward graduated. On leaving the college he went forth "in quest of fortune and a name." From New-England he went to Lancaster, Penn., and there he was for some time principal of the "Franklin Col- lege." His leisure hours were now spent in the study of the law, and conducting the " Hive," then a periodical paper of some literary merit. From Lancaster he came to York ; and this town he afterward considered as his home. Here he was at first a classical teacher in the York County Academy, and in this task of instruction he acquired the good will of all his pupils, and became the admiration of all that knew him. Be- coming weary of the pursuit, which is at least irksome and tedious, he applied for a commission in the service of his country, and was appointed a lieutenant of marines. He was soon afterward appointed a quarter- master, with the rank of captain. In the year 1814, he was married at York to Anne Barnitz, daughter of Jacob Barnitz, Esq. She died in the succeeding year, leaving a son who still lives.

Whilst yet an officer of marines, he re- sumed the study of the law with a distin- guished advocate in the city of Washington, and was admitted to the bar in that metropo- lis. At the battle of Bladensburg he was attached to Commodore Barney's corps, and was the officer who conducted the retreat. In the year 1815 or 1816, he resigned his com- mission, and returning to York, he com- menced the practice of the law, and received the appointment of deputy attorney-general for the county. About this time he began to be seriously attentive to things relating to his eternal welfare; and he evinced his sincerity by the best practical proofs. He labored continually for the establishing of Sunday-schools ; and owing to his extraor- dinary exertions there were at one time, in twenty-six schools of this county, about 2,000 scholars. He commenced a course of theo-

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logical reading, whilst yet in the practice of the law. Upon relinquishing his profession he was ordained a deacon in the Episcopal Church, by Bishop White. He then trav- eled as an agent of the Missionary and Bible Society through this and the neighbor- ing States, soliciting donations, establishing Sunday-schools, and endeavoring to do good in the great office to which he had been called. At length he was appointed by the heads of government the agent of the United States, to accompany the first adven- turers of the Colonization Society to their intended settlement on the African coast. There, at an English settlement called Cape Shilling, he died of a fever incident to that country, May 3, 1820, aged thirty-eight years.

Bacon perished in a land of savages, far removed from all that could smooth his passage to the tomb, or uphold him in the hour of death. But his was the hope of a Christian, and he leaned upon the arm of his God. No storied urn, no proud mausoleum marks the place of his repose ; but the poor savage as he passes over the place where his dust sleeps, will drop a tear to the memory of the friend of man.

REV. LEWIS MAYER, D. D.

Rev. Lewis Mayer was born at Lancaster, Penn., March 26, 1783, and was the son of George L. Mayer, a gentleman of liberal edu- cation. He received a good German and English education in his native town, and at an early age removed to Frederick, Md., and began business. Being better suited to books, he then determined to enter the min- istry. He made rapid progress in classical and theological studies, and was licensed to preach in 1807, by the Reformed synod, which met that year at New Holland, Lancaster County. He is supposed to have preached at Frederick the first year of his ministry. In 1808 he accepted a call to the Shepherds- town, W. Va., charge, where he officiated twelve years. In this position he succeeded well, and soon became one of the most prom- inent ministers of his church. In 1821 he was called to the Reformed Church of York, which position he filled until his election to preside over the Theological Seminary of the German Reformed Church, which was estab- lished in 1820, at Carlisle. Mr. Mayer resigned his charge at York in 1825, and went to Carlisle and commenced operations as its president. In 1829 the seminary was removed to York, where it rapidly increased in number of pupils and influence under his direction and care. This year the Reformed

Dutch College, at New Brunswick, N. J., con- ferred upon . Mr. Mayer the honorary degree of doctor of divinity. In 1835 the synod determined to remove the seminary to Mer- cersburg, when Dr. Mayer resigned his pro- fessorship, and determined to remain at York. He spent the remainder of his life in literary labors. He was favorably known as a scholar, minister and author. He was a great student, a deep and correct thinker. For a long time he edited the German Reformed Messenger and Magazine. Among his works are "Sin against the Holy Ghost,""Lectures on Scriptu- ral Subjects," "Hermeneutics and Exegesis," "History of the German Reformed Church." He was twice married. His first wife was Catharine Line. By this marriage they had six children, one of whom was John L. Mayer, for many years a prominent lawyer of York. His second wife was Mary Smith. Dr. Mayer, who did not enjoy good health for many years, died of dysentery on August 25, 1849.

REV. DANIEL ZIEGLER, D. D.

Rev. Daniel Zeigler was born in Reading, Penn., on the 11th of June, 1804. After he attained the age of twenty-one years, he entered the University of Pennsylvania, at Philadelphia, where he remained for a time and then came to York, as a student of the- ology in the theological seminary of the Ger- man Reformed Church. It was under the presidency of Rev. Dr. Mayer. About the year 1828, he became pastor of the Kreutz Creek charge. It included the Reformed congre- gations in the Canodocholy valley, and con- tinued his services in that charge for a period of thirty-seven years, and served eighteen years as pastor of the German Reformed congregation in York. Early in his minis- terial work he turned his attention to the new science of entomology, and in connection with Dr. Melsheimer of Davidburg, became quite proficient in classifying insects, and in the study of their characteristics. He en- tered into a correspondence with many noted personages, who were interested with him in the same department of scientific investiga- tion. Ursinus College conferred on him the title of doctor of divinity. He di 1 in York, May 23, 1873.

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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 80

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