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 84

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 84

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Cavalry Corps.

Officers. 213

1,501 Men ..

Officers

Artillery Corps. 237

Men ...

.2,797

Officers.

.13,333 Men

5,833

Totals.

.23,464

2,651

You may be certain that this is correct.

You may remember that Fitz Lee went off with his cavalry and that Gen. Lee sent out after him to come in and surrender. He came in, I think, after we left. I remember you very well and pleasantly.

M. R. MORGAN, Brevet Brigadier-General, U. S. A. To Gen. Adam Badean, Consulate-General United States, London, England.

to March 16, 1867, and of the department of the Cumberland, March 16, 1867 to July 26, 1869; and purchasing and depot commissary at Louisville, Ky., December 1, 1866 to July 26, 1869; in settling accounts at Washington, D. C., to September, 1869; as chief commis- sary, department of California, and purchas- ing and depot commissary at San Francisco, Cal., September 30, 1869, to December 12, 1872; as chief commissary, department of Arizona, at Prescott, Ariz., February 20, 1873, to May 25, 1875, and acting

[Major Staff-Commissary of Subsistence, June 23, 1874.]

chief quartermaster, June 23 to May 10, 1874; and purchasing and depot commissary, Chicago, Ill., Juue 25, 1875, to November 30, 1880; as chief commissary, department of Texas, and purchasing and depot commis- sary at San Antonio , Tex., from November 30, 1880 to August 31, 1883; purchasing and depot commissary at New York City, N. Y., from September 22, 1883, up to the present time.

CAPT. WILLIAM H. MCLAUGHLIN, U. S. A.

This officer was born in York, and was ap- pointed to the military academy from this. district. His military record is taken from Cullum's register of West Point graduates, as follows:

Military History .- Cadet at the United States Military Academy from July 1, 1861, to June 23, 1865, when he was graduated and promoted in the army to

Second Lieut. 17th Infantry, June 23, 1865; First Lieut. 17th Infantry, June 23, 1865.

Served in garrison at Fort Preble, Me., Octo- ber, 1865, and at Hart Island, N. Y., Novem- ber, 1865-April, 1866; as adjutant 2d Bat- talion, 17th Infantry, April 26 to August 1, 1866; on frontier duty at Indianola, Tex., April-May, 1866, and at San Antonio, Tex., May-Angust, 1866; on recruiting service, August 15, 1866 to December, 1867.

[Transferred to 26th Infantry September 21,

1866. Captain 26th Infantry, July 31, 1867.]

on frontier duty at Brownsville, Tex., Feb- ruary, 1868, to June, 1869; Fort Brown,. Tex., to January, 1870; and Fort McIntosh, Tex., to January 31, 1871;

[Unassigned May 19, 1869.]-

on leave of absence, to July 30, 1871; in gar- rison at Chester, S. C., to January,

[Assigned to 18th Infantry, January, 1, 1871.]

1873; Columbia, S. C., to August 28, 1875; Blackville and Allendale, S. C., and Talla- hassee, Fla., August 28 to December 10, 1876,

Longstreets' Corps.

1,527

Officers

Men. Gordon's Corps. 674

426

HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY.

and Columbia, S. C., to July 24, 1877; in suppressing railroad disturbances in West Virginia and Pennsylvania, July 26 to Octo- ber 31, 1877; in garrison at Newport Bar- racks, Ky., November 1, 1877 to July 2, 1878, and Atlanta, Ga., July 3, 1878.

In the spring of 1879, Captain MeLaugh- lin was ordered with his regiment from At- lanta to Montana Territory; the command proceeded by rail to Bismarck, Dak., thence by river and wagons to Fort Shaw. After a temporary delay at the last named post, the company to which he was attached proceeded to Fort Assinnaboine, which was then being built. In the spring of 1881, he was ordered east to New York City; was sent from there to Springfield, Ill., thence again to New York City, as recruiting officer. He returned to Fort Assinnaboine in 1883; remained there until June, 1885, when he was ordered to Fort Reno, Ind. T., where he is at present.

CAPT. GEORGE W. H. STOUCH, U. S. A.

This officer was born at Gettysburg, and was the son of Leonard Stouch, Jr., of an old York County family. He was appointed from the army. He entered the service as a private, November 30. 1861. Private and corporal, Company B, First Battalion, and sergeant-major of Eleventh United States Infantry to June 3. 1864. Appointed second lieut. Third Infantry, June 3, 1864. Was in the following engagements with the Eleventh Infantry: siege of Yorktown, Va .; Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville and Gettys- burg; wounded at Gettysburg, and with the Third Infantry at Fort Stedman, Va., and the surrender of Lee. Second lieut. Stouch, Third Infantry, was with the regiment at Fort Hamilton, New York Harbor, from June 10, 1864, to October 10, 1864; at Washing- ton, D. C., from October 13, 1864, to

[Promoted First Lieut. December 31, 1864. ] February 22, 1865; at Gen. Meade's head- quarters from February 27, 1865, to July 3, 1865; at Washington Arsenal, D. C., from July 4, 1865, to October 10, 1865; at Scho- field Barracks, St. Louis, from October 19, 1865 to April 9, 1866; at Fort Leavenworth, Kans., from April 18, 1866, to September 23, 1866; established Fort Hays, Kans., October 19, 1866; remained there until June 25, 1866; guarded the construction train of the Kansas Pacific Railroad from July 1, 1867, to September 28, 1867; at Fort Dodge, Kans., from November 3, 1867, to February 10, 1871; at Wheeling, W. Va., from February 28, 1871, to December 9, 1871. On sick leave at York, Penn., from December 10, 1871, to February 18, 1872; at Fort Columbus, New

York Harbor, from February;19, 1872, to Feb- ruary 26, 1873; at Fort Lyon, C. T., from March 9, 1873, to June 28, 1874; at Holly Springs, Miss., from July 4, 1874, to Sep- tember 19, 1874; atJackson Barracks, New Or- leans, from September 21, 1874, to April 29, 1876; at McComb City, Miss., from April 29, 1876, to May 28,;1877; at Holly Springs, Miss., from June 1, 1877, to August 8, 1877; at Helena, N. Y., from November 6, 1877, to May 22, 1878; in camp on the Marias River, M. T., from June 3, 1878, to October 20, 1878; Fort Shaw since November 2, 1878.

[Promoted captain April 14, 1884. ] Special Duties Performed.

Commanding Company G, February 23, 1865, to April 14, 1865; was in command of the company at the surrender of Gen. Lee. Am- bulance officer and A. A. G. M. of the Pro- visional Brigade at Gen. Meade's head- quarters from April 14, 1865, to July 3, 1865; commanding Company I from November 3, 1865, to July 1, 1866; commanding Company C from July 6, 1866, to June 25, 1867. Es- tablished Fort Hays, Kans., October 19, 1866, A. A. G. M. and A. C. S. of the post from October 19, 1866, to June 10, 1867; com- manding Company F from July 1, 1867, to January 4, 1868; A. A. G. M. and A. C. S., at Fort Dodge, Kans., from June 8, 1868, to July 8, 1871. On general recruiting service at Wheeling, W. Va., from Feb. 28, 1871, to December 9, 1871; commanding Company C, at Fort Columbus, New York Harbor, from Feb. 20, 1872, to August 8, 1872; post adjutant and commanding Company B, music boys, at Fort Columbus, from May 11, 1872, to July 6, 1873; acting regimental quartermaster and A. C. S., from July 4, to December 29, 1874. A. C. S. at Jackson Barracks, New Orleans, from September 20, 1874, to April 18, 1876; A. ; A. G. M. and A. C. S., at McComb City, Miss., from April 29, 1876, to May 28, 1877; A. A. G. M. and A. C. S., at Holly Springs, Miss., from June 1, 1877, to August 8, 1877; commanding Company F, from June 28, 1881, to October 11, 1883; commanding Company I from October 11, 1883, to June 9, 1884; commanding Com- pany K since June 14, 1884.

Capt. Stouch was married to Augusta Cath- arine, daughter of George W. Wantz, of York, on September 15, 1869, and has a daughter, Florence, and a son George Wantz.

OFFICERS OF THE NAVY. LIEUT. GEORGE P. WELSH.

This officer was born at York, March 26, 1824. He entered the navy, September 14, 1840, and was in much active service. After

427

HISTORICAL BIOGRAPHIES.

several cruises of the usual length of time, the Mexican war broke out in which he par- ticipated. He was present at the bom- bardment of Vera Cruz under Com. Conner, and in the expeditions against Tam- pico, Alvarado, and other river enterprises of the United States squadron during the war. He received his commission as lieutenant, April 18, 1855. He died on board the United States frigate "Sabine," in the harbor of Aspinwall, April 26, 1860. Capt. A. H. Adams of the "Sabine" wrote: "The death of Lieut. Welsh has cast a gloom on shipboard, for his merits as an officer and a gentleman had endeared him to all on board. Faith- fully, ably and bravely he met every duty, and all his associates bear testimony that in him were combined all the best and noblest characteristics of the true American sailor." At the time of his death he was thirty-six years of age, and lieutenant, second in com- mand, on the frigate "Sabine." Of twenty years' service, he had passed more than twelve at sea. As an officer he occupied the highest rank for professional ability. The remains of Lieut. Welsh were brought to York, and he was buried with military and Masonic honors, on Monday, June 18, 1860, in Prospect Hill Cemetery.

REAR-ADMIRAL SAMUEL R. FRANKLIN.

This officer was born at York, August 23, 1825. He entered the navy in 1841. His first cruise was to the Pacific and lasted six years. He afterward served in the Mediter- ranean and North Atlantic squadrons, and on deep-sea sounding duty and the coast sur. vey. In the war of secession he commanded the sloop "Wachusett" in the blockading squadron off Mobile, and was afterward chief of staff of Adm. Palmer and in com- mand of the sloop "Portsmouth," in the . Mississippi River. Since the war he has been stationed at Washington and Man Island Navy Yards, commanded a frigate (the "Mohican") in the Pacific squadron, having charge of the observations of an eclipse of the sun at Behring Strait. He was afterward in charge of the naval hydro- graphic office of the United States Naval Observatory, and is now in command of the North Atlantic squadron. He was a mem- ber, from the South American State of Colum- bia, of the congress to determine a standard meridian and fix standard time for the world, which met at Washington last year. Frank- lin is a brother of Gen. William B. Franklin.

COMMANDER WILLIAM GIBSON.

This officer was born in Baltimore, May 25,

1825, and went to sea at twelve years of age, as a protege of Capt. Isaac McKeener, United States Navy. He was appointed from York, Penn., as a midshipman in 1841. He had his first experience in the line of battle ship "Delaware," in the Brazil squadron. In 1842 he was wrecked in the sloop "Con- cord," in the Mozambique Channel, after which he returned to the ship "Delaware," then in the Mediterranean. During the Mexican war he did good service, in the gun- boat "Reefer," in the gulf of Mexico, and. was closely engaged in the attacks on Alva -- rado and Tobusco. For three years he was engaged in the coast survey on the Pacific, in, the schooner "Ewing." In 1849 he was as- saulted by a mutinous boat's crew in the bay of San Francisco, but was rescued and re- suscitated, and received the thanks of the superintendent of the coast survey, for "characteristic gallantry." He was after- ward in the North Pacific Expedition in 1853, and assisted in the survey of Gaspar Strait. He afterward commanded the schooner "Fenimore Cooper," and made sur- veys of the Japan Sea and the Aleutian Islands, pioneering our Russian purchase of Alaska, and for his services received the thanks of Commander (now Admiral) Rogers, for his zeal and energy in the dangers and. hardships of the cruise.

The war of the Rebellion breaking out, he- went into the contest, and in July, 1862, was commissioned as lieutenant-commander, and was put in command of the steamer "Yankee, " in the Potomac flotilla. He was in all the operations on the James River, while Gen. Mcclellan occupied Harrison's Landing and guarded his recrossing of the Chickahomi- ny. Com. Wilkes thanked him for his capture of several vessels on a night expedition up the Chip Oaks Creek. He commanded the gun- boat "Seneca, " the iron-clad "Catskill, "steam- ers "Nipsie" and "Sonoma, " the iron-clad" Le -. high" and steamer "Mahaska," and rendered good service in blockading and destroying the rebel war steamer "Nashville," and in the at- tacks on Fort McAllister. He was in the fre- quent engagements with the batteries near Charleston, in the joint expedition to St. Marks and received the thanks and. praise of Adms. Du Pont, Dahlgreen and Rowan, and of Maj .- Gen. Newton, and finally, was thanked by the British Government for aid rendered to the Bahamas, after riding- out a hurricane near those islands .*

* The following. hearing on this incident of Commander Gib- son's naval service is introduced here :

"The following letter was forwarded (to Commander Gibson) by the secretary of state through the secretary of the navy. Commander Gibson visited Nassau after having himself, on the

428

HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY.

He is now a commander in the United States Navy and attached to the Hydro- graphic office.

Commander William Gibson is a lineal descendant of David Jameson, of York County, a grandson of Dr. Horatio Gates Jameson, whose memoirs are in this work. Before he had reached his eleventh year, he manifested remarkable talents of a poetic character. His youthful promise was fulfilled by his more mature productions, which have made a mark in the world of letters, and the gener- ous praise and admiration of his brother American poets-especially Longfellow and Bayard Taylor-and of the London literati, have made sure his place among the poets of America. He published in 1853, a volume entitled "A Vision of Faery Land, and Other Poems," and in 1881 another styled "Poems of Many Years and Many Places," and also in 1884 his latest work, "The Poems of Goethe, consisting of his Ballads and Songs, done into English Verse," which has re- ceived the highest commendation from the leading British and American periodicals.

He married December 26, 1868, at New Or- Jeans, Mary Murray Addison, daughter of Lloyd Dulaney Addison, Esq., of that city, and a niece of Rear Admiral Sands.

THE BENCH AND THE BAR .*

"THE judiciary, the most essential mem- ber of the governmental triumvirate, has always held a high place in the esteem of the citizens of York County. The dig- nity of the office would alone command great respect, but to command esteem re- quires learning and probity in the men who may be the incumbents of the office. The county is one of the oldest, and the county

courts have hence experienced all the changes of the judicial system. At one time the justices of the peace constituted the local judiciary, any citizen of good character be- ing eligible; then "learned in the law" be- came the qualification, the judges being ap- pointable; now, "learned in the law," they reach the office through suffrage. It was perceived very early that. the intrusting of this important charge must be kept above the muddy stream of politics, and it was hoped that when the position should be filled by appointment this would be accomplished. In reality the only result was to make an agreement of political opinion with the exec- utive the chief qualification. Unavoidably, therefore, during this period, at some time or times, expressions of dissatisfaction were to be expected. It was left finally to the dis- cretion of the people to say who should judge . them, and the thirty and more years' expe- rience of this latter plan has proven that judicial reform then reached its limit.

In provincial times young men of promise, who aimed at distinction in the law, re- mained in the great political and commercial centers, the large cities. Since wealth and the seats of learning were there, it was natural that there the professions should be the most generously supported, and that their ability and integrity, should be the most quickly rewarded. And, too, the rural settlers, the tillers of the soil, in the outly- ing districts, were for the most part unedu- cated, and therefore distrustful of those wlio apparently made their living from others' troubles. It took a long time to conquer this, still longer to introduce that now fast-grow- ing preventive department of practice which advises against litigation. Thus the city bars flourished in reputation above those of the counties, and in later years their fame even drew to them young men from sections presenting less inducements. Nevertheless, this centripetal attraction was not so ex- haustive as one would suppose. A bar that can boast such names as Ralph Bowie, James Kelley, David Cassat, Charles A. Barnitz, James Lewis, Daniel Durkee, John Evans, Edward Chapin, Thomas C. Hambly, John L. Mayer, John G. Campbell, Thomas E. Cochran, Jeremiah S. Black and Robert J. Fisher must have very early become a cen- ter, exerting a counter gravitation. The York bar early attained a high professional standing, which since has ever been on the increase. Skill, learning and a love of equity have ever attended their councils. The patriotism of the justices and attorneys in the Revolution carried them to the extent

"Tahoma" (his last command) encountered the hurricane re- ferred to hy Sir Frederick Bruce; and he won the praise of his brother officers throughout the service, for the skill which saved his vessel, when close to her the "Evening Star" went down with her living cargo, and land and sea in all the region of the Baha- mas were strewn with wrecks.

(Copy.)

WASHINGTON, January 7, 1867.

Sir: I am instructed to bring under the notice of the govern- ment of the United States the friendly conduct of Capt. Gibson, of the United States ship "Tahoma," and of Capt. Cooper, of the "Winooski," in rendering aid to the Bahama Islands, after the severe hurricane that lately visited them.

I enclose copies of the dispatches from the governor of the Bahamas and the Colonial Office on the subject, and am directed by Lord Stanley to request that the best thanks of her Majesty's Government may be communicated to those officers, for the kind assistance and co-operation afforded by them in repairing the damages caused by that calamity.

I have the honour to be, With the highest respect, Your most obedient, humble servant, (Signed) FREDERICK W. A. BRUCE.

*By R. F. Gibson.

429

BENCH AND BAR.

of actual neglect of official duty. For, for more than a year during that war, there were no courts held in the county. It is true there were other very serious reasons for this. but the delay would have been materially les- sened had the best men of the district not been away fighting for liberty. Nor have they been found wanting in the wars since. When the bar was founded this country was a dependency of Great Britian. The colo- nists were frontier posts of civilization, for the Indians roamed even within their limits. The transition, at that time, from law as ad- ministered at York to that dealt out a little further west was short and sharp. However, as time went on, slowly but surely was the border line moved west. State after State has been added to the original thirteen, until we have this great Union. Very similar has been the history of the bar. Its beginnings were small, but firm. With this country it has grown in size and influence and esteem, and to-day it stands a noble and able sup- porter of that land whose fortunes it has thus shared.

August 19, 1749, the General Assembly of Pennsylvania passed an act erecting certain lands west of the Susquehanna into York County. In this act it was enacted, among other things, that a competent number of justices should be commissioned; that these justices should hold courts of General Quar- ter Sessions of the Peace, Common Pleas and Orphans' Courts, and that Thomas Cox, Michael Tanner, George Swoope, Nathan Huffey and John Wright, Jr., be authorized to purchase a lot in a convenient place, and thereon build a court house. The justices were not men learned in the law, but any citizens who were influential and popular enough to be elected. Two were elected in each district, one of whom the governor commissioned. Any number of these, not less than three, could hold a court. An ap- peal from their decision lay in the Supreme Court. Two justices, with the register of wills, formed a register's court for the trial of the validity of wills, to settle administra- tion accounts and make distribution of estates.

On October 31, 1749, was held at York, a court of General Quarter Sessions of the Peace, the first court of any kind that ever dispensed justice within the limits of York County. We do not know where the court met, except at "York." There was no re- porter present to describe for us that memor- able event. But we need no reporter to tell us that Adam Miller, on that day, did a good business at his public house in Centre Square;

that the "Law-full" counsellors, who came here to assist at the opening were gazed at as some new species of being; that the seat- ing of the justices was the signal for a grand burst of enthusiasm from the assembled crowd; that in other words, our honest fore- fathers were intoxicated with pure joy, a joy that. evidenced their redemption from a species of slavery. Previous to this York County had been part of Lancaster County. The county seat was Lancaster. There the courts were held, there were the county officers, there were the attorneys. To Lan- caster, a dozen miles beyond a broad river, were the dwellers here compelled to resort for defense of rights or redress of grievances. Traveling at that time was as dangerous as inconvenient. The presence of "idle and dissolute persons, who committed thefts and abuses," is recorded. By reason of the smallness of the population, and the abundance of woodland, they were hard to capture, and, when caught, often found means of escaping during the long journey to Lan- caster. This deplorable condion of affairs, of course, bore hardest on the poor, and they were, for the most part, constrained to sub- mit to indignity and injury. This state of things is shown by many disturbances which assumed importance, most notably by the Cres- sap troubles. The pent-up indignation and despair of the people, at last, in 1747, took the form of a petition to the Governor and Assembly to erect the lands west of the Sus- quehanna into a county, but it was unheard. In 1748, they petitioned again, and on Aug- ust 19, 1749, their prayer was granted.

The records extant with regard to this time are very few and slight. The unembellished facts are: That on October 31, 1749, the first Quarter Session Court for York County was held at York before John Day, and his associate justices. The first act of the court was to grant a petition of certain citizens to keep public houses of entertainment. The first indictment was brought against the over- seer of the highway for neglect of duty. The first panel of jurors was returned by Hance Hamilton at this court. The jurors, seventeen in number, were Michael McCreary, William M'Lellan, James Agnew, Richard Proctor. Hugh Brigham, John Pope, James Hall, William Proctor, William Betty, Nathan Dicks, Jeremiah Louchridge, Thomas Hosack, James Smith, Richard Brown, and Thomas Neily. On Ist of November, the next day, the first Orphans' Court was held before John Day, Thomas Cox and Patrick Watson. The first act performed by this court was to bind out an orphan boy, two years old, by name

4430

HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY.

of George McSweny, to John Witherow of Hamilton's Band, till he should come of age: "In consideration whereof, the said John Witherow covenants and oblidges himself to furnish and Allow the said Apprentice Sufficient Meat, Drink, Apparel, Washing and Lodging during the said term, and to teach or cause him to be taught to read and Write; and Arithmetic as far as the Rule of three Dir- ect, and at the Expiration of the said Term to give him two suits of Apparel, one whereof shall be new." The first suit in the court of Common Pleas was brought to the January term, 1750.

After this successful inauguration, the courts continued to be held regularly and the added prosperity and peace soon proved that the Governor and Assembly had not made a mistake in vesting York County with a dignity of its own. This erection might have law- fully taken place some years earlier, and the delay is really unaccountable. The dwellers west of the Susquehanna had now all the rights which the government could give them, yet their progress was somewhat interrupted owing to . what are known as the "Border Troubles." On October 30, 1752, the Court of Quarter Sessions was the scene of a re- markable murder trial-that of the Kitz- millers for the killing of Dudley Digges. In it was involved the question of the jurisdic- tion of the courts of the respective States of Pennsylvania and Maryland. It was proven that though the scene (and cause) of the quarrel and murder was a Maryland grant, it was above the temporary line, in violation of the royal order. Therefore the court of York County rightly claimed jurisdiction. The trial resulted in an acquittal. The in- habitants of that section of the country, "Digges' Choice," and of all the land along the line, did not know to which province they belonged. Some took advantage of this to refuse the payment of taxes to either, though they claimed the privilege of using the courts of both. These troubles were not settled until the running of Mason and Dixon's line in 1767.

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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 84

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