USA > Pennsylvania > History of the Cumberland Valley, Pennsylvania > Part 6
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The historian, Rupp, relates that on August 24, 1756, Tobias Hendricks with John Sample, James Silver, Francis McGuire, Samuel McCormick and other citizens of Pennsboro township petitioned the Governor and Assembly for protection against the Indians. The most important stopping place in the county was the tavern, on the "Great Road," located upon the site of the present Camp Hill, of which Tobias Hendricks the second was the first proprietor. It was along this road and past this tavern that Geo. Washington passed on the morning of the 4th of October 1794. The great man forded the river in his carriage, himself driving, passed thru
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Camp Hill on the Cumberland side and was met by an escort who took him to Carlisle, 17 miles away. The first bridge across the Susquehanna at Harrisburg was begun in 1813 and by April 1816 it was sufficiently advanced to permit the mail coach to pass and by October it was open to the general public.
On the southeastern edge of Camp Hill, and so near that it can be considered a part of it, is Whitehill Station, so named because it is located on land that was originally owned by Robert Whitehill who settled there in 1772.
South and in site of Camp Hill, is a village known as Eberly's Mills. It has about a score of houses and takes its name from the mills located there. Prior to 1854 it was known as Milltown and is still sometimes designated as such. These mills were in existence in 1766 before the owners had any more than a squatter's title to the land.
Camp Hill was incorporated as a borough in 1885. It then included considerable territory but a small population. Since its in- corporation the population has grown rapidly, and the town spread until it was found necessary to extend its corporate bounds and many new streets were added. Its rapid growth attracted enterprise and homeseekers, and the electric railway, from Harrisburg to Me- chanicsburg in 1901 changed its course so as to pass up the turn- pike and through this town.
GRANTHAM
Grantham is a town of recent date located 11 miles from Har- risburg on the Reading railroad. Eight years ago it was a small village while today it is similar to Waynesboro in Franklin county, a booming manufacturing center. It's first manufactory was the large macaroni, noodle and cereal works of S. R. Smith and Com- pany, employing about one hundred men and women. The next was the Grantham Preserving and Pickling Company plant, built five years ago and which is very successful. At the present time the United Grocery Corporation is planning to place 19 different man- ufacturing plants here some time in the future.
Here is located a large Orphanage that takes care of many homeless children. A college is also located here having one hundred boarding students a year. It is one of the most progressive towns in the whole valley, with its national bank, general stores, post office, garage, etc.
NEW CUMBERLAND
New Cumberland, formerly called Haldeman's town, having been laid out by Jacob Haldeman in 1826, is a thriving borough in Allen
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township at the confluence of the Yellow Breeches creek with thte Susquehanna river. In its early history the town had a forge owned by Haldeman, a nail factory owned by Mr. Pratt, and an extensive lumber trade, also a tannery and a silk manufactory. In its earli- iest history the Shawanese Indians had a town there and for many years it was the landing place of Peter Chartier, a Shawanese, an Indian agent, and an individual of some notoriety. From the rec- ords at Harrisburg, Chartier owned six hundred acres of land, bounded by the two rivers in this vicinity.
LEMOYNE, CAMP HILL AND ENOLA
are new towns across the Susquehanna from Harrisburg in Cum- berland county.
WORMLEYSBURG
Wormleysburg was laid out by John Wormley, Esq., in the fall of 1815, after whom it is called; and is in East Pennsboro township, on the right bank of the Susquehanna river. On account of its situ- ation a fine lumber trade was carried on there by Mr. John Wormley and for many years Mr. Wormley was proprietor of the ferry known by his name.
WEST FAIRVIEW
West Fairview was laid out by Abraham Neidig, Esq., in 1815. It is situated at the confluence of the Conodoguinet creek and the Susquehanna river, in East Pennsboro township. The Conodoguinet is crossed there by a wooden bridge. In 1707 to 1720 the Indians had a town there.
WHITE HILL
White Hill is in East Pennsboro township. This town was settled and named after the Hon. Robert Whitehill, who had been for many years an active representative of the inhabitants of Cumberland county in our state as well as in Congress. He erected the first stone house in the Manor, which he occupied until his death April 8, 1813. He was a member of the convention held in Philadelphia in July 1776 in which the Declaration of Independence by Congress was approved. He was also a member of the convention that adopted the constitution of Pennsylvania. He was a member of the House of Representatives during the stormy sessions of 1798-1799 and 1800. In 1801 he was elected to the Senate, was four times elected to Congress and was a member at the time of his death. It was his proud boast that he never intrigued for a nomination nor solicited for a vote.
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SHIREMANSTOWN
Shiremanstown, partly in Hampden and partly in Allen town- ships, called Simpson's Ferry, is five miles west of Harrisburg. About the year 1828, it was called Shiremanstown, after Daniel Shireman, deceased, who held considerable property there at the time.
CHURCHTOWN
Churchtown, in Monroe township, on the turnpike from Har- risburg to Carlisle, is so called because a church held by the Luth- erans and the German Reformed, had been built there some ten or fifteen years before the town was started. Jacob Weis built the first house there in 1806.
MECHANICSBURG
Mechanicsburg is situated in Silver Spring township in the heart of the most fertile and the best improved region of the Cumberland valley eight miles from Harrisburg and ten miles from Carlisle.
In 1790, the woods and underbrush grew where the town now stands. This section of the valley was known as the "barrens" and deer were often seen and were very plentiful. The first houses were built of stone and brick-one at each end of the town. Lewis Learing, Esq., erected the first brick house. John Gosweiler laid out a number of lots in the eastern section of the town, which was soon sold for building purposes.
After 1805-1806 the town was called Drytown on account of the scarcity of water. In 1809-28 the name was changed to Staufferstown, after Henry Stauffer, who was the landowner and laid out the rest of the town. From 1830, the town was known as Me- chanicsburg on account of the number of mechanics and industries carried on in its limits. It grew slowly until 1830, when the Cum- berland Valley Railroad was built through it and gave it a new life.
HOGESTOWN
Hogestown, in Silver Spring township, nine miles from Har- risburg, and near Mechanicsburg, is named after a small stream Hoges Run, which flows near the village and empties into the Cono- doguinet creek not far off.
TRINDLE SPRINGS
Trindle Springs, one mile west of Mechanicsburg, is named after one, Trindle, an early settler.
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NEW KINGSTON
New Kingston, in Silver Spring township, on the turnpike from Harrisburg to Carlisle, was laid out by John King, about 1826 after whom it was named.
BOILING SPRINGS
This place was laid out by Daniel Kauffman during the year 1845, and is beautifully situated in the rolling bluffs of rich land which lie at the foot of the South Mountain. It is laid out fronting a sheet of water. Under the water there are springs, coming from rocks. The water is thrown upward from its rocky bed to the surface which it disturbs, giving it the appearance of water which is boiling, thus naturally suggesting the name by which it is known. The water of these springs flows into the Yellow Breeches Creek near Island Grove, not far from this village. The town has a post office, rail- road, iron works and forge, three churches, four schools and a population of 800 people. The furnace which stands near the Spring was owned by the Ahl's in 1859, and was operated for years under this name. There are ore banks near the town, which were leased to the Philadelphia & Reading Railway Company and other banks in the South Mountain which were successfully operated by private citizens of Boiling Springs.
CARLISLE
Carlisle was named after the town of Carlisle in England. It was also given the name of Letort Springs by the Indians. James Letort was a Frenchman that settled at the head of the Springs in 1720 and became an Indian interpreter. The colonial government built a strong stockade with a block house in each corner. The Indian wigwams were objects of great curiosity to the men who set- tled there in 1750 and before that time. The Indian tribes con- tinued until driven west. In 1757, the Constitution of Common Pleas was removed from Shippensburg to Carlisle much to the dis- gust of the Conococheague settlement. In 1751 the town was laid out and in 1767 a resurvey was made of the town by John Arm- strong. In 1755 the citizens of Carlisle were much alarmed by Indi- an massacres-this is shown in a letter by Col. John Armstrong to Governor Morris telling him a line of forts or blockhouses must be made along the side of the Kittochtinny Mountains, from the Sus- quehanna. Col. Bouquet conquered the Indians and made them sue for peace. When the Revolution broke out Carlisle was very pa- triotic. On July the 12th, 1774, Mr. Montgomery, Esq., the leading lawyer, called together a meeting of Carlisle citizens, and they
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drew up eight very warlike resolutions. During the war Carlisle was made an important place for rendezvous of the American troops, also a prison for British soldiers. There was a prison in the town during the war and the town was made a base of supplies. Major Andre, and a friend of his, Lieutenant Despard, were taken prison- er by Montgomery on Lake Champlain and were sent to Carlisle for imprisonment. The prison was an old stone house on South Hano- ver street. They were allowed to keep their guns and they had a six mile parole but when going out were compelled to wear their military uniforms. Their next door neighbor was a strong Whig, a lady by the name of Ramsey. One day she saw the captives talking to two strange men, and she found out the men were Tories and at once notified the authorities and they ran the men down at the South Mountains. The men were searched and letters written in French were found on them. The letters which no one could read were kept and the men freed. After this Andre and Despard were kept in close confinement and they were so very angry that they broke their guns of beautiful workmanship to pieces.
Captain Thompson, of Perry county, gathered a body of men together, marched to the prison and demanded the bodies of Andre and Despard, saying our soldiers were starving to death at Valley Forge while the British were living in splendor at Philadelphia and when Mrs. Ramsey realized the danger, she pursuaded him to march away, the captain saying as he did so, "only on account of his old friends". Major Andre wrote a letter of thanks to Mrs. Ramsey the next morning. In a short time Andre and Despard were released and the day before they left they sent Mrs. Ramsey a box of candles and again thanked her for her kindness to them. Mrs. Ramsey sent the gift back and said she was too good a Whig to accept a gift from any Tory. In 1803 Despard was executed in London on a charge of high treason. The story of Andre's capture and death is known to everyone in America. In 1787 a fracas occurred between the Fed- eralists and the Democrats-a number of citizens from the county assembled on thte 26th to express in their way, aided by the firing of cannons, their feeling on the action of the convention that as- sembled to frame the constitution of the United States. When they were assaulted by an adverse party, after dealing out blows, they dispersed. On the 27th they met again, well armed, but after several were put in prison, they compromised.
Louis Philippi, a fugitive from France, was a royal visitor to Carlisle in 1797. He was traveling in disguise with two brothers in a covered wagon. As has always been the custom in this valley the country people go to town on Saturday afternoon and evening. Two young men were showing off their horses on this Saturday afternoon
a
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and in the race caught the wheel of the wagon, overturned it and Louis Philippi happened to be in it at the time and spilled some of his royal blood on the streets of Carlisle.
On October 1, 1794, the Governor of the state arrived in Car- lisle and gave an address to the people. Four days later the presi- dent, Geo. Washington, his secretary, Alexander Hamilton, with sol- diers, countrymen, members of the Senate and House, arrived on their way west to quell the "Whiskey Insurrection." A line was formed, composed of cavalry with 16 pieces of cannon and with in- fantry from various parts of Pennsylvania, amounting in the whole to 3,000 men. The courthouse was illuminated in the evening by the Federal citizens, with the inscription in the front "Washington Is Ever Triumphant". On one side, "The Reign of the Laws", on the other, "Woe to Anarchists". The citizens made addresses and Washington made an address in answer to the citizens.
In the war of 1812 four companies from Carlisle and the county nearby volunteered for the defense of their country. We take pride in remembering that the grandfather of the writer of this history was one of them.
During the Civil War Gen. Ewell's corps marched into Carlisle to the strains of Dixie Land and demanded rations for 1,500 men. They were given.
July 1, 1863, Gen. Fitzhugh Lee came within 200 yards of the town. He bombarded it for awhile then stopped for one-half hour during which time he sent a message to the town for an uncon ii- tional surrender. He was refused; he began shelling again and in an hour he set the Barracks (where the Indian school now stands) on fire. He was then recalled to Gettysburg and left.
MT. HOLLY
Mt. Holly is south of Carlisle, on the Carlisle and Hanover turnpike. Before the year 1812 this town was known first as Trent's Gap, then Portsmouth, the founders in 1815 called it South Middleton. The present town of Mt. Holly was laid out about the year 1830 by Barbour and Mullen, paper manufacturers who owned extensive paper mills at that place. It was known for some years by the name of "Papertown" and is often spoken of today by that name. It is beautifully located at the foot of South Mountain and is a popular summer resort for Carlisle and Harrisburg people.
The iron industry established in 1785 was the first operation hereabouts and it is related that the furnace was built over large ore deposits which were not discovered until after the furnace was dis-
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mantled and torn away. It is also said that the first cannon in the United States was made at these works.
About the year 1813 the first paper mill was established at Holly and was run by Barber and Mullen until 1846, when it was burned. In the year 1827 Samuel Given built the Kidderminster Carpet mills, which was afterwards converted into a paper mill by Robert Given and Samuel Given and so continued until it burned in 1864. It was replaced in 1866 by the present spacious mill.
The Phoenix works once manufactured edge tools here; the lumber for the Carlisle Garrison in 1777 was sawed by a mill locat- ed in the Gap. Of late years mining of iron ore, sand and kaolin, together with the manufacture of bricks, tile, etc., has given em- ployment to many people. The town has an elegant library, the gift of Mrs. Amelia Beall. The first known settler of Holly Gap was Elizabeth Mckinney, who came there from a fort in Shippensburg prior to 1768.
GREASON
Greason, a small town about a mile from Plainfield, along the C. V. R. R., was called after Mr. Greason, who was owner of the land. It has one of the finest oak trees in the valley.
PLAINFIELD
The village of Plainfield is on the state road from Carlisle to Newville. The land upon which Plainfield stands was patented to two different persons, the western part to Jacob Alter in 1793, called Plainfield and the eastern half to Richard Peters. For a number of years the village was called Smokeytown, because tradition says every inhabitant was a smoker, or because the blacksmiths manu- factured their own charcoal and kept the atmosphere charged with smoke. When the population became large enough to secure a post office the original name of Plainfield was restored.
NEWVILLE
Newville is in Newton township, on Spring Creek, twelve miles from Carlisle. In 1744 a grant of ninety acres was given in trust to 146 men by the government for a church and could not be sold without state consent. In 1794, a part was given over for a town and laid out in lots. The plan had one main street with Cove and Glebe alleys crossing High and West streets. The first minister in the Presbyterian church was Samuel Wilson. He erected his own parsonage on eight acres of land. Robert Lusk was the first citizen and inn keeper. Lieutenant William Denning was the great historical
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character and artificer, who by his genius in the days of the Revo- lution at Washingtonburg (East of Letort Spring, Carlisle) manu- factured wrought iron cannon and other implements for the war. In his latter days he resided near the mouth of Black Run in Mifflin township. He lies buried in the Big Spring cemetery, having died in 1830. The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania recently erected at his grave a suitable monument.
The town of Newville was incorporated by an Act of Legislature February 26, 1817, and is a growing little town at the present time.
Newville has the honor of having the largest fresh water spring in Eastern United States, if not in the world. The spring rises above the town a few miles and where it flows from the rock the stream is very swift and the hole has been compared in size to the end of a large barrel.
DOUBLING GAP
Sulphur Springs is located in Doubling Gap, in Lower Mifflin township, in the valley between the range of mountains. It is said that during the Colonial Indian wars, an Indian trail, starting at the mouth of the Juniata followed a course through Doubling Gap, thence to the mouth of the Brandy Run, at the Conodoguinet creek, then to the intersection of the great trail, from the Susquehanna river to the Ohio. Also that one of the oldest block houses in the valley was built along the trail, a short distance below the Sulphur Springs, well known and remembered by many persons, three score years ago.
The first information we have of the Sulphur Springs in Doubling Gap was when Sherman Barnes, a resident of the county, made ap- plication to take up 150 acres, including "an improvement and Sulphur Springs."
James McFarlan was the owner of 1000 acres just below the Gap, that took his name before the year 1791. Since 1800, it has been known as Doubling Gap, which name was probably suggested on account of the peculiar lapping or turning of the mountain back on itself.
Round Top rises about 1400 feet above sea level. On the top of this is "Flat Rock" formerly one of the most noted look-outs on this range of mountains, from which can be viewed the whole Cumberland Valley. East from "Flat Rock" on the side of the "knob" is a stony batter of considerable extent, which was called "The Devil's Turnip Patch". About a half mile east of the Flat Rock there is a deep ravine from the top to the foot of the moun- tain. Tradition says it was caused by a cloud break, occurring in the month of August between the years 1778-80. At the time it occurred, the Conodoguinet creek rose ten feet, in a very short
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time, overflowing the low lands, and destroying valuable crops. By many it was remembered as the "Pumpkin Flood", for the reason that waters of the creek were full of pumpkins carried from the corn fields.
Along the path from the Sulphur Springs to the Flat Rock are the remains of Lewis' cave, a deep recess under a shelving rock, where he hid from justice at times during the years of 1816-20. During this period a man by the name of Howard kept the old hotel and was on friendly terms with David Lewis, the robber. When the coast was clear he would hang out a flag from the upper window of the hotel which was visible from the cave. The first hotel was located about a half mile down the Gap from the present hotel. The hotel license records show that Jonathan Wallace was granted the first license in 1803 and for 35 years to 1838 the hotel was a regularly licensed house. From that time to the present it has passed thru many owners and recently the grounds have been greatly improved and beautified, attracting many guests to the re- sort every summer.
CENTERVILLE
Centerville is a small village on the Walnut Bottom road leading from Carlisle to Shippensburg. It is in a well improved fertile region, has a high school and just near is Dickinson Presbyterian church.
STOUGHSTOWN
Stoughstown in Newton township, on the turnpike between Carlisle and Shippensburg, is a village named after Col. Stough, who for many years kept a tavern and store in the place.
SPRINGFIELD
This village, situated between Newville and Stoughstown, de- rives its name from a large spring that throws out a volume of water that turns many mill wheels with which its banks are lined. The situation and vicinity is very romantic.
OAKVILLE
Oakville is a small town along the C. V. R. R., seven miles from Shippensburg, so called on account of the beautiful oak trees that grew in this section.
JACKSONVILLE
Another small town a little farther on, on the same road is Jacksonville. Cyrus Canada settled here and it was called Canada for a time. Then the name was changed to Powderville-and Jack-
E
FIRST COURT HOUSE, CUMBERLAND COUNTY.
BIG POND FURNACE, SOUTH MOUNTAIN.
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sonville. The railroad station is named Greythorne. The post office is named Walnut Bottom.
LEESBURG
Leesburg is a small town situated on the old Walnut Bottom road, six miles east of Shippensburg. The post office is called Lees Cross Roads. The Reading railroad passes through the village.
Leesburg was settled about 125 years ago. A man lived there named Lee. The village was named Leesburg in honor of Mr. Lee. When Leesburg was founded the site was covered with trees, and was covered with water in places, like ponds. Later it was cleared off, and houses were built about the year 1840, by James Clark, Colonel Chestnut, Levi Strohm, Robert McCune, Mr. Maxwell and his son, George, Mr. Shull, Mr. Taylor, George Coffey, Robert Early, Robert Mathews and Major Clever.
At the south side of Leesburg a tavern was built and owned by Mr. Lee. Soon after two more hotels were built and later they were turned into dwelling houses. At first there was only one store and it was owned by Major Clever. Some time later a blacksmith shop was built and was owned by Robert Mathews and Mr. Earley. Years afterwards Leesburg was much improved; many of the old buildings were torn down and new houses and roads were built. In the year 1916 the one tavern burned down.
CLEVERSBURG
Three miles east of Shippensburg near the old Baltimore road, is a small village by the name of Cleversburg, laid out by the Clever family. It used to have several furnaces and an iron ore bank.
SHIPPENSBURG
Shippensburg is the oldest town in the Cumberland Valley and next to York is the oldest town west of the Susquehanna river in Pennsylvania. The ground where Shippensburg now stands was a part of the Edward Shippen tract. Edward Shippen's fourth son was the first mayor of Philadelphia, put in by William Penn. In 1730, the first settlement was made by twelve men. In 1733, the town had eighteen log cabins. The town was laid out in 1742 and was named for the land owner. Mr. James Burd and Mr. Ed. Ship- pen were very fast friends and each wanted the town named for the other. Mr. Shippen was the winner.
Ft. Franklin was built in 1740 and was garrisoned by 50 men. Ft. Morris built at the other end of the town was a great pro- tection in the French and Indian wars. At one time during this war
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1400 took refuge in Shippensburg and the forts were so congested that cellars and cabins were used as places of refuge.
When Cumberland county was first organized in 1750, the courts were held here, and the old court house is still standing, and in a good state of preservation, now used for a dwelling house. The whipping post stood just near it in the square. When the courts were removed to Carlisle in 1751 a great excitement was produced throughout the upper part of the county. The court of common pleas and the criminal court were first held at Shippensburg.
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