History of the counties of Dauphin and Lebanon : in the commonwealth of Pennsylvania ; biographical and genealogical, Part 102

Author: Egle, William Henry, 1830-1901
Publication date: 1883
Publisher: Philadelphia : Everts & Peck
Number of Pages: 1046

USA > Pennsylvania > Dauphin County > History of the counties of Dauphin and Lebanon : in the commonwealth of Pennsylvania ; biographical and genealogical > Part 102
USA > Pennsylvania > Lebanon County > History of the counties of Dauphin and Lebanon : in the commonwealth of Pennsylvania ; biographical and genealogical > Part 102

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own expense of a first-class modern school buikling. to be incorporated into the common-school system of the borough. In doing this they would relieve the borough of an oppressive fax for school buildings for a term of years, and thus enable the school revenue to be devoted to the direct tuition of the children, making it practicable to secure high standards from the commencement.

Although the expenditure of a large sum of money for such a purpose may appear to some as unwarranted, and to be classed as extravagant on the part of the company, the management of the Pennsylvania Steel Company have abiding confidence that only a few years will be required to demonstrate the wisdom

PUBLIC SCHOOL. STEELTON.

and that at the end of say ten years there would have been expended a large sum of money, resulting in a collection of buildings, that although meeting innedi- ate needs at the period of erection, would be by that time entirely unsuitable for the requirements of the schools, many of them hemmed in on all sides by business-places or other asociation equally unsuit- able; that sooner or later the whole matter would re- quire revision, and with much expense abandon the makeshift poliey and meet the necessity of providing proper accommodations. Holding such views of the future, the management of the Pennsylvania Steel Company, feeling they would be held largely respon- sible for such a condition of affairs, decided to pro- vide for the needs in advance by the erection at its

of anticipating the share of expenses they would have to bear, and'at the outset making it practicable for the children of their employes to enjoy school privilege- of the highest type, both as regards buildings and tuition.

The -ite upon which this building stands is a promi- nent one, and embraces all of the actual requisites for a school building. especially in regard to sanitary conditions. It is high, therefore is surrounded with abundance of light and air, and affords perfort drainage. It is located sufficiently back from the main thoroughfares of the town to insure perfect quiet, and easily approached from a winding roadway which follows up a ravine. This ravine extends cach side of the hill upon which the building stands, and

405

oms. The iffers from ighly fre- ick arches ie interior troughout nd a half mo-t sub- tion is on being con- und duets, ng of the of the lot, ro to each d to pro- be room. 1 again-t 1, and on ·qual ca- fare con- > highest

Steelton, h edifice mpans na fro: was in

building 3. This It on i :. sion of ! Loch - ringer ; savrer . . Jack- Urban ; Lincolz

eration Smith, I-house ilians :. school- it. In ire. in ind in 1968, : 1870. ; 1572. , E. F. IL. C. hison. build-

, with red in

RESIDENCE OF THE SUPERINTENDENT OF THE . PENNSYLVANIA STEEL-WEAKS, STEELTON, DAUPHIN CO., PA.

405

STEELTON BOROUGH.

is sufficiently steep to form a barrier against any en- croachments or obstructions in the future which would interfere with its present excellence. Although this is an elevated site, it is yet protected from bleak- nes by higher lands hack of it. From its elevated and commanding position a beautiful view is obtained of the surrounding country for miles away, the town forming the foreground, while the city of Harrisburg and the quiet Susquehanna mingle in the background. The building has an extreme length of one hundred and forty-eight feet four inches and width of seventy- nine feet eight inches, and in outline is a parallelo- gram. It is built of brick, trimmed with brownstone, in the modern Renaissance style. the chief character- isties of which are three distinct features, i.e., a een- tral and two end pavilions. The central pavilion, being the highest, is a little more decided in character, one of the features being a graceful stone balcony projecting from the exhibition hall windows at the level of the second floor. The character of the end pavilions con-ists mainly in the treatment of the en- trance-ways, with large double and circular-headed windows opening upon the staircase landings above them. . The roofs are quite steep, and are slated, and each pavilion is surmounted with a liberal-sized ven- tilating tower ; the bips and ridges are capped with copper mouldings, and at all the principal points rise ornamental finials.

The accommodations of the interior are arranged on two floors, consisting of ten school-rooms, an ex- hibition hall, and a principal's room. The school- rooms are of uniform size, thirty-three feet by twenty- six feet (intended for fifty-six single desks) ; six of them, with the master's room, are situated on the first floor, while four with the exhibition hall are on the second floor. Each school-room has its separate ward- robe for the pupils' clothing and teacher's closet. The rooms are abundantly lighted, the windows being arranged in all cases so that the greater portion of the light is received at the left of the pupils. Each window has its head near the ceiling, and is provided with a double run of sash. This system of -a-hes is made a means of ventilation without creating draughts by a simple appliance of dropping the inner upper half, at the same time raising the outer lower half, thus directing the volume of air between the two sashes towards the ceiling. To further assist in controlling the air as well as the light of the school- room, each window is fitted with inside folding- blinds with rolling slats.

The grouping of these school-rooms, which consti- tutes the general plan of the building. is upon the German principle, which consists in confining the width of the building as near as possible to the width of one room and corridor, thus gaining a better system of lighting and a freer circulation of air.

The basement is well elevated above the lot, and is devoted principally to play-rooms for the children, being thoroughly lighted and ventilated. Sufficient

space is reserved for the boiler- and fuel-rooms. The mode of construction of this school-house differs from any known in this country. It is thoroughly fre- proof, the floor-beams being of iron with brick arches between, and the staircase also of iron. The interior finish is of pine, the walls are wainscoted throughout with narrow strips to the height of three and a half feet, the workmanship and all being of the most sub- stantial character. The heating and ventilation is on the system of indirect -team, the fresh air being con- ducted from a reservoir through underground duets, and admitted to the steam coils at the ceiling of the basement, or about five feet above the level of the lot, and from the coils conducted by tin pipe-, two to each room, the size of each pipe being graduated to pro- vide eight cubic feet to each occupant of the room. The fresh-heated air in each case is admitted against the window surface or cold side of the room, and on the opposite side two ventilating-pipes of equal ca- pacity to exhaust the vitiated air. These pipes are con- dlacted to the three ventilating-turrets at the highest points of the roof.

CHURCHES.

THE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH, Steelton, was organized about Isds, and its first church edifice erected in 1869 on the grounds of the Steel Company opposite the blast-furnace, on the road leading from Steelton to the depot. While the building was in course of construction there was preaching in the dining-room of the boarding-house,-the building afterwards occupied by the company's offices. This church was sub-equently removed and rebuilt on i: pre-ent site in 1877. It was originally a mission of Grace Church, Harrisburg, in connection with Loch- iel. The pastors have been : 1869, Jomm Stringer : 1870, Wesley C. Johnson ; 1871-74. John W. sayrer . 1874, John A. Cooper ; 1875-78, Thomas M. Jack- son ; 1878-80, John H. Wood; 1880-83, A. L. Urban ; 1883, G. A. Wolfe. The parsonage is on Lincola Street.

A UNITED BRETHREN (CENTENARY Congregation was organized in 1867 by Rev. Jeremiah C. Smith, and religious worship held in the old school-house (also used by the Methodi-t- and Episcopaliaus'. The congregation afterwards purchased the old -chuni- house for two hundred dollars and remodeled it. In 1868 it was made an appointment with Highspire, in 1873 made an appointment with Churchville, and in 1874 made a station. The pastors have been : 1868, Rev. J. C. Smith ; 1869, J. L. Smith, J. Mnmina ; 1370. W. B. Evers; 1871, D. O. Farrell, G. A. Mack ; 1972, D. O. Farrell ; 1973, A. V. H. Gosweiler; 1974, E. F. Light, L. Peters; 1875, S. Peter -; 15,6-80, II. C. Philips; 1580-82, I. Mumma ; 1833, J. R. Hutchisou. The pre-ent church edifice, a two-story frame build- ing. was erected in 1874 on Second street.

TRINITY PROTESTANT EPISCOPAL MIS-JON, with the Rev. Jacob Miller as rector, was established in Steelton in 1882.

406

HISTORY OF DAUPHIN COUNTY.

ST. JOHN'S EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CONGREG.\ - TION was organized in 1875, and its ehureh edifice in Steelton erected in same year. Its pastors have been Revs. Edward Daron, Samuel Yingling, and W. S. Parr. The present pastor is Rev. M. J. Hocker. The Sunday-school was established in 1874.

ST. JAMES' ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH building was erected in 1878, on land purchased of Hon. J. D. Cameron. Its pastor is Rev. M. J. MeBride, who has officiated from the outset. It has a prosperous Sunday-school.

THE AFRICAN METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH was built in 1874 in " Cooney Hollow," where most of the colored population resided. The Sunday- school was organized in 1873. Rev. John C. Broek was pastor in 1879, and largely built up the congrega- tion in numbers and material strength. The minister at present in charge is Rev. G. R. Miller.

A PRESBYTERIAN CONGREGATION was organized in 1881, and hold their services in Reehling's Hall, Rev. William G. MeDannold pastor.

The Token of Progress, a weekly newspaper, was established in April, 1375, by Frank MeClure. It was at first a four-page sheet of four columns each, and thus continued until October, 1876, when Joseph A. Work became part proprietor. In May, 1877, the latter purchased the interests of the former publishers. subsequently associating with him his brother, James W. Work. The name of the paper was changed in

May, 1578. to The Weekly Item, and enlarged it to a twenty-column journal. Upon the incorporation of the borough of Steelton the title of the newspaper was changed to The Steelton Ilem, and the publication continued under its former management.

In the spring of 1882, William H. II. Seig, of Harrisburg, an experienced printer and journalist, was induced to start a daily newspaper at Steelton, The Steelton Daily Reporter, which he continued to publish about six months, when it was discontinued for want of proper support. The publication of the weekly Steelton Reporter, however, has in some mea- ure taken the place of the former enterprise.

CHURCHVILLE is a flourishing village about one mile and a fourth northeast of Steelton. It is a town of recent origin, and takes its name from the place having two large and well-supported churches, the Lutheran and United Brethren.

"CHAMBERS' FERRY."-This okt landmark of Pro- vineial days is located a short distance below Steel- ton. It was on the main route to Carlisle, as teams going west eros-ed here, saving several miles from that going by Harris' Ferry. In later years it went by the name of " Half-way House." Through- many generation> the ferry privileges were preserved, and in all subsequent transfers of property these have been specially noted and reserved. The Chambers' Ferry right is now vested in Rudolph F. Kelker, of Harrisburg.

LOWER PAXTANG TOWNSHIP.

THIS township was never actually authorized, but was what remained of the original township of Pax- tang, from which had been carved towns and town- ships until the northeast section, now comprising Lower Paxtang, was lett. It was never officially so named, but to distinguish it from that of Upper Pax- tang was thus designated. As we find the township on the county maps, it is bounded on the north by Middle Paxtang township, the ridge of the First Mountain being the line, on the east by West Han- over township, on the south by Swatara township, and on the west by Su-quehanna township. It con- tains many fine, fertile farm-, and is well watered.

The township was first settled by the Scotch-Irish, all of whom have gone out from this section, and the descendants of the Pennsylvania Germans occupy the magnificent fields and farms.

The early schools of what now includes Lower Pax-

tang township were connected with Wenrich's and Shoop's Churches, and one in Linglestown. They were supported by the citizens and managed by the tenehers, and date back as early as 1765.

LINGLESTOWN.

LINGLESTOWN is situated nine miles from Harris- burg, not far from the base of the First Mountain, and six miles from the Susquehanna River. It was laid out by Thomas Lingle in 1765, and called St. Thomas, but afterwards changed to Linglestown. In 1860, Dr. W. C. Smith laid out an addition south of the town, which is gradually becoming improved. The propo-ed Boston and South Mountain Railroad runs through the village. John Hoofnagle, born in 1800, i- the oldest person living in the town. The oldest house is a log structure, built about 1771, and now owned by George Walmer, but has not been oc-

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407

LOWER PAXTANG TOWNSHIP.

cupied for some years. There are no immediate de- scendants of Thomas Lingle, the founder of the town, living now in the place or its immediate vicinity. The old tannery of Samuel Mellhenny was built at the beginning of the century.

The schools of Linglestown date from the laying out of the town in 1765. They compared favorably with those already described, and continued until about the close of the last century, when another lng house was built and maintained by subscriptions. Among the most prominent teachers was Amos Wick- ersham. a Quaker, who resided at Middletown, who was a master mathematician and grammarian, pos- sessing all the characteristics of a perfect gentleman, as well as a scholar. John Focht, who taught seven- teen years before the free schools were introduced and twelve years after, was also the founder of the Linglestown Institute. The results of his labors are seen and felt to this day in the community. He was succeeded in the same institution by John Strock. To the foregoing Lower Paxtang township owes its present educational enthusiasm. There is no town in the county that has produced more or better teachers and is better represented in the normal schools and colleges than Linglestown. The most active men in favor of adopting free schools, etc., were -Dr. Houtz, Judge Cowden, Dr. David Umber- ger, and Andrew Miller, all men of influence and ed- ucation. The present two-story brick school building was erected iu 1876.

THE UNITED BRETHREN CHURCH is a neat one- story frame building, which was remodeled in 1881. Its pastor is Rev. Joseph F. Meredith, of Grantville.

CHURCH OF GOD BETHEL !- This congregation was organized in 1826-27 by Rev. John Winebrenner, and was among the first churche- of this denomina- tion in the county. Since 1966 the pastors have been : 1866, W. L. Jones; 1865, J. W. Deshong : 1863-70, Thomas Still; 1870-72, Simon Fleigle; 1872-76, Abraham Snyder; 1876-78. 8. 8. Riebmond : 1878-80, S. C. Stonesifer ; 1830-82. J. C. Seabrook.

THE LUTHERAN AND REFORMED CHURCH edifice was built and is occupied by the Lutheran and Re- formed congregations jointly. It is an elegant two- story brick structure. The original meeting-hou-e was a log building built about the year 1706. At this writing neither denomination has a resident pas- tor, and its okt records are therefore inaccessible.

THE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH have an organization here, of which the Rev. E. Potts was the first pastor, in 1875, but further facts we have not been able to secure.

THE LINGLESTOWN CEMETERY, tastefully laid out and beautifully ornamented, located south of the town, in which is erected a monument twenty-five feet high to the memory of the heroic dead who died during the late civil war of 1861-65. The base

is granite from the Gettysburg battle-field, the other parts marble. Its design is artistic and the execu- tion faultless. It was erected in 1863 by the loyal citizens, through the energy of Dr. W. C. Smith.

SHOOP'S CHURCH ( LUTHERAN AND REFORMED . -As early as 1771 there was a sufficient settlement of Germans in what is now Lower Paxtang town- ship to invite the attention of traveling missionaries of the Lutheran and Reformed Churches. Among the early baptisms performed by the Lutheran mis- sionary preachers we find that the first was that of Johannes Schupp (Shoop), son of Christopher and Ro-ina Shoop, born May 5, 1771, and baptized June 5, 1571, following which occur baptisms in the same family for several successive years. In 1783 the Lu- theran members of the Reformed Church organized two separate congregations and built a log meeting- house to be jointly used by them for worship. This house was at first called "Beckstein," but shortly afterwards changed to "Schupp's Kirche, " in honor of Johannes Sehupp inow called Shoopi, one of the earliest and most prominent settlers in this section. The first four baptisms after the organization of this church were :

1. Jonas, son of Johannes Heinrich Seller and his wife Veronica; born May 10, 1750; baptized June 14, 1783.

2. Jacob, son of John Adam and Mary Level ; born May 1, 1793: Mapozed June 18, 1783.

3. Christopher, son of Philip aud Anna Barbara Parthemer; bora June, 1733; baptized June 29. 1753.

4. Joban Adam, son of Frederick and Catharina Schweitzer; bap- tized June 20, 1783.

Among the earliest marriages were those of Philip Frederick Shoop to Elizabeth Nass, and Carl Welker to Catharina Nass, both on May 4, 1784.

We find that Rev. Philip Gloninger. pastor of the Reformed Church in Harrisburg, preached at Shoop's Church during his pastorate, July 17. 1908, to June 26. 1814. ITis successors. Rev. Frederick Rahanser, Rev. John Winebrenner, Rev. Alfred Helfenstein, Jr., and Rev. Daniel Zacharia -. also mini-tered statedly there. The congregation was a part of the Harrisburg charge during the pastorates of these ministers, and most likely for years previous.

For more than twenty years after the pastorate of Rev. Zacharias the Rev. David Bossler served the Reformed congregation at Shoop's Church, during which time he resided in Harrisburg.

For a number of years subsequently the Reformed congregations at Hummelstown, Shoop's, Wenrich's. and Union Deposit were served by one pastor. why resided at Hummelstown.

At present . 1883; Hummel-town, Wenrich's, and Union Deposit Reformed Churches constitute the Hummelstown charge, and Shoop's Church and Shell's Church constitute the Hanover charge, sup- plied at pre-ent by Rev. A. S. Stauffer, pastor of the Hummelstown charge.

SUSQUEHANNA TOWNSHIP.

AN order was issued by the Court of Quarter Ses- sions on the 30th of January, 1815, returnable on the 1st of April succeeding, to three commissioners to inquire into the propriety of granting the prayer of inhabitants of Lower Paxtang township asking for a division of said township. The commissioners re- ported in favor of a division, and that they had run the dividing line as follows, to wit :

"Beginning at the top of the first bench of the mountain, north of the plantation of Andrew Ste- phens, at a hickory-tree; thence south seventeen de- grees east eighteen hundred and fifty-six perches to the intersection of the northern line of Swatara town - ship near the head of Joshua Elder's mill-dam; in the course of which division line we passed about fifty perches west of John Beck's, about twenty perches east of Andrew Stephen-'s, close to the west end of Miller's mill on Paxtang Creek, about fifty yard- west of George Hain's, about half-way between Shupp's and Parthemer's: thence about fifty yards east of Daniel Ferree's: thence about fifty perches west of Martin Mayer's; thence we-t of Christian Eby's about forty yards ; thence east of John Carson's about twenty perches to the intersection of Swatara line about sixty perches farther on."

This report was confirmed by the court on the 1st of May, 1815, and it was ordered that the western di- vision be called Su-quehanna town-hip. For a sub- sequent alteration of the south line, of this township, see Swatara township,-the mill-dam there called Kim- bortz is the same which is called Elder's above. (See Road Docket, 1800-15, page 431.) The township of Susquehanna was and yet is bounded in part by the city of Harrisburg, the limits of which were extended to the northwest by the act of 16th April, 1838. In August, 1847, the court appointed commissioners to ascertain the new line of this town-hip, dividing it from the then borough of Harrisburg, who reported the following, to wit :

"Beginning at a point at the river Susquehanna near the house of George Hanunond; thence a straight line north sixty-four degrees east to a post at the Pax- tang Creek near a willow-tree two hundred and fifty- nine perchez."

were further trenched upon. The township as now constituted is bounded on the north by Middle Pax- tang township, east by Lower Paxtang township, south by Swatara township and the line of the city of Harrisburg, and on the west by the Susquehanna River to the western line of the county. It is named for the river. The lower portion of the township was included in the manor of Paxtang, to which reference has been made in the history of Harrisburg. The township comprises some of the richest farming lands in the county, especially that portion fronting the river.

ESTHERTON .- This place, known to the present generation as Coxe-town, was laid out during the French and Indian war by Dr. John Cox. Jr., of Philadelphia, and named by him for his wife Esther. In point of time it was probably the second town laid out within the limits of the county of Dauphin. Mid- dletown preceding it one or two years. The first notice we have of Estherton is on the 2d of October, 1767, when Dr. John Cox, Jr., and his wife Esther, of Philadelphia, by deed did grant and confirm to " The Incorporated Society for the Propagation of the Gos- pel in Foreign Parts" a lot of ground situate in the "New Town" on the east side of the Susquehanna, lately laid out by the said John Cox, and called Estherton, bounded by Third Street to the westward. by lot No. 65 to the northward, by a sixtecen and one-half feet wide alley to the eastward, hy lot No. 79 to the southward. in breadth north and south sixty-six feet and two hundred feet long. " for a site for a church and burial-ground for a religious society in commu- nion with the Established Church of England for ever." During the Sullivan campaign of 1779 Es- therton was an important point, being the depot of supplies for that army, from whence they were con- veyed in bateaux built at Middletown up the Susque- hanna. Maj. Cornelius Cox, deputy commissary of purchases during the Revolution, who resided at Estherton, was a son of the original proprietor, and it was under his management that the supplies were furnished to Sullivan's army, aiding in a great meas- ure the successful accomplishment of that expedition. The village probably contained more houses fifty or a hundred years ago than it does to-day. There is nothing at present to aid its growth or prosperity. It

This report was confirmed by the court on the 24th January, 1848. By the act of 1860, incorporating the | contains a Methodist Episcopal Church connected city of Harrisburg, the boundaries of Susquehanna ; with the Dauphin Circuit.

408

ـمصدقة شوية

12.0

التج

RESIDENCE OF W. T. HILDRU?, SUSQUEHANNA TOWNSHIP, DAUPHIN CO., PA.

409

DERRY TOWNSHIP.

ROCKVILLE is situated five miles from Harrisburg, on the Susquehanna River. It was first settled by a Mr. Roberts in 1774. The town was laid out by Mrs. Matilda Cox in 1834, to which additions were made by Miss MeAllister in 1838. It was first called Brushy Rock, afterwards changed to Rockville. The post-office is called Susquehanna. The Pennsylvania Railroad bridge at this point is one of the finest structures in the State. It has eighteen piers and is one mile long. The locality is a beautiful one for a summer resort. It has two churches, the Methodist

Episcopal, connected with the Dauphin Cireuit, and a United Brethren. The village lies at the foot of the First Mountain between the canal and the Susque- hanna River. In the days of river lumbering it was an important point, the landing being better here than at any other point on the lower Susquehanna.

PROGRESS is a growing rural village, situated in the southeast part of the township, and two miles east of Harrisburg. It is a post-town on the Harris- burg and Jonestown road. There is one church, he- longing to the Church of God (Bethel).

DERRY TOWNSHIP.

IN the record of the Court of Quarter Sessions of the County of Lancaster, the Ist of August, A.D. 1729, we find the following boundary of the township of Derry, " as settled and agreed upon by the magis- trates and inhabitants of the said county, on the 9th day of June, 1729, and confirmed by the court.

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History of the counties of Dauphin and Lebanon : in the commonwealth of Pennsylvania ; biographical and genealogical, Part 102

Author: Egle, William Henry, 1830-1901 Publication date: 1883 Publisher: Philadelphia : Everts & Peck Number of Pages: 1046

Author: Egle, William Henry, 1830-1901
Publication date: 1883
Publisher: Philadelphia : Everts & Peck
Number of Pages: 1046