History of the counties of Dauphin and Lebanon : in the commonwealth of Pennsylvania ; biographical and genealogical, Part 108

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 108
USA > Pennsylvania > Lebanon County > History of the counties of Dauphin and Lebanon : in the commonwealth of Pennsylvania ; biographical and genealogical > Part 108

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

Halifax was incorporated into a borough May 29, 1875, its first burgess being Dr. H. W. Bi-choff. The first election was held on June 29th following, of which the judge was T. J. Sawyer, and the inspectors were William B. Gray and J. B. Markley. The cor- poration officers have been : Burgesses, 1875-79, H. W. Bischoff: 1979. Isaac Lyter; 1880-32, Albert S. Loomis. Clerks, 1875-77, G. T. Leebrick; 1577-80, C. D. Waldron : 1580-82, Isaac Lyter.

THE HALIFAX BANK was organized Aug. 1, 1871. Since its establishment the officers have been William Lodge, president ; William Shammo, cashier, and J. E. Lighter, teller. 'The director, in 1×41 were An- drew Bowerman, Joseph Fetterhoff, Leonard Clem- son, William Taylor, J. B. Landis, James Hotfinan, William Fitting, Charles W. Ryan, Conrad Bauer,

433

434

HISTORY OF DAUPHIN COUNTY.

Thomas J. Sawyer, Andrew Shepley. Its capital stock is one hundred thousand dollars. It has always oc- cupied the same building.

THE " HALIFAX HERALD," the only newspaper ever published in the town, was established Feb. 22, 1844, by Anthony Wayne Loomis. It was originally a four-page sheet of four columns each, and its terms were one dollar a year if paid in advance, one dollar and twenty-five cents if paid during the year, and one dollar and fifty cents if paid at the close. Its motto was, " We aim to serve the people and to pro- mote the greatest good of the greatest number." It was Democratic in politics, and warmly esponsed in the campaign of 1814 the election of "Polk and Dallas."

HALIFAX METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH .- About 1799 and 1800 several Methodist families set- tled in and around the town. Three members of them, James Ferguson, Robert Bowes, and Thomas Burrell, who had emigrated from Ireland, located in the town. Soon atter, Philip Shephard established himself three miles above town, and George Lemon four miles below town, both families coming from the lower end of the State. About the same time five or six more families of the Methodist Episcopal Church settled in Lykens Valley, and John and Daniel Mil- ler settled near the mouth of Wieonisco Creek, where they laid out Millersburg. Two or three miles far- ther up the valley settled Daniel Stever, an old soldier of the Revolutionary war, and the first Methodist ex- horter in the county. About this time John Motter, Philip Verner, John Deitrich, and Samuel Wells lo- cated ten miles farther up the valley. Just a few miles from the Dauphin County line, in Schuylkill County, lived Henry Kunzelman, who afterwards became an itinerant preacher of the Methodist faith, preaching in the German language. In the summer of 1801 the Philadelphia Conference sent out Rev. William Rose, an Irishman, as a missionary, who, after making several excursions through the upper end of Dauphin County with the view of establishing Halifax Circuit from 1837 : permanent appointments for preaching, organized 1837, Jonas Bissey, Charles Schock ; 1838. Charles Schock; 1839, Jacob Davidson ; 1840-43. Eliphalet Reed (2d time) ; 1843, John Edwards (2d time), Wil- liam L. Gray ; 1844, Edwards and Gray; 1845, Leeds K. Berridge, Thomas A. Fernley ; 1846, John Wat- son, John Hlough ; 1845, Eliphalet Reed (3d time), S. R. Gillingham ; 134>, Valentine Gray, C. L. Stine- man ; 1849, Valentine Gray, George W. MeLangh- Jin ; 1850. James E. Meredith, Frederick Ilman : 1851. John Cummin-, C. R. Curry : 1352, Cummins J. Child -; 1858. H. I. Hickman, Joseph S. Cook; 1854. Joseph S. Cook, Robert L. Colier ; 1:55, Henry B. Manger. J. Wheeler : 1856. 11. B. Manger, G. W. Barr; 1857, H. H. Hobbs, R. J. Carson ; 1858. Wil- liam B. Gregg, Joseph Cook ; 1859, William B. Gregs. J. T. Crouch ; 160, 8. W. Kurtz, Grargo Sheaffer : 1861, Kurtz and Sheaffer ; Is62, William H. Burrell, several classes aal preaching appointments, one in Halifax, one near where Millersburg is, and one near where Berrysburg is. Next year he was followed by the eccentric Rev. Jacob Gruber, who preached in both German and English. The Dauphin Circuit was then fully explored an l organized, embracing Dauphin, Lebanon, and parts of Schuylkill County, making a six weeks' tour, day or night appointments, besides the Sunday labors. This territory now em- braces twenty circuit- and stations tor, as old Father Gruber called them, tobacco patches), supporting from one to two mini-ters each, with at least two preaching appointments cach Sabbath. In 1834, Harrisburg was cut off a- a station, and in 1-37 the circuit was divided, making Peter's Mountain the line, the upper end forming Halifax Circuit. After- wards Lykens and Wiconisco were made into a cir- i C. W. Ayres; 1869, W. II. Burrell, John Stumger ;

cuit, and Williamstown into a station, with other sub-divisions hereafter to be noted under the head- of the various towns.

The old log meeting-house in Halifax was prob- ably the first Methodist edifice in the county, and was built in 1806. The following is a list of all the itinerant and station preachers that have preached or ministered at Halifax :

Dauphin Circuit from 1801 to 1897 :

1801, William Ross, missionary; 1802-3, Jacob Gruber; 1803, Henry Boehm ; 1804, Auning Owens, Henry Boehm; 1805, Joseph Osborne, Joseph Ste- phens : 1806, William Hunter, Daniel Ireland; 1807, Thomas Burch, William Hoyer, George Harmer; 1808, Thomas Burch, Jame- Miller, J. Kitchell ; 1809, Thomas Boring, John Betchell ; 1810, Thomas Baring, John Farmon ; 1811, William Fox, D. Brown, John Van Shock ; 1812, William Fox, James Mitchell. William W. Fonltz; 1813, James Mitchell, William W. Foultz; 1814, William W. Foultz. John Walker, Henry Kunzelman ; 1815, Henry Konzelman, Law- rence Lawren-on ; 1816, John Goforth, Richard Me- Callister ; 1817, John Price. Phineas Price; 1818, William Leonard, William Able, Samuel Grace : 1819, William Quinn, Henry G. King; 1820, Henry G. King, Jacob Gruber (2d time) ; 1821, Jacob Gruber, Joseph Cary; 1822, John Woolson, W. W. Wallace; 1823, John Woolson, Matthew Soren ; 1824, John Goforth (2d time), William Allen ; 1825, 1. Ogden, Henry G. King (2d time) ; 1826, Henry G. King, Joseph MeCool ; 1827, Francis Hodgson, Thomas Neal : 1828, Thomas Neal, Francis Hodgson ; 1829, Eliphalet Reed, Jefferson Lewis; 1830. Elipha- let Reed, J. B. Ayres, C. B. Ford ; 1831, David Best, J. B. Ayres, A. Z. Baring ; 1832, David Best. Allen John, Richard W. Thomas; 1833, Thomas Sovern, Allen John, Francis Hodgson (2d time) : 1834, John Edwards, Robert E. Kemp : 1835, Charles W. Jackson, Robert E. Kemp; 1836, Richard W. Thomas (2d time), Charles W. Jackson.

435

RUSH TOWNSHIP.

1864, G. S. Conway, J. E. Kesler; 1865-66, J. E. Kesler, F. M. Brady; 1867, S. R. Gillingham 12d time) ; 1868, E. J. D. Pepper ; 1869-71, Silas B. Best ; 1872, M. Barnhill ; 1873, Thomas Sumption ; 1874-76, Joseph Aspril ; 1876, Richard Morley; 1875-80, Jon- athan Dungane ; 1880, Henry White.

Some of the above was paid in work and labor, some in materials and hanling, and the remainder in cash. Some of the subscribers gave more than they originally promised, and only in two or three in- stances did the subscribers fail to make their sub- scriptions good. When the old church was taken down the shingles were found as good as when fir-t put on.

The old log church was replaced in 1850 by the present substantial brick edifice, built in the centre of the town. The circuit now embraces Matamoras, Trinity Church in Powell's Valley, and preaching in United Brethren Church near the Parks neighbor- hood.

THE LUTHERAN CHURCH, a one-story log strue-

ture, was built about 1814, but from 1826 to 1838 was used occasionally (nearly half of the time) by the village school. The Lutheran congregation gradu- ally dwindled down so that by 1838 it had no mem- bers, or at least no officials to take charge of it. Then the citizens held a meeting and sold its material to Anthony W. Loomis, who removed it to the village. The proceeds from its sale were used to inclose the graveyard lot, upon which it stood, with a substantial fenec. It stood on the hill.

UNITED BRETHREN CHURCH IN CHRIST .- This congregation was organized about 1840, but the present church edifiee was not built until 1868. Since 1868 the pastors have been Revs. J. W. Hunkle. A. F. Yeager, Joseph Young, John W. Geiger, Mr. List, William D. Knower, A. V. H. Gosweiler, Ezekiel L. Hughes, V. S. Riddle, W. D. Mower, and S. P. Funk, the present incumbent, who came in 1881.

THE EVANGELICAL ASSOCIATION CHURCH was until recently part of the Millersburg Circuit, but preaching here has been abandoned.

RUSH TOWNSHIP.

Ox the 23d of October, 1819, the Court of Quarter of said petition, who made report in favor of altering Sessions issued an order to commissioners to inquire the line, and that they had run the line as follows, to wit : into the propriety of dividing the township of Middle Paxtang. The commissioners reported in favor of a division, and that they had run a dividing line as follows, to wit :

"Beginning on a stone heap on the Second Moun- tain, the summit of which separates West Hanover from Middle Paxtang township, at the distance of three and one-half miles from the northwest corner of West Hanover township, thence north ten degrees west three miles one hundred and fifty perehes to a chest- nut-oak tree on the top of Peter's Mountain and line of Halifax township."

This report was confirmed by the court March 14, 1820, and it was ordered that the new township be called Rush township. ( For record, see Se-s. Doe. 1815-23, page 282.) The line above described con- tinued to be the dividing line between Rush and Middle Paxtang townships from 1820 to 1832. Pre- vious to the 22d of November. 1831, a petition had been presented to the court praying for an alteration of the dividing line between those two townships, and on that day the court issued an order to commission- ers to inquire into the propriety of granting the prayer

" Beginning at a chestnut-oak on the top of Peter's Mountain, the northwest corner of Rush township; thenee a southwesterly course along the summit of said mountain, which separates Jackson and Halifax townships from Middle Paxtang and Rush, seven miles twenty-five perche, to a marked hickory ; thence passing on the line between John Williams and the Widow Fortenbach south ten degrees east one mile and one hundred and eighty-five perches to a chest- nut-oak on the summit of the Third Mountain ; thence a northea-terly course along the top of the said moun- tain seven miles, intersecting the west line of Rush town-hip."

This report was confirmed by the court Nov. 19, 1832. Sce Road Doc. A, page 74.)

The township as thus organized, being exceedingly mountainons, contains fewer farms and the least num- beror inhabitants than any other in Dauphin County. Clark's Creek flows through the centre of the entire township westward. Third or Sharp Mountain form- its southern, while Peter's Mountain its northern boundary.

JACKSON TOWNSHIP.

ON the 23d of August, 1S2S. an order was issued by the Court of Quarter Session- to three commissioners to view and report upon the propriety of dividing the towuship of Halifax according to the prayer of in- habitants of the east end of said township, asking for a division, and that the new township might be called Jackson, previously presented to said court. The commissioners reported that in their opinions a division of said township was necessary and proper, and that they had run and marked a division line as follows, to wit :

" Beginning at a chestnut-oak on the top of Peter's Mountain, in Winn's Gap, on the line dividing Hali- fax and Middle Paxtang townships; thence across Powell's and Arm-trong's Valleys, north 34 degrees west 6 miles and 280 perches to a hickory on the line between Upper Paxtang and Halifax townships, on Berry's Mountain, at a small curve in said mountain about three-quarters of a mile west of Woodside's Gap."

This report was confirmed by the court at Novem- ber sessions, 1828. (See Road Docket A. page 37.) It was thus named for the then President of the United States, Gen. Andrew Jackson, and as thus es- tablished was diminished by the erection of Jefferson in 1842. The early settlers in the township were the ; hart is pastor of the former, and Rev. Jacob Funk Hoffmans, Enders, Fishers, Millers, Snyders, Fetter- of the latter. hoff's, Werts, Shotts, and others, many of whose de- East and northeast of Jacksonville are the follow- ing churches : Stearn's, Miller's ( Reformed, of which Rev. A. S. Stauffer is pastor), and the United Bretli- ren, at Deitrich's. seendants remain in the locality. Armstrong's Creek rises in this township, and flowing southwest, emptie> into the Susquehanna above Halifax.

FISHERVILLE was laid out in 1854 by Adam Fisher. now deceased, then an extensive landholder. It is now a flourishing little village, containing a neat frame school building, stores, etc. The Methodist Episcopal Church edifice was erected in 1859, and is supplied by the Halifax Circuit. Of the United Brethren congregation, Rev. Jacob Funk is pastor, those formerly being the same as at Jacob's Church in Wayne township, and St. John's in Mithin town- ship. The Evangelical Lutheran Church was erected many years ago. It is a one-story brick building.

JACKSONVILLE was laid out about 1825 by George Enders and Joseph P. Lyter, most of the houses being on the lots owned by the former. It was named in honor of Ex-President Jackson. Joseph Bowman built the first house. William Enders had the first store. The first blacksmith was Joseph P. Lyter ; the first physician was Dr. MeGuire. The post-office was established under President Pierce's administra- tion in 1854. The present postmaster is J. F. Helt, and the first one was William Enders, after whom the office was called "Ender> Post-Office." There are two churches, the Lutheran and Reformed (Star of Bethlehem), a neat frame edifice erected in 1875, and the United Brethren built in 1878. Rev. Isaac Er-

JEFFERSON TOWNSHIP.

Ix the year 1842 inhabitants of Jackson township petitioned the Court of Quarter Sessions, asking for a division of said township; whereupon the said court, on the 23d April, 1842, issued an order to three commissioners to inquire into the propriety of granting the said prayer, who made report that they

considered a division of the said township neces- sary, and had run a dividing line as follows. to wit :

" Beginning at a white-oak on the summit of the dividing ridge, at the Halifax township line, and between the farms of Abraham Emports and Lewis Culp; thence north 66 degrees cast 250 perches to a

436

-------------

437

REED TOWNSHIP.

post; thence north 42 degrees east 50 perches to a post ; thence north 66 degrees east 340 perches to a post ; thence north 71 degrees east 160 perches to a post; thence north 66 degrees east 80 perches to a post ; thence north 69 degrees east 656 perches to a post ; thenee IS degrees east 171 perches to a post ; thenee north 55 degrees east 28 perches fo a post ; thenee north 39 degrees east 304 perches to a post; thenee along Broad Mountain north 13 degrees east 140 perches to a post; thence north 7 degrees west 520 perches to a pine in Deitrich's Gap, on the summit of Berry's Mountain, being in length 8 miles and 140 perches."

This report was confirmed by the court on the 24th of November, 1842. In the year 1844 the inhabitants of Jackson petitioned the court, complaining of part of the division line as made in 1842, and praying for an alteration. Whereupon the court appointed othier commissioners to view and report on the pro- priety of making such alteration. These commis- sioners reported in favor of alteration, and that they agreed upon and run the following line :

"Beginning at a pine on lands of John Shoop, Sr., corner of former partition line between said Jackson and Jefferson townships; thence north 68 degrees east 13| miles to the Schuylkill County line."

This report was confirmed by the court Nov. 23, 1844. The township was named for President Jef- ferson, and as thus established continued until 1879, when the western portion was erected into a separate township and called Wayne. The early settlers in the township were the Buffingtons, Bordners, Etz- weilers, Hoffmans, Shoops, Pauls, Millers, Werts, Runks, Wolfangs, Enders, Deitrichs, Trawitzs, Lehrs, Hawks, and others of German descent, nearly all of whom have representative- in the valley. The sur- face of the township is irregular and abrupt, but con- tains a number of fine productive farms. Powell's Creek rises in the township, flows westward, empty- ing into the Susquehanna above Clark's Station.

There are several old churches in the township. St. James' Reformed Church has a large congrega- tion, of which the Rev. A. S. Stauffer is pastor. Of St. Jacob's Lutheran Church the present minister is the Rev. Joseph lilpot, and for his predece-sors see St. John's Church, Mithlin township, of which charge this church forms a part.

CARSONVILLE is the only village in the township, and contains a store, church, post-office, etc. Near the village are the remains of old Shawanese Indian camps and hurying-grounds. the location being on one of the Shamokin trails, which passed through the limits of the county.

REED TOWNSHIP.

REED TOWNSHIP was erected by the act of Assem- Middle Paxtang and Halifax. When the township bly of the 6th April, 1819, which directed

"That portion of the qualified voters of Penn elee- tion district, Dauphin County, that reside in Middle Paxtang township, shall hereafter vote at the regular place of holding elections for said township, and the balance of the voters of said Penn election district shall hold their election at the new school-house on Duncan's Island, and shall he erected into a separate township and school district, to be called Reed town- ship," etc.

The township i- bounded on the north and north- east by Halifax township, on the west by Juniata and Susquehanna Rivers, and on the south and southeast by Middle Paxtang township. It includes the large islands on the western side of the river,-Duncan's and Haldeman's. It is named for William Reed, who resided about half-way between Clark's Ferry and Halifax. Previous to being >et off a- Reed township it was Penn election district, formed of portions of

was erected, the portion of Middle Paxtang reverted to the original township.

The history of this township centres chiefly around the islands at the mouth of the Juniata, well known by the general designation of Dunean's Island. The southern part of the township includes the Susque- hanna portion of Peter's Mountain, and the land is inch broken. There are several fine farms on Powell's Creek, while the lands on the large islands in the river are unsurpassed for cultivation. The Wiconisco Canal, connecting with the Pennsylvania Canal at Clark's Ferry, and the Northern Central Railroad edge the river the entire length of the township. Clark's Ferry, at the crossing to the islands and the Juniata (named by the Indians Queenashawaker), was for many years quite a noted place. Being hemmed in by the mountain and river. it has never increased beyond the usual country tavern.

438

HISTORY OF DAUPHIN COUNTY.

DUNCAN'S ISLAND.

The first we hear of Duncan's Island was in 1733. when at a Provincial Couneil held at Philadelphia, on the 19th of June, Shikellamy, a chief of the Five Nation Indians, a man of much consequence among the savages, asked through Conrad Weiser, the inter- preter,-

"Whether the Proprietor had heard of a letter which he and Sus- soonan sent to John Harris, to desire him to desist front making a plan- tation at the mouth of the Chouista, where Harris has built a house and commenced clearing fields.

"They were told that Harris had only built that house for carrying on his Hade ; that his plantation, on which he has nouses, barns, etc., at Peixtan, is his place of dwelling, and it is not to be supposed he will remove from thence ; that le has no wariant or order for making a settlement on Choniata.

" Shekallamy aund that though Harris may have built a house for the convenience of his trade, yet he ought not to rlear fel is. To this it was answered that Harris had only cleared as much land a would be sutti- cient to raise corn for his horses. Shekallamiy said that he bad ou ill will to Jobn Harris; it was not bis custom to bear ill will; but he is afraid that the warriors of the Six Nations, when they pass that way, may take it ill to see a settlement made ou lands which they had always desired to be kept free from any person settling upon. He was told in answer that care should be taken to give the necessary orders in it."

John Harris bad settled upon the island; that is, established a trading-post, being a large Indian vil- lage there, but at the request of the authorities, who had granted him previous permission, he removed therefrom. At this period the inhabitants were mostly Shawanese. By what tribe it had previously been inhabited, we know not. It is probable by a band of Su-quehannas. Upon the advent of the whites there was a large mound on the i-land ( Dun- ean's), upon which large trees had grown. During the construction of the Pennsylvania Canal this mound was dug into and found to contain the bones of hundreds of Indian warriors, who had no doubt fallen in battle. The archaeologist of the future was not consulted, and these remains of the aboriginal inhabitants were used as filling-material for one of the shoulders or bastions of the dam. Indian relies have been found all over these islands, and we are of the opinion that the antiquary, to whom we have al- luded, will no doubt be able by research in that local- ity to discover much relating to the primal inhabit- ants.

The first notice we have of the Shawanese on these islands is from the journal of the Rev. David Brain- erd in 1745, and which has been reprinted.

From a "rough draught" of the i-lands at the mouth of the Juniata, made by Marcus Hulings in 1762, tliree are noted. One, now known as Duncan's I-land, is marked " Island," and house as " Widow Baskin's." The large island in the Su-quehanua known as Haldeman's Island, containing three houses, the one to the southern point " Franeis Baskin." one- third farther up, ou the Susquehanna side. " George Clark," while about the centre that of " Francis Ellis." On the north point is the word "Island." Almost opposite, on the east bank of the Susque-

hanna, is "James Reed's" house, while between the centre of the island and the western shore is a small triangular " Island," so marked. On " the point" be- tween the "Susquehannah River" aud the "June- adey River," near the bank of the latter stream, is "Ifuling,' house." Some distance from " the point" is a straight line running from river to river on which is written " this is the way I want my line," while be- yond. on the West Branch of the Susquehanna, nearly opposite "James Reed's" house, is " Mr. Neave's" house. Farther up the river, opposite a small island, is " Franci- Ellis's" house. A circuitons line, deuom- inated " Mr. Neave's line," cros-es the straight line referred to which included " Part of Hulings' Im- provement." On the south of the Juniata, below the mouth thereof, is " William Kerl's" house, opposite the point of Duncan's Island " James Baskin's" house, while " Hulings' house" (another improvement) is farther up, in what is named the "Onion Bottom." Beyond this, on the same side of the Juniata, is a house marked "Cornelius Acheson, who had en- croacned upon Hulings' Improvement in the Onion Bottom, settled there last spring." Opposite the islands, on the east bank of the Susquehanna, are "Peter's Mountain" and " narroughs."

Prior to this the French and Indian war had deso- lated the Juniata Valley, and the island> at the mouth telt the terrible blow. In the spring following Brad- dock's defent (1756) the savages had reached the Sus- quehanna, bat the few scattered frontiersmen were unequal for the conflict, and were obliged to flee. Some lingered too long, for the wily red man came down suddenly, and the tomahawk and scalping-knife were reeking with the life-blood of the hardy but un- fortunate pioneers. Mr. Hulings on being apprised of the near approach of the savages, hurriedly packed up a few valuables, and placing his wife and youngest child upon a large black horse (the other children having previously been removed to a place of safety) fled to the point of the island, ready to cross over at the first alarm. Forgetting something in the ha-te, and thinking the Indians might not have arrived, Mr. Hulings ventured to return alone to the house. After carefully recon- noitering he entered, and found. to his surprise, au Indian up-stairs " coolly picking his flint." Stopping

some time to parley with the savage, so that he might retreat without being shot at, the delay to his wife seemed unaccountable, and fearing he had been mur- dered. she whipped up her horse and swam the Sus- quehanna. The water was quite high, but nowi-e daunted. she succeeded in reaching the opposite shore in safety. Mr. Holings soon appeared, and finding the animal with his wife and child had disappeared, in turn he became alarmed, but a signal from the eastern shore of the stream relieved hi- anxiety, and he himself, by means of a light canoe, was safe from pursuit. The fugitives succeeded in reaching For: Hunter, where the Basking and others of their neigh-

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

History of the counties of Dauphin and Lebanon : in the commonwealth of Pennsylvania ; biographical and genealogical, Part 108

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