History of the counties of Dauphin and Lebanon : in the commonwealth of Pennsylvania ; biographical and genealogical, Part 117

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 117
USA > Pennsylvania > Lebanon County > History of the counties of Dauphin and Lebanon : in the commonwealth of Pennsylvania ; biographical and genealogical > Part 117

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).

Capt. Cowden married in 1777. Mary Crouch, a sister of Col. James Crouch, of the Revolution, a na- tive of Virginia. She outlived her husband many years, and is buried in the graveyard of Paxtang Church.

Judge Cowden died at his farm in Paxtang very suddenly on Wednesday evening, Oct. 10, 1810, in the seventy-fourth year of his age.

COL. CORNELIUS COX.

Cornelins Cox. son of John Cox and Esther, his wife, was born about 1750, in the city of Philadelphia. His father was a native of England, a physician of prominence in Philadelphia, in which city he died about 1770. He laid out Estherton, on the Su-que- hanna. in 1765, supposing at the time it would be- come an important place. Dr. Cox was twice mar- ried,-first to Sarah, widow of William Edgell, of Philadelphia ; second to Esther -, of the same

place. We know nothing further, save that their -on was the subject of this sketch. Corneliu. Cox re- ceived a good education in his native city. Some time prior to the Revolution we find him at Esther- ton in management of the estate left him by his father. He early espoused the cause of the colonies, was present at the meeting at Middletown which passed the patriotic re-olutions of June, 1774, and when the people were called to arms was commis- sioned major of Col. James Burd's battalion of Lan-

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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.

caster County associators. Was appointed assistant commissary of purchases, and also issuing commis- ary July 7, 1780. Until the close of the Revolution he was actively engaged, whether it was in the col- Jecting of flour for the French fleet, the gathering of blankets for the half-elad army at Valley Forge, or the superintending of the construction of bateaux for the use of Gen. Sullivan in his expedition against the Six Nations. In 1792 he was chosen one of the State electors for President in favor of Gen. Washington. Governor Mifflin appointed him one of the associate justices of the courts of Dauphin County, but prefer- ring quiet he declined the honor. He died Feb. 3, 1803, at Estherton, aged about fifty three year -. Col. Cox married Mary For-ter, born 1767, died Ang. 2, 1810, daughter of John Forster and Catherine Dickey.

COL. RICHARD M. CRAIN.

Richard Moore Crain, the son of Joseph Crain and Mary Moore, daughter of Andrew Moore, was born November, 1777, in Hanover township, Lancaster (now Dauphin) Co., Pa. He received a fair educa- tion, and was brought up on his father's farm. He became quite prominent in public affairs the first dec- ade of this century, and during the incumbency of Gen. Andrew Porter as surveyor-general of Pennsyl- vania Mr. Crain received the appointment of deputy secretary of the land office, a po-ition he acceptably filled through all the changes of administration for forty years, until the advent of Governor Ritner. when he was displaced. He then retired to his farm in Cumberland County, from which district he was sent a delegate to the Constitutional Convention of 1837, in which he was a leading spirit. During the War of 1812-14 he commanded a company of volun- teers from Harrisburg, and was subsequently com- missioned colonel of the Pennsylvania militia. Col. Crain died at Harrisburg, on Friday, 17th of Septem- ber, 1852, aged seventy-five years. He married Eliz- abeth Whitehill, daughter of Robert Whitehill and Eleanor Reed, born 1771, died Oct. 2. 1548. They had Dr. Joseph ; Elizabeth, married Leopold Wy- kotľ; Mary Adaline, married Alexander Dean ; Eleanor, married William Wilson Rutherford; and Agnes, died unmarried.

COL. EDWARD CROUCH.

Edward Crouch, the son of James Crouch, an offi- eer of the Revolution, and Hannah Brown, was born at Walnut Hill, in Paxtang, Nov. 0, 1764. He was a merchant by occupation. At the age of seventeen he enlisted in the army of the Revolution, and com- manded a company in the Whiskey Insurrection in 1794. He served as a member of the House of Rep- resentative- from 1804 to 1806, and was a Presiden- tial elector in 1818. Governor Snyder appointed him one of the associate judges of the county of Dau- phin April 16, 1813. but he resigned upon his election to the Thirteenth United States Congress. He died

on the 2d of February, 1827, and is buried in Paxtang graveyard. "In private life he was an able and an honest man," wrote one of his contemporaries, and the record of his life shows him to have been a gen- tleman of uprightness of character, and as honorable as he was influential. Cul. Crouch married Margaret Potter, born 1775, died Feb. 7, 1797. daughter of Gen. James Potter,1 of the Revolution. Their only daugh- ter married Benjamin Jordan, who succeeded to the estate of " Walnut Hill."

COL. JAMES CROUCHI.

James Crouch was born about 1728, in Virginia. The Crouches were an old family who emigrated at an early day from England and settled in King and Queen County, near the court-house. James Crouch received a good education, came to Pennsyl- vania prior to 1757, purchasing about three thousand

1 Gen. James Potter, son of John Potter, was born in 1729, on " the bank of the river Foyle, County Tyrone, Ireland." His parents mi- grated to America, landing at New-Castle-on-Delaware in September, 1741, when James was about twelve years of age. He was educated at the school of Rev. Mr. Ali-on, in Chester County, At twenty-five years of age he was a lieutenant in a border militia company. In 1755 he was captain of a company in the victorious Kittauning campaign under Armstrong The general and he were attached friends. In 1763-64 ha served as a major and lieutenant-colonel. Ile was a successful farmer

He was prominent in the political agitation consequent upon the dis- pute with the mother-country. There was no meeting of the patriotic inhabitants of the theu large county of Northumberland held without his presence and led by his advice. He was a colonel in 1775; appointed a briganier-general April 5, 1777, with John Aimstrong a+ first, John Ciulwalader second, Samuel Meredith fourth. Ili- services in the Penn- sylvania campaign of 1777 were very distingnished. With the troops under his command, raised in the frontier counties, he obtained for Washington important information regarding the movementy of the enemy, and with greit vigilance gave all the annoyance possible to the foraging parties that were sent out of Philadelphia.

Ou the HIth of December, while the army under Washington were on their march to Valley Forge, after a portion of it had crossed the schmyl- kill at Matson's Ford, it was found that the enemy under Cornwall's were in force on the other side. " They were met." writes Washington, "by Gen. Potter, with part of the Pennsylvania prilitia, who behaved with great bravery, Rud gave them every possible opposition til! he was obliged to retreat from their superior numbers." In the spring of 1778, Washington wrote from Valley Forge, " If the state of Gen. Putter's afiir- will almit of returning to the army. I shall 'e exceedingly glad to see him, as bis activity ant vigilance have been mich wanted Jaring the winter." In 17-1 he was vice-presalent of the State, in 17/2 conunts- soned a major-general, and in 1784 one of the Council of Censors, and was within a few votes of defeating for president the most distinguished man in the Suite, John Dickinson. He served in the field in huis military capacity through the whole Revolution, and was trusted by all it- leid- ery .- Washingtou, Greene, Pickering, MitHin, and his fellow-brigadier .. His residence was in Penn's Valley, in the present Centre County, from 1772 tu the time of his death, in November, 1749, at which moment he was one of the associate or bench justices of Northumberland County. He left one of the most extensive and valnable estates in Pennsylvania. His remains rest in the burril-ground at Brown's Mill, south of Char- beisburg, in Franklin County.

Gen. Potter was married twice, -first, Elizabeth Y'atheart, of Philadel- phia. They hand Elizabeth C'., married J imes Phe, of Franklin County. Sprand wife, Mrs. Mary Patterson, wolow of James Patterson. of Mulig County, who died in April, 1789, near M Lifetown. They til James, " the judge," who married Mary Brown, of " Brown's spring," hishare grillas Valley, Mithra Co. : Mary, married first George Hill, are only. Willam Mat Teland, of Northnube Lugt d'unty; John, dod: Martha, married Andrew Grogg, of Centre County, aber quently Un :- ). senator ; Margaret, married Edward Crou ch, of " Walnut Hill," Dan- phin Co.

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HISTORY OF DAUPHIN COUNTY.

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acres of land in York County, where the town of Wrightsville now stand-, on which he settled for a few years, but which he subsequently sold, and re- moved to then Paxtang township, Lancaster Co., Pa., where he bought one thousand acres of land. He was a soldier of Quebec, being a sergeant in Capt. Matthew Smith's company of Paxtang volunteers. On his release from captivity he became an officer of the associators, and subsequently paymaster of the battalion. He served during the whole of the Revo- lutionary war with honor and distinction. He died at his residence, Walnut Hill, near High-pire, on the 24th of May, 1794, aged sixty-six years. Col. Crouch married, Sept. 22, 1757, Hannah Brown, born 1727, died May 24, 1787. Their children were Edward ; Mary, married Col. James Cowden ; Elizabeth, mar- ried Matthew Gilchrist, removed to Washington County, Pa. ; and Hannah, married Roan MeClure. Col. Crouch's paper-, perchance the most valuable doc- uments concerning the Revolution extant in this lo- elity, were wautonly destroyed about ten years ago.

CAPT. JOHN DENTZEL.

Jolin Dentzel, a native of Holland, on the Rhine, was born about 1745. He received a thorough uni- versity education, including law and medicine. A romantic attachment and marriage to a daughter of an illustrious family of the country cau-ed him to come to America at the out-et of the Revolution. Ile warmly espoused the cause of the colonie-, and was in active service. Subsequent to the war he located af Harrisburg, where he became quite prominent. He seems to have practiced both law and medicine. In 1792 he was appointed one of the medical exam- iners for invalid pensioners ; and he is denominated as " Lawyer Dentzel," who commanded a company dur- ing the Whisky Insurrection of 1794, although prob- ably he was only a justice of the peace, an office he held at the time of his death. On the 8th of Decem- ber, 1803, he accompanied the citizens of the town who had gone to e-cort the remains of their old com- rade, Maj. Brooks, who had died at Elizabethtown; when a short distance, the bridle of Capt. Dentzel's horse broke, and that gentleman was thrown against a fence and almost instantly expired. He was an in- trepid officer, a good citizen, and a polished geutle- man. Mr. Deutzel was twice married ; his first wife, Eve Dentzel, died March 18, 1795, "a lady ninch respected and admired." On the 10th of February, 1799, he married Jane Gilchrist, who survived her husband several years. By his first wife he had Mary, married Thomas Clyde, the parents of John J. Clyde, Esq .; Sarah, married Jamies Kernan; Henry, who learned printing with John Wyeth, went to Norfolk, Va., was collector of the port there a number of years, married and left i -- ue. By his second wife he had Raymond, who went to Armstrong County, married and left issue.

MAJ. JOHN SHELLY DETWEILER.

John Shelly Detweiler was born on the 15th of Oe- tober, 1829, in Londonderry town-hip, Dauphin Co .. on a farm occupied by his father, David Detweiler, near what is now known as the Buck Lock, Pennsyl- vania Canal. His mother, Susan Detweiler, was a daughter of William Shelly, of Shelly's Island. When ten years old he attended the school in the neighbor- hood of his birthplace, and continued there until he was sixteen years old, when he came to Harrisburg and entered the printing-office of Theophilu- Fenn, where he remained but a short time, and then went to Lancaster, entering the office of the Lancaster Exim- iner and Herald.

Leaving the Examiner office, Mr. Detweiler entered Franklin and Marshall College, at which institution he pursued a course of regular studies and graduated with high honor, after which he began the study of the law with Gen. George B. Ford, of Lancaster City, and was admitted to the bar of that county in 1550. He remained in Lancaster only a few months after his admission, and came to Harrisburg in the winter of that year, entering at once in the practice of the law here, in which profession he continued until the breaking out of the civil war.

At the organization of the Ninth Cavalry, Mr. Det- weiler took an active part in seeuring the necessary companies to make up the regiment, and as captain of Company E was very prominent in securing a cont- pleted organization. He was commissioned captain Oct. 17, 1861. While on duty in Tennessee he was appointed on the staff of Gen. DuMont. On the . 19th of March, 1863, Capt. Detweiler was appointed major of the regimeut, and on the 2d of April of the same year he resigned his commission and returned to Harrisburg, when he was appointed United States recruiting officer at this point, which post he heid until the close of the war. In 1564, Mr. Detweiler was appointed Deputy United States assessor of in- ternal revenue under Charles J. Bruner, which office he held until it was abolished in 1871. In 1972 he was appointed by Judge Cadwallader register in bankruptcy, which othice he held at the time of his death. In 1874. Mr. Detweiler was nominated and elected by the Republicans county solicitor for the term of three years.

Maj. Detweiler married Eunice Parke, daughter of Benjamin Parke, of Harri-burg, and they had three children who survived their father. He died at Har- risburg, Pa., Aug. 16, 1578.

REV. WILLIAM B. DrWITT, D.D.

William Radcliff De Witt, the son of John De Witt and Katharine Van Vliet, was born at Paulding's Manor, Dutchess Co .. N. Y., ou the 25th of February. 1792. His ancestors were among the first immigrants from Holland to New Netherland-, in 1623. His early years were spent in commercial pursuits, but · about 1810 he turned his attention to the sacred min-

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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.

istry. Ile studied with Dr. Alexander Proudfit, of salem, N. Y., and entered Washington Academy. The War of 1812 interrupting his studies, he volun- teered in the regiment of Col. Rice, and was in ser- vice at Lake Champlain at the time of Mc Donough's victory, Sept. 11, 1814. Atter the close of the war, in 1815, he entered Nassau Hall, Princeton, as a sophomore, but subsequently entered the senior class of Enion College, Schenectady, where he graduated with distinction, completing his theological studies under Rev. Dr. John MI Mason, of New York. He

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REV. WMI. R. DEWITT, D D.

was licensed to preach by the Presbytery of New York April 23, 1818. In the fall of that year he came to Harrisburg by invitation, and was called to the pastorate of the Presbyterian Church Oct. 5, 1818. Hle was received by the Presbytery of Carlisle April 13, 1819, but not ordained until the 26th of October. that year. Dr. DeWitt received the degree of A.JI. in course from Union College, and in 1830 the Uni- versity of Pennsylvania conferred on him the title of Doctor of Divinity. From 1554 to 1860 he held the office of State librarian, appointed by Governors Bigler and Pollock. In 1854 he felt the necessity of taking a colleague, Rev. T. H. Robinson. D.D .. the present minister. He died at Harrisburg, Dec. 23, 1867, in his seventy-sixth year. Dr. De Witt was twice married, his first wife being Julia A. Woodhull, daughter of Rev. Nathan Woodhull, of Newtown, L. I. His second wife was Mary Elizabeth Wallace, daughter of William Wallace, of Harrisburg, who survived her husband. During a ministry of nearly fifty years in Harrisburg, Dr. De Witt enjoyed the con- tidence of all his ministerial brethren. In the com-

munity he was greatly appreciated and respected by all classes. A. a theologian he had few equals in the ministry, and although firm and decided in his views, he was liberal and catholic in spirit. Hi- published writings were limited to twelve or thirteen pamphlets, the most popular of which was a small volume en- titled " Her Price above Rubies." He preached many powerful discourses, a volume of which should cer- tainly be preserved in permanent form.

GEORGE DOCK, M.D.

George Dock, second child of William Dock and Margaret Gilliard, was born 23d of May, 1823, at Harrisburg. Pa. Though of very delicate constitu- tion, he was sent to school at an early age, and re- ceived a liberal education. In September, 1840, he entered the office of Professor William E. Horner, of the University of Pennsylvania, as a private student. He matriculated at the medical department of the University in the summer of 1841, attended the course of lectures at the Medical Institute, and having pur- sued the full course at the University, session of 1842, he was elected resident student in Blockley Hospital, entering upon his duties the 1st of May, where he faithfully served one year, gaining no little reputa- tion as a thorough anatomist. In the spring of 1844 he graduated from the University of Pennsylvania. Returning to his home at Harrisburg, he assumed the duties of his profession. In the autumn of 1845, at the solicitation of Professor Horner, he removed to Philadelphia, and the winter following was engaged by the former as his private di-sector at the Uni- versity. During the war with Mexico he was ten- dered the position of assistant surgeon, Second Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteers, but his health prevented its acceptance. In January, 1847, he was elected physician to the Dauphin County almshouse, where he served one year. Advised to take a sea- voyage for the benefit of his health, in October, 1849, he sailed for Europe, and while there visited the different hospitals of Paris and London. On his return he re-inned the practice of his profession. For a period of thirteen years he was a member of the board of trustees of the State Lunatie Hospital at Harrisburg. in 1854 elected a member of the Acad- emy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia, while in July following Pennsylvania College conferred on him the honorary degree of Master of Arts. Ou the 17th of March, 1556, he was appointed Professor of Surgery in the Philadelphia College of Medicine, which he at first declined, but subsequently, by great persuasion, accepted the position. During the winter following, bis health beconting seriously impaired. he was compelled to withdraw from all active professional duties. In 1860 he made a second visit to Europe, and upon his return quietly settled down in his office, regaining a handsome practice in his specialty,-diseases of the eye. In lodl he was commissioned surgeon of the Sixteenth Regiment

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HISTORY OF DAUPHIN COUNTY.

Pennsylvania Volunteers, subsequently placed on the board of medical examiners to pass on the quali- fications of candidates for appointment on the medi- cal staff of the Pennsylvania forces in the army. From this time forward until 1868 his health was fair, but subsequently became seriously impaired, until at last he was obliged to relinquish entirely the duties of his profession. On the 10th of August, 1874, he was suddenly taken with a hemorrhage of the lungs, but not until the 17th of August, 1875, did the messenger come, and the spirit of George Dock pass from its frail tenement. Had he possessed the physical strength, most of the brilliant suggestions of his gifted and active mind would have been carried out to a successful result. He had by nature a strongly- marked, bold, original, po-itive, and incisive mind, As it was, he was never idle. He made his mark in the profession he so dearly loved and highly honored. Few men were more greatly esteemed, for he was to all genial and kind and courteous. Dr. Dock mar- ried, July 30, 1844, Clara S. Rehrer, daughter of Col. Thomas J. Rehrer, of Harrisburg, who, with one daughter, survive.

WILLIAM DOCK.

William Dock, the son of Philip Doek 1 and Eliza- beth Killian, was born in East Earl township, Lancas- ter Co., Pa., on the 3d of February, 1793. In 1800 his parents removed to Newville, Cumberland Co., where they resided until their death. His early education was limited. At the age of seventeen he went to Carlisle, where he was brought up to merchandising. In 1813 he removed to the Susquehanna opposite Harrisburg, where he kept the public ferry one year ; the subsequent spring coming to Harrisburg. In 1814, be took charge of the Harrisburg ferry, then controlled by the county of Dauphin. In 1816 be was appointed collector of tolls eastern end of the Harrisburg bridge, which position he filled five years. He entered into the mercantile chandlery trade in 1822, which he succes fully continued until 1845, when he entirely relinquished business. In March, 1842. he was appointed one of the associate judges of Dauphin County. In 1849 he received the nomina- tion by the Democracy for Congress in the Fourteenth District, then compo-ed of Dauphin, Lebanon, and Schuylkill Counties. The judge made a good can- vass, but his party were in the minority. In 1851 he was chairman of the State convention which nomi-

nated William Bigler for Governor; had repeatedly been a delegate to the Lutheran Synod; and in 1856 appointed a trustee of Pennsylvania College. Ile served as a trustee of the Harrisburg Academy twenty years, and was actively connected with several busi- ness enterprises. Judge Dock died at Harrisburg Ang. 4, 1868. He married in 1818 Margaret Gilliard, of Middletown, who died May 30, 1862, in her sixty- eighth year. They had children, William Gilliard, Dr. George, Gilliard, and William, of whom Gilliard alone survives.

PHILIP DOUGHERTY.

Philip Dougherty, son of Dennis Dougherty and Catharine Maginty, was born on the 24th of March, 1806, near Middletown, Dauphin Co., Pa. His father caine to America from Ireland about 1805, and settled in Derry township, not far from Middletown, where he died about 1824. His wife (nee Catharine Maginty ), whom he married in Ireland, died about 1845, in Harrisburg. Their children were Mary (wife of Hugh Dougherty ) and John, both born in Ireland, Philip (the subject of this sketelt), James, Catharine (wife of Edward Sweeny), Dennis, Charles, llugh, and Daniel Dougherty. From the age of eighteen Philip Dougherty was busily occupied as a contractor on canals and railroads, and was largely engaged in the construction of important public works, such as the Pennsylvania Canal, the Chesapeake and Ohjo Canal, Delaware and Raritan Canal, Union Canal, Lehigh Canal, Northern Central Railroad, New York and Erie Railroad, Pennsylvania Railroad, Camden and Amboy Railroad, and the Dauphin and Susquehanna Railroad. He continued in the business until Feb- ruary, 1853, when he was chosen president of the Mechanics' Bank of Harrisburg, organized at that time, a position which he filled until his death, which occurred at Harrisburg Feb. 3, 1865, in his fifty-ninth year. He was also a director of the Northern Central Railroad, the Middletown Bank, and the Harrisburg Gas Company, of which he was one of the found- ers. Mr. Dougherty was very snecessful in business, combining great energy and force of character with quiek perception, sound judgment, and strict integ- rity. He dispensed a liberal hospitality to his many friends, and enjoyed the respect and confidence of his fellow-citizens. Of a warm and generous nature. his feelings, impulses, and actions were of an elevated character, and his friendship permanent, strong, and useful. He was ever ready to aid the deserving and relieve the unfortunate, and in all respects was a valued member of the community. Mr. Dougherty married, June 10, 1833, at New Brunswick. N. J., Mary W., daughter of John Clark and Rebecca Whiteside. Mrs. Dougherty was born in 1813, and How (1883) resides in Harrisburg. Their children who reached maturity were James Deunis, who grad- uated at Georgetown College, class of 1:57, was a . lawyer by profession, and a captain of artillery during

1 Philip Dock, a soldier of the Revolution, was born Aug. 2, 1757. in East Earl township, Lancaster Co., Pa .; died at Newville, Cumberland Co., Pa., July 15, 1830. He married Elizabeth Killian, born in East Eurl township Aug. 27. 1703; she died at Newville Feb. 7, 1:45, and there buried. There were children, among others, as follows: Elizabeth, Drarried John Dean ; removed to Ohio, where their descendants reside. Susan, married Jacob Bigler: they were the parents of Governor John Bigler, of California, and Governor William Bigler, f Petinsylvania. Anulin, martied George Gray, and left issue: Jacob, married Eliza Kissecker Ott, and left issne: William, married Margaret Gilliard. Philip, d. s. p.

George Deck.

ThisDougherty

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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.

the Rebellion, and colonel on the staff of Governor Packer, of Pennsylvania, and died April 2, 1878; William E., for many years engaged in the banking business in Harrisburg, and now resident clerk of the the favorable notice of a prominent lumber merchant United States Senate at Washington, D. C .; and Mary F., wife of Bernard J. MeGrann, contractor and banker, of Lancaster, Pa. *

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History of the counties of Dauphin and Lebanon : in the commonwealth of Pennsylvania ; biographical and genealogical, Part 117

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