History of the counties of Dauphin and Lebanon : in the commonwealth of Pennsylvania ; biographical and genealogical, Part 28

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 28
USA > Pennsylvania > Lebanon County > History of the counties of Dauphin and Lebanon : in the commonwealth of Pennsylvania ; biographical and genealogical > Part 28

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).

" And be it further envcted by the authordy aforesaid, That it shall and may be lawful to and for Jacob Aw, Joshua Eller, Andrew Stewart, James Cowdan, and William Brown, of Paxtang, or any three of them to take assurance to them and their heirs of anch Lot or peas of Ground as Shall be laid out and approved of ty the said Commissioners or any three of them for the erecting a Court House and Goal thereupon, in trust and for the use of the inhabitants of the said County of Dmphin, and thereupon to erect n Contt house and prison sufficient to accommo- date the paiblick Servis of the said County.

" And be it further envoted by the authordies aforesaid, That for the de- fraying the changes of building, erecting, and finishing the Court house and Prison aforesaid, it shall and may be lawful to and for the Commis- sioners and Township assessor's of the said County or a Majority of them to assess atl levy, and they are hereby required to assess and levy in the manner directed by the act for rusing County Rates and levies to such money as the said Trustees or any three of them shall judge ueces- bary for bundling an ! finishing the Court house and prison aforesa.d, Provided always that the sum of money so to be raised do not exceed the sum of fifteen hundred Pounds, and that the sad Trustees shall from time to ticie render a faithful account of the expenditures of the same not only to the Commissioners, but the Grand Jury of the County when called on, or any other officer may be appointed by Authority for the inspection of the accountpts of the County. Provided also and be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, That no action or suit now com- meucell or that may be commencel in the County Courts of Lancaster before the first day of April next against any Person living within the bonuds of the County of Dauphin, shall be stayed or discontinued by this act or by anything in the same Conoties, but the same actions now Copimenced or that may be commenced as aforesaid may be proceeded to final issue and Judgement thereupon rendered in the like maunier as if this act had not been made, and it shall he lawful for the Justices of Lancaster County to issue Process to the sheriff of the County of Lan- caster for carrying on and obtaining the full and Legal effects of such suits in the same manner as if the parties resided in the same County of Lancaster.

"And he it further enerted by the authority aforevid. That the Sherif, Coroners, and public officers of the County of Lancaster shall continue to exercise the duties of their respective Offices within the County of Dauphin until similar Officers are appointed agreeable to Law, within the saul C'ounty of Dauphin, and that all arrearages of e cerse and public Taxes shall be paid into the hands of the present Collectors to be by them accounted for in maoner and form as if this act had never been

" And be it further enucted by the authority aforranit," That the Sheriff's, Treasurers, Collectors of Excise, and all such officers as have heretofire nomally given I til for the faithful docharge of their respective Ofhea who may 1. reatter be granted or elected in the sand County of Man- Fim before they or any of them ahall enter upon the execution of their respective Offices shall give anthejent security in the like -mtas in the like manner and form and for the like news, trusts, and purposes as auch

Contad Bombach.

112

HISTORY OF DAUPHIN COUNTY.

Officers are obliged by Law for the time being to do in the County of Lancaster.

" And be it further en tel by the arthurdy aforevad, That Joshua Elder, Thomas Clark, Johu Glendeller, Birtian Galbraith. James Cuoning- hat, or any three of them shall be Comosi-innere to run and mark the County Live, in the same mantel as is before in the second section of this act, which bhe when sorun and marked shall be the boundary be. tween the Counties afuresaid, and that the said Commissioners shall re- ceive for their Services at the rate of twenty-two shithings and sixpence per day each, and no more, to be paid ball by the County of Lancaster, and half by the County ot Dauphin by draughts from the Commission- ers of the respective Counties on the Treasurer of the same, which the said Commussjones are hereby authorized and directed to grant.

" Signed by order of the House.

" JOHN BAYARD, Speaker.

" Enacted into a Law at Philadelphia on Friday, the fourth Day of March, in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and Eighty five.

". Inrolled 4th June. A D. 17-5."

The name DAUPHIN was derived from the eldest son of the king of France, that country at this period, in consequence of it> efficient aid to the colonies, being uppermost in the affections of the people. The enthu- siasm was unbounded, and. as we shall refer to here- after, carried to extreme lengths. The name wa- >ug- gested by the prime movers for the formation of the new county. The seat of justice wa- fixed at Harris' Ferry, then a village of about one hundred hon-es, although the town- of Lebanon and Middletown were then more important places within the new county. A letter written about this period by Capt. Alexander Graydon to Jedediah More, the geographer, gives us perchance the best account of the county of Dauphin as then organized. extant, and we present it therefore in full :

" LOUISBOURG, March 5th, 1:83.

" SIR: A Hurry of Business added to a want of Health has hitherto prevented na from paying that Attention I could have wished to your Questions respecting the County ot Dauphin. I now give you the Re- gult of my Enquiries upon the different heads you propose, arranged in the order of your Queries.

" Auser to lat Qu. DanyInn, formerly contained within the Limits of Lancaster county, but divided from it and erected into a separate County by Act of Assembly passed March 4th 1755.

" Aner to, 2d Qu. It's Boundaries on the West and south West are the Western Shore of the River Su- quehanna the River being within the Limits and Jurisdiction of the Countyson the South East Conawago Creek as far as the Ileid of it and from thence running in a direct Line to the south East Corner of Heidelberg Township where it strikes the Berks County Line thence north West by the Line of Berks County to Mahantango Creek the nice along the same by the Line of Northumber- land and crossing the susquehanna to the Line of Cumberland County. It is thus described in the Act of Avenably, but perhaps it may be best for your purpose to say, That it is In unded on the West Hod sonth West by the Counties of Funil erland and York, on the South and South East Ly Lancaster County -- on the East & North East by Berks anu on the north by Northumberland, the greater and best part of the County ly jug in the valley between the Blue or hittatinny Mountain, and the Cona- wago Hill or South Mountain, which latter Name it obtains in Cumber- land Cunnty Its form is triangular and it- Extent along the susque- banda about forty five maths from thence to the Line of Berks County about thirty-five Miles and from theice to the same Hiver along the Line of Bers, and Northumberlatt Counties at ait fifty -five miles.

" Ausr to 3d Qu. There are 3_20 taxatie Inhabitant- in Dauphin from whence perhaps it may be estimated that there are not less than It or 18,Quy souls. These consist with a very few Exceptions of German ami Irish or what are in Fenasylvani alled se ich Irish aul their de- scendants I think about twothird- til- Inhatatauts are G-ruistis or of that Extraction. The jana jar condios den omination among them are Intheratis and d'alviniste perhaps alan t an equal number of each - there is also a small Congregation of M ravians who have a place of worship about a nutie from the Towa At Let anop. There are besides a

good number of Menomists and a small Society of Roman Catholicks who have a Chapel in Lebanon Township.

"The religious Profession of the Irish families is the Presbyterian. They have three uweting houses, one in West Hanover, one in Paxtang and one in Derry Township. There are also a few Speedery and Cove. nanters who being too inconsiderable in number to fran distinct serie. ties have generally fallen in with the before mentioned Congregations. The English Episcopahans, Quaheis, &c., of which we have a few are by an means numerous enough to have places of Worship.

".Ensr. to 4th (n. The soil is generally good and in some partsremark- ally fertile more particularly in Lebanon and Heidelberg Townships and in that part of Paxtang lying along the River. A great portion of the county is Lime stone land but as it approaches the hittatinny Mountain which runs through it a Distance of near thirty Miles it is generally a gravelly or light slaty soil which however produces very godt and certain Crops of excellent Wheat, Rie, &c. Beyond the mountain to Northumberland County, which Tract of Country compre- heuds upper and und He Paxtang Township, the quality of the soil is much inferior to the other parts and is very little cultivated. It is geu- erally timbered with pine & white oak and watered with a number of fine Streams which enalde the Inhabitants to erest Saw Mills and drive on a very beneficial Trade in Boards, &c, Ent tho' the soil of this Coun- try is somewhat -andy & in other parts wet as may be inferred from the timber, yet it produces pretty good Grain and adorde a great deal of good meadow Ground. Fron: the best information I am inclined to thiok that the proportion of the Land under Cultivation will average at less than an half. The trade to Philadelphna and the Hills on the Road thither, our principal Export being Wheat and four-we also export Bar Iron and the neighboring Country is supplied with Boards, Scaot- ling, se., from Louisbourg and Middletown which are situated on or near susquehanna, down which great quantities of these Articles are rafted in the spring and Antum at which seasons the waters being high the navigation is rendered safe and rasy. Our Exports except what are taken off by the watermen who bring down lumber and Grain) are conveyed by Lund, the navigation of the Susquehanna bring at present too much obstructed below Middletown by Rocks, Falls, &c., to make it eligible to convey thetn by Water to Baltimore and other Mar- kets in the Chesapeake which may possibly los the case in future, when the Country bas ability to remove these Obstructions.

"Our chief Imports besides the Articles brought down the River as already mentioned are European and East and West India Merchandise brought from Philadelphia. The natural Growth of the Soil is gener- ally Hickory, Oak, Chestnut, Poplar, an! near the River Walnut, Locust, Linn or Linden, Maple, Ash, Beech. &e., with the Herlage usual in other parts of the State. Its productions from Culture are Wheat, Rye, Oats, Barley, Indian Corn, Flax, Hemp, &c.

" Ansr. to 5th Qu. The Riversare the Susquehanna, the Swatara a large stream which has its source in Berks County and after watering a con- siderable Extent of Country in its windings empties into the Susque- hanna at Middletown-the Quitapahilla which discharges itself into the Swatara, and the Tulpehocken which empties into schuylkill about 3 mile trum Reading between the Head waters of which ie the Tulpe- hocken) and the Quitapahilla which approach within a mile of each other hear the town of Lebanon it has been in Contemplation to ent a Canal and thereby by means of Lucks. Ac., to varu a navigable Com- munication between the Schusikift and susquehanna, a work which though at present laid aside will probably one lay be charned into Exe- cntion. There are beaules these several less important streams, vizt. Paxtang, Conawazo, Spring Creek, Clark's Creek, Sturgeon s, Arm- „Trung's, Beaver Creek, Monady, Wirkonisky, little Swanna. &c., most of which afford seats for Mills & Every kind of water works.

" I know of nothing remarkable in the Mountains of which there are several in the County, viz , the Blue Mountain already mentioned and several other Ridges in its Neighborhood such as Peter's Mountain, Berty'- Mountain, xe,, and the Conawago Hill, in which there is a Mine of Iron Ore belonging to the Estate of the late Mr Grubb spart whereof is in Lancaster Co'ty, which appears to be thexhaustible.

" 'There is a Spring near the foot of the Blue Mountains much celo- brated and resorted to by the country People on Account of its supposed Efficacy in the Cure of Rheinatic and other chrome Disorders, but from what I can learn if it possesses anty virtue it arises chi-dy froor its " Xerssive colliess.

"The e malso a tave on the Banks of the Suntara about a mile from Hun und's town im Ferry Toutstup dermed a great turncity by the who have seen it. It's Aperture being under a pretty high Bank is fros IS to S fert wide and froot 7 to In in Height. You enter by a emolual Descent and in your Pregre- pass through a number of Passages and

113

GENERAL HISTORY.

Apartments of various Dimensions, - for low and narrow others very high and spacious, vaulted by magnificent Canopies fretted with a variety of depending Petrifactions, none of which are drawn to a great Length by means of their continuen Exudation. But much of their original Beauty and Transparency is obscured by the smoke of the Torches from time to time em ! yed in conducting the curious Traveller through this gloomy Recess Fr .n: the Entrance of the Cavern to a binall Fissure of Outlet at the Extremity which is lately large enough to admit the Body of a Man is ibi ut 200 yards measured in a strait Line on the surface of the Go un l under which it pisses, but the Distance must be much greater to those who have the l'onrage to trace it in its enb- terraneons Winding -. This is the only natural Ciniosity in the County that I have heard of, and I know of no Antiquities or artificial out ..

".lusr. to 6th Q#. The Country was first settled by Emigrants from Ireland.

" ! 1: 5 50 0. The stut of Agile ulinte . much the same as in the neighboring Countries & will don'tles adout of nach Improvement. The same may be sutlof the Manufactures, though some Bratches si no to mirtit a particular meution vizt. A bail factory at Lomsbourg which is carried on by means of a stamping Machine much cheaper and more expiditiously than in the u-nal m dle of drawing-also a Powder Jhill of Lebanon Township in which is manufactured Powder of a very su- perior Strength and Quality. B-side- these I cannot (mit a Grist Whil within a Mile of Middletown -eated very a wantareously on the swatara & about half a mile from the month of it. It is a very large aud ban 1- some stone Building, ha- four pair of stones and i, perhaps in every re- spect one of the most complete in Pennsylvania. But what i- perhaps more deserving of Attention is the Hace a Canal frout twenty io thirty feet in Breadth and carried with such a degree of B. MAness to a Length of 476 perches through Rocks and Hills and every Obstacle which oc- curred in it> Course as cannot fail to excite a very high Idea of the en- terprizing Spirit & persevering Industry of Mr. George Frey, the under- taker and owner.

" We have as yet no Academy or public -chools but shall in common with the other Countries of the State have a Tract of Land granted & appropriated by the Legislature for the Establishment of one, besides which we are entitled to the annual proces Is of a Ferry across the > 1s- quehanna at present routed for $155 per Ann which should it as in all probability it will be applied to this Use will constitute a very respect- able Fundl.

" Anser, to Sth Q". The County comprehend, ten Townships vizt. Paxton tor Paxtang which is the original Indian uamey, upper Paxtang. Middle Paxtang, East Hanover. West Hanover. D. rry, Londonderry, Lebanon, Bethel, and Heidelberg-and ten Towns, vizt. Louisbourg or Harrisburgh containing abont 150 dwelling houses, a Gaol being & plain stone Building and a Germin Church a Log Builling-Lebanon con- taining about 1on Houses and two German Chi hes built of Wond. Middletown containing 90 odd Houses & one German Church of Wood. Hummel's town containing about 35 Houses & one German Church of Wood-Anville or Miller's town containing about 35 houses; Heidel- berg, or Shaffer's town containing about TO Houses & 2 Germain Churches one of which is a handsome stone Building-Newman's town containing about 25 houses-Williamsburg or Jones' town containing about 40 houses and one German o: Wood. N. B. In Lebanon one of the Churches belongs to the Lutheran the other to the Calvinists. so in Heidelberg, Ient in the other Towns where there is huit one, it generally belongs to both societies and is used by them alternately.

"Ansier. to sth Or. The. Name ot th - principal Town or Seat of the Courts is Lunisbourg so styled by the supreme Executive Council in their proceedings as well as in those of the Courts, altho' it is more generally kuown by the name of Harristoirch-it is a fine, nourishing place & its pri gress amazing, baring been laid out a little better than " years. It lies between the 40th and +1st degree ot Latitude and is somewhat more than a degree & a half West of Phila.la. its Distance from that place 100 Miles and it- Bearing about West and by No:th.

"This is the most accurate Information I con'd obtain with respect to the Objects of your Inquiry. I have probably been more minute than necessary in som A Ca es, but agreeal ly to your desire was willing to give .Lo full an Answer as possible and shall be happy if it affords yon any Assistance in your very nzeful Codertaking, in which I wish you suc-

" Am Sir, Your very bble Servt, "ALEX. GRAYDON. " To Mr. JEDEDIAU MORSE."

At this period the entire country was seriously agitated by the adoption of the Federal Constitution. 8

Within the limits of Dauphin County there was much opposition. In the convention which was called by the Pennsylvania Assembly to ratify that instrument, the delegates from Dauphin, William Brown, Adam Orth, and John A. Hanna, signed the protest that the Constitution, "consistent with its idea of consolida- tion, contains no reservation of the rights and privi- leges of the State government>," and the authority " vested in Congress is unlimited in its nature, nay i- comprehensive and boundless."

On the 3d of September, 1783, there was held at Harrisburg a conference of those who were opposed to the adoption of the Federal Constitution. The minutes of this conference, which marks an impor- tant epoch in the history of this locality and of the State, as it was the first political convention ever held in Pennsylvania, we give in full :

"Agreeably to a circular letter which originated in the county of Cumberland, inviting to a conference anch of the citizens of the state who conceive that a revision of the Federal systems, lately proposed for the government of the United States is necessary : a number of gentle- meu from the city of Philadelphia and the counties of Ph.lvlelphia, Aneks, Chester, Lancaster, Cumberland, Beiks, Northumberlind, Bed- ford, Fayette, Washington, Franklin, Dauphin, and Huntingdon have assenabled at this place for said puipose."

Gallatin, of Westmoreland County, who seemed to be one of the lenders in this revolt. if so it may be termed, presented the following resolutions :

"1st. Resolved, That in order to prevent a dissolution of the Union, and to secure our libert.es and those of our posterity. it is uecessary that a revision of the Federal constitution be obtained in the most speedy manner.

"2d. That the safest manner to obtain such a revision will be, in con- formity to the request of the State of New York, to use our endeavors to Lave a convention called as soon as possible ; Resolved, therefore, that the Assembly of this state be positioned to take the earliest opportunity to make an application for that purpose to the Saw Congress.

"3d. Resolved, That in order that the friends to amendments to the Federal Constitution, who are inhabitants of this state, wirv act in con- cert, it is necessary, and it is hereby recommended to the several conn- ties in the State, to appoint committees, who may correspond one with another, and with such similar committees as may be formed in other States.

"4th. Resolred, That the friends to amendment to the Federal Con- stitution in the several States be invited to meet in a general coulerence to be held at -, on -, and - metalers elected by this conference who, or any of them, shall meet at stid place and time, in order to le- vise. in concert with such ther delegates from the several Stites as taay come under similar appointments, on such amendments to the Federal Constitution as to them may seem most necessary, and on the most likely way to carry them into effect."

There seemed to be a diversity of opinion in the conference, and although the members did not ac- tually reject Gallatin's resolves, which were much more decided, adopted those of a different temper and likely to be effective before the people. The object of the founders of a party, at the moment in hopeless minority, was to present a record upon which any aspiring politician could place himself. They were successful to such a degree that the destiny of the State and nation were in the party thus called into beiug for fifty years afterwards, alnost without interruption. Whatever intermediate occurrences took place, deliberation announced the decision of the conference to be,-

114

HISTORY OF DAUPHIN COUNTY.

" Ist. Resolved, That it be recommended to the people of this State to acquiesce in the organization of the said government; but although we thus accord in its organization, we by no means lose sight of the grand object of obtaining very const lerable amendment and alterations which we consider essential to preserve the peace and harmony of the Uuion, and those invaluable privileges for which so much blood and treasure have been recently expended.

"2d. Resolved, That it is necessary to obtain a speedy revision of said Constitution by a general convention.

"3d. Resolved, That, therefore, in order to effect this desiralde end, a petition be presented to the Legislature of the State requesting that hunorable body to take the eat hest opportunity to make application for that purpose to the new Congress."

The address to the people of the State was brief, and in few words proceeds to state that the " Con-ti- tution in its present form contains some principles which may be perverted to the injury of the citizen and prove incompatible with order and government," expressing the opinion "that considerable amend- ments are essentially necessary ;" further, that they are " sensible that a large number of the citizens, both in this and other States, who gave their assent to its being carried into execution previons to any amend- ments, were actuated more by fear of the dangers that might arise from any delays than by a conviction of its being perfect," concludling with the hope that " prudence and policy" will soon bring about the amendments which those with whom they were in harmony in other States "are pressing so earn- estly."

Subsequently to the action of the "conference" its opponents issued a circular directing public attention to the fact that an election by general ticket for eight members of Congress was to be held on the fourth Wednesday of November, calling upon "the friends of the new Constitution to be on their gnard, lest the names of persons opposed to the same or of doubtful sentiments should be circulated in the counties and in the city, especially let them be- ware of counterfeits, for auch are abroad." The committees circulating this also informed the people that "the sinnggling business which took place at Harrisburg with the ostensible purpose of procuring amendments to the Constitution, but in fact to form a ticket for representatives in Congress," should be watched !

On the 3d of November the Federalists, as they called themselves, met at Lancaster to form a ticket for members of Congress. This meeting did not openly attack the opponents of the Constitution. In- deed, so confident were they of success that it was not deemed dignified or in any way necessary to do so. But so unexpectedly strong was opposition de- veloped, as the returns from "the back countie-" reached Philadelphia, " that very great surprise was created at the course of public sentiment." And no wonder, for when all the returns came to hand it ap- peared that the voters were divided into two nearly equal parts, 'giving most of the advantages of politi- eal success to those who favored amendments to the Constitution." The vote was as follows :

HARRISBURG TICKET.

LANCASTER TICKET.

Robert Whitehill.

5560

Fred. Augustus Muhlenberg 8697

Win. Montgomery

6339

George Clymer .....

Iminiel Hieder.

7405

Peter Muhlenberg.

7415 Stephen Chambers. 7033

Wm. Findley

6587

Thomas Scott .

Charles Prttil.

64×4

Henry Wyukoop.

("air Mcclanahan

Thomas Hartley

8163

Gen. Ww. Irvine.

6493

Thomas Fitzsimmons.

About fifteen thousand votes were polled at this the first State election in Pennsylvania. The popula- tion was less than four hundred thousand.

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History of the counties of Dauphin and Lebanon : in the commonwealth of Pennsylvania ; biographical and genealogical, Part 28

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