History of the counties of Dauphin and Lebanon : in the commonwealth of Pennsylvania ; biographical and genealogical, Part 94

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 94
USA > Pennsylvania > Lebanon County > History of the counties of Dauphin and Lebanon : in the commonwealth of Pennsylvania ; biographical and genealogical > Part 94

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).

Course of Studies. - First year,- Arithmetic re- viewed, Algebra, English Grammar and Composition, English History, Physiology, Physical Geography or Latin, Etymology. Second year,-English History completed, Algebra completed, Latin or Natural ffistory, Natural Philosophy, Elementary Geometry (girl-, Double Entry Book-keeping boys). Third or junior year, -Rhetoric and Composition, Geometry, Latin, or Special History. Natural Philosophy, Arithmetic and Algebra reviewed with application of principles .. Senior or fourth year, -Latin or English Literature, or General History, Rhetoric and Compo- sition, Civil Government, Surveying and Navigation

36S

HISTORY OF DAUPHIN COUNTY.

(boys), Trigonometry and theory of teaching (girls !, Greek (optional with advanced classes) : Drawing,- boys, Mechanical ; girls, Industrial and Perspective. General attention to Reading, Elocution, Writing, Spelling, Declamation, Composition, Manners and Morals throughout the course. There is a teachers' ! library owned and controlled by the City Teachers' Institute, consisting of about five hundred volumes. This institute meets the first and third Saturdays of cach calendar month, while -chools are in session.

CITY SUPERINTENDENTS-Daniel S. Burns, A.M., was elected first city superintendent in 1869 ; was re- . elected in 1872, 1875, 1878, and resigned 1879. L. O. Foose, A.M., was elected to fill the unexpirol term of Mr. Burns, 1879, re-elected in 18-1, and still holds the office.

CHAPTER XV.

Banks and Banking Institutions-Public Buildings of the State-Char- itable Institutions-Post-Offices and Postmaster,-Consus Returns, etc.

BANKS AND BANKING INSTITUTIONS.

HARRISBURG NATIONAL BANK .- Thi- institution was chartered by the Legislature on the 9th of May, 1814, with a capital of $300,000, and was regularly organized in the month of June of the same year by the election of the following board of director- :

on the second story. The bank remained there, how- ever, only a few months, when it was removed into the brick building at present No. 21 South Second Street, where it remained until 1817, when it pur- " chased from the Philadelphia Bank the brick build- ing which that company had used as a branch, sit- uated at the southwest corner of Market Square and Blackberry Alley, in which it continued until the summer of 1854, when the building was torn down to give place to the present elegant structure, the bank in the mean time carrying on its business in the house adjoining, No. 14 South Market Square. One of the earliest notes of this institution i- a "shinplaster" of 1816, a fac-simile of which is given below.

We append a list of the presidents and cashiers of the bank from its first organization to the present day : Presidents, William Wallace, elected June, 1514; Thomas Elder, elected June 19, 1816; Jacob M. Halde- man, elected May 3. 1853; William M. Kerr, elected Dee. 31, 1856 (died Dec. 17, 1864) ; Jacob S. Haldeman, elected Dec. 28, 1864; Valentine Hummel, elected Jan. 20, 1869 (died Sept. 4, 1870) ; Dr. George W. Reily, elected Sept. 28, 1870: Cashiers, John Downey, elected June, 1814: John Forster, elected April 19, 1815: Henry Walter-, elected Nov. 25, 1833; James W. Weir, elected Oct. 30, 1814, serving until his death in April, 1878; Jeremiah Chler, elected April 17, 1878. The institution has a national bank charter of the date of November, 1864, numbered 50, and the name

John McCleery, I-aac Hershey, Henry Beader, Robert Harris, Christian Kunkel, John Howard. David Fer- guson, William Wallace, Jacob MI. Haldeman, Thomas THE MECHANICS' BANK was chartered by the State Feb. 8, 1853, with a capital of $50,000. At it- organization Philip Dougherty was chosen president. and J. C. Bomberger cashier. Mr. Dougherty died in 1865, when the institution passed into the posses sion of Mr. Bamberger as sole owner, by whom it ha- ever since been conducted as an individual bank. The Mechanics' Bank has always sustained the best Brown, John Shoch, Abraham Oves, and Peter Kel- ler. William Wallace, E-q., was elected president, and John Downey cashier. The bank first went into operation at the then residence of its cashier, John Downey, in the building No. 11s South Second Street, a few doors northwest of Cherry Alley. The bank- ing room was in the front part of the building, and the board of directors usually met in the front room " of credit, and during the financial panic of ten years

Harrisburg Bank changed to Harrisburg National Bank.

369

CITY OF HARRISBURG.

ago it passed safely through the crisis unimpaired, and has enjoyed a reputation uot excelled by any banking-house in the State. It is located on the southeast corner of Market and Third Streets.

FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF HARRISBURG .- Prior to the war the banking-house of Cameron, Calder, Eby & Co. had been established at the corner of Second and Walnut Streets. In July, 1863, the in- stitution received a national bank charter numbered 201; capital stork $100,000. On the 12th of Decem- ber, 1863, the stockholders organized, and on the 1st of January, 1864, commenced business. The bank charter was extended twenty years from the 24th of February, 1883. Dec. 12, 1:63, Jobu H. Briggs was elected president ; Jan. 14, 1871, Jacob R. Eby, aud on Jan. 17, 1874, William Caller. Mr. Calder died July 19, 1880, and on the 20th of the same month William W. Jennings was elected president. George H. Small is and has been ca-hier of the bank from the date of organization.

THE FARMERS' BANK OF HARRISBURG was or- ganized May 6, 1872, as an individual bank, with Daniel Eppley as president, and Frederick C. Fink as cashier. It was chartered under the State laws on the 3d of May, 1873, with a paid-up capital of $100,- 000, the same officers continuing. The banking-house is located ou the northeast corner of Market and Third Streets. It has been a successful institution, and maintained the credit of a substantial bank.

THE COMMONWEALTH GUARANTEE TRUST AND SAFE DEPOSIT COMPANY .- This institution was organized on the 16th of August, 1881, with a capital of $250,000. The same year the company secured the building formerly known as Brant's Hall. adjoining the court-house. The main portion of this structure was remodeled from ground-floor to roof. One-half of the first floor is to be occupied by the institution. The room is twenty-eight feet by one hundred and twenty feet. There are two large vaults capable of containing about two thousand two hundred safe-boxes for reuters. The vaults are equal to any in the United States in construction for security against burglary or tire. The company have the power and will act as tru-tee for any purpose whatever. a- receiver, assignee, guardian, administrator, and receive money on de- posit and loan money. The -afe-box -ystem ha- been a want long felt iu this community for the deposit of valuables, many in adjoining counties having been compelled to go to Philadelphia for -imilar purpo-es. The officers are: Pre-ident, William W. Jennings; Vice-President, William T. Hildrup ; Secretary and Treasurer, William B. Hart ; Directors, Simon Cam- eron, Charles L. Bailey, David Fleming, James Boyd, Lane S. Hart, D. L. Jauss, Charles H1. Mullin, David Mayer, Theodore D. Greenawalt, James Young, A. S. Patterson, Isaac Frazer, Spencer C. Gilbert.

THE PUBLIC BUILDINGS OF THE STATE .- In the centre of the city, and in the centre of a beautiful park of ten acres, stands prominently the capitol of the Keystone State. It is a plain, substantial brick edifice, erected sixty years ago, at a cost of two hun- dred thousand dollars,-an unexpensive building, it is true, but just as comfortable and just as commo- dious as if it was built of marble at a cost of three or four million dollars. The site is a commanding one, and the park surrounding one of the prettiest in the country. The library of the State is located in the west wing of the capitol building. It contains a law library unsurpassed in the Union. Considering the immense advantages and facilities of the State, the miscellaneous portion of the library is not as great as it ought to be, but through the strenuous efforts of several of the librarians, who have been gentlemen of culture, it contains many books of great value. There being no public library in the city, that of the State is much resorted to by the citizens. Adjoining the legislative halls are the buildings for the differ- ent departments of the State, plain, substantial brick structures.

The Executive mansion is on Front Street, north of Pine Street. It is a plain, three-story brick dwell- ing-house. The interior is handsomely furnished. The building was the gift of the city of Harrisburg.

In the northeastern part of the city is located the Pennsylvania Lunatic Hospital, the first institution erected by the State. The commonwealth has reason to be proud of its many charitable institutious for the care of the insane poor, and that at Harrisburg still retains its status for efficient and skillful management under Dr. J. Z. Gerhardt, who has been connected with the hospital for several years.

CHARITABLE INSTITUTIONS.

HARRISBURG HOSPITAL .- On the evening of Dec. 3, 1872, the following gentlemen met in the parlor of. the Harrisburg Bank : William Calder, Rudolph F. Kelker, James McCormick, Jr., A. Boyd Hamilton. J. Donald Cameron, James Fleming, William O. Hickok, Herman Alricks, Henry MeCormick, Wayne Mac Veagh, David Fleming, James W. Weir, and Henry Gilbert, who passed the following resolution : That " William Calder, Rudolph F. Kelker, James McCormick, A. Boyd Hamilton, and J. Donald Cam- eron take into consideration the subject of a dispen- sary and hospital, and report to a future meeting." From this action, much subsequent conference, great industry, with the cheerful aid of the benevolent citi- zens of Harrisburg, came this hospital.

In March, 1873, thirty-nine persons were reported to have contributed $4395. It was determined to apply for a charter, which was granted in May, a part of the present property purchased, and immediate measures taken to prepare it for hospital purposes. It was opened Ang. 4. 1873. The first managers were James McCormick, president ; A. Boyd Hamilton, sec-

370

HISTORY OF DAUPHIN COUNTY.

retary ; J. Donald Cameron, David C. Kolp. William Calder, Henry McCormick, Jones Wistar, Rudolph F. Kelker, Robert A. Lamberton, John Curwen, Daniel W. Gross, George W. Reily, with James W. Weir, treasurer. The first patients were received on Angust 7th; since to April 1, 1883, there has been treated in the wards 1758; in the dispensary 26.455; and preseriptions filled from 1879, when that service commenced, 89,919. The total cost of maintenance has been upwards of $60,000, and of real estate, alter- ations and new buildings, nearly $65,000, or $125,000 as the actual money cost in ten years. No salaries are paid except to those who are in charge of the hospital, its property and housekeeping. It is able to accommodate comfortably from 50 to 75 patients. for whom every comfort has been provided. Its -taff consists of eight physicians, surgeons, and an apothe- cary, a steward, matron, and nurses as required. Its buildings are on Front and Mulberry Streets, in the Third Ward, and are an ornament to the city.

POST-OFFICE AND POSTMASTERS.

From 1789 to 1791 the mails for Harrisburg were served from Lancaster. and possibly those from the We-t at Carlisle. During the latter year an office was established at Harrisburg, and John Montgomery, son of the Rev. Joseph Montgomery, of Paxtang, appointed postmaster. Mr. Montgomery continued in office until the spring of 1793, when he resigned, and John W. Allen, one of the proprietors of the Oracle of Dauphin. was either appointed or held the office ad interim until superseded by John Wyeth. Originally, says Mr. Hamilton, the post-office was "next opposite" the register's otlice, which then was in Mulberry Street. When Mr. Wyeth was appointed the office was in the building now owned by Fred- erick Gohl, No. 219 South Second Street. In 1799 the Oracle notices the removal of the office to the residence of Mr. Wyeth, "adjoining the Rev. Mr. Snowden, being nearly opposite to where it has been kept for several years." As the Rev. Mr. Snowden then occupied the brick house southwest corner of Mulberry and Second Streets, the " building adjoin- ing" is easily recognized.

Mr. Wyeth's successor was John Wright, who was appointed by President John Adams about the year 1798, and resided and kept the office in a two-story frame house located on South Second Street below Chestnut Street, now No. 112. owned by Jacob F. Haehnlen. The salary of the postmaster then wa- only fifty dollars per annum. Mr. Wright taught a school in connection with the office. He only re- sided there one year, and then removed to South Front Street below Chestnut, in the house now J. Brisben Boyd's, and is No. 111. For some reason he changed his residence the next year to Mulberry Street near Second, upper side, where he resided eleven years, continuing his school, and where some of our older citizens now living received their pre-

liminary education. This property was purchased by William Root about the year 1840, who removed the original house, and creeted a three-story brick building on the street and a large tinware and stove mannfactory on the rear of the lot.

At this time the stage stables were located on the corner of River and Cherry Alleys, the site being occupied by the bakery and spice-mill of Mr. Haehn- len at the present time. These stables were subse- quently removed, probably to the east corner of Fifth and Walnut Streets, as they were there many years, and the river was mainly crossed by them at the Upper or Maclay's ferry. These changes may have induced Mr. Wright again to move, for in 1812 his residence and office were at the corner of Front and Walnut Streets, where he resided but one year. James McCormick's residence occupies the ground at present. The next location was on Walnut Street near Raspberry Alley, in the house now occupied by Robert Bryson, No. 215. The post-office was kept here eleven years, and it was probably here that Mr. Wright died.

'As the State Legislature and the public offices were now located here, the business of the office greatly in- erea-ed, and of course more laborious, the salary was made five hundred dollars per annum. During the year 1822, or in 1823, Mrs. Wright, who was con- tinned in office, removed from Walnut Street to the southeast corner of Market Square, next door above George Ziegler's tavern. The salary was then raised to nine hundred dollars. Mrs. Wright died here during the year.

Mrs. Wright was succeeded by James Peacock, who printed a newspaper called the Pennsylvania Republi- cun. He was appointed by President Monroe, about 1823. The Zollinger Brothers now own and occupy the place. Mr. Peacock did not remain in that loca- tion long, but removed the office to the house of Mr. Stine, north corner of Locust and Third Streets, and the year following his office and residence to Front Street above Market, now Mr. John Haldeman's. It was here that the late James W. Weir served as Mr. Peacock's clerk. Subsequently the office was transferred to the two-story brick house next to Mrs. Mary Hanna's, where Mr. Peacock lived many years.

The first time the post-office was separated from the residence of the postmaster was in 1832 or 1833. when Mr. Peacock removed the office from his resi- dence to a room in Mr. Keller's house on Second Street, near Walnut, where it remained several years, when he purchased from the heir- of Henry Miller the three-story brick house now No. 7 North Market Square.

Mr. Peacock was superseded by Isaac G. Mckinley, who was appointed by President Polk in 1845. The office remained there until the appointment of An- drew J. Jones by President Taylor, in 1849, who changed it to the old Pennsylvania Bank, on the south corner of Market Square, now the site of the First

371

CITY OF HARRISBURG.

Presbyterian Church. Here the office remained dur- ing Mr. Jones' term, and also during the four years John H. Brant was postmaster. The latter was ap- pointed in 1852 by President Pierce. In 1856, Dr. George W. Porter was appointed Mr. Brant's successor by President Buchanan. He removed the office to his residence, on Market Street near Fourth Street, now No. 386, where it was continued until the ap- pointment of George Bergner by President Lincoln in 1860, who removed the office to his residence, on Market Street near Third, and next door to the Lochiel Hotel, now 225, where it remained several years, when it was taken to No. 314 Market Street.

During the ineumbency of President Johnson. Gen. Joseph F. Knipe was honored with the appointment. On the accession, however, of Gen. Grant to the Presideney, MIr. Bergner was reinstated in his old position, which he till d until his death, which oc- curred on the 5th of August, 1874, having held the office about eleven years. MI. W. MeAlarney was shortly after appointed his successor by President Grant, and retains the place at this date.

To repeat, the following have been the postmasters at Harrisburg from the establishment of the post- office there :

1. John Montgomery, appointed in 1792.

2. John W. Allen, appointed August, 1793.

3. John Wyeth. appointed October, 1793.

4. John Wright, appointed 1802.

5. Mrs. Wright took the office at his death, in 1814, who held it until 1822, when Jame- Peacock was appointed.

6. James Peacock, who was succeeded in office by the following gentlemen :

7. Isaac G. McKinley.

S. Andrew J. Jones.

9. John H. Brant.

10. Dr. George W. Porter.

11. George Bergner.

12. Gen. Joseph F. Knipe.

13. George Bergner, died in office.

14. Henry Gilbert, col interim.

15. M. W. MeAlarney, the present incumbent.

The New Post- Office Building .- On the 9th of Feb- uary, 1875, a bill was intr xluced in the United States Senate appropriating "one hundred and sixty thou- sand dollars, or so much thereof as may be necessary." for the purchase of a suitable traet of ground for the erection thereon of a post-office and other government offices, which passed Congress and was approved by the President March 4th in the same year, and at subsequent sessions other appropriations were made to complete the work as money was needed. A com- mission to select a site was appointed, consisting of George Bergner, John J. Pearson. Daniel Eppley, A. Boyd Hamilton, and Henry Gilbert, but their recommendation of a site was not accepted. On the 14th of June, 1875, the Secretary of the Treasury ap- pointed MI. W. McAlarney, postmaster, Charles J.

Bruner, collector, and additional law judge Hon. Robert M. Henderson a second commission to receive proposals for a site and make recommendations. The commission failed to receive any proposal which came within their instructions. but reported that a great many pieces of ground were offered. Upon the re- ceipt of their report Supervising Architect Potter came to Harrisburg and selected the site at Third and Walnut, after which negotiations with the several owners were continued for eighteen months before the title was secured, and in two ca-es proceedings in condemnation were had. On the 10th of March, 1373, an act was passed by the Pennsylvania Legi-la- ture ceding jurisdiction, etc., of land in Harrisburg for a po-t-office. Jehu DeHaven, of Harrisburg, was appointed superintendent, James G. Hill. of Wash- ington, architect, and Postmaster MeAlarney dis- bursing agent. The superintendent began work in December, 1877, and completed it in December, 1882. On the 10th of May, 1882, the post-office was removed into it from No. 314 Market Street. The building is sixty by one hundred and twenty feet, of three stories with a basement. The foundation of Conewago granite is laid in conerete: from the foundation to the water- table the stone is of Richmond granite, and the super- structure is of Maine granite. The first story is occu- pied by the post-office. the second by collector's offices and offices of the railway mail service, and the third story contains a court-room and rooms for the officers of the court. The wood-work is of oak, the court- room is wainscoted eight feet high with Tenne-see marble, and all the offices and rooms contain mantles of marble or wood of elegant design. It is heated with hot water. The cost of the site for the post- office was one hundred and ten thousand seven hun- dred. dollars, that of construction two hundred and ninety thousand dollars, making a total of a little over four hundred thousand dollars. The editice, plain in its massivenes-, is one of the most substantial structures in the country, and a credit to all concerned in its erection.

DAUPHIN COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY .- A pre- liminary meeting to take measures to organize a his- torical society was held on the evening of May 10, 1869. At a subsequent meeting, held in the lecture- room of the Market Square Presbyterian Church, a constitution and by-laws were adopted and signed. and an election for officers held. Upon application to the commissioners of the county a room in the court-house was secured for their use, subsequently fitted up, and where the society has ever since held its meetings and pre-erved its already valuable. library. Files of all the newspapers of the county are kept and properly bound, and it- collection of newspapers is a special feature. The society was in- corporated in January, 1570, and measures have been adopted to the end that whatever may be donated to the society will be permanently preserved. What is needed is a fire-proof building for its valuable collec-

372

HISTORY OF DAUPHIN COUNTY.

tion of manuscripts, books, and papers. Its officers are A. Boyd Hamilton, president; Hamilton Alricks and Daniel Eppley, vice-presidents: Rev. Thomas H. Robinson, D.D., corresponding secretary ; George Wolf Buehler, recording secretary ; John B. Cox, treasurer, and William HI. Egle, M.D., librarian.

PENNSYLVANIA STATE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. -On the 21st of January. 1951, there were called to- gether delegates to the number of over three hun- dred, representing nearly every county in the State, by an address signed by James Gowen. A. L. Elwyn, Samuel G. Ford, Algernon S. Roberts, and John Price Wetherill, all leading agriculturists. This con- vention of farmers met in the court-house, Gen. James Irwin, of Centre County, being temporary chairman, and Hon. George W. Woodward perma- nent president. A constitution was adopted, which has not been substantially amended or changed since its original adoption, and the society wa- incorporated by an act of the Legislature approved 20th of March, 1851. The following gentlemen have filled the office of president : 1851-54, Frederick Watts ; 1855-56, James Gowen; 1857-59, David Taggart; 1860-61, Jacob S. Haldeman ; 1862-64, Thomas P. Knox ; 1865-68, A. Boyd Hamilton : 1869, Amos E. Kapp ; 1870-71, John C. Morri -; 1872-74. Jacob R. Eby ; 1875, George Scott; 1877, John W. Hammond; 1879 -80, William S. Bissell; 1881, John C. Morri -; 1882- 83, James Miles.

The other officers of the society, who have filled the positions for a long period, have been : Corresponding Secretary, Elbridge MeConkey : Recording Secretary, D. W. Seiler ; Treasurer, John B. Rutherford ; Chem - ist and Geologi-t, Profe -< or A. L. Kennedy ; Librarian, William H. Egle, M.D.

Exhibitions have been held by the society at Har- risburg, 1851, 1855, 1868, 1869; Lancaster, 1852. 1875; Pittsburgh, 1853, 1856, 1958, 1867, 1881, 1832; Phila- delphia, 1854, 1857, 1859, 1879, 1880 ; Wyoming, 1860; Norristown, 1863; Easton, 1861. 1866, 1974; Williamsport, 1875; Scranton, 1570, 1571; Erie, 1872, 1873, 1877, 1878.

This society i- second to none other in the United States, offering premiums during the past four years averaging over $50,000.

FOURTH CENSU'S OF THE UNITED STATES, ISSO). DAUPHIN COUNTY.

Population by townships, etc.

Berrysburg borough ...

476

Cunewago township ...

895

,13

Estimated value of products soll, 1879

1,865,100

Yatırity.

Native. :1,844

Foreign .. ......

Native and Foreign.

Born in Pennsylvania 68,199

New York.

264

= New Jersey

IF 1

Maryland

1.450

Ohio ..

Virginia.

British America

England and Wales

971

Ireland

1,130

64 Scotland

= German Empire.

France,

= Sweden and Norway. 9

School, military and citizenship, ages, etc.

Mais 37.557

Female

3%,591

5 to IT years, male. .. I mal+

11,3,3

1. to 44 years, biale. 11 007

Il years and over, male.

Farm are is and furm values.

Farms ... #

2700

Improved lands (arres) 182.113

Valne of farmis, etc

$15,974.915

Value of farinog implements ..

Value of live-stock ..

Cust of bmikhug, etc . 1>79

Cost of fertilizers purchased, 1-19.

Damphio borough.

Derry township

2.013

East Hanover township ..

Gratz borough

Ildifax borough

Halifax township,

Harrisburg City

30,762

Ward I.

3.44%

5.055 3.>11

Hummelstown beraugh

Jarkwon township

Jefferson township.

Londonderry towashin.

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 94

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