History of the counties of Dauphin and Lebanon : in the commonwealth of Pennsylvania ; biographical and genealogical, Part 96

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 96
USA > Pennsylvania > Lebanon County > History of the counties of Dauphin and Lebanon : in the commonwealth of Pennsylvania ; biographical and genealogical > Part 96

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).

378

HISTORY OF DAUPHIN COUNTY.

On May 25, 1811, the yearly market at Middletown was first advertised to commence June 11th follow- ing, at which time and place a great number of valu- able horses, cows, sheep, lambs, calves, and hogs, with many other articles, such as pickled oysters, roast beef, punch, and wine, were to be offered for sale. These " old-time fairs" were noted day- in the town and vicinity. The whole place would ring with drums, banjos, bagpipes, trumpets, fiddlers, and fife», besides many other noises. The "Square" was the grand centre of attraction for the multitude of strangers and citizen. In one place might be seen the juggler performing all manner of tricks; in an- other rope-dancers were pirouetting ; in still another anacondas, tame elephants, learned dogs, and a host of other rare and curious animals were exhibited. These, however, were only accessories and adjuncts to the fair, which, iu truth, was a great commercial mart, where goods and chattels of almost every kind were sold, from a hank of yarn to a mammoth bull. In several parts of the Square booths of entertainment were erected, where revelry, mirth, and feasting were indulged in with a degree of license unknown at other times and seasons. In other booths again the more >taid farmers and the large households that they brought with them could provide themselves with food at a reasonable price and in a decent manuer. Through the streets and alleys in the neighborhood of the Square would float a mised multitude of all sorts,-buyers, sellers, minstrels, musicians, old women, beautiful girls, young children, " Yankees," wagoners, all jostling, bustling, talking, laughing, singing, and joking in the utmost good humor. So demoralizing, however, did these fairs become that they were ex- pressly forbidden by law.

The following persons "took out licen-es to keep houses of public entertainment" in Middletown from 1793 to 1803, and some of them continued to do so many years after: Henry Moore, Ludwick Wolfley, Peter Kipe, John McCann, George McCormick, Fred- erick Rothfong, John Blattenberger, Christian Rod- fong, Michael Hemperly, John McCauunon, William Crabb, Benjamin MeKinley, John Benner, John Sinith, George Toot.

PORT ROYAL .- On the 29th of January, 1774, a patent was issued to William Breden for eighty-seven acres and one-half' of an acre, which he located at the mouth of the Swatara. On the 10th of May, 1774, Breden sold this land to Henry Wearer, " miller," of Caernarvon township, Lancaster Co., Elijah Wicker- sham, merchant, and Joseph Leacock, of Philadelphia. as tenants in common. They laid out a town, naming it Port Royal, into four hundred and sixteen lots. On June 15, 1774, Leacock sold his interest to Wearer and Wickersham, and upon the same day Wearer and Wickersham made an equitable division of the lots between them. Each took alternate lots. Wearer got two hundred and eleven lots and Wicker-ham two hundred and five, with a large lot on Salmon Street.

There is no record as to when the property passed out of the bands of Wearer and Wickersham, but it is presumed that they did not sell fast enough to reim- burse them for their ontlay, and that they were sold out by the sheriff. After the river became a highway for the transportation of merchandise in arks and keel-boats to the month of the Swatara, thence over- land to Philadelphia and Baltimore, Port Royal was an important point, and was likely to grow very rap- idly. The construction of a canal around Conewago Falls, through which keel-boats passed down the river, destroyed its business prospects. Middletown, being a short distance up the Swatara, and much more free from the bad effects of miasma, held its own, and kept Port Royal in the background. A large portion of the lots in Port Royal came into the possession of a Miss Loraine, of Clearfield County, who held them until a few years ago. The records of title will probably show how she became possessed of them, and trace back to Wearer and Wickersham.

HARBORTON .- In 1809, George Fisher, son of the founder of Middletown, laid out a town at the mouth of the Swatara, naming it Harborton. It embraced only a narrow strip of land along the creek. His advertisement reads,-

"HARCORTON.

"The subscriber having laid ont a new town at the coofluence of the Swatara with the Susquehanna, in the county of Dauphin, proposes to dispose of the lots at sixty dollars each, when leeds in fee-simple are delivered for them. As the object of the proprietor is to promote im- mediate improvement and not present emolument, and as many of the lots will now sell for from one hundred to three hundred dollars, and none of less value than forty dollars, the preference will be determined by drawing the several numbers from a wheel.

" The navigation of the Susquehanna thus far down ia perfectly safe : but from this to Columbia, a distance of twenty-one miles, it is ob- structed by the Swatara and Conewago Falls and many other rapids, so as to render it precarions and hazardous, and sometimes impracticable.

" The well-known harbor formed by the mouth of Swatara is not only the most capacions, but the only safe one on the river, and as produce to more than a million of dollars annually floats down the Susquehanna, a great proportion of which, it is presumed, will be transported from here to the Philadelphia miurket on the turnpike road now making and nearly completed to Lancaster, a distance of twenty -four miles, and the contemplated cabal froto the Susquehanna to the Schuylkill, which will enter the harbor through this town. The extensive command of water here for the turning of mull machinery and other water-works, and its vicioity to the great iron-works owned by Mr -- rs. Coleman & Grubb, added to the facility with which an abundant supply of coal of the Ens- quehanna and Juniata may be had, when all combined, will fully justify the assertion that no town on the Susquehanna offers more advantages, nor gone more certain prospects of gain to the enterprising merchaut ind mechanic than this.

" The site is an inclined plain, gradually rising from the margin of a bank from ten to fifteen feet above low water to a summit of fifty fert, commanding many beautiful prospects, as well land as water, and is as healthy as any on the river.

"Tickets may be had of the subscriber, and at other places, where plans of the town may be seen.

" Feb. 16. 1809."

"GEORGE. FISHER.

On the 17th of March, 1814, George Fisher and wife conveyed to John Swar, of Lancaster County, that portion of "a certain tract of two hundred and twenty-five acres on which the town of Portsmouth is laid off." John Swar and Auna, his wife, con-

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MIDDLETOWN BOROUGH.

veyed the lots to different parties at different times. Portsmouth lay between Middletown and the Susque- hanna, and in it the Union Canal, the Pennsylvania, the Harrisburg and Lancaster Railroads all inter- seeted. On March 9, 1857, Portsmouth, then having a population of seven hundred and fifty, was consoli- dated with Middletown.

"FREY'S MILL."-This mill was begun and parti- ally constructed by John Hollingsworth and John Fisher. On Dec. 21, 1784, Hollingsworth and Frey entered into articles of agreement to build a mill (probably the one partially begun by Fisher, and to carry on a general milling business in manu- facturing "tour, middlins, shorts, stuffs, etc." They had bought of John Fisher four acres and twenty-five perches, including some improvements, for five hundred pounds. Hollingsworth agreed to furnish all the casks, do all the buying of grain, and perforin certain other stipulations, while Frey contracted not to retail any flonr. shorts, etc., from his store, so the mill could have all such pur- chasers. Matters progre-sed awhile favorably. but in 1787 there was some difficulty between the part- ners, and Hollingsworth, by his attorney, Thomas Hartley, brought suit for a partition of the premises in the Dauphin Common Pleas Court. The latter re- ferred the case to the Supreme Court without decid- ing it, the judges being Timothy Green, John Glonin- ger, and Jonathan McClure. The suit was docketed in the Supreme Court of the Eastern District of Pennsylvania at the September terin, 1787, wherein " Hon. Thomas Mckean. E-q., Doctor of Laws, chief justice, and his associate jn-tices of the common- wealth of Pennsylvania" were the court. The ease was not finally decided until the Visi Prins term held at Louisburgh in 1790, when Frey gained the case, and a partition was refused. Hollingsworth bad many creditors elamorous for pay, and not having probably complied with all the stipulations of bis contract with Frey, the latter had counter-claims, and assigned claims of Hollingsworth's creditors to eat up his ( Hollingsworth's) part. Thus Frey became the sole owner. He had great trouble in building the race, a mile and a half in length. The mill was built first. When the race and dam were completed the race was found not to be deep enough to carry the water, so Frey had again to go to the Legislature for another permit to make it larger. This was given on the condition that he secured the assent in writing (as in the first instance) of all the owners of lands or lots through which it passed. This he did, and at last success crowned his efforts.

THE KING'S HIGHWAY .- This old road from Phila- delphia to the Ohio River passed through Middletown and formed what is now Main Street. The line is now occupied by the Lancaster and Middletown Turnpike Company, which has its western terminus about the " run" at the west end of the town, where it connects with the Middletown and Harrisburg

Turnpike. "The King's Highway" was laid out about 1780. Over this thoroughfare nearly all the travel between Philadelphia and Pittsburgh passed. After the above-named turnpike companies were in- corporated they adopted a large portion of the old road as their line. The macadamizing of the road enabled much greater loads to be taken than before. Dry-goods, groceries, etc., were loaded at Philadel- phia in large wagons, called " Pitt" or "Conestoga" wagons, hauled by teams of six horses, and delivered at Pittsburgh or intermediate points, and returned jaden with Western produce, such as flour, bacon, feathers, and whiskey. The time. ocenpied by the wagons for the round trip between these two cities was usually from six to eight weeks, according to the condition of the roads. Passengers and mails were drawn in stages by four horses, relays of which were provided at regular stations some miles apart. They were generally driven at a rapid rate, and the distance between here and Philadelphia was made in two days. The coaches held nine pa -- engers inside, with room for one on the outside with the driver. The inail- bags ocenpied a recess beneath the driver's seat, and the baggage was stored in the " boot" at the back of the stage.

MIDDLETOWN IN 1807 .- Cuming, in his "Sketches of a Tour to the Western Country." in 1807, made on foot from Philadelphia to the Mississippi frontier, printed at Pittsburgh, 1810, has something to say of Middletown and the King's Highway :

"Jan. 30, 1807, 1 proceeded for Middletown, right miles farther i from Elizabethtown), first loading one barrel of my gun with a running ball, as I had to pass near where one Eshelman was robbed and murdered last fall (15 m). The road over the Conewage Hills was bad. It was dark before I arrived at Switara Creek. The boat was on the other side of the creek, and the German family at the ferry-house let me kick my heels at the door until I was quite chilled before they invited me io, which old Mrs Smith did at last with a very bad grace, and she almost scolded me for risking the dropping on her very dirty floor the spirits of turpentine, with which I was wetting the feet of my stockings to pre- vent ory catching cold, a phial of which I carried in my pocket for that purpose.

"In about half an hour, which tu me appeared an age, the boat re- turned, and I left the dirty, boorish, inhospitable mansion, crossed the creek in a canve, hanled over by a rope, extended from bank to bank, about seventy yards, and in a few minutes after I found myself in Mrs. Wentz's excellent inn, the sign of Gen. Washington, in Middletown." Mrs. Wentz kept tavern on the southeast corner of the square. Cum- ing bad a sore foot, bat had a " goud supper and an excellent bed," and notwithstanding Ins loss of rest enjoyed his breakfast with Mrs. Wentz, "an agreeable and well-bred woman.")

" The view down the Susquehanna from Mrs. Wentz's back piazza is very fine. The town contains about one hundred houses, and is well and handsotuely situated about half a nu e above the confluence of Swatara Creek with the Susquehanna River, the former of which forms a good harbor for boats, which it is in contemplation to join to the Selmylkill by a canal, In order to give Philadelphia the benefit of the navigation of the Susquehanna through its long course above Middle- town."

He remarks that the river is a " noble stream, with fine wooded bank> and abounds with fish," among which he names the "white salmon from seven to fifteen pounds weight," and proceeds to say that for all the abundance of fish " Mrs. Wentz assured me that she was seldom gratified with a dish of fish." The

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HISTORY OF DAUPHIN COUNTY.

lady told him that the fishermen " were a lazy set and , there. The ground was broken for this canal at Har- risburg July 4, 1826, with great ceremony, and the water was let into this division in 1828.

will not do anything more than will procure them some whiskey. The road to Harrisburg leads parallel with the Susquehanna, in some places close to the river, along a very pleasant level," and so located as to protect the orchards " which are so numerous and so fine in this tract. I have rarely seen in any country a road more pleasant than this, either from its own goodness or the richness and variety of prospect. The mountains rising abruptly from the margin of the river, in which they are charmingly reflected, al- together form a scenery truly delightful." and this brings the tourist to Harrisburg. It is almost un- necessary to say that the route of the traveler was over the " King's Highway."

THE UNION CANAL, completed in 1527, connects the Susquehanna River at Middletown with the Schuylkill at Reading, and affords water communi- cation thence to Philadelphia by the Schuylkill Navigation Company's improvement. An outlet from the basin of the canal to the Swatara was made to allow the boats, rafts, and arks access to and from the river. This lock was situated between the rail- road, near where it crosses the Swatara Creek, and the old collector's office. A vast amount of lumber and other articles were carried by the canal-boats. In 1850 and 1851 the canal was enlarged by widen- ing and deepening, and new locks were built so as to allow boats of larger carrying capacity to be used.

THE PENNSYLVANIA CANAL extends from Colum- bia, in Lancaster County, to Hollidaysburg, in Blair County. It was an important link in the chain of public improvements inaugurated by the State, con- necting, by means of the Philadelphia and Columbia Railroad on the east and the Portage Railroad on the west, Philadelphia with Pittsburgh. Goods could be shipped in Philadelphia in sections of boats, which were transported to Columbia on railroad trucks pre- pared for the purpose ; at Columbia they were placed in the canal, and connected together, forming a com- plete boat, and towed to Hollidaysburg. where they were again placed upon railroad trucks, and thence to Pittsburgh. The Allegheny Mountains were crossed by means of inclined planes, of which there were sev- eral. A large basin for the reception of boats, arks, and other water craft, was made here, and an outlet lock of great capacity constructed to the Swatara. Upon the completion of this lock that of the Union Canal was abandoned and suffered to go to decay, and there is now little left to show that there was ever one

When the main line of the Pennsylvania Publie Works was sold to the Pennsylvania Railroad Com- pany, this canal was included in the purchase, and it has since passed into the hands of the Pennsylvania Canal Company, who have greatly improved it, and still operate it.

THE BREAKWATER .- Several attempts have been made to construct a dam or breakwater across the Susquehanna a short distance below the Swatara, as a harbor for lumber and timber, where it would be safe at all seasons. The project, however, never succeeded.

THE MUD PIKE commenced a short distance west THE HARRISBURG, PORTSMOUTH, MOUNT JOY of the town, where the Harrisburg Turnpike crosses . AND LANCASTER RAILROAD was laid out about the canal, and followed the bank of the canal to Col- umbia. It was kept in good condition until the branch road of the Harrisburg and Lancaster Rail- road was made, when, as the latter occupied much of the line of the pike, it was abandoned. and what was left of it was placed in charge of the supervisors of the townships through which it passed.

1832, and was completed and in use from Harrisburg to Elizabethtown long before the tunnel was finished. The first locomotive used on this part of the road was the "John Bull." It was brought to Middletown from Columbia on a flat-boat, and landed at the wharf where MIr. Rambler's large building now stands on the eanal basin. It was drawn thence to the railroad by the employés and citizens, who had been attracted there by curiosity. It was a service- able but small engine, scarcely more than a toy when compared with the powerful " Modocs" of the present day. Instead of the heavy T-rail now used, the rails were simply flat bars of iron, about two and one-half inches in width and three-quarters of an inch in thickness, and were spiked to timbers running lengthwise with the line of the railroad. The first cars were about the size of an ordinary omnibus, with the entrance at the side, and would accommodate from twelve to eighteen passengers. Three or four cars constituted a train. A high seat on the outside of the car was provided for the conductor or brakes- man.

On the completion of this part of the road there was great rejoicing. On Sept. 16, 1836, the track was opened for travel. A locomotive with a train of cars brought to Middletown from Harrisburg a large com- pany, principally invited guests, who were hand- somely entertained at Peter Young's hotel. The distance, ten miles, was run in twenty minutes. The tunnel was not completed until Aug. 18, 1838, when the trip between Harrisburg and Philadelphia could be made in seven hours. Gen. Simon Cameron, Dr. Mercer Brown, Henry Smith, Martin Kendig, and many other citizens of Middletown took great inter- est in the enterprise.

THE STUBBS' FURNACES .- In 1796, two brothers, Daniel and Thomas Stubbs, from England, erected a furnace near the month of Swatara Creek, on what is still known as the " Steel Furnace Lot," for the por- pose of manufacturing "blister" steel. The making of steel was continued by them several years, and a ready sale was found at remunerative prices.

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MIDDLETOWN BOROUGH.

This is said to have been the first steel manufac- tured in America. Several years after the Stubbs brothers had built their furnace, a second one was erected by one of their sons and John Elder, and was for a time carried on successfully. This was located about a fourth of a mile above the other furnace and near "Frey's mill." Its retorts or chambers were standing there a year or two ago. They far more resembled an overgrown bake-oven than the furnaces of the present day.

DEATH OF GEN. WASHINGTON .- On Jan. 9, 1800, the citizens of Middletown and surrounding country testified their sorrow at the death of Washington by meeting at the farm-house of George Fisher, and moving therefrom in the following order to the Lu- therau meeting-house :

Trumpeter. Cavalry on foot, -words drawn. Infantry, arms reversed. by platoons inverted. Rifle company, arm- reversed. Militia officers in uniform. Music. Standard. Surgeons. Clergy. Pall-bearers. Young ladies in white. Ancient citizens first. Citizens in general by twos. Boys by pairs.

Having arrived at the meeting-house, the troops formed lines right and left, when the clergy, pall- bearers, and citizens entered, followed by the troops, while the Dead March from Saul was performed by the organist. The exercises were opened by a short prayer and singing part of the Ninetieth Psalm. Rev. Mr. Snowden and Rev. Mr. Moeller then de- livered addresses. Most of the military who joined in the procession were from Harrisburg.

INCORPORATION OF THE BOROUGH-BOUNDARIES, OFFICERS, ETC.

The borough was incorporated Feb. 19, 1828, with the following boundaries: "Beginning at a -tone at the east end of the town on the south side of Main Street, thence south six degrees east forty-one perches to a stone ; thence south eighty-six degrees west sixty perches to an apple-tree ; thence south sixty-six de- grees west eighty-two perche- to a stone; thence -outh twenty-two degrees east two perches and five tenths to a stone ; thence south sixty-seven and a half de- grees west thirty-two perches to a stone ; thence north twenty-four degrees west across Main Street sixty-one perches to a stone; thence north thirty-tour degrees east six perches to a stone; thence north thirty-two degrees west twenty-one perches to a stone ; thence north seventy degrees east thirty-two perches to a stone; thence north thirty-two degrees west two

perches to a stone; thence north sixty-five degrees east one hundred and eight perches and five-tenths to a stone; thence north eighty-six degrees east sixty- one perches and five-tenths to a -tone; thence south eight degrees west forty-six perches to a stone; and thenee along the south side of the said Main Street south eighty-nine degrees east seven perches and five- tenths to the place of beginning."

The first election was held on the second Tuesday of April following, at the tavern of David Kisseeker. By legislative act of March 9, 1857, the limits and boundaries were so extended as to include the town of Portsmouth and lands contiguous and adjacent to the said borough and town. Thus the borough bound- aries were then made to comprise the following limits : "Beginning at a point on the river Susquehanna, and at low-water mark thereof, opposite to the termina- tion of a certain lane between the lands of George Crist and company, and land now or lately the prop- erty of A. Welch; thence by lands of same and J. Rife, John J. Walborn, and Stephen Wilson, north eighteen and one-quarter degrees east two hundred and seven perches to the centre of the Middletown and Harrisburg Turnpike road ; thence by said turn- pike road south seventy-eight degrees ea-t forty-six perches to a stone; thence north sixty-four degrees east twelve perches ; thence north sixty-one and one- quarter degrees east sixty perches to George Crist's lane; thence by lands of Crist, Brown, Croll, and others, north twenty-seven and one-quarter degrees west one hundred and seventy-two and one-half perches to lane at side of Red Hill ; theuce by said lane north sixty-nine degrees east one hundred and one perches to the Great road leading from Middle- town to Hummelstown; thence south one-half de- gree ea-t three hundred and twenty-one perches to centre of Swatara Creek ; thence down the said creek or river, the several courses thereof, to the junction of the said ereek and the Susquehanna River at the low-water mark thereof seven hundred and thirty- eight perches ; thence up the said Susquehanna River the several courses thereof to the place of beginning." The same act divided the borough into three ward-, viz., All that part of the said borough lying north of a line commencing at a point on the Harrisburg and Middletown Turnpike, and running directly through Water Street to a point on the Swatara Creek, to be called the North Ward ; and all that part lying south of said line and north of a line commencing in the lane forming the western boundary of the borough opposite the extension of Ann Street, directly through said extension and through Ann Street to a point on Swatara Creek, to be called the Middle Ward; and all that part lying -outh of the said Ann Street liue to be called the South Ward. The first election under the extended new wards and borough occurred on the third Friday in March, 1557, when three councilmen were elected from each ward, and were by lot divided into three classes to serve one, two,

382

HISTORY OF DAUPHIN COUNTY.

and three years respectively. Thereafter one was pears from the terms of the license, dated Sept. 28. annually eleeted from each ward for a term of three 1764, granting the above privilege, that the members were then very poor, and that many were driven from their homes by the hostile Indians. Middletown then contained but a few houses, and a great part of Dau- phin and Lancaster Counties was then a wilderness. The forests were peopled by Indians, and the settlers could not go outside their homes unarmed with any degree of safety. Whenever the people went to the store, mill, or even the church, they armed them- selves. They would stack their arms inside the church, and station one person at the door as sentinel to warn the others of approaching danger. years. The first elections were held as follows: In North Ward, at the brick school-house on Pine Street; in the Middle Ward, at Union Hall on Eliza- beth Street; and in the South Ward. at the town school-house, corner of Spring and Ann Streets. The fourteenth seetion of this act. extending the limits of the borough and giving Council power to survey, lay out, enact and ordain streets, road-, lane-, alleys, courts, and sewers, was specially exempted from applying to the traet of land included within the borough limits (as created by this acty late the estate of George Fisher, deceased, called and known by the name of "Pine Ford." A legislative aet of April 13, 1858, empowered the Couneil to erect a lock-up. An ordinanee of March 30, 1857, prohibited the running at large of dogs in the borough ; and that of June 24th, changed the name of spring Street, in the plan of Portsmouth, to Wood Street.

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History of the counties of Dauphin and Lebanon : in the commonwealth of Pennsylvania ; biographical and genealogical, Part 96

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