The Register of Pennsylvania : devoted to the preservation of facts and documents and every other kind of useful information respecting the state of Pennsylvania, Vol. IX, Part 45

Author: Hazard, Samuel, 1784-1870
Publication date: 1828
Publisher: Philadelphia : Printed by W.F. Geddes ;
Number of Pages: 440

USA > Pennsylvania > The Register of Pennsylvania : devoted to the preservation of facts and documents and every other kind of useful information respecting the state of Pennsylvania, Vol. IX > Part 45

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From the Greenville, Mercer county, Penn. Gazette of February 15.

The late freshet has done considerable injury in this part of the country. The new bridge built last summer near David Loutzenhiser's mill, is carried off by the ice, together with the old bridge, and part of the mill dam. The new bridge near the mouth of the little Shenango, near Greenville, was torn away. John Williamson's bridge has been swept away. John Donaldson's bridge was carried off. The bridge at John Potter's, on the Big Shenango, is carried off. Andrew White's saw mill has been swept off, and the Greenville bridge is render- ed almost useless. The oldest inhabitants who have lived on the banks of the creek 28 or 30 years, have ne- ver witnessed such a freshet before. In fact, we do not know of a bridge on either of the creeks, except the bridge near Jacob Sherbondy's, and that is expected to

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go, but that is swept away. The damage is truly great.

Since the above was in type, Mr. Sherbondy's bridge, and Campbell's bridge, were both swept away by the ice.

NEW CASTLE AND FRENCHTOWN RAIL-ROAD.

NEW CASTLE, Feb, 28.

DEAR SIR,-This morning the rail-road from New Castle to Frenchtown was opened for the conveyance of passengers. I passed over on Saturday, accompanied by four or five of the directors of the company, to whom I stand indebted for their courtesy and attention, as also the engineer in chief, with his principal assistant who were with us, and were particularly kind and atten- tive in pointing out and explaining objects of interest, of which there are many on this really beautiful work; it is one in which all concerned may be really proud, and particularly the inhabitants of Delaware, who first ori- ginated the idea, and who with their capital have come forward manfully to assist, even after witnessing the ruin- ous effect of another work under their very eyes. This road is about sixteen miles in length, and so nearly al- lied to a straight line, that the shortest curve (horizon- tal) has a radius of two miles; the verticals are almost imperceptible; being never more than sixteen feet rise and fall in a mile; in fact, I overheard persons, during the ride, inquire whether we were not descending, and was much surprised to hear that we were ascending, at the above rate; these gentle undulations have been pre- ferred, I would suppose, to a level; indeed, from the na- ture of the ground. I expect on account of a supe- riority, as there could not be a finer location, taking all things into consideration, for a rail-road, in this or any country; parts of the road being so near a level, as to have required, apparently, but scraping and laying the rails-at the west end the greatest difficulty was expe- rienced in cutting through a formidable hill, composed of what these rail-road folks denominated hord pan, a tough, viscous kind of clay; this hill has been removed, and formed into a high embankment along the shore of the Elk river, about five hundred yards in length; on the top of this the road continues, and presents to the traveller a splendid panoramic view of this noble river, and the surrounding beautiful and bountiful country; this rail-road needs but to be seen and travelled on, to attain for all engaged in it, the thanks of the communi- ty; for durability, and power of sustaining any duty that may be required of it, none will doubt for a moment, that have ever examined the construction and materials.

The Washington Grays, under the command of Cap- tain Worrell, returning from their excursion, were brought over on it yesterday, from Frenchtown, in fine style; at New Castle they were saluted by the regular troops, stationed there, with thirteen guns, this was re- sponded by the buzzas of the volunteers, and the music of Johnson's enlivening band .- Extract of a letter to the Editor of the U. S. Gazette.

DEFERRED ITEMS.

TOWANDA.

A Wild Cat was shot lately, about four miles west of this borough, by Charles Brown. It measured from the nose to the end of the tail, 3 feet 8 inches; height 1 foot 4 inches; girt behind the fore legs 1 foot 10 inches. This is the largest wild cat we have ever seen, and it is probable that very few as large have ever been killed in the county. The cry of the panther has been heard within a few weeks, not far from this borough.

The Bethany, Wayne county, Pa. Inquirer, says- " The largest Buck within the recollection of our oldest hunters, was shot on the 10th ult. in Lebanon township. He has attracted the attention of hunters in that neigh- borhood for about five years past on account of his ex- traordinary size, and has been repeatedly shot at, but | agent.

has hitherto escaped shot free. He was started on the runaway, and was greeted with a fire from two of the hunters, but (to use the language of Big-Hunter, ) "Mr. William A. Shields, of Philadelphia, did the job." The deer weighed before he was dressed, three hundred and sixty-five pounds! When cleaned, his meat weighed 210 lbs. ; tallow, 10 lbs. ; hide 23 lbs. 6 oz.

A Bear about half grown was killed a short distance from this town, on Monday evening last. Bruin it ap- pears had ventured down from his lurking places in the mountain early in the afternoon to indulge his appe- tite with a mess of corn, in a cornfield near town, when he was disturbed by a set of Cuns, which gave the alarm to some of our sporting citizens, who after pursu- ing him a short distance, overtook him and caused him to pay dear for his temerity .- Mifflintown Pa. Tel.

The Juniata Gazette says, that a gentleman of Ar- magh township, killed a Buck that weighed when dressed, two hundred and seventeen pounds.

During the year 1831, there were killed in Hunting- don county, 7 Wolves, 13 Wild Cats, and 264 Foxes, and the premiums on their scalps paid out of the coun- ty treasury .- Muncy Tel.

POTTSVILLE, Feb. 25.

Sxow .- Since the beginning of the first winter month, the ground in this part of the country has been unceasingly covered with snow, and the sleighing with very short intervals of interruption, uncommonly good. Visiters from a short distance below frequently express surprise on viewing the snow, from which they have been unexpectedly exempted. This winter has been remarkable for its early and uninterrupted severity throughout .- Miner's Journal.

We understand the ashes of the Lehigh and Schuyl- kill coal, answer a better purpose than any other ma- terial heretofore discovered for cleaning brass .- Mi- ner's Journal.

LIBRARY . COMPANY OF PHILADELPHIA .-- The Phila- delphia Library is about to be enriched with about five thousand five hundred volumes of rare, curious and expensive books, from the Library of Mr. James Cox, long a popular drawing master of this city. They con- sist of works on the fine arts in great variety and bean- ty, as well as books in most departments of literature, and very many of them of a description rarely or never met with in America. This collectioni has cost Mr. Cox a very large sum, and he now parts with it for an annuity, in order that it may not be dispersed. It is a most valuable addition to the Library as well as to the city, filling up many deficiencies in the catalogue which could not be readily supplied at the present day.

At-a special meeting of the stockholders, held on Saturday, at the request of sixty-two stockholders, it was unanimously resolved to petition the Legislature for an alteration of the charter, so as to vest in the stock- holders the power to fix the amount of the annual pay- ments. Fifty-six stockholders were present, and proxies for two hundred and seventeen shares were filled .- Nat. Gaz.

Shad have been in market for several days-they now sell at 33 cents.

Printed every SATURDAY MORNING by WILLIAM F. GED- DES, No. 9 Library Street, Philadelphia; where, and at the PUB LICATION OFFICE, IN FRANKLIN PLACE, second door back of the Post Office,(front room) subscriptions will be thankfully re- ceived. Price FIVE DOLLARS per ann'ım, payable annually by subscribers residing in or near the city, or where there is an Other subscribers pay in advance.

HAZARD'S REGISTER OF PENNSYLVANIA.

DEVOTED TO THE PRESERVATION OF EVERY KIND OF USEFUL INFORMATION RESFECTINO THE STATE.

EDITED BY SAMUEL HAZARD.

VOL: IX .- NO. 11. PHILADELPHIA, MARCH 17, 1832. NO. 220.

The Philadelphia society for the establishment and support of Charity Schools, have lately published a small volume, containing the following interesting piece of biography-and also an account of their school, which we shall insert hereafter.

LIFE AND CHARACTER OF CHRISTOPHER LUDWICK.

An account of the life and character of Christopher Lud- wick, late citizen of Philadelphia, and Baker-General of the army of the United States during the revolution- ary war, by Benjamin Rush, M. D. First published in the year 1801.

There was a time, when the lives of men who occu- pied the first ranks in society, were the only subjects of biographical history. Happily for the world, this spe- cies of writing has descended into the humble walks of life, and embracing the characters of men of differ- ent professions and occupations, has multiplied its use- fulness, by holding up practicable examples of success- ful talents and virtue, to those classes of people who constitute the majority of mankind.

The history of the life and character of Christopher Ludwick, is calculated to show the influence of a reli- gious education upon moral conduct; of habits, of in- dustry and economy, upon success in all enterprises; and to inspire hope and exertion in young men of humble employment, and scanty capital, to aspire to wealth and independence, by the only means in which they are ca- pable of commanding respect and affording happiness.

Most of the incidents which are to compose the fol- lowing memoir, were obtained from Mr. Ludwick, by a person who often visited him in the evening of his life. Such of them as were not obtained from that source, were communicated hy his family, or by persons who were the witnesses of them.

CHRISTOPHER LUDWICK was born on the 17th of Oc- tober, 1720, at Gicssen in Hesse Darmstadt, in the cir- cle of the Upper Rhine, in Germany. His father was a baker, in which business the son was instructed as soon as he was able to work. At fourteen years of age he was sent to a free school, where he was taught to read and write, and the. common rules of arithmetic. Hc was carefully instructed at the same time, in the princi- ples of the Christian religion as held by the Lutherans. Of this school he always retained a grateful remem. brance, as will appear in the sequel of his life. At se- venteen years of age, he enlisted as a private soldier ist the army of the emperor of Germany, and bore his part in the war carried on by the Austrians against the Turks, between the years 1737 and 1740. Ac the close of the war in Turkey, he set off with rue hundred men for Vienna. Their march was through a dreary country, and in extremely cold weather. Seventy-five of his companions perished on the way. Ile spent some months in Vienna. I'be incident that made the decp- est impression on his mind while he remained in that city, was the public execution of the Commissary Gene- ral of the Austrian army, for fraud and peculation.

surrender to the French arms in 1741, he enlisted as a soldier in the army of the king of Prussia. Upon the return of peace, he went to London, where he entered himself as baker on board the Duke of Cumberland East Indiaman, and went to the East Indies under the command of Admiral Boscawen. He spent three years and a half in different parts of that country. In 1745 he returned to London, where he received in wages for his services one hundred and eleven guineas and an English crown.

With this sum of money in his pocket, he set off for Germany to visit his father, who he found had died du- ring his absence in India, and had left him his whole estate, consisting of a small freehold, which he imme- diately sold for five hundred guilders. With this mo- ney, and part of his wages, he returned to London, where he remained several months, enjoying the pleas- ures of that great city. After spending his last shilling, at the places of public resort, in the neighborhood of London, he went to sea, and passed the years between 1745 and 1752 in successive voyages from London to Holland, Ireland, and the West Indies, as a common sailor. In these voyages he saved twenty-five pounds sterling, with which he bought a quantity of ready made clothes, and embarked with them for . hiladelphia, where he arrived in 1753. He sold these clothes for a profit of three hundred per cent., and with the pro- ceeds returned to London. Here he spent nine months in learning the confectionary business, and the making of gingerbread. In the year 1754, he returned to Phi- ladelphia with a number of gingerbread prints, and im- mediately set up his business of family and gingerbread baker, in Lætitia court. In 1755 he married Mrs. Catha- rine England, a widow of worthy charseter, by whom he had one child, which died a few hours after its birth. From this time till the year 1.74, he led a retired and industrious life, wholly devoted to his trade. He was much esteemed by all who did business with him, for his integrity and punctuality, and for his disposition to do kind offices. Ilis neighbors treated bim with so much respect, that he acquired among them the title of "Tbe Governor of Lætitia court."

In the year 1774, he felt, with a great majority of the people of America, the impulse of that spirit of liber- ty, which led them to oppose. first by petitions and af- terwards by arms, the attempts of Great Britain to sub- jugate the American colonies. He possessed at that time, nine houses in Philadelphia, a farm near German- town, and three thousand five hundred pounds, Penn- sylvania currency, at interest; all of which he staked with his life, in the scale of his country. Ile was elected successively, a member of all the committees and con- ventions, which conducted the affairs of the revolution, in Pennsylvania, in 1774, 1775 and 1776. Ilis princi- ples and conduct were alike firm, under the most diffi- cult and alarming events of those memorable years. In one of the conventions of which he was a member, it was proposed by General Mifflin, to open a private sub- scription for purchasing fire arms. To this motion some persons objected the difficulty of obtaining,by such a measure, the sum that was required. Upon this, Mr. Ludwick rose and addressed the chair, in the following laconic speech, which he delivered in broken English,

From Vienna he went to Prague, where he endured all the distresses of a seventeen weck's siege. After its ) but in a loud and animated voice: "Mr. President, I am VOL. IX. 21

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but a poor gingerbread baker, but, put my name down for two hundred pounds." The debate was closed by this speech, and the motion was carried unanimously in the affirmative.

· In the summer of 1776, he acted as a volunteer in the flying camp, but drew neither pay nor rations for his services. He animated the soldiers with the love of liberty, by his example and conversation, and often pointed out to them the degrading nature of slavery, by describing the poverty and misery of his native country under the rapacious hands of arbitrary kings and princes. Upon one occasion he heard that a number of militia soldiers, who were dissatisfied with their rations, were about to leave the camp. He went hastily to them, and in the sight of them all, fell suddenly upon his knees. This solemn and humble attitude commanded general silence and attention. "Brother soldiers," said he, " listen for one minute to Christopher Ludwick"-for in this manner he often spoke of himself. "When we hear the cry of fire in Philadelphia; on the hill at a dis- tance from us, we fly there with our buckets to keep it from our houses. So let us keep the great fire of the British army from our town. In a few days you shall have good bread and enough of it." This speech had its desired effect. The mutinous spirit of a detachment of the militia was instantly checked. In the autumn of the campaign, eight Hessian prisoners were brought into the camp. A disagreement of opinion took place at head quarters, about the most proper place to confine them. "Let us," said Mr. Ludwick, who happened to be at head quarters, "take them to Philadelphia, and there show them our fine German churches, Let them see how our tradesmen eat good beef, drink out of sil- ver cups every day, and ride out in chairs every after- noon; and then let us send them back to their country- men, and they will all soon run away, and come and settle in our city and be as good whigs as any of us."

From a desire to extend the blessings of liberty and independence to his German countrymen,he once expos- ed his neck to the most imminent danger. He went, with the consent of the commanding officer of the fly- ing camp, among that part of the British army, which was composed of Hessian troops: while they were en- camped on Staten Island, in the character of a deserter. Hle opened to them, the difference between the privi- leges and manner of life of an American freeman, and those of a Hessian slave. He gave them the most cap- tivating descriptions of the affluence and independence of their former countrymen in the German counties of Pennsylvania. His exertions were not in vain. They were followed by the gradual desertion of many hun- dred soldiers, who, now in comfortable freeholds or on valuable farms, with numerous descendants, bless the name of Christopher Ludwick. He escaped from the Hessian camp, without detection or suspicion.

In the spring of 1777, he received the following con- mission:

" In Congreso, May 3, 1777.

" Resolved, That Christopher Ludwick be, and he is hereby appointed Superintendant of Bakers, and Direc-

- tor of Baking in the army of the United States; and that he shall have power to engage, and by permission of the Commander in chief, or officer commanding at any principal post, all persons to be employed in this husi- ness, and to regulate their pay, making proper reports of his proceedings, and using his best endeavors to rec- tify all abuse in the articles of bread; that no person be permitted to exercise the trade of a haker in the said army without such license, and that he receive for his services herein, an allowance of seventy-five dollars a month, and two rations a day.

Extract from the minutes,

CHARLES THOMSON, Secretary.

By order of Congress,

JOHN HANCOCK, President .*

When this commission was delivered to him by a com- mittee of Congress, they proposed, that for every pound of-flour, he should furnish the army with a pound of bread. "No, gentlemen," said he, " I will not accept of your commission upon any such terms; Christopher Ludwick does not want to get rich by the war; he has money enough. I will furnish one hundred and thirty- five pounds of bread for every cwt. of flour you put into my hands." The committee were strangers to the increase of weight which flour acquires by the addition of water and leaven.

From this time there were no complaints of the bad quality of bread in the army, nor was there a moment in which the movements of the army, or of any part of it, were delayed from the want of that necessary article of food. After the capitulation of Lord Cornwallis, he baked six thousand pounds of bread for his army by order of General Washington. "Let it be good," said he, "old gentleman," (the epithet which the general most commonly gave him, ) "and let there be enough of it, if I should want myself."

He often dined with the Commander in chief in large companies, and was always treated by him upon such occasions, with particular marks of attention. He fre- quently spent two hours at a time with him in private, in conferring upon the business of the baking depart- ment. The General appreciated his worth, and occa- sionally addressed him in company, as " his honest friend."

In his intercourse with the officers of the army, he was blunt, but never offensive in his manners. By com- mon consent, he was privileged to say and do what he pleased in company. His eccentric turns of thought and expression, his pleasant anecdotes, derived from his own observation and experience in life, and above all, a general conviction of the ardor and sincerity of his patriotism, procured him at once the offer of a chair, or a seat at the dinner table wherever he went. His pre- sence never failed to give a new direction to conversa- tion. It inspired good humour and mirth in the most gloomy hours of the war.

He carried into the army with him a handsome china bowl, which he brought from Canton in the year 1745. It had a rim of silver around it, on which were engrav- ed his name, and the year in which he bought it. . This bowl, so remarkable for its age, was well known in the army for the toast he always gave, when he drank out of it. It was:

"Health and long life

" To Christopher Ludwick and his wife."

A few months before he died, he called upon one of his friends, and informed him that he had intended to hequeath him this China bowl, but that his will heing made, he did not wish to add any thing to it. He there- fore begged he would accept of it, and perpetuate it in his family, for the sake of Christopher Ludwick.

" For who, to dumb forgetfulness a prey,

" This pleasing, anxious being e'er resigned,

"Left the warm precincts of the cheerful day,

"Nor cast one longing, lingering look behind."

At the close of the war, he returned and settled on his farm near Germantown. His house had been plun- dered of every article of furniture, plate and wearing apparel, he had left in it, by the British army on their march to Philadelphia. As he had no more cash than was sufficient to satisfy the demands of the market, he suffered a good deal from the want of many of the con- veniencies of life. He slept zx weeks between blan- kets, rather than contract a singledebt by replacing his sheets. He was alike averse from borrowing money; for such had always been the accommodation of his man- ner of living to his ready cash, that he never but once

The Philadelphia Society for the Establishment and Sup-

* The original document is now in the possession of | port of Charity Schools.

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was without as much as was equal to the necessaries of life, and that was in Berlin, where he received a gratui- ty of two pence from a stranger, to purchase a mug of beer.

The principal part of his bonds having been paid to him in depreciated paper money, he was obliged to sell part of his real property, in order to replace his cloth- ing and furniture.

The following certificate, which he had neatly framed and hung up in his parlour, not only reconciled him to these losses, but threw a large balance of pleasure in their favour.

"I have known Christopher Ludwick from an early period in the war, and have every reason to believe, as well from observation as information, that he has been a true and faithful servant to the public; that he has de- tected and exposed many impositions, which were at- tempted to be practised by others in his department; that he has been the cause of much saving in many re- spects; and that his deportment in public life, has afford- ed unquestionable proofs of his integrity and worth.

" With respect to his losses, I have no personal know- Iedge, but have often heard that he has suffered from his zeal in the cause of his country.

"GEO. WASHINGTON ..

" April 25, 1785."

In the year 1795, Mr. Ludwick buried his wife. She was the faithful companion of his labors, and cheerfully co-operated with him in all his benevolent and patriotic schemes. Soon after her death, he converted his farm and all his houses except one, into private bonds and public stock, and removed to Philadelphia, where he boarded with Mr. Frederick Fraley, one of his former journeymen, until some time in the year 1798. During the prevalence of yellow fever in 1797, the old gentle- man volunteered his services in the bake house of Mr. Fraley, to assist in making brcad for distribution among the poor, in that period of awful distress, From Mr. Fraley's he removed to the only house he had retained, No. 176, North Fifth street.

In the year 1798, he married Mrs. Sophia Binder, an ancient and prudent woman who always treated him with great kindness and respect.

In the last two years of his life he was frequently in- disposed; he spent the intervals of his sickness in read- ing his Bible and religious books, and in visiting his friends. He spoke often, and now and then pleasantly, of his approaching dissolution. Soon after the death of General Washington, he was called upon to subscribe for a copy of his life. "No," said he, "I will not, I' am travelling fast to meet him, I will then hear all about it from his own mouth." On Sunday the 14th of June, 1801, he begged his wife to read a sermon to him. When she had finished it, he said, " You will never read to me again on a Sunday; before next Sunday I shall be no more." On the Monday following he was attacked with an inflammation of his breast, accompanied with a high fever. He had held his life for a year or two, by the tenure of a small and single thread; it broke on Wednesday, the 17th of the month. There appeared to be a revival of the languid powers of reason in his last illness; he ceased to speak, with a prayer upon his lips.

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The Register of Pennsylvania : devoted to the preservation of facts and documents and every other kind of useful information respecting the state of Pennsylvania, Vol. IX, Part 45

Author: Hazard, Samuel, 1784-1870 Publication date: 1828 Publisher: Philadelphia : Printed by W.F. Geddes ; Number of Pages: 440

Author: Hazard, Samuel, 1784-1870
Publication date: 1828
Publisher: Philadelphia : Printed by W.F. Geddes ;
Number of Pages: 440