USA > Pennsylvania > Dauphin County > Middletown > The chronicles of Middletown : containing a compilation of facts, biographical sketches, reminiscences, anecdotes, &c., connected with the history of one of the oldest towns in Pennsylvania > Part 17
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XXXVI.
It was soon after his arrival in 1682 that William Penn divided his province of Pennsylvania into three counties, viz: Bucks, Chester, and Philadelphia. By the act of May 10th, 1729, Lancaster county was separated from Chester. In 1784 a proposition being made to the As- sembly to form the present county of Dauphin out of a portion of Lan- caster, the inhabitants of Middletown sent in the following memorial :
"To the Honorable the Representatives of the Freemen of the Com- monwealth of Pennsylvania in General Assembly: The petition of the inhabitants of Lancaster county humbly showeth, that
"WHEREAS, The said county being very extensive, and the increase of the inhabitants becoming very great, renders the attendance upon courts and other business burdensome and expensive to your petitioners, occasioned by their situation being so far distant from the county town.
AND WHEREAS, It seems to be the intention of a respectable number of the inhabitants of the county to make application to the Honorable House for redress of this burdensome grievance, to have the county di- vided into two separate counties for the ease and welfare of the said in- habitants; and when any grievances or inconveniences arise to the in- habitants of the State, petition to the Honorable House is the mode to make them known to your Honors; and as by experience we are made sensible of your strong inclination to remove any inconvenience that at any time and from time to time, may arise to your constituents; you first being made sensible that the inconvenience complained of is real and well founded, we make no doubt but that you would permit us humbly to intimate to you our ideas of the mode of relief, which we would beg leave to do, leaving the ultimate determination to your better judgment.
"If you should think proper to divide the county, we would presume
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to recommend the town of Middletown, in the lower end of Paxton town- ship, as by far the most proper place for the county town, for many clear and obvious reasons, which we think would naturally occur to the Honorable House, but lest they should not, we beg to mention ours.
"First, Middletown will be as central as any other place that can be thought of. Then its situation upon the river Susquehanna, accom- modated with the finest, indeed, we may venture to say, the only fine safe harbor upon said river, and public utility of the said river Susque- hanna to the State of Pennsylvania and to the city of Philadelphia in par- ticular, is unquestionable ; that river being a fine navigable river for boats from ten to twelve tons burden coming down said river, the river Juniata and other streams leading into the Susquehanna some hundreds of miles from a fine fertile country on all sides of the river; and we must fur- ther presume that time is not far distant when a communication will be effected from this river to the western waters of the great Lake Erie, attended with very trifling land carriage between the heads of the two waters.
"Another great advantage to the State and particularly to the city of Philadelphia, will naturally accrue, and that is, instead of great quan- tity of produce of different kind being carried from the counties of York and Cumberland to the town of Baltimore, they will be carried through the channel of the town of Middletown to the city of Philadelphia.
"It may not be improper to observe that Middletown is situated at the very lowest end of navigable water of said river Susquehanna, so that the trade of that extensive river will at all events centre in that town and be carried from thence to the city of Philadelphia, and conse- quently will draw off from the city a very considerable quantity of mer- chandise of all kinds to the new country upon and beyond the Susque- hanna river.
"And, further, that it is not improbable that in time the trade will be carried from Middletown to the city of Philadelphia, by water carriage, via the river Swatara and other waters to the river Schuylkill, as we stand informed that this water communication was viewed some years ago by a number of gentlemen of eminence appointed by the House of Assembly for that purpose, and reported very practicable.
"And also that Middletown has the great advantage of being seated upon such high ground that they need never be apprehensive of an in- undation, even in the lowest part of the town, by the overflowing of the Susquehanna and Swatara rivers.
"That the Honorable House may appoint Middletown for the county town is the earnest desire of your petitioners, and by granting the same we, as in duty bound, shall ever pray, etc.
"Lancaster county, March ye 2nd., 1784.
"Ezra Patterson,
"Jacob Schneider,
"Charles Brandon,
"Nicholas Cassel,
"Ludwig Sulwink,
"Daniel Croll,
"Frederick Seybold,
"Anthony Baume,
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"Jacob Schrader,
"John Burnharter,
"George Miller,
"Daniel Walter,
"Edward Moyer,
"James Moon,
"Conrad Bombach,
"Thomas Edminston,
"Jacob Shautz,
"Jacob Smith,
"Lenox Stawl,
"Henry McCann, Jr.,
"Daniel Dowdel,
"Frederick Schuyler,
"Sebastian Hendrie,
"Emanuel Conrad,
"James Van Hoerst,
"John Bachenstose,
"James Foster,
"Daniel Weylster."
There are but few signatures to this petition, and there is a notable absence of the names of then prominent citizens. It is possible that other memorials were sent in, but-owing to causes which I may here- after allude to-not probable.
By an act passed March 4th, 1785, the Assembly created the county of Dauphin and fixed the county seat at Harrisburg.
This was the turning point in the destinies of Middletown and the latter place. The former was at the time a town containing eighty or ninety houses (and four or five hundred inhabitants), at Harris' ferry there was but one building. Then the heaviest trade on the Susque- hanna centered in Middletown, and the immense emigration surging westward, passed through it; the larger portion of which, deflecting at Chambers' ferry, avoided Harris' alltogether. The effect of the act of 1787 was marked, as a couple of extracts will indicate.
In 1787 (two years after the county seat was located), the Rev. Manasseh Cutter, who passed through on his way to the Ohio, thus writes in his journal :
"It (Harrisburg) contains about one hundred houses, all built in less than three years, many of them brick, built in the Philadelphia style ; all appear very neat. A great number of taverns, with handsome signs ; houses all two-story. About one-half of the people are English. People were going to meeting; they meet in private houses; have no churches yet."
John Penn, son of Thomas Penn, and grandson of William Penn, stopped at Harrisburg over night during a journey he made from Phil- adelphia to Carlisle, in 1788. In his journal he says :
"Mr. Harris, the owner and founder of this town, informed me that three years ago there was but one house built, and seemed to possess that pride and pleasure in his success which Æneas envied. One good point of view is the tavern almost close to the river. This was the
"Jacob Kraft,
"Jacob Hershey,
"John Nobel,
"John Bowman,
"John McCann,
"Martin Cox,
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house which stood alone so many years. It is called the Compass, and is one of the first public houses in Pennsylvania. The room I had is twenty-two feet square and high in proportion."
In 1795, 1796 and 1797 the Duke de la Rochefoucald-Liancourt, of France, was traveling in America. He discourses thus of Harrisburg :
"Mr. Harris, lord of the manor in which Harrisburg stands, availed himself of Mr. Frey's error to procure his town advantages that the other neglected. No sooner was it in contemplation to form the tract of country, separated from Lancaster, into a distinct county, than he offered to the government of Pennsylvania to sacrifice not only a ferry on the Susquehanna, of which he was possessed, and the profits of which he lawfully enjoyed, but also-land in and about the town. This offer induced the government of Pennsylvania to make this the chief town of the county, though it has neither an anchoring place for the ships that sail up and down the river, nor can afford them the smallest shelter. "The new county obtained the name of Dauphin. The first houses were built here in 1782, and their number at present amounts to three hundred."
XXXVII.
THE CATHOLIC CHURCH.
The first organized Catholic colony in this country, and one of the first to establish religious toleration, was that of Lord Baltimore, founded in 1632.
From Maryland the church crossed into Pennsylvania, and we find a considerable Catholic settlement at Conewago about 1740, from which points priests visited Central Pennsylvania and soon began the erection of churches, among the first of which were St. Mary's at Lancaster, and St. Peter's at Elizabethtown. The Catholics of Lancaster were organ- ized in 1740 and St. Peter's congregation at Elizabethtown seven years later. It was at this church that the Catholics of Middletown and its vicinity worshipped for over a century, and therefore a short account of it is here given.
St. Peter's church was organized as early as 1752, when the scattered Catholics of the district assembled at a little log cabin, erected by Henry Eckenroth on his farm about three miles from Elizabethtown, and called the "Church of the Assumption." It was at first a mission attached to St. Mary's church, Lancaster, and visited by the priests of that parish, which then included Middletown, Columbia, Harrisburg, Lebanon, &c., in fact the whole of Central Pennsylvania.
At that time the wayfarer between these and more distant points would occasionally meet a solitary priest, on horseback, journeying to visit his few parishioners, to give them religious instructions and hold services in their widely separated cabins and hamlets. The records show that some of them were never again heard of; alone they sank to
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rest, the soughing of the wind through the forest aisles their only re- quiem, the falling leaves or drifting snow their only shroud.
In 1757, in answer to a request of the Governor for a statement of the number of Catholics in the Province of Pennsylvania, Father Farmer counted those in Lancaster county as :
Germans,
Men. Women. 108
94
Irish,
22 27
The congregation of St. Mary's was composed principally of Ger- mans, and the priest spoke and preached in both the German and English languages, or it sometimes happens that there were two priests, each of whom attended to one nationality.
In 1795 Rev. Ludwig Barth was appointed by Bishop Carroll to St. Mary's, Lancaster. He immediately began to take steps for the erection of a new church at the then growing mission of Elizabethtown. In this he was much encouraged by Bishop Carroll. There were then from 150 to 200 communicants. In 1796 a site was selected in the village, and May 30, 1799, the cornerstone was laid by Rev. Father Barth. The church committee were Henry Eckenroth, John Kauffman and Andrew Gross. Among the more prominent members who acted on the commit- tee of the building were: Dominick Eagle, Stephen Felix, John Witman, Charles Wade, John Lynch, George Carolus, Adam Gross, Simon Eck- enroth and John Wagner.
To show the devotion of those early Catholics, it is related (either of this church or St. Mary's, Lancaster) that the women came daily to mix the mortar, while the men gathered the stones from the adjoining farms and carried them to the site of the building.
Father Barth administered the affairs of the mission until 1807. One . of his associates, Rev. Michael Egan, became first bishop of Philadel- phia in 1808. Upon his death Father Barth was urged to accept the mitre, but declined. He died in September, 1844, aged 80 years, in the 54th year of his priesthood. He was succeeded by Revs. Beschter, Bryan, Hogan, Schenfelder, Burgess and Holland. Then Rev. Bernard Keenan took charge of St. Mary's and its mission, and was pastor over 53 years, dying, universally regretted in 1877. In 1832 Father Keenan gave Rev. M. Curran charge of St. Peter's. He, finding the church too small, began the erection of an addition. In this improvement the poor Irishmen, then engaged on the railroad, assisted. It was finished in 1834. In 1847 Rev. Pierce Maher attended this mission. In 1840 Father F. X. Marshall succeeded. During his pastorate a parsonage and a new altar and pulpit for the church were erected. Rev. Michael Filan was his successor. In October, 1855, Rev. John McCosker took charge of Elizabethtown and missions. The number of Catholics at Middletown had considerably increased and "Father John" took a spe- cial delight in building up that mission.
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CHRONICLES OF MIDDLETOWN.
ST. MARY'S CHURCH ( MIDDLETOWN ).
There is a tradition that in 1779, when General Sullivan was here preparing for his expedition, a priest celebrated mass for some of the workmen, but nothing definite could be learned.
The earliest Catholics in the vicinity of Middletown that we have any record of were: Henrietta Brandon, John Luck, John McCristal, Bernard Mooney, Patrick Boyle, John McGuigan and their families. They were occasionally visited, after 1795, by priests from Elizabeth- town and Conewago.
Those settlers were probably drawn into the current of emigration westward, for in 1846-47 there were but three Catholic families in town, viz: Those of Patrick O'Donnel, Richard McGranigan and Luke Nor- ton, although in the neighborhood were the Doughertys, Sweenys, Wit- mans, Youtzs, Cannons, McGarveys, Bradleys, Hollands, Gross, Flynns, McCanns, McMillans, Allwines, Schaeffers, &c., some of whom had been settled here for many years. In the absence of any priest these families would ride, drive, or the male members, cane in hand, would walk to Elizabethtown or Harrisburg to church. Services were first held at private houses (notably at Luke Norton's) then at the brick school house on Furnace Hill, and afterwards at the old school house on the southwest corner of Ann and Wood streets.
In 1857 a lot was secured, and Father John McCosker, to whose untiring efforts the congregation is in a great measure indebted for their church, began to collect means to build it.
The cornerstone of "St. Mary of the Seven Dolors" was laid Sun- day, September 20, 1857, by Rt. Rev. John Newman, bishop of the dio- cese of Philadelphia, assisted by Doctor O'Hara, Rev. John McCosker, and several other priests. Doctor O'Hara (afterwards Bishop of Scran- ton, Pa.) preached the sermon on this occasion, and also at the conse- cration of the church.
It is located on high ground, at the western end of Ann street, above Lawrence; is a brick structure, of Gothic style with an organ gallery. It has a seating capacity on the first floor of over two hundred, and is a handsome, well-ventilated edifice. Edward Hodnett built it for nine thousand dollars. It was opened for divine service in the spring of 1859, Rev. John McCosker officiating. In 1861 Father McCosker was ap- pointed chaplain of the fifty-fifth regiment, Pennsylvania volunteers, which was assigned to duty in South Carolina. Before starting on his journey he was presented with a handsome sword and belt by James Young. He served faithfully until, overcome by hardship and disease, he returned to Philadelphia and soon afterward died.
In November, 1861, Rev. Hugh McGorian, who had been on the mis- sions in Australia and Van Dieman's Land, came to America, and was appointed pastor of Middletown and Elizabethtown. February 19, 1864, he died. His successors (each surviving a short time) were : Revs. R. V. O'Connor, Eugene Sullivan, Thos. Walsh and Patrick Mc- Swiggan. Rev. J. J. McIlvaine then took charge. Owing to his exer-
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tions the debt was paid off. After him, December, 1869, Rev. P. J. Nunan was appointed. He was followed, February, 1870, by Rev. Charles McMonigle, who remained here until September, 1873, when he left to take charge of St. Patrick's, at York, Pa. The first mission was held in the church, November 10, 1864, by Rev. Father Wendelin, a Benedictine monk, under the auspices of Rt. Rev. Bishop Shanahan, of Harrisburg, when a considerable number were confirmed. In com- memoration thereof a large cross has been erected in the church, bearing the date of the mission, and the text, "Abide in my love."-John v :10.
After Rev. McMonigle's departure, Rev. J. J. McIlvaine again took charge and remained until the close of 1877, when sickness compelled him to quit.
From 1877 to 1879 the church was supplied by different priests. In 1879 Rev. J. C. Foin was appointed. Father Foin served from 1879 to 1889. During his incumbency a piece of ground containing nearly three acres was purchased at the eastern end of Main street, and laid out as a Catholic cemetery. It was consecrated by him, June 26, 1885, he being delegated to do so by Rt. Rev. Bishop J. F. Shanahan. (Previous to this acquisition the members of St. Mary's had to take their dead to Elizabethtown for interment.) It is enclosed by a neat fence and is well cared for.
Since Father Foin's incumbency the priests have been :
1889 to 1891, Rev. James A. Huber.
1891 to 1892, Rev. C. Kenny.
1892 to 1895, Rev. B. J. Campbell.
1895 to 1897, Rev. James M. Barr.
1897 to 1900, Rev. P. J. Costigan.
1900, Rev. S. Clement Burger. 1900 to 1901, Rev. L. Stein.
In 1901, Rev. H. M. Herzog, the present pastor, was appointed.
In 1902 a handsome rectory was built.
XXXVIII.
[The Harrisburg Telegraph, some time ago, contained the following, which we transfer to Chronicles as a portion of the town's history. The Pineford spoken of gave its name to the farm of George Fisher, and was just above the old rope ferry crossing the Swatara, which Fisher's bridge now spans.]
("The road referred to especially was probably that which com- menced at now Paxtang street, from Race street to Paxtang creek and continued on the low ground through Highspire-the run there being known as Renick's run-to the Swatara. Most of this road was ab- sorbed by the original incorporators of the Harrisburg and Middletown turnpike. The "back road is yet in existence. The paper is in the hand- writing of Robert Baker, the first signer.")
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CHRONICLES OF MIDDLETOWN.
The Humble Petition of the Inhabitants of Paxton to the Honorable Court of Quarter Sessions, Sitting in Lancaster ye first Tuesday in Feb'y in the Year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred & fourtey five:
WHEREAS, we understand that there is application made to your Wor- ships for a Road to John Harrises from the pine fourd upon the Swa- tara to Coume Down on the River Side within the Bottoms, which we Luck upon to be an unsuportable Burden that we are unable to Bair, for maney Reasons; first, because of the maney Grate Swamps & mudey Runs that is to be Bridged; secondly when they are Bridged there is no Expectation of them standing one Season, by Reason of the floods, thirdly because the most of the Way is so soft that a Leetil time Wagons would Cut it so that we never will be able to make it good or maintain it, & besides all this, sum years ago John Harris sued for & obtained a Road from his house to the pine ford & notwithstanding of all our La- bour & pains in Cutting & Bridging of the s'd Road, we acknowledge that it is not Good, nor scarcely passable by the Direct Survey; Whereas a small vareyation might have mist those places that is not passable. We are Bold to assert that not six Rod might a mist sum of them.
We beg Lave of Your Worships to hear us patiently to Represent our Case fairley as it is; & first, we have briefly shown sum of the Evils that will attend that Road on the River side, within the Bottom; & secondly that the Road already surveyed & Cut from John Harrises to the pine fourd is not Good; & now wou'd humbly shew whie this Lat- ter Road is not Good & scarcely can be made Good; & first, because there was contending parties about the farries, to Witt John Harris & Thomas Renicks; & the s'd Harris haveing obtained an order of court for his Back Road & all the men appointed for the laying out of it was strangers to these Woods. .owne: & he being Renickses special frind & near kinsman, the worst way he piloted them the Less it answered Harrises intent & the more Renixes; and besides all this, the very same day that this Back Road was Laid out the Sherieph held a vandew of Peter Allon's Goods; & there was few or none of the near neighbours at home to shew them a Better way which we presume sum of your pettisnors can do, and notwithstanding of all the objections that may be made, that we did not varey a small matter when we Cutt the Road in anwer to that; so we would had we not been Divided; theye that was for Renickes was punctual for the survey, sum threatened to stop it if we Left the survey & others affraid if they Left the survey they wou'd have to coume & Cutt it again; Therefore your peitisinors Humbley Begs that there may be a final stop put to the Riverside Road, & we acknowledge that it is the Glorey of a Countrey to have Good Roads; & we promise to be as assistive as possable we can, & Dos pur- pose a Better Way & as near as aney yet purpos'd, & we can shew your Worships a Reason for it, the Distance between Susquehanna & Swa- tara is but a Littel way, & the Waters or Runs falling botth wais we can
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CHRONICLES OF MIDDLETOWN.
find Champion Drye ground between the two, not that we are own Royd for another, but that, that will be for a publick good.
Your Worships Compliance to our petitisions will oblige your Humble Petitisioners Ever for to pray :
Robert Baker, David Shields,
Samuel McCorkel,
John Shields,
John Barnett,
Thomas Forster,
Richard McClure,
Michael Graham,
Jeremiah Sturgeon,
Oliver Willey,
Andrew Colwell,
John Lowry,
Andrew Hannah,
Alexander Meharg,
James L.
Thomas Smith,
John Killcreest,
Wm. Chambers,
William Sharp,
James Kern,
James Gilchrist,
Matthew Shields,
William S-
Jacob S- ,
James Morgan,
Thomas Farrell,
Wm. McMillan,
John Gray,
Andrew Scott,
John Willey,
James Polk,
Thomas Elder,
Alexander Cully,
Robert Smith,
Thomas Dugal,
William Barnett,
James Eaken,
James Coler,
John Cavet,
Samuel
Robert Gray,
Samuel Sturgeon,
William Chambers,
Timothy Shaw,
Alexander Osborn,
John Johnson,
John Forster,
Thomas Simpson, William Scott,
Thomas Morrison,
Anthony Sharp,
George Alexander,
Henry McIlroy,
Thomas W.
Pat. Montgomery, Joseph Scott,
Robert Armstrong,
Andrew Foster,
John Porience,
Nehemiah Steen.
MIDDLETOWN MILITIA.
(Half a century ago .* )
The "Swatara Guards"-an infantry company, flourished for a num- ber of years. They were a fine body of men, well drilled, under the command of a capable officer who took great interest in the company. The uniform was a blue swallow-tailed coat, faced with yellow, and trimmed with yellow cord and innumerable "bullet buttons." Large yellow epaulettes covered the shoulders. The pants were blue also, with a yellow stripe down the sides. The cap was high and stiff, with a large brass plate in front, and a heavy plume of scarlet feathers, a foot or more in height. A small pompon was afterwards substituted for the plume. When on parade a good deal of powder was burnt in firing by platoons and by company in the market square, where they were generally dismissed. This company was also furnished with a brass field-piece, which was served by a detail of members.
A rifle company was also in existence. Their uniform was a long
*This extract is from the Salamagundi papers, written by Dr. John Ringland, and copied from an old scrap book kindly loaned me by Mrs. McCord.
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CHRONICLES OF MIDDLETOWN.
green frock coat, and dark pants, the bottoms faced on the outside with leather or oil-cloth, so as to resemble boot-legs; the cap was sealskin with the hair on and of a gig-top style, with black ostrich feathers for plume. They were also well-drilled, and marched and shot well.
The target used by the companies was made of boards, and was about the size of an ordinary door; on it was painted the life size figure of a man. The prize for the best shot among the rifles was the privilege of wearing a set of white ostrich feathers along with the black. Our friend, Mr. George Rodfong, was a good shot and on more than one occasion "showed the white feather."
"Battalion" and "General Review" days of militia were the days of the year. The "bone and sinew" then reported themselves for the an- nual inspection, review, drill and parade. As for uniform, each dressed according to his inclination, some wore coats and some did not; the coats were of all colors, shapes and material-from white to black, and from linen to broadcloth. Hats and caps of every style covered the heads. Some of the yeomen wore boots, some shoes, and others went barefoot. As for weapons, they were various, muskets, rifles, double and single barrel shotguns, canes, hoop-poles, corn-stalks, and umbrel- las-the latter frequently hoisted to protect their bearers from the rays of the sun, or occasional showers. The officers generally provided them- selves with a sword, scabbard and belt. The drill and inspection were on a par with the arms and accoutrements. The generals, colonels and other mounted officers charged furiously on their fiery, untamed steeds, conscious that the fate of the nation depended upon them. The different regiments having formed their lines, marched through town to the parade ground or "commons" followed by all the children old enough to accompany them. The "common" was the ground lying between Ann street and the canal, in what was then Portsmouth, and in which but few houses had been erected. Their military evolutions were executed with wonderful precision, no two obeying the word of command at the same time, unless by accident, and such a thing as keeping step was un- known. The firing, considering that there was scarcely a charge of powder in the whole line, was equally well done. After inspection, an hour's rest was given, when arms were grounded and ranks broken. From the numerous hucksters who always thronged the field on those occasions, plentiful supplies of lemonade, small-beer, Monongahela whiskey, brandy, rum or gin, were obtained by the tired soldiers, whose subsequent evolutions were somewhat tangled.
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