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 2
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Derry Church-This congregation was organized in 1719, and in 1720 the house of worship was erected. The land, forty acres, was deeded by William and Thomas Penn several years later. The building was constructed of oak logs two feet thick, which were covered with hemlock boards on the outside. The pews and floors were of yellow pine, cherry and oak. The pulpit was low and narrow, crescent shaped, and entered by narrow steps from the east side. Above it, on the south side, was a large window which contained thirty-eight panes, made of glass of different sizes; the sash was made of lead, and was brought from England. Pegs were stuck in the wall inside, for the men to hang their muskets and when in 1883 it became necessary to take the decaying building down, many a bullet was found imbedded in the oak logs. The first services we have any record of were held in April, 1724. The con- gregation was addressed by Revs. Geo. Gillespie, David Evans and Robert Cross. Among the members present at that time were: Row- land Chambers, Thomas and William Clarke, James Galbraith, Patrick and Robert Campbell, John Mitchell, William McBey, James Quigley, William Hay, Robert Moody, Malcolm Kerr, Thomas and Hugh Black, James Harris, William McCord, Morgan Jones, David McClure, James McFarlane, Alexander Hutchinson, John and Benjamin Boyd, James Hamilton, John McCosh and sister.
The old stone step at the main entrance was greatly worn by the feet of the thousands who had passed over it. In the graveyard adjoining, the sandstone tombstones have so crumbled away, that many of the inscriptions cannot be read. The oldest decipherable is of 1734. Rev. William Bertram, and Rev. John Roan, were both buried here, the for- mer in 1746, the latter in 1775.
Paxton Church was organized at an early period, at least prior to 1725, and Rev. James Anderson, of Donegal, preached there one-fifth of his time until 1729. In 1732, Rev. William Bertram was minister of this, as well as Derry church; he was paid about £60, "half in money, the other half in hemp, linen, yarn, or linen cloth, at market price."
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Rev. John Elder, a graduate of Edinburgh University, succeeded him in 1738.
Mr. Elder, who was also a colonel in the Provincial service, used to take his musket with him into the pulpit. On one occasion the Indians surrounded the meeting house while he was preaching, but having counted the guns, retired without making an attack. At another time they arrived by mistake on Monday instead of Sunday, and after wait- ing several days, were discovered, and left by way of Indiantown Gap, murdering a number of persons on the Swatara, and carrying off sev- eral prisoners.
The custom of seating women at the inner end of the pews exclu- sively, is said to have originated in these times, when the frontiersman was required to be ready to spring to the doors, gun in hand, at the first note of alarm.
There were three entrances to the church; the pulpit used to stand in the middle of the house, fronting the southern entrance; it was after- wards built against the north wall, high above the heads of the wor- shippers. One aisle ran from east to west, and another from the south- ern door to the pulpit. The pews were not uniform, each being built by the family occupying it. Two large ten-plate stoves were in the long aisle, the smoke from which ascended by pipes to the loft, and found its way out through a hole in the roof.
Southeast of the church is the burial ground, surrounded by a substan- tial stone wall. Here rest the Elders, Espys, Sturgeons, McClures, Ma- clays, Rutherfords, Simpsons, Harrises, Grays, Gilmores, and genera- tions of the English and Scotch-Irish settlers, who once inhabited this section of the country, and to whom Middletown was the business, po- litical and social centre. Here also lie the remains of Gen. James Cronch and Gen. Michael Simpson, Revolutionary heroes. Men are here en- tombed who fought at Quebec, and all through the War of Independ- ence.
Conewago Church-This church was located about four miles from Middletown near where the village of Gainsburg (laid out in 1812), now stands. There is no account of its erection, but in 1741, Rev. Samuel Black was their regular preacher, indicating that a church had been built previous to that time. This structure had probably fallen to decay, for another was erected, the only record of which, that has come down to us, is that its builder was killed by falling from its roof in 1745, and was buried in the graveyard attached. It could have had but a transi- tory existence, for in the recollection of old Presbyterians, still living, their parents and grandparents went to Derry and Paxton. The land connected with this church is contiguous to, or rather enclosed by, a tract of over two hundred acres, which James Clark held by a warrant from the Land Office, dated August 1, 1743. It was afterwards patented to Robert Spear in 1785. The following memorandum, accompanying a draft, will explain itself :
"Resurveyed for Robert Spear, August 18th, 1785, the above tract of
St. Peter's Lutheran Church, Middletown, Pa.
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land, containing two hundred and two acres and five-eighths and allow- ances, situate in Derry township, Dauphin county, late Lancaster, by warrant granted to James Clark, 28th of July, 1743.
(Signed)
"BERTRAM GALBRAITH.
"N. B .- The above square piece of nineteen by twenty perches is a Presbyterian meeting house and burying grounds.
"To John Lukens, S. G.
"Returned into the Land Office the third November, 1785, for John Lukens, Esq., S. G.
"EDWARD LYNCH."
This tract of land afterwards passed, successively, through the hands of Robert Coleman, Robert Dempsey, John Conrad, John Fisher, George Hess and Abraham Rutt, to John Olwine.
So this church lot is in the midst of a farm, repeatedly sold and trans- ferred. The title, however, to the old graveyard, is by law vested in the Presbytery of Carlisle, who should take charge of it, and have it prop- erly enclosed. What has been supposed to have been a church founda- tion, is a dilapidated wall inclosing a burial place.
We have thus given a brief history of three churches, each of which numbered among their communicants, and were partly supported by the early inhabitants of Middletown.
Pastors and people are all gone, but in the well filled graveyards close by, rest the ancestors of many families whose names have since become well known throughout our country. The Harrisons, the McLeans, the Forsters, the Ramseys, the Dixons, the Allens, the Fergusons, the Stew- arts, the Polks, the Calhounes, the Hamptons, the Wilsons, the Petti- grews, and a host of others-pioneers in Western Pennsylvania, in Vir- ginia, the Carolinas, Georgia, Ohio, Kentucky, Missouri, California, and elsewhere. The lands they once settled, know them no more, and only in the musty records of the past, in ruined walls and moss-covered tombstones, can the historian find traces of the departed glories of Derry, Paxton and Conewago .*
These churches were then considered at a reasonable distance from, and sufficient for the wants of the inhabitants of Middletown. Services were, however, frequently held in the German Lutheran church by Presbyterian preachers, among whom were Revs. N. R. Snowden and James R. Sharon. There must have been some organization among the members here, however, for the old Presbyterian graveyard on High street, consists of two lots, numbered 94 and 95; and Lot No. 95 in the plan of the town still extant, is marked "Burying-ground;" and in his list of ground rents due from lots in the town, opposite the number 95 is the following entry: "Granted by George Frey in 1773. N. B., in- quire whether for a church-yard or burying-ground." Colonel James Burd and his wife were buried here, the latter in 1785, and the former
*Since the matter contained in this chapter was written, (January, 1887) Paxton church has been remodeled, and a modern edifice erected .- C. H. H.
2
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in 1793. Lot No. 94, is marked as owned by Swineford, and no ground- rent due from it. The title of the church comes through Swineford. The brief of title is as follows: Thomas and Richard Penn to John Fisher, February 14th, 1747; January 17th, 1759, John Fisher and Grace his wife, to George Fisher; March Ist, 1761, George Fisher and Hannah his wife to Joseph Greenwood; October 27th, 1766, Joseph Greenwood and Mary his wife to Thomas Carmicle; July 29th, 1770, Thomas Carmicle and wife to Albright Swineford; December 2nd, 1795, Albright Swineford to J. Russel; June 7th, 1802, J. Russel and Frances his wife to John McCammon, William Crabb and Edward Crouch, "Trustees of the English Presbyterian Congregation or Society of Mid- dletown," for five shillings.
The Burds, McClures, Kirkpatricks, and McClanegans were among the first Presbyterian families who settled about here, and had large tracts of land. In the early part of the present century the Crabbs, Mc- Cammons, Crouches, Jordans, and Elders, took their places, and later, the Mckibbens, McNairs, and Kendigs.
We have no data, however, respecting any church organization prior to 1850. The records are lost, having probably been among the private papers of some one of the original members, who are all dead.
April 10th, 1850, the Presbytery in session at Carlisle appointed a committee to visit Middletown, and confer with the Presbyterians there as to the practicability of building a church. At a meeting in June fol- lowing, of the Presbytery, the committee reported favorably. On Oc- tober 29th, the Presbytery met here, when a petition signed by Daniel Kendig, Sarah Kendig, Robert F. Snoddy, Edward Burgett, Dr. B. J. Wiestling, Matilda Wiestling, Sara Allen, Mary E. Wilt, and David Thompson was presented, asking for the organization of a church here. The elders then elected were Dr. B. J. Wiestling, Daniel Kendig, and Edward Burgett. Thus was organized the first regular congregation since the original one had expired half a century before. Supply preach- ing was had in the brick church on Water street ("Christ church").
April 8th, 1851, Rev. John Cross was authorized to solicit funds for erecting a church edifice; on June roth he was called as pastor and installed June 23rd. Mr. Cross died suddenly, August 22nd, at Dick- inson, Cumberland county, while raising money to build the church, and his remains were brought to Dr. B. J. Wiestling's house, from which the burial took place.
On March 3Ist, 1852, C. W. King conveyed to Daniel Kendig, lots Nos. 63 and 64, upon which to erect the church. On August 24th, 1854, Mr. Kendig conveyed the same to Dr. B. J. Wiestling, Davis Thompson, Dr. J. C. Whitehill, C. H. Roe, George Crist, Jeremiah Rohrer and D. E. Martin, in trust for the church and congregation. A building was immediately erected. It was a neat brick edifice; with a basement for Sunday school and lecture room. Its builders were Messrs. Leedom and Fisher. August 28th, 1858, the congregation was incorporated. In 1860 an act was passed by the Legislature, and ap-
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proved by Governor Wm. F. Packer, March 31, authorizing the congre- gation to sell the old graveyard on High street. In March, 1864, the trustees purchased of Dr. Mercer Brown, a piece of ground in Lower Swatara township, adjoining Middletown, of 77 4-10 perches, on which they erected a parsonage.
In 1852 the Rev. O. O. McLean became pastor, and continued to April, 1854. In October, 1855, Rev. John W. White was called, and remained until the spring of 1858. His successor was Rev. T. K. Davis, from March, 1858, until May 4th, 1863, when Rev. C. Ferriday became pastor. (During his absence, from ill health, Rev. H. T. Lee, of Phila- delphia, preached.) Mr. Ferriday's continued sickness compelled him to resign, and January 25th, 1865, Rev. H. L. Rex was called. He was installed June 6th, 1865, and remained until May, 1874. In January, 1875, Rev. Daniel McAfee became pastor, and resigned in January, 1876. For some time Rev. A. D. Mitchell supplied the pulpit, but being ap- pointed post-chaplain in the United States army, Rev. Robert P. Gibson acted as pastor until April 14th, 1878, when Rev. D. C. Meeker was called; he declined, and on May 20th, Rev. Malachi C. Bailey became pastor. He resigned in 1880, and his successor was Rev. William G. McDonald, who took charge November Ist, 1881, and resigned April Ioth, 1884. He was succeeded by the Rev. John Groff, the present pastor.
In 1889 the church building needing repairs, it was decided to erect a new edifice. The last service in the old church was in June, 1889.
The new building, which is in the Gothic style of architecture, is built of brownstone. Cost, $20,000. Was dedicated in October, 1890. A pipe organ was installed in 1895. The church is a handsome edifice with several memorial windows contributed by the Camerons, Kendigs and others. Has a seating capacity of 500.
The Sunday school connected with the church was organized in the latter part of the year 1851, in the basement of "Christ Church." (In which building the congregation then worshipped.) In the summer of 1852 it was moved to the Emaus Institute (then at the junction of Union and Spring streets), and in November of the same year, on the comple- tion of the church, to the room it at present occupies, in the basement of that building.
The records of the school are incomplete, many of them having been lost. There have been but three superintendents since its organization, viz: Daniel Kendig, Benjamin Kendig and John W. Rewalt, the latter being the present incumbent. The superintendent of the infant school is Miss Annie E. Kendig.
When George Fisher planned Middletown, he seems to have intended to aid and encourage the establishment of churches of all denominations, as, in laying out the town, ground was appropriated for sects which at the time had no existence in the place; as, for instance, to the Moravian
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and Episcopal churches. The Moravian lot adjoined those of the Pres- byterians. They afterwards sold it, and it came into the possession of George Smuller.
After Mr. Fisher had disposed of a portion of the lots, he sold out his remaining interest in the town to George Frey. In some instances Frey afterwards transferred these properties to the church organizations for whom they were intended.
GERMAN REFORMED CHURCH.
This branch of the Presbyterian, or Calvinist, church was compara- tively strong in this State at an early period. In 1743, the Reformed Synods of Holland proposed to the Presbyterian Synod of Philadel- phia, a union of the Presbyterians, Dutch Reformed and German Re- formed churches in America. This proposition the Presbyterians de- clined, and thus these churches, differing in but slight doctrinal points, remained separate.
There was a respectable number of members of the German Reformed church in and near Middletown at an early period, and ministers of this denomination sometimes preached from the pulpit of old St. Peter's Lutheran church. That an organization was proposed is evident from the fact that on May 22nd, 1770, George Frey and Catherine, his wife, sold lot No. 143, situated on the northwest corner of High and Pine streets, to John Backenstow (Bachentose), saddler, and Philip Balti- more (Parthemore), blacksmith, for five shillings, as a site for a Ger- man Calvinist or Presbyterian church and burying ground. The deed was acknowledged before Justice James Burd and witnessed by John Cline and James Walker. In this graveyard the dead of the denomin- ation were buried for a number of years.
How THEY CELEBRATED THE 4TH OF JULY IN MIDDLETOWN 106 YEARS AGO.
MIDDLETOWN, July 5th, 1798.
Yesterday being the twenty-second anniversary of American independ- ence, in pursuance of notice previously given, the Light Infantry Com- pany of this town, commanded by Captain Wolfley, paraded in the pub- lic square, for the purpose of celebrating the great festival in commem- oration of American emancipation. From thence they marched, at- tended by a number of respectable citizens, to a commodious sylvan re- treat on the bank of the Susquehanna, called the Locust Grove, on the plantation of George Fisher, Esq., to partake of an elegant repast, which was served up in a manner perfectly suited to the circumstances of time
Middletown Reservoir, near Round Top.
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CHRONICLES OF MIDDLETOWN.
and place. During the repast (at which Major George Toot presided), the greatest harmony prevailed, and the most perfect festivity was con- spicuous in every countenance. After dinner the following truly federal toasts were drank with the utmost cordiality, each accompanied by a discharge from Captain Wolfley's Light Infantry.
I. The Day Which Gave Birth to American Independence-may the anniversary thereof exhibit a perpetuation of the principles which gave rise to the same, throughout the remotest generations.
2. The President of the United States-may that distinguished wis- dom and patriotic virtue, which contributed to promote him to the emi- nent dignity of first magistrate, continue to guide and influence him to discharge the great trust reposed in him, as may be most conducive of the happiness of the United States and the good of mankind.
3. The Constitution of the United States-may the blessings derived therefrom be so justly estimated by the American people, that we may be stimulated to preserve inviolate, and transmit the same unimpaired to our posterity, at the expense of our lives and fortunes-if necessary.
4. The Legislature of the United States-may wisdom direct their councils, unanimity crown their proceedings, and the welfare and pros- perity of the United States be the result of their deliberations.
5. The American people-may they ever profess wisdom to discern, and fortitude to repel, the insidious machinations of foreign and domes- tic factions.
6. The Navy of the United States-may the spirit of '76 animate each warrior's breast with ardent zeal to guard our glorious constitution as the Israelites did the ark of old.
7. The Illustrious Washington, Prince of Patriots-may his long and arduous exertions in the service of his country meet their deserved re- ward, long life, health and prosperity in this world, and eternal happi- ness in the next.
8. Our Envoys to France-may the result of their mission prove an effectual antidote against the baneful influence of French policy, French enthusiasm and French fraternity.
9. Our Diplomatic Agents-may the disgrace of Monroe hold forth an instructive lesson to future ministers, that they may never deviate from the genuine principles of their instructions, nor listen to the insin- uating but invidious flattery of foreign governments.
IO. The Constituted Authorities-detection and universal detestation to those men who betray and calumniate the government they were chosen to administer and sworn to maintain.
II. Our National Character-may its purity never be contaminated by the polluted breath of faction, sedition or disaffection.
12. Agriculture-may she continue to improve and flourish under the auspicious sanction of wise rules and wholesome laws, until all nations shall acknowledge our affluence and esteem our friendship as profitable.
13. Commerce-may she diffuse her liberal benefits over the whole earth, protected and encouraged by all nations, and may her enemies
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CHRONICLES OF MIDDLETOWN.
meet universal execration, and be excluded from the enjoyment of any of her gifts.
14. Arts and Sciences-may the cultivation thereof be assiduously pursued and amply encouraged by every description of men, till the United States become the seat of universal knowledge, religion and purity.
15. The Fair Daughters of America-may their charms never want virtue to detect artful blandishments of knaves and traitors.
V.
Although no actual settlements had been made in Lancaster county prior to 1709, a few Indian traders had (as has been previously men- tioned) established their posts on the Susquehanna river.
In the year 1706, a number of Swiss Mennonites went to England and made an agreement with William Penn for lands to be taken up in this colony.
In 1709 the pioneers of this company emigrated to America and pur- chased a tract of ten thousand acres, for which they paid five hundred pounds sterling, and one shilling quit rent yearly, forever, for every hundred acres of the said ten thousand .* Their warrant was dated Oc- tober 10th, 1710. On April 27th, 1711, the land was sub-divided among them, into so many parts as they had previously agreed upon.
The descendants of the Puritans boast that their ancestors fled from their persecutors, willing to encounter perils in the wilderness and perils by the heathen, rather than be deprived by ruthless intolerance of the free exercise of their religion. The descendants of the Swiss Men- nonites, who amid hardships and trials, made the first settlements in the west end of Chester (afterwards Lancaster) county, can lay claim to more. Their ancestors did not seek for themselves and theirs only, the unmolested exercise of their faith and worship, but they in turn did not persecute others who differed from them in religious opinion. They pleaded for religious toleration, and their practice confirmed it.
One of these pioneers was Martin Kendig, ancestor of the Kendig family of Union street, Middletown. He was a man of considerable im- portance among the colonists, and owned a large amount of land, one
*Owing to Penn's pecuniary embarrassment he was obliged to mortgage his province. The mortgagees appointed commissioners to superintend their interests, viz: Edward Shippen, Samuel Carpenter, Richard Hill, and James Logan, who repaid the loan from the sale of lands and from his quit rents. Purchasers re- monstrated against these quit rents as a burden unprecedented in any other Ameri- can colony, but were told that by complying they supported the dignity of the gov- ernment, and would be freed from other taxes.
These quit rents were not uniform, they rated from one shilling per hundred acres, to six shillings per annum. They were (with few exceptions) abolished in 1779.
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tract of 1,060 acres, another of 530 acres, another of 265 acres. His dwelling was constructed of hewn walnut logs. It withstood the tooth of time for one hundred and ten years and had it not been removed in 1841, might have weathered the elements for a much longer period.
Although the colonists had scarcely been fairly seated, they thought of their old homes, their country and friends. They remembered those that were in bonds and suffered adversity, and devised means to send some one to the Vaterland, to bring the residue of their families, their kindred and brothers in a land of trouble and oppression, to their new home, where peace reigned and the comforts of life could not fail. A meeting of the society was called, and Martin Kendig having offered, was sent to Europe, whence, after an absence of some months, he re- turned accompanied by a company of Swiss and some Germans.
With this accession the settlement was considerably augmented, and now numbered about thirty families. They lived in the midst of the Mingo or Conestoga, Pequea and Shawnese Indians. This little colony improved their lands, planted orchards, erected dwellings, and a meeting house and school house, in which religious and secular instruction could be imparted. The Mennonites never invested money in rearing stately temples, or in building colleges in which to impart useful knowledge. They ever observed it religiously to have their children instructed in reading and writing, at least; to bring them up in habits of industry, and teach them such trades as were suitable to their wants, expedient, and adapted to their age and constitution. Their sons and daughters were kept under strict parental authority, and, as a consequence, were not led into temptations by which so many youths of both sexes are ruined.
Among those who located in the vicinity of the Swiss settlement, between the years 1718 and 1740, appear the names of Frantz, Schanck, Brenneman, Whitman, Funk, Landis, Eby, Burkholder, Bowman, Baumgardner, Earisman, Nisley, Carpenter (Zimmerman), Snavely, Ashleman, Kauffman, Schultz, Houser, Churtz, Bare, Weaver, Longa- necker, Musselman, Miller, Staner, Light, Brand, Loughman, Klugh, Oberholtzer, Hershey, Brenner, Stouffer, Hummel, Baughman, Whist- ler, Schuck, Herr, Zeigler, Keagy, Kreemer, Ulweiler, Snyder, Espen- shade, Groff, Keneagy, Beck and many others, which (spelling ex- cepted) are now well known in Middletown.
The German emigration to Pennsylvania had commenced early in the century, the first comers settling in some parts of Lancaster county as early as 1720, but, being opposed to wars and fighting, during the nu- merous Indian raids of that time, they sought more congenial neigh- borhoods than that of Paxton.
A number of this nationality who were located in western New York, traveled through the forests to the Susquehanna, descended the river, and going up this stream, (the lands on each side of which they found occupied by the Scotch-Irish), settled about its head waters, in what are now Berks and Lebanon counties in 1723.
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