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 26
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).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27
Capt. George F. Ross, 13th Regiment, Iowa Volunteers; appointed A. D. C. to General Crocker, Sixth Division Iowa Volunteers; wounded at second battle of Corinth. (See 194th Regiment, P. V.)
George W. Rodfong, Signal Corps, U. S. A., Feb. 18, 1864; three years ; discharged by general order, Aug. 28, 1865.
*George Seibert, Co. I, 5Ist Regiment, P. V., Jan. 23, 1865; . dis- charged by surgeon's certificate, July 27, 1865.
*Lieut. Frank R. Walborn, second lieutenant Co. K, 214th Regiment, P. V., March 25, 1865; one year; commissioned first lieutenant July 12, 1865; not mustered; mustered out with company, March 21, 1865; afterwards successively private in 6th U. S. Cavalry and first lieutenant in 3Ist U. S. Infantry. (See 35th Regiment, P. V.)
W. H. Embick, Co. A, 201st Regiment, P. V., one year's service, Aug. 18, 1864; mustered out with company, June 25, 1865.
Joseph H. Hoyer, Co. I, 2nd Regiment, P. V., 3 months' service, April 30, 1861 ; mustered out with company, July 26, 1861.
W. H. McBarron, Co. I, 20Ist Regiment, P. V., one year's service, Aug. 18, 1864; promoted to corporal, Aug. 24, 1864; mustered out with company, June 25, 1865.
Frederick Miller, Co. E, 117th Regiment (13th Cavalry), P. V., three years, Aug. 12, 1863; mustered out with company, July 14, 1865.
*Dead.
16
242
CHRONICLES OF MIDDLETOWN.
Jacob P. Shroy, Co. E, 117th Regiment (13th Cavalry), P. V., Aug. 8, 1863; died at Salisbury, N. C., Dec. 28, 1864.
Dr. Luther L. Rewalt, assistant surgeon, 25th Regiment, P. V., three months' service, April 18, 1861; mustered out with company, July 26, 1861; afterwards assistant surgeon 22nd Cavalry.
George G. Rakestraw, chaplain 20Ist Regiment, P. V., one year's ser- vice, Aug. 29, 1864; mustered out with regiment, June 21, 1865.
Captain George F. Ross, Co. G, 13th Regiment, Iowa Infantry, Oct. 28, 1861; wounded through bowels at battle of Corinth, Miss .; dis- charged by general order, April 28, 1863; assistant provost marshal 14th Pennsylvania district ; captain Co. D, 194th Regiment, P. V .. , July 18, 1864; mustered out with company, April 6, 1864.
John C. Snyder, Co. E, 203rd Regiment, P. V., Sept. 6, 1864; pro- moted to corporal April Ist, 1865; mustered out with company, June 22, I865.
Total number of Middletown volunteers (exclusive of re-enlistments and militia ), 44I.
The roll is completed. Middletown, a thriving place when Pittsburgh was a village, and Harrisburg not in existence; whose commerce once exceeded that of any other town on the Susquehanna; where it was once proposed to locate the county seat-the State Capitol-now exer- cises but small influence in State affairs and is rarely heard of outside her immediate neighborhood. Her sons fought in the early Indian wars of the Republic; battled for liberty in the Revolution, and at a later day, in a mightier struggle, maintained her ancient reputation for bravery and patriotism.
There she stands, with a record that few towns can equal-none sur- pass. With a population in 1860 of two thousand six hundred and sixty- seven souls (including Port Royal), and but about five hundred and thirty-four voters, she sent to the field in four years (excluding re- enlistments), four hundred and thirty-three men.
A quarter of a century has flown by since her volunteers, in the pride of their young manhood, left her homes, and went forth to battle for their country, and the war-worn veterans who survive, whose health and strength were sapped in the hardships of those weary campaigns, will, in a few years, join the comrades that shot, shell, starvation in rebel prison-pens and disease sent to their deaths earlier. But though no monument may ever be erected over them, long after the cowards who skulked and tories who sneered, are unremembered dust; long after the traitors who inaugurated the "Great Rebellion" have joined Iscariot, Arnold, Burr and their compeers in eternal infamy, the memory of the men who risked their lives to save that of their country will be enshrined in her heart, and their names remain inscribed in her annals.
"Nor wreck, nor change, nor winter's blight, Nor Time's remorseless doom,
Can dim one ray of holy light That gilds their glorious tomb."
243
CHRONICLES OF MIDDLETOWN.
[From correspondents in Tuscumbia, Ala., Artesian City, Dak. Ter. Philadel- phia, and elsewhere, we have received the following additional information re- specting Middletown men in the Union army. If our informants will read over the rolls already published they will find that the other names sent in have already been mentioned. Capt. Ross' record is re-printed because it is more definite than that first given.]
Quartermaster's Department, U. S. A. [During Early's raid the men in this department, numbering about eight hundred, were formed into a regiment to repel his attack. As Edward Allen, John B. Cole, George Rodfong, Sr., Levi Shaefer, Charles Allen and other Middletown men were in this regiment the following is of interest.]
QUARTERMASTER'S OFFICE (LINCOLN BRANCH), DEPOT OF WASHING- TON.
WASHINGTON, D. C., March 3, 1866.
This is to certify that George Rodfong, employed in the wheelwright shop of Q. M. Dept., Washington, D. C., was a member of Co. G, Ist Regiment, organized employes Q. M. Dept., and at the time of the rebel demonstration on Washington, in July, 1864, went into the rifle pits north of the city, in defense of the same; and that he further remained a mem- ber of said regiment, and did all the duties required of him as such, until the disbanding of the regiment on the Ist day of April, 1865.
CHAS. H. TOMKINS,
But. Col. & Q. M. U. S. A., Col. Ist Regt. O. E. Q. M. D. J. CALM,
Supt. U. S. Repair Shops & Major Ist Regt. O. E. Q. M. Dept.
LV. MILITIA 1862.
After its triumph in the second battle of Bull Run, the rebel army has- tened northward and commenced crossing the Potomac. The Reserve Corps which was originally organized for the State defense had been called to the succor of the hard-pressed army of Mcclellan upon the Peninsula, and was now upon the weary march, with ranks sadly thin- ned in the hard fought battles of Mechanicsville, Gaines' Mill, Charles City Cross-Roads and the second Bull Run, to again meet the foe, but powerless to avert the threatened danger. The result of the struggle on the plain of Manassas, was no sooner known, than the helpless con- dition of the State, which had been apparent from the first, became a subject of alarm.
On the 4th of September Governor Curtin issued a proclamation, call-
NOTE: These rolls contain the names of those who enlisted here, and of those residents here during the war, who enlisted elsewhere.
244
CHRONICLES OF MIDDLETOWN.
ing on the people to arm and prepare for defense. He recommended the immediate formation of companies and regiments throughout the Commonwealth, and for the purposes of drill and instruction, that after 3 p. m. of each day, all business houses be closed. On the 10th, the danger having become imminent, he issued a general order, calling on the able-bodied men to enroll immediately for the defense of the State, and to hold themselves in readiness to march upon an hour's notice; to select officers, to provide themselves with such arms as could be ob- tained, with sixty rounds of ammunition to the man, tendering arms to such as had none, and promising that they should be held for service, for such time only as the pressing exigency for State defense should continue. On the following day, acting under authority of the Presi- dent of the United States, the Governor called for fifty thousand men, directing them to report by telegraph for orders to move, and adding that further calls would be made if necessary. The people everywhere fled to arms, and regiments and companies were forwarded as fast as they could be organized. Fifteen thousand men were concentrated in the neighborhood of Hagerstown and Boonsboro. Ten thousand more were in the vicinity of Greencastle and Chambersburg, and about twen- ty-five thousand were on their way or waiting for transportation to ad- vance. Gen. John F. Reynolds, who was at the time commanding a corps in the Army of the Potomac, assumed command of the militia. On the 14th the head of the Army of the Potomac met the enemy at South Mountain and hurled him through its passes, and on the 16th and 17th a fierce battle was fought at Antietam, the enemy was defeated and retreated in confusion across the Potomac. The emergency having passed the militia regiments were mustered out and disbanded. With few exceptions they were not in actual conflict, but they nevertheless rendered most efficient service. They gave moral support to the Union army, and had that army been defeated they would have taken the place of the fallen. Called suddenly to the field from the walks of private life, with little opportunity for drill or discipline, they grasped their muskets, and by their prompt obedience to every order, showed their willingness-all unprepared as they were-to face an enemy before whom veterans had often quailed. The bloodless campaigns of the militia may be a subject for playful satire, but in the strong arms and sturdy hearts of the yeomanry of the land, who spring to arms at the moment of danger, and when that danger has passed, cheerfully lay them down again, rests a sure guarantee for the peace and security of the country.
In Middletown two companies answered the call; one was:
THE MIDDLETOWN GUARDS.
On the 10th of September this company formed and organized; left here on the IIth, reaching Chambersburg on the 12th. Says the Dau- phin Journal: "A more courageous and enthusiastic set of men than this company represents never shouldered a musket, and although a number are quite young, their hearts are brimful of patriotism, and they
245
CHRONICLES OF MIDDLETOWN.
are the right kind of boys to make the rebels howl." They were dis- banded September 27th. (Some twenty of this company afterwards enlisted in volunteer regiments.)
Captain. Enoch S. Yentzer.
First Lieutenant. *Henry C. Raymond.
Second Lieutenant. Joseph H. Landis.
First Sergeant. *George H. Lenhart.
Hiram H. Parson, Franklin Smith,
Sergeants. *Nelson F. Wood, George W. Ettele.
Corporals.
Joseph K. Oren, Hamlet Murr,
John H. Shaeffer, Simon S. Campbell.
Musician. John R. Sonders.
Privates.
*Ackerman, Geo. W., *Antrim, Joseph H., * Arnold, James H., Brubaker, Henry M.,
Hawk, George W., Henry, Jacob,
Haggerty, John,
Irely, Samuel,
*Beaverson, David, Fishburn, John,
Irwin, George H.
Keller, John, Lynch, John,
*Fencil, George, Fortney, Christian, Fry, Webster W., Griffey, John, Hoffman, John, Hickernell, Wm. H., Hipple, James,
Leonard, David,
Moore, Matthew, McGinnis, John,
*Norton, Patrick F.,
*Orth, Abraham L., Peters, Simon C.,
*Dead.
246
CHRONICLES OF MIDDLETOWN.
*Poorman, Andrew J., Rodfong, George W., Rife, John W., Smith, John,
*Starr, William D.,
Vincent, David, Wentling, Orlando L., Winagle, Wm. F., Wilson, William I.,
*Wannemacher, John.
MIDDLETOWN CAVALRY.
Says the Dauphin Journal of Thursday, September 7, 1862: "This splendid and brave company, composed of our best and most enterpris- ing citizens, left for Harrisburg on Monday afternoon (14th), and re- ported themselves at headquarters, but to their disappointment were not accepted. They were, however, ordered to return and hold themselves ready to move whenever needed. The following is a roll of the men who reported themselves, but there are a number of others who would have joined in, could they have procured horses."
Captain. James Young.
First Lieutenant. Henry J. Meily.
Second Lieutenant. Jacob Landis. Quartermaster.
John Raymond.
Cornet. Henry Bumbach.
Barnet, John J. Books, Emanuel, Brown, D. P., Balsbaugh, Solomon, Croll, L. H., Croll, William A., Clark, Samuel H., Campbell, Joseph, Christ, George, Jr., Earisman, Elias,
Privates.
Eppler, John H., Etter, John, Eshenauer, Christian, Eves, Yetman, Ebersole, Isaac M.,
*Fisher, E. H., Hendrickson, William D., Ginse, William, Hinny, Henry, Hake, Daniel J.,
*Dead.
247
CHRONICLES OF MIDDLETOWN.
Harry, Louis,
Nisley, Joseph H.,
Jordan, Thomas,
Krumbine, J. S.,
Nisley, M. L., Peters, John,
Kauffman, B. S.,
*Rife, H. J., Strickler, Sol. N.,
*Kirlin, J. H.,
Stiner, William,
Laverty, J. D.,
Search, T. C.,
Lame, Rev. J. S., Lamberton, W. H.,
Swartz, Joseph W.,
Staub, John,
*Landis, Solomon,
Teghtmeyer, D. W.,
*Landis, Samuel,
Witherow, James P.,
*Martin, Wallace D.,
Weistling, J. W.,
McClure, William F.,
Weistling, B. J.,
McCreary, John,
Wilson, W. K.,
Nisley, Jacob L.,
Yingst, John,
Zeiters, Solomon.
LVI.
1863.
The triumph of the rebel army at Fredericksburg, in December, 1862, and the still more signal success on the field of Chancellorsville, in the beginning of May, 1863, emboldened the rebel leader to again plan the invasion of the North. June 15th a brigade under General Jenkins en- tered Chambersburg, Pa. On the 16th the rebel General Ewell, with part of his corps, crossed the Potomac at Williamsport, Md. On the 24th and 25th the main body of the rebel army crossed the Potomac at Shepherdstown and Williamsport. The excitement in Pennsylvania was intense, and particularly in that portion of the State immediately menaced, in the Cumberland Valley and along the Susquehanna. Forts were thrown up at different points, and rifle pits were dug to command the fords on the river. Detachments of the rebels attacked the militia on the 28th at Columbia, when the bridge was burned to prevent them crossing the river, and at Carlisle, when the town was shelled. But by this time couriers had reached the scattered detachments of the rebel army, which was menaced by the Army of the Potomac, and recalled them to Gettysburg, where on the Ist, 2nd and 3rd of July a decisive battle was fought, in which the rebel army was beaten and compelled to return to Virginia.
MIDDLETOWN HOME GUARDS.
Most of the young and able-bodied men of Middletown, were, as the previously published rolls testify, in the army ; but every remaining citi-
*Dead.
Kauffman, H. B.,
248
CHRONICLES OF MIDDLETOWN.
zen took up arms and organized themselves into "Home Guards." Two of the leading citizens, Henry Smith and Jacob Landis, went to the State Capitol and interviewed Governor Curtin. Two hundred and fifty muskets, and one thousand rounds of ammunition were secured from the State Arsenal, and three companies were organized.
List of names of Middletown Light Infantry, commanded by Captain B. W. Campbell :
First Lieutenant. J. H. Landis.
Second Lieutenant. D. W. Fisher.
First Sergeant. R. C. Lauman.
Second Sergeant. W. Siple.
Third Sergeant. R. I. Young.
Privates.
W. N. Barron, David James, *Theophilus Davis, * Joseph Antrim, *Paul Airgood,
J. Fishburn, John Beachler, Alpheus Long, J. H. Baker, Alex Campbell, Samuel Irely,
*R. H. Fairman, C. F. Snyder,
*Samuel Singer,
L. W. May,
W. C. Barr,
*Geo. Gottshall, Valentine Ruth, F. D. Ruth,
*G. H. Irwin, W. A. Snyder, John Rife,
*Daniel Laughman, Lewis D. Sheaffer, Simon Peters, Wm. Gottshall,
*O. L. Wieting,
*A. Atherton,
*A. E. Fairman,
*John Bair,
*Wm. Starr, Henry Jenkins,
*David Hickernell,
*Siras Books,
*Daniel Gottshall, Thos. McDevitt,
*Geo. W. Ackerman, J. H. Schaeffer, John Lynch, James Hipple,
*Dead.
249
CHRONICLES OF MIDDLETOWN.
Robert Hickernell,
Joseph Wilson,
Val. Brumbach,
J. R. Houser, John Whisler,
Jacob Davis, *P. R. Singer, Henry Schreiner, Wm. Peters,
Christian Flair,
Samuel Snyder,
John Griffee,
H. Brandt, Michael Brestle.
Of the second company, that commanded by Henry C. Raymond, I have no record.
The third numbered ninety men, whose muster roll is appended :
Captain. John W. Klineline.
First Lieutenant. Solomon Coover.
Second Lieutenant. Caleb Roe.
First Sergeant. H. C. Stehman.
Privates.
*Alleman, M. R., *Brestle, Michael, Brestle, Joseph, Books, Emanuel, Barnet, T. T., Bachmoyer, John, Baker, George, Beane, V. B., Barnes, G. W., Bowers, Christian, Campbell, Joseph, Calor, J. K., Cobaugh, George A., Cobaugh, J. H., Croll, L. H., Croll, W. A., *Croll, G. L., Croll, J. A., Christ, George,
Davis, Gabriel, Deckard, David, Deckard, L. L., *Ehrehart, Rev. C. J., Ebersole, Abraham, Ebersole, Isaac, Ettele, G. W.,
*Etter, G. W., Eirely, John,
*Eshenauer, C., Fisher, Christian,
.
*Fisher, W. B., Gamble, John, Gingerich, Elias, Guise, William, Hendrickson, W. D., Heinsling, John, Henry, Will, Heppich, John,
*Dead.
250
CHRONICLES OF MIDDLETOWN.
Hess, Jacob,
Noll, John,
Hawn, Jacob,
*Nonamacher, J. W.,
Hill, William A.,
*Peters, David, Podlich, A.,
Hoffman, John,
Hummel, Levi,
Rodfong, George,
Kendig, B. F.,
Roop, David,
Kleindopf, William,
Roop, John,
*Klink, Henry,
Ross, John T.,
Krumbine, J. S.,
Reitzell, John Z.,
Lauman, G. A., Laverty, J. D.,
*Shadt, Philip, Sinegar, Joseph,
*Lauman, F. M., Lessing, D. P.,
Shurger, John,
*Long, Dr. R. P.,
Strickler, Benjamin,
*Long, Augustus, Manning, Aaron, Meily, H. J.,
Strickler, G., Strickler, Solomon,
*McCammon, E. G., McClure, William F.,
Ulrich, John,
*Murphy, Robert,
Weistling, B. J.,
Nisley, Jacob L.,
*Weyl, Godfrey,
Nisley, Joseph H.,
Yingst, John,
Nisley, Martin L.,
Yost, George.
*Irwin, Philip,
The three companies guarded the river bank alternately, picketing and patrolling it from Middletown Ferry to below Buck Lock. The news of the victory at Gettysburg reached here on the evening of the 3rd of July, was received with the greatest joy, and the following day "The Fourth," was celebrated with unbounded enthusiasm.
LVII. ORDERS.
FREE MASONS.
It was early in the settlement of this section of the country that the history of organized Free Masonry commences. Three years after the Declaration of Independence, and seven before the formation of the Grand Lodge of Philadelphia, to wit: in 1779, Perseverance Lodge, No. 21, A. Y. M., was organized in Lower Paxton township, Lancaster county.
NOTE: For assistance in compiling these chronicles I am greatly indebted to William H. Hickernell. For books and papers I am under obligations to Jacob L. Nisley, G. A. Lauman, Mrs. J. W. Stofer, Mrs. Maria McCord, John Fratts,
Selser, Samuel,
*Laverty, Rev. D. A. L.,
Schurer, Frederick,
*Steinmetz, L. F., Teghtmoyer, J. L.,
251
CHRONICLES OF MIDDLETOWN.
PRINCE EDWIN LODGE.
In 1870 a meeting of Masonic brethren, members of different lodges, was held in Middletown, and after an interchange of opinion, it was resolved to make application to the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania for a warrant for a new lodge. The subjoined paper was prepared and signed, as follows :
MIDDLETOWN, Oct. 4, 1870.
We the undersigned Master Mastons, agree to withdraw from lodges of which we are now members, and join in the formation of a new lodge, to be located in Middletown, Dauphin county, Pa. :
Seymour Raymond,
Redsecker I. Young,
George H. Lenhart,
Joseph Campbell,
Daniel J. Hake,
Joseph H. Nisley,
Charles H. Zigler,
Delanson J. Young,
George A. Cobaugh,
Hiram B. Draucker,
James J. Hubley,
Jacob L. Nisley,
John A. Witman,
Thomas Montgomery,
Simon C. Peters,
James Young,
George M. Zigler,
Henry Ettele,
Ephraim B. Cobaugh,
Walter H. Kendig.
Henry J. Rife,
Those who signed made application to their respective lodges for cer- tificates of withdrawal, which were granted. They then made applica- tion to the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania, for a warrant of constitu- tion, empowering them to meet as a regular lodge at Middletown, to be called "Prince Edwin Lodge," recommending Brothers Joseph H. Nisley for first W. M., Brother Seymour Raymond for first S. W., and Brother George H. Lenhart for first J. W.
At the annual meeting of the Grand Lodge in Philadelphia, Decem- ber 27, A. D. 1870, the application was approved and the R. W. S. M., Robert E. Lamberton, designated Monday, March 27, A. D. 1871, as the time when the lodge should be constituted.
On the specified day Prince Edwin Lodge, No. 486, was solemnly consecrated and constituted by Robert A. Lamberton, R. W. G. M .; Samuel C. Perkins, R. W. D. G. M .; Alfred R. Potter, R. W. G. S. W .; Robert Clarke, R. W. G. J. W .; John Thompson, R. W. G. S., and a large number of other brethren.
and Jacob Rife, Jr. For valuable information I am indebted to Joseph A. Peters, Jacob Embich, Wm. Drabenstadt, John S. Fishburn, Jesse Mattis, Jacob Ridley, James Campbell, I. K. Longenecker, W. Stipe, David Snirk, Michael Stewart, Alex. Campbell, Hiram Parson, B. Shoch, V. Baumbach, H. Hippie, John L. Whisler, George H. Irwin, Jacob Landis and others.
[Each roll, being before published, was submitted to the survivors of the organ- ization referred to. If any errors have occurred it is owing to the interest mani- fested by those who, after being solicited, failed to aid in making them correct.]
252
CHRONICLES OF MIDDLETOWN.
The officers installed were: Joseph H. Nisley, W. M .; Seymour Raymond, S. W .; George H. Lenhart, J. W .; James Young, T .; Wal- ter Kendig, S.
ODD FELLOWS-TRIUNE LODGE, NO. 307.
This lodge, so called because it was made up of members from three lodges, viz: Nos. 60, 70 and 160, was started March 20, 1848, and in- stituted a few weeks later. The charter members were:
R. C. Bates,
John S. Boyd,
R. P. Long, Charles McLain,
C. W. Churchman,
John Raymond,
Joshua Fackler,
John Ringland,
John P. Farrington,
Mark Stauffer,
Frederick Fortney,
Thomas H. Totten,
James Hipple, +
George F. Witman,
Samuel Jenkins,
James Young,
John Zimmerman.
Its first officers were: John P. Farrington, N. G .; Frederick Fort- ney, V. G .; John Ringland, S .; Thomas H. Totten, A. S .; John Ray- mond, T.
The first meetings were held in the hall over Augustus Shott's store, (southwest corner Union and Ann streets). In 1852 the lodge removed to "Rambler's Hall" (northeast corner Union and Railroad).
From various causes the membership dwindled away and the lodge finally ceased to exist. It was reorganized in January, 1868, and char- tered February 15, 1868. The charter members were:
William Hinkle,
M. G. Cryder,
John Orendorf,
D. W. Miller,
M. Orendorf,
W. D. Starr,
Charles McLain,
John D. Peters,
Geo. F. Whitman,
David P. Lescure,
Charles H. Ziegler,
Geo. W. Farrington,
John. Lutz.
Its first officers were: Charles H. Ziegler, N. G .; M. G. Cryder, V. G .; G. W. Farrington, S .; John D. Peters, A. S .; Charles McLain, T.
In 1886 the lodge took into consideration the advisability of erecting a hall, and June 19th, a building committee was appointed. July 29th the lodge concluding to build, instructed the committee, consisting of seven members, viz: J. C. Lingle, A. J. Lerch, J. S. Keever, David A. Detweiler, Jacob S. Brandt, H. B. Campbell and Cyrus Stager, to com- mence operations on land owned by them at the northeast corner of Emaus and Catherine streets. ‘
253
CHRONICLES OF MIDDLETOWN.
Tuesday, September 21, 1886, the cornerstone was laid. It contains a small lot of United States scrip currency ; a copper tablet, inscribed with the names of the then President of the United States, Governor of Pennsylvania and acting officers of the lodge, and copies of the Middle- town Press and Journal.
The building, a handsome three-story brick, mansard roofed edifice, costing $7,000 was (July 2, 1887) completed.
UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS.
The Order of United American Mechanics, Middletown Council, No. 84, was organized May 22, 1848, by the judiciary committee of the State Council of Pennsylvania, viz:
Montgomery Carracher, Marietta, Pa .; Jacob S. Roath, Maytown, Pa .; A. H. Shott, Portsmouth, Pa. It met in Mrs. Meesy's frame building, on Main street, over the Nisley Brothers' hardware store. Its charter members were:
William De Witt,
Edmund S. Bargelt,
James Ringland, George Rodfong,
Elisha McCammon,
Hiram Pierce,
Henry D. Smith,
Le Rue Metzger,
Daniel Funk,
William Starr,
Benjamin Eby,
Alfred Putt,
William McClure,
Jeremiah Rohrer,
Jacob Strouse, Albert Kob,
Henry Lehman, Abraham Rife.
This council, which at one time counted among its members nearly two hundred citizens of Middletown, dissolved about 1861.
Golden Centre Council, No. 193, O. U. A. M., was organized Feb- ruary 15, 1869, and met in Rambler's Hall. The charter members were: Wm. H. Embick, Reuben Snavely, Ammon W. Beard, Abraham Rife, John J. Rife,
William Forney,
Edmund Lerch, George W. Ettele,
Geo. W. Eshenower,
Benjamin F. Bretz, A. Fralich,
John Heppich, C. J. Ramsey,
John Fishburn,
John E. Haak.
This council dissolved in 1876.
JR. O. U. A. M .- MIDDLETOWN COUNCIL, No. 156.
This council was organized August 17, 1875. The charter members were : C. N. Raymond, J. H. Keever, Jacob Dunkle,
Jos. Fishburn,
J. A. Ebersole,
Frank Winnagle,
254
CHRONICLES OF MIDDLETOWN.
Jos. Bollinger,
Wm. Garreth,
Jacob Earisman,
John Gephart,
F. P. Bailey, H. Diehm, H. W. Schurtz,
Frank Stipe,
W. Kurtz, Thomas Embick,
George Mansberger.
KNIGHTS OF PYTHIAS-MIDDLETOWN LODGE.
Middletown Lodge, No. 268, K. of P., was instituted October 5, 1870, with Jos. H. Nisley, J. H. Bletz, B. H. Benner, B. W. Sheaffer, W. F. McClure, H. C. Raymond, Geo. H. Koons, Augustus Rouch, Lewis Harry, W. T. Morehead, David W. Fisher, Frank Ziegler and Geo. M. Ziegler as charter members.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.