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 27
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The first officers were: Jos. H. Nisley, V. P .; J. H. Bletz, W. C .; B. H. Benner, V. C .; B. W. Sheaffer, R. C .; W. F. McClure, F. S .; H. C. Raymond, B .; Geo. H. Koons, G .; Augustus Rouch, I. S .; Lewis Harry, O. S.
On the night of institution thirty-three additional members were initiated. The lodge started out with one of the finest sets of para- phernalia in the State, although there were, at the time, 268 lodges un- der the control of the "Grand Jurisdiction of Pennsylvania." It was free from debt and its progress during the first few years of its exist- ence was satisfactory, but the financial depression existing all over the United States from 1873 to 1879, seriously affected it, and November I, 1876, the lodge surrendered its charter and became extinct.
In the latter part of the year 1884, A. J. Lerch, John W. Klineline and J. W. Bletz, having secured the names of fifty-two members, ap- plied for a new charter or the renewal of the old one. Their request was acceded to, and December 3rd of that year a new charter, retaining the old number of the lodge and containing the names of J. H. Bletz, P. C. Elberti, John W. Klineline, John Beachler, John H. Baker, A. J. Lerch, R. M. Zearing, E. Earisman, James Ralston, Eugene Walton, S. L. Yetter, D. C. Ulrich and Samuel Brandt as charter members, was granted. The lodge was reinstituted the same day, with the following officers : J. H. Bletz, P. C .; P. C. Elberti, C. C .; John W. Klineline, V. C .; John C. Beachler, M. at A .; A. J. Lerch, K. of R. and L .; R. M. Zearing, M. of F .; E. Earisman, M. of E .; James Ralston, I. G .; Eu- gene Walton, O. G .; trustees, S. L. Yetter, D. C. Ulrich, Samuel Brandt.
ANCIENT ORDER OF FORESTERS-COURT IVY.
Court Ivy, No. 6797, A. O. F., was instituted in Middletown, April 30, 1881, by William J. Carr, D. H. C. R., assisted by George Taylor, Robert Benson and S. E. Richardson, all of whom were members of Court Equality, No. 6359, at Mckeesport, Pa. The charter members were :
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CHRONICLES OF MIDDLETOWN.
J. Senor Keever,
S. S. Selser,
James Moore,
Donald McDonald,
Geo. W. Fisher, D. W. Smeltz, John Wood,
Wm. Gallagher, Scott Stevenson,
Joseph Rigby, J. Smith Keever,
D. A. Hatz,
M. Brestle,
C. A. Ebersole, George Graw, H. J. Miller,
S. L. Yetter,
J. W. Eshelman,
J. H. Keever,
Samuel Singer,
George J. Robson,
Wm. H. Bradbury,
Charles Fleming,
Henry Smith,
Jas. W. Bramwell,
Christ. Hershey,
John P. Siders,
W. H. Beane,
C. W. Britwinder,
F. E. Irwin,
D. A. Detwiler,
H. H. Shellenberger.
IMPROVED ORDER OF RED MEN-RED WING TRIBE, NO. 170, was instituted in Middletown, April II, 1872. It met at Rambler's Hall. Its first officers were: Prophet, P. C. Elberti; Sachem, Jacob Andrews ; Senior Sagamore, Henry Anthony; Junior Sagamore, S. H. Milligan ; Chief of Records, George H. McNeal; Keeper of Wampum, John H. Crown; Past Sachems, D. L. Stoud, P. C. Elberti. The charter mem- bers were:
F. A. Ziegler,
Daniel B. Snyder,
D. L. Stoud,
Reuben Snavely,
P. C. Elberti, Jacob Andrews,
John Irely,
Geo. H. McNeal,
S. H. Milligan,
John H. Crown,
B. F. Bretz,
John L. Whisler,
Samuel Mateer,
John L. Sheetz,
A. W. Beard,
Henry A. Anthony,
Jacob Schadt,
Nicholas Rehrer,
Jacob Brestle.
After an existence of over nine years the tribe finally disbanded, September 30, 1881.
ROYAL ARCANUM-SWATARA COUNCIL, NO. 949,
was organized in Middletown, February 1, 1886. The charter members were :
A. S. Matheson,
Arthur King,
John Croll, Edward Croll,
Leroy J. Wolfe,
J. H. Cobaugh, S. S. Clair, Elias Earisman, Alvan McNair, George S. Ettla,
Henry Shetters,
Robert Mitchell,
Ed. S. Cobaugh,
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W. L. Kauffman,
H. H. Shellenberger,
C. E. Pease,
J. H. Baker,
L. C. Keim,
J. W. Few.
Its first officers were: A. King, Regent; S. S. Clair, V. Regent; G. A. Lauman, Orator; W. L. Kauffman, Secretary; J. H. Cobaugh, Col- lector ; Geo. D. Russell, Treasurer; Dr. C. E. Pease, P. Regent; J. Jos. Campbell, Guide; A. McNair, Warden; L. C. Keim, Sentry; J. Croll, Chaplain.
IMPROVED ORDER OF HEPTASOPHS-MIDDLETOWN CONCLAVE, NO. 101, I. O. H.,
was organized in Middletown, June 6, 1885, with the following charter members :
W. H. Beane, M. D.,
E. S. Baker,
J. W. Rewalt,
L. C. Nisley,
C. W. Raymond,
A. S. Matheson,
Geo. S. Ettla,
Jas. H. Matheson,
Jacob R. Myers,
Martin Kendig,
H. H. Kline,
S. H. Ney,
C. A. Landis,
W. S. Fortney,
John A. Borland,
Leroy J. Wolfe,
John Hatz,
C. S. Roshon,
D. H. Bucher,
A. J. Lerch,
Rev. Maris Graves.
The conclave disbanded June 22, 1887.
KNIGHTS OF THE GOLDEN EAGLE-SUSQUEHANNA CASTLE, NO. 143.
The first preliminary meeting previous to organizing a castle in Mid- dletown was held in Smith's Hall, October 20, 1886. A. J. Lerch was made chairman, C. A. Landis, secretary, and John H. Baker, treasurer. October 27th sixty new members were admitted, and November 3rd eighteen more. On the evening of November Ioth forty-three of the members proceeded to Harrisburg and had the degrees conferred on them by Harmony Castle, No. 53, and November 17th the following charter officers were installed: P. C., W. M. Lauman; N. C., A. Lerch; V. C., J. Jos. Campbell; M. of R., C. A. Landis; C. of E., E. M. Ray- mond; K. of E., John H. Baker; S. H., John C. Buechler ; H. P., F. B. Hampton; V. H., G. W. Bowman; W. B., R. F. Dasher; W. C., W. F. Arnold; Ens., E. S. Baker; Esq., Jas. R. Ralston; First G., W. S. Evans; Second G., H. Dietrich; Trustees, W. M. Lauman, H. L. Rehrer, J. H. Longsdorf; Representative to Grand Lodge, W. M. Lauman.
G. A. R.
The Grand Army of the Republic, an order whose ranks have no source of supply outside of the rapidly diminishing number of those who
-
Union Hose House.
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CHRONICLES OF MIDDLETOWN.
fought side by side in the nation's struggle for existence, was founded by General Stevenson, of Illinois, assisted by a few companions who served with him.
POST No. 78.
Post No. 78, G. A. R., was instituted at Middletown, August 26, 1867, by Gov. John W. Geary. The charter is signed by Louis Wagner, Grand Commander, and James Given, Assistant Adjutant General. The charter members were:
Jacob Rohrer,
William D. Starr,
David Shirk,
Jacob Keller,
William H. Siple,
Daniel J. Boynton, Lewis Willson,
Joseph A. Peters,
James H. Stanley,
John H. Snyder,
William H. Embick, John Hogendobler,
George L. Hemperly, Samuel Snyder.
After an existence of two years the post disbanded in 1869.
WILLIAM STARR POST, NO. 78,
was reorganized by order of the Department Commander, by C. C. Hartline, May 28, 1877. The preliminary meeting was held under the trees on the lot where the new Lutheran Church now stands. The post was instituted in the Masonic Hall, on Ann street, June 22, 1877. The charter members were:
J. H. Stanley,
Jacob A. Embick,
David A. Stephens,
J. K. Meanig,
William Hampton,
Calvin Garrett,
J. H. Wampshire,
George F. Mish,
John Houser,
John K. Weaver,
William H. Spayd,
John S. Keever,
D. J. Boynton,
John L. Sheaffer.
The charter is signed by S. Irwin Given, Department Commander, and J. M. Vanderslice, Assistant Adjutant General.
LVIII.
MUSICAL ORGANIZATIONS.
THE MIDDLETOWN CORNET BAND.
This band was organized in 1855, as follows: Jeremiah Rohrer, Eb bugle; John Christ, Eb cornet; Valentine Dister (leader) Bb cornet ; Henry Smith, Bb cornet ; Joseph H. Nisley, alto; Henry J. Rife, tenor ; John McMurtrie, trombone; John Landis, tuba bass; Reuben Miller, tuba; Charles Allen, tenor sax horn; Frank Peebles, also sax horn;
17
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CHRONICLES OF MIDDLETOWN.
Abner Croll, bass sax horn; Thomas Humes, tenor drum; George Co- baugh, bass drum; Christian Fisher, cymbals. They met in Smith's Hall.
One incident connected with their history may be worth mention. They once proposed having a concert; it was to come off on a Monday night. Much to their disgust, a band from Harrisburg gave a perform- ance on the Saturday preceding. By an appeal to local pride many of the town's people were induced to remain away from this rival exhibi- tion, but those who did go, were enchanted with the skill of a certain youthful drummer, who accompanied the organization.
This rather disconcerted the Middletown band, who could offer no such attraction, but they resolved on securing his services themselves, and forthwith posted the town with bills, advertising, among other features, "The Infant Drummer." Unfortunately he could not be got. The boys were struck with consternation; it was too late to change the program; the town was excited over the reports of the performance of the aforesaid drummer, and a failure to produce him, would be attended with consequences too dire to contemplate. At the last moment a happy thought struck one of their number-a gleam of light shone o'er the troubled waves-he confided it to the others-it was a desperate ex- pedient, but they adopted it.
Night arrived; Smith's Hall was filled to suffocation; even the stair- ways were thronged, all anxious to see the youthful prodigy of whom they had heard such glowing accounts. At the appointed hour the cur- tain rose and the band commenced to play. In front of them, standing on a big drygoods box (as his celebrated predecessor had been), wear- ing a diminutive cap and a soldier coat several sizes too small, with a drum strapped in front of him, on which (with imperturable counte- nance), he accompanied his fellows, stood the colossal form of our genial friend, Abner Croll.
The audience stared spellbound for an instant, and then as the gigan- tic absurdity of the affair struck them, burst into a hurricane of ap- plause, hats were thrown up, handkerchiefs waved, and voices, canes, feet and hands made for several minutes a perfect pandemonium. It goes without saying, that Ab's expedient prevented a fiasco, and that the concert was a success.
This band, after an existence of eight years dissolved.
BAUMBACH'S BRASS BAND
was started in 1858. Its first members were :
Val. Baumbach,
W. Wechter,
Henry Baumbach,
John C. Beachler,
Guido Baumbach (leader), George McCauley,
Reuben Miller,
Jacob Landis,
Benj. Ashenfelter, George Horn,
Felix B. Schraedley, John Embich,
James P. Hipple.
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CHRONICLES OF MIDDLETOWN.
They applied for a charter October 24, 1868, and were incorporated December 3rd of that year, under the title of the "Original Harmonic Band of Middletown." The charter members were:
Wm. H. Duhling, Nathaniel Baker, Stewart McCord, John C. Beachler,
F. B. Schraedley,
Adam Baumbach,
Guido Baumbach,
Jacob Embich,
William Condran,
Val. Baumbach,
William Forney,
James Hipple,
J. A. Peters.
In 1875 the title was changed to "Liberty Band," Valentine Baum- bach (leader) Eb cornet; John Preston, solo Bb cornet; Elmer Shoop, Eb cornet; Henry Baumbach, first Bb cornet; Charles Baumbach, sec- ond Bb cornet ; John Selser, third Bb cornet; Henry V. Baumbach, Eb clarionet; Guido Baumbach, solo Bb clarionet; William J. Tighe (mu- sical director), first Bb clarionet; William Wallace, first Bb clarionet ; John S. Gates, solo alto; Geary Mathias, first alto; John Hipple, sec- ond alto; Samuel Davis, third alto; John Leiby, trombone; R. W. Mowry, trombone; Frank Davis, first tenor; George Neiman, second tenor ; John Hatfield, baritone; David Giberson, first bass; Scott Sides, second bass; Harry Draugher, bass drum; Perry Hipple, snare drum; John Stevenson, snare drum; Charles Houser, drum major.
THE JUNIOR MECHANICS' BAND
owes its inception to George Bowman. He, being a member of Middle- town Council, Jr. O. U. A. M., fancied that there was enough musical talent in the council to start a band. April 5, 1884, he broached the idea to some of his friends, they embraced the suggestion with enthusiasm, and on the IIth of the month the band was organized.
CHORAL ASSOCIATION.
This organization, comprising about thirty members, was formed in 1874, and met in Smith's Hall, Abner Croll, leader; George L. Fisher, pianist. They gave several concerts, the last one at Smith's hall, in 1878. The society soon afterwards dissolved.
GATES' ORCHESTRA
was formed in 1875. The members were: John L. Gates, first violin ; Valentine Baumbach, second violin and, clarionette; Guido Baumbach, bass viol; Henry Baumbach, trombone.
NORTH WARD BAND
met at Jacob Hatz's residence (southeast corner of Race and Main streets), July 4, 1876, and organized as follows: H. D. Dasher, Presi- dent; W. A. Howdenshall, Vice-President; Henry Hatz, Treasurer;
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CHRONICLES OF MIDDLETOWN.
Members.
John Aungst,
John Hatz,
James Billet,
David Hatz,
H. D. Dasher,
John Keener,
Samuel Davis,
Jacob Kleindopf,
George Eshenauer,
Martin McNeal,
F. Eshenauer,
C. J. Sinnegar,
W. A. Howdenshall,
Henry Hatz,
J. L. Sinnegar, Samuel Selser.
They received and paid for their instruments, August 1, 1876. Their teacher was Felix B. Schraedley. They disbanded in 1879.
COLORED BAND.
This band was organized in 1882 by Samuel Stanton and Samuel Harley, with the following members :
S. Harley (leader), William Harley, Sr.,
Jonathan Shultz,
George Stanton,
James Davis,
Christian Stanton,
Louis Harley,
Levi Contee,
William Harley, Jr.,
Samuel Stanton,
Enos Banks,
James Moore, James Clark,
Thomas Dorsey,
John Only.
LOMBARDI PARLOR ORCHESTRA.
August 19th, 1885, a social club consisting of thirteen boys was formed, and styled the "Lombardi Club." On the 26th of November following, four of its members in connection with a few of their friends, formed the musical organization known as the Lombardi Parlor Or- chestra. Its construction was: Miss Mame Landis, first violin ; Miss Sue S. Campbell, first violin; Luther Nisley, first violin; Eugene Lav- erty, second violin; Edward L. Croll, flute; George S. Mish, flute; Christ. G. Nissley, cornet; Grant Shirk, trombone; Miss Rebecca Croll, Miss Jennie Laverty, accompanists.
THE ARION GLEE CLUB.
Instituted in 1884. The members were: I. O. Nissley, first tenor ; William Keever, second tenor; A. H. Reider, first bass; George Kline- line, second bass.
POLYHYMNIA.
January 26, 1886, a party of fifty-four young people met in the Pres- byterian Church and organized as a musical association, with L. H. Park, leader; G. L. Fisher, pianist, and J. H. Baxtresser, business man-
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CHRONICLES OF MIDDLETOWN.
ager. A committee consisting of L. H. Park, I. O. Nissley and William Keever was appointed to select a place for holding meetings.
February 8th, the High School building having been secured, the so- ciety, now numbering sixty-two, met there and at the suggestion of Professor Fisher adopted the name "Polyhymnia."
May 7th, gave a concert at the Opera House. Receipts, $45.25.
October 7th, after the summer vacation, the society reorganized with forty-six members.
January 6, 1887, J. H. Baxtresser resigned and A. H. Reider was elected in his stead.
February 4th, assisted by the Liberty Band, gave a concert in aid of workmen who lost tools at the destruction of the Middletown Car Works. Receipts, $148.50. May 13th, seventy members gave a con- cert in the Opera House to invited guests and adjourned for the sum- mer.
ALMOND'S ORCHESTRA.
Started in 1886. Its members were: M. J. Almond (leader), first violin; Henry Baumbach, clarionette; W. T. Harley, second violin ; Charles Neiman, first cornet; Charles Baumbach, second cornet ; John Leiby, trombone; Guido Baumbach, bass viol.
LIX.
THE MIDDLETOWN CEMETERY
is at the northern extension of Union street, on the brow of a hill over- looking a wide extent of country. The corporation controlling it was chartered August, 1855, and until Portsmouth was consolidated with the borough, was known as the "Middletown Cemetery Association."
The petition for its establishment represents that the subscribers have associated themselves together and purchased eight acres of land in the vicinity of Middletown, for the purpose of converting the same into a cemetery, and desire that they may be incorporated under the title afore- said, &c. The signers to the petition were :
Joseph Ross, Archibald Wieting,
Philip Zimmerman, George Rodfong, Christian Fisher,
Daniel Kendig, Brua Cameron, J. Croll, Philip Irwin,
John Jos. Walborn,
Joshua Heppich,
John Landis,
James Young,
John Monaghan,
Raymond & Kendig,
Jacob L. Nisley,
Adolphus Fisher, George Crist,
E. J. Ramsey, J. S. Watson,
John Care.
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October Ist the association organized under their charter and elected Joseph Ross, president, and John S. Watson, George Crist, E. J. Ram- sey, James Young and Adolphus Fisher, managers.
October 2Ist the cemetery was dedicated and a large concourse of people attended. A hymn, composed for the occasion, was sung, after which prayer was offered by Rev. Benjamin Sadtler; a chapter from the Bible was read by Rev. E. H. Thomas; Rev. J. Winebrenner delivered an address, and the ceremonies concluded with prayer by Rev. Valen- tine Gray.
The first interment (in April, 1855) was that of D. F. Boynton, a child of D. J. Boynton ; the first adult (also in April) was James Ring- land, a brother of Dr. John Ringland.
In the spring of 1886, James Young donated to the association a tract of land north of and adjoining the cemetery, containing about one and one-half acres.
At the left of the main entrance stands the neat building occupied by the superintendent. The grounds are surrounded by a high pale fence, are tastefully laid out, most of the lots being enclosed either by iron rail- ings or stone curbs, and decorated with flowers and shrubbery. There are many handsome monuments and tombstones, and broad, smooth, neatly graveled walks and carriageways give access to every portion of the cemetery.
The officers of the association from its organization to 1887 have been :
Presidents-Joseph Ross, Dr. Mercer Brown, Adolphus Fisher, John Hendrickson, Joseph H. Nisley.
Secretaries-John Monaghan, Dr. John Ringland.
Treasurers-Daniel Kendig, D. W. Stehman, W. A. Croll.
Superintendents of Cemetery-Daniel Lehman, George Houser, John W. Parker, David L. Smith.
Included in the list of interments are those of many soldiers, some nineteen of whom were in the war of 1812, and one (Colonel Burd), served prior to the Revolution. There are many other soldiers' graves in the old forsaken burying grounds of the town. Men who fought in all the wars of the republic lie here; but most of their resting places being unmarked the location thereof is forgotten.
BANKS.
THE NATIONAL BANK OF MIDDLETOWN
was organized May 12, 1832, and was called the "Bank of Middletown." In 1864 it was changed into a National Bank. Its first president was Benjamin Jordan, who held this position from 1832 tilll 1841. He was succeeded by Dr. Mercer Brown, and he in turn, in 1854, by George Smuller. Mr. Smuller died in 1882, and J. Donald Cameron was chosen president, Seymour Raymond, vice-president, and Daniel W. Stehman,
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CHRONICLES OF MIDDLETOWN.
cashier. Gen. Simon Cameron was cashier from 1832 to 1850, when his son, J. Donald Cameron (United States Senator), succeeded him. The first teller of the bank was John Croll, whose successor was John Mona- ghan, in 1856. Mr. Monaghan died in 1869, and was succeeded by Dan- iel W. Stehman, who held the office until he was elected cashier, and H. C. Stehman, teller. J. C. Bomberger, afterwards owner of the Me- chanics' Bank, at Harrisburg, was some years earlier assistant teller in this bank. The bank finally closed its doors September 10, 1894.
THE FARMERS' BANK
was organized March 27, 1882, in Col. James Young's office on South Union street, with the following board of directors, viz: B. S. Peters, A. Dissinger, James Young, J. L. Longenecker, V. C. Coolbaugh, M. G. Keller and J. W. Rife. B. S. Peters was elected president, Lee H. Niss- ley, cashier, and A. H. Reider, teller. The bank was chartered April 12, 1882, with a capital stock of $50,000. The bank remained in this build- ing until July 6, 1899, when, having purchased the building formerly oc- cupied by the First National Bank, at the corner of Union and Emaus streets, they moved there. In July, 1894, A. H. Reider was elected cashier, and M. H. Gingerich, teller. The bank has had a successful and prosperous career, capital remaining the same, with surplus and indi- vidual profits at the present time (1905) of over $80,000. It was for many years the only bank in town.
THE CITIZENS' NATIONAL BANK.
Stockholders of the Citizens' National Bank met in the Young Men's Christian Association parlors on North Union street, April 26, 1905, and elected the following board of directors, viz: J. W. Rewalt, Dr. D. W. C. Laverty, W. R. Fisher, C. F. Beard, H. R. Saul, H. S. Roth, Josiah Foltz, C. M. Foltz and H. W. Bausman. The board organized May 2, 1905, by electing J. W. Rewalt, president; H. S. Roth, vice-president ; Harry A. Bell, cashier, and Abraham Geyer, teller. It was chartered July 8, 1905, and immediately commenced the erection of a bank build- ing on North Union street, north of the Philadelphia & Reading Rail- road passenger station. Upon the completion of this edifice, Novem- ber 1, 1905, the bank commenced business.
NEWSPAPERS.
The Middletown Argus was the first newspaper printed in town, and was established in 1834, by a Mr. Wilson. It was an independent and family journal. Mr. Wilson did the editorial work and his wife helped to set the type. The office was located on Main street, east of Pine street. It was discontinued in 1835.
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CHRONICLES OF MIDDLETOWN.
The Middletown Emporium was established in 1850, by William Hemlock. It was printed as the corner of Pine and Main streets, and after being published for a year and a half, stopped.
The Central Engine was published here in 1851 and 1852, by H. S. Fisher, but the material was purchased and the paper merged into the Swatara Gem, in July 1853, by J. W. Stofer. This was a sheet of four pages and five columns to a page. In August, 1854, Mr. Stofer enlarged it to six columns and printed it on a sheet twenty-two by thirty-three inches. In August, 1856, he sold the paper and office to Benjamin Whitman, who retaining its size, changed its name to The Dauphin Journal. In September, 1856, a co-partnership was formed between Messrs. Whitman and Stofer and they continued to publish the paper jointly, enlarging and changing it to a quarto form. In January, 1857, Mr. Whitman retired, and J. W. Stofer became again the sole pro- prietor. In November, 1870, the paper was enlarged to seven columns, and printed on a sheet twenty-four by thirty-eight inches, the title be- ing changed to the Middletown Journal. In 1885 it was purchased by A. L. Etter and a few weeks later was enlarged to a 30x44 sheet, being changed to an eight volume quarto. On December 1, 1890, Mr. Etter commenced the publication of a Daily Journal in addition to the weekly.
The Middletown Press, an eight-column newspaper of four pages, was established July 16, 1881, by J. R. Hoffer. Its editor was J. E. Hof- fer. On March 28, 1882, the paper was sold to I. O. Nissley, who en- larged and still conducts it.
LX.
BIOGRAPHICAL.
COLONEL JAMES YOUNG.
One of the remarkable men connected with Middletown's history was Col. James Young, who was born at Swatara Hill, near Middletown, July 25, 1820, and died May 4, 1895.
His ancestors acted somewhat prominently in pre-Revolutionary times, and during that conflict. His father was born in Berks county, Pa., in 178I, and from 1820 to 1834 kept the stage house at Swatara Hill. In 1835 he took charge of the Washington House, corner of Union and Ann streets. James received a common school education and then helped his father in the hotel. The little money that he earned he saved until he
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CHRONICLES OF MIDDLETOWN.
had an opportunity to invest it. The first hundred dollars he made he purchased a horse and ran a hack between Middletown and Hummels- town. Soon after he was the owner of two horses and a hack, which he used in the transportation of passengers and freight between the points named.
After acquiring several hundred dollars he went to Dickinson Col- lege and applied for admission as a student, but finding that it would take much more than he possessed to graduate, he soon left and re- turned to his father.
At the age of nineteen he invested his savings in a canal boat, and took charge thereof, running for nearly a year between Hollidaysburg and Philadelphia. He then opened a lumber yard in town, to which he soon after added a coal yard.
About this time Gen. Simon Cameron* interested himself in him and made him a director in his bank. He remained in this capacity for over thirty years.
Seeing opportunities for profit in railroad building, which was then active, he took contracts for furnishing supplies to the Pennsylvania Railroad and did a large business. For eight successive years he fur- nished all the ties and wood used by that road between Harrisburg and Philadelphia. He also furnished the wood and ties for the Northern Central Railway for ten years, before and during the Civil War. When a second track was laid on the latter road he contracted for a portion of it and was engaged in it for years, having given up the lumber and coal business, in which he had been very successful.
In 1859, he purchased a valuable limestone quarry at Leaman Place, Lancaster county, and from it, for twenty-five years, supplied a large part of the stone for building the bridges and abutments of the Penn- sylvania Railroad. This also yielded him a handsome revenue.
These are but a few of the enterprises in which Mr. Young engaged, until from the small sum which he had gained by his own efforts, he became the possessor of large wealth. He was emphatically one of the self-made men of this country, having been the architect of his own for- tune.
In 1858 he purchased a farm of about two hundred acres, near Mid- dletown. To this tract he kept adding, year after year, until his farm- ing property exceeded fourteen hundred acres, exclusive of 400 acres of pasture land, known as the "Round Top."
His main farming tracts comprised land formerly occupied by thirteen farms, and agricultural experts deemed it one of the finest bodies of cultivated land in America.
He also paid great attention to the breeding of cattle, and his herd of Jersey cows was reported to be one of the finest known. Said one his- torian: "Perhaps nowhere in the United States are to be found a series
*Gen. Simon Cameron resided here for over twenty years, and here his son Donald, was born.
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CHRONICLES OF MIDDLETOWN.
of farms which, for all that represents farming in the highest order, in every detail, equal those located near the borough of Middletown, Pa., and owned by Col. James Young, of that place."
Visitors from all over the country, from even the most remote States and Territories of the Union, Presidents of the United States, Gov- ernors of States and distinguished men from almost every walk of life, in this country, and from the nobility of Europe, were frequent and ad- miring observers. Among those who have visited these farms are the Duke of Sutherland, Gen. Simon Cameron, Major Luther Bent, of Steel- ton; Frank Thompson, First Vice-President of the Pennsylvania Rail- road; Charles Pugh, General Manager, and a number of leading English stockholders in the same road; Hon. Salmon P. Chase, Chief Justice of the United States; Andrew Carnegie, Henry G. Phipps and Edward G. Bailey, members of the firm of Carnegie, Phipps & Co., of Pittsburg, Pa .; General U. S. Grant, James D. Allen and Eugene De Zellenkoff, English and Russian Commissioners to the Centennial Exposition; Mr. Congosto, Consul from Spain; Mr. Coleman, editor of the London Field. (These last four gentlemen, some instructed by their govern- ments, others voluntarily, wrote on their return home, elaborate articles describing these farms, the high standard attained and excellent man- agement.) W. D. Garrison, of Litchfield, England; Maj. Gen. W. S. Hancock, Joseph R. Greatorex, William H. Cheetham, Arthur W. Hut- ton (the latter three from England), delegates to the world's conven- tion of stenographers; the Supreme Judges of Pennsylvania, and many others too numerous to mention, who were surprised to find them under the management of a man who had received no educational advantages, who was a novice in the beginning, and nevertheless the high position he occupied as a farmer was remarkable. They could not understand how a man who was identified with several of the largest enterprises in the country, could at the same time find opportunity to build up a sys- tem of farm operations that was admired and appreciated by the lead- ing people of the civilized world.
Colonel Young was President of the American Tube & Iron Com- pany, a director in the Lochiel Rolling Mill Company, a director, for over thirty-three years, in the Harrisburg, Portsmouth, Mount Joy & Lancaster Railroad Company, director (and organizer) of the Farmers' Bank, Middletown; of the First National Bank, Steelton; Merchants' National Bank, Harrisburg; President of the Cameron Furnace Com- pany, a stockholder in the Pennsylvania Steel Works, a director of the Lancaster City Electric Railroad, of the Harrisburg, Steelton & Middle- town Electric Railroad, and a member of the State Board of Agricul- ture.
That he was a man of great executive ability is obvious. Stern and inflexible in guarding his business interests, he was, nevertheless, a man of generous heart and marked public spirit, freely aiding the really de- serving, and never withholding liberal support to promising enterprises conducted by capable men.
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