USA > Pennsylvania > Adams County > The history and topography of Dauphin, Cumberland, Franklin, Bedford, Adams, and Perry counties [Pennsylvania] > Part 21
USA > Pennsylvania > Bedford County > The history and topography of Dauphin, Cumberland, Franklin, Bedford, Adams, and Perry counties [Pennsylvania] > Part 21
USA > Pennsylvania > Cumberland County > The history and topography of Dauphin, Cumberland, Franklin, Bedford, Adams, and Perry counties [Pennsylvania] > Part 21
USA > Pennsylvania > Dauphin County > The history and topography of Dauphin, Cumberland, Franklin, Bedford, Adams, and Perry counties [Pennsylvania] > Part 21
USA > Pennsylvania > Franklin County > The history and topography of Dauphin, Cumberland, Franklin, Bedford, Adams, and Perry counties [Pennsylvania] > Part 21
USA > Pennsylvania > Perry County > The history and topography of Dauphin, Cumberland, Franklin, Bedford, Adams, and Perry counties [Pennsylvania] > Part 21
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Fishing creek rises near Smith's Gap, in the Blue moun- tain, flows south west between that mountain and the Second mountain, about ten miles into the Susquehanna, at McCal- lister's.
Paxton creek rises in Lower Paxton township, at the base of the Blue mountain four miles north of Linglestown,
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HISTORY OF DAUPHIN COUNTY.
whence it receives several branches, and flows west into the centre of Susquehannah township, thence running south, it passes the borough of Harrisburg, into Swatara township, and unites with the Susquehanna two miles below the bor- ough. It turns three or four mills before it enters the first alluvial flats.
Spring creek rises in Lower Paxton township, flows south into Susquehanna township, thence running south west through Swatara township, it falls into the Susquehanna about one third of a mile below the mouth of Paxton creek. It turns several mills.
Swatara creek rises in Schuylkill county on the south side of the Broad mountain, in its course towards its recipient it receives the Little Swatara, Quitopahilla creek, and many small streams, before it enters Dauphin county ; in its course through this county, for a distance of eighteen or twenty miles, it receives, on the north, Bow run, Manady creek, Yellow run, Beaver creek and several smaller streams; on the south, Spring creek, L. Mine run and other small streams. It falls into the Susquehanna river at Portsmouth. Its com- parative course is between fifty and sixty miles. The valley of this stream, as far as the Quitopahilla, forms the channel of the Union canal.
Bow run rises in West Hanover township, about two miles north west of Hanover church, flows south, about six miles, and falls into Swatara creek, affording water to one or two grist mills.
Manady creek rises north of the Blue mountain ; its east branch rises in Lebanon county; its west branch near the Second mountain, a few miles north of Smith's gap-the two branches unite and pass through Manady gap, and the creek in its course south through West Hanover township, receives Walnut run on the west, and several small streams on the east, and falls into the Swatara. It is a good mill stream. Its entire course is about thirteen miles.
Yellow run is a small stream that rises in a southern part of West Hanover, and flows south into the Swatara ..
Beaver creek rises on the south side of the Blue mountain, and about a mile west of Smith's gap; flowing a southern di- rection, it receives in a course of ten miles, ten or twelve small tributaries. It falls into the Swatara, a few miles west of Hummelstown.
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HISTORY OF DAUPHIN COUNTY.
Spring creek (there are two streams of this name in this county) rises in Londonderry township, Lebanon county, en- ters Londonderry of this county, flows a northwestern course through the township, and falls into the Swatara. It is not more than five miles long, but has several mills and a forge on it.
L. Mine run rises near the " Round Top," in Derry town- ship, and empties into the Swatara.
Conewago creeic rises in Londonderry township, Lebanon county, and flows southwest along the north base of the Co- newago hills to the Susquehanna river, at the village of Fal- mouth, Lancaster, forming the boundary between Lancaster and Dauphin counties, having a course of about twenty-two miles.
These streams afford abundant water power to mills, &c., viz. : to some thirty flouring mills, forty grist mills, between seventy and eighty saw mills, clover mills, forges, furnaces, &c., &c.
The public improvements, such as canals, railroads and turnpike roads, passing through this county in various direc- tions are numerous. 'The Union canal, made by a company, which was incorporated in 1-11, passes through this county, following the Swatara creek for a distance of twenty miles, and connects with the state canal at Portsmouth, on the Sus- quehanna.
The Pennsylvania canal extends along the Susquehanna river from the southern extremity of this couty to Duncan's island, sixteen miles above Harrisburg, where it crosses the river. The Wisconisco canal, commenced a few years ago, abandoned for a short time, but now drawing towards com- pletion, extends from Clark's ferry to Millersburg, at the mouth of Wisconisco creek, a distance of twelve miles .- This canal when completed will afford great facilities to transport the immense quantities of coals from the northern portion of the county.
The Lyken's valley rail road, a single track of flat rails, is for the transportation of coal from the mines at Bear gap to the Susquehanna at Millersburg, a distance of sixteen miles.
The Williams valley road, it is anticipated, will, before many years be in operation.
The Harrisburg and Lancaster rail road extends from
19*
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HISTORY OF DAUPHIN COUNTY.
Harrisburg to Dillerville, near Lancaster city, where it con- nects with the Philadelphia and Columbia rail road. The Cumberland valley railroad, crossing the Susquehanna river, passes through the borough of Harrisburg and connects with the Harrisburg and Lancaster rail road.
There are turnpike roads leading from Harrisburg in vari- ous directions; three leading from the Capitol to Philadel- phia; one by way of Reading; one by way of Ephrata and Downingstown ; one through the city of Lancaster. There are two turnpikes from Harrisburg to Pittsburg ; one by the southern route through Carlisle ; the other by the northern route, up the Susquehanna, crossing at Duncan's island, thence up the Juniata, &c. There is also a turnpike road from Harrisburg to Baltimore, through Middletown and York. Another to York, down the west side of the Susque- hanna. These, and the common roads, with some exceptions, are kept in good order.
Several fine bridges extend. across the Susquehanna and other streams of the county. Two at Harrisburg ; the one built in 1812 to 1817, by a company, in which the State was a stockholder to the amount of $90,000, but since sold her interest. The bridge and toll houses cost $192,138.00 .- See Article Harrisburg for an interesting sketch of this bridge.
The other erected by the Cumberland Valley Railroad Company ; at a cost of $95,000.00, was destroyed by fire in December 1844; but is now (September 1845) rebuilding, and it is anticipated to be passable by August 1846.
The third is at Duncan's island or Clark's ferry, built by the State, having a tow path attached to the south side for the purpose of drawing canal boats across the river at that place.
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CHAPTER XVII.
. DAUPHIN COUNTY-HARRIS SETTLED AT PEIXTAN OR PESH- TANK, &c.
John Harris settled at Peixtan --- Indian towns -- Gov. Evans and others at Peixtan, in 1707, and apprehend one Nicole --- Harris traded exten- sively with the Indians --- Harris paid attention to agriculture. Ac- cording to tradition, some Indians attempted to burn the elder Har" ris. Harris attempted to improve lands at Choniata --- Harris died, 1748 --- The! Penn's made Harris an offer for a large tract of land --- Anecdotes of Esther Harris --- Incident illustrative of the Indian char- acter -- Harris's Ferry a celebrated place --- Harris an active patriot --- Bears seen in the river near Harrisburg by Robert Harris, now liv- ing --- Wild turkeys abundant about Harris's in 1777-1785 --- Indians encamped near Elder's mill --- Harrisburg sickly in 1793 -- Landis's mill the cause of it --- Mill-dam removed ; mill purchased, &c .--- Gray- don, in his memoirs, alludes to the sickness that prevailed -- Old hou- ses --- Rev. Montgomery --- Chief Justice Mckean --- General Washing- ton's head quarters in 1794 --- Extract from the court Records --- Names of the first jury --- Harris's Ferry changed to Lewisburg --- Seat of gov- ernment, &c .--- Miscellaneous facts, &c., &c.
The first settlement, within the limits of Dauphin, chiefly consisted of emigrants from the north of Ireland and Scot- land, who commenced the improvement of farms prior to 1719 or 1720; for, it is evident, from authentic sources, that the Presbyterians organized the Paxton church and Derry church in 1720 .* If tradition may, in this case, be relied on, John Harris, a native Yorkshire, who, it is said, was the first set- tler of the Conewago hills, must have commenced a settlement at or near the present site of Harrisburg, prior to 1719.
The following, from the pen of George Washington, Har- ris, Esq., a great-grand-son of John Harris of Yorkshire, appeared a few years ago in " Mr. Napey's Harrisburg Bu-
* See Harrisburg. Presbyterian church, infra.
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HISTORY OF DAUPHIN COUNTY.
siness Directory, to which some intercalated and foot notes are added.
" The first John Harris is said to have been a native of Yorkshire, England. He was a middle aged man when he immigrated to America, and he first settled in Philadelphia. He was there married to Esther Say, an English lady, and who was a woman of rather extraordinary energy and capa- city.
They first moved to Chester county; thence to, or near the mouth of Conoy creek, on the Susquehanna, about the present site of Bainbridge, in Lancaster county, and finally to the present site of Harrisburg. At this place was born, about the year 1726, his son, John Harris, the founder of Harrisburg, and who, it is said, to have been " the first white child born in Pennsylvania, west of the Conewago hills."
About the time of the settlement of John Harris, at (Peix- tan) Harrisburg, Indian Towns were existing near to Squire Will's stone house, (in Cumberland county) opposite Harris- burg, and at the mouth of the Conedoguinnett and Yellow Breeches creeks. There had been one on the low ground on the river, about the lower line of Harrisburg, and another at the mouth of Paxton creek. These two last are supposed to have been abandoned at the time of making his settlement. The Indians, who resided in this neighborhood, were of the Six Nations ;* and, it is said, that at one time, by firing a
* Six Nations. Passing by the traditions touching the former resi- dence of the several Indian Nations. prior to their "Union," I would remark, that the great western confederacy of Indian Nations, has gen- erally been styled by the French, Iroquois, ( Les Iroquois sont partager en cing cantons, scavoir les Tsonontouans, les Goyogoans, les Onnotagues, les Ono- yants, et les Agnies), generally at first called "The Five Nations," afterward " The Six Nations."
The MOHAWKS are said to be the oldest of the confederacy, and that the Onoyants, or Oneidas, joined first with the Mohawks ; the Onnota- gues," or Onondagos were the next; then the Tsonontuans, or Senecas, (Sinkers ;) then the Goyogoans, or Cayugas. The Tuscaroras, from Ca- rolina, placed themselves under the protection of the Five Nations, in 1713 or 1714, but were not formally admitted till above 1722 or 1723. The Six Nations called themselves by the name of Aquanuschioni, i. e. " United People."
The Shawanese, who lived on the West Branch of the Susquehanna and in Cumberland county, were not of the confederacy, but were call- ed brothers by them; nevertheless, they looked upon them as infe- riors. They occupied, says Drake, before the French wars, a great extent of country, some of their towns being eighty miles asunder.
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HISTORY OF DAUPHIN COUNTY.
gun, six or seven hundred warriors could be assembled at the present site of Harrisburg.
The Indian village was called Peixtan, as appears from the following extract from the Provincial Records. And from it, we also learn, that the Honorable John Evans, Esq. Lieu- tenans Governor of the Province of Pennsylvania, accompa- nied by Messrs. John French, William Tonge, Michel Be- zaillion, one Mr. Grey, and four servants, visited Peixtan, in June, 1707.
On Tuesday, the 1st July, 1707, we went to Conestogo and lay there that night, and the next morning proceeded on our journey, and arrived in the evening within three miles of an Indian village, called Peixtan. The governor had recei- ved information at Pequehan, that one Nicole, a French In- dian trader, was at that place, against whom great complaints had been made to the governor, of which he acquainted the Chief Indian at Peixtan, as also of his design to seize him ; who willingly agreed to it ; but advised the governor to be ve- ry cautious in the manner : there being only young people at home, who, perhaps might make some resistance, if it were done without their being first told of it; for this reason we lay short of the village that night ; but early in the morn- ing, we went within a half a mile of the town, and leaving our horses, marched a foot near the same ; from whence the governor sent Martine to the village; ordering him to tell Nicole that he had brought two caggs of rum with him, which he had left in the woods, for fear any christians were there ; and withal to persuade Nicole to go with him and taste the rum. Martine returned with James Letort and Joseph Jessop, two Indian traders, but could not prevail with Nicole; upon which Martine was sent back, with or- ders to bring down some Indians, and Nicole with them- then we drew nearer to town, and laid ourselves in the bushes, and Martine returned with two Indians, whom the governor acquainted with his intent of taking Nicole, telling at the same time, he had spoken with the uncle of one of them upon that head, who ordered the Indians to submit to the governor's commands, with which they were contented, tho' we perceived too well the contrary, by their inquiring how many we were, and how armed; and the concern they seemed to be in, when they found we were more men in num- ber than they : but still Nicole was wanting ; it was there-
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HISTORY OF DAUPHIN COUNTY.
tore, resolved to try once more if he could be got into the woods; accordingly Martine went again to the place and brought Nicole where we lay conclealed, and asking him to drink a dram, he seized him; but Nicole started from him, and run for it, when immediately we started out and took him, and presently carried him to the village (Peixtan) through which we were obliged to pass; and there we found some Indians, with guns in their hands, who looked much displeased at what we had done; but being in readiness against any surprise, they thought it not fit to attempt any thing. Here we staid about half an hour, and then parted for Turpyhocken-having mounted Nicole on a horse, and tied his legs under the belly, we got within a mile of Turpy- hocken at about two of the clock. On Friday morning, about seven, the governor went to the town, from thence we went to Manatawny that night, and the next day to Phila- delphia .- Colonial Records, ii. p. 404, '5.
"John Harris fixed his habitation on the bank of the river, below the grave yard, and he dug the well now existing there . About twenty years ago the cellar of one of his buildings was visible. He traded extensively with the Indians, and had connected with his house, a large range of sheds, which were sometimes literally filled with skins and furs, mostly ob- tained by him in traffic with the Indians, and stored there by ths Indian traders, who brought them from the western country. These skins and furs were carried, at an early day, on pack horses to Philadelphia. John Harris experienced much difficulty at his first settlement, as his supplies could not be had nearer than Philadelphia, and had thence to be transported on pack horses to his place of residence.
" His attention, however, was not confined to trading with the Indians ; he engaged extensively in agriculture, and from the statement of old Parson Elder to William Maclay, 'he was the first person who introduced the plough on the Sus- quehanna.'
" An incident in his life has excited considerable interest, and been the subject of much inquiry :
" On one occasion, a band of Indians, who had been down the river, or as is said, to the East, on a trading excursion, came to his house. Some, or most of them, were intoxicated. They asked for lum, meaning West India rum, as the mod- ern whiskey was not then manufactured in Pennsylvania .-
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HISTORY OF DAUPHIN COUNTY.
Seeing they were already intoxicated, he feared mischief, if he gave them more ; and he refused. They became enraged and seized and tied him to the mulberry tree to burn him .--- Whilst they were proceeding to execute their purpose, he was released, after a struggle, by other Indians of the neigh- borhood, who generally came across the river. How the alarm was given to thein, whether by firing a gun or other- wise, or by whom, is not now certainly known. In remem- brance of this event, he afterwards directed that on his death, he should be buried under the mulberry tree, which had been the scene of this adventure. Part of the trunk of this tree is still standing. It is ten feet up to the lowest limb, and the stump is eleven feet, six inches in circumfer- ence. The writer (G. W. Harris,) of this has eaten mulber- ries from this tree, which was one of the largest of its species."
It would appear that John Harris had commenced clearing a plantation to carry on trade at the mouth of Choniata (Ju- niata river) prior to 1732 or 1733. June 19, 1733, at a council held at Philadelphia, Shickalamy, a chief, by Conrad Weiser, as interpreter, asked whether the Proprietor had heard of a letter which he and Sassoonan sent to John Har- ris, to desire him to desist from making a plantation at the mouth of Choniata, where Harris has built a house and is clearing fields.
They were told that Harris had only built that house for carrying on his trade; that his plantation, on which he has houses, barns, &c., at Pextang, is his place of dwelling, and it is not to be supposed he will remove trom thence; that he has no warrant or order for making a settlement on Choniata.
Shekallamy* said that though Harris may have built a house for the conveniency of his trade, yet he ought not to clear fields To this it was answered, that Harris had pro- bably cleared as much land only as would . be sufficient to raise corn for his horses. Shekallamy said he had no ill will to John Harris, it was not his custom to bear ill will, but he
* Shekallamy was an Indian of much consequence among the Five Nations. He was the father of the celebrated Logan. It appears he was a Cayuga sachem, and styled by Loskiel, " first magistrate and head chief of all the Iroquois Indians living on the banks of the Susquehan- na, as far as Onondago. He died at Shamokin, his residence, in 1749. He had been a great friend to Moravian missionaries.
.
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HISTORY OF DAUPHIN COUNTY.
is afraid that the warriors of the Six Nations, when they pass that way, may take it ill to see a settlement made on lands which they had always desired to be kept free from any per- son settling on. He was told, in answer, that care should be taken to give the necessary orders in it .- Col. Rec. iii., p. 541.
" John Harris died about the year 1748, and was buried where he had directed-under the shade of his own memor- able tree ; and there his remains still repose, with those of some of his children. The title to the grave yard, to the extent of fifteen feet square, is secured by conveyance from the Commissioners who laid out the town. The Deed is re- corded in book A. in the Recorder's office at Harrisburg .- In the words of Parson Elder, who knew him well, "he was as honest a man as ever broke bread."
" It may be curious now to know that John Harris was once offered by the Penns, all of the land from the river to Silver Spring, and extending across the Cumberland Valley, from mountain to mountain, for €5,000. He offered £3,000 refused to give more. At his death he owned about nine hundred acres of land, including the present site of Harris- burg and Maclaysburg, and extending down to the upper line of Fulton's place-also, two hundred acres on the op- posite shore from Harrisburg, now owned by Messrs. Hum- mel and Lebkicher and including the Ferry, and Gen. Simp- son's place below Yellow Breeches, extending to the South mountain, and including Shriners Island ; and seven or eight hundred acres at the mouth of Conedoguinnett creek on the upper side, where the old Indian town had once been.
"Of Esther, the wife of John Harris, several anecdotes are told which establish her promptness and energy of character.
" The Mansion House, situated on the river bank, as be- fore mentioned, was surrounded by a stockade for security against the Indians. An English officer was one night at the house, when by accident the gate of the stockade was left unfastened. The officer, clothed in his regimentals, was seat- ed with Mr. Harris and his wife at the table. An Indian entered the gate of the stockade and thrust his ritle through one of the port holes of the house, and it is supposed pointed it at the officer. The night being damp, the gun simply fiashed. Instantly Mrs. Harris blew out the candle, to pre- vent the Indian aiming a second time, and he retreated.
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HISTORY OF DAUPHIN COUNTY.
" It has been observed that John Harris kept articles for trade with the Indians. At one period Mrs. Harris had an Irish girl in her employ. On one occasion, she was sent up stairs for some purpose, and she took with her a piece of lighted candle without a candlestick. The girl soon came down without the candle, and on Mrs. H. asking what she had done with it, she said she had stuck it into the barrel of flaxseed. This, however, happened to be a barrel of powder. Mrs. Harris instantly rose, and without saying a word, for fear of alarming the girl, went up stairs, and advancing to the barrel, cautiously placed her hands under the candle and lifted it out -- and then coolly reproved the girl for her carelessness. These occurrences prove her to have been well fitted for the life of a pioneer.
"An incident is related to have happened at the present site of Harrisburg, which is highly illustrative of the Indian character and superstition :
"A party of Indians from the Susquehanna went off on a war or predatory excursion against the Southern Indians. In the course of the expedition, a hostile Indian was killed, and one of his relatives determined on revenge. He is said to have come from the Catawba in South Carolina. He came alone, and eventually reached the bank of the river opposite to the present site of Harrisburg. He there secreted himself, to observe the fording place, and watching an opportunity of glutting his revenge. Having observed the ford below the Island, he one night crossed the river, and cautiously ap- proached the Indian Town, a short distance below. As he advanced a dog barked, and an aged squaw came to the door of one of the wigwams to ascertain the cause of the distur- bance. The Indian leaped forward and sinking his hatchet into her brain, drew his knife and scalped her; then raising the war whoop, he ran to the river, leaped into a canoe, and made across the river. The Town was aroused and the war- riors gave chase; but, though closely pursued, it is said he escaped, and bore awny in triumph the bloody trophy, the evidence of his courage and barbarity.
" John Harris, the Founder of Harrisburg, died July 29th, 1791, and is buried in the grave-yard of Paxton church. He was about 65 years of age, and was consequently born, at least as early as 1726.
" Under the will of his father, and by purchase, he became
20
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HISTORY OF DAUPHIN COUNTY.
the owner of seven hundred acres of land, on a part of which Harrisburg is now laid out. It extended up to the lower line of Maclaysburg. He was an active, energetic and industrious man. He farmed extensively, and also traded with the whites and Indians, for skins and furs ; and his son, the present Ro- bert Harris, has seen ten or a dozen wagon loads of skins and furs in his father's storehouse, belonging to him and to Indian traders. In his time Harris' Ferry became a celebrated place. It is said to have been so well known in Ireland, England anp Germany, that letters were directed from those countries " to the care of John Harris, Harris' Ferry, N. America." He was successful in business, and had an extensive acquain- tance throughout Pennsylvania.
" He had strong faith in the advantages of the position of his property here. It is said that twenty or more years before the Town was laid out, he observed to a gentleman, Mr. Hollenback, who afterwards settled at Wilkesbarre, that this place would become the centre of business in this section of country, and would be the Seat of Government of Penn- sylvania.
" When the Town was laid out in 1785, he conveyed, with other property, to the Commissioners, for laying out the Town, viz : Jacob Awl, Joshua Elder, Andrew Stewart, James Cowden, and William Brown, the four acres of ground on Capitol Hill, to the east of the present State buildings, 'in trust for public use, and such public purposes as the Leg- islature shall hereafter direct.'
"That he was patriotic, the following incident will es- tablish :
" When Independence was agitated, he thought the De- claration premature. He feared that the Colonies were une- qual to the task of combating with Great Britain ; but when Independence was declared, the present Robert Harris ob- serves, that his Father took his Mother aside, and in the presence of his son, read to her the Declaration from a Phi- ladelphia newspaper. When he concluded it, he observed, ' that the act was now done, and that we must take sides, either for or against the country. The war in which we are about to engage, cannot be carried on without money. Now, we have £3,000 in the house, and if you are agreed, I will take the money to Philadelphia and put it into the Public Treasury to carry on the war. If we succeed in obtaining
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