USA > Pennsylvania > Adams County > The history and topography of Dauphin, Cumberland, Franklin, Bedford, Adams, and Perry counties [Pennsylvania] > Part 25
USA > Pennsylvania > Bedford County > The history and topography of Dauphin, Cumberland, Franklin, Bedford, Adams, and Perry counties [Pennsylvania] > Part 25
USA > Pennsylvania > Cumberland County > The history and topography of Dauphin, Cumberland, Franklin, Bedford, Adams, and Perry counties [Pennsylvania] > Part 25
USA > Pennsylvania > Dauphin County > The history and topography of Dauphin, Cumberland, Franklin, Bedford, Adams, and Perry counties [Pennsylvania] > Part 25
USA > Pennsylvania > Franklin County > The history and topography of Dauphin, Cumberland, Franklin, Bedford, Adams, and Perry counties [Pennsylvania] > Part 25
USA > Pennsylvania > Perry County > The history and topography of Dauphin, Cumberland, Franklin, Bedford, Adams, and Perry counties [Pennsylvania] > Part 25
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 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61
When I found they were not to be prevailed on to go there, I called a council, and, with a belt of wampum, I removed the council fire to Lancaster : to which place they all agreed to go, and wait the arrival of Teedyuscung, with the Senecas, Delawares and Shawanese. Gave a belt to remove the council fire to Lancaster.
April 7, arrived at Lancaster, from John Harris'.
264
HISTORY OF DAUPHIN COUNTY.
George Croghan wrote to Governor Denny :
Harris' Ferry, April 2, 1757.
Sir-
Thursday last, the 29th of March, I got here, and found about 160 Indians. The messengers sent to Ohio are not yet returned, and Tee- dyuscung* was gone to the Seneca country when these set out, and is expected soon in with no less than 200 Indians. As it is not certain whether he will come in at Easton or here, I have sent a messenger to Bethlehem to meet him, with a message.
I have met with some difficulty in removing the Indians from here, as many of their chiefs are dead since they had a meeting in this Province, and several of their people have been carried off by the small pox in Philadelphia. I was obliged to condole with them, which ceremony took up three days ; and I have just now prevailed on them to set off for Lancaster. They are much afraid of sickness, and say, they always lose many of their people in Philadelphia.
These Indians are in great want of clothes, and I am of opinion that they should have some ordered before the general present can be given.
GEORGE CROGHAN.
A report prevails that their families were cut off in Conocochege, near Colonel Chambers' mill.
G. C. -Prov. Rec. P. 196-'7.
In the month of July, 1778, refugees from the Wyoming Valley fled from the scene of the dreadful devastation of those settlements of murder, and sought protection at Har- ris' Ferry. . Mr. Smith, in a letter to George Bryan, Esq., makes mention of these refugees here, and of the scenes of distress :
Paxtang, July 12th, 10 o'clock, 1778.
Sir-
I am this moment arrived at Harris' Ferry, and just now behold the greatest scenes of distress I ever saw, the numerous poor ran away from their habitations and left their all, and several families lost, part killed and scalped on their retreat; the most cruel butcheries ever known are practiced, wounded and others thrown into fires while yet living. The Inhabitants, however, are much distressed ; the Wyoming people are undoubtedly, by the last accounts, entirely defeated. Nor- thumberland county is evacuated. Not more than one hundred men with Col. Hunter at Sunbury; the Blue mountain is now the frontier, and I am afraid Lancaster county will shortly follow the example of the other county. The stores at Carlisle are something very consid- erable. I doubt not their object is to destroy that place. I am informed there is not that care taken that should be. I think it would be neces-
* See Appendix H. Teedyuscung.
265
HISTORY OF DAUPHIN COUNTY.
sary to appoint some careful officer at that place, that would do the duty more punctually.
This party is large, have Colonel Butler at their head, one hundred regular troops at first; about the same number of Tories, but is in- creased to two or three times that number ; seven hundred Indians, all armed in a most formidable manner, every one of them, exclusive of guns and tomahawks ; as usual, each one has a large spontoon, and as soon as engaged, rushes on in a most dreadful manner. It is said they have field pieces, or swivels ; and a number of light horse.
It is the earnest request of all friends to their country, as well as your humble servant, that something shall be done in the greatest haste. Be pleased to send an order for what arms are ready at Lancaster and Hummelstown, also for ammunition, and I shall exert every nerve in forwarding matters to the spot the men shall colleot.
I am Your Honor's most obedient And most humble servant,
MATTHEW SMITH .*
CHAPTER XIX.
HARRISBURG, AT PRESENT.
Situation-Population, males and females-General statistics of-Ar- ticles of consumption-Public buildings, viz : court-house, jail, school-houses, Masonic Hall, Bank and Savings Institution, Market- house, State-house, State Arsenal, Mount Airy Water-works, Bridges, -Harrisburg bridge ; a number of interesting incidents, &c .- Edu- cation, &c .- Names of papers and editors-History of the churches.
Harrisburg, a post town, a borough, the seat of justice of Dauphin county, and the CAPITOL of the State of Pennsyl- vania, is very pleasantly situated on the left or east bank of the Susquehanna river, in north latitude 40 degrees, 16 min- utes ; east longitude from Washington city, 5 minutes and 30 seconds, and 76 degrees and 50 minutes west longitude from Greenwich, England ; ninety-seven miles from Philadelphia ; thirty-five from the city of Lancaster, and one hundred and
* See Appendix O. Devastation of Wyoming.
23
266
HISTORY OF DAUPHIN COUNTY.
ten from Washington city. It was laid out, as stated above, in 1785, by John Harris, and made the seat of Justice of the county. It was then called Harris' Ferry. In 1786, the Supreme Executive council named it Louisburg, in honor of Louis, XVI. of France. Thisname, however, was changed for Harrisburg, in honor of John Harris, the original found- er. In 1810, February 21st, it was by law, established as the seat of Government of Pennsylvania, and the public offices were removed from Lancaster, where the legislature had assembled for many years, October 12, 1812.
The population was in 1800, 1,472; in 1810, 2,287; in 1820, 2,990; in 1830, 4,311; in 1840, 6,020; in 1845, 6,193, whereof 712 are colored persons.
Harrisburg in 1840, had 6,020 of population, of the fol- lowing ages : White Males, 360 under five years ; 271 of five and under ten ; 254 of ten and under fifteen ; 293 of fifteen and under twenty ; 664 of twenty and under thirty ; 390 of thirty and under forty ; 257 of forty and under fifty; 158 of fifty and under sixty ; 47 of sixty and under seventy; 14 of seventy and under eighty ; 4 between eighty and ninety. White Females, 328 under five ; 278 of five and under ten ; 280 of ten and under fiften. 359 of fifteen and under twenty ; 629 of twenty and under thirty ; 312 of thir- ty and under forty ; 213 of forty and under fifty ; 129 of fifty and under sixty ; 58 of sixty and under seventy ; 25 between seventy and eighty ; 9 above eighty and under nine- ty ; one above ninety.
Coloured Population : Males, under ten, 85; ten and un- der twenty-four 74; of twenty-four and under thirty-six 81; of thirty-six and under fifty-five 44-twelve above fifty-five. Females, 81 under ten; 105 of ten and under twenty-four ; 96 of twenty-four and under thirty-six ; 54 of thirty-six and under fifty-five ; 14 of fifty-five and under one hundred ; one above a hundred.
Number of persons variously employed ; one in mining, fourteen in agriculture, ninety-six in commerce, six hundred and sixty-one in manufactures and tratles, one in the naviga- tion of the ocean, thirty-four in the navigation of canals and rivers, fifty-nine in the leared professions and engineers, two revolutionary pensioners, whose husbands performed military services, Anna Maria Keefer, then aged seventy, and Justina Weiser, aged eighty-two, one blind person, three academies
-
267
HISTORY OF DAUPHIN COUNTY.
and grammar schools, twelve primary schools. Five white persons above the age of twenty who could neither read nor write.
There are, according to the census of 1840, three commis- sion houses in foreign trade, with a capital of $23,500 ; sev- enty-six retail stores, with a capital of $319,860 ; five lum- ber yards, capital $25,000 ; six coal and wood yards, capi- tal $50,000 ; twenty-five butchers and packers, employing a capital of $8,800; the manufacture of caps and bonnets, employed a capital of $70.0 ; of leather, a capital of $24,- 600; of beer and ale, a capital of $10,000; eight printing offices, employed 113 hands, and a capital of $73,500; two rope walks, employed a capital of $2,800; thirty-nine hands occupied in making carriages, employed a capital of $3,900; twenty-seven hands employed in making furniture, a capital of $4,650 ; making a total amount of mercantile and manu- facturing capital of $553,660.
The following is the amount produced of the several arti- cles of manufacture : Machinery, $2,000; bricks, $7,550; tobacco, $4,500 ; hats, caps, and bonnets, $10,750 ; boots, shoes, and other leather manufactures, $48,650 ; candles and soap, $8,000; beer and ale, 465,000 gallons, $10,000 ; ropes and cordage, $7,000 ; carriages, $10,600 ; furniture, $11,700; other manufactures, $74,700; making the total amount of article produced, $195,450.
The, borough contained about 1300 families (in 1840) averaging six persons to each, who consume on an average, the following amount of articles, to which the cost is added : Butter, 338,000 pounds, cost $50,700 ; lard, 65,000 pounds $6,500 ; flour 9,100 barrels $45,500; meat and poultry, 810,000 pounds $73,450 : potatoes and garden vegetables $33,800; fruit and articles not enumerated $38,800; milk and cheese $19,500, corn, oats, and buckwheat $16,00; tallow $8,450 ; hay and straw $6,500; wood 6, 500 cords $26,000 ; making a total of consumption in the borough, in families to the amount of $321,100 ; to which should be ad- ded, for taverns and boarding houses $38,900 ; so that the whole market of Harrisburg alone, amounts to $360,000 : the supply of which furnishes profitable employment to the inhabitants of the surrounding country.
The court house is a large and commodious edifice, which was erected in 1794. It is built of brick, two stories high,
268
HISTORY OF DAUPHIN COUNTY.
surmounted by a cupola with a bell, and contains the halls of the courts and county offices. It was occupied for several years, by the State Legislature,
The county jail is a splendid affair of its kind, provided with solitary cells. The building is Gothic style ; and hav- ing in the rear a spacious yard enclosed by a high stone wall. The cost of the jail, finished in 1841, is upwards of $40,000.
The several public school houses are large, especially the Lancasterian school house. The Masonic Hall is a large and handsome building. The Harrisburg Bank, and the Harris- burg Savings Institution, are the two monied institutions in the borough. The Market-house, in an open square, at the intersection of the two principal streets, is quite commodious and kept cleanly.
The Borough contains twelve churches, of each of which, a detailed notice, so far as it could be obtained, is given in the sequel. There are within the limits of the borough, or near it, a steam grist and saw mill, rolling mill, and an ex- tensive furnace. The rolling mill is owned by M. Pratt, & Co .; the furnace by David R. Porter, Esq., late governor of Pa., & Co.
THE STATE HOUSE is on an elevated spot, from which one has a commanding view of the Susquehanna, and surround- ing country "studded thick " with houses and villages. It is a large, splendid building, yet modest in appearance, fa- cing the river, to which there is a gradual descent. The main building is 180 feet front, by 80 feet deep, and two stories high ; the lower story contains the vestibule and stair- case, the chambers of the Senate and Ilouse of Represen- tatives, and several smaller apartments for the accommoda- tion of the members of Assembly and its officers. The se- cond story is appropriated for a court room, in which the Su- preme Court is held, Canal Commissioners officers, several committee rooms of large dimensions, aud two rooms appro- priated to the State Library, comprising rising of eight thou- sand volumes.
The main entrance is by a circular portico, the whole height of the building, supported by six Ionic columns of red sand-stone painted white, four feet in diameter, and thirty-six feet high, the portico reaching thirty-seven feet to a circular wall. From the floor to the top of the cornice is 46 feet,
269
HISTORY OF DAUPHIN COUNTY.
and the whole height of the front is 50 feet 6 inches. From the top of the cornice to the top of the dome is 57 feet 6 inches, making the whole height 108 feet. The wings, whose fronts stand somewhat in advance of the principal building, and range with the inner columns, are appropriated to the public offices. The Senate Chamber in the main building is 75 by 57 feet, and 21 feet high; and the Representative chamber is of the same length and height, and 68 feet wide. The whole are fitted up with convenient desks for the mem- bers, slighty raised one above another. The wings which are smaller than the main building, have porticos of a similar form, and present a symmetrical appearance ; and the whole exterior, with its surrounding railing and ornamental grounds, presents a grand and imposing appearance, and is every way worthy to be the capitol of the " Key-Stone State."
The State Arsenal, also on the public ground, is a fine brick edifine.
Twenty years before the town was laid out, and nearly half a centuary before it became the seat of government, John Harris, the original proprietor, predicted that Harris- burg would become the capitol of the State; and in 1785 conveyed to the commissioners, " in trust for public use " the four acres on Capitol hill, on which the Arsenal now stands, south-east of the State-house, and public offices.
The Mount Airy Water Works, supply the borough with water. The water is taken from the Susquehanna river by a forcing pump worked by a steam engine, and thrown into a basin, ninety feet above the river, and north of the Capitol. The basin will hold, when filled, 1,532,195 gallons. The water is distributed through the borough in metal pipes, from twelve to two inches in diameter ; seven or more miles of which have already been laid in the streets of the borough. The total cost of the Water Works was $120,000.
The borough has several important bridges. The Harris- burg Bridge connects Market Street with Forster's Island, and the Island with Cumberland county.
I am indebted to Joseph Wallace, a gentleman ever ready to communicate when addressed, for the following, touching the Harrisburg Bridge. The Cumberland Valley Railroad Bridge will be noticed in connection with the Railroad in the sequel.
23*
270
HISTORY OF DAUPHIN COUNTY.
Dear Sir :
I have received your letter of the 13th inst., requesting me to in- form you when, and by whom the Harrisburg Bridge was built ; its first cost ; the amount of stock held by the State ; the annual cost of repairs, and the amount of tolls received annually: Also stating, that any "other facts of a general character connected with the Bridge, would be thank- fully received."
In answer to your queries, &c., permit me respectfully to inform you that the company which erected this Bridge, was authorized and em- powered by an Act of Assembly, passed April 3, 1809; was chartered under that act on the 6th day of July, 1812 ; and was duly organized on the 8th day of August in the same year, by electing officers to conduct its business.
The elections are required by law to be held annually on the first Monday in January.
On the 2d day of December, 1812, the first foundation stone of the Bridge was laid; and on the 16th day of October, 1816, the first toll was received.
The Bridge and Toll-houses were completed in 1817, at a total cost of
$192,138 00
Of this sum the State paid, and received stock
in the company therefor, to the amount of 90,000 00
Individuals in like manner paid 57,700 00
Stock forfeited for delinquencies, upon which
was paid 5,277 42
The Balance, was a debt due by the company
upon the completion of the Bridge, viz : 39,160 58
$192,138 00
This debt of $39,160 58 was fully paid out of the tolls received pre- vious to the declaration of any dividend to the stockholders.
The dividends are made and declared half-yearly. The first was declared January 1st, 1821, and the last, July 7, 1845. They have va- ried in amount during this time; but the average during this period of 25 years, is about 6} per cent. per annum.
The average cost of repairs for the last 21 years, has been nearly $2000 per annum.
At the first election, held August 8, 1812, the following named per- sons were duly elected to the offices annexed to their names respect- ively, viz :
Thomas Elder, President.
John Ritchey, Henry Beader, Jacob M. Haldeman, Jacob Boas, Geo. Brenizer, John Howard, George Hoyer, William Bryson, John Myting- er, John Lamb, Samuel C. Wiestling, and Michael Krehl-Directors.
John Downey, Secretary and Treasurer.
Two only of the above officers survive, the others are all dead ; and at present those who hold, and have held by election for 33 years in succession, the same offices to which they were ifirst elected. Those two are Thomas Elder, President, and Jacob M. Haldeman, Director.
The present officers of the company are
Thomas Elder, President ;
Jacob M. Hummel, David Haldeman, John Geiger, John Snevely,
271
HISTORY OF DAUPHIN COUNTY.
William Rutherford, Benjamin Eberly, William Allison, Michael Leb- kicher, Jacob S. Haldeman, Samuel Pool, George H. Bucher, and Wil- liam R. Gorgas-Directors.
Joseph Wallace, Treasurer and Secretary.
The foregoing contains the information you requested me to give, and is, perhaps, sufficient for the object you have in view ; but, if time and circumstances would permit, I could greatly extend this communi- cation, by stating a variety of other facts connected with the erection of this Bridge, which might be interesting to, at least, a portion of the public. But, I am admonished to be brief ; I will therefore only men- tion a few of the difficulties which the original Board of Directors met and overcome, in the faithful discharge of their duties.
The great body of the people, at the commencement of this work, thought it entirely impracticable-altogether visionary : and even a goodly number of the subscribers for stock themselves never dreamed that they or their children would ever be called on to pay their sub- scriptions. They believed firmly that the project would fall through, and be abandoned as a matter of course. And when they were com- pelled to pay according to their written promises, they felt confident that their money might as well have been cast into the sea, for all the good that would ever come of it.
There were some who ridiculed the idea of attempting to build a permanent bridge over the river Susquehanna-a mighty mountain stream ; others sneered at it ; and there were not a few who considered the project and its advocates nearly allied to insanity.
But, they were all mistaken ; and most happily disappointed. For, notwithstanding all the opposition which was arrayed against the en- terprize and the Board of Directors who had it in charge, they pursued the even tenor of their way, and persevered therein until their efforts were crowned with triumphant success; in the completion of the Bridge, where it now stands a monument of their wisdom and fore- sight; and the public at large, for thirty years past, have been enjoying the benefit and convenience it affords.
However, the ridicule, the sneers, and the taunts which were heaped upon the President and Directors, formed but a part of their difficulties. Money, the grand mover, was wanting, and not so easily supplied at that early day as at present; and nothing could be done without it. Subscribers held back ; the State only agreed to pay on certain condi- tions, and in four equal instalments. Then the great question for the Board to determine was, how can we raise money to do work enough to entitle us to these payments from the State ? It may be said, why did not the Board borrow and pledge the corporation for payment. They tried that ; but nobody would lend to a corporation engaged in a project that was considered by the great body of the peo- ple ridiculous, visionary and insane.' Then, what was to be done ? Just what was done, and nothing else. It was this; the President and other officers of the Institution borrowed large sums of money from time to time, as the work progressed, upon their own private credit and individual responsibility, in anticipation of the subscrip- tion money to be paid by the State and the individual stockholders; and when the subscription money was received, those officers redeem- ed their credit therewith. And thus they operated from the commence-
272
HISTORY OF DAUPHIN COUNTY.
ment to the completion of the work, risking their means, credit and reputation, for the accomplishment of an object which they then be- heved would be, and which every body now knows has been, and is, of more real and substantial benefit and convenience to the communi- ty than any other improvement of the same magnitude and cost in the commonwealth.
Trusting that the foregoing may be satisfactory to you,
I am, very respectfully, Yours,
J. WALLACE,
Harrisburg, Oct. 22, 1845.
P. S. The State is not a stockholder in the company at present, hav. ing sold out her stock in the year 1843, for about one-fourth of its orig- inal cost.
J. W.
-
STREETS AND ALLEYS.
The following Streets and Alleys run parallel with the Susquehanna river, and are given, beginning at the river, in their regular order, to the canal.
Front street, River alley, Second street, Raspberry alley. Third street, Dewberry alley, Fourth street, Fifth street, Back alley, or Sixth street, Canal street.
East of the Capitol-High street, Tanner's lane, Short street, Cranberry alley. The streets and alleys named above, are crossed, by the following :
North street, State street, South street, Barbara alley, Pine street, Cranberry alley, Locust street, Walnut street, Strawberry alley, Market street, Blackberry alley, Chestnut street, Cherry alley, Mulberry street, Mary's alley, Harris' alley, Vine street, Paxton street, Meadow lane.
Since Harrisburg has been laid out, many interesting and thrilling incidents have taken place within its limits. During the Western Insurrection of 1794, President Washington, and other distinguished individuals, tarried a night here. The following extracts, it is believed, will be read with interest.
" On Friday afternoon, three companies of horse, contain- ing in all, 130, arrived from Philadelphia, the whole under
273
HISTORY OF DAUPHIN COUNTY.
the command of Capt. John Dunlap. The company of Light Dragoons, commanded by Capt. John Irwin, of this town; the corps of Light Infantry, commanded by Capt. George Fisher, with the most distinguished officers of the county, were paraded, all in complete uniform, in order to receive them. After the usual ceremonies, the dragoons dismounted to refresh themselves, and yesterday morning they proceeded on to Carlisle.
" Tuesday last, passed through this on their way to Gen. Wayne's army, (O. T.) about 80 regular troops, command- ed by Capt. Lyman. They were from the State of Massa- chusetts, and in good spirits.
" Thursday evening, arrived here from New Jersey, under the command of Richard Howell, Esq., governor of that State, about 370 dragoons, completely mounted and equip- ped-all volunteers. It raining very rapidly on their arrival, the citizens of Harrisburg, with their usual degree of affec- tion to the sons of liberty and patriotism, voluntarily opened their doors for their reception. The next morning they crossed the Susquehanna, on their way to Carlisle, after ex- pressing their satisfaction in the following manner :
" The commander of the Jersey militia detachment, feels himself bound to acknowledge the politeness of the citizens of Harrisburg, to his company, and requests that their grat- itude and his own, joined with the highest respect, may be signified in a proper manner. RICHARD HOWELL, Comm't Jersey Detachment .- Harrisburg, Sept. 25, 1794."
On Friday last, (Oct. 3,) the President of the United States arrived in this town. The pleasure excited, in be- holding for the first time, our beloved Chief, in this borough, is not easily described. The following address was delivered to him, by the burgesses, in behalf of the inhabitants of the town :
To His Excellency, George Washington, Esq., President of the United States of America.
Sir-
We, the the Burgesses and citizens of Harrisburgh, rejoice in the opportunity of presenting our respects to a character, so justly revered and dear to Americans, we cannot but lament that we should owe it to an interruption of the peace and prosperity of our country, those con- stant objects of our public cares. We trust, however, that the just indignation which fires the breasts of all virtuous citizens, at the un-
274
HISTORY OF DAUPHIN COUNTY.
provoked outrages committed by those lawless men, who are in oppo ' sition to one of the mildest and most equal of governments of which the condition of man is susceptible, will excite such exertions, as to crush the spirit of disaffection wherever it has appeared, and that our political horizon will shine brighter than ever on a dispersion of the clouds, which now menace and obscure it.
Though our sphere of action is too limited to produce any important effects, yet we beg leave to assure your Excellency, that so far as it ex- tends, our best endeavors shall not be wanting to support the happy constitution, and wise administration of our government.
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.