USA > Pennsylvania > Adams County > The history and topography of Dauphin, Cumberland, Franklin, Bedford, Adams, and Perry counties [Pennsylvania] > Part 40
USA > Pennsylvania > Bedford County > The history and topography of Dauphin, Cumberland, Franklin, Bedford, Adams, and Perry counties [Pennsylvania] > Part 40
USA > Pennsylvania > Cumberland County > The history and topography of Dauphin, Cumberland, Franklin, Bedford, Adams, and Perry counties [Pennsylvania] > Part 40
USA > Pennsylvania > Dauphin County > The history and topography of Dauphin, Cumberland, Franklin, Bedford, Adams, and Perry counties [Pennsylvania] > Part 40
USA > Pennsylvania > Franklin County > The history and topography of Dauphin, Cumberland, Franklin, Bedford, Adams, and Perry counties [Pennsylvania] > Part 40
USA > Pennsylvania > Perry County > The history and topography of Dauphin, Cumberland, Franklin, Bedford, Adams, and Perry counties [Pennsylvania] > Part 40
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
The Carlisle Bank .- The Banking-house stands on North Hanover street, near the public square. The institution was governed by thirteen directors, and had a capital paid in of $230,000. Business hours from 9 A. M. till 2 P. M. ; and discount day Tuesday. The charter of the Bank expired in 1845.
CHAPTER XXVIII.
BOROUGHS, TOWNS, AND VILLAGES.
Shippensburg, Newville, Stoughstown, Newburgh, Springfield, Centre . ville, Smoketown, Papertown, Mechanicsburg, Trindle Spring, Hoguestown, Kingston, Lisburn, Churchtown, Worleystown, Shep- perdstown,Centre Square, Shiremanstown, New Cumberland, Bridge Port, Wormleysburg, Fairview, Whitehill, Milltown, Frogstown' Sporting Hill.
Shippensburg, the oldest town, except York, west of the Susquehanna river, in Pennsylvania, is a post town and bor- ough, situated on the western boundary of this county, twen- ty-one miles south west of Carlisle. It is surrounded by a fertile, limestone country, well improved, and now principal- ly cultivated by Germans, though originally wholly settled by Irish, a few of whose worthy descendants still occupy the farms of their forefathers, the first pioneers of the country.
When Cumberland was first organized, 1750, the Courts were held here ; and when removed to Carlisle, a great ex- citement was produced, by reason of the removal of the courts, throughout the upper part of the county. In 1755, the government commenced erecting a fort in this place .- During the French and Indian war, two forts, Fort Morris and Fort Franklin were erected ; the remains of one of these were, until lately, still to be seen. The incidents in the early history of this place, are replete with thrilling interest ; many of which have already been noticed in the preceding part of this compilation.
In addition to these, the following letters, relating to in- cidents and facts, of days gone by, are here introduced.
In the spring of 1755, Richard Peters, Secretary, was in Shippensburg, on business connected with the opening of the road from Carlisle westward to Youghieghany, and while here, wrote the following letter to Governor Hunter.
Shippensburg, 18th May, 1755.
Sir-I desired to John Armstrong to write to you ; and as he is per-
425
HISTORY OF CUMBERLAND COUNTY.
`fectly acquainted with the whole affair of the roads, his information and sentiments will be sufficient for you to proceed upon. Perhaps a new commission will not be necessary, and may breed contention. I may send an express, if necessary, after seeing one on the spot, or at least send a letter to Carlisle to go by the next post.
I hear one half of the horses from the county of York are poor and unfit for service and will be rejected.
Mr. John St. Clair went to discover a new road, but finding none, returned to the General (Braddock at Fort Cumberland, I. D. R.); they concluded to take the old road to the Meadows.
I shall not wait on the General till I have settled the matter of the roads. It will take me three days at least.
I hear but a poor account of the Indians of this province. Mr. Callender says he met Mr. Gist in his return from Carolina, and he brings an account that four or five hundren Southern Indians will en- gage with and assist General Braddock, but I doubt it.
P. S. I am at a loss how a letter will find me. I believe the Camp is the likeliest place, where I suppose to be sometime this week, and to stay if convenient.
Mr. Charles Swaine, wrote Governor Morris,
Shippensburg, June 14th, 1755.
May it please your Honor :
I arrived at this place on Monday, and judge there are sufficient buildings for storing the provisions without erecting any ; these will want but a small repair, except the fastings, and to be had on easy terms, as they are all left to be possessed by any one who will inhabit them. The owners do not seem inclined to take any advantage of their being wanted on this occasion. I find not above two pastures here ; those but mean as to grass, from drought ; but there is a fine range of forage for upwards of four miles in the woods, quite to the foot of the South mountain ; also a good run of water, that the cattle will be continually improving after they come here; I shall use the methods practiced here for keeping their beasts together ; have a con- stant watch on them; daily see them myself. I can find but little cellaring here, for securing the pork, but have pitched on a shady and dry spot in the woods for making a cellar, for, what I cannot store in such cellars as are in the town. There are no bricks here, and little lime at present, so the making ovens would be difficult, and if made of clay, then there would be some iron work wanting. But if his Ex- cellency has ordered bread, as I mentioned in my former letter, I be- lieve it may be contracted for in Lancaster county.
The principal expense which seems to attend the Magazine here, will be the hire of some persons to attend the cattle, also to watch the stores and pork, for they assured me there are many ill disposed per- sons in these parts, who would both take the pork and break into the stores, if not watched. I shall act with the greatest prudence and re- gard as to the expense, in this, or any other part of my commission, and in taking care to make no further expense than what is immedi- ately necessary. Quarter Master Lesley* called on me yesterday and
· Mr. Lesley was Assistant Commissary to Sir John St. Clair, Depu- ty Quarter Master General under Gen. Edward Braddock. Mr. Mat. thew Lesley was wounded, on the 9th July, 1755, at Braddock's defeat.
426
HISTORY OF CUMBERLAND COUNTY.
informed me that he had seen Scott, the miller, who advised him to ac- quaint me that he had brought up almost as much wheat as to make the flour I should want. The coopers in these parts have plantations. and they but occasionally work at their trades, have at present but few staves by them, those thin and green, and it would take up a consid- erable time to procure any quantity. The mills also here have no bolting cloths, so that they make only a coarse flour. I can hear no- thing as to the express, any more than that he is arrived at the camp; but I propose, if I do not see him to-day, to return towards Lancaster, 111 hopes to find your Honor's orders, and also give an account of the post of what is done to the flour.
In another letter, dated July 4, 1755, Mr. Shippen says, " I shall give orders to Mr. Burd's servant, a cooper, to take charge of some cattle, as Mr. Swaine shall direct; the cattle are provided with a range of pasture. But the place which shall be agreed on by the General (Braddock) for the magazine, ought to be protected by at least 20 or 30 soldiers; and there should be a blockade built; otherwise they may easily destroy the cattle, for they (the Indians) can march through the woods undiscovered, within twenty miles of Shippensburg ; and they may come these twenty miles, one way, on a path, leaving Jacob Pyatt's, near Tuscarora moun- tain, on the right hand, and see but two houses, till they are within two miles of my place."
After General Braddock's defeat, Col. Dunbar, after stay- ing some time with his army on the frontiers. received orders from Gen. Shirley, upon whom the command of the Ameri- can forces devolved, on the death of Braddock, to repair with his men to Albany. Previously, however, Col. Dun- bar requested a conference with Governor Morris, at Ship- pensburg. The Governor addressed him a letter, to which the Colonel replied, as follows :
Shippensburg, August 17, 1755.
Sir :- I had the favor of your letter by the express that brought me General Shirley's orders. The condition, both officers and soldiers are in, makes it absolutely necessary to repair many deficiencies, be- fore we proceed on such a march, or voyage, as you will see us in about twelve days. I will say no more on that head.
We have not half the tents we should have-we should have shoes. shirts, stockings, camp kettles : and flasks are few. Every thing ta- ken to the place of action is absolutely lost. Neither officer nor sol- dier saved more than was on their backs-more than half the arms are lost .- Prov. Rec. N. 202.
James Burd writes to Ed. Shippen, at Lancaster, Nov. 22,
427
HISTORY OF CUMBERLAND COUNTY.
1755. " We, for these tao days past, have been working at our Fort here, and believe we shall work this day (Sun- day). This town is full of people." (See p. 92.)
Many of the frontier settlers, in their flight for life, from the Indians, took refuge here. In July, 1763, there were here, one thousand three hundred and eighty-four, of those poor, distressed inhabitants. Of these, three hundred and one were male adults, three hundred and forty-five women, and seven hundred and thirty-eight children ; many of whom were obliged to lie in stables, barns, cellars, and under old, leaky sheds ; the dwelling houses being all crowded (p. 142). The inhabitants were kept in constant alarm for eight or ten years, not knowing at what moment they would be surprised by a blood-thirsty enemy.
" The 19th of March, 1764, the Indians carried off five people from within nine miles of Shippensburg, and shot one man through the body. The enemy, supposed to be eleven in number, were pursued successfully by about one hundred provincials. The houses of John Stewart, Adam Simms, James M'Cammon, William Baird, James Kelly, Stephen Caldwell and John Boyd, were burnt. These people lost all their grain, which they had thrashed out, with the inten- tion to send it, for safety, further down among the inhabit- ants."-Gordon's His. Pa. p. 624.
Shippensburg was once an exceedingly brisk place, made so by hundreds of wagons stopping here on their way to, and from Pittsburg, and Philadelphia ; but since the railroad has been in successful operation, wagoning, through this place, has measureably ceased ; and, Shippensburg, feels the effects ; but owing to its peculiar locality, will always com- mand a reasonable share of business. A number of houses have lately been erected in this ancient town. At present it contains nearly three hundred dwellings.
'The town was incorporated, January 21, 1819. The pop- ulation in 1810, was 1,159 ; in 1820, 1,410; in 1830, 1,308; in 1840, 1,473 ; at present (1845) about 1,525. It contains eighteen stores, several taverns, one printing office, from which a weekly paper is issued, entitled "The Weekly News,' edited by Mr. J. L. Baker. The churches are, Presbyterian, Associate Reformed, Lutheran and German Reformned, Union Bethel, Catholic, Methodist, and an African church. In 1844, there were six schools, with upwards of three hundred
428
HISTORY OF CUMBERLAND COUNTY.
scholars in the Borough. The Cumberland Valley railroad · passes through this place ; also a turnpike. McMean's run, a branch of the Conodogwinet creek passes through the town, and turns several mills.
NEWVILEE, a post town and borough, in Newton town- ship, on Spring creek, twelve iniles from Carlisle, in the northwest part of the county, within half a mile (north) of the Cumberland Valley railroad. It is a place of some con- siderable business ; it contains about one hundred dwellings, several mills, taveins and churches, viz : one Presbyterian, one Seceder, and Lutheran. The town was incorporated by an act of the Legislature, 26th February, 1817 ; and accord- ing to the census of 1840, its population was 564, and con- tained six stores and three taverns. There are three public schools in the borough, with about one hundred and fifty scholars, supported at an expense of $441,04, paid to teach- ers, and $38,58 for fuel.
STOUGHSTOWN, a post village, in Newton township, on the turnpike road leading from Carlisle to Chambersburg, near the eastern boundary of the township, fourteen miles west of Carlisle, and seven east of Shippensburg, contains twelve or fifteen dwellings, one store and a tavern, kept for many years by the late Colonel Stough, and by his son at present. Near this place is a large spring, from which a fine mill stream issues.
NEWBURGH, a post village in Hopewell township, laid out some twenty or more years ago by Mr. Trimble, contains twenty or more dwellings, two stores and a tavern.
SPRINGFIELD .- This village derives its name from a large spring, that throws out a volume of water sufficient to turn several mill wheels, within a few rods of the spring, and forms a considerable stream, having its banks studded with mills. It is fourteen miles southwest of Carlisle, and con- tains about fifty dwellings, a store, a tavern and school house. The situation and vicinity are very romantic. The inhabit- ants are distinguished for industry. .
CENTREVILLE, is a small village on the Walnut Bottom road, leading from Carlisle to Shippensburg, and is in a well improved, fertile region of country; it contains a store and tavern.
SMOKETOWN, on the road leading from Carlisle to New- ville, consists of a few houses.
429
HISTORY OF CUMBERLAND COUNTY.
PAPERTOWN, south of Carlisle, on the Carlisle and Hano- ver turnpike, laid out some years ago by Barber & Mullen, owners of an extensive paper mill, at this place.
MECHANICSBURG, post town and borough, situated in Sil- ver Spring township, in the heart of the most fertile and best improved regions of Cumberland Valley, on the Trin- dle Spring road leading from Harrisburg to Carlisle, eight miles from the former and ten from the latter; it is next to Carlisle and Shippensburg, one of the most flourishing towns in this county; its local advantages are many, being accessi- ble, and intersected by well improved roads, from various sections of the country ; the surrounding vicinage is densely settled, and the population in general distinguished for their industry. As a place of business, it is one of no ordinary importance. The town is of comparatively recent origin .---- Forty years ago the greater part of the site of the town was covered with woods; a few straggling houses were to be seen, of which only one or two of the first remain.
It is not more than thirty years since the first brick house was erected in the place. This was built in the western part of the town, by Lewis Zearing, Esq., shortly after the late war. A number of houses had been erected before any lots were regularly laid out. About twenty-five years ago, John Gosweiler, laid out a number of lots in the eastern part of the town, where soon some six or eight houses were erected. In the year 1828, Henry Stouffer laid out some lots in the central part of the town; and a new impetus was given to the place; a number of dwellings were erected. In 1829, '30, and 31, between twenty and thirty houses were put up. In December 1831, Major Henry Lease and David Breni- zer, having purchased eight or ten acres from George Stein- bring, laid out thirty-three lots on the south side of Main street. From that time forward the town has gtadually in- creased, till it numbers at present (1845) one hundred and thirty-three comfortable dwellings, whereof 41 are of bricks, 67 frame, and 25 plastered; a number of mechanics shops, four churches, viz : a Union Church, Methodist, Lutheran, and another, styled a "Union Bethel," a commodious school house in which three public schools are taught, 6 stores, 2 apothecaries, 3 taverns, 3 ware or store houses on the rail road, 4 tailor shops, 2 milliners, 3 mantua makers, 2 hatters, 4 shoe makers, 3 saddlers, 4 cabinet makers, 4 carpenters,
430
HISTORY OF CUMBERLAND COUNTY.
:3 weavers, 1 silk dyer, 2 tinners, 2 chair makers, 1 painter, 1 cooper, 2 coachmakers, 3 blacksmiths, 3 butchers, a foun- dry and machine shop, with a population rising of 800. In 1830 the population was 554, in 1840, 670.
The Cumberland Valley Railroad passes through the bo- rough, north of Main street. The town was incorporated as a borough, by an act passed April 12, 1828. In pursu- ance of which, a Burgess and Town Council were elected, of which Lewis Zearing, Esq., was President, and Dr. Jacob Baughman, elerk.
Sometime in 1835 or '36 Dr. Jacob Weaver, established the first printing office in the place. He edited and pub -· lished a spirited, literary paper, entitled, "The Microcosm," but for the want of adequate patronage, it was suspended : and shortly afterwards, A. F. Cox, commenced the publica- tion of " The School Visitor." This shared the fate of its predecessor. Lately, another paper has been started by Mr. Sprigman, entitled "The Independent Press."
TRINDLE SPRING, one mile west of Mechanicsburg, is named after one Trindle, an early settler. Here is a cluster of houses, a tavern, a tan yard, and a church contiguous .- The church is a neat brick building held in common by the German Reformed and Lutherans.
ROXBERRY, partly in Silver Spring; but principally in Monroe township, is a small village, consisting of "a long string " of houses, along the road leading from Mechanics- burg to Carlisle, seven miles east of the latter place. There are here sixteen dwellings, and several mechanics' shops, situated in a rocky place. Paul Reamer, about thirty years ago, erected the first house.
HOGUESTOWN, a post village, in Silver Spring township, is nine miles west of Harrisburg, on the turnpike road lead- ing to Carlisle ; it is a handsomely situated village in a fer- tile and well improved limestone country, and contains be- tween twenty and thirty dwellings (a few of which are of brick) including those contiguous, two stores, three taverns, a school house, an extensive tannery, several mechanics' shops. A small stream called Hogues run flows hard by the village and empties into the Conodogwinet creek not far off.
MIDDLESEX, in Northmiddleton township, on the turnpike road from Harrisburg to Carlisle, at or near the confluence
431
HISTORY OF CUMBERLAND COUNTY.
of Le Tort's creek with the Conodogwinet, three miles east of Carlisle, is a cluster of houses, consisting of 11 dwellings, in one of which a tavern is kept ; a grist mill, a saw mill, and plaster and oil mill, a woollen factory, principally owned by Charles B. Penrose, Esq. There is also a small store here.
Mrs. Murphy, who died at the age of 100, in 1803, re- membered that the first " Indian track" to go westward was to cross at Simpson's Ferry, four miles below Harris's, then across Conodogwinet, at Middlesex, thence up the mountain across Croghan's. (Sterret's Gap,) thence down the mountain and across Shearman's creek, at Gibson's, thence by Dick's Gap, thence by Shearman's valley by Concord, to the burnt cabbins, thence to the west of the Alleghany .- Watson's Annals, ii. 122.
There were several paths westward. John Harris, who had been westward prior to 1754, notices the following points, with the intermediate distances.
"From my Ferry to Geo. Croghad's, 5 miles; to Kittatin- ny mountains 9; to Andrew Montour's 5; Tuscarora hill 9; Thos. Mitchell's sleeping place 3; Tuscarora 14; Cove spring 10; Shadow of Death 8 ; Black Log 3-66 miles to this point. The road forks to Raystown and Frankstown ; we continued to Raystown. To the Three Springs 10; Sid- ling Hill Gap 8; Juniata hill 8; Crossings at Juniata S; Snake's spring 8; Raystown 4; Shawana cabins 8; Alleghany hill 6; Edmunds swamp 8; Stoney creek 6; Kicheney Paulin's house (Indian) 6; Clearfields 7; to the other side of Laurel hill 5; Loyal Hanning 6; Big Bottom S; Chestnut ridge 8 ; to the parting of the roads 4; thence one road leads to Shan- oppintown, the other to Kiscomenettas Old Town-To Big Lick 3; Beaver dams 6; James Dunning's sleeping place 8; Cockeye's cabin 8; Four mile run 11; Shanoppintown on Al- legheny river 4; to Logstown down the river 18; distance by the old road 246 miles."
" Now beginning at the Black Log-Frankstown road to Aughwick 6, Jack Armstrong's Narrows (so called from his being murdered here) 8, Standing Stone (about 14 feet high and 6 inches square) 10 : At each of the last places we cross- ed Juniata-the next and last crossing of Juniata 8, Branch of Juniata 10, Big Lick 10, Frank's (Stephen's) town 5, Beaver dams 10, Alleghany hill 4, Clearfield's 6, John
432
HISTORY OF CUMBERLAND COUNY.
Hart's sleeping place 12, Shawanese cabins 24, Shaver's sleeping place at two large licks 12, Eighteen mile run 12,! Ten mile Lick 6, to Kiscomenettas town on the creek which runs into the Alleghany river six miles down, almost as large as Schuylkill 10, Chartier's landing on Alleghany 8, &e." -COMFILER.
KINGSTON, a post village in Silver Spring township, on the turnpike road from Harrisburg to Carlisle, six miles from the latter and ten from the former, is situated in the heart of a well improved, fertile country; and consists of twenty dwel- lings, two stores, two churches, one Lutheran, and one held by the Evangelical Association, and the usual number of handicraft found in country villages. The town receives ai supply of water conducted in pipes, a distance of 1100 feet, from a spring or well on Peter Kissinger's farmn. The village was laid out by John King, about twenty years ago, after whom it is named.
LISBURN, a post village, in Allen township, on the Yellow Breeches creek, on a public road leading from Carlisle to York, sixteen miles from the former, and eighteen from the latter ; and seven miles from Harrisburg, in the southeastern part of the county, consists of 40 dwellings, principally log buildings, two stores, one tavern, a grist mill and saw mill, a Union church and school house, and has the usual number of mechanies, commonly found in country villages.
It is an old town, part of it, north of the public road, having been laid out 80 years ago by Gerard Erwin, and that part south of the road in 1785, by Alexander Frazer and James Oren.
CHURCHTOWN, a post town, in Monroe township, is so named because a church, held by the Lutherans and Ger- man Reformed, had been built here some ten or fifteen years before the town commenced. It is pleasantly situated in a fertile portion of the county, on the main road from Shippensburg to Mechanicsburg ; six miles from Carlisle. It consists of forty-one dwellings, several of which are fine, substantial brick buildings, four stores, two taverns, one school house, a church.
Jacob Wies built the first house here about forty years ago. Some of the early settlers in the vicinity of Church- town were, the Messrs. Strach, Weis, Bricker, Wolf, Ran- kin, Martin, Scott, Johnston, Crocket, Thornberry, now Ege's forge.
433
HISTORY OF CUMBERLAND COUNTY.
WORLEYSTOWN, in Monroe township, on the main road leading from Carlisle to Dillsburg, three miles and a half from the latter, and seven from Carlisle, was laid out about 30 years ago, and consists of 10 or 12 dwellings. It is near the Yellow Breeches creek.
SHEPPERDSTOWN, a post village, in Allen township, on the State road, leading from Gettysburg in Adams county, eight miles from Harrisburg and twelve from Carlisle, five from Dillsburg in York county, and three from Mechanics- burg ; situated on an elevated spot, having a commanding view of Cumberland Valley. It consists of 18 dwellings, one store, one tavern. Near it is a Union church, also occupied by a common school.
: CENTRE SQUARE, a mile west of Shepperdstown, consists of a cluster of eight dwellings and several shops, and a tav- ern and store. This place had its origin about 25 years ago, when Messrs. John Berkey and Jacob Berkey, each erected a small log house.
SHIREMANSTOWN, a post village, partly in Hampden and partly in Allen township, on the main road leading from Car- lisle to New Cumberland, usually called Simpson's Ferry road, is five miles west of Harrisburg, and twelve miles east from Carlisle, and situated in a fertile and highly improved portion of the county, the soil being limestone and well cul- tivated.
The first house erected here was built by Daniel Scherbahn, executor of George Schnebely, for the widow of the deceas- ed, in the summer of 1813. When the first house was built, all on the south side of the road, was one dense forest. In 1814 John Davis erected the house now occupied by Dr. Mateer. Both these are on the north side of the road. A few years after, Henry Zearing erected one on the south side of the road, now owned by George Rupp, jr., and occupied as a public house. Shortly afterwards, Martin Zearing erected a brick house north of the road. George Sipe, Isaac Goshert and Christian Shroll, each erected a house, soon after the brick one had been built. About the year 1827 and 1828 several more, by Jacob Rupp and others, when it was called Shiremanstown, after Daniel Shireman, deceased, who held considerable property here at the time. On the death of Shireman, John Rupp, and George Rupp, jr., executors of Shireman, laid out an additional number of
. 37
434
HISTORY OF CUMBERLAND COUNTY.
lots in 1841, since which the town has steadily increased, and now numbers about 60 dwellings, two stores, one tavern, a school house and Union church.
This fall (1845) Jacob Markel laid out some additional lots, and several houses have already been built on 'Markel's : Addition.' The Cumberland Valley railroad passed by, im- mediately north of the village. Population 275.
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.