USA > Pennsylvania > Lancaster County > The political history and development of Lancaster County's first twenty years, 1729-1749 > Part 2
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This year Benjamin Franklin ap- peared as a political factor in the prov- ince, ne being chosen as clerk of Assembly (3, V. 352). He was a strong friend of the German-Swisis folk of our county.
1739. Considerable public feeling
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was aroused among our people by an attempt to divide the county. The northeastern section attempted to se- cede and to help erect a new county. They presented a map showing the new line (4 C., 317). Three months later they renewed the effort. It met stern opposition (Do. 335 and 3 V. A., 343). Another effort, made in Au- gust, failed (3 V. 346). Pon's collec" . tion of quit rents also made a division of political feeling. The Penns re- fused to take anything except gold and silver as payment, or English money. Lancaster county voted to give them a large bonus if they took the Pennsylvania paper money in pay- ment (3 V. 38). Our local Presbyter- ians raised a small political issue by refusing to kiss the Bible in taking an oath and petitioned the Assembly in large numbers for another form. The oath by uplifted hand-"Presbyterian oath"-was the result (3 V., 338).
In the county vote this fall for As- sembly, John Wright stood highest, rising from the lowest (3 V 352). Thomas Ewing stood second, Thomas Lindley third, and Judge Edwards at the foot of the list. Ewing and Lind- ley were n. men. They ousted Gal- braith and Smith. The change in po- litical leadership was very marked. Hamilton had left Lancaster and moved to the fine estate his father had left him near Philadelphia. John Wright was again political leader. The Governor this year refused to ap- point our county's first choice for Sheriff, James Mitchell, and appoint- ed our second choice, Robert Buch- anan. But de did not appoint Joshua Lowe, our first choice for Coroner. (4 C., 352).
The first of that series of local po- litical events occurred this year, which
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caused the Governor to depose John Wright as a Judge of Lancaster coun- ty. It was this: Wright was a leader in the Assembly of a resolution to re- buke the Governor for his plan to make a military expedition against the Spaniards, in aid of England. This caused the Governor's plans to fall (4 C. 371). A new political element ap- peared in our local politics this year- an act was passed in 1739-9 to natural- ize a large list of Lancaster county Germans. This gave them political rights, and they began to make them- selves felt (Rupp 271). This year our county was divided into eight polit- ical sub-sections. (Do 274).
1740. The Governor had now set the political pot boiling all over the province. Great Britain had ordered him to issue letters of marque and re- prisal (4 St. L. 469), and he used every effort to make the people feel their defenseless condition, and to make them prepare for war against Spain and France. He urged that war men be elected to Assembly. This, he says, caused the Quakers to "enter into consultation and to exert their whole power to procure a considerable ma- jority of their own persuasion to be chosen, to oppose all warlike prepara- tions-and this they publicly vowed. They told all who advised them to moderation that the province belong- ed to them (the Quakers), and that all others were intruders, and that it they did not like their measures they might move out of it." A consider- able majority of them were returned.
He says: "They gave me to un- derstand in their message that I was to look upon them as an Assembly of Quakers, and that any proposition relating to arms was an invasion of their rights." (Do). He also says the
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whole year was spent in fruitless dis- putes,and a new Assembly was chosen in October, 1740, by which there was as little reason to expect any more provision would be made for defense as there was by the former, and that their yearly meting (which, though meant for religious concerns) they used to direct civil affairs of govern- ment, and by its order and power all but three of the thirty members re- turned were Quakers (4 St L. 470). He further complains and accuses that the Quakers this year deceived the Germans into the fear and belief. that a military force would bring them under a severe bondage, that the expense would impoverish them, and that if any but the Quakers were elected, the Germans would be drag- ged down from their fars to build forts. He said the Quakers spread many other falsehoods by printed matter among the Germans in the Dutch language (Do. 471). By this means, says Governor Thomas, every man elected to the Assembly is a Quaker except three in the whole province, though, he says only one-third of the people are Quakers. Yet, he says, from their Union they have a much greater influence on all public affairs than any other societies (Do.). This gives us a great deal of light on the political events in Lancaster county in 1739 and 1740. It explains why Galbraith and Smith, elected to the Assembly in 1738, who were not Qua- kers, were defeated in Lancaster coun- ey by Ewing and Lindley in 1739, who were Quakers. It explains why John Wright, chief of Quakers in Lancaster county, got the highest vote that fall. It explains why in Lancaster county, in the fall of 1740, the Germans turn- ed in with the Quakers and elected
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Thomas Lindley,John Wright, Thomas Ewing and Anthony Shaw (every one of them a Quaker), to serve the coun- ty in the Assembly, even defeating su good a man as Judge Edwards, who was not now a Quaker-having been early proselyted (3 V. p. 424).
The political issue was clearly drawn now in Lancaster county, as well as throughout the province. It was the military party on the one side, against the anti-military party on the other side. The Governor view- ed it as the loyalists to Britain on one side and the disloyalists on the other -the Scotch-Irish and English church- men and others on one side and the Quakers and Germans on the other.
Here in Lancaster county the Ger- mans largely predominated, and when marshaled by the Quakers at thel polls, they had no difficulty in out- voting the Scotch-Irish. This seldom happened. But it happened in 1739 and 1740, and likely the two following years.
Governor Thomas, in a letter to England, accused the Quaker Assem- bly of 1739-40 of giving influential Germans money to control elections, and of giving like large bribes" to members of Assembly, who showed signs of not acting in harmony with them, to prevent them from becom- ing insurgents, from the organization (4 St. L. 475). If the Germans took no part before in politics-they did so now and henceforth.
This was the earliest division of the people of Lancaster county and Penn- sylvania into two clearly distinct political parties. In 1738 the leading candidates received nearly all the votes cast. There were no parties-no formidable opposition, to acknowl- edge candidates. In Philadelphia county the head of the ticket received
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1,301 votes; the head in Chester coun- ty, 988 votes; in Bucks county, 522 votes, and in Lancaster county, 1,019 votes. Nearly all people voted for them. But in 1739 those who were leaders in 1738 found themselves slaughtered by the resourceful Quak- ers and allied Germans; and the new party polled 555 votes in Philadelphia county, 886 in Chester county, 382 in Bucks county and a majority in Lancaster county (American Weekly Mercury Oct. 4, 1739). The new. Quaker-German party took over half the votes which the old party candi- dates were accustomed to secure. These events brought out a full vote in 1740. The Assembly-elect were all Quakers but three. In Philadelphia county the Quaker polled about 1,100 votes, and the opposition about 800, except in the case of Thomas Leech, who received the votes of both parties, 1,822 votes (Mercury Oct. 2, 1740). The other counties figures are not ex- tant, but Governor Thomas, in his com- plaint to England, said the Quaker- German party polled over half the votes in all counties (4 St. L. 470).
1741. Political issue in Lancas- ter county this year continued to be about the same as in the previous year; but the success of the seven regiments, of the province sent by Pennsylvania to the campaign against Carthagena gave the war party pre- eminence. One result here in our county was that the ·non-resistant Ger- mans and the local anti-war party were derided and misrepresented (Lyle, 126). Members of the church of England were leaders of this move- ment locally, as well as generally. The Scotch-Irish aided it and the Governor himself ordered it. It was intended to punish the pacifists for this strenuous part in politics. But the Quakers who controlled the Assembly took the part
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of their German alli-s. They said to the Governor, "Who they are who look with jealous eyes at the Germans, the Governor has not told us. The Legis- lature has generally admitted them to the privileges of natural born sub- jects. We look upon them to be a laborous, industrial people. The Gov- ernor was compelled to say in Janu- ary, 1739, that the flourishing condition of the province, was owing to the in- dustry of those palatines." (4 C. 313).
This year John Wright was appoint- ed head of a committee to protest against the Governor's militarism. Wright boldly attacked the Governor's legal power to carry on his war meas- ure. This caused political heat here at home, between the war party and the peace party (3 V. 430). Eighty- five merchants of Philadelphia accused the Assembly of Quakers of malfeasance, of making our Province helpless and of inviting attack by war- like nations. (3 V. 433). Wright criticized the Governor freely and in- curred his disfavor and was deposed as a Judge because of it (4C. 482 and 9). A large party in Lancaster county adhered to Wright and his principles. Lancaster county had sixteen Justices. The Governor reappointed the eight who were not Quakers, but dropped the eight Quarkers (4 C 483). Speaking from the Bench to the people of Lan- caster county, this year, on taking leave of his office, Judge Wright spoke the views of his party, on the question of the amount of military and political power and authority which is safe and of the point at which they became dangerous (Rupp 276).
The election this fall resulted in re-electing to Assembly those of 1740. The vote from highest to lowest stood, Lindley, Wright, Blunston and Shaw (3 C. 444). These men were the four leading Quakers among the eight Jus-
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tices the Governor deposed. Lancas- ter county majority political opinion, was strongly and bitterly opposed to the Governor, and the big politicians of the province. The Germans and Quakers of Lancaster county had no trouble now to hold their own against the other political party in the county and against the Governor and all his power and patronage. The Governor hit our county by appointing anti- Quaker men for Sheriff and Coroner- Mitchell and Lowe, though they were the county's second choice (4 C. 500).
1742. This year political feeling was bitter, and more bitter than ever before in county and province. The parties were known as the city party and the country party. In our county the country party was the stronger. The Germans all joined the country party and their opponents began to misrepresent them, calling them dan- gerous and unpatriotic, and represent- ing them so, even to the British Gov- ernment.
The Mennonite Church was misrep- resented. To set themselves right they called a meeting here in our county and resolved to avoid any am- bitious appearances or acts. They understood that their prosperity and rapidly-growing estates and wealth made many people jealous. Political capital was being made out of their thrift. The same four Assemblymen of 1741 for the county were re-elected this year. Blunston was most popu- lar. They were all Quakers. Their political opponents were the Scotch- Irish (3 V. 497).
The real local political parties were the Assembly party and the Governor party, the latter for military opera- tions and the former against it. Here at home the Governor's party men were enticing servants to desert their masters to join the army. Owners who had paid for the time of their
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servants years ahead lost the service in this manner. Thus in the rural sections the strength of the old As- sembly party continued strong. The new or Governor party lost most of its strength as soon as it became a war party. In our county the highest vote for the war party had 99 votes and the old party 1961. In Philadel- phia county the new party polled 336 votes and the old one 1790. (Seg Pennsylvania Gazette, October 7, 1742.) The fact that 1,742 votes were polled in our county at this date shows a good percentage, and the fact that the Assembly party polled 1,480 of them shows that the Mennonite brethren of those days here in our county voted.
It was charged in a proceeding be- fore the Assembly that this year many unnaturalized Germans voted, and that some from other counties went to Philadelphia to vote and help the country party out there. One wit- ness says that "300 unnaturalized Dutchmen came down and tried to vote" (3 V., 564, and Gordon pp. 242 and 2).
Our county elected John Allison County Commissioner, and Jacob Huber, John Wright, Jr., . Andrew Work, Benjamin Chambers, Hugh Beale and John Brandsen asses- sors (Gazette Oct. 7, 1742).
1743. In Lancaster county the po- litical conditions this year remains about the same as in 1742. The dis- graceful proceedings at the last elec- tion resulted in a movement for se- curing peace at elections, for which purpose a law was now introduced into the Assembly (3 V., p. 506). That election also taught those Germans of Lancaster county yet unnaturalized their importance in affairs of govern- ment, and we find them, January 4th, this year, petitioning to be allowed to take affirmations instead of oaths.
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and to be naturalized so that they could enjoy the privileges of British subjects (3 V., p. 305).
The flour acts also helped to keep the Pennsylvania people divided into a country party and a city party. This act demanded inspection of flour. The farmers and country mil- lers were opposed to it, and the mer- chants strongly favored it. January 7th there were petitions filed by Lan- caster county and Chester county in Assembly, praying modification of the law, so that they could sell more free- ly (3 V., p. 153).
The election in Lancaster county for Assembly this fall resulted in the success of Anthony Shaw, Arthur Pat- terson, Thomas Lindsey and John Wright, and their vote ranged in the order I have named them. Samuel Blunston was defeated by Arthur Pat- terson, but the cause of it I am not able to tell. The election, however, was a complete victory for the As- sembly party. The forces in the coun- ty were lined up as follows: The county members of the Assembly and their friends, the principal Quakers, and the principal Germans of Lancas- ter were the political workers for the Assembly party, and the sixteen new magistrates (justices and judges) lately appointed by the Governor and office-holders generally, the sheriff and the coroner, whom he appointed also (in part) electioneered for the Governor's party.
The new man elected by Lancaster county, Arthur Patterson, was not a Quaker. He was Scotch-Irish, and naturally a Presbyterian in Done- gal. Yet he was an adherent of the Assembly party. He settled on the Chickies in 1724 (Harris, p. 434). This election of 1743 was his first appear- ance in Lancaster county politics. But he got in it to stay. He was re-elect- ed to the Assembly every year, until
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and including 1754-a term of twelve consecutive years (Harris, p. 432).
Our county had a rough-and-tumble special election toward the end of October this year (1743) to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Thomas Lindsey. The sheriff of the county was ordered to hold an elec- tion for this purpose (3 V., 536). He did so, and Blunston was successful. The election was rough and irregu- lar (Rupp, 288). The Irish tried for the ascendency at the polls, and they compelled the sheriff to take such tickets as they approved. Yet they failed. The matter came up in As- sembly and the sheriff was compelled to appear November 14 (3 V., 537). The Assembly debated this tumul- tuous election two days, and particu- larly scored the sheriff for being sole judge of election, exclusive of the in- spectors, etc., and admonished that such conduct was illegal, and an in- fringement of the people's rights. They reprimanded him (3 V., 538). The end of it was that while he was charged with these offenses and that his returns appeared irregular, yet, as there was no substantial proof, the Assembly considered it was the re- sult of mistake or ill-advice and not of design; and the matter was drop- ped (Do. 538). Inasmuch as the elec- tion of Blunston was a Quaker vic- tory, while the sheriff was of the war party, the Assembly (of Quakers) felt that justice wauld be adminis- tered by censuring the sheriff for the manner of conducting the election, and at the same time approving the result. They could be severely just in the first instance; but could afford to be generous also in the second.
1744. This year the first great In. dian treaty in Lancaster occurred. Witham Marshe, who was present as a secretary, called Lancaster a dirty "Dutch" town, sixteen years old.
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The Assemblymen elected for the county were Mitchell, Wright, Patter- son and Blunston (Rupp, 307). Mitch- ell, the new man, was an old politi- cian. He was elected to the Assem- bly in 1729 (3 V., 95), and now, after fifteen years, he is elected again. All these years he took an active interest in local politics and held many posi- tions-excise collector in 1732 (3 V., 176), and again in 1734 (Do. 203), candidate for sheriff in 1734 and 1735 (defeated both times, 3 C., 576-615), and re-appointed collector in 1736 (3 V., 280), helped to fight Cresap and to burn his house (4 C., 135), de- feated for sheriff in 1737 (4 C., 437) ; in 1738 and 1739 again collector of excise, in 1739 defeated for sheriff (4 C., 352), but elected in 1744 to the office, as well as to Assembly (4 C., 500). This year England declared war with France, and the issue soon extended to our province, and the peace party and war party, locally, were formed at once (Pa. Gazette, May 24, 1744). As there was a fear of attack upon defenseless Pennsyl- vania, the war party received many new supporters. The county now had two peace party men in the As- sembly (Wright and Blunston); the other two were for defense and mili- tary protection. The rank and file of the county were anti-bellum. An drew Work was elected commissioner and Martin Mylin, Robert Allison, An- drew Boggs, Patrick Hayes, John Da- vies and Jacob Mylin, assessors (Pa. Gaz., Oct. 11, 1744). The war and defense spirit had grown so active here that in December Thomas Ed- wards organized a company of pro- vincial troops, mainly in Earl town- ship (Volume 2, Sec. Ser. Pa. Arch., p. 489). Three months later William Maxwell organized another company
1745. The politics of the county bear no distinctive mark for this
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year. The contest between Assembly and Governor was closed harmoni- ously (Bolles, 88). Venerable John Wright was chosen Speaker of Assembly (4 V., 21), but he was too feeble to serve, and John Kinsey was chosen in his stead (Do., 22). Our county fully realized the need of mili- tary defense now (4 V., 24), and our Assemblymen voted for 3,000 pounds, and then for 5,000 pounds for military strengthening. The thought of de- fense animated all parties (4 V., 13). Over ninety vessels belonging to Philadelphians had been captured by the French and Spaniards (Pa. Gaz., May 16, 1745). The Government openly advertised for servants to join the army, and offered to buy from their masters their time (Do., June 20).
For Assembly, Wright, Mitchell, Patterson and James Wright were successful. James Wright served twenty-one years as Assemblyman for Lancaster county out of the period of 1745 to 1770. (Harris, 624). The new prison was begun this year.
1746. Our county's main question this year was the need of money. The treasuries of the county and of the province were empty. Only paper money was in sight. Quakers would not help the Louisburg expedition (4 V., 38). Lancaster county became frightened because of the boldness of the Indians, who became treacherous, knowing of the war. Our county begged the Governor for guns to de- fend themselves (5 C., 26). At last
four hundred guns were provided for us, each one to give his note for his gun (4 V., 25). Times were dull and farm prices low (Gaz., Feb. 4, 1746). The Governor dropped eight of our justices of the peace and appointed new ones in their stead (5 C., 3). The Assemblymen elected were the same as last year (Rupp, 307).
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1747. The political condition of the county was mild now. The Germans and the Quakers had greatly changed their attitude on the question of mili- tary defenses and operations. A mili- tary spirit in different degrees now possessed every one. There were Lan- caster countians in both the army and the navy now. This was plain from the number of Lancaster men who were running away from their masters (Gazette of April 9, July 2 and September 17), and also the num- ber of Lancaster men deserting from the army, viz .: William Erhard, Nich- olas Fry, John Straw, James Carroll, Roger Mountain, John Burns,Anthony Bushong, Manchester Halloway and others (Penna. Gazette, May 28 and June 4, 1747).
A military spirit now pervaded the province. The associators began forming (Gazette, Nov. 26, 1747) A meeting was held at Walton's school house, on Arch street, and later a great meeting, at which 1,000 persons joined the Association. Elaborate forms and Articles of Association were drawn up (Gazette, Dec. 3). The Association censured the Assembly for lack of the sense of protection They pledged themselves to form companies and to drill; to form regi- ments; to arm themselves; to serve without pay; to elect a military coun- cil, etc. Chester county organized a branch (Do., Dec. 3). Lancaster county also fell in with the spirit Our county elected three Assembly- men in favor of defense and war, if necessary, Patterson, Webb and Peter Worrall. John Wright was re- elected as a final compliment to a faithful servant.
1748. This year saw the real rise of the military spirit in Lancaster county. The Associators formed a company in January, with Hugh Pat- rick as Captain, Thomas McDowell as
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Lieutenant and Thomas Grubb as Ensign. (Penna. Gaeztte of Jan. 26, 1748). By March Lancaster county had another company officered by Ga- briel Davis as Captain, Robert Ellis as Lieutenant and Edward Davis as Ensign. (Penna. Gazette of Jan. 26.) Another Lancaster county company was announced, with Jas. Gillespie as Captain, James Gilchrist as Lieuten- ant, and Samuel Johnson as Ensign (Do., March 15). And by the next week the county of Lancaster had regimental officers, Benjamin Cham- bers as Colonel, Robert Dunning as Lieutenant Colonel and Wililam Max- well as Major, with fourteen companies under them; each having a Captain, Lieutenant and Ensign (Do., March 22). By April 25th the county had an- other regiment of fourteen compa- nies, fully officered. Their Colonel was Thomas Cookson; Lieutenant Colonel, James Galbraith, and Major, Robert Baker (Do., April 25). And by June the 16th a third regiment under Colonel Gillespie, Lieutenant Colonel Samuel Anderson and Major James Whitehill (Do., June 16 ). In the midst of these military preparations news reached Pennsylvania about the end of October that peace was pro- claimed (Do., November 3).
In the midst of this spirit Lancas- ter county on October 1, 1748, elected the same four members to Assembly as in 1747. Joseph Pugh was elected sheriff and Isaac Sanders coroner (Gazette of October 6).
1749. As soon as peace between England and France was re-establish- ed factional county politics was every- where evident. The Assemblymen elected were James Wright, Patter- son, Calvin Cooper and Peter Wor- rall. Wright and Cooper were the new men. The election was a Quaker- "Dutch" victory. Cooper and Wright
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were Quakers. Worrall was the idol of the Germans, and Patterson, though Irish, was friendly with the Quakers.
The election of James Wright and Cooper and Patterson was sure and easy. The burden of the fight was be- tween James Webb and Peter Wor- rall. The Germans threw their strength to Worrall and elected him. Webb charged fraud and contested Worrall's election before the Assem- bly
Webb in his petition to the Assem- bly set forth that at the late election there were gross frauds whereby he was not elected; that the good people are thereby defeated of their privi- lege. Many of the voters in the county also joined in a petition setting forth that at the late election the people crowded in a body, and that they stuck their tickets in the end of cloven sticks, and committed other frauds; that tickets were put in by boys; that many voted several times; that the number of votes received were more than double the number of the people who were present; that the officers did not put any on oath or call for any tests. By reason of all this they pray the election to be declared void (4 V., 117-18). Novem- ber 22 the Asembly took the case up and heard many witnesses. The tes- timony was that the election was tu- multuous; that no regular list could be taken of the voters' names; that votes by proxy were allowed; that il- legal votes was received by inspec- tors, especially by Christian Herr, an inspector; votes from minors receiv- ed; that persons not legally chosen inspectors received votes as inspec- tors; that many people voted three, four and five, and even ten, times; that one of the candidates (Worrall) who is returned as elected encour-
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aged giving in more than one vote by the same person; that the number of voters attending did not exceed 1,000. though the tickets found in the box were more than 2,300 (4 V., p. 122, and Rupp., p. 299).
The defense was that only two tick- ets were taken by proxy, but the own- ers of the tickets were in view, the tickets were taken from minors to get rid of them, but they were not put in the box; that those elected inspec- tors soon after starting in were pulled away from their tables, and that the number of voters present was as great as the number of votes cast (4 V., p. 123). The case went over to 1750, and January 2d the Assembly resumed considering it (4 V., p. 126). Several witnesses were heard the next day and the list of taxables of Lancaster county was produced, showing there were 4,598 to show there was no duplication in voting or repeating (4 V., 126). The next day the case was up again, and the repre- sentative who was charged with en- couraging plurality of votes in favor of himself, on his oath, purged him- self, and also by witnesses supported the same (Do., p. 127).
The sheriff of the county was called in at the end of these proceedings and severely censured for this irregu- lar election, and especially for mak- ing himself judge and inspector and clerk of the election, and for having intoxicated persons on the board, and for not having the tally sheets, and for not suppressing disorder and sup- pressing fraud (4 V., 127-8). After all this the sheriff had the "cheek" to present a bill for twenty pounds ex- penses in defending his crooked elec- tion. The Germans had full control of the election, and from this time onwards were the masters in our county politics.
We cannot tell how many of the
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2,300 votes Webb received, and how many Worrall received. One thing is clear, and that is, that at this time it was alleged, only 1,000 voters out of 4,598 entitled voters came to the polls. The roughness and dangers of an election surely kept many away.
Some political feeling was aroused this year by the proceedings to erect York county (4 V., 107-119). Petitions were filed against it on the ground that to cut so many people off would leave tax burdens too heavy on the remainder (4 V., 100). Fully nine- tenths of those living over Susque- hanna were German (Pa. Arch. 3d Ser., Vol. 21).
The Governor this year changed the list of justices of the peace con- siderably. He dropped several and appointed new ones, and greatly . en- larged the number of them.
Such were the political conditions of our county in the first twenty years of its existence. Human nature was the same then as now, and peo. ple took violently opposite views on nearly every public question.
Minutes of February Meeting
Lancaster, Pa., Feb. 4, 1916.
The February meeting of the Lan- caster County Historical Society was held in their room in the A. Herr Smith Library Building on Friday evening. President George M. Steinman occupied the chair. The librarian, Miss Lottie Bausman, pre- sented her annual report which show- ed that many donations had been re- ceived during the past year.
Miss Elizabeth G. Armstrong and and Miss Kate Hartman. both of Lancaster, were elected to member- ship in the Society; and Mrs. Return Fahnestock, John A. Nauman, Esq. and Mr. Harry M. Hoover, all of Lan- caster, were nominated for member- ship.
The suggestion of the secretary, Mr. Charles B. Hollinger, in his annu- al report, to the effect that a social affair be held in connection with one of the monthly meetings was accept- ed and a committee was appointed to arrange for it.
The librarian was authorized to purchase several books. It was sug- gested by D. F. Magee Esq., that the Society should see fit to purchase old manuscripts, books or curios that per- tain to the early history of Lancaster county.
The donations received during De- cember and January included: "Old Schuylkill Tales," from Mrs. Ella Zerbey; the address of D. B. Landis at the Ben Franklin Club banquet on Jan. 17, from D. B. Landis; a
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number of the Society's pamphlets; four numbers of the "Memphis Ap- peal" published at Atlanta, Ga., in Au- gust, 1864, issued just when Sherman was getting ready for his march to the sea, presented by Mrs. M. Alex- ander; and a "hound iron" taken from a government wagon used during the Revolutionary War, from William J. McCaa, Esq., of Churchtown. T. Roberts Appel, Esq. explained that this particular hound iron was made at Valley Forge and is a fine sample of those used at Windsor Forges.
The paper of the evening was "The Political History and Development of Lancaster County's First Twenty Years-1729 to 1749" by H. Frank Eshleman, Esq. The paper was very interesting and told of stirring politi- cal elections and local factional fights connected therewith, the pro- minence of James Hamilton in the political arena for a time; the Quak- ers, Germans, Scotch-Irish, English and other elements and their part in local political and industrial life.
Mr. H. Frank Esaleman of the com- mittr - on indexing twenty volumes of the Historical Society proceedings appealed for volunteers to assist in the work. It was intimated that a number of members of the Society will respond.
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