AREA HISTORY: History of Adams County, Chapter XXIII, Adams County, PA Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Kathy Francis Copyright 2005. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/adams/ _______________________________________________ History of Cumberland and Adams Counties, Pennsylvania Chicago: Warner, Beers & Co., 1886 _______________________________________________ Part III, History of Adams County, Pages 145-151 CHAPTER XXIII. OLD TIME REMINISCENCES-CITIZENS IN GETTYSBURG BETWEEN 1817 AND 1829-INTERESTING ITEMS. HON. J. K. LONGWELL, born in Gettysburg, and for many years a citizen of Westminster, Md., some years ago wrote a communication to the Star and Sentinal, of Gettysburg, and gave the names from memory of those who were citizens here between the years 1817 and 1829, together with a long list of happenings that he remembered. It is, we are told, singularly accurate in all its statements, and we regard it not only as a valuable historic document, but as a most remarkable evidence of a strength and clearness of memory that is rarely to be found. He thus furnishes a nearly complete list of those who were here in the years indicated above. He says, “many of them died or moved away during those years, and others grew up to be men or removed there during that period.” The following are the names in the order he gave them: Alexander Cobean. Leonard Dill. Dr. James H. Miller. William S. Cobean. David McElroy. James Scanlan. Samuel Cobean. Gen. Jacob Eyster. John Gilbert. Alexander Cobean, Jr. Peter Fahnestock. Samuel R. Russell. Andrew Polley, Sr. and Jr. Ephraim Martin. Dr. David Horner. William McPherson. Robert Smith. Robert Hutchinson, of S. George Smyser. Walter A. Smith. David Zeigler. George Swope. Ralph Lashells. Dr. David Gilbert. Robert Wilson. Zepheniah Herbert. Peter Beitsel. William Lamb. Thaddeus Stevens. Joseph Whorfe. William McClean. Robert Hunter. George Kerr. Moses McClean. William Russell. John Galloway. Oliver O. McClean. Adam Swope. Washington Chamberlain. David M. McPherson. Samuel Hutchinson. Samuel C. Cooper. Robert A. McPherson. Jacob Zeigler. John R. McPherson. Christian Culp. Bernhart Gilbert. John Hersh, Sr. Jacob Potzer. Michael Kitzmiller. John H. McClellan. John Stollsmith. Dr. John Parshall. Robert S. King. Adam Wertz. George Wampler. J. L. Kendlehart. Alexander Russell. Thomas Kerr. Peter Sheets. Henry Hoke. David McCreary. David Middlekauf. Dr. C. N. Berluchy. Thomas J. Cooper. John M. Stevenson. Emanuel Zeigler. Phillip Heagy. Walter Smith. Emanuel Zeigler, Jr. John L. Fuller. Samuel B. Smith. William Meredith, P.M. George W. McClellan George E. Buehler. James Agnew. Sarapson S. King. Jacob Winrott, Sr. Henry Wampler. John Troxell. Dr. Alexander Speer. John Kerr. James Duncan. John Garvin. Samuel Galloway. Joshua Ackerman. William Garvin. John Brown. Levi Fahnestock. Gen. John Edie. Rev. John Runkle. Robert Martin. Philip Slentz. William G. McPherson. Isaac R. Smith. James A. Thompson. William McClellan. Samuel H. Buehler. David Heagy. Daniel Comfort. John Cline. George Geyer, Jr. Dr. John Paxton. James Dobbin. Samuel Little. S. S. McCreary. Henry Wasmus. Michael Degroft. Michael Brobst. Hugh Scott. David McCann. George Sweeny. Thomas McKellip. John Murphy, Sr. Robert Taylor. John Adair. James Gourley. George Shryock. George Welsh. James Hall. John F. Macfarlane. Jacob LeFevre. Robert G. Harper. Rev. Charles G. McLean John Bingham. John B. Clark. Mathew Dobbin. George Little. Col. Richard Brown. Samuel S. Forney. Moses Degroft. James A. McCreary. David Eicker. Peter Stewart. George Newman. David Sweeny. Thomas McCreary. William Gillespie. David Dunwoody. William Murphy. Rev. S. S. Schmucker. James Gallagher. Rev. John Bear. Samuel Ramsey. William W. Bell. John R. Edie. Henry Ferry. David Little. Ezekiel Buckingham. John Hersh, Jr. Henry Little. Charles A. Ditterline. Michael Gallagher. Biddy Addy. George Geyer, Sr. Fred Summercamp. George Armour. John Agnew. Gen. Thomas C. Miller. John Murphy, Jr. John Hennessy. James Cooper. J. Richter. John McConaughy. George Arnold. John Edie, Jr. Mathew Longwell. H. D. Wattles. John Slentz. Roger Claxton. John Jenkins. Robert Keech. Rev. John Herbst. William D. Ramsey. Adam Walter. Henry Degroft. Joel R. Danner. Christian Chritzman (the James Pierce. Thomas C. Reid. old fisherman). Alexander Dobbin. Garret Van Orsdel. Michael C. Clarkson. John Houck. William H. Miller. William Paxton. Robert Hayes. Michael Newman. David Edie. John Cress. Moses Jenkins. Andrew G. Miller. Hugh Dunwoody. Jacob Sanders. Dr. John Runkle. Rev. D. McConaughy. George Gilbert. Jacob Norbeck. H. C. Neinstedt. Samuel Miller. William McClean. William E. Camp. The letter accompanying this list of names had these very interesting items: “My recollections of Gettysburg from about 1817 to December, 1828, when I left the place, are very strong, as I think will be manifest when you examine the list of male citizens of that day. It was no trouble to me to go again in memory to every house then standing. The only difficulty was to keep up with the various changes, by removal and otherwise. Many of these names run down to 1800, including Gettys, Dobbin, Robert Harper, Samuel Galloway and others.” Then among other things he says he remembers “The erection of the Cobean house in place of a one-story stone house.” . . .”The erection of the McConaughy house and the attempt made, which failed, to roll the two-story log, weather-boarded building to the site it now occupies on Middle Street. It was afterward occupied by William Meredith, postmaster.” . . .”The execution of Hunter for the murder of Heagy, and the disagreeable day.” . . .”The introduction of water into the town through the hill in Baltimore Street.” . . .”The manufacture and placing of the town clock in the court house by George Welsh.” . . .”The marshaling of the guards, Capt. George Zeigler, and afterward resuscitated under command of Gen. T. C. Miller, as well as the gallant dash of the ‘troop’ under command of Capt. William McCurdy.” . . .”The old Academy, with Judge McClean and Robert Hayes in the English branches, and Dr. McConaughy in the languages, and the time when it was converted into a Lutheran theological seminary, mainly through the exertions of that unfortunate man, Rev. John Herbst.” . . .”The great pedestrian feat of Garret Van Orsdel, in traveling from Chambersburg to Gettysburg in three hours and forty-three minutes.” . . .”The dramatic performance of Dr. McConaughy’s pupils in the court house, which led to the formation of a Thespian Society, and the objections, etc.” . . .”I can not omit the equestrian performance of my old friend, George McClellan (which occurred after I left Gettysburg), in carrying the President’s message from Baltimore to Gettysburg in four hours.” In a postscript he adds: “I remember the gubernatorial contest between Shultz and Gregg. Mr. Bell was a Methodist and therefore could not bet, but he procured a $30 gold watch, which he offered to his old friend R. G. H., if the latter would give him a cent for every vote Shultz would have over Gregg. H. exhibited the cheap watch to all his friends. The majority being 27,000, of course the watch was very dear at $270.” Of these there had removed to other localities Oliver O. McClean, of Lewistown, Penn., a Presbyterian minister and D. D.; William Russell became a banker in Lewistown, Penn.; David Middlekauf, a State senator from 1833 to 1835, on his farm near Shippensburg; John R. Edie, of Somerset, thirty years ago a member of Congress from that district and afterward an officer in the volunteer and regular army; Washington Chamberlain removed to New Orleans; H. C. Neinstedt, a printer in Philadelphia; Jacob Zeigler, of Butler, Penn., a member of the State Assembly and a number of times clerk of that body; John B. Clark, register from 1830 to 1835, who has lived in Missouri for many years, a member of the State Senate during the Rebellion; William H. Miller, a leading lawyer in Carlisle. In the list of the dead are Alexander Cobean, who had been a member of the Legislature in 1799-1800, and at one time president of the Gettysburg Bank; William S. Cobean was sheriff from 1830 to 1833, after being county treasurer from 1828 to 1830. He removed to Cumberland County to serve as cashier of a bank, and was the Whig candidate of that county for treasurer; William McPherson, the great-grandson of Robert McPherson; the latter was one of the earliest settlers in this part of the State, where lineal descendants are a long line of leading, influential citizens, who were ever first in war, first in peace and first in the respect and confidence of their fellow-citizens; William McPherson was lieutenant in the Revolutionary war, was captured at the battle of Long Island, and held by the British a prisoner of war 622 days. Eight years he was a member of the Assembly, and was a leading, active member in securing the passage of the bill for the creation of Adams County. He was one of the first board of directors of the poor, elected in 1818. George Smyser was one of the associate judges of the county, and at one time was president of the bank. Daniel M. Smyser was for several sessions a member of the State Assembly; the Whig candidate for Congress in York and Adams in 1857; was elected president judge of the Bucks and Montgomery District, and in 1855 was the candidate of his party for the supreme bench. William Laub was county treasurer in 1834. William McClean, county treasurer from 1815 to 1817; then was associate judge; afterward held a clerkship in the auditor-general’s office, in Harrisburg, where he died. Moses McClean was elected to Congress in 1844, and died in Gettysburg in the early seventies; in early life he was district attorney. Alexander Russell was a captain in the Revolutionary Army, afterward brigade inspector; was county commissioner in 1813, and a justice of the peace for many years up to his death. Henry Hoke was coroner in 1808-09, and afterward a justice of the peace. Dr. David Horner was coroner from 1824 to 1827, and died one of the associate judges; he was the Whig candidate for Congress in 1844. Dr. Berluchy was postmaster under Polk, 1845-49. Philip Heagy, sheriff from 1827 to 1830. John L. Fuller was a lawyer and died in the full practice. John B. McPherson was the first cashier of the old bank of Gettysburg, and served in this capacity over forty years. He held several other posts of trust in the meantime, among which was county treasurer from 1825 to 1827. William McClelland was prothonotary from 1839 to 1842. Sampson S. King was many years a justice of the peace. He died in Gettysburg. His son, Robert S., died in Perry County. David McElroy was widely noted for many years as the court crier; perched on his high chair in the old court house, his sharp- snapping voice, looking as stern as fate, his picture lingered long in the minds of all who ever saw him. James Duncan was the first prothonotary of the county. Gen. Jacob Eyster was an active militia officer, serving through the various grades; a candidate for sheriff, afterward State senator and then for fifteen years chief clerk in the surveyor-general’s office in Harrisburg, where he died. Ephraim Martin died a notary public, as did his son, Robert. Walter Smith was county commissioner in 1800 and 1801, and county treasurer in 1809-11, again in 1818-20, and his son Robert was twice county treasurer, in 1821-24 and in 1831-33, and for years president of the old bank of Gettysburg. The Whigs, about 1847, voted for him in the Legislature for State treasurer. His brother, Isaac R. Smith, died at his home in Philadelphia. Jacob Winrott, Sr., was sheriff from 1806 to 1809, and register from 1821 to 1823. Zepheniah Herbert was State senator 1824-25. Dr. J. H. Miller was a leading physician prior to his removing to Baltimore, where he died. Thaddeus Stevens became the most noted congressman of his day. John Garvin was many years justice of the peace and an influential citizen. James A. Thompson was a leading member of society; was coroner in 1821-24, director of the poor in 1831, clerk of the courts in 1836-39 and county treasurer in 1841. John Edie was one of the foremost of our grand old Revolutionary sires; was sheriff of York County from 1786 to 1789; was one of the first editors and proprietors of the York Herald, which issued its first number January 7, 1789, and was changed to the Recorder January 29, 1800; he was elected brigadier-general of Adams County militia June 5, 1807. George Geyer, Jr., was postmaster in Gettysburg under Buchanan. Michael C. Clarkson died in 1874 at the home of his son, Robert, the Protestant Episcopal Bishop of Nebraska. William W. Paxton removed to Franklin County, where he became an associate judge. John McConaughy died in the full practice of his profession; he was county treasurer in 1812-14, and for some years president of the Bank of Gettysburg; Mathew Longwell was county treasurer in 1807-08. George Sweeny removed to Ohio and was twice elected to Congress, 1839 and 1843. Andrew G. Miller was prosecuting attorney one term; was appointed by President Van Buren judge in the Territory of Wisconsin, and afterward, by President Polk, was made a United States judge of that State. George Zeigler was register from 1824 to 1830, and prothonotary from 1832 to 1835; Bernhart Gilbert was sheriff from 1821 to 1824 and prothonotary from 1835 to 1839. Jesse Gilbert was county treasurer in 1835, 1836 and 1837. Dr. David Gilbert removed to Philadelphia and became professor in the Pennsylvania Medical College; he died while in an extensive practice in Philadelphia. Dr. Porshall removed to Tennesee. George Kerr was a captain in the Revolution; he was a merchant in Gettysburg as early as 1784. Samuel Galloway went to Ohio and was a member of Congress from the Columbus District from 1855 to 1857. John F. Macfarlane was elected county commissioner in 1825; was the Whig candidate for State Senate, in the district of Adams, Cumberland and Franklin Counties. Rev. Charles G. McClean removed to Indianapolis, where he established a school; he died there. Alexander Dobbin and family are fully noticed in another chapter, and also the McPherson family. Robert Hayes was county commissioner in 1812, and was a teacher in the Gettysburg Academy. George Welsh was prothonotary and clerk of the courts from 1824 to 1832; he was also postmaster. Rev. David McConaughy became president of Washington (Penn.) College; he died there in 1852. The McConaughy family are more fully noticed in another chapter. Jacob LeFevre was register in 1839. He published the Gettysburg Compiler; died in Cumberland County, his home. William W. Bell was postmaster for twelve years. He was succeeded in that office, in 1841, by Hezekiah Van Orsdel, who afterward lived in Baltimore. William E. Camp was drowned in Lake Erie - the boat on which he was a passenger was destroyed. Robert Wilson and Thomas McCreary were each employed for several years in the prothonotary’s office. John Hersh was postmaster 1825-29; he removed to Ohio, and became cashier of the Bank of Gainesville, where he died. Robert G. Harper published the Adams Centinel through a long and eventful period; he was at one time county treasurer, then United States assessor, and then associate judge. Gen. Thomas C. Miller was sheriff from 1824 to 1827, and afterward State senator; he removed to Cumberland County, where he engaged in business as an iron manufacturer, where he died. James Cooper was twice elected to Congress; he was several years a member of the Assembly, of which body he served one term as speaker; at one time he was attorney-general of the State, then a United States senator, and died a brigadier-general in the United States Army. Michael Newman was county commissioner in 1816. William Gillespie was postmaster under Pierce from 1853 to 1857. Rev. Dr. Schmucker, after retiring from the professorship in the theological seminary, devoted the remainder of his life to literary pursuits. John Slentz was director of the poor in 1827. He was born in Adams County (then part of York) June 22, 1792, and died in Gettysburg November 22, 1870, aged eighty-seven years and five months. His wife was Anna Maria Troxell, daughter of John Troxell. She was born in Gettysburg May 11, 1794; died August 9, 1881, aged eighty years. At the time of her death she was the oldest resident of the town. Her father, John Troxell, was born May 3, 1760, and died October 2, 1855, aged ninety-five years. He was a cotemporary here with James Gettys, and built one of the first houses in the town. A deed, dated December 26, 1794, by James Gettys and his wife Mary, to John Troxell, for lot No. 77, Chambers Street (Minnich & Scott property), is witnessed by Alexander Irvine and Henry Hoke, and acknowledged before Alexander Russell, Esq., is the evidence of his purchase. The older people of the county remember Mr. Troxell with great affection. He was noted for a remarkable memory, and his love of going back in his old age over the reminiscences of nearly a century before. He knew well the minutest details of the early history of the town, and was fond of telling them. On one occasion, we are told, he gave an interesting account of the building of two log-houses on what is now Baltimore Street, one where the Duncan property now stands, and the other at the corner of Baltimore and High Streets. The hill was then covered with timber; the logs were cut on the grounds, put in green and rough, and the two buildings run up two stories without partitions, and as they were racing in the construction of the two, the capping of the chimneys was to be the test of completion. Doors were temporarily made of sheets or blankets, and bed-spreads were used for partitions, and in this way they were finished and the families moved in.