HISTORY: Annals of Harrisburg, 1858, pages 75-99, Dauphin County, PA Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Judith Bookwalter Copyright 2008. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/dauphin/ _________________________________________ ANNALS OF HARRISBURG Annals, Comprising Memoirs, Incidents and Statistics of Harrisburg, From the Period of Its First Settlement, For the Past, the Present, and the Future. Compiled by George H. Morgan. Harrisburg: Published by Geo. A. Brooks, 1858. Entered according to act of Congress, in the year 1858, By George A. Brooks, In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the United States for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. CONVEYANCE OF THE FERRY LOT. On the 6th of July, 1785, "in consideration of the sum of five shillings," John and Mary Harris also conveyed to Jacob Awl, Joshua Elder, Andrew Stewart, James Cowden and Wm. Brown, in trust for the use of the public, "a certain lot of ground in the town of Harrisburg, called and known as the 'Ferry Lot,' beginning at a post marked for a corner on the line of Front street, thence north 37 degrees east 10 perches, to a corner; thence 53 degrees west 4 perches to a corner; thence south 37 degrees west 10 perches to the place of beginning, containing one quarter of an acre, together with all and singular the rights, liberties, privileges, hereditaments and appurtenances whatsoever thereunto belonging." 76 ANNALS OF HARRISBURG. THE FUTURE SEAT OF GOVERNMENT OF PENNSYLVANIA PREDICTED. Impressed with a strong faith that this point on the Susquehanna would be looked to, if not as a great commercial point, at least one possessing advantages from its central position, and at that early day presenting itself as the great crossing for the growing trade of the western and northern settlements, Mr. Harris is said to have observed to a gentleman, Mr. Hollenback, who afterwards settled at Wilkesbarre, that this place would become the seat of government of Pennsylvania; and so strongly persuaded was he of the realization of his prophecy, that by deed dated July 6, 1785, he gave in trust to the commissioners, for the use of the Commonwealth, in case the seat of government should be fixed at Harrisburg, four acres and twenty-one perches of land, being the present site of the State Arsenal. The following is an extract from the deed conveying the same. It is recorded in book A, Recorder's Office: "In consideration of the sum of five shillings, grant, bargain, sell, release and enfeoff, and confirm unto Jacob Awl, Joshua Elder, Andrew Stewart, James Cowden, and William Brown, their heirs and assigns, in trust for public use, and such purposes as the Legislature shall hereafter direct, a certain lot or piece of ground, situated in the said town of Harrisburg, in the said county of Dauphin, marked on the general plan of the said town "Public Ground," situated and bounded as follows: Beginning at a post marked for a corner on the lines of Third and Walnut streets; thence along the said Walnut street, north thirty- seven degrees east seventeen perches and a quarter to a post marked for a corner; thence north thirty-five degrees west thirty-one perches to a black oak; thence south fifty-seven degrees west twenty-three perches to a post marked for a corner on the line of Third street; thence down the said street, south 77 ANNALS OF HARRISBURG. forty-five degrees east thirty-seven perches to the place of beginning." The late Thomas P. Cope, of Philadelphia, informed George W. Harris, Esq., in 1846, that he was at the house of John Harris, on the present site of Harrisburg, he thinks, about the year 1785. He ate breakfast with Mr. Harris, who expressed to him the opinion that the place (Harrisburg) would become the seat of government of Pennsylvania, and he pointed out the public hill as the spot where the public buildings would be erected. ATTEMPT TO FIX THE FEDERAL SEAT OF GOVERNMENT AT OR NEAR HARRISBURG. The question of fixing, permanently, the seat of the Federal Government, began to occupy public attention shortly after the close of the Revolutionary War; and was strongly agitated in the Congress of 1789, then in session at New York. The question was first submitted to the House of Representatives of that body in the shape of the following resolution, which, with the subsequent information, the compiler gleans from the "Pennsylvania Packet," published at Philadelphia, in the year above stated: "Resolved, That a permanent seat for the government of the United States ought to be fixed as near the centre of wealth, population and extent of territory as shall be consistent with the convenience of the Atlantic navigation, having also a due regard to the circumstances of the western country." Adopted. Mr. Goodhue observed that the members from the Eastern and Northern States had contemplated the subject of a permanent seat of the Federal Government with deliberation. They had turned their eyes to different parts of the country, and had at last, after a mutual and full consultation, came to an agree- 78 ANNALS OF HARRISBURG. ment that the banks of the Susquehanna was as far South and as near the centre of the population and extent of territory as was consistent with other circumstances important to the country. They felt disposed to be governed by principles of accommodation, and were of opinion that the banks of the Susquehanna ought to be chosen for the permanent residence of Congress. He concluded by reading a resolution to this effect. Mr. Hartley supported the resolution, and pointed out Wright's Ferry as an eligible place. Mr. Lee moved to amend, by fixing the seat of government on the Potomac instead of the Susquehanna. Not agreed to - yeas 20, nays 31. Mr. Madison proposed to amend, by leaving it discretional to be either on the Potomac or the Susquehanna. Not agreed to - yeas 20, nays 31. On a subsequent day, the House of Representatives, in committee of the whole, proceeded to consider the resolution of Mr. Goodhue, which read as follows: "Resolved, In the opinion of this committee, that the permanent seat of government of the United States ought to be at some convenient place on the east bank of the Susquehanna river, in the State of Pennsylvania," &c. Mr. Heister moved to insert after the words "Susquehanna river," the words "between Harrisburg and Middletown, inclusive." A lengthy and spirited debate occurred, participated in by nearly all the principal members of the House; those from the Northern and Eastern States generally favoring the amendment, and those from the South opposing it. The amendment was finally lost. Several other amendments were proposed and lost; and the original resolution was carried. In Committee of the Whole House next day, it was resolved 79 ANNALS OF HARRISBURG. that the Secretary of the Treasury be directed to borrow the sum of $100,000, to be repaid in twenty years, with five percent. Interest, for the purpose of erecting the necessary buildings on the bank of the Susquehanna. Mr. Fitzsimmons moved for the "appointment of commissioners to examine and report upon the most eligible situations for the public buildings on the Susquehanna; and that they be authorized, by and with the advice of the President, to purchase such quantity of lands as may be thought necessary," &c. Mr. Hartley said the State of Pennsylvania, both by its convention and Legislature, had made the cession of the jurisdiction by Congress over any district of ten miles square in the State that might be selected for the seat of government. The resolution of Mr. Fitzsimmons, after being so amended as to make the acts of the commissioners subject to the approval or rejection by the President, was adopted - yeas 28, nays 21. The resolution went to the Senate, which body struck out all relating to the Susquehanna, and inserted a clause fixing the permanent seat of government at Germantown, Pa. The House at first agreed to the clause, but refused to concur with some subsequent action of the Senate thereon; and pending the further consideration of the subject, Congress adjourned sine die for that year. At the session of 1790, the question was again brought before congress, and created an intense excitement throughout the country. The Northern and Eastern members were strenuous in their efforts to prevent the seat of government being located south of the Susquehanna river; while, on the other hand, the Southern and Western members were just as active in their labors to prevent it being located on the Susquehanna, or at any point north or east of that river. The votes on the question was divided equally. Finally, this sectional feeling became so strong as to endanger the safety of the Union itself, and Washington, Jefferson, Ham- 80 ANNALS OF HARRISBURG. ilton, and other patriots, earnestly sought to effect a compromise, but were unsuccessful. At last, by changing the votes of one or two of the Northern members, brought about through the instrumentality of Mr. Jefferson, a bill, pretty much in the shape of that proposed at the previous session, passed Congress, fixing the site of the seat of government on the banks of the Potomac, at such place as should be selected by commissioners under the direction of the President. APPEARANCE OF THE TOWN WHEN FIRST LAID OUT - INCIDENTS. The following incidents originally appeared in Napey's Directory, and were written by George W. Harris, Esq.: "When the town was first laid out, the old orchard [belonging to the mansion house, now the Pennsylvania Female College] extended up to about the line of Mulberry street. About the intersection of Mulberry street with Second street, was a ridge from which the ground descended from six to ten feet to the present Market Square, [the ground in and about which was of a swampy character,] and the water ran from the Square upwards and into the river, along the channel which is under the bridge now erected across Front street, above Walnut. At this time the ground above Market street was chiefly in woods. "Mr. Robert Harris, who died in the year 1851, frequently saw several bears killed in the river in one day. In the fall of the year they would come down from the mountains to the cornfields, and were quite abundant in the neighborhood. It was quite common to see them while riding along the roads. The farmers, when going out to plough, would frequently take their guns to guard against their depredations. On one occasion, Mr. Robert Harris, with his sister, Mrs. Hanna, were playing at the river near the mouth of the run at the end of Walnut street. 81 ANNALS OF HARRISBURG. A thicket of bushes extended up along the run. Some boys came running from a barn on the bank, and told them that two bears were coming down the run. They scampered up the bank, when presently the bears came along and took into the river. "On another occasion a man named Rennox, with some others, went in pursuit of a bear. When the canoe approached near to it, Rennox made a stroke at the bear with his socket pole, but missed it. He either lost his balance or was drawn overboard by the weight of the pole, and the bear struck him with his paw and tore his cheek open. "Wild turkies were also abundant here at this period. John Harris shot wild turkies from the door of his store house. Beaver and otter were then and afterwards killed along Paxton creek, and on the island in the neighborhood. "The town, as laid out by John Harris, extended as far down the bank as Mulberry street, and the lot now occupied by the 'Swan House,' corner of Front and Mulberry streets, owned by the heirs of Valentine Egle, was No. 1 on the plan of the town. In the course of a few years afterwards he extended the plan down to Mary's alley, which bounds the stone-house lot on the upper side. His executors, in 1792, extended the plan of lots further down. "There is no house, except the building now occupied by the Female College, on Front street, yet standing within the limits of Harrisburg, which is certainly known to have been erected before the town was laid out. "John Hamilton erected the first permanent embellishment to the town, after Harris' stone house, by building a brick house at the upper corner of Front street and Blackberry alley, and the large establishment for his store on the corner of Market square and Market street, which was known a few years ago at the 'Washington House,' but since replaced by a new structure, termed the 'Jones House.' Mr. Hamilton carried 82 ANNALS OF HARRISBURG. on an extensive trade with the Western settlers. In place of the present rapid mode of conveying merchandise and passengers to Pittsburg, he kept large numbers of horses and mules, and every few weeks his caravans set out 'for the West,' ladened with salt, powder, lead, &c. "The first clergyman established in the town was Rev. Mr. Montgomery, a Presbyterian. His first discourse, it is said, was delivered in the lot where recently stood the ruins of the Presbyterian Church, on a pleasant afternoon in the month of June. The congregation - the entire village - were sheltered by two or three large apple trees and some noble oaks, the primitive growth of the forest. "Chief Justice M'Kean resided here for some time, at least when Congress sat at York. He lived in a substantial one story log house, a short distance above what is now Locust street. He wore an immense cocked hat, and had great deference shown him by the country people and the straggling Indians, who had their village a short distance from the town. When he and the other Judges of the Supreme Court came to the town to hold court, numbers of the citizens would go out on horseback to meet them and escort them to town. Sometimes one or two hundred people would attend on this occasion. And each morning while the Chief Justice was in town holding court, the sheriff and constables escorted him from his lodgings to the court room. When on the Bench, he sat with his cocked hat on, and was dressed in a scarlet gown." FIRST COURT AT HARRIS' FERRY. The first courts in Dauphin county were held by Justices of the Peace, and the earliest record of a court reads: "At a Court of Quarter Sessions holden near Harris' Ferry, in and for the county of Dauphin, &c.," on the "third Tuesday 83 ANNALS OF HARRISBURG. of May, in the year of our Lord 1785," before "Timothy Green, Samuel Jones and Jonathan M'Clure, Esqrs., Justices of the same court." The sheriff of Lancaster county exercised the same office in Dauphin county. The names of the Jurymen were: James Cowden (foreman), Robert Montgomery, John Gilchrist, Barefoot Brunson, John Clark, Rowen M'Clure, John Carson, John Wilson, William Crane, Archibald M'Allister, Richard Dixon, John Pattimore, James Crouch, Jacob Awl, William Brown, Andrew Stewart, James Rogers, Samuel Stewart, John Cooper, Alexander Berryhill. Alexander Graydon was the first Prothonotary; Anthony Kelker the first Sheriff, and Rudolph Kelker the first Deputy Sheriff. The earliest record of a punishment is the account of one inflicted on William Courtenay and Jesse Rowland, who were sentenced to receive eighteen lashes and pay fifteen shillings sterling, on the 18th of August, 1785, between the hours of four and six o'clock in the afternoon. Several records occur in which punishment was inflicted by lashes and "standing in the pillory."An unusually large number of the cases tried during the first term were for horse stealing. CHANGES IN THE NAME OF THE TOWN. The minutes of the second court held in the town are dated at "Harrisburg;" and on the 3d of August, 1786, the following endorsement appears on the docket: "The name of the County Town, or Seat of the Courts, is altered from 'Harrisburg' to 'Louisbourg,' in consequence of the Supreme Executive Council of the Commonwealth so styling it in the commissions of the Justices of the said Town." 84 ANNALS OF HARRISBURG. On the 16th day of May, 1791, the Docket contains the following note: "The name of the County Town is altered to Harrisburg, in pursuance of an act of Assembly creating it into a borough under that name, passed 13th of April, 1791." George W. Harris, Esq., relates that his father (the late Robert Harris, Esq.) informed him that when the act of Assembly was passed, in 1785, establishing Dauphin county, it fixed the seat of government near Harris' Ferry. The design was to leave to John Harris the privilege of naming the town. But the Chief Justice (M'Kean) and some of the Judges of the Supreme Court conceived the notion that as the county was called after the Dauphin of France, the town should be called Louisbourg, after Louis XVI. At this time the prejudices of the people ran high in favor of France for the aid that kingdom had given America during the Revolution. Besides, Judge M'Kean and John Harris had had a personal difficulty, which occurred about the time the former was leaving Harrisburg, after his residence here; and, perhaps, being influenced by motives of hostility towards Mr. Harris, Mr. M'Kean strongly urged that the town should be called Louisbourg. Accordingly, in the first precept for holding the courts here, the court was directed to be held at Louisbourg. John Harris, however, told the Judges that they might "Louisbourg" as much as they pleased, but that he would never execute a title for any lot in any other name than that of Harrisburg; and his determination prevailed. THE FIRST COURT HOUSES. The building in which the first court at Harris' Ferry was held, was a log house which stood until about fifteen years ago, at the corner of what is now Washington avenue and Front 85 ANNALS OF HARRISBURG. Street; and the "pillory," or punishing place, was in that neighborhood. The court was afterwards held in a log house which still stands, [but now weatherboarded] on the south-east corner of Market street and Dewberry alley. From this place the court moved into the present Court House, which it occupied until December, 1812, when it vacated that building for the use of the Legislature, which body occupied it until July 2, 1822, when it took possession of the State Capitol, as will appear hereafter. When the court vacated the Court House it moved into the then partially finished brick building, owned at the time by Mr. Capp, now known as the "White Hall" tavern. While here, the Commissioners of the county erected the brick buildings opposite the "Franklin House," corner of Walnut street and Raspberry alley, into which the court moved, and which it occupied until the Legislature vacated the present Court House, as above stated. The following is a list of the President Judges of the Dauphin county courts since the adoption of the Constitution of 1790. It is derived from the "Executive Minutes," in the office of the Secretary of the Commonwealth: John Joseph Henry, commissioned December 16, 1793. Walter Franklin, commissioned January 18, 1811. Amos Ellmaker, commissioned July 3, 1815. David Scott, commissioned December 21, 1816. Samuel D. Franks, commissioned July 29, 1818. Calvin Blythe, commissioned February 1, 1830. James M. Porter, commissioned July 1, 1839. Anson v. Parsons, commissioned January 16, 1841. Calvin Blythe, commissioned February 4, 1842. Nathaniel B. Eldred, commissioned March 30, 1843. John J. Pearson, commissioned April 7, 1849. John J. Pearson, elected October 14, 1851. 86 ANNALS OF HARRISBURG. CURIOUS CASE OF SWINDLING. About the year 1790, there flourished among the poor residents of the western part of Berks county, a noted swindler named George Savin, alias Greene. He was a man of talent, possessed a winning address, and was a thorough master in quick and correct discernment of character, which enabled him for a long time to prey upon the purses of his credulous neighbors with impunity. The following extract from 2d Yeats' Reports will explain the character of his swindling operations: "At Nisi Prius, at Harrisburg - October Assizes, 1798. CORUM, YEATS and SMITH, Justices. ABRAM STOUT against RANDOLPH RASSEL. Special action in the case. The plaintiff declared that whereas George Savin, alias Green, was indebted to him in L100, the defendant, in consideration that the plaintiff promised to accept him as his debtor in the room of the said George Savin, alias Green, on the 2d July, 1790, promised to pay him the said L100 within six weeks from that time or sooner, nevertheless, &c. Plea non assumpsit. The evidence on the trial turned out as follows: Savin was an artful swindler, and gulled a number of ignorant persons to deliver him divers sums of gold and silver, under a pretence that he would double the amount by some chemical process in a short period. He first received, as if reluctantly, some small sums, and delivered to the adventures in his bank, (so called,) a few days afterwards, genuine Spanish dollars, apparently new, doubling the sums paid him. When his fame was sufficiently known, and the avarice of the weak people in the neighborhood highly inflamed, he soon got into his custody considerable sums, and then decamped privately in the night from his haunt - a retired place twelve miles from Reading, and concealed himself in Dauphin county. To his latter hiding place 87 ANNALS OF HARRISBURG. he was pursued by the plaintiff and one Francis Umbehocker, two of his dupes, who offered a reward for apprehending him. The person whom they made use of for this purpose ingeniously held out to the defendant the lure of having L200 in specie at home, ready to be put into Savin's bank, if he should come to his house and receive it for multiplication. Some strong suspicious circumstances were shown against the defendant as being in connection with Savin. The latter first came to the house, in pursuance of the scheme, about ten o'clock at night of the 2d of July, 1790. The plaintiff and Umbehocker lay concealed in the barn, and were notified of Savin's presence. On their appearance Savin was alarmed, and desired them to walk up stairs with him. On a signal given the defendant also appeared, and some altercation occurred; but afterwards, on being informed of their respective demands, he became security for Savin's appearance at his house the next morning before day. Thither they all came on the 3d of July, 1790, and defendant promised to pay the plaintiff his demand against Savin, L100, within six weeks from that time, or sooner; and as Savin owed to Umbehocker $303 11, to pay him $100 down, and the residue on the Tuesday following, at the same house in Dauphin county. Whereupon Savin was set at liberty. Verdict pro quer for L149 17s 6d. damages. Messrs. Clymer and Reed pro quer. Messrs. Ingersoll, Hopkins and Fisher pro def. A motion was afterwards made for a new trial, and a rule to show cause obtained; but the argument coming on in December term, 1799, the defendant's counsel discharged the rule." THE TOWN INCORPORATED INTO A BOROUGH. The act to erect the town of Harrisburg into a borough was passed on the 13th day of April, 1791; and an act to alter the same without interfering with the boundaries originally laid 88 ANNALS OF HARRISBURG. down, was approved February 1, 1808, on the ground "that experience has fully proved that, owing to a difference in the local situation of the places, and various other causes, the act of Assembly for erecting the town of Reading into a borough, however applicable to the purposes for which it was originally intended by the Legislature, is not well calculated for the good government of the borough of Harrisburg; therefore, be it enacted, that the said town of Harrisburg shall continue and forever remain a borough, under the name and title of the "Borough of Harrisburg;' the extent and limits of which shall be the same as in the original law, to wit: Limits of Harrisburg, incorporated 13th April, 1791. Beginning at low water mark on the eastern shore of the Susquehanna river; thence by the pineapple tree north sixty degrees and one quarter east, seventy-nine perches, to an ash tree on the west bank of Paxton creek; thence by the several corners thereof three hundred and twenty- three perches to a white hickory on William Maclay's line; thence by the same, south sixty-seven and three quarters degrees west two hundred and twelve perches to a marked chestnut-oak, on the eastern bank of the Susquehanna; thence by the same course to low water mark to the place of beginning." The borough limits were extended by the act of the 16th April, 1838, by the 17th section of "An Act granting certain authorities to the cities of Lancaster and Philadelphia, and for other purposes," in the following language: "The north-western boundary line of the borough of Harrisburg shall be, and the same is hereby extended and enlarged as follows: Extending it along the river line to the upper line of the land of the late William Maclay, on said river; thence to Paxton creek, and thence along said creek to the north-western corner of the present boundary;" thus annexing the town of Maclaysburg, or all that part of the present borough laying north-west of South 89 ANNALS OF HARRISBURG. street; and in the 18th section, giving its inhabitants the privileges and subjecting them to the same liabilities as if they had been originally included within the corporate limits of said borough. The minutes of the first Town Councils are not to be found; and the only record the compiler could discover relative to the affairs of the borough in the first year of its incorporation, is an account of the Overseers of the Poor, which reads as follows: "To amount of Hogs and Butter for ye use of ye poor, L16 1s. 1® d." DEATH OF JOHN HARRIS, JR. John Harris, the founder of Harrisburg, died 29th July, 1791, and is buried in the graveyard of Paxton church. He was about sixty-five years of age. COST OF THE COURT HOUSE. The Minutes of the first Boards of County Commissioners are not to be found, and it is therefore difficult to discover any great amount of information respecting the erection of the county buildings. There is, however, in the Commissioners' office, what is entitled an "Order Book" for the year 1785, which gives the receipts and expenditures of the county for that year. By it we learn that the old Jail was erected at a considerable period before the present Court House; for among the first expenditures noted in the book are sums of money paid for the erection of a "stone wall around the goal." The expenditures made for the construction of the Court House we find to be as follows: 90 ANNALS OF HARRISBURG. L. S. D. James Mitchell, New Court House, 103 0 0 Mitchel & Kapp, do 8 9 10 John Kean, do 5 6 do do 791 0 0 do do 937 2 0 do do 500 0 0 do do 100 0 0 do do 100 0 0 do do 100 0 0 John Kean & R. Harris, do 400 0 0 do do do 101 4 0 do do do 152 4 2 do do do 150 0 0 do do do 250 0 0 do do do 751 6 11 Robert Harris, do 75 0 0 do do 181 5 0 do do 371 0 0 do do 75 0 0 do do 5 2 8 do do 3 7 6 1/2 do do 41 2 1 do do 171 2 8 do do 30 7 3 Trustees, do 851 5 0 do do 2691 2 2 do do 2578 3 8 John Cumins, do 5 0 0 James Ingraham, do 1 2 6 Benjamin Kurtz, do 3 0 0 John Balsely, do 1 8 9 Connelly & Rowen, do 1721 5 4 do do 115 6 3 Frederick Cleckner, do 1 1 3 do do 7 6 William Wray, do 21 7 6 C. Kuncle, do 1 2 6 do do 21 4 3 Benjamin Trego, do 14 7 2 91 ANNALS OF HARRISBURG. L. S. D. Bricker & Bennet, new Court House 4 15 7 1/2 L. Lemmers, do 5 5 10 Charles Rowen, do 9 11 1 do do 6 16 1 1/2 Henry Bruner, do 2 17 6 Jacob Wain, do 10 11 8 H. Eckert, Jail and do 15 16 9 H. Ford, do 6 6 0 Court House Bell, 131 18 10 Residue of Bell, 26 13 10 Henry Brimer, 2 5 0 New Bell 112 10 0 THE MARKET HOUSES - THEIR COST. In the borough account for the year 1807, we find a statement of the expenditure of monies for the construction of market houses, the sum total of which was $915.86. The first buildings appropriated to this purpose were very small, and in the language of an old citizen, "mere sheds in comparison with the present capacious buildings." GREAT SICKNESS AT HARRISBURG. About the year 1793, Harrisburg was exceedingly sickly. A fever of a violent character, similar to the Yellow Fever, prevailed, especially among the new settlers or foreigners. At the same time the Yellow Fever was prevailing in Philadelphia, and fears were entertained of its introduction into Harrisburg. A patrol was accordingly established at the lower end of the town, to prevent infected persons of Philadelphia from coming into it. A large number of Irish emigrants died, and some of the citizens; but most families of the place were to some extent afflicted. 92 ANNALS OF HARRISBURG. A MILL DAM THE SUPPOSED CAUSE THEREOF. A mill dam, owned by two men named Landis, was generally thought to be the cause of this sickness, and the citizens entered upon decisive measures for its removal. Meetings were held, committees appointed, funds were raised and tendered to the Landis's, the mill dam removed, the mill purchased, &c., as will appear by the following extracts from papers furnished by the late Hon. J. C. Bucher and R. F. Kelker, Esq., and published in Rupp's History of Dauphin county: MEETING OF THE CITIZENS. "At a meeting of the inhabitants of the borough of Harrisburg, on the 16th day of January, 1795, it was unanimously agreed that two thousand and six hundred pounds be immediately assessed on the property of the citizens of the said borough; that one thousand and six hundred pounds of the said sum be collected on or before the 6th day of March next; that the remaining one thousand pounds be secured to be paid, with interest, in two equal annual instalments, and that the whole (to wit: the L1600 in cash, and the residue in bonds) be tendered to Peter and Abraham Landis, or either of them, proprietors of the mill and other water-works, with the appurtenances thereto belonging, near the borough aforesaid, as a full compensation for their property in the same; and that in case they refuse to accept the said sum as a full compensation for the said mill, with the appurtenances, that then we unanimously agree to prostrate the dam erected on the waters of Paxton creek, for the purpose of conveying water to said mill, and pay our proportionable parts of all legal expenses and damages that may accrue on any suit or suits, indictment or indictments that may be brought or prosecuted in consequence of such act or acts. Witness our hands and date aforesaid: [Here follows the signatures of over one hundred citizens.] 93 ANNALS OF HARRISBURG. The following subscriptions were made by the citizens named to the mill-dam fund, independent of the amount assessed upon their respective properties at the town meeting: "We the subscribers do promise to pay the sums annexed to our names, to Conrod Bombaugh, Esq., as a gratuity towards paying the expense of the purchase of the reduction of the mill-dam on Paxton creek, next the borough of Harrisburg, and that when called upon. Witness our hands, January 21st, 1795: Wm. Crabbe, $20 00 Edward Crouch, $2 00 Major Swiney, 15 00 William Stewart, 2 00 George Whitehill, 10 00 Samuel Finney, 2 00 Jacob Burckart, 8 00 John Weidman, 2 00 George Reitzell, 6 00 James Byers, 2 00 Soloman Markel, 4 00 John Martin, 1 00 John Peiffer, 16 00 Peter Lien, 1 00 Anthony Seyfort, 10 00 Simon Bassler, 1 00 John Maclay, 20 00 George Lutz, 50 Benj. Hunt, 10 00 William Krebbs, 1 00 Jacob Fridley, 2 00 Jacob Zeigler, 1 00 John Patterson, 4 00 Jacob Fetter, 1 00 John Gilchrist, 6 00 William Porter, 2 00 Joseph Weigley, 8 00 C. B. 1 00 John Spangler, 8 00 Peter Bobe, 1 00 Thomas Gregg, 10 00 Christian Walborn, 1 00 Thomas Dickey, 2 00 Thomas Trousdale, 1 00 Mordecai M'Kinney, 4 00 William Allen, 2 00 Samuel Awl, 4 00 Robert Freckelton, 2 00 Irwin & Howard, 12 00 Jacob Houck, 6 00 William Patterson, 4 00 Charles Rowan, 2 33 John M'Farlind, 4 00 Rudolph Kelker, 4 00 Anthony Kelker, 2 00 James Reed, 1 00 Robert Boal, 2 00 94 ANNALS OF HARRISBURG. AN ESTIMATE of the proportion of each citizen of Harrisburg to purchase the Mill belonging to the Landis family, in order, with Divine favor, to restore the borough to its former state of health and prosperity. L. s. Brua, Peter, 6 6 Awl, Jacob, Exec., 15 0 Clark, Widow, 1 4 Allen, Jacob, 4 0 Crabb, William, 4 8 Allen, George, 4 16 Conrod, Henry, 10 16 Allen, Joseph, 4 4 Cummins, John, 1 4 Allcorn, James, 1 4 Chambers, John, Exec., 1 10 Armstrong, Andrew, 14 12 Carson, William, 1 4 Abbot's House, 2 14 Clunie, James, 17 0 Benner, John, 4 2 Cassel, George, 3 0 Bennet, Thomas, 2 4 Cairns, James, 12 Boyd, John, 2 14 Comfort, John, 6 18 Boyd, Adam, 23 2 Culp, Mark, 2 8 Bucher, Jacob, 6 14 Degar, Jacob, 2 0 Bruner, Henry, 6 6 Duncan, James, 20 14 Brindle, Philip, 7 12 Downey, Charles, 2 8 Boyd, Widow, 5 8 Denning, Peter, Exec., 6 0 Bader, Henry, 7 4 Davis, Samuel B., 2 16 Bombach, Conrod, 20 4 Drawley, John, 2 16 Berryhill, Alexander, 12 12 Dentzell, John, 5 0 Bollinger, Widow, 1 16 Dickey, William, 1 4 Bombach, John, 1 4 Dickey, Thomas, 2 0 Bleymire, John, Ebright, Jacob, 16 10 Beatty, Gawin, 1 0 Elder, John, 4 16 Barr, Alexander, 7 4 Earnest, John, 3 0 Brooks, James, 3 0 Ebbert, John, 11 16 Berryhill, Alex., Sr., 16 Eiteneyer, Widow, 1 4 Berryhill, Samuel, 3 14 Elliot, James, 2 8 Baker, Peter, 3 0 Ensminger, Michael, 1 16 Burmister, Charles, Elder, Joshua, 45 0 Brooks, John, 7 16 Fisher, George, 40 0 Beaty, James, 12 0 Fulton, Henry, 16 16 Balzly, John, 9 12 Fenton, Benjamin, 6 12 Bennage, Lawrence, 4 10 Feger, John, 1 16 Barr, Robert, 4 4 95 ANNALS OF HARRISBURG. Feder, John, 4 10 House, Joseph, 2 0 File, John, 2 8 Heaming, Jacob, 9 0 Fridley, G. & Barney, 12 0 Holstein, George, 9 0 Ford, Henry, 7 4 Horning, Conrad, 2 8 Firestone, George, 7 4 Irwin, Robert, 20 8 Forrest, Andrew, 6 18 Issett, Henry, 6 18 Fogelsanger, John, 6 0 Ingram, William, 3 8 Foster, Thomas, 14 8 Irwin & Howard, 12 0 Graydon, Alex. 18 0 Kamp, William, 1 0 Gregg, Thomas, 6 12 Kunkle, Christian, 22 18 Geiger, Barnhart, 4 4 Krause, John & Andrew, 10 4 Greenawalt, Christian, 4 10 Kunkle, Peter, 1 6 Gilmore, Moses, 12 12 Kreamer, John, 4 0 Gillem, John, 6 14 Kapp, Michael, 18 0 Gibson, Reuben, 2 4 Kean, John, 11 4 Glass, William, 4 16 Kurtz, Benjamin, 3 0 Graybill, Peter, 6 14 Knatcher, Michael, 2 14 Graydon, William, 4 16 Kapp, Michael, Jr., 6 0 Girt, Frederick, 3 0 King, Charlotte, 1 4 Galbraith, John, 1 0 Koffman, Andrew, 9 0 Greegor, Martin, 2 4 Kleckner, Frederick, 1 0 Hess, George, 7 0 Luther, John, 19 16 Horning, Stephen, 5 12 Laffery, Justina, 1 16 Hamilton, Widow, 16 16 Lever, Nicholas, 7 16 Hamilton, John, Exec., 36 18 Lawyer, Adam, 1 4 Hoge, John, 9 0 Liphart, Henry, 3 0 Hocker, John, 16 4 Lever, George, 2 8 Horter, Valentine, 7 4 Little's house, 3 0 Hoyer, George, 23 14 M'Cart, Robert, 1 4 Hume, John, 4 10 Machemy, John, 5 8 Hocker, Adam, 13 10 Murray, William, 3 12 Hocker, Christopher, 13 10 M'Carty, Benjamin, 2 16 Hillegas, Conrad, 3 0 Mish, Jacob, 15 18 Hill, Samuel, 10 0 Maclay, John, 3 12 Heafley, John, 3 6 Mooney, Abraham, 1 16 Heas, John, 10 0 M'Mannus, Patrick, 2 8 Hutman, Mathias, 2 8 M'Laughlin, Alexander, 1 0 Hartman, George, 2 14 Murray, Patrick, 1 16 Hatz, George, 3 8 Mytinger, Lewis, 1 4 96 ANNALS OF HARRISBURG. Mitchell, James, 7 4 Romjeaw, John, 4 4 Murphy, Barney, 18 Riehm, Andrew, 6 18 Miller, John, 12 0 Redding, George, 6 18 Morse, Moses, 2 8 Ramer's Executors, 8 0 Montgomery, Alex., 2 4 Rothroff, Henry, 2 12 Miller, Jacob, 2 0 Saur, Charles, 3 6 Moore, Thomas, 3 0 Snyder, Simon, 2 8 Montgomery, Joseph, 15 0 Stoehr's house, 4 0 Martin, J. & Thomas, 5 14 Sweeney, Major, 6 0 Mackey, James, 1 16 Stehley, Widow, 9 12 Miller, Charles, 2 12 Seez, Balthazar, 4 4 M'Allister, Archibald, 1 4 Seez, Christopher, 7 16 M'Caslin, John, 2 2 Stephen, Hugh, 2 4 Newman, John, 2 2 Smith, Nicholas, 18 Norten, John, 15 0 Smith, Casper, 9 0 Newman, Nicholas, 2 18 Sweigart, Daniel, 2 14 Newman, Andrew, 2 18 Shoch, John, 1 10 Ott, Nicholas, 10 0 Smith's, Miss, 5 2 Peter, Henry, 1 4 Shields, John, 1 4 Peffer, George, 9 0 Scarlett, David, 1 10 Peifer, John, 2 0 Sawyer, James, 6 18 Potts, Stacy, 6 0 Shrom, Jacob, 2 14 Poat, Joseph, Sawr's, Casper, house, 2 16 Patterson, Gailbraith,* 10 16 Syfert, Anthony, 3 12 Pool, John, 1 0 Sheets, John, 1 0 Pancake, Valentine, 3 0 Smith, Widow, 1 4 Pancake, George, 2 0 Snyder, Adam, 1 10 Patterson, Robert, 2 0 Sayler, Henry, 4 16 Pool, John, Jr., 6 0 Syboth, Tobias, 9 0 Pfleager, Frederick, 5 0 Snyder, John, 2 8 Porter, William, 3 0 Sealey, John, 15 Peters, Michael, 2 16 Staugh & Volesanger, 1 4 Rymuth, Philip, 12 0 Tresenrider, Conrad, 8 0 Ritzell, Jacob, 10 16 Unger, Peter, 2 4 Reel, Anthony, 1 18 Updegraff, Abraham, 18 Reel, Philip, 2 6 Whitehill, George, 4 10 Ritz, John, 1 10 Willson, William, 7 4 * Subscribed L20. 97 ANNALS OF HARRISBURG. Wain, Jacob, 1 0 Wallace, Benj., 10 0 Walter, Peter, 8 2 Wilhelm, Jacob, 2 8 Whitehill, Robert, 2 14 Wyeth, John, 2 8 Wickersham, Hannah, 6 4 Williams, Vincent, 1 4 Weir, Samuel, 4 0 Williams, Christopher, 2 0 Weatherhold, Widow and Youse, Jacob, 2 8 George, 6 0 Youse, Frederick, 2 14 Wingert, Widow, 8 8 Youse, George, 6 0 Welchance, Jacob, 7 4 Young, Robert, 1 4 Weathrup, John, 3 0 Zollinger, Jacob, 14 14 Waltz, George, 2 4 Zinn, John, 10 0 Walters, Christopher, 2 4 Ziegler, George, carpenter,15 0 Wingert, Simon, 2 0 Ziegler, George, 2 0 Wilson, John, 1 4 Zerver, Frederick, 2 0 SINGLE MEN. Thomas Elder, 6 0 Michael Krell, 3 12 Samuel Laird, 6 0 Anthony Leyer, 3 12 Andrew Mitchel, 6 0 Peter Reitzel, 3 12 John Patterson, 6 0 James Shaw, 3 12 Dr. Spangler, 6 0 William Wanless, 3 12 Joseph Wageline, 6 0 William Martin, 3 12 William Wallace, 6 0 William Brown, 3 12 Jacob Bener, 3 12 Michael Kuntz, 2 8 Adam Brady, 3 12 John Lear, 2 8 Jacob Burkhart, 3 12 Duncan M'Gachin, 2 8 John Burkinbine, 3 12 James Elliot, 2 8 Jacob Bretz, 3 12 John Ober, 2 8 Jacob Feger, 3 12 James Simpson, 2 8 Jacob Glass, 3 12 John Umholtz, 2 8 Robert Hunter, 3 12 John Weaver, 2 8 Philip Horing, 3 12 William Porter, 2 8 George Hocker, 3 12 William Irwin, 2 8 Bryan Hooper, 3 12 Mathias Henderson, 6 0 John Irwin, 6 0 FOR LOTS OF GROUND. Thomas Forster, 1 16 Moses Gillmore, 1 16 Thomas Murray, 1 16 John Ebbert, 1 16 Samuel Weir, 1 16 Henry Bruner, 1 4 98 ANNALS OF HARRISBURG. George Hoyer, 2 8 Mengel's Executors, 7 4 Chris. Kunkle, 1 10 Shouffler, for Michael Kapp, 1 10 Shock's house, 5 8 George Reddich, 1 12 Henry Issetts, for William Maclay's land Smith's house, 3 12 in Borough, 2 14 Conrad Bombach, for Peter Lyeth, 2 20 Seyfort's house, 9 6 Ed. Burk's House, 3 0 Brindle and Montgomery, 4 10 Weir's out-house, 6 0 Haller's house, 6 0 John Weir's house, 4 16 Robert Hill, 1 16 Alexander Miller, 2 8 Casper Smith, 1 16 Peter Pancake, 6 0 John Boyd, 10 4 James Ross, 3 0 Thomas Gray, 8 2 Reitzell's house, 3 0 Leys, 10 16 Harris' Executors, Rody Fraizer, 6 0 Snyder's house, 6 12 William Giass, 1 18 LANDLORDS WHO DO NOT LIVE IN TOWN, OR OTHER HOUSES. Martin Gregor, 2 0 Edward Lynch, 8 4 Margaret Bolinger, 2 0 Samuel Grimes, 18 0 Mar. Stiller, 3 4 Widow Witherold, 18 0 Chamber's Exec., 4 16 Joseph Dritt, 7 16 William Wallace, 7 4 Tobias Seyboth, 3 0 Andrew Stewart, 6 8 Welshoffer, 5 8 Henry Sailor, 1 0 County of Dauphin, 72 0 James Humes, 5 12 Bricker's house, 8 8 John Steinmetz, 12 0 Dr. Fahnestock, 8 14 Joshua Elder, 22 10 Frederick Youse, 9 6 Col. Shouffler, 16 4 Rev. Nathaniel Snowden, 6 0 Michael Kapp, 15 0 Rev. Shaffer's house, 8 0 Samuel Berryhill, 3 0 Rev. Hautz, 8 0 In addition to the amount of money so raised, the heirs of John Harris, Messrs. David Harris, Robert Harris, William Maclay and John A. Hanna, paid $1,600, the purchase money, or perhaps something more than the amount which the Landis's had paid for the property. 99 ANNALS OF HARRISBURG. "At a meeting of the committee of seven, appointed to superintend and direct the appropriation of the monies raised for the demolition of the mill-dam, and for the further removing the nuisance in Paxton creek, April 8, 1795: "At Brindle's - Present, Potts, Gilmore, Berryhill, W. Graydon, Dentzell, Bucher, Kean. "John Kean was appointed Secretary and Treasurer. "Ordered, that the Treasurer take up the bonds due to Adam Boyd and to George Allen. "Adjourned to Saturday evening next, at 6 o'clock, at Mr. Berryhill's. "Saturday, 11th. - The committee met and viewed the dam, and adjourned till Monday evening at 6 o'clock, at Berryhill's. "Monday, 13th. - Met, and the members mentioned the names of persons wishing to borrow money. Agreed, that the money be retained in the Treasury a few days longer. "Agreed, that on Saturday next, at 1 o'clock, the bell be rung, and the inhabitants assembled and demolish the remainder of the dam.