Area History: Beer's History of Franklin County, PA, 1887 -- Table of Contents Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Joyce Moore USGENWEB ARCHIVES NOTICE: Printing this file by non-commerical individuals and libraries is encouraged, as long as all notices and submitter information is included. Any other use, including copying files to other sites require permission from the submitters PRIOR to uploading to any other sites. We encourage links to the state and county table of contents. __________________________________________________ TITLE PAGE HISTORY OF FRANKLIN COUNTY PENNSYLVANIA, ILLUSTRATED 1887 Containing a History of the County, its Townships, Towns, Villages, Schools, Churches, Industries, Etc.; Portraits of Early Settlers and Prominent Men; Biographies; History of Pennsylvania, Statistical and Miscellaneous Matter, Etc., Etc. ILLUSTRATED CHICAGO: WARNER, BEERS & CO., 1887 Chicago: JOHN MORRIS COMPANY, PRINTERS 118 and 120 Monroe Street. PREFACE In submitting the History of Franklin County to the public, it may not be Improper to state, briefly, a few of the characteristics of the work: The special prominence given to the pioneer times of the county - Hence a record of the persons, organizations, and events of the days anterior to 1820 has been given as fully as available data would warrant. The fullness with which the various religions, educational and society organizations have been presented, due allowance being made, of course, for the destruction or absence of proper records. The completeness of the official and postal records, the latter having been obtained direct from the proper department at Washington. The importance attached to the various military organizations and their The biographical sketches of many of the most prominent personages, living and dead, which make the book valuable for reference purposes to all classes. The classification of material under appropriate heads, which facilitates the easy finding of any desired information. The outline history of the State, contained in Part I is from the pen of Prof. Samuel P. Bates, of Meadville. The history of Franklin County in Part II was compiled chiefly by Prof. J. Fraise Richard, who has striven to give an accurate and reliable account of the county's origin, progress and development; and, for that purpose, has laid under contribution the data afforded by historic sketches, newspaper articles, public and private records, personal interviews and correspondence, tombstones and other reliable sources. The biographical sketches in Part III were, for the most part, collected by a corps of solicitors, and a proof of each sketch submitted by mail to each subject for correction. To repay, in detail, all the kindness manifested by Franklin County citizens to the writers and solicitors would compel involuntary bankruptcy, the special gratitude of the publishers, however, is due and is hereby extended to the press of Chambersburg, Waynesboro, Greencastle and Mercersburg for the use of their files, and for other courtesies; to the county officials and to Hons. F. M. Kimmell, D. Watson Rowe, and John Stewart for personal aid and favors; to Jacob Hojke, Esq., Drs. W. C. Lane, S. G. Lane, Chas. T. Maclay and W. H. Egle, State Historian; Capt. J. H. Walker, John B. Kaufman, J. W. Douglas and George S. Kyle for contri- butions and special aid; and to the pastors of the various churches, and secretaries of different orders for reports of their organizations. With due appreciation of the liberal patronage received, the publishers beg to present this volume to their patrons in the highly favored county of Franklin. THE PUBLISHERS Part I covers the first 138 pages. Part II covers pages 138-611. Part III 617 to 927 CONTENTS PART I. HISTORY OF PENNSYLVANIA BY SAMUEL P. BATES "God, that has given it me through many difficulties, will, I believe, bless and make the seed of a nation. I shall have a tender care to the government that it will be well laid at first - - - - - I do, therefore, desire the Lord's wisdom to guide me, and those that may be concerned with me, that we may do the thing that is truly wise and just." William Penn NOTE: FILE NAME PRESENT INDICATES ON-LINE CHAPTER I - Introductory - Cornelis Jacobson Mey, 1624-25. wbeers001.txt William Van Hulst, 1625-26. Peter Minuit, 1626-33. David Petersen de Vries, 1632-33. Wouter Van Twiller, 1633-38 CHAPTER II - Sir William Keift, 1638-47. Peter Minuit, 1638-41. wbeers001.txt Peter Hollandaer 1641-43. John Printz, 1643-53. Peter Stuyvesant 1647-64. John Pappagoya, 1653-54. John Claude Rysingh 1654-55 CHAPTER III - John Paul Jacquet 1655-57. Jacob Alrichs 1657-59. wbeers001.txt Goeran Van Dyek 1657-58. William Beekman 1658-63. Alex D'Hinoyossa 1659-64 CHAPTER IV - Richard Nichols, 1664-67. Robert Needham, 1664-68. wbeers001.txt Francis Lovelace, 1667-73. John Carr, 1668-73. Anthony Colve, Peter Alrichs, 1673-74 CHAPTER V - Sir Edmund Andros, 1674-81. Edmund Cantwell, wbeers002.txt John Collier, 1676-77, Christopher Billop, 1677-81 CHAPTER VI - William Markham, 1681-82. William Penn 1682-84. wbeers002.txt CHAPTER VII - Thomas Lloyd, 1684-86. Five Commissioners, wbeers002.txt John Blackwell, 1688-90. Thomas Lloyd 1690-91. William Markham, 1691-93. Benjamin Fletcher, 1693-95. William Markham, 1693-99. CHAPTER VIII - William Penn, 1699-1701. Andrew Hamilton, 1701-03. wbeers003.txt Edward Shippen, 1703-04. John Evans, 1704-09. Charles Goken 1709-17. CHAPTER IX - Sir William Keith, 1717-26. Patrick Gordon, 1726-36. wbeers003.txt James Logan, 1736-38. George Thomas, 1738-47. Anthony Palmer, James Hamilton 1748-54. CHAPTER X - Robert H. Morris, 1754-56. William Denny, 1756-59. wbeers003.txt James Hamilton, 1759-63. CHAPTER XI - John Penn, 1763-71. James Hamilton, 1771. wbeers004.txt Richard Penn, 1771-73. John Penn, 1773-76. CHAPTER XII - Thomas Wharton, Jr., 1777-78. George Bryan, 1788. wbeers004.txt Joseph Reed, 1778-81. William Moore, 1781-82. John Dickinson, Benjamin Franklin 1785-88. CHAPTER XIII - Thomas Miffin, 1788-99. Thomas McKean, 1799-1808. wbeers004.txt Simon Snyder, 1808-17. William Findlay, 1817-20. Joseph Heister, John A. Shultz, 1823-29. George Wolfe, 1829-35. Joseph Ritner, 1835-39. CHAPTER XIV - David R. Porter, 1839-45. Francis R. Shunk, 1845-48. wbeers004.txt William F. Johnstone, 1848-52. William Bigler, 1852-55. James Pollock, 1855-59. William F. Packer, 1858-61. Andrew G. Curtin, 1861-67. John W. Geary, 1867-73. John F. Hartranft, 1873-78. Henry F. Hoyt, 1878-82. Robert E. Pattison, 1882-86. James A. Beaver, 1886. Gubernatorial Table. TABLE OF CONTENTS PART II. HISTORY OF FRANKLIN COUNTY PENNSYLVANIA ILLUSTRATED 1887 CHAPTER I. -- PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION wbeers005.txt The great Eastern Valley -- The Path of a Probable Gulf Stream -- The Mountain Ranges and their Appendages -- Systems of Drainage -- Geological and Mineralogical Aspects -- Character of Soil -- Vegetation -- Climate. CHAPTER II. -- PIONEER SETTLERS wbeers005.txt Two Classes: Scotch-Irish, their Origin, Arrivals, Character and Locations -- Germans, Sketch of Persecutions, Arrival, Trials, etc. -- Trend of Settlements in Cumberland Valley Westward -- Shippensburg a Distributing Point -- Settlements at Falling Spring -- Sketch of Benjamin Chambers -- Other Settlements and Settlers in Various Parts of the Country -- List of Taxable in 1751-52 -- Mason and Dixon's Line. CHAPTER III. -- INDIAN WAR wbeers006.txt Indian Nations Described -- War Between French and English -- Colonies Involved -- Braddock's Defeat and its Effects -- Forts Located and Described -- Massacres from 1754 to 1765 -- Conflicts Between the Civil and Military at Fort Loudoun. CHAPTER IV. -- THE REVOLUTION wbeers006.txt Its Causes -- Loyalty to the Mother Country -- Early Military -- Roster and Roll of Franklin Men -- From Colonies to States -- Heroes from Franklin County -- One of the First American Cannons, etc. CHAPTER V. -- WHISKY WAR wbeers007.txt Eleven Years of Peace -- Causes of the Whisky Insurrection -- Its Prosecution and its Subversion -- Sympathy of the Militia, etc. CHAPTER VI. -- FRANKLIN COUNTY ORGANIZED wbeers007.txt Date of Erection -- Petitions in Favor of and in Opposition to the Project -- Fight over the County Seat -- The First Court House and First Jail -- Early County Officers -- Estimate of Population -- First General Election -- Officials, etc. CHAPTER VII. -- INTERNAL AFFAIRS wbeers008.txt Lands and Land Titles -- Indian Trails -- Roads -- Bridges -- Turnpikes -- Inns or Taverns -- Militia -- Muster Days -- Mail Routes and Post-Offices -- Postmasters -- Railroads -- Cumberland Valley Railroad -- First Sleeping Car Ever Made -- Franklin Railroad -- Shenandoah Valley Railroad -- Harrisburg & Potomac Railroad -- Western Maryland Railroad -- Baltimore & Cumberland Valley Railroad -- Mont Alto Railroad -- Mont Alto Iron Works, etc. CHAPTER VIII. -- WAR OF 1812-1815 wbeers008.txt Cause of War -- Declaration of War -- Franklin County Companies -- Incidents of the War CHAPTER IX. -- MEXICAN WAR wbeers009.txt Texas and Mexico -- Whig and Democrat -- Counter Arguments -- Declaration of War -- Franklin County Company -- Its Services. CHAPTER X. -- THE PRESS wbeers009.txt Introductory -- First Newspaper -- Press of Chambersburg -- Press of Waynesboro -- Press of Mercersburg -- Press of Greencastle. CHAPTER XI. -- AGRICULTURE wbeers009.txt A Business of First Importance -- Its Promising Future -- Improvements Introduced -- Judge Watts -- The First Reaper -- First Stock in the Country -- Wheat and Corn -- Hessian Fly -- Improved Implements -- A Wonderful Feat with the Scythe -- Agricultural Societies, Officers, etc. CHAPTER XII. -- THE MEDICAL PROFESSION wbeers010.txt Introductory View of the Human Structure -- Sketches of Prominent Deceased Physicians -- Epidemics -- Medical Societies -- Roster of Resident Physicians CHAPTER XIII. -- EDUCATIONAL AND RELIGIOUS Educational -- Education Defined -- Teaching Defined -- Early Schools and their Equipments -- John B. Kaufman's Account of Early Schools and Teachers -- History of School Legislation -- Comparative Statistics -- County Superintendents -- County Institutes -- Letter from Ex-Co.Supt. A. J. McElwain -- List of County Superintendents -- Religious -- Early Settlers Religions -- Presbyterians -- Lutherans -- Reformed -- Methodists -- United Brethern -- Roman Catholic -- Episcopalian -- Church of God -- German Baptists -- River Brethern -- Mennonites -- Reformed Mennonites -- Colored Churches -- Mormonism. CHAPTER XIV. -- POPULAR AGITATIONS AND PHILANTHROPIC REFORMS Human Society Compared to the Ocean -- Early Outlaws -- The Nugents -- Slavery in Franklin County -- A Curious Will -- Graqdual Abolition of Slavery -- Runaway Slaves -- The Underground Railroad -- Capture of Bob and Dave -- History of John Brown's Raid on Harper's Ferry -- Fate of His Coadjutors -- Wendell Phillips' Speech -- Curious Prophecies -- History of Know-nothingism in Chambersburg -- Sketches of Early Temperance Movements in the County -- Tidal Waves -- Washingtonian Movement -- Father Mathew's Efforts -- Sons of Temperance -- Good Templars -- Woman's Crusade -- National Woman's Christian Temperance Union -- Murphy Movement -- Prohibition -- Franklin County Bible Society -- Children's Aid Society. CHAPTER XV. -- THE GREAT REBELLION OF 1861-65 Introduction -- Civil War an Interesting Study -- Its Antecedents Must be Considered -- Jamestown and Plymouth Typical of Two Antagonistic Civilizations -- Practical Inferences -- War Statistics -- Firing on Fort Sumter and its Effects -- Patriotic Meetings -- Hearty Response to President's Call for Troops -- Incidents of 1861 -- Complete Roster of Troops Furnished by the County -- Stuart's Raid in 1862 -- Lee's Invasion, Preceded by Jenkins' Raid -- Rebel Occupation of Chambersburg and Its Events -- Advance on Gettysburg -- Battle -- Retreat -- Lee's Train of Wounded -- Burning of Ewell's Supply Train and Capture of Prisoners by Kilpatrick -- McCausland's Raid and Burning of Chambersburg. CHAPTER XVI. -- LAW MAKERS AND LAW INTERPRETERS Law Defined and Analyzed -- Founded in Natural Justice -- Mental Requirements for its Study -- Various State Conventions -- Franklin's Representatives in National Congress, in State Senate and House -- Early Bench and Bar -- List of President and Associate Judges -- List of Attorneys from Organization of County. CHAPTER XVII. -- MASTER SPIRITS. Uses and Abuses of Greatness -- Character of Genius -- Greatness -- Its Elements -- Power of Mothers -- Sketches of Master Spirits: (1) Military, (2) Political, (3) Railroad Managers, (4) Thelogians, (5) County Officials, (6) Medical, (7) Educational, (8) Press, (9) Legal -- Franklin County's Roll of Honor. CHAPTER XVIII. -- THE COUNTRY'S FIRST CENTENNIAL Introductory -- Value of Anniversaries -- Triumphs of the Century -- Preparation for the Coming Anniversary -- Executive Committee -- Township Committees -- Account of the Two Days' Doings -- Extracts from Addresses and Poems Delivered. CHAPTER XIX. -- BOROUGH OF CHAMBERSBURG Description -- Early History -- Incorporation -- Banks -- First Market Houses -- Present Market House -- Water-works -- Gas Works -- Fire Department -- Manufactories -- Secret Societies -- Churches -- Cemetary -- Schools. CHAPTER XX. BOROUGH OF MERCERSBURG Location -- Settlement -- James Black -- Early Traffic -- Original Plat -- Derivation of Name -- Sketch of Dr. Mercer -- Past and Present Business Interests -- Incorporation -- Prominent Residents -- Birthplace of President Buchanan -- Mercersburg College and Public Schools -- Church History -- Cemetary -- Banks -- Fire Company -- Secret Societies. CHAPTER XXI. -- BOROUGH OF WAYNESBORO Origin of the Name -- Location -- The Plat -- Original Lot Owners -- Incorporation -- Banks -- Manufactories -- Water-Works -- Societies -- Churches -- Temperance Union -- Schools -- Cemetary -- Famous Sewing Machine. CHAPTER XXII. -- BOROUGH OF GREENCASTLE Site of the Borough -- Ancient Burying Grounds -- Plat of the Town, and First Residents -- Early Reminiscences and Antedotes -- Old Churches -- Cemeteries and Epitaphs -- Incorporation of Borough -- Its Centennial -- The Turnpike -- Church History -- Cemetary -- The Schools -- ndustries -- Borough Officers -- Bank -- Town Hall Company -- Societies. CHAPTER XXIII. -- TOWNSHIPS ANTRIM Formation -- Name -- First Settlers -- Early Land Titles -- Old Graveyard Transcriptions -- List of taxables, 1786 -- Early Settlements -- Borough and Villages -- The Mormons. LURGAN Formation -- Topography -- Early Land Titles -- List of Tqxables, 1786 -- The Pomeroys -- Villages. PETERS Name -- Formation -- First Settlers -- Early Land Titles -- List of Taxables, 1786 -- Loudon -- Lemasters -- Upton -- Bridgeport -- Cove Gap. GUILFORD Formation -- Name -- Early Land Entries -- List of Taxables -- Manors -- -Churches -- Villages. Hamilton Names, etc. -- Earliest Land Entries -- List of Taxables, 1786, Cashtown. FANNETT Formation -- The Indians and First Immigrants -- Name -- Early Land Purchases -- Early Land Entries -- List of Taxables, 1786 -- Early School Teachers -- Village -- Churches. LETTERKENNY Formation -- Boundary -- Early Settlements -- Early Land Titles -- List of Taxables, 1786 -- Early School Teachers -- Village -- Churches. WASHINGTON Formation -- Name -- Early Land Titles -- List of Taxables, 1786 -- Villages. MONTGOMERY Formation -- Name -- Early Land Entries -- List of Taxables, 1786 -- Villages. SOUTHAMPTON Formation, etc. -- Early Land Entries -- List of Taxables, 1786 -- Borogh of Orrstown -- Villages. FRANKLIN Absorption of Township by Chambersburg -- List of Taxables, 1786. GREENE Formation -- Name -- Early Settlement -- Early Land Entries -- Early Reminiscences Greenvillage -- Scotland -- Fayetteville -- Black's Gap -- Smoketown. METAL Boundary -- Formation -- Topography -- Early Settlers -- Early Land Entries -- Prominent First Settlers -- Taxables in 1786 -- First Justice of the Peace -- Villages -- Churches. WARREN Location -- Its Early History -- Name -- Earliest Land Entries -- Early Settlers -- Old Documents -- Churches. ST. THOMAS Formation -- Its Early History -- Name -- Immigration -- Early Land Entries -- Taxables, 1786 -- Villages. QUINCY Formation -- Its Settlements -- Its Wealth -- Name -- Early Settlers -- Early Land Entries -- Transcriptions from Early Tombstones -- Taxables in 1786 -- Villages. PART III. BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES Chambersburg, Borough of Antrim Township and Borogh of Greencastle Fannet Township Green Township Guilford Township Hamilton Township Letterkenny Township Lurgan Township Metal Township Montgomery Township and Borough of Mercersburg Peters Township Quincy Township St. Thomas Township Southampton Township and Borough of Orrstown Warren Township Washington Township and Borough of Waynesboro PORTRAITS. Alexander, Rev. S. C. Amberson, W. S. Bard, Robert M. Besore, George Bonbrake, E. J. Brotherton, Col. D. H. Bubrman, C. H. Carson, James O. Chambers, George Chritzman, H. G., M. D. Clayton, James H. Crowell, J. B. Davison, J. A. Fleming, Archibald Foltz, M. A. Garver, Samuel Good, Jacob S. Hammond, Lawrence Hammond, M. L. Harbaugh, Rev. H. Harnish, H. R. Hassler, Rev. J. Hawbecker, S. Z. Hoke, Jacob Hoover, Daniel Keefer, William S. Kerlin, P. Lamaster, J. R. McDowell, A. B. McKinstry, William Orr, William Rowe, D. Watson Rowe, John Sentman, S. L. Sharpe, J. McD Shockey, Daniel Shoemaker, John A. Skinner, S. M. Snively, I. N., M. D. Snively, Joseph Walker, Capt. John H. Winger, Joseph Winger, Col. B. F. Ziegler, George W. MISCELLANEOUS Map of Franklin County Map showing various purchases from Indians Diagram showing proportionate Annual Production of Anthracite Coal since 1820 Table showing amount of Anthracite Coal produced in each region since 1820. Table showing vote for Governors of Pennsylvania since Organization of State Relief Map of Cumberland Valley