History: Local: Brief history of Campbelltown: Lebanon Co, PA

Contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Joe Patterson.
  jpatter@epix.net

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The history is from the booklet by Martin H. Early
dated 1897 titled PALMYRA, PA

Mr Early was a publisher in New York City and was from Palmyra.


pp. 71 & 73

CAMPBELLTOWN

1759

Is situated in the northern part of South London-
derry Township, on the "Horse-shoe Pike." In
1759, John Campbell took out a patent for three
hundred and fifty-two acres of land (then in Derry
Township, Lancaster County). He also purchased from Patrick 
Hays and William Sawyer one hundred and two acres of land adjoining. 
The landholders who owned the adjoining land were the widow Stone, 
John McCord, William Sawyer, Peter Dalabaug.

1760

In this year John Campbell laid out a town on the
largest of the above-named tracts; after his death
this property descended to his only brother, Patrick.
Campbell, who sold it to Peter Grubb, Jr.,
April 28, I779.   At this period there were several 
buildings erected, all subject to ground rent. 
The town was no doubt "extensively laid out," and as 
was the custom at that time the lots were disposed of by lottery.

1780

The 29th of April Peter Grubb, Jr., sold Campbelltown
and the two tracts of land together with the
ground rent to Robert Coleman, iron master, for the sum of 
ninety-nine thousand pounds. This seems like an extraordinary 
price, but it must not be forgotten that currency had depreciated 
very much at that time, and it is doubtful whether a horse could 
have been purchased with it five years later.

The principal Scotch-Irish settlers in this locality were the 
Campbells, Semples, Pattersons, Mitchels, Sawyers, McCallens and Logans. 
The latter family was the last one left of the old Scotch Presbyterian element.

The first white child of which we have record, born in this
neighborhood, was John Sawyer, in 1729. He was the son of	
William Sawyer, born in Ireland, and who was an apprentice 
bound to a comb maker, and not liking his master the elder 
Sawyer came to America in 1720; he died at the age of 81, 
and his son John at 83, both being buried in the old Derry graveyard.

The oldest house in the place is yet standing, and was the building 
where the earliest tavern and store were kept. A Mr.
Hontz kept it first, following successively by Jacob Swarr, John	
M. Harman, Benjamin Hocker.	

1811

The post-office was established in 1811, with John
Wolfersberger as postmaster. The present in-
cumbent is George Grumbein (1897).

1845

The Salem Lutheran and Reformed Church was
built in 1845 on the site of the old church erected
over a century and a quarter ago. The principal
movers and subscribers were: Christian Bachman, 
Peter Bachman, John Bowman, Joseph Bowman, 
Simon Cameron, John Carmany, Augustus Carmany, 
James Clendenen, Wm. Clendenen, John Deininger, 
Michael Deininger, Henry Detweiler, Michael Detweiler, 
Martin Early, John Early, William Early, Daniel Felty, 
John Felty, Barhard Forest, Christian Kreider, Abraham Herr, 
C. Herchelrode, George Heilman, John M. Harman, Samuel Harper, 
Benjamin Hocker, Martin Hocker, George Hocker, Christian Hostetter, 
John Hostetter, Andrew Henry, Christian Imboden, Henry Imboden, 
Philip Imboden, Michael Killinger, John Killinger, Peter Killinger, 
Christian Landis, Henry Moyer, Michael Moyer, John Moyer, 
John Oberholtzer, Peter Rodearmel, Hiram B. Swarr, Jacob Snoke, 
John L. Schaffer, Samuel Segner, Martin Weltmer, Michael Witmer, 
John Witmer, Peter B. Witmer, Daniel Ulrich, Joseph Ulrich, 
Philip Wolfersberger, John Wolfersberger, Gabriel Wolfersberger.

1897

In this year the church was torn down and rebuilt
on the same site, it is now a modern stone struc-
ture. The corner stone was laid in July, and it
will now be known as the Salem Reformed Church.

The following is a partial list of the principal supporters
of the new church: Christian Bachman, George Bachman, 
William E. Brunner, Mrs. Leah Carper, John M. Early, 
Hiram G. Newgard, Henry Moyer, John Moyer, Michael Moyer, 
Samuel Moyer, A. G. Snyder, Charles P. Stauffer, Mrs. Jacob Walters,
 A. M. Whitman, Ruben Wolfersberger, Charles Weltmer.  Pastor, 
Rev. Dr. J. E. Hiester. Present officers now serving: Trustees, William
E. Brunner, Samuel Moyer, Charles Weltmer. Elders, William E. Brunner 
and Samuel Moyer.  Deacons, Hiram G. Newgard, Ruben Wolfersberger.