AREA HISTORY:  Baughmansville, Paradise Township, York County, PA

Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Kathy Francis

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History of York County, Pennsylvania.  John Gibson, Historical Editor.
Chicago: F. A. Battey Publishing Co., 1886.
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BAUGHMANSVILLE – Page 685

Baughmansville is in the western end of Paradise.  J. B. Baughman, now of York, 
began the store business at this place in 1844, and continued until 1865.  There 
were then no houses in the vicinity except one, and a blacksmith shop.  This 
business was conducted by George Jacobs, and now by his son.  Stores have been 
kept at this place since 1865, by Joseph W. Kraft, J. Hantz, J. H. Baughman, 
George W. Spangler, John O. Baughman, N. G. Waggoner, J. C. Bower and H. H. 
Geist.  There is now a collection of twelve or fifteen houses.

Union Chapel was built in 1867 for Sunday-school and religious purposes.

The land upon which this village is built, was in the hands of the proprietaries 
until 1774, when Mathias Stump paid the small sum of £2 17s 4d. for fifty-five 
acres, adjoining lands of Andreas Trimmer and John Frankelberger.  The land in 
this vicinity was not cultivated as early as some other portions of the 
township, and was not considered fertile until a third of a century ago.

In 1844, Peter Waggoner and J. B. Baughman began to place lime on the soil.  It 
produced good results, and by 1846 was put into general use.  Before this a very 
small amount of wheat or corn could be raised on an acre.  Much of the land of 
Paradise, at an early day considered barren, now grows twenty to thirty-five 
bushels of wheat to the acre.  Rye was raised with considerable success, before 
wheat.  Peaches and apples were plentiful and cheap.  An abundance of cider, 
peach brandy and apple-jack were made and hauled to Baltimore to be sold.  
Before large covered wagons were used, market men sometimes used boxes on top of 
the horse in which the market products were placed and taken to town and city.

John Buse, of Paradise Township, was killed near Gen. Hetrick’s place, in 
Codorus Township, May 20, 1820.  He was driving a team to Baltimore; his horses 
ran away and the wagon passed over him.

James Denny was killed by a stone falling on him, at a quarry on the farm of 
Jacob Crist in Paradise, October 12, 1819.

This township had its militia companies also.  Capt. George Trostle, half a 
century ago, drilled a company of 100 men at different places in the district.  
Philip Beck was first lieutenant.  The commands were given in English and 
translated into German.