AREA HISTORY: Historical Notes, Conewago Township, York 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/york/ _______________________________________________ History of York County, Pennsylvania. John Gibson, Historical Editor. Chicago: F. A. Battey Publishing Co., 1886. _______________________________________________ HISTORICAL NOTES – Page 682 John Garrettson, in 1742, built the first mill along the Conewago, possibly on the Newberry side of the stream. He was one of the first Quaker settlers, and owner the rich alluvial lands on the north side of the stream immediately below the bridge. The large mill, north of Strinestown, is now owned by Mr. Cline. On lands owned by H. B. Strine, three-quarters of a mile northwest of Strinestown, is the spot of one of the first industries of this section. It was a very old mill in 1820, and was used in grinding grain, with a fulling-mill and carding-mill attached. John Ellis, in 1850, was the last owner, when it was torn away. On the road leading from Quickel’s Church to Lewisberry once stood a tannery. The business was carried on by Martin Copenhafer. Basket-making is now, and long has been, an important industry, carried on by many inhabitants along the Conewago Hills. John Steffee, for many years, conducted a pottery from native clay. After the father retired, the two sons continued the business, Gabriel near the “Seven Stars Hotel,” and Adam near Strinestown. A thrilling and fatal accident occurred along the Conewago near the mouth of Bennett’s Run. It was during the time of the early settlement, and according to tradition was as follows: A man named Sipe went out hunting wild turkeys and had a tame turkey on his back. He used a turkey bone as a whistle to call the game and the turkey on his back would answer. This was done in order to attract the wild turkeys to him that he might shoot them. He was thus crawling on his hands and knees, when another hunter who saw only the turkey on his back and not the man, through the dense thicket, fired at his supposed game. The ball passed through the man’s neck and killed him. Ann Plow, an eccentric individual, who before 1812 lived north of Newberry, was accustomed to place iron bars over the top of the chimney of her house in order to keep witches out. Militia parades, where held near the west end of the township on land now owned by John N. Bull, Col. Stover had more than a local fame as a commander. He was succeeded by Col. Bear. There was a volunteer company in 1848, commanded by Capt. Eisenhart of Dover Township and Capt. Daniel Motter afterward the proprietor of the Motter House in York. This company was called out to assist in quelling the Philadelphia riots in 1844. During the Confederate invasion of 1863, a scouting party of Stuart’s cavalry entered the west end of the township captured a number of horses from the farmers, and obtained coffee, sugar and some wearing apparel at a store then kept by Eli S. Quickel. There are veins of valuable sandstone in this township. The stones used in erecting the front of the York jail in 1855, were obtained in Conewago. Henry Kochenour had the contract to furnish them. Henry Kochenour in 1825, assisted in killing the last wolf that lived in the Conewago Hills. Deer and wild turkeys were seen much later, foxes and raccoons are still plentiful. Near the southern base of the Conewago Hills, there issues forth in all its crystal beauty a constant stream of water, which has long been known as “Green Spring.” Just as the snow and frost of winter disappear, there is a dense growth of grass around the spring, which fact gave this spot its interesting name. In early times it was a favorite resort for the timid deer and the voracious wolf, which harbored in the adjoining hills. Near this spring, in a public schoolhouse, a union Sunday-school has long since flourished. It was superintended several years by A. W. Ensminger, who was accidentally drowned in the Conewago. Samuel Fettrow was an eccentric though intelligent individual, and for many years lived along in the Conewago Hills. He was born in Fairview Township, and was a descendant of a very respectable ancestry that came from Holland. He claimed to be a doctor, lawyer and surveyor, and had an office on the summit of the mountain. He always wore a white crowned high silk hat, light colored suit, and was never without an umbrella. He boiled his drinking water in order to purify it. His own burial casket he made himself, long before his death. The limestone pyramid at the head of his grave, in the burying ground adjoining Rohler’s meeting-house, was made by his own hands.