AREA HISTORY:  New Market, Fairview Township, York County, PA

Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Kathy Francis

Copyright 2005.  All rights reserved.
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History of York County, Pennsylvania.  John Gibson, Historical Editor.
Chicago: F. A. Battey Publishing Co., 1886.
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THE VILLAGE OF NEW MARKET – Page 641

The land along the Susquehanna from New Cumberland down to the Haldeman farm, 
was first owned by John Harris, father of the founder of Harrisburg.  He was an 
Indian trader, and at the mouth of the Yellow Breeches was a considerable Indian 
village, when the first settlements were made.  David Priest settled in the 
vicinity in 1737.  Dr. Benjamin Mosser located in that vicinity, coming from 
Lancaster County about 1775, and became a prominent physician of the 
neighborhood.  This section was then densely populated.  He had three sons – 
John, who also became a physician, and died in 1826; Christian and Henry.  Each 
of these sons inherited a farm, one of which is now owned by H. R. Mosser, a 
descendant, another by Dr. E. H. Coover, and the third by Martin Kauffman.

The second son, Henry Mosser, and William Culbertson, in 1807 laid out the 
village of New Market in 120 lots.  Isaac Kirk made the survey.  William 
Culbertson died July 8, 1824.  In 1840, the town had 170 inhabitants; twenty-
five dwellings and one store.  The York & Harrisburg Turnpike, then much used, 
passed through it, over which line the Northern Central Railway now extends.  
Washington Kirk for many years owned a store.  A considerable business has been 
done by various parties since.  The Pennsylvania Steel Works are located on the 
opposite side of the river.  Within the past few years a number of the employes 
of those works reside in New Market, which has caused a considerable increase to 
its population, now numbering nearly 400.

A Lutheran Church was built within the village in 1858.  The pastor was Cyrus 
Writemyer, and trustees H. Mosser, John Row, John Horn and Jacob Grissinger.  
There are two schools, which are graded.  A short distance up the creek is 
Hake’s Distillery, at which a large business is done.  Eichinger’s distillery in 
the “Marsh” was a considerable industry.  A fine farm near by, now owned by Owen 
James, was deeded to his grandfather by same name in 1774.  The name of its 
owner has never since changed.  The Susquehanna Mills near by were built in 
1785.

Jacob Haldeman, Sr., started a forge at the mouth of the Yellow Breeches in 
1806, and used up a large amount of timber from York County.  He laid out the 
town of New Cumberland in 1814.  Much of what is now fertile land below New 
Market, was at one time a swamp, with the Marsh Run passing through it.  Farther 
down is a small stream called Rattling Run, named after “Jim Rattler,” a colored 
man, who had a cabin along it many years ago.