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THE KITTOCHTINNY
v
HISTORICAL SOCIETY
THE NEW YORK fRGANIZED FEBRUARY 3, 1898.
PJ 3LIC LIBRART-
A
r
OX. AND
.< DAViOiS
4.
PAPERS READ BEFORE THE SOCIETY
FEBRUARY, 1912 TO FEBRUARY, 1915.
With a Genera! Index of ail the Papers Published Since
the Organization of the Society.
VOLUME VII!.
ARRANGED BY THE SECRETARY AND EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE.
1915:
FRANKLIN REPOSITORY PRESS
CHAMBERSBURG. PA.
THE KITTOCHTINNY
HISTORICAL SOCIETY
ORGANIZED FEBRUARY 3, 1898.
PAPERS READ BEEORE THE SOCIETY
FEBRUARY, 1912 TO FEBRUARY, 1915.
With a General Index of all the Papers Published Since
the Organization of the Society.
VOLUME VIII.
ARRANGEB BY THE SECRETARY AND EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE.
1915:
FRANKLIN REPOSITORY PRESS
CHAMBERSBURO, PA.
954580 A
t •
* * * •
CONTENTS.
Page
Officers of the Society 5
Members 6
In Memoriam 8
Judge Thomas Cooper. (Second Paper). By Prof. Charles
Himes 9
Captain John R. Kooken. OBy Linn Harbaugh, Esq. 13
Franklin County Newspapers and the Men Who Made Them.
(Hon. M. A. iFoltz). By A. Nevin Pomeroy 27
Franklin County Newspapers and the Men Who Made Them.
By M. A. Foltz 31
Partial Report of Committee on Bibliography 57
Reception at Ragged Edge 66
Reception at Elderslie 6'S
Public Assembly. Illustrated Lecture. By B. M. Nead 67
Sidelights 70
The Jubilee of Emancipation. By A. J. W. Hutton 76
Review of the Last Five Years. By M. A. Foltz 92
The Rise, Progress and Decline of the Chambersburg Insur-
ance Company. By A. J. W. Hutton 10-1
Municipal Improvements. By T. J. Brereton 123
The Church of the United Brethren in Christ in Franklin
County. By I. James Schaff 142
The Doctors of Franklin County. By R. W. Ramsey, M.D... 170
An Unsung Benefactor. By C. W. Cremer 801
Sons of Franklin County Prominent Elsewhere. By John
M. Runk 215
Unveiling of Portrait of John Williamson Nevin, D.D., LL.D. 238
The Great Anniversary Year 1914 253
Military Situation and Burning of Chambersburg. By Col.
M. Gherst 277
William Findlay. By Hon. W. Rush Gillan 297
X'S \**\
OFFICERS OF THE SOCIETY.
1898—1902.
Hon. John Stewart, President Executive Committee: Col. James
Rev. S. A. Martin, D. D. R. Gilmore, Esq., Chairman; Wm.
Hon. M. A. Foltz, Vice Presidents Alexander, Secretary; Major
B. Latrobe Maurer, Secretary Chauncey Ives, John G. Orr, Dr.
H. A. Riddle, Treasurer Johnston McLanahan.
1902—1903.
S. A. Martin, D. D., President Executive Committee: J. W.
Hon. M. A. Foltz Sharpe, Esq., Chairman; D. O.
Col. James R. Gilmore, Vice- Gehr, Esq., Secretary; Hon. W.
Presidents Rush Gillan, Dr. J. O. Skinner,
B. L. Maurer, Secretary Hon. A. N. Pomeroy.
H. A. Riddle, Treasurer.
1903—1904.
Hon. M. A. Foltz, President Executive Committee: Hon. W. Rush
John G. Orr, Esq. Gillan, Chairman; Hon. A. N. Pom-
J. W. Sharpe, Esq., Vice-Presi- eroy, T. J. Brereton,- Linn Har-
dents baugh, Esq., J. S. Mcllvaine.
James W. Cree, Secretary
Fred H. Shumaker, Treasurer.
1904 — 1905
John G. Orr, President Executive Committee: Hon. A. N.
Joshua W. Sharpe, Esq. Pomeroy, Chairman; T. J. Brere-
Hon. W. Rush Gillan, Vice- ton, J. S. Mcllvaine, Dr. R. W.
Presidents Ramsey.
James W. Cree, Secretary
Col. James R. Gilmore, Treasurer.
1905—1906
Joshpa W. Sharpe, President Executive Committee: T. J. Brere-
Hon. W. Rush Gillan ton, Chairman; Linn Harbaugh,
Hon. A. N. Pomeroy, Vice Presi- Esq., J. S. Mcllvaine, Dr. R. W.
dents. Ramsey, Irbin C. Elder, Esq.
James W. Cree, Secretary
Col. James R. Gilmore, Treasurer
1906—1907
Hon. W. Rush Gillan, President Executive. Committee: Linn Har
Hon. A. N. Pomeroy baugh, Esq., Chairman, J. S. Mc-
T. J. Brereton, Vice-Presidents Ilvaine, Dr. R. W. Ramsey. Irvin
Col. James R. Gilmore, Secretary C. Elder, Esq., Hon. John W.
Frank Mehaffey, Esq., Treasurer Hoke.
1907—1908
Hon. A. N. Pomeroy, President. Executive Committee: J. S. Mc-
T. J. Brereton, Ilvaine, Chairman; Dr. R. W.
Linn Harbaugh, Esq., Vice Presi- Ramsey, Irvin C. Elder, Esq..
dents Hon. John W. Hoke, Rev. E. V.
Col. James R. Gilmore, Secretary. Collins.
Frank Mehaffey, Treasurer.
1908—1909
T. J. Brereton, President Executive Committee : Irvin C.
Linn Harbaugh, Esq., Elder, Chairman; Hon. John W.
J. S. Mcllvaine, Vice-Presidents Hoke, Rev. E. V. Collins, Oapt.
Col. James R. Gilmore, Secretary G. W. Skinner, Hon. M. A. Foltz,
D. O. Gehr, Esq., Treasurer. Secretary.
1909—1910
Linn Harbaugh, Esq.. President Executive Committee : Hon. John
J. S. Mcllvaine, W. Hoke, Rev. E. V. Collins,
Irvin C. Elder, Esq., Vice Presi- Captain Geo. W. Skinner, W. S.
dents Hoerner, Esq., M. A. Foltz, Sec-
Col. James R. Gilmore, Secretary retary.
D. O. Gehr, Treasurer
1910—1911
J. S. Mcllvaine, President Executive Committee: "William S.
Hon. D. W. Rowe, Hoerner, Esq., Arthur W. Gillan.
Irvin C. Elder, Esq., Vice Presi- Esq., H. A. Riddle, A. J. W. Hut-
dents, ton, Esq., M. A. Foltz, Secretary.
Col. James R. Gilmore, Secretary
T. M. Wood, Treasurer
1911—1912
Hon. D. W. Rowe, President. Executive Committee: Arthur W. un-
Irvin C. Elder, Esq., Ian. Esq., H. A. Riddle, A. J. W.
Wm. S. Hoerner, Esq., Vice Hutton, Esq.. T. B. Kennedy, M. A.
Presidents Foltz, Secretary.
Col. James R. Gilmore, Secretary
T. M. Wood. Treasurer
1912—1913
Irvin C. Elder, Esq., President Executive Committee: A. J. W.
William S. Hoerner, Esq., Hutton, Esq., H. A. Riddle, T. B.
A. W. Gillan, Esq., Vice Presi- Kennedy, Charles Walter, Esq..
dents. M. A. Foltz. Secretary.
Col. James R. Gilmore, Secretary
T. M. Wood, Treasurer
1913—1914
William S. Hoerner, President Executive Committee: Dr. W. F.
Arthur W. Gillan, 1st Vice President Skinner, Dr. William Mann Irvine,
A. J. W. Hutton, 2nd Vice President Charles Walter, George A. Wood.
M. A. Foltz. Secretary Morris Lloyd.
T. M. Wood, Treasurer..
1914—1915
Arthur W. Gillan, President Executive Committee: Charles Wal-
A. J. W. Hutton, 1st Vice President ter. Dr. William Mann Irvine.
Dr. W. F. Skinner, 2nd Vice Presi- George A. Wood, Morris Lloyd.
dent Rev. I. W. Hendricks.
M. A. Foltz, Secretary
Linn Harbaugh, Assistant Secretary
T. M. Wood, Treasurer
1915—1916.
Dr. Charles F. Palmer, President Executive Committee: Charles Wal-
A. J. W. Hutton, 1st Vice President ter. Dr. William Mann Irvine,
Dr. W. F. Skinner, 2nd Vice Presi- George A. Wood, Rev. I. N. Hen-
dent dricks, Morris Lloyd.
M. A. Foltz, Secretary
Linn Harbaugh, Assistant Secretary
T. M. Wood. Treasurer
ORIGINAL MEMBERS.
*Prof. M. R. ALEXANDER, Rev. S. A. MARTIN, D. D.
WILLIAM ALEXANDER, Esq., "JOHNSTON McLANAHAN, M. D.
•JAMES W. CREE, Sr. JOHN M. McDOWELL, Esq.,
•Rev. J. A. CRAWFORD, D. D., *J. S. McILVAINE,
Hon. M. A. FOLTZ, *Capt. W. H. H. MACKEY.
Col. JAMES R. GILMORE, FRANK MEHAFFEY, Esq..
D. O. GEHR, Esq., JOHN G. ORR,
!Maj. CHAUNCEY IVES, Hon. A. N. POMEROY,
•Rev. JAMES F. KENNEDY, D. D., Dr. GEORGGE F. PLATT,
•THOMAS B. KENNEDY, Esq., H. A. RIDDLE,
M. C. KENNEDY, Hon. JOHN STEWART.
*B. L. MAURER, JOSHUA W. SHARPE, Esq..
1EDWARD B. WIESTLING.
ELECTED 1898—1899.
•General J. F. BOYD, CHARLES F. PALMER, M. D..
T. J. BRERETON. *R. W. RAMSEY. M. D..
Hon. W. RUSH GILLAN, 'Hon. D. W*\TSON ROWE.
WILLIAM S. HOERNER, Esq., *F. H. SHUMAKER,
•JOHN MONTGOMERY, M. D. 1JOHN O. SKINNER, M. D.,
WALTER K. SHARPE.
ELECTED 1900—1903.
LINN HARBAUGH, Esq. THOMAS M. NELSON,
•General A. S. DAGGETT, U. S. a. WILLIAM McCANDLISH,
GEORGE A. WOOD, IRVIN C. ELDER. Esq.,
Rev. WM. C. SCHAEFFER, D. D. THEODORE M. WOOD.
Rev. RAY H. CARTER.
ELECTED 1904.
Hon. JOHN W. HOKE, Dr. L. M. KAUFFMAN.
ELECTED 1905.
'ANDREW BUCHANAN, THOMAS B. KENNEDY
Rev. E. V. COLLINS.
ELECTED 1906.
O. C. BOWERS, Esq.
ELECTED 1907.
Rev. JOHN ALLEN BLAIR, MORRIS LLOYD,
"WALTER B. GILMORE, Esq., JOHN H. POMEROY,
A. W. GILLAN, Esq., *Capt. GEORGE W. SKINNER,
A. J. W. HUTTON, Esq., !R. W. TUNIS,
Dr. M. C. IHLSENG, IGEORGE C. VTEH,
ELECTED 1908.
*Dr. P. B. MONTGOMERY, Dr. W. F. SKINNER,
Prof. D. EDGAR RICE, C. PRINCE SPEER,
Rev. A .P. WALDO, Rev. Dr. IRVTN W. HENDRICKS.
ELECTED 1909.
Rev. C. W. HEATHCOTE, H. V. BLACK,
THOMAS G. ZARGER, Esq. Rev. C. A. EYLER,
ELECTED 1910.
Dr. P. N. EMMERT, E. D. SOLENBERGER,
ELECTED 1911.
*Major JOHN K. CREE, CHARLES WALTER, Esq.,
The Rev. A. E. RACE, FRED B. REED,
Dr. JOHN K. GORDON.
ELECTED 1912.
DAVID H. RIDDLE, JOHN M. RUNK.
HENRY SHUMAKER NIXON
ELECTED 1913.
Col. WILLIAM C. BAMBRICK PARKER R. SKINNER
Rev. JOHN G. ROSE Professor JOHN L. FINAFROCK
General WILLIAM D. DIXON JOSEPH POMEROY MACLAY.M.D.
B. FRANKLIN ROYER, M.D. ROBERT G. CONKLTN
CHARLES M. DEATRICH
ELECTED 1914.
WALTER F. HOLLAR A. W. THRUSH
WILLIAM L. HEYSER
ELECTED 1915.
General THOMAS SHARPE GEORGE K. LENHER
HARRY W. SKINNER JOHN A. KELL
NON-RESIDENT MEMBERS.
B. M. NEAD, Esq., Harrisburg, Pa.
Rev. W. C. SCHAEFFER, D. D Lancaster, Pa.
Rev. RAY H. CARTER India.
W. M. IRVINE, Ph. D Mercersburg, Pa.
A. L. GARDNER Baltimore, Md.
J. A. KELL Philadelphia, Pa.
Dr. A. M. SPEER Pittsburgh, Pa.
M. H. REASER, Ph. D Philadelphia, Pa.
HONORARY MEMBERS.
*GEO. H. SEILHAMER, Esq Chambersburg, Pa.
*JOHN M. COOPER, Martinsburg, Pa.
Rev. J. C. BOWMAN, D. D Lancaster, Pa.
J. P. MATTHEWS, Esq., Baltimore, Md.
CHARLES W. CREMER, Esq Waynesboro, Pa.
WILSON L. HARBAUGH Haverford, x J a.
Col. M. A. GHERST, Reading, Pa.
'Deceased. IWithdrawn.
IN MEMORIAM
Captain John H. Walker, December 16, 1900.
Rev. James F. Kennedy, 'D.D., September 6, 1901.
B. Latrobe Maurer, Secretary, July 1, 1902.
John M. Cooper, Esq., December 4, 1903.
Capt. W. H. H. Mackey, January 4, 1904.
F. H. Shumaker, Treasurer, February 18, 1904.
Thomas B. Kennedy, Esq., June 1'9, 1905.
James W. Cree, Secretary, November 12, 1906.
Gen. J. F. Boyd, March 23, 1907.
Rev. J. Agnew Cawford, D.D., September 19, 19*7.
Prof. M. R. Alexander, Hollidaysburg, Pa.
Captain George W. Skinner, October 7, 1909.
Dr. P. Brough Montgomery, January 7, 1910.
Dr. John Montgomery, June 16, 11911.
Andrew Buchanan, November 20, 1912.
Hon. D. Watson Rowe, July 15, 1913.
John 'S. Mcllvaine, February 17, 1914.
Col. James R. Gilmore, May 29, 1914.
Dr. R. W. Ramsey, December 26, 1914.
D. O. Gehr, December 27, 1914.
Major Chauncey Ives, January 9, 1915.
Hon. M. A. Foltz, April 16, 1915.
Major John K. Cree, October 21, 1915.
JUDGE THOMAS COOPER— (Second Paper),
Entertained at Hotel Washington by Dr. Charles F. Palmer.
The subject of the second paper was on that cantankerous man,
Judge Cooper, on that most interesting episode, his trial for libel
of President Adams. Dr. Himes was given a fine reception by
members and guests. In presenting the historian, Judge Rowe,
was especially happy. For those who had not heard the first pa-
per, in May, 1911, he said Judge Cooper followed Judge Riddle
in 1804, and was therefore part of our own local history. He was
a unique character — a jurist, a chemist and most able advocate.
Being the annual meetingmuch business was transacted. Dr.
Palmer had as guests all of the members of the Borough Council,
nearly all of the local clergy, and a numbe ior his colleagues in
the medical profession, as well as prominent citizens of neighbor-
ing towns.
George H. Stewart, Jr., Shippensburg, was elected a member
of the Society.
Dr. Himes was accompanied by John H. Rhey, Esq.,
of Carlisle; Major Thomas Sharp, a director of the Hamil-
ton Library Association, was also a guest.
The business meeting having been disposed of, Judge
Rowe, President of the Society, happily presented the dis-
tinguished historian, who was given an ovation as he un-
folded his manuscript, and at once launched into his subject.
The previous paper was recalled by Dr. Himes as a
brief general biographical sketch, giving the most salient
incidents in the life of that remarkable man, Thomas
Cooper. Instead of expanding that sketch, the present
paper was given to the more exhaustive treatment of one
of the most characteristic episodes of his life — his Trial
under the Sedition Law for libel of President John Adams.
This was selected because of its great general, and in some
of its phases, present day interest. As it was a purely politi-
cal trial, the political conditions of the period and character-
istics of the two leading parties of the day — Federalists and
AntiFederalists or Democrats — were considered, and the
character of the public press incidentally alluded to.
An Article by Cooper seemed a challenge to the Federal-
IO
ists to take advantage of the Sedition Law, which almost
seemed to have been pressed to silence such political offen-
ders. The alleged libellous article of Cooper's was not,
however, a direct attack on President Adams, but was in-
cluded in a reply by Cooper to an article reflecting on him
for which he blamed the President in part, and he there-
fore indulged in animadversions on his political measure
that led to the prosecution.
The title of the paper might almost be "The fight for
unlimited political freedom of the press." The notorious
Judge Chase presided at the trial in the U. S. District
Court of Philadelphia. Cooper acknowledged the paper
presented as written by him, plead Not Guilty, and claimed
the right under the law to prove the truth of the allegations.
He desired the President to be subpoenaed, which was not
granted. The offer of admission of hooks and newspapers
in evidence by him after much discussion was practically
granted. The offer of admission of books and newspapers
many parts of which were very adroitly formed for political
effect in the coming Presidential election.
One of the counts in the indictment was that he wrote
that he was hardly in the infancy of political mistake. Even
those who doubted his capacity thought well of his inten-
tions. Others were not much more serious. The Attorney
General considered that licentiousness of the press should
be restrained, and the judge who had been very fair at the
trial, in his charge sought to impress that on the jury, and
that his intention was to defeat the President for re-elec-
tion. Cooper was convicted, fined $400, and imprisoned
six months. He almost defiantly refused to plead anything
in extenuation. The bias of the Judge, as shown in his
charge, and his notorious character as a political judge,
were dwelt upon.
The Federalists felt at once that a mistake had been
made, and moved to have a pardon extended to Cooper.
Having learned of it he said in an open letter he could not
accept of a pardon unless it was preceded by an apology from
Mr. Adams to himself and Priestley.
On his release from prison he was banqueted and ex-
II
tolled as Champion and martyr to the cause of "Freedom
of the press."
After 25 years he petitioned to the Senate of United
States for restitution of the fine with interest. He furnished
many arguments to meet objections from time to time. It
was opposed by Webster. After twenty-years more, by Act
of Congress, the fine was repaid with interest into the
estate of Cooper, ten years after his decease.
The closest attention was given Dr. Himes throughout
his interesting production, and at its conclusion, the author
was roundly applauded. Owing to the lateness of the hour,
Judge Rowe suggested that the discussion be made brief.
He was glad to see the intense appreciation with which the
distinguished historian was followed.
At the banquet which followed it was the theme of
the remainder of the evening by members and guests who
surrounded the dozen or more tables. On motion of T. J.
Brereton, Dr. Himes was given a hearty vote of thanks for
tiis production. Editor Brereton had the following to say in
Valley Spirit of March 1 :
Dr. Charles F. Himes is known throughout the United
States as one of the foremost phycicists and mathematicians
of the country, as well as a historian of more than local re-
pute. His labors in the history of that part of the popula-
tion of our state known as the Pennsylvania Dutch or Ger-
mans have been of extraordinary merit, and he was for
some time president of the Pennsylvania German society.
Years ago when the art of photography was in its in-
fancy he took a deep interest in it, forseeing its immense
future possibilities, indeed it is hardly too much to say that
his early experiments and original investigations, for which
he was peculiarly well fitted owing to his intimate knowledge
of chemistry and physics, have had great influence in the
development of that art into the state of perfection to which
it has been brought.
The honor conferred upon the Kittochtinny historical
society by Dr. Himes, in reading his second paper before it,
was deeply appreciated, and this, coupled with the element
of local interest attached to the personality of Thomas
12
Cooper, his subject, as one of the early judges who pre-
sided over the court of Franklin county, brought out a
large representation of the society to hear him, one that
would have been larger but for the Princeton- Yale dinner
in Harrisburg."
"As a model host. Dr. Palmer, 'the beloved physician,'
has few, if any, equals in the community. The soul of hos-
pitality, nothing pleases him so much as to see his guests
gathered about his board, while he passes among them with
a word here and another there, while upon his face beams
the gracious smile of welcome to all.
"Dr. Palmer's cooking has become proverbial among
his friends, and whether he presides over the broiled chicken
of the 'Hague Conference' or Maud's Scott's delicious cook-
ery at his own home or elsewhere, he does so with a grace
of hospitality rarely seen.
"To most mortals the Washington House resources in
the cooking line seems pretty good, but the host of Thurs-
day night moved his own entire cuisine to that fa-
mous hostelry, a privilege that it is safe to say would not
be granted to any other man in town. The result was all
that could be desired in the way of a repast that was de-
licious and at the same time wholesome. As the doctor put
it, he did not want any of his guests to require his profes-
sional services the next day."
13
CAPTAIN JOHN R. KOOKEN.
The Society was entertained at the inviting home of H. A.
Riddle, Philadelphia Avenue. Captain Kooken was a unique
character and exceedingly well known in Northern Pennsylvania
fifty years ago. The gifted historian entertained the Society im-
mensely in story of the Captain's eventful and in many respects
chivalrous career. The paper was enthusiastically received, and
favorably commented upon by Judge Rowe, who was the only one
present who personally knew Captain Kooken.
Irvin C. Elder, Esq., the new president of the Society, pre-
sided, and in a brief talk outlined its work. A letter was read
from the late J. H. Renfrew, calling attention to the fact that Lee's
plan of battle at Gettysburg from the second day was made a
failure in part by the congestion of troops at Greenwood. He sug-
gested the erection of a tablet at this point that in a few words
would tell of this historic circumstance. Communication received
and filed with request that it appear in volume of Society, which
has been complied with.
The subject of this sketch might with propriety be
called the little historical brother of that "cantankerous"
individual, Judge Thomas Cooper, with whom we have re-
cently become so well acquainted.
John R. Kooken was more closely identified with our
county than Judge Cooper and yet he has almost as com-
pletely dropped out of sight. He was endowed with much
the same kind of persistence and energy, and in a milder
form, betrayed some of the eccentricities of genius, which,
in later life, had he been permitted to live, would have
stamped him as a remarkable man. He was born in Centre
county, Pennsylvania, and first comes under our view as-
one of the boys who accompanied Dr. Rauch with his high
school from York to Mercersburg in the fall of 1835. He
at once became one of the leading spirits on the side of the
students in the formative and organizating days of Marshall
College. Course of study was somewhat mingled in the
college and seminary, as was the way with theologians of
that early day, and in 1841 he became pastor of a charge
in Dauphin county, composed of six congregations.
Mr. Kooken received the title of "General" at his
boarding club. One of his fellow students was called "Car-
14
dinal," and another the "Judge." The military title suited
young Kooken so well that he retained it among his friends
throughout life, or perhaps until he became a captain
through meritorious service at the front in 1862. There was
something martial in his appearance and style, as well as
in his constitution. He was always regarded as the cham-
pion and protector of the students, especially of the weak
against the strong, whether good or bad.
"General'' Kooken had many opportunities to exer-
cise his bellicose propensities. Dr. Appel relates that "On
one occasion, on a dark and stormy night, some of the stu-
dents became alarmed at a suspicious light in one of the
recitation rooms long after midnight. It was supposed
that burglars were about the building, and Mr. Kooken
was aroused from his slumbers and duly informed of all
the circumstances. After dressing himself, as his room-
mate informs us, he siezed his dirk, and proceeding to the
door where the light was, peremptorily demanded admit-
tance. As this was refused, he broke open the door, when,
to his confusion, he was confronted by Professor Budd, who,
unable to endure the noise of the winds howling around
him in the fourth floor, had come clown into his class-room
on the first floor and was poring over his mathematics when
the door was suddenly burst open."
Professor Budd seldom rebuked anyone, but when he
did so, it was at the right time, and was always felt and his
brogue had a rich flavor about it.
So much has been written about the institutions at
Mercersburg that one runs the risk of becoming tiresome
in re-opening the subject. They have been the burden of
some ponderous history, the theme of many sketches and
the back-ground of a number of biographies which reflect
the life and spirit of a remarkable half-centurv in higher
education. The institutions were not as closely folded under
the wing of the Reformed church and her ministry as is
commonly supposed. The literary labors of the professors
attracted general attention, and students were gathered
there from distant regions.
Among the students were boys who distinguished them-
i5
selves in military affairs of the nation in after years, such
as General John F. Hartranft, General Charles T. Campbell,
hero of two wars; Colonel D. Watson Rowe, Colonel
Thomas B. Kennedy and Captain John R. Kooken, and
others. Governor Van Romondt, of St. Martin's — a West
India Island — sent three of his sons. A state as far south
as Louisiana was represented by two boys with such pa-
triotic and responsible names as Washington and Jefferson
Cockfield. Thomas B. McFarland, of the class of 1848,
became a Justice of the Supreme Court of California. And
it may not be out of place to state that the Rev. Dr. D. H.
Riddle, father of our host this evening, seriously considered
the acceptance of the presidency of Marshall College.
"General" Kooken was one of the founders of the Diag-
nothian Literary Society. Both the literary societies are
older than the college itself. It was the highest ambition of
these young men to become good writers and speakers, and
at the high school in York debating societies were organized
time and again, only to fall by the way after a while, until
1835, the Diagnothian was organized. Shortly afterwards
it was suggested that the students divide and form two
societies, thus creating a generous rivalry. This was done
in a peaceable way, and the second society received the name
"Goethean." Dr. Ranch was much pleased that one of the
societies had been named after Germany's greatest poet. He
evidently regarded it as a personal compliment, and at once
became the champion of the Goethean Society.
This caused consternation among the Diagnothians.
"General" Kooken and his fellows of the society were very
much wrought up about it. Charles F. McCauley, after-
wards an eminent minister, was selected as spokesman, and
he says that he could neither eat nor sleep until he had
obtained an interview with Dr. Rauch. The interview is
reported as follows :
Dr. Ranch received his visitor very kindly, but seemed
greatly affected by the implied reproof. "Do you blame
me," he inquired. "If you were a poor refugee in a foreign
land, as I am, would you not be pleased if a literary society
were named after the greatest man of your native country?
i6
I thought your society could depend for its membership on
the prevailing English element of this country, and that I
might safely urge those who are proud of German descent
to do honor to the name of Goethe but I find that I was
wrong, and henceforth I will occupy a strictly impartial
position between the two societies." "This interview," says
Dr. MeCauley, "accomplished all that was desired, but be-
fore we were through with it, we both cried."
These references to literary society life, and a few more
paragraphs that follow, may perhaps not be regarded as
irrelevant when it is made to appear how they lead up to
several conflicts in which "General Kooken distinguished
himself. I once made the assertion that there never was
any Marshall College, and the crowd of boys around me
gazed with expressions of mingled pity and derision.
It was not long after the seminary building had been
completed and was found to be large enough to accommo-
date both institutions, that some of the over-zealous friends
of the institutions residing in Mercersburg became very
much interested in the plan of erecting a new building for
the college in the southern part of town; and "after talk-
ing over the subject with other members of the board of
trustees, assumed that they had authority to go forward
with such an undertaking. A contract was made and the
brick were hauled on the ground in sufficient quaintity for
a very large building, such as was supposed to be needed
for the college, but there was no money for the building.
But the brick were on the ground, and there they
lay exposed to the weather and in danger of going back to
their original dust."
What was to be done? That was the question that
worried Dr. Kevin. The brick had to be utilized or pro-
tected in some way, or they would soon turn into a brick
mound, such as are found at the present day on the banks
of the Euphrates.
Another thing that worried Dr. Kevin was the in-
creasing complaints of the Diagnothians and Goetheans
about the prayer hall being unsuitable as a meeting place.
The most serious objection raised was that the societies
17
could have no secrecy, a thing they made a great point of;
another was that the seats were very poor. The Goethean
society once sent the faculty a gift of $25, to be used in the
purchase of better seats for the chapel. The faculty ap-
preciated the satire which the gift involved, and courteously
accepted the contribution, but immediately sent the society
an equal sum to be applied to the enlargement of its library.
If we knew of half the troubles that Dr. Nevin had
at that old college, it would not surprise us to learn that he
was equal to this emergency. He took the troubles of the
brick pile and the unrest of the societies, and found that by
putting them together they would cancel. His proposition
was that the societies should erect halls on the college
campus at the southern end of town for their exclusive use,
offering to each society a contribution of $500, which was
afterwards increased to $1000, provided that the whole
amount should be paid in bricks. The societies accepted the
proposition, subscribed money themselves, received liberal
subscriptions from their honorary members and friends,
and in about one year's time they had erected their beautiful
halls over on the college grounds. The plans were made by
Professor Budd, and externally the halls were almost ex-
actly alike, so situated that the proposed college building
could be erected between them. "They were to be regardec?
as wings," as has been poetically declared, "separated, it is
true, to the eye, but only to be so much the more closely
connected internally to the mind. They were to be the
daughters of the college, and as they were of the same age,
they were to be as much alike as twins."
One of the most beautiful poems of William M. Nevin
is one of eight stanzas, written in 1886 — and the last stanza
is:
"Ah, now they're standing all forlorn,
Or turned to other use ;
While we their sad condition mourn,
Their ruinous abuse —
Their ruinous abuse, my boys ;
Yet still they wake to view
The times lamented that were ours,
I
18
When these two halls were new;
When these two halls were new, my boys;
When these two halls were new."
An immense pile of bricks was drawn upon for build-
ing these halls, and yet a large portion remained. But it
so happened that the old stone church, in which the college
worshiped, and held the commencements, had become delap-
idated and unfit for such purposes. The congregation was
growing and needed a better building. The new Trinity
Reformed Church was built and the college supplied the
bricks, and in consideration of the bricks the college was
forever to have the right to hold its commencements ana
other services in the church.
When you speak to a boy of a church, a hospital or a
college, you cannot prove to him that there is one unless
you show it to him ; and I was right, as it is given to me
to see the right, when I asserted that Marshall College never
had any existence, and that a college is not simply some
indefinite thing that Dr. Nevin could carry around in his
head.
Indeed this view of it is well supported by the evidence
of two eminently respectable citizens who were traveling
from Chambersburg to their homes in Mercersburg at a
time when there was very much agitation about the removal
of the college to Lancaster. They saw away off on the
road a peddler trudging towards them with a huge pacK
upon his back. "There comes Dr. Nevin," said one of them,
"on his way to Lancaster with the college on his back.*'
It was in these stirring times prior to the building of
the halls that "General" Kooken figured in several exciting
scenes growing out of some unpleasantness with the town
boys. The college interests were in the opposite side of
the town, because of the plans for society halls, made the
passing of students through the town more frequent, and
"in some way a growing coolness, ripened into a bitter an-
tagonism, obtained among a certain number of the young
men of the village towards the college students.'' There
was intemperate language and unbecoming conduct on both
19
sides. Frequent collisions occurred between the scattered
members of the two factions. Sometimes one and then the
other would be taken at a disadvantage, and the spirit cher-
ished on both sides boded no good.
It was in this emergency that "General" Kooken be-
came the leader of the college party.
After a number of single encounters had taken place
the time seemed to be at hand for a trial of strength be-
tween the united forces of townsmen and gownsmen. The
meeting took place at a point about half way between the
Seminary building and the town. It was about nine o'clock
at night. Some fearful epithets were bandied back and for-
ward for a time between the respective forces. Finally some
overt act was committed, and the conflict began. There was
a fearful set-to, both sides being armed with clubs and
stones, which were used unsparingly. Coats were ripped into
ribbons. There were black eyes and bleeding noses, dis-
tributed in each camp about alike. "General" Kooken showed
wonderful abilities as a commander, but the darkness and
the lateness of the hour, and perhaps fear on tue part of
both parties that the officers of the law might hold them all
responsible for this breach of the peace, render it impossible
for us to record which side was victorious. "General"
Kooken, like all true soldiers, was among the first to ar-
range for peace after this with the town boys, and there
was an understanding arrived at preventing any further dif-
ficulty of this kind. A better feeling prevailed throughout
the town, and among the students also. This kind of bar-
barism never took root nor became a tradition at Mercers-
burg.
The Rev. Mr. Kooken, as we shall now call him for
a little while, served his congregation in Dauphin county for
about two years, and then was called to the Grindstonehill
charge, in our own county. Here he served about two years,
and then went to Trappe, Montgomery county. Several
years afterwards he went to Norristown, in the same county,
established a flourishing congregation and built a beautiful
church. In the meantime he founded a school for young
women, called Elmwood Seminary, which he, with several
20
other persons, conducted with great success for some years.
In 1852 he resigned his pastorate and came back to Mer-
cersburg, where he was engaged in the collegiate institute,
which was the link between Marshall College and Mercers-
burg College, founded in 1865.
After this he failed somewhat in health and was
threatened with some affection of the throat He obtained
an appointment as Consul of the United States at Trinidad,
Isle of Cuba, under the administration of President Buch-
anan. Soon after the war broke out he resigned his
post and returned to the United States, determined to enter
the army. He had some military training, and was said
to have been rather tall, well set, of florid complexion,
ardent temperament and unbounded energy and enterprise.
He seems to have had no difficulty in obtaining a commis-
sion. Captain Ezra D. Brisbin, of Co. C, 110th Regiment
Penna Volunteers, resigned on June 16, 1862, and ten days
afterwards John R. Kooken was ocmmissioned captain of
that company. He led his company at the Battle of Cedar
Mountain, on August 9, 1862, and afterwards at Thorough-
fare Gap. During the Antietam campaign the 110th regi-
ment was kept within the defences of Washington, and was
posted at Arlington Heights. Rejoining the army near
Harpers Ferry, the division, now under the command of
General Whipple, moved with the army to the Rappahan-
nock, and on the 13th of December, 1862, took part in the
Battle of Fredericksburg, being with Franklin, on the left.
Company C sustained severe loss, Captain John R. Kooken
being mortally wounded. He died on the day following the
battle, December 14, 1862.
Inasmuch as Captain Kooken was married while pas-
tor at Trappe, Montgomery county, Pennsylvania, and had
two children, it is likely that he was buried there.
Much astonishment has been expressed by historians
that a man like Judge Cooper could have so completely drop-
ped out of our minds and our books, and yet, in all the his-
tories and scraps of history of our own county, except a
brief reference in the sketch of the Grindstonehill charge, I
have failed to find the name of Captain John R. Kooken,
21
who lived a good and active life/ amongst us for a number
of years, and who met the death of a brave soldier in the
same battle at Fredericksburg, in which the 126th Regiment
of Pennsylvania Volunteers participated so gallantly — "a
regiment which Franklin county was pleased to consider
peculiarly her own."
It was not those in command at the time, but the plain
people of our valley who blundered when they permitted
Marshall College to lose its identity in the merger of 1853.
Captain Kooken's personal relations with Marshall Col-
lege were unique in that he shared all the incidents of its
founding, was among those who came over with the high
school from York, was present when it was removed from
the old mountain town, and was in a large measure instru-
mental in sustaining the preparatory features of education
after the departure of the college, until educational plans
could be revived under the leadership of Apple, Higbee and
Aughinbaugh, and the present Mercersburg Academy.
The course of Marshall College, from its inception un-
til, in the logic of events, it was swallowed up, is illustrated
by the prayer of an old deacon, that Dr. Higbee used to
delight in repeating::
"Oh Lord, gather the sins of all the people in a bag,
and throw it into Sam's creek, and let it float down into
Pipe creek, and from thence into the Potomac river, and out
into the great ocean, where it shall be utterly lost forever,
and forever."
ADDENDA TO SKETCH OF JOHN R. KOOKEN.
Sometime after the foregoing sketch had been publish,
the writer received a letter from Mrs. A. D. Fetterolf, of
Collegeville, Pa. Mr. Fetterolf is president of the College-
ville National Bank, and his wife is the only surviving child
of the Rev. John R. Kooken. The interesting letter, to-
gether with other information about the life of "General"
Kooken, is given below.
"Collegeville, May 28th, '12.
"My Dear Mr. Harbaugh : — Your letter to Mr. Fet-
22
terolf brought me much pleasure. I thank you sincerely for
honoring my father's memory. Just here I wish to say the
writings of your father are among my earliest recollections,
for it was the custom of my sainted mother to read to us
every evening, and so often were the selections taken from
the Messenger or the Guardian. I have now a Guardian,
which she saved for some reason, edited by your father,
June number, 1866. There are three articles from his pen,
viz: "Christian Union," "Workers and Idlers," and Early
Risers."
It was my intention to have the articles I send you
copied, but as it is a matter of history, I think it so much
more interesting to see the original, so I send what I have,
and let you copy the parts of interest to you, and then re-
turn at your convenience, to me. The article in the Church
Messenger was written by Dr. Geo. Dering Wolff, who
afterwards joined the Roman Catholic Church. A copy of
this was placed in the cornerstone of the Church of the As-
cension two weeks ago. I wish to add to this article that
when my father walked the distance to College, so eager
for an education, he carried a small chest, which I hold
as a relic, on his shoulder, containing all his earthly pos-
sessions. I was a very small child when he died. My
mother was delicate, and bore her sorrows silently. I knew
very little, except the Masonic Order sent for his body, but
could not recover it. As one after the other passed away,
the home was broken. I brought old letters and papers to
my own home to look over before destroying. Perhaps many
were destroyed that I would prize now. Among the number
my husband discovered one which the enclosure is a copy.
(The original is very much worn.) He sent this to Gen.
Stewart, who is his intimate friend, and through his efforts
we were able to locate my father's grave.
"To bear you out in your article about the title 'Gen-
eral' I can say he bore it through life, for letters signed by
an intimate friend in Cuba, John C. Delia Torre, who must
have been a fine Shakespearian scholar, began his letters 'My
Dear General :' also the small enclosure was among his Mer-
cersburg collections, which must have been written when
23
he was a student. Who the Major General was I know
not, but thought it would be interesting to have such con-
vincing proof of your statement. I kept a letter from Dr.
Schaff, who wrote after the death of my sister, in Cuba.
She was stricken with yellow fever, and my father read
the burial service over his own child, because there were no
Protestants in Trinidad.
"Our family loved Mercersburg, and always spoke of
the splendid hospitality of the people. I remember the
names of Schaff, Nevin, Dr. Brownson, Cookes, who lived
at Cove ; Dr. Wolff, Anna Mary Witmer, and many others.
Of course, it is all like a dream, but even the dream is
worth a great deal to me. I have tried to condense as much
as possible, and trust it will be satisfactory to you. If not,
I will be very glad to answer any questions you wish to
ask.
"With much gratitude for your interest, I am, very
sincerely,
"BERTHA K. FETTEROLF."
"Headquarters noth Regt., P. V. I.,
Camp near Falmouth, Va.,
' March 6, 1863.
"Dear Madam : — In reply to yours of February 27,
permit me to give you all of the particulars, in my posses-
sion, of the death of my late esteemed friend, Capt. Kooken.
He was mortally wounded late on the evening of the 13th
of December, whilst gallantly leading his men in the last
charge of that unfortunate battle. After he fell he was
carried from the field by Lt. David Copelin, of Co. K, (now
of Co. A), and Sergt. Bell and Corpl Andrews, of his (Cap-
tain Kooken's) own company. He was taken to a house
on the outskirts of Fredericksburg, nearest the battlefield ;
Lt. Copelin, Sergt. Bell and Corp'l Andrews remaining by
his side until he breathed his last, at 6 o'clock in the morn-
ing of the 14th.
"It is unnecessary to say that everything was done that
24
human hands could do for him. Although the city was
filled with wounded from the battlefield, Lt. Copelin
promptly obtained the services of a surgeon, who visited him
frequently during the night. His wound, which was from a
minnie ball, passing through his body, from side to side,
was necessarily mortal, and he was aware of his condition
from the moment he fell. From that moment to the time
of his death he was calm and peaceful, uttering no com-
plaints, and his spirit had passed away several minutes be-
fore those who were watching him were aware that he
had died. He spoke frequently of home, but remained a
great portion of the time quiet, as though communing with
himself. He slept during a portion of the night, but his in-
tellect was unclouded to the last. His end was that of a
brave man, and that of a Christian. He made but one spe-
cial request, and that was that his body might be buried,
md his grave so marked that his friends might be enabled
:o recover it. It was left to me to fulfill his last wish on
earth. I did not see him until after he had died, and at the
request of Lt. Copelin, superintended his burial. It was
that of a soldier. A substantial, though rough coffin was
aiade of some boards we found upon the premises where he
died, with nothing but an old wood saw and an axe for
:ools. He was laid in this box with the clothes in which
he died, and wrapped in his blanket. He was buried at 10
o'clock on the morning of Sunday, the 14th. whilst the
balls and shells from the enemy whistled over our heads,
for he was buried under the fire of the enemy. His body
lies in the garden of a house on the outskirts of the city,
as I have already said. At the head of the grave was placed
a wooden board, upon which I marked in pencil, "Capt.
John R. Kooken, Co. C, 110th Regt, P. V., died Dec. 14.
1862."
Sergt. Bell, who was much attached to him, with Corpl
Andrews, assisted in the last rites. The particulars of his
fast moments were furnished me by Sergt. Bell, who
inswered me that he made no such request as you suggested,
n regard to leaving his watch to his little daughter. He
made no request whatever, except that one in reference to
•
his burial. Sergt. Bell is by my side as I write this. He
says that the Captain remarked that he knew he must die,
that he would patiently wait his time, and was perfectly
reconciled to his lot. These were amongst his last words.
" It is unnecessary to say that the death of Captain
Kooken cast a gloom over the regiment. He was most
highly esteemed as a true gentleman and brave soldier. I
was personally on intimate terms with him, arising from
the fact that I was a native of Norristown, and well ac-
quainted with many of his personal friends.
My last interview with him was on the afternoon of
the 13th previous to the charge in which he lost his life.
We were standing under the fire of the rebel batteries and
sharpshooters. It was the first battle we had either of us
been engaged in. I went up to him, and, taking him by
the hand, asked him what he thought of the battle. He
shook his head, saying he did not like it, adding : But I love
my country — have come here to do my duty, and I die for
her, if necessary. There are almost his very words, and
then on the following morning, I looked upon his lifeless
form. This seemed to me prophetic.
"I gathered some little mementoes from the garden
where he was buried — a withered flower — a few beans ana
grains of corn, and sent these home, with the request that
the corn and beams might be planted in the Spring in mem-
ory of him. Probably no one in the regiment felt his loss
more than myself. We generally conversed in the Span-
ish language, and were planning how, after the war was
ended, we could go to some of the Spanish-American states,
taking our families with us, and enter into business to-
gether.
It is needless for me to offer my condolence. I am ^
husband and father myself, and know too well how the tid-
ings of my death would fall upon the hearts of those I love
at Fredericksburg. The Superintendent, through efforts of
Captain Kooken was, in defense of his country's liberties,
and in the hope of a blessed immortality.
"I shall be pleased to serve you in any way in my power.
26
Believe me, Madam, with great respect, Yours,
M. H. JOLLY,
Adjutant noth Regt., P. V.
For nearly forty years it was supposed that Captain
Kooken's grave was among the unknown, but it was finally
ascertained that he was interred in the National Cemetery
at Fredericksburg. The Superintendent, through ecorts of
the G. A. R., supplied the information as follows :
"Capt. Kooken, removed from a lot in the City of
Fredericksburg, and re-interred in the National Cemetery.
Division A. Section A. Grave marked 116 — Number of
Grave and Headstone — 2290."
The following document refers to "General" Kooken's
student life at Mercersburg, Pa.
"To the Generalissimo:
"Respected and Honored Sir : — I would merely say
that Ajax with a shield like a tower, did me the very great
kindness of gracing my room with his presence and I
thought proper about the time he was making his exit, to
send you a note merely to inform you that I am somewhat
busy, and that when I get through with my Greek and
Hebrew recitations, which will be about 12 o'clock tomorrow,
I intend paying you a short visit. I think I shall take down
the sword and examine it to see if it is in order for war.
My club is as terrifying as ever. If you should get into any
difficulty before I call to see you, call on me, and I will be
in readiness to meet the enemy.
"Very truly yours, etc.,
Thursday evening, The Major General'.'
February 15, 1837.
FRANKLIN COUNTY NEWSPAPERS AND THE
MEN WHO MADE THEM.
HON. M. A. FOLTZ.
Any account of the "Newspapers of Franklin County
and the Men Who Made Them," would be incomplete with-
out reference to the dean of journalism of Franklin County.
No man has ever presided over the editorial or business de-
partment pf our daily or weekly newspapers who has been
held in highest esteem by his co-laborers than Hon. M. A.
Foltz. It was with deepest regret that they saw him lay
down the pen that he might devote his entire time to the
Government and the people of this community whom he
sought to serve. Nothing was too great a task for him to
perform, if, in the doing, he aided some other one engaged
in the same occupation. Jealousy of his competitors found
no place in him. He felt that there was room for all. While
others may have differed with him, as they frequently did.
in politics especially, the high regard in which the man was
held precluded all personalities in their attacks, and his
replies were always along the same dignified lines that have
characterized his life. Chambersburg and Franklin County
lost a valuable and energetic journalist when Mr. Foltz ac-
tively quit the profession, but his pen has not been stilled.
Since his retirement he has contributed frequently to many
of the newspapers of the County, and has been most active
in this society. His influence for good is yet felt. May
his life be spared many years, that the public may benefit
is the wish of the entire community.
Moses Abraham Foltz was born on a farm in Letter-
kenny township, Franklin County, on July 2nd, 1837, son
of Christian and Hannah (Keefer) Foltz. He was educated
in the township schools of the county, and at the Wilkes -
Barre Academy. On April 15th, 1855, just a little over
28
fifty-seven years ago, he entered, as apprentice, the office
of the Transcript, in Ch amber sburg, to learn the trade of
printing. In December of that year the Transcript was
merged into the Franklin Repository, in which office he
remained until he had completed his trade, in 1858. Three
months before he had become a full-fledged printer he was
appointed foreman of the Repository office, in which posi-
tion he remained until October, 1859, when he became part
owner, with the late P. Dock Frey, in the Chambersburg
Times.
The Times was purchased from them in i860, by Jacob
S. Sellers, a prominent Democrat of St. Thomas township,
and William Kennedy, who later became a well known
journalist. The paper was conducted as an organ for the
Douglas Partv. Mr. Foltz remained as foreman of The
Times office until April, 1861, when he accepted the posi-
tion of Superintendent of the Reformed Church Publication
House, then established in Chambersburg. There he re-
mained until the town was destroyed by fire. July 30tH.
1864. It was while he was engaged in this position, in 1863.
during General Lee's invasion of Pennsylvania, that he
was compelled to do printing for the Confederate headquar-
ters, and in 1864 was held as one of the hostages by Gen-
eral McCausland for the money demand made upon the
borough of Chambersburg.
Following the destruction of Chambersburg, and the
removal of the Reformed Publication House to Philadel-
phia, Mr. Foltz again entered the Repository office, this
time as pressman. He continued in such position until
ASpril, 1865, when he, for a short time, cut loose from his
chosen profession and embarked in the hat and shoe busi-
ness with his former partner, P. Dock Frey. He remained
behind the counter in the mercantile business for a period
of one year. It did not appeal to him. That thirst for
printers' ink, which most men acquire after having once
enjoyed it. took possession of him, and he opened a job
printing office on the third floor of what was then known
as the Iron Front Building, now that occupied by P. Nicklas
Sons Co. This was too small to gratify the ambitions of
29
an active man like Mr. Foltz. Publication of a newspaper
was his goal from the time he learned his trade, and he es-
tablished the Country Merchant, on July ist, 1866, which
he continued until 1869, thereby paving the way for the
newspaper with whose connection Mr. Foltz is best and
most favorably known — Public Opinion, which he estab-
lished on July 20th, 1869, and of which he was editor and
proprietor for thirty years.
On March ist, 1899, he was appointed Postmaster of
Chambersburg, by President McKinley, and served most
acceptably for six years. Finding the burdens of the dual
position of editor and postmaster too arduous, he disposed
of the Public Opinion to John M. Runk, on September 5th,
1899.
The Public Opinion, under the direction of Mr. Foltz,
was recognized as one of the leading weeklies of the Com-
monwealth. It proved a great success from its inception.
Its editor being a practical printer, the paper presented a
neat and attractive appearance. It was always bright,
newsy, out-spoken, and enterprising in its collection and
preparation of reading matter. Its pages were especially
rich in contributions relating to the history of the town
and county, some exceedingly valuable articles of a his-
torical nature first having appeared in that paper. In Mr.
Foltz the business and material interests of Franklin County
found a warm advocate. He was foremost in every move-
ment for the advancement of the people of the town and
county.
Mr. Foltz frequently represented his party in county,
district and State Conventions, but he never held office until
1893, when he served the people of Franklin County in the
Legislature of the State. In that body his ability was
recognized and he was appointed as the second member on
the important Committee of Ways and Means, and was
also a member of the Local Judiciary. He voted and worked
assidiously for the free school books and for the bill cre-
ating the Soldiers' Orphans' Industrial School, which cul-
minated in the selection of a site for that institution in our
own county at Scotland. Mr. Foltz was chairman of the
3°
Press Committee on the part of the business men and Bor-
ough Council of Chambersburg, who had in charge the
matter of securing the institution for this locality.
Mr. Foltz was one of the organizers of the Franklin
County Agricultural Association, in 1868, and was its
Treasurer for several years. He was connected with it un-
til it went out of existence, a part of the fair ground hav-
ing been donated as a site for the Taylor Works, now the
Chambersburg Engineering Company plant.
In religious affairs, Air. Foltz has always been a de-
voted and consistent member of the Reformed Church.
Since 1864, he has been a member of the consistory of Zion
Reformed Church, and a member of its eldership since
1891. Owing to his prominence in church matters he was
selected as Chairman of the Layman's Missionary Move-
ment (interdenominational) of the Southern district of
Pennsylvania. In this work, as in every movement he has
engaged in, he accomplished results.
It is in his literary work, however, that Mr. Foltz has
played a prominent part. To this Society he has contrib-
uted some of the best and most important papers. In addi-
tion to these he prepared and read before the Teachers' In-
stitute of Franklin County, in 1904, the fiftieth anniversary
occasion. of that organization, a paper entitled "Institutes,
Schools, and Schoolmasters." The paper was most valuable
because it presented facts concerning the public schools of
Franklin County that "had never been collected and placed
in type for preservation.
Possibly no man in this community has done more or
better journalistic and literary work than the Hon. M. A.
Foltz. For this reason, the paper just read by him is in-
complete. He has been a prominent factor here in moulding
public opinion, and any paper on "The Newspapers of
Franklin County and the Men Who Made Them" is lack-
ing in a very essential feature that does not contain the life
and work of M. A. Foltz.
A. NEVIN POMEROY.
3i
FRANKLIN COUNTY NEWSPAPERS AND THE
MEN WHO MADE THEM.
BY M. A. FOLTZ.
That the meeting on this occasion should be at the
home of Editor Brereton, was altogether fitting, as the sub-
ject relates to the profession he so ably represents. At the
business meeting Hon. J. M. Runk and David H. Riddle
were elected members. After the reading of the papers, and
hearing a discussion of it, the society held the usual social
session and passed a pleasant hour together. Mrs. Francis
C. Woodard and Mrs. A. Nevin Pomeroy assisted Mrs.
Brereton in the entertainment of her guests. George A.
Fleming, of The Mercersburg Journal, and George E. Reis-
ner, of Valley Spirit, were guests of the society. Other out-
of-town newspaper men had been invited but were unable to-
attend.
The following in Valley Spirit, April 26, 1912, from
the pen of Editor Brereton, is self-explanatory :
"Mr. Foltz gave many interesting facts concerning the
many brilliant and brainy men that have presided over the
editorial rooms of newspapers all over the county, failing,
however, through his innate modesty to make any mention
of himself or of his own honorable career. Hon. A.N.
Pomeroy surprised Mr. Foltz by offering as an appendix to
the paper of the evening the story of his connection wfth
various newspaper enterprises, and it was ordered that this
be incororated with it in the archives of the society.
"Mr. Foltz was heartily congratulated upon his ex-
cellent and accurate work, and highly commended for the
interesting manner in which he told of the many men that
have been connected with the press in this community. He
32
has been working for some time upon the bigliography of
Franklin County, and last evening's paper was the first in-
stallment of the report of the society of his labor along that
line."
The Bibliography Committee of the Kittochtinny His •
torical Society has found its duties of an intensely interest-
ing nature. As a membei of this committee, and sharing
in its work, I have been charged with the duty of compiling
the Bibliography of the Newspapers of Franklin County.
In the discharge of this duty, the loss of newspaper file.-,
destroyed in the burning of Chambersburg, and the neglect
of former publishers in sister towns of the county to pre-
serve complete files of their journals, confronted the com-
piler, just as it did the industrious newspaper historians of
the past, causing conflicts that seemed impossible of recon-
ciliation.. The Bibliography herewith presented is happily
of some account, because in the course of its preparation
some of these conflicts of statement are cleared up, and
others that may still be apparent afford an opportunity to
brethren of the press to aid in setting them straight by
facts they believe to be available or which may now be in
their possession.
In its Centennial issue, the editors of Franklin Repos-
itory, January i, 1890, say:
"A wide difference of opinion exists as to the early
journalism of Franklin county, and we can only give the
various statements as we have received them. * * * The
connection of statement occurs only as to the date of the
establishment of the paper. * * * As to whether the paper
was established in January or June, 1790, we have but the
Volumes and numbers to show. As all of the numbers,
since the fire, are dated so as to establish its beginning in
January, 1790, we are only called upon to recognize them,
although the paper might possibly have been dated back in
order to have it start with the beginning of the year." This
explanation was called out by the statement of the late
Dr. Wm. C. Lane, in the same issue of the paper, that the
first issue of the paper appeared "in the month of June,
33
lygo ," while McCauley's History of Franklin County, fixes
the date at July 14, 1790."
In view of these statements, unless reconciled by
further research, the future historian, it would seem, will
have no other recourse than to adopt the record of the edi-
tors of the Centennial Repository setting forth that the
veteran and esteemed contemporary first saw the light on
or about the 1st of January, 1790.
By some of the historians and newspaper men, the
claim has been made that the Franklin Minerva was the
first newspaper printed in Franklin County. Such conten-
tion has been ruthlessly shattered.
While in Mercer County in 1887 and 1888 writing
the history of that county, Professor J. Fraise Richard
met an old citizen familiarly known as "Uncle Jeff Porter."
who was born in Chambersburg, Dec. 20, 1800. His father
left Chambersburg in 1803, and for a time was a resident
of Butler county. Thos. J. Porter in 1825 moved to Mer-
cer county. In his possession Mr. Richards found Vol. 1
of the Franklin Minera, published at 'Chambersburg by
George Kenton Harper, in 1799- 1800. In the title page
it is represented, says Mr. Richards, as a "Periodical Ve-
hicle of Entertainment and Instruction, calculated to grat-
ify the lovers of Anecdotes, Biography, History, Morality
and Sentiment." He modestly suggests in his motto that
the sheet is "with choicest sweets enriched — from various
flowers culled with care."
The first issue of the Franklin Minerva appeared on
Saturday, Feb. 2, 1799. It was published every other Sat-
urday at one dollar per year, payable half-yearly. Sub-
scribers to the Franklin Repository were promised a re-
duction of one-fourth of a dollar on the subscription price.
The Franklin Minerva started on a high plane, but
for the lack of the sinews of war it suspended publication
just one year after the initial number. The editor says :
"When the editor of the Franklin Minerva first en-
gaged in its publication, he had flattered himself with a
hope of assistance from some literary characters. In this
hope, with very few exceptions, he has been disappointed.
34
* * * From several reasons he now finds it necessary to
discontinue the publication."
The above and other notes are made from the file of
the Franklin Minerva, and given in a contribution to Pub-
lic Opinion in its issue of August 5, 1892, (p. 1. col. 3.)
Says J. M. Cooper: "Air. McCauley mentions James
Maxwell as a partner of Mr. Ruby in starting the Tele-
graph. He must of been a partner for a very short time.
I had not heard his name in connection with the paper."
As has been stated, all the newspaper files were de-
stroyed in the burning of Chambersburg, and historians
have been over and over again compelled to guess at some
of the dates when changes were made* and name of firm
or firms constituted. This was particularly true of the
changes taking place in Repository between 1854 and 1861.
After the Centennial issue of the Repository, Jan. 1, 1890,
a letter was received by the late J. N. Snyder from A. N.
Rankin, in which, from files of the Repository in his pos-
session, a correct statement was given of these changes,
and Mr. Snyder, previous to his death, placed Mr. Ran-
kin's letter and corrections in my hands. As given in the
Bibliography they will therefore correct the erroneous
statements that have been made by former historians. Mr.
Rankin also insists that his brother, H. R. Rankin, never
was associated as editor or otherwise in the publication of
Repository.
In his personal memories- of early "American Jour-
nalism," the late Edward Everett Hale,, LL. D., said: "This
was the fashion in those days: The publisher was the
editor, and the editor the printer and publisher in the
stronger newspaper enterprises of the country. * * My
father was a hearty believer in the old system of appren-
ticeship, and brought up several fine fellows who were al-
ways grateful to him when in their time and place they
became leaders. * * * I remember that when I was old
enough I hung up a picture of Ben Franklin in the count-
ing-room and called him 'Our great apprentice.' "
The three pioneer printers and publishers of Franklin
County, William Davison, and the Harpers, Robert and
35
George Kenton — and many more who have followed —
were men of this type. William Davison learned the trade
in Philadelphia. He came to Chambersburg for the pur-
pose of establishing the first newspaper in the lately erected
county of Franklin, called after the great printer, philoso-
pher and scientist. At that time, but little more than a
village, it was a hard matter to procure a house for any
kind of business. * * "The whole of Front street, form end
to end, consisted of log cabins, mostly of one story high,
with the exception of a few houses, some built of brick
and some of stone." ***"A small log house," says one of
the old historians, "which stood on the lot on which J. N.
Snider's book store now stands, originally built and used
as a blacksmith shop, was the first building from which the
Repository was issued.
"Soon after the establishment of his enterprise, the
health of Mr. Davison began to decline, and he was com-
pelled to transfer the entire control of the newspaper to
Robert Harper, who had also come to Chambersburg in
1792, two years after the advent of Mr. Davison, and at
once took charge of the office. Mr. Davison's death occur-
ring in the same year, Mr. Harper, (who was also a printer,
hailing from Philadelphia) became his successor and the
owner of the paper."
Little more is known of Mr. Davison's brief career in
Chambersburg, except that given by the veteran historian
and journalist, Geo. O. Seilhamer, Esq., in Chapter xx, —
*(It was evidently guess work when, as will be seen
by Bibliography, in referring to 61st anniversary, it should
have been 65th.)
**(John Shryock's description of the town, when he
arrived here from Funkstown, Md., in 1791, to enter into
the mercantile business.)
***(Dr. William C. Lane.)
36
(Public Opinion, March 8, 1901) History of Chambers-
burg — the chapter relating to ''The Early Newspapers" in
which he finds that Mr. Davison died in July, 1793, leaving
a wife, Mary, and a son, Francis. That he was in poor
health for a long time previous to his death, says Mr.. Seil-
hamer, is shown by the fact that his will was made June
22, 1792. Robert Harper was one of the witnesses to that
instrument. . Mr Seilhamer says: "His (Robert Harper's)
first act, after he came into possession, was to change its
name to Chambersburg Gazette. The first issue of the
Gazzette appeared September 12, 1793. There are few
copies of the paper in existence. There is a copy for Oc-
tober 17, 1793, in the Ridway Branch of the Philadelphia
Library, but the most complete file is owned by the Hon.
William C. Kreps, editor of the Greencastle Echo-Pilot.
Mr. Harper changed the name of the paper to Franklin
Repository, April 26, 1796, and it retained this name with-
out change until January, 1840."
Near about the change of name to Gazette — April 26,
1796 — Mr. Harper associated with himself a Mr. Dover, a
partnership that existed, says Dr. W. C. Lane in his
Retrospective article to the Centennial issue of Repository,
from documentary evidence, in 1796, but was dissolved in
1798, by the withdrawal of Mr. Dover. Mr. Harper thus
continued the sole proprietor until the year 1800, when he
sold it to his brother, George Kenton Harper, who pre-
viously learned the printing trade in the Repository office.
Immediately upon disposing of the Repository, Rob-
ert Harper located at Gettysburg, where he started the
Adams Centinel. It is now the Star and Sentinel, and in
January commenced its 112th volume. Upon the death of
the founder, his son, Robert G. Harper, became successor.
The Harpers were Federalists, and the Franklin Re-
pository was from its inception a Federal organ. They
were of Quaker ancestry. George Kenton Harper was a
native of Philadelphia county, where he was born August
16, 1778, and died in Chambersburg, January 13, 1858, in
the 80th year of his age Henry Ruby, who entered his
office as an apprentice (1814) in an article that appeared
37
in the Shippensburg Chronicle in the 70's, thus tells of his
long and honorable career as a journalist : "Mr. Harper
was a gentleman of most excellent character and genial
disposition, and so judiciuos was he in his editorial and
general management of the Repository that he seldom gave
offense, even in the heated excitement of political strife,
which is one of the most difficult tasks an editor and mana-
ger of a political newspaper is subjected to." John M.
Cooper, another of the newspaper historians, who knew
Mr. Harper well, said : "He deserves the high esteem in
which he was held, and he also deserved more of his party
favors than were bestowed upon him. He might have ob-
tained more, but his modesty was equal to his merits."
These estimates of Mr. Harper were from life-long Demo-
crats.
The Rev. Benjamin S. Schneck, D. D., associate edi-
tor of the German Reformed Messenger, and editor of the
Kirchenzeitung, the German Church paper of the estab-
lishment, as chairman of the local press committee which
took action on the death of the lamented journalist and up-
right citizen, reported a series of resolutions that bore high
testimony to his worth as an editor, a citizen and a Chris-
tian gentleman.
Although Mr. Harper was a retired citizen for some
years previous to his death, the Repository was in deep
mourning over the event. In a lengthy editorial it traversed
his long and honorable career as an editor, patriot and citi-
zen. An avowed Federalist of the Washington school, he
was not intolerant or even personally hostile or abusive to
those who differed with him during the exciting times that
characterized the political contest between the friends of
Adams and Jefferson, for the Presidency.
In 1 801, the second year of his editorship, he announced
to his patrons "that the Repository shall not pursue a course
of discriminate and unjustifiable abuse of the men now in
power and their measures — nor, on the other hand, will it
sink into apathy and servility: — but keeping aloof from
licentiousness and indecorum, admit of free investigation;
38
of public men and measures." The rule thus avowed for
the paper was scrupulously maintained.
Mr. Harper served as Lieutenant in a company of Infan-
try, Captain Jeremiah Snider, in the War of 1812, and
1 8 14 as second Lieutenant of Captain S. D. Culbertson's
■company, the supervision of the Repository in his absence
being in charge of two of his friends. After this he gave
to the Repository his undivided attention until 1840, when
he was appointed by President Harrison, Postmaster of
Chambersburg. On the death of the President and succes-
sion of Tyler, his independence was an offence, and whilst
his integrity and capacity were unimpeached, the veteran
editor, soldier and patriot, was removed by a party Presi-
dent, to give the place to a youthful partisan. He was
County Treasurer, i844-'46.
Mr. Harper sustained all the relations of life with pro-
priety. L T pright in his dealings, he was without litigation
and controversy, yet no man was oftener called on as a
referee or arbitrator to settle or pass opinion upon the con-
troversies of others. Circumspect in his life and morals,
he was ever ready to discbarge all the duties of a good citi-
zen. Some years previous to his death he made a profes-
sion of his faith in a Crucified Redeemer, and was received
as a member of the Church. He was buried in the Falling"
Spring Presbyterian Cemetery, which is evidence that that
communion was his faith. His life was prolonged until
within a few months of four score, in a community where
he had lived for upwards of seventy years, without re-
proach.
He left a large and respectable family to reverence his
memory, among whom were two sons — both of whom
became editors of newspapers in Virginia. One of his
daughters, Mary B., became the wife of the late Judge
James L. Black, and Nancy, the wife of William Washa-
baugh.
In his contribution to the Silver Anniversarv number
of iPublic Opinion on "Journalism in Franklin County," July
T - x ^93- J on n M. Cooper says: 'The Harpers were emphat-
ically a newspaper family. After retiring from the Repos-
39
itory, Robert went to Gettysburg and established the Senti-
nel, which, I think, remained in the hands of his descend-
ants down to a comparative recent date." Mr. Seilhamer
says : "Kenton, the eldest son of George K., went to Staun-
ton, Va., in 1823, where he bought the Republican Farmer,
and turned it into the Spectator, which he published until
1849. Another son became connected with the South
Branch Intelligencer, at Romney, Va., which was conducted
for more than fifty years, and is still believed to be in his
family. Still another son edited a paper at Clarksburg, Va.,
for several years, but failing health compelled him to give
it up and return to his native town, where he died at an
early age."
The Farmer's Register, established by Snowden and
McCorcle, April 19, 1798, was the first Democratic paper
in Franklin county. Because it was not a success it was
discontinued in less than a year. In 1799 it was transferred
to and continued in Greensburg, Pa. Mr. McCorcle located
in Philadelphia, where he established the Freeman's Journal
in 1804.
To follow the Bibliography, previously alluded to, the
next Democratic paper to appear was the Franklin Repub-
lican, established by William Armour, in 1806.. He was
succeeded by Goeb, or Geib, and Richard White, who pub-
lished two papers — one in the English and the other in
the German language. Judge Ruby in his history of thb
newspapers of the county — i8i4-'75 — sa y s there were but
few families in the town or county whose members could
not in 1 8 14 speak both languages, which he says, "accounts
for four weekly newspapers published in the place — two in
English and two in German — in the interest of the then
two exciting political parties."
John McFarland, who eventually became the owner
of the two Democratic papers, after some years, discon-
tinued the German paper. McFarland, says Judge Ruby,
was a local Methodist preacher, who kept a store on the
West Side of North Main street, in what was known as
the Schofield building, nearly opposite the residence of Miss
Susan Chambers. The printing office was in the house
4Q
next to the tavern of Jeremiah Snider, where he continued
the Republican (Democratic) newspaper. In 1816, he sold
the paper to John Sloan. "McFarland was found one day,
burned to death, in a small house opposite the furniture
manufacturing establishment of H. Sierer." Mr. Sloan
continued to publish the paper until 1831.
Henry Ruby was but ten years of age when he came
to Chambersburg in 18 14, to learn the printing trade with
his uncle, F. W. Schoplilin, the publisher of "Der Redliche
Register" — The True Recorder — issued in connection with
the Franklin Repository. Becoming the owner of the Ger-
man enterprise, Mr. Schophlin converted it into a Demo-
cratic organ. Upon his death in 1826, Mr. Ruby became
the owner of the paper, which he conducted for several years
and then disposed of the establishment. In 1821, he started
the Franklin Telegraph as the organ of the Democratic
party in Southern Pennsylvania, which, after the lapse of
several years, he disposed of to Brown & Casey. (At the
regular meeting of the society, Nov. 28, 1913, Prothono-
tary J. H. Sollenberger preesnted to the society for more
careful preservation, a bound (German) newspaper
file. The title of the paper was "Chambersburg Corres-
pondent," Ruby & Maxwell, publishers, i8i3-'33. The
file was found on a shelf of the office vault). Subsequently
Mr. Ruby became printer of the German Journal of the.
State Senate; treasurer of the County Almshouse; in Jan-
uary, 1839, was appointed Register and Recorder, and
in the same year elected for a full term; Superintendent of
Reformed Church Publication House, i844-'48, — and 1849
appointed Associate Judge of the Courts. A Master Mason
he was prominent in the circles of that fraternity. In 1850
Judge Ruby removed to Orrstown, where he was engaged
in the mercantile business six years ; thence to Shippens-
burg, where he engaged in the forwarding and commission
business. Retiring from active business life in 1877, he
returned to Chambersburg, and resided here until his death,
March 5, 1891. Judge Ruby was a native of Stoyestown,
Somerset county, Pa., where he was born, April 8, 180+'.
For more than fifty years he was prominent as a church-
41
man, and at the time of his death was an elder in Zion Re-
formed Church. Thus prominent in widely different spheres
during a long and honorable career, to its close, Judge Ruby
retained his interest in men and events. He was a writer
in both English and German.
Joseph Pritts is also said to have been a native of
Somerset county, Pa. He came to Chambersburg as a jour-
neyman printer from Cumberland, Md., and obtained em-
ployment on the Franklin Republican, owned and edited by
John Sloan. Upon Mr. Sloan's death in 1831, Mr. Pritts.
who was then an intense Democrat, edited and managed
the paper for Mrs. Sloan. John M. Cooper is authority for
the statement, in his article on the Newspapers of Franklin
County, that "things went on so agreeably between them
that it was at length mutually agreed that Mr. Pritts should
edit the widow along with the newspaper, and accordingly
they entered into the bonds of matrimony.
"Mr. Pritts was an amiable man, and had, I think, a
temperament more poetical than practical, although I do
not know that he ever essayed to write verses. He wrote
apparently with ease, and his pen was graceful rather than
forcible. Rural topics had a charm for his mind and fre-
quently occupied his pen, and the last few years of his life
were divided between the printing office and a farm adjoin-
ing town."
Referring to "Border Life," of which Mr. Pritts was
the editor and publisher, a book of Indian stories, Mr.
Cooper says : "While the various narratives of which this
book was made up were being put in type in Mr. Pritts'
office, Mr. Ruby was having them translated into German
and printed in book form in the office of The Telegraph,
where I was officiating in the capacity of youngest appren-
tice, (1837-8).
Mr. Pritts was an enterprising publisher and fortunate
in obtaining contracts for work that he undertook. When
The Messenger was removed from York to Chambersburg,
in 1835, Mr. Pritts held the contract for its publication and
that of other Church work for two years. Henry Ruby.,
of The Telegraph, followed as the publisher for two years,
42
until the establishment was comfortably quartered in Ma-
sonic Hall, with its own equipment.
Says Mr. Cooper: "Mr. Harper was a member of the
Masonic Order and the Repository battled for Whig princi-
ples without adulteration. Mr. Ruby also was a Mason
and The Telegraph gave out unadulterated Democracy.
Mr. Pritts had been a Democrat, then had become an Anti-
Mason, and thence drifted gradually over to the Whigs,
so that his paper, under different names, had set a mixed
political diet before its readers. If my memory is not at
fault, he paid a unique evidence of regard for all parties he
had been connected with by putting over a ticket printed
in The Whig this bewildering headline : 'DEMOCRATIC
ANTI-MASON WHIG TICKET.' If a copy of the paper
containing this ticket and its caption fell under the eyes,
of Thaddeus Stevens, the great leader of the Anti-Masons,
I would like to have a photograph of the 'Old Commoner's
sardonic grin when he saw it.
Among members of the Franklin County Bar in the
40's and 50's who were attracted to the newspaper field,
were the young and grifted Alfred H. Smith and John F.
Denny, who at the time was conceded to be one of the ablest
writers ever connected with the local press. Of these men,
Mr. Cooper says : "Like Mr. Denny, Mr. Smith was a
scholar and lawyer, but as such he did not rise to Mr. Den-
ny's height. Nor could he have been more than half the
latter's age. Mr. Denny was admitted to the bar in 1821, and
Mr. Smith in 1846, and they were editing on opposite sides
of the political fence in 1848-9. Mr. Denny was mature in
age and in intellect. Mr. Smith was young, only a couple
of years out of college and but recently through the study
of the law, and too fond of writing and too full of poli-
tics to permit the law to become an exacting mistress, which
she must be to all who aspire to her special favor. In con-
versation 'he was contentious and epigrammatic, as if stingy
of words."
The above was written of Mr. Smith as editor of TI12
Cumberland Valley Sentinel. Soon after the proprietor-
ship of Mr. Powell of The Chambersburg Times and Frank-
43
lin Telegraph, Mr. Smith became associated with Mr.
Powell as a partner, and the title of the paper was changed
to The Cumberland Valley Sentinel.
In "Men of Mark of the Cumberland Valley, 1776-
1876," of which Alfred Nevin, D. D., L. L. D., is author, the
following is given of the attainments of Mr. Smith, p. 279 :
"He died in the 28th year of his age after having acquired
a brilliant reputation as an editor, and as the most remark-
able genius that his native place produced; having given
abundant assurance of his becoming one of the most emi-i
nent men of letters of our day."
After his work on the Sentinel, Mr. Smith filled a posi-
tion on one of the Philadelphia papers, when he returned
to Chambersburg and became editor of The Transcript, the
late Robert P. Hazelet, owner and publisher. While edi-
tor of the Transcript, he passed away on the 2d of March,
1853. His successor, the late Dr. Samuel G. Lane, wrote
the following obituary of his predecessor:
"We believe that when death transferred his mighty
intellect to a more sublime sphere of existence and activity,
our community, our country, yea the world even, lost a
great Hope. To those who knew him well, from his earliest
youth, it were an act of supererogation to pronounce upon
him a studied eulogy. They have been accustomed to his
brilliant sallies of wit, to the profound and logical deduc-
tions of his judgment, to the chaste, classical and forcible
style of his composition, and to his almost inspired facilty
of writing — all of which have become proverbial with us,
and for a parellel to which we shall long look in vain. No
brighter genius ever entered into mortal life, in this com-
munity, than that which made mvsterious the character of
Alfred H Smith."
Mr. Denny's work was as the editorial chief on the
Franklin Repository, 1848-49, when that journal was pub-
lished by Denny, Reynolds & Gehr. Mr. Denny had a high
cultivated mind, and was at home in history, literature,
politics, and the science of government. Mr. Cooper says
his style was chaste and his argumentation forcible. He was
a gentleman of polished manners, genial spirit, fine liter-
44
ary culture, large legal attainments, and more than ordi-
nary oratorical force. Mr. Denny was just approaching
old age when he died.
Returning to one of the men who followed these
learned writers — John W. Boyd — (associated with David
E. Stover as successors of Denny, Reynolds & Gehr) we
come again to an editor who was "brought up at the case."
Mr. Boyd was an able writer. One who served with him
on the Repository said that many of his strongest articles
were purely extemporized, composing them as he set them
up at the case. His career as editor of the Repository
(1849-51) was short, but strikingly successful. In his
social relations, he was courteous, obliging and gentlemanly.
The above estimate is compiled from The Times, (Frey
and Foltz, publishers), Jan. 20, i860, in referring to the
death of Mr. Boyd, which occurred at the residence of his
brother, in Philadelphia, the previous week. He was buried
at his former home in Hagerstown.
Alexander Kelly McClure became a partner in the Re-
pository and Whig on the 1st of May 1852, and its sole
owner, editor and proprietor in September of the same year-
He came here from Juniata county, where, in 1846, he es-
tablished the Juniata Sentinel. At the age of fifteen he
was apprenticed to the tanning trade ; at the age of eighteen
we find him editing his new offsring at Mifflin, and mas-
tering the mysteries of the printer's art. Before reaching
his twentieth birthday he was familiar with two trades.
The Colonel was a self-made man, and born politician. It
was as editor of the Repository that he is found a leader in
State politics ; nominated as a candidate of the Whig party
for Auditor General, but defeated, and in 1855 appointed"
Superintendent of Public Printing.
The Repository and Whig in his hands underwent a
complete transformation. The form was changed to eight
pages, and the press work was done on an Adams power
press in The Messenger office. For that era of country
journalism it was decidedly the handsomest weekly in Penn-
sylvania.. In typographical appearance it was a model for
contemporaries.
45
In editorial ability Colonel McClure was without a
peer in country journalism. In special features it was for
him to make a stride that forged the paper ahead of all
contemporaries as a representative weekly. He had paid
correspondents at Harrisburg, New York and elsewhere;
a literary and scientific editor, and in William I. Cook, the
business manager, one of the brightest locals in the State.
Colonel McClure's idea of a newspaper was therefore
something more than its money getting acquirements. The
paper became a power in the politics of the State. He was
one of the organiers of the Republican party; represented
the county three terms in the Legislature, and two in the
State Senate, and chairman of the Republican State Com-
mittee in i860. When he returned to the ownership and
editorial control of the Repository, it was with the prestige
of the reputation which had come to him not only as an
orator but chiefly as a great editor.
Colonel McClure had a long and conspicuous career as
a State editor and Independent politician that brought him
national fame as a leader and journalist and pre-eminently
entitles him to a place on the list of "Men of Mark."
Geo. Eyster, Esq.., editor of The Transcript, 1854-5,
and of the Repository and Transcript, 1857-7, was a grace-
ful writer. In the memorable campaign when the American
party (1854) carried everything before it, The Transcript,
of which Mr. Eyster was the versatile editor, discreetly
championed the cause of that party, while The Repository
and Whig adhered to the principles of the Whig party. Al-
though agreeing with The Transcript in many of the essen-
tials that brought the Know Nothing or American party
into existence, this did not prevent the inauguration of a
furious controversy between the two organs, in which the
banter wit and satire of McClure were met by Mr. Eyster
with equal force and ability. In this and all other respects
Capt. Eyster abundantly sustained the motto of his paper:
"In native swords and native ranks
The only hope of courage dwells."
Mr. Eyster, a leading member of the Franklin County
Bar, showed like ability in his editorial work when he as-
46
sumed control of The Repository and Transcript, and with
the vigor that attended all of his efforts, was one of the
leading- spirits in the organiation of the Republican party
in 1856. In 1859 he was elected district attorney, his term
running from i86o-'63; appointed Provost Marshal of the
16th District, headquarters Chambersburg, i863~'5; As-
sistant United States Treasurer at Philadelphia from 1869-
1886, when he retired, July 23, of the latter year, on ac-
count of impaired health, after Raving filled the responsible
position for a period of eighteen years. He died the latter
part of December, 1886. Captain Eyster in all of these
years held the confidence and support of the banking insti-
tutions of Philadelphia.
A. N. Rankin, who followed Captain Eyster as one of
the editors of the Repository during its frequent changes
in the late '50's, was a good writer and systematic business
man. He it was who introduced the system of indexing
advertisements and other progressive ideas.
There was no brighter era of journalism in Franklin
county than during the first decade of Valley Spirit, with
John M. Cooper and Col. McClure as the brilliant oppos-
ing editorial lights of their respective newspapers. Coat
dustings were given and taken in good part. Cotemporan-
eous with Mr. Cooper was Dr. Wm. H. Boyle, former
editor of the Sentinel and for a time connected with Valley
Spirit. A sketch of the life and career of Mr. Cooper by
the compiler of this paper is made a chapter in Vol. 4, con-
taining papers of this society.
Although in active practice as a physician, Dr. Boyle
was a writer by instinct and inclination. Some of his best
work was in the local department. His sense of the redic-
ulous was keen. In order to make a point he would some-
times indulge his gift in this way to an extent that led him
into statements which were erroneous, but he never would
make a correction. He had the belief that a newspaper in
the eyes of its readers, was regarded as infallible. To make
a correction was to lose the confidence of the reader.
William Kennedy was educated for the bar, but earlv
showed a taste for journalism. He was an easy, graceful
47
writer, and in literary and social circles was a lion. He
was a good after-dinner speaker, jocular and witty.
William S. Stenger, Esq., as a very young man, made
a great reputation in the county as a political orator. He
served several terms as district attorney, two terms in Con-
gress — 1875-79 — and under the first Pattison administra-
tion was Secretary of the Commonwealth. During his con-
nection with Valley Spirit, he proved himself one of its
most able and convincing editorial writers. His poltical
successes cut short his career as a journalist
D. A. Orr, Esq., for more than thirty years has been
identified with the journalism of Franklin county. He was
editor of Valley Spirit from 1879, when he became one of
its owners, until July 5, 1890, after which it was incorpor-
ated as "Valley Spirit Publishing Company," when William
Kennedy and C. W. Cremer, Esq., became editors of the
paper. Mr. Orr had been president of the company ever
since the incorporation until 1910.. During his editorial
connection and proprietorship of The Harrisburg Patriot,
where his work was a thorn in the side of the second ad-
ministration of Governor Pattison, and duringr his residence
later in Philadelphia for some years, Mr. Orr was the
recognized author of occasional incisive editorials in his
home paper which invariably "went to the spot." He has
been and continues to be a power in State and local politics.
H. H. Woodal, a veteran of the Civil War, previous
to locating in Chambersburg, served three terms as Super-
intendent of the Public Schools of Fulton county, and a
Democratic leader of the county, became editor and pro-
prietor of the Fulton Democrat, McConnellsburg, which
he conducted with signal ability for eleven years. C. W.
Cremer.Esq., still in the harness at Waynesboro, from Col-
lege days has been regarded as one of the brightest news-
paper men in the Cumberland Valley.
T. J. Brereton, a Princeton, president and editor— in-
chief of the re-organized Valley Spirit Publishing Company,
is ably maintaining the record made for it by the distin-
guished line of newspaper men he succeeds. He is presi-
dent of the City Council, and an ex-president of this so-
48
ciety. It is therefore peculiarly fitting that he is host of
the Kittochtinny Society on this occasion.
B. Y. Hamsher, who was the senior member of the
firm conducting Valley Spirit from 1862 to 1867, was an
active but not an offensive partisan. He was a writer whose
productions were persuasive and carried conviction. In
later years Mr. Hamsher was an occasional editorial writer
and contributor for the Democratic News. He was Clerk
of the Courts, i857-'6o, and for some years filled a clerical
position in one of the Departments at Harrisburg. He was
an active and devoted member of the First Lutheran
Church, a good citizen and esteemed by all who knew him.
George H. Merklein was accounted by Colonel Me-
Clure as one of the best editorial writers of his day. He
frequently responded to requests from Mr. McClure for
work of this nature. In editorial and local work much of
it was composed and set up at case. He was a good job
printer. He was one of the editors and proprietors of the
Repository from 1857 to i860, and with P. Dock Frey,
one of the founders of The Semi-Weekly Dispatch, estab-
lished in 1 86 1 ; merged in Repository, 1863.
Mr. Merklein was nominated in the Whig County Con-
vention, 1854, for Register and Recorder, and elected by a
majority of 1916 over his Democratic competitor, David
Piper. By the same convention, H. S. Stoner was nomina-
ted for Clerk of the Courts and elected by a majority of
1336 over his Democratic competitor, John Ditzler. The
surprise at this result was about as great in the Whig party
as was the Taft-Roosevelt result to the regular Republicans
at the primary elections on the 13th inst. The secret of it
fifty-eight years ago was hidden in the fact that Merklein
and Stoner, while receiving what was left of their party
vote received the solid vote and support of Whigs and Dem-
ocrats who had joined the Know-Nothing or American
party, which was a secret organization. A quiet salutation
between members of the American party after the election,
was: "Did you see Sam?"
Mr. Stoner, by the way, was Colonel McClure's part-
ner in the ownership of the Repository, i863-'68. and of
Jere Cook, Esq., i87o-'74.
49
The late Daniel Kennedy, and Louis Wyeth, were the
founders and eidtors of the Daily Herald, the first regular
daily newspaper published in Chambersburg, 1878. A
weekly edition followed, which was later converted into a
Democratic organ, with J. D.Ludwig, Esq., as editor. Prior
to this Hon. C. M. Duncan became the owner of the Her-
ald, with his gifted son, Will Duncan, as editor. In due
course it was purchased by the proprietors of the Spirit
into which it was merged. The Herald and Democrat
were well edited, but not a financial success.
Rev. J. G. Schaff, founder of the People's Register, in
his editorial work was a philosopher and scholarly in all of
his productions. His life was cut short before he had the
pleasure of seeing the great success of his journalistic ven-
ture, started in a basement with a capital of $50, and ma-
terial he purchased from the Hagerstown Mail. He was
but an amateur, but with instructions from the editor of
Public Opinion, who executed the press work of his jour-
nal for a year or more, rapidly developed as a good printer
and publisher. His sons, Motte L. and Bruce H., were in
zeal and perseverance, his successors, and after the death
of the former, ex-Register and Recorder J. H. Ledy, was
associated with Bruce as a partner, the partnership con-
tinuing until the disposal of the plant to J. E. Roberts, with
a Mr. Bowen as manager and a Mr. Evans as local editor.
Morris Lloyd, a successful newspaper man of Chester
county, became the purchaser of the plant, April 1, 1901.
Gifted as a writer, a practical printer, alert and a tireless
worker, Mr. Lloyd in a few years had the distinction of
Owning and conducting the most valuable newspaper plant
in the Cumberland Valley. The Register from a circula-
tion of over 3,000 subscribers, from year to year ran up to
6,500, breaking all records in Franklin county newspaper-
dom.
D. M. Sheller, who, with Professor H. A. Disert, was
one of the founders of the Democratic News, established in
1888, is looking forward to the silver anniversary of his
journal. One of the old boys of Valley Spirit, of which
he was for many years foreman, he is also an esteemed
veteran of the Civil War. Mr. Sheller is one of the "Old
5o
Guard" who is unwilling to be shelved, and continues
straight along the editorial head and proprietor of the Dem-
ocratic News.
Jere Cook and S. W. Hays were the successors of Mc-
Clure and Stoner, in 1868. When Mr. Hays retired in
1870, H. S. Stoner became his successor, under the firm
name Cook & Stoner, until 1874, when Major J. M. Pom-
eroy became the purchaser of the establishment.
Mr. Cook ably filled the chair editorial for six years.
He has often been referred to as one of the The Repository's
strongest and most forcible writers. He was Republican
but Independent in spirit and action, and his caustic ar-
raignment of those who differed with him left its mark with
telling effect. His command of English was faultless, and
in controversy unanswerable. S. W. Hays for the most
part was local writer and business man, as the former fill-
ing the position with credit. Both were members of the
bar.
For thirty-eight years Franklin Repository has been
under the control and ownership of the Pomeroys. Major
John M. Pomeroy became the purchaser of the valuable
plant in 1874. Part of his life was spent in mercantile and
other pursuits. Afterwards he was a merchant in Phila-
delphia, and the virtual founder of the town of Pomeroy,
Chester county. A life-long Whig and Republican, he was
active in business and politics from his youth. He repre-
sented Franklin county in the Legislature in 1846 and 1847,
and again in i88i-'82. He was a member of the Common
Council in Philadelphia in 1859: a delegate to the Repub-
lican National Convention in i860, supporting Abraham
Lincoln, and a paymaster of volunteers for two years during
the Civil W r ar, with the rank of major. Journalism could
scarcely have been in his mind when with rare gifts he was
contributing articles to his home papers before he became
the owner and editor of Franklin Repository. When there-
fore he assumed charge of the Repository, his knowledge
of men and measures, and natural acquirements as a writer,
at once demonstrated that in his new relation he was mak-
ing good, as editor, agreeably to the surprise of his brethren
5i
of the local press, with whom — although he was frequently-
compelled to cross swords — he was on the most amicable
personal terms.
Owing to failing health, his sons — John H. and A.
Nevin Pomeroy — became partners in the business, under
the firm name of John M. Pomeroy and Sons, in 1883, and
in 1884, sole owners of the Repository. They had been ap-
prentices and learned the trade in the office, and were not
long in showing creditable attainments as local reporters.
A first step was to ,re-establish the daily edition of Repo-
sitory, which, in the campaign of 1882, had an ezixstence
of six months. The partnership of the brothers continued
until 1891, when the senior member, John H., disposed of
his interest to A. N. Pomeroy, who has since been editor
and proprietor of the paper, and the head of a book and
job printing plant that has few equals in Southern Penn-
sylvania.
The Hon. A. N. Pomeroy's very clever editorial man-
agement and work on the Repository have brought to him
State-wide business and political influence. Locally the
Repository is found if not the foremost among the fore-
most in advocacy of enterprises for the advancement of
the town and county. Politically and fraternally his creed
is of the same stamp — the greatest good for the greatest
number. As a newspaper man, the press of the State de-
light in bestowing upon him its highest honors. No less so
the National Editorial organization. Over both State and
National Editorial Associations he has been chosen to pre-
side. Thus backed up, appointments and honors thick and
fast have fallen to him: In 1887, Chief Clerk to the Secre-
tary of the Commonwealth; in 1894 and 1900 elected to
the Legislature, serving on the most important standing
and special committees ; one of the Commissioners appointed
by Governor Stone to the Pan-American Exposition at
Buffalo, N. Y. ; chairman of the Republican county com-
mittee, i889-'9i ; in March 1903 appointed State Printer
by Governor Pennypacker, a position in which he has con-
tinued during four State administrations ; a director in the
Norland Land Improvement Company, the Chambersburg,
52
Greencastle and Waynesboro Street Railway Company, and
of the Chambersburg Trust Company; President of the
Quincy Engine Company ; member of the Board of Trus-
tees of Falling Spring Presbyterian Church, and Wilson
College; member of the Pen and Pencil Club, Philadelphia,
and of the Scotch Irish Society of Pennsylvania; a mem-
ber of the Masonic and numerous other fraternities.
Decidedly Mr. Pomeroy is a man of affairs, and most
fortunate of all, has the honor of presiding over the destinies
of the oldest newspaper in Franklin county.
A year or two after Captain M. Runk's purchase ot
Public Opinion, which was consummated in the latter part
of August, 1899, J. W. Hoke, Esq., became a partner in
the ownership of the office and in 1901 the firm established
the Morning. Daily, which, from its inception, has met high
favor. From his induction into the office on the 4tn of
September, 1889, Mr. Runk set about to prepare for the
progress awaiting the opening of the 20th century, equip-
ping the plant with some of the latest machinery, and calling
to his side as editorial assistant the veteran journalist and
historian, Geo. O. Seilhamer, Esq. Mr. Runk's best edi-
torial ability was exerted for a greater Chambersburg. How
well he succeeded in contributing his share toward the end
devoutedly to be wished, is history. When the daily edi-
tion was launched — like Mr. Runk, his associate. Mr.
Hoke, showed high qualities in aggressive editorial work.
Right along in the changes that have followed, the edi-
torial force has maintained the pace set by the predecessors,
with Underwood, Deatrich. Black and Gilbert, as occupants
of the chair. The Opinion-Register plant under its present
ownership and management is rightly regarded as one of
the most valuable and complete in the Cumberland Valley.
That the progressive spirit aroused in Waynesboro
had its inspiration from the Weekly and Daily newspapers
of the town is not merely a fact but reality. It took root
with the editorial work of X. Bruce Martin in the Gazette
and Zephyr, who. several years antedating the big event,
conceived the idea of observing the Centennial of the town.
which came off in a blaze of glory in, 1897. It need not
53
be said that the momentum of the progressive spirit thus
aroused has been accelerated since then by such ''live wires"
asCremer, of the Record and Zephyr, and Martin and
Reilly, of the Herald, established in 1901. The editorial
work of these newspaper men is cause for favorable com-
ment whenever a cotemporary picks up a Waynesboro ex-
change.
When Mr. Fisher was connected with the Gazette,
politics was uppermost in his mind. Afterwards, as editor
of the West Chester Republican, he proved himself as one
of the strongest political writers in that section of the State.
The Gazette was established in 1876, by J. C. West and W.
J. C. Jacobs, both of whom at that time were active in the
ranks of the Democratic party.
Waynesboro fails to have a long list of newspaper men
because the lamented William Blair so long occupied the
field. Mr. Blair was editor and proprietor of The Village
Record for forty years, and was without opposition untii
1876. An intense loyalist during the Civil War, "he called a
spade a spade" to his financial hurt. Big hearted, and "four
square," Mr. Blair was a prime favorite of the newspaper
men of Franklin county and Hagerstown, Md.
The titles of the Greencastle newspapers were fre-
quently changed during the last sixty-seven years. From
the Conococheague Herald to the Franklin Intelligencer, The
Gazette,. The Ledger, The Pilot, The Valley Echo, re-estab-
lished to Pilot, when it was consolidated with Valley Echo
under the title of Echo, at present in the hands of Wil-
liam J. Pattern as the able editor and proprietor. Promi-
nent as editors and owners were: A. N. Rankin, Elliott B.
Detrich, McCrory & Bonner, Strickler & McCrory, Robert
and W. W. Crooks, Jr., Rev. James R. Gaff and M. D.
Reymer, Col. B. F. Winger, Geo: E. Haller. Hon. W T m.
C. Kreps, Geo. M. Heilman and William J, Patton. The
Greencastle Press, established by Col. B. F. Winger, in
1876, was for the most part in the hands of others, editor-
ially, although in this work Col. Winger shared. His
daughter was a gifted local editor, as also A. E. Shirey and
D. Z. Shook. The best known writers of the long line of
54
changes referred to were Messrs. Bonner, Strickler, Ran-
kin (afterwards editors of the Repository, Chambersburg;)
Professor Gaff, Reymer, Winger, Haller, Kreps. Heilman
and Patton, the latter a leader in the Republican party of
.the county.
J. Clagget Seacrest, from one of the boys of the Press,
to its management and editorial control, "went west young
man." Mr. Seacrest is today one of the most eminent news-
paper men in the West, as the head of the Nebraska State
Journal Co., Lincoln, Xeb.
Geo. A. Fleming, the present editor of the Mercersburg
Journal, learns through William McKinstry, that the ma-
terial for the first printing office in Mercersburg was
brought on a wagon from Gettysburg to Mercersburg, add-
ing: "Can you imagine what a mess or mass of "pi" that
would be?" Mr. Fleming has a few relics of the ancient
outfit, as well as wood cuts that are still about the office,
dreams of what it contained nearly seventy years ago.
David A. Schnebley, who changed the name of the
Visitor to Mercersburg Journal, a title it continued to hold
with one exception, and that was when for a year or more
it was known as Good Intent, after retiring from the Jour-
nal went West, where he became prominent as editor of
various papers in Illinois. and Oregon, finally locating in
Kansas, where' he completed fifty years of active jour-
nalism. He died at the age of eighty-three years, and was
a vigorous writer to the last .
M. J. Slick, Esq., was in continuous ownership or
control of the Journal for thirty-six years, from 1863. In
1864 he laid aside his pen. for the sword, when he enlisted
in the 17th Pennsylvania Cavalry, in which he served ten
(10) months. He served as justice of the peace seven or
eight terms, and spent the spring months clerking public
sales. He is still living, although in impaired health that
confines him to his home.
Perry A. Rice was a well-known citizen of Mercers-
burg and a member of the Franklin Countv Bar. He mar-
ried Miss Elizabeth F. Findlay, who died" at Cedar Falls.,
Iowa, not so many years ago, at an advanced age. At the
55
time of her passing she resided with her daughter, Miss
Sarah F. Rice, a member of the faculty of the Normai
School at Cedar Falls. Mr. Rice was one of the citizen
prisoners of Mercersburg and vicinity taken, at the time of
Stuart's raid, 1862, to Richmond, Va., where they were
confined in Libby prison, and where Mr. Rice died after
several months' confinement.
John A. Hyssong died in 1908, aged 80 years. After
his ownership of the Journal, at the same time being the
owner of a stage line, he moved to Chambersburg in 1872.
He served two terms as Prothonotary of the county.
Among early special writers and historians for the
town papers were such distinguished contributors as the
late Dr. N. B. Lane, whose productions not only appeared
in the medical journals, but in local newspapers of the
early days of the last century on subjects of reform and
progress. His sons, Dr. William C. and Samuel G. Lane,
of blessed memory, possessed of rare literary tastes, were in
frequent demand for editorial work and contributions on
local subjects. On the early history of the Cumberland
Valley, Dr. William C. Lane was well informed and an
authority. Many, chaste and elegant, have been his pro-
ductions on historical subjects, given, your compiler has
personal knowledge with a rapidity that was truly surpris-
ing, and an accuracy that was wonderful. Of others who
have passed, John M. Cooper, B. L. Maurer, Captain J. H.
Walker, and Dr. C. T. Maclay while not perhaps as indus-
trious in research, made up in the charm and presentation
of their historical and reminiscent efforts. In all of their
newspapers and historical contributions the Rev. Joseph
Clark, I. H. McCauley, Esq., Professor W. H. Hocken-
berry, E. W. Curriden, the Rev. P. S. Davis, D. D., never
were they dull or without instruction but always scholarly
and entertaining. These mortals are of those who have put
on immortality.
Fortunately, surviving writers and historians still liv-
ing and in the harness, are "K," the "Local Gossip," philoso-
pher and witty New York correspondent of Franklin Re-
pository, i852-'66 — John K. Shryock, living in Philadel-
56
phia, considerable more than an octogenarian ; Geo. O. Seil-
hamer, who has had a long and famous career in the news-
paper field, and as an authur and historian; Benjamin M.
Nead, Harrisburg; Linn Harbaugh, Esq., William S. Hoer-
ner, Esq., Chambersburg ; C. W. Cremer, Esq., Waynes-
boro, and many others of whom it is impossible within these
limits to find space to speak of.
57
PARTIAL REPORT TO THE KITTOCHTINNY HISTORICAL SOCIETY
OF COMMITTEE ON El BLIOGRAPH Y. NEWSPAPER SECTION.
Linn Harbaugh, M. A. Foltz, James R. Gilmore, Bibliography Committee.
Franklin Repository.
January 1, 1790. Established as "The Western Advertiser and
Chambersburg Weekly Newspaper," William Davison, of Philadelphia.
Fifteen shillings per year. Size, 10x16. Three colums to page.
1792 or 1793. Robert Harper became partner, continuing as such
until death of Mr. Davison, in fall of 1793, when Mr. Harper became sole
owner, and,
September 12, 1793, Change titled to Chambersburg Gazette, under
which name it appeared until
April 25, 1796. It was then changed to Franklin Repository. $2.25
per year. Between 1796-1798 Mr. Harper had as partner one Dover; soon
dissolved.
1799-1800. Franklin Minerva, Vol. I, published by George Kenton
Harper, is in possession of descendants of Thomas J. Porter, whose
father was a native of Chambersburg. First issue, Feb. 2, 1799. Con-
tinued just one year.
1800-1840. George Kenton Harper became editor and proprietor of
Franklin Repository. In 1815 changed from 3 to 4 columns to page; in
1815 to 5 columns; in 1S30 to 6 columns, and in 1834, further enlarged.
1814, Mr. George K. Harper published a German paper in connec-
tion with Repository, called Der Redliohe Register — The True Recorder,
— in which a German printer named F. W. Schoepflin was associated.
Soon after Mr. Schoepflin purchased the enterprise. Upon his death in
1825 Henry Ruby became its purchaser. He eventually sold the paper to
Victor Scriba, who transferred it to Pittsburgh, where, adopting a new
title. Freiheit's Freund, it achieved a large circulation. In 1824, John
Deitz established a German paper, which passed out of existence in its
secord year.
January, 1840, Mr. Harper disposed of Franklin Repository to Joseph
Pritts, Benjamin Oswald becoming associate editor until 1841. Mr. Harper
has the record of longest continued ownership and editorial service of
any who succeeded him, which lasted forty years. On account of indiff-
erent postal arrangements for carrying the mails, from 1794 to 1828, the
Harpers — Robert and George K.— employed their own post riders.
1828. Mr. Pritts established The Anti-Masonic Whig, which he con-
tinued until his purchase of Franklin Repository (1840), when the two
papers were united under the name Repository and Whig.
1842. William H. Downey became proprietor of the Repository and
Whig, continuing as such until
18 '6, When he sold out to William Brewster. Mr. Pritts continued
as editor and superintendent under both proprietorships until his death
in 1848. In
1848, Messrs. John F. Denny, Hugh W. Reynolds and Daniel O. Gehr
became the proprietors of the Repository and Whig, with Denny as editor.
February 1, 1849. Mr. Reynolds withdrew, the remaining partners
conducting the paper until
May 1, 1849, When John W. Boyd, Hagerstown, and David E. Stover,
Greeiicastle, became proprietors.
July 4, 1849. Henry A. Mish and Lewis A. Shoemaker established
The Franklin Intelligencer. It was merged in Repository and Whig, 1851.
1852. Mr. Stover became sole proprietor of Repository and Whig.
May 1. 1852. Alexander K. McClure purchased a half interest in the
paper, and in September became sole editor and proprietor. William I.
Ccok, business manager and local editor. Issued campaign paper called
"The Charger, in 1852.
January 1, 1854. Franklin Repository entered its 65tTi year in greatly
enlarged (quarto) form, containing 48 colums. $1.75 per year; $2 within
the year.
58
1852. Robert P. Hazelet, who had for some time published a semi-
monthly, called The Umnabus.
July 4, 1S53. Title changed to The Transcript, and issued as an
eight-page, 32 column, weekly. The Transcript was the first newspaper
to appear in quarto form in Franklin County. $1.50 per year:
October, 1854. Mr. Hazelet, although retaining a silent interest, dis-
posed of The Transcript to George Eyster & Co., who converted it into
an organ of the American or "Know-nothing," party.
January 1, 1855. The Transcript appeared in greatly enlarged quarto
form, and during the year attained a big circulation. It had wide col-
umns and the pages were much larger than those of Repository, but not
so neat.
November, 1855. Washington Crooks and George Eyster, a new firm,
was formed, and November 14, purchased the Repository and Whig. The
two offices were united, and the name of the paper was changed to Re-
pository and Transcript. The Transcript office, which was in the Noel
(now Spirit) building, was moved to the second and third floors of the
old Gehr building, (on the site of Valley Bank,) about 1st of December,
1855. The combined lists of subscribers and business of the offices made
the enlistment one of the most prosperous in the Cumberland Valley.
■These changes in proprietorship nevertheless occurred during the fol-
lowing five or six years, furnished to the late J. N. Snider, Feb. 2, 1890,
the record being made from files of Repository and Transcript, in Mr.
Rankin's possession.
Owned by Washington Crooks and George Eyster, November 21, 1855
to May 21, 1856, under firm name of Crooks & Eyster.
Crooks, Eyster and A. N. Rankin, May 21, 1856 to Nov. 26, 1856. Firm
name: Crooks, Eyster & Rankin.
Crooks, Eyster and H. Easton, Nov. 26, 1856 to Jan. 1, 1857. Firm
name: Crooks, Eyster & Co.
Crooks, Eyster and Rankin, Jan. 1 to Feb. 11, 1857. Firm name:
Crooks, Eyster & Co.
C. M. Burnett, John Rosenberg and A. N. Rankin, under firm name
of G. H. Merklein & Co., Feb. 17, to July 20, 1857. (Wm. I. Cook, re-
tired as local editor.)
Burnett, Rankin and Easton, under firm name of G. H. Merklein &
Co., July 20, 1857 to Sept. 3, 1857.
Burnett, Rankin and Crooks, Sept. 3. 1857 to Feb. 3, 1S58. Firm
name: G. H. Merklein & Co.
Emanuel Kuhn becoming the purchaser of Mr. Crook's interest, it
was still under the firm name of G. H. Merklein & Co., Feb. 3, 1858 to
Nov. 1, 1860.
A. N. Rankin, Nov. 1, 1860 to Oct. 31, 1861.
1861. May 1 to July 31, Semi-Weekly issued Wednesdays and Sat-
urdays, by Mr. Rankin. Discontinued because P. O. Department notified
publisher that both issues would be charged for — one cent per cop:; — ■
postage, even within the county. — Statement of Mr. Rankin. Valley
Spirit also issued a Semi-Weekly which, for the same cause had an
ephemeral existence.
Snively Strickler became the purchaser Oct. 31, 1861, and in
1863. Sold the establishment to A. K. McClure and H. S. Stoner,
who restored the title to The Franklin Repository. Geo. O. Seilhamer,
local editor. On the 19th of
April, 1861, George H. Merklein and P. Dock Frey, under the firm
name of G. H. Merklein & Co.. started the Semi-Weekly Dispatch.
June 1863. McClure and Stoner became the purchasers of the Semi-
Weekly Dispatch, and merged it in Franklin Repository.
July 30, 1864. Office destroyed in Burning of Chambersburg. Loss
$8,549.47. Repository reappeared, size reduced to folio, 7 columns to
page, on the 24th of August, the suspension covering three issues. The
delay was occasioned by inability to receive power press and other
equipment. Office re-established in Lecture room of Falling Spring Pres-
byterian Church. In connection with Repository, a State campaign paper
called The Old Flag was a lively side production, published until close of
Presidential (Lincoln-McClellan) campaign of 1864.
July 1, 1865. The Repository Assocition was formed, with McClure
and Stoner as editors and publishers. Incorporators: A. K. McClure, H.
S. Stoner. J. W. Deal, F. S. Stumbaugh, D. O. Gehr, J. C. Austin.
May 30, 1868. McClure and Stoner retired, and Jere Cook and S.
W. Hays became its editors and publishers.
59
July 1, 1870. Mr. Hays retired. H. S. Stoner took his place, and
the paper was published by Cook and Stoner, with Mr. Cook as editor,
August 15, 1874. Major John M. Pomeroy became successor of Cook
and Stoner, and editor of Repository, with Joseph Pomeroy as local edi-
tor and business manager.
November, 1876. The Saturday Local was started by Joseph Pomeroy
& Co. Two years afterward it merged in Repository.
May 1, 1883. Major Pomeroy's Sons — John H. and A. Nevin — be-
came partners in The Franklin Repository, under the Arm name of John
M. Pomeroy & Sons. Owing to ill health Major Pomeroy disposed of his
interest to his sons, Dec. 1, 1884.
January, 1884. The new firm re-established the Daily edition of Re-
pository, which, in the campaign of 1882 had an existence of six months.
August 1, 1891. John H. Pomeroy disposed of his interest in the
Repository to his brother, A. N. Pomeroy, who since then, and at the
present, is editor-in-chief of the paper and proprietor of the plant. The
following gentlemen have served as city editors during the last thirty
years :
James A. Hamilton, Nov. 1, 1884, to June 1886. •
J. H. and A. N. Pomeroy, June 1, 1886, to Aug. 1. 1887.
L. Bert Eyster, Aug. 1, 1887, to Aug. 1, 1889.
Horace Bender, Aug. 1, 1889, to March, 1890.
John W. Hoke, March, 1890. to August, 1890.
James A. Hamilton, 1890, to date.
Publio Opinion.
May 1, 1866. M. A. Foltz started job printing office.
July, 1866. Commenced publication of Country Merchant, a monthly
business sheet, which,
July 20, 1869, Made way for Public Opinion, edited and published
by Mr. Foltz. its founder, over 30 years. In politics Republican, $1.50
per year; reduced to $1 in 1896.
September 4. 1899. Disposed of plant to John M. Runk. who dis-
posed of half-interest, Nov. 5, 1900, to John W. Hoke, Esq. H. C. Foltz.
business manager and local editor.
March 20, 1901. Firm started morning daily edition. William G.
Underwood, news editor.
January 24, 1902. Mr. Hoke purchased interest of Mr. Runk, and
became sole editor and proprietor.
March 4, 1904. Associated with his brother, C. E., who became busi-
ness manager, under firm name of Public Opinion Company, until estab-
lishment was purchased, (A. Nevin Detrich, local editor.)
Oct. 16, 1905. By Walter B. Gilmore and A. Nevin Detrich, with
M. A. Foltz employed as associate editor, who retired as such June, 1903.
Mr. Detrich retired from firm in 1906.
May 23, 1906. Henry V. Black became Mr. Detrich's successor, under
firm name of Gilmore & Black, continuing as such until Dec. 1. 1906,
when Mr. Black became sole owner, editor and proprietor. Ross K. Gil-
bert, who joined staff in 1905, since 1906, news editor.
February 1, 1912. Public Opinion passes into ownership of former
District Attorney D. Edward Long, and former Register and Recorder
S. A. Small. Long and Small, proprietors; Ross K. Gilbert, editor; H. C.
Foltz, business manager; Herbert S. Foltz, advertising manager. In-
corporated.
February 23, 1912. A deal was consummated by which the mechani-
cal departments or the Public Opinion and People's Register were cen-
tralized, and the two newspapers published from one plant — in the
Public Opinion building. With the mechanical departnercs will be cen-
tralized the three newspapers, the Daily Public Opinion, the Weekly
Public Opinion and the Weekly People's Register, they will maintain
their identity, and will be conducted and issued in the manner as here-
tofore. Messrs. Long and Small were joined in the incorporation plans
by Morris I loyd, owner of People's Register."
March 18. 1912. Charter granted for the incorporation of The Pub-
lic Opinion Company; capita 1$60, 000. Officers and directors: D. Edward
Long. President; Dr. J. H. Devor, vice president; S. A. Small, treasurer;
H. C. Foltz, secetary; Morris Lloyd, general manager; Ross K. Gilbert,
editor; Herbert S. Foltz, advertising manager.
Democratic Newspapers.
April 19, 1798. The first Democratic newspaper published in Frank-
lin county was The Farmers' Register, established by Snowden and Mc-
6o
Corcle, April 19, 1798. It was not a su [n L799 Mr. Snowden ti
ferred office to Greensburg, where it was afterwards published. Mr.
Corcle went to Philadelphia, where he ' i Wished The Freeman's Jour
nal in 1804.
About 1804-6. F. W. Schoeplin commenced the publication of a Ger-
man paper; which must have been his first newspaper venture.
About 1S06. The Franklin Republican was estabMshed by William
Armour , Frederick Goeb, or Geib and Richard White, became his
successors. They published two papers, one English and one German,
Mr. White conducting the English part and Mr. Uoeb the German. Title
unknown. In 1808 John Hershberger became the successor of Goeb
and White. Mr. Hershberger conducted The Franklin Republican as the
Democratic organ of the county at the same time publishing the Ger-
man paper formerly issued by Mr. Goeb. After a few years Mr. Hersh-
berger sold both papers to James McFarland, by whom the German
paper was discontinued.
About 1816 Mr. McFarland sold the Franklin Republican to John
Sloan, who continued to publish it until his death, in 1831. Joseph Pritts,
then an intense Democrat, some time after married the widow of Mr.
Sloan, and thus obtained control of the office, continuing the paper in
the interest of the Democratic party until 1834, when, becoming an
Anti-Mason, he purchased the Anti-Masonic Whig, shortly before estab-
lished by James Culbertson. Mr. Pritts united the two papers under a
new title: The Chambersburg Whig. Having oecome the purchaser of
The Franklin Repository, in 1840, the title of this merger was changed
to Repository and Whig.
In 1831 The Franklin Telegraph, a new Democratic paper, was
established by Henry Ruby and James Maxwell, the latter in six weeks
disposing cf his interest to Mr. Hatnick, who aied nine months there-
after. As sole proprietor Mr. Ruby conducted the paper until 1S40. when
he disposed* of it to Michael C. Brown and Hiram Kesey, who, in 1841,
sold it to John Brand, when the name of the paper was changed to The
Chambersburg Times. This record for the next six years has been
furnished the compiler by Dr. D. W. Nead from bound files of the Times:
Vol. 1, No. 1.— August 16, 1841— John Brand.
Vol. 2, No. 40— May 15, 1S43— Franklin G. Mav.
Vol. 5, No. 24— April 6, 1846 — E. R. Powell, of West Chester, Pa.
The heading of No. 1 is The Chambersburg Times.
No. 2 ij The Chambersburg Times and Democratic Republican Ad-
vocate.
No. 3 is The Chambersburg Times and Franklin Telegraph.
From Vol 1, No. 1. "Another Change." — The present number of our
paper appears, as the public will observe, under the title of The Cham-
bersburg Times. We had thought it proper, for several reasons, to make
this change of the former title, (Franklin Telegraph) inasmuch as the
circumstances attending the publication of the Telegraph, for the few
months, were of such a nature, as to expressly warrant the observance
of such a course. It it not deemed necessary to make known what these
"circumstances" are, as the public generally is already aware of them.
Our paper therefore, will henceforward bear the title we have selected
for it.
Soon after the proprietorship of Mr. Powell. Alfred H. Smith became
associated as a partner, and the title of the paper was changed to
Cumberland Valley Sentinel.
In 1851. The Cumberland Valley Sentinel was purchased by Benja-
min F. Nead and John Kinneard, with Joseph Nill. Esq., and Dr. Wm.
H. Boyle, as editors. '
July 1, 1852 The Sentinel was purchased by Cooper and Dechert and
merged with Valley Spirit.
July, 1847. Valley Spirit was projected by John M. Cooper and
Daniel Dechert. July. 1847. in Shippensburg. Removed to Chambers-
burg in July. 1848, when Daniel Dachert retired, and P eter S. Dechert
became a member of the firm.
In 1857, For purposes of settlement, a change was made to Geo. H.
Mengel & Co., without a real change of ownership.
In 1860. J. George Ripper purchased Mr. Cooper's interest, but held
it only a short time, when it reverted to Mr. Cooper.
In 1S62. Cooper and Dechert sold to H. C. Keyser and B. Y. Hamsher,
William Kennedy, of the (new) Times, (elsewhere referred to) becoming
an associate in the firm, when the title of the paper was changed to that
of The Spirit and Times, and the firm name to B. Y. Hamsher & Co.
April 1864, Mr. Kennedy, who was the editor, retired, and the title of
the paper restored to Valley Spirit.
6i
July 30, 1864. Office destroyed in burning of Chambersburg, entailing
a loss of $4,431.83. Re-established with power press and complete equip-
ment. Office temporarily in warehouse cf Wunderlich & Nead.
In 1867, J. M. Cooper. William S. Stenger and Aug. Duncan became
the purchasers of the paper.
In 1869, Mr. Cooper retired. Messrs. Duncan and Stenger. with Mr.
Stenger as editor, continued as owners, until 1S76, when the Spirit was
purchased by J. C. Clugston, with John M. Cooper as editor.
In 1878, J. M. Wolf kill bi ught out Mr. Clugston, who in 1879. sold the
establishment to John G. a d D. A. Orr, when Mr. Cooper's connection
with the paper as editor terminated.
In 1886. The Messrs. Orr purchased the daily Herald (established
1878) and The Franklin County Democrat. The Daily was changed from
a morning to an afternoon paper and the combined enterprise merged
into Valley Spirit, with C. W. Cremer, city editor. 18S4-1888. (The Herald
established by L. Wveth and Daniel Kennedy, was sold to Hon. C. M.
Duncan in 1882. A weeklv was published for several years, when the
title was changed to The Franklin County Democrat, with J. D. Ludwig,
Esq., editor. „
Incorporated July 5, 1890. Valley Spirit Publishing Company became
its publishers with D. A. Orr as President of the corporation and William
Kennedy, and C. W. Cremer as editors. Mr. Cremer purchased an interest
in the establishment in 1891.
April 1, 1891. H. H. Woodal became associated with the paper, Mr.
Kennedy retiring, and remained with it until 1S95, as one of its Editors
and Business Manager. Mr. Cremer continuing in his former capacity.
April 1. 1895. John G. Orr succeeded Mr. "Woodal as Treasurer and
Manager, with Geo. E. Reisner as Managing Editor. This arrangement
continued until April 1, 1903.
April 1. 1903. The Company was re-organized with the following
officers: D. A. Orr, President; J. P. McCuliough, Treasurer; John Q.
Bard, Secretary and Manager; George E. Reisner, Managing Editor. Mr.
Cremer severed his connection with the paper in 1897.
July, 1910. The Company was re-organized under new ownership, as
follows: Thos. J. Brereton, President; Arthur W. Gillan, Secretary; Will-
iam Alexander, Treasurer; Geo. E. Reisner, Business Manager; Shirley J.
Zarger, News Editor. Directors: Thos. J. Brereton; Arthur W. Gillan;
William Alexander; Geo. E. Reisner; D. A. Orr.
August 10, 188S. D. M. Sheller and H. A. Disert established the
Democratic News, and were its editors and proprietors. B. Y. Hamsher
was an 'occasional editorial writer. In February, 1890, the interest of Mr.
Disert was purchased by Mr. Sheller, who continues editor and sole
proprietor. Office first floor, rear of Chambersburg Trust Co's. building.
May 30. 1895. H. H. Woodal established Franklin Review in building
nearly opposite Miller's hotel, West Market street. After short existence
it was purchased by Peoples Register.
January 1, 1876. Centennial Register established by Rev. J. G. Schaff.
Office in basement of residence, 274 S. Second street.
January 1, 1877. Name changed to People's Register. Moved to 2nd
floor Burket building in 1882. After death of founde" in September, 1881,
the paper passed into the hands of sons, Motte L. and Bruce H. Room in
White building leased in 1893, after an occupancy of 5 years of Stouffer
building, North Main street. 1879-'80 Daily edition issued, and again in
1887-'90, when enterprise was discontinued. On account of failing health
Motte L. disposed of his interest to Bruce H.. who also became pur-
chaser of Franklin Review from H. H. Woodal, merging Review in
Register. The new owner disposed of a half-interest to J. H. Ledy in
1897, the partnership lasting three years, when the firm disposed of the
plant to J. E. Roberts, Camden, N. J., a Mr. Bowen becoming manager
and Mr. Evans local editor. The present editor and proprietor, Morris
Lloyd, became the purchaser of the plant April 1. 1901.
February 23, 1912. Public Opinion and People's Register ctntralized;
published from one plant in Public Opinion building.
Notable Publication House. July 18, 1835. First ; ssue of The Weekly
Messenger in Chambersburg. Established as a Monthly at Carlisle, Pa.,
Nov. 1, 1827, under the title of The Magazine of the German Reformed
Church, Rev. Dr. Lewis Mayer, Professor in Theological Seminary, editor.
In 182!'. With Seminary removed to York, Pa.
In 1832, Name changed to The Messenger of the German Reformed
Church, and changed from magazine to newspaper form.
In 1834. Last year of publication in York, appeared as semi-monthly.
July IS. 1835, Transferred to Chambersburg, and thereafter Issued as
The Weekly Messenger, Rev. B. S. Schneck, editor. Printed under con-
62
tract in office of Joseph J'ritts. two years, then under new contract in
office of Telegraph, Henry Ruby, proprietor.
In January, 1840, Leased Hist floor Masonic Hall, and purchasing
presses, material, etc., established its own plant Rev. Samuel R. Fisher
becoming associal litor and assistant to Dr. Schneck.
In 1843, Purchased Masonic building and added bindery to equipment.
In 1844, Synod placed publication Interests of the Church in hands of
Publication Board, Hon. Henry Ruby, superintendent Owing to business
embarrasments Mr. Ruby, as superintendent, could not overcome, at
meeting of Synod, 1848, Rev. Moses Kieffer and Drs. Schneck and Fisher
formed a partnership to carry on the business and pay the debts. Busi-
ness grew and required increased facilities. Title of paper changed to
The G.-rman Reformed Messenger, December, 1848.
In 1851, Firm installed Adams steam power press for book and news-
paper work. Besides press work for Messenger, Kirchenzeitung, periodi-
cals and books of the Church, press work of the several secular news-
papers of Chambersburg was obtained, continuing from 1852 to July 30,
1864.
In 1859. Masons repurchased building, and firm having purchased
Mansion ll iuse property, on Diamond, moved plant therein. In all of its
appointments it was well adapted for the extensive business it enjoyed.
In 1863, Firm reconveyed plant to Church, when it was again placed
in hands of a Publication Board. 1 to Church On account of Con-
rate burning of Chambersburg, Juh 30, 1864, was- $35,000, not includ-
ing real estate. The vacant lot afterw old for $7,100.00. The Board
refu rebuild, and the work of the Church has since been done
under contract in Philadelphia, with offices in the new Publication
House, 15th and Race streets, Philadelphia. Rev. Benjamin Bailsman
was ite editor of The Mi l, and editor-in-chief.
1862. when lie unanimous call to accept pastorate of
Zion's Reformed Church, I rsburg.
The Mercersburg Review, established in Mercersburg, 1849, was trans-
ferred to Publication House. Chambersburg, in 1853, and The Guardian.
established in 1850, was tr: d in 1863. Nearly all of Church work
at large was concentrated t i Publication House in Chambersburg.
The Christliche Hi stablished bj Dr. Schneck in Gettysburg,
as transferred to Ch u burg in 1840, anil the name changed to
"Christliche Zeitschrift. Dr. Schneck in a sho tanged its name
to Reformir tenzeitung. lie continued its editor until 1864, with
the exception of an interval 'of five years. L852-'57. when it was edited
by Rev. Samuel Miller.
Other Enterprises.
1833. Tic er and Recorder, is the title of a paper that was
printed in Chambersburg in 1833, which must have had a short existence.
It was "pledged to no party trammelled by no sect — consecrated to
the cause of Evangelical Truth." Only a part of the sheet is in exist -
e, in which the trial of the ! id ueorge Duffield for heresy,
appears, the heading of the paper being over date of Chambersburg,
Thursday. April 25, is::::. n was 1 led to the e,,mpiler by Leonard
Florig, of this place, May 12, i
1" L854, Kell and Kinnard ted an educational monthly, called The
Tutor and Pupil, which had an epl il existe
In '.:■ R. P. Hazelet and David A. Wertz started The Inde-
April 1859, sold to William I. Cook and P. Dock Prey. October
7. 1859 M. A. Foltz purchased interest of Mr. Oook, the firm standing
■ & Foltz. with Dr. Samuel O. Pane as editor, and the name of the
paper changed to The Tim
August 31, 1860. William Kennedy and Jacob Sellers purchased the
paper and converted ii organ of the Douglas wing of the Demo-
cratic party. It merged in Valley Spirit in 1S02. and the name of the
combination for about two years was The Spirit and Times, when that of
Valley Spirit was n
1m::i-'70. P. Dock Frey, H. B. Hatnick and Fred J. Keller started a
illed The Silvej under the firm name of P. D. Prey &
Co. Mr. Keller was a of music for bands and edited The Cornet.
assisted by his associates. It was printed in the office or Public Opinion,
and starting with the September number, continued seven months.
Waynesboro Newspapers.
April 21, 1843. Waynesboro Circular. Organized with C. Crate as
editor and proprietor. Published every Saturday on an imperial sheet.
$2.00 per annum. Four pages, 15 \- 20. Discontinued after a year or two...
In 1847. The Waynesboro Gazette was established by Mr. Crate,
which also had a short existence.
6 3
March 13, 1847. Village Record, established by David O. Blair. Will-
iam Blair (no relation) shortly after became part owner, but later dis-
posed of his interest to the original proprietor, who disposed of the
office some time after to his former partner William Blair, who con-
tinued its publisher and editor for forty years. After his death the paper
was conducted by his estate for four years. Neutral is politics.
In 1895. I. E. Yost became the purchaser of The Village Record.
1876. The Keystone Gazette. Established by J C. West and W. J.
C. Jacobs, publishers and proprietors. Democratic in politics.
In 1878. Henry Trayer purchased interest of Mr. Jacobs. West and
Trayer conducted the paper for two years longer, when in 1880, S. M.
Robinson became its owner and publisher.
In 1882, N. B. Martin purchased the Gazette, and in connection with
James B. Fisher, conducted it as an independent paper.
January 1, 1885, James B. Fisher purchased Mr. Martin's interest, and
became editor and proprietor.
March 1886. Major D. B. Martin assumed control with James B.
Fisher as manager and N. Bruce Martin, as editor. Subsequently N. B.
Martin disposed of his entire interest to D. B. Martin.
In 1893. With his son, N. Bruce Martin, Esq., Major Martin estab-
lished the Blue Ridge Zephyr, and continued the proprietor and manager
until November 22, 1900. When the establishment was purchased by I.
E. T'ost, who merged the office into The Record. C. W. Cremer, editor.
August 5. 1901. Daily and Weekly Herald. Published by Waynesboro
Printing Co. E. W. Washaibaugh, President; E. E. Foust, Secretary and
Treasurer. Various changes in directorate of company have been made.
The present officers are: Dr. J. C. Criswell, President; W. T. Omwake,
Esq., Vice President; J. H. Stoner, Secretary and Treasurer; H. B.
Reiley, editor. Mr. Reily retired October 1, 1913. t'o help in the establish-
ment of a new morning paper in Uniontown. He was succeeded by N.
Bruce Martin, Esq., founder of the Blue Ridge Zephyr ana Daily Record.
March 1, 1905. R. C. Gordon purchased the Wavnesboro Record and
Blue Ridge Zephyr from I. E. Yost.
March 23, 1906. The Waynesboro Record Co. becomes publisher of
the Waynesboro Record and the Blue Ridge Zephyr, with R. C. Gordon,
President. The present officers of the Record Co. are: R. C. Gordon,
President; Elmer J. Cook, Esq., Secretary: H. C. Gordon, Treasurer, C.
W. Cremer, Editor.
Greencastle Newspapers.
About 1845-'46. Conococheague Herald. Established in Greencastle
under auspices of Mormon settlement on McDanahan farm, near town, by
E. Robinson, printer.— (McCauley's History of County Vol 2, 1878, p. 267.)
brief existence.
August, 1S4S. Conococheague Herald. Revived by E. Robinson, who
was its publisher. After a few months, Charles Martin (about the 1st of
December. 1S4S) became the owner of the Herald. A year later, in 1849,
to Elliot B. Detrich.
A. N. Rankin became Mr. Martin's successor, who disposed of the paper
In 1853, Mr. Detrich changed the name of ilie paper to Franklin In-
telligencer, and in 1855 to Franklin Gazette. Upon Mr. Dietrich's death,
in 1S57, The paper passed into the hands of James McCrory and Boliver
Bonner, who became editors and proprietors, and changed the name of
the paper from Franklin Gazette to The Ledger. Upon the death of Mr.
Bonner in 1860. Snively Strickier associated with Mr. McCrory, under the
firm name of Strickier & McCrory, who changed the title of the paper
to The Pilot. About one year later Mr. Strickier retired from the firm,
and Mr. McCrory, after conducting the office several years disposed of it
to Robert and William W. Crooks. Jr. They were succeeded in 1866, by
Rev. James R. Gaff and M .D. Reymer, who changed the name of the
paper to Valley Echo. The same year Colonel B. F. Winger became its
purchaser, with George E. Haller as publisher and local editor.
January 6, 1S76, George E. Haller became editor and proprietor, and
continued as such until his death.
May 1889. Following the death of Geo. Haller the Valley Echo was
sold to Geo. W. Atherton, Esq.. who with Chas W. Gaff as local editor,
continued to issue the paper until April 1, 1891, When Mr. Atherton dis-
posed of the paper to Chas. W. Gaff.
October 31, 1891. Pilot re-established by Fred Palmer and J. H.
Strine.
September 13, 1893. Valley Echo and Pilot purchased by Hon. William
C. Kreps and consolidated under name of Echo-Pilot.
November 14, 1901. Echo-Pilot purchased from Hon. William C. Kreps
by Geo. M. Heilman and William J. Patton. Esq.
64
A ii] LO, L90S [nteresl of Geo. M. Heilman sold to William J. Patton,
Esq.
In 1876 Colonel B. F. Winger established Greencastle Press, J. C.
Seacrest becoming- associate in management and editorial work. Mr.
R. Davison managing editor.
390. Blanche Winger, local editor, A. E. Shirey, local editor. D. Z.
h ><• is at one time editor of the Press.
October 1912. Purchased by Miah D. and Charles C. Kauffman, ""lr
owners and proprietors. Editor-in-chief. Christopher C. Kauffman. Title
changed to Greencastle Press & Kauffman Bros. News.
Mercersburg Journal.
1843. The Mercersburg Visitor established. (Weekly) Published by
McKii stry & Doyle.
About 1845. After graduating at Marshall College. David J. Schnebley,
a native of Hagerstown, Md., 'born Feb. 6, 1818), purchased the Visitor,
and changed its name to MercersburgMournal, which he edited about four
years. Mr. Schnebley went West in 1S50; engaged in editorial work for
various newspapers; Aug. 12. 1850. had charge and next year purchased
Sn ictator pul lishing same until 1855; 1861, at Walla A'ana connected with
Union Statesman and other papers; 1881, purchased Ellenburg (Kas.)
Localizer 1898 sold Localizer to F. D. Schnebley; died Jan. 5, 1901; vigor-
ous writer to the last. — Ellensburg Localizer.
185 — Mr. Baxter in possession of Mercersburg Journal.
185 — Perry A. Rice. Esq., graduate of Marshal! College, 185 — , suc-
cessor of Mr. Baxter.
185 — John A. Hyssong, Esq., at the same time that he was proprietor
of Journal, became owner of a journalistic venture called The Leaf:
1856, owner of Fulton Republican, McConnellsburg.
1861-'62. Name of Journal, under proprietorship of J. R. Haldeman
and D. O. Blair, changed to Good Intent.
September 18, 1863. Bradley & Co. sold ("name of journal restored it
is supposed) to J. F. Cummins & Co.
1863. Same year, date unknown. M. J. Slick, of Leitersbursr. Md..
purchased the Journal, and was its editor and proprietor for thirty-six
years except three years, 1885-'87, when the late George Hornbraker was
associated with him. and fr^m August, 1864 to May. 1866, when he (Mr.
Slick) served an enlistment in the 17 P 1 . Cav. During his absence, office
in care of D. F. Metcalf. now resident of Mercersburg.
June, 1S99. Mr. Slick disposed of the Journal to A. C. McKibben, of
McConnellsburg, who was its publisher less than 'one year.
In 1900. George W. Skinner became the owner and continued it as
The Journal Publishing Co. with J. Clark Rankin. Eso.. as editor, until
1902, and later, until 1904. with S. M. Robinson, now deceased, as editor
and business manager.
October 1, 1904. The present owner. Geo. A. Fleming, came into
possession.
Highway o* Holiness.
November, 1S74. Highway of Holiness established (Monthly maga-
zine). A United Brethren publication, Chambersburg, Pa. 24 pp.
December. 1875. Published in Baltim< >'\ Md. Rev. J. P. Anthony.
editor; Rev. B. G. Huber. publishing agent. S pp. 30 cents per year. (The
editor and publishers being itinerant ministers in the U. B. Church, were
moved to different fields of labor.)
March, 1876. Published at New Cumberland, Pa.
December. 1876. Enlarged to 16 pp., ar.d price advanced to 50 cents
per year.
May. 18 — Published nt Shippensburg. Pa. Bishop N. Castle. Philo-
math. Oregon, became its editor, with Rev. B. G. Huber as managing
editor and publishing agent.
April 1, 1880. Removed to Chambersburg. Published from office of
Public Opinion. Enlarged to 32 pp. Rev. B. G. Huber, editor and pub-
lishing agent. Publication continued in Chambersburg six years, when
Highway of Holiness Association disposed of it to Rev. Huber, who
published it in newspaper form one year, then solo 1 to G K. Little, of
Towa. when Mr. Huber m ved to Kansas.
Industrial News, Scotland.
1895. John II. Bomeroy was appointed Instructor of printing in the
Soldiers' Orphans' Industrial School at Scotland, Franklin county, Pa.
February, 1896. Issued first number of "Industrial School News.
Published semi-monthly, to furnish punils opportunity to Larn the print-
ing trade. Edited by Mr. Pomcroy. Boys and girls contributors. 5 col.,
quarto, with 18 in. col. Office equipped with presses and job printing
material.
•
65
September 1, 1910. John H. Pomeroy having resigned, Edwin V.
Frey was appointed his successor, assuming the duties of his position
Sept. 1, 1910.
1903. Pennsylvania Grange News, published by the Pennsylvania
State Grange William T. Creasy, editor-in-chief, Catawissa, Pa.; Pub-
lication office, Chambersburg, Pa. Printed in Opinion Register ' office.
Established, 1903.
1871. Park's Floral Magazine, established by Geo. W. Park, Fan-
nettsburg, 1871. Now published at La Park, Lancaster county, Pa. One
of the most extensive establishments in that county. The Annual and
Magazine circulation of Mr. Park's publications are unrivalled.
In 1886. John A. McAllen started Path Valley News at Fannettsburg,
which had an existence of three years, and was discontinued.
Concord.
1SG1. J. W. C. Goshorne started paper at Concord; after several
months transferred to Western town.
Mont Alto Sanatorium.
April, 1908. Spunk. Published monthly by the patients of the Penn-
sylvania State Sanatoria, by Spunk Publishing Comjiany, Mont Alto, Pa.
"A pleasant tonic redolent of Fresh air and fragrant pines, prescribed
for those who are down, but refuse to be counted out."
Sundry Enterprises.
In 1840. Geo. H. Merklein, associated with S. D. Brown, published
campaign paper, which supported Harrison and Tyler, and bore the title,
Tilt Hammer.
1864. In Presidential campaign of 1864, McClure and Stoner, editors of
Repository, issued a campaign paper The Old Flag, which had a circu-
lation of 4,000 in the State.
1S6 — In late '60's, How to make the Farm Pay, established by Geo.
A. Deitz. Discontinued after existence of several years.
February 6, 1868. Farm Journal, established by H. S. Gilbert. Dis-
continued Nov. 1869.
February, 1885. The News Letter, established by R. Ed. Hazelet,
W. E. Hamsher and Bruce Henderson. Weekly (Saturday). Sold at 5
cents a copy by newsboys. Circulation, 1,600.
June 1885. Changed to ownership of Wm. E. Hamsher and Bruce
Henderson, who continued the enterprise about three months, when The
News Letter was discontinued.
1904. The Bulletin of The Cumberland Valley Medical Association.
Annual. Edited and issued by the Secretary of the Association. John J.
Coffman, M. D., Scotland, Pa.
1807. Franklin Mirror.
1837. The Oleo and Museum of Mirth.
About 1840. The Signal, by Brown & Winters.
1840-M3. Kuhn Fanger. a German paper, by Adam Reineman-
Freiheits Friend, by Victor Tariba.
KITTOCHTINNY EVENTS
RECEPTION AT RAGGED EDGE.
Upon invitation of President M. C. Kennedy, of the
J. V. R. R., the members of The Kittochtinny Historical
Society attended a reception at his home. Ragged Edge,
Saturday afternoon, June 29, 1912, from 1.30 to 4.30 p. m.
A delightful occasion, as usual.
RECEPTION AT ELDERSLIE.
On invitation of Irvin C. Elder, Esq., President of
The Kittochtinny Historical Society, members attended a
reception at Elderslie, Thursday afternoon. October 31.
1912, from 2 to 5 o'clock,
Mr. Elder, also members of the Franklin County Bar,
and others, as guests, forming quite an assembly. The
mountainside was gorgeous in its livery of autumn, and a
view of the landscape from the mansion quite charming.
Host and hostess were assisted by Mrs. T. B. Ken-
nedy. Sr., Mrs. M. C. Kennedy. Mrs. T. B. Kennedy, Jr.,
and Miss Yoe.
Initial steps were taken by the Society for a proper
observance of Sosqui-Centennial of Chambersburg, in 19 14,
as suggested by Hon. J. Allan Blair, D. D.
Henry Shumaker Nixon was elected a member of the
Society.
67
PUBLIC ASSEMBLY, NOV. 14, 1912.
ILLUSTRATED LECTURE— "STUART'S RAID.'
BY HON. B. M. NEAD.
When Mr. Nead stepped upon the platform of the
High School Auditorium, at 8 o'clock, Thursday evening.
November 14, 1912, the distinguished historian was given
quite an ovation by an assembly that filled the gallery and
auditorium. It was composed of leading citizens, educa^
tors, students of the High School, and many of the younger
set — ladies and gentlemen — of Chambersburg, entirely in
sympathy with the speaker from the beginning, as evidenced
by the rounds of applause given. The lantern — one of the
best in town — operated by the Rev. John Allan Blair,
showed the pictures perfectly and without a hitch throug] -
out the evening.
Mr. Nead has a deep voice that could easily be heard
in all parts of the large auditorium, with oratorical powt,-
both natural and acquired. Frequent applause greeted his
reference to local affairs and to the sterling character of
our citizens of war times. The pupils of the schools showed
their loyalty and patriotism by applauding a number of the
pictures.
The theme of the lecture covers so wide a field of de-
tails that it is impossible, in any report of it, to do more
than give a synopsis of the story told of the military move-
ments, incidents and local happenings woven into it. Its
general title, "A Borderland Home in War Times," com-
prehends a very wide field indeed, but it was limited and
qualified by the sub-title, "On the Eve of Antietam" — "First
Confederate Raid Into Pennsylvania." to which series of
incidents the talk was confined.
In opening , reference was made to the desire inherent
in most people, from time immemorial, to hear and talk
about martial events, and the disposition, unfortunately not
68
too common, to gather and preserve historical data. A
warm tribute was paid to the people of Chambersburg who
in the early days fostered the literary spirit, during the
chaos of War kept that spirit alive, and were active in
preserving historical data. The little body of distinguished
men who were the heart of the Reformed Church propa-
ganda, at Mercersburg and Chambersburg, were referred co
and proper credit given to certain of our local historians of
today, mention being made of Hon. M. A. Foltz and Linn
Harbaugh, Esq., who having imbibed the proper spirit from
that early source ; ; each of whom, with unselfish purpose, is
"planting a tree the fruits of which he never expects to see"
• — garnering important information for posterity.
The outline of history began with the pointing out of
the fact that this portion of the Cumberland Valley,
geographically has been from the earliest times, the great
gateway into the Southland; a situation which was patent
to State and Federal military authorities, when the war
broke out. Chambersburg was a natural place of rendezvous
for troops upon the Southward march. A description fol-
lowed of our home town as a Military Camp in 1861.
Scenes and incidents of that period were depicted. Early
Fridays of the war seemed to be Chambersburg' s most un-
fortunate days. The sojourn here of General Robert Pat-
terson and his little army, and its departure to the front,
were referred to. These followed an account of the days
of suspense and the mights of vigil in that time of intense
excitement which preceeded the battle of Antietam; of the
incumbency here of Asst. Adjutant General McClaire, the
military movements in the valley, the campaign of the An-
derson Cavalry, the movements and thrilling scouting ad-
ventures of Captain William J. Palmer, who commanded
the Anderson Troop; the deeds of his expert telegraph oper-
ator, William B. Wilson, and the valuable information furn-
ished to the government by him ; the final capture of Capt.
Palmer and his confinement in Libbey prison, and his es-
cape.
A brief account was then given of the excitement and
the condition of affairs here when the tide of war turned
69
northward, and Lee met McClellan on the field of Antietam,
which was followed by a description of some of the salient
features of that great struggle.
The lecturer then went on to tell how the first fruitful
seeds of disaster and trouble were sown for our people
through the storing in the town, by the order of the Fed-
eral government an invoice of contraband supplies, large
quantities of arms, ammunitions and other munitions of
war.
Then the first acquaintance with the Confederate Gen-
eral L. E. B. Stuart was made at his camp in Virginia on
the 8th day of October, 1862. From his camp there is fol-
lowed upon his expedition into Pennsylvania to Mercers-
burg, to Chambersburg and back to Virginia, point by point,
from the rendezvous of the picked men at Darkesville, Va.,
on the 9th, his crossing of the Potomac on the early morn-
ing of the 10th, his capture of the signal station in Mary-
land on Fairview Heights ; his investment of Mercersburg
and the sad plight of the citizens there, his press-gang work
among the horses of the farmers of this county, his cap-
ture of Chambersburg and the destruction of property and
government stores there. The withdrawal of his forces
from Chambersburg. Flis retreat through the mountain
passes to the Emmittsburg Road and thence to the Potomac.
The meeting with the Federal Generals Pleasanton and
Stoneman at White's Ford. How his men clad in Federal
uniforms "played horse" with Pleasanton. The brisk little-
battle at the Ford. The inability of the Federals to pre-
vent his crossing. His safe return to Virginia and arrival
at his camp, bringing with him over 1000 of the best horses
of the Pennsylvania farmers, and other spoil, and beaming
with the satisfaction over the thought that he had o-one
over 100 miles, through the enemy's country, encircled
the Army of the Potomac, and done no inconsiderable dam-
age to Federal government stores, and destroyed a quantity
of Yankee property, getting safely home again, as he re-
ported "without the loss of a single man."
An interesting incident of the lecture was the exhibi-
tion by the speaker of the little telegraph re-lay instru-
70
ment of W. Blair Gilmore, our entrepid war telegraph oper-
ator, which had been used by him in his dangerous venture
of sending military information to Harrisburg, under the
very noses of the enemy. The instrument is the property
of Mrs. W. S. Hoerner, Mr. Gilmore's daughter, who
kindly lent it for the occasion. At the close of the war,
the citizens of Chambersburg presented Mr. Gilmore with
a valuable service of plate as a slight token of this appre-
ciation of the valuable services of a public nature which he
had performed.
A brief business meeting of the Kittochtinny Histor-
ical Society was held previous to the lecture, at which James
A. Kell, of Germantown, Pa., was elected a non-resident
member.
SIDELIGHTS.
From The Local Press.
GENERAL WADE HAMPTON WAS A GENTLEMAN.
One of Colonel McClure's little stories of Stuart's raid
is as follows :
"In a short time the large square of the town was rilled
with soldiers in gray, the first our people had ever seen in
fighting force. In crossing the street to my office through
a crowd of the enemy I was tapped on the shoulder, and.
turning around, I recognized Hugh Logan, who was a
Franklin county man, and to whom I had rendered some
professional service when he was a resident of the county.
His exclamation was : 'Why, Colonel, what are you doing
here? Don't you know that Stuart has orders to arrest a
number of civilians, and you among them, and that we have
half a dozen with us now. including Mr. Rice, of Mercers-
burg?' I answered that I had not been informed of that
interesting fact. He advised me quietly to get out of the
wav. and I reminded him that I was a commissioned officer.
7i
and that under my agreement with General Hampton I
assumed that I would be entitled to parole if arrested. His
answer was unpleasantly significant. He said, 'If you are
arrested and reach Hampton, he will parole you, for he's
a gentleman; but Jeb Stuart wants you, and I am not
certain that he would release you on parole.'
Within the ranks of General "Jeb" Stuart's famous
cavalry there was many a young southern boy who had not
yet tasted the real bitterness of warfare. At the time of his
raid into Pennsylvania, General Stuart himself was only
twenty-nine years old, his cavalry had been in a large
measure successful in nearly every engagement with the
Union forces. The Confederacy was on the top wave of
a successful war. The young southern troopers were light-
hearted, imbued with the notions of chivalry and romance
which they had learned at many a tournament and fox
chase on the plantations of the south. They found in the
Cumberland valley a far richer and fairer land than their
own.
Whatever may be said of the leaders of rebellion, there
was no treason or longing for revenge in the hearts of these
youthful warriors. It is true that many of them became
veterans in the fierce engagements with Union cavalry
around Richmond in the tottering days of the Confederacy,
but in the days of Stuart's first raid, they were the happy,
venturesome boys of the south flushed with success, and
eagerly seeking a new hazard of fortune.
Many of them would almost gleefully lead one or
more horses from the stable of an astonished and indignant
farmer, under the authority of the Confederate govern-
ment, and would shrink from stealing a pin in times of
peace.
This, however, does not apply to all in the ranks. Ac-
tive war is not a parlor game, and it had reached a stage in
1862 when the iron heel was already tramping heavily and
the real bitterness of the struggle was rapidly coming on,
7 2
as many of our older citizens stand ready to affirm. The
holiday attitude of Stuart's raid through Franklin County
was soon to take on a more serious form, and Americans
north and south were ere long to learn that :
"To murder thousands takes a specious name,
War's glorious art. and gives immortal fame."
The observance of fiftieth anniversaries relating to
Civil War events will not be neglected in Franklin County.
Hon. B. M. Nead, under the auspices of the Kittochtinny
Historical Society, will ir.auguarate the movement by pre-
senting an illustrated talk upon events surrounding Stuart's
raid. Mr. Xead not only disclaims the idea of a formal
lecture, but suggests the plan of having short talks by per-
sons who had actual experience on that eventful ioth day
of October, 1862, by way of supplement to his historical
outline.
All this, together with the pictures which Mr. Nead
has taken a great deal of time nnrl trouble to secure, wi?
form a most surprising occasion of instruction and enter-
tainment for both old and young, free to the general public.
Daniel Shaffer, a bright and cheerful little tailor, of
Mercersburg, was one of the citizen prisoners captured in
Stuart's raid and taken to Libby prison. Somewhere on
the road to Chambersburg one of the Confederates'cavalry-
men received an injury to his foot and was unable to ride.
Uncle Danny Shaffer was ordered to mount the injured
man's horse. Up to that time he had been heroically mak-
ing his way up hill and down upon a bare-backed horse.
This order came as a distinct promotion for him and he
said that the people of Chambersburg must have thought
he was "one of them," as he had the regulation army sad-
dle and bridle, and two big horse pistols, one on each side
of the saddle in front as he rode into town.
73
Interest in the exciting events of fifty years ago increases
as the time draws near for Mr. Nead's illustrated lecture
on Stuart's raid. A number of our older citizens have been
brushing away the cobwebs of half a century, and are re-
calling little incidents and personal erperiences of that war-
like day in October, 1862.
Teachers and many of the younger peoples of Cham-
bersburg are looking forward to Thursday, November 14,
with much interest.
When the school directors were addressed upon the
subject of an observance of the 50th anniversary of Stuart's
Raid, with an open meeting of the historical society in the
high school auditorium, they gave unanimous consent for
the use of the building. It was pointed out that Mr. Nead's
historical sketch, illustrated with true pictures of that event-
ful day, would prove to be of great educational value, and
that all of our people, young and old, ought to have the
opportunity to attend at a place where the best advantages
could be offered
Arrangements have about been completed for the illus-
trated lecture on Stuart's Raid, in the high school auditor-
ium, on Thursday evening. Rev. John Allan Blair will furn-
ish and operate the lantern, which is one of the finest instru-
ments of the kind in Chambersburg. Much interest has been
aroused among our citizens both young and old, and no
doubt Mr. Nead will be greeted by a large audience.
Mr. M. A. Foltz, Chambersburg, Pa. — Permit me to thank
you for the courteous invitation of the Kittochtinny His-
torical Society to me and to the Faculty of Wilson College,
to attend the meeting on the fourteenth day of November.
I will convey your invitation to the Faculty, and I hope that
a number of us may be able to come in to this interesting
meeting.
Very sincerely yours,
November 6, 1912. ANNA J. McKEAG.
74
The members of the Afternoon Club accept with pleas-
ure the cordial invitation of the Kittochtinny Historical So-
ciety to attend their open meeting, to be held in the High
School Auditorium, on Thursday evening, November the
fourteenth, at eight o'clock.
MARY C. SHERRARD,
Secretary.
The Woman's Club of Mercersburg appreciate the
courtesy of the Executive Committee of the Kittochtinny
Historical Society in extending the kind invitation to at-
tend the open meeting on Thursday night. We regret very
much that the ladies of the Presbyterian Church are hold-
ing a bazaar on the same night. All of our members are
not Presbyterians, but there is such church unity in our
town that many of our members who might have accepted
your invitation, will not feel that they should be away.
I hope, however, that some may decide to go.
Again thanking you most heartily, I remain,
Yours most cordially,
SADIE M. PARKER,
President Woman's Club.
Mr. Nead is a native of mother Antrim, but Cham-
bersburg has always claimed him as a citizen, notwithstand-
ing the fact that Harrisburg has been his home since 1875.
He graduated at Yale in 1870, was admitted to the bar in
1872, at Chambersburg, and practiced his profession here
until 1875, after which he was employed in the office of
the Auditor General of Pennsylvania. He served on the
Cooper Tax Commission, and on the commission of ex-
pert accountants appointed by Governor Pattison, in 1883,
to devise a new system of keeping the accounts of the State.
In 1894 he was apnointed receiver of the Middletown
National Bank, a difficult and responsible task. Mr. Nead
has turned aside from his law practice at times, and by the
75
way of recreation, has rendered much literary and historical
service to the community and State. He is the author of
Sketches of Early Chambersburg, A Guide to County Of-
ficers, Early Government of Pennsylvania, a history of
Waynesboro, and many historical sketches.
Perhaps the most unique production from his pen on
the subect of hidden sources of friction. Some of the more
important points of agreement between "The Memoirs of
Major Robert Stobo," and "The Seats of the Mighty," in
which he smites Sir Gilbert Parker wit hthe deadly parellel
and convicts him of the rankest kind of plagiarism. It is
by far the keenest piece of literary revelation ever produced
by a Pennsylvanian. Mr. Nead is an enthusiastic mem-
ber of the Kittochtinny Historical Society, and has con-
tributed largely to its success literary, historical and other-
wise.
76
Regular Meeting, January 30, 191 3.
THE JUBILEE OF EMANCIPATION.
BY A. J. W. HUTTON.
The large assembly of guests and members of the society at
the hospitable fansion of Dr. W. F. Skinner, East Market street,
made the social hour, after the reading of Mr. Hutton's paper,
pass all too quickly. The paper was the interesting theme of
conversation for the remainder of the evening. In the regular
discussion, Mr. Mcllvaine said that he was present at one of the
Linoon-Douglas debates, and described the contrast in their ap-
pearance. Lincoln was a tall, lank figure, while Douglas was far
below the average height. He was known as the "little giant."
At the business meeting President Elder read a letter from
Col. Gilmore, who, on account of ill health, handed in his resig-
nation, which was on motion accepted. Dr. Martin referred to
the retiring secretary's valuable services to the society, and his
fine executive ability in the various positions he filled in the
society during the past fifteen years. Messrs. Brereton, Foltz and
Mcllvaine also spoke the society's regrets.
The meeting was attended by 28 members and 35 guests, and
was in every essential a success.
Mr. Brereton presented to the society, for which he received
a vote of thanks, a volume entitled "The Journal of a Two-
Months' Tour," etc., by Charles Beatty, 1778.
Henry Shumaker Nixon was appointed secretary of the
evening.
Members of the Society, Ladies and Gentlemen :
At one of our meetings last year, I had the timerity to
refer to the fact that the year 19 13 would be memorable as
marking the half century of progress in the history of our
nation following some events which are now admitted to
have been epochal. I further made the suggestion that a
paper be read commemorative of the Fiftieth Anniversary of
the Signing of the Emancipation Proclamation and immedi-
ately the honor was thrust upon me, I presume as a penalty
for my suggestion.
My paper this evening, accordingly, is entitled "The
Jubilee of Emancipation." and I am reminded of this title by
the appropriate words of the BOOK OF BOOKS. "And ye
shall hallow the fiftieth year,, and proclaim liberty througn
out all the land unto the inhabitants thereof: it shall be a
7/
jubilee unto you." Lev. 25-10. Verily, we can say with tiie
Law Giver of old. the year of 1913 is indeed a ju'bil e year
in the history of our country. It commemorates, not only the
fiftieth anniversary of the issuing of the Emancipation Proc-
lamation, but likewise the half century since the bloody as-
saults upon Vicksburg, the New York draft riots, the death
of Stonewall Jackson, the invasion of Lee into Pennsylvania
followed by the terrific three-days' struggle at Gettysburg
and the Fall of Vicksburg. These are a few of the tragic
events that engaged the attention of our country fifty years
ago. It is not my purpose this evening to be tedious and to
burden you with a recital of that with which you are famil-
iar and if not, may read for yourselves in more polished
style in the innumerable books of history relating to this
period, yet like one who tells an oft told tale for very love
thereof, I may be pardoned if I just touch in passing some
of the salient features in that wonderful story of the struggle
for human liberty and freedom, a struggle that had its
final culmination in that event which historians by univer-
sal concession place second only to the Declaration of In-
dependence.
Above the mantel piece in the library of my late father's
residence there hangs the print of a famous painting, a pic-
ture much prized by my father and to which he often drew
my attention. The figures of that picture stand out for the
most part in bold relief. There is no^ trace of indecision de-
picited upon the countenance of any of that famous group of
eight men. I refer to the well known painting by Carpenter
portraying the reading of the Emancipation Proclamation
before his Cabinet by the great War President. With the
mutations and vicissitudes of time some of the names of
those heroic actors have perhaps escaped the memory of even
those who lived in those stirring times. Could any of you
name the famous eight? There are, however, four of the
figures whose names it would be hard to efface from gracious
memory, whose activities in the memorable struggle of the
North and the South were so great, so dramatic, and whose
labors contributed so seriously to the preservation of the
78
Union, that the earnest citizen and patriot would indeed be
remiss if he should forget the names of Lincoln, Seward,
Stanton and Chase.
The central figure of the group in the painting is the
President with the memorable document he has been reading
in his hands,
"This man, whose homely face you look upon,
Was one of nature's masterful, great men ;
Born with strong arms that unfought battles won;
Direct of speech and cunning with the pen.
Chosen for large designs, he had the art
Of winning with his humor, and he went
Straight to his mark, which was the human heart;
Wise, too, for what he could not break he bent."
I take it, that the chief purpose served by a paper such
as I read and upon such an occasion is to refresh our mem-
ories and bring again to mind subjects concerning which
perhaps we have not thought in a long time. Our age is a
busy one, feverish with the throbbing of manifold activities,
we nave very, very little time for reflection and I feel that a
1 eview of a few historical facts will be of benefit to us.
Our forefathers, indignant at the imposition of taxes
upon them by the British Crown laid without their consent
declared upon a certain memorable occasion and with all the
vehemence of their several natures the following trutns — ,
"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are
created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with
certain unalienable rights, that among these arc Life, Lib-
erty and the pursuit of Happines That to secure these
rights, Governments are instituted among Men. deriving
their just powers from the consent of the governed."
There was existent in the colonies at the time of the
Declaration of Independence slavery of Africans as a do
mestic institution, consequently our worthy grandsires have
ever and anon been accused of more or less hypocrisy in the
application of some of their self-evident propositions, others
have excused the apparent inconsistency between the above
quoted declarations and the institution of then existing slav-
ery upon the ground that they were simply rhetorical flour-
79
ishes, and one high authority avers that they are merely
"glittering generalities." However, unfortunately, for the
peace of our country, there always was and I believe always
will be a considerable body of citizenship, possible more or
less deluded, but nevertheless always very insistent and often
troublesome in their insistence that these socal.ed self-evident
truths were exactly what they were said to be and should
be consequently strictly applied. So we find in the framing
of the Constitution of the United States that these turbulent
persons were apparently in evidence, for, says James G.
Blaine in his Tweny Years of Congress. "The compromises
on the slavery question, inserted in the Constitution, were
among the essential conditions upon which the Federal Gov-
ernment was organized. If the African slave trade had not
been permitted to continue for twenty years, if it had not
been conceded that three fifths of the slaves should be
counted in the apportionment of representation in Congress,
if it had not been agreed fugitives from service should be re-
turned to their owners, the Thirteen States would not have
been able in 1787 'to form a more perfect union,'
And yet here we have in this lamentable concession
sown the germs of a malady that grew into such a deepset
and widespread national disorder that there was required in
the course of time for its cure the bloody sacrifice of the lives
vof over a half million brave men of the blue and the gray
and the expenditure of treasure that must be counted in the
billions of dollars. Well may we paraphrase the words of
Milton,
"Of our first disobedience ,and the fruit
Of that forbidden tree, whose mortal taste
Bi ought Death into our nation, and all our woe,
With loss of Freedom, till one greater Man
Restore us, and regain the blissful seat,
Sing Heavenly Muse."
I think Lincoln must have had some such reflections
when he penned that epic of American literature, the Second
Inaugural Address, and particularly that portion which
sounds so much like the dreadful denunciation of some Old
Testament Hero, viz :
8o
'If we shall suppose that American slavery is one of
those offenses which, in the providence of God, must needs
come, but which,, having continued through his appointed
time. He now wills to remove, and that he gives to both
North and South this terrible war as the woe due to those
b) whom the offense came, shall we discern therein any de-
parture from those divine attributes which the believers in a
living God always ascribe to Him? Fondly do we hope, fer-
vently do we pray, that this mighty scourge of war may
speedily pass away. Yet, if God wills that it continue until
all the wealth piled by the bondsman's two hundred fifty
years of uni equited toil shall be sunk, and until every drop of
blood drawn with the lash shall be paid by another drawn
with the sword, as was said three thousand years ago, so
still it must be said 'the judgments of the Lord are true and
righteous altogether.' "
For some 3^ears following the adoption of the Federal
Constitution, the people of the United States rested in *
fancied security from slavery agitation. This rest, however,
was in a measure disturbed by the acquisition in 1803 of that
vast area of public domain known as the Louisiania Pur-
chase and by the subsequent agitation concerning the admis-
sion into the Union of Louisiana as a slave state. The appli-
cation later <->f Tv^'ccrMnri to be admitted into the Statehood
lashed the vexed question of the passage of the famous
Compromise Act of 1820. Says Blaine:
"The great political parties then dividing the country
accepted the result and for the next twenty years no agita-
tion of the slavery question appeared in any political conven-
tion, or affected any considerable body of the people. Within
that period, however, there grew up a school of anti-slavery
men far more radical and progrcssk'c than those who had re-
sisted the admission of Missouri as a slave State. They
formed what was known as the Abolition Parly and they de-
voted themselves to the utter destruction of slavery by every
instrumentality which they could lawfully employ. Acutely
trained in the political as well as the ethical principles of the
great controversy, they clearly distinguished between the
powers which Congress might and might not exercise under
8i
the limitations of the Constitution." The first anti-slavery
convention was held in the City of Philadelphia in November
of the year 1833 and the meeting gathered on Fifth street at
the home of Evan Lewis, described as "a plain, earnest man
and lifelong abolitionist." The committee on declaration of
principles closed an interesting report to the convention with
these words, " With entire confidence in the overruling jus-
tice of God, we plant ourselves upon the Declaration of In-
dependence and the truths of divine revelation as upon the
everlasting rock." John G. Whittier, who with William
Lloyd Garrison, was one of the leading spirits of the gather-
ing, wrote almost forty years after in his "Prose Works" a
most interesting description of this convention and said,
"Looking over the assembly, I noticed that it was mainly-
composed o<f comparatively young men, some in middle age,
and a few beyond that period. They were nearly all plainly
drest, with a view to comfort rather than elegance."
This body of men was the leaven which in the course of
time was destined to leaven the whole. Let us leave this
coterie of enthusiasts who were in those early days "a pro-
scribed and persecuted cbss denounced with unsparing sever-
ity by both the great political parties, condemned by many of
the leading churches, libeled in the public press, and mal-
treated by furious mobs," and hastily trace the trend of
events which should finally converge with this great abolition
movement.
The Missouri Compromise promoted peace and tran-
quillity but during this period of repose the nation was ex-
panding enormously. The North grew more rapidly than
the South, western immigration, which was pushed largely
by the farmers and tradesmen of the North, began, the South
needed room for its expanding growth and of course was
guarding its complement or* slave state formations. This lat-
ter fact, in large part, precipitated the annexation of Texas
and the resultant Mexican War. The Wilmot Proviso, a
condition attached to one of the apnropriation bills during
the war with Mexico, proposed bv David Wilmot, at tnat
time thirty three years of age and Representative in Congress
from Pennsylvania stipulated that it was "an express and
82
fundamental! condition to the acquisition of any territory
from Mexico, that neither slavery nor involuntary servi-
tude shall ever exist therein," and that this should be made
a proviso to the passage of the bill. This proviso never
became a law but it had much to do with stirring the feeling
of the people and causing them to take sides upon the slav-
ery issue. Says Shurtz in his Life of Henry Clay: "The
cry of dis-union was raised with frequency and violence,
ftiany mean': it only as a threat to frighten tiie North into
concession. But there were not a few Southern men also
who had regTetfully arrived at the conclusion that the dis-
solution of the Union was necessary to the salvation of
slavery. On the other hand, while every Southern legisla-
ture save one denounced the exclusion of slavery as a vio-
lation of Southern rights, every Northern legislature passed
resolutions in favor of the Wilmot Proviso."
Then follows in historical order the Clay Compromise
of 1850, which among other things eliminated the provisions
of the Wilmot Proviso, without, however expressly author-
izing slave holders to take their slaves into the new territory.
It was during this proceeding in Congress that Daniel Web-
ster made his famous 7th of March speech which as has been
said cost him the loss of many of his staunch and lifelong
friends. In 1854 came the Kansas-Nebraska Bill which de-
clared that the Missouri Compromise "being inconsistent
with the principles of non-intervention by Congress with
slavery in the states and territories as recognized by the leg-
islation of [850 commonly called the Compromise Measures
is hereby dei lared inoperative and void; it being the intent
and mea: »f this Act not to legislate slavery into any
territory 01 state, nor to exclude if therefrom, but to leave
Hie re' pie l ereof perfectly free to form and regulate their
domestj . titutions, subject only to the Constitution of
die Unit. States." Stephen A. Douglas, Senator from
Illinois. \, - sponsor for this hill which as passed involved
the specific repeal of the Missouri Compromise.
Speaking of this event, Pollard in the "Lost Cause,"
83
says, "In the North the repeal of the Missouri Compromise
was the occasion of a furious excitement, Mr. Douglas was
hung in effigy in some of their towns, execrated by Northern
mobs, and even threatened with violence to his person. The
anti-slavery sentiment of the North was rapidly developed in
the excitement ; a new party was organized with reference
to the question of slavery in the Territories ; ; and thus orig-
inated the famous Republican Party popularly called the
Black Republican party — which was indeed identical with the
Abolition party in its sentiment of hostility to slavery, and
differed from it only as to the degree of indirection by which
its purpose might be accomplished." From 1854, the year
the Republican Party was born, until the out 1 : of the
Civil War the times were very stirring and event after event
piled upon the other, each altho not intrinsically important in
itself to the molding of this story yet helping to contribute to
the chain of causes which in turn were to produce the open
schism in Union and the eventual downfall of slavery. In
passing I want to call your attention to the Dred Scott Deci-
sion as one of the concatenation of events contributing to
emancipation.
This case, fully entitled Dred Scott v. Stanford and re-
corded in the United States Supreme Court Reports, 19
Howard 393, is one of the most interesting of the old deci-
sions of the Federal Supreme Court from a lay standpoint
and it is asserted that there was never a case in that Court,
before or since, as widely read. It occupies 240 pages of the
Report, a fair sized book in itself. Briefly the facts were as
follows : Dred Scott was a negro slave belonging in 1834 to
one Dr. Emerson a surgeon in the United tSates Army lo-
cated in the State of Missouri, where by virtue of the Mis-
souri Compromise slaves could be held. In that year, 1834,
Dr. Emerson took Scott to a military post in Illinois and
held him there as a slave until 1836, when he removed Scott
ho Fort Snelling in the Upper Louisiana and situated nortrt
of latitude 36-30 north and north of the State of Missouri.
Here Dr. Emerson likewise held Scott in slavery. In 1838
Dr. Emerson moved back to Missouri with Scott, in which
State he subsequently sold him to one John F A. Sandforcf :
8 4
The suit which Scott brought against his new master in-
volved not only the title Sandford had in Scott but likewise
fn Scott's wife, Harriet, and their two children, Eliza and
Lizzie. Scott first brought suit in the State Court of Mis
souri winning in the lower and losing in the Supreme Court.
He then tried the Federal Courts, the law being that the lat-
ter courts have jurisdiction of controversies between citizens
of different states, under the plaintiff's hypothesis he being a
citizen of Missouri, whereas Sandford was a citizen of New
York. How did Dred Scott become metamorphosed from a
slave into a freeman and a citizen of the State of Missouri ?
The answer was that when his master moved to Illinois and
also to Upper Louisiania for the purpose of residing, Scott,
who accompanied him became free, because slavery by the
terms of the Missouri Compromise was forbidden in these
two localities. The Supreme Court, through Chief Justice
Roger B. Taney, delivered the opinion after hearing the case
argued twice holding that first, the lower court had no juris-
diction because Scott was not a citizen within the meaning
of that word as used in the Federal Constitution, second,
that the Missouri Compromise Act was unconstitutional and
that Congress had no authority to forbid a citizen to take
his property from a State into a territory. The leading dis-
senting opinion was delivered by Justice Curtis, who com-
bated ably the various positions assumed by the Chief Justice
in the opinion of the court. These two opinions immedi-
ately became the ammunition of the disputants in the respec-
tive camps of the slavery and anti-slavery followers. As a
matter of sound law, it seems now to be generally conceded
that the remarks of the Court relative to the constitutionality
of the Missouri Compromise were wholly outside of the case
and obiter dicta in as much as it had already determined
under the facts that it had no jurisdiction. Throughout the
North the decision was received with scorn and indignation.
Says Blaine, "It entered at once into the political discussions
of the people, and remained there until, with all other issues
on the slavery question it was remanded to the arbitrament
of war. .... Instead, therefore, of strengthening the Dem-
ocratic party, the whole effect of the Dred Scott decision was
85
to develop a more determined type of anti-slavery agitation."
In the opinion, Judge Taney, referring to the words in
the Declaration of Independence already quoted by me at the
outstart of this paper, said : "The general words above
quoted would seem to embrace the whole human family, and
if they were used in a similar instrument at this day would
be so understood. But it is too clear for dispute, that the en-
slaved African race were not intended to be included, and
formed no part of the people who framed and adopted this
declaration." Judge Taney was undoubtedly one of the or-
iginal as well as probaoly the most prominent of the stand-
patters of his day and generation. Later in his career, when
President Lincoln by proclamation suspended the writ of
habeas corpus, Chief Justice Taney delivered an opinion
denying the power of the President to suspend the writ.
About this time, following the election of James Bu-
chanan to the Presidency, Abraham Lincoln began to attract
national attention. He bad taken an active part in the for-
mation of the Republican Party and had been prominent in
the politics of his State, but he distinguished himself more
widely by the attitude he had assumed toward the slavery
question. He criticized the Dred Scott decision with sever-
ity, not only for its doctrine, but for the mode in which the
decision had been brought about, and the obvious intent of
the judges. Speaking of the Kansas-Nebraska Act allowing
the people of the territories to settle the slavery question for
themselves "subject only to the Constitution of the United
States," he declared that the qualification fitted exactly "the
niche for the Dred Scott decision to come in and declare the
perfect freedom to be no freedom at all."
He used in arguing against the case the following illus-
tration, "if we saw a lot of framed timbers gotten out at dif-
ferent times and places by different workmen — Stephen and
Franklin and Rog^er and James — (referring to Douglas,
Pierce. Taney and Buchanan) and if we saw these timbers
joined together and exactly make the f nine of a house, with
tenons and mortises all fitting, what is the conclusion ? We
find it impossible not to believe that Stephen and Franklin
and Roger and James all understood one another from the
86
beginning and all worked upon a common plan before the
first blow was struck." Says Blaine, "This quaint mode of
arraigning the two Presidents, the Chief Justice and Senator
Douglas was extraordinary effective with the masses. In a
single paragraph, humorously expressed, he had framed an
indictment against four men upon which he lived to secure a
conviction before the American people."
It was on the 16th of June, 1858, almost two years after
the Dred Scott decision that the Illinois Republican State
Convention assembled and resolved amidst great enthusiasm
and without a dissenting voice, "That the Hon. Abraham
Lincoln is our first and only choice for United States Senate;
to fill the vacancy about to be created by the expiration of
Mr. Douglas's term of office."
In the evening of the same day Lincoln made his speech
in which he said, "A house divided against itself cannot
stand. I believe this government cannot endure permanently
half slave and half free. I do not expect the Union to be dis-
solved. — I do not expect the house to fall, — but I do expect it
will cease to be divided." Time does not permit us to speak
in detail of the Lincoln-Douglas debates carried on during
this campaign for United States Senator. Repeatedly, dur-
ing the course of the debates, Lincoln stigmatized slavery as
"a moral, a social, a political evil." Again he said, "Some-
times, in the excitement of speaking, I seem to see the end of
slavery. I feel that the time is soon coming when the sun
shall shine, the rain fall, on no man who shall go forth to un-
requited toil. How this will come, when it will come, by
whom it will come, I cannot tell, — but that time will surely
come."
Says Rothschild in his most delightful book, Lincoln,
Master of Men : "The Lincoln-Douo-las debates, as they are
call°d. were the most remarkable exhibitions of their kind in
the history of the country. Never before nor since have two
of its citizens engaged in a series of public discussions which
involved questions of equal importance. Personal and purely
locnl differences were overshadowed, from the verv besfin-
nine. by what the disputants had to sav on issues that were
destined, within a few yenrs to plunge the conntrv into civil
war." The debates in printed form occupy 263 pages. It is
87
said, "One page persuades us that slavery is constitutional,
that each Commonwealth should be allowed to have "the in-
stitution" or not, as it elects. We turn the leaf, and lo' we
are convinced that slavery is wrong and ought, at least, to be
restricted." During the course of the debates Lincoln pro-
pounded the following query to Douglas. "Can the people
of the United States Territory, in any lawful way, against
the wish of any citizen of the United States, exclude slavery
from its limits, prior to the formation of a State Constitu-
tion ?" This question was a shrewd one and was designed by
its author to compel his opponent to face the irreconcilable
contradiction between his theory of popular sovereignty and
the Dred Scott decision. An answer either way would pil-
lory Douglas. In reply to some friends who doubted the
expediency of propounding this question and who expressed
the fear that it would work disastrously in the Senatorial
campaign, Lincoln said, "Perhaps, but I am after larger
game. The battle of i860 is worth a hundred of this."
Lincoln lost his fight but took his defeat philosophically, re-
marking in his characteristic way to a friend that he felt "like
the boy that had stumped his toe, — It hurt too' bad to laugh
and he was too big to cry." His reward came, however, a
few years later when the Republican National Convention
met at Chicago in May, i860 and nominated Abraham
Lincoln as its choice for the Presidency, and in the election
that followed he received 180 electoral votes to Douglas's 12.
Again I quote Rothschild, "When the President-elect, on in-
auguration day, stepped out in front of the eastern portico of
the capitol, he found the Senior Senator from Illinois among
the distinguished men who sat awaiting him, Mr. Lincoln, as
if to add to the novelty of his situation, was dressed in fine
clothes, of which, for the moment, he appeared to be all too
conscious. In one hand he held a new silk hat ; in the other,
a gold headed cane ; what to do with them perplexed him.
After some hesitation, he put the care into a corner ; but he
could find no place for the hat, which he evidently w^s un-
willing to lay on the rough board floor. As he stood there in
embarrassment with the waiting multitude looking uo curi-
ouslv at him, his old rival came to his rescue. Taking the
precious hat from its owners hand, Douglas held it, while
88
Lincoln took the oath of office and delivered his inaugural
address."
We have come to that portion of our narrative that may
be termed the climax of the anti-slavery sentiment, the con-
verging of the forces of radical abolitionism and those of the
milder types of non extension of slavery in the election of
Abraham Lincoln. What was the result of this victory for
the anti-slavery forces? Upon the day that Air. Lincoln was
inaugurated four of the original seven Confederate States
had already hauled down the flag of their country. The con-
dition of the Federal Government was indeed pitiable. The
South had claimed the right to secede from the Union and
had threatened to do so if Mr. Lincoln was elected to the
Presidency, Now they were putting the threat into execu-
tion as far as they were able by their actions to break the
bonds of Union. In vain did Mr. Lincoln plead with the
recalcitrant states in that beautiful First Inaugural, in vain
did he assure them that in his hands their property rights
were safe, that he stood for the enforcement of law, even the
odious fugitive slave law. that the vexed question of slavery
could be solved in a constitutional convention, then assuming
a majestic vein which was received with sneers but lightly
veiled that MAN OF THE HOUR assured his auditors in
firm but courteous language that the Union of States was
perpetual, that being made by all, it could only be dissolved
by all and that it would be his most solemn duty to continue
effectually its perpetuity. He closed with these memorable
words, "In your hands, my dissatisfied fellow-countrymen,
and not in mine, is the momentous issue of civil war. The
Government will not assail you. You can have no conflict
without being yourselves the aggressors. You have no oath
registered in heaven to destroy the Government, while I have
the most solemn one to "preserve, protect ana defend it."
This address and particularly the portions quoted give
the key to Lincoln's entire conduct of the War. THE
UNION MUST BE DEFENDED, PROTECTED AND
PRESERVED. It is said that just before the delivery of his
inaugural, a self important, bumptious Secessionist, accosted
Mr. Lincoln and brusquely catecised the President as to what
his policy would be, to which Mr. Lincoln replied that his
8 9
course lay as clearly before him as an old turnpike road.
These facts are important in our story because they explain
the subsequent attitude of the President and also place the
Proclamation of Emancipation in its true position. No one
reading a Life of Lincoln would argue that he was a friend
of slavery or that he sympathized in the least with the hated
institution. There is an apochryphal account of a journey
taken to New Orleans on a flat-boat when a young man and
Lincoln's first sight at that time of a slave auction. The ac-
count runs that he was so impressed with the horrid sight
that he declared if he ever got a chance he would hit that
thing hard. We cannot tarry to give an account of those
dark days of 1861 and 1862. Misunderstood, maligned,
bitterly criticized by both Abolitionist and radical Republican
on the one hand and copperhead Democrats on the other,
amid gloom, despair and anguish of heart, Lincoln struggled
on, never losing sight of his mission promised the American
people in his Inaugural to save the Union.
On the 22nd day of September, A. D. 1862, the Presi-
dent issued a proclamation which was preliminary to the one
subsequently issued. In substance this proclamation declared
that on the 1st day of January, A. D. 1863, all persons held
as slaves within any state or designated part of a state the
people whereof shall be in rebellion against the United States
shall be then, thenceforward, and forever free; and the ex-
ecutive government of the United States, including the mili-
tary and naval authority thereof, will recognize and maintain
the freedom of such persons and will do no act or acts to re-
press such persons, or any of them, in any efforts they may
make for their actual freedom.
This was a call to the South to lay down their arms or
receive as a punishment the emancipation of their slaves by
the Federal Government, which would be punitive if the
Government could enforce it.
Following this preliminary proclamation, the President
in his Second Annual Message to Congress sent December
1 st, 1862, recommended articles amendatory to the Consti-
tution, set forth in the message in extenso, providing for
9 o
gradual emancipation to be finally accomplished in comple-
tion on or before January ist, 1900, providing further for
issuance of United States bonds to pay for the slaves as
emancipated. Said the President, "I beg indulgence to dis-
cuss these proposed articles at some length. Without slavery
the rebellion could never have existed ; without slavery it
could not continue." Then follows the most lucid and force-
ful argument for the adoption of the Amendments as pro-
posed. It fell upon deaf ears both North and South, it was
apparently otherwise ordained, the blood and treasure of the
Nation were yet to be offered as a sacrifice for the blood and
unrequited toil of the bondsmen.
Upon the ist day of January, A. D.. 1863 THE
EMANCIPATION PROCLAMATION was issued. It is
declared to be "a fit and necessary war measure" for the re-
pression of the rebellion, and proceeded to designate certain
states and parts of states where the slaves "henceforward
shall be free" and pledging the military and naval forces of
the Government to maintain the freedom so declared. The
states affected were Arkansas, Texas, Louisiana (except 13
parishes and the City of New Orleans) Mississippi, Alabama
Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina and Vir-
ginia, (except 48 counties i. e. West Virginia, 7 other coun-
ties, including the cities of Norfolk and Portsmouth). The
Proclamation closed with these words, "And upon this act,
sincerely believed to be an act of justice, warranted by the
Constitution upon military necessity I invoke the considerate
judgment of mankind and the gracious favor of Almighty
God."
My story draws to a close. We need not recount the
bloody engagements of the war that followed the Emancipa-
tion. The end finally came with the Fall of Richmond and
the surrender at Appomatox. The executive arm of the
Federal Government was finally able to demonstrate its abil-
ity to maintain the Freedom so declared by the Proclama-
tion.
But Emancipation was at best but partial and many
doubted its legality even as a war measure. Even Lincoln at
one time had expressed doubts concerning the matter as is
9i
evidenced by a confidential letter written Senator Orville H.
Browning concerning General Freemont's manifesto liberat-
ing the slaves in his military district the year before. The
President said, "The liberation of slaves is purely political
and not within the range of military law or necessity." Ben-
jamin Robbins Curtis had expressed the same view, while on
the other hand that great lawyer, Matthew Hale Carpenter,
declared, "the rights of property and all other rights must
give way, if necessary, before the war power ; ; and this proc-
lamation merely announced the future war policy of the
Government." All doubts concerning emancipation were
eventually laid at rest by the adoption of the Thirteenth
Amendment.
"Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a
punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly
convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place
subject to their jurisdiction."
At last slavery was dead and the dream of that little
band of Zealots who had assembled in the City of Philadel-
phia in November of the year 1833 at the home of Evan
Lewis, "a plain earnest man and life long abilitionist," be-
came a verity. The great Emancipator was not spared to
witness the culmination of his great labors. He had fought
•a good fight, he had finished his course, he kept the faith.
Let us to-night with "the mystic chords of memory, stretch-
ing from every battlefield and patriot grave to every living
heart and hearthstone," all over this broad land, join hands
around the martyred bier once more and with the rough,
brutal, irasciable but finally appreciative iron war Minister,
Edwin M. Stanton, pronounce his simple eulogy over his
jstricken chief." "There lies the most perfect ruler of men
the world has ever seen."
9-2
Fifteenth Annual Meeting, Feb. 27, 19 13.
REVIEW OF THE LAST FIVE YEARS.
BY M. A. FOLTZ.
Over fifty members and guests were present at the 15th
anniversary of the Kittochtinny Historical Society, which was
fittingly commemorated at the beautiful home of Mr. and Mrs. A.
N. Pomeroy, East Market street. As a resume 'of the decade of
the society was given in 1908, the one on this occasion is of the
last five years, which shows that it has been fully up to the
mark. During this period Biography may be said to be the
watchword, while other subjects have by no means been neglected.
After the election of officers — William S. Hoerner becoming
the successor of Irvin C. Elder, Esq., — much 'other routine busi-
ness was disposed of, and The Rev. Dr. Rose and Professor Fina-
frock, of Mercersburg, were elected members of the society. A
valuable old book, the property of Miss Kate Hayman, was pre-
sented for the inspection of the society. It was entitled "Monu-
ments of George Washington," and contains fac similes of his
accounts when head of the army. A vote of thanks was tendered
Miss Hayman for the privilege of examining this valuable publi-
cation.
The gracious hostess was assisted by the following young
society matrons and maids, who lent to the social part of
the function, after the reading of the paper: Mrs. Charles Walter,
Mrs. Albert L. Johnson, of Mount Sterlings Ky., who was formerly
Miss Evelyn Curriden; Mrs. Hunter Riddle, Miss Senseny and
Miss Curriden.
The Kittochtinny Historical Society, during the first
ten years of its existence ending in February 1908, produced
a large amount of material. The subjects were brought
forward in great variety, but many of our historians chose
for themselves the task of amplifying and correcting early
settlement history, largely to the exclusion of biography, par-
ticularly in the first six or eight years.
On the occasion of the 10th anniversary in February,
1908, the work of the society was reviewed and classified,
and we have it as a matter of record in that form. Since
that time a minute of the society's transactions from month
to month has been published in the several volumes, making
a resume at any stated period less important than heretofore.
However, the purpose is at this time to pass in review
briefly five more years during which our studies have been
fully up to the mark in quality, and almost up to the average
93
of former years in numbers, but the trend of thought lias de-
cidedly changed. Biography may be said to be the watch-
word of the last five years, not only because of the large
number of papers especially of that character, but also for
the reason that writers, treating of other subjects, found it
appropriate to introduce here and there brief biographical
skeches in their work ; and for the further reason that a num-
ber of portraits of distinguished persons have been unveiled
under auspices with which the society has been closely ident-
ified.
The new decade was begun March 26, 1908. To com-
prehend the value and scope of the productions of this
period, it may be not without instruction and interest to pass
in review the title of the papers produced, with the authors :
1908—1910
1. Benedict Arnold, patriot and Traitor. By Hon. Charles H. Smiley
New Bloomfield, Pa.
2. The Seventh Day Baptists. Chas. W. Cremer, Esq., Waynesboro. Pa.
3. James McT ene — A Statesman of His Times. Hon. B. M. Nead
Harrisburg, Pa.
4. The Episcopal Church of the Cumberland Valley. The Rev. E. V.
Collins.
5. Mt. Delight. John M. McDiowell, Esq.
6. Two Famous Military Roads of Pennsylvania. Hon. George E.
Mapes, Philadelphia.
7. Old Fort T oudon and Its Associations (two papers). G. O. Seil-
hamer, Esq.
8. T^n Conodogwinet Creek (Early Highways), No. 3. John G. Orr.
Esq.
9. Unveiling of Dr. D. Havse Agnew's portrait. Guests of Dr. W. M.
Irvine, Mercersburg Academy.
10. Dedication of Marker to Capt. J. E. Cook. Address by Hon. B. M.
Nead, Harrisburg, Pa.
11. BiogT-anhical Sketch of Josiah Culbertson. Read by Mr. J. S.
McIIvaine.
12. A Day in the Courts. J. W. Hutton, Esq.
13. A Lawyer's Nosegay. Linn Harbaugh, Esq.
14. A Franklin County Cousin of Robert Burns. C. W. Cremer, Esq-
Waynesboro, Pa.
15. Early Engineering Enterprises in Pennsylvania. Dr. M. C. Ihlseag.
16. The Ancient Law of England. Hon. W. Rush Gillan.
17. The Founding of Two Colleges of the Cumberland Valley. Dr. S.
A. Martin.
18. Unveiling of Justice McFarland's Portrait. Mercersburg Academy.
Address by Rev. James Gray Rose, D. D.
19. The Poet of Antrim. Dr. Thos. C. Van Tries, Bellefonte, Pa.
20. The Judiciary of Franklin County. Hon. W. Rush Gillan.
94
21. Introductory to Bibliography of Franklin County. Linn Har-
baugh, Esq.
22. Tho Underground Railroad. Hiram E. Wertz.
23. The Lutheran Church in the Cumberland Valley. Dr. C. W. Heath-
cote.
24. Judge Thomas Cooper. Prof. Charles F. Himes. Carlisle. Pa.
25. Early Highways, No. 4. John G. Orr.
26. The Evolution of a Back Country Fisherman. Hon. B. M. Nead.
Harrisburg.
27. Report of Committee on Markers of Historic Sites.
28. Letter on Same Subject. J. H. Renfrew.
29. Supplemental Paper on Judge Cooper. Prof. Charles F. Himes
Carlisle, Pa.
30. Captain John R. Kooken. Linn Harbaugh, Esq.
31. Franklin County Newspapers, and the Men Who Made Them. Hon.
M. A. Foltz.
33. Partial Report of Committee on Bibliography — Newspaper Section.
Hon. M. A. Foltz.
A number of surprising facts have been brought out
under the historical subjects above mentioned, and it may be
of interest to refer to a few of them in passing:
It is worthy of note that The Seventh Day Baptists of
Snow Hill a religious society that had withdrawn itself from
the world in a large measure, was twice involved in litigation
that was carried to the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania.
Once in the prosecution of one of its members for working
on Sunday, and again in the recent effort to legally dissolve
the society and have the property escheat to the Common-
wealth.
The principal fact in the biography of James Mclene,
and one that ought to attract the attention of this society is
that the ravages of time have made it impossible to tell which
of the neglected humble memorial stones cover his remains ;
yet there, at Brown's Hill graveyard, rests the body of James
McLene who died on the 13th day of March, 1806.
The paner on "The Episcopal Church in the Cumber-
land Valley." is authority for the statement that John Brown,
during his stay in Chambersburq-, attended the Episcopal
mission under the rectorship of Rev. Wm. Heaton, and took
up the collection, and that, by a strange coincidence the Rev.
Mr. Heaton who was then rector at Mont Alto, was an eve
witness of the capture of Brown's lieutenant. Captain John
E. Cook, which took place between his home and the church
at Mont Alto.
95
Record is made of Mt. Delight, a farm which has been
successively owned and continuously occupied for five gen-
erations, or nearly a century and a half,, by the McFarland
family, a record that is unique in the history of Franklin
county.
With the "Two Famous Military Roads of Pennsyl-
vania," and the two exhaustive papers on "Fort Loudon and
its Associations," biography is relegated to the rear, to make
way for a season of browsing in the fields of Colonial his-
tory, and appears again only in a limited degree along the
various windings of the Conodoguinit creek which Mr. Orr
proves to have been a public highway, with possibilities of it
being made a navigable stieam in fact, as it had already been
declared by law.
Biographical tendencies again come to the surface in
the unveiling of the portrait of Dr. D. Hayes Agnew at Mer-
cersburg Academy; in the dedication of the Captain Cook
Marker ; in the sketch of Josuah Culbertson, and in the start-
ling introduction of a "Franklin County Cousin of Robert
Burns."
"A Day in the Courts" revives old and familiar names
of those who were "gentlemen of the old school," pictured as
clad in broadcloth swallow-tail coat and breeches, and ruffled
shirt, the head adorned with a bell crowned high silk hat;
reserved, yet courtly; so clad was the lawyer of the old days.
"The Lawyers's Nosegav" admirably supplements this,
with anecdotes of the bench and the bar. old and new,
making a happy colection of Court House scenes and inci-
dents, and genuine specimens of legal wit and humor wor-
thy of preservation.
Quoting from the imposing list of educational institu-
tions presented in the paper on "The Founding of Two Col-
leges in the Cumberland Valley," we are told that "Neither
their history nor present condition reflect much credit on the
liberality or public spirit of our people. Marshall college
with a brief and brilliant experience of seventeen years, was
starved to death and forced out of the valley. Dickinson, the
Child of our vaulted Scotch-Irish presbyterians, was aban-
doned by its parents, and saved only by the zeal of what was
9 6
then an alien church." These forceful yet graceful stric-
tures, as well as many good things said on the subject, a 3
was to be expected, brought out an animated discussion in
which Judge Rowe and other old Mercersburg boys had
part.
The unveiling of the portrait of the late jusiice McFar-
land at Mercersburg Academy was another of the notable
events in which the society shared. Justice McFarland, an
old Marshall boy, had " a long career in the field of juris-
prudence that rendered him a man of mark in all the States,
and made him pre-eminent in the Courts of Justice of the
Pacific states of the Union."
Returning to biography, Judiciary constitutes the pre-
paration and splendid assemblage of fifteen or twenty
sketches of "men who have filled a large place in the history
of our county."
The miseries and perplexities of the Bibliography com-
mittee are given in the Introductory on this subject. It
was the general opinion at the outstart that the work of this
committee would be light — the listing only of "a few im-
prints scattered here and there, and the briefs of a few news-
papers and other periodicals." This aspect of the work is
perhaps best illustrated by what a farmer said to the Chair-
man about that time : "This well," he remarked, "has very
little water in it at this time, and is not very deep, but I never
had an easier pumping pump." The magnitude of the work
at present may be imagined when results thus far show that
over 400 imprints of authors have been collected. To in-
crease the perplexities of the committee along come instruc-
tions from the State Federation to go through the Court
House for material — and the end is not vet. In this con-
nection savs the chairman of the committer, il is com 4 ' 1
to remember one of Plato's sayinsrs that : "As it is the com-
mendation of a eood huntsman to find Sfame in a wide wood,
so it is no imnutation if he hath not caught all."
The chairman takes consolation ( ?} in referring to two
of his vonnp- German friends: "The Enel'sh 1an<ma«-e was
a sore trial to both of them, and it is s-mY1 of Dr. Ranch that
his thoughts were like <=<"> many caged birds, which he wished
to let out but the crowd was too great to get out in good
97
order." On one ocasion he began an English speech with
the words : "I am very much not glad." Long afterwards
when this was called to Dr. Schaff's attention, he was much
amused and remarked reflectively. "That was certainly a
great mistake ; ; Dr. Ranch ought to have said : "I am not
very much glad." The chairman concludes : "It would ill
become me to decide now or at anytime between these two
ambitious young scholars on a question of language, but
some how I find myself leaning towards the rendering of Dr.
Rauch : — That I am a member of the committee on Biblio-
graphy, I am very much not glad."
A narrative of "The Underground Railroad" by H. E.
Wertz. who was one of its Captains, proved a rare and inter-
esting story. Mr. Wertz whose home was in Quincy, in his
youth assisted about fifty slaves in their flight from the south
to the north, and is familiar with every station along the his-
toric South Mountain and Antietam creek.
Of the several histories of churches in the archives of
the society the latest one en the Lutheran church, a pioneer
communion of the valley, is timely and comprehensive of
that large and influential denomination.
The papers on Judge Cooper by Professor Charles F.
Himes, Ph. D.. of Carlisle, form chapters of special interest
on this "Cantankerous" individual, as he was termed by a
member of the society. Judge Thomas Cooper was a unique
character and one of the foremost thinkers of his day.
No. 4 of Early Highways is another of the papers on this
subject well received. Of it, Judge Rowe, in the discussion
following its presentation at Ramsey Hall, St. Thomas, said :
"It is a most valuable production that opens up a wide field
relating to this valley, and to its appearance, its customs, its
places of entertainment and life more than a century ago."
The papers from February 191 2 to 19 13 — to appear in
vol. VIII — complete fifteen years of the existence of the
Kittochtinny Historical Society. The first of these is the
second instalment relating to thai cantankerous man. Judge
Cooper, elsewhere alluded to.
The sketch of John R. Kooken appropriately follows
the paper on Judge Cooper. Captain Kooken had dropped
9 8
out of sig^ht of the Franklin county survivors of his time, as
student, teacher, parson and soldier, and few persons knew
that he had fallen mortally wounded at Fredericksburg and
had died the day after the battle, Dec. 14, 1862.
The old boys of the journalistic guild — who were they
and what of them ? Most of them have been transferred,
but their works do follow. The "Old Guard" never dies.
For them let us hope death is the crown of life. Of those
who have gone before as well as those who continue with us,
the paper on "Franklin County Newspapers and the Men
who made Them" too briefly tells.
The story is accompanied with a partial report of the
Committee on Bibliography — Newspaper Section. It tells
methodically as far as research was possible of our predeces-
sors and their successors in the craft.
It was at the meeting held at the home of Mr. Geo. A.
Wood, February 25, after the reading of the sketch on the
late John M. Cooper, that the idea of the history of the press
of the county — "the fourth estate of the realm" — was sug-
gested by our host of this evening to the writer. The biblio-
graphy to appear in Vol. 8, furnished the opportunity, and
the paper of a year ago, "Franklin County Newspapers, and
the Men Who Made Them," is the result.
Two productions which complete the work of the so-
ciety up to this evening, are the "Illustrated lecture on
Stuart's Raid." and "The Jubilee of Emancipation." They
are of too recent occurrence to call for any comment, except
in so far as they suggest the fiftieth anniversary of Civil
War times through which we are now passing, and the im-
portance of it historically.
The Kittoeh tinny Historical Society is not one of those
organizations that might be successfully prosecuted for com-
mitting any acts in restraint of trade, or attempting to create
a monopoly of the outnnt in its particular hue. On the con-
trary, it appreciates all efforts of a historical nature, and en-
deavors to keep a record of such work. Much local history
has been recorded during the list five years ind°pendentlv of
the society as such, and vet some of these productions have
been insnirerl in a greater or l°ss degree bv its activities.
David Eby does not hesitate to say that his interest in
99
the society was the origin of his idea of retracing the famouo
old turnpike between Chambersburg and Pittsburgh and the
record of his trip, locating the old taverns along the pike, will
become more valuable as time goes on.
It can scarcely be doubted that thoughts in recent years
upon the Judiciary of Franklin county are directly respor
sible for the increased number of portraits of fornrer judges
and the placing of them in the main court room where all
our citizens who are interested may see the faces, and learn
more about the men who presided in our Courts.
The excellent collection of portraits at Mercersburg
Academy has become an important branch of our history and
the unveiling in each instance 'has opened up a rich field of
biography.
The finest piece of work in the art of printing on local
subjects is "Old Mercersburg" published last year by the
Womans' Club of Mercersburg. It is a most readable and
completed record of the town from its beginning to the civil
war period, with many illustrations and with portraits of
men and women in that locality. The edition, which was
considered adequate at the time of publication, is now almost
exhausted. Closelv allied to this book in interest, is the
genealogy of the McCollough family, a number of whose
members were prominent as citizens and soldiers in former
days.
In the archives of our society are copies of the historical
sketch of Zion Reformed Church, a hundred page pamphlet,
and the history of the Lutheran Church in the Cumberland
Valley, both containing historical data procured from orig-
inal sources.
"Some Hidden Sources of Fiction," and William Gil-
more Bevmer's contributions to Harper's Magazine, contain-
ing local references in civil war times, are work's that have
b°en widely commented upon, and are step-brothers of our
Kittochtinnv volumes.
The volume published bv the National Bank of Cham-
bersbur?. on the occasion of its iooth anniversarv, hand-
somelv illustrated, comes within our five-vear purview, as
also do Q s Dr. George B. Russell's "Four Score and More,"
an autobiography with much vivid local coloring.
100
At the art exhibit in the high school building a year
ago, under the management of Miss Ruth Gillan, under au-
spices of the Civic Club, a sketch of our early local artists
was read and afterwards published in our daily papers.
One of the latest contributions to our list is Dr. George
Leslie Omwake's "Call to Books," a booklet issued to his
friends as a New Year's greeting, portraying his boyhood
school days in Antrim township. Since that issue, the stud-
ents of Ursinus college have had an edition of ten thousand
printed for distribution among the school children in Penn-
sylvania.
To this incomplete list may be added the many contribu-
tions to local papers which have not been as carefully pre-
served for reference as their importance would warrant-
In conclusion : The Executive committee have learned
the lesson that the men who make history have not time to
write it. and one of its trials has been to secure contributors.
To the best of its ability the commitee have endeavored to
meet the situation. Fortunately it looks forward to the re-
demption of promises unfulfilled for the coming year, and the
Kittochtinnv. although still under age, like the nation will
"continue in the making." As an eminent philosopher hath
well said : "Out of monuments, names, words, proverbs,
traditions, private records and evidences, fragments of
stories, passages and the like, we do save and recover some-
what from the deluge of time."
iO
Regular Meeting, April 25, 1913.
THE RISE, PROGRESS AND DECLINE OF THE
CHAMBERSBURG INSURANCE COMPANY.
BY A. J. W. HUTTON.
The parlors of the charming home of Mr. and Mrs. Walter
K. Sharpe, East Market street, were filled with members and
guests, when at 8.15 Wm. S. Hoerner, the newly elected president,
called the meeting to order. Owing to illness in the family of
the host for the March assembly that meting was omitted. The
Hon. David Speer, Chambersburg; Ool. W. C. Bambrick. and
Prof. Parker R. Skinner, of the Scotland S. O. Industrial School,
were elected members of the society. The outlook for papers
during the year were very promising, a number of historians
having It^en listed. In the three years that have intervened not
a single one has materialized. The demand for complete sets of
volumes of the papers of society can no longer be supplied.
The subject of the evening was handled with the usual abil-
ity raf its author. From the meagre accounts unearthed by Mr.
Hutton the old Insurance Company enjoyed a period of pros-
perity extending over sixteen years.
R. H. Passmore, cashier of the National Bank, on behalf of
the directors, presented to the society the documents relating to
the Insurance Company. The paper was discussed by Messrs.
Hoerner, Riddle, Mcllvaine, M. C. Kennedy and others. It de-
veloped that the dissolution of the Chambersburg- Insurance
Company was coincident with the birth of the Franklin County
Mutual in 1850 which has had a continual existence to the pres-
ent time, under only four Presidents. Dr. Samuel Culbertson.
Dr. Abraham H. Senseny, Samuel M. Linn ard John A. DieM.
A unanimous vote of thanks was given to Hon. B. M. Nead
for his illustrated lecture on the Stewart raid, in the auditorium
of tho High School building, Nov. 14, 1912.
The social hour was a delight for the large assembly, made
so by the gracious host and hostess. Mrs. Sharpe was assisted
in receiving by Mrs. Irvin C. Elder, Mrs. Morris I loyd, Mrs.
Charles A. Suesserott. Mrs. Wiliam S. Hoerner. the Misses Stew-
art and Misses McKeehan, Watts, Riddle. Winifred Sharpe, and
Miss Anna Riddle, of Charles Town, W. Va.
It has been suggested by one, who always manifested a
lively interest in the history of Chambersburg, that a very
fruitful field of historical research is presented in a consider-
ation of the early institutions of our borough, and that a pur-
suit along these lines would reveal much of historical import
which ought to be rescued from oblivion before it is too late.
It is hoped most earnestly that the present paper may afford
a stimulus to others to join forces in an effort to unearth past
activities in this community, and accordingly, what follow
is offered as the first of what may, it is fondly hoped, consti-
102
tute a series of articles grouped under the general heading,
"Ancient Corporations of Chambersburg."
Carlyle has very aptly declared, "Man's sociality of na-
ture evinces itself in spite of all that can be said, with abund-
ant evidence by this one fact, were there no other : the un-
speakable delight he takes in Biography. It is written. "The
proper study of mankind is man ; to which study let us can-
didly admit, he, by true or false methods, applies himself,
nothing loath. "Man is perennially interesting to man : nay,
if we look strictly to it there is nothing else interesting."
How inexpressibly comfortable to know our fellow creature ;
to see into him, understand his goings forth, decipher the
whole heart of his mystery; nay, not only to see into him, but
even to see out of him, to view the world altogether as he
views it ; so that we can theoretically construe 'him. and could
almost practically personate him; and do> now thourghly dis-
cern both what manner of man he is,, and what manner of
thing he has got to work on and live on."
So, in our local affairs, busy as the individual maybe,
nevertheless, he is interested in knowing what activities en-
grossed the attention of our citizens of the past, who they
were, and how their enterprises endured.
The passage from one of Carlyle's well known essays
just quoted occured to me a while ago when engaged in
some legal research work, I collided in the most sporadic
manner imaginable with the fact that here in Chambsrsburg
many years ago a considerable body of the then leading citi-
zens of the community had organized a stock corporation for
the purpose of, and had actually carried on for quite a period
of years, the business of writing fire insurance.
The fact that barely a year ago a number of our leading
business men embarked in a similar enterprise gave to my
"find" a peculiarly pungent interest and I immediately
dropped the work I was engaged in to digress for a time suf-
ficiently long to note down the salient features of the dis-
covery, and the investigation which was subsequently under-
taken will, it is believed, fully disclose the pertinency of the
caption nf this paper. Tt is not my purpose to nssume in this
paper "the sad historian of the pensive plain," but rather to
i°3
resurrect the shades of the past, not only for the present
moments pastime but also, as has been intimated, if possible,
to demonstrate the truth of the saying that history is "phil-
osophy teaching by experience."
Human nature revolts at the idea of oblivion. No one
delights in being ignored or forgotten and yet it is one of the
ironies of fate that 'n even our little community we should
find such a striking illustration of the anaesthesia of events
produced by Father Time that in the passing of barely eighty
years a corporation which was apparently in its day an ac-
tive factor in the town's activities should be so utterly con-
signed to "sweet oblivion" that our local histories should
contain no reference to it and isolated records the barest ref-
erences. A remarkable instance of "the malignity of time,
the devourer and consumer of all things." It was, therefore,
with considerable surprise that in turning over the pamphlet
laws of our Commonwealth for the year 1833 I found the
Act of Assembly authorizing the organization of the "Cham-
bersburg Insurance Company."
Following this discovery diligent inquiry was made
among the pundits of history in our society, but no one was
found who could throw any light upon the former existence
of this corporation and many there were who expressed sur-
prise that any such organization had ever formed a part of
the town's institutions. Unfortunately, the facts brought to
light concerning the insurance company are very meager, but
it is not doubted that other evidences exist and may, it is
hoped, as the result of these lines, be brought forward from
garrets, stray records and long forgotten files. It will be of
interest to describe in detail the mode pursued in organizing
The Chambersburg Insurance Company.
The Act in reference to the matter is the Act of April
3rd, 1833, P- L. 12c;, and it authorizes George Chambers,
Frederick Smith, Philip Berlin, George K. Harper. George
A. Madeira, William Heyser and Thomas Hartley Crawford
to act as commissioners for the receiving of subscriptions to
the stock of the company. They were instructed to onen a
book for that purpose in the borough of Chambersbure; and
to give a two weeks' notice of the time and place of said
104
opening in at least two newspapers of the borough. 'Hie
books were to be kept open five successive days, between the
hours of ten and two o'clock, and were to remain open until
five hundred shares were subscribed. On the first days of the
subscription no person was to be permitted to subscribe for
more than five shares but if the whole stock should not be
subscribed within the alloted time the commissioners could
permit any person or persons to subscribe for any number of
shares remaining. Each person was to pay down at the time
of the subscription the sum of $2.50 per share for expenses
of taking subscriptions, the residue to be paid to the treas-
urer for the corporation when organized.
The capital stock of the corporation was placed at $50,-
000. divided into 2,000 shares of $25 each, and the charter
of the corporation was made perpetual.
The number of directors specified in the Act was placed
at nine, who were to be elected by the stock holders of the
corporation at the annual meeting to be held on the first
Monday of May..
The manner of voting the shares held by the stock hold-
ers is of particular interest, especially in view of our present
constitution of 1874 which declares as follows: Article 16,
section 4, "in all elections by directors or managers of a cor-
poration each member or share holder may cast the whole of
his votes for one candidate or distribute them upon two or
more candidates as he may prefer."
This provision gives what is popularly known as cumu-
lative voting, which was not permitted by laws previous to
the adoption of the present constitution, unless the privilege
of so cumulating was expressly set forth in the Act of incor-
poration.
In the act providing for the incorporation of the Cham-
bersburg Insurance Company it was specified that each share
was to be entitled to one vote but no number of shares would
entitle the holder to cast more than ten votes, a policy di-
rectly the reverse of that of cumulative voting. To entitle a
share holder to vote his stock it must appear that the same
had stood in his name on the books of the company for at
least three months previous to the election, except at first.
io5
The President and board of directors were empowered
to appoint a secretary and treasurer and such other officers
and agents as should be necessary for conducting the busi-
ness. The Company, by the terms of the statute, could in-
sure both real and personal property against loss by fire.
Dividends might be declared out of the profits of the Com-
pany, being payable upon the first Monday of May and No-
vember of each year. In case of an impairment of the capital
by loss, dividends were forbidden to be declared until the im-
pairment was replaced, and the penalty for an infringement
of this requirement was the imposition of personal liability
upon the directors for such moneys unlawfully paid out.
The underwriting of the Company by the terms of the
statute was confined to property located in Franklin County.
The act bears the signatures of Samuel Anderson,
Speaker of the House of Representatives ; Jesse R. Burden,
Speaker of the Senate, and the approval of George Wolf.
Governor.
After the discovery of the Act of Assembly providing
for the organization of the Chambersburg Insurance Com-
pany, the writer set about to ascertain when the charter was
actually issued and who were the original stock holders. The
names of the commissioners authorized by the statute to take
stock subscriptions were so familiar in connection with the
history of the Chambersburg Bank, the predecessor of the
present National Bank of Chambersburg, it seemed wise to
make inquiry at the National Bank for any evidences of the
existence of the Insurance Company. Through the kindness
of the present cashier of the National Bank in looking over
some of the very old papers of the Bank preserved from the
distraction of the fire of 1864 there was unearthed the char-
ter of the Chambersburg Insurance Company bearing the
great seal of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and like-
wise several other papers incident to the life of the Insurance
Company and all of great value in tracing its history.
For the purpose of preservation among the archives of
the Historical Society and also as a venerable document in-
teresting to my hearers the charter is set forth in full and
reads as follows :
"Pennsylvania, ss. In the name and by the authority of
ioCi
the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, George Wolf, Gover-
nor of the said Commonwealth : To all to whom these pres-
ents shall come, sends greetings.
Whereas, in and by an Act of the General Assembly of
this Commonwealth passed the third day of April last en-
titled "An act to incorporate the Chambersburg Insurance
Company and to extend and continue the Charters of Sundry
Insurance Companies in the City of Philadelphia and for
other purposes," it is amongst other things provided and en-
acted that when five hundred shares in the Capital stock of
the said Insurance Company shall have been subscribed the
Commissioners named in the said Act of the General Assem-
bly to receive subscriptions of the stock or a majority of
them shall certify to the Governor under their respective
hands and seal the names of the subscribers and the number
of shares by them subscribed respectively and the Governor
shall thereupon forthwith by letters patent under his hand
and the seal of the State erect and create the subscribers into
a body politic and corporate in deed in law by the name style
and title of "The Chambersburg Insurance Company :" And
Whereas, Frederick Smith, George A. Madeira, Philip Ber-
lin, William Heyser, Thomas Hartley Crawford, George K.
Harper and George Chambers the Commissioners named in
the said Act of the General Assembly to receive subscriptions
to the stock of the said Company as aforesaid have duly cer-
tified to me in writing under their respective hands and seals
that the persons whose names are contained in the list here-
unto annexed have duly subscribed six hundred shares of the
stock of the said Company; and that they have paid the sum
of two dollars and fifty cents on each and every one of the
shares of stock so subscribed to the attending Commissioners
for the purposes mentioned in the said Act of the General
Assembly Now Knozv Ye that by virtue and in pursuance of
the power and authority to me eiven, in and for the said re-
cited Act of the General Assembly. I the said George Wolf,
Governor of the said Commonwealth, do bv these presents
which I have caused to be made patent and sealed with the
State seal, create and erect the said subscribers of the said
stock who^e names are contained in the list hereunto annexed
as aforesaid, into a body politic and corporate in deed and in
107
law by the name and style and title of "The Chambersburg
Insurance Company," by which name the said subscribers
shall have perpetual succession, and shall be able to sue and
be sued, implead and be impleaded in all courts of record
and elsewhere, and to purchase, receive, have and enjoy to
them and their successors, lands and tenements and heredita-
ments, goods, chattels, rights and credits, stocks and securi-
ties, of what nature, quality or kind soever and the same
from time to time to sell, demise, grant, alien and dispose of :
Provided that the said Company shall hold only such real-
estate, as shall be necessary for its accomodation in' the trans-
action of business, or such as shall have been in good faith
mortgaged to it by way of security, or conveyed in satisfac-
tion of debts previously contracted in the course of dealings,
or purchased upon Judgments which shall have been ob-
tained for such debts, or purchased at sales or Judgments of
any other person or body politic, where the purchase thereof
may be necessary to secure any debt due to the Company and
the said Company shall have authority to make and have a
common seal and the same to break alter and renew at pleas-
ure and also to ordain establish and put in execution such by
laws, ordinances and regulations as shall appear necessary
and convenient for the government of the said corporation,
not being contrary to the Constitution or laws of the United
States or of this State, and to do all and singular the matters
and things which to them shall lawfully appertain to do for
the welfare of s^id corporation and the management and
ordering - of the affairs thereof, and generally to have possess
and enjoy all the powers authority rights and privileges as
are p-iven and granted, and to be subject to nil the duties,
qualifications, restrictions, provisions and penalties that are
recitu'red and enjoined upon them in and by the said Act of
t^e Gen^r^l Assemblv.
Given under hand and the preat seal of the State at Harris -
burg this tenth dav of Mav in the year of our Lord one
thousand eiVM hundred and thirty-three, and of the
Commonwealth the fiftv seventh.
Bv the Governor.
JAMES TRIMBLE.
Deputy Secretary.
io8
Attached to the Charter is the following paper :
To George Wolf, Esq., Governor of Pennsylvania :
The under signed who were appointed by the Act of As-
sembly of the 3rd of April, 1833, Commissioners for receiv-
ing subscriptions to the stock of "The Chambersburg Insur -
ance Company," do hereby certify that agreeably to the pro-
visions of said Act of Assembly we opened a book for that
purpose on Tuesday the thirteenth day of April last in the
court house in the Borough of Chambersburg of which no-
tice for more than two weeks was given in two newspapers
printed in the said Borough and that we kept open the said
book for five successive days between the hours of ten and
two o'clock of said days and until more than five hundred
shares were subscribed to the capital stock of the said Com-
pany and we do also hereby certify the names of the sub-
scribers and the number of shares subscribed by them respec-
tively to be as follows, viz.
Names of Subscribers
Xo. of Shares
$ Amount
George Chambers
thirty
75Q,
William Heyser
six 1
400
John King
forty
1000
Frederick Smith
ten
250
Philip Berlin
ten
250
T. Hartley Crawford
five
125
Alexander Calhoun
thirty
750
Robert McCracken
five
125
James Calhoun
mty
500
George K. Harper
ten
250
Read Washington
five
125
Joseph Culbertson
five
125
mon Patterson
ntv
500
- G. :\i<--Culloh
twenty
50(1
Lev.-is Denig
250
Philip Wii ter
two
50
Joseph Pritts
John Noel
five
James Dunlap
Jasper C Brady
two
■
! Spangler
five
David Oaks
.
John Smith
Walker
100
Iker
four
100
William X
four
100
Thomas T indsay
1 wenty
500
yradpira
nty-flve
fi25
Charles Hutz
five
■
■iv* Joh
'
John Whitmi
,oq
John R debaugh
«■;. .
lrt
ly
five
!■->-
Jr..--. .ti)i Pli;i *vil>«>rs
•>-o
William S. Davis
r-n-onty
500
Jompp F'~1pv
fffti
375
Paul J. Tletioli
fv,i
J9R
.TnVm Fl a ''as-ill
five
12K
Mathew Mel
50
IO<)
Names of Subscribers No. o:' Shares $ Amo
William D. McClure five 125
Jacob Heck five i_
Beniamin Reynolds two 50.
George S. Byster ten 250
Samuel Cooper four
Holmes Crawford two 50
Joseph Langston five 12R
David Shields f ur 100
Ludwig Heck five 125
Philip Stoehr five 125
David Wilson five 125
John Rudisill five I25j
Thomas Chambers twenty 500
Frederick Miller four ion
Bernard W'olff ten 250
Michael Whitmore five 1°
Nicholas Pearce two 5m
Samuel Brand two 50
John Aughinbaugh two 50
Jacob Grove two 50
S. D. Culbertson five 125
C. H. Wolff two 50-
Peter Fahnestoek four 10D
Henry Smith two 50
C. L. Suessr.itt four 100
Martin Hoover four 100
George Faber five 125
John "Rurkh older two 50
Beniamin Fehnestock five 125,
Jacob Heyser ten 250
Jacob Whitmore five 125
John Reed four 100
James Wright four 100
C. Nunemacher two 50
Samuel R^debaugh two 50
George Hoffman two 50
John Smith, Jun. five 125
David Snahr two 50
He^rv O'-eenawalt one 25
Adam Fisher f n ur 100
wiii^m M^vwell two 5°5
Ooovo-p p^rcwn two 50
M^tn<=>w a i"it)son two 50
James Rir'cLie two 50
]\Tr.r-v Smith f^'e 12^
John <3toff-v five 122.
JViniol "Poofiert two 50
Jacob Oyster two 50
And we do herehv certify th^t two dolars and fiftv cents on eaoii
shave of stooV mentioned was paid bv each nelson off^rinsr to snhseribe
to t^e p ttonrH—g- pnrnm'ocintiprs f°r the nurnose mentioned jn, the act.
Hammer pomniiefi with the pot of Assembly we respectfully request that
Letters natei-t mav be issued.
Oiver> under our hands and seals this seventh day of May Anno
Domini 1823.
jrvpfipT-ioV Smith (Seal'* T. H^tl^y Crawford («epl^
fjoo A. Madeira CPpal - * rjon. K. Harner f a eplT
pv>'lin "Rf-i; n (s^aV George Chambers ("Sealt
Wm. Heyser (Seal)
The number of subscribers to the stock of the Insur-
ance Company was eighty seven, all of whom were men with
the exception of one, Mary Smith, who is credited with a
subscription of five shares. The total number of shares sub-
scribed was six hundred, just one hundred in excess of the
no
minimum required by the Act of Assembly authorizing the
organization of the company.
It will thus be observed that the company started in
business with an authorized capital of $50,000, of which
$13,000 were paid in a part of the latter sum no doubt being
appropriated for the organization expenses. Whether the
company ever disposed of more stock thus increasing its
cash capital the records do not disclose but it may be said to
have been a larger sum of money for those early days than a
similar sum would appear at the present time.
The commissioners appointed by the statute to organize
the insurance company were all prominent men in the affairs
of the town. Frederick Smith, T. Hartley Crawford, and
George Chambers were attorneys and the leaders of the bar
at this time. George A. Madeira was a prominent citizen
and lived on West Market street where the present Mc-
Dowell property now stands. Philip Berlin was a wagon-
maker by trade, at this time and for many years after a
prominent figure in the affairs of Chambersburg. He was
one of the organizers and first directors of the Cumberland
Valley Railroad Company. William Heyser was a paper
manufacturer whose name has long been associated with the
ownership of the Hollowell Paper Mill, and a man of promi-
nence in his day. George K. Harper was a printer by trade
and is well remembered by reason of his being editor of the
Franklin Repository.
When the Lincoln Fire Insurance Company was organ-
ized last year the press of the town commented most favor-
ably upon the character and standing of the subscribers to the
stock and the promoters of the new insurance company and
local scribes were kind enough to prophecy all manner of
good things by reason of the exceptional standing of those
who made up the organization of the company.
It will be of interest to scan over the list of subscribers
to the stock of the Chambersburg Insurance Company and it
is believed that the list is most representative of the town as
known in the year 1833; however the mosl of the names are
of persons who have not only passed over into the great be-
yond but in most instances have left no descendants living
in the community.
1 1 1
Besides the commissioners, who were also subscribers to
the stock, the following constitute the more prominent of the
list:
John King was rhe largest subscriber to the stock of
the company, being credited with forty shares, Mr. King was
an iron master by occupation having for many years run the
old furnace in Path Valley known as Carrick Furnace ; he
was a man of means and of prominence in the communit)
and at the time of the organization of the Insurance Com-
pany was president of the Chambersburg Bank. He was the
grandfather of Walter King Sharpe, Esq., of our bar.
Besides the members of the legal profession already
mentioned we find among the list of subscribers such prom-
inent and well known names as Read Washington, Thomas
G. McCulloh. James Dttnlnp, Jasper E. Brady, Joseph Cham-
bers and James Riddle. These men were all prominent and
active in the practice of the law at this time in Franklin
County.
T. G. McCulloh previously mentioned was not only an
eminent lawyer but was distinguished as being the first presi-
dent of the Cumberland Valley Railroad Company and was
also president of the Chambersburg Insurance Company.
Alexander Calhoun was a large subscriber being cred-
ited with thirty shares, a man of prominence in the interests
of Chambersburg. In 1832, about a year before the organ-
ization of the Insurance Company, Mr. Calhoun along with
»S. D. Culbertson, Read Washington and G. A. Shryock
built what is known in local history as the Mammoth Paper
Mill, called so by reason of its great size being a large build-
ing for those days. It was located where the present Cham-
bersburg Woolen Mill now stands.
Lewis Denig was a stock holder, a druggist, for many
years occuping the corner of the square now known as Mil-
ler's Pharmacy.
Daniel Spangler is another familiar name he having
been the cashier of the Chambersburg Bank.
Thomas Lindsay designated in one of the early records
as mail carrier was a stock holder and prominent man in his
dav. His home was what old residents would remember as
112
the D. O. Gehr property on East Market street now the loca-
tion of the Star Theatre.
Thomas Jones is another name familiar to many. Mr.
Jones was proprietor of a hardware store and must have
been at this time a man well advanced in years because 1 find
in another historical account the statement that he and John
Shryock in 1808 built the Hollowell Paper Mill.
David Denney is probably the Presbyterian ministc-
who lived where Mr. T. B. Kennedy now lives.
George S. Eyster was in his day a prominent merchant
whose name is often encountered in early affairs of the bor
ough. His store was located where D. D. Sollerioerger'j
chased shortly before. He spent the remainder of his life on
goods store is at present.
Samuel Cooper, a cabinet maker, was mentioned as ..
stock holder; he lived opposite the present location of Mrs.
T. B. Kennedy's residence. His wife was Hannah Mary
Cooper who managed the old Caledonia Hotel in the South
Mountains.
Frederick Miller is mentioned as a stock holder, a tin-
ner by trade his place of business was where Dr. Guy Asper's
office now is. He was a man long prominent in the history of
the town and was the grandfather of our citizens C. P. Mil-
ler, and Simpson R. Miller.
James Wright a hardware merchant, is another stock
holder. His store was located where J. B. Hanks now has
his tin store. Mr. Wright was active in the town's affairs
and was a member of the Town Council at the time the
present site of the market house was purchased.
Matthew Simpson was mentioned as a stockholder. He
was the maternal grandfather of C. P. Miller and Simpson
R. Miller.
Daniel Dechcrt. the hatter, was a prominent man in the
community. His home and place of business were where the
Dr. L. F. Suessrott property now stands.
Jacob Ovster the last stock holder on the list was a tan-
ner by trade but I find in Dr. W. C. Lane's Reminisences is
mentioned as Judge Jacob Ovster. probably an associate
U3
Judge as was David Oaks, who is mentioned as a stockholder
and had the title of Judge.
The Chambersburg Insurance Company apparently
started in business in the month of May 1833. No records
have been found which would disclose who constituted the
board of directors of the institution. However, among the
papers found in the archives of the National Bank pertaining
to the history of the Insurance Company, it is good fortune
to us that there was preserved one of the policies issued by
this company. It is dated August 20, 1833 and the number
is 27 showing that quite early after the receipt of the charter
the company began to transact business. The policy is sub-
scribed by T. G. McCulloh as president and attested by Fred-
erick Smith as secretary and is endorsed by John King presi-
dent of the Bank. The policy is so interesting by reason of
its being the only one that has been discovered, as well as by
reason of the form and languag-e which may be compared
with the modern standard fire insurance policy, that it is
herewith given in full and reads as follows :
"The Chambersburg Insurance Company on real and
personal estate, $3,000, No. 27. This policy of insurance
witnesseth, that The Chambersburg Insurance Company, in
consideration of the sum of twenty-two dollars and fifty
cents to the said company paid, the receipt whereof is hereby
acknowledged, hath agreed to insure and hereby doth insure
the Bank of Chambersburg against any loss or damage by
fire, to the amount of three thousand dollars on the stone
mill of the said bank and the works and machinery therein
called Eaton's mill in Hamilton Township viz. fifteen hun-
dred dollars on the building and fifteen hundred dollars on
the works and machinery therein.
In consideration of the premises, the said comoany
herebv covenants and agrees to and with the said Bank of
Chambersburo- nnd assigns, to pay and satisfy all loss or
damage which the assured or its assigns may or s'hMl sustain
bv fire unon the pronertv herebv insured not exceeding in
amount the said sum of tnree thousand dollars if such loss
or damag-e shall be sustained within the term of one vear
from the dav of the date of these presents, which shall be
deemed to expire at noon on the twentieth dav of August in
•14
the year one thousand eight hundred and thirty four which
shall be done by paying therefore, in case the parties do not
agree, according to an estimate thereof to be made by three
arbitrators, indifferently chosen, whose award, in writing,
shall be conclusive and binding on all parties; payment to be
made within sixty days after notice and proof of the loss, un-
less the said Company shall elect within twenty days to make
igood the said loss, when the amount shall have been ascer-
tained, by repairing building and restoring the said buildinsr
and works and machinery or either of them to their original
condition and shall complete the same with due and reason-
able diligence.
Provided, That the said company shall not be liable for
loss or damage by fire happening by invasion, foreign enemy,
civil commotion, riot or any military or usurped power what-
ever. Provided also, That in case the assured shall have al-
ready any other insurance made on the property hereby in-
sured, if notice thereof has not been given and endorsed by
the company on this policy, this insurance shall be void; and
if the assured or its assigns shall hereafter make any other
insurance on said property notice therepf must be given
within twenty days to the company and endorsed hereon,
otherwise this policy shall be void, and on notice of such fu-
ture insurance this company shall have the right of assenting
thereto, or of rescinding this policy and refunding a propor-
tion of the premium paid in proportion to the unexpired time
of the risk. In case of any other insurance, as aforesaid, the
assured shall not, in case of loss or damage, be entitled to
demand on this nolicy any srent^r proportion of the loss than
the amount hereby insured shall bear to the whole amount of
insurance on the property.
And it is agreed. That in case the buildings herein be-
fore described shall at any time hereafter be appropriated to,
used or occupied for, any other purpose or for exercisinsr or
carrvino- nn any other trade, business or vocation than that
for winch they are now used or occupied, the assured shall
give notice to the Company of the change and have the same
endorsed on this policv within twenty days thereafter, other-
wise this insurance shall be from thence utterly void, nnd in
case of notice of such change the company shall have the
u5
right to assent or rescind this policy and refund the propor-
tion of the premium paid for the unexpired time of the risk.
And it is further agreed by the parties, That the condi-
tions hereto annexed are to be taken as a part of this contract
for the purpose of explaining the rights and obligations or
the parties, except so far as this policy itself expresses those
rights and obligations.
IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, The said Company have
caused their Common Seal to be hereto affixed, this
twentieth day of August A. D. one thousand eight hun-
dred and thirty three.
T. G. McCulloh, President.
ATTEST, Frederick Smith, Secretary.
John King, Pres. of Bank.
CONDITIONS OF INSURANCE,
i. All applications for insurance must be made in writ-
ing signed by the party.
II. The application must contain an accurate and just
description of tiie buildings to be insured, or, in case of
insurances on personal property, of buildings in which such
personal property is deposited, and also of such contiguous
or near thereto, viz :
i. Of what materials the walls and roof are con-
structed.
2. By whom occupied : as private dwellings or
how otherwise, and where situated.
3. In the case of personal property, a general de-
scription of the property, and of goods, and how kept
to be stated.
If such description be fraudulent the policy will be void.
III. Books of account, written securities of any sort,
and ready money can not be insured.
IV. Jewels, plate, medals, paintings and sculptures, are
not included in any insurance unless specially mentioned in
the policy.
V. Policies may be continued by paying the premium be-
u6
fore the time the policy expires, and having the receipt en-
dorsed by the Secretary.
VI. All persons assured by this company, sustaining any
loss or damages by fire, are forthwith to give notice to the
Secretary; and, as soon as possible after, deliver in as partic-
ular an account of the extent and nature of the loss, as the
nature of the case will admit of, and to produce to the com-
pany satisfactory proof thereof.
VII. This policy is transferable, provided that the trans-
fer be endorsed thereon, and notice thereof be given to the
company within thirty days thereafter.
VIII. In case of loss or damage by fire, if the company
shall pay or expend according to the foregoing contract to
the whole amount insured, the policy will be at an end, but
in case of partial loss the policy shall remain good for the un-
expired time to the amount of the balance only unpaid or un-
expended by the company.
Received 20th. August 1834 of the Bank of Chambers-
burg twenty two dollars and fifty cents, for continuing this
insurance for one year ending at noon on the twentieth day
of August 1835 for the sum of three thousand dollars.
Fred'k Smith, Secretary.
Received 15th. August 1835 of the Bank of Chambers-
burg twenty two dollars fifty cents, for continuing this in-
surance for one year ending at noon on the twentieth day of
August 1836 for the sum of three thousand dollars.
Fred'k Smith, Secretary."
It will be recalled that the charter of the Insurance
Company was issued by the State Department under date of
fthe tenth day of May 1833 an< ^ that tne policy which has
just been recited bore the date 20th of August. 1833. Two
other papers found in the archives of the National Bank
show that the comoration was not long delaved in going
after business. This fact is evidenced by the bond given to
the comnany by its first treasurer.
This bond and also the one given for the following year
read as follows :
"TCnrvw nil men bv tb^" i>re-"nK tint we Fr^rW'rk
Smith. Tohn Smith, Phib'n Berlin and Divid Oaks are held
and firmlv bound unto the Chambersburg Insurance Com-
i i;
pany in the sum of six thousand dollars, to the payment of
which we bind ourselves jointly and severally by these pres-
ents sealed with our seals this tenth day of July 1833.
Whereas the said Frederick Smith hath been appointed
Treasurer of the Chambersburg Insurance Company by the
Board of Directors thereof.
Now the condition of this obligation is such that if the
said Fred'k Smith shall and will well and faithfully perform
his duties as treasurer aforesaid and shall and will well and
faithfully discharge his trust aforesaid ; and shall and will
well and truly account for and deliver up to his successor in
office all such moneys securities, deeds, writings and effects
as shall have come to his hands or custody and which shall
not have been paid and delivered according to the directions
and orders of the directors or a majority of them.
Then this obligation to be void otherwise to remain in
full force and virtue.
Witness
Fred'k Smith (seal)
Philip Berlin (seal)
John Smith (seal)
David Oaks (seals)"
This paper was backed with the following endorsement :
"Bond o<f Frederick Smith. Esq.. as Treasurer of the
Chambersburg Insurance Company, with sureties, in six
thousand dollars, conditions as written 15th Julv, 1833.
Bond presented to the Board of Directors, approved and ac-
cepted and ordered to be recorded by the Secretary, in the
records of the company's proceedings.
T. Hartley Crawford, President Pro Temnore.
Know all men by these presents that we F. Smith, John
Smith, Jacob Heck are held and firmly bound unto the
Chambersburg Insurance Company in the sum of six thou-
sand dollars, to the payment of which we bmd ourselves
jointly and severally by these presents sealed with our seals
this 1st of July. 1834.
Whereas the said Fred'k Smith hath been annointed
treasurer of the Chambersburg Insurance Company by the
Board of Directors thereof.
Now the conditions of this obligation is such that if the
u8
said F. Smith shall and will well and faithfully perform his
duties as treasurer aforesaid and shall and will well and
faithfully discharge the trust aforesaid and shall and will
well and truly account for and deliver to his successor in of-
fice all such moneys, securities and writings and affects as
shall have come to his hand or custody and which shall not
have been paid out and delivered according to the directions
and orders of the directors or a majority of them — then this
igation to be void otherwise to remain in full force and
virtue.
Fred'k Smith (seal)
John Smith (seal)
Jacob Heck (seal)"
This paper was backed with the following endorsement :
"Bond of F. Smith, treasurer, 1834. 1. July 1834 Bond
presented to and approved by the Board of Directors and
■rdered to be recorded on the minutes of the board.
T. G. McCulloh, President."
By the terms of the ad of incorporation the underwrit-
ing of the company was confined to property, real or per-
sonal, located in Franklin County but as an evidence of the
apparent prosperity of the company and success in the new
enterprise of writing fire policies I find that several years
later the company was reaching out. like the ancient hero for
new worlds to conquer.
The Act of January 21, 1835 P. L. 12 amended the
thirtieth section of the original act of incorporation and re-
pealed the restriction confining the writing against fire losses
to Franklin County in these words "all policies to be made by
said company shall be valid and effectual wherever the prop-
erty be situated." This act was signed by James Thompson.
Speaker of the House of Representatives, Jacob Kern.
Speaker of the Senate and George Wolf. Governor.
It occurred to the writer to sen rch the Sunreme Court
records to ascertain, if possible, whether the Chambersbnrg
Insurance Company ever figured as a litigant in the hiofher
courts. From the records it may be inferred that the com-
pnnv was not of a verv litigious nature for but one case is
disclosed that one being entitled "The Chambersburg Insur-
I IfJ
ance Company vs. Frederick Smith, for the use of Simeon
Nichols," found in n Pa. 120 and decided at Harrisburg.
May Term, Supreme Court 1849, from the Common r/ieas
of Franklin County. In as much as the dramatis personae of
this case have been mentioned with the exception of Simeon
Nichols it may be of interest to describe in a few words tne
case.
At this time Philip Berlin was President of the Insur-
ance Company and Joseph Chambers was Secretary and
Treasurer. The facts were as follows : Berlin executed and
delivered to Simeon Nichols a promissory note, dated Sep-
tember 14, 1842, and on the same day, Berlin, by a power of
attorney authorized Joseph Chambers the Secretary and
Treasurer to transfer certain stock held by him in the Insur-
ance Company to Frederick Smith as collateral security for
the payment of the said note and by the terms of the power
it was specified that the stock was to be retransfered to Ber-
lin when ever the note was paid. The Secretary made the
entry on the books of the Company, referring to the power
and its terms. The by laws of the company provided that no
transfer of stock should be good or available unless made
upon the books of the company and further declared that no
holder of stock indebted to the company should have the
power to transfer said stock unless with the consent of the
Board of Directors. Berlin was at the time indebted to the
company but it appeared that other like transfers were made
and had never been brought before the directors for their
consent. No part of Berlin's note had ever been paid excepr
the sum of $158 which had been obtained by an attachment
of Joseph Chambers against Simeon Nichols for d°bt due
Chambers by Nichols. After obtaining judgment Chambers
applied to the board for permission to use some of the divi-
fdends on the stock to pay the judgment agrainst Berlin as
garnishees. This appropriation was ratified bv Nichols.
Subsequently an action was brought on the note but never
came to trial and after this Berlin *°rvpd notice on th^ Com-
pany not to pay the dividends to Nichols and the company
refused to tv>v thprn to him. herrrp this action. T^° lower
court e^ve indecent for the plan^rr". wh'ch was afterwards
affirmed upon writ of error to the Supreme Court.
120
iii the argument before the Supreme Court Joseph
Chambers appeared for the plaintiff in error, that is the In-
surance Company, and James Nill appeared for Nichols.
The case is of interest to us not only because of the per-
sonel of the litigants but because the facts throw some light
upon the affairs of the company, ii will be noticed that the
whole contest was concerning the payment of dividends upon
stock held as collateral security as to whether such dividends
should be paid to the one holding the stock as collateral or
to the real owner of the stock. From the fact that there
were dividends over which to litigate we would infer that
the company had been prosperous enough to declare them.
No additional data concerning- the character, scope and
volume of the business conducted by the Chambersburg In-
surance Company have been encountered except as has been
heretofore outlined. However, from the records, meager
as they are. it may be assumed with some confidence that the
business of the company was for a period of years of a pros-
perous nature.
In looking over the mortgage records in the Recorder's
Office of Franklin County three mortgages have been dis-
covered in which the Insurance Company was the mort-
gagee. The first one is found in volume B page 166 mort-
gage given by Solomon Maxwell of Guilford Township
under date of May 20. 1846 upon a piece of property de-
scribed as being near Chambersburg on the east side oi
Third street and to secure payment of the sum of $300.
Along the margin of this record appears the order of satis-
faction by Joseph Chambers Attorney for the Chambersburg
Insurance Companv under date of April tt, t^^o.
The second mortgage was given by Christian Kincrrg-,
of Chambersburg under date of June 17, 1846 and is found
in the same volume at page 17 upon property described as
located upon the north side of Front Street. Chambersburg
Pennsylvania, to secure the payment of the sum of $300.
Along the margin of the record is found the order of satis-
faction signed by Joseph Chambers, Treasurer of the Cham-
bersburg Insurance Company, under date of August 20.
1850.
121
The third mortgage was given by John Burkolder, of
ChamoersQurg under uate of INovemDer 3rd. 1647 an d * s
found in the same volume at page 59, upon a lot of ground
aescnocci as being on the souui siue ot west iviarKet ocreet,
Chamoersburg, Jrennsylvania, and to secure the payment of
the sum of $500. Along the margin of the record is a trans-
fer of this security by Joseph Lnambers, Treasurer of the
Chambersburg Insurance Company to Henry Ruby, Esq.,
under date of July 30, 1850.
Just how long the company was in business it is impos-
sible to state with accuracy. The above mortgage transac-
tions show that the company apparently was in existence as
late as August 20, 1850. Just how active it was at this time
has not been ascertained, but from the acts of assembly we
gather at this point a piece of evidence which is quite signifi-
cant in throwing light upon the affairs of the company.
By the act of March 20th, 1849, P- L. 210, the Cham-
bersburg Insurance Company was authorized and enabled to
wind up its affairs. The provisions of this act set forth that
the board of directors of the said corporation or any ten
stockholders thereof could call a meeting for the purpose of
considering the advisability of dissolution of the corporation
and if at any such meeting a majority of those present are
agreed to take such action the company should be rendered
incompetent from that time to make any further insurance
and steps were then outlined for the winding up of the com-
pany's affairs.
This act bears the signature of William F. Packer,
Speaker of the House ; George Darsie, Speaker of the Sen-
ate and William F. Johnson, Governor.
At this point my story draws abruptly to a close. We
have traced so far in a more or less fragmentary way the
rise and progress of the Chambersburg Insurance Company.
From the meager accounts unearthed this company enjoyed
a period of prosperity probably extending over fifteen years.
It is thought t^at the records of the company were destroyed
in the Great Fire of 1864, which theory would explain the
lack of evidence as to the details of its business, the scope
and extent thereof, but from the accounts already given a
fair inference is that the company did for a time prosper.
122
There remains yet to say a few words in reference to its de-
cline.
Some corporations like the king may never die, but
may, like the soverign live on forever. The Chambersburg
Insurance Company was granted by the Commonwealth of
Pennsylvania a perpetual existence. Corporations may how-
ever like weak mortals die and under the law this death may
be a quiet, peaceful one, the result of decrepitude, advance-
ment of years and the gradual but steady depletion of its
component parts, or they may like individuals commit what
the Japanese term Hara-Kiri. What was the fate of the In-
surnce Compny? We know that it is not now in existence.
When and how was it dissolved ? According to the files in
the records of the Secretary of the Commonwealth the
Chambersburg Insurance Company "being dead yet liveth."
No account is extant in that office showing the dissolution
of the corporation. The natural inference to be drawn from
the act of March 20, 1849, authorizing the dissolution of the
Insurance Company would be that the stockholders some
time after the passage of the act took advantage of its pro-
visions and wound up the affairs of the corporation thus as
it were committing corporate suicide. Diligent search has
been made to ascertain the time of this supposed dissolution,
and the causes which led to it but so far all efforts have been
in vain and with the last date in 1850 just quoted the Cham-
bersburg Insurance Company like Father Anchises "van-
ished like a winged dream away."
Thus perish "the relics old and monuments of ancient
days."
"To Contemplation's sober eye
Such is the race of man :
And they that creep, and they that fly,
Shall end where they began.
Alike the busy and the gay
But flutter through life's little day
In Fortune's varying colors drest:
Brush'd bv the hand of rough Mischance;
Or chilled by asre. their airy dance
They leave in dust to rest."
123
May Meeting, held June 13, 19 13.
MUNICIPAL IMPROVEMENTS.
BY T. J. BRERETON.
Than "Elderslie" few places have a greater fascination for
the members of the Kittoohtinny Society, and it was here they
met on Thursday afternoon, June 13, together with guests, to the
number of 125, which was one of the largest gatherings in the
history of the organization. The company was cordially received
by the host and hostess, Mr. and Mrs. Irvin C. Elder. Assem-
bled in groups on the broad porches, to the assembly the unriv-
aled countryside, skirting the South Mountain never looked better
with but a fortnight intervening until harvest.
Editor T. J. Brereton held the next attention of the large
audience during the reading of his admirable paper on "Munici-
pal Improvements." As a progressive citizen of Chambersburg,
and one of the guiding spirits in the improvements he so well
describes, as so well said by Dr. Martin in moving a vote of
thanks, Mr. Brereton deserves the thanks of the society and the
whole community as well.
Mr. Hutton, representing Dr. Charles P. Himes. presented to
the society a photo-cpramic silhouette of Judge Cooper, whose
biography was sketched to the society last year by the professor,
for which the thanks of the society was voted.
A brief business meeting of the society was held in the
library, at which General W. D. Dixon, B. Frank Royer, M. D..
Joseph Pomeroy Maclay, M. D., and Robert G. Conklin were
elected members.
Mr. and Mrs. Elder delightfully entertained the multitude.
Mrs. Elder had as guests Mrs. Colonel T. B. Kennedy. Miss
Maria Hiester, Miss Culbertson, (I ewistown. Pa.), Miss Mary
Stewart, Miss Kathleen B. Watts, Miss Margaret Kennedy and
Miss Yoe.
The list of guests numbered well on to one hundred, and
members present, breaking the record. 38.
Most of the towns of Pennsylvania, especially the small-
er ones, were laid out when there was very little idea of what
a town really should be, nor of the many advantages that
are to be had from a mere communal aggregation, lei
alone an organized municipality. We can see plenty of
towns in the growing today, the prinicipal idea in the be-
ginning being a longitudinal or Main Street, one or more
cross streets and a system of back alleys. Very many of
the older towns have their houses built up close to the
street, even though acres of country stretch away behind
them, and are not content unless the front door steps ex-
tend several feet out. on the pavement.
124
It is a quite recent innovation that inside sanitary ar-
rangements occur in these towns. The old-fashioned
"Garden House," as the outside toilet is called for the
sake of euphony, still being the prevailing method of the
disposal of waste matter.
As these towns grow in size and wealth, each one
begins to appreciate the fact that it can attain by the com-
bined wealth of its people many conveniences that cannot
be had by isolated dwellings. The old town pump, hal-
lowed by so many gossiping recollections, is the first thing
to go, and a more reliable means of getting water than by
wells and cisterns is introduced. -
If a municipal water plant is not created, some local
capitalists find an opening for a lucrative public utility in
introducing a supply from the most available springs or
streams. When our Pennsylvania towns got this far along
in making their municipal improvements, it was many
years before some of them seemed willing to take an-
other step.
Indeed, if any persons happen to be in the community
who are dissatisfied with such conditions and desire to
see further improvements, a regular campaign of educa-
tion must be undertaken to overcome the inertia of the
more conservative part of the town.
I have no doubt there are many here who have been
through this very process of community education. Often
when it seems that the class is ready to graduate, opposi-
tion springs up in quarters where it is least expected.
This has just occurred in a place not very far from here,
where they had carefully elaborated fine plans for a very
. much needed sewer system and were only able, even after a
popular approval of them, to put them into effect after
more than a year of litigation, so determined was the con-
servative minority. The contracts have just been let for
that system and now we may expect to see that town
grow in other ways..
In Chambersburg, fortunately, we did not have this
'-'5
latter phase of the difficulties of the situaton to cuii.c.i.l
with, for the previous campaign of education had been
so thorough and prosecuted in such a vigorous manner
that the victory of the progressive element at the polls
was overwhelming.
The situation in the last named town was this .
Founded in the latter half of the Eighteenth Century, by
the beginning of the Twentieth it had outgrown the village
type to which many, perhaps most, of its people still clung.
But to a considerable and influential minority it had be-
gun to be more and more apparent that the time had come
when the town could not remain stationary, and that it
must either advance or sink back to decay, while it watched
more progressive neighbors develop at its expense.
Its water supply, a municipally owned plant, is the
Conocoheague Creek that flows through the town, from
a point of which, about a mile above, an overshot wheel,
re-inforced by a steam plant, pumped water to two reser-
voirs about 90 feet above the average town level. The
water perhaps had been good enough in the early days, but
flowing through the yellow and red clay of the Trenton
limestone formation composing the soil adjacent to its
banks, it was always turbid and unattractive in wet weather,
while the various barnyards through which it flowed and
the many swimming holes that attracted the youth of the
country side for miles to seek its cooling refreshment in the
hot term, did not add to its desirability. To cap the cli-
max, it was finally condemned as unsafe by the State Board
of Health and the citizens were warned to use it for drink-
ing only after it had been boiled and filtered.
The case was sufficiently aggravated, but as no alarm-
ing epidemics had ever broken out in the town, the alarm
was by no means general.
About ten miles from town eastward, the stream be-
fore mentioned had its source in the mountains. In a glen,
whose general plan could best be described by likening it
to an oakleaf, about five miles long and on an averagt n
126
little more than three wide, the early reaches of the Cono-
cocheague Crtek flow in a most beautiful, clear, cold, soft
body of water. The surrounding forest, a state reservation,
where there was not a single human habitation, seemed to
invite Chambersburg to come and take its beautiful stream
and use and drink it.
Some of us looked longingly to this place and looked
forward to the day, now happily come, when it would
flow in our households, and when we should be able to
drink it and lave in it.
There were other considerations too that indicated to
us that we must not stop there. A scheme of sewers had
been made some years previous to the time of which I write,
and comprehensive plans had been prepared by Major
Chauncey Ives, a well known engineer and resident of the
town. It existed but on paper although at one time the
borough authorities had gone so far as to engage an en-
gineer to let the contracts and supervise the work of con-
struction.
But the opposition was strong and difficulties of fin-
ancing the plan great, so the Council allowed itself to be
discouraged and the plan was dropped. Several private
sewers, drainng the hotel and business districts were, how-
ever, constructed, that poured untreated sewage into the
creek, so that the people living on the lower reaches com-
plained bitterly, threatened suit and finally through the
Department of Health served notice on the town to discon-
tinue the practice.
Here were two improvements that were urgently
needed, and to emphasize the latter, that of sewers, a very
wet Spring filled up many of the cesspools in town. So
it came to pass that those of the town who desired its bet-
terment elected a Council who were known to be in sym-
pathy with them and singularly enough this Council, which
was Democratic, replaced one that had been Republican.
One of the banes of present day municipal govern-
ment is the introduction of National political parties into
127
the questions of such strictly local affairs as Town Coun-
cils, but it is too often done.
It was naturally expected that this Democratic Coun-
cil would make a clean sweep of the Borough offices, as
had always been customary when the adminstration
passed from one party to another. But it did nothing of
the kind. Very few changes were made and then only
where it was necessary to have the official in complete
sympathy with the new regime.
Water and sewers are naturally the first impovements
to be considered when a village takes up the task of be-
coming a city. But these are invisible to the casual passer-
by. The pipes are all out of sight and those betterments
that strike the eye appeal very strongly to would-be im-
provers. Necessary as good street pavements are, it hardly
seems like good business to put them down first, necessi-
tating a tearing up and destruction of them by water and
sewer trenches. However, it has been done, and perhaps
in a few cases may have been justifiable. You cannot lay
down a hard and fast rule about the order in which the
first necessary things should be done in defiance of local
cOnditons.
Chambersburg, then, elected a Council some of whom
were pledged to a plan of progress and improvement wItj
began to put things in order for the campaign. Of course
the first thing to do was to get the press unitedly in favor
of the scheme. It often happens that newspapers taking
up sides on a public question do so merely because some
ancient enemy is to be opposed, upon which ever side he may
be. Partisan politics frequently rule their attitude, so that
when all of our papers buried the hatchet and gave us their
loyal support, no small part of the victory was assured.
The Medical Fraternity also arrayed themselves in the
ranks and the clergy pitched into the fight to a man. With
press, pulpit and the doctors with us, we felt that we had
a very good chance of winning. Like all small towns the
question of taxes is a very tender subject. These improve-
128
merits would cost money and the tax-payers naturally ob-
jected to increasing the rate by an adequate amount to
finance such comprehensive plans. Fortunately the County
Commissioners very materially raised the assessment tha:
year, and this afforded the opportunity of securing a suffi-
cient loan without encroaching too closely upon the borrow-
ing capacity of the Borough.
A survey of the proposed water route was made, and
it was decided that $150,000 would build it. $65,000 was
estimated for a disposal plant and intercepting sewer while
$15,000 was set aside for street paving and $5,000 for a
very badly needed fire house. It was decided therefore to
ask for a loan of $235,000 by general election. It was a
special election so as not to have the question involved with
one of a political nature. Each item was voted upon sepa-
rately, so that the electors could have defeated any one or
all of them.
At an election held several years before a correspond-
ing vote had been cast overwhelmingly against the loan.
The adverse majority had been two-thirds the voting
strength. So that we realized at the outset that, despite the
powerful forces we had marshalled, the conservative Penn-
sylvanian would do his own thinking, and if the plan did
not suit him, he would vote it down.
Measures like these may be defeated by too profuse
detail as well as by too little of it. Everything connected
with them should be made just as plain and comprehensible
as possible, but if the details of the plan are gone into too
minutely, many will be found to oppose the whole thing
because some small detail is not to their liking.
Besides using the newspapers freely large public
meetings were held especially at the various shops. The
proprietors most generously gave us the after-dinner hour
on stated occasions which the men attended under pay.
Previous to the meeting, question boxes had been arranged
for any who wanted to ask them, and at the meeting these
boxes were emptied and the questions answered. Mighty
129
practical questions they were too, and to answer them off-
hand required both candor and tact. The campaign grew
warmer and more exciting. While there was no active
opposing propaganda, we knew that a great deal of quiet
and effective work was going on under the surface con-
ducted by those who did not agree with all the details of
the plans presented, or by the usual array of those who had
other plans that better suited their own ideas as well as the
numerous portion of the community that will always op-
pose forward movements and feared a raise in the tax rate.
It was a great relief to many of us who had been
working for the cause of improvement after election day
to find that we had won by a majority averaging 14 to i
on all the items in the program. We were no less surprised
than pleased, for up to the day before election, I doubt if
you could have found a man in town, no matter of how
great sporting proclivity, who would have made a bet, un-
less he was given heavy odds, that we should win.
The event proved conclusively to my mind that where
a candid and faithful representation of exactly what is to be
accomplished is made the progressive element in municipal
improvement will win out in the great majority of cases.
It is only natural for us to oppose what we only half un-
derstand and perhaps do not quite half trust, whether this
is referred to the measures themselves or the people back
of them.
To take care of the proposed improvements it was
necessary the very first thing to organize a thorough-going
engineering department. In that respect, I do not think,
that Chambersburg was much behind the average Penn-
sylvania towns of its size. The engineering had been done,
by a surveyor employed now and then as he might be
needed to establish street lines, give grades and the like.
True, this officer had the title of Borough Engineer, but
his duties were nearly exclusively those of a mere surveyor.
Of course this organizing took time and while the prelim-
inary surveys were making, there was time enough to per-
130
feet a very good imitation of a real engineering depart-
ment. We were fortunate enough to secure the services of
a most conscientious and efficient young man, Mr. R. M.
Huber, a native of the county, a graduate Civil Engineer
and wlio had had a good experience in a variety of public
works.
It was, needless to say, a great deal owing to this
young man's executive ability, that Chambersburg has been
able to carry out the first and most needful improvements
as successfully as she did. But he had the capacity and
ability to grow with his position and to thoroughly master
his problems as they arose. Mr. John Birkenbine was
selected as consulting engineer for the improved water sup-
ply. Gravity AYater as it came to be known in popular par-
lance, and Mr. Charles Mebus, of the firm of Allbright &
Mebus. of Philadelphia, as tlfe expert on sewers. Both of
them -are so well known in the profession that it is not
necessary to give bouquets to them here. But it is but fair
to say that with their advice and assistance Chambersburg
has now a water supply that cannot be surpassed for purity
and excellence, one over which her citizens are enthusiastic,
and a sewer system that expresses the latest thoughts of
science in sanitaton. The mucn maligned lawyers must
come in for come attention. YVe may abuse the lawyer,
but we cannot get along without him. In selecting an At-
torney Chambersburg got the best — as he is present I shall
spar his blushes by not naming him (Charles Walter, Esq.).
An amusing incident occurred in regard to the new-
water supply. During the campaign of education one of
the arguments used by the spellbinders was the economv
in the use of soap that might be expected from the use of
the mountain water instead of the creek water, taken from
the old Siloam plant. The water at the latter point is much
harder than the former owing to the inflow of number-
less limestone springs and streams. Analysis, indeed,
showed it to be about fourteen times harder. It was, there-
fore, argued that the average family would save a very
I3i
large proportion of their soap bill's, a claim that has been
amply verified.
When the new supply of water was first turned on.
however, of course there were many unavoidable interrup-
tions in the service, due to defective joints and the other
numerous contingencies that always arise, so that once in
a while it was necessary to shut it off and return to the
pump.
On one of these occasions, which of course were not
widely advertised, a lady asked her colored laundress if
she found any difference in the amount of soap necessary
"Deed, Missy," said the lady of color, "I ain't used hardly
no soap at all on dis yere wash." Which shows the
power of imagination when properly stimulated.
The "Gravity" water, as, it is called, is impounded in
the simplest kind of intake dam of very small capacity.
The dam is only high enough to give sufficient entry head
to th 14-inch pipe that leads to town. The intake cham-
ber is of concrete in three compartments, fitted with the
proper screens, the middle compartment being for the ac-
commodation of a measuring apparatus that may be put
in later. The elevation of the breast of the dam is 975 feet
above the mean ocean level, about 340 feet above the
average town level and 265 feet above the highest elevation
in the borough. The dam is about eleven miles east of
the town.
About four miles from town, at an elevation of 800
feet is the reservoir. From the intake the pipe line, 14
inches in diameter, follows the Conococheague Valley very
closely to an elevation of 725 feet at the foot of the hill on
which the reservoir is located. At this point the line
crosses the creek and a differential valve is installed at that
point to control the supply. The supply to the reservoir is
controlled by a stand-pipe and when the water rises to a
sufficient height in this, the back pressure in the supph
opens the differential valve and discharges the suhplus
water into the stream. This is to obviate the necessitv of
132
an overflow from the reservoir which would have been,
under the circumstances, very costly. As the event proved,
this would perhaps not have been necessary, as nature had
provided an ample, much too ample, overflow in the form
of one of those numerous caverns so common in our lime-
stone country. More about, that presently.
The reservoir is of 2,000,000 gallons capacty and
crowns the highest hill in the neighborhood. The eleva-
tion of the normal water level in this reservoir is 800 feet.
In order to ascertain the suitability of the location for the
purpose, the site was laid off checker-board fashion in 50
foot squares, and at each intersection a shaft was sunk. 6
feet square, and going down to sub-grade of the reservoir
floor. Not a rock or stone showed itself in any of the shafts
larger than a man's hat, and the clay excavated showed a
considerable percentage of good puddle, quite enough, we
thought, to complete the reservoir. But alas for the de-
ceptiveness of appearances even when the most carefully
elaborated plans to secure accurate knowledge had been
made. Every space between the test pits proved to be the
most treacherous kind of limestone peaks with sink-holes
everywhere.
The average depth of soil over the limestone in Franklin
and Cumberland counties is 1.75 feet. In our test pits we
had one down 12 feet and no rock in sight. In addition
to this the deep trench for the by-pass around the reser-
voir disclosed no rock. Nothing but 1 he finest kind of
puddling clay. This was tested and found unexceptionable
At one point of the by-pass a great sink-hole devel-
oped, that by testing showed that it led to a spring about
one and one-half miles away. This sink-hole was at a con-
siderable distance away from the reservoir site. From the
preliminry examination, the evidence upon which we had
to act was this: a high hill in the limestone country where
the average rock lies 1.75 feet below the surface, test pits
sunk every 50 feet, in the crown of the hill, 12 feet deep,
ihowing no rock, but evidence of the usual cavernous lime-
133
.stone formation some 60 or 80 feet distant from the reser-
voir site.
There was something unnatural not to say uncanny
about the formation, but it was decided to risk something
when there was a chance to save some thousands of dollars.
The space between the test pits proved treacherous,
developed several other sink-holes and the bottom was
thoroughly concreted, wherever it was necessary. The
reservoir was built, puddled and bricked. The water was
turned in until it was half full — rather more than half —
for when it was estimated that a million and a half gallons
had flowed in, the bottom suddenly dropped out of an
unsuspected hole under the reservoir bank and the million
and a half emptied itself in a very few minutes, nor has
any one to this day found out where it went. It left ab-
solutely no trace behind it, except a large break in the side
of the reservoir where you might have driven a two-horse
wagon all the way down to the underworld. The appear-
ance had deceived everyone including the best expert ad-
vice that we could procure, but it wasn't a' bad gamble at
that. Our net loss loss was not $1,000 and we had stood
the chances on saving $12,000. But we had to spend
$12,000 anyway, that being the contract price of shutting
up the hole and armoring the reservoir with re-inforced
concrete.
The sewers and sewage disposal plant were com-
menced shortly after beginning the water line. It took
about a year to build them, there are 16 miles of lateral
sewers and the disposal plant has a capacity of 600,000 gal-
lons a day. It is composed of Imhoff settling tank, the
usual sprinkling beds and a battery of secondary settling
basins after which the effluent is turned into the stream.
No chemical doping is done, but the treated sewage is
about as free from bacterial life as the stream itself.
All the streams flowing through thickly settled terri-
tories, such as that under discussion, it is safe to say have
an unwholesome amount of germ life, and often the Ba-
134
cillus Coli is quite prevalent. At any rate this is the case
with the middle and the lower reaches of the Conoeoheague
and there is no reason that streams similarly situated should
be different in that regard.
As related above, the new water system was financed
from the sale of bonds wholly, but the sewers were piad for
partly by an assessment levied on the foot front plan. The
disposal and intercepting sewers, costing $110,000, were
paid for from the proceeds of a bond issue of that amount,
and the cost of the sixteen miles of lateral sewers, about
$130,000, was defrayed by a direct tax upon the property
benefited. Each drainage area was treated as a sepa-
rate unit from its manhole connection with the interceptor
to the several flush tanks at its summits, and its entire
cost divided up into a charge against, the assessable prop-
erty. Corner lots, where both sides abutted on the sewer,
were favored by adding the length front to the side meas-
urement and assessing one-half, but corner lots more than
100 feet had to pay full rate for all over the distance. This
was in consideration of the probability that at some future
time the back part of the lot could be used for building, and
should bear the burden of improvement.
The bonds for this work were not issued until the
work was completed and the exact cost ascertained and
assessed as above. In the meantime sewer notes, bearing
5 per cent, nterest were floated and the resulting funds used
to pay the monthly estimates of the contractors..
It had been decided that no street paving should be
done until the sewers were laid, house connections com-
pleted and the trench allowed a reasonable time for set-
tling. That time has now come, and accordingly seven
blocks in the center of the town are about to be paved, the
contract tor which has just been let.
(The pavements to which this refers were completed in
1913, and an additional block laid in 191 5.)
After an exhaustive consideration, bricks were chosen
for the pavng material. There may be better pavements
135
put down, but there are few better suited to the needs of
the small town. Bricks are neither the cheapest nor the
most expensive form of paving, but taken all in all the
small municipality is wise to adopt a form of pavement
that is at present the best understood for, despite all that
has been said, written and worked out on the paving ques-
tion it is still largely in the experimental stage.
Bricks are amply sufficient for the wearing surface of
the principal streets of nearly all of our smaller places that
would not find a better material except after years of costly
experiment. The attitude of such places should be to al-
low others better able to do the experimenting, nor to be
led astray by the clever talk of professional salesmen in
adopting comparatively new compounds, but to stick to the
old and well worn paths of precedent.
(Personally the writer thinks highly of some forms of
asphaltic concrete pavements but this does not detract from
the truth stated above, that brick pavements are better un-
derstood and the great mileage of brick pavement put
down each year compared with other kinds seems to con-
firm that opinion.)
In the future some more satisfactory pavng material
than brick may be found, but at present this is doubtful.
The brick on Chambersburg streets will be laid on a
five inch concreate foundation on a one inch cushion. In
choosing the brick we took an old friend, those made in
Fairmount, W. Va., many thousands of which we had used
in the past for street crossings and the like.
One feature of the action of Chambersburg I should
not care to recommend as a principle, however necessary it
may be in occasional instances. That is the issuing of
bonds to pay for such an object as street paving, unless the
life of the bonds is made a short one. It has often hap-
pened that before the bond issue is retired that furnished
funds to pave, a new one is necessary to repair them.
In most cases of our small towns a good deal of pav-
ing could be done in the course of time by paving a few
136
blocks at a time. Take the case of our own town for in-
stance. Last year we spent $10,000 in repairing and put-
ting fresh macadam on the streets, though this included
some new work too. The year before $18,000 was spent.
As a result most of the stone hauled on the streets has been
pulverized and hauled off again as mud. Now, if out of
these sums $5,000 or $6,000 were appropriated each year,
it would not be a great while before all the town w«»
paved, financing the improvement under the act of 191 1.
that charges the borough with one-third and abutting
property owners two-thirds. The ordinary trolley fran-
chise requires such corporations to pave the street between
their rails and a distance each side.
Many of the various asphaltic concrete compounds make
admirable pavements with only the old macadam road for a
foundation. Streets treated thus, if the traffic is not too
dense and heavy, will last for man}' years, and repairs are
easy and cheap. I have reason to think that this can be
done for a sum that would enable us to put down a block
for every $1,000 we should thus devote.
At the end of a comparatively short space of time
any one of our boroughs may be paved by this method and
best of all, with no heavy burden of bonded indebtedness
stooping its shoulders.
Until the sewers were out of our way. however, it
was not considered good business to pave any streets that
would have to be cut and slashed up with trenches and
cross connections, so that up to this time it was not feasible
for Chambersburg to pursue a policy of comprehensive
street improvements and only now can it be taken up.
Nothing, they say, is certain in life except death and
taxes, and certain as they are, neither of them is at all
popular. People will fight off one as long as possible and
evade the oilier by even- possible artifice. Woe be to the
public official who raises the taxes! The matter of making
so many improvements in one small town at once, there-
fore, received considerable and anxious thuoHit on the
137
part of the borough authorities. But, after all, the entire
raise in the rate was only one and three-fourths mills,
which on our assessed valuation of $6,250,000 amounts to
about $11,000 a year and as that only brought the entire
late for borough, bond and school taxes up to 13 mills, we
could not feel that any great hardship had been inflicted,
when other towns pay from 17 to 21 mills in taxes.
This low tax rate is almost entirely due to the fact
that the town of Chambersburg owns its water and light
plants, both of them being on a paying basis. The water
plant turns into the treasury about $18,000 net each year,
and the electric light plant besides doing nearly $25,000
worth of street and free lighting, turns over in cash about
$1,000 a month from its commercial business. This lat-
ter sum for over a year has been placed in a sinking fund,
and the plant, which is about ready for retirement to that
grateful resting place, the junk heap, is about to be entirely
rebuilt and rehabilitated. The cost of doing this will be
about $30,000 and the entire revenue of the plant will be
devoted to this purpose. In the past all the revenues were
used for other purposes and when the plant needed any-
thing a bond issue provided the funds to keep it up. We
do not commend that way of doing business and it has
been discontinued with us.
(Not many months after this was written the electric
light plant broke down completely, necessitating its entire
reconstruction. This was done along the lines suggested
here and in a short time the improvement will have been
paid for out of the earnings of the plant itself.)
A word now about a matter that is receiving a tre-
mendous lot of attention lately and that is The Borough
Government.
There are just as many kinds that have been proposed
as there are cranks. They run all the way from councils
elected at large instead of by wards, through various forms
cf government by commission to a government by a gen-
eral manager.
138
Chambersburg has worked this whole thing out in ^
way that is perfectly satisfactory to herself and I think
you will agree from what has been told here of her progress
during the last three years, that it is not inefficient, judg-
ing it by the results it has attained.
The whole thing requires not a single new act of
legislature. Of course, the borough council, consisting of
two men from each of the five wards, is just the same as
that of every one of all the many boroughs in Pennsyl-
vania and serves without compensaton. It is divided into
committees on Finance, Water and Light, Streets, Fire,
Sewers and Rules and Ordinances. The Chief Burgess, a
salaried officer, is at the head of the Police Department.
There are paid superintendents of Water and Light who
report to that committee, the Borough Engineer is head of
the Street and Sewer departments and reports to those
committees while a Fire Superintendent acts as the execu-
tive officer of the Fire Committee. These officers are all
paid adequate salaries to secure first class men.
Before this system was put into force the executive
officer of each deaprtment was the chairman of the com-
mittee having charge of it and who thus was required to
take a great deal of time away from his business if he made
any pretense of doing his duty conscientiously.
The borough clerk of course performs the duties of
his office and acts as collector of water rates and electric
light and power bills. With a small allowance for clerk
hire his salary is derived from his commissions as collector.
The borough treasurer per f onus the duties of such
an officer and is also salaried.
In this way all that the borough Council is required to
do is to meet as the board of directors of a business con-
cern, to conduct the formal borough business, to authorize
the payment of bills and to keep a general oversight over
public affairs.
Under the old way, an order of council might or
might not be carried out. because the executive was a purely
139
voluntary officer and if he did not choose to obey or was
dilatory there was nothing to be done. Under the new
method, orders are executed with the same promptness and
efficiency that they would be performed in any business
concern.
This seems to us more American than either a com-
mission form of government or one by a manager. The
first creates an oligarchy and the second a near-monarchy.
The council is a purely American representative affar. You
are just as apt to get incompetent men in a Commission or
in a Manager as in a council, but they can do less harm in
the council than in a smaller body. Ordinarily in small
boroughs every man is well known who is a candidate and
his capabilities or incapabilities are very well known to all
his fellows.. If the people then choose the incapable and
inefficient instead of putting in good men to represent them
they deserve to have their public business mismanaged.
The Fire Department, generally under the care of
the Fire Marshal and Fire Committee and immediately
under the charge of the Fire Superintendent is managed by
the latter acting with the trustees of the five volunteer
companies. His functions are more particularly to care
and account for all borough property committed to the
companies. The Chief Engineer and his staff, who take
charge at fires, are elected by the companies themselves.
The trustees of the companies are required to make monthly
reports of the quantity and condition of all borough appa-
ratus, tools and materials entrusted to them and the Super-
intendent must know that these reports are correct, and
return them so certified to Council.
We have not said much about the city beautiful. There
is no doubt that Chambersburg has much to do along this
line, although favored by an unusually attractive location,
but it will take time, for our resources have been pretty
well absorbed with the things that were absolutely neces-
sary.. But well defined plans are formulating to secure a
140
park and playground and we hope that these may be
brought to a practical conclusion at some near time.
Like Topsy, however, Chambersburg can hardly be
said to have been planned, it just grew. We can see many
improvements that could have been made at the start. We
can see many errors that were made, but how to correct
them at this late day, without a very large expenditure of
money that we have not, is not so apparent and I expect
that her citizens must content themselves for awhile without
having recourse to any highbrow ideas.
Some things are practicable, such as conduits for wires,
street electroliers that, are ornamental in their character and
many other such details, and these things are beginning to
come up for consideration now that the fundamentals of
improvement have been accomplished.
(Ornamental electroliers were installed subsequent to
the date of this paper.)
I find that I am not alone in the ideas expressed above,
concerning Commission government.
In a recent editorial the Star-Independent says:
COMMISSION GOVERNMENT.
"The Philadelphia Record is another of trie State
newspapers that are neither ready nor willing to swallow
the commission form of government for third class cities
without being sure that it contains something to make it
please the general palate. It says in this morning's issues,
that: Tn the present state of municipal governments, or
the present low state of the art of governing municipalities,
commission government ought not to be forced upon any
city. But every city, large or small, ought to have the
right to try the system.'
"But there is a difference between having the right
to try something and being compelled to swallow it willy-
nilly. Concerning the character of the proposed new form
of government for third class cities in Pennsylvania the
Record says :
" 'A middle course in city government is the commis-
141
sion plan, adopted by Galveston in an emergency, and since
adopted by a good deal above a hundred cities, with gen-
erally satisfactory results. In a few cases it has bsen
abandoned, and there has been a reversion to a form mod-
eled upon the national government. But in most cases the
commission form has justified itself and been popular. But
we do not know enough about it yet to force it upon cities.
" 'The two features of the commission form which
facilitate good government are the small council, or board
of commissioners, or whatever it may be called, which
makes it easy to locate responsibility, and the abolition of
ward lines. Many men who can secure indefinite re-elec-
tion from their wards would have no chance running be-
fore the entire electorate.. Yet weak, incompetent and
even corrupt men have been elcted from large constitu-
encies and a vigilant and independent electorate is as essen-
tial to good government under the commission form as
under a government which reproduces on a small scale the
form of the government of the nation.'
"That means that after all, the character of a munici-
pal government depends on the people themselves. That
"is exactly what the Star-Independent has been saying these
many years. There is no form of election crookedness or
fault of government which the people cannot correct if
they will. If the citizens are negligent and indifferent there
will be corruption under any and every form of govern-
ment. It is within the power of the people to make their
government good without changing its form, to make their
officials and governing bodies loyal to the public interest, if
they will but exercise that power. It is not now and has
never been true that the people are helpless in the clutches
of lawless and law-breaking political machines.
142
THE CHURCH OF THE UNITED BRETHREN IN
CHRIST IN FRANKLIN COUNTY.
BY I. JAMES SCHAFF.
The society held its first winter meeting at the hospitable
home "of Judge Gilan. It was the first of its regular meetings
after the summer vacation. Because of the many other assem-
blies of a like nature, the society omitted the October meeting.
At the business meeting President Hoerner announced the death
iof Judge Rowe, which ocurred July 15, 1913, and the appoint-
ment of a committee to prepare a suitable minute, — Justice
John Stewart, Dr. Geo. F. Piatt, J. S. Mcllvaine, Geo. A. Wood.
H. A. Riddle — who reported as follows:
Inasmuch as the Hon. David Watson Rowe, a member of this
Society for fifteen years prior to his death, and its honored Presi-
dent in 1911-1912, has died since the last meeting of the Society,
tnat is, — on the 15th day of July, 1913, it is most fitting that we
testify in this formal manner to the feelings of sorrow, loss and
regret because uf his death, held by each member individually
and by the Society as a whole, and express our appreciation of
the exceeding great worth of Judge Rowe, as man, judge,
patriot, lawyer, historian and member and President of this
Society.
Physically Judge Rowe was good to look upon; moraly his life
was an example to be followed; profesionally he belonged to a
class of lawyers now only too few in numbers: as a iudge he
was an ornament to the Bench of this Commonwealth: intel-
lectually he was acute and, above all, thorough; as a soldier
both his patriotism and ability were above criticism; his friend-
ships thcrugh life were close and binding; as a historian he estab-
lished his reputation many years ago by his history of the 12fith
regiment of Pennsylvania Volunteers; as President of this So-
ciety none has done more for its welfare, and to all. relatives,
friends and acquaintances, he was a roost charming and agree-
able gentleman.
Therefore, be it resolved that this minute be entered upon
the records of the Society, that a copy thereof be sent to Mrs.
Rowe and furnished to the newspapers among the proceedings
of this meeting.
Joshua W. Sharpe, Esq., on behalf of the author. Henry W.
Shoemaker, presented to the society a copy of his work on
"Susquehanna Legends."
Prothonotary J. H. Sollenberger presented to the society, for
more careful preservation, a bound (German) newspaper file,
called the "Chambersburg Correspondent." It was published by
Ruby & Maxwell, 1831-1833. Mr. Sollenberger, in clearing up
old documents, came across the bound book on a shelf of the
office vault.
•Pv P «i,3 en t Hoerner th->nkod the donors. <=nying th n t the sifts
would be valuable contributions to the archives of the society.
Professor Schaff was then Introduced as the historian of the
evening ard warmly greeted. The Di'Odu^tinn elicited consider-
able discussion, and the author was given a hearty vote of
thanks. The Professor's work in matters historical has for years
been a feature in Local prints, as well as in the church Daper
and pericdi (-Is. He is one of our best known erlu^tnrs, ar>rl at
the present time a member of the Chambersburg school board.
The bistorv of the church of the United Brethren in
Christ in Franklin County dates back to near the close of the
143
eighteenth century, or to be more specific, to December 23.
1796. It was on the morning of that day that Rev. Chris-
tian Newcomer, one of the pioneer ministers of the church,
left his comfortable fireside, about seven miles southeast of
Hagerstown. and after a journey of thirty miles on horse
back reached Chambersburg in the evening of the same day.
It was a cheerless, lonely and fatiguing ride. The weather
was excessively cold, the country was but sparsely settled,
much of the route traversed was through vast tracts of tim-
ber and there was not a town along he road over which he
travelled, save Greencastle, and that was then a mere hamlet,
having been laid out only a few years before. When Mr.
Newcomer alighted from his steed in Chambersburg, on that
cold December evening, he represented all that there was of
the denomination with which he was associated and for the
furtherance of whose interests he labored so assiduously for
more than a third of a century. He spent the night in town,
tout does not mention in the journal that he kept of his
travels, the name of the family with whom he lodged as he
did in almost every other instance.
A Native of Lancaster County.
Mr. Newcomer was a native of Lancaster County, hav-
ing been born about seven miles east of Lancaster city, Janu-
ary 21. 1749. His parents were members of the Mennonite
iChurch and endeavored to bring up their children "in the
nurture and admonition of the Lord." At a very early age
Christian became deeply interested in religion and was bap-
tized into the Mennonite Society and united with the con-
gregaticn near his parents home. But uniting with the
church did not bring him the peace and joy that he believed
christians should possess. His experience was not satisfac-
tory to himself — the burden of guilt was not removed. He
spent much time in the study of the Scriptures and in prayer,
and before many months had eone by he was filled "with the
love of God that passeth knowledge."
On reaching manhood Mr. Newcomer learned the car-
penter trade, a vocation that he followed until the death of
his father, when he abandoned it to take charge of the home-
stead, that having been the request of his father, made during
144
his last illness. Before beginning his agricultural career he
was married to Miss Elizabeth Baer. who was born and
reared in the vicinity of his own home. Some months after
his conversion his peace of mind was disturbed by impres-
sions he had of his call to the christian ministry — a call that
he resisted, believing as he then did. that with his limited
education he was not fitted to assume an office, the respon-
sibilities of which were so great. Referring to this in his
journal he wrote : "I do sincerely believe if I had been
obedient to the call of God, I should have avoided the misery
into which I was again plunged ; but the office of a preacher
appeared to me of such importance; and not without cause.
I attached thereunto such an awful consequence. At the
same time I knew my own impotence and ignorance, thai I
could not be persuaded to preach, although often solicited by
my neighbors to do so. I continued to resist the solicitations
and entreaties, until, ultimately, Jonah like, I sought safety
in flight by selling my plantation and removing to the State
of Maryland."
While a resident of Pennsylvania, Mr. Newcomer had
heard Rev. Martin Boehm who was then a minister in tne
Mennonite Church, preach in the vicinity of his father's
home. He was present at the meeting held in the barn of
Isaac Long, on that memorable Whit Sunday, at which Mr.
Boehm preached with such power and unction that hun-
dreds, according to the traditional accounts, were led to a
better life by that sermon. After Mr. Newcomer had lo-
cated in Maryland, Rev. Messrs. Otterbein and Gelthing
frequently preached in the neighborhood of his home. In
making mention of this in his autobiography he wrote:
"Whereas these men preached the same doctrine which I
had experienced, and which, according to my views and dis-
cernment, perfectly agreed with the doctrines taught by
Christ and his apostles. I associated myself with them and
joined their society and was blessed."
Befoie joining the church of the United Brethern 'he
isevered his connection with the Mennonite Society. At
what time Mr. Newcomer began his ministerial career the
records do not show, but he was in attendance at the first
•45
conference held by the church in 1789. his name appearing
among the names of the ministers present. For many years
'he was untiring in his efforts to further the interests of the
cause that was so dear to him. at first preaching principally
in his own and nearby counties, but subsequently extending
his preaching tours into portions of Pennsylvania, Virginia,
and other parts of his adopted State. In 181 5 he was elected
one of the bishops of the church by the General Conference
that met at Mount Pleasant, Pa., and was re-elected at the
different sessions of that body, serving in all about sixteen
years. In the performance of his duties as bishop he made
many journeys to Ohio, Indiana, and other portions of the
west, traveling on horseback modern methods of travel not
'then having come into use. He preached both in the Ger-
man and the English language, though unable to speak the
latter with fluency. He continued to labor with wonderful
activity and diligence until a fortnight before nis death, his
last trip to the west having been made when lie was more
than four-score years old.
As previously mentioned Mr. Newcomer reached
JChambersburg in the evening of December 23d, and re-
mained in the town until noon of Christmas Day, and
preached in the forenoon — that, doubtless, being the first
sermon preached in the town or the county by a minister of
the United Brethren faith. On the 26th he preached at John
Hubers at the Rocky Spring, but returned to town in the
afternoon and preached again in the evening. "Many per-
sons," says Mr. Newcomer in his journal, desired that our
preachers should visit them frequently and preach in this
place," John Huber, at whose home he preached in the
forenoon of December 26th, was then a member of the Men-
nonite Church but M o r ioined the United Brethren as did all
the members of his family. He was the owner of a large
tract of hnd which surrounds the far-famed Rocky Soring,
about four miles north of Chamb^r^burg. and for a number
of ve^rs his home wps one of regular apnointments of the
pioneer ministers of the church. The house in which Huber
lived, and in which Newcomer preached, is yet st^ndinsr, and
is jMrlv well nr^served. Some changes have been made to
the building, but its general appearance is. no doubt, much
146
the same as it was a century ago. The farm is now owned
by Mr. Benjamin S. Funkhouser of Chambersburg.
, In a little more than a month after his first visit to
Chambersburg, he returned to this county preaching at
Huber's on the 24th of February, 1797, and, in the evening
of the same day, in Chambersburg. On the 4th of October
of the same year he made the following entry in his journal:
"I again set off, in company with Air. Geeting, on a journey
to Pennsylvania. In the evening Br. Geeting preached in
Chambersburg." The Geeting of whom he speaks, lived in
Maryland not far from the home of Newcomer and fre-
quently accompanied him on his journeys to this and othe*-
counties of the State, and on more extended tours.
I have made lengthy mention of Mr. Newcomer for the
reason that for more than thirty years he figured largely in
the early history of the church in the v?lley. From the time
of the first visit to the county in 1796, until near the close of
his life, he labored in almost every part of it, maKing preach
ing lours twice or thrice e^ch y°ar, holding forth the Word
of Life in private dwellings, in school houses, barns or in
the op°n air, sneaking, probablv to a greater number of per-
sons than any other minister of his day. He was well fitted
for the place. He was tall in stature and of commanding
presence and b Q ino- possessed of a robust constitution was
prepared to withstand t 1_i e hardships and perform th^ duties
common to the itinerant mi«icr<»rf; of tho<=e earlv times.
The Fetterhoff Appointment.
As early as 1802. Mr. Newcomer began holding ser-
vices at the house of George Fetterhoff, one of the early set
tiers of the county. He was a native of Dauphin County.
The exact date of his coming to this countv cannot be defi-
nitely determined, but it was soon after the close of he Revo-
lutionary War. He located on a farm which he had pur-
chased shortly before his removal, and on which he erected
a small dwelling, taking possession while the building was
in an unfinished state. Several y°ars later he built a larger
building, into which he transferred his household effects and
made it his home during the remainder of his life, which oc-
curred during the month of July. 18 19. The farm of which
147
he was the occupant and owner, is located about ten miles
southeast of Chambersburg and not far distant from what
for many years been known as FetterhofFs Chapel."
Mr. Fetterhoff was a member of the Lutheran Church
for many years, his name appearing on the records of the
Grindstone Hill congregation as late as 1801. The Grind-
stone Hill Church was about four miles distant from his
home, and was erected in 1766. Whether he ever formally
withdrew from the Lutheran Church, the records do not
show, but for almost two decades before his death his home
was one of the regular appointments of the pioneer ministers
of the Church of the United Brethren in Christ. Bishop
Newcomer, in his journal under date of July 25th, 1802,
says : "At night I preached at Fetterhoff 's." On Sunday,
November 18. 1803, his journal contains the following:
"This forenoon I preached at FetterhofFs from John 16:8.
9. Here I got information that Br. Funk had departed this
life and is to be buried to-morrow," adding, under date of
November 19 : "This morning I set out before day. and ar-
rived in time for the funeral. Stover spoke first, then Fer-
guson and Geeting."
Under dates of Saturday and Sunday. September 25
and 26, 1819, Bishop Newcomer wrote: "Had a sacra-
mental meeting at FetterhofFs ; before I entered the house I
was informed that Brother Fetterhoff had been buried the
day before, and two of his children were lying sick in the
house. I spoke from Matthew 5 :8."
Mr. Fetterhoff was buried on his farm, not more than
several hundred yards from the house in which he spent so
many years of his life. It is probable that he had a presenti-
ment of his death, for, a short time before the took sick, in
strolling over a part of his land in company with his wife,
he selected the place where he wished to be buried, and
marked it by driving a small stake into the ground. Soon
after his death a plot of several rods square was fenced off as
a grave yard and srnce then other members of his family
have been hid to rest within the same enclosure. After the
death of Mr. Fetterhoff, his widow continued in possession
of the homestead, and services were held there for many
years. The last time Bishop Newcomer preached there was
148
on Tuesday, December 9, 1828, his death occurring in a little
more than a year thereafter.
The Lemaster Appointment.
About five miles south of Chamoersburg is located the
farm once owned and occupied by Andrew Lemaster, the
Chambersburg and Greencastle road passing through the
land from north to south. The farm lies one mile north of
Marion, though at the time Mr. Lemaster was the owner of
the farm the village had not been laid out. The house in
which Mr Lemaster lived is a stone structure, and is yet
standing. The original building, though not an imposing
one, was no doubt, at the time of its completion regarded as
a house of more than ordinary proportions. It w r as en-
larged a good many years ago, and more recently other
changes and additions were made, so that now it is one of
the finest farm-houses in that part of Franklin County.
Andrew Lemaster joined the Church of the United
Brethren in Christ early in life, and while he was the occu-
pant of the farm referred to. Bishop Newcomer occasional')'
preached in the original stone building, or spent a night
there as he journeyed to, or from, his home in Washington
County, Maryland, on a preaching tour down the Cumber-
land Valley. Mr. Lemaster sold the farm and purchased
another and larger tract situated about eight miles south-
west of the one described, and four miles south of the village
cf St. Thomas. Pa. It was on the last-named farm that he
spent the remainder of his life, having resided thereon from
Anril, 1802, to December 4, 1818, when his death occurred.
The house in which he lived for many years and in which he
died, was built of logs and was torn down more than a
quarter of a century ago and replaced by a larger and more
up-to-date dwelling.
That Bishop Newcomer frequently preached at Leni-
aster's after his removal from the vicinity of Marion, is
shown bv the following entries in his journal. "Under date
of June iq. 1803, he wrote: "I left home for Pennsyl-
vania ; came as far as Lemaster's, found him very well and
tarried for the nieht." April 6, 1P01: "I preached at Lem-
aster's to a small congregation, but had a good class-meet-
149
ing." May 25, 1805. "This day a quarterly meeting com-
menced at .Lemaster's; Brothers Boehm. Sneider and Shaf-
fer were present, "adding under date of the 26th : "Father
Boehm preached this morning with great power; other
brethren followed him. Un tne whole it was a good meet-
ing." June 23 and 24, 1810, Bishop Newcomer wrote: "We
had a two-day's meeting at Lemaster's."
All of Mr. Lemaster's children, of whom there were
five sons and two daughters, were converted and became
members of the United Brethren Church. Two of his sons,
John and Daniel, removed to Virginia, after their marriage,
and located not far from Falling Waters, now one of the
stations on the main line of the Cumberland Valley Rail-
road.
At the home of Daniel Lemaster, Bishop Newcomer
preached quite often, and as an outgrowth of that appoint-
ment, several congregations were organized later and
churches erected in the vicinity of the Daniel Lemaster
home. Another son of Andrew Lemaster — Philip Lemaster
— purchased a farm several miles southwest of Chambers-
burg and moved thereon, making that his home for man)
years. His house was one of the regular appointments on
the Chambersburg Circuit prior to 1850. His son, John A.
Lemaster was for fully forty years an active and prominent
member of the First United Brethren Church in Chambers-
burg. He filled many official positions in the church, among
which was that of superintendent of the Sunday School,
having served in that capacity and as assistant superintend-
ent, for well nigh a quarter of a century. His death oc-
curred only a few years ago.
The Kumler Appointment.
In the spring of 18 10, Henry Kumler and family came
to this county, locating on a farm that he had purchased
shortly before, situated three or four miles south of Green-
castle, the turnpike leading from Greencastle to Williams-
port, Md., dividing the tract into two unequal parts. Mr.
Kumler, prior to his removal to the farm mentioned, had
been a resident of Lancaster county. When about seventeen
years of age he became a member of the German Reformed
i5o
Church, and soon thereafter left heme to learn a trade, fully
resolved to leaa a Christian life, hor some montns atter be-
ginning the term of his apprenticeship he faithfully kept his
resolution, but his employer and wife were irreligious people,
found of dancing and other worldly amusements, so that
young Kumler's environments were not such as one of his
years and inexperience needed to make advancement in the
divine life. He soon abandoned his secret devotions, grew
more and more indifferent to, and less interested in, church
work, and whilst he did not sever his connection with the
church the relationship was nominal rather than active. So
he lived until the year 1811 — one year after coming to
Franklin county. Then he awakened to his true condition.
He became dissatisfied with his Christian experience, and
was in deep distress and, believing as he did, that that was
his last call, he spent much time in prayer — seeking relief
from a burden that was almost unbearable After the expira-
tion of several weeks, while in his barn one evening, deliver-
ance came, and he was filled with joy unspeakable. Hasten-
ing to his house, he made known to his wife the wonderful
change that had been wrought in him, and before many
months had gone by he had the pleasure of seeing his com-
panion and children converted.
Shortly after his conversion he withdrew from the Ger-
man Reformed Church, and joined the United Brethren in
Christ. Having changed his church relationship, ministers
of the last named denomination at hi? request, began hold-
ing meetings at his house, and continued so to do. probably
onc~ a month, until he removed from the countv. The house
in which Mr. Kumler lived, and in which the meetings were
hekl. was erected in t<°oo. It is vet standing. The building
is fwo-storv, b'l'h of limestone nronT Q d. no donbt. on the
farm — ctone of that kind bMne found th^re in abundance.
The walls of the house ^re ne^rlv two frpf in thickn^s. and
af\ ^nnarentlv. ?s solid as tb^v we at the time of their
comnl Q tion. Some v^ars a^o th^ shin^l roof was renlaced
bv nn° of slate, and some minor rh?m<Tp<; w»re made to the
interior -otherwise the exterior pnd thp interior nr^s°nt the
same appearance that they did when Mr. Kumler was the
151
owner. Preaching services were held in a large "upper
room" — one-halt ot the entire second rloor having Deen spec-
ially htted up tor tnat purpose. Tne room was large enougn
to accommoaate all who came to tne regular meetings, out
on special occasions — once a year, when tne "annual meet-
ing" was hem — tne crowds were large, and services were
held in the barn, or in the open air. ine room in the house
once used for religious services has been divided, making
two smaller ones, but in other respects it is the same as when
the pioneer ministers of the church held meetings there.
Probably the first minister of the United Brethren in Christ
who preached at Mr. Kumler's was Rev. Christian New-
comer, previously mentioned. In his journal, under date of
October 17, 1813, lie made the following entry therein: "At
night he had a blessed meeting at Henry Kumler's. Several
were in great distress, and some obtained peace with God in
the pardon of their sins." On the fourth of November fol-
lowing, Rev. Mr. Newcomer preached again at Mr. Kum-
ler's and also on May 22d, 18 14, as appears by the following
from his journal, under that date : "We had a sacramental
meeting at Henry Kumler's ; we had a good time ; several
persons were under deep conviction and some obtained
peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ."
Almost a year later, May 8th. 18 14, the Rev. Mr. New-
comer wrote : "I preached to a numerous congregation at
Henry Kumler's," and on the 9th, he says ■ '.Our conference
commenced here to-day. May the God of Peace be with
us. In the evening Brother Hoffman preached with great
power." On the roth he wrote : "This was a day ot grace."
Under date of the eleventh he adds : "Bless the Lord for the
love and union that prevails in the conference. This evening
I preached first, Hoffman followed me. I then washed my
brethren's feet, in imitation of our Lord and Master, and
administered the Lord's Supper. The meeting continued un-
til after midnight, and all were filled with love and joy in the
Holy Ghost."
The conference adjourned on the 12th — two ministers,
Abraham Mevers and Tacob Dehof. havinp- been solemnlv or-
dained to the office of elder by the imposition of hands. The
152
Hoffman of whom mention was made, was Joseph Hoffman,
who afterwards was elected one of the bishops of the church.
Another important meeting of ministers was held at
the home of Henry Kumler on February nth, iSiy. Of
that meeting Rev. Mr. Newcomer has the following to say :
"Twelve preachers, six of the United Brethren in Christ and
six of the Albright Brethren, met this day at Henry Kum-
ler's to make another effort to unite the two societies, but we
could not succeed in coming to an agreement."
An effort had been made in the Fall of 1813 to unite
the two denominations named but failed. In speaking of the
last named meeting or convention, Rev. Mr. Newcomer
wrote: "The greatest stumbling-block appeared to be this:
That according to our discipline, our local preachers have a
vote in conference as well as the traveling preachers. This
was a 'sine qua non' which the Albright Brethren could or
would not accede to, so we parted."
The barn on the Kumler farm was built some years be-
fore the house was erected. It is also a stone structure, and
though not as well preserved as the dwelling, looks substan-
tial enough to do service for years. Both buildings stand a
short distance west of the turnpike mentioned.
Mr. Kumler was licensed to preach in 1813.. At first he
labored in a local capacity, assisting other ministers in re-
vival services, and at times filling their appointments. In
181 5 he was one of the delegates to the General Conference
which met that year near Mt. Pleasant, Westmoreland
county, Pa., that having been the first General Conference
held by the United Brethren in Christ. In 18 16 he was as-
signed to what was then known as the Virginia Circuit, and
in filling his regular appointments on the charge, traveled
nearly four hundred miles every four weeks, making the
trips on horseback, through rain or snow, cold or heat, sun-
shine or clouds. In 18 17 he served as presiding elder and in
T825 wos elected one of the Bishops of the Church, and was
re-elected in 182Q. 1833, 1837 and 1841, holding the office
continuously until 18 15, a period of twenty years. During - the
first eiVht years that he served as Bishop he crossed the Alle-
gheny Mountains eighteen times on horseback. On these
J 53
journeys he was frequently accompanied by his co-worker,.
Bishop Newcomer.
While Mr. Kumler lived in Franklin county, his son
Henry was converted when but twelve years of age. He
united with the United Brethren congregation at Green-
castle, and was elected class leader the same year. Young > ,
he was he met his r.lass regularly, making the journey to and
from town often on foot, the round trip being nearly eight
miles. Upon reaching manhood he was licensed to preach,
and traveled extensively. He served for awhile as Presiding
Elder, and later in life was elected to the office of Bishop —
the only instance in the history of he church where father
and son held the same position, both serving during the same
quadrennium. Henry Kumler, Sr.. sold his farm in Frank-
lin county in 1819, and in March of that year went to what
was then considered the "Far West" — locating in Butler
county, Ohio, in which state he spent the remainder of his
life.
The Flickinger House.
The farm on which Mr. Kumler lived was, for some
years owned by John Hade, and the one a short distance to
the eastward owned by his brother. J. Frank Hade, was in
the early part of the 18th century, known as the "Flickinger
Farm," Jacob Flickinger having been the occupant and
owner for several score of years or more. The farm dwell-
ing was built in 1800 and is yet in a good state of preserva-
tion. Bishop Newcomer made frequent visits and preached
there quite often. Mr. Flickinger removed to Ohio some
time between 1820 and 1830, locating in Ohio, a "Western
Fever" having taken hold of many of the residents of the
county, among them being a member of the United Brethren
faith. Their removal was a serious loss to the church in the
east, but they did much for its upbuilding in the states to
which they went, many of their descendants becoming active
and prominent members of the church in their respective lo-
calities.
A short distance south of Greencastle and situated along
the Williamsport pike is another United Brethren Land
154
Mark — the barn on the farm of Jacob Wingert who identi-
fied himself with the United Brethren Church in the early
years of its existence. He owned the farm on which he lived
and resided thereon until his death, which occurred about
1863. At his home religious services were often held by
Newcomer and others but the house in which Mr. Wingert
lived and in which the meetings were held has been replaced
by one of more modern style of architecture. The old barn
is yet in use. In it services were held on Sacramental occa-
sions, or "Two Days' Meetings" as they were called — the
dweling being too small to accommodate the throngs who
came to hear the word. Mr. Wingert was licensed to preach
and received into the Pennsylvania Conference, but labored
in a local capacity only. He was a good man, honest and up-
right in all the relations of life and enjoyed the confidence
and esteem of a wide acquaintanceship.
Although Bishop Newcomer preached in the vicinity of
Greencastle before the close of the 18th century, no sen-ices
were held in the town until 1805 — the year of itts incorpora
tion. Under date of April 7th of that year his journal cor
tains the following: "This forenoon I preached in Green-
castle." He continued to preach in the town once or twice
each year pretty regularly until the year preceding his death,
the services having been held in the house of Rev. Peter
Hawbecker and some times in the "Union School House"
— a building that was owned jointly by the United Brethren,
the Lutheran and the Reformed people. The building is yet
in use. having been converted into a dwelling after it ceased
to be used for services. It stands on the lot adjoining the
United Brethren Church on the south.
The membership having increased in numbers, a
church was erected in 1828, on a lot that had been purchased
thirteen vears before, or in 181 5. The church was a frame
and weatherboarded structure, one story in height without
ornamentation and was dedicated Feb. 12. 182Q. Bishop
Newcomer who was then on his last tour west, assisting- in
the dedic^torv services, which were conducted by Bishop
Henrv Kumler who was then on a visit east. The trustee 1 ?
at the time the church was built were John Dome, George
155
Zigler, Samuel Lenhart, Jacob Wingerd and Solomon
Moore. The church stood until 1887, when it was torn
down and the present two-story brick edifice erected on the
site of the old one.
Preached at Walgamoth's.
The sentence, 'Treadled at Walgamoth's" occurs quite
often in the journal of Bishop Newcomer, and it is likely
that the Walgamoth to whom he refers then lived at what
is now Middleburg, located midway between Greencastle
and Hagerstown. The first dwelling erected on the side of
the village was built by a Mr. Walgamoth, but in what year
no one seems to know. The purpose of the original owner
•Was to so locate it that half of the building would stand in
Pennsylvania, the other half on Maryland soil; and tor
years he rested content in the belief that he 'had done so.
Later surveys, however, showed that the chimney only —
one of these mamoth ones built on the outside of the primi-
tive dwellings was the only part of the building that was
north of the Mason and Dixon Line. It is altogether prob-
able that it was in the dwelling referred to that the Bishop
preached, for it was not more than a dozen miles from his
home at Beaver Creek and along the route usually traversed
by him as he made tours down the valley. The United Breth-
ren organized a society in the village at an early day. likely
before the death of Bishop Newcomer, in 1830, and it is not
unlikely that among the membership were those who had
been led to a better life under his precahing. He was the
first minister to spread the doctrine of the church at points
Jin the valley which were more remote from his home, and
the presumption is that he was the first one of the denomina-
tion to preach in Middleburg.
The congregation at Middleburg formed part of the
"Old Hagerstown Circuit," and as early as 184.3 erected a
church building which is still in use. Among- the ministers
who served the "Old Hagerstown Circuit" and who
preached at Middleburg, were Revs. J. J. Glossbrenner and
Jacob Markwood, who were subsequently elected to the
office of Bishop.
i56
The great majority of those who composed the congre •
gation at the village, at the time the church was built, have
passed away.. Some of them repose in the graveyard ad-
joining the building toward the erection of which they con-
tributed and within whose walls they often worshiped.
Others removed from the neighborhood and, after complet-
ing life's work, were laid to rest in some city of the deaa
quite remote from the place where they first opened their
eyes upon the busy, bustling world.
One of the persons buried in the graveyard adjoining
the church is James Harris Mellinger, son of Mr. and Mrs.
John G. Mellinger, who were former residents of the village
of Middleburg, and members of the church there. The
son, though but little more than sixteen at the outbreak of
the Civil War. entered the army and made an enviable rec-
ord for the courage displayed at the battle of Antietam, in
which engagement he was killed. He was buried on the
field on which he fought, but some time afterward was ex-
humed and his remains brought to the village from which fie
had gone forth, strong and vigorous, and reinterred in the
burying-ground near his parents' homes.
The congregation at Scotland and the one at Fayette
ville, as well, are the outgrowths of what was called the
"Shively Appointment," which was at the house of Jacoo
Shively, five miles east of Chambersburg. Mr. Shively was
a native of Arle township, Lancaster county, but came •*»
this county in the spring of 1805, taking possession of a
tract of two hundred and fifty acres which he had pur-
chased shortly before. He spent the remainder of his life on
the farm referred to. As Bishop Newcomer had been ?.
resident of Lancaster county , he may have known Mr.
Shively while living in that part of the state. However that
may be. Mr. Shively had not long been a resident of this
county until the Bishop preached at his home and until the
death of Mr. Shively it was continued as one of his regular
preaching places. After his death his son John became the
owner of the homestead and being a member of the church
the pioneer ministers who travelled Chambersburg Circnk.
preached there regularly, until some years later when the
157
services were held in the school house near the Shiveiy
farm. The present owner of the farm, John E. Shiveiy, -t
great grandson of the first named is a resident of Fayette
ville and a member of the church there. One of his sons,
Rev. B. F. Shiveiy, was sent out by the Foreign Board as a
missionary to Japan, he and his wife, who was Miss Grace
Bessie, being now located at Kyoto, in that far-away land.
At St. Thomas, Lemasters, Fort Loudon, Mercersburg.
Mont Alto. Waynesboro and Quincy, congregations were or-
ganized many years ago, also the one near Caladonia, at
each of which appointment churches were erected, all of
them being creditable buildings and some of them of the
most modern styyle of architecture, and sufficiently large to
meet the demands of the congregations for years to come.
The Northwest Territory.
From what I glean from the diary of Bishop New-
comer, he made but one tour into the territory northwest of
what is now known as Crider's church, and that was to
Upper Strasburg on the 28th of January, 1816. Of his
visit there he wrote : "To-day I had an appointment at
Upper Strasburg, a place where I had not been before; a
numerous congregations assembled. I spoke from II Peter
1:19; the word appeared to make considerable impression.
How soon after the Bishop's visit to the town, ministers of
the United Brethren Church began holding regular services
there I have not been able to learn, but an organization was
effected there far back in the past century, and before the
year 1850 the membership had so increased in numbers as
to necessitate the building of a house of worship which is
yet standing, but in an improved and enlarged form, re-
pairs and alterations having been made at different times.
The Otterbein Church.
About the year 18 14. John Mower removed, with his
family from Cumberland county to a tract of land which he
had purchased shortly before. He was a wagon maker by
trade and soon after his removal to that county he erected a
shop on the site of what is now Mowersville. in which he
worked for many years. He was the father of a large fam-
158
ily, a man of sterling character, and enjoyed the confidence
and esteem of a wide acquaintanceship.
One of John Mower's sons was Joseph Mower who
learned the trade with his father and subsequently began
business for himself in the shop in which he served his
apprenticeship, and in connection with the wagon making
businuess began the manufacture of buggies, continuing
therewith for a period of forty-seven years. Mr. Mower
identified himself with the United Brethren church when
quite young, and held membership therewith for sixty-
seven years, when his death occurred. For more than half
a century he was Superintendent of the Otterbein Sunday-
School, near his home. He was faithful in his attendance
upon all the services of the church, was wonderfully gifted
in prayer, and made it the rule of his life to give one tenth
of his income to the Lord. He was honest, humble, truly
pious, and wielded an influence for good in the community
in which he spent his entire life, being in his 87th year at
the time of his death. His end was calm and peaceful, a
fitting close to a long and useful life.
The home in which John Mower lived is yet in a good
state of preservation. In it Joseph Mower was born, and
in it he spent the whole of his life. It is situated in
Mowersville, a village that was laid out by him, hence its
name. In this building the ministers of the United Breth-
ren Church often preached, and frequently enjoyed the
hospitality of the home. The pious example of the parents
and the impression made upon the minds of the children by
the sermons delivered in the home, resulted in the conver-
sion of all of their children, and as an outgrowth of the
appointment at the Mower home, came the Otterbein Con-
gregation, which later attained such proporions that the
membership built what was formerly known as Mower's,
but is now called Otterbein Church.
The Otterbein church was built in 1845. It occupies
a beautiful site some distance from the village. It is a
brick structure and having been enlarged and improved
some fifteen years ago, will meet the requirements of the
membership for years to come. It was in the original
church at Mowersville thai the Pennsylvania Conference
i59
held its annual session in 1849. Bishop John Russell pre-
siding. The Conference then had an enrollment of lift)
ministers, only thirty of whom were present. It was at
this conference that John Dickson, afterward Bishop Dick-
son, was voted ordination license with the privilege of
naming the time for the ordination service, but as he was
called away to preach the funeral sermon of one of his
parishioners, he was not ordained until the year following,
when the Conference was held in York.
In what year a congregation was organized at Orrs-
town, I do not know, but certainly well night three-fourths
of a century ago. In 1852 a brick church was erected
there during the pastorate of Rev. T. F. Hallowell, who
was a prominent member of the church and of the Penn-
sylvania Conference.
As early as 1805 , possibly at an earlier date, Bishop
Newcomer preached at the home of John Crider, situated
about five miles northwest of Chambersburg, and the ap-
pointment was continued there until the death of Mr.
Crider, in 1842. Mr. Crider entered the ministry of the
church of the United Brethren in Christ, and labored with
great success for many years. He was wonderfully gifted
in song and was denominated the "sweet singer'* of the
Pennsylvania Conference, of which body he was a member
during all the years that he was in the ministry. He was
the father of the late Joseph S. Crider, of Chambersburg
and the grand father of A. L. Crider, who holds member
ship with the First United Brethren Church, South Second
street.
Near the home of the Rev. John Crider lived Christ-
ian Crider, who came to this county, from Dauphin County
early in the past century. Being a member of the church,
the services were sometimes held at his home, and in the
barn on the farm, services were held on sacramentad occa-
sions. In this barn, which is yet standing, Bishop William
Otterbein, it is said preached, near the close of his life.
He was then living in Baltimore, and as railroads were not
then in existence, he must have journeyed to the place of
meeting in his own private conveyance. The membership
at Crider's having increased in numbers, a church building
i6o
became a necessity, and in 1844, a house of worship was
erected on a lot that had formed part of the farm of which
the Rev. John Crider was the owner and on which he lived.
The building was a brick structure and was dedicated in
the fall of 1844, the dedicatory sermon having been
preached by the Rev. George Miller, who was then pastor
of the First United Brethren church in Chambersburg.
The building stood until 1868 when it was removed and
the one that is now in use erected on the site of the old
one. It is also a brick structure, of larger size than its
predecessor, and is known by the name "Criders" Church"
as was also the original building, for the membership at
first was composed largely of the Crider people.
Among others who held membership at Crider's
Church were the parents of Judge W. Rush Gillan and
John W. Gillan, of Chambersburg. At what time they
united with the congregation. I do not know, but it was
many years ago, — possibly soon after the erection of the
first church, and the relationship was continued until their
death. They were noble, active and influential people.
They repose in the graveyard adjoining the church and
near their resting place is the grave of the Rev. John Cri-
der and wife to whom reference is made above, and many
others with whom they often worshipped, repose in the
same burial plot.
The territory embraced in Path and Horse Valleys
was visited by members of the United Brethren faith far
back in the past century, and in the latter are several con-
gregations that own their own homes of worship as do
those in Path Valley. Indeed there is scarcely a locality
in the county in which the pioneer preachers or their suc-
cessors did not preach the gospel of the Kingdom, bringing
comfort to believers and arousing the impenitent and lead-
ing them into the way of life.
To give in detail an account of the other congrega-
tions in the northwestern part of the County would swell
this article beyond proper limits, but the labors of those
who preached the Word in that section were abundantly
blessed, for from that locality have come Dr. W. H. Wash-
inger, Superintendent of the Pennsylvania Conference,
i6i
Dr. Walter G. Clippinger, President of Otterbein Univer-
sity, Westernville, Ohio, Dr. S. D. Faust, Professor in
Union Biblical Seminary, the Rev. Alexander Owen who
served as President of Mt. Pleasant College, later as Presi-
dent of Otterbein University and Editor of the Unity
Magazine, or Ladies' Home Companion publications issued
from the United Brethren Publishing House, Dayton,
Ohio. Mr. Owen was recognized as one of the ablest
men of the Pennsylvania Conference, with which he held
membership. His brothers William and Wilson were also
members of the Pennsylvania Conference, and another
brother, the Rev. Dr. S. W. Owen, has been pastor of St.
John's Lutheran Church, Hagerstown for more than two
score years.
Others who were reared in the northwestern part of
the County and who became prominent ministers in the
church were the late Rev. H. A. Schlichter, and eight of
the sons of Simon Mowers, while one of his daughters is
the wife of a Presbyterian minister. From the vicinity of
Mongatl came the three Weidler brothers, able ministers of
the U. B. Church, each having served a number of the
charges within the limits of the County. From the same
locality came the Revs. J. O. Clippinger, now a resident of
our town, and possibly others whose names I do not recall.
THE FORMATION OF CIRCUITS.
No effort seems to have been made to form charges of
the appointments in this and other counties of this state,
until the year 1802. At the session of the Annual Confer
ence, held that year in Frederick County, Maryland, the
following appears in the minutes: "Resolved, That Christ-
ian Newcomer visit Cumberland Circuit twice yearly."'
How many appointments composed -the "Cumberland Cir-
cuit" cannot now be told, but certainly all the places in this
valley at which the early ministers of the church preached,
and possibly others in York, Dauphin, Lebanon and Adams
Counties.
As the membership increased, new appointments were
taken up and the name "Hagerstown Circuit" was given
to those in the Cumberland Valley. At the session of the
Pennsylvania Conference, held in 1828, the Hagerstown
[62
Circuit was divided — one part retaining its former name,
the other or new part was called Carlisle Circuit. In 183 1,
the Hagerstown Circuit was again divided — all of the ap-
pointments in Franklin County being detached and organ-
ized into a charge which was known as the "Chambersburg
Circuit". This is the first time the name Chambersburg
Circuit appears on the Conference minutes. Rev. F. Gil-
bert was pastor of the charge during the year 1831. What
was then the Chambersburg Circuit included all of what is
now the Rocky Spring Circuit, the Alt. Alto, Shippensburg,
St. Thomas, Path Valley, Marion — all the appointments
within the county, as previously stated.
Prior to 1845 rne United Brethren had but few churches
and the meetings were held in private dwellings or in
school houses. As late as 1842 what is now the Marion
appointment had no existence. The membership in that
part of the county held services at the home of Jacob
Schaff, situated half-mile north of Brown's Mills and two
miles southeast of the village of Marion. The appoint-
ment was continued there from 1835 until the y^ar 1842.
During the summer of that year the society built a church
near Marion, and since then services have been held there.
The church was dedicated early in November. The build-
ing was of brick, probably forty by fifty feet in size and had
a seating capacity of about 250. The mason work was
done by the late J. B. Crowell, of Greencastle, the carpen-
ter work by Jacob Newman, and the plastering by Jacob
C. Smith and his brother, George. Jacob C. Smith, who
assisted in the work of plastering, was just beginning his
ministerial career, and afterwards became one of the promi-
nent and influential members of the Pennsylvania Confer-
ence.
Another appointment on the Chambersburg Circuit
was at Red School House, in Hamilton Township. The
building was located about seven miles southwest of Cham-
bersburg, and was probably erected as early as 1825. tl
was a frame weathered structure and was wainted red,
whence its name — a name by which it was known until it
was torn down, though for years before its destruction
scarcely a trace of the original color was visible. Regular
1 63
preaching services were then, as now, held there once every
two weeks, at which the attendance was usually large.
Protracted meetings were of annual occurrence at which
times the capacity of the building was taxed to its utmost,
frequently many being unable to gain admittance. It was
at a protracted meeting held att he Red School House dur-
ing the month of November, 1843, by Rev. J. C. Smith,
who was then serving his first year in the ministry, that
John Dickson, afterward Bishop Dickson, was converted
and united with the church. During the same protracted
effort, Jacob Eby experienced a change of heart and join-
ed the church, holding membership with the class at Red
School House until his removal to the west about the mid-
dle of the last century. He located in Indiana, but died
four years after leaving the county, from an attack of
typhoid fever. He was a brother of Ex-County Superin-
tendent S. H. Eby of Greencastle and was a man oif ster-
ling worth.
Possibly as easly as 1825, regular services were held
about once a month, by the United Brethren, in what was
known at Guitner's School house, and has been so called
during all the intervening years between that time and the
present. The building yas named "Guitners" after Jacob
Guitner, who donated the ground upon which it stood.
It is located three miles south of Greencastle and occupies
the site of its predecessors, the present structure being the
fourth including the original building that was erected
away back in the dim past. According to traditional ac-
counts the school house in which Enoch Brown and his
pupils were slaughtered by Indians, July 26, 1764, was
abandoned for school purposes soon after that fateful day,
the site at Guitners secured and a log structure built there-
on by the citizens of the neighborhood. Its successor was
also built of logs and in it the early ministers of the United
Brethren preached as opportunities afforded. It was
in the second building that Bishop Dickson began his peda-
gogical career and it was while teaching his first term there
that he was converted, as stated elsewhere in this sketch.
Among those who attended school there dnring Bishop
Dickson's first team was Ex-County Superintendent Eby,
164
of Greencastle. One of the sons of Jacob Guitner who do-
nated the school lot was Daniel Guitner, who, on attaining
his majoiity, learned the rdug business and afterward con-
ducted a drug store in Greencastle, abandoning it later to
engage in the dry goods business. He was a prominent
member of the United Brethren Church in Greencastle,
while a resident of the town, but soon after the founding
of Otterbein University at Westerville, Ohio, he disposed
of his store and real estate and removed to the college
town referred to. His purpose in leaving his native state
was to give his children the benefit of a college education.
His plans were carried into effect with gratifying results,
for five of his six children, two sons and three daughters,
were graduated from the institution named. John A.
Guitner, the oldest son was elected to a professorship in
the University soon after graduating therefrom, first as
professor of English Literature, later as professor of
mathematics and subsequently as professor of Green lan-
guage. Such were his attainments that he was accepted as
authority in the Greek language and was frequently
quoted by some of the best linguists in the country. His
death occurred in 1900. About the year 1827 the United
Brethren erected a neat frame and weather boarded house
of worship near the school building in which the congre-
gation has worshipped ever since. Although the member-
ship at Guitners was never large, the labors of the minis-
ters who preached there were productive of much good.
Another appointment in the county that had its be-
ginning thre-quarters of a century ago was at "Union
School House" that stood near the boundary line between
Antrim and Quincy Townships, as a point about two miles
east of Clay Hill. Because children of either district, re-
siding in the vicinity of the school building could attend
school there and also from the fact that the schools of each
township had contributed funds for the erection of the
building, it was named "Union School House."
Quite a number of persons who lived in the neighbon
hood of the school house w r ere members of the Church of
the United Brethren in Christ,, and soon after the comple-
tion of the building a society was organized and served by
1 6 5
the regular pastors of the Chambersburg Circuit, services
being held in the school house once or twice a month. Af-
ter having been in use several decades, the building, no
longer fit for school purposes, was torn down and two new
buildings erected — one by the directors of Quincy Town-
ship, east of the old site — the other by the directors of
Antrim Township, near Clay Hill. The appointment was
then transfened to the last named building and continued
there for a number of years, when the growing" needs of
the congregation required the erection of a larger house
in which to worship; so under the directing hand of Rev.
J. T. Shafer, then pastor of the charge, a lot was purchas-
ed early in 1872 and the work of erecting a church thereon
at once began and pushed to a rapid completion. The
building was dedicated during the summer of that year,
Bishop Jonathan Weaver having charge of the dedicatory
services. The church is located on the road leading from
Brown's Mill to Five Forks, and about half mile west of
the Clay Hill School House. It is a weather boarded
structure and has a seating capacity or between 300 and
400. It is kept in good repair and services are held there
once every two weeks.
In the absence of the original records, which are lost
or mislaid, it is impossible to give all the names of those
who composed the class in its early history, but among the
active members during the time the society worshipped in
Union School House were Amos Miller, Isaac Burns, John
Strine, D. H. Kohler, Jacob Wingerd, S. Pentz and P.
G. Strine.
THE CHURCH IN CHAMBERSBURG.
Bishop Newcomer lived long enough to see some fruit
of his labor, not only in Chambersburg and other parts of
the county, but throughout the length and breadth of the
valley as well, as in other territories over which he trav-
elled. As early as 1822 a class was organized in Cham-
bersburg, and small as was the number of those belonging
thereto, they immediately purchased a lot on South Second
street — the one on which the present imposing edifice is
located — and the same year erected a stone edifice thereon.
The building was not large but it answered the purpose of
1 66
the congregation of that day. The total cost of the church
did not exceed $700,000. Although Bishop Newcomer made
mention of the other church, erected by the United Breth-
ren, during his life time, he makes no mention of the one in
Chambersburg, notwithstanding the fact that he presided
over a session of the Pennsylvania Conference that was
held in the church in 1825 — five years before his death.
During his frequent visits to the town, he preached in the
building, but for reasons known to himself, does not make
any reference to it. His silence is all the more strange
when it is considered that the church in Chambersburg was
the first one built by the denomination in this county. The
late John Huber, of B., remembered well the morning his
father came to town to haul stone for the church. He was
then about thirteen years of age. The stone church was
enlarged in 1842, an addition of ten feet having been
built to the west end. It was in the original stone chnrch
that Rev. J. J. Glossbrenner — who afterward was elected
to the office of Bishop, serving upwards of forty years in
that position — ascended the pulpit for the first time,, to
hold forth the Word of Life. He had preached before but
not from a pulpit.
In 1852 the stone church, having become unsafe, due
to the weakened condition of the walls, was removed and
during the pastorate of Rev. J. Dickson, a new and larger
house of worship was erected. Its dimensions were 40 x
60 feet and when completed was regarded as the largest
and most attractive church building owned by the denomi-
nation in the Conference. It was built while the cholera
was raging in the town and a number of those who worked
on the building were stricken with the disease — apparently
in the best of health one day, and the next, day Jay a corpse.
In 1882 the second church was removed, and a two-
story building, costing about $12,000 was erected on the
site of the old one. It had a seating capacity of between
five hundred and six hundred, and when completed it was
supposed to be large enough to meet the demands of vvie
congregation for half a hundred years at least. But under
the pastorate of Rev. Dr. W. H. Washinger, who was
assigned to the charge in 1894, the congregation continued
1 67
to increase in size and the church was too small to accom-
modate all who came to the services. A new and larger
temple in which to worship, was decided upon and in Sep-
tember, 1899, the cornerstone of the present building was
laid, and in the following year, the dedicatory services were
held. The church, with furnishings, cost $50,000, but
with the present increase in the cost of material and labor,
could not be duplicated for that sum. The wisdom of tne
resolve to build in 1899, has many times been made mani-
fest. The lot adjoining the original church lot was pur-
chased in order to make room for the present temple, whicn
including the Sunday School room, has a seating capacity
of at least 1600. The membership now numbers well nigh
1400 and the enrollment of pupils in the Sunday School
exceeds that of any other in the valley. The present pas-
tor, the Rev. L. Walter Lutz a nd family, occupy the hand-
some, large and conveniently arranged parsonage, built at
a cost of probably $9,000 during the pastorate of Dr. C.
W. Brewbaker.
FIRST UNITED BRETHREN CAMP.
At the session of the Pennsylvania Annual Confer-
ence of the United Brethren in Christ, held in the spring
of 181 5, the subject of camp meetings came up, and after
a pretty thorough discussion a resolution was adopted giv-
ing authority to hold such a meeting during the month of
August of that year. The grove selected was located
about four miles north of Chambersburg, near the Rocky
Spring, on the farm now owned by Mr. Benjamin S. Funk-
houser, father-in-law of Rev. W. H. Washinger, A. M.,
Presiding Elder of the Chambersburg District, and Presi-
dent of .the Camp Meeting Association. The grove was
pleasantly located, easy of access and only a short dist-
ance from Rocky Spring, from Whicn spring, doubtless,
the camp was supplied with water.
Rev. Christian Newcomer, who was subsequently
elected a Bishop in the United Biethren Church, serving
in that capacity for a number of terms, kept a record of his
travels, and under date of August 1st, 181 5, made the fol-
lowing entry in his journal: "Today I rode to a camp
1 68
ground at the Rocky Spring; found them busily engaged
in clearing the ground." On the 17th of the same month
he wrote : "This day the camp meeting commenced. This
is the first camp held by the United Brethren. The meet-
ing continued until the 21st." The camp was in session
but four days — from Thursday until Monday, but the
attendance was large, especially on Sunday, when there
were probably three thousand persons on the ground.
Of the vast throng that attended the camp not one,
probably, is living today. Mr. John Huber, of B., who
died in Chambersburg a few years ago, in his ninety-third
year, was six years of age when the camp was held. In
speaking of the meeting, a few years before his death Mr.
Huber said : "I remember some things in connection with
that camp as well as if they had occurred but yesterday.
Tents were covered with straw, or 'thatched' — many of the
barns at that early day being so covered. The seats were
slabs placed upon logs." Continuing Mr. Huber said :
"What made the deepest impression on my mind was tne
arrangement of the lamps used to light the 'Preachers'
Stand." An arch was made on which lamps were suspend-
ed. These, when lighted at night, I thought a most beau-
tiful sight." Mr. Huber's father was one of those who
"tented" at the camp and was then the owner of the farm
on which the meeting was held. The whole number of
tents did not, probably, exceed 15 to 20. The public road,
leading from Chambersburg to Rocky Spring, passed
through the vast tract of timber in which the meeting was
held, the camp being located to the right of the road to
persons going from Chambersburg to the Rocky Spring.
A portion of the timber to the left of the road is yet stand-
ing, but only a few scattered trees remain of the part in
which the camp was held — one of those being one of the
four to which the "Preachers' Stand" was attached. It is
a gum tree, probably two or two ancll a half feet in
diameter, but the marks made by the workmen who built
the "Stand" are no longer visiblt, though they could be
seen not very many years ago.
From that time on camp meetings were held at var-
ious places within the County, the grove of John Yaukey,
169
near the Fetterhoff Chapel having been one of the favorite-
places for such gatherings.
In 1870 a tract of about 30 perches of timber land
was purchased and was used for a permanent camp ground
for more than thirty years. The grove was located some
eight miles northwest of Chambersburg. The first year
the camp was held there the number of tents did not ex-
ceed thirty, but the year following cottages were erected,
additions being made to the original number from year to
year until there were eighty in all. The multiplying of
churches in the County made the holding of camp meetings
unnecessary, hence the grounds were sold and what was for
nearly a third of a century known as the Mount Zion
Camp Ground is now cleared and the land put under culti-
vation. Since then the United Brethren fir^e held no
camps within the limits of the County.
The foregoing are some of the results that have fol-
lowed the labors of the pioneer ministers and laymen of
the church of the United Brethren in Christ, but imperfect
as is this sketch, its showing is such that adherents of that
faith may well feel a virtuous pride in their spiritual ances-
tors. They were men of the times and for the times in
which they lived. Wherever they travelled as well as in
the localities in which they lived, heavenly benedictions
have fallen upon the people. In every part of the county
in which Newcomer and his co-workers held forth the
Word of life in private dwellings, barns and in school
houses, there are now attractive houses of worship, large
and flourishing congregations. With the increase in mem-
bership there has also been a corresponding increase in all
that goes to make up an adequate equipment, intellectual
and material. Well may we ask and that with gratitude,
"What hath God wrought?"
7<>
Regular Meeting December 30, 1913.
THE DOCTORS OF FRANKLIN COUNTY.
BY R. \V. RAMSEY, M. D.
The December meeting was held at the home of the Maclay
brothers, West Lincoln Way. The spacious parlors were filled
with members (28) and guests (30). who had the cordial greetings
of the season from the host, Dr. J. P. Maclay. A brief business
meeting was held at which Charles M. Deatrieh, of St. Thomas,
was elected a member of the society.
As Dr. Ramsey appeared in his rolling chair from his resi-
dence, which adjoins, he was given a rousing reception by the
large assembly. In presenting him President Hoerner well said
than Dr. Ramsey no one of the profession was better qualified for
the subject in hand, whereat the good doctor was given another
ovation as he was about to launch into his subject, responding
with remark: "You needed a physician, I was called, and you
will have to take your medicine." The Doctor's description of
the old country doctor was in the inimitable vein for which he is
so well known, and was given as a prelude to his intensely inter-
esting production. The paper throughout was interwoven with
pleasantries and little stories that kept the company going in
laughter.
The decorations were chaste and appropriate to the holiday
season; the good cheer abundant, and the refreshments superb.
The social hour was one long to be remembered. Dr. Ramsey oc-
cupied the center of the stage, receiving the congratulations of
members and guests, singly and in groups, until "good night" had
to be said to historian and host, with the exchange of "Happy
New Year' 'for one and all.
The host was assisted in entertaining by Mrs. F. H. Wallace,
Mrs. R. W. Ramsey, Mrs. Arthur G. Houser, Mrs. Paul P. Allen,
Misses Ramsey. Curriden. Piatt and Clark.
Delegates chosen to the State Federation were T. J. Brereton
and Hon. P». M. Nead.
Gentlemen of the Franklin County Medical Society
you must understand these papers are for the dual purpose
of attempting to enlighten both the Historical and Medical
Societies, to be followed by the delivery of the whole pro-
fession. And you can take these excerpts as The Wild
p ains of a most difficult labor, and we will have to bear the
Post Partem twinges with patient fidelity.
At the November meeting of the Kittochtinny Histori
cal Society, at the Hon. W. Rush Gillan's, 1 listened wfth
profound reverence to every word of that carefully pre-
pared paper by its very competent writer. Prof. I. James
Schaff, on the Good Old Time Religion. This production
may seem somewhat antithetical in style and diction, but as
171
•
honest and true, and I will be satisfied — yes I will be grati-
fied if I can but emit some scintillating .sparks of a practi-
cal "Any old time religion." I make no apology for this
paper. You needed a physician, I was called and you will
have to take your medicine. If you make a wry face or
object, you will be told where to get off at, just as the old
family doctor would have done under similar circum-
stances, (because ) ever since the organization of the Frank-
lin County Historical Society there has been a growing
feeling that the Medical profession should have some* recog-
nition in its annals.
But the absence of data, and the most exasperating
indifference of the doctors themselves, make it a very diff-
cult task to get a satisfactory report; not that there is no
material of interest, but the difficulty is to get the proper
trituration potency of the drug. From primitive ages
there has always been a medical man to minister to the ills
of mankind. The Mayflower had a doctor-preacher. Dr.
Imller by name, and Franklin County is no exception to
the rule. In fact the early records show that the southern
border had three or four physicians whose reputations were
greater, both national and international, than any who have
practiced medicine here since. Many of you who can re-
member the old family doctor, and this county had proto-
types who were equal to Dr. Maclure (so graphically, so
pathetically described) in Beside the Bonnie Brier Bush,
by John Watson. Our old country doctor with his high
silk hat, his standing collar and big cravat, broad cloth suit
and high-top boot, earlier with knee breeches, later with
leggings or corduroy overalls, and a beaver cap and buffalo
moccasins or shoes for horse bac kriding in winter. Sad-
dle bags with the whole apothecary shop. Need I say it
contained no sugar coated pills or palatable alixirs? Dare
I risk my reputation or the criticism of the modern doctor,
by suggesting that that initial dose of ten or twenty grains
of calomel, with an equal amount of jalap or rhubarb, well
mixed in a tablespoon with applebutter or molasses, to be
followed by one or two tablespoonsful of castor oil or
epsom salts, would so rid the alimentary canal of infectious
germs, as to prevent what we are now pleased today to
i7-
diagnose "intestinal indigestion", or "auto-intoxication",
or possibly the more popular malady appendicitis, which
was then termed typhlitis.
It is well to remember this dose was always accom-
panied with a sublime faith in its efficiency. Alexander
Martin, whom many of you knew, told me that he had a
dose of that kind, he had gotten from an old doctor. He
knew from previous experience what to expect, and, b)
placing it in the clock and dreaming he had taken it, it had
the same effect. I believe hi mbecause Dr. Tuke's work on
"the influence of the mind on the body in health and dis-
ease" has many similar cares. One is reported of a doctor
feeling he required a dose, and disliking his own medicine,
finally decided epsom salts would do, but mixed it and
placed it beside his bed, to take in the morning; he dreamed
he had taken it with its expected efficiency, and ever after-
ward the dose mixed and placed at the head of the bed
was all that was necessary. The old doctor had a certain
dignity of demeanor and assurance of importance and con-
fidence in his remedies not possessed by the profession
today.
This description of the external appearance of the
country doctor may seem somewhat picturesque, but it is
literally true, and as equally true, that within there was a
great big heart, a supreme love of mankind, and an ortho-
dox faith in a higher power, that constituted a religion that
entitled him to a passport (without a Biederwolf endorse-
ment) to enter the effulgent white way to his eternal home
with the Great Physician beyond. As there were few law-
yers and fewer educated ministers, the country doctor was
easily the best informed man in the community: with few
material wants and fewer collections he was a welcome
visitor at all times. Of course there was a certain mysti-
cism and supernatural belief in the knowledge and skill of
the doctors then, which gave him a pre-eminence, not held
now, when there is a more general knowledge of diseases
and their remedies, and the average man thinks he knows
nmre about the case than die doctor. The fact is the
doctor of a century ago and before was a graduate of an
academy, or college, and had a better knowledge of the
classics than is required today to enter the high grade medi-
cal schools. The theses were written in latin. I know
these facts from personal knowledge and reading and
twelve years' experience as a medical examiner of modern
graduates.
The custom, the almost unwritten law was for a stu-
dent of medicine to read from two to seven years in a
doctor's office. To sit as it were at the feet of a Gamaliel,
and fortunate was he who found a master. There was
something in that training in professional etiquette; a
noblesse oblige, if you will, and a practical information,
gotten in that association that no books, no college, no hos-
pital can give; just as the lawyer gains in the law office
and court procedures.
I lived several years under the same roof — a double
house — with Dr. James Montgomery Gelwix, a born gen-
ileman, a good physician and, a man well versed in litera-
ture outside as well as in his professions. Dickens, Scott
and other writers were his favorites. And the nine years
I was associated with Dr. J. M. VanTries gave me the
practical training that no school could give. He was the
most indefatigable, most devoted reader I ever knew, of
every kind of literature. The bible, biography, history,
general inforfation and, especially politics, which he knew
well. His positive character, ability to retain and impart
his extensive knowledge were an inspiration to me to read,
read. Dr. Fothergill says : "The days are past when
medical men were regarded as being all the better profess-
ional men for a profound ignorance on other subjects."
But it is of the utmost importance that they be well inform-
ed in matters not purely professional, and it is not neces-
sary to devote all time to the study of one subject. But
general information enhances the competency, and ability
in professional knowledge.
Oliver Wendell Holmes is a most conspicuous example
of the importance of this fact. He studied law, afterwards
medicine, graduated at Harvard, taught anatomy and phys-
iology in Dartmouth and Harvard, and was a very excellent
practitioner of medicine. But he was best known io *-.ie
laity as a poet, a wit, and man of letters. Dr. S. Weir
'/-!•
Mitchell was not only one of the best practical physicians
of this country, but also author of many medical and liter-
ary works, — a most brilliant writer. A. Conan Doyle, a
physician of England, is also a most versatile and happy
author.
The poet-laureate of England, Dr. Roberl Bridges, by
profession a surgeon, practiced many years in some of the
leading hospitals. Dr. Schiller, author of Wallen-stein.
William Tell, &c, was a skilled medical officer to a grena-
dier regiment in Stuttgard. Dr. John Brown, author of
"Our Dogs, Rab and his Friends," Dr., now Sir Charles
Tupper, of Nova Scotia, Ex-Premier of Canada, was a gen-
eral practitioner for years. Dr. Kane, the arctic explorer;
Dr. Robert J. Catling, inventor of the gatling gun; Dr.
Leonard Wood, practiced medicine in New Hamsher, was
a surgeon in the ranks of the U. S. Army, now the efficient
official head of our army; Dr. David Ramsey the historian
and statesman. And come back to our town. Many of
you know that Dr. Samuel G. Lane and his brother Dr.
William C. Lane were among our best and most ready
writers ; and Dr. Boyle and Dr. Jacob Suesserott as well.
A century or two ago and the doctor's influence ex-
ceeded that held now.
The eminent Dr. Boerhaeve, of the 17th century, is
said to have required Peter the Great, the Czar of Russia,
to take his turn and wait all night among his patients, for
a consultation. I knew a country doctor who took hold of
a bed, turned bed and patient out on the floor, to prove she
was bed ridden from hysteria, an the fact that she jumped
to her feet and attacked the doctor with a broom proved
his correct diagnosis, and the family approved the heroic
treatment. The empirical knowledge of the drugs of the
earlier days gave doctors practically the same results gotten
now, by the proven scientific experiments with the same
medicines, and the efficient drugs are the same today. The
unlimited faith in the old family physician gave him very
similar results as that of the Emmanuel treatment in Boston
by Rev. El wood Wooster D.D., Ph.D., that astonished the
world by the wonderful cures that seemed miraculus. Dr.
Wooster required every applicant for treatment to have a
certificate from a doctor showing the ailment is "func-
tional", that there is no organic disease, and thus protects
himself in a way that the doctor can not be. The following
is quoted from the American Medical Journal : Mental
capital or positive suggestion is that renewed courage and
hope which the old time family doctor gave to his patients
and which so endeared him to them. His patients said
that they "actually felt better the minute he entered the
room," and they undoubtedly did.
The wife of a prominent official in a New England
city was affected with Carcinoma of the cervix uteri and,
after some persuasion submitted to operation. For about
one year she remained well, but was then afflicted with
metastatic growths in the pelvis and soon became hope-
lessly cachetic, exhausted and bedridden. Her husband felt
that his wife was very near her end and that he wanted
every thing tried, no matter how heroic; but above all he
wanted her demise as painless and comfortable as possible,
if no real help could be given her. The physicians used
the ferments, injections of ascitic fluid from other cancer
cases, the X-ray and even strepto-coccus erysipelates, all
to no avail. It was then that the idea of positive sugges-
tion occurred to him. He went to her and told her that the
whole previous treatment had been erroneous, and the diag-
nosis of cancer was a mistake, and now since her trouble
was known she would be treated properly and would imme-
diately recover. These ideas were strongly impress 1 on
her mind by this physician in which she had every confi-
dence. The result while it lasted, was simply marvelous.
She began to eat and take an interest in her surroundings
and in two days was riding out in the open air with a nurse.
This condition of affairs continued for three weeks, at the
end of which time she collapsed and died suddenly. She
had been under the influence of analgesic drugs during this
time. Now to what was the three weeks' respite due and
was this method of giving mental capital justified? Each
man must answer this for himself and he who neglects to
mollify the sting of death must answer to his own con-
science if indeed he has one.
It has been my privilege in more than forty years of
176
the study of medicine to have intimate knowledge of the
greatest evolution in the theory and practice of it. known
in the history of the world, — from the days of Lister.
Koch. Pasteur and others, until the present time — to have
seen the days of old surgery and the brilliant operative
period of today. I heard Prof. Samuel D. Gross, the most
illustrious surgeon of his day in 1873 ridicule Lister (one
of the founders of antiseptic surgery) and his work as an
English fal, but he lived until 1884 to change his belief.
And his son Prof. Samuel W. Gross was one of the most
enthusiastic believers and teachers of antiseptic surgery.
And not to try to disturb or enter a sound of discord, or
try to belittle one iota this wounderful surgery. I believe
we are only on thethreshold of greater and more phenominal
exhibitions of the art, and another generation will witness
skill and achievements that will put the present to discom-
fiture and show it but crude and incomplete.
The old family physician was a lovable and grand
character unless he got into too deep a rut, and became a
hopeless routinist. Then he might become a menace to 1
community on account of the ignorant devotion of a deluded
clientelle.
A doctor who never reads new books, journals, or
attends medical society meetings, and refuses to have con-
sultations with live doctors, is a dangerous man; I am
sorry we have a few of the genus left in the profession. I
believe every physician should be compelled if he does not
recognize the necessity himself, to take a post graduate
course in medicine every five to ten years to keep abreast
of the times.
And the modern doctor should associate with a pre-
ceptor at least one year before college, and several years
after graduation. The Pennsylvania Medical Board re-
quires that the last year of college life shall be spent in a
hospital, before granting a license: this is a step in the right-
direction. I have heard that Dr. John B. Deaver was ask-
ed by a student to take him to learn surgery, lie replied
not unless you agree to stay with me ten years. You can
not do it in less time. Prof. John C. Clark told me he
assisted Prof. LToward Kelly nine years before he was ap-
177
' pointed gyneocololigist in the University of Pennsylvania,
John McCrea was ten years with Dr. William Osier before
he was selected Professor of The Practice of Medicine in
Jefferson Medical College.
Dr., now Sir William Osier, the man who since he
has passed the age limit himself, denies he said we lose
our constructive efficiency after we are sixty years old, and
should be chloroformed, was a professor in Montreal, Can-
ada, then in the University of Pennsylvania, afterwards at
Johns Hopkins, Baltimore, and now a teacher at Oxford.
Since he is there he spent three months burnishing at Paris
schools and hospitals. Dr. Osier is one of the most emi-
nent men the profession has ever had. If he feels the at-
vantage of study and more training, where is the ordinary
fellow at without it?
"May the good Lord have mercy on the doctor who
has conceit enough, to argue that he does not require any
more knowledge himself ! and especially may the guardian
angels protect and care for the physical welfare of his
patients." Prof. John Aclami of AlcGill University, Mon-
treal, said to Rush College Medical Students, "Heaven
preserve the patients of the man who passes straight from
graduation, into private practice ; great as is the 'vis medi-
catrix natura' that imposes all too heavy a strain on it.
And further," he says. "I still doubt whether today the stu-
dent on graduation is as capable of launching out into the
world, is as serviceable to his patients, as was the product
of the days of apprenticeship forty years ago."
The practice of medicine develops the highest and best
type of humanity. If the sufferings, sorrows, distress and
death in his devoted families do not influence the doctor to
his beet efforts, even to calling in efficient associates when
recessary, he has missed his calling and should go elsewhere
for a livelihood.
In my attempt to do justice and eulogize the good old
doctor I am not insensible to the advantages of modern
education and training in hospitals and laboratories, but
feel it will but emphasize the great work of the science.
We have just as noble, big-hearted, unselfish men, in the
profession today as the old family doctor of the last cen-
1 7 8
tury. But the expensive education and necessary "up keep"
compel him to look after his financial interests, and he is
sometimes considered more mercenary. He is unable to
encompass the whole field of modern knowledge of medi ■
cine, and when the crisis arises, the critical period, in the
disease of a loved one, and the old time faith is wanting,
doctor and family turn to the specialist. If a brilliant suc-
cessful operation results the doctor adds his paens of praise
with the family to the skill of the great surgeon, or if it
unfortunately (though rarely) ends in failure, the doctor,
loyal to his profession as well as to his patient explains the
utted impossibility of success and lets the good Lord take
the blame.
But unfortunately the great specialist is sometimess
thought to be wholly commercial in his charges. You for-
get the expense, and years of hard work necessary to make
a skilled operator. And you do not know how often the
anxiety and worry he has in his most difficult cases, causes
him almost to sweat blood, to gain your filthy lucre.
Prof. Samuel D. Gross in his autobiography boasts
"a steady hand, an unflinching eye, perfect self control."
He says, "I do not believe that I ever trembled three times
in my life when I had a knife in my hand."
And yet further says: "I do not think thai it is possi-
ble for a criminal to feel much worse the night before his
execution than a surgeon when he knows that upon his
skill, and attention, must depend the fate of a valuable citi-
zen, husband, father, mother or child." He also says: "I
have always maintained that it is impossible for any man
to be a great surgeon if he is destitute, even in a consider-
able degree of the finer feeling of our nature, (this does
not apply to those who like Tools rush in where angels
fear to tread')," and further he says after the- operation he
goes to bed but not to sleep. He hears every foot step
on the pasement under his window, and is in momentarily
expectation — a call to seee a post operation hemorrhage,
or some other mishap, and it is surprising that any surgeon
with a large practice should ever obtain respectable old
age. I grant this was under old surgical difficulties. But
I know that the accomplished Dr. J. B. Deavor even with
179
modern facilities and appliances, has been called miles to
the country, to suppress a hemorrhage after one of nis
finished button hole operations for appendicitis. This
great worry and responsibility can not be repaid with dol-
lars. If the love and appreciation of grateful patients,
and the applause of a discriminating public do not satisfy
the surgeon, he is at least a hopeless mental bankrupt.
And we have here in America noble experts, and just
as great sacrifices have been made in this county by great
city surgeons, as that imaginary one so vividly described by-
Ian Maclarens of the famous London surgeon (Sir George)
to save the life of poor Anna Mitchel, which made the case
immortal. And the modern general practitioner devotes
more time and hard work to the benefit of humanity,
gratis, than an)' other avocation does. The wonderful
knowledge of prophylaxis or preventive medicine, has as-
tounded the world. And the doctor aids more than all
others in preventing diseases, and thereby removes his only
source of revenue. Has there ever been chronicled such
great altruistic work in the history of the world. And
how many noble lives have been sacrificed to prove the
causes of the most deadly diseases, such as yellow and
jungle fever. Drs. Carroll and Lazear were two of the
martyrs. Sad indeed would be the day if the good old
family doctor should become an extinct identity Rathei
do we believe as time rolls on that there will be an educa-
ted, up-to-date family physician who can be trusted and
consulted always, and who knows his own limitations, and
when he feels his knowledge of general diseases, is not
sufficient for any emergency demanding a specialist ; he
above all others, will be preeminently fitted and can be
loyally trusted, to suggest the best; instead of depending
on newspaper advertising, or the knowing self constituted
or officious layman, who though honest enough is ignorant
of the necessities of the case. And an intelligent public is
more and more beginning to recognize the importance of
this fact.
We know the old fashioned faith in the doctors mys-
tical lore. Yet the modern practitioner will as conscien-
tiously and more intelligently and scientifically direct the
1 80
best interests of his patients. The family physicians know-
ledge of he family history, individual peculiarities and
eccentricities supply information that no specialist no mat-
ter how expert, can have. He may have a knowledge of
technicalities but the old doctor has the generalities galore.
'Till old experience dotli attain, to something of prophetic
strain."
President Wilson, then Governor of New Jersey, said
to the American Medical Association : "You will agree
with me that one of the things to be regretted in our mod-
ern time is thalt we have been obliged to specialize our pro-
fessions to so great a degree, because in proportion as the
medical profession is specialized, for example, the old fam-
ily physician disappears. I remember calling in thirteen
specialists in one year to treat my children ; that where I
had summoned thirteen specialists my father would have
summoned one family physician. He would not have got
as good advice as I got, and yet I lived through it. But
every time he sent for his doctor he was sending for a per-
sonal friend. He was sending for a man who had his con-
fidence in a peculiar degree, who walked the path of life
with him as a comrade and confident. There was some-
thing very vital, very useful in that relationship." "In
aiding poor humanity the physician's work approaches the
divine." It is at least suggestive that as Dr. James Duglas
has pointed out, of the twenty or twenty-two miracles re-
corded as being performed by the Founder of the Christian
religion, no less than seventeen are acts of healing, of the
raising of the sick, of restoring sight to the blind, of curing
the palsied, of so called casting out devils, or restoring
those apparently dead to life. Honor the physician with
the honor due him. Employ him for the uses ye may have
for him for the Lord has created him.
This may seem to some of you a prolonged prelude
of puerile platitudes on doctors, but. I had as is said thes^
days to get it out of my system. There is no question in
my mind that is the ministry has said a true and conscien-
tious physician follows the noblest calling of life. But
\r< 111 the sublime to the ridiculous I believe also with the
novelist that "old doctors like old dogs are equally useless,
r8i
but what they could tell if they would only talk." And I
will now begin the individual description of the men, only
attempting a few of the first and most prominent in the
souhern part of the county, with the undersanding that all
who have lived here will be given due consideration later.
Dr. Hugh Mercer is the only doctor that has received any
recognition by this society by Dr. John Montgomery in a
carefully prepared paper, but I would class Mercer with
Washington and Lincoln, of whom the last word will never
be said, and, I hope to add some more information to what
you already have.
That he was born at Aberdeen. Scotland, and descencr-
ed from a long line of Presbyterian ministers is not denied.
His mother was a Monro of equal distinction as a Presby-
terian and fighting family.
You have been told he was born in 1721. His father
Rev. Wm. Mercer was in charge of Pattsligo Manse, Aber-
deenshire from 1720 to 1748. The records of this church
show Hugh Mercer was baptised on January 1726, it is
therefore thought now, that mere accurate history should
place his birth in the year 1725. He graduated from the
School of Medicine of Marshall College, Scotland, in 1744-
He had hardly commenced the practice of medicine when he
joined Prince Charles Edward in bis "dash for the throne,"
as Assistant Surgeon. He is found April 16th, 1746, at the
defeat at Culloden, after which The Pretender as well as
his followers was "like a hare hunted by hounds."
Dr. Mercer having eluded the vigilance of the minions
of the "Bloody Butcher" in the fall of 1746 embarked at
Leith for America, landed a few weeks later at Philadel-
phia, and soon after came to Franklin County, then the
frontier of civilization in Pennsylvania. Dr. Mercer's
youth in the army Ins a similar case here in Dr. Johnston
McLanahan. who according to the Franklin County history
was born Sept. 21st. 1844, graduated at Jefferson Medical
College 1863' (iSy 2 ) less than nineteen, was immediately
made acting assistant surgein in U. S. Army and remained
until the close of the Civil War.
Here Dr. Mercer fulfilled to the great satisfaction the
dnties of a country doctor to the sparsely settled comrr,...
[82
ity, and what few records we have prove he was deservedly
popular. As has been said of him "whose daily rounds of
sympathetic toil is brightened by the approval of his con-
science, and the benediction of suffering humanity. His
lasting monument lives in the hearts that loved and rever-
enced him." But his professional work did not engage all
his time and he naturally divided it with his country men
in fighting the Indians that were always endangering the
lives of the inhabitants of those early days. And he soon
became a terror to the savages by his reckless bravery in
defence of the whites.
As you have been told, Dr. Mercer was ta Braddock's
defeat July 9th, 1755. Here Dr. Mercer met and fought
against the French, with some men who were with the
Duke of Cumberland, at Culloden on the English side;
even General Braddock and Dr. James Craik were among
them. Dr. Mercer was severely wounded and left to find
his way alone to his command at Fort Cumberland. He
was made Captain March 1756, and placed in charge of
a large territory with headquarters at Fort McDowel, now
Marks.
He was with Col. Armstrong at the capture of the
Indian settlement at Kittaning. You have heard of his
severe wound with broken shoulder. His hiding in a hol-
low log. And the Indians discussing the kind of hair cut
they would give him when they got him. Of his escape
to Fort Littleton, living two weeks on roots, dried berries
for vegetables and two dry clams and a rattle snake for
proteids. Afterwards promoted to Major in command of
a garrison at Shippensburg in the summer of 1757 ana
1758 he was in command of part of the expedition under
General Forbes against Fort Duquesne. After the fall of
the fort and the building of Fort Pitt, Mercer was in
charge of it. Whether Hugh Mercer met George Wash-
ington at Braddock's defeat, or at the headquarters of the
Forbes expedition against Fort Duquesne, there seems to
be some conflict of opinion .and statements among his biog-
raphere. This is not important, but they did meet and an
attachment formed that lasted until Mercer's death.
After the French and Indian wars, through the influ-
i83
ence of Genl. Washington Dr. Mercer moved ot Fredericks-
burg-, Va., where he practiced medicine and became very
eminent. There he met John Paul, who lived with his
brother William. He was another Scotchman, changed
his name to John Paul Jones, and was the great naval hero
of the Lakes in the war of 1812.
He also became acquainted with James Monroe, one
of the Generals in the Jersey campaign, and afterwards
fifth president of the United States, and John Marshall
afterward Chief Justice. He and Washington were mem-
bers of Lodge No. 4 F. & A. M. It is said the Lodge room
is the same in appearance today that it was when General
Washington was master.
Dr. Mercer married Isabella Gordon, daughter of
John Gordon, and resided in what was known as "The
Sentry Box." The Rising Sun tavern was kept by George
Weedon, who married Miss Gordon, a sister of Dr. Mer-
cer's wife, and afterwards became a Brigadier General in
the Continental Army. Madam Washington, the mother
of the .general, lived near the "Rising Sun," and Dr. Mer-
cer was a frequent visitor at her home. The "Rising Sun"
seems to have been the convivial club room of this coterie
of distinguished gentlemen.
At the first sound of the revolutionary war Mercer
offered his services saying: — "I have but one object in
view, and that is, the success of the cause; and God can
witness how cheerfully I would lay down by life to secure
it." On a vote for the command of the first troop, first
ballot, Hugh Mercer received 41, Patrick Henry 40,
Thomas Nelson 8, and William W T oodford 1. On second*
ballot between the two highest, Patrick Henry won, proving
the tongue mightier than the sword. But Mercer was made
Colonel of the third regiment January 10th, 1776, and soon
afterwards Brigadier General through the influence of Gen-
eral Washington.
You historians all know General Mercer crossed the
Delaware on that memorable night of Dec. 26th, 1776, and
was with General Washington through the Jersey Cam-
paign, in his conferences as well as battles, and that that
success was the crisis, the turning point, in favor of the
[8 4
colonists, the high water mark as they say now, of Gettys-
burg in the civil war. Dr. Mercer was in the battle of
Trenton and wounded. At Princeton, after being un-
horsed, he fought recklessly with his sword, and refused
to surrender, was currounded by British soldiers, beaten
down with the butts of their muskets. In this battle Gen-
eral Mercer, "who seemed to have excited the brutality of
the British by the gallantry of his resistance," was stabbed
by their bayonets in seven different parts of his body, only
ceasing their butchery when they believed him dead. Soon
after the battle he was found alive and removed to Mr.
Clark's house. Mrs. Clark and daughter and Major Lewis,
nephew of General Washington, sat by him, tenderly nursed
him, and Dr. Rush of Philadelphia, the most famous phy-
sician of his day, and Dr. Archibald Alexander, surgeon of
the Virginia troops, were with him until his death, January
1 2th, 1777, nine days after he was wounded. The success
of this campaign excited the hopes of the Americans, and
the brutal dealth of Dr. Mercer stimulated to madness the
whole country.
His body was removed to Philadelphia on Wednesday,
15th, and on the 16th buried on the south side of Christ
Church. Philadelphia paid a great tribute by giving him
a public funeral, which it is said thirty thousand people at-
tended. The St. Andrews society afterwards removed his
remains to the Laurel Hill Cemetery and erected a monu-
ment to his memory, which was dedicated Nov. 26th, 1840.
October 1st, 1897, a large tablet was unveiled in Princeton.
A marker shows the place he fell.
Congress on motion of Thomas Jefferson in 1784 made
an appropriation for the education of Gen. Mercer's young-
est son, Hugh, who died at his residence "The Sentry Box,"
December 2nd, 1853. April 8th, 1877 Congress resolved
that a monument be erected to General Mercer at Freder-
icksburg, Va. This was not carried out until June 28th,
1902, when on resolution of Congress the monument was
erected. A portrait of General Mercer was unveiled at
Mercersburg Academy. November 1899.
Thus at Philadelphia, Princeton and Fredericksburg,
monuments are seen to the memorv of this illustrious
i8 5
character that we are proud to claim even for a short time
as a resident of our county.
It has been said Dr. Hugh Mercer lived near Fort
Davis, which was on a slight knoll overlooking a spring on
the McPherren farm, now owned by Jacob Royer, where
Dr. B. F. Royer, of the State Health Department was
born, — two miles southwest of Welsh Run. Miss Rupley
and Mrs. Fendricks say that, so far as they were able to
learn, Dr. Hugh Mercer lived some where between Church
Hill and Upton, that must have been in the vicinity of the
place Dr. Agnew lived ; as Dr. Montgomery claimed. This
information I have from Prof. John Finafrock. I feel it
would be safer to say that Dr. Mercer's home was in the
saddle.
In the genealogy of the Mercer family from 1850 to
1904, I find that Edward Clifford Anderson Mercer was
born Nov. 13th, 1873, (son of George Anderson Mercer).
He married Josephine Freeland of Charlestown, S. S.
Hugh Weedon Mercer, born Nov. 27, 1808; died June
9th, 1877. He was a Major General in the Confederate
Army, and died at Baden-Baden, Germany. John Cyrus
Mercer, born at Fredwicksburg, May 12th, 1810; died
March 26th, 1884; was first a surgeon in the U. S. Navy,
but resigned and was appointed surgeon in the Confederate
States Navy with the Marine Hospital at Norfork.
As a remarkable coincidence, while looking up the
Mercer family, I found in the North American of Novem-
ber 23rd, 19 1 3, an account of E. C. Mercer, who under the
auspices of the Y. M. C. A. has visited 90 oer cent of tne
Colleges to warn the students against dissipation, "saving
the boys who have not yet gone wrong." He kind of spec-
ializes as a Billy Sunday College Student Evangelist, and
tells his own experience.
He says: "I was born at Savannah in 1873. My
family was descended upon both sides from old revolution-
ary stock. General Mercer who fell at the battle of Prince-
ton, and Commodore Herndon to whose memory a monu-
ment stands in Annapolis, were my great grandfathers. He
then tells of his experience at the University of Virginia.
His getting into bad habits of every kind, of his reforma-
1 86
tion and now doing a wonderful work to show other boys
it is not necessary to make this dissipation a part of tneu
education. Proving that the spirit that fought savages so
desperately is now fighting the devil as valiantly.
The first family to settle near Greencastle was Johns-
tons (1734 or 35). Four sons held honorable positions in
the Revolutionary Army. One of them, Doctor Robert
Johnston, was born about 1749 or 1750; died in 1808. He
was tutored by Frances Allison, D.D., afterwards vice pro-
vost of U. P., who came from Ireland probably with the
Johnstons. Dr. Johnston finished his medical education in
England. He practised medicine near Greencastle until
the beginning of the war, and was in the army from the
start, and was with it at Yorktown when Lord Cornwallis
surrendered. At the close of the war, his imigratory tastes
continued, and he went on a voyage to China, taking with
him a cargo of ginceng, at that time worth its weight in
gold in the Chinese market. From this voyage he realized
a large fortune, and gained vast stores of general informa-
tion. He brought back with him many curios ; the greatest
curiosity was a Chinese servant.
The McLanahans, Prathers and McFarlands have some
of these relics in their families yet. But no one claims to
have any part of the Chinaman or his progeny. After Dr.
Johnston's return he married a Miss Pawling weighing 450
pounds, bought 446 acres of land two miles south of Green-
castle, built a fine house, a mill and one or two distilleries.
The place was owned by another Robert Johnston later, no
kin, who made famous a brand of elixir that it is said even
temperance people would partake of for medicinal purposes.
Dr. Robt. Johnston was, it is said, on General Washington's
Staff. And John Pawling of Martinsburg has one ot" tne
lancets that Dr. Johnston is supposed to have used to bleed
the Father of his Country. And John G. Orr says in his
account of Washington in Franklin County on his way to
the whiskey insurrection in 1794, that Washington spent
the night in Greencastle, October , and the next day
was entertained with a royal banquet by his friend Dr.
Johnston. The house is still sanding very much the same
and some of the silver spoons are in Greencastle that were
187
used on that important occasion. Dr. Johnston had no
children of his own but he adopted the youngest son of his
only sister, Mrs. Elizabeth Boggs, and gave him a classical
as well as medical education. And he was very successful.
Dr. John Boggs, born August 18th, 1787; died July 12th,
1847. President Jefferson, with whom Dr. Johnston was
very familiar, appointed him U. S. revenue collector for
Western Pennsylvania. Lieutenant General Winfield
Scott was also in his youthful days a visitor at Johnstons.
Mrs. Johnston on account of her size was not an eques-
trienne, owned the first carriage in the vicinity, and was
conveyed to her final resting place in a wagon with
standards.
Dr. Robert Johnston was without doubtt he mast noo-
pitable entertainer of distinguished public men of any one
in the profession in the county. One of these, an old friend
and fellow surgeon, the father of Horace Binney, died at
Dr. Johnston's house while visiting him. The doctor pro-
bably using knowledge acquired in the East embalmed the
body of his friend and sent it home to his family. This
was no doubtt he first case of embalming in the county.
Dr. David Hays Agnew, born 18 18, graduated at the
University of Pennsylvania April 6, 1838; died March 22,
1892; married Margaret Creighton Irwin, November 2,
1841, three days before he was 23. He located with
Thomas McCausland on the farm now owned by the John
Mosser heirs, half mile north of the turnpike, not far west
of Upton, in 1839. He was near Unton for a short time
and afterwards went to Lancaster County and Philadel-
phia and became one of the most famous surgeons of
America.
The Agnew family has been one of the most distin-
gu's 1 ied that ever settled in Pennsylvania. They came orig-
inally from Agneux, France. Like many more so-caned
Scotch-Irish, they were driven out with the Huguenots
when Heri III. reigned. They were very numerous from
the ninth to the sixteenth centuries. They afterwards lived
in Bonnie Scotland and held some of the most important;
offices for several centuries more. James Aenew the an-
cestor of our subject came by the way of North Ireland
1 88
as a Scotch-Irishman in 17 17. and lived in Lancaster county
as a blacksmith.
Dr. D. Hays Agnew belonged to National fame, and
all who care to know him as a great public character can
earily find his full life, but we can get some local interest
in him. One of his ancestors, Colonel James Agnew,
married a sister of Col. James Ramsey, who built Ramsey's,
now Heister's mill. Whether this lady Mary Ramsey was
one of the fortunate children from dislike of school played
truant and thus esecaped the scalping bee at Enoch Brown's-
massacre in 1764, or not, may be questionable, but she lived
to be or.e of the ancestors of many Agnews. Rev. Dr.
John Agnew. of Greencastle, who has a daughter living
there, was a cousin of Dr. D. Hays Agnew. Dr. Samuel
Agnew, born near Fairfield, August 10, 1777: died Novem-
ber 23, 1849, son 0I James and Mary Ramsey Agnew, prac-
tised medicine a short time there, and afterwards was tne
most prominent and successful of Harrisburg's physicians
He was a surgeon in the war of 1812. He was the father
of Rev. J. R. Agnew. He read mericine with Dr. John
McClellan of Greencastle and graduated at the University
of Pennsylvania in 1800. The Aenews of Mercersburg are
of the same family, coming from James Agnew, of McCon-
nellsburg. Dr. C. R. Agnew of New York the distinguish-
ed occulist was also a cousin.
Dr. D. Hays Agnew's father, Dr. Robert Agnew, born
in Adams County in 1785, died at Blenheim, Maryland,
October 10, 1858. He practiced medicine 25 years at
Nobleville, Lancaster county, and as many more at Blen-
heim, Baltimore County, Maryland. He was six feet two
inches tall and the shortest of seven sons; the tallest was
six feet seven. Large families and great height were char-
asteristics of the Agnews. Dr. Adams was married to a
niece of Dr. D. Hays Agnew, in a biography of 364 pages,
does not mention Dr. Agnew's life in Franklin County.
But we have written testimony and living witsesses to prove
that Dr. Agnew did not forget it himself.
Jannett Agnew, sister of (Col. Jas.) married in
1754 Hugh Scott, born August 13, 1735; died October 9,
18 14; a left handed blacksmith, near Fairfield, Adams
J 89
County, born in 1726; died October n, 18 19. Col. James
Agnew married second time in 1737 Rebecca Scott 1.1:11
December 17, 1707; died December 22, 1789, daughter of
Abraham Scott, of Donegal. Col. Agnew and Rebecca
Scott had issue Samuel, James and David.
David who lived in Antrim township, married Mary
Erwin and nad twelve children. Dr. Robert, one of them,
was the father of Dr. D. Hays Agnew.
Samuel Agnew born November 18, 18 14 in McCon-
nellsburg, youngest and eighth child of Col. Jas. Agnew.
lived in Philadelphia; married December 10, 1840, second
daughter of Robert and Susan Cox Erwin; left one child,
Dr. Erwin Agnew, born Feb. 22, 1842; died March 6, 1880:
graduated at University of Pennsylvania, 1864.
Dr. Adams speaks of Dr. Agnew, after leaving Upton,
having practiced two or three years with his father at
Nobleville, Lancaster County. He then went into the iron
business in 1843 with his brothersin-law, with three fur-
naces, and of his great failure ; like Sir Walter Scott he
paid all the debts of the firm afterwards from his profess-
ional earnings, — a most creditable and rare procedure.
After Dr. Agnew's failure in business he again began
the practice of medicine. He located in Cochranville,
Chester County, remained seven months, and was reassured
of success. He then had an amusing and unexpected ex-
perience which changed his plans for life. To complete
his study of anatomy for the surgical work he decided to do,
he received bodies from Philaelphia an after dissecting
the soft parts gave the bones to a farmer who threw them
in a pond on his farm, which was well stocked with eels.
The eels completed the cleaning of the bones better than a
professional prosecutor in an anatomical room.
A fisherman who supplied the whole country with fish,
his eels especially, were famed for their size and fatness.
There was a flavor and a snap about the eels which this
fisherman supplied that put despair into the heart of every
other fisherman in the country. In consequence the fisher-
man's reputation grew — his eels were in greater demand —
until, finally he was hardly able to supply his many custo-
mers with the toothsome viand. The farmer who assisted
Dr. Agnew in his anatomical pursuits was among the custo-
mers if this prosperous fisherman. Working in his field
one day, while the fisherman was passing, the farmer be-
came curious to know where such magnificent eels could be
fouid. "Well," replied the fisherman, "if you promise me
to keep it a secret where I get my eels, I will tell you. 1
gett hem from a pond down here on your own farm."
"What," cried the farmer, "you ron't mean to tell me tha<
you get them from my pond?"
It proved too true for the farmer, before whose un-
happy vision floated' the memory of many a hearty meal
on these eels. When this story became known it did not
increase rhe .popularity of the young anatomist to any gr at
extent. The neighbors began to investigate this mysterious
pond, and, among other relics fished up a skull with what
they supposed was a bullet hole through it. Some of the
country people — possibly some of those who had partaken
too bountifully of the eels, — suggested that it was some one
who had been shot by his too enterprising scientist. Fortu-
nately for all concerned. Dr. Agnew was able to demon-
strate to the community that this mysterious hole was made
by a trephine, and was done for practice, and not a bullet
hole at all.
This occurrance seriously injured his business, people
ignored him on the highways. In the spring of 1&48 he
removed to Philadelphia, and there began and ended one
o fthe greatest reputations in snrgical work known to either
hemisphere. He was a short time in Soudersburg, Lancas-
ter, in the summer of 1848. He since said, I located in
Soudersburg when a young man ; I stayed there long
enough to know all the roads in that district, but, I found
that the people around there wanted a better doctor than I
was likely to prove, so I moved. To prove my contention at
the beginning of this article that we have here in America
surgeons in the flesh, just as magnanimous, just as true as
the mythical London surgeon depicted in the Bonnie Brier
Bush, I give the following true account of a case of more
than local interest.
When Jennie Kinter, a sister of Dr. John Kinter, now
of St. Thomas, was five years old. at her home in Millers-
i9i
•
burg - , Dauphin County, she fell and received a severe injury
of the knee which developed a painful growth. Through
the advice of a cousin from Philadelphia, visiting in tne
family, she was placed under the care of her physician, Dr.
Agnew. This was in 1882, and for years afterwards he
cared for her. During her school life and later while a
stenographer in Boston, she suffered so much that she came
back to Dr. Agnew. He became very much interested in
the case, called her his little girl, entertained her at his
house, where Mrs. Agnew showed her the greatest consid-
eration and many kindnesses. But finally with the hope
of saving her leg he placed her in the hospital and attempt-
ed to remove the offending mass. It proved more formid-
able than he anticipated and lie desisted but did not tell her
because he wanted to improve her general health as much
as possible. One day after examining the leg in the pres-
ence of the young physicians and nurses in the room, ne
covered his face with his hands, and exhibited the mor*.
profound evidence of his emotions, — cried like a child as
Miss Kinter expressed it, she said, — "Why Dr. Agnew must
my leg come off?" He said "Yes." She replied, "Don't
worry about that ; other people get through the world with
one leg and I can too." He in speaking of the occurrence
afterwards said, "Her's were the only dry eyes in the room."
After the amputation and during the months in the hospi-
tal he was kirduess personified. He procured her an arti-
ficial leg, and after she came home » here to her family, he
answered regularly her letters, expressing her gratitude to
him, with missives of equal affection, and this he continued
to do as long as he could write. A box of his letters were
destroyed by the mother in obedience to her request attci
her death, because she said no one els would be interested
in them. Only two are saved, Miss Kinter loved and
adored the good man.
Gentlemen think of a busy surgeon like him taking his
precious time to make happy a patient one hundred and
fifty miles away, and this was only one case. The mythical
Sir George has nothing on Dr. Agnew in altruistic work.
One clay Dr. Agnew said tit he young doctors in Miss
Kinter's presence: "Whatever degree of success I have
attained in live I owe to the fact that the Upton people
turned me down professionally at my start there."
Now here is another case of local interest. Daniel
Hege, whose wife with second child six months old, lived
west of Upton on the Gsell farm overlooking the Mosser
farm where Dr. Agnew lived while he practiced in this
county, took her to Philadelphia to consult a doctor about
a pain in the neck and between the shoulders.
A very eminent surgeon and his assistant whom many
of us knew, advised her to go to the hospital for five or
six weeks, and he would give her five or six treatments
with the Moxa — singing the back with a hot iron. And
that he would charge 250 ment. Mr. I: was
a prosperous stock dealer but this shocked him very much
and in his distress re told his friend Dash the Berks county
dutch landlord of the Penn Hotel. The landlord said,
"Och' take your wife to my family physician, Dr. Agnew;
he is a good doctor and will not charge vou so much."
This he did, and after Dr. Agnew heard this story, he said
to put your wife in a hospital would make ner real sick.
T will give you a prescription, which he did ,for a tonic,
and gave her a small rubber ball on a rattan stick to beat
the muscles along the back, which was then used in place
of the massage of today. He only charged her ten dollars.
Mrs. Hege fully recovered, to have five more children, two
farmers, one a teacher at home, one a graduate of C. V.
Normal School, and one studying for the ministry at
Gettysburg Seminary.
When Mr. Hege showed Dr. Agnew a letter he had,
with Upton as a heading, he smiled, gave Mr. Hege his
hand, and said that was my old home. I practiced medi-
cine there 40 years ago. After he was through with Mrs.
Hege he inquired very earnestly of the old citizens: men-
tioning among others McClellands, McDowells. Brown-
sons, Agnews, McCunnes, Alexanders, Hamlitons, &c.
''He most certainly enioyed to hear from them." said Hege.
Dr. Agnew said I lived on the farm where the big
spring was located, a McClelland farm. Hege told Dr.
Agnew that Mrs. Hege was born in the old house he had
lived in. Mr. T^Iege said to me in a recent letter, 1 love bin
: 93
to this day, though his body is mouldering in the earth,
for what he did for my wife. As I was Mrs. Hege's phy-
sician at the time, I recall it all vividly and in his letter
have had it confirmed.
In taking a restrospective view of Dr. Agnews' life,
we may suggest as a reason for his locating where he did
that it was in a locality where many of his relatives lived.
It is also a remakable coincidence that three Agnews mar-
ried Irwins, (or Erwins) and a niece of Col. Agnew mar-
ried an Irwin. Mary Ramsev the niece married Archi-
bald Irwin. Her two daughters while visiting their aunt
Nancy Ramsey Sutherland at South Bend. Ohio, met the
Harrison famliy, neighbors. William Henry Harrison,
Jr., came to Irwinton (near where Dr. Agnew afterwards
lived) in 1824, married Jane Irwin. She was the mistress
(then a widow) of the White House for the one month
that her father-in law was president. And a historian
says she was one of the most beautiful, as well as one of
the most gracious women who had presided over
the white house. In 183 1 her sister Elizabeth Irwin mar-
ried John Scott Harrison in Ohio and became the mother
of Benj. Harrison, born J 833. afterward was the (1889)
twenty-third president of the United States. The old
mansion built of lim ill standing, where the
president's mother w : irn. We must not forget Dr.
Agnew as surgeon to Gen. Winfield Scott Hancock, at the
Gettysburg battlefield, where the General was severely
wounded in the leg, and that afterwards he was called as
the great surgical specialist in consultation to see his politi-
cal opponent, General Garfield in his last illness.
All medical men know much has been made of the
fact of Dr. D. Hays Agnew being an Ambidexter. His
biographer, Dr. Adams, explains that in his early youth
he had injured his right hand, which rendered it prac-tic-
allv useless, and he had to depend on his left. Before the
restoration of his right hand to its proper condition its
dexterity came back, coupled with the equally free use of
his left hand.
This is the probable explanation. But I found Colo-
nel Tames Agnew his ancestor married for his second
194
wife, Rebecca Scott. A Jannet Agnew married Hug-h
Scott, a left handed blacksmith, of Fairfield, Adams Coun-
ty. I believe these Scotts were closely related. And it
suggests at least the possibility of being a case of the great
law of heredity. This is far fetched and I give it for
what it is worth. The fact is he was a most dixterous and
skillful operator. . Dr. John Kinter is an ambidexter, same
as his father and his maternal grandfather was (full
fleged) left handed man or ambisinitrous. These few
payments of gratitude show what the physician must de-
pend on, and it can not be understood by any except the
recipients. These diamonds of reward from appreciative
patients are only made more brilliant and sparkling when
an occasional nugget of mud is thrown at them by some
brutal ingrate, and to show that no mark is too high to es-
cape the Attempt to hit by some reckless fiendish marks-
man this letter will show.
Dr. Agnew after a year of waiting and dividing a bil
of $180. by 10 sent one for $18.00 and received this let-
ter in reply :
"Dr. Agnew. Dear Sir:— I enclose your bill with
check therfor. Kindly receipt it and return to me. T
will say that I never paid a bill under greater protest.
You promised to cure my wife and failed to do it. I feel
that you are an inefficient physician, and incapable of giv-
ing proper medical attention to your patients." "Yours",
etc.
Dr. Agnew receipted the bill, folded up the check put
them both in an envelope with tin's note.
"Dear Sir: — I enclose you the receipted bill, also tne
check which you sent. Permit me to say; T never promis-
ed to cure your wife. That is a power which belongs only
to God, and if He does not bless our efforts our medicines
are of no avail, I will only ask one favor of you. It is
that you will never darken my office door again.
"Yours sincerelv,
"I). HAYS AGNEW."
Such a discourtesy was most unusual in Dr. AgnewV
experience: the following was common.
195
"Dr. Agnew : Twenty-three years ago today you oper-
ated on me and saved my leg," &c.
"And can I forget your friendship with all the kind-
ness I have received from you ? Never. Years may bring
many changes, but the heart that is true remains the same.
"Affectionately yours"
'1 ne number of presents which Dr. Agnew received
was simply tremendous. They consisted of everything
imaginable : handsome carriages, thorough-bred horses,
registered cattle, watches, canes, barrels of oysters, terra-
pin, — in fact even' thing fancy could suggest. He smok-
ed the very best brand of cigars and cigarettes, which were
always kept in stock by his admirers. Even his ice house
was kept filled by a friend with particularly pure ice.
Dr. Agnew died March 22, 1892. Funeral. March
25, 1892. Probably never has there been a more impres-
sive procession on Walnut Street than this one. "Not
since the burial of Lincoln has there been in this city such
a demonstration of distingushed homage as was manifest
at the funeral of Dr. David Hays Agnew.
I want to acknowledge the help received in the prepa-
ration of this paper: George Seilhamer, Esq., gave me ove
200 pages type written matter on Johnstons, Agnew and
Irvvins; Dr. J. P. Maclay and brother Crawford for the
use of books on Dr. Hugh Mercer's life; Dr. J. Howe
Adams biographers of Dr. D. Hays Agnew and history of
University of Pennsylvania. Dr. John C. Gilland account
of Drs. Johnstons and McClellans; Prof. John Fine-
frock on Dr. Mercer; Mr. King Alexander for life of Dr.
Agnew, loaned by Miss Christine King, which she receiv-
ed as a complimentary copy from the writer. The Kings
are related to Dr. Agnew through the Scotts.
Dr. John McClellan. a native of Antrim township, of
one of the old families, Born August 12, 1762; died June
11, 1846. He had an academical education and graduated
at University of Pennsylvania in 1788. He spent three
pears as a student in the offices of Dr. Benj. Rush, a sign-
er of the Declaration of Independence, and who was one
of the greatest men of American history.
Dr. Rush studied six years with Dr. John Redman, and
196
afterwards completed his medical education in European
Colleges. He gave Dr. McClellan a most flattering testi-
monial of character and ability to start with, and kept up
a most paternal correspondence until a short time before
Dr. Rush died in 1813. He encouragtd Dr. McClellan an'/
commended him for the remarkable success he attained,
and frequently advised him in the treatment of patients.
Dr. McClellan practiced from 1788 to 1846, fifty-eight
years, dying age 84. When you know he died at the very
time the profession began the use of Anaesthetics, Chloro-
form and Ether, you can understand what he had to con-
tend with before. It required courage to boldness, great
dexterity and rapidity to be a surgeon those days. Dr.
Crawford Long was the first man to use ether as an agent
to relieve pain in surgical operations. March 30, 1842 he
gave ether and operated on James M. Venables, two miles
from Jefferson, Jackson, County, Ca., removing- a tumor
from his neck : and a month or two later he operated on an-
other on the same patient under the influence of ether.
October 16. 1S46, William T. G. Morton administered
ether to Dr. J. C. Warrens case at the Massachusetts Gen-
eral Hospital, (who removed a birth tumor from the neck.)
and the success of the anaesthetic gave it the world wide
endorsement and Dr. Morton claimed priorty. This was
the year Dr. McClellan died. The following list of some
of his operations given by himself, shows a remarkable
experience :
One day while Dr. McClellan's >un was hastening
back from the farm to see a Militia parade, he was thrown
from his horse and found unconscious. His father oper-
ated on him, it is supposed, trephined for a depressed
skull, and saved his life. As was his wont all the tinr* he
was operating with a suppressed whistle. General James
Potter a revolutionary hero and a compatriot of Gen.
Washington, after the war removed from Brown's Mills
to Potter's Mills, Centtr County, where he had large pos-
sessions. At the erection of a barn he had his thigh frac-
tured. He compelled his people to bring him over one
hundred miles in a Dearborn wagon without springs to
Browns Mills to be treated by his friend and surgeon Dr.
197
John McClellan, but he died soon after 1789, aged 89.
Dr. McClellan's ancestors are buried at the same old
graveyard as the Potters, Prathers and Pawlings, at
Browns Mills.
Dr. McClellan's book shows that he was not mercen-
ary, but very methodical in his dealings. Accounts witli
domestics at 50 and 62]/ 2 cents a week, and a farm hand a
$4.00 per month, always ended with full payment of his
indebtedness.
William McClellan, Esq., of this city, and father of
Mrs. A. Nevin Pomeroy and Mrs. Thackary of Philadel-
phia, was a son. Another son Robert was a legislator,
member of Congress, twice elected Governor of Michigan,
and a member of President Franklin Pierce's Cabinet, in
1853. Strange coincidence that the year that Robert Mc-
Clellan was elected governor of Michigan, 185 1, two other
Pennsylvanians, William Bigler and John his brother were
elected governors of Pennsylvania and California, respect-
ively.
His daughter Sydney was the mother of our dis-
tinguished townsman Dr. Johnston McLanahan, and Mrs.
Nill, of Greencastle, and their sister, Grace McLanahan.
(If the doctor were not present) I would venture to suggest
what I believe that Dr. McLanahan has inherited some of
his grandfather's genius and ability for surgery, and if he
had remained where he started in the atmosphere and en-
vironments of city hospitals he could have been one of the
great surgeons of tin's period of giants in the art. Brevet
Lieut. Col. John McClellan, a graduate of West Point, was
in the Mexican war. Died Sept. 1st, 1854, aged 49, was
another son of Dr. McClellan, Jack McClellan is a grand-
son of Dr. McClellan, recently retired.
But the most important operation of Dr. McClellan
was the removal of the Parotid gland. To you layman I
will explain, it is the salivary gland that lies immediately
in front of the ear one on either side. And it was the
swollen and painful endition of these glands that made you
so unhappy when you had the old fashioned mumps (now
parotitis) in Parotiditis, and the ducts of steno which con-
vey the saliva from these glands and open over the molar
198
teeth under the upper lips.. And the squirts of salivia
from these when you behold some very tempting morsel of
food, is what is meant when you say "it makes my teeth
water.'' To you surgical men I need not suggest the for-
midable character of the operation at that time.
He says in his book, kindly loaned to me by Dr. Mc-
Lanahan, that the extirpation of the gland was the first in
America, and I have not seen it successfully disputed.
1805, May 14, Elizabeth McKee, aged 50 years, a cancer-
ous growth size of a hen's egg. He was assisted by Drs.
Boggs and Netherington. He says he cut the Maxillary
and temporal arteries. He immediately placed his finger
on the mouth of the temporal and caught and held it with
the tenaculum until Dr. Hetherington tied it. It was as
larg-e as a goose quil and bled profusely. But his case re-
covered with paralysis of the face from severing the facial
nerve. This was to be expected. The operation has been
performed more than two hundred times since with 12 per
cent, mortality. Now instead of the old fashioned tenacu-
lum, surgeons use the Haemostatic catch forceps, which
catch and hold the vessels firmly, or better still the sur-
geons throw a ligature around the external carotid artery
which feeds all vessels, supplying this gland, and controls
all bleeding. While the patient is profoundly unconscious
with an anaesthetic. I saw the most dexterous surgeon
of his day. Prof. Joseph Pancoast, do this operation forty
years ago (1872 or 3), and it was a very bloody and ser-
ious looking operation even then, under an anaesthetic.
The operation for supposed cancer of Col. James Agnew's
tongue was unique to say the least. "That it might be
dne most effectually and with least danger, he kneeled be-
side a table and protruded his tongue. It was then fast-
ened thereto with an awl, the end opened and a portion
cut off.
The doctor in old age pronounced his own act to
have been rash, as an artery was severed and the profuse
bleeding arrested with difficulty. After the Colonel's
wound was partially healed he was out on his farm one
day, when the artery burst and a spurt of blood gushed
from it as when first cut. He pressed the tongue firmly
199
against the roof of the mouth and rushed home, seized a
pan, requested a piece of sheet lead from the store, com-
pressed the artery and staunched the blood. He lived
where McConnellsburg now is, 20 miles from his doctor.
I feel I speak advisedly and fairly when I say that
Dr. John McClellan was nearer what is meant by a born
surgeon than any other one within my personal knowl-
edge.
200
Sixteenth Annual .Meeting, February 26, 1)914.
AX rXSUXG BTCXEFACTOR.
i'.Y C. \V. CREMER, ESQ. OF WAYNESBORO
The meeting <>n this occasion was held at the charming,
elegantly appointed new home of T. M. Wood, Treasurer of the
S iittv. Philadelphia Avenue, where each guest was made happy
in keen anticipation of the good things to follow. As Mr. Cremer
unfolded in a delightful way the talents and industry of "An Un-
sung Benefactor" — Peter Geiser — the memory of a like genius
and stability of character must have revived in the minds of
many persons present, the honored father of the genial host of the
evening.
The Historian was happily presented by President Hoerner by
referring to his previous scholarly productions for the archives of
the society, whereat Mr. Cremer was given quite an ovation. As
an introduction to his paper he extemporaneously recalled the list
of Franklin County's Roll of Honor, as made some years ago by
the late John M. C oper, to which the speaker added as an
amendment a number of names. Thus he caught the undivided
attention of his audience and held it from start to finish. Mr.
Cremer was given a hearty vote of thanks for his excellent
sketch of one of the original "Captains of Industry" of Franklin
County.
The following officers were elected for the ensuing year:
A. W. GILLAN. Esq., President
A. J. W. HUTTON, Esq., 1st. Vice-President.
Dr. W. F. SKINNER, 2nd. Vice-President.
M. A. FOLTZ, Secretary.
LINN HARBAUGH, Esq., Ass't. Secretary.
Executive Committee:— Hon. CHARLES WALTER, Dr. WILLIAM
M. IUVINE, GEO. A. WOOD. MORRIS LLOYD, Rev. I. W. HEN-
DRICKS.
WALTER F. HOLLAR was elected a member of the Society
Linn Harbaugh, Esq., the Hon. A. Nevin Pomeroy, George A.
W od, committi -. reported as fol «n the death
"i' the lamented J. S. Mcllvaine, an est. mber of this
Society:
"In grateful ren ce nf the active as well as sympathetic
services rendered the Kittochtinny Historical Society by the late
John S. Mcllvaine, it is eminently befitting that we make a record
ef our sincere appreciation of him in this behalf. He was one 01
the original members of the Society. He performed splendid work
l! eat as a mem ' the executive committee. He
was I tenth presi the organizati in, serving from Febru-
ary 1910 o February, 1911, a year of substantial progress in the
development ot' local history.
"Whether .is an officer or a member of the Society, Mr. Mc-
llvaine manifi sted a lively interest in all its pr c In the
discussions of historical subjects he was always clear and interest-
ing in his statements and recollection. He was apt in quotation.
He was possess..! oi a aelicate mill stimulating power or appre-
ciating- the work - f others. In this he was a sonic- of encourage-
ment to younger members who were unduly sensitive as to their
limitations in historical research.
"Mindful of the goo.i ns of this honorable and well round-
ed life, we mourn his departure; and in extending our sympathy
to his bereaved household, we may appropriately adopt his own
is a priceless heritage, more precious than silver and gold, or any
words used in speaking of another: "The memory of such a father
thing that this earth can yield. 'Let me die the death of the right-
eous, and let my last end be like his"'
201
Be it resolved that the foregoing- be embodied in the minutes
of this meeting, and that a copy of the same be sent to the family
of our departed brother."
Thirty members were in attendance, and guests to the number
of 40. The following ladies were in the receiving line and assist-
ed the hostess: Mrs. W. Rush Gillan, Mrs. W. S. Hoerner, Mrs.
Tabor Hamilton, Mrs. Geo. A. Wiood, Mrs. Irvin W. Hendricks,
Mrs. J. Alexander Smith, Mrs. C. O. Wood, Mrs. W. F. Skinner,
Miss Grace Curriden, Miss Helen Wood.
The social hour was greatly enjoyed. Delectable refreshments
were served.
From a very few miles below the Mason and Dixon
line there came to this county a man with a great big idea
which he had nourished from his earliest youth, fostered
as best he could under not altogether advantageous cir-
cumstances, and then finally brought to the quiet, little
town of Waynesboro his invention, his energy and his
confidence in himself and his work, which gave, eventu-
ally, to that place one of its greatest industrial establish-
ments.
The man was Peter Geiser, the inventor of the Geis-
er separator which, completed by him in the Waynesboro
shops, has had a career of uninterrupted success of half a
century without departing basically from the first machine
that expressed the culmination of his inventive genius.
It would be a very interesting study to trace the
growth of the Geiser Waynesboro shops, which started
with a capital of practically nothing and were sold recent-
ly for $4,000,000. It would be just as interesting to de-
pict the development of Waynesburg from a quiet village,
unconcerned very much about the outside world or greater
than customary endeavor within its own limits, to the busy,
enterprising-, ambitious community that now is called
Waynesboro. But that would be somewhat prosaic to
many people and would deal too much with facts and fig-
ures that oftentimes grow very tiresome except to the
man who has a personal interest in them.
Much more entertaining and, in a way, much more
Useful will it be to follow the development of Peter Geis-
er's idea of a threshing machine and the struggles of the
man who gave such a boon to the people of this country.
Peter Geiser was a farmer's boy and in his very early
years looked ahead to nothing but the routine life of the
broad acres of a Maryland manor. He was born March
202
26, 1826, a half mile west of Smithsburg, the son of John
Geiser. He was the seventh child of a family of seven
boys and five girls. A number of years before his death,
Peter Geiser indulged in the pleasant pastime of writing
an autobiography. It is very lengthy and records the
most important epochs of his life with much faithfulness.
He tells, for instance, that when a mere youngster he was
overjoyed upon the receipt of a pocket knife and gives a list
of the man}' things his childish hand carved with this
appreciated blade. He relates also that when fifteen
years old he was compelled to give up the pursuits in
which his fancy led him and take hold of a plow handle
which he was compelled to guide for many days in each
year. However, there were bright spots even in this
period of service to his father. and these bright spots
were, singularly enough, the rainy days. On such days
the youthful Peter Geiser could not push the plow and lie
found his way to his work shop which, he uniquely said,
"occupied the second floor of the rookery, the first
floor of which was used for the generation of pork meat."
Mr. Geiser remarks further that his work shop was com-
pletely ventilated on all sides and that, "barring the aroma
inseparable from the character of the first floor tenants,
there was more pure air going in the Geiser shop of that
day than in the later, more pretentious ones mentioned in
the tax duplicates of 1890. The original Geiser shop was
possessed of a hand-grindstone that was easy enough to
hold an ax on but eternally hard to turn, and a shaving
horse that had lost its front teeth and couldn't hold on to
the stick you put in its mouth."
Mr. Geiser tells that he made several grain cradles
and other farm implements, but that his ambition w r as not
nearly satisfied with such work. The primitive methods
used in that day in threshing grain appealed to him as be-
ing entirely too laborious and too barren of results
commensurate with the efforts expended upon them. In
addition, he naively confessed that he was not the most
eager youngster to respond to the call of work, and this
and the long and tiresome process of tramping the grain
from the wheat furnished an appeal to his mechanical
203
imagination, which put to work his faculties in an at-
tempt to construct such a machine as would lessen the
heaviness of the labor and get much better results from
the harvesting".
There were some crude machines to aid in threshing
in these early days, but none of them appealed to him as
even approaching efficiency. About 1835 the first grain
threshing machine appeared on the market. Tin's was of
great size, cumbersome and hard to move about, and
then did little else than hammer out the wheat grains with-
out separating them from the straw, necessitating all the
subsequent process of shaking and winnowing incident to
tramping.
Mr. Geiser began to picture in his mind a machine
that would do all this work within itself and prove more
expeditious and more saving. Several years lie spent in
this endeavor and he says that his efforts were retarded
very much by poor help, lack of facilities and lack of
means for pushing- ahead his experiments.
There may have been some incentive to him in the
fact that his mother was a Singer, member of a family liv-
ing in Washington county, Maryland, whose relationship
included the inventor of the Singer sewing machine. At
any rate, the youth kept making mental plans for his
threshing machine, but it was some time before he was to
realize his ambition. His father put him to work as an
apprentice with Jacob Gantz, a boss carpenter of Smiths-
burg. There he worked six months and then took a bench
in John Middlekauf s shop in Hagerstown. He must have
proved an adept workman, for his employer soon after-
ward sent him to Williamsport to do some work on canal
boats. While in Williamsport Mr. Geiser contracted ma-
laria and was compelled to go to his home for recovery.
Tn his autobiography he here tells something that is
of more than ordinary interest. He says:
"Tn this case, as with the dvspepsia matter before
treated of, I had recourse to my standby, the water treat-
ment, consisting of 'sitz' baths with internal applications.
In due course of time I emerged from the disability, thor-
oughly cured, and as sound physically as a genuine dollar.
204
The happy results of hydropathy, for that is what it really
was, in this case amply confirmed' my faith in its merits,
notwithstanding that this, as with my other original meth-
ods of striking out from old, beaten paths, subjected me to
untold criticism and animadversion at the hands of unpro-
gressive elements with which I was surrounded."
In 1848. when Mr. Geiser was 22 years old, his fath-
er purchased a farm upon which he placed him and his
"brother Daniel, as joint owners. Peter's work on this
form was making repairs, fashioning farm implements
and erecting buildings. He there constructed a bar share,
sidehill plow with a double mould board and reversing
beams, so arranged that in turning back in the same fur-
row the beams and handles only would turn on the centre.
Then he improved his reaper and contemplated a combined
reaper and binder but abandoned this latter as there was
always before him the idea of the separator. Soon after
taking the farm he erected a large barn and fitted up one
of the horse stables for his work shop. There, in 1850.
he made his first experiment on the Geiser separator. His
first effort was directed to the knotty problem of separat-
ing the wheat from the straw and chaff and conveying
the straw from the machine or thresher part of it. He hit
on the idea of a crank, or rather the movement of recipro-
cating rakes combined on one shaft. The movement of
the crank arm of a steam engine furnished the suggestion
O an
for this. Along this line lie worked for a good while, be-
cause, in the first place, it was altogether a new idea which
had to be converted into a concrete reality, and because.
in the second place, lie had very few tools. But he perse-
vered and soon began to get satisfactory proof of the
feasibility of his idea. The pattern of the machine which
he constructed was necessarily of wood and altogether in-
adequate for the hard work that would be exacted from a
thresher, so he went to an old, practical blacksmith at
Smithstmrg and the two together succeeded in making a
set of crank shafts out of wrought iron. These were
crude but they answered the purpose quite well. The cost
was something big for those davs and for the voung in-
ventor, amounting to fifteen dollars.
205
With these and other mechanical accessories Mr.
Geiser solved the problem of separating the grain from the
straw and of moving the straw along a conveyor and by
means of an alternating movement was able to balance the
group of, rakes, thereby, begetting evenness and smoothness
of action. But this was only a little part of the work he
intended his thresher should do. It was necessary that
the chaff be blown 'away and that the grain should be car-
ried to some place where it could be deposited, away from
the straw. The old time horse power and the irregularity
of speed, unavoidable from balky horses and spurts of
speed occasioned by the long lash of the driver, made it
impossible to maintain a steady blast. If the speed was
high, half of the wheat would go out on the straw stack;
if it was low, the machine would clog. Threshing damp
or wet grain was another task to which the apparatus was
unequal. It will be seen that the construction of a sepa-
rator that would be of some consequence did not confine
itself to the invention of one or two parts of the machine,
but included many ramifications which must necessarily
have caused Mr. Geiser very much thought, very many ex-
periments, plenty of disappointment and a supreme trial of
his patience and ambition. Therefore, it can be under-
stood that he was put to a severe test of his inventive abil-
ity to devise something that would winnow his straw and
grain properly. As a matter of fact, he spent three years
on this portion of his invention and then was taken with a
severe attack of typhoid fever. In his autobiography Mr.
Geiser says concerning this :
"I had a hard struggle with the fiery demon and it
came painfull}- near happening that to another than myself
should have to be committed the task of developing the
separator idea. I took refuge in water treatment, my old
standby. I ran counter to the old method then in vogue
and instead of cremating the fever germs by the applica-
tion of heat-producing remedies, I froze them to death, by
means of sheet baths, etc. This broke the fever and
brought me around allright by the following spring, when
my health was fully re-established and has ever since been
preserved."
206
The following spring- he did little on his separator,
but erected a new house and took care that a portion of
the old house was reserved for a shop for him. Here, in
[854, he went to the bottom of the winnower perplexity
and solved in the domain of pure originality the problem
nf separating, cleaning and bagging wheat, which has
stood the test for years and which, in principle and con-
struction, remains practically unchanged in the Geiser
separator of today. It would be useless to endeavor to
enter into a technical description of this separator as com-
pleted by Mr. Geiser. The fact remains that he did com-
plete his separator, that it was put on the market and at
once began to do its work well. The first machine which
was completed and sold was purchased by Hezekiah Eas-
ton, of Beaver Creek. Maryland. It is worth narrating
here that for many years, up to the very near present, this
machine was kept in operation and was not surpassed in
perfection of work by the better built and more pretentious
separators of the later Geiser shops.
The Geiser machine obtained its pre-eminent repu-
tation for cleaning grain more thoroughly and with less
waste than any other machine on the market by the blast
regulating and winnowing appliance which was Mr. Geis-
er's original invention. So confident was he of the abil-
ity nf his machine to do all that he represented it would
that lie inspired a like faith in the owners and operators of
it and they frequently offered one dollar for every grain
of wheat that could lie found in the chaff. Still another
evidence of the character of Mr. Geiser's invention was
the fact that millers offered from two to five cents more
per bushel fur wheat cleaned through these machines than
for that cleaned by others.
Mr. Geiser at once applied for patents upon his im-
provements and readily secure them because of the origi-
nality of his invention. We must believe that it was a
proud moment for Mr. Geiser. still under thirty years old.
when he received his patents, and that his confidence in
the value of them must have been markedly increased.
Rut all this exultation was not unmixed with a depressing
feature. The hopeful inventor was now $5,000 in debt, of
207
which, however, only $2,000 should be charged to the sep-
arator. The rest was clue to farm expenditures, such as
building, improving the farm and stocking the same. Per-
sonally his expenses were very meager.
Before the year 1854 was ended he had built and sold
three more machines. One of these he took to the Hagers-
town fair and was unanimously awarded the first premium
by the judges. The Geiser thresher was there put into a
contest with a New York separator known as the Smith
machine. The decision of the judges, as told above, fixed
the greatly superior character of the invention of the young
country boy from near the Mason and Dixon line.
Mr. Geiser now began to interest himself in the manu-
facture of his machines on a larger scale in order to fur-
nish them to persons who might be induced to buy them.
There was a good bit of trouble in introducing the machine
because it was absolutely new and many people were afraid
of it, while others could not understand its principle of op-
eration and did not believe it could do the work claimed for
it. On one occasion a farmer, eight miles from Mr. Geis-
er's home, had purchased a machine and put a number of
slaves to the work of operating it. In a short time the
machine stopped and one of the darkeys rode horse-back,
at break-neck speed, to Mr. Geiser to inform him that the
machine was conjured and that he wanted the doctor for it
right away. Mr. Geiser mounted his horse, raced back to
the farm and found out that all that was wrong was a loose
belt. This was quickly adjusted and the machine was
started off and continued the remainder of that harvest,
doing its work efficiently.
Realizing that he must enlarge his workshop, he added
a blacksmith department to his plant, employed two men,
and by the end of the winter of 1854 had made three sepa-
rators, two of them requiring six months to complete. In
the spring of 1855 eight orders were received. Mr. Geiser
borrowed $200 more, added four more men and then mar-
ried a wife, after a two months' courtship, he admits, and
after a brief wedding trip returned to his shop to resume
the construction of separators on a larger scale than before.
In the summer of 1855 he started to advertise his
208
separator throughout the country. He rigged up a com-
plete machine with all the paraphernalia, except horse pow-
er, and began a tour through Ohio and Indiana. He ship-
ped a complete machine to Columbus, Ohio, but the fair
was ended when it reached there. There was a tremen-
dous disappointment in this but the indomitable young man
did not lose heart under it. He put more money into his
project, and bought several horses. Then he started for
the Indiana capital, fi was virgin prairie ground, much
of it, over which he traveled but he kept on the majch and
finally he and his tired horses reached Indianapolis. He
had only his machine, the jaded steeds and an abundance
of hope, and this latter despite the fact that he had no
horsepower.
Let Mr. Geiser tell of his experience there in his own
way :
"1 arrived at the Hoosier city in time to catch the
closing hours of the fair. I wheeled into line alongside of
the Pitts patent, bedecked in gaudiest color and whacking
away at a lively rate. Compared with my modest and
weather-beaten rig, these hand-box competitors were as
peacocks to a guineapig. My discomfiture was further
enhanced by having no horse-power. I had a younger
brother along on the junket but he declined furnishing mot-
ive power, either with or without my assistance. It was
late in the fall and sharp winds were whisking over the
prairie, rendering the spectacle of man, standing around
with his hands in his pockets and nothing to do. sadly pic-
turesque. Finally, after the premiums had all been
awarded and my name was Dennis, so far as any trophies
of that kind to encumber my return home was concerned,
the Pitts people kindly loaned me a horse-power and the
fair managers furnished me with a shock or two of wheat.
I rigged up, motioned to the driver and dashed frantically
into action. I was cold. The odds and ends of people
still lingering around the grounds were brought to the
scene of this new break, and when I had finished, the ver-
dict was that the Geiser had done the best work of all, had
carried off the day, albeit the other fellows had the medals
in their pockets. As a practical proof of my success. Mus-
209
selffian & Victor, manufacturing the Pitt> machine in In-
dianapolis, and who drew first premium, at once negotiat-
ed with me for manufacturing my machine on royalty fees.
I entered into a contract with them and received $200 cash
to clinch the bargain. On the following year's operations
I received $500 additional royalty money which covered
my great western exploit and left me a net balance of $100,
the first clear money I had actually earned in a long while.
But the Indianapolis party failed the next year, and fortune
no longer smiled from that direction."
It seems the old. old tale of the inventor along orig-
inal lines that Mr. Geiser recites in the foregoing.
Then he entered upon what he called the migratory
period in the factory life of the Geiser separator. He went
out. here and there, to find a home for his plant that would
be congenial and the better fitted for reaching the big outer
world. In 1855, in the spring time, he went to Hagers-
town and entered into an agreement with Jones & Miller
to manufacture the separator. At the same time he estab-
lished a factory in Smithsburg, gave it into charge of two
of his faithful employes, William Frankenbaugh and
Leonard Vogel, and put them under contract to manufac-
rure half a dozen machines yearly. Mr. Geiser himself
went to Hagerstown. The two factories that year turned
out 18 machine^ and all of these were sold but at very little,
if any. profit.
The next spring he sold to Samuel Fitz, a large oper-
ator at Hanover who had a branch shop at Martinsburg,
W. Va., the shop right to build the separator at these two
points for the sum of $5,000.
In the fall of that year Mr. Geiser took two machines
to a fair at Richmond, Virginia, where the great planta-
tion owners and wheat growers assembled annually. The
operation of his machine there was astonishing to the
southern people and he sold one machine and a half interest
in the other. From these sales and from the toll money he
had saved, he had the sum of $600 as a profit. It is of in-
terest probably to know that Mr. Geiser stopped at con-
venient farms along the route of his travel to fairs and
there threshed out as much grain as he could induce the
2IO
farmers to trust to his machine, and in this way generally
was able to pay part of the expense of the trip. Like an
old-time army, lie lived on the country he campaigned over.
However, the Richmond trip, with the expenses of
himself and employes, (it cost him $10 a day there he says
in lamenting words) the transportation of luggage and
his entire outfit, cost $1000 for the journey to the southern
city alone, so that he was in reality $400 out of pocket by
this trip that was intended to educate the public mind.
His brother Daniel, meanwhile, had become impressed
with the possibilities of the separator field and took out a
complete rig with two horses and two assistants to ex-
hibit the separaior in the valley of Virginia. He showed
his machine in various towns, threshing at farms along the
way. and finally sold it, horses and all. in Salem. Virginia,
for $400. The purchaser gave his note and when he
wouldn't pay it, it was necessary to sue him. Before, how-
ever, the money was obtained the main failed. The cost
of the outfit, with labor, traveling expenses, etc., was $700
against which $150 was realized from threshing, leaving
the expedition in arrears to the amount of $550. These
could not have been very happy days for the enthusiastic
young inventor.
The next expedition of Geiser's machinery was to
Ohio. This time it was conducted by two agents. The
books of the concern showed that $500 was lost in this ef-
fort to find a market. But all was not lost in 1857. There
had been 27 sales at Hagerstown and ,}0 at Martinsburg.
In 1858 his brother Daniel arranged with George
Frick, who had been operating a small foundry and ma-
chine shop on his father's farm near the Geiser home place,
to build separators at Ringgold, Maryland. At the same
lime he sold a shop right for several counties in Virginia
for a term of years for 8300. and spent considerable money
in giving them sample machines, patterns, etc. 70 machines
were sold in 1858. Mr. Geiser took an account of stock at
the end of this year and found that the debt of $5,000 of a
few years before had grown now to $12,000, but even with
this he was not long discouraged; he was the ideal inventor
and treader in new paths. The next year lie went to Rich-
211
mond, Virginia, where he had aroused much interest some
years before, to establish another branch of the Geiser
works and also set up a shop at Mount Jackson. As a re-
sult of the work in these different branch shops there were
built, in 1859, in machines. Mr. Geiser said that they
had made more noise in the world than ever but did not
hold their own in a financial way.
About this time money matters took on a very serious
aspect for Peter Geiser. One of the men who pressed him
hardest was Samuel Fitz, one of his earliest associates. In
order to satisfy him, he made him a present of the state of
Virginia for the amount of his indebtedness to him, $5000.
This was the high water mark of his financial trouble. Af-
ter this things went the other way, but very slowly. In
i860 Mr. Geiser started a branch shop at Mount Joy, an-
other at York, with A. B. Farquhar, who has since become
one of the leading manufacturers of Pennsylvania, and an-
other at Middletown, Delaware.
But best happening of all this year was the entry of the
Geiser separator into Waynesboro. George Frick. who had
invented a steam engine of much more than ordinary effi-
ciency, erected a shop on the corner of Broad and Second
streets, Waynesboro, in 1859, and in i860 moved there and
began operating - his factory. Along with his steam engine
he manufactured the Geiser thresher. In t86o, Mr. Geiser
himself moved to Waynesboro.
In the spring of 1861, having intrusted to his brother
Daniel the supervision of his eastern business, as well as all
his rights in the patent upon the plan of mutual and equal
interests, their joint liabilities being- about $25,000, he went
West for the purpose of opening up a field. He met with
discouragements there, and the breaking out of the war
further added to the gloomy business outlook. He endeav-
ored -to interest several large western manufacturers in
some of his patents, but none of these efforts proved of any
consequence to him. Mr. Geiser could not find enough to
do in the separator line, so he took to canvassing for exemp-
tion subscriptions to make up the quota of money for cer-
tain counties, in connection with the raising of armies and
funds for the war.
212
Four years were passed with the manufacture and
sale of only two machines and they would have been bleak
years for him but for his good luck in disposing of the
rights of some of the far western states. J. I. Case, of
Racine. Wisconsin, whose great plant and its successor
have, for a number of years, been probably the greatest
competitor the Geiser Company and its successor, the
Emerson-Brantingham Company, have had, bought a block
of territory for $itoo. This was a windfall to the almost
destitute inventor.
In the spring of 1865 Mr. Geiser entered into an
agreement with D. L. Wilson, a manufacturer at Harris-
burg, to build separators, and himself came hither from
the West to assume the management of the branch. The
total sales that year amounted to 300 machines, on which
fair profits were realized. Mr. Geiser very magnanimously
accords much of the financial success at this time to his
brother Daniel.
In the spring of 1866, at the suggestion of his brother
Daniel, he moved to Greencastle and made arrangements
with Crowell & Davison to build separators. 35 machines
were turned out here the first year. The Frick shops at
Waynesboro sold 80 machines. Greencastle was astir
with manufacturing enthusiasm, foresaw a great future
for the Geiser separator and put on foot a movement to
raise $100,000 capital to concentrate the manufacture of
the separator at that point. Public meetings were held
and there was much interest. One of the leading figures
in the movement was Colonel D. Watson Rowe, after-
wards the very able judge of Franklin county courts and a
valued member of this society. He addressed public
meetings, wrote communications for the papers and assist-
ed Mr. Geiser very materially. The Greencastle people
succeeded in raising $40,000 and the prospects were good
for the balance.
Waynesboro people, however, organized an effort, in
1866, to permanently locate the factory in their town, the
firm of Geiser, Price & Jacob F. Oiler was formed, it
purchased the Frick works on the west side of Broad
street for the building of the Geiser machine and in 1867
213
got fairly under way. The Greencastle project was
abandoned and the manufacture of the separator was prac-
tically concentrated in Waynesboro. At the request of
the new firm, Mr. Geiser moved from Greencastle to Way-
nesboro and assumed management and supervision of the
manufacturing department. At the same time he conveyed
all his right of title and interest in the patents to the firm.
His migrations and his financial troubles were then ended
for then began the wonderful growth of the plant which
afterwards became The Geiser Manufacturing Company
and is now a branch of the $50,000,000 Emerson-Brant-
ingham Company.
I have told the story of Peter Geiser, tonight, to
bring to you the work of a man who accomplished some-
thing really beneficial to mankind, to spread out before
you the trials and disappointments, the success and the joys
of a man highly endowed mechanically, who, though not a
Franklin countian by birth, was born only a few miles
south of the line and who reached the culmination of all
his efforts in this county.
It was a long road he traveled and it had many turns,
with many rough places and many ugly hills, but he never
faltered nor even thought of quitting and the end justified
all the labor, all the anxiety, all the nervous energy, all the
intelligence expended.
A bov of weak constitution and limited resources,
with no model to guide his inventive inclinations, he grew
to mature years to see his separator sold in every civilized
country.
But there were many months full of hardship. He
began his work in a little shop above a pig sty, he contin-
ued it in a horse stable. Up and down the country he pull-
ed his separator with two horses. When a barn of un-
tramped or unflailed wheat was seen he offfered to thresh
the grain and from the earnings of the machine was partly
able to pay his current expenses.
For a number of years he was essentially a wanderer
with a jewel of rare value that people would not believe
was genuine. He didn't have even a fixed home for the
manufacture of his invention but had it built here and
214
there where men were willing to undertake its construction.
He regularly lost money in the exploitation of his
machine and he occasionally sustained losses through mis-
placed confidence. It was a struggle that would have con-
quered many men but that whetted the indomitable spirit
of Peter Geiser and led him through many vicissitudes to
the pinnacle on which he can properly be placed as a bene-
factor of mankind.
215
Regular Meeting, March 26, 1914.
SONS OF FRANKLIN COUNTY PROMINENT ELSEWHERE.
BY JOHN M. RUNK
The Society was entertained at the lovely home of J. W.
Sharpe, Esq., Philadelphia Avenue. Mr. Runk is perhaps one of
the best known publishers of County Histories in the State, his
work including, besides counties in Pennsylvania, several of the
"Western States, and Maryland and Virginia. His knowledge of
the subject treated therefore peculiarly fits him to tell of some
of the "Sons of Franklin County, Prominent Elsewhere." In this
respect the number and character of many of the biographies
handled by the speaker were a revelation to all present, and elicit-
ed quite an animated discussion when he concluded.
At the business meeting a most cordial invitation was read
from Dr. Irvine to attend the unveiling of the portrait of Dr. J.
W. Nevin in Mercersburg Academy on the evening of May 8, 1914.
The invitation which included wives, daughters, and sons, was
unanimously accepted.
T. J. Brereton, on motion of Dr. F. N. Emmert, was made
chairman of a committee. Other members to be selected by him-
self, to co-operate with the general big time committee, to secure
historical exhibits for display in the old C. V. Station, for the
Sesqui-Centennial Celebration and Old Home Week from July 27
to August 1.
T. M. Wood moved that the Society take action to secure a
bronze memorial tablet such as the U. S. Government is making
from the metal taken from the Battleship Maine, which was blown
up in the harbor of Havana, to be erected in Chambersburg, in
memory oi "Walter Sellers, one of those who lost his life on the
Maine.
After the social hour, refreshments were served in exquisite
form.
The following opinion from Daniel Webster has long-
inspired me in my love for Biographical and Geneological
history :
"It is wise for us to recur to the history of our ances-
tors. Those who are negligent and regardless of their
ancestors, and of their posterity, who do not look upon
themselves as a link connecting the past with the future, in
the transmission of life from their ancestors to their pos-
terity, do not perform their duty to the world. To be
faithful to ourselves we must keep both our ancestors and
their posterity within reach and grasp of our thoughts and
affections, living in memory and retrospect of the past, and
hoping with affection and care for those who are to come
after us. We are true to ourselves only when we act with
hecoming pride for the blood we inherit and which we are
to transmit to those who shall fill our places."
2l6
My paper deals mostly with men who were born in
Franklin count)-, about whom I do not think anything has
been published in the several books on the county, or men-
tioned in any of the excellent papers read before this So-
ciety. The men I shall mention all made good in the dif-
ferent walks of life, as the young- man who goes out into
the wild and .almost unsettled world with only a willing
heart and a strong arm, usually comes under the wire, a
winner in the race of life, while the young man born with
a "silver spoon" in his mouth seldom makes much prog-
ress. But before reading to you about these native sons.
I will delve a little in retrospect and pedigree and argue
the value, importance and sacredness of biographical
history.
Franklin county was named for Benjamin Franklin
whose statue adorns the Cupalo of our Court of Justice.
Pennsylvania was settled by William Perm in 1682. Phil-
adelphia was founded in 1683 by Penn. The counties of
Philadelphia. Bucks and Chester, were founded in 1682.
Lancaster count}- was founded in 1729, York county in
1749. and "Old Mother Cumberland" was founded as the
sixth county in 17^0. Franklin county was created bv an
act of Assembly, September 9, 1784, and was taken from
Cumberland county which at first embraced an area of
two thirds of the State.
Benjamin and Joseph Chambers settled in what is now
Chambersburg in T730. The town was laid out in 1704.
when the name of Chambersburg was given to it. Benja-
min Chambers died four years after Franklin county was
founded. There are twenty-three counties in the United
States which are named Franklin. They will be found in
Alabama. Arkansas, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana. Iowa. Kan-
sas, Kentucky. Louisiana. Maine. Massachusetts, Mississ-
ippi, Missouri. Nebraska, New York. North Carolina. Ohio.
Pennsylvania, Tennessee. Texas. Vermont. Virginia, and
Washington. In the several states there are thirtv-three
towns named Franklin, making a total of fifty-five name-
sakes for our beloved Benjamin Franklin.
There are seven towns in the .United States called
Chambersburg. Triev are to be found in Franklin county,
217
Pa.. Orangfe county. Indiana; Clark county, Missouri;
Montgomery county, Ohio; Gallia county, Ohio; and Pike
county, Illinois: and one a suburb of Trenton, New Jersey.
Chambersburg in Franklin county. Pa., is the oldest, and I
believe that Franklin county. Pa., is older than any of the
other twenty-one Franklin counties.
We take little risk when we direct a letter to Cham-
bersburg, as the other six towns called Chambersburg- are
small, aggregating a population of about six hundred
people.
But if we direct a letter to the town of Franklin, it
might go to any of thirty states: Alabama, Arkansa, Cal-
ifornia, Connecticut. Dakota, Georgia, Idaho. Illinois. In-
diana, Iowa. Kansas, Kentucky. Louisiana. Maine, Massa-
chusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Ne-
braska, Xew Hampshire, New Jersey, Xew York, North
Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, West Vir-
ginia, and Wisconsin.
There is no other Franklin county inhabited by civilized
men.
That is the equal of Franklin county in the state of
YVm. Penn.
Nor another Chambersburg in all the world's wide space,
So pretty, so charming as our dear Old Chamber's
place.
If there were yet living in Franklin county or in
Chambersburg, some of those who sat in the earliest gath-
erings of this now beautiful valley, then a dense wilderness,
inhabited by wild animals and Indians, it would be easy
enough to sit down by their firesides and listen to the sto-
ries of the fathers, of their trials, their log cabins, log
meeting houses, log' school houses, with slab seats, slab
writing' desks, greased paper window lights, of their tri-
umphs, their failures, their ways of thought and general
action. But they are all gone a century ago, and the places
that knew them so well, will know them no more forever.
Now it is the Chronicler, who puts in permanent form all
these supposedly trifling details, has performed an invalu-
2l8
able, if not imperishable service. The tooth of time eats
away the living evidences of what happened a hundred
years ago with unerring swiftness.
I am quite certain if some of those level headed old
pioneers who were first to administer medicine to the sick,
who sat in the Justice chambers to settle disputes, who
booked the County's records, who lead in the prayer meet-
ings, who taught the young to read, in fact those who took
the lead in all movements in the then sparsley settled coun-
ty and town, were to be transplanted here now in our time
of wonderful surgery and observe the cure of the knife,
watch the swiftness of justice in our Courts, look into the
great vaults which hold the County's records, listen to a
Biederwolf sermon, and watch our children learning to
read, write and spell, they would simply be lost in amaze-
ment. I do not believe they could make good in our time.
They saw then only a wilderness with few if any roads.
They would see now a magnificent Valley of farm lands,
cut with many roads in all directions, steam and electric
cars, horses instead of their oxen, buggies, automobiles,
telegraph and telephone service, flying machines, indeed a
transformation beyond any imagination they could possibly
have had.
But after all the life of a nation or a city, compared to
time, is but a breath, although it may survive generations
and centuries, and how inconceivably brief, then, is the
longest span of a single human life. Man's nature is such
that he is deeply concerned in the movements of those who
have gone before him. Whether his fore-fathers were wise
or foolish, he wants to learn all he can about, them, to study
their customs, habits and general movements.
History, some time in the future, will consist of the
biographies of good men. the true soldiers in the cause of
civilization and morality, whose lives have tended to ad-
vance mankind and beat back ignorance, promote the happi-
ness of their fellow-man. and ameliorate the pains and pen-
alties of ignorance and vice. In other words, it will come
to be known some time that the best history consists of the
biographies of the best men and that here the generations
219
may find those lessons that cultivate the highest and best
type of knowledge.
The world's history cannot now be written because
the biographies of the true men, who have humbly toiled,
and thought, and worked, and died, some times of want in
a garret, and then again of fire and fagot at the stake,
have not been preserved, and it is only a modern conception
that begins to place the writers of true biographies among
the ablest and best of all interpreters of philosophy.
The proper study of mankind is man. The study of
the human mind is the best source of the best education,
and the study of the best minds the world has produced is
the fountain of the highest wisdom that is given to man to
have. All else called history is generally mere chronology,
a skeleton of dates and important events that have been
most temporary in their effect, and that bear no lesson in
their story from which can come the ripened fruit of civil-
ization.
In local histories then, such as this Society is making-
data for, will the young find the blessings of a good gov-
ernment and a ripened and just public sentiment, But
indeed there is a moral sublimity in what we have been able
to glean of the lives of the pioneers of Franklin county
and Chambersburg, and of her sons, who have gone into
far and unsettled lands and there made good in the busy
walks of life. Is it too much or is it fanciful to conclude
that those who are to come after us in a hundred years to
be, will take the same interest and pride in what we are
doing today as we take in those who have long since passed
into eternity? Really I believe our acts and deeds ought
to be to them then, what the acts and deeds of our first set-
tlers are to us now.
It is impossible therefore to estimate in money value
the worth of the men and women who endured so many
hardships and made so many sacrifices to make this valley
bloom and blossom as the rose, and there is only (me way
that a people, who reap the benefits of their lives and works
can manifest their appreciation of them, and that is by
gratefully cherishing their memories and passing them to
posterity as a legacy to be guarded, loved and admired and
220
placed before their children as models for their guidance
and control.
At the February meeting held at the home of T. M.
Wood every one present seemed to be deeply interested in
the biographical sketch of an "Unsung Benefactor"' as
written and read by C. VV. Creamer, and observing the ap-
parent thirst for that kind of history. I decided to write
this paper, giving part of the life work of several sons of
good old Franklin couny and Chambersburg, and which I
will now begin to read to you with no little degree of trepi-
dation. I feel however, that at this time when we are about
to Commemorate and Celebrate our County and town's
history, these sketches, even though they fall below the
standard of the "men of mark in the honor roll as called
by Air. Creamer." they must be eminently fitting for you to
have. I have taken the data from local histories with the
preparation of which T was employed or was the publisher,
and man}" of the subjects T met at their homes and know
that they cherished their native county and nil wished some
time to visit the scenes of their childhood.
It is my hope that these biographies will add to the an-
nals of Franklin county.
Judge Joseph Cox, was born August 4. 1S22. at Cham-
bersburg, Pennsylvania, die son of Dr. Hiram and Marga-
ret (Edwards) Cox. His ancestors were among the earli-
est settlers of Virginia and Pennsylvania. P>< >tb of his
grand-fathers participated in the Revolutionary war, and
were sturdy pioneers in the then outskirts of civilization.
Dr. Hiram Cox was a finely educated man and was able to
pursue his studies in various languages. A graduate of the
Ohio Medical College, lie was for many years a leading
physician in Cincinnati and vicinity, often advocating posi-
tions pertaining to his profession that were far in advat
of the opinions of his contemporaries, lint which have since
been universally recognized.
Joseph ("ov when quite a young man. was placed un-
der the care of Rev. 1.. G. Gaines, a very eminent tutor of
Clermonl comity. Ohio, where he was thoroughly drilled in
the Common branches of learning and in Greek and Latin,
and afterwards pursued a classical course in Miami Univer-
221
sity, Oxford, Ohio, which institution in later years confer-
red upon him the degree of A. M.
After leaving Miami University, he studied medicine
for a time with his father, but preferring the legal profes-
sion he became a student in the law office of Hon. Thomas
J. Strait, a prominent lawyer of Cincinnati. At the age of
twenty one lie was admitted to the bar and began practicing
law, occupying his leisure hours in literary labors of various
kinds, contributing frequently to the journals of the day,
and preparing works descriptive of the Ohio and Mississ-
ippi valleys.
Joseph Cox was associated in practice for a while with
Henry Snow, and afterwards with his brother. Captain
Myron S. Cox. In 1855 lie as elected Prosecuting Attor-
ney of Hamilton county, and served in this position with
marked ability. His 'term was an extraordinarily active
one. Of the thirty murder trials which he conducted, the
most noted in the Western country at that time, was that of
Arrison, for the murder of Allison and wife, by means of
an "infernal machine," exploded in the Medical College on
Central avenue, in Cincinnati, in which Cox gained high
encomiums.
By active prosecution he broke up the "Bing Sandy
Gang" of counterfeiters, and sent ten of its members to the
penintentiary. He pushed the investigations against cor-
rupt officials and contractors, and, by having their contracts
of the Court House and Lunatic Asylum annulled he saved
thousands of dollars to Hamilton county.
Joseph Cox refused a re-nomination for Prosecuting
attorney, and resuming private practice, was actively and
remuneratively employed until his election to the Judgeship
of the Common Pleas Court in 1866. In this position he
served the public faithfully for fifteen years, being re-elect-
ed in 1 87 1 and 1876. As a judge his ability and integrity
as a lawyer were unquestioned, and was especially recogniz-
ed by the bar when, in 1877, there being a vacancy caused
by the death of judge H. H. Leavitt, the entire bar united
in recommending his appointment to the position of United
States District Judge.
The elecion in 1876, which was a Presidential year.
222
was very close, and in order to establish his election, Judge
Cox was compelled to lay bare the frauds perpetrated at the
polls in a very celebrated case before the Senate of Ohio,
where lie succeeded in maintaining his position. The
judgement of the Senate was afterward confirmed, on the
case being referred to the Supreme Court of the State.
Retiring from the bench in [882, judge Cox engaged
in the practice with his two sons, Benjamin II. and Joseph
Jr., until the formation of the Circuit Court, when he was
again called to judicial honors, and became the first Presid-
ing Judge of the Court of the first Judicial Circuit of Ohio.
Mis large experience, deep learning and marked executive
ability were recognized by his unanimous re-nomination
and election by an overwhelming majority in [886, and at
the time this sketch was written ( iN<)4) he was still serving
in that capacity with eminent satisfaction to t he public and
the bar.
Before entering his judicial life Judge Cox was noted
as a brilliant speaker on the political and social questions of
the day. lie was a strong advocate of the abolition of
slavery. On the dissolution of the Whig Fart}- he was
among the organizers of the Republican party, became one
of its active campaign orators, and served faithfully in the
promotion ol its principles as a citizen on the stump, and
as delegate to state and National conventions.
During die War of die Rebellion Judge Cox labored
unceasingly for the Cnion, devoting liberally of his means
and giving the greater pari of his time in efforts to raise re-
cruits, build hospitals and provide for the care of the wound-
ed and the comfort of the soldiers in the field. During this
time he was obliged to travel extensively, and was entrust-
ed with many important confidential duties. During the
Kirby Smith and Morgan raids he served as Captain of
Cavalry in the Cnion Army. Since the close of the war he
lias been an earnest advocate, whenever the occasion pre-
sented, of the just claims of duty and gratitude which the
Government owes to its defenders.
Judge Cox is not alone noted in his pn tfessii >n, but he is
frequently called upon to give the public the benefil of his
scientific and historical learning:. As a lecturer he never
223
tails to attract large audiences, and by his instructive and
entertaining discourses to please and educate the people.
He is well versed in lierature, and his style of delivery is
always entertaining. His addresses and papers which have
heen widely published and circulated, include among others :
"Archeology of the Mississippi valley," "Life of General
Harrison", "Battle of Gettysburg", "Centennial Address at
Marietta, Ohio", "Address at the dedication of Eden Park
in Cincinnati, July 4. 1870", "Sketches of the Judges of the
Supreme Court of the United States". "Address to General
Grant, Garibaldi. Garfield, Schenck and others", and "elo-
quent discourses at Decoration Services at Springfield,
Ohio, and at Spring Grove in the Centennial year".
Judge Cox is a frequent contributor at the meeting of
the distinguished Society of Cincinnati. He is an honorary
member of many literary societies in this country and in
European countries, and is one of the professors in the Law
Department of the National Normal University, Lebanon,
Ohio. In his private life Judge Cox is known as an excel-
lent citizen, kind]}' and charitable in all his relations with
his fellows, and a delightful social companion as the writer
well remembers of visits at his home.
Judge Cox was married in Xew Orleans. May 9, 1848,
to Mary A. Curtis, daughter of Benjamin R. Curtis, form-
erally of Richmond. Virginia. Of their children four sons
and two daughters survive. The sons are engaged in ac-
tive business or professional life, and are prominent and
respected citizens. Judge Cox has his mansion home in
Hinsdale, a suburb of Cincinnati.
(Since the foregoing biography was prepared by me for
a History of Cincinnati and Hamilton county, Ohio, of
which I was one of the publishers. Judge Cox has died, and
his loss was mourned by the entire State where he was
known.)
James C. Marshall, retired attorney of Erie. Pa., was
born July 27, 1799 in Franklin county. Pa. In 1805 his
parents removed to a farm in Weatherfield Township,
T rumble county, Ohio. James attended a country school
until March. 1813, and then went to a select school taught
by Elias Grover, until May, 1816.
224
Mr. Grover and Mr. Marshall went to Winchester,
Frederick county, Virginia, and there jointly engaged in
teaching a select school for one year. Mr. Grover desiring
to return to Massachusetts, his native state. Mr. .Marshall
took the school alone and continued with much success un-
til [820, when he returned to Trumble county. • n after
entering an Academy in Warren, that county, remaining
there four years, completing his higher education.
In April. [824, Mr. Marshall entered the office of i ton.
Thomas I). Webb, and commenced the study of law. lie
was admitted to the bar of Trumble count}'. June 15. 1826.
He very soon entered into partnership with Hon. Rufus P.
Spalding, late one of the Supreme Judges of Ohio. At
that time there were four counties in the Circuit — Trumble.
Portage, Geaugra, Ashtabula, and Mr. Marshall was a reg-
ular attendant on all of them.
One winter he met Don Carlos Barrett at Court in
Ashtabula county, who proposed to him to go to Erie. Pa..
and form a partnership with him. Mr. Barrett was a gen-
tleman of line address, and a fluent speaker, so Mr. Marshall
concluded to tiw it for a year. Consequently on the first
of May. 1828. he planted himself in the Borough of Erie,
entered into co-partnership with Don Carlos Barrett for
the term of one year. When the year expired Mr. Marshall
declined to renew the partnership, and he opened an office
on his own hook.
In November. [829, Mr. Marshall was married to
Eliza Weatherbee. a niece of Judge Freeman, of Warren,
Ohio, and at once brought his young wife to Erie. In the
winter of [830 Mr. Marshall, Jonathan Weatherbee, and
Alexander Wilson bought out a mercantile establishment,
together with the lease of a flouring mill and distillery. Mr.
Marshal] then moved to Girard, Erie county, to take charge
of the milling business and distillery, Mr. Weatherbee and
Mr. Wilson, being experienced merchants, remaining in
charge of the store. In the winter of [832, Mr. Marshall
sustained a severe compound fracture of a leg, and Mr.
Weatherbee died. Mr. Marshall then sold his interest in
the business to Air. Wilson and resumed the practice of law.
About January 1. [839, Mr. Marshall was appointed
225
Prothonotary and clerk of the several courts of Erie coun-
ty by Governor Porter, but owing to certain disputes as to
the validity of David R. Porter's election for Governor, Mr.
Alar-hall did not obtain the keys of office until May first of
that year. He was appointed postmaster at Girard under
President Van Buren's administration, an office he held
until the election of William Henry Harrison to the Presi-
dency. In 1884, he formed a partnership in the practice of
law with the late Chief Justice, James Thompson. A year
later when Air. Thompson was elected to Congress the
partnership was mutually dissolved.
Mr. Marshall was appointed Revenue Commissioner
in the spring of 1848, to represent Erie, Crawford and
Warren counties, serving the term then required by law.
A partnership was then formed for a period of five years
with Hon. John P. Vincent, who was later President Judge
of Erie county, and who was a cousin of Major Strong
Vincent, the "hero of Little Round Top." At the close of
the five year's partnership with Mr. Vincent, Mr. Marshall
formed a partnership with his son, Francis M. Marshall, a
graduate of Erie Academy and Yale College, admitted to
the bar in 1856, and served as United States Commissioner
under President Lincoln's first administration. This part-
nership of James C. Marshall and son, formed January 1.
f86i, continued until 1881, when James C. Marshall retired
at the age of eighty-two years.
Mr. Marshall was appointed President of the Erie
county Mutual Insurance Company in 1859 and was hold-
ing that office in 1884, when this sketch was written, he
then being eighty-five years old. He was elected President
of the Marine National Bank of Erie on January 19, 1867,
and was re-elected ever since up to' 1884, and doubtless so
long as he lived. He was one of the trustees of the Erie
Academy from 1847 to 1856. Mr. Marshall's father and
grand-father (James Marshall) died in Trumble county,
Ohio, each in his eighty-fifth year, and his mother died at
the age of eighty-seven years.
James C. Marshall was the father of two sons and
two daughters: James became a fruit grower in California.
226
.\iar_\- is the widow of James W. Shirk. I'. S. Navy. Fran-
cis H. Atty.
This sketch was written in [884, and I have no doubt
that Mr. Marshall died many years ago.
David Noggle was born in Franklin count}-. Pa..
( )ctober 9, [809, and was a son of Joseph and Mary (Dun-
can) Noggle, natives of the same county. The father be-
longed to that class known as Pennsylvania Dutch, while
his mother was of Scotch-Irish descent.
When David was sixteen years old his parents re-
moved to Greenfield. Ohio. Here he experiencd as a far-
mer boy. the hardships and privations of frontier life. Hi^
educational advantages had been limited to a few weeks of
each winter spent at the district schools of his native state,
before the age of sixteen, where, however, he developed
a taste for literary pursuits and a controling desire to lie-
come a lawyer, but owing to the limited means of his par-
ents, he was some what discouraged in his ambitious de
sires. At the age of nineteen, he left home ir. quest of
more remunerative employment, and was for four years,
employed in a manufacturing establishment at Madison.
Xew York. In 1834. he returned to Ohio. With a young-
er brother, he assumed the liabilities of his father, who had
become embarrassed in financial matters, and the brother.'
improved a water-power by the building of a saw mill and
that proved a success, furnishing, the means for more ex-
tended opera ti< >ns.
On October 15. [834, David Noggle was married to
Miss Anna M. Lewis, of Milan. Ohio, and two years later,
he removed with his wife to Winnebago county, [llinois,
making the journey with an ox team. Here they made a
home in the wilderness, and made the preparation for the
profession he so ardently desired to pursue as a life's call-
ing, hi [838, after a rigid examination by the Supreme
Court of Illinois, he was admitted to the bar of that state.
without having spent an hour in a law office or having re-
227
ceived direction in his studies from any member of the
profesion.
In 1839. Mr. Noggle sold his farm in Illinois and re-
moved to Beloit, Wisconsin, where he opened a law office,
and at once entered upon the practice of his profession.
and enjoyed from the outset the patronage of a large clien-
tage in the counties of Winnebago and Boone in Illinois,
and in Rock, Green, Walworth and Iowa counties in Wis-
consin.
In 1840 he was appointed postmaster at Beloit, a posi-
tion he held for five years. In 1845, ne removed to Janes-
ville, \\ isconsin. and in 1840 was elected a member of the
Constitutional Convention and was recognized as among
the leaders of that body, lie stood with the Progressive
element of the Convention in favor of homestead exemp-
tion, an elective Judiciary, and the rights of married wo-
men. In 1854, he was elected to the State Legislature from
the Janesville District, and at once took a leading position
in that bod}". He was again elected in 1856, and was em-
phatically the leader of the House during the session of
In 1858, he was elected Judge of the First Judicial
District of Wisconsin, composed of the counties of Keno-
;ha. Racine, Walworth, Rock and Green, and held the of-
fice for eight years discharging its duties with acceptabilitv
and establishing for himself an enviable reputation as a
sound jurist and an impartial administrator of the law. He
retired from the bench in 1886 and for a time resided in
Iowa, where he was engaged as an attorney for the Mil-
waukee & St. Paul Railroad Company. He afterward re-
turned to Beloit, where he purchased an elegant home and
built tip a lucrative practice.
In 1869. he was appointed by President Grant to the
office of Chief Justice of the Territory of Idaho, a position
he retained until 1874, when failing health obliged him to
resign. For a time, in search of health. Judge Noggle
resided in San Francisco, and returned to Wisconsin in the
228
Autumn of 1875, to his old home in Janesville, where he
resided until his death which took place on the 18th of July.
[878, in the sixty-ninth year of his age.
In politics. Judge Xoggle was identified with the
Democratic party, until the organization if the Republican
party. In 1844, he was a delegate to the National Con-
vention which nominated President Polk, and, in 1852 to
ihe Convention which Nominated President Pierce. He
was likewise a delegate to the Convention which nominated
Abraham Lincoln, in i860, and was ever after an uncom-
promising Republican.
It will thus be seen that the name of Judge Xoggle is
indissoluble connected with rhe history of Wisconsin as
well as with its progress. He was a gentleman of fine
presence and commanding appearance, earnest and impres-
sive as a public speaker, possessing great natural force and
mental power. His life illustrates what can be done by
well-directed purpose, by a determined will, even though
one be thrown upon the world in early manhood without
influence, friends or pecuniary resources.
Rev. Moses Kieffer. D.D., a retired minister in Gettys-
burg in 1886. who has since died, was born in Franklin
county, Pa., May 5, 1814, the seventh son of Christian and
Mary (Poorman) KiefTer, also natives of Franklin county.
The ancestors of Rev. Dr. Kieffer, on both sides, were
among the early German settlers of Pennsylvania and the
male members were mostly tillers of the soil.
Moses Kieffer grew to manhood in his native county
and in 1838 he was graduated from what is now Franklin
and Marshall College, receiving the highest honors of his
class. On completing his college education he entered the
Theological Department of that Institution where he re-
mained two years, and at the same time was employed as
a tutor, teaching one hour per da) .
His first pastoral charge was at the Water Street
Church in Huntingdon, Pa., accepting the call in 1840, and
remaining four years. He then accepted a call at Hagers-
229
town, Maryland, where he was active for seven years, o- -
ing thence to Reading, Pa., where he served a large congre-
gation for five years.
In iS^s, he was elected President of Heidlebure; Col-
lege at Tiffin, Ohio, being the second President of that
institution. Here he remained for nearly thirteen years,
and being anxious to make a great success of this vouhl;
college, he overtaxed his strength which compelled him to
resign. Following this he was supply minister as Sandusky,
Ohio for a year and a half, going thence to Greencastle,
Pa., where he remained in charge of a congregation until
T874, when he went to Gettysburg and was there in charge
of a large congregation for ten years, retiring then. Dr.
Kieffer was for many years the head of the publication house
of the Reformed Church in Chambersburg and the firm
name of it. Kieffer & Co., his associates being the Rev. Dr.
I>. E. Schmack and the Rev. Dr. S. R. Fisher.
Stephen Bernett Kieffer A. M. M. D., a practicing
physician at Carlisle in 1886, was born in Franklin county.
Pa. He comes from a line of ancestors, dating back
through fwe generations, descending from Abraham Kief-
fer. a French Huggenot, from Strasburg. He entered
Marshall College as a student in 1844, and was graduated
with honors in 1848. He subsequently read medicine in
Mercersburg, Pa., and was graduated from the University
of Pennsylvania in 1851, after which he immediately began
his practice in Carlisle, and from the beginning made a
great success. He combined medicine and surgery, and as
a surgeon performed some of the most difficult operations
in Central Pennsylvania.
Dr. Kieffer belonged to many medical associations, and
was proud of having materially assisted Dr. R. L. Sibbett
to inaugurate the movement which resulted in the establish-
ment of the American Academy of Medicine, perhaps the
grandest Medical Association at that time in America. Dr.
Kieffer contributed frequently to the leading medical jour-
nals, both in interest of medicine and surgery. He fre-
230
quently delivered orations before various medical societies
and associations, and was once chosen by his Alma Mater
to deliver the address before the alumni of Franklin and
Marshall College, where, taking as his subject ''The re-
lations of Science and Faith," he made a masterly address.
He was large hearted, sympathetic with suffering, social
in instinct, popular as a citizen, and undoubtedly one of the
leaders of his profession in the Cumberland Valley. He
was a cousin of Rev. Dr. Kieffer.
I had prepared twenty-three more sketches of native
sons, but after reading my paper to the close of Dr. Kief-
i'er's biography, I found that I had consumed the most of
the forty-live minutes which I thought to occupy, in fact
all the. time any speaker could hope to command the at-
tention of a hungry gathering like this, awaiting the hospi-
tality of Mr, and Airs. Sharpe, consequently I can give
little about them except names and location.
Matthias Brindle was born in Franklin county. The
time of birth I am unable to give but he was one of the
taxables in Greene township in 1786. He was married
before 1800 to a young woman whose given name was
Elizabeth, and in 1801 they drove a team of horses to what
is now Springfield township, Erie county, Pa., where the_\
settled in the wilderness and lived the rest of their lives.
Air. Brindle was a soldier in the war of 1812. He was one
of the founders of the Presbyterian church in East Spring-
field, and also ilie cemetery at that place where he and wife
were buried. Mrs. Brindle. in later years, so anxious to
visit her old home, rode on horseback from Erie county to
Franklin county, a distance of 300 miles, carrying in her
anus a young baby, one of her thirteen children born to
her union with Matthias Brindle. She was accompanied on
tin's dangerous and perlious journey by Samuel Holliday, a
native of Franklin county, who had preceded the Brindles
to Erie county.
Samuel Holiday was horn in Franklin county and be-
came the first white settler in what is now Springfield town-
231
ship, Erie county Pa., whither he went in 1796 and pur-
chased 700 acres of land, bordering on lake Erie. He soon
leturned to Franklin county, and in the fall of 1796, he
was married to Jennette Campbell, a native of Franklin
county. In the spring of 1797, Mr. Flolliday and his bride
went to' his large tract of land in Erie county, and there
built the first cabin in that part of the wilderness. They
reared a family if three sons and three daughters, all of
whom were dead but Samuel, living on the homestead in
1884. Mr. Holliday built the first saw mill in Springfield
township and operated it for 25 years. He served in the
war of 1812. He was one of the founders of the Presby-
terian church in East Springfield, also the cemetery at that
place. He died at the age of sixty years, his widow surviv-
ing him five years.
Robert Brotherton was born in Franklin county, Dec-
ember 25, 1760, likely on the ancestral estate at Holly well
paper mill. He may have been a brother of James Broth-
erton, a bachelor attorney, who practiced law in Chambers -
burg and died here in 1806. Robert Brotherton married a
young woman whose given name was Dorathy, and they
removed to Erie county in 1797, settling in what is now
Waterford township, where he built the famous Brother-
ton Grist mills to which people flocked many miles, carry-
ing sacks of corn and wheat on horseback to be ground
into meal and flour and then carried back home in the same
way. He became one of the priminent men of Pittsburg
before his death in 1844. His son, Samuel G. Brotherton,
a prosperous banker in Waterford, was the only child
living in 1884.
Thomas Paxton was born in Franklin county in 1792,
and when young went with his father, also named Thomas
Paxton, to Mercer county, Pa., where he married Mary A.
Kerr, daughter of Judge Kerr of that county. They reared
several children. The family belonged to the Springfield
United Presbyterian church. One son, William Paxton.
was living on the homestead in 1888.
2 "i.2
Thomas P. and Marganet .Miller removed from
Franklin, their native county, to Erie county, Pa., in 1820.
doubtless having been induced to go thither by the Holli-
days and Brindles. Mr. Miller served in die war of [812
held many township offices, was Director of the Poor
County Commissioner, and served in die House >>i Repre-
sentatives from Erie county in [836-37. He died in [866,
was a consistant member of the United Presbyterian
church. I I is wife died in 1835. Their son. I. Newton
Miller, was living on the homestead in 1884. He served as
; Justice of the Peace for twelve years, and in 1X70. v
a member of the Legislature.
Eli Rahauser was born in Franklin county, Septem-
ber 1. [806, son of Daniel Rahauser, also a native of Frank-
lin county, and with whom he went to Mercer county, Pa..
in 1830. Daniel Rahauser was a minister of the German
Reformed church tor over forty years, and married a
couple the day before he died. He was twice married, first
to Susannah Hum. resulting in seven children, and after
her death in 1815. he married a Mrs. Dittman. having by
her six children. Eli Rahauser followed farming and co-
• pering the most of his active life, reaping from the man-
ufacture of barrels and kegs during the civil war, a large
income. He married Anna M. Sager and had nine child-
ren.
C'liarles Stevenson was born in Franklin county in
i7<jo, son of Richard Stevenson, who emigrated from Ire-
land to Franklin county in 1788. In 1800 the family re-
moved to Mercer county. Pa. Charles Stevenson saw ser-
vice in the war of i8rj. He died in 1851. His widov.
whose maiden name was Ann Miller, died -Mime time later.
One -on. George W. Stevenson married Maggie Mechlin,
and was living on the homestead in 1887. The family wei\
P byterians.
Henry L. Moreland was born in Franklin county Aug-
ust 8, 1824. son of David and Isabella (Lang) Moreland,
natives of Franklin countv. He learned the trade of
233
cooper, followed that occupation in connection with fann-
ing the greater portion of his active life. He was educated
in his native county, went west in 1847, an d finally settled
in Howard County, Indiana, Where he subsequently served
as County Commissioner and County Auditor, the latter
position being similar to Prothonotary in Pennsylvania.
He became the father of several children and died in Ko-
komo a few years ago.
Col. William A. Kreps was born in Franklin county
March 27, 1846, son of Jacob F. and Eliza (Turney)
Kreps, natives of Greencastle and Westmoreland county,
lespectively. Eliza Kreps was a daughter of Adam and
Hannah ^ Weber) Turney. The father of Hannah Weber
was the founder of the Reformed church in Westmoreland
county when that county embraced the most of the western
part of Pennsylvania. Among the many churches which
he assisted to found is a prominent one in Smithfield streer,
Pittsburg. Jacob F. Kreps was a merchant the most of his
life, was engaged in the business for many years in Green-
castle, and served as postmaster of that town. He was
once a member of the state Legislature. Col. Kreps en-
listed in his eighteenth year in the Fifteenth Pennsylvania
Cavalry, and served until the close of the war. In 1869 he
located in Greenville, Mercer county, Pa., where he joined
his brother in the lumber business. He married Lucetta
Taylor. In 1887, he was elected sheriff of Mercer county.
In 1875, he organized Company K. Fifteenth Regiment
Penn. National Guards, was elected first Captain, then
major and later Colonel.
Thomas J. Porter was born in Franklin county, De-
cember 29, 1800, son of Washington Porter, born in Ship-
pensburg, July 13, 1778, a son of David R. Porter. Wash-
ington Porter married December 17, 1799, Rachel Shan-
non, born in Chambersburg, April 25, 1778. The family
removed to Butler county, Pa., in 1802, and to Mercer
county in 1804. The Porter family has an interesting
history. Thomas J. Porter was living in Mercer in 1888,
234
one of the few living links connecting the historic past with
the ever eventful and changing- present.
David T. Porter, a brother of Thomas J. Porter, \va 3
born in Chambersburg. May 26, 1802, and married Nancy,
daughter of William and Polly (Rambo) Findley, of Mer-
cer county. He was a merchant and died in Sharon, Pa..
in 1845. He served several terms as County treasurer.
was associate judge of Mercer county, and also filled the
office of Justice of the Peace in Sharon.
J. C. McFarland was born in Franklin county, Sep-
tember 27, 1823. In 1844 he went west, was engaged in
mercantile pursuits in Washington county, Pa., and in Hey
worth, Illinois. He served in the Union army from Illi-
nois, was Captain and Major. He was elected Circuit
Clerk of McLean county. Illinois in 1878. He married
Rebecca M. Logan of Fulton county. Pa.
R. R. Campbell was born October 7, 1826 in Franklin
county. He married Miss E. C. Harvey in 1849, farmed
for one year in Clinton county. Indiana, going thence to
McLean county, Illinois where he purchased 240 acres of
land, now one of the most arable farms in that prairie
country. He served as Supervisor of McLean county, a
position similar to the duties of County Commissioner in
Pennsylvania.
D. J. Campbell was born in Franklin county, August
26, 1846, son of Mark W. Campbell, a native of Franklin
county and who removed to Clinton county, Indiana, dying
there in 1849. His widow went later with her son to Mc-
Lean county, Illinois, where she married Absolem Stub-
blefield. D. J. Campbell followed carpentering and farm-
ing, married Maria Gibble, a native of Franklin county in
1870, and was one of the prosperous farmers in McLean
county in 1879 when I met him at his home.
Peter Whitmer was born February 22, 1828 in Cham-
bersburg, and learned the trade of saddler and harness
maker. In 1853 he went to Bloomington. Illinois, followed
his trade, became a grocer, a lumber dealer, and Presiden:
235
of the Peoples Bank of Bloomington, grew rich and was a
personal friend of Judge David Davis, the man who did
more to nominate Abraham Lincoln for President in i860
than any other person.
Ezekiel Chambers and his wife whose maiden name
was Rebecca Stewart, were natives of Franklin count} - ,
born in Chambersburg, Air. Chambers being related to the
founder of the town. In 1805, they went to Erie county,
Pa., where Ezekiel and a brother secured from the Penn-
sylvania Population Company, 400 acres of land. James
Chambers, the youngest child of Ezekiel and Rebecca Cham-
bers, was living in Erie county in 1884. had served as a
Justice of the peace for over forty years, held man}- of the
county offices, was married and the father of five children.
Richard Stevenson was born in Chambersburg, De-
cember 28, 1828, learned the trade of carriage-maker,
married Mary E. Buchanan of Virginia, removed to Lex-
ington, McLean county, Illinois in 1857, where he followed
his trade and served as postmaster and in other offices.
David Zuck was born in Franklin county, November
8, 1830, and in 1844, went with his parents to Fulton
county, Illinois, where David lived until 1869, when he re-
moved to McLean county and there became the owner of
one of the finest farms in that county. He was married to
Catharine Fink a native of Frederick county, Maryland,
who had removed with her parents to McLean county when
young.
John Kline was born in Franklin county, February
27, 1827, and learned the trade of blacksmith, went to Cali-
fornia in 1850, was shipwrecked on the voyage upon a reef
of the Caucus Islands, successfully mined in California,
and in 1854, purchased a fine farm in McLean county,
Illinois. He married Ella, daughter of Peter Buck of In-
diana, and an early settler in McLean count}'.
William Wallace, not a native of Franklin count},
but was a grand-son of Hon. William Maclay of Franklin
count}', his mother being a daughter- of that honorable citi-
236
zen, and a grand-daughter of John Harris, the founder of
Harrisburg. William Wallace went to Erie, Pa., in 1795,
as attorney for the Pennsylvania Population Company,
from which many Franklin county people bought land in
Erie county. His son, Irvin M. Wallace became one of
the leading attorneys of Erie county.
J. M. Harvey was born in Franklin county February
6, 1837, went with his father's family to McLean county,
Illinois in 1855. In 1862, Mr. Harvey returned to his
native county and married Miss M. J. Witherow also a
native of this county, went back to McLean county and
became owner of a fine farm where they were living in
1879 when I met them at their home.
Vespersian Goyer was born in Franklin county Nov.
5, 1820, son of John and Margaret (Spangler) Goyer,
natives of Maryland and Franklin county, respectively.
The family removed to Muskingdom county, Ohio when
Vespersian was young. In 1847. ne went to Howard
county, Indiana, where he ibecame the owner of 240 acres
of land within the gas belt and which became very valua-
ble.
John F. Davis was born in Chambersburg. April 21.
1840, son of John and Rachel (Stratton) Davis, natives
of Franklin county and New Jersey respectively. John
t)avis was a brick maker and contractor in Chambersburg
for many years. He was a prominent member of the Meth-
odist Church and died in Williamsport, Pa., in 1878. John
F. Davis was the only son, was educated in the Chambers-
burg Academy, and Iron City Commercial College, Pitts-
burg, was Superintendent of Schools of Fulton county,
taught in the Commercial Department of Dickinson Sem-
inary in Williamsport, Pa., and in 1865, founded the Will-
iamsport Commercial College, was at its head fourteen
years, established a similar college in Altoona, conducted it
for four years, then became connected with the LInion Cen-
tral Life Insurance Company. He served as Superintend-
ent of the City Schools of Williamsport, was a candidate
237
twice of the Greenback Party for Congress, receiving a
very heavy vote. He married a Fulton county girl and
reared three children.
While I was not born in Franklin county, I can claim
a kind of kinship, because my grand-parents on my father's
jide were born, reared and married in Hanover, York
county, Pa., lived for a time in Southampton township,
Franklin county, removing thence to Berkeley county. West
Virginia, settling near Hedgesville, where my father was
born in 1816. The family removed by wagon
in 1835 to Ohio, settling near Cincinnati. After marriage
my father went to Indiana, becoming the second settler in
Honey Creek township, Howard county, and where he died
at the age of ninety-one years. On that farm I was born
and reared. It is the only farm in Howard county which
has not changed family possession since its purchase from
the government at $1.25 cents per acre, now worth $150.00
per acre. The only home I have ever owned is in Cham-
bersburg, Franklin county, Pa., the best town and county in
the United States, and I am just as proud of my adopted
home as anv of those who were born here.
2 3 8
Taking Place of April Meeting.
UNVEILING OF PORTRAIT OF JOHN WILLIAMSON NEVIN,
D.D., LL.D.
Members of the Kittoehtinny Historical Society, together
with friends and ladies, over forty in number, boarded a special
for Mercersburg, Friday evening, May 8, 1914, to be present, in
Keil Hall, at the above notable event, as guests of Dr. Irvine,
Head Master of Mercersburg Academy. The almost incessant
rain fall of the day subsided towards evening, but it deterred a
much larger number from accompanying the Chambersburg con-
tingent, many of whom personally knew Dr. Nevin and desired
to share in the honors of the occasion. Dr. Nevin was for a num-
ber of years closelv identified with the Mercersburg Institution*,
and later became distinguished throughout America and in Ger-
man v as a scholar and theologian.
Assembled in Keil Hall a large audience was soon seated and
promptly at 8 o'clock the exercises began. They were opened bj
the Academy students singing the Latin hymn Vem, Creator
Spiritus," after which the favorite Spiritual selection of Dr.
Nevin St John 1, 1, was read by the Rev. Dr. W. E. Krebs.
In accordance' With the request of Miss Blanche Nevin the
smallest boy of the Academy, George Bacheer unveiled the por-
trait, and as he did so the audience gave evidence ofits delight
The memorial address by the Rev. Dr. J. C. Bowman of the
Theological Seminary. Lancaster, Pa., followed. Dr. Irvine accept-
ed the portrait for the undergraduates, personally thanking the
daughters of Dr. Nevin who had made the presentation possible,
and the Rev. Dr. I. N. Peightel, of Greencastle, accepted it on
behalf of tne Board of Regents. . . - m4 .„„
The singing of the Academy hymn was an impressive feature
of the evening, it being the well known hymn of Dr. Harbaugh,
"Jesus, I live to Thee."
At the request of Dr. Irvine the student body, with its accus-
tomed vim. and to the delight of the audience, gave the Academy
yell for the donors of the portrait. The Benediction was pro-
nounced by the Rev. Dr. F. W. Bald.
Following the ceremonies a reception was held at Dr. Irvine s
North Cottage. In the receiving line were the President of the
Kittochtinnv Historical Society, Arthur W. Gillan.Esq.;Mrs. Sayre,
Miss Alice Nevin, Mrs. Irvine, and Mr. and Mrs. John C. Bowman.
Refreshments were served, and the delightful evening was
brought to a close shortly after 10 o'clock, by the departure of
the special train for Chambersburg.
The Chambersburg folks were particularly interested in meet-
ing Mrs. Sayre, who is the mother of Francis Bower Sayre, who
was married to Miss Jessie Wilson in the White House less than
six months ago. Mrs. Sayre is a daughter of Dr. Nevin.
The portrait of Dr. Nevin is the gift of his daughter Blanche,
of Lancaster, Pa. The artist who painted the portrait is Miss
Helen Thurlow, of Philadelphia. The inscription on the name
plate is as follows:
John Williamson Nevin, D.D.. LL.D.
February. lS23-^Iune 6. 1886.
Scholar— Theologian — Seer.
Blanche Filia Posnit.
ADDRESS BY DR. J. C. BOWMAN
ON
REV. JOHN WILLIAMSON NEVIN, D. D.. L. L. D.
MAIN EVENTS IN LIFE
John Williamson Nevin was born on the twentieth of
February. 1803, near Shippensburg, the oldest of a family
239
of six sons anl three daughters. A few years after his
birth his parents, John and Martha (McCracken) Nevin.
settled on a farm near the village of Upper Strasburg,
Franklin County, Pennsylvania.
He was prepared for college under the instruction of
his father, a graduate of Dickinson College, and at the age
of fourteen was admitted to the Freshman Class of Union
College, Schenectady. New York. He was graduated with
honor in the year 1821.
After two years spent on his father's farm, in the
quest of physical health, he entered Princeton Theological
Seminary. Immediately upon graduation, at the age of
twenty-three, he was appointed Professor ad interim of the
Hebrew Language and Literature, in place of Dr. Charles
Hodge, during his two years in Europe. During this
period he wrote his Biibical Antiquities, which for many
years was the chief text book on Sacred Archaelogy in
American colleges and seminaries.
His high reputation as a scholar and teacher led to his
ctppointment as Professor of Bibical Literature in the West-
ern Theological Seminary at Allegheny, Pennsylvania,
which position he filled from 1830 to 1840.
On January 1, 1835, he was united in marriage to
Miss Martha Jenkins, Qiurchtown, Lancaster County
Pennsylvania. Eight children constituted the Nevin family,
five sons and three daughters, the three daughters still sur-
viving.
In the Spring of 1840 Dr. Nevin (The title D. D. was
conferred by Washington and Jefferson College, that of
LL. D. by his Alma Mater, Union College) began his work
at Mercersburg as Professor in the Theological Seminary.
In 1 841 he was appointed successor to Dr. Rauch as
President of Marshall College. For a period of twelve
years he served in the double position of President of the
College and Professor in the Seminary.
In 1844 Dr. Schaff was called from the University of
Berlin to serve as the colleague of Dr. Nevin, as Professor
240
of Church History and New Testament Exegesis. The
period of thirteen years spent at Mercersburg (T 840-1 853)
was the most fruitful period of Dr. Nevin's life.
Upon the removal of the College from Mercersburg to
Lancaster in [853, Dr. Nevin retired from public and of-
ficial life, and for a period of eight years, most of which
time was spent at his own home, Caernarvon Place, near
Lancaster City, lie devoted himself to the study of mam
of the leading issues of the day, making his influence
widely felt by his profound contributions to religious jour-
nalism.
In i(S6x he resumed connection with Franklin and
Marshall College as lecturer in the department of History,
more particularly that of the Philosophy or Science of His-
tory.
From [8f>f> to 1876 he again served as President of
the College, during which time he elaborated more fully his
system of Aesthetics and Philosophical Ethics.
The last ten years of bis life, from 1876 to 1886, were
spent in retirement at his home, close to the College, pre-
paring his final messages on the g-reat spiritual themes, in
the discussion of which he exhibited the full strength of
his intellectual, intuitional, and mystical powers.
He departed this life Sunday, the twenty-sixth day
of June, 1886, in the eighty- fourth year of his age.
SCHOLAR-THEOLOGIAN-SEER
This is an high day in the history of the Hall of Fame
at Mercersburg Academy. Well might any school in our
own or any other land feel honored in being made the re-
cipient of a portrait of one so eminent and influential in the
intellectual and moral world. And T know of no gallerv of
portraits in our own land or other lands, whose lustre would
not be increased by the possession of the portrait which at
this hour has been here unveiled Nor does it detract from
the 'honor or fame of the noble line of distinguished men
24i
and leaders of men, whose names have been wrought into
the history of the school at Mercersburg, to assign to> Dr.
Nevin the place of pre-eminence in the Ruhmes-Halle on
the Acropolis of Franklin County.
I must confess that it is no light task of love and
esteem to attempt to make any new contribution, in the
way of tribute, to the great man, the history of whose life
and labors has been so ably recorded by men notably quali-
fied to render the services of both historian and eulogist.
And yet it is fitting that on this occasion some words be
.spoken which may tend to revive and deepen the apprecia-
tion of the scholar, the theologian, and the seer, whose name
will ever be cherished as one of the founders and promoters
of a school, wmich, from the beginning of its history to the
present time, has ever stood for liberal culture and Christian
education in the broadest and deepest sense.
On the Name Plate, attached to the portrait, are in-
scribed the three words : Scholar-Theologian-Seer. These
words have been chosen as those best suited to define the
character of the man, indicating the depth and breadth of
his intellectual and spiritual culture, and the value of his
contributions to the thought of his age and of the ages to
come. And, may I add that the one to whom we are in-
debted for the brief and comprehensive three-word charac-
terization, is above all others of our day best qualified to
define the character and interpret the spirit of her father.
But these three words, so carefully chosen, do not
fully describe, nor were they intended to fully describe the
man. They are but properties of the man, indicates to,
but not the measure of the man. Towering above the
scholar, the theologian, and the seer was the man, com-
prehending in his great moral personality all the properties
of his mind, heart, and soul; and only in the light of that
majestic personality can his words, spoken or written, be
rightly understood and properly appreciated. And today,
as in the days when Dr. Nevin, here on these hallowed
grounds, lived, and spoke and wrought, our appreciation of
the scholar, the theologian, and the seer is justified by our
242
lespect, our reverence, our homage for the man, the full-
ness of whose powers was consecrated to the glory of God
and the well-being of mankind.
In thus exalting the man, as one whose greatness can-
not be estimated by the sum of these gualities, or by the re-
cord of his achievements, I do not undervalue the suitable-
ness and the significance of the three words inscribed on the
name plate. I trust I may not be regarded as unduly bold in
saying that I rightly interpret them, and the spirit of the
one who chose them.
Keeping in mind this thought of the supremacy of the
man above his qualities, I shall briefly consider the well-
grounded warrant for the designation of Dr. Nevin as
Scholar, Theologian, and Seer. While I shall endeavor to
give due prominence to the ideas involved in these three
words, I shall not attempt, for the sake of literary precision,
to pursue three distinct and separate lines of thought.
Naturally and necessarily in a type of character, like that
of Dr. Nevin. these lines would be kept in constant contact,
while converging to the one common goal, the larger ap-
prehension of truth, spiritual and divine.
Throughout his career as preacher, teacher and writer.
Dr. Nevin was both the theological scholar and the schol-
arly theologian. And not infrequently, and more parti-
cularly during the latter peril id of his life, the scholar and
theologian in his quest and presentation of truth, thought
and spoke with the inspiration of the seer.
The properties of the scholar and theologian are made
very apparent by the biographical sketch which serves as
a preface to the present paper. From it we obtain a fairly
adequate conception of the vastness of the scope of his
scholarly attainments and of the profound depths of his
theological knowledge.
While the range of Dr. Xevin's study and research
seemed to be far removed from the specific departments of
Mathematics, yet. when occasion required it, he could com-
fortably occupy the chair of higher mathematics. A!-
2 43 _ _
though not professedly a student of languages, so thorough
was his knowledge of Hebrew, Greek, Latin and German,
that in the free use of these languages he rarely depended
on the usual grammatical and lexical helps. Of History he
was a diligent student, not as one seeking the mere know-
ledge of recorded events, but as a revealer and interpreter
of the spiritual forces, divine and human, which give signi-
ficance to the passing events as they are chronicled on the
written page. Likewise, he pursued the study of Philoso-
phy, ancient, mediaeval and modern, with a discernment
rarely exhibited by those accredited with philosophical
learning. To his mind the History of Philosophy was
without meaning or value apart from the Philosophy of
History. The phrase: "God in history" was frequently on
Dr. Nevin's lips. The unfoldings of history, formulated in
systems of philosophy, so far as they may be regarded as
the revelation of truth, he traced to their original, divine
source, and viewed them in their continuous and ultimate
relation to God.
Dr. Nevin was pre-eminently a theologian. Very sig-
nificantly does this title hold a central place in his character-
ization, as Scholar, Theologian, Seer. Of the superior
rank and widely extended powerful influence of Dr. Nevin
as a theologian so much has been written, and so high have
been the tributes accorded him by distinguished representa-
tives of our own land and the intellectual centers of Eu-
rope, that little remains to be added at the present hour.
And what I may have to say will be in fact the reproduc-
tion, in modified form, of the tribute of appreciation of the
great theologian given on a former occasion.
It was here at Mercersburg, aided in large measure by
Dr. Schaff, that Dr. Nevin became a leading contributor,
if not the foremost contributor to the theological thought of
nis age, making a marked impress upon, if not an epoch in
the history of American Christianity. The distinctive
school of thought, known as "Mercersburg theology,"
244
awakened deep interest among theological circles both in
America and Europe.
The leading idea of the Mercersburg system was that
of the centrali ty of the person of Christ in the whole realm
of religious doctrine and life, together with the idea of
Historical Development. Dr. Nevin's first notable publica-
tion, "The Anxious Bench," proved to be, according to its
title : "A Tract For the Times." by fulfilling its purpose of
safeguarding American Christianity against the fanatical
extravagances of unrestrained emotionalism which threat-
ened to sweep away its sacramental and churchly founda-
tions. The contributions which followedi on "Catholic
Unity" and the "Hysterical Presence" extended the fame
and widened the influence of the Mercersburg theologian.
Wide publication was given to his theological views
through the Mercersburg Review of which he was the foun-
der and to which he was the chief contributor for many
}ears. The one hundred articles or more which were the
product of his pen, dealing with the various problems of
the age, indicated the fast resourcefulness, the immense pro-
ductiveness, and the amazing energy of his mind. My
recent study of the articles contributed by Dr. Nevin to the
Mercersburg Review during the brief period or five years
(1849 to 1853), in which he discusses no less than fifty
themes, covering more than fifteen hundred pages, has im-
pressed me more than ever with the marvelous strength of
the intellectual and spiritual powers. What gave special
value to the themes discussed was the fact that, without
exception, they bore directly upon the thought-and-life-
movements of his day, and that they were treated with a
comprehensiveness and clearness of vision of one far in
advance of his time.
More than once have I heard it asked: "What effect
would it have had upon the mind of Dr. Nevin had he
lived to witness the changes wrought by the scientific spirit
of our day?" Would he have been an antagonist or a de-
fender of the critico-historical method of thought and re-
/
245
search? Such questions, to say the least betray a lack of
acquaintance w*ith the mind and the products of the mina
of the distinguished scholar, theologian, and seer.
Well do I remember hearing Dr. Schaff say in the
last conversation I had with him : "When scientists arraign
the theologians for being unscientific, they forget that theo-
logy led the way in introducing the scientific method. Dr.
Nevin and I at Mercersburg repeatedly taught the truth of
the theory of evolution." This claim is thoroughly justi-
fied by the records. The principles of historical develop-
ment, so frequently emphasized at Mercersburg, was ap-
plied by Dr. Nevin, not only to the study of Christianity,
the Church, and Sacred history, but to the study of nature,
man, and history in its general scope. In substance I re-
produce from the teaching of the scientific theologian. What
is historical development? Not fact added to fact, or
thought to thought, wholly new and different. But growth
evolution from within, organic expansion. We gladly em-
brace, for our part, the idea of organic development, bv
which, through all changes, life moves forward through
progressive stages to its ultimate completion. Man is linked
to nature by his organic constitution. All the lower forms
of animal life, the fish, the reptile, the bird, the beast, are
repeated in him. The distinctive separation from the life
of the world in its lower view. The true argument for the
superiority of human nature is the fact that it strikes the
roots of this superiority everywhere far down into the
universal order, of which it is the glorious afHorescence and
crown. Reason has in it an inward affinity with instinct
and unconscious plastic power. The ethical and historical
are bound to the physical by innumerable analogies that
meet us on all sides; and what we call the ethical or moral
world, as it comes into view through human intelligence and
will, is but the sublimation of matter itself into this higher
order of existence.
The conjunction of the natural order and the human
world, as apprehended by Dr. Nevin, appears in the fact
246
that the whole process of the natural order below man
finds its ultimate significance in mind; while, on the other
hand, the self -actualizing movement of mind is conditioned
in its whole course by nature. But man, as a moral and
spiritual person, not as a thing or a brute of earth, to what-
ever extent he may be affected by the conditions of natural
growth is. "far more than a mere evolution of slumbering
natural powers." He transcends all the powers of nature.
He is a product of a divine principle, a spirit breathed into
him by the inspiration of the Almighty. Not only does he
bear in his hand the sceptre of dominion and wear on his
brow the crown of glory, but he is the key to the interpreta-
tion of all the material forces in the universe. For these
can be rightly understood and rightly used only as they are
made to serve as the sacrament of the spiritual and the di-
vine. Tims do they come to be irradiated with a portion
of the same glory that belongs to man himself, formed in
the image of God.
In thus tracing the vital connection between the human
and the natural world, between the physical and spiritual.
Dr. Nevin anticipated the scientific method applied to the
study of nature and its phenomena by the evolutionary
scientists, Darwin and Spencer. And what I briefly re-
produced from the teaching of Dr. Nevin and his collea-
gues, was proclaimed years before Darwin's "Origin of
Species" and Spencer's "First Principles" were published
to the world.
While the scientists and the theologian seem to pursue
similar lines in the study of the development of nature's
forces and phenomena, yet are they widely separated by
their respective view-points as the origin and goal of the
material universe, vvheth; r studied in their lowest or highest
forms of development. Mr. Spencer is his "First Prin-
ciples" says: "'Amid the mysteries which become the more
mysterious, the more they are thought about, remains the
one absolute certainty that we are ever in the presence of
an Infinite and Eternal Energy of an All^wise God, trans-
247
cendent above, yet immanent in his world as held by Dr.
Nevin in his view of historical development as applied both
to the evolution of the human race, and the history of di-
vine revelation.
The naturalistic scientists define the universe exclu-
sively in terms of matter and force. Dr. Nevin, in his study
of the universe, saw clearly on its entire face the hand-
writing of God. He interpreted the meaning of the natural
by discerning the spiritual substance, of which the natural
is but the visible and ever changing form. He applied
the Christological principle to the study of nature as well
as to the more spiritual revelations of truth in the Kingdom
of God. The "Riddle of the Universe" (Schopenhauer) is
solved in the person of the God-Man. All nature, there-
fore, all science, all art, all history, all philosophy, all
religion find their true meaning in Him, "in whom
are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge."
"He is the life center of the whole revelation of God, in
whose light every part of it is to be construed, who binds
every portion of it into one organic whole of truth."
In the study of Sacred Scripture, Dr. Nevin made room
for the historico-critical method which characterizes, in so
large measure, the earnest and devout labors of Biblical
scholars of our own day. Divine revelation must involve
the conjunction of the natural and the spiritual everywhere
and always. The heavenly things, let down into the plane
of man's natural life, where seen at all, are seen through
their earthly vesture. So that the content of revelation
becomes accessible, not by a dualistic separation of the nat-
ural and spiritual, but by their proper correlation in a
strict living unity.
While reason must ever be subordinate to faith in the
quest of spiritual truth, yet reason in its higher form, Dr.
Nevin declared to be "indeed a true and faithful witness
to divine revelation, lending evidence to its deepest myst-
eries." But however valuable may be the service rendered
by grammatical, logical, historical and critical helps in the
248
study of Scripture, these are of no avail save as they are
held in secondary and subservient relation to the spirit of
i he Lord as apprehended by the spirit of a loving and obe-
dient disciple. Dr. Nevin continually insisted that there can
be no apprehension of truth except in so far as the spirit of
truth, the spirit of Jehovah, becomes enshrined in the minds
and hearts of men, ever manifesting its power in personal
experience, and in the practical fulfilment of the divine
will by a life of obedience and love.
The primary need of discerning the interior, spiritual
sense of the Word of God, and of exalting the ethical value
of the teaching of Jesus, was the constant burden of Dr.
Nevin' s thought in the latter years of hiis life.
The richest products of his great mind appear in the
final messages to his age, as comprehended in his discussion
of the profound spiritual themes: "The Spirit World," "The
Internal Sense of Holy Scripture,'' "The Testimony of
Jesus — The Spirit of Prophecy." As a prophet of the Lord.
Dr. Nevin foresaw the spiritual turmoil and conflicts of the
future, and with all the earnestness of his soul he plead for
the larger apprehension of the truth and saving power of
religion as the only safeguard against the 'hosts of untruth
and unrighteousness.
This leads me to consider more specifically the char-
acterization of Dr. Nevin as Seer, although the properties of
the Seer have been impliedly assumed in all that I have said
in defining the Scholar and the Theologian. As the terms
prophet and seer involve essentially the same ideas, I mav
feel free to use them interchangeably. It is not needful to
my present purpose that I discuss the history of prophecy
as a religious anl national institution, or that I attempt to
describe the supernatural qualities, real or imagined, which
were accredited to the prophets of the olden time; especially
such qualities as may be comprehended under the terms
clairvoyance, soothsaying, and divination. This vast field
of investigation may well be left to the historical and criti-
cal scholars, so eminently qualified for the task.
249
While prophecy as an institution has passed away, and
along with it many of the conceptions of the nature of
prophecy, yet it may be assumed that these qualities and
functions of the prophet which are of permanent value to
the well being of mankind, have been perpetuated through
great religious teachers of later times ; men dominated by
the conviction that they were called of God to be the pro-
claimers of a divine message required by the necessities of
their age.
To an eminent degree the Seer is a "home religious."
Above all else is he characterized by moral elevation of
character and personal devotion to the interests of truth and
righteousness. In the New Testament, as in the Old, the
prominent, idea is that of delivering inspired messages of
warning, and instruction; convincing, judging and making
manifest the secrets of the heart, (ist Cor. XIV-3-24,25).
The seer is trained for his sacred mission by intimate
communion with God, and by profound and continuous
study of the ways of God in his dealings with men and
nations. Thus does he stand in the council of God. What
he hears, he proclaims. This He does, not in the sense 01
a mere passive instrument, mechanically constrained to
voice forth the will of God, under God's direct command,
but as one who, with full intellectual and spiritual freedom,
has searched out the will of God ; so that the divine revela-
tion becomes his own in a most real and vital sense. The
eternal principles of truth and righteousness are so wrought
into his mental and spiritual constitution that they become
his standard of life, of thought, and of judgment.
While the seer ever places his dependence upon God
as the source of infinite and unerring knowledge, he more-
over constantly and eagerly watches the play of forces by
which the present and the future are being shaped; so that
he himself may be fully qualified as a public counselor and
reprover. He becomes an interpreter of the signs of the
times by tracing the nexus between the present and the past,
thereby realizing the significance of the forces operative in
250
the present, and he foresees and foretells with prophetic
authority their fruitage in the future. In other words, the
seer sees and interprets historically. Past, present, and fu-
ture are correlated in a living- organic unity. The happen-
ings of today are the events of yesterday, while at the
same time they are the birth-potencies of tomorrow.
The Seer is always a man of his own time, and his
messages are directly addressed to the people of his own
time. Whether he speaks of the present, or of the future,
his purpose primarily is to safeguard and guide the people
of his own generation. Having received his message from
the Lord, he declares it as the veritable word of the Lord.
It is the Testimonium Spiritus Sancti in his own soul* and
this testimony he delivers unto men for their guidance in
belief and duty, so that God's will may become effective in
its bearing on human life.
In thus defining the seer as a man of God, striving
through prayerful communion with God to know His will
as revealed in and through Jesus Christ, charged with the
solemn responsibility of proclaiming his inspired messages
unto men for their spiritual enlightment and salvation, I
ask, am I not warranted in confirming the tribute to Dr.
Nevin as one whose distinguished, scholarly and theological
attainments culminated in the spiritual character and ex-
alted mission of the Seer?
Mr. Head Master: It is a privilege which I highly ap-
preciate that I am permitted in behalf of Miss Blanche
Nevin to present through you to Mercersburg Academy
this portrait of her father. In doing so, I express the hope
that these principles of liberal Christian culture, for which
he ever stood and which he wrought into the foundations of
Marshall College, may be perpetuated in the School over
which you have the honor to preside. And I express the
further hope that as this portrait of Dr. Nevin shall be re-
tained in the possession of Mercersburg Academy, so may
his spirit ever abide in your midst, inciting all who here
teach and here are taught, to strive continually to obtain
25i
in ever large measure, the knowledge of the truth as re-
vealed in Him who is the fountain of all true wisdom and
knowledge, and whom to know aright is life eternal.
"ACCEPTANCE FOR UNDERGRADUATES" BY
DR. W. M. IRVINE.
It is natural to believe in good men ; for, as Emerson
says, "Earth is upheld by the veracity of good men, they
make the earth wholesome." We are met tonight to gather
inspiration from and to glorify the memory of a good and
great man — a man of distinguished ancestry and superb
personality.
A great Educator of high scholarship, broad culture,
idolized by every student who sat at his feet; who, like
Demosthenes, taught his boys that "Virtue secures its own
success."
A great Author of power, bringing new light to old
themes, compelling the warm approval of friends and the
bitter opposition of critics, these are marks of real power.
A great Thinker ahead of his time, so brilliant that
he reached many of the foundations of truth. Every age
needs great thinkers ; they may not be popular, but like the
prophets of old, they are the bulwark of the nation.
A great Preacher who stirred the minds and hearts
of men; who preached that while plough-man and plough
and furrow may be all of one stuff, yet each material thing
has a celestial side.
A great Philosopher who read the meaning of life,
wno taught that philosophy needs religion to help interpret
the soul, else all would end, like the morals of the Greeks,
in disappointment.
A great Theologian known throughout the world of
thinkers conscious of personal fellowship with Jesus Chris::
asserting that not the will of God nor the decrees of Heaven
252
"but the person of the Savior is the rightful center of all
religious belief.
When we look at this many talented giant we under-
stand the saying of the Chinese Menius: "A sage is an
instructor of a hundred years."
The old Romans erected memorials of their great
men to inspire their youth. In placing this portrait on our
walls we are following a noble and beautiful precedent.
Boys of the academic age may not fully understand the
lofty themes of philosophy or art, but to us who are the
teachers of these boys the influence of Dr. Nevin's life
work is an inspiration that is constant, creative and won-
derful.
In behalf of the boys of the Mercersburg Academy F
wish to thank Miss Blanche Nevin for presenting this por-
trait to our school. I also thank you, her sisters. Miss
Nevin and Mrs. Sayre. for your presence at the unveiling
ceremony. One of our own poets called Goethe "The soul
of his century." Your father was the soul of the early ed-
ucational work in this place. His influence abides here in
ways which you may not know. On a certain day in the
long age he appointed the first Arbor Day in Mercersburg.
Old Students have told me how on that day they went out
to the mountain, or along the country roads, and toward
evening returned, carrying on their shoulders the trees
which they had digged. They planted those trees on our
front campus. Today they are the majestic elms and
maples which delight our hearts. Every generation of Mer-
cersburg boys lias been a debtor to the wisdom and gracious"
ness of your father. This portrait, hanging on our walls,
will carry an influence that will be never-ending. To
thousands of Mercersburg boys it will tell the story of a
great mind, of a strong personality dedicated to the highest
service of the Church and the nation.
253
THE GREAT ANNIVERSARY YEAR. 1914.
FOREWARD.
The great anniversary year of 1914 was a busy one
for the Kittochtinny Historical Society. In addition to the
regular meetings, its activities have appeared in the work
of various committees and in the prominent parts taken by
individual members.
At the opening of Old Home Week, addresses were
made by the Hon. W. Rush Gillan and the Hon. John W.
Hoke. The exhibition of relics was held during that week
under the direction of a committee of the society, presided
over by T. J. Brereton, and under the immediate director-
ship of John G. Orr. It is estimated that more than twenty
thousand persons viewed the relics at the old Cumberland
Valley station, Third and King streets.
Among the many contributions on historical subjects
to the local press was a series of articles on the Sesqui-Cen-
tennial and Burning of Chambersburg from the pen of the
secretary of the Kittochtinny Historical Society, M. A.
Foltz, which were widely read. Later in the year at the
150th anniversary of the Enoch Brown massacre, addresses
were made by Dr. Wm. Mann Irvine and Judge Gillan.
Still later at the unveiling of the monument at Fort Mc-
Cord, T. J. Brereton, Chas. M. Deatrich and Judge Gillan
made addresses. Individual members of the society made
liberal contributions to the expense of erecting the Fort Mc-
Cord monument.
This . brief statement should include mention of the
valuable historical papers prepared and read during the
year, and all this shows the society at work; the member-
ship realizes that it has had an exceptionally good year.
Wednesday evening, August 5, witnessed the close of
the Loan Exhibition, which had been open daily in the old
Cumberland Valley station since the beginning of the event.,
of Old Home Week, July 27.
254
Under the supervision of the committee, careful as-
sistants separated and gathered the precious relics for re-
turn to those who by their generosity male possible one of
the most extensive exhibits of antiquities ever before col-
lected in Chambersburg or Franklin County. The regret
was universal that the museum could not be made per-
manent.
The committee of the historical society made every
effort to get a complete list of the relics exhibited, and
wherever it was possible, brief historical sketches were
secured. The result of this part of the undertaking will
be found in the pages immediately following.
LINN HARBAUGH
RELICS AND ANTIQUITES.
JOHN G. ORR. Director.
Facing the entrance to the Museum, on the old tracks,
underneath the shed of the former station of the Cumber-
land Valley Railroad, stood the historic old locomotive and
combined car of the Company, in charge of Captain J. N.
Fosnot and assistants. Of the thousands who visited the
museum during Old Home Week, nor one missed an in-
spection of these highly prized relics of the past. In front
stood one of the largest modern locomotives of the road,
in contrast. The following, furnished by request, explains
itself:
Chambersburg, Penna. ,
Mr. John G. Orr,
Dear Sir: — I give you below a little description of
our locomotive, the "Pioneer," and the old Combined Car.
lettered "B:"
255
The Pioneer locomotive was built for the Cumberland
Valley Railroad Company, in 1851. by Seth Wilmarth,
Boston. Mass.
Cylinders, 8 1-2 x 14 inches.
Diameter of drivers, 54 inches.
Weight. 25,000 lbs.
Capacity of tank, 600 gals.
Cost in gold, $6,200.00
Fuel, Wood.
It was in regular passenger service until 1880, and in
construction work until 1890. The mileage from 1851 to
1890 was 255,673. It was damaged in 1863 when the
Company's Shops at Chambersburg were destroyed by
Confederate Cavalry. The last run under its own steam
was made from Chambersburg to Carlisle, Penna., a dis-
tance of 31 miles, to the Sesqui-Centennial at that point, in
1890. It was exhibited at the St. Louis Exhibition in 1904,
the Wheeling. W. Va. Exposition in 1913. the Charlestown,
W. Va. Exposition in 1913. and at local Celebrations
through the Cumberland Valley.
The Combined Car, lettered "B" was built at Cham-
bersburg Shops in 1855 and was in regular passenger ser-
vice until 1888. In 1888 it was converted into a Mainten-
ance of Way car and was in that service until August
1909, at which time it was changed back to its original
design. It has been exhibited at the Wheeling, W. Va.
and Charlestown, W. Va. Expositions, and at local Celebra-
tions through the Cumberland Valley.
Yours truly,
TABOR HAMILTON,
Master Mechanic.
Where the name of the place is not given, Chambers-
burg is to be understood.
D. A. Andrews. Bound volume of Valley Spirit,
1860; candle mould.
25(5
\Y. V. Archibald. St. Thomas, English Bible primed
in 1789, almanac, box of old papers, receipts of old dates.
Daniel Bear, Fort Loudon. Spoon and picture of old
Scott Hotel.
Capt. I\. J. Boyd, Upton. Turkey platter made in
London, [805; silhouette of William H. Mayer, 1840.
John B. Bickley, Repository and Whig, .May 3, 1849;
shell from Gettysburg.
Col. W. C. Bambrick, Scotland. Roster of the Wash-
ington Greys, organized in Chambersburg, July 4, 1825.
Presented to the Kittochtinny Historical Society.
D. O. Bowers. Tomahawk; melted ore rails and
brass; double unbrella : bellows; steer's horn.
The Misses Hard. Two charred books from the burn-
ing of Chambersburg.
George Bitner. Small fire engine.
Horace Clevenger, Fayetteville. Indian arrow heach>;
old cannon ball.
J. G. Brechbill. Marion. Pa. 1, German Bible printed
by Christopher Saur, Germantown 1763. with register of
births and marriages. 2, Wedding slippers and silk stock-
ings of Mr. Lesher, Mrs. Foreman's great-grandfather.
They are T44 years old: now owned by Mrs. Mattie Fore-
man, Clay Hill. 3, Gampler and linen towel made by Fan-
nie Lesher Brechbill in 1705. now owned by Miss Fannie
Brechbill, Marion.
Miss Sue Clark, book thrown into lot back of dwelling
of the late Lyman S. Clarke when the rebels burned Cham-
bersburg; soup ladle found in ruins of old cellar when work-
men dug foundation for house now standing.
Dr. J. J. Coffin an, Scotland. Tun sickles, the mosc
ancient of harvesting machinery, and were in general use
as late as 1839. These sickles were made by John Burns
at his factory on the Antietam near Waynesboro, about
7780. 2 "Important Points on Christian Faith." by Jona-
than Dickinson. A. M.. formerly minister of the gospel at
Elizabethtown. X. I. Printed by Robert and Geo. K.
257
Harper, Chambersburg, 1800. Also 6 books printed before
j 800.
W. A. Crawford. Coverlet 1839; stove made at Cale-
donia furnace.
A. L. Croft, ancient vest.
C. W. Campbell, shell.
Mrs. Frank Clutz. Old fashioned mirror, formerly
belonging to Miss Sallie Wilson, the founder of Wilson
College.
Jacob Coble. St. Thomas township. Atlas of Frank-
lin county, published in 1868; giving roads, names of far-
mers and residents, also photos of the towns of the county.
J. Frank Croft. Double barreled pistol.
Mrs. Nancy Detrich. Melted glass from window of
burned Court House found in ruins after fire.
G. A. Dornberger, a home made apple peeler, in use a
century ago.
The Rev. W. A. Dickson, laces in vault of J. Hoke
& Co., 1864, seven pieces: ancient saddle bags of the Rev.
John Dickson, 1855.
Mrs. May Dougherty, old German Bible. Printed
1729.
Amos Eby. cavalry belt found after the burning of
Chambersburg.
C. E. Etchberger. The Rag; campaign paper, 1864.
Mrs. Susan H. Ruby. Silhouette of Casper and Mary
Ruby, father and mother of Judge Henry Ruby who came
as a boy to Chambersburg in 1814, learned the printing
trade and for many years was a news paper publisher; al-
manacs 1737-1808-1809-1843, formerly the property of Dr.
Abram Senseny.
C. A. Foreman. Natural wood from a poplar tree,
grain resembles dog's head.
Scott Flack old lock and spoon.
Mrs. Geo. A. Flack, 428 E. King street. Shell fired
and picked up in Chambersburg. 2. Plate of early date
found among ruins after fire.
2 5 8
Craig Fleming. Pair of children's shoes, 60 years old.
M. A. Foltz. Map of Chambersburg, 1868; plan of
Chambersburg, 1850; frame business card, 1866; German
paper and translation. 1714: photograph of Zion Reformed
Church by Mrs. Mary Mengel Lane: bound files Chambers-
burg Times, Frey & Foltz, 1859; The Country Merchant
j 866: Public Opinion [869.
John Howard. Scotland. Daily Citizen, Vicksburg.
Miss., printed on wall paper: nine Confederate notes; cav-
alry equipment of John A. Howard. Company G, 21st
Penna. Caw ; candle moulds; twisting wheel; hand cuffs.
Mrs. John Horst. Wedding dress 96 years old; birth
certificates 1797. 1801 : tea kettle made in Chambersburg
1825 by William Heyser; fat lamp and ink well: snuffers;
flax hackles, an old bonnett; marriage certificate: spelling
book 1815, book printed in 1812; book of sermons 1830,
spectacles 100 years old.; hobbles for horses.
Thomas Horn. Shinplasters issued by Franklin rail-
road for shoeing horses which drew cars on the railroad.
David Haulter. knife and spoon and cartridge box
used by Frank Cramer. ex-County Commissioner, in Civil
War.
Miss Kate I layman. Bound files of Weekly Messen-
ger 1835-1854.
The Rev. 1!. G. Huber. Equipments carried by Mr.
Huber during his service in the civil war. The picture of
Mr. H. was taken at Newborn, N. C. 1865.
D. A. Heckman. Scotland, ancient meat chopper in use
one hundred years age
Margaret Heyser, boor jack.
Mrs. Wm. S. Hoerner. Telegrapher's instruments car-
ried by W. Blair Gilmore, concealed in his boot when re-
porting rebel movements to the Government. 2, Hand
illustrated song book fn>m Monastery at Ephrata, Pa., date
Augustus Klenzing, Chief of Police, case of burglar
tools used by Rollins can be seen at police headquarters.
259
Linn Harbaugh, Esq., old receipts, etc.
Miss Sallie Howe. Fabrics brought from Baltimore
in 1850 by the Rev. Wesley Howe, Methodist, who form-
erly preached at Green village, Roxbury, Orrstown, etc. ;
also a member of Orrstown Lodge No. 262, A. Y. M. No 2,
Dress was the property of Mary Francis Eyster, youngest
daughter of Hon. Jacob Eyster. It was concealed in the
cistern with the household linen, the house burning with
the rest of the property. The goods were purchased at the
store of Judge Black, S. Main St. 3, Quilt pieced in 1820
by Mrs. Charlotte Wolff Slagle, of Baltimore, and her
daughter, Mrs. Mary Slagle Eyster, wife of Hon. Jacob
Eyster. The pattern was designed by Bernard Wolff,
nephew of Mrs. Slagle. The muslin used in the lining was
a novelty then taking the place of home made linen in com-
mon use.
Mrs. Charles Hall. Painting of the rive children of
Samuel Budd, New Jersey, Mary; Samuel, one of the foun-
ders of Mercersburg College; Thomas, father of Mrs.
Charles Hall; William; Annie. Artist, Mr. Huit, painted
1819.
A. C. Hugg. Russian sword with coat of arms; over
100 years old. 2, Story of the Bible, printed in 1826. 3,
Irish Almanac printed in Dublin 1765. 4, Sickles used
100 years agc>, made in Hallstate, Germany. 5, Ancient
screw plate to cut threads on bolts; very old. 6, Two silver
buckkles, 1785; platter; Bible, 1776. Voda Mce. 1697.
Exhibits by Mrs. John Horst, Book on Heaven and
Hell. The observations of one in a trance who claims to
have visited both places, and therefore speaks with auth-
ority and from personal experience. Printed in German in
1812 by John Hershberger, father of the late Major Hersh-
berger.
Six books of 'The True Christianity," illustrated with
quaint wood cuts, John Arnst, the author was born in 1585.
The book is a reprint of 1830.
"New Guide to the English Tongue," A school text
260
book used ninety or more years ago. The imprint of the
publisher has been detroyed, The thumb marks at the
lower margin show its long use.
Taufshine. Certificate of birth and baptism of Miss
Elizabeth Reiff, who was born in 1801 a resident of Hamil-
ton township. This "Taufshine" was made by pen. Also,
certificate of Jacob Grove, born April 23. 1767. The work
was done by a quill pen.
Wedding dress ninety-six rears old of Elizabeth Reiff,
and her certificate of marriage. Marriage performed b)
the Rev. Frederick Rahanser, of the German Reformed
church, in 1830.
An iron ring to place around the fetlock of a horse,
secured by lock and key. The purpose was prevention from
theft and identification if stolen. The grandfather of the
late Wm. A. Cox, an Englishman, one of the early settlers,
who resided in the house of the Rev. Carlisle, North Rail-
road street, known as a "White smith," was a manufacturer
of these locks.
Horst exhibit concluded: Two flax hackles; fat lamp,
old snuffers, ink well, bonnet 70 years old; spectacles, very
old; tea kettle made in Chambersburg bv William Heyser,
1825.
Mrs. Ella B. Jacoby, coverlet woven for Susannah Try,
1846.
Andrew Klee. Pictures of old Reformed (German)
and Lutheran Church, East Market street.
F. W. Kuss. Property of Michael Kuss, deceased,
who prior to 1864 was a watchmaker on S. Main St. Mr.
K. brought this trunk with him from Germany. When the
Confederate Cavalry fired the town, he filled it with valu-
ables from his store and buried it in his garden. Some of
the troopers saw the newly turned earth, dug it up, took the
valuables and left the trunk at the old market house. It
contained all that was left of his watchmakers shop. 2,
Rocking chair in use 100 years.
S. C. Knell, old canteen.
26l
Lemuel King. Bread basket made of rye straw em-
braced with hickory sprouts; used for raising bread for
baking in oven fifty or more years ago.
Mrs. John A. ECell. Snuff box and ring made in
Libby prison.
Mrs. C. E. Kieffer, photo of Michael M. Cromer.
Geo. S. Kyle. Fossilized foot of some pre-historic
animal found embedded in the rocks of the old Borough
quarry at W. Washington street. Secured and preserved
by Mr. Kyle.
The Misses Leslie. Dress coat and vest of Surgeon
Stewart Kennedy, brother of the late Dr. James F. Ken-
nedy and Mrs. M. K. Leslie, deed. He was with Admiral
Farragut at the taking of New Orleans, and was made
full surgeon at the age of 30. Picture of Abraham Lin-
coln; picture of coffee pot.
C H. Lippy. Watchman's rattle used by David Lippy
while on duty as an officer in Chambersburg 75 years ago.
In addition to duties as watchman, he called out the hours
of night.
R. E. McCoy, nails melted together found in ruins of
hardware store.
Dr. John R. Minehart, a native of Lurgan township,
now a resident oi Philadelphia, French sword, capes and
head gears ; French naval battle ax ; curious grotesque face ;
flint lock pistol ; wooden canteen, spear head, Indian cart-
ridge case; Turkish dagger; Japanese dagger; sword; Ara-
bian sword ; saber, four war clubs, sword.
Mrs. J. D. Ludwig. Pewter dish made in England
200 years ago; blue cup and saucer, on which is represented
"The Rocket," first locomotive run in England by Steven-
son; cup and saucer of similar make with a country scene.
Frank Mehaffey. Portrait of Captain Benjamin Cham-
bers. Born 1755; died 1813. As a youth of twenty, he
enlisted in the Company of his brother, Captain James
Chambers, and with it marched to Boston. He was later
commissioned Captain and was in command of his Com-
262
pany at Long Island, B randy wine and Germantown with
credit. He served with such distinction during the re-
treat at the battle of Long Island that he attracted the at-
tention of General Washington, who presented him with a
pair of pistols. After the war of 1812 with England, he
engaged in the manufacture of iron and had a furnace and
rolling mill in the neighborhood of Fort Loudon.
Pictures of Falling Spring Church as it appeared in
1803. The first log church was erected in 1739; the second
log church in 1767; and the present church in 1803. In
1857 the building was enlarged and altered, and in 1868
it was again changed to its present style of architecture.
Acorn in the stone church of Middle Springfield in
1781, and out of use about 1847, was a pulpit reached by
a stairway of ten steps. Over the pulpit was a sounding
board by this large wooden acorn.
John G. Orr. Wall map of Franklin County, Penn-
sylvania, from actual survey by D. H. Davison. Published
by Riley & Hoffman, Greencastle, 1858. It gives a plot of
every town in the county at that time with the residents
then living in it. It also gives the prominent buildings, of
which one is the Court House in 1858, and other promin-
ent buildings in the County at that time. It gives the
roads, turnpikes, et cetera.
Between the years 1830 and 1847, colored prints were
made of prominent men, household scenes, fancy pictures
of females and many others. There were to be found in
the parlors of almost every home, and many are to be seen
now in the country. These pictures were all made prior t 1
1848.
Baptism of Jesus Christ. President Polk. Little Sis-
ters. General Andrew Jackson. General and. Ex-Presi-
dent Zachary Taylor.
Capture of General La Veja in the Mexican War
1848. Captain Mays, who captured him, was f.Kinerly
stationed at Carlisle Barracks. His brother was editor of
263
the Cumberland Valley Sentinel published in Chambers-
burg about 1850.
Reading the Scriptures. List of the Presidents of the
United States to Win, Harrison's time.
The Shippensburg Troop, a Company of Horse, was
organized in 181 5 and was disbanded along about 1854.
It had a number of members in Southampton, Letterkenny,
green and Lurgen Townships. Among these were the Shu-
mans, Whealens, and Flemings.
"We the undersigners members of the Shippensburg
Volunteer Troop of Horse, sensible that it is highly neces-
sary (not only) to support the dignity and character of
soldiers, but that we should be governed by correct princi-
ples of discipline and well ordered regulations, and the
following rules, we unanimously adopt, viz :
Uniform. Cap, black leather with narrow bearskin
over the top with a narrow brim with white bucks tail sewed
in the front. Black cockade and white eagle on the left
with a red plume fixed thereon, blue tied behind. Coat, a
plain blue coat single breasted, with three rows of white
bullet butts. Blue pantaloons, red single breasted vest, with
white bullet buttons. Black top boots, spurs, red morocco
sword belt to buckle around the waist. Black cartouch
boxes, black stocks or neck cloths, sword pistles and hol-
sters, black leather breast strap with plate thereon."
John Quigley, John Herron, Denny Rodgers, William
Mclntyre, James Irwin, William Woodrow, Alex. Peebles,
Jr., Joseph Quigley, Thos. McKinney, David Nevin, John
McCune, John Henderson, William Richard, Robert Gal-
braith, Samuel Kelso, Samuel Duncan, James R. Scott,
Robert Stewart, W. Simpson, Robert Sharp, Saml. Clark,
James Rodgers, Paul Martin, Jr., Thomas Martin, Ebenezer
Wills, Saml. Redete, Andrew Rodgers, John Criswell, John
Irwin, Thos. McDonald, George R. Leeper, John Henan
Jun, William Callen, James Harlan, Robt. McCune, James
Kelso, John Heck, Jonathan Peale, John Kieffer, Jno. Har-
per, Jacob Stough, Saml. Wills, Jonathan Holler, John
264
Crisler, Joseph Shannon. William Duncan, Joseph Snider,
Jno. \V. Davis, George Croft, James Clark, Alex. McCune,
Wm. McElhare.
This constitution was modified in 1823 and extended
to sixteen articles. The members' names attached are:
Capt. Wm. A. Finley, tsi Lieutenant, Denny Rodgers, 2nd
Lieutenant, John AlcKee, Cornt. James Kelso. Alexd. P.
Kelso-, George Croft Jun. John Craig, Daniel X. Pumroy,
Samuel Haeck, Robert Y. Smith. Joseph Wolf, Daniel Cray.
(or Gring), Jonathan Werham, Samuel Irwin, Jacob Pa-
gue, John P>eattie, James Clark, John McCune, Robert
Stewart, Samuel Duncan. William Callen, Jonathan Peale.
James Johnston, John Henderson, John McClure, Alex.
McCune, Samuel Henderson, William Moore.
Mrs. Martha H. Orr. Quilt made in 1851 for Mrs.
Mary A. Orr. The patches were made by her sister-in-
law, Mrs. .Margaret Bar, then a woman of sixty years of
age. Much of the quilting was done by the Misses Piper.
of Amberson Valley .who made a specialty of such work.
The linen from which this sheet was made was spun
from the flax and woven into a sheet by Miss Elizabeth
McCormick. She was married in 1809 and was the great-
orandmother of the exhibitor.
Day book of J. Orr & P>rothers 1836, 1837, &c.
Rupp's History of Franklin County, the history from
which all later histories of the County are largely compiled.
Large Punch Bowl. Scene in the Orient. Made more
than three quarters of a century ago. Fine specimen.
Lithtograph of the destruction of Richmond in 1865.
Published by Currier and Ives 1866.
Letter rack of the first Post-Office established in Orrs-
town in 1836. Mail received once a week. There are now
two mails per day at the same Post Office.
Copper Tea kettle made by hand by Yarnall. Ninet}
years of age.
Scales used in the Drug Department of the store of J..
265
Orr & Brother, Orrstown, 1833. The building in which the
store was located was built in 1756 and is still standing.
Mrs. A. N. Pomeroy. Embroidery made early in the
last century in the Dane school the first girl's school in
Chambersburg. It was under the tutorship of Madame
Catwin a French woman. Girls schools were known as
Dames. Sampler of a Washington monument embroidered
by Mary Means of Shippensburg in 1820.
File of Lebanon County, 1819; map of Chambersburg
with names of residents streets with picture of court house
Falling Spring Church, etc. Large Pewter platter made in
London.
Jere McCleary. Certificate of birth and christening of
Catharine Couter, daughter of Elias and. Margaret Couter.
Mrs. Eliza Hull. Coverlet woven by Geo. Nickles for
Shenandoah Odder, 1845.
Mrs John Mull. This trunk was owned by John Mull,
for many years back. Keeper of the National Bank of
Chambersburg. In this trunk valuables of the bank were
taken to Philadelphia for safety, and were returned under
the charge of Mr. Mull, grandfather of Mrs. Mull. The ex-
hibitors 2, Days narrotypes of Joseph Hartman ,of Upton,
taken prior to 1845.
J. H. Minnich, picture of Declaration of Independence
woven on a linen handkerchief.
Alex McKane, bayonet used by Capt. Skinner.
Frank Mehaffey. Pictures of Falling Spring Church
and Benjamin Chambers.
Clifford Martin, heirloom gun dates from Queen
Annes reign.
Mrs. Joseph Osterman, file of Transcript.
Dr. Charles F. Palmer. View of the ruins of Cham-
bersburg looking west from the Market house; photograph
by C. L. Lochman, Carlisle, Pa. ; two handsome old pitchers
and a spirit case.
Miss R. Rinehart, Bible printed in 1720.
Mrs. Harry Rensch. Five German books, 1764.
266
Franklin Repository. Copy of that paper printed in
1 800.
Mrs. Mary Rosenberry. Quilt made by Mrs. Jacob
Kriner 75 years ago.
Jacob B. Reamer. This pair of pocket tongs was
found in a copper tea kettle that was left in a tenant house
in Chambersburg by a family who moved here from Mercer
County many years ago. These tongs were used in the
days when they lighted their pipes with coals and when
matches were unknown, very rare.
W. F. Rockwell. Old spectacles.
C. C. Kauffman, Greencastle. Old address of New
York constituents, 1777; sermon to Asses, 1769; iron yoke
used on the neck of runaway slaves.
E. J. Bonbrake. Specimens of wood from nearh
every tree and shrub grown in Franklin County, with lines
from the poets naming or hinting at the name of each piece
Miss Emma McClure Snider. Two Sheffield Candle-
sticks, 150 years old; owned by Nicholas Snider, her great-
grandfather. Also pen and ink portraits of Jeremiah Snider
and his wife Margaret Byerly Snider, grandparents of this
exhibitor. In connection with loan of pictures of the ruins
of Chambersburg, Miss Snider had as an exhibit an en-
larged picture of the old Chambersburg band. 1867, whose
pedestrian trip on that occasion is reported in M. A. Foltz's
"Country Merchant" of October, that year.
H. W. Spessard. Marriage certificate printed by J.
Pritts & Co., Chambersburg.
Mrs. H. W. Spessard. Waffle iron and candle molds
in use over fifty years, also bayonet.
George Smith. Old style lantern, candlestick 100 year;,
old. Candlestick was made at an illumination celebrating
the election of James Buchanan, President of the United
States.
J. A. Sixes. Old button, teapot 120 years old.
Mrs. Slorp. Ancient button.
Mrs. Ellen Nixon Shoemaker. Picture of Nixon
home; melted glass of soda water fountain.
267
Adam Supple. Ancient cups.
Clayton Small. Fat lamp 100 years old; was ham-
mered out by the great-grandfather of the exhibitor.
The Rev. David Speer. Spectacles, over 100 years
old, worn by his grand- father.
G. W. Smith. Large griddle made in 1825 by a
blacksmith ancestor of exhibitor. It was suspended by a
crane over a wood fire for cooking and frying.
J. A. Sellers. This lock was on the front door of one
of the four buildings on South Main Street not destroyed
in the burning of Chambersburg by the Confederate forces
in 1864, and was in use until the past three years in the
building now occupied by J. A. Sellers & Bro. It is four
score and five years old.
Walter K. Sharpe, Esq. Silver mounted pistol used
by Rollins the bank robber in attacking Mr. Messersmith.
Presented to him by his uncle, J. McDowell, Esq.
Mrs. W. H. Shank. Picture of Clifton Mills and
Millers house. Painted by Major H. R. Henchberger,
Grace township.
John Smarsh. Lard lamp in use 50 years ago; hickory
stick taken from tree under which the treaty was made with
the Indians by Benjamin Chambers; sketch along Conoco-
cheague, including axe factory and the old church, now
used as Hall of G. A. R. ; drawing of the Heyser paper
mill that formerly stood where the Wolff shops now are.
It is claimed to be the only sketch of the building now in
existence.
Justice John Stewart. The first book, as far as known,
that was published in Chambersburg. A Latin Lexicon by
James Ross, A. U., teacher of the Latin and Greek lan-
guages, and Rector of the Franklin Academy in Cham-
bersburg. From the press of Snowden and McCarkle,
Chambersburg, November 10, 1798.
S. K. Shryock. Cradle. "Martha Cochrane Shryock,
born 1791, rocked in this cradle. During one of the Con-
federate raids,, several soldiers took this cradle to chop it
268
up for kindling. When Airs. Shryock saw them, she cried:
v O, the cradle I was rocked in !' One soldier said : 'Give the
old woman her cradle.' So it was saved.
"Mary Lohr. little daughter of the late John and Sarah
Lohr, died the morning of July 30. 1864, at her home on
the McClure farm, north of Chambersburg. Owing to
Confederates occupying Chambersburg the bod}- could not
be brought to town for burial. At the suggestion of Mr?.
McClure. the body of the child was placed in this chest and
buried in the garden until the Confederates had left the
town. (Chest also on exhibit of S. K. Shryock.") as given
in scenes and incidents in Public Opinion, it was
for the burial of this child undertakers were refused passes
by McCausland, who said he had more important business
than to bury the dead.
Mrs. C. H. Spear. Sewing case carried through the
civil war by C. H. Speer, made by his mother.
Mrs. George W. Stake. Fruit dishes.
A. A. Schuerman. Lock found in Court House cellar,
after the fire ; cane.
Miss Margaret Streally. Portrait of Dr. Abraham
Senseney, born 1761. died 1844. The first Doctor located
in Chambersburg. Portrait painted by Seaman. 2, Peutei
platter brought from Germany by the Senseney family. It
is over 200 years old.
J. R. Small. Coverlet made in 1839; plate over 100
years old; spear head cane; articles from the Philippines.
Miss Mary Stewart. Spiritual Treatise, printed ar
Lebanon 18 19 by Joseph Hartman.
Mrs. G. \Y. Skinner. Sampler made by Elizabeth
Boyers in 181 7.
Parker R. Skinner. Picture of Captain G. W. Skin-
ner; watch, shoulder straps, military orders, diary, two
swords pistol.
Mrs. D. N. Shields, Orrstown. Pa. A small cooking
stove picked out of the ashes of Chambersburg wdiile yet
269
hot by Conrad Lautenslager, and given by him t< x-
hibitor.
Mrs. W. C. Sonnick. Stein, a convivial drin up
brought from Rheine, a German town, by Henry rbig\
uncle of Captain John C. Gerbig. It is decorated with a
picture of a city along the Rhine. It can be seen at the
home of W. C. Gerbig' Chambersburg.
Miss Jean Senseney. Bound Volume of Chambers-
burg newspapers containing "Chambersburg Times, 1846.
published by E. R. Powell at $2 per year ; changed to Cum-
berland Valley Sentinel, Aug. 14, 1846. Powell, publisher;
later published by E. R. Powell and A. H. Smith. This
bound Volume ends March 25, 1850. Also a fire bucket
about 100 years old and formerly belonging to Wm. Stew-
ert Davis, great-grandfather of the exhibitor. A bucket
like this was in every private family, and at the alarm of
fire, a member of each family ran with a bucket to give
assistance, thus forming what was known as the "bucket
brigade."
Mrs. C. O. Miller. Ancient cup and saucer.
John Stepler. Old sausage grinder and lantern.
George Troutman. Old coin from away back.
Valley Spirit. Old newspapers.
Mrs. Katie Walk, a great grandfather's spectacles and
case 200 years old.
John B. Washinger ,St. Thomas. Old glass goblet.
H. T. Washabaugh. Silhouette of Daniel Washa-
baugh, owner and builder of the brick dwelling on Federal
Hill, now known as the Children's Home.
George A. Wood. Box old china ,cups saucers, mol-
asses pitcher.
J. M. WalHch. Old jail key.
D. G. Wingerd. (Manuscript) letter from James
Buchanan to William Maxwell, Lancaster County.
Charles Walter, Confederate Quartermaster receipt.
Mrs. Nan C. Wingerd. Knife found on Rollins, the
bank burglar, after his capture.
2;o
Mrs. E. B. Wiestling. A valuable interesting and.
rare collection, many articles of historic interest, a number
of which came from General Washington's family.
John G. Yost, Scotland. Reel and spinning wheel,
used by exhibitor's parents; gun made in London in 1806 —
killed more game than any other gun in the county; candle
molds; candle mold to hold twelve candles; one hackle.
G. W. Yost. Ladle, powder horn and rifle.
J. A. Zullinger, Orrstown. Hotel register of his father
who kept hotel in Upper Strasburg. In this register are
found records of many droves of cattle, sheep, horses, etc.,
that passed through Strasburg between 1852 and i860.
Mr. Zullinger also exhibited fac semile bail bond of Jeff
Davis.
T. Z. Minehart. Communion cup. At a joint meet-
ing of the church councils of the Lutheran and German
Reformed congregations of what is now Pleasant Hall, a
settlement of the statement of the financial condition showed
for the first since its organization in 1789 a surplus in the
treasury. This was an event so unusual that they unanim-
ously decided to permit Johannes Kramer, the treasurer,
to spend 8 pounds, 14 shillings and four pence. To prevent
the burning of a hole in the churches money bag. on June
17, the Johannes aforesaid paid nine pounds for the Com-
munion cup. for the ''Necessary uses of the church,*' and it
has been in service for considerable over a century. It had
been for some years not in use, but some three years ago
one of the members of the church found it and it is today
with almost a century of service 10 greet its old and new
friends.
Flag. When the news spread in 1865 that Abraham
Lincoln was shot Mrs. Rachel Bender, formerly of \Yei>c
Market street, now deceased, along witli one or two other
women in Carlisle, hurriedly sat down and made this flag
in order that the same might be displayed in honor of the
dead President. The question arose as to how the flag
should be tacked to the pole. An eminent lawyer of Car-
2;i
lisle, who has since acquired fame, was appealed to and he
confessed that he did not know, but would go into the
street and see and report. The flag was in possession of
Mrs. Bender up until shortly before her death, when she
gave it to her niece, Mrs. T. Z. Minehart.
John W, Hoke. Confederate musket, given to the
late H. E. Hoke by a Rebel belonging to Lee's army, whom
Mr. Hoke helped to desert, supplying him with a complete
outfit of civilian cloths. The rebel's name was Ray, and
his initials, W. D. R., may still be seen in the stock. The
gun is of English make.
Picture of bank before burning July 30, 1864. Old
chest. Rollins lantern. Two frames of old checks. One
frame of old Bank of Chambersburg notes. Piece of
wood from vault in bank at the time of its burning, 1864.
Seal of the Bank of Chambersburg. Two frames of pic-
tures of former Presidents of National Bank of Chembers-
burg containing ones of Thomas G, McCulloh, George
Chambers. Joseph Culbertson, William Heyser William Mc-
Clellan, Edmund P. Culbertson, William L. Chambers,
Samuel M. Linn, W. Rush Gillan. Original Charter.
Things belonging to General S. W. Crawford, son of
.Dr. S. W. and Jane A. Crawford. Token of regard to
Brigadier General S. W. Crawford, Third Division, Fifth
Corps, U. S. Army, from his staff a handsome sword with
gold handle with names of battles of the Civil war engraved
on blade called Presentation Sword.
Pottery vases and lamps ; bronze lamps from Island of
Syprus; piece of Aztec pottery; Egyptian tear bottle, Egyp-
tian armlets, beads and scarbrands, quaint antique.
English Bible, printed in 1857, containing the record
of the marriage of the daughter of the first Benj. Cham-
bers to Dr. John Calhoun, in 1774; belonged to Edward
Crawford's daughter Elizabeth, grand daughter of John
and Ruhamah Calhoun who married Reade Macon Wash-
ington.
Dr. John Calhoun. Silver tea spoon.
2/2
Haiivl embroidered scarf, belonging to Rebecca Calhoun
daughter of Dr. Calhoun and Ruhamah Chambers Calhoun
who married Edward Crawford, 120 years old.
Hand embroidered caps, Mrs. Edward Crawford and
Mrs. Reade Washington, Old lead spoon, Reade Washing-
ton 4th cousin to George W., Chenille Shawl in rich colors
belonging to Mrs. Reade Washington, 75 years old, daugh-
ter of- Edward Crawford.
Silhouettes. Old lady in rocking chair. Mrs. John
Agnew of New York mother of Jane Agnew Crawford, a
great grandmother of Mrs. E. B. Wiestling.
Gentleman in high silk hat. Cornelius Agnew, brother
of Jane A. Crawford, Young men, sons of Dr. S. W. and
Jane Agnew Crawford.
Pair of iron mufrers.
Iron scissors to cut loaf sugar.
A picture. "Shepherdess of the Alps," embroidered
by Jane Agnew, 181 5.
Four Beaded bags, beaded scissors case with scissors.
Love letter trunk, black leather studded with brass
nails; fire screen, mahogany covered with red damask, 75
years old; warming pan, brass, 100 years old; old Mrs.
Agnew, New York.
Tokens, used at Communnion services in Reformed
Presbyterian church, made of pewter and porcelain.
Housewife, about 80 years old.
Hand painted medallions of satin for watch cases, 1814.
Travelers' Directory, printed 1818, Philadelphia.
Old high tin shaving cup.
Book printed at the office of Franklin Republican by
J Pritts, 1827.
Pair of brass extension candle sticks: carved ivory
card case and small box ; Sandlewood fan, carved sticks ;
eld fashioned tortoise shell comb; mahogany knife and
spoon cases about 100 years old; letter sander ; Indian ar-
row heads; china crepe hand worked shawl, owned by Mrs.
M. C. Washington.
?73
Things belonging to Dr. S. W. Crawford and Jane
Agnew Crawford, parents of Mrs. Margaret C. Washing-
ton, wife of Edward Crawford Washington and grand-
parents of Mrs. E. B. Wiestling : Old gold watches, chains,
seals and keys ; old mahogany tea caddy, over 75 years old ;
Japaned tea caddy in two compartments, one for black, one
for green tea, with spoon and measure, over 75 years old;
Pomanders one cut glass, one Dresden china; Form for
fitting ladies caps, at home instead of going to milliners;
large old tray painted in flowers ; old cap box covered with
wall paper.
Small portrait of Edward Crawford's daughter Eliza-
beth later Mrs. Reade Washington.
Small oil painting of Edward Crawford, which be-
longed to his daughter Elizabeth, her son Edward C. Wash-
ington and his daughter Mrs. E. B. Wiestling.
Silver cup belonging to Edward Crawford.
Silver soup ladle belonging to Calhouns.
Book belonging to George Washington with his auto-
graph, printed in 1776, "Alex. Popes Miscellanes in Prose
with many of his letters."
Silver button off of George Washington's coat.
Napkin marked by Martha Washington, G. W. in blue
cross stitch.
These things all belong now to Mrs. E. B. Wiestling,
who was Jane Washington, with many other old things,
books, silver, cut glass, china furniture, painting and old
engravings which belonged to her maternal grandparents,
S. W. Crawford and Jane Agnew Crawford.
•These Crawford's were no connection whatever of the
Edward Crawford's but came to South Carolina after the
Revolution. The Ed. Crawford family were among the
first settlers in this region.
THE MERCERSBURG COLLECTION.
The Mercersburg exhibit was unique because of the fact
that it was collected and arranged by a committee of the
274
Woman's Club thus relieving- the historical committee of
much responsibility and no little work. Beautiful and at-
tractive as it was, the display did not in any sense represent
the rich assortment owned by old inhabitants of the town.
Rare china, furniture and many curious antiques were
considered too fragile for exhibition purposes, and much
regret was expressed by the Mercersburg committee that
the collection could not be more complete. It was such,
however, that no apology need be offered.
The strikingly clever collection of Mercersburg, under
the auspices and care of a committee of the Woman's Club
follows :
Coverlets by Mrs. J. Poffenberger, Mrs. Harry Brewer.
Mrs. Annie Rinehart Mrs. William Curley. Mrs. Harriet
[Murray.
Miss EC. A. Shannon, i coverlet, i patent pillow top,
pamphlets, i foot stool cover. Civil War stationery, fire
insurance plate, photograph of Buchanan birthplace, sand
shaker. Uncle Sam's almanac, 1857.
The Misses Steiger 1 coverlet. 2 stoneware pitchers.
Seth Dickey. Flint back pistol : pistol without ham-
mer : 2 leather fire buckets marked Ma'tt. Smith: snuff box,
pocket knife, hunting knife, fat lamp.
Mrs. Seth Dickey. 1 coverlet, one Bible.
Miss Mary McFarland, 1 counterpane. 1 bureau cover.
1 cover for L oilet table. 2 old documents, hand-woven linen,
pewter charger.
Mrs. Carey H. Witherspoon, 2 coverlets, 2 pieces of
pewter, picture, history of England, 1 map, 1 bread basket.
Mrs. S. G. Rupley, 1 Copper Kettle. 1 pewter teapot.
Mrs. Harry Waidlich. 4 pewter articles, 1 scythe.
If. U. Iliester. Portrait of Governor Hiester; the
Governor's inaugural address: two of his horse pistols ano
a hat box.
Mrs. James Weiler. 1 picture, one pitcher, five pew-
ter spoons, one bread basket.
Mrs. R. B. Richey. 3 pewter articles, 1 pitcher.
275
Mrs. H. M. Spangler, 1 framed sampler.
Miss Hannah McDonald, i framed sampler.
Oliver Lightner, i portrait in water colors.
Mrs. M. J. Slick, 2 pictures, 1 Bible, 1 old will.
Miss Rebecca Agnew, 2 portraits, 1 picture. Grey's
Elegy, 2 pieces pottery.
Mrs. John Faust, 1 dinner horn, 2 pewter plates.
Mrs. C. F. Fendrick, 1 pair brass candlesticks, 2 brass
lamps and holders, 1 glass oil lamp, 4 pieces pewter, 4 pot-
tery jars and 1 jug. Indian curios, 1 deed from William
and Margaret Smith, 1786; Mercer Coat of Arms, 1 copy
Old Mercersburg, 1 pewter icing tube, 1 jumble form.
D. Caleb Philips, 1 picture, oath of allegiance.
Miss M. McKinstry, andirons, fender, tongs, and
shovel, thermometer.
Mrs. Rankin, 3 candlesticks in silver.
The thousands of visitors to the museum during the
last ten days and until its close were interested in the pot-
tery exhibit. But a few specimens could be sent, conse-
quently a photograph was taken of the pieces collected by
a committee'of the Woman's Club. The photo gave an ele-
gant idea of the jars with handles and without; of pitchers,
jugs and other quaintly shaped vessels.
All specimens in the photograph were of grey stone-
ware, with dark blue decorations, except the row at the
bottom. This row was in varying shades of yellow, golden
brown, highly glazed within and without. As well said by
one of the Mercersburg ladies our grandmothers used these
jars for storing sweet-pickled peaches, cantaloupes and the
like.
Hugh or "Hughie" McConnell operated a pottery in
Mercersburg throughout the '40s, '50s and '60s to the in-
tense enjoyment and entertainment of the average small
boy.
The shovel and tongs shown in the fire place were
bought at the store of James Buchanan, the father of Presi-
dent Buchanan. The Samuel Findley ledger, as opened in
276
I774> was tne ledger of the father of Governor Findley.
It was loaned by Professor J. L. Finafrock. Then there
was the famous scythe of Captain Michael Cromer, who
cut 12 1-2 acres of wheat from sun-up until a few minutes
of sun-down.
Another charming exhibit of the Mercersburg collec-
tion was the Oath of Allegiance of Eaven Phiips. The
Scotch-Irish from Ayrshire and other places who came over
in early days, came as British subjects to a British colony,
and their registration was required at a port of entry. But
the poor German who was recorded, had to take the oath of
allegiance, and obey the then existing laws.
From the ship captain's roll of passengers, and the
po'rt warden's record is made up that valuable historic work
known as Rupp's 30,000 names of German and Swiss emi-
grants into Pennsylaania, 1709- 1783.
277
Regular Meeting, Nov. 27, 1914. ^/
■MILITARY SITUATION AND BURNING OF CHAMBERSBURG
By Colonel M. Gherst, of Reading, Pa.
Colonel Milton A. Gherst, one of Averill's men, by request
read a paper telling' of the military situation before and after the
burning of Chambersburg. at the home of Arthur W. Gillan, West
Queen street. Thursday evening, November 27. 1914. The Colonel
was on the list for October, but on account of unforseen engage-
ments asked to have it go over until November to which the ex-
ecutive committee gladly consented.
There was quite a turnout of members and guests, and the
Colonel was given a fine reception. The Colonel is by no means a
stranger here. He was a leading speaker on the opening day of
"Old Home Week." Prominent in G. A. R. circles, he is a member
of S. O. Commission, to which institution, at Scotland, and Wilson
College, where his beautiful daughter Dorothy, is a student, he
makes frequent visit. He was one of the first and most welcome
visitors to our town while it was still burning, July 30, 1864, riding
as No. 4 in the first set of officers in Schoonmaker's brigade, Gen-
eral Averill's Cavalry.
The Colonel held with rapt attention the large assemblage of
ladies and gentlemen during the reading of his paper, and as he
concluded was heartily applauded and given a vote of thanks. In
the discussion which followed he was asked and answered many
knotty questions.
Colonel Gherst's paper is of special value for the archives of
the Society in that it makes possible for preservation material
which would otherwise have been inaccessible.
The social hours before and after the reading of the paper
were ideal. The bachelor host entertained like a prince. When it
came to refreshments, the supply was furnished by the caterer of
Hotel Washington which was par excellent.
Mrs. W. Rush Gillan, mother of the host, was assisted by Miss
McComb and Miss Dorothy Gherst, Wilson College; Mrs. I. W.
Hendricks, Mr. and Mrs. Tabor Hamilton, and Miss Ruth Gillan.
The following minute was read and adopted on the death of
Colonel James R. Gilmore:
Your committee appointed to take suitable action on the death
of Colonel James R. Cilmore, a fellow-member of the Kittochtinny
Historical Society, recommend the adoption of the following
minute:
"Colonel James R. Gilmore. son of William and Martha (Kirby)
Gilmore, died at 4 o'clock, Friday morning. May 29, 1914. in Hotel
Pennhurst, Atlantic City, .of cerebro-hemorrhage. Educated in
the Chambersburg Academy, after leaving school, he was for a
time, engaged in the Engineering Department of the old Franklin
Railroad, subsequently becoming a clerk in the Union Bank of
Philadelphia. Upon the breaking out of the Civil War in 1861,
lie was a Volunteer and performed important service in the Mili-
tary Telegraph Corps. In 1862, he enlisted in Co. A, 126th. P. V.,
which was the real beginning of a long and highly creditable caree..'
in the United States service, during and for many years after the
Civil War. (See Biographical Annals of Franklin County, 1905).
"Colonel Gilmore was one of the original members of the Kit-
tochtinny Historical Society, Chairman of the executive commit-
tee, 1898—1902; Vice-President 1903, and Secretary 1906—1913.
"In all these years Colonel Gilmore was untiring in his devo-
tion to the success of the Society. He possessed keen executive
ability to an eminent degree. He planned the celebration of Tenth
Anniversary of this Society, one of the most brilliant social and
historical events in its history. He planned pilgrimages of the
Society to the rural retreats as well as to Shippensburg and other
points.
There are many who yet recall the reception to Thomas R.
Bard, United States Senator from California by the Colonel and
his estimable wife at their home on New Year's eve., 1901, to
278
which the members of this Society and many other friends were
invited, a notable occasion to signalize the closing hours of the
nineteenth century.
"Colonel Gilmore's zeal and interest in local historical subjects
was profound. He was sent regularly by this Society as one of the
delegates to the annual meetings of the State Federation of His-
torical Societies, and at his death was a member of the Bibliogra-
phy committee.
"The Colonel's resignation as Secretary of this Society, be-
cause of ill-health, at the annual meeting in February 1913, was
accepted with regret, and the President of this Society in a per-
sonal letter bore high testimony to his efficiency. As a citizen
identified with charitable works, as a soldier and student of his-
tory, and as an esteemed co-laborer in the work of the Society, his
loss is deeply regretted.
"Resolved that the foregoing be adopted and that a copy
thereof be transmitted to the family of the deceased."
J. C. ELDER,
M. A. FOLTZ,
MORRIS LLOYD,
CHARLES WALTER.
Chambersburg, Pa.. Nov. 27, 1914.
In order that the story I expect to tell in this paper
may be understood by future students of history, both local
and general, it is important that reference be made to tb<t
conditions that existed in our state and also the conditions
that existed in our valley on both sides of the Potomac
River.
The burning of Chembersburg was the culmination of
a series of marches, movements, skirmishes and battles of
more or less importance, covering the period from early
May to August 7th, 1864.
The defeat of General Sigel in May at Newmarket,
resulted in his removal from command and being succeeded
by General David Hunter. The latter after the battle of
Peidmont, united with Crook and Averell at Staunton and
advanced upon Lynchburg where he arrived June 17th.
Early having been reinforced, he met the attack of
Crook and Averill on the 17th at Lynchburg, and repulsed
the combined attack of all the forces under Hunter on the
]8th. Hunter being unable to capture the city and destroy
the railroad, withdrew through the Kanawha Valley to the
Ohio River, the retreat being covered by Averill who re-
pulsed the enemy's advance at Liberty on the 21st. Early
did not attempt to follow Hunter beyond Buford's Gap.
but moved his command down the Shenandoah Valley,
across the Potomac, where he was met by the small force
279
of General Lew Wallace at Monocacy on July 9th, who
after a desperate fight was defeated. Although General
Wallace was compelled to retire, his stubborn resistance
delayed General Early at least 24 hours in his march on
Washington which he did not reach until the 1 ith of July.
The volunteers, enlisted and otherwise, who manned
the entrenchments were fortunately reinforced by the Sixth
Corps and a part of the Nineteenth Corps, the latter having
that morning returned from the Red River expedition,
disembarked and double quicked to the scene of the attack
on Seventh Street in time to repulse Early and save the
Capital from capture and probable destruction.
The fight between General Wallace and Early at Mon-
oeacy was not a great battle as to numbers on the Unio.i
Side, but it looms up large as a factor in delaying Early's
march saving the Nations Capital from capture and the
humiliation that would have followed its destruction. As
an incident it was of great importance, and yet, from the
casual student of history, I fear, it has not received the
credit it deserved. Following his repulse at Washington,
Early retired on the 12th day of July to Virginia by way of
Harpers Ferry, with Winchester as his base of operation.
Onjuly nth, the date of Early's defeat at Washing-
tin, Hunter arrived at Martinsburg over the Baltimore &
Ohio Railroad from Parkersburg. Averill's Cavalry ar-
rived at Martinsburg July 17th and moving up the Valley
attacked Ramseur's Division on July 20th, and drove him
from the field and defeated him in the brilliant action at
Carter's Farm, capturing 4 guns and 300 prisoners. Of
this engagement General Hunter reports under date of
July 21st:
"That information has just been received from Gen-
eral Averill that he met the enemy near Winchester on the
afternoon of the 20th and defeated them, killing and wound-
ing about three hundred, capturing two hundred prisoners,
four cannon and several hundred stand of small arms."
General Averill's force was twenty three hundred and
280
lift}'. While Averill was fighting at Carter's Farm, the 14th
Pennsylvania Cavalry drove the enemy's Cavalry out of
Berryville, capturing some prisoners. About sundown of
the 20th, the enemy having been reinforced, made an effort
to recover the position from which it had been driven, but
was easily checked.
Of this General Averill says :
"The enemys force engaged was a division of infantry
commanded by Major General Ramseur and the Cavalry
brigades of General Vaughn and Imboden and Col. Jack-
son, in all about five thousand strong. At dark, finding
the enemy accumulating on my front and having succored
the wounded, I left pickets along our front line and retired
two miles with the main body and went into camp for the
night. On the 21st, I received an order to wait the arrival
of General Crook, who. reaching Winchester on the 22nd,
assumed command. My command consisted of Col. Duval-
brigade of Infantry 1,350 strong and one thousand Cav-
alry, namely; 1st and 3rd Virginia and 14th Pennsylvania
Cavalry, together with the 1st Virginia and First Ohio
Batteries."
On July 23rd General Lee writes to J. A. Seddon,
Confederate Secretary of War as follows :
"General Early reports that General Ramseur on the
20th attacked the enemy under General Averill and Crook,
advancing on Winchester. Encountering a much superior
force, he was compelled to fall back to the fortifications at
Winchester, where he checked their advance. He lost four
pieces of artillery, 250 men in killed, wounded and missing."
On this same affair Confederate General Rodes reports
under date of September 12th as follows, to Geenral E\v-
ell:
"The facts are these, as can be sustained by ample
testimony. Ramseur went < an to chastise and drive off a
small force which Vaughn had reported as one regiment of
infantry and one of cavalry (this Ramseur is prepared to
sustain by testimony, notwithstanding Vaughn's statements
28 1
io the contrary). He formed his army with two brigades
in the front line, skirmishers out, brigade deployed; be-
hind this line Pegram's line was deployed. The enemy ad-
vanced upon him suddenly, was repulsed by Johnson and
at first by Hoke's brigade, but Ramseurs left being over-
lapped by Averill, Hoke's two regiments broke and ran,
behaving very badly as General Lewis himself said. Ram-
seur was on the right near Johnson's brigade, though every-
thing was going on finely until he saw this panic on the
left. He at once endeavored to restore the line by advanc-
ing Pegram's brigade, but it being embarrassed by Hoke's
panic stricken men, became so itself; broke and fled as did
the balance of Hoke's brigade and finally Johnson's. Now
sir, continues Rodes this result would not have happened
one time in a hundred with the same troops under the same
circumstances, and ought never to have occured with old
troops at all. Ramseur acted most heroically, but could
do nothing with the men: they were under the influence of
panic. I do not hesitate, continued Rodes, to record my be-
lief that the cause of the disaster was the conduct of the
men, and the prime cause was breaking of the two left
regiments in Hoke's brigade. Of course if Ramseur had
put Pegram's brigade in the front line the disaster might
have been averted, but who knows? Is a battle lost finally
because your enemy outflanks you, asks Rodes."
Much more of this tearful apology and rambling de-
fence for Ramseur's misfortune follows, and Rodes closes
by begging for a share of E well's glory for his part in an
action on May 12th, where Rodes claims he was, "The
right bower of Ewell."
Early's retreat ended at Strasburg where he arrived
on the 22nd of July. When Gen. Early learned that the
Sixth Corps under Gen. Wright had been detached with
orders to return to Washington, and noting this division
of the Union forces he advanced on Crook and Averill on
the 24th of July, and with his superior numbers turned both
flanks and drove them back to Bunker Hill.
282
Averill's division then retired to Martinsburg cover-
ing Crook's army. On July 25th, they retired from Mar-
tinsburg and on July 26th. with the exception of the 14th
Pennsylvania Cavalry, crossed the Potomac and marched
in the direction of Hagerstown.
On the evening of this day the 14th Pennsylvania Cav-
alry had a very lively skirmish lasting several hours. After
the enemy brought artillery into action, the regiment re-
treated across the river to Williamsport. During the 27th
of July, the Confederates made several attempts to cross
the Potomac, but failed. At nightfall they retreated. On
the 28th, we watched the movements of the enemy all day.
On the 29th of July the 14th Pennsylvania Cava'rry
was moved from Hagerstown to Clear Spring to watch the
enemy.
The hospitality of the people of Clear Springs was
most generous. We were invited into the houses and were
not slow to accept the invitation to partake of all the good
things provided by the patriotic women of that community.
Very much to our regret, the enemy appearing from the
direction of Cherry Run, interferred with our feasting and
drove us hastily into the saddle to repel if possible the ad-
vancing troops which we failed to do as the following will
show :
Referring to the burning of Chambersburg, General
Bradley T. Johnson under date of August 10th, 1864,
says, "1 reported on the 28th of July to Brigadier General
iVIcCaus'land with my command, and was ordered by him
to cross the Potomac at day light at McCoys Ferry. This
I did. and marched, after crossing the river, on Cleat-
Spring. Here there was a small force some 300 or 400
strong of Federal Cavalry, which Major Gilmor, with the
First (regiment) and second (Battalion) Maryland Cav-
alry, promptly drove live miles toward HagerstcAvn.
"Thence we moved on Mercersburg which place we
reached at 5 P. M. Major Sweeny. Thirty-sixth Battalion
Virginia Cavalry, driving a small force of the enemy s
283
cavalry before him out of the town. The command here
feci, and at 9 P. M. we moved on Chambers'burg, whicn
place Ave reached just before day.
"My advance had skirmished all night with a party in
front and on the outskirts of the town, being fired into with
cannister from a field piece. Our further progress was
delayed, until broad day light disclosed the weakness of
r he enemv
"General McCausland ordered me to send in the
Twenty-first Virginia Col. Peters, to occupy the town, the
Thirty-sixth battallion, Major Sweeny, having preceded it
as skirmishers on foot.
"After remaining in the town some three hours, he
ordered it to be fired, which was done quickly and in many
places. As soon as it was failry burning, we moved on
McConnellsburg, which place we reached at 5 P. M. and
went into camp.
"At sunrise Sunday morning July 31st we moved on
Hancock. Continuing General Johnson says, 'General Mc-
Causland ordered Col. Dunn Thirty-seventh Virginia (Ba-
tallion) Cavalry by way of Bedford to Cumberland to ar-
rest hostages.
"Colonel Dunn started to carry out the orders of Mc-
Causland but he found, on returning to McConnellsburg,
that the town was occupied by three regiments of Federal
Cavalry, and properly returned to his command. We
reached Hancock about 1 P. M. and stopped to feed, while
General McCausland demanded of the town authorities a
ransom of $30,000.00 and 5,000 cooked rations.
"I explained to Gen. McCausland that the entire pop-
ulation was only 700 and had no moneyed resources. At
the same time I advised the citizens to raise every dollar
they could and pay it. This they proceeded to do. but the
enemy coming on us before anything was completed. I was
unable to receive the money, as he had directed me to do
when he moved off his command on the approach of the
enemy. At 3 A. M. we halted at Bevanville, stopped, un-
284
saddled and fed, and at sunrise moved on Cumberland.
McCausland in the advance. He engaged the enemy that
appeared on his front, "continues Johnson." but my opinion
being asked. I agreed that the force displayed made it in-
expedient to attack. We withdrew, this Brigade in advance
moved on the Potomac at Old Town, reaching this point
about day light Tuesday morning August 2nd. From here
the command moved to- Springfield where it camped on
the South Branch and rested during the wlhole of August
3rd."
From the diary of Sergeant Lewis \Y. Hart. Comoany
A., 114th Pennsylvania Cavalry, we get the affair at Clear
Spring from his point of view. He said, "Major Gibson is
ordered with the 14th Pennsylvania Cavalry to Clear Spring
some distance west of Williamsport. Some time after our
arrival we saw the head of a column of Rebel Cavalry
about one mile south of the town. Our first Battalion un-
der Captain Pollock was deployed as skirmishers. The
other two battalions of the regiment were drawn up in line
on each side of the pike a little distance south of the town.
I was ordered with ten men from Company A, to go to a
gap in the mountains about two miles west of town. There
is a pike running east and west, crossing another pike north
and south, about 1 lie centre of the town. From the gap
we have a clear view for miles north and east. We have
nothing to do but to watch our boys and the Rebels charge
each other. This is very interesting when you are not in
it. There were several charges made with the sabers on
both sides, ddie Rebels get two pieces of artillery on the
flank of our boys who are then compelled to fall back to the
north side of the town. Then it appeared to us like a
brigade of Rebels charging our boys who again fall back;
and reform on the North Side of the ConococheaQ-ue, and
there keep up the fight for over an hour. The Rebels
place the artillery on the front and charge across the creek
on the flank of our boys, who then retreat up the pike with
the Rebels after them. "\Ye at the gap are not now in a
285
very enviable position. We n re cm oi
and dare not move for fear the Rebels \ ill
conclude to wait until dark unless the Reb Is
sooner. We keep very quiet until dusk ther we
along the base of the mountain keeping a sharp
Sometime after midnight we came to a farm house and e
barking of the dogs woke up the people who came out to
find out what was the matter. They gave us something to
eat, fed our horses and gave us what information we wan-
ted. We thought best to move on, and when we reached
the pike we 'turned north. It was just getting daybreak
when we found the regiment bivouacked near Greencastle,
on the morning of the 30th," concluded Sergeant Hart.
On the evening" of July 29th, our division went into
camp near Greencastle, where during the night General
Couch sent four dispatches to General Averill, all of which
were delivered at 3.30 A. M. July 30th.
First. Lieutenant McLean's pickets have just been
driven in at Bridgeport, on the road leading from Mercers-
burg to St. Thomas. The force moving via Mercersburg
have at least two pieces of artillery with rhem.
Second. My force under Lieutenant McLean is being
driven in from St. Thomas and falling back upon Cham-
bersburg.
Third. The enemy are just at the edge of the town.
Let me know what vou intend doing.
Fourth. The enemy are advancing on the Loudon
Pike. Let me know what you intend doing. 1 will en-
deavor to hold the town until daylight.
The messenger sent out from the telegraph office, re-
turned with the information that he was unable to find Gen-
eral Averill. The operator at Greencastle, Mr. Fetterhoff
sent the following to General Averill. 'The operator at
Chambersburg tells me that the telegraph lines west of
that place were cut about t A. M. and the enemy threaten
Chamber sburp'."
&■
Many years after the war it was my pleasure to call on
2 86
Mr. Fetterhoff, who was then .a physician practicing his
profession in the City if Baltimore, when he related to me
the incidents of that night which were briefly as follows:
"When the messenger failed to find General Averill, I
closed the telegraph of] metime after two o'clock in the
morning and took the messages from Couch, went to camp
and finally succeeded in rinding General Averill. some time
after three o'clock, fast asleep near the fence in the field
occupied by the troops. I delivered the messages and re-
turned to my pi >st of duty."
On July 30th, three A. M., Couch telegraphs to Hall-
eck, "General Averill reports that the enemy commenced
crossing at McCoy's Ferry at daylight. 29th inst, and con-
tinued up to 11 A. M. same day, with cavalry, artillery and
infantry. Commenced crossing at Williamsport at 10 A.
M. with cavalry, and at Falling Waters at the same time
with cavalry and trains: at Shepherdstown with cavalry at
the same time.
"General Averill was forced to fall hack to Greencastle.
where he now is with his whole force. The Camp fires
of the enemy are about four miles south of Greencastle."
On July 30th Averill reports to Couch the following:
"When the enemy crossed the river yesterday, one of my
brigade- on picket duty along the Potomac was broken into
several fragments, bur during last night I extricated and
united it al Greencastle. Your dispatches, reporting the
►roach of the enemy from Mercersburg, were not re-
ceived until three thirty A. M. to-day. Vaughn, Imboden
and Jackson were on my front, and Johnson and McCaus-
land in my rear. At 430 A. M. McCausland set fire to the
principal portion of Chambersburg. Marching as rapidly
possible leaving the infantry behind. I placed my com-
mand between the enemy and Baltimore, and advanced to
attack. The enemy retreated in the direction of St. Tho-
mas."
"Please let a train, containing hard bread, coffee and
sugar for six days for two thousand men follow me."
287
After Averill received the messages From Couch on
the morning of the 30th at Green castle, the division start-
ed for Chambersburg by way of Fayetteville. I have no
recollection of the character of the road or the nature of
the country through which we passed between these two
points, but recall that soon after we began the march,
seeing great volumes of smoke continually on our left.
After reaching Fayetteville, we learned that Chambersburg
had been burned by the Confederates. The heat was ven
great and we rested for an hour or more in Fayetteville. Our
horses were worn out, many of them lay down in the mid-
dle of the street as soon as we had dismounted. While
other impressions may be vague, the good things we en-
joyed while resting in the village have always been a plea-
sant memory. \Ye appreciated its bounty which was lim-
ited only by our capacity.
'faking up the march towards Chambersburg, we
moved as rapidly as the condition of our worn out horses
would allow, -\pproaching Chambersburg, according to Ser-
geant Harts diary, the command was divided into three
columns. The larger body with the 14th Pennsylvania
Cavalry in the lead, moved into town close by a brick yard
and on through what we thought was Main street. The
other columns moving through the street to the right and
left of our column. At a point near the site of the Wash-
ington House, on our right, resting on a wheelbarrow, was
the body of a dead Confederate who w'as killed by a civil-
ian, who was full)- warranted in doing so. (You will
notice I speak of him as a Confederate). With little de-
lay we pass on through the town, which was still burning
the three columns uniting after reaching the outskirts and
followed in the direction taken by the enemy. We halt at
about ten o'clock and rest until midnight. We then move
forward and reach Loudon about daybreak on the morn-
ing of the 31st. Here we halt for breakfast, the first for
man and beast since early morning of the 30th, except the
lunch for the boys at Fayetteville.. From Greencastle to
288
Loudon was a long fast and a weary march for our poor
jaded horses, u>v it should be remembered that we had been
campaigning since the middle of April, and were contend-
ing now with cavalry forces operating in a country hostile
to them and where they could appr >priate horses and sup-
plies to their own use. wherever found, a privilege denied
us because we were protecting die property and homes
our friends. We reached McConnellsfourg ><>me time in
• middle i <f the nK irning.
General Averill telegraphs to Kelly from McConnells-
burg Jul}' 3 l st. as fi till >\A - :
"I have overtaken McCausland and Johnson ai this
place, am pressing them towards Hancock. While my
force was checking Vaughn near Hagerstown, McCaus-
land ] through Mercersburg to my right and rear
and burned die town of Ohambersburg. Their force is
about 2,600 with four guns. They will try to cross at
Hancock. Can you do anything to prevent it? Several
• if their officers and men have been killed and captured."
'At i P. M., July 31st, Couch advises General Halleck
thai General Averill has turned the enemy from McCon-
nellsburg and i< pursuing them.'
'On August 1 st, Averill says, our march to Hancock
was very -low the road being rendered impassable by fell-
ing trees and the destruction of bridges, we did not get be-
yond ten miles to-day. My artillery controlled the ford
and the enemy could not cross, but our small force was
unable to prevent him from taking the road towards Cum-
berland upon which he retreated during the night, blockad-
ing ii by felling trees and destroying bridges.'
'( )n August 3rd, Kelley reports from Cumberland thin
he was attacked on Augusl 2nd. by McCausland and Brad-
ley Johnson. The fighi lasting from 3.30 P. M.. until
dark - . About 1 r o'clock' the enemy fell back in the direction
of Old Town.**
This is the affair Bradley Johnson referred to whet
he advised McCausland that an engagement would be in-
289
expedient and retired to Old Town thence to Springfield
where we left them resting all of August 3rd. On the
4tih, McCausland and Johnson moved to attack New Creek,
but deeming it inadvisable they moved to Moore field reach-
ing there August 5th and went into camp. McCausland on
the Moorefield side of the South Branch, Johnson on the
Romney Road his farthest regiment four and a half miles
Prom Moorefield. On Sunday morning August 7th, at
2 o'clock, McCausland notified Johnson that General Aver-
ill had passed through Romney, the preceding evening with
three brigade- of cavalry, and directing him to> saddle up
liis command and send our a scou't on the Romney Road.
A scout from rhe 8th Virginia Cavalry was sent out as
directed. Johnson further savs. "The scout from the 8th
having passed beyond the picket on the Romney Road,
about 3 A. 31. or very early that morning, every man of it
was captured by the enemy. Two men in gray uniforms
rede up to \hc two sentinels on outpost, and being chal-
lenged replied. "The}- were scouts from the 8th Virginia."
after exchanging a word or two. one rode back to pick up
netliing lost from Ids saddle, and immediately returned
with twenty more who captured the whole post. At the
reserve they came up and said they were a relief from the
8th Virginia, and some of the men saying to those on
picket, "Get your horses, you are relieved."
Thus scout, picket and reserve were captured by the
enemy uniformed as Confederates, who then rode into my
camp without giving any alarm.
From my personal knowledge, I will say, that General
Johnson's picket and reserve, were not captured by men
uniformed as Confederates, with the exception of the tw 1
scouts who first approached his outposts. These two scouts
were Averill's scouts.
General Johnson's brigade received the first shock of
that early morning attack, as McCausland's brigade had
time to prepare to meet the coming Union cavalry, being
encamped four miles distant.
2QO
Johnson's reporl is lengthy and in places somewhat
vague, lie severely criticises the conduct of the men on
the expedition. lie says nearly every crime in the cata-
logue was committed. Highway robbery of watches and
pocketbooks were ordinary oceurances. The taking of
breastpins, finger ring- and ear rings frequently happened.
Valuables stolen from individuals in the presence of the
highest officials were kept and carried away unrebuked.
Ransom was demanded and received. After the burning of
( hamhersburg was ordered, continues Johnson, soldiers
paraded the streets, in every possible disguise and paraph-
ernalia, pillaging and plundering and drunk. In Hancock
a Lieutenant exacted and received $1,000.00 in greenbacks
from a citizen. Thus, says Johnson, the grand spectacle
' a nation retaliating was reduced to miserable huckster-
in- for greenbacks. Lawlessness in Pennsylvania and
Maryland as a natural consequence reproduced itself in
Virginia, where discipline was equally lax and similar out-
rages were committed. Chafing under the apparent lack
UcCausland's confidence in him, Johnson felt keenly the
sting of surprised defeat and his removal from command,
a few days later by Lee. the want of discipline, the disast-
n us failure of the campaign, led him to say, "Had there
been le>s plunder there would have been more fighting at
Moorefield, Sunday, August 71 h."
Leaving Johnson, we find Averill's command on the
4th. crossed the Potomac at Hancock and by way of Blooni-
ery Gap moved towards Springfield. Halted at Bath. -
out scouting parties to verify a rumor that a considerable
-ce of the enemy were crossing at < 'berry Run, and march-
ing toward Hancock. This rumor proved false and at 4 P.
M.. August 4th, we moved forward and by making a night
march, readied Springfield al 5 P. VI., August 51'n. losing
during this march about one hundred horse's from exhaus-
tion. During the night of the 5th. rations and forage were
issued, and 0,11 the morning of the •■•ill we resumed the
irch arriving: al Romnev at 11 A. M.
29 1
From here the march was resumed at about I P. M.
advancing in the direction of Moorefield ; halted for feed
and rest soon after 6 P. M., with orders to be ready to
march at one o'clock on the morning of the 7th. It was
the intention of General Averill to surprise the enemy but
was only partially successful. At 1 A. M. the column was
in motion and by an adroit movement the enemy's pickets
and reserve and a patrol going out from his camp were
successfully captured without a shot being fired, though
some delay in the march was occasioned. ( leneral Averill
says, "I no longer hoped for a surprise, because, the enemy
knew of my approach and had been waiting an attack sine;.'
3 o'clock, but i relied upon the vigor of the attack. Pass-
ing through and beyond Raynolds Gap at 5 A. M., the
rebel. General Bradley Johnson's brigade, was found post-
ed in the line of battle on both sides of the road on the
Sout'h Branch of the Potomac river. Without a mom-
ents halt or delay, my advance brigade under Major Gib-
son, 14th Pennsylvania Cavalry, deployed and with eager
s'hout dashed forward upon the enemy's lines with such
impetuosity that, waiting only to fire a few shots, they
broke and fled in the wildest confusion, leaving two pieces
of artillery and a large number of horses, and throwing
away whatever impeded their flight. Giving them no time
to reform, Gibson pursued them hotl^ to the river, preci-
pitating them over its steep banks across and into the
ranks of McCausland wdio with another brigade was
posted on the South bank. There, as I anticipated, the
enemy endeavored to make a stand. Colonel Powell of the
Second Virginia Cavalry, commanding second brigade, was
immediately ordered forward, and, crossing the river in the
face of a severe fire, soon routed the enemy a second time,
rolling the tide of fugutives back toward Moorefield. A
quarter of a mile from the river the roads fork, the right
hand one leading to Moorefield. upon which a part of the
enemys forces fled, pursued by Major Gibson; the left one
leading to the hills and intersecting the Wardensville Pike-
four miles east of Moorefield. Taking advantage of a
292
strong position on this latter road, one mile from the rive,',
McCauslanJ, with a larger portion of his scattered com-
mand, offered a stubborn resistance, but after a sharp con-
test of a few minutes duration, he was for the third time
routed by a portion of the Second Brigade and driven to
the mountains, with the loss of his remaining artillery and
many prisoners. The number of killed and wounded of
the enemy is unknown, but large. Three battle flags were
captured, with four pieces of artillery, 420 prisoners, in-
cluding six held and staff and 32 company officers, over
four hundred horses and equipments, and a number of
small arms. General Johnson was captured with his colors
and three of his staff, hut passing undistinguished among
prisoners, effected his escape. My loss is nine killed and
32 wounded."
To see this affair at Moorefield, as it was seen from the
ranks, let me cull briefly once more from the diary of Ser-
geant Hart who says, "Between midnight and morning we
halted on the Morefield road. After the several detach-
ments which had been sent out to reconnoiter returned,
the 14th moved to the advance. Orders were given to
make no noise. We then moved in column of fours, and
while passing through a narrow gorge just as the head of
the column was entering a stream, a shot was fired from
the rocks over our heads by a rebel picket. Instantly Major
Gibson gave orders, "Draw sabers, gallop!" We crossed
that stream with the water flying over our heads, and it
seemed but a minute until we reached Bradley Johnson's
camp, when someone called out, "Remember Chambers-
burg," and what followed is beyond my power to describe.
The fear that no quarters would be given or mercv
shown, impelled the rebels to make most desperate efforts
to avoid capture, but we treated all who were taken as
prisoners of war should be treated.
The route over which the rebels retreated from Cham-
bersburg was a curious and pathetic sight. The roadside
was strewn with bonnets, hats, ribbons and all sorts of con-
2 93
rrivances. The closer we came to them, the more plunder
ihey dropped. The recollections of that first days pursuit
never fails to suggest a picture of a host of successful and
heavy laden bidders returning from a rummage sale of
goods largely intended for feminine adornment, and with
it comes the conviction that the average cavalryman has
no sense of discrimination when shopping or selecting sou-
venirs.
Looking back over a half century, and with the know-
ledge that came to us in the light of history and the study
of all matters pertaining to the various campaigns of the
war, we can now, mellowed by the passing years, with fair-
ness discuss, coolly and calmly, the then existing conditions
and many things that were then mysterious are not so any
more. Y\ nat follows is not intended as a criticism but a
mere statement of facts, which I hope will make clear to
you, as it was made clear to me, the reason for so many
mishaps, failures and defeats that were unfortunate, dis-
couraging and which seemed unjustifiable. The lack of a
responsible head to direct promptly, accounts for much of
die disaster that came to our arms in this department, and
in the Shenandoah Valley. In discussing these men we do
> believing that all were loyal, capable and earnest. Couch
a' Ohambersburg, later at Harrisburg, Bedford and Pitts-
burg, without troops enough in make art ordinary body-
guard, was helpless. With Sullivan at Charleston, Heintz-
leman at Columbus, Kelly at Cumberland, Hunter now
at Harpers Ferry and again elsewhere; Crook and Averill
subordinate to Hunter; Wright ordered to and fro, some-
times lost and sought for by Hunter; with Stanton and
Halleck at Washington, is it any wonder that the various
nriicers had difficulty in locating each other and intelligently
directing the movements of the several commands? It was
equally difficult to learn of the movements of the enemy,
and even after having obtained the best information pos-
sible, before it could be transmitted to those selected to ex-
ecute movements that would repulse and destroy the enemy.
294
conditions would 'have so changed as to render the infor-
mation practically useless, '["his thought must have promp-
ted Chas. A. Dana, Assistant Secretary of War, under
date of July 24th. to telegraph Gen. Fawlin-s as fallows:
'The pursuit of Early, on the whole, has proved an
egregrious blunder, relieved only by Averill's success at
Winchester, in Which he captured four guns and some pris-
oners. Wright and Crook accomplished nothing, and
Wright started back as soon as he got where he might have
done something worth while. As it is, Early has got off
with the whole of his plunder, and Hunter will hardh
be able to break up the railroad beyond what can be re-
paired in a short time."
To the credit of Crook it must be said, however, thai
he was not responsible for what he failed to accomplish, as
he had only such troops that could be gathered hastily when
he came east from the Department of the Kanawha, after
Hunter's retreat, for on July 25th Mr. Dana telegrapher to
Gen. Rawlins as follows :
"I am privately informed from Wright that the force
under General Crook in the Valley, which figures in Hun-
ter's opinion as 8,000 effectives, is in reality not over
4,oco; many of them being also a poor quality of troops no
men of Crook's own division are there. It looks as if they
had not left the Ohio River."
Lieutenant General Grant was surely impressed with
the importance of these conditions when he wrote from
City Point under date of July 25 1S64, to President Lincoln
as follows :
"After the last raid into Maryland had expended
itself, seeing the necessity of having the four department-
of the Susquehanna, the Middle, West Virginia, and Wash-
ington, under one head, I recommended that rhey be merged
into one, and named General Franklin as a suitable per-
to command the whole. I still think it highly essential thai
these four departments should be in one command. I d 1
not insist that I he departments should be broken up, nor
295
do I insist upon General Franklin commanding. All I ask
is that one general officer, in whom I and yourself have
confidence, should command the whole. Gen. Franklin
was named because he was available and I know him to be
capable and believe him to be trustworthy. It would suit
me equally as well to call the four departments referred to,
a "Military Division;" and to have placed in command of
it General Meade. In this case I would suggest General
Hancock for the command of the Army of the Potomac."
(What a splendid tribute by General Grant to three of
Pennsylvania's generals) .
"With General Meade in command of such a division,
1 would have every confidence that all the troops within
the military division would be used to the very best advan-
tage from a personal examination of the ground, and (he)
would adopt means of getting the earliest information of
any advance of the enemy, and would prepare to meet it.
"During the last raid the wires happened to be down
between here and Fort Monroe, and the cable broken there
and Cherrystone. This made it take from twelve to twenty-
Tour hours each way for dispatches to pass. Under such
circumstances, it was difficult for me to give positive orders
<>r directions, because I could not tell how the conditions
might change during- the transit of the dispatches."
To you no doubt the question has come again and
again why was Chambersburg burned? The men of your
community, when the Nation's life hung in the balance,
did their duty, as did the men of every other loyal com-
munity. The mothers, wives, sisters and sweethearts of
Chambersburg, gave to the Nation their loved ones, as did
the mothers, wives, sisters and sweethearts of every other
loyal community. Your people made every sacrifice to
maintain the integrity of the Union that was made by the
people of any other community, and yet, upon you was
laid an additional burden by the destruction of your homes
and the sorrows and sufferings that followed. You were
told that the burning of your town was in revenge for
296
Virginia homes destroyed by General Hunter. You suf-
fered the vengence of an embittered foe because you were
the nearest victim to his hand. Those of you who lost,
loved ones suffered agony of mind and anguish of heart
You as a community lost your property and suffered ma-
terial loss. Those who suffered only in a material way
can say, great was our loss, but deeper far were the wounds
of those whose hearts were lacerated by the enemy's bullets
when they laid low husband, son and brother. All of us
carried our share of the burden as it was given us to bear.
Some in exalted places, many more in humble places.
Many amid the scenes of battle, the march, the prison an 1
the hospital, man}' more at home to suffer, to sorrow, to
pray. Now with thankful hearts to God for a re-united
Country, we look back ever that fearful struggle, and the
intervening years and say with the poet:
Years pass, our hopes die one by one;
We care so much in youth, life seems so bright.
We look around, and see old friends gone from sight
We murmur at our loss and think fate cruel.
We struggle on and learn to say at last,
'Thy will be done." and see new joys arising
From the ashes of the past.
297
Regular Meeting, Jan. 29, 1915.
GOVERNOR FINDLiAY
By JHon. W. Rush Gillan.
A brisk walk in the crisp winter air of Friday evening added
much to the pleasure of the historians and a number of invited
guests who assembled at the home of Mr. T. J. Brereton, Fifth
Avenue. There were many warmly welcomed by the host and
hostess, and after a business meeting in which much work was
disposed <of in view of the annual meeting in February. Judge
Gillan held forth in a most interesting manner upon the states-
manship and politics of an early period in history of Pennsylvania.
"While Governor Findlay has not by any means been neglected
in local and State history, it has remained for Judge Gillan to
give the most interesting and expansive study of his character
yet produced.
An animated discussion of the paper followed by Messrs.
Hut ton, Dr. Thrush, Brereton. Riddle and others.
Resolutions were adopted on the deaths of Dr. R. W. Ramsey,
who passed away on December 26; Daniel O. Gehr, December 27,
Dr. Palmer reading the former as follows:
"In memory of our esteemed fellow member. Dr. Robert Wal-
ker Ramsey, we would ask you to pause a few minutes and recall
his presence as a strong personality in this Society. He is gone
beyond our physical sight, but remains fixed indelibly in mental
vision, with enduring character. In his best years he worked in
his profession with unremitting energy, and withal kept himself
informed about many things literary and scentiflc; and in politics
usually held a winning hand. All of these activities he continued
in some measure through years of failing health. He had many
strong friendships which were indeed reciprocal, and in friendly
chat was entertaining with tales, gathered through years of active
life.
I hope my friends will pardon me when I declare that no one
of us is without a fault. I should be sorry if I had any friend
who could not see mine. Forgiveness of this kind we give and
demand in turn. It is an exercise of friendship and none of the
least pleasant.
He was not wont to pick a quarrel, but being in it. his con-
duct challenged the strength of his adversary. This quality of
courage sustained him through seven years of increasing discom- ■
fort, and. often real pain, and at last led him fearlessly against
his last enemy. I know that he met death in this spirit, which I
quote from Longfellow:
Wounded and weak, sword broken at the hilt,
With armor shattered, and without a shield;
I stand unmoved; do with me what thou wilt,
I can resist no more, but will not yield,
This is no tournament where cowards tilt,
The vanquished here is victor of the field.
But while we offer this simple tribute of respect in memor-
ium, his soul rests with God; exempted from pain; also from care
and cavil.
CHAS. F. PALMER,
W. RUSH GILLAN,
JOSEPH P. MACLAY.
Few shocks have ever affected this community so deeply as
did that one resulting from the death of Daniel O. Gehr on the
27th. of December last. Every organization, work and agency of
the town with which he was connected suffered a great and irre-
parable loss. One of such organizations is the Kittochtinny His-
torical Society and it has been not the least of the losers. Mr.
Gehr had been a member of the Society for a long period, from
the very early years of the Society's existence, and during all that
time he had been a faithful and valuable member. Always inter-
ested in the work of the Society and forwarding it upon all occa-
sions, it was in connection with its social side that he was abso- •
298
ultely invaluable. Knowing everybody, a friend to and a friend of
every member and guest, his geniality and kindly ways helped
many a meeting to a success.
Therefore, be it resolved, that the Society testify on this man-
ner to the great loss suffered by it and to its sympathy with Mr.
Gehr's family in their severe affliction, and the Secretary is direct-
ed to enter this resolution upon the minutes of the Society.
FRED B. REED.
JOHN W. HOKE,
WILLIAM S. HOERNER,
Committee.
In both instances the Society directed that the action be
spread upon the minutes, and also be given to the newspapers for
publication and sent to the families of the deceased.
Refreshments were then served and much enjoyed, endinff
with a smoker, which lasted until a late hour, during which time
Governor Findlay and other statesmen of his time were resumed.
' As each member and guest arrived he was given a red car-
nation in honor of McKinley's birtday.
Mrs. Brereton was assisted in entertainment by Mrs. W. G.
Davison, Mrs. F. N. Emmert, Mrs. F. C. Woodward, Mrs. T. B.
Kennedy, Mrs. Albert Sidney Johnson, and Mrs. Charles Walter.
WILLIAM FINDiLAY
It has been said that the history of a country is made
up of a history of the lives of the people of that country.
It was Carlyle, I think, who said "Biography is the only
history." This society having for its main object the gath-
ering together and recording of the history of the county in
order to hand it down to those who come after us, it has
been my belief that sketches of the lives of men, natives of
the country, who have achieved places of distinction and
who have shed lustre on the place of their birth should be
found in our archives. Not only that history may be re-
corded but that a more intimate acquaintance with these
men may serve as an inspiration to the younger men who
will come after us. A man seldom attains lofty position
by chance. To be raised above ones fellows one must con-
tain those elements of perserverance, grit, willingness to
work, without which no man can succeed.
In the history of Franklin County, published in 1887,
John M. Cooper, the versatile historical writer, who by his
interesting and able papers frequently entertained and in-
structed this society, gave a list of distinguished sons of
Franklin County, as follows :
299
A President of the United States, James Buchanan.
A Secretary of State of the United States, James Buchanan.
An Assistant Secretary of War, Thomas A. Scott.
A Secretary of the Interior of the United States, Robert Mc-
Clelland.
A Minister of the United States to Russia, James Buchanan.
A Minister of the United States to England, James Buchanan.
Senators of the United States;
William Maclay,
Samuel Maclay,
William Findlay,
James Buchanan,
all Senators from Pennsylvania and Samuel Adams from Miss
issippi.
Two United States Assistant Treasurers at Philadelphia, Wil-
liam Findlay and George Eyster.
A Judge of the United States Court in the District of Colum-
bia, Col. Thomas Hartley Crawford.
A District Attorney of the United 'States for Western Pennsyl-
vania, George Washington Buchanan.
A District Attorney of the United States for Dakota, Hugh S.
Campbell.
A United States Commissioner for Indian Affairs, Thomas
Hartley Crawford.
A Clerk of the United States House of Representatives, Mat-
thew St. Clair Clark.
A United States Collector of Excise appointed by President
Washington, Robert Johnston.
A United States Revenue Collector for Western Pennsylvania
appointed by President Jefferson, Robert Johnson.
A Brigadier General in the Continental Army, James Potter.
A Major General in the Continental Army, James Potter.
A Governor of the State of Pennsylvania, William Findlay.
A Governor of the State of Michigan, Robert McClelland.
A Governor of the State of Indiana, Conrad Baker.
A Governor of the Territory of Arizona, Fred S. Tritle.
A Judge of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, Georgo
Chambers.
A Treasurer of the State of (Pennsylvania, William Findlay.
A Surveyor General of the State of Pennsylvania, John Rowe.
A Canal Commissioner of Pennsylvania, James Clarke.
A Secretary of the Commonwealth, William S. Stenger.
A Vice President of Pennsylvania, James Potter.
Two members of the Supreme Executive Council of Pennsyl-
vania, James MclLene and Abraham Smith.
Two members of the Council of Censors of Pennsylvania,
James Mc'Lene and James Potter.
Two members of the famous Convention of 'Carpenters Hall
of Philadelphia, June, 11776, James McLene and John Maclay.
300
Two presidents of the greatest railroad in the world, Thomas
A Scott and Frank Thomson.
A Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Iowa. Joseph Williams.
A Rear Admiral, United States Navy, Edmund R. Calhoun.
To this list doubtless many others might he added.
One that can now be added will occur to you. T know: that
is the name of our friend the first American Ambassador to
Chili, Henry Prat her Fletcher, one in whose success we all
most sincerely rejoice not only because he is a native of
Franklin County but because of his genial manner, his
kindly disposition, his integrity of character and his brav-
ery of spirit. He was while amongst us a prime favorite in
every circle. It will be observed that Mr. Cooper gives
only the names of men who achieved prominence in state-
craft or in the arts of war. Mr. Cooper says in his article
that he omits military officers of a lower grade than Briga-
dier General. He might have included in his list Brigadier
General William D. Dixon, who. although past the age of
four score years, is still with us and a member of our soc-
iety. General Dixon entered the war of the Rebellion when
but a little over the age of twenty-seven years as a Captain
of Company D, Sixth Pennsylvania Reserves on the 24th
day of April. 1861. He was mustered out of the service;
a Brevet Brigadier General in 1865 having taken part in
nearly all of the important engagements in which the Army
of the Potomac was engaged during that time. It can
truly he said that no braver man born on Pennsylvania soil
ever drew his sword in defense of his counrrv's flag.
Another member of the society born in Franklin Coun-
ty has achieved distinction since Mr. Cooper wrote, by be-
coming president of one of the best conducted railroads of
the United States. You all know that I refer to Mr. M.
C. Kennedy, of the Cumberland Valley Railroad.
A great man}- other distinguished men were born in
Franklin County: great teachers, eminent phvsicians, learn-
ed theologians, poets, hymn writers, artists, etc., but time
will not permit us to enumerate them. We have come to-
3d
night, as we have said, in an endeavor to place on the rec-
ords of this society a sketch of William Findlay, born in
Mercersburg, 20th of June, 1768, and died at Harrisburg,
12th November, 1846. I will not give you much that is
new. Much of what I will give you has been written be-
fore. I bring it with a view of placing it in our archives.
At the age of twentymine years Mr. Findlay was
elected a member of the Pennsylvania Legislature; re-elec-
ted a number of times. At the age of thirty-nine years
elected State Treasurer ; re-elected for ten consecutive terms.
At the age of forty-nine elected Governor of Pennsylvania;
in 182 1 chosen to represent his native state in the Senate
of United States, after serving for a term of six years ap-
pointed by President Jackson Assistant Treasurer of the
United States at Philadelphia. This position be held for
fourteen years and then resigned because of advancing age.
The story of his rise is much the same as that of many
another plucky American boy who has gone from humble
surroundings to places of distinction and power.
About the middle of the Seventeenth Century there
came from Derry in the Emereld Isle to America a soldier
who was known as Adjutant Brown. But little is known
of his life in this country save that his daughter married
Samuel Findlay of Philadelphia. Samuel Findlay, a son of
this marriage, settled at Mercersburg. It was but natural
that a descendant of a soldier from the "place of Oaks"
should be attacted to this, one of the garden spots of the
"New World." Here he married Jane Smith who died
in her thirty-fifth year, the mother of at least six sons. She
was of the blood that suckles statesmen. Most of her sons
rose to places of prominence and distinction. At one and
the same time three of them occupied seats in the National
Legislature; William as a Senator from Pennsylvania,
John as a member of the Lower House of Congress repre-
senting this District and James as a member of the same
body from the District of the State of Ohio in which the
city of Cincinnati is situated.
3<>2
Samuel Findlay, the father of the Governor seems to
have been a man of much prominence and a large land
owner in this county. On the 12th day of August 1785,
John McClelland conveyed to Samuel Findlay a tract of
210 acres of land in Peters Township in consideration of
the payment of five hundred pounds. This land was bound-
ed by lands of the Meeting House, (altogether likely the
Upper West Conococheague of the Presbyterian Church,
which congregation had been formed in 1738) lands of
William McClelland, lands of John McCullough, lands of
Dr. Richard Brownson and others. On the 21st day of
January, 1797, Alexander McConnell conveyed to Samuel
Findlay a tract of 320 acres in Peters Township adjoining-
lands of Patrick Campbell, Robert Campbell, Thomas Mont-
gomery and others. On the 22nd day of August. 1780,
William Hunter of Ayr Township, Bedford County (now
Fulton), conveyed to Samuel Findlay a tract of land in
Peters Township. On the 30th day of March. 1774, Sam-
uel Findlay secured at the Land Office in Philadelphia a
warrant for 218 acres situate on the Kittanning Path in
Westmoreland County. This holding he evidently had at
the time of the execution of his will. 18th October, 1796
as he mentions it in that document. On the 9th of February,
1797 the heirs of Andrew Speer conveyed to Samuel Find-
lay 200 acres of land in Little Cove. Samuel Findlay
evidently had a brother William, who on the 25th day of
October 1769, conveyed to Allen Brown a tract of 120
acres in Peters Township. Of his descendants I know noth-
ing.
As we have said, the will of Samuel Findlay was exe-
cuted on the 18th day of October, 1796. It was probated
on the 1st day of December, 1804, lie having died a short
time prior to that date. At that time his son, William, was
serving as a member of the Lower House of the Legislature.
His son, John Findlay. filled the position of Prothonotary
of this county from 1809 to 1821. He at the same time
filled the position of Clerk of the Courts, the two offices up
3°3
until that time being- always filled by the same person, and
from 1809 to 1 8 18 under the same circumstances filled the
office of Register of Wills and Recorder of Deeds. In 182 1
John was elected to a seat in the Seventeenth Congress of
the United States, the district being composed of the coun-
ties of Cumberland, Franklin and Adams and being the
Fifth Congressional District of Pennsylvania. The county
of Perry having been organized in 1820, by Act of April
2nd, 1822, the state was reapportioned and Adams, Frank-
lin, Cumberland and Perry became the Eleventh District.
From this district John Findlay was elected to the Eigh-
teenth and Nineteenth Congresses.
In a publication which I have seen, it is said that Sam-
uel Findlay had eight sons. In a very interesting and able
article by Sarah Findlay Rice for that most valuable volume
"Old Mercersburg" for which we are indebted to the ability
and enterprise of the good ladies of that ancient borough.
Miss Rice says he had six sons, John, William, James,
Jonathan, Samuel and Robert. Miss Rice being the great-
granddaughter of John Findlay of whom we have been
speaking as a member of Congress, her account of the fam-
ily is entitled to great credit and I would accept it as ab-
solutely correct, were it not for the fact that the will of
Samuel Findlay, which I find recorded in the office of the
Register of Wills of this county, Will Book B, page 231,
mentions his sons, John, William, James, Jonathan, Thomas
and Nathan. Whether there were two other sons, Samuel
and Robert I will leave for the investigation of some one
who has more time for the subject than I have been able to
give it. I think the truth is that he had eight sons, but two
of them died young. That he had a son Thomas is certain.
Thomas was of the firm of Findlay and Vanlear of Balti-
more and on the 30th day of August, 1819, the Governor
having a mortgage recorded against Thomas Findlay, as-
signed it, and in the paper assigning the mortgage he speaks
of the mortgagor as his brother Thomas. John Findlay
and William Findlay were named executors of the will. He
304
did not by his will devise any of the lands specifically but
directed that all should be sold by the executors as soon as
convenient "except his lands at the mouth of Loyalhannah
in Westmoreland County, and his lands on Stump Creek
in Northumberland County," these not to be sold until his
son Nathan arrived at the age of twenty-one years. By
his will he gives to his niece, Elizabeth, the sum of twenty-
five pounds and directs that the balance of his estate be
divided in equal proportions among his six sons. By a
codicil dated December 9, [797 he states that since writing
his will he has given to his son James, land to the value oC
$2,000.00 and directs that that amount be deducted from
his share.
The executors seem to have settled the estate out
of court as no account of their trust was ever filed. By a
paper recorded in Mortgage Book A, page 291 in the mort-
gage records of this county it appears that Samuel died,
the owner of a tract of land in Peters Township containing
between five and six hundred acres, that by an agreement
of all the sons dated 13th July, 18 19, it was agreed to
modify and extend the discretion of the executors to sell
and in pursuance of which agreement the legal title to 252
acres and 38 perches and allowance became vested in Will-
iam Findlay and the remainder of said tract became vested
in John, James and Thomas as tenants in common. On the
[8th day of May. 1823 William and Mary his wife, con-
veyed to Edward Crouch and Benjamin Jordan this tract
of land, li is situate near Church Hill and when conveyed
adjoined lands of John McCullough, William Witherow,
James Buchanan. Robert McFarland. Nathan Brownson
and others.
Samuel Findlay for many years conducted a general
mercantile business in Mercersburg. The ladies of Mer-
cersfourg in the volume before referred to as "Old Mercers-
burg" give a facsimile of a portion of the ledger of Samuel
Findlay and give a partial list of names of persons against
whom accounts were charged in this book. Two of those
3°5
#
names, the one immediately following the other in the
list, strike me as particularly significant, Ephraim Blaine
and Jesse James. During the time that Mr. Findlay con-
ducted this business Ephraim Blaine, the ancestor of the
distinguished statesman, James G. Blaine, lived in the Cum-
berland Valley. It is not unlikely that it was he who was
the customer at Mr. Findlay 's store. I have no knowledge
of the ancestry of Jesse James, the outlaw, therefore will
not attempt even to guess that the customer whose name is
found in Mr. Find'lay's book is in any way connected with
that notorious character.
It was in Mercersburg that we have said the Gover-
nor was born. I am told that the house in which he was
born stood on Main Street near the stream which flows
across that street. No house now occupies the site. We
have named the public positions which he held. It was
after he left the Gubernatorial office and while spending
the winter at the home of a relative near Mercersburg that
a messenger reached him informing him that he had been
elected United States Senator. Contrasting the methods
of travel then and now we have this item from the Harris-
burg Intelligencer, 1824, "Air. Findlay of the United States
Sena 1 e left this place for Washington by way of Baltimore
in a gig." Mr. Findlay was a pronounced Democrat, an
ardent disciple of Thomas Jefferson and a great admirer
and supporter of Andrew Jackson. That he was opposed
to human slavery is manifest from a document fund among
the records of the Recorder's Office of this county which
I here copy in full :
"Know all men by these presents, that I, William Findlay, of
the county of Franklin, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, that:
Whereas I am by the laws of the said commonwealth entitled to
the services of a negro man named -George (aged about thirty-
three years) for and during his natural life; yet believing that the
principles of slavery are repugnant to those of justice and totally
irreconsiliable with that rule that requires us "to do unto others
as we would wish to be done by" I do for myself, my heirs, execu-
tors and administrators, hereby release unto him, the said 'George,
306
all my right, title, interest and claim or pretensions of claim what-
soever to his person or services, or to any estate he may hereafter
acquire and he shall hereafter act for himself without any inter-
ruption from me, or any person claiming for, by, from or under
me and be deemed and taken as absolutely free.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed
my seal this nineteenth day of March Anno Domini 1<807.
WIILILIA'M FI'XDLAY (Seal)."
Signed and sealed in presence of us
ROBERT SMITH.
ELIZA SMITH.
During- his occupancy of the office of State Treasurer
a clerk received $700.00 in counterfeit money. When this
was discovered Mr. Findlay made the loss good from his
own pocket. In his official relations he was not without
his trials and troubles. The campaign of 18 17 at, which
he was elected Governor was attended with great bitter-
ness.. Political excitement ran high. His opponents con-
trolled the legislature and he was charged with misman-
agement of the treasury. An investigation by a committee
composed of his political antagonists followed. A great
many witnesses were examined on behalf of the accusers.
The Governor refused to attend the sessions, refused to
offer any evidence and refused to allow any one to appear
for him or on his behalf. The investigation lasted the
entire session. The committee reported that the State
Treasurer in his official capacity had not only been faithful
but meritorious and beneficial to the State and entitled
him to the thanks and gratitude of his fellow citizens.
Again, during his term as Governor, charges were
preferred against him and a committee of the House ap-
pointed to investigate his conduct of this office. The
charges were very numerous, some of them serious and
others would, at least in this day. be considered very frivo-
lous. A large amount of testimony was taken. This time
the Governor, while not appearing in person, did appear by
counsel. A report of the Committee declaring that none of
the charges were sustained by the testimony, was adopted
by the House although not without fierce opposition and
30/
in the face of a very strong minority report. A careful
analysis of the matter, however, cannot fail to convince an
unprejudiced and candid inquirer that partisan politics and
disappointed aspirations for office had much to do with the
matter. What the people thought of the matter may be in-
ferred from the fact that he was, immediately after his re-
tirement from the Governor's chair, chosen a Senator of
the United States.
During his incumbency of the Gubernatorial office the
Legislature sat in the Court House in Harrisburg and the
Executive Mansion was a small rented house. The back
parlor of this rented house was used as the Executive office.
When he first served in the Legislature the seat of govern-
ment was at Philadelphia, afterwards at Lancaster.
During his membership of the house he advocated strongly
an act providing for simplicity of pleading in actions at
law. While not at that time securing the sanction of the
Legislature much of what he contended for is now the
law of the state. He also advocated the removal of the
capitol to Harrisburg which was not accomplished at that
time but subsequently carried through. Governor Findlay
himself, as Governor of the State, laying the corner stone.
In his message to the Legislature in 1819 he advocated
the passage of an act providing that a severe penalty be im-
posed for the crime of kidnapping and said, "It is a melan-
choly fact that our laws regard the stealing of a horse a
more heinous offense than the stealing of a man."
Mr. Findlay was tall, had a fair complexion and brown
hair. He had a vigorous constitution and cheerful disposi-
tion. He was a member of the Presbyterian church and
a faithful attendant upon the services of that denomination.
On the 7th day of December, 1791, he married Nancy
Irwin daughter of Archibald Irwin of Irwinton Mills, who
was the ancestor of the mother of Benjamin Harrison who
became President of the United States. To this union were
born one daughter and five sons. Mrs. Findlay died 27th
July, 1824. Of the children I know nothing except as to
3 o8
the daughter. The daughter married Francis Rawn Shunk,
who was Governor of Pennsylvania from 1845 t0 1848. It
was at the home of Governor Shunk that Governor Findlay
died. Francis Shunk Brown the present Attorney General
of Pennsylvania, is a descendant of Governor Shunk, so
that today there sits at the Council table of the State a
great-grandson of him who was the Chief Executive of
the Commonwealth from 1817 to 1820.
We have thus tried briefly to give you a sketch of this
Franklin County boy who rose to places of distinction and
power. It is hard for us today to form any proper con-
ception of life in this county as it was when William
Fincllay was a boy. The county seat was then at Lancaster,
more than 100 miles away. Carriages propelled by steam,
telephones, telegraphs, or public schools, even macadamized
roads were not dreamed of by the inhabitants of the then
frontier settlement. The wail of the savage could still be
heard as he moved toward the setting sun. Around every
hearthstone was being discussed the tyranny of the British
Parliament. Xo taxation without representation no im-
position on the colonies for the support of the royal govern-
ment were the words on every lip. Just four years before
the future statesman opened his eyes upon the world the
Assembly of the Colony of Pennsylvania passed a resolu-
tion instructing its agent at London to urge the repeal of
the Stamp Act. It was in Ala}- 1768 that the Assembly of
Virginia presented to the Assembly of Pennsylvania a re-
quest for union of the colonies in opposition to the unjust
measures of taxation. Events of the greatest importance
followed each other in quick succession until the first gun
of the Revolution sounded forth from Lexington. No
doubt young Findlay, as he played around his father's
store in the hamlet nestled beneath the shade of stately Par-
nell, heard many discussions which fired his boyish heart
with a love of liberty and hatred of tyrants. While the
father was struggling to gain a foothold in the world ; yet
he determined to give his son a college education to pre-
3°9
pare him for the bar. A fire destroyed the savings of
years, swept away the family residence and all the stock of
merchandise and the cherished hope to educate young Find-
lay was abandoned. He succeeded without a college educa-
tion. He was a strong character ; his private as well as his
official life was without a stain. He was an honor to the
county of his birth.
3io
GENERAL INDEX.
Papers Read before the Kittochtinny
Historical Society.
EIGHT VOLUMES.
VOL. I. February 1898 to February 1899.
VOL. II. February 1899 to February 1901.
VOL. III. February 1901 to February 1903.
VOL. IV. February 1903 to February 1905.
VOL. V. February 1905 to February 1908.
VOL. VI. February 1908 to February 1910.
VOL. VII. February 1910 to February 1912.
VOL. VIII. February 1912 to February 1915.
SUBJECTS CLASSIFIED.
Vol. Page
1. THE RED MlAiN AND COLONIAL PERIOD.
"The Indians of the Valley." By Major Ives
"Path Valley Before the Revolution." — Mr. Pomeroy.
"Colonial Defences of -Franklin County." — Mr. Hoerner
"Colonel Sam Brady, the Indian Hunter."— 'Mr. 'Collins
"John Wilkins, 'Carlisle .Merchant and Indian Trader."
— 'Mr. Brereton
"The Indians of the 'Lower Susquehanna." — (Robert !C.
Bair, York, Pa
"Old Port Loudon and Its Associations." (No. 1) Mr.
Seilhamer
"Old Port Loudon and Its Associations." (No. 2) .Mr.
Seilhamer
2. TOE EARLY HIGHWAYS.
''Braddock's Route." — Major Ives I. 1 2
"Our Early Highways." (Pour papers.) By Mr. Orr.
No. 1. The Three Mountain Road V. 9
No. 2. The Three Mountain Road V. 223
II.
93
I.
22
II.
29
V.
100
III.
209
IV.
286
VI.
105
VI.
125
3ii
Vol.Page
No. 3. The Conodoguinet — Report on Susque-
hanna and Potomac Route VI. 140
No. 4. Tourists, &c, of a Century Ago VH. 152
"Two Famous Military Roads of Pennsylvania." — By
Hon. Geo. Mapes, Philadelphia VI. 93
"Early Engineering Enterprises in Pennsylvania." —
Dr. Ihlseng VM. 9
3. RELATING TO THE BARRENS, ETC.
"The Traditions Relating to the Barrens of the Lime-
stone Lands of the 'Cumberland Valley, with Spec-
ial Reference to Franklin County." — Mr. Orr III. 18
"The Tradition Concerning Our Limestone Lands" —
Mr. Cooper H. 74
4. RELATING- TO OUR MINERAL WEALTH.
"Franklin County, Past, Present and Future, Geologi-
cally and Mineraloigically Considered." — Colonel
Deming, Harrisburg III. 7
"Topography of Franklin County." — Dr. Ihlseng V. 308
5. EARLY SCHOOL DAYS AND SCHOOLS.
"Early School Girls of the Conococheague." — Mr. Seil-
hamer V. 70
"The Schools of Our Fathers."— Prof. Alexander II. 169
"The Old Academy."— Mr. Cree I. 101
"The Mercersburg Academy." — By Dr. Irvine V. 53
"Colleges of the Cumberland Valley."— Dr. 'Martin VII. 15
Unveiling of Justice McFaiiand Portrait, in Keil Hall,
Mercersburg Academy. Memorial Address by the
Rev. J. G. Rose, D. D VII. 30
6. RELATING TO THE SCOTCH-IRISH |
"The Origin and Early History of the Scotch-Irish." —
Dr. Crawford M.. 5
"Mother Cumberland."— Mr. Seilhamer HI. 141
"A Backward Glance at the Traits, Traditions and
Personality of the Early Scotch-Irish."— Mr. Foltz IV. 9
"Scotch-Irish Occupancy and Exodus." — Judge Stewart II. 14
"An Ancestry Hunt in Ulster."— Mr. Seilhamer III. 156
"Missing Branches of Our Oldest Family." — Mr. Seil-
hamer IV. 171
"Some Missing and Misplaced Ancestors." — Mr. Seil-
hamer • • V. 252
"Old Conococheague Families."— Mr. Seilhamer H. 281
"Contents of a Barrel."— Mr. Seilhamer III. 35
312
Vol.Page
"Scenes and Incidents of the 'Cumberland Valley." —
Mr. Brereton HI. 39
"James McLene, of the Cumberland Valley, in Penn-
sylvania, a Statesman of His Times." — By Benja-
min Matthias Nead, of Harrishurg VI. 31
Unveiling of Dr. Agnew Portrait. Society Guests of
Dr. Irvine, Mercersburg Academy VI 185
"Fanklin County Cousin of Robert Burns."-HBy C. W.
Cremer, Esq., Waynesboro VT. 225
"The Poes of Antrim."— By Thos. C. Van Tries, 'M. D.,
Bellefonte, IPa VH. 43
7. GERMAN SETTLEMENT AND GERMAN INFLUENCE.
"An early Literary 'By-Path Along the Conococheague."
—Mr. Harbaugh m. 197
"The German iSettlemen."— Mr. Seilhamer V. 267
"German Influence in Pennsylvania, with Special Ref-
erence to Franklin County." — 'Mr. Foltz I. 62
"Facts Suggested by German Influence Paper." — Mr.
Cooper I. 84
8. CHAMBER SBURG AND ITS FOUNDERS.
"Tbe Founders of Chambershurg." — 'Mr. Seilhamer... I. 113
"Benjamin Chambers." — Mr. Cooper I. 57
9. THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR.
"Benedict Arnold, Patriot and Traitor." — By Hon.
Charles H. Smiley, New Bloomfield, Pa VI. 9
"Josiah Culbertson, A Patriot." Sketch. Read by Mr.
Mcllvaine VI. 199
10. THE WHISKEY INSURRECTION.
"The Relations that the People of Cumberland and
Franklin Counties Bore to the Whiskey Insurrec-
tion."-^. P. Humrich, Carlisle. Pa IH. 22(1
''General Washington in Franklin County." — Mr. Orr I. 36
11. TRADITIONS OP AX EARLY 'DAY.
"The Doctor Woman of (Southampton Township." — Mr.
Orr • H. 67
"Truths and Traditions of Early Days."— 'Mr. Harbaugh V. 315
"Lewis, the Robber and Outlaw." — Joshua W. Sharpe,
Esq •••••...• II. 49
"The Old Church Yard."— Mr. Maurer I. 5
"A Romance of Cowan's Gap." — 'Mr. Maurer I. 109
313
Vol-Page
"The Rise, Progress and Decline of the 'Ghambersburg
Insurance Co."— Mr. Hutton VOL 101
12. ONE HUNDRED TEARS AGO.
"Manners and Morals One 'Hundred Years Ago."— DDr.
Martin I. 95
"Transitions of a 'Century."— Mr. Foltz II. 259
13. STATESMEN, SOLDIERS AND THEOLOGIANS, ETC.
"Franklin ICounty in State and Nation Building." — Mr.
Nead IV. 148
"James Buchanan, ;15th President of the United
States."— Judge Gillan II. 181
"Dr. Hugh Mercer and Colonel Robert Magaw." — Dr.
Montgomery HI. 85
"The Men of Middle Spring."— Mr. Seilhamer HI. 52
"The Christian Scholar— -Or. Philip Schaff."— -By Mr.
Harbaugh W. 307
"Dr. John Williamson Nevin, the Theologian. "—Rev.
John iC. Bowman, D. D., (Lancaster, Pa IV. 85
"Rev. Dr. E. Elnathan Higbee."— Prof. George F. Moll,
Lancaster, Pa V. 152
"Culbertson Row."— Mr. Or r II. 113
"The Doctors of Franklin County."— Dr. Ramsey VTH. 170
"William Findlay."^Iudge Gillan VEIL 297
"Sons of Franklin County Prominent Elsewhere." —
Mr. Runk VTJJI. 215
"Unveiling of Portrait of John Williamson Nevin.". . . VHT. 238
"John R. Kooken." — Linn Harbaugh, Esq VTH. 13
14. RELATING TO OUR COURTS AND (BAR.
•
"The Story of an Ancient Law Suit."— Mr. Hoerner. . IV. 32
"A Day in the lOourts."— Mr. Hutton VII. 207
"A Lawyer's Nosegay." — Mr. Harbaugh VII. 216
"The Ancient (Law of England."— Judge Gillan VH. 12
"The Judiciary of Franklin County."— -Judge Gillan VH. 55
"Judge Thomas Cooper." — iBy Professor Charles F.
Himes, Ph. D., Carlisle Vn. 122
"Judge Thomas Cooper." (Second Paper.) By Pro-
fessor Charles F. Himes VHT. 9
15. RELATING TO CHURCHES.
"The Episcopal Church in the Cumberland Valley." —
Mr. Collins VI. 46
"The Seventh Day 'Baptists of Snow Hill."— (C. W.
Cremer, Esq., Waynesboro VI. 10
3M
Vol. Page
"Lutheran Church in the Cumberland Valley." — "By the
Rev. €. W. Heathcote, S. T. D VII. 106
"The Church of the United Brethren in Christ."—
I. James Schaff VTII. 142
16. RELATING TO OLD FAMILIES.
"History of the Wilson Family."— Judge Gillan V. 200
"J. Orr & Brothers."— Mr. Orr IV. 52
"Mount Delight."— Mr. McDowell VI. 73
17. EDITORS AND PUBLISHERS.
"John M. Cooper, Journalist and Historian." — Mr. Foltz IV. 191
"A Notable Publication House in Chambersburg, 1835-
''64."— Mr. Foltz V. 183
"Franklin County Newspapers and the Men Who Made
Them." (Hon. M. A. Foltz). By A. Nevin Pomeroy VHT. 27
"Franklin County Newspapers and the Men Who Made
Them."— By M. A. Foltz VIET. 31
18. RELATING TO INSURRECTIONS.
"The Buckshot War.'— Mr.' 'Cooper U. 217
"John iBrown." — James 'P. Matthews, Esq., Washington,
D. C IV. 109
"What I Saw in Charlestown, Va., in December, 1859."
— Mr. Maurer I. 89
"Reminiscences of Captain Cook and William Haze-
lett."— Hiram E. Wertz V. 38
The Dedication of Capt. John E. Cook Marker. Ad-
dress by Benjamin Matthias Nead, of Harrisburg VI. 187
19. REMINISCENCES OF THE CIVIL WAR.
"A Forgotten Battle of the Civil War."— Mr. Harbaugh V. 87
"An Account of Jenkin's Raid." — By a lady of Cham-
bersburg V. 92
Illustrated Lecture — "Stuart's Baid." — Mr. Nead. To
appear in Vol. VIII.
"The Jubilee of Emancipation."— A. J. W. Hutton VTTI. 76
"Military Situation and Burning of Chambersburg." —
Col. M. Gherst VOL 277
20. HISTORIC STREAMS.
"The Falling Spring." — Mr. Maurer II. 210
"Our Mountain 'Streams." — Mr. Maurer II. 304
"The Evolution of a Back Country Fisherman." — Mr.
Nead VII. 186
3i5
Vol.flPage
21. RELATING TO SOME 0>F OUR POETS.
"Some of Our Native Poets." — Mr. Harbaugh TV. 204
"Isabella Oliver, an Early Poetess of the Cumberland
Valley."— Joshua W. Sharpe III. 141
22. VILLAGE: AND TOWNSHIP SKETCHES.
"Fort Loudon." — Rev. James 'M. Mullan, Baltimore, Md. IV. 230
'ISt. Thomas."— iC. M. Deatrich IV. 244
"North Hamilton Township." — C. M. 'Deatrich V. 286
23. RELATING TO' BIBLIOGRAPHY OIF COUNTY.
"Introductory to Franklin County Bibliography." — Mr.
Harbaugh VTC. 90
Partial Report of Committee on Bibliography VET. 57
24. OTHER LOCAL SUBJECTS.
"The Flora and Fauna of Franklin County."— Dr.
Palmer II. 243
"Our Banks." — Mr. Mcllvaine III. 178
"New England and Federal Hills." — Mr. Maurer I. 8
"Personal Pickings from a Political Field." — William I.
Cook, Baltimore, Md V. 119
"Early Grist Mills of Lurgan Township." — Mr. Orr. . . III. 75
"Wagons and Wagoners of 1840." — IB. K. Goodyear,
Esq., 'Carlisle, Pa III. 171
"Arnold Brooks; a Noted Colored Man of Meroers-
burg." — Mr. Harbaugh V. 44
"Decade of Society."— Mr. Foltz V. 388
"A Charming Home" VII. 29
"Underground Railroad."— By H. E. Wertz VII. 100
Reception at Ragged Edge VHL 66
Reception at Elderslie VIH. 6'6
Public Assembly . Illustrated by B. M. Nead, Esq VTII. 67
Sidelights VJII. 70
"Review of the Last Five Years." — By M. A. Foltz VHI. 92
"Municipal Improvements." — By T. J. Brereton VHI. 123
"An Unsung Benefactor."— By C. W. Cremer VIH. 301
"The Great Anniversary Year 1914" VHT. 253
APPENDIX.
Report of Committee on Markers VI'I. 193
A Suggestion for Tablet at Greenwood VII. 197
316
Two of the papers read before the Society by Mr. Seilhamer
were not furnished for publication in the volumes that have appear-
ed, viz:
"Penn's Land Purchases from the Indians" and "In Medias Res
Scripta Est." ("This Writing is in the Midst of Things.")
Also, one each by Mr. Maurer, by Mr. Matthews, Capt. John
Hays of Carlisle, Pa., one by Mr. Smiley, one by Judge Gillan and
others.
In all, over one hundred and thirty papers have been read before
the Society.
3'7
NUMBER OF PAPERS.
WRITERS No. of Papers
Major Chauncey Ives 2
Rev. Ernest V. Collins 2
Thomas J. Brereton S
William S. Hoerner 2
George 0. Seilhamer 16
J. G. Orr 10
Hon. A. Nevin Pomeroy 2
Hon. M. A. Foltz 9
John M. Cooper, Esq 4
Linn Harbaugh, Esq 12
Rev. J. A. Crawford, D.D 1
Hon. John Stewart I 1
Hon. W. (Rush Gillan tf
Hon. B. M. Nead 7
Dr. John Montgomery 1
Dr. John C. Bowman, Lancaster, Pa . 1
Dr. M. C. Ihlseng , 2
The Rev. Dr. S. A. Martin, D.D 3
Joshua W. Sharpe, Esq 2
B. Latrobe Maurer 7
Prof. M. R. Alexander 1
James P. Matthews, Esq 2
James W. Cree 3
The Rev. James M. Mullan 1
C. M. Deatrich, Esq 2
Dr. Charles F. Palmer 1
J. S. Mcllvaine, Esq 2
Robert C. Bair, York, Pa 1
Captain John Hays, Carlisle, Pa 1
C P. Humrich, Carlisle, Pa 1
Prof. George F. Mull, Lancaster, Pa 1
Colonel Deming, Harrisburg, Pa 1
B. K. Goodyear, Carlisle, Pa 1
William I. Cook, Esq., Baltimore, Md 1
€. W. Cremer, Esq., Waynesboro, Pa. 3
Hon. Charles H. Smiley, New Bloomiield, Pa 1
John M. McDowell, Esq I
Hon. Geo. E. Mapes, Philadelphia, Pa 1
A. J. W. Hutton, Esq 3
William Mann Irvine, Ph.D., Mercersburg, Pa 2
The Rev. James Gray Rose, D.D., Mercersburg, Pa. ... 1
Thomas C. Van Tries, M.D., Bellefonte, Pa 1
3i8
WRITERS No. of Papers
H. E. Wertz, Esq B
The Rev. C. W. Heathcote, S.T.D., Philadelphia, Pa. . . 1
Professor Charles F. Himes, Ph.D., Carlisle, Pa. . . . 3
Committee on Markers 1
J. H. Renfrew — (Letter 1
J. James Schaff 1
R. W. Ramsey, M.D 1
John M. Runk 1
Col. M. Gherst 1
137
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