AREA HISTORY: History of Adams County, Chapter XXXVII, Adams County, PA
Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Kathy Francis
Copyright 2005. All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/adams/
_______________________________________________
History of Cumberland and Adams Counties, Pennsylvania
Chicago: Warner, Beers & Co., 1886
_______________________________________________
Part III, History of Adams County, Pages 286-295
CHAPTER XXXVII.
HUNTINGTON TOWNSHIP AND BOROUGH OF YORK SPRINGS.
The streams of this township are Bermudian Creek and Muddy Run. The former
forms the greater part of its western boundary, enters on a southeastern course
near the Kennedy farm, and then flows in a tortuous channel through the southern
part of the township, entering Latimore near the Sulphur Springs. Numerous
small streams flow into the Bermudian, while some of the feeders of Latimore
Creek rise here and flow east or southeast.
The outcrops of Tyrone are also found in Huntington Township; also hornblende
rock, magnetic surface ore, weathered orthofelsite slate, copper rock,
decomposed crypto-crystalline, orthofelsite, chlorite-schist, orthofelsite
porphyry, quartzore schist, greenish crystalline schist and slate rock,
micaceous ore, trap, green chloritic shale limonite, hematite course sandstone,
slate rock, asbestos, quartz, specular iron ore, sandy clay slate, ore slightly
magnetic, in fact, all the rocks native to Latimore show themselves in
Huntington. In January, 1880, a vein of magnetic iron ore was excavated on the
Leer farm a mile and three-quarters northwest of York Springs; also, on the
farms of Peter Stephens, Simpson, Michael Stambaugh and Adam Laren. The Sulphur
Springs of this district possess strong mineral properties.
In 1837 Joseph Smyser employed some workmen to dig a well on his farm about
three miles from York, but while they were at dinner “the bottom fell out,” and
the tools sank down to a depth never discovered.
In 1855 the wooden bridge over Bermudian Creek, on the Gettysburg and Harrisburg
road, was erected by Jonas Rouanzahn for $1,330. Work on the York Springs
branch of the Harrisburg & Potomac Railroad was begun by contractor Michael
McCabe on June 3, 1872.
In Huntington Township, in 1824, the retailers of foreign merchandise, wines and
liquors, were William Gardner and Fahnestock & Bollinger. James Neely was the
constable. The population in 1800 was 1,147; in 1810, 1,104; in 1820, 1,294
including 126 inhabitants of York Springs (Petersburg); in 1830, 1,284; in 1840,
1,482; in 1850, 1,757 (11 colored), including 356 in York Springs (Petersburg);
in 1860, 1,833; in 1870, 1,951, including 356 in York Springs Borough. In 1880
the population of the township was 1,642, and of York Springs 378. The number
of taxpayers (1886) is 520; value of real estate, $515,688; number of horses,
etc., 447; number of cows, etc., 468; value of money at interest, $44,267; value
of trades and professions $12,765; number of pleasure carriages, 150; acres of
timber land, 1,772.
The assessment of the township was made in December, 1798, and January, 1799, by Daniel Funk, Thomas Neely and W. Thompson, and a tax levy of 26 cents per $100 on the total assessment, $147,352, made by George Herman and John Weirman, son of Henry Weirman. The single freeman were taxed $1 each. The letters s. m. denote single free men on the following list:
John Albert, Sr. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $917
John Albert, Jr., s. m. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
John Albert . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,038
Thomas Brandon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,409
Eleazer Brandon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,790
James Brandon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60
Peter Brider (Warrington) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50
Michael Bower, weaver . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 656
John Bale or Beal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Michael Bower . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69
Solomon Bower, s. m. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 795
Adam Bower, tanner, s. m. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,257
Joseph Bower, tanner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60
John Bower . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,278
Isaac Bower, s. m. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Henry Bower . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49
Jacob Bower, mason . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Jonathan Bower, wagon-maker . . . . . . . . . . . . . 828
Sol. Beals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 420
Caleb Beals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,561
Jacob Beals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 632
Jacob Bender . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,037
John Bonner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 897
Templeton Brandon, s. m. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
John Burkolder . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,854
Thomas Bonner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 528
Robert Bonner, wheelwright . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Moses Beals, mason . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 548
Ebenezer Brandon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76
Joseph Boots, Cum co. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 500
Wm. Boots, forgeman . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69
Widow Elizabeth Boyles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Isabella Crafert . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Thomas Cooper . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 714
Robt. Crawford . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
Henry Comfort . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
John Cox . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 816
John Collins . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 679
John Chronister, weaver . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 660
Jacob Comley . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,529
Samuel Comley, s. m. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Rev. Campbell, preacher . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 977
Wm. Cox . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,354
John Cobald . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 150
Wm. Cishader, weaver . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 450
John Crawford, s. m. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Geo. Davis, blacksmith, s. m. . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
Widow Eliza Deal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,206
Joseph Dodds, Sr. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 774
Joseph Dodds, Jr. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 465
Isaac Deardorff . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 600
Jacob Deardorff’s heirs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 910
Elizabeth Deardorff . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,944
Sam’l Deardorff . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59
Jacob Deardorff, s. m. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
Solvanis Day . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 388
Wm. Dunlap (Tyrone) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 312
David Davis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Evan Davis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Geo. Essek . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 697
James Elliott, s. m. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Michael Everhart . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Val. Elliker . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,593
Isaac Everett, Sr. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 728
John Everett . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 745
Isaac Everett, Jr. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54
Abram Fickes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,494
Jacob Fickes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60
Valentine Fickes, Jr. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Valentine Fickes, weaver . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 972
Jacob Flake . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Peter Flake . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 511
John Fickles, miller . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,304
Wm. Fickles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 956
John Fickles, s. m. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
Stephen Foulk . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,443
Dan. Fleak, blacksmith, s. m. . . . . . . . . . . . 50
Val. Fleak . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 536
Barbarah Fleak . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 508
Philip Fishill . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Daniel Funk . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,496
Wm. Gardner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 922
Adam Garder, s. m. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
Thomas Grist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 633
Jacob Grist, weaver . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 389
Peter Groop . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 659
Joseph Grist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 727
David Grist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 550
John Gardner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 374
Isaac Grist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 208
Vincint Gribble, fuller . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79
Philip Groop, Sr. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 527
Philip Groop, Jr. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 543
Geo. Groop, blacksmith, s. m. . . . . . . . . . . . 60
Nicholas Groop, s. m. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Edward Hatton, s. m. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,274
James Hatton, s. m. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Henry Hess . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 516
Isaac Hess . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,104
Geo. Herman . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,644
John How . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Geo. Higas* . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,512
Jacob Higas, s. m. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
John Herman, weaver . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,086
Fred. Hinkle, cordwinder . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58
Christian Hext . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,124
Andrew Hartman . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 373
John Herman, minor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Andrew Hersey . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,246
Jacob Hersey, s. m.* . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Leonard Hatton . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,076
Jacob Jones . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 719
Henry Jones, s. m. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Samuel Kennedy, s. m., cordwinder . . . . . . . . . 60
Fred. King . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 96
John Long . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 400
James Love . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,089
And. Lowback . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 941
John Leave . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,068
Robert Long, merchant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 153
Philip Miller, cordwinder . . . . . . . . . . . . . 835
Bartholomew McCaffery, nailer . . . . . . . . . . . 40
John Myers'. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49
Fred. Myers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
David Montorff, schoolmaster . . . . . . . . . . . .
Geo. Minich, blacksmith . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54
Henry Montorff . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 722
Peter Musginung, tavern . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 482
Peter Myers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,553
Philip Myers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 817
Ludwick Myers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,469
Henry Myers (Reading) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 627
Peter Martin, tailor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 698
John Martin, joiner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50
Levi Miller . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 625
John Montorff, plasterer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100
John Montorff, Sr. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 875
Henry Miller, blacksmith . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 117
Henry Myers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54
Michael Myers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58
John Montorff, Jr. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 109
James Moore, Sr.† . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 713
James Moore, Jr.† . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 388
James Moorhead . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 957
Edward Moorehead, blacksmith . . . . . . . . . . . . 66
John Moorhead . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 216
John Musselman . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 385
John Musselman . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57
Geo. Myers, cordwinder . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 208
Arch. McGraw, Sr. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,102
Wm. McGraw . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 205
John McGraw . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,215
Arch. McGraw, s. m. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Alex. McCarter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
Conrad Montorff . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 269
Ludwig Mull, gunsmith . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 99
McCreary for Fleck’s land . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100
John Mitchell, deceased . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 104
John Neely . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,368
Wm. Neely . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 733
Thomas Neely . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,068
Samuel Neely, s. m. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
John Nickle, joiner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60
Wm. Nickle, shoe-maker . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54
James Nickle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 565
Arthur Nickle, carpenter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55
Jacob Phillips, carpenter . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69
John Proctor, weaver . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 199
Richard Pilkerton, carpenter . . . . . . . . . . . . 153
Vincent Pilkerton . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,439
Thomas Pilkerton, blacksmith . . . . . . . . . . . . 278
John Penrose . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 548
Isaac Person . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 577
Thomas Person . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 149
Elias Person . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 716
John Randles, s. m. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
J. M. Randles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
John Ross . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89
Roof Jacob . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
J. M. Rogers, weaver . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
Geo. Robinett . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,382
James Robinett, s. m. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60
Allen Robinett . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,116
John Ritter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 973
Jacob Raiser, tailor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49
Thomas Robison . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 353
Leonard Shimp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 357
Henry Shriver . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 141
Philip Shafer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
Michael Shinler . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53
Peter Snider, tanner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,505
Jones Sheetz, weaver, s. m. . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
Anthony Sheetz . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Joshua Speakman . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,028
Stephen Speakman . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 253
John Shields . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
John Sanderson, tailor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 109
Alexander Sanderson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,147
Samuel Sanderson, s. m. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Widow Sarah Socks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 666
Burchart Warner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 856
James Willson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 146
James Welsh . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
Ludwig Waltimire, of Cumberland Co. . . . . . . . . 150
Nicholas Weaver . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 653
Henry Ziegler . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,088
John Ziegler, Jr. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79
John Ziegler, Sr. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,378
John Snider, tavern . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 468
Peter Snider, cooper, s. m. . . . . . . . . . . . . 50
Geo. Smith . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,125
Samuel Smith . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 629
Wm. Smith . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Geo. Stiveson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 427
Adam Smith . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 858
Leonard Sidesinger . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 581
Balthasar Smith . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3,866
Geo. Smith, miller . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89
Jacob Smith . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 98
Peter Studebaker, Sr. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 657
Peter Studebaker, Jr., wagon-maker . . . . . . . . . 30
Widow Mary Sadler . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 931
Wm. Sadler, hatter, s. m. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 120
John Sadler, sadler, s. m. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
John Snider, tanner, s. m. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
Jesse Swisher, fuller, s. m. . . . . . . . . . . . . 829
Thomas Thornburgh . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 915
Benj. Tumbleson, cordwinder . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
Joseph Tumbleson, weaver . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
Isaac Towlin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
John Trump . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,755
Michael Trump, joiner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 129
Andrew Thompson, Squire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,322
Matthias Trimmer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,195
Wm. Thompson, s. m. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 769
Moses Vansysc, mason . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,353
Nicholas Wierman, Sr. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,808
Henry Wierman, Sr. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,100
Joseph Worley, tanner. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 484
Nicholas Wierman, Jr. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,207
Wm. Wierman, s. m. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Henry Wierman, s. m. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Wm. Wierman, Sr. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,558
Wm. Wierman, Jr. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 199
John Wierman of Henry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,204
Nicholas Wierman . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 401
Robert Wiley . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,622
Wm. Wierman . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,032
Philip Waggoner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,054
Geo. Willson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 368
Benj. Wierman . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 860
Wm. Wisley . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 453
John Waltenbarger . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Michael Wiean . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91
Stephen Wonder, weaver . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49
Wm. Worley, blacksmith . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59
* One slave of no value.
† Own young slaves.
Huntington Township, through its delegate B. Gardner, voted for adoption of the
school law of 1834, in the convention of November 4, 1834. The State
appropriated $139.75 and the tax was $135.28.
Samuel Brady, born at Shippensburg, Penn., in 1758, moved to this township in
1770 with his parents; five years later joined the riflemen in defending Boston
against the English; was appointed lieutenant of a company in 1776, captain in
1779, and served under Gen. Broadhead in the West. In 1775 or 1778, the
Indians, under Bald Eagle, murdered his brother James, and early in 1779
murdered his father. These murders were fully avenged by the captain whose name is identified with many places in Ohio and Pennsylvania.
On September 22, 1777, Daniel Shelly of Carlisle, himself a prisoner on charges
of treason, made oath before John Agnew and John Creigh that in April, 1777,
Rev. Mr. Batwell, of the Protestant Episcopal Church of Huntington; Dr. Norris,
who lived near Warrington Meeting-house, and one McDonald of Cumberland County,Penn., with others, preached in favor or aiding the English and conspired to destroy the United States posts and stores at Carlisle, York and Lancaster. On
this and other information a mittimus was sent to Maj. James McCalmont (or
McCammont) signed by Justice of Peace James Nailor, ordering the arrest and
imprisonment of Batwell. He was arrested September 24, 1777, petitioned for
release from York County jail in October, and in November, 1777, was removed to
equally safe but more comfortable quarters. John Wilson was ordered to deliver
himself to a justice of the peace by the board of attainder in 1778.
The Gettysburg & Harrisburg Railroad crosses the extreme northwest corner of the township. The post offices are York, Sulphur Springs and Idaville.
YORK SULPHUR SPRINGS.
This place, located within one mile and a half of the borough, dates back to
1790, when explorers, traveling through the Jacob Fickes tract, discovered
several deer-licks leading toward the place, and ultimately came upon the
springs. Buildings were erected by Robert Long and Joseph Worley, grounds were
laid off and the locality became at once a health and pleasure resort. In 1848
Pennington & Baggs, of Baltimore, with Arnold Gardner, manager, became the
owners, from whom the tract passed into the hands of Adam Fisher.
IDAVILLE.
This hamlet, formerly called “Whitestown,” lies near the line of the Gettysburg
& Harrisburg Railroad, in the northwest corner of the township; close by there
is a mission church, of the United Brethren Association, built in 1859; an
Evangelical Church, built in 1850, and cemetery just north. In August, 1885,
Edwin M. Fosse was appointed postmaster here, succeeding Mr. Cline.
BOROUGH OF YORK SPRINGS.
The borough of York Springs is situate on the eastern line of Huntington
Township on the Carlisle and Hanover road, above the Sulphur Springs, on a
branch of Latimore Creek. The village was platted in 1800, and named
Petersburg, in honor of Peter Thick, whose cabin was the first on the ground,
and whose store was the first mercantile venture.
The Hanover and Carlisle pike was built in 1810. In later years the proposed
railroad from New Oxford to Dillsburg, via York Springs, was surveyed by Joseph
S. Gitt, and all the grading done on the Dillsburg end to York Springs.
The number of tax payers in York Springs Borough (1886) is 144; value of real
estate, $106,547; number of horses, etc., 59; of cows, etc., 31; value of moneys
at interest, $63,182; value of trades and professions, $9,805; number of
pleasure carriages, 26; of gold watches, 16; of acres of timber land, 10. The
population in 1880 was 378.
The village of York Springs was incorporated in 1868 and organized January 8,
1869, under the name “York Springs Borough.” The names of the burgesses and
councilmen elected since that time are given below:
1869-J. W. Pearson; J. E. Spangler, J. W. Reitzell, J. L. Worley, H. J. Myers,
T. E. Gardner.
1870-71-John D. Becker; H. C. Peters, H. A. Shuler, J. L. Worley, W. A. Fickel,
J. Stephens, Sr.
1872-J. W. Pearson; J. L. Worley, T. D. Reed, A. Grove, Adam Grove, Emanuel
Burg, A. B. Dill.
1873-Howard J. Myers; H. C. Peters, G. A. Peters, A. B. Dill, J. L. Worley, W.
W. Stewart, J. W. Reitzell.
1874-Howard J. Myers; W. W. Stewart, W. F. Sadler, John Wolford, D. Keilholtz,
Jesse Johns, Abram Grove.
1875-John Wolford; Adam Grove, I. Krall, W. W. Stewart, W. F. Sadler, Emanuel
Brough, George A. Peters.
1876-Henry C. Peters; J. L. Worley, G. W. Reed, W. W. Stewart, H. W. Becker, J.
F. Cline, Dr. Pierson.
1877-Henry C. Peters; Abram Trostel, Dr. D. Miller, W. A. Fickle, W. F. Sadler,
J. T. Myers, R. B. Jacobs.
1878-John T. Myers; A. Trostel, John W. Lay, T. D. Reed, J. F. Cline, Isaac
Krall. Shuler, Brooks and Moorhead, a tie vote in 1878.
1879-Dr. D. Diller; W. A. Fickel, D. Hoopert, C. O. Myers, J. E. Spangler, N. P.
Griest, S. Crooks.
1880-A. C. Gardner; T. D. Reed, J. T. Myers, Dr. Pearson, W. A. Fickel, B. A.
Myers, W. F. Sadler.
1881-John T. Myers; J. W. Reitzell, B. A. Myers, J. G. Lerew, Dr. Pearson, J. J.
Mank, J. E. Spangler.
1882-Dr. D. Diller; H. W. Baker, J. G. Lerew, with Zeigler, Snowden Pearson and
Spangler.
1883-Jaob Kline; B. A. Myers, J. D. Becker, B. W. Zeigler, J. E. Spangler, John
A. Snowden, Dr. Pearson.
1884-M. M. Adams; Trostel and Deardorff (tie), W. F. Sadler; B. W. Zigler, J. F.
Kline, W. W. Stewart, H. J. Myers.
1885-W. A. Fickel; Noah F. Hersh, George W. Griest.
The names of the justices elected since 1869 are John D. Becker, H. W. Becker,
Cyrus G. Beals, J. Gardner, John E. Spangler, H. C. Peters, Cyrus G. Beals, in
1881, and H. C. Peters.
CHURCHES.
The Presbyterian Society of York Springs was organized by Henry R. Wilson, April
14, 1818, and Rev. Hays held services in George Smith’s barn; that society also
attended at Dillsburg. About 1826 the “Academy” was built and then Rev. Wilson
preached occasionally until Mr. Quay arrived. In 1830 Rev. A. B. Quay came here
to reside, and the same year a church was erected on a lot donated by James
McCosh, for church and cemetery purposes. Rev. Quay was succeeded in 1839 by E.
McKinney, and he, in 1841, by J. A. Murray. John Bonner and James Robinette
were the first elders. The Brandons, McBrides, Neelys, Bighams, Mary Toland,
Jane White, Eliza Harper and Anne Godfrey, were among the original members. The pastors of the church, since Mr. Murray’s time, have been Rev. Warner, Paterson, Agnew, Proctor, Wilhelm, Murray, J. Q. A. Fullerton and J. P. Barbour.
The Methodist Episcopal Church was organized here in 1844, when the circuit was
established out of Gettysburg. In September, 1846, the cornerstone of a house
of worship was placed by Rev. Mr. McClintock. The lot was donated by John
Sadler Sr., and William R. Sadler presided over the building, which was
completed August 1, 1847, and used until November 10, 1867, when the present
house was completed and dedicated. This circuit comprises Rock Chapel,
Hunterstown, Bendersville, Wenksville and Pine Grove, and for this reason are
given the names of the pastors who have served here, up to the time of
completing this new church: Revs. John Stine and J. W. Kelly, 1844; D. Hartman,
F. S. Boggs and J. W. Ewing, 1846-46; James Brads, W. M. Minigh, L. Etchison,
1847-48; F. Dyson, W. A. McGee, F. S. Cassaday, 1849-50; J. H. Switzer, H. W.
Bellman, John P. Dean, 1851-52; James R. Dunbarrow, D. S. Monroe, 1853-54; W. Gynn, W. A. Snively, R. E. Wilson, 1855-56; O. Eye, J. C. Stevens, G. W. Dunlap, 1857-58; G. Berktruser, G. W. Heyd, 1859; J. W. McKuhan, J. B. Ackers, 1860; J. F. Porter, C. K. Sumwalt, J. A. Dixon, S. A. Crively, 1862; J. A. Dixon, G. G. Monroe, 1863; W. G. Ferguson, James Muller, 1864-65; J. M. Clarke, J. W. Feight, 1867.
Rock Chapel, near York Springs, was the first Methodist Church built in the
county, having been erected between 1773 and 1776. In 1827 the first quarterly
meeting was held there, with John Bear, presiding elder; Samuel Clark, preacher,
and George Hildt, junior preacher. Prior to the building of the church,
itinerant preachers visited at Philip Group’s house, a half-mile east of the
church, at his scythe factory where the Heikes’ woolen-mill now stands. In 1849
a new church was erected here by Rev. Mr. Dyson.
York Springs Chapel of the United Brethren Association may be said to date back
to 1859. In 1875 the society purchased the Myers Schoolhouse, fitted it up as a
house of worship, and to-day it forms one of the leading societies of the
denomination in the county.
The Dunkard or German Baptist Meeting-house at Trostel’s mill is one of the old
churches of the society in the eastern part of the county, antedating Rev. Adam
Brown’s church at Hampton. Mr. Brown is also the minister of this congregation.
The United Brethren Church, near Idaville, is a modern mission of the church in
Adams County, as related in the sketch of Idaville.
Huntington Lutheran Church was established in May and organized on June 26,
1831. The first elders were Jacob Gardner, Sr., and Christian Picking, with
Thomas, John and William Gardner, deacons. On August 21, 1836, the corner-stone
of their first church was placed by the two elders and Henry Bittinger and Dr.
D. Sheffer, who formed the building committee; Rev. D. Gottwald, the organizing
preacher, presided. The church lot and cemetery were purchased from Jacob
Gardner, Sr. On June 4, 1837, the dedication took place. In August, 1838, Dr.
Gottwald retired. Rev. C. Weyle came in December, 1839; Rev. John Ulrich, in
March, 1843; Rev. Jacob Martin, in 1855; Rev. P. Raby, 1859; Rev. D. M.
Blackwelder, 1864; then S. A. R. Francis, J. B. Anthony, S. A. Hedges, 1872; and
Rev. J. W. Breitenbach, 1877.
Christ Protestant Episcopal Church dates back to 1756, for in that year Rev.
Thomas Barton arrived here from England, and in 1758, with Revs. Craddock,
Lischey and Bay, entered at once on preaching the crusade against the French and
the duty of winning over the Indians.* About 1755 a church was erected on the
“Glebe,” sixty acres, donated by the Penns, and in 1765 a lottery was held to
raise £3,003 15s to repair this building. About 1760 Rev. William Thompson took
charge, and he was succeeded about 1772 by Daniel Batwell, of whose history
something is said in that of the township. After the Revolution the church was
visited at long intervals by traveling preachers, especially Rev. John Andrews.
From 1784 to 1804 John Campbell was the missionary; then came George Woodruff.
In 1823 came Rev. Charles Marsden. The old dilapidated building was taken down
in 1836, and only the ancient burial ground marks its site.
Christ Church Chapel, the successor of “Christ Church, Huntington,” was built in
1836 on a lot donated by Thomas Stephens, Sr., during the pastorate of Rev.
Marsden. The ministers since Dr. Marsden’s time are named as follows: Freeman,
Lane, Ed Kennedy, J. H. H. Millett, John Reynolds, H. L. Phillips, Rev. A. G.
Tortat and the present pastor.
* Vide letters of Peter to Stevenson, May 3, 1758. Colonial Documents.
SCHOOLS.
The first schoolhouse was erected in 1797-98, in which David Montorff presided.
In 1826 Jacob Gardner and Thomas Stephens donated a lot for a building suited to
school, church and general meeting purposes, and the same year this was built
and styled the “Petersburg Academy.” The Female Seminary of York Springs was
established by Miss C. J. Reynolds, in 1847. The union or graded school
building was erected in 1856.
SOCIETIES.
Hebron Lodge, No. 465, F. & A. M., was organized March 21, 1870, with H. C.
Peters, Dr. I. W. Pearson, H. A. Sheeler, C. G. Beales, J. L. Worley, Jonathan
Miller, F. N. W. Bowers, T. E. Gardner and A. K. Myers, charter members. The
first six members named have served as Worshipful Masters of the lodge, also C.
E. Myers, J. F. Peters, H. P. Marks and A. K. Myers. J. L. Worley was secretary
from 1870 to 1875, and also in 1876-77; J. F. Peters, in 1875-76, and I. W.
Pearson, 1878-86. There are forty members.
York Springs Lodge, No. 211, I. O. O. F., was organized December 25, 1846, with
H. C. Metcalf, John Lehman, I. W. Pearson, James M. McGaughey and Jesse Johns,
members. The Past Grands of this lodge number seventy-three. Dr. I. W. Pearson
is the present Noble Grand and the only survivor of all the charter members.
John F. Peters is Secretary. The membership is thirty-three and value of
property $1,800. Lincoln Encampment No. 142, I. O. O. F., was organized here
some years ago.
The York Springs Building Association was organized February 1, 1868, with Henry
C. Peters, president.
York Springs Soldier’s Relief Society was organized July 7, 1862, with Mrs. E.
B. Kettlewell, president, and Miss Alice Myers, secretary. Among the active
members were Madames J. D. Becker, H. C. Peters, Jesse Johns, Jacob Gardner,
Jr., Charles Wharton, Jr., Alexander Koser, J. G. Pfeiffer, J. A. Zeigler, Abram
Zeigler, C. Moul and Susan E. Neely. The young ladies were Misses Ellen
Stewart, S. J. Gardner, M. C. Sheffer, Me. E. Hiteshew, M. Johns, M. D. Myers,
Clara Wolford, Helen Deardorff, Anna Megary, Mary Sadler, Margaret Sadler, Mary
Brandon, Mary Metcalfe and Rebecca Gardner.
MISCELLANEOUS.
In 1875 there were four members living of the three companies-White’s,
McMullen’s and Sturgeon’s-who marched from Adams County to the Canadian frontier
in 1814. Their names are Maj. Jacob Sanders, of Straban, and Daniel Benner, of
Straban (since deceased); Benjamin Gardner, York Springs, David Ziegler, of
Whitestown, now Idaville. Lieut. Bull or Ball fell into the hands of the
British at Chippewa Falls, and was cut up and scalped; Maj. Galloway, of
Gettysburg, and Capt. White were exchanged when the Americans promised
retaliation for all murders.
In April, 1861, Leander W. Welsh, Francis N. Greaves, Henry A. Naylor and
Augustus A. Welsh, of York Springs, Huntington Township, responded to the first
call for troops, and were mustered in with Company E, Second Regiment
Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry.
Daniel Sheffer, supposed to be the last of the original subscribers to the
Compiler in 1818, died February 16, 1880, at York Springs, aged about ninety-
seven years.
The old slave, Patience Hack or “old Tacey,” died at York Springs November 4,
1858, aged about one hundred years. For years she was cared for by Thomas
Stephens’ family.
The early tradesmen and manufacturers of this settlement and township are named
in the original assessment roll. A few, however, a little more modern, but
still old, are noticed here. The distillery, grist-mill and saw-mill of Samuel
White, in Huntington Township were offered for sale in January, 1819. The Good
Intent Woolen Factory operated in 1847 by Jacob A. Myers, on Bermudian Creek,
near York Springs, was a large industry. Chestnut Grove Iron Works, formerly
owned by J. R. Group & Co., were purchased in July, 1880, by Markley, Weitzel,
Reck & Co., of Reading.
