Miscellaneous Newspaper Articles From the Past
Franklin County Pennsylvania
Mad Dog Threatens Community
The Centinel (Gettysburg, Pennsylvania), September 11, 1811
Mad Dog
On Sunday the 18th instant a dog belonging to Daniel Rhea went mad and bit a Negro boy belonging to Mr. Parks and several cattle and hogs belonging to different people in the neighborhood. On the evening of the 19th he came to the town of Mercerburg and bit a number of dogs in said place. On Tuesday the 26th, a number of the citizens with arms, sallied forth against the poor curs and in less than 8 hours killed forty-five. On Wednesday the 21st they killed twenty more and wounded one which fled for refuge to the borough of Hagerstown. On Sunday the 25th three more were killed in a real state of madness. Numbers are killed daily in the neighborhood.
Mercersburg, Aug. 29, 1811
Manufacturers of Franklin County
The Centinel (Gettysburg, Pennsylvania), September 6, 1809
MANUFACTURES
From the Franklin Republican
As the legislature of our country have requested information to be collected respecting the manufacturing of our raw materials into useful necessaries, where by the great importation from Europe may be abridged, and as I consider it the duty of every manufacturing citizen to step forward and give every information which he may possess, relative to the points above stated, I conceive it may not be intruding on the patience of your readers to give a brief sketch of the cotton manufactory, as it is now established in Shippensburg.
In the year 1803, the first machinery was erected for the purpose of carding and spinning cotton yarn, which was applied to the fabrication of Bedticking, fastians, coverlids and other strong heavy goods. The establishment comprised one carding machine and one spinning machine of 54 spindles. Notwithstanding the very low price of British goods, want of capital and every other disadvantage, the business gradually extended itself, and new establishments have been formed. At present this place and its vicinity contains 3 wool and 4 cotton carding machines and 557 spindles, which on a moderate calculation will average 83 dozen or 44 lbs of yarn per day. Thus far the operations are carried on without robbing agriculture and commerce of one useful hand, for none but woman and children are employed. The raw material is increased in value by those operations 220 percent, and after all wages, useful repairs and common expenses are paid, there will be a net profit of from 90 to 120 percent, on the capital employed. You will perceive by this statement of lasts the impropriety of the remarks of some gentlemen in congress, that direct encouragement by protection duties or restraints of commerce would be raising a new and unnecessary order of men in this. Manufacturing of cotton already furnishes better wages than the same hands could earn in any other employment, exclusive of the advantage derived to our country, of making an annual saving of from nine to twelve thousand dollars, which without this establishement, would certainly be lost to the United States.
A Curious Observer.
William Maxwell New States Attorney
The Centinel (Gettysburg, Pennsylvania), April 12, 1809
William Maxwell, Esq., is appointed to conduct the State prosecution for Franklin county.
Republican Compiler (Gettysburg, Pennsylvania)
December 27 1820
The noted Plymert, who twice made his escape from the Pittsburg jail, has been taken up in this city, and safely lodged in prison - Franklin Gazette
Gettysburg Compiler (Gettysburg, Pennsylvania)
January 23 1822
Page 1
Chambersburg, Jan. 1
A Large Hog – Mr. Benjamin Winters, one of the victuallers of this Borough,
killed a hog on Wednesday last, of his own fattening, which weighed when
dressed, six hundred and thirty-seven pounds - Repos.
Republican Compiler (Gettysburg, Pennsylvania)
February 26 1823 Page 5
Chambersburg, Feb. 13
Fatal Accident
The horses of a wagoner took fright on the road between this place and Campbellstown on Friday last, and run off. A young man by the name of Free, galloped before to stop them, when he was run over and instantly killed. The wagoner was dragged by one of the wheels, 30 or 40 rods, had severeal of his ribs broken, and otherwise materially injured, but, it is supposed, will recover. - Repub.
Republican Compiler (Gettysburg, Pennsylvania)
April 2 1823 Page 4
From the Franklin Republican
On Wednesday the 28th of February, a man by the name of John Thomson, a carpenter, left his dwelling near Lance's Quarry, with the intention of going to Bann's Sawmill, situate in the South Mountain, nearly opposite Shippensburg, and returning again at night. Not returning, little uneasiness was felt, as his connexions supposed he had fallen to work expecting he would surely be home on Sabbath. His friends on his not arriving on that day, began to fear he had perished in the Mountains. On Monday some of the neighbors went to Bunn's Sawmill, but he had not been there nor at Shippensburg; a search was then concluded on, and on Tuesday 15 or 16 Horsemen took his track, and after traversing the Mountains in different directions, perhaps the distance of 15 or 20 miles, found him dead on the head waters of the Conococheaugue, about 2 miles above Cobean's Sawmill. It appeared evident from his track, which was followed the whole route, that he got bewildered within about half a mile of Bunn's sawmill, as he then took a direction which led him further into the mountains. It would seem also, that when he first arrived at Conococheague he knew where he was, as he then took a direct course homeward fro about one mile, when it is supposed night came on. He then went on in a circular direction until he arrived at the Conocheague again, not far from the place where he left it, and near where he was found. He never halted in his whole route till within the last half mile, and then he lay down often, and always bent down the ground oak bushes with leaves to lie on; an evidence that he retained his senses to the last. He appears evidently to have went on as long as he was able, and considering the route he went, through snow from 15 to 18 inches deep, and very soft, over very rough mountains, few men would have went so far. He has left four small children to deplore his loss.
Republican Compiler (Gettysburg, Pennsylvania)
April 9 1823 Page 3
On Sunday morning, 30th ult, such was the violence of the storm, that as one of the coaches belonging to the Union Line, between this city and N. York, was coming on from New Brunswick to Kingston, a tree fell on it, crushed the body of the carriage, killed Mr. Burslem, late of the Circus, and injured Mr. McClellan, a brother of Dr. M'Clellan, and two other persons. - Frank. Gaz.
Mr. Colhoun Did Not Win Lottery
Republican Compiler (Gettysburg, Pennsylvania) July 20, 1825
Mr. Colhoun of Chambersburg was not the holder of one-fourth of the ticket which drew the capital prize in the late Lottery, as stated in our last. It had been sold by him to a club of seven persons in that borough. A prize of $500 and several of smaller amount were also drawn there. The Sunbury Gazetteer says to that Capt. Henry Frick, Editor of the Miltonian and a young gentleman of the borough of Milton, drew the eighth of the $50,000.
Oil Creek Furnace a Success
Republican Compiler (Gettysburg, Pennsylvania) August 27 1825
Franklin, Pa., July 16
Oil Creek Furnace
On Thursday morning last, this Furnace ran her first bed of pig metal and we are happy to state has exceeded the most sanguine expectations of those concerned in the undertaking. We have seen a piece of the metal and for its purity and beauty of texture it is equal to any and inferior to none in this or any other state in the union. The success of the industrious and enterprising proprietors of this establishment will we hope, be a sufficient inducement for other capitalists to venture in erecting furnaces and forges to disenbowed the earth of its immense treasure in this valuable mineral with which our country abounds. - Democrat.
Garret Vanersdallen Travels 24 1/2 miles in less than 4 hours
Republican Compiler (Gettysburg, Pennsylvania) October 5, 1825
On Tuesday morning of last week, Mr. Garret Vanersdallen of this town left the "Light house," at Chamberburg "precisely at 6 o'clock, A.M. (says the Centinel) and arrived at the Courthouse in this place at 14 minutes before 10, A.M. on foot, thus travelling 24 ½ miles, over the South Mountain in 3 hours and 46 minutes.
B.A. Fanestock Raises Excellent Tea
Republican Compiler (Gettysburg, Pennsylvania) November 23, 1825
Chambersburg, Nov. 15
American Tea
We last week saw at the Drug Store of Mr. B. A. Fahnestock, in this borough, tow specimens of Tea, raised and manufactured in the neighborhood of Mercersburg, in this county by Mr. Swigart. We are no judges of the quality of the article, but in appearance one of the specimens is not inferior, in our opinion to middle priced East India Tea. It was, we understand, raised from seed fund in a box of imported tea. Mr. S. has left at the store, with his specimens, several small parcels of seed for sale, and it is hoped that the opportunity of testing the cultivation of this important plant, in our climate, will be embraced. - Repository
McClintock and Faber's Paper Cutter
Republican Compiler (Gettysburg, Pennsylvania) January 11, 1826
Washington, Dec. 19
We had an opportunity on Saturday of seeing a model of a most ingenious machine invented by John M'Clintock and George Faber of Chambersburg, Penn for cutting paper on the edges. It is called by them the Vertical Paper Cutter and it certainly performs in a neat and dexterous manner the operation for which it is constructed. A patent is taken out for it and as it unquestionably deserves the preference over any other machine now in use for the same purpose, it is probable that it will come into extensive use. The inventors will soon commence building machines according to their model. - Nat. Intel.
Edward Hughes Critically Injured by Explosion
Republican Compiler (Gettysburg, Pennsylvania) June 14, 1826
Hagerstown, June 6.
Distressing Accident
On Thursday last, Edward Hughes, a young man in the employ of Mr. Jas. Lloyd, was very seriously injured in a stone quarry in the vicinity of this town. It seems that he bored and loaded a hole but could not succeed in making a blast. He then, unfortunately indeed, undertook to re-bore the hole and whilst in the act the powder exploded and dreadful to relate, one eye is entirely gone and very little hopes are entertained of saving the other; besides his face and limbs are also much mangled. This unfortunate young man was industrious and temperate and has a poor widowed mother, living at Chambersburg, with whom he shared his hard earnings. - Herald.
John Hutchinson Severely Injured
Republican Compiler (Gettysburg, Pennsylvania September 20, 1826
Chambersburg, Sept. 13
Distressing Accident
On the 16th ult., Mr. John Hutchison of this place, while engaged at a patent threshing machine which he had erected in Virginia, by some mishap and his foot drawn into the part of the machine where the grain is deposited and in an instant the greater part of it was torn off, which rendered amputation necessary above the ankle. Mr. H. has a family dependent upon his industry for support, which, it is hoped, will induce an efficient manifestation of sympathy of the part of his fellow citizens. - Republican.
Fayetteville Post Office Established
Republican Compiler (Gettysburg, Pennsylvania November 8, 1826
New Post Office
A Post office has recently been established at Darby's (late Eby's) Mill on the turnpike between this place and the South Mountain of which Mr. Darby is appointed P.M. The place where this office is established is now called Fayetteville. - Franklin Repository
Mrs. Agnes Hewitt's Sewing Silk
Republican Compiler (Gettysburg, Pennsylvania), June 27, 1827
At our two last annual Cattle Shows, a number of skeins of Sewing Silk, of various colours, grown and manufactured by Mrs. Agnes Hewitt, of this county, were exhibited, of as fine and substantial a quality as any to be procured in the stores; and the same Lady manufactured last year upwards of 100 skeins of such silk - she has had for some years a number of flourishing Mulberry trees planted out, and her son this season sowed several pound of seed with a view of raising the tree for sale.
Through the patriotism and liberality of Mr. St. C. Clarke, Esq., of Washington City, there has been distributed from this office small parcels of the seed of the white mulberry, to between 20 and 30 different persons this spring. Mr. Clarke also procured and planted on his farm, in this county, about 500 young mulberry trees; and furnished his sister, Mrs. Young, with several thousand eggs of the Silk Worm, who is now paying the most laudable attention to the worms and will make this season a considerable quantity of silk.
Add in addition to the above forward establishments, a number of other citizens have procured more or less of the Silk Worms and are now acquiring a knowledge of their habits and management. That these efforts and experiments, will essentially aid in finally rendering US "a silk growing nation," we have every confidence. - Franklin Repository
Agricultural Society Meeting and Awards
Republican Compiler (Gettysburg, Pennsylvania), June 27, 1827
Agricultural Society
The 7th annual meeting of the Society for the promotion of Agriculture and Domestic Manufactures in Franklin county was held at Chambersburg on Tuesday the 5th inst.
The President and Directors of the society regret to state, that on this occasion there has been very little evidence furnished of any improvement whatever in any branch of agriculture. Indeed, with a single exception, it would seem that last year no crop of Grain or Grass of any sort was raised in the county worthy of being reported to the Society. Can it be that the fault is in the farmer? - Our lands are as fine as any in the state and we believe our farmers as industrious; the fault then must be in the manner of cultivation. This is the very thing to be improved by the interchange of opinions and a knowledge of facts to be obtained through the society. It would, therefore, be as important that our farmers should inform us what had been their mode of farming in cases where the crop failed, as where it succeeded. By this information has never been communicated. It seems the Hessian fly is taking a very undue share of our wheat this year. Would it not be highly useful to obtain from the farmers a particular account of the tillage of land, where the fly has consumed the crop and of that where least injury is done? No pains should be spared to resist and destroy this terrible enemy.
The only crop presented to the Society for notice, was one of hemp, raised by Capt. Joseph Grubb, cultivated as follows: On three acres of limestone land, in Sept. 1825, he put about 75 loads of stable manure - in October in ploughed it down - about the first of May, 1826, after ploughing, &c. he sewed on the ground 4 ½ bushels of Hemp seed [which he thinks was too thick.] The hemp was pulled in due season and laid down in Nov. for dew rotting, and taken up in March. He is of opinion that putting the hemp down in September and taking it up in January would make it work better and probably otherwise improve it. The crop so raised produced 22 hundred weight of hemp, which he sold at his own house for $9 per 100 lbs., amounting to $198. W. Slyder, the purchaser, pronounced it of the best quality. Captain Grubb does not estimate the whole of the expense of this crop above $45. The board have been thus particular in reporting this crop, for the purpose of turning the attention of the farmers to the article of HEMP, a great quantity of which is annually imported into the United States from other countries. It may be observed that last year was very unfavorable and yet the above crop yielded a profit to the cultivator ten times greater than wheat. There are thousands of acres in this county which, with a little care, would produce good Hemp; and is it not bad policy to import and pay for a raw material which can be so easily raised at home?
In the exhibition of Horses & Cattle, the board is sorry to say that few animals appeared to be worthy of particular notice - indeed with the exception of Mr. Heyser's and Mr. Snider's bulls, which are of a very improved and valuable breed, (the Holstein) no animals exhibited were considered entitled to premiums. More attention ought to be paid by our farmers to their stock, for they will find it the principal source of profit.
Some good specimens of Sheep were exhibited by Mr. Keyser, Mr. Riddle and Mr. Duncan. No dout many others possess good sheep and they ought not to be discouraged for the time is fast approaching when we shall declare independence of foreign countries in the article of wool and woolen goods. We want only factories and skillful workmen. The latter we are getting for starvation in Europe must move them to this place of peace and plenty. The former will enter under the fostering car of Government. Therefore let the famers take care of their sheep.
The premiums awarded were
To Joseph Grubb, for the best Hemp, $10.
Jason Heyser, best Bull $30
Jason Snider 2d, Bull $5
Benjamin Keyser, best sheep $5
In the class of Domestic Manufacturers, the Board remarked, as they have heretofore done, that the female part of the community exhibited a laudable emulation to industry and skill, and that from anything we can see, much more may be expected from their enterprise than is found among the men. Already have they entered on the arduous task of rearing and managing the Silkworm. In Greencastle and other parts of the country, this business, under the patient attention of females, is beginning to assume an appearance of profitable success. It is a matter entitled to encouragement and protection.
To Mrs. Hewett, near Middleburg, was awarded a premium of $10 for her specimens of Silk, which appeared to be of an excellent quality.
To Wm. Davis, for best Carpet, $5
Jane Myarmond (dyer) Spangler (weaver) 2d best carpet $2.50
Mrs. Hugh Brotherton, best Flannel $5
Wm. Davis, 2d best flannel $2.50
Mrs. Nixon, best worsted Hose $1
Miss A. Durborrow, cotton hose $1
Mr. John Shugert and Mr. Jacob Barrick, each a premium of $5 for their superior Currying Knives
Mr. John M'Clintick, for his admirable invention of the Lever Paper Cutter $10
Mr. Absolom Stewart of Greencastle, exhibited a patent family Spinning Machine, which, from the observation of the Board, appears to promise much saving of labor, in the manufacture of woolen yarn and is worthy of public attention.
James Riddle, Pres't
Attest - T. G. M'Culloh, Sec'ry.
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