The History of Lebanon County PA
Taken From the History of the counties of Berks and Lebanon : Rupp,
I. Daniel. Lancaster, Pa.. G. Hills. 1844.
Pages 354-360
Annville Township
Annville township was formed out of part of Londonderry and Lebanon. It is bounded on the north-east by East Hanover township; east by Lebanon; south and west by Londonderry. It contains nearly twenty-two thousand acres of land, principally level, and of the best limestone quality, and highly improved. Some portion of it is gravel. Some of the finest and best improved farms in the county, are to be met with in this township. Many firm substantial farm houses and barns, principally of stone, indicative of wealth and taste, can be seen as one passes along the public roads. Some old tile-covered houses are still to be seen.
This township is well supplied with streams of water, which afford abundance of water power for mills, &c. The Swatara forms the boundary on the north; the Quitapohila flows through the township, and receives, in its course, Killinger's run. There is a forge on the Quitopahila - Meadow run is the name of another small stream in this township.
In 1840 it contained one fulling mill, one woolen factory, eight grist mills, five saw mills, one oil mill, one distillery, and eleven stores. Population in 1830, 2,736; in 1840, 2,649; average tax valuation of 1844 $916,937 00; county tax $1,373 98.
The Harrisburg and Reading turnpike passes through this township - Millerstown is on it.
Millerstown - this place was formerly called "Annville", and was laid out by Messrs. Riegel and Ulrich. It is handsomely situated, and is a flourishing village on the Quitophalila. It contains about one hundred and twenty houses, four or five stores, and the same number of taverns and the usual handicrafts. Several schools - one public school - and an academy, are in successful operation. It contains several churches.
The names of the first settlers are given when speaking of Lebanon and Londonderry townships.
It was at this place - Rev. Dr. Dady - the noted imposter, first commenced, by aid of his fascinating cloquence, to gull the honest Germans. To show what may be done among a people believing in implicitly - "men untried", - that place is given to the following. A wholesome lesson may be deduced from it. When he failed, he tried another region, more genial to his purposes. (Skipped section on Dr. Dady pages 355-359)
Millerstown
To return again to the vicinity of Millerstown. About one mile north-east from Millerstown, the first public house, in this region of country, was kept by the grandfather of Adam Ulrich, the present occupant. Mr. Ulrich also kept a small store, and traded with the Indians, many of whom staid weeks with him. Mr. Adam Ulrich's father, when a boy, frequently sported and played with the Indians, in the thickets. It appears there was a burying ground near Ulrich's house.
One evening about the year 1756 or '57, Mr. Adam Ulrich's father, and grandfather, were feeding their cattle, when they were surprised by the Indians, but fortunately escaped and eluded the pursuit of them; whereupon, the Indians killed all the cattle, by cutting out their tongues. This happened on the farm now owned by Mr. Shenk.
During the late war of 1812, when a praiseworthy spirit pervaded community to resist British encroachments, and also to establish manufactories to manufacture goods for our own consumption, several wealthy gentlemen of Lancaster county, headed by the enterprising Mr. Hentzelman, erected an extensive cotton and woolen factory, a few miles from Millerstown, at the enormous expense of $96,000 - and for some time carried on business with success, but owing to the ruinous policy of not protecting American industry - opening our ports wide for foreign manufactures, they failed. Their goods were considered equal in quality to any manufactured in the country.
Free foreign importations - either of British goods, or British paupers - will eventually ruin the whole country. Our country should be protected against both, by wholesome restrictions. Our policy is too liberal. It is mis-directed charity, to open our ports for foreign goods, and foreign paupers, without salutary restrictions!!
Jackson Township
Jackson township - this township was originally embraced by Heidelberg an Bethel townships, to which the reader is referred for the names of some of the first settlers, a few of whom had come from Schoharie, in New York, others emigrated directly from Europe. This part of the county was embraced, in what is so well known, in the early history of Pennsylvania, as the Tulpehocken settlement, or as the name is written in the Provincial Records, Turpyhocken. It was through this region, that the Indians had their common course, in carrying their furs and skins from the west to the east, as may be learned from a proposal made by William Penn, in 1690, for a second settlement in the province of Pennsylvania. He says: - "it is now my purpose to make another settlement upon the river Susquehannah, that runs into the Bay of Chesapeake, and lies about fifty miles west from the Delaware, as appears by the common maps of the English dominions in America. There I design to lay out a plan for the building of another city, in the most convenient place for communication with the former plantation on the east, which by land is as good as some already, a way being laid out between the two rivers very exactly and conveniently at least three years ago, and what will not be hard to do by water, by the benefit of the river Scoulkill; for a branch of that river lies near a branch that runs into the Suquehannagh river, and is the common course of the Indians with their skins and furrs in our parts, and to the province of east and wes New Jersey, and New York, form the west and north-east parts of the continent from which they bring them."
The Honorable John Evans, Esq., Lieut. Governor of the Province of Pennsylvania, passed from the Susquehanna, through here on his way to Philadelphia, in July, 1707, as may be seen from the following extract from his journal.
"The Governor, with Messrs, John French, William Tonge, Mitchel Bezaillion, and one Grey, and four servants, set out from New Castle, the 27th of June, and the next morning arrived at Otteraroe, &c."
"On Tuesday, 1st July, we went to Conestoga, and lay there that night, and the next morning proceeded on our journey, and arrived in the Evening within 3 miles of an Indian Village, called Peixtan. The Govr., had received informations at Pequehan, that one Nicole, a French Indian Trader, was at that place, agst, whom great Complaints had been made to the Govr., of which he acquainted the Chief Indian of Peixtan, as also of his design to seize him; who willingly agreed to it, but advised the Govr., to be very cautious in the manner; there being only young People at home, who perhaps might make some Resistance, if it were done without their first being told of it; for this reason we lay short of the Village that night; but Early in the morning we went within half a mile of the Town & leaving our horses, march'd a foot nearer the same; from whence the Govr., sent Martine to the Village; Ordering him to tell Nicole that he had brought 2 Caggs of Rum with him, which he had left in the woods, for fear any Christians were there; and withal to perswade Nicole to go with him and taste the Rum. Martine returned with James Letort, & Joseph Jassop, 2 Indian Traders but could not prevail with Nicole; upon this, Martine was sent back with Orders to bring down some of the Indians, and Nicole with them; then we drew nearer the Town, and laid ourselves in the bushes, and Martine returned with 2 Indians, whom the Govr., acquainted with his intent of taking Nicole, telling at the same time, he had spoken with to the Uncle of one of them upon that head, who ordered the Indians to submit to the Govrs. Commands, with which they were contented, tho' we perceived too well the contrary, by their inquiring how many we were, and how armed; and by the Concern they seemed to be in, when they found we were more men in number than they; but still Nicole was wanting; it was therefore Resolved to try once more if he could be got into the woods, accordingly Martine went again, and brought Nicole to the place where we lay concealed, and asking him to Drink a dram, he seized him, but Nicole started from him and run for it, when immediately we started out and took him, and presently carried him to the Village (thro' which we were obliged to pass,) and there found some Indians with Guns in their hands, who lookt much displeased at what we had done, but we being in a readiness against any surprise, they thought it not fit to attempt any thing; here we stayed about half a hour, and then parted for Turpyhocken; having mounted Nicole upon a horse, and tied his legs under the Belly; we got within a mile of Turyphocken about 2 of ye Clock, on fryday morning, and about 7 the Govr., went to the town, from thence we went to Manataway that night, & the next day to Philadelphia.
During the French and Indian war, from 1755 to 1760, the inhabitants of this township, in common with many others, were repeatedly alarmed by the Indians. Several murders were committed by them with the borders of this township. On one occasion many of the inhabitants of this and adjacent townships, met at the house of Benjamin Spycker's near the present site of Stouchstown. There a company consisting of rising of three hundred men, went in pursuit of the Indians, most of them well armed, though about twenty of them, had nothing but axes and pitchforks - all unanimously agreed to die together, and engage the enemy, wherever they should meet them. This happened in October 1755.
In this, as well as other townships, there were several block houses, or forts, to which, in cases of emergency, the inhabitants would flee. There was one - we were informed by Mr. Breitenbach, on the farm now owned by him - a short distance east of Myerstown.
Philip Breitenbach, the father of Mr. Breitenbach mentioned above, came from Germany - in 1754 he purchased the tract of land on which a fort was afterwards erected, from Martin Noacker. Philip Breitenbach was wont, on many occasions of alarm, to take his drum and beat on an eminence near his house, to collect the neighbors from work, into the fort. On one occasion, the Indians pursued them close to the house, when one of the inmates took up a gun, and shot the Indian dead on the spot.
Jackson township is bounded on the north-east by Berks county - on the south by Heidelberg township; and on the west by South and North Lebanon, and Bethel townships; and contains nearly fifteen thousand acres of first rate land - limestone soil, and the surface is generally very level. The improvements are very firm. Buildings are - many of stone - large and commodious.
The township is crossed by both the Reading and Harrisburg turnpike, and Union Canal. Tulpehocken creek, and the Swatara, are the principal streams, affording water power for mills, &c. In 1840, this township contained three grist mills, one saw mill, two tanneries, two distilleries, four stores, and two lumber yards. Population in 1830, 2,120; in 1840, 2,508. Average tax valuation for 1840, $1,031,326; county tax $2,546 99.
Myerstown
Myerstown, on the Reading and Harrisburg turnpike, seven miles east from the town of Lebanon, was laid out by Isaac Myers about seventy-five years ago. The locality is quite a pleasant one. The country around it is certainly not surpassed by any in the State, for fertility of soil.
The town has been much improved within the last twenty years. It contains several fine buildings, among others, the Lutheran church, built in 1812, which, in its way, makes a "modest" appearance. All the useful branches are taught here - with what success, it has not been stated to the writer. It is supplied with a School Library. This is a good feature in the general plan.
The Evangelical Association is erecting a house for public worship here. Sunday schools, and other schools are pretty well attended. The population exceeds 700 souls. Some three or four buildings are being put up at present.
Union Township
Union township has been erected within a few years, out of the contiguous townships. It has East Hanover on the west, and Swatara township on the east. The Big Swatara creek is its principal stream.
Fort Smith, it is believed, was in this part of the country, within the limits of Union township. Not a few seem to think, each of them has the honor of having it perpetuated, that Fort Smith was on his farm. Some with whom we have conversed, locate it at Union Forge. An intelligent gentleman, Jacob Weidler, Esq., in a communication of Feb. 13, 1844, says: - "The following facts I obtained from Mr. Daniel Musser, who is nearly seventy years old. He suggests that there may probably be an error to locate Forst Smith, were Union Forge is. Mr. Musser's maternal grandfather, Peter Haydrich, who emigrated from Germany and located, previous to 1738, about three-fourths of a mile due north from this place, it appears, owned the place on which Fort Smith was erected. My informant says, he knows that a fort had been erected on his grandfather's farm, to which, in great emergencies, the neighbors fled for safety.
The persons whom Mr. Musser remembers of having heard of that resided in this township, as old settlers, were Mr. Noacre or Noecker, who was shot dead in his field while ploughing on the farm now owned by John Zehring. He says that one Philip Maurer was shot dead while cradling oats on the farm now occupied by John Gross. Martin Hess, who escaped unhurt, his house also had been a place of refuge - often half a dozen of families would resort to Hess's house, which was about one mile south-west from Peter Heydrich's and a half a mile west from this place. Mathias Borshore (your mother's relative) was also an old settler, who, on one occasion retreated from the enemy, the Indians, towards Hess's. Just as he had got inside the house, seized his gun, and turned upon his pursuers, leveling his deadly weapon at them, and while in the act of drawing the trigger, he received a shot from an Indian, which wounded him but slightly. The bullet of one savage's gun struck that part of Boeshore's rifle, to which the flint is attached; the ball glancing a little to one side, wounded him in the left side. Boeshore lived to be a very old man.
The land on which this fort was erected, is now owned by widow Elizabeth Shuey. The old people are unanimous in locating the fort on Mrs. Shuey's farm, at that time the property of Peter Heydrich. None of them seems to know that the house on Mr. Weidman's place here was ever used as a fort. May it not, like the house of Mr. Hess, have been only a kind of blockhouse, as the house of Hess, as well as the one here, has also some apertures, or port holes, which were evidently used to fire out upon the enemy?
Of Peter Heydrick, it is related, that on a certain occasion, the Indians appeared in great numbers - and nearly all the neighbors being in their own houses - Heydrich gave immediate notice to the people to resort to the fort, and in the meantime, (having both fife and drum in the fort, and could beat and fife well) took the drum and fife, marched himself into the woods or thickets, now beating the drum, then blowing the fife, then and again gave the word of command, loud and distinct, as if it had been given to a large force - though he was the only one to obey orders - by this Guerre de ruse, slight of war, he managed to keep the savages away, and collect his neighbors securely. Noth bricht Eisen.
The following letter from the pen of Adam Reed, Esq., dated in Hanover, Oct. 14, 1756, may case some additional light on this point. The letter was addressed to Edward Shippen, Esq., and others.
"Friends and Fellow Subjects:I send you in a few lines, the melancholy condition of the frontiers of this county. Last Tuesday, the 12th inst., ten Indians came on Noah Frederick, while ploughing, killed and scalped him, and carried away three of his children that were with him - the eldest but nine years old - and plundered his house and carried away every thing that suited their purpose; such as clothes, bread, butter, a saddle, and a good rifle gun &c. - it being but two short miles from Captain Smith's fort, at Swatara gap, and a little better than two miles from any house.
Last Saturday evening, an Indian came to the house of Philip Robeson, carrying a green bush before him - said Robeson's son being on the corner of his Fort, watching others that were dressing, flash by him - the Indian perceiving that he was observed, fled; the watchman fired, but missed him. This being about three-fourths of a mile from Manady Fort; and yesterday morning, two miles from Smith's Fort, at Swatara, in Bethel township, as Jacob Farmwal was going from the house of Jacob Meylin to his own, was fired upon by two Indians and wounded, but escaped with his life; and a little after, in said township, as Frederick Henly and Peter Sample were carrying away their goods in wagons, were met by a parcel of Indians, and all killed, lying dead in one place and one men at a little distance. But what more has been done, has not come to my ears - only that the Indians were continuing their murders!
The frontiers are employed in nothing but carrying of their effects; so that some miles are now waste! We are willing, but not able, with help - you are able, if you be willing (that is including the lower parts of the county) to give such assistance as will enable us to recover our waste land. You may depend upon it, that without assistance, we, in a few days, will be on the wrong side of you; for I am now on the frontier, and I fear that by to-morrow night, I will be left two miles.
Gentlemen, consider what you will do and don't be long about it; and let not the world say, that we died as fools died. Our hands are not tied, but let us exert ourselves, and do something for the honor of our country, and the preservation of our fellow subjects. I hope you will communicate our grievances to the lowe parts of our county; for surely they will send us help, if they understood our grievances.
I would have gone myself, but dare not, my family is in such danger. I expect an answer by the bearer, if possible.
I am, gentlemen,
Your very humble servant,
Adam ReedP.S. Before sending this away, I would mention, I have just received information, that there are seven killed and five children scalped alive, but have not the account of their names."
A considerable portion of this township is hilly. The soil gravel and siconite, some yellow shale and limestone, all of which is susceptible of high improvement. Average tax valuation, $178,890 00; county tax $288 31.
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