The History of LebanonCountyPA
Taken From the History of the counties of Berks and Lebanon : Rupp, I. Daniel. Lancaster, Pa.. G. Hills. 1844.
Pages 323 to 353
Chapter I - LebanonCounty Erected
HanoverTownship
Hanover township embraced originally when first erected, what is now Hanover, in Dauphin County, Hanover, Union and part of Swatara township in Lebanon county. In 1729, when Lancaster was created, and additional townships were laid off, Derry, Lebanon and Peshtank (Paxton) embraced nearly all Dauphin and Lebanon counties till 1739, when Bethel was separated from Lebanon township.
Peshtank township, out of which Hanover was formed, was bounded in 1729, as follows: "Beginning at the mouth of Swatara, thence up the river to Kehtotoning hill, above Peter Allen's thence eastward by the south side of said hill, to the meridian of Quetopohello, thence on a south course to the mouth of the same at Swatara, and down Swatara to the place of beginning."
Hanover township was erected, upon a petition of the inhabitants of Lancaster county, presented at the February session of 1736-37. "It was divided on the west from Peshtank, (Paxton,) by Beaver creek, from its mouth to the mountain - from Lebanon on the east and Derry on the south, by Swatara creek, from Beaver to the forks, thence by the north branch to the mountain."
Prior to 1751, Hanover was divided into the West End, and East End of Hanover; the latter is now, principally, if not wholly, embraced within the bounds of Lebanon county. Many of the original settlers were Irish, who had emigrated principally from the north of Ireland. They were an enterprising and daring race. Presbyterians by religious profession. Principally conspicuous as militant and triumphant members of community. They and their kindred of Paxton and Donegal, for many years bravely defended the frontiers against the Indians; and finally when no other means answered, slaughtered "friend and foe" of the Indians. Allusion is had to "Paxton affair" in Lancaster. (See Appendix B, for a full statement of the "Paxton affair.") The taxables in the East End of Hanover in 1750, were the following: -
1750 Tax List - East End of HanoverTownship
Jacob Musser, Peter Hettrich, Melchior Henry, Thomas Proner,
Henry Bachman, Conrad Clatt, Anthony Rosebaum, Jacob Musher,
Emu Ricker, William Clark, John Sibbius, John Schwar,
James Young, John Gilleland, Peter Halman, Widow Work,
Frederick Hoak, Jas. Sloan, Widow Gilleland, Jacob Sops,
John Sops, Rudolph Hake, Joseph Hoof, Benj. Clark,
Killion Mark, George Tittel, Isaac Williams, Adam Clannean,
John Casnet, James Williams, Anthony Tittel, Dennis Feril,
Mathias Boor, John Sloan, Daniel Ankel, William Young,
Abraham Williams, Jaces Clark, Martin Lichty, Adam Roth,
Ludwig Shits, John Stewart, John Foster, John Andrew,
Walter McFarland, Joseph Brechbill, William Robison, Philip Kolps,
Onwal Jugle, Thomas Croil, Alexander Swan, Alexander Thomson,
John Graham,Samuel Ainsworth, John Martin, Barnet M'Night,
Widow Brown, John Humes, Andrew Keehan, Thomas Brewster,
John Thomson, James Graham, John Cunningham, William Cunningham,
Christopher Sies, John Meyers, Patrick Brown, John Andrews,
John Strein, Antony M'Crath, George Shetley, Walter Bell,
Leonard Long, Adam M'Neely, John M'Clure, John Henderson,
William Woods, John Porterfield, Robert Haslet, John Crawford,
William Watson, Henry Gaetz, James Greenleaf, John Craig,
Hugh M'Gowen, John Dickson, Joseph Willson, Adam Miller,
Edward M'Murray, Jacob M'Cormick, John Ramsey, James Stewart,
Humphrey Cunningham, Robert Kirkwood, James M'Coorey, William Thomson,
Thomas Strain, Mathias Plank, Jacob Steiner, William Stonery,
James Todd, John Young, James Dixon, Robert Bryson,
William Bryson, Daniel Andrew, David Stevenson, William Catheart,
William Crosby, Benjamin Ainsworth, Patrick Bowen, Adam Harper,
Lazarus Stewart
The inhabitants of Hanover, in common with the frontier settlers, were repeatedly alarmed, some murdered, others carried off by the Indians. We cannot fully appreciate the suffering of the original settlers of this part of the county. They were not secure for one moment from being surprised or murdered by the savages lurking on the borders of these counties. From 1755 till 1783, Lebanon and Berks counties were scenes of murder, burning of houses &c. They were exposed to the cruel incursions of barbarous Indians, whose delight was to shed human blood - who regarded neither age nor sex - all were, with them, alike objects of their cruelty.
The 16th of November, 1755, a party of Indians crossed the Susquehanna - commenced their bloody deeds, and murdered thirteen persons. In the autumn of 1756, a company of ten Indians, came to the house of Noah Frederick, while ploughing, killed and scalped him and carried away three children that were with him - the eldest but nine years old.* (See page anten 64).
Inhabitants That Fled - WestHanoverTownship
A large portion of the plantations had been abandoned in East and West Hanover townships. In West Hanover, the following persons had fled: John Gordon, Richard Johnson, Alexander Barnet, James M'Caver, Robert Porterfield, Philip Robison, John Hill, Thomas Bell, Thomas Maguire, William M'Cord, Robert Huston, Benjamin Wallace, William Bennett, Bartholomew Harris, John Swan, James Bannon, William M'Clure, Thomas M'Clure, John Henry, James Riddle, Widow Cooper, David Ferguson, Widow De Armand, James Wilson, Samuel Barnetts, James Brown, Widow M'Gowin, Samuel Brown, Thomas Hill, Jane Johnston, killed. (See tax duplicate for 1766, at Lancaster, in which these are noted as having fled when the collector called).
Inhabitants That Fled - EastHanoverTownship
In the East End of Hanover, the following had fled: John Gilliland, John M'Culloch, Walter M'Farland, Robert Kirkwood, William Robison, Valentine Stoffelbein, Adam Clearman, Rudolph Fry, Peter Walmer, John M'Culloch, jr., James Rafter, Moses Vance, John Brooher, Jacob Mosser, Philip Mauerer, Barnhart Beshore, Jacob Beshore, Mathias Beshore, William M'Cullough, Philip Culp, Casper Yost, Conrad Cleck, Christian Albert, Daniel Mosier, John M'Clure, Lazarus Stuart, Thomas Shirly, James Graham, Barnet M'Nett, Andrew Brown, William Brown, Andrew M'Mahon, Thomas Hume, Thomas Strean, Peter Wolf, Henry Kuntz, William Watson, John Hume, David Strean, John Stuart, John Porterfield, Anthony M'Crath, James M'Curry, Conrad Rice, Alexander Swan, John Gream. The following were killed: Andrew Berryhill, John Creigh and his son taken captive; Samuel Aimsworth's son was also taken.* (See tax duplicate for 1755, at Lancaster and page 65 anten)
A correspondence is mentioned in the Pennsylvania Gazette, of May, 1757, stating that "in a letter from Hanover, Lancaster county, dated May 2, 1757, the house of Isaac Snevely was set on fire, and entirely consumed, with eighteen horses and cows - and that on the 17th of May, five men, and a woman were killed and scalped by the Indians, about thirty miles from Lancaster, &c.
The inhabitants of this region of country were kept in continual alarm during the spring, summer and autumn of this year, on account of the murders committed by the Indians. One fails in the attempt to describe the perils of the frontier settlers of these times. The heart shrinks from portraying the scenes of horror - the barbarous murderers butchered the whites in the field - at their meals - in bed - at every unguarded hour.
Who would not sicken to view, in imagination, scalps clotted with gore, mangled limbs, women ripped open, the heart and bowels still palpitating with life and smoking on the ground - see savages swilling, as it were, human blood, and imbibing a more courageous fury with the human draught - see the living, not captives, fleeing for life, while the Indians are in hot pursuit!
In a letter before us, dated Hanover, Lancaster county, August 11, 1757, it is stated, "That on Monday, the 8th, while George Mauerer was cutting oats in George Scheffer's field, he was killed and scalped. There is now", says the same writer, "such a sever sickness in these parts - the like has not been known - that many families can neither fight nor run away, which occasions great distress on the frontiers. Had it not been for forty men, which the province has in pay, in this township, little of the harvest could have been saved, and as the time for which they have been engaged, is nearly elapsed, the inhabitants hope the government will continue them in the service, else the consequences will be dreadful.
The Pennsylvania Gazette of August 1757, states, "We learn from Lancaster that there was nothing but murdering and capturing, that on the 17th of August, one Beatty was killed in Paxton, that the next day James Mackay was murdered in Hanover, and William and Joseph Barnet wounded. That on the same day were taken prisoners, a son of James Mackay, a son of Joseph Barnet, Elizabeth Dickey and her child; and the wife of Samuel Young and her child; and that ninety-four men, women and children, were seen flying from their places, in one body, and a great many more in small parties, so that it was feared the settlement would be entirely forsaken."
What rendered their condition still worse, nay hopeless, the fugitive and remaining inhabitants had no means to engage forces, rangers or scouters, to apprise them of the approach of Indians, and repel their incursions; and it was, it seems, in vain for them to appeal to a deaf government - their only appeal was to the sympathies of their fellow citizens for aid and means.* Patriotic individuals, who possessed means, would raise rangers at their own expense. John Harris, in an adjoining township, (Paxton) paid thirty men for their services as rangers, in watching and preventing the inroads of Indians. Harris did this on more than one occasion.
"On Monday, the 22d of May, Barnabas Tolon was killed and scalped in Hanover township. And we are," says the editor of the Pennsylvania Gazette, "well informed, that one hundred and twenty-three persons have been murdered and carried off from that part of Lancaster county, by the Indians, since the war commenced; and that lately three have been scalped and are yet living."
The Indians still continued to commit murders and depredations till December 1763, when they were seen for the last time within the limits of Lebanon county.
East Hanover township is, at present, bounded on the north and west by Dauphin county; east by Union, and south by Annville and Londonderry townships. The surface of the country is diversified. In the southern portion, it presents gentle declivities; the northern part is mountainous, being crossed by the Blue mountain and the SecondMountain. There is quite a noted spring here, called the "Cold Spring" an agreeable watering place, and considerably frequented in the heat of summer. There is also, a very large and commodious house of entertainment here, it was erected by an enterprising, and public patronage deserving gentleman, Samuel Winter, Esq. In the southern part of the township is the well-known woolen factory on Indian creek, long owned by Gen. Harrison, but now in the possession of Mr. Lonberger.
The township is well supplied with streams, affording abundant waterpower. The Swatara creek, or river, is the principal one; it rises in Schuykill county, on the south side of the Broad mountains, enters Lebanon county on the northeast angle, through which, in its sinuous course, it receives Quitepahila, and other smaller tributaries; thence flows south-west through Dauphin county, and empties into the Susquehanna river below Middletown. In its course, through this township it affords much waterpower. The other streams are Indian creek, Raccoon creek and Reed's run. In 1840, the township contained four stores, one fulling mill, one woolen factory, already spoken of, five grist mills, six saw mills, one oil mill, one paper mill, one tannery, one distillery. Population in 1830, 2,498; 1840, 2,461. Tax valuation for 1844, $452, 674 00; county tax, $679 01.
The following pensioners were still living in this township in 1840 - Thomas Koppenhaver, aged 80 years; John Hetrich, 77; Jacob Decker, 84; Philip Witmoyer, 90; John Gerberich, 81; James Stewart, 83 years. It was in this township that the well known Hollenback was born - to whom John Harris remarked, twenty or more years before Harrisburg was laid out, that this place - Harris's ferry - would become the center of business in this section of the county, and would be the seat of Government of Pennsylvania . "Strong and predictive faith, this."
Biographical Notice of the Hon. Mathias Hollenback
The subject of this notice, was born of German parentage, in Hanover township, upon the Swatara creek - then Lancaster - now Lebanon county. Here he was inured to all the
Sufferings and privations incident to a frontier settlement at that early day. Possessed of a firm and vigorous constitution, and endued by nature with a strong, active and enterprising mind, at the age of seventeen he joined the first adventurous party, who came to make a permanent settlement, under the authority of Connecticut, in the valley of Wyoming. This was in the autumn of 1769. From this period, the history of his long and eventful life, is identified with the history of this part of the country.
In the controversy between Pennsylvania and Connecticut, he actively and firmly adhered to the latter, under whose auspices he had embarked his youthful fortunes, and whose claims he regarded as paramount to every other, until the right of soil and the right of jurisdiction to the country were decreed by a competent tribunal, to be in the former. From that moment, he yielded obedience to the constitution and laws of Pennsylvania, and contributed all his power to quiet the turbulent, and to reconcile the disaffected to the legitimate authorities.
The dispute between Pennsylvania and Connecticut, had assumed all the characteristics of a civil war, and notwithstanding the conciliatory recommendations and remonstrance's of the Continental Congress, it was continued during the revolutionary struggle. Whilst the poor and destitute settlers were suffering on the one side from the common enemies of the country, the British, the savage Indians, and the worse than savage Tories, they were attacked on the other, and endured equal distress by military parties under the authority of Pennsylvania.
Thus surrounded with difficulties and dangers, calculated to appall the stoutest heart, at a period too, when many good, but timid men, doubted, hesitated and feared, young Hollenback, in want of every thing, but personal courage and patriotic feeling, was approached by one of those agents of the mother country, whose bland and fascinating manner and duplicity of heart, marked him out as a fit emissary for "treason, stratagem and spoil". On the one hand, the effort making to free the country from British dominion was represented as entirely hopeless and that upon failure, poverty, shame and death, every where awaited the active partisan; on the other, by espousing the cause of the British King, money, office and honor would be immediately conferred, and a life of ease and independence secured. The youth stood firm - he was not to be allured from the path of duty. He had taken his resolution - staked his all upon the issue - and was willing to abide the result.
In 1776, and the following years, two companies were raised in Wyoming, in one of which young Hollenback was appointed Lieutenant. He was active and successful in filling up and preparing his company for active service - and, shortly after, joined the army under General Washington, in the State of N. Jersey. His merits were soon discovered and properly appreciated by the General, who frequently consulted him in relation to the frontier settlements, and the means of defending them against the incursions of the enemy. He participated in all the suffering of our half fed and half clothed troops, during the winter campaign, in the state of New Jersey - and was, on several occasions , employed by the General in the execution of confidential agencies.
Such was the patriotism of the Wyoming settlers, that, during the short period, when they were not immediately threatened with attacks from the enemy, almost every efficient man among them joined the army, and left their families without protection. The calm portended a storm. The defenceless state of the frontier invited aggression. The valley again began to suffer from the tomahawk, scalping knife, and fire brand - and early in 1778, it was discovered that a horde of British, Indians and Tories, was collected upon the Susquehanna frontier and preparing to pour down upon the valley of Wyoming, and exterminate the defenceless settlers. The officers from Wyoming, urged the General to send a force for its protection, or to permit the two companies, drawn from this settlement, to return, for the purpose of defending their aged and helpless parents, wives and children. But such was the situation of the army, that no adequate force could be spared. An intense anxiety was felt among the officers - some obtained furloughs, and some resigned and returned to the valley. Every preparation was made in their power, to repel their invaders. About three hundred and fifty men marched out to meet the enemy. They were drawn into an ambusende. The result is known - Wyoming was reduced to widowhood and orphanage. About fifty only escaped this disastrous battle, of whom the subject of this notice was one. Articles of capitulation were made, in which security and protection of life and property had been stipulated, were no sooner made than they were violated, on the part of the faithless enemy. What property could not be carried away, was burned and destroyed, and the remnant of the settlers was driven naked and houseless to the surrounding mountains. Lieutenant Hollenback, whose property was all destroyed, still clung to the valley and participated in all its sufferings, until the conclusion of the war.