Among the Dead

     John Yerrick, an uncle by marriage to the author of this book,
was a quiet, inoffensive man, who strictly attended to the duties of
his position in life.  Kind hearted, honest and true, he lived a
peaceful life, enjoying the good wishes of all around him.  He was
the ever-faithful sexton of the Protestant Episcopal church without
intermission from the building of the church in 1828 until his
death which occurred in 1862 in the seventy-ninth year of his age.

     William Kitchen, familiarly known as "Squire Kitchen," was one
of the old residents of Danville, and for a number of years acted as
a justice of the peace.  He was also an auctioneer and many a curi-
ous joke he cracked on such occasions.  Many will remember his
mock solemnity, when scolding his turbulent audience for permit-
ting "their minds to run on worldly things, and forgetting the
sale."  At the merry makings of the young folks, the "Squire and
his violin were always in demand, and well they knew the squeak of
his old brown fiddle.  No wonder he became a popular favorite.
His genial nature and goodness of heart were proverbial.  He al-
ways possessed a buoyant, playful disposition up to the very last.
Many who read this note will pause and call to mind some droll
remark of "old Squire Kitchen," whose heart was always kind, and
whose jokes, though sharp, never injured any one.  He died at an
advanced age regretted by all who knew him.


     William Hancock  came from England and was for a time em-
ployed at the Montour iron works.  In 1847 he joined with John
Foley in establishing the Rough and Ready rolling-mill.  He after-
wards became sole proprietor of the works.  Finally when it became
the National iron works he was chosen president of the company.
William Hancock was an upright, enterprising citizen, and added
much to the business life an prosperity of the town.  He built a
splendid mansion on Market street and another in Riverside.  He
was always popular with the workingmen, honorable in all his busi-
 ness transactions, and will long be kindly remembered by those who
have shared his favors or enjoyed his friendship.

     John G. Montgomery was a prominent lawyer of Danville.  After
serving with much credit in the State Legislature he was elected to
Congress in 1856; but died before the commencement of his term.
He fell a victim to the mysterious poisoning at the National hotel,
in Washington city, in the month of March, 1857, during the in-
auguration of James Buchanan.  He returned home and after linger-
ing a little while, died in the prime of his life.  He was born in Para-
dise, then Northumberland county, Pennsylvania, in 1805, and died
on the 24th day of April, 1857.

     Paul Leidy was one of the leading lawyers of Danville and held a 
high position in the respect and confidence of the community.  He
represented this district in the Thirty-fifth Congress of the United
States.  He had also served as prosecuting attorney of Montour,
held many positions of trust, and died respected by his fellow citizens.

     John Foley was William Hancock's partner in the Rough and 
Ready rolling-mill.  He was also a local preacher in the Methodist
church.  He left the firm at one time and took a trip to Europe to
revisit the scenes and friends of his youth.  Previous to his depart-
ure the workingmen presented him with a gold headed cane.  The
presentation address was made by the writer of this volume in the
court-house.  The ceremony was followed by a banquet at the 
Montour House.  Mr. Foley returned to Danville and after some
time re removed to Baltimore, where he died a few years ago.

     John T. Heath was a brass founder and plumber, and also kept a
small grocery on the corner of Pine and Walnut streets.  He was
something of a curiosity, and was noted alike for his honesty and
fair dealing and for the marvelous tough stories he could tell.  He 
could tell a fish story with the most profound solemnity; such as
having seen a man at Philadelphia ride across the Deleware to Cam-
den, on the back of a sturgeon.  He could also tell snake stories
with an air of seriousness that challenged the confidences of his way-
side audience.  And yet John T. Heath was a good man, did no
harm to his neighbor and was highly respected in his day and gen-
eration.  He left Danville years ago and has since died.

     John Patton was a wheelright and one of the early mechanics
that gave character to Danville.  BY the kindness of his children,
 the later years of his life were spent in comfort and with little of
worldly care.  Many a pleasant hour I spent with him under the
tall elms that stood on the banks of Mahoning; and well I knew
that I lost a friend when John Patton died.  Indeed, if "good" can
be justly applied to mortal man - one who contributed a share to
the business current and the moral sentiment of Danville, that man
was John Patton.  An earnest christian, an example of steadfast,
practical piety, and yet always cheerful as a summer morning.  He
has gone to meet the reward of the christian soldier, who has fought
the good fight, kept the faith and finished his course.

   Mannassa Young was a prominent member of the African Metho-
dist Episcopal church of Mount Zion, and was also superintendent
of the Sabbath school.  He was a portly man, weighing nearly four
hundred pounds.  For twenty years he served as watchman at the
company store and was always faithful.  He died in February
1870.	His death was peaceful.  He died as the Christian dies.

     William Thompson was a barber and aman of more than ordi-
nary intelligence.  He was well posted on public affairs, and al-
though he did not live to see the day, he confidently predicted the
freedom of his race in the near future.  He died in the prime of life.

     Sydney S. Easton died October 1862, in the fifty-eighth year of
his age.  He was a contractor in connection with the public works
in various portions of the State, and for some time had been en-
gaged at the Pennsylvania iron works.  He built a fine residence
on Market street, now occupied by William T. Ramsey, who mar-
ried a daughter of Sydney S. Easton.  He (Sydney S. Easton) was
highly esteemed, kind in his disposition and charitable to all, he
never turned away from the needy.  He was a member of the Prot-
estant Episcopal church, and in his life adorned the doctrines he
professed.  Rev. E. N. Lightner delivered a beautiful and appropri-
ate address over his remains in the church.  The Masonic fraternity
escorted him to the grave.

     Isaac Gulick, an upright citizen, held a number of local positons
of responsiblity and died some twenty years ago.

      A. P. Alward, long a justice of the peace, died as old age was
approaching.

     John Moore, one of the enterprising business men of Danville
died at a good old age.  He built the Mansion House.

      Jacob Cornelison, proprietor of the "White Swan," contracted
disease in the army and died in 1865, comparatively young.

     Cornelius Garretson, a man of considerable prominence died at
a good old age.  He was at one time proprietor of the Montour
House.

     John Hartman, was a quiet and industrious citizen, working as
book-binder, barber, watchmaker and saloon keeper.  He was in
the forty-fourth year of his age and died on the 4th of June, 1870.

     Robert Winter, was among the honest, industrious and pious citi-
zens of Danville.  He was a baker and made good, honest loaves.
He fell asleep some years ago.

     John Cooper. - Judge Cooper was a lawyer of more than ordinary
ability, and was also considered good authority on literary subjects
of general character.  Perhaps the deference paid by the public,
the homage paid to his learning and ripened judgment, made him
somewhat arrogant in the latter years of his life.  He was very quick
and restive on the slightest opposition; and many anecdotes ae
told of his sudden ebullitions and emphatic expressions when pro-
voked,  He was much respected as the most learned though the
most eccentric lawyer of Danville.  He died on the 22d day of June,
1863, in the seventy-ninth year of his age.  He was the father-in-
law of Hon. John G. Montgomery, the victim of the hotel poisonin
at Washington.

     Peter Hughes was a marble worker and was proprietor of the yard
now owned by H. F. Hawke & Co.  He was also honored by be-
ing elected associate judge.  He died about 1872.

     B.	W. Musselman was a good citizen and served as drum major
in the war for the Union.  He died in 1875.

     Jacob Hibler was one of the substantial business men of Danville.
He carried on the tanning business on Front street, and sold to
Mr. Houpt.  He died a number of years ago, much regretted.

     Thomas Jemison was a contractor and aided in many public
improvements.  He had many warm friends.  Died in 1863 or
1864.

     Jacob Reed was a Danville Merchant, somewhat peculiar; but
really a good man.  He died a few years ago.

    Samuel York,Jr., was the president of the First National
 Bank of Danville.  He was always a man of high standing in the 
community and died much regretted a few years ago.

     James Cousart, long a confidential clerk at the Rough and Ready
iron works, died a year or two ago, when scarcely past the meridian
line.

     Daniel Reynolds, the Danville hatter and an honest man died
some three years ago.    

     James G. Maxwell, a member of the Legislature in 1849, died
some years ago, and his brother Thomas Maxwell died in  1875.

     Thomas Clark was a machinist, a quiet good man, familiarly
called "Uncle Tom."  He died some years ago.

     J. Ammerman was the merchant of East Danville.  An ac-
tive enterprising business man.  He died in his prime.

     W. Waples was superintendent of the Grove's limestones quar-
ries.  He was a man of much executive power, strong in his friend-
ships and generous to all.

     James Voris was one of the old substantial citizens and held a
high place in the respect and confidence of the people.  He died
on the 24th of May, 1866, aged 78 years and 7 months.  He sleeps
in the Presbyterian grave-yard where a marble tombstone tells the
brief and pointed history of man, namely that he was born; lived
his day, died, has gone to his reward.

     Joseph D. Hahn 
     William Buckley built and kept the "Hudson River House."  He
died in 1875.

     Charles C. Baldy built a fine, iron-front block on Mill street and
kept a hardware store for a number of years.  He died six or seven
years ago.

     Isaac R. Freeze, a young merchant and a man of promise, died
in 1870 just as he had crossed the threshold of manhood.

     Eli Trego came from Chester county and was connected with the 
Montour iron works at their commencement.  He was also a jus-
tice of the peace, his office and residence adjoined the Montgomery
building.  He died on the 14th of February, 1856, and was buried
with Masonic honors.  His remains were first taken to the Episcopal
church where Rev. E. N. Lightner, the rector delivered the most
eloquent and impressive funeral discourse I ever heard.

      Samuel Alexander was a worthy and respectable citizen.  Long
an earnest and devoted Christian in communion with the Methodist
church, he saw his approaching end with calmness, and met the last
great foe like a good soldier of the cross.  He was also an ardent
patriot during the war, and died triumphantly in the fifty-ninth year
of his age.

     M. C. Grier was a brother of Judge Robert C. Grier, late of the
Supreme Court of the United States.  He was one of the substan-
tial citizens of Danville, and occupied many positions of public
trust.  Long a ruling elder in the Presbyterian church, he adorned
the position by the practice of every Christian virtue that lends no-
bility to the office-bearer in the house of God.  Generous to a fault;
for like Goldsmith's "village preacher," his very "failings leaned
to virtue's side."  He was ever ready to deny himself in minister-
ing to the happiness of others.  Every good work for the general
or the special benefit of his fellow men always found a warm and
earnest friend in M. C. Grier.  And many there are who will
gratefully remember his kindly aid and cherish his memory with a
devotion pure as earth affords and lasting as their lives.  In a word,
M. C. Grier was emphatically a good man, and if the world had 
more like him the sunshine of joy would dispel the darkness of sor-
row from many a household.  He has gone to his reward, leaving a
record untarnished and a name that none need ever blush to own.
He died December 25th, 1878.


     William Smith, familiarly known as "Billy Smith," for more
than thirty years drove stage and omnibus in this place.  He was
one of the most careful and obliging men to be found in the coun-
try, and was favorably known far and wide.  His omnibus was al-
ways on time and he always had a pleasant answer to a civil inquiry.
He died a few years ago much lamented.

     J. P., M. J., and John J. Grove, the proprietors of the Columbia
furnaces.  Large-minded and energetic business men; honest and reli-
able they were highly respected, and all died in the prime of manhood.

     Major Thomas Brandon, one of the live men of Danville, with
a military turn of mind, died a few years ago.

     George A. Frick, prothonotary of the county, and first cashier
of the Bank of Danville; was a lawyer of ability, with the mind well
stored with general knowledge.  He died suddenly at a ripe old age.

      Major J. V. L. De Witt, at one time proprietor of Chulasky
furnace, died a few years ago.

     Major William G. Scott, of Northumberland county, settled in
Danville, to spend the evening of his days, and died at a good old
age.

     John Rhodes, came to Danville in 1824.  He bought the "Penn-
sylvania House" in 1829.  It was originally called the "Farmers'
Hotel," and for many years was the chosen hostelrie of the farmers
and others while attending court or on other occasions.  Johh
Rhodes enjoyed the respect and confidence of a large circle of friends
and patrons.  He died in 1852 and the property still belongs to his 
heirs.  Two of his sons are still in town, B. K.  Rhodes a lawyer and
J. Clark Rhodes a merchant whose store adjoins the hotel.

     Horace Curtis, a highly respected teacher of the Second Ward
grammar school.  He died on April 21st, 1863, aged 52 years.

     There is no pretension to a complete list of the dead of twenty-
five years, as that would itself fill a volume.  The names of a few
are added below:

     Dr. Isaac Hughes, Dr. E. H. Snyder, George Kipp, S. C. Van-
sant, I. S. Thornton, J. M. Woods, Samuel Wolf, W. W. Hughes,
William Morgan, William Earp, Samuel Ware, William Travel, Rev.
J. B. Cook, Charles and Barney Dougherty, John Arms, Mark
Myers, George and Lewis Kaufman, Frank Rouch, Samuel Roush,
D.	N. Kownover, George Basset, Charles H. Waters, Samuel Stroh,
Henry Harris, Robert Winter.