Public Notice is hereby given that the undersigned Commissioners, appointed by a supplement to an act entitled an act to incorporate the Columbia, Washington, and Port Deposit Road Company, will meet at the following times and places, for the purpose of receiving subscriptions to the stock of said company, viz: On Saturday, the 13th day of October inst., at the house of Abraham Bitner, in the Boro of Washington; on Saturday the 20th, at the house of Daniel Kendig at Safe Harbor; on Saturday the 27th, at the house of Henry Shank, Conestoga: on Wednesday the 31st at the house of Jesse M�Conkey, Peach Bottom: and on Wednesday the 7th November, at the house of Francis Boggs, in Port Deposit.
Jacob Gossler,
Wm. Poist,
Abraham Bitner
Benj. Mellinger,
Henry Shank,
Wm. M�Creery,
Thomas Neil,
Joseph Penny,
Jeremiah Brown,
Little Britain,
Lancaster Journal
Friday, July 26, 1833
TO THE ELECTORS OF THE CITY AND COUNTY OF LANCASTER
Fellow Citizens: - I am induced to offer myself to your consideration as a candidate for the
OFFICE OF SHERIFF
at the ensuing election; and should I be favored with a majority of your suffrages, I pledge myself to discharge the duties of the office with fidelity and humanity.
BENJAMIN MELLINGER
Manor township, March 14, 1833
The Columbia Spy
March 1, 1834
From the Lancaster Journal
Conestoga Navigation
The works upon the Conestoga, since they have gone into the hands of their present public spirited and enterprising owners, the Messrs. Coleman�s, have undergone a thorough and complete repair. The Dams injured by the tremendous ice freshet of February, 1832, have all been built up and repaired in the most substantial manner. The outside wall of the lock at Safe Harbor has been taken down and built up several feet wider than formerly, and the cribs filled with stone, laid in by hand, so as to make it sufficient to resist any water pressure which can come against it. All the Locks have been new lined, water tightened and fitted up with new gates of the most substantial workmanship. Additional facilities for both filling and emptying the locks have been introduced and it is most confidently believed that the Conestoga now offers a navigation for its extent, not exceeded by any in the United States.
Proprietors of coal, lumber, &c. &c. may now rely upon a safe and easy ascent to the city landings at all times when they can make Safe Harbor upon the Susquehanna, or, indeed at all time when not impeded by ice, or very extraordinary freshets-the latter of which can only last for one or at most two days.
The expectation is now confidently indulged that in the course of a few weeks we shall again see our wharves and landings occupied with quantities of lumber, coal, &c, affording something like a supply for the immense and still increasing demand for these articles in the city, central and eastern part of this county and the adjoining county of Chester.
A market for Whiskey is again opened at the City Lancing, where the market price is given for that article by Messrs. Hager and Co.
The Columbia Spy
Sept 23, 1834
The School Law
The election for school directors in this district resulted in the choice of
Richard E. Cochran, John Barber, James H. Mifflin, Samuel Boyd, Christian Hershey and
John Mussel man. They are friendly to the system, and the vote stood 191 to 22, being
a majority of 169. We understand that the law was accepted in the city of Lancaster,
where 19 votes only were given in, and the townships of Manor, Conestoga, East Donegal,
East Hemp field, and Salisbury; and rejected in West Donegal, Mount joy, Elizabethtown,
Rapho, Warwick, Cocalico, Lampeter, Lancaster, Leacock, Strasburg, Sadsbury and Bart
townships. These are all that have been heard from.
The Columbia Spy
October 4, 1834
The several townships in this county are divided as follows on the question of accepting the school law; and among those which rejected it we understand much regret is left fo their recusancy, while in others it was lost only through the apathy fo the people or the tricks which were played off by its enemies. The city of Lancaster and townships of Manor, Conestoga, Martic, Strasburg, Salisbury, Caernarvon, Drumore, Little Britain, East Hempfield, West Hempfield, Colerain and East Donegal have adopted the law; while Lancaster, Lampeter, Warwick, Cocalico, Weast Earl, West Earl, Rapho, Leacock, West Donegal, Mount Joy, Elizabeth, manheim, Brecknock, Sadsbury, and Bart townships have rejected it. This county therefore stands thriteen in favor of and fifteen opposed to the law.
In York County, the borough of Hanover and the townships of Chanceford and Fairview have adopted the education law in company with the borough of York, which is thus relieved for the glorious minority of one in which we placed it last week.
Lancaster Intelligencer
Tuesday, June 6, 1848
Steamboat Excursions.
Conestoga Navigation
The new and fast Steam packet "Coleman", Captain Bernard, will make her regular trips on the Conestoga Navigation, between Lancaster and Safe Harbor, on and after Monday, 29th May, until further notice as follows:
On Monday, Wednesday and Fridays.
Will leave Hess' Lock, Safe Harbor at 6 o'clock (morning) and 4 1/2 o�clock (afternoon).
Returning - will leave Greaff's Landing, Lancaster at 11 o'clock (morning)
On Tuesday, Thursdays, and Saturdays.
Will leave Greaff's Landing, Lancaster at 6 o'clock (morning) and 4 1/2 o'clock (afternoon)
Returning will leave Hess' Lock, Safe Harbor, at 11 o'clock (morning).
Fare to Safe Harbor 37 1/2 cents
Intermediate place 25 cents
Children - Half price
Parcels, and light freight, rate at fair rates.
For Tickets apply to the Captain on board
or to G. Calder, Agent
Centre Square, Lancaster
Lancaster Intelligencer
Tuesday June 27, 1848
On the 12th inst., at Safe Harbor, Lancaster co., of inflammation of the lungs, Bostwick Badger, pilot on the Susquehanna river, aged about 62.
Examiner & Herald
May 14, 1856
Tavern License Applications
The Court met on Saturday afternoon to announce their award of tavern licenses. The following order was first announced:
"It is ordered by the Court that the Prosecuting Attorney for the District, proceed to prepare for the prosecution of all offenders against the act for regulating the sale of intoxicating liquors, passed the 31st of March, 1856. - Indictments upon the returns made by the constables and filed according to law, to be presented to the Grand Jury at the next sessions in August."
The Court then made the following announcement: -
" In the Court of Quarter Sessions of Lancaster County: - After duly hearing the several applications for licenses for sales of liquors, under the act entitled an act to regulate the sale of intoxicating liquors, approved the thirty-first day of March, Anno Domini, one thousand eight hundred and fifty-six, the following licenses are granted by the said Court, in pursuance of the said act, upon the applicants named respectively, complying with the requisite conditions:"
Washington - Gotlieb Shener, Benjamin Kauffman, C. D. Martin.
Conestoga - A. S. Gillet, George W. Hess, John G. Pries, Andrew T. Metzgar.
Manor - Thomas Fisher, Edward Hess, John Brady, Jr., George Hornberger, Jacob S. Mann, John Daily.
Martic - Jno Wilson, Jesse Engles, Jno. Fisher
Pequea - Benjamin Rowe, Michael Zercher
Rejected Applications.
Washington Jacob Kreider
Conestoga - Jacob Warfel, Elizabeth Eckman
Manor David M. Witmer, Christian H. Zimmer, Jacob H. Lightheiser, Jacob S. Kauffman.
Martic None
Pequea Christian B. Herr, Samuel Charles
The Columbia Spy
Nov. 15, 1856
THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION
OFFICIAL VOTE OF LANCASTER COUNTY
Districts Buchanan Fremont Fillmore
Conestoga 155 150 145
Manor
Millerstown 98 89 140
Indiantown 85 37 166
Martic 143 139 33
Pequea 38 105 28
Washington 162 95 126
Lancaster Examiner and Herald
April 28,. 1858
LICENSES GRANTED -On Saturday last the Court granted two hundred and fifty two tavern licenses. They are distributed over the county as follows:
Conestoga������5
Manor�������..8
Martic�������..3
Pequea�������.3
Washington�����.3
The Columbia Spy
January 8, 1859
Report of the Directors of the Farmer's Mutual Insurance Company,
The next fire was the barn and wagon shed of John Frantz, of Manor township, which was destroyed on the night of the second of February. The barn was new, large and well furnished, and with the contents was valued by the Appraisers at four thousand and sixty-six dollars, on which the Directors paid three thousand and fifty, (3,050). This was supposed to have been the work of an incendiary.
The next fire consumed the kitchen and wash house of Henry Heidlebaugh, of Pequea township, on the night of the 25th of February. The dwelling house, though near by, was saved, by the exertions of the family and neighbors, aided by a providential change of wind at the time of the fire. The loss was estimated at three hundred and sixty dollars ($360), and the Directors paid him two hundred and seventy dollars, ($270). The fire was supposed to be accidental, but the family could not account for its origin.
On the night of March 21st a fire occurred in the store of Elias H. Witmer, at Millerstown, Manor twp. The contents of the store were entirely consumed, one half of which had been insured by this company. The appraisers estimated the actual loss at 5 thousand, 300 and thirty-three dollars, (5,333). On this the Directors paid two thousand dollars, ($2000), being three-fourths of one-half of the actual cash value. No clue could be obtained in regard to the origin of the fire.
On the 27th of March, a fire occurred on the premises of Jacob B. Shuman, of Manor township, by which a dwelling house was consumed. The appraisers reported the actual damage at four hundred dollars, ($400_ and the Directors paid him three hundred, ($300).
By the next fire; which occurred on the 8th of July, the barn of Henry Galen, of Martic township, was destroyed. The damage was laid at five hundred dollars, ($500) and the Directors paid him three hundred and seventy five dollars ($375). The barn was fired by a simple-minded young woman, an inmate of Mr. Galen's family. She has since been convicted upon her own confession, and sentenced to the Lancaster County Prison for the crime which seems to have been committed without any apparent motive. When this fire occurred the Directors deemed it unexpedient to levy a tax for so small an amount, and therefore authorized the Treasurer to borrow such sum as might be necessary to meet the hat liabilities of the Company.
Lancaster Intelligencer
April 3, 1860
City and County Affairs
Justices of the Peace
Conestoga - H. Mehaffy & Jacob Fehl
Martic - Henry Andrews & John McClune
Manor: - G. C. Hawthorn & Charles Denues
Pequea - Daniel Fulton & Andrew Mehaffy
Washington - Not listed.
The Columbia Spy
June 23, 1860
A Destructive Hail Storm - On Tuesday afternoon about five o�clock, a heavy thunder storm passed over this place, accompanied by hail. The storm in Columbia was not destructive, but in other parts of the county it was heavier and in some places disastrous. The streams were all swollen heavily and considerable destruction of fences in this neighborhood was the consequence. The wind struck the river below the bridge, and carried the water in spray to considerable height, and afterwards in several places the water was whirled up with a rotary motion in pillars of foam. - Accounts from different sections of the county show considerable damage. We copy some particulars from the Lancaster Express of Wednesday evening.
Last evening between 5 and 6 o�clock one of the most destructive hail storms and tornadoes which has ever visited this vicinity, passed over the townships of Mount Joy, Rapho, West Hempfield, Manor and Conestoga doing great damage to property and the crops. The storm appears to have come from the north or northwest.
The particulars of the storm in the county, as far as they have reached us, are given below:
The first point of which we have any information is at Silver Springs, about four miles south of Mount Joy. At this point hail fell so thick as to cover the ground to the depth of several inches, and it is said that some of the hail-stones measured three inches in circumference. The corn and tobacco crops were cut to pieces, and the wheat, rye and oats beaten down.
At Turkey Hill and vicinity the hail is said to have fallen to the depth of three inches, and that in the evening persons were seen shoveling it from their door. - This seems a little steep, but we are assured it is the truth.
At Mount Joy, the hail was also very destructive, breaking windows and doing damage to the yards and gardens in the neighborhood. Mr. Abraham Hackman, of that place, who came to this city last evening after the storm, brought with him about a half bushel of hail-stones in a bag, some of which, even several ours after they had fallen, were as large as ordinary sized hickory nuts.
The next we hear of the storm is at Mountville. A reliable correspondent at that place furnishes us with the following particulars:
"Yesterday evening, at half past five o�clock, our town and neighborhood was visited by one of the heaviest thunder and hail storms that was ever known here. In less than five minutes, the ground was literally covered with falling hail, which continued for about 25 minutes; the rain in less than five minutes, the ground was literally covered with falling hail, which continued for about 25 minutes; the rain in the meantime falling thick and heavy in perfect floods. Vegetation is completely cut to shreds, small plants were deeply buried in the ground; cherries, apples, &c., were cut from the trees, covering the ground with the green fruit. The tobacco farmers� hopes are frustrated. The plants are completely cut to pieces. The wheat and rye are leveled with the ground-the stalks split and the heads cut off. The grain is very much injured, as the heads are not yet filled, and will therefore not come to perfection.
The creeks were swelled higher than ever known, carrying fences and everything in their course. About fifteen tons of dried hay in the meadow of L.S. Garber was swept away and much damage was other wise done.
The storm when it reached Safe Harbor, seems to have attained its full power. At this point its destructiveness to property and the corps is incalculable at this time. It is said to have struck Safe Harbor about half past five o�clock. The first indications of its approach were deep black clouds coming up over a hill to the north, carrying with them boards, shingles, limbs of trees, and everything indeed which could not resist their force. An eye witness informs us that the tornado-for such it really became when it reached this point- approached slowly and looked fearfully sublime. The dark masses of clouds rolled and pitched over one another as if an army of demons were in deadly conflict, while the lower strata tore off shingles and boards from the roofs of houses, or licked them up from insecure places. They went up into the dark rolling clouds, and every not and then were revealed to the eve by vivid flashes of lightening the phenomena are said to have been appalling to the beholder.
When the storm struck the Conestoga, in front of Hess� Mansion House Hotel, it completed lifted the entire body of water from its bed, so that those who were on the banks of the creek at the time could see the bottom. In the creek was a large quantity of lumber belonging to Mr. Reinhold, of this city, which it also carried up. But, singular to relate, an adverse current of wind carried water and lumber back to the bed of the creek.
The tornado next struck the islands in the Susquehanna, where it did great damage. The two story frame house and barn belonging to Snyder, Sourbeer & Co., were leveled with the ground. When the tornado reached the house it smashed in all the windows and then raised the house from it foundation and dashed it to fragments. The occupants of the house, about fifteen in number, who saw the storm approach, took refuge in the cellar, and strange to say all escaped without any serious injury.
Mr. William Williamson was on the island working and when he saw the tornado coming he took hold of a tree to prevent being blown away. The tree was torn up by the roots, carried a distance of about a hundred yards and Mr. Williamson with it. He escaped with a few bruises.
Mr. John Campbell, who was also on the island, was blown into the river, but saves himself by clinging to a tree which floated by him.
The crops on the island were completely destroyed. The loss on the Island, it is estimated, amounts to between twelve and fifteen hundred dollars.
The tornado is said to have been about three quarters of a mile in width. Some of the hail stones which fell in the neighborhood of Safe Harbor were of extraordinary size, many of them as large as hen�s eggs. The cost of repairing broken windows will prove a heavy item. The crops between Safe Harbor and Millersville are much damaged, the corn in many places is cut to shreds while the other grain is badly beaten down and cut up.
We learn that in the vicinity of Marietta the crops were much cut and damaged.
After passing over Safe Harbor, the storm seems to have kept on its course towards the Maryland line, doing injury to the crops in Conestoga and Martic twps., but we have no particulars from these places.
The Columbia Spy
Oct. 13, 1860
Sales of Real Estate
The farm of C. L. Witmer, in Manor township, containing 93 acres, was sold at $170 per acre, D. Berger, purchaser.
The farm of Christian Miller, in Manor township containing 93 acres, sold for $177 per acre, A. Miller, purchaser.
The property known as Mundorf Island, situated in the Susquehanna river, below Safe Harbor, belonging to the estate of Isaac Mundorf, dec�d, sold for 8,700. Jacob Warfel purchaser.
Note: Lincoln was the Republican candidate, Brock, the southern Democratic candidate, Douglas, the northern Democratic candidate and Bell, the candidate for the Union Party. Lincoln won the election nationally with just under 40% of the vote. The Republican platform included a plank that forbad the extension of slavery into the newly created territories. It didn't outlaw slavery.
Lancaster Examiner & Herald.
November 14, 1860 .
Vote For PRESIDENT and VICE PRESIDENT, November 6TH, 1860.
Lancaster County - Official
Districts.................Lincoln..............................Brock...........................Douglas..............................Bell
Conestoga................386....................................56..................................43.....................................4
Indiantown...............281....................................48............................................................................................(part of Manor Twp.)
Martic......................218 ...................................67
Millerstown.............286....................................69............................................................................................(part of Manor Twp.).
Pequea.....................151....................................19 ..........................................................................1
Washington..............173..................................137.
.
The Columbia Spy.
September 14, 1861
Maris Hoopes, Esq., of Martic township, and W. M. Wiley, Esq. Of Lancaster, have been appointed Pay-masters, and Nathaniel Ellmaker, Jr., Esq. Of Salisbury township, Brigade Quarter-master in the U.S. Army.
The Columbia Spy.
Dec. 27, 1862.
RELIEF FOR SOLDIERS FAMILIES.
List of Local Relief Committees Appointed by the County Commissioners.
In consequence of the urgent appeals made by a large number of citizens of the city and county of Lancaster, the Commissioners of said county have appointed the following named gentlemen, a committee in their respective districts, to visit all needy families and ascertain and report the names of all persons, who are in actual want in consequence of their dependence on their husbands, parents or friend, being Volunteers or Militiamen of Pennsylvania, in the service of the general government. No person shall receive relief but those who are in absolute need.
.
Conestoga.
Samuel M. Wright,.
Casper Hiller,.
George Shoff .
.
Manor.
James Bones,.
Jacob Pickel,.
Edward House.
.
Martic.
Wm. C. Boyd.
Daniel Good.
John Armstrong.
.
Pequea.
Samuel Hess.
Benj. Snavely, miller.
Christian B. Mylin.
.
The Commissioners and Judges of the County Courts, constitution the Board of Relief request the committees to meet as soon as possible, and after visiting the families, made a list giving the names of the soldier and regiment, the number of the family under twelve years of age, and their condition, and to deliver the same to the Commissioners on or before Monday the 29th day of December, recommending one of their number to receive and pay out the different amounts allowed by the board of relief. Paper forms printed with blanks will be prepared and sent to the committees, which they will, after investigation, fill and return them completed to the Commissioners by mail or otherwise..
LEVI S. REIST,
JOHN DONER.
WM. SPENCER.
County Commissioners.
A. L. HAYES.
FERREE BRINTON
The Columbia Spy.
May 9, 1863
122nd Regiment.
Co. B Wounded.
.........................Private Joseph Hoak, .
Co. C. Wounded.
.........................John A. Huse, Bethesda.
Co. D. Wounded.
.........................Corporal W. Uffleman, Marticville.
Company H..
Killed
.........................Private Geo. Baily, Safe Harbor.
Wounded
.........................Henry Kitch, Millersville.
.........................Samuel Rose, Safe Harbor.
The Columbia Spy.
June 6, 1863
ENROLLING OFFICERS - The following persons have been appointed to make the enrollment of all persons in the district liable to military duty under the recent act of Congress:.
Conestoga Martin L. Kendig.
Indiantown (Manor Twp.) David F. Young.
Millerstown (Manor Twp.) Milton S. Brady.
Martic Wm. L. Lamborn.
Pequea John M. Rowe.
Washington Borough Levi D. Shuman.
These precautions for the defence of our area were the result of the movement of the South into the North during June 1863, which led to the burning of the Columbia-Wrightsville Bridge and the battle of Gettysburg. Citizens were sent to places like Safe Harbor, Shenk's Ferry and McCall's Ferry to prevent the rebels from crossing the river.
The Columbia Spy.
June 20, 1863.
DEFENSE OF LANCASTER COUNTY
By the following it will be seen that Gen. Couch has appointed Col. Franklin, of 122d Reg. P.V., to command the militia forces raised in this County for defense against invasion:.
INSTRUCTIONS TO COL. FRANKLIN
The citizens to be called out en masse.
Col. Franklin has received the following important dispatch from Gen. Couch;
HEADQUARTERS Dep�t of the Susquehanna, Harrisburg, June 15.
Col. Emlen Franklin - Sir: It is of vital importance that the fords and passenger bridges over the Susquehanna should be protected.
You will therefore make preparations, so soon as possible, to effectually guard those at ______, _____, and any others below.
.
Citizens should be turned out en masse to go right across the river to throw up rifle pits or breastworks - not interfering with travel until the last moment, as large quantities of stock will be crossing..
Select, reliable and energetic officers, or citizens, to carry out the Governor�s wishes and my own.
In no event must the enemy cross these bridges. You will therefore make preparations accordingly.
Get calm and determined men for your work..
D.N. Couch,.
Major General
.
Important Order from the Colonel Commanding - The Citizens to Report for Duty at Once Along the Line of the Susquehanna.
HEADQUARTERS OF DEFENCES OF LANCASTER COUNTY, JUNE 16, 1863.
General Order No. 1..
The citizens of the townships of Fulton, Little Britain, Colerain, Bart, Sadsbury, Eden, Paradise, Salisbury, Drumore, Providence, Strasburg, Leacock, Earl, East Earl, West Earl, shall rendezvous at Peach Bottom Ferry.
The citizens of the townships of Martic, Pequea, East and West Lampeter, shall rendezvous at McCall�s Ferry.
The citizens of Conestoga and Lancaster townships, shall rendezvous at Shenk�s Ferry.
The citizens of Manor and Millersville, shall rendezvous at Safe Harbor.
The citizens of Columbia Borough, East and West Hempfield, Manheim, Manheim Borough, Mount Joy Township and Borough, Warwick, Elizabeth and Rapho shall rendezvous at Columbia.
The citizens of Marietta, East and West Donegal, and Conoy, shall rendezvous at Marietta..
The citizens of Carnarvon, Brecknock, East Cocalico, West Cocalico, Clay, Ephrata and Lancaster city shall rendezvous in Lancaster city.
Each citizen shall provide his own arms and ammunition, until a sufficient supply of arms reaches this department also his own rations for three days to be carried with him. Also, entrenching tools - either an axe, shovel or pick.
Officers will be assigned to the command of the several points, and will give the necessary directions.
The line of the river from the Chester county line to York Furnace Bridge, is placed under the command of Major Thaddeus Stevens, Jr. 112d. P.V.
The line of the river from York Furnace Bridge to the line of Columbia Borough, is placed under the command of Major R. W. Shenk, 135th P.V., headquarters at Safe Harbor..
Columbia borough and the line of the river to Marietta is placed under the command of Major Haldeman - Headquarters, Columbia.
The line of the river from Marietta to the Dauphin county line is placed under the command of Lieut. Johnson, Co. H, 135th P.V.
Citizens equipped and ordered as above are designed for the defense of the County, and may arrive at the places of rendezvous singly, in squads or companies, and report to the commanding officer of the line who will report the same direct to the officer commanding defenses.
As the honor and safety of Lancaster county depends upon a prompt obedience to this order, the Commanding officer earnestly trusts that it may be forthwith respected..
By Command of
Emlen Franklin
Col. Commanding Forces of Lancaster Co.
This is Lincoln's second inaugural, considered the greatest political speech of all time. It was delivered on March 4, 1865 after he had taken the oath of office and just a few months before his assassination. In it Lincoln begins preparing for peace and binding the nations wounds..
.
Examiner & Herald.
March 8, 1865
.
Fellow-Countrymen:.
At this second appearing to take the oath of the Presidential office there is less occasion for an extended address than there was at the first. Then a statement somewhat in detail of a course to be pursued seemed fitting and proper. Now, at the expiration of four years, during which public declarations have been constantly called forth on every point and phase of the great contest which still absorbs the attention and engrosses the energies of the nation, little that is new could be presented. The progress of our arms, upon which all else chiefly depends, is as well known to the public as to myself, and it is, I trust, reasonably satisfactory and encouraging to all. With high hope for the future, no prediction in regard to it is ventured.
On the occasion corresponding to this four years ago all thoughts were anxiously directed to an impending civil war. All dreaded it, all sought to avert it. While the inaugural address was being delivered from this place, devoted altogether to saving the Union without war, insurgent agents were in the city seeking to destroy it without war--seeking to dissolve the Union and divide effects by negotiation. Both parties deprecated war, but one of them would make war rather than let the nation survive, and the other would accept war rather than let it perish, and the war came.
One-eighth of the whole population were colored slaves, not distributed generally over the Union, but localized in the southern part of it. These slaves constituted a peculiar and powerful interest. All knew that this interest was somehow the cause of the war. To strengthen, perpetuate, and extend this interest was the object for which the insurgents would rend the Union even by war, while the Government claimed no right to do more than to restrict the territorial enlargement of it. Neither party expected for the war the magnitude or the duration which it has already attained. Neither anticipated that the cause of the conflict might cease with or even before the conflict itself should cease. Each looked for an easier triumph, and a result less fundamental and astounding. Both read the same Bible and pray to the same God, and each invokes His aid against the other. It may seem strange that any men should dare to ask a just God's assistance in wringing their bread from the sweat of other men's faces, but let us judge not, that we be not judged. The prayers of both could not be answered. That of neither has been answered fully. The Almighty has His own purposes. "Woe unto the world because of offenses; for it must needs be that offenses come, but woe to that man by whom the offense cometh." If we shall suppose that American slavery is one of those offenses which, in the providence of God, must needs come, but which, having continued through His appointed time, He now wills to remove, and that He gives to both North and South this terrible war as the woe due to those by whom the offense came, shall we discern therein any departure from those divine attributes which the believers in a living God always ascribe to Him? Fondly do we hope, fervently do we pray, that this mighty scourge of war may speedily pass away. Yet, if God wills that it continue until all the wealth piled by the bondsman's two hundred and fifty years of unrequited toil shall be sunk, and until every drop of blood drawn with the lash shall be paid by another drawn with the sword, as was said three thousand years ago, so still it must be said "the judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether."
With malice toward none, with charity for all, with firmness in the right as God gives us to see the right, let us strive on to finish the work we are in, to bind up the nation's wounds, to care for him who shall have borne the battle and for his widow and his orphan, to do all which may achieve and cherish a just and lasting peace among ourselves and with all nations.
The Columbia Spy.
July 29, 1865
ANOTHER STORM - Another storm of wind, rain and hail, almost approaching a tornado, passed over the southwestern section of the county last evening between four and five o�clock, doing much damage to the buildings, crops, &c. It seems to have made a wide swath, and visited the townships of Manor, Conestoga and Pequea, probably further down, but we hear noghting of its ravages below the last name township. In Manor we hear of much destruction of tobacco and corn, and the tearing down of fences and uprooting of trees, carrying away hay and grain stacks, &c. Among the suffers in Manor are Messrs. John H. Hersehy, Benj. Brenneman, Jas. Bones, John Warfel, Joseph Wright, Martin Miller, Henry Mellinger, John Neff, A. R. Witmer, and a number of others whose names we could not learn. Mr. Warfel had the windows of his house blown in and wheat stacks carried away and many trees uprooted. The corn and tobacco in many places is totally destroyed, having been cut to pieces by the hail.
At Safe Harbor the large bridge spanning the Conestoga was blown from the piers and one-half the timber carried for distance of hald a mile. This bridge was built about thrity years ago at an expense of $4,900 to the country. Several weeks ago it was struck by a storm, and considerable injured, and was just undergoing repairs when wrecked..
In Pequea, Henry Hess has his wagon shed blown down and many trees uprooted. The damage was considerable in this township, but we have been unable to learn the names fo the sufferers, or particular localities. The corn and tobacco was especially damaged by the hail stones, which are said to have been of remarkable size.
Express
The Columbia Spy.
Sept. 21, 1867
C. & P. D. RAILROAD. - The work on the Columbia & Port Deposit railroad has again been commenced, but only - we believe, to extend into Bletz' saw mill, so as to give him a siding to ship his lumber on.
The Columbia Spy.
April 17, 1869
A Corps of Engineers for the Columbia & Port Deposit Railroad Company have arrived at this place, and will commence operations immediately.
Intelligencer
April 5, 1870
OBITUARY - We regret to announce the death of the venerable and Rev. J. J. Strine, of the Lutheran Church, so long and so well, and so favorably known, not only to our own immediate community, but to the people of the entire county. He died of heart disease at his residence in Centre Square, this city, yesterday afternoon about 5 � o�clock. He had been in his usual good health, until the last few days when, having contracted a cold, he was confined to the house. Just before the death, he was sitting in his chair and said to his wife, "I feel considerable pain about my chest," and so saying laid his head against the back of the chair and died without a struggle or a groan.
Mr. Strine was in his 78th year, and had been in the Christian Ministry 55 years, having studied theology in Reading, with the distinguished Rev. Dr. G. H. E. Muhlenberg, then Pastor of the Trinity Lutheran Church. He preached altogether in the German language, and has had charge of congregations in Elizabethtown, Strasburg, Millersville, Rohrerstown, Conestoga Centre, Washington Borough, Safe Harbor and other parts of the county. He was universally beloved for his kindness of heart, and for his forbearing, forgiving and conciliatory manners. He rarely, if ever, entered into contentions and bickering that too often mark the course of public men..
Far from the madding crowd�s ignoble strife
His sober wishes never learned to stray:
Along the calm sequestered vale of life
He kept the even tenor of his way
At the time of his death, he was, with one exception, the oldest minister in the Eastern Synod of Pennsylvania. During his ministry he has united in marriage about five thousand couples; has baptized over one thousand persons; and has officiated at about one thousand funerals - in several instances having married and buried the grand-parents, parents and children of the same families. he will be buried on Thursday afternoon at 2 � o�clock.
The Columbia Spy.
Nov. 5, 1870
Work is still being prosecuted on the Columbia and Port Deposit railroad. Some two and a half miles of it are graded below town. Messrs Wolf and Upp are putting things forward at a lively rate. They are to put on a heavier force at an early day. This I have from good authority.
The Columbia Spy
January 28, 1871
Local Intelligence
The quarters of the contractor of the Columbia & Port Deposit R. R. will be at Safe Harbor.
The Columbia Spy.
Feb. 25, 1871
Work on the Columbia & Port Deposit R. R. has begun in earnest about Safe Harbor, and people are confidently expecting an early completion.
The Columbia Spy.
March 11, 1871.
Local Intelligence
The laborers on the Columbia & Port Deposit railroad struck last week for higher wages. They were receiving $1.50 but wanted $1.75 per day..
Rioting and drunkenness followed the strike. After several days suspension, they resumed work on Tuesday at $1.50 per day.
The Columbia Spy.
March 25, 1871
A BRIDGE AT MCCALL�S FERRY - There can hardly be a doubt that a bridge across the Susquehanna at McCall�s Ferry, uniting by a common highway Lancaster and York counties, would prove of very great advantage to the business interests of the people of Lancaster. The lower section of York county contains a large, intelligent and thrifty population, for whom this city would have many attractions, and who would much prefer coming here to make their purchases than to go elsewhere, but who are restrained by the want of a bridge. The ferries along the river are slow and costly, and very often cannot be used on account of high water. Here is a case in point. On Saturday two gentlemen came to this city from York county on business, and started home yesterday. On reaching the river at McCall�s they found that in the meantime it had swollen to such an extent that it was impossible to cross, and, within two miles of their homes - almost in sight of their dwellings- were compelled to turn back, come to this city and go by way of Columbia, this making a detour of forty miles. Such inconveniences as these are the people of York County frequently subjected to for want of a bridge. The project of building a bridge has been agitated for several years, and subscriptions taken up, but of late the enterprise seems to languish. It is estimated that for $60,000 or $70,000 a substantial structure could be erected. This is a small sum of money when we consider the benefits to be derived from it by our business people. The people of the lower townships of York are ready to contribute their share, the hesitation to push forward the work seeming to be all on this side of the river. - Express.
If this bridge were built, it will open up an avenue of trade on the Columbia & Port Deposit Railroad, and bring passengers and traffic to Columbia..
The Columbia Spy.
July 22, 1871.
Local Brevities.
Sunday's Storm
The barn of John Sauders, Indiantown, was struck by lightning and considerable injured about the gable..
A tobacco shed belonging to Abm. Miller, of Manor township, was blown down, burying beneath it John Miller, son of Christian Miller, of West Hempfield township, the boy having sought refuge from the storm under it. His father missed him and sought long before he found him, and then life was extinct. It is a most distressing case. The boy was about fourteen years of age, and when found a heavy timber was lying across his abdomen.
At Millersville many trees were uprooted and fences demolished; but we have not heard of any building being much damaged.
The Columbia Spy.
September 21, 1872
Our friends will be glad to learn that work has been resumed on the Columbia & Port Deposit R. R. between Columbia and Safe Harbor, under Wolfe & Upp, B. G. Gonder & son, John McGrann, John Donoghun & Bro., contractors respectively.
The head-quarters of the engineer corps, J. B. Hutchinson, Esq., in charge is at Port Deposit. The Columbia Division is under the supervision of J. W. Beecher, of Columbia; Safe Harbor Division is under B. P. Homell, Safe Harbor; and the Port Deposit Division under F. A. Fletcher, Port Deposit.
Everything is working systematically and successfully, and we look for earnest effort for early completion of the road.
The Columbia Spy.
January 25, 1873
The great freshet which has been disturbing the Susquehanna and other rivers was at its height at this point on Saturday night and Sunday morning..
The ice passed from the dame without doing any damage.
At Safe Harbor, at the confluence of the Susquehanna and Conestoga, the waters rose on Sunday afternoon four or five feet higher than ever before known. It appears that the ice that broke on the river farther up, gorged, on Saturday, at Mandorf�s Island and a number of smaller islands in the Susquehanna near Shenk�s Ferry, some ten miles below Safe Harbor. The river, being already swollen by the melting snow and the heavy rain storm of Thursday night, backed water rapidly, overflowing its banks, submerging the Columbia and Port Deposit Railroad, and doing considerable damage to the property along shore. By seven o�clock on Sunday morning a considerable portion of Safe Harbor was submerged, and the water in the bar room of Miller�s Exchange Hotel was two feet deep. The river remained at about this height until 2 o�clock p.m. when it raised suddenly several feet, reaching some four or five feet above the high water mark of the great flood of 1864. Although the Conestoga was greatly swollen, the mightier volume of water in the gorged Susquehanna forced it backwards and compelled it to run, in a raging torrent, up stream. First, the newly erected abutment of the Railroad, near the mouth of the Conestoga, was split in two, and the piers in the stream were greatly damaged. Then, the great masses of ice and volumes of water, still rushing up stream, struck the bridge that spans the Conestoga about a mile above its mouth, lifted it from its foundation and carried it for a considerable distance up stream, finally breaking it in two and landing one-half of it on the Manor side, and the other half on the Conestoga side, of the stream.
About this time the barns of Edward Hess and Mrs. Campbell, built on what was considered a safe distance from high water mark, were swept away and carried up stream, while the frame stable of Benjamin Hess was lifted from its foundation, carried away for a distance of 100 years, and then sat down again without apparent damage.
At Rockville, some three miles above Safe Harbor, the waters of the Conestoga backed up until they overflowed the banks and stood and one in two feet in depth on the first floor of Daniel Herr�s hotel.
At Safe Harbor, the banks of both the Susquehanna and Conestoga are piled with great masses of ice from 15 to 25 feet in height.
The most exciting scene connected with the flood was the danger and escape of Mr. John Ells and family, who live on an island in the Susquehanna, opposite Safe Harbor. As the waters rose, the island was almost overflowed, and all Mr. Ells� stock, consisting of two horses, twelve head of cattle and a number of hogs were swept away and drowned. There being every probability that the waters would continue to rise, Mr. Ells and family resolved on the desperate venture of crossing from the island to the shore, on the mighty gorge of ice, through which and under which the great river was struggling for a passage. Over this unsubstantial and treacherous bridge of irregular masses of ice, with all the terrors of death staring them in the face, Mr. Ells, with his wife, two daughters and a son, seven or eight years old, started afoot and reached the Lancaster county shore in safety, about three o�clock Sunday afternoon.
About 2 o�clock Monday morning the ice gorge broke, with a terrible crash and the waters receded rapidly. At 9 o�clock Monday morning, the river was only about 5 or 6 feet above its usual height at Safe Harbor, and no further damage anticipated.
At Turkey Hill the water rose 25 or 30 feet, and flooded the cabins built along the line of the Columbia and Port Deposit Railroad, for the accommodation of the workmen, many of whom had to take boats and enter the upstairs windows, in order to save their effects.
At noon Monday, Commissioner Mehaffey, in company with Capt. E. McMellen and a force of workmen, went to Safe Harbor to tear down the bridge which was misplaced by the ice. The prompt action will probably save thousands of dollars to the county, for had the bridge been allowed to remain in its present position and go down as the ice would move off, the timbers and iron work would be strained to such an extent as to be of no further use.
LATER TUESDAY
On Tuesday, there was no abatement of the flood at Safe Harbor and at points north. The ice gorge is unbroken, and Safe Harbor is submerged, the water being up to the second story windows.
The Intelligencer of Tuesday, speaks of the arrival of the stage from Safe Harbor, via Conestoga Centre. It had water-marks on the curtains one foot above the seats on which the passengers ride- that being the height of the water on the high ground in rear of the Mansion House, in Safe Harbor, where the stage had been placed, for safe keeping..
The gorge below Harbor is said to be at the York Furnace bridge, against he piers of which the ice lodged and is piled up twenty feet high. The bridge here was swept away by the ice for the third time, a number of years ago. Mr. Warfel, who owns and resides on Munford�s Island, below Harbor, lost all his live stock and escaped himself, with his two children, by crossing on the gorged ice to the shore.
STILL LATER
Advises for Port Deposit represent the people of the little town as suffering an aggregation of woes. The ice gorge opposite the town is from 25 to 30 feet high, commencing at the boom-pier on the west bank. The ice is solid from the bottom and the current finds its way through the town and the canal. The injury in the canal is serious, the bank being destroyed for a mile..
All the up-town families on the river side have been forced to leave their homes and quarter upon their friends. The Town Hall has been thrown open for the accommodation of those who could not find shelter elsewhere, and such conveniences provided us circumstances would admit. Communication between the upper and lower portions of the town through the street has been entirely cut off except by boat. The water in the main streets is 6 feet deep.
A doomed family on Carr�s Island, consisting of husband, wife and five children, were entirely helpless.
There are very few houses in the town that have escaped injury of some kind. One of them was the birth place of Postmaster Creswell, and his venerable mother could be seen at the window calmly looking at the ruin at her feet. The residence of Jacob Tome, millionaire of the place, is uninjured. This house is literally built on a rock, and a little higher elevated than the surrounding houses.
A short account of previous floods along the Susquehanna.
The Columbia Spy
February 1, 1873
HIGH WATER ITEMS - The recent troubles at Safe Harbor and the impending danger of a sudden break-up in the Susquehanna, impart special interest to any items about the high waters.
The reporter of the Baltimore Sun, who visited our office on last Saturday, learns from the people of Safe Harbor, that the overflow of January 19 was the worst ever yet known at that point. The first great flood in the history of that town was in 1800, known as the "Logan flood" , so called because of the drowning of a portion of the family of a man named Logan, an inhabitant of Mundorf�s Island, Logan himself with a part of his family, was driven out of his house, and lived in a flat boat, tied to a tree, for several days, until the water subsided, and he was gotten ashore by those on the main land. At this time, the Conestoga Island, (where Ells resided), was not covered with waters, showing at least five feet more of overflow in 1873 than in 1800. In 1832 another flood, this time by a rain freshet, visited the place, when the waters in the Exchange and Miller�s hotel reached two feet, and flooded many houses. In 1857 the river again overflowed, this time by ice gorging, and the water was nearly three feet deep in the house. In 1864, the canal dam breaking save the town, and in 1873 the water reached a point three feet eight inches above the highest mark ever known.
The Columbia Spy
May 3, 1873
Local Intelligence
Invalid soldiers, in case fo total disability, now get a pension of $25. Per month instead of $8., as here to fore according to a decision of the Congressional Committee...
The grading of the Columbia and Port deposit R. R. has been completed as far as Peach Bottom for some time, and its ironing is now ordered as far as the slate quarries, about 101 miles.
Dr. J. C. Gatchell has been appointed Post Master at Safe Harbor.
The Columbia Spy..
August 22, 1874
CAMP-MEETING AT MOUNTVILLE. - The Church of God Camp-meeting at Mountville, will commence September 10th, to continue upwards of a week. Rev. J. W. Deshong, of Washington Borough is one of the leading spirits in its management.
The Columbia Spy..
August 29, 1874
Col. Hutchinson, who has had charge of the Columbia & Port Deposit R. R. since 1898, and who has made Port Deposit his head quarters will come to Columbia about September 1st., to make his head quarters here, for a time at least. He will remain under his charge three corps of Engineers, one at Port Deposit, one at Safe Harbor and one at Columbia.
The Columbia Spy
June 25, 1875
The "ring" men throughout the county are reported as actively at work organizing for the coming campaign. Several of the "fat" offices are already promised in the event of certain doubtful adventures proving successful; Manor township is to have the collectorship, and Columbia the assessorship. Lancaster is to be ignored entirely. Only this and nothing more. There is a Rubicon to pass before all these glorious results are obtained.
The Columbia Spy..
September 22, 1875..
Over the C.&P.D. R.R.
At Safe Harbor a new depot is in course of construction, and will be completed next month. An inspection of the track is to be made some time in October.
The Columbia Spy..
November 27, 1875..
Local Brevities
The C. P. D. R. R. runs to Turkey Hill.
On to Safe Harbor is the contractor�s cry.
While this pow-wow doctor wasn�t from our area we did have pow-wow doctors here and I thought, how they practiced their craft would be interesting...
Examiner & Herald.
January 19, 1876
An Old Fashioned Witch. - SUPERSTITION THAT IS TWO CENTURIES BEHIND THE TIMES - MEDICAL PRACTICES IN SOUTHERN PENNSYLVANIA- PEOPLE WHO BELIEVE IN CHARMS, SPELLS, HAZEL RODS, AND HOCUS PCUS GENERALLY - HOLDING HER POWER FOR HALF A CENTURY. - The New York Sun of a recent date contains the following communication from this county on the subject of witchcraft and its practice in this section of country. The article reads as follows;
LANCASTER, PA., JAN. 6. - We had a long drive nearly down to the borders of Berks, past log houses a hundred years old, past people who have never traveled by railway and who have lived their years upon the same farms where they were born. We were in quest of the homestead of Granny Tribble, the most famous of backwoods sorceresses, and some of the most successful in the practice of primitive black art. She is visited, fed, and believed in by hundreds of simple people in her part of the country.
"Pow-wowing" is an institution in this section of the State. Nearly every town, hamlet, borough or village in Lancaster, Lebanon and Berks, has its witch or soothsayer, and these people really derive large incomes from their reputed powers. They profess to heal the sick, detect crime, reveal the past, present and future, bring about pestilence and famine, destroy crops, put spells on horses and cattle, and plagues on individuals, restore lost articles, and in all these specialties their professions are received with implicit faith by those who patronize them. Granny Tribble is said to be the most successful of them all. Her works are known far and wide.
Our drive led us past Kuauer�s, a small post village of Brecknock and the landlord of the White Hall inn there, in great seriousness and earnestness, directed us on our way to Granny Tribble�s.
GRANNY TRIBBLE AT HOME
The house was half frame, half log, with a chimney on one end, containing enough material to build a dozen small houses. We were invited to enter, not with a pleasant bow or a glad smile, but with a haughty sway of the head and a sweep of the hand, which seemed to say, "Come in,, if you want to." The woman was tall and straight to her shoulders, but her head bent forward until her chin nearly touched her breast. She was more than eighty years old, with gray hair, dark eyes, a fair white skin, and regular features. She must have been beautiful once. She rested upon a heavy cane, and, half turning she told us to be seated.
She seated herself in an old hickory chair, and said, "Well, well, what is it ye want ? Are ye crossed in love, sick or unhappy ? What is the trouble ?"
This was very much like the soothsaying of two hundred years ago. Her story, which she did not give us until after some solicitation, was equally old-fashioned in the simplicity and assurance of its pretensions. It was hard to believe that the woman who was talking lived in Pennsylvania and in the nineteenth century.
Her father, Heinrich Tribble, she said, was a seventh son, born among the Hartz mountains. His grandmother had inherited from her grandmother a rare and mysterious book, which, for nearly 300 years, had been handed down in the family, and ever looked into except by the owners. When the last grandmother was dying she called Heinrich Tribble to her bedside and predicted that he would marry a seventh daughter, and that in course of time his seventh child would be a daughter, and to that daughter she would leave an heirloom, a book more precious than gold. She further stated that that seventh child would be born with a "veil on," and that when she reached the age of seventeen she should receive the book and all its contents. The aged sorceress died, and, according to her prediction, everything came truly to pass. The father was enjoined to keep this word and follow out her commands to the very letter, "and ever since," said the old woman, "I have been in the possession of the book left to me by my father�s grandmother."..
"When I had read it three years I made up my mind to commence business, and I went to work; and since then I have been doing for myself, and have managed to get along without a husband.
AN EXTRAORDINARY MATERIA MEDICA
"In that book I can see anything I wish. It is not printed, but written. How old it is I cannot say. The first thing I ever learned from it was to stop the flow of blood. It is all in Dutch, and I must say the words in Dutch. I can stop a wound from bleeding by saying: "Blood, blood was not made to flow; the Lord, himself hath willed it so." (this is the translation.) I say these words, pass my finger-over and across the wound, blow on it three times, and the blood will stop flowing, the wound heal up, and there will be no inflammation. I have three words yet to say when I do this. The words I cannot tell you."
To cure scalds, burns, bruises, sores, ring-worm, scrofula, and kindred diseases, the old woman has another "pow-wow." It consists of two verses, which are repeated while the sores are smeared with grease rendered from the weasel. Wild fire, small-pox, and the itch must be treated with grease rendered from a black cat that has died with its throat cut."
"These are the commonest uses of pow-wowing," she went on. "I almost forgot to mention the falling fits and �falling away." Babies waste away to skin and bone, and their mother�s don�t know what�s the mater with them. They bring the little things here and I take the spell off them and they get fat and healthy. "Spells are put on babies by evil spirits, and the innocents waste away and die, just like the plant that withers for want of water. My book tells me what evil spirit hangs over the child, and that spirit must first be killed. If that is done, the little ones live to a very old age !"
Granny was asked whether she had faith in it. "Faith in it !" said she; "indeed I have. Nothing would work unless I believed and know it would under the charm. I have never failed. I have brought back horses, and cattle, and money. I have brought back men�s wives, and daughters, and sons; and I have brought back husbands from the paths of vice to their firesides.
The Granny stretched up her thin, bony arm, crooked her finger and mysteriously shook her head. "Yes, indeed on the wish bank over the meadow, many and many a time, have I sat with my hazel rod and studied the moon and the stars, and read their signs, and heard the voice of the spirits telling me this and this and this. I did as I was told, and I have yet to know of a single man, woman or child, I ever deceived or advised wrongly."
"Yes, I am often asked to do wrong. I can conjure, to be sure. I had an enemy long ago, and he�s pulled frogs and worms out of his hide for blaspheming me. A farmer cursed me, and his stock and children died. A toll man reviled me, and he was carried off by unknown hands to the hills, where he nearly starved to death. How he got there he does not know."
She was asked where she kept her book, "That is buried, and it will be out of sight many days. I dare not look at it myself. It is wrapped in the veil that came over my face when I was brought to earth, and everything is buried in ashes from the wood of the cypress tree. I have made my peace with Heaven, and do no more injury to others. Their crops may flourish for all I care, but some must be punished. Many a midnight I have walked around farms and made them barren for a season. I have cured a horse by rubbing his tongue with birch bark and repeating a German appeal to the Most High. I have cursed St. Anthony�s dance by the "fire stone," and have relieved people from all bodily complaints by the lily root.".
"Salt in the stocking prevents toothache; a piece of paper, with �Hear me, near me, fly not from me,� written with a raven�s quill with lamb�s blood, is a sure protection from assault or danger by flood or war, or pestilence, or disease; four eyelashes wrapped in muslin and carried in the left shoe will increase the sight and the speed of walking; dried snake skin about the wrists prevents apoplexy; and at this Granny pulled up her sleeves and exhibited two ornamented bracelets made out of the skin of beautiful rattle-snakes. Several years ago, she said, she had two fine copperheads stuffed and mounted on a spiral wire that would around her arms or neck just like a real serpent. This was to aid the free circulation of blood, and to keep off nervousness and dyspepsia.
"For luck at sea, carry the hazel blossom, wet or dry for chills, the fire fly; for contagious diseases, such as small pox, &e., black fur from the left fore foot of a cat.
"To cure ringbone on animals, take a chicken that is perfectly black and less than a year old, and cut its head off. The blood flowing is put on the sore every five hours for three times. To prevent erysipelas from spreading, use the blood of a black cat. This has done its work when doctors have failed.
"A child lost the use of its arms and limbs. I bathed it in the rain drops under the eaves, dried it with a wash cloth, buried a shoe found on the wayside and that child got well."..
These and many other cases were related by this strange woman. She lives alone, and makes a comfortable living. She has no charges, but takes what is given to her as a present. The farmers fear her, and have great confidence in her powers. She has lived among them for fifty years, and has never been known to be sick.
Examiner & Herald..
April 12, 1876
The Columbia & Port Deposit Railroad - The Columbia & Port Deposit Railroad will soon be opened for travel and freight as far as Pequea station, which is 14 miles from Columbia. The time table which went into effect on Monday shows three "passenger and freight" trains daily, each way, leaving Columbia for Pequea at 6:00 a.m., 12:20, 4:20 p.m. respectively, and arriving at Columbia from Pequea at 8:40 a.m., 3:00 and 6:35 p.m. respectively. The time from Columbia to Washington will be about 15 minutes. The time of the whole distance will be about one hour...
The passenger stations on the road will be Columbia, Washington, Turkey Hill, Safe Harbor, Shenk�s Ferry and Pequea, though for the present trains will not stop at, or passengers be received for Turkey Hill.
The Columbia Spy
February 10, 1877
CONDITION OF THE RIVER
The ice moved off the river last Saturday night and Sunday morning, and since then great quantities have been passing down.
At McCall�s Ferry the ice is firm and solid and the result is a jam from that point six or seven miles up the river. But the mild weather of the
past week is gradually breaking the strength of the ice and unless there should be a sudden flood, or a cold �spell� to strengthen the ice gorges, no danger is likely to result.
A dispatch to the Philadelphia Times of Tuesday, says that at McCall�s Ferry, the ice gorge far exceeds anything of the kind ever seen on
the Susquehanna. A gentleman who arrived from there to-day reports that the ice is piled up to the height of from 30 to 40 feet. Should the rain which
has been falling nearly all day, cause a sudden rise in the river at McCall�s Ferry, the gorge will in all probability give way and carry everything before
it in its downward course. The citizens are out to-night in force patrolling the river front. Lookouts have been established above and below the town of
Port Deposit, and mounted couriers are in readiness to warn the inhabitants of the impending danger. The ice which has made its appearance so far is
very large and bulky, and in most instances the cakes measure from twelve to eighteen inches in thickness and from ten to twenty feet in length.
A dispatch of Wednesday states that �Mr. Hutchinson, who came down in the afternoon fro McCall�s Ferry, reports that the ice gorge at that place
still holds fast, and that the gorge extends for six miles up the river. The water is backed up beyond an immense body of ice, causing quite a freshet
along the river banks, but as yet no damage to person or property has taken place. The McCall�s Ferry gorge at present holds the key to the situation,
and should the river at that point manage to secure a sufficient vent, the ganger which at present threatens Port Deposit may not be productive of any
very serious results. In case, however, that the river is unable to flow on its course with its accustomed rapidity, there is danger ahead. The usual lookouts are being kept up throughout the entire night.
The Columbia Spy..
July 12, 1879
Friends of deceased soldiers are requested to hand to Postmaster Mullen, before Monday next, the names of those who have no stones to mark their graves, in any of our cemeteries. The list will be forwarded on that day, and after that it my be too late. Don't fail to attend to this immediately.
The "free" bridge is the ice that forms on the Susquehanna ..
The Columbia Spy
December 25, 1880
The new free bridge across the Susquehanna is nearly ready for the traveling public. A little more cold will fix it. "As the day begins to lengthen the cold begins to strengthen' is the old adage.
The Columbia Spy
November 5, 1881..
Local Intelligence
RAILROAD WRECK AND ACCIDENT - On Monday evening about 8:30, a freight train northward bound on the C. &P. D R.R., drawn by engine No. 463, ran into a rock, which had fallen upon the track about two miles north of Safe Harbor. The rock and dirt accompanying it were no doubt loosened and precipitated down the hill, to the track below by the action of the heavy rain on Monday. The engine and several cars left the track and were thrown down the embankment towards the river. The engineer, fireman and brakeman jumped. The engineer, Mr. Ellis Ault, was caught by the tank and instantly killed, one leg having been severed from the body, which was found between the engine and tender. The brakemen escaped without injury and the injuries of the fireman, named Sohn, were not serious.
The engine was found standing at the water�s edge, upright, blowing off steam, and the brake valves were still in motion. The pilot only was in the water. Nothing about the cabin was disturbed or broken, and if the men had remained on board, they would not have been injured. This, of course, they did not know, and safety generally lies in jumping...
Mr. Ault, the engineer who was killed, was one of the finest young men in the company�s service and generally beloved by those who knew him. He was a active of this county and came from the neighborhood of Gap, where his remains were buried on Thursday, the funeral party going on the 8:35 train. He leaves three motherless children, who, together with a sister and an aged father, depended upon the deceased for support. He was a Union soldier during the war, and said to have been a member of the Frederick Post of the G.A.R.
The Columbia Spy..
November 12, 1881
THE C. & P. D. R. R. WRECK. - All the cars which were thrown from the track of the C. & P. D. R. R., track above Safe Harbor, have been removed. The engine only remains. How to raise it is the problem which is yet to be solved. No doubt all the parts will be removed as far as possible, and the weight of the engine thus reduced. It will take time and labor. A temporary derrick is to be guilt to do the lifting.
The Columbia Spy..
November 26, 1881
In the efforts last Sunday to get the wrecked locomotive from the water, up to the track near Safe Harbor, a number of men were hurt. The ropes broke and struck several repairmen. The injuries are not so serious as might have been expected.
The Columbia Spy..
Jan. 7, 1882
John P. Good of Conestoga was elected Recorder.
John J. Good of Martic was elected Treasure.
Albert Hagen, of Martic prison inspector
The Columbia Spy..
May 5, 1883
In the not very distant future Millersville, Safe Harbor, Quarryville, Strasburg and New Holland will talk to Columbia over telephone wires.
The Columbia Spy
Sept. 22, 1883
Turnpike Notes-The annual election for officers of the Columbia & Washington Turnpike Company was held last Friday afternoon, with the following result:
President - John Fendrich.
Directors - Joseph P. Cottrell, J. B. Garber, John A. Brush, J. H. Herr, Jacob Seitz and Benjamin Hershey.
Sec. and Treas. _ Will H. Fendrich..
A dividend of six percent was declared, payable on and after September 25, on application to the treasurer.
The Columbia Spy..
August 9, 1884..
THE GREAT RAIN STORM
Throughout the county, however, the principal showers were in the afternoon...
A farmer from the vicinity of Conestoga Centre stated that more rain fell in that neighborhood during Monday�s storm than fell in the same time at any period this summer. Large quantities of hail fell in Conestoga, Pequea and Providence township, had nine acres of fine tobacco almost ruined; and Abram and Jacob Hess, of Pequea township, also had their tobacco badly cut. Reports of injury to the tobacco crop are consistently coming in, and the loss must consequently be great.
Bishop John Neumann was made a Saint on June 19, 1979 by Pope Paul VI.. He visited St. Mary�s, Safe Harbor, once to dedicate the foundation in 1853 and again in 1857 to dedicate the church. The Conestoga Area Historical Society has a number of artifacts from this church, probably blessed by St. John Neumann.
New Era
December 26, 1884
It is proposed to canonize the late Right Reverend John Nepomancene Neumann, for eight years Roman Catholic Bishop of Philadelphia. He died in that office in 1860 and was buried beneath the sanctuary of St. Peter�s Church in that city, and it is related that numerous miracles have been wrought at his tomb. Of course, by the law of the church, he cannot be enrolled in the catalogue of Saints for a quarter of a century yet, but the collection of evidence concerning his godly life and the miracles at his tomb will be immediately begun.
Columbia Spy..
January 24, 1885
There was a serious freight wreck on the Columbia & Port Deposit Railroad, at Stehman�s bridge, Washington borough, on Thursday...
A big land slide occurred on the Columbia & Port Deposit Railroad, near Safe Harbor, on Thursday evening, necessitating transfer of passengers.
The Columbia Spy
August 8, 1885..
Burying the Dead
Upon the recommendation of General Welsh Post, the following persons were appointed by the County Commissioners to bury indigent soldiers, dying in the districts named:..
Washington Borough - Lower Ward: Andrew Kane, Abraham K. Stauffer; Upper Ward: Frederick G. Charles, Wm. E. Siple.
Manor New - John Herrick, J. R. McDonald...
The Columbia Spy..
April 10, 1886..
C. & P. D. Railroad Items
A tremendous landside occurred on the line of the Columbia and Port Deposit Railroad near Safe Harbor, Pa., at an early hour on Tuesday morning, and the tracks were so covered and damaged by huge masses of rocks and earth, that notwithstanding a large force of men were immediately put to work, no south-bound trains reached Port Deposit until 5 p.m., travel in the meantime being transferred around the obstructed tracks.
The Columbia Spy..
November 20, 1886..
More Tombstones for Deceased Soldiers
A circular has been issued, through National headquarters, to all the Grand Army Posts, instructing them to procure the names of such deceased soldiers, with their company, regiment, &c., who have not yet been provided with tombstones. The same are to be forwarded to headquarters, when the tombstones will be furnished by the Government...
If there are any graves of soldiers in this end of the county, which have not been provided with stones, the names, with company and regiment in which they served, should be handed at once to Ex-Postmaster Mullen, or sent to the Spy office.
I checked several weeks after seeing this to see if Samuel Evans had done articles on other families from our area but didn�t see anything.
Lancaster Weekly Examiner..
January 15, 1887..
A SKETCH BY SQUIRE SAMUEL EVANS..
The Pioneer Settlers in Conestoga Township in 1717 and Their Posterity and Change of Homesteads on Down to the Latter Part of the Century.
..
Joseph and Christian Steman, (commonly called Stoneman) the pioneer settlers of this name, located in Conestoga Township, which it was a part of Chester County in the year 1717. The Brubakers, Brennemans, Hersheys, Greiders, Bares, Erismans, Myers, Howsers, Howricks, Swarrs, Goods, Weavers, Martins, and Stoners, Swiss Mennonites, also came and settled in the vicinity of Conestoga in the same year that the Stemans came, and it is quite likely that the latter were also Swiss Mennonites...
Many of these families were then, and subsequently, connected by marriage ties, which brought them into close fellowship, which has been kept up until the present time. Several of them were Mennonite ministers, and to-day many of that class can be found who bear the names of the old pioneer settlers.
CHRISTIAN STEMAN
In 1729 purchased one hundred and fifty acres of land, and a grist and corn mill and saw mill, from Hans Brubaker. The mills and mansion stood along the west bank of Little Conestoga creek where the turnpike leading from Lancaster to Columbia crosses, and which are now owned by Aaron Summy. Nine tenths of the land was on the east side of the creek and embraced the present farm of the Hagers. The old road leading form the Conestoga, where Lancaster town stead was afterwards laid out, to Wrights (Columbia) on the Susquehanna, passed Steman�s mill, and in order to accommodate the travel Steman built a bridge over the creek in 1730, at his expense, for which the county afterwards reimbursed him. When Steman purchased this land there was upon the eastern corner a Mennonite meeting house, which stood at or near the barn of Mr. Hager.
Mr. Steman was a quite industrious, unobtrusive and honest citizen.
He died in 1742 and left six children surviving him, namely:
1. John, died in his minority, unmarried.
2. Christian, when he attained his majority, took a farm of one hundred and sixty-four acres, owned by his father, and situated in manor township, about a mile southwest from the old mill. He died in 1785 and left sons, Christian and John and daughters. His descendants remained in the township. John married Susannah Lichty and lived a mile or two west of his brother Christian.
3 Jacob, was a deaf mute.
4. Maria, married Christian Hershey
5. Elizabeth, married John Newcomer
6. Susannah, married Jacob Brubaker, of Hempfield, and had two children, Christian and Mary, who inherited a farm each, which belonged to the Brubakers. Some of the descendants of this family live in Manor township. The Steman name of this family has not increased very fast.
Joseph Steman
Settled in Pequea Valley near the present village of Willow Street in 1717. His first purchase contained one hundred and thirteen acres of land to which he afterwards added fifty more. In 1728 he sold these two tracks to Christian Stoner.
In 1731 he purchased ninety acres of land from John Swift, along Pequea creek at or near the present village of Colemanville in Conestoga township. In the spring of 1732 he rode with Capt. Thomas Cresap to Annapolis, Md., and took out a Maryland warrant for several hundred acres of land, which he located along the river hills in Conestoga township near his Swift purchase.
On March 5, 1744, Steman and his wife Frena sold the Swift farm to his son-in-law, Benedict Eshleman. This farm was part of four hundred acres conveyed by the Society of Free Traders.
June 5, 1735, Abraham Burkholder and his wife Barbara conveyed three hundred acres to Joseph Steman. This tract also was in the vicinity of Colemanville. Mr. Bausman, of Lancaster city, owns some of this land at present.
>dd>In 1742 he purchased two hundred and fifty acres of land from Caleb Baker, also in the vicinity of his other purchases...
In 1741 he sold one hundred and thirty-two acres of his Burkholder purchase to John Wissler, and in 1748 he gave the balance of the same tract to his son Joseph Steman. At this time his wife Frena was deceased.
In 1751 he purchased a mortgage held by Thos. White, of Philadelphia, against several hundred acres of land, located just back of the present town of Washington, and owned before that by the old Indian Trader James Patterson and Martin Chartier, also an Indian Trader. As he had given each of his other sons and sons-in-law plantations, he moved to this last purchase with his favorite son John and gave him four hundred acres of land, besides all notes and bonds, which probably amounted to several thousand pounds. He died in May, 1756. His children were Mary, who married Peter Ruffenaglit; Ann, who married Benedict Eshleman; Tobias, Joseph, Elizabeth, who married John Bare; Fronica who married Jacob Kaggi; John.
Benedict Eshleman came to America in 1732, the same year that Hans and John George Steman came who probably belonged to the Steman family, of whom we are writing. Benedict Eshleman left a very large family. A great-granddaughter of Joseph Steman also married Benedict Eshleman, her cousin, and left a large family...
These families lived in Conestoga township.
Tobias Steman purchased a farm in the Manor as early as 1755, which adjoined his father�s land, which he sold to Christian Kauffman in 1758. His wife�s name was Ann, and he then moved to "Rock Run," on the Conestoga, where he commenced to purchase land belonging to John Postlethwait, upon whose farm the first Court house was built. He afterwards increased his purchases from the children of Postlethwait until his acres numbered four hundred and ninety. Form their one son have came a large circle of Steman families.
Joseph Jr., remained in Conestoga township upon land purchased by his father from Burkholder. He died in 1756 and left a widow Ann and five children; 1 Christian; 2 Frena, who married Ludwig Urban of Conestoga township, some of whose descendants not live there; 3 John who married Barbara, and had John, Peter and Henry. John moved to Hempfield township at or near where the Colebrook road crosses Chickies creek, in 1773, who died in 1819 leaving a widow Barbara, and the following named children; John, Henry, Peter, Christian, Jacob, Elizabeth, Barbara, Anna, Magadlena . 4. Elizabeth. 5. Ann...
Each one of the children received a farm, or its equivalent in money.
Elizabeth (Joseph) who married John Bare, first lived at the mouth of Rock Run, where Bare build a mill; from there they moved to a farm on the north side of "Long Lane" and east of Tobias Steman�s land, near the western boundary of Pequea township. The Bares and Harnishes now own the land.
Joseph Steman, Sr., also had a son Peter, who died in 1748, and left considerable of an estate.
John, the youngest son, left the largest estate of any of the family. He died in 1792. Prior to his death he divided his lands among his sons. His children were Joseph, John, Jacob, Samuel, Abraham, Ann, married to Henry Neff, and Elizabeth married to Christian Kauffman.
Jacob died in 1799 and left a wife Barbara, who was Miss Bare, born upon the bare farm, a mile southwest from Rohrerstown. Steman died in 1799, and the widow married Christian Brenneman, who was the brother of Maria, wife of John Haldeman, who was the father of Henry, spoken of above, and had several children. She had a son Jacob to her first husband, who moved to Ohio.
Samuel Steman married Mary _____ and had but one child, Frances, who married Henry Haldeman and was the mother of the late Prof. S. S. Haldeman. Mr. S. probably married a Miss Brenneman. The daughter and Mr. Haldeman were cousins.
John B. Gish, Esq., who resided near Elizabethtown, who was a member of the Legislature and John B. Haldeman the oldest son of John and Maria Haldeman, married daughters of John Steman, who was a brother of Samuel S. John B. Haldeman�s wife, Nancy, was also his cousin. John B. Haldeman purchased John B. Gish�s share of the Steman lands at Washington. He also owned the large islands opposite that town. Mr. Haldeman sold part of this land to John Charles, who laid out a town upon it and called it "Charlestown," now part of Washington borough, which absorbed the place. The Shertzs and Haversticks own some of his land at present.
A son of Abraham Steman who was a brother of Jacob, John and Samuel, married Peter Hiestand�s daughter. They lived at a little mill above Wittmer�s mill. John P. Steman, of Columbia, and Jacob Steman, of Washington borough are children of this family. One of the daughters married Mr. Stoner, Christian Herr married A. S.�s daughter, one of whose descendants now owns part of the land. Abraham Steman owned several farms. The families which came from Joseph Steman, Sr., were unquestionably related to John Steman, who married Christ Brenneman�s daughter. Their descendants inter-married freely, and they may be said now to belong to a common stock. The name in this family increased rapidly.
John Steman
In the year 1732 Hans Steman arrived in Lancaster county from the Palatinate. And in the year 1733 there arrived: John George Steman, Hans Steman, Peter Steman, Hans Steman, Jr. It is probably that John S., whose name heads this list, belonged to one of these families. As early as 1646 he owned or was a tenant farmer a little to the north of the present turnpike which leads from Lancaster to Willow Street. At that time he was already married to Mary, who was a daughter of Christian Brenneman, who lived in Martic township, at or near Brenneman�s Mill on "Furnace Run."
In 1751 Mr. Brenneman gave his son-in-law John Steman one hundred and eighty-seven acres of land along the river in Donegal township, below Conoy Creek. He also gave his son Melchoir Breneman a like amount of land adjoining Steman. The latter also purchased one hundred and fourty0five acres of land from the McClure heirs. He also purchased other tracts. He died in 1784. His executors, John Haldeman and John Brenneman sold three hundred and thirty-six acres of land to Herman Long, in 1785.
John Steman left a widow Mary and the following named children: John; Ann, who married John Crider; Elisabeth, who married Frederick Gailbach, Jr., of Maytown; Christian, who married Ann, daughter of John Huber, Esq., in 1790, who built the large stone mansion and brick grist mill one mile east of Petersburg, at Little Conestoga.
Their children were; Maria, John, Christian, Anna, Jacob, Elizabeth, Henry, Samuel, Magdalena, Benjamin and Veronica. Christian married Catharine Leib. Their children were Anna, Jacob L., who is now president of Manheim National Bank.
Jacob married Mary, daughter of John Huber, aforesaid, had the following children: John, Jacob, Martha, Elizabeth. The Hon. John M. Steman is a grandson of Jacob and Mary Steman.
John Brenneman, late of Conoy township, married a daughter of Jacob and Mary Stehman, as did also the late Benjamin Herr, of Donegal. Cyrus Haldeman, Esq., of Boston, married a daughter of Mr. Brenneman. They were cousins. George Rumple, of Columbia, married the youngest daughter. John Brenneman, the only son, married a daughter of the late Hon. John J. Libhart. Mr. Herr was a son of "King" Benj. Her, of Manor. He died a few years ago, leaving several children and a large estate.
The following letter explains itself:
Philadelphia, 2d Nov., 1727
Lov. Ffrd Isaac Taylor:
Joseph Steman (also Stone) of Conestoga having bought two hundred acres of ffrd Worley�s tract on which he says there is very little timber left, is therefore desirous to take up some of the adjoining vacant land, but both he and Joseph Higgenbothem are apprehensive of that free booter Thomas Perrin Setting down there. To prevent which I wish thou wouldst order a line of two to be run that may take in about two hundred acres, for the trouble of which Steman must make satisfaction since it is to prevent the intrusion of a neighbor that may disappoint him of a further convenience.
Thy loving friend
J. Logan.
Francis Worley was one of the justices and a land surveyor. He purchased the Burkholder tract, now near Colemanville, in 1725, which he sold to Burkholder in 1728. Several conferences between the Governor, Logan, and the council and the Indians were held at his house. He was a very prominent person.