m- •;! r;:'i; 11 iUi^nu m IIU, ;iiM; 'ViXt\ i'u Iff! v.M,'',.s;, . 97^.801 ' ^ B85bu V.4 1214051 GENEALOGY COLLEICTJON ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 01179 5025 /jd-, d-a.4 inches wide by iy\ inches thick) are also accompanied by letters from Mr. Wallington bearing date February 20, 21 and 2'!^, and March 3, 1908. Mr. Parry's paper also refers to the genealogy of the Clay- pool family: saying that Betsy Ross (nee Elizabeth Griscome) was married three times, first to John Ross ; there were no chil- dren by this marria A SAMUEL D. IXGIIAM, SECRETARY U. S. TREASURY 21 Samuel partly in his honor. He was a strong partisan of the cause of the colonies in the Revolution, though he did not enter the military service like his brother Jonas, who was an officer in a volunteer corps. W^ien Washington's army crossed the Delaware at Coryells' Ferry and encamped on his property, he was active in the hospitals established there. On the close of the Revolution he took an active part on the side of the Republican Whigs and wrote with force and effect against what he thought to be monarchical tendencies in certain proposed measures. He also boldly denounced the scheme of funding the war debt for the exclusive benefit of speculators while the poor soldier for all his privations, sufferings and services was to be content to re- ceive two shillings and six pence in the pound for his certificate. To many of his neighbors, the doctor's politics were anything but palatable, but his assailants were easily silenced by the pungent satire of his burlesque pindarics, the only mode of retort of which he deemed them worthy. During the prevalence of yellow fever in Philadelphia in 1793, the doctor made a visit to the city for the purpose of studying the new and dreaded disease. He had scarcely returned home when hearing of its extended ravages, and of the flight of many of the physicians, he exclaimed loudly against the conduct of those gentleman as inhuman and a dis- grace to the profession. He immediately returned to the cit}^ and with his friends Dr. Hutchinson and Mr. Samuel Weth- erell, Jr., visited, advised and ministered to the sufferers in the most infected districts. Soon after he returned home he was at- tacked by the disease. He had strong belief in the curative power of the water of Schooley's Mountain springs, and for that and for the benefit of a change of air, he started for Schooley's Moun- tain, N. J., in his farm wagon, accompanied by his wife and her brother. On the way they were refused admission at all houses, and he died in the wagon by the roadside at a point about a mile west of Clinton, N. J., He died on October i, 1793, and was buried in the neighboring graveyard of Bethlehem Presbyterian Church. He left a widow and four sons, of whom Samuel was the oldest, and three daughters. Samuel D. Ingham, the special subject of this sketch, was born September 16, 1779. His father undertook his education, and before the boy could well read English, placed in his hands Rud- 22 SAMUEL D. INGHAM, SECRETARY U. S. TREASURY riman's Latin Grammar. But the doctor was a very busy man, and his son, boy-Hke, preferred play to study, so that the father's plan of conducting the son's education was abandoned, and Sam- uel at the age of ten was sent to a school at a distance and com- menced the Greek grammar. After three months his father was dissatisfied with his progress, and sent him to a school near Dur- ham at the northern end of the county to learn German. He was making rapid progress in German, when at the end of six weeks the school was closed, and his father, making one more efifort in behalf of the classics, sent him back to his Greek and Latin. Before he attained his fourteenth year, the death of his father seemed to terminate his course of classical studies. The various branches of the doctor's work was interrupted and deranged and the widow was left to care for her young children. She neces- sarily adopted the advice of their experienced grandfather, and the young scholar was apprenticed to a paper maker, on Penny- pack creek, with a view to the future erection of a paper mill on the Solebury property. The admonition of his bereaved mother, coupled with a full realization of his altered circumstances seemed to change him from a pleasure loving, somewhat idle boy, into a thoughtful, hardworking young man, and he immediately adopted that course which he afterwards inflexibly pursued. His new place of abode was at a mill on the Pennypack some twenty miles from home, and about fifteen miles from Philadel- phia. One of his first cares was to secure a share in a library about four miles distant. Here he spent a part of every Saturday afternoon in reading. Finding a translation of Cicero's Orations, he ventured to refer to the original, and went through the whole book. This was followed by a general view of the Latin clas- sics. During the course of this probation, the derision of his companions was avoided by a total absence of aiifection of su- periority, a deportment of unchanged civility, and by pleading unavoidable absence or an important engagement as an excuse when asked to join in any scheme of frolic or mischief. Being left to pursue his studies without interruption, he would naturally have resumed the study of Greek, once so distasteful, but for the arrival in the neighborhood of a teacher of mathe- matics, John D. Craig an emigrant from Ireland, and a person of SAMUEL D. IXGIIAM, SECRETARY U. S. TREASURY 23 great ability. An ac(|uaintance was soon formed which grew into friendship. This strengthened young Ingham's predilection for the exact sciences. During the summer he devoted to the school all his spare time, and in the winter attended the teacher at his own house. He read the best elementary treatises on mathe- matics with their applications to mechanics, surveying, navigation, astronomy and natural philosophy. The unremitting application of the scholar and the unwearied attention of the teacher combined to create a strong friendship between them, and though separated for many years, the pupil never forgot his preceptor. Long afterward w^hen the apprentice- boy had become Secretary of the Treasury of the United States, the obscure mathematician (the teacher) was appointed by Presi- dent Jackson to a position for which he was well qualified, that of superintendent of the patent office. After being deprived of his instructor, young Ingham pursued alone with untiring zeal the path he had pointed out. While the warm months of summer permitted, he studied in a retreat he had contrived in the midst of a thicket of laurel and green brier, on a point of land projecting into the mill-dam, but in winter time he was obliged to study in the midst of a numerous family. His time being valuable, he invented an expedient to save time. He prepared large diagrams of problems in geometry and conic section with the demonstrations. Placing these before him while engaged at work, he found that he could readily follow Euclid while his hands were employed. But this devotion to study was never allowed to interfere with his regular work. His gt:ardian was General X'anHorn, of Zanesville, Ohio, an intimate friend of his father. The general generously advanced from his private funds, the means of purchasing the necessary books. The severity of his master continually placed impediments in his way. In order to get the books the apprentice was com- ])elled to walk to Philadelphia, a distance of sixteen miles, after the completion of his task on Saturday afternoons. On one oc- casion he was refused leave of absence unless he would agree to return the same night, and he actually walked the thirty-two miles, bringing back his quarto volume of astronomical tables be- fore the family had retired. In the performance of this feat there may have been a little picjue mingled with his love of learning, 3 24 SAMUI5I. D. INGHAM, SECRETARY U. S. TREASURY but it strongly exhibits the determination of his character. These arbitrary acts on the part of his master, were soon to terminate. A discussion arose as to the legal right of an apprentice to a cer- tain portion of tuition, which resulted in an amicable cancellation of the indenture. He was now nineteen years of age. The first year of his freedom was passed chiefly in assisting his mother at the homestead and the second in managing a paper mill near Bloomfield in East Jersey. Here he became acquainted with his future wife, Miss Rebecca Dodd. On attaining his twenty-first year he took possession of his patrimonial estate charged with numerous legacies. The long contemplated paper mill was now built. This was erected under his sole direction, every part of the machinery being constructed by the ordinary workmen of the vicinity from models which he furnished. Having married immediately after he became of age, and taken up his fixed residence at the family farm, his known political sentiments secured him a cordial welcome from the Democratic- Republicans of the neighborhood, and he was soon called upon to represent them in the political meetings of Bucks county. He there embraced the opportunity of defending his guardian against aspersions and of promoting his election to congress. He was for several years, secretary of the Democratic county meetings, was an ardent supporter of Thomas McKean for governor of the state, and in the same year was elected from Bucks county to the general assembly. To this he was returned the two follow- ing years. A project was started at this time to amend the con- stitution of the United States by making the appointment of judges of the supreme court for a fixed term of years, and so rendering them dependent on the executive. In this Mr. Ing- ham took ground in favor of an independent judiciary. This period was remarkable as the commencement of the sys- tem of internal improvements in Pennsylvania, which was sub- sequently so extensively accomplished. It was also remarkable for an unusual violence of party feeling stimulated by the per- sonal enemies of Governor Thomas McKean. Mr. Ingham de- clined a re-election in 1808, and remained at home, and applied his efiforts to restoring harmony among the Republicans of his county. He received from the governor, unsolicited, a commission as SAMUElv D. INGHAM, SECRETARY U. S. TREASURY 25 justice of the peace, and though retired from pohcital hfe, he was active in local matters of public interest. Among other things, he contributed largely to secure the erection of the Delaware river bridge at New Hope. This was the first of the bridges between Easton and Trenton and was a remarkable piece of en- gineering construction. After the declaration of war in 1812, he was elected by a ma- jority of two thousand votes to the thirteenth congress of the United States, and took his seat at the May session of 1813. He became chairman of the committee on pensions and revolutionary claims and was a member of the select committee to consider the policy of establishing a national bank to finance the country dur- ing the war. He introduced a resolution for a general revision of the tarifif. This he renewed at the next session through the committee of ways and means, which produced the report of Mr. Dallas, the basis of the subsequent tariff law of 1816. In the session following 1814-15, he was placed on the committee of ways and means. The treasury department was practically va- cant through the illness of the secretary, the loans had failed, and when the committee commenced their labors to restore the public credit, the finances of the Government were in the worst possible condition. In this crisis, the appointment of Mr. Dallas to the treasury, while it inspired confidence to the country, im- parted to the committee an impetus which enabled it to accom- plish the most arduous duties. With the aid of the secretary, they rearranged the whole internal revenue system, extending its scope considerably beyond the supplies for a peace expenditure, and the payment of the war debt. The state of the public finances had induced many members to consider the subject of a legal tender. To this Mr. Ingham was opposed, and in lieu of it he proposed in his committee, an issue of treasury notes, not bearing interest, but liable at all times to be funded in small sums at such a rate of interest as would with- draw from circulation the redundant issues. This plan was adopted by congress and became a law. The restoration of peace prevented a trial of its general effect, but so far as it went, it was well received, and the treasury notes fundable at seven per cent., circulated more freely than those bearing interest. They were in a short time all funded or reduced and withdrawn from 26 SAMUEI. D. INGHAM, SECRETARY U. S. TREASURY circulation. The army, revenue and bank bills were the principal measures of this session. Every inch of ground was obstinately contested by a numerous and talented opposition, and the duties of the several committees in charge of these measures were pecu- liarly arduous. A contemporary writer says of Mr. Ingham: "Having but partially cultivated the art of public speaking, Mr. Ingham seldom ventured deeply into debate. His strength lay in the committee room, where in investigation of facts, he was prominent. He enjoyed the full confidence of his associates, but he did not conceal his opinions and his frankness openly condemned some of the policies of the friends of the administration, such as concealing from the people the actual necessi- ties of the Government, and charging the blame for its failures upon the opposition. He contended that the majority were responsible to the coun- try, and this responsibility should never be unfelt or disavowed." The labors of this session were nearly closed, and most of the means for the next campaign were provided, when peace took place. Mr. Ingham had been elected to the fourteenth congress by an increased majority. In the two succeeding sessions he continued to serve on the committee of ways and means, which revised the whole impost and internal revenue system, and reported the bill for the tariff of 1816. He was also chairman of the committee on postofhces and post roads, and as head of a select committee, conducted a laborious investigation of the fiscal affairs of the general postoffice. The laws relative to the postoffice were re- vised, the rates of postage reduced, and the policy adopted of ap- plying the entire revenues of that department to extension of mail routes and improvement of conveyance. He was re-elected to the fifteenth congrees without opposition, resumed his station at the head of the postoffice committee, and as head of a select com- mittee, assisted in regulating and fixing the compensation of the clerks in the office, which had previously depended on caprice or favoritism. At the close of this session he resigned his seat. principally on account of his wife's health, and accepted the posi- tion of prothonotary of the court of common pleas of Bucks county, and in 1819 was appointed by Governor Findlay, secre- tary of the commonwealth. His wife died in that year. He spent the next two years at home, busied at his farm and paper mill. In 1822 he married Miss Deborah Kay Hall, of Salem, N. ]., SAMUEL D. INGHAM, SECRETARY U. S. TREASURY 2/ and in October of that year he was elected to congress. He again was appointed on the comniitte of ways and means, and chair- man of the post office committee where he remained, being re- turned to every congress until March 4, 1829. In 1824 there was no election of a president by the people, and the election devolved on the house of representatives. The three highest candidates were Adams, Jackson and Clay. Adams and Clay combined their forces and elected Adams. Hence arose the famous charge of "Bargain and Sale" with w^iich the country rang for the next four years. It was charged that Adams agreed in consideration of Clay's support, to appoint Clay secretary of state. This charge was publicly made before the election in the house and was investigated by a committee, but whether there was or was not a bargain prior to the ballot, as a fact Clay's votes were cast for Adams and Adams did appoint Clay secretary of state. The storm or rage on the part of Jackson's friends which swept the country for the next four years, is almost incompre- hensible in these days of political deals. We would not now call such men "traitors to the constitution, an illegal unconstitutional minority usurping office, etc., etc." About this time Mr. Ingham issued a pamphlet on the "Life and Character of John Quincy Adams," in which he showed from speeches, letters and other public utterances, that John Quincy Adams was at heart a monarchist. This pamphlet is alleged to have had great influence in the next presidential campaign ( 1828) which resulted in the election of x\ndrew Jackson. For this, Adams never forgave Mr. Ingham. He was of a vindictive temper and revenged himself by inserting in his diary items of Washington gossip and scandal which were daily current. This diary was published without revision by his son, Charles Francis Adams, twenty years after the death of every one in- volved. On the arrival of General Jackson at Washington after his election in 1828, he consulted with the members of the Pennsyl- vania delegation and they recommended Samuel D. Ingham for the treasury department, which recommendation was approved by John C. Calhoun, vice president-elect, a personal friend of Mr. Ingham of long standing. Though Mr. Ingham's preference was for the postoffice department, he accepted the position of 28 SAMUEL D. INGHAM, SECRE^TARY U. S. TREASURY secretary of the treasury. His associates were Martin Van Buren, of New York, secretary of state, John H. Eaton, of Tennessee, secretary of war, John Branch, of North Carohna, secretary of the navy, John McPherson Berrien, of Georgia, attorney general, WilHam T. Barry, of Kentucky, postmaster general. When in 1831 President Jackson changed his previously an- nounced intention not to be a candidate for re-election, being urged thereto by some of his confidential advisers, among them Martin VanBuren, he found in his cabinet many personal friends of Mr. Calhoun, the vice president, a rival candidate, and not being yet ready for open warfare which would have broken out if he had removed only Calhoun's friends, he decided to change his whole cabinet. This reason for the change was often men- tioned to the writer by Mr. Ingham. But there was a great public scandal in Washington which was made the pretext for the change. The president tried in every way to force Wash- ington society to recognize the wife of his bosom friend. Major Eaton, secretary of war. This was refused by the wives of the other secretaries, who declined to call on Mrs. Eaton, or to meet her socially in any way and in this they were sustained by their husbands. What this scandal was and whether true or false, is immaterial. The fact is that it was made the pretext for the dismissal of the cabinet. As Mr. Ingham's successor, Louis McLane, of Maryland, was unable immediately to take office, he remained in charge tempor- arily during part of the summer of 1831. While staying in Wash- ington, Major Eaton tried to fix a quarrel upon him by demand- ing an apology and challenging him to a duel. Mr. Ingham de- clined both and it was reported that Major Eaton sought to pro- voke a street brawl. Mr. Ingham armed himself and went ahead accompanied by his son. Nothing came of this and shortly after- wards Mr. Ingham left Washington. On his returning home he was greeted by a meeting of his constituents to whom he made a speech, which was printed in the county newspaper. This speech the writer has read, but has been unable to procure a copy of it. After Mr. Ingham's resignation from the treasury, he ceased to take any active part in politics, but devoted his energies to his farm, paper mill, lime-kiln and other private afifairs. He became SAMUEL D. INGHAM, SECRETARY U. S. TREASURY 29 interested in the development of the anthracite coal fields, was one of the founders and for a time president of the Beaver Meadow Railroad Company, and afterwards assisted in forming the Hazelton Coal Company. These coal interests turned his at- tention to the Lehigh Navigation and the Delaware Division canals, and he spent much time at Harrisburg in advocating im- provement and in opposing injurious suggestions before the legis- lature. He was especially earnest in opposing an outlet lock at Black's Eddy to enable boats to pass into the head of the Dela- ware and Raritan canal feeder, contending that this would prac- tically dry up the canal between Black's Eddy and New Hope, where water is lifted from the river to replenish the canal. The opposition was successful and the site of the outlet was fixed at New Hope, where it now is. He also wrote much about the tariff from the point of view of an ardent protectionist. Thus his time was fully occupied in his private aft'airs, and in the management of the corporations above mentioned. On one occasion he spent five months at Beaver Meadow, writing every day to his wife, "I expect to start for home to-morrow." As he grew older he became tired of the long stage journey to Philadelphia, and the three days across country to the coal fields, and decided in 1849 to remove to Trenton. Just before his removal he spent several days in going through his accumulation of letters, and destroyed almost every- thing of interest. He said that he had seen so much mischief caused by the posthumous publications of private letters, that he could not allow his correspondence to remain. This idea seems highly commendable, but if it had been universally practiced where would be the materials for modern history? At any rate I have always regretted that I was not present at this holocaust. I might have retrieved some invaluable papers. After his removal to Trenton he continued his activity in busi- ness, became interested in the Mechanics Bank and, for his priv- ate amusement, purchased an old brickyard and spent much time in converting it into a wheat field. He took an interest in the election in 1856, and wrote a speech which was read at a Fremont meeting in rhiladeli)hia. His later years were spent on a sick bed and after a long ill- ness, during which his mind was perfectly unimpaired, and he 30 GERMAN GAMES AND PEAYS was always cheerful, ^and though suffering, uncomplaining, he died on June 5, i860. He was buried in the cemetery of the Solebury Presbyterian Church, now the Thompson INIemorial Church, which he had reg- ularly attended during the later years of his residence at Great Spring. In person Mr. Ingham was of medium height, with broad shoulders and strong. His forehead was broad and high, his eyes rather small, light blue and keen in expression. His man- ner was grave and dignified, though he was not without a sense of humor. He was not a person with whom liberties could be taken, not even by his children. Yet he was warm-hearted and devoted to his friends. He was universally respected by his as- sociates and passed through a long life without a strain. His surviving family was his widow, Dr. John Howard and Jonathan, sons by his first marriage, and Mrs. Eliza Rebecca Hale, Mrs. Mary Louisa Emerson and William A. Ingham. German Games and Plays. BY A. EUGENE) EAATZ, DOYLESTOWN, PA. (Hulmeville Park, Hulmeville Meeting, May 25, 1909.) In response to the request of Mr. Mercer, I take pleasure in presenting this paper giving an account of some of the games, plays and folksongs of the children of Germany, but more par- ticularly of the city of Breslau, Silesia, where I was born. These were popular 30 years ago and are still being played and sung there. In making up this list I have been aided by Emil Peiter, Fred- erick Wendts, Sr., Michael Hewser, Annie Kuentzer and Matthias Moll. I am also indebted to Mr. Mercer for the free translations which accompany the rhymes. Many of these games are played by children of Pennsylvania in exactly the same way that they are played in Germany. Among these may be mentioned : Stelzen laufen (Walking on Kreiseln (Spinning tops) stilts) Reifen springen (Jumping rope) Kugeln (Playing marbles) Reifen treiben (Rolling hoops) Drachen fliegen (Fb'ing kites) GERMAN GAMES AND PLAYS 3I Like the children of America, when they cannot get scientific- ally made hoops to roll, they substitute barrel hoops or hoops of any other kind. The kites of Germany have a different form from those which the boys fly here. Kegel schiehen (Bowling) . — This game is played in Germany with nine kegels or pins, whereas in America ten pins are used.^ Ball speilen (Playing ball). — This is played the same as in this country, but the American games of baseball, football and basketball were not played in Germany when I lived there. Der Plumpsack- (The Clumsy Fellozv). — In this game the players from a circle with their faces toward the center, and hold- ing their hands behind them, one of the players is chosen to run around outside of the ring carrying a rope with him and singing "Der Plumpsack geht herum, der Plumpsack geht herum" (The clumsy fellow is running around). He then, unknown to the others, gives the rope to one of the players who leaves the ring and runs around on the outside ; the one who stood next chases after him and so on until all have hold of the rope and are chas- ing around. Eierspiel (Rolling Eggs). — This is an Easter game, which was very popular in Birkenfeld, Grand Duchy of Oldenburg. It is played by rolling eggs down a hill or terrace three or four feet high, into holes dug into the ground or turf about three feet from the base. These holes should be at least two feet apart, one hole for each player. Each child has a number of colored eggs. The child who first rolls its tgg in its hole wins the eggs of those who have previously tried and failed.'' Der Giinsedieh (The Goose Thief). — An uneven number of children play this game. A circle is formed, all taking hold of hands and circle around singing : Wer die Gans gestohlen hat, Who stole the goose? Der ist ein Dieb, He's a thief, we'll strike him. Wer sie aber wiederbringt, Who brought him back? Den haben wir licb. Bully boy, we'll like him. ' Mr. Laatz evidently does not know that nine pins were formerly used in America, and were changed to ten, to avoid some law against the game of nine pins. ^ A Plumpsack is literally a whack-bag, i. c, a piece of cloth twisted so as to be used in striking (whacking). ' This game of egg rolling is one of the amusements of children at the White House at Washington, D. C, on Easter mornings. 32 GERMAN GAMe;S AND PLAYS After finishing this song they grab for partners, the odd one left over is the goose thief, and is required to sing or say, "Da steht der Gansedieb" (Here stands the goose thief). This was a favorite game in Thuringia, and was played in 1894. Boltcen schiessen {Arrow shooting ) .—This is a favorite sport for boys in Germany, and is sometimes played by the girls. It is played wnth a hollow tube about three feet long, made of wood, called a Blaserohr, blow-tube, and a tack, or nail about one inch long, covered with wool called a Boltzen or Pudelzwecken. The Boltzen is placed in one end of the tube, and then blown through to any target that may be selected. In Birkenfeld, in the Grand Duchy of Oldenburg, it is played with peas, and the favorite target is a window pane or any object made of glass. Bohnen- spiel {Playing Beans). — Any number of children can play this game. A circle about five inches in diameter is drawn on a floor or on the ground, the players stand about six feet away and endeavor with the thumb and forefinger to snap their beans into the circle. The one whose bean is nearest the center of the circle has the first privilege of snapping the other beans within it, and is entitled to all snapped in. When the first one misses the next nearest one plays, and so on until all the beans are within the circle. Small beans of all colors are used. Der ivanderne Thaler {The wandering dollar). — In this game the players sit in a circle holding fast to a rope or string on which is strung a ring, or medal with a hole in it, to represent the wandering dollar. One of the players is chosen, by counting out rhymes, and is then placed within the ring; the medal is then moved on the rope from player to player while they sing : Thaler, Thaler du must wandern, Dollar wander, dollar wander, Von dem einen ort zum andern, Here and there and over yonder, Ei wie schon, ei wie schon, Open fist, shut fist, Lasst man sich die Nase drehn. And give your nose a twist. The medal is passed along so that each player has an equal chance of getting it in his or her hands. The one blindfolded and within the circle must guess the one into whose hands the medal is. If the guess is correct that one must take his or her place. This was a favorite game in Silesia and Thuringia. Der J^ogel Jiandler {The bird seller). — Any number of chil- dren can play this game. They are lined up in a row and one GERMAN GAMES AND PLAYS 33 child is selected to be the seller and another to be the buyer. The other children represent the birds, to each one of them the name of some bird being given. The buyer approaches to buy a bird, the seller asks which one he wants to buy, if, for example he chooses a nightingale, the seller will sing : Nachtigal, Nachtigal, fliege aus, Nightingale, nightingale, fly away, Und komme gliicklich wieder But come back safe another day. nach Haus. After the bird is paid for. the buyer chases after it, and if caught it belongs to him, and the one caught becomes in turn the buyer. If the bird is not caught, the same player must continue as buyer. Hlischcn in dcr Gnihc (Rabbit in the Hole). — In this game a circle is formed, the children holding hands, and one child is chosen to be the rabbit, goes inside of the ring, and assumes a stooping position, jumping around in imitation of a rabbit. While the players circle around they sing ; Haschen in der Grube, Bunny in the hole, Sass und schlief, Sit there and sleep; Armes Haschen bist du krank? Poor bunny are 30U sick, Dass du nicht mehr huepfen W'h}- can't 30U leap? kannst? Haschen hiipf,' Haschen hiipf.' Jump, bunny jump. While this is being sung the rabbit endeavors to jump through the ring. If successful another player takes his or her place. This game was played in Thuringia, Grand Duchy of Saxe Wei- mar. A RIDDLE IX RHYME. A RIDDLE IN RHYME — AXSWER IS MUSHROOM. Es steht im W'ald ein Alannlein, Little man in the woods Auf cinem Bcin, On one foot, Es hat auf seinem Haupt Little cap on his head Ein Schwartz Kiipplcin klein. Black as soot, Sagt wer mag das Miinnlein sein. Little man, black cap, Was da steht im W'akl allein, Down by a tree, Mit seinem klcinen Guess what his name is Schwartzen Kiippclein. And come tell me. 34 GERMAN GAMES AND PLAYS CHILDREN S RHYMES. Ein, zwei, drei, vier, In dem Clavier, Sitzt eine Maus, Die muss raus. Ich und du, Miillers Kuh, Miillers Esel, Der bist du. Der Sandmann ist da, Der Sandmann ist da, Er hat so schoenen weissen Sand, Drum ist er auch so wohl be- kannt ! Der Sandmann ist da. One, two, three, four. In the piano sits a mouse ; Piano play, piano play. Mouse must go away. I and thou, Miller's cow. Miller's donkey, that's thou. Sandman, sandman. Here comes the sandman, Sand so fine and white. He's well known to-night. Here comes the sandman. Sommer, Sommer, Sommer, Ich bin ein kleiner Pommer, Ich bin ein kleiner Gernegross, Moechtes gern eine Pfeffernuss. Summer, summer, summer, I'm a little bummer, I'm a little swell-head And I want a gingerbread. Ihr Kinder was spielen wir Heut, Auf dem herrlichen Platze von Gras, Ich diichte wir sprangen herum, Denn das sitzen macht triige und dumm. Rasch, rasch, augefasst, Frisch herum gesprungen, Hiibsch, hiibsch, angepasst, Ein munterers Lied gesungen ! Play, children play, On the grass to-day. Don't be still it makes us dull, Jump, jump away, quickly join hands. Quick, quick, join hands. Round and round springing. Fine ! fine ! off we go, A jolly song singing. The following rhyme is from Diirenstein on the Danube, Up- per Austria, 1886. Information of Mr. Mercer. Wiinsche, wansche, weisst was, Hinterm ofen hookt a Haas, Greif in Sack und gieb' mir was. Winny, wunny, something funny Back of the oven sits a bunny. Grab in your bag and give me money. 1211C51 Address of Welcome by Rev. Scott R. Wagner. PASTOR OF ST. JOHN REFORMED CHURCH OF RIEGELSVILLE, PA. (Ricgelsville Meeting, October s, 1909.) Mr. President, members of the Bucks County Historical So- ciety and their friends : The people of the upper end of Bucks county are very much honored by your visit here to-day, and in bidding you welcome to our church and village,* we want you to know that there is in our hearts the feeling of genial hospitality. It is well known that Bucks is one of the richest if not the very richest count}' in historical matter, of all the counties of Pennsylvania, and your historical society has done a splendid and monumental work through the study and research, and in the collection and preservation of those valuable historic data. Every man and woman, every hamlet and village, every town and city should appreciate the splendid work that you have done and are doing. There is to-day no class of people, even in the most re- mote districts, in which there is any degree of pride in intelligence, which we all claim to have some pride in, wherein there is no glory on behalf of the interesting things that mark the way of progress, whether in the remote district or in the center of civili- zation; and to gather up and preserve every scrap of information that pertains to the lives, the habits and customs, and labors of our ancestors, whether in war or in peace, whether in domestic, indus- trial or agricultural pursuits must be viewed not merely with re- spect, but even with profound veneration. Therefore, on behalf of the people of this congregation, on behalf of the people of this village, we feel very much honored to greet you, almost the pion- eers; and in historical research you should deserve the banner at least in Pennsylvania for the results you have obtained. The congregation which occupies this building, and worships here from Sunday to Sunday, was organized in the year 1849, and was chartered in the year 1890. Three of her former pastors resigned and afterwards became presidents of institutions of higher learning. Rev. Dr. Bomberger became j^resident of Ur- sinus College at Collegeville, Pa. The Rev. Dr. Apple became president of Franklin and Marshall College at Lancaster. The * Ricgelsville was incorporated into a borough April 17, 1916. 36 ADDRESS OP WE;LC0ME by rev. SCOTT R. WAGNER Rev. Dr. Aughinbaugh resigned to become president of Heidel- berg College at Tiffin, Ohio. He returned here for the second pastorate, and resigned a second time to become president of Palatinate College at Meyerstown. The congregation, as I have learned from its record, has never numbered more than 328 members ; during part of this time, it has fallen below 300; and yet, this small number of people have always been very loyal to the call of its denomination in all matters of benevolent church work. During the past 10 years they have modestly and quietly laid upon the altar, for the work of her church, more than $65,000. Under the care of the congregation, there is maintained on the campus, north of the church, a library, which is open to the people of the village, and which contains over 4,000 volumes, and to which are added every few months new volumes. In that same building there is maintained under the care of this same congregation, an academy, for the preparation of the boys and girls of this vicinity for college. In this academy only men of the highest qualifications for teaching have been and are at pres- ent employed. The stones which were used to construct this church, as well as the academy, and the parsonage, and many other buildings in this vicinity, are taken from Bucks county stone quarries, which are known to you as the triassic or new red sandstone. The terrace which the church stands upon, which extends about half a mile to either side of the church, north and south, is without doubt a remain of the glacial floods which washed this district during the receding and the melting of the so-called ice age of North America. At the lower extremity of this deposit, there are several sand quarries opened, and there one may see and easily study the various strata and formation of this peculiar deposit. As you pass over the campus, on your way to luncheon at the residence of Mr. Fackenthal to-day, you will perhaps ob- serve two large cannon standing near the academy building. These guns were formerly used by the Government in the Ports- mouth navy yard, and were some years ago given to the Colonel Croasdale post, G. A. R., which is established in this village. Bucks county has always been loyal to the call of her country in all military pursuits. In this respect Riegelsville and Durham ADDRESS OF WELCOME) BY REV. SCOTT R. WAGNER 37 township have not been found wanting. If you choose to take the time to walk through the cemetery just back of the church, you will find that there are 46 little flags marking the last resting places of those who responded to their country's call. Of those 46 men, two were veterans of the War of 1812; 41 served in the War of 1861-65; O'^^ "^ t^"'^ Spanish-American war, and two in the navy of our country. The one who served in the Spanish- American war was the son of our efficient sexton, Mr. John E. Buck, a veteran who served through the Civil war, and was one of the few men who, in that great battle of Gettysburg, defended that peculiar locality known as the "bloody angle" and one of the very few that came out of that terrific slaughter of human life without a mortal wound. The hill which lies to the west of our church, is known locally as Morgan Hill, the name undoubtedly being adopted because just beyond the hill is the location of the birth-place of General Daniel Morgan, of Revolutionary fame. Col. George Taylor was a citizen of Durham township when he signed the Declaration of Independence. As you well know we are almost in sight of the historical Durham furnace and the old Durham cave. While at the foot of the village, beyond the towpath, stands the old stone house, wherein Henry Quinn wrote his book called the "Temple of Reason." There are many other things to which I might refer, that are of particular interest to the people of Riegelsville, and because of their historical association, I take it, of interest to you, who are pursuing historical research, but time to-day forbids further reference to those things of interest. There is one thing, how- ever, which, in our locality your eyes will not see and your ears will not hear; but you may find it through the ear of the soul or your intuitive faculties. It is that genial warmth, that sincere hospitality, that cordial welcome which beat in the hearts of the people of Riegelsville, and which to-day, joining with the sun- shine and God's free air, all unite in extending to you a most cordial welcome. When our pilgrim fathers were trying to establish at Plymouth, that little colony from which has come much of the pride and stock of our land, they were, as you know, frequently harrassed by tribes of Indians. Upon one occasion, there came rushing 38 ADDRESS OF WELCOME BY REV. SCOTT R. WAGNER through the trees a half -clad Indian. While the Puritans were hurrying to get their arms, this Indian, upon meeting them broke off the point of his arrow, and expressed in stammering words, "Welcome Englishmen," one of the first speeches made on this continent, and still one of the best. I count it a very high privilege and a great honor, on behalf of the congregation which worships in this place, and on behalf of the people of this village, and on behalf of your host and hostess to-day to say, "Welcome Bucks County Historical Society." SAINT JOHN REFORMED CHURCH OF RIEGELSVILEE, PA. Congregation organized in 1849. This building erected in 187.^-73. (From photograph taken October 25, 1910.) Bucks County Historical Society; Its Aims and Purposes. RKPLV TO REV. SCOTT R. WAGNER'S ADDRESS OF WELCOME. BY HENRY C. MERCER. (Riegtisville erecting, October s, 1909.) In part answer to Rev. Wagner's kind welcome, it might be well to say that many of us should remember the meeting held at Durham cave under the auspices of our kind host, Mr. B. F. Fackenthal, Jr., on which occasion he chartered a special car to bring us to and from Lambertville, N. J., to attend the meeting; and still more of us should bear in mind the public spirit and generosity with which Mr. Fackenthal has presented us with three volumes, printed at his own expense, containing a complete record of all our proceedings, and thereby putting us upon per- manent record before the world. All of us who remembered these things, can have had no question about the welcome we would receive on going to Riegelsville to-day. On the other hand, however, it might be questioned whether we as an historical society are going to justify that generosity and the generosity of other friends like Mr. Elkins, who pre- sented us with a museum and helped us in many ways ; whether we are practically an educational body doing useful service in uplifting and elevating the community in which we live. Doubts have flitted through the minds of many of us since the beginning of the society, on occasions when practical men, successful, much- lauded men, who have been given a high place as leaders in newspapers and elsewhere, who have told us how superior we are to our great-grandfathers, how much better in fact, better fed. better housed we are than they were ; how much more rich and powerful, i)rogressive and masterful we are in many ways than our ancestors were, doubts have occurred to some of us lest after all, this was a sort of dilettant proceeding, a kind of game of croquet, or something which would fill the odd hours, perhaps, of a man occupying more serious positions in the real concerns of life. 4 40 BUCKS COUNTY HISTORICAI, SOCIETY But the real answer to that sort of discouragement Hes in the fact that the great army of human progress in its advance tramples down corn fields in an unnecessary manner; it fre- quently stables horses in churches, when the horses might as well be stabled in neighboring barns ; it destroys picture galleries in a gratuitous and wanton manner. When the French mob cap- tured the Bastile in 1786, there was no need to destroy that ven- erable building, which they did. Who can doubt that if the Bas- tile had been saved, no man, woman, or child who visits France, would have failed' to examine it from top to bottom, obtained from its ancient walls more vivid pictures of the past than might be gathered from the complete reading of Carlisle's French Rev- olution. We believe in progress, and we are optimists. We are reas- onably convinced of the advancement of the human race, but when the Arabs captured Alexandria, it did not help matters to burn down one of the greatest libraries the world has ever seen. When the Spanish got possession of Central America, it was a very necessary matter to colonize it, and civilize it more or less; but that did not justify the act of Bishop Zumarraga when he got possession of all the priceless manuscripts of the ancient priests of Yucatan that he could lay hands upon and destroyed them in a huge bonfire. Cromwell's revolution might have suc- ceeded just as well, without blowing up so many of the old castles of England, and damaging so seriously so many of the splendid Gothic cathedrals. We all admit that it was a very necessary matter for our im- mediate ancestors to colonize, settle and develop the United States west of the Mississippi river, but why did they exterminate one of the noblest animals in the new world, viz., the American bison, or so nearly exterminate it, that a few benevolent individ- uals at present are doing their utmost to save a small herd of these animals on the public reservation in Montana. We are here to protect humanity from these mistakes, and if we do nothing better than this, we thoroughly justify our ex- istence. If this is not education, and if this is not practical work in that field, then the instructor of public school or the superin- tendent of public schools, who draws his salary from the public purse, is not a practical worker in the field of education. The BUCKS COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY 4I fact is, we are as well justitied as any institution of learning could be or expect to be, and we need have no fears upon this score. But there are other doubts, somewhat nearer home, which have passed through the minds of some of us. Are we alive ; have we sufficient energy among ourselves to keep up the Bucks County Historical Society? Are there a number of young men stepping to the front, willing to read papers and do work for its cause? So far as young men are concerned, it might be well questioned whether the crop at present is not rather small ; but an antiquary is not made, but born. You cannot teach a man to be an antiquary ; nor can you teach him not to be one. He springs up suddenly ; and if the present crop of young men does not suffice, we may cheerfully look ahead to the incoming new generation. On the other hand, there is no reason w^hy we should confine ourselves to Bucks county for active membership. Let us look outside, and gather in workers from Boston, New York or Bal- timore, or anywhere else, who have the leisure and interest to help us. Let us whisper in their ears that we do not want their money, but we want their brains. If they fail us, we have still something in reserve, which gives us ample cause for confidence in the future. We, as an historical society, have yet a new point of view. We have found out that history may be written from the standpoint of objects, rather than from laws, legislatures, and the proceedings of public assemblies. We have a splendid col- lection in our museum, but has it been described ; has anyone written about all those implements and tools, which stand for the building up and colonization of the United States, in that building? They have not. There is nothing on the subject in the encyclopedias nor the histories thus far written. Therefore, the matter is absolutely fresh, and new, and all our own. \\'hat we want to do is to call in laborers, mechanics, artisans and farmers of the older generations, who can look back upon their youth and give us descriptions of what these things mean, and get those descriptions on record. When we have done this by means of the publication fund which we hope to start shortly, through the sale of our present volumes of proceedings, the last one of which is within your reach at this meeting; when in this 42 BUCKS COUNTY NORTH OF THE LEHIGH RIVER or some other manner, we have got together a fund sufficient to print any record of any value that comes within our reach, and when, by this means, we call in active members from elsewhere, and failing this, proceed to get on record these oral statements describing the immense and very valuable collection of tools and implements which we possess, we will have enough to distinguish ourselves above all the other historical societies in the country. Here then is something which should command full attention. It is a subject in itself sufficient to keep alive ten historical societies for the next lOO years. We thank you. Rev. Wagner and the people of Riegelsville, for this cordial welcome. Bucks County North of the Lehigh River. BY WIEEIAM J. HELLER, EASTON, PA. (Riegelsville Meeting, October 5, 1909.) While William Penn's famous treaty with the Indians at Shack- amaxon created a boundary between the white man and his red brother, the extravagant manner of surveying land in those days, left an indefinite line for the guidance of the future settler. The Lehigh hills designated as the northern boundary of the purchase as entered into upon that great occasion, is a wall of hills, eight miles in thickness and over one hundred miles in length, in which are many fertile valleys abounding with excellent springs and running brooks. The hardy German emigrant was quick to note that these hills were capable of the very best cultivation and, re- gardless of all consequences, staked his claim anywhere through- out their length and breadth, erecting his log house wherever there appeared a convenient supply of water. This created land- scapes with a chaotic array of habitations and erratic roadways. Early travelers through these hills, noted with surprising com- ment, the fact that it made no difference how far up the slope a settler had erected his home, the soil was just as productive as those located lower in the valley. This peculiar feature is notice- able even to the present day. Probably, there is no other place on the western hemisphere where like condition exists. These BUCKS COUNTY NORTH OF Till; LICHIGII RIVER 43 pioneer settlers were very numerous and lived in happy content- ment long before the land officials were aware of this invasion of the white man on Indian rights. The Lehigh river was recognized by these pioneers as the boundary between the white man and his red neighbor and con- sidered their possessions as being within the bounds of the Dur- ham tract, known as Durham township until the formation of Northampton county, in 1752, when the northern portion took the name of Williamstown in honor of William Penn, Jr., grandson of the founder. Here then fringed along this west branch of the Delaware, were these hardy frontiersmen with their rapidly increasing numbers in plain view of the land of promise, await- ing the day when the red man would vacate and the white man take his place. James Logan, who was the land agent of the Penns, was part owner of the Durham tract and considered the northern boundary of the tract as the line designated as Lehigh hills in the deed as entered into at the treaty. However, he made a compromise line four miles below the Lehigh river and refused to sell land above that point. This line was the northern boundary of the Schu- macher plantation, now belonging to the estate of the late Robert S. Brown. From the highest point in these hills, one has an extensive view of many miles in any direction. Far to the north, like an amethyst barrier, the Kittatinny hills seemingly mingle their peaks with the clouds. Far to the northeast, thirty miles or more, these hills are cut in twain by the historic Delaware. Far to the northwest, forty miles or more, the Lehigh, known in the early days as the west branch of the Delaware, burst through the hills, and, meandering first to the south and then to the east, unites with the main stream at our feet below. This triangular territory was known for ages as the Forks — so named by the red man — not because it was included between two confluent rivers, but from the Indian trails forking in dif- ferent directions after crossing the west branch, one at Yeisil- stein's island and the other at the Buffalo ford. Afterwards, it was known to the white settlers as the "Forks of the Delaware." About the year 1730 and later, the fertile valleys of this land of promise were a temptation to the settlers, an invitation to a 44 BUCKS COUNTY NORTH OF THE LEHIGH RIVER home, but for twenty years or more, it was forbidden ground. At this time, it was a vast treeless plain, the only vegetation to be seen being that which fringed its numerous small streams, the favorite hunting ground of the red man. Midway between the two rivers, there is in the mountain, a natural defile known as the Wind Gap through which the Indians chased the game by burning the undergrowth between the two rivers and despatching the game as it passed through the Gap. Owing to the yearly destruction of the vegetable growth, it had the appearance of a vast desert plain called by the Philadelphians, the Drylands, and by the Jerseyites, the Barrens, and by the Hol- landers who first explored it, Blanveldt which, in English, is plain field. From this high point of vantage could be seen 'way to the south, the home of William Fry at Fry's run ; next, the ferry of Peter Raub ; up the river, a short distance further, the settlement of his brothers, Michael and George, the northernmost village in the province and the stopping place of all emigrants going north- ward, now known as Raubsville; then, the plantation of Michael Schumacher; further northward, Phillip Meixsell on the river bank with George Henry Seibert on the hill ; then Lawrence Mer- kel, Balser Hess, Anthony Albright; then around the point, up the Lehigh, John Rush ; next, Jeremiah Bast at the Buffalo ford, now the Glendon valley; then the Reesers, Hartzells, Schencks, Sloughs and the hundred or more families scattered 'round about. Some of the emigrants, more adventurous than others, penetrated the forbidden ground where they remained, apparently unmo- lested, principally by reason of the Indians of the Forks taking up their abode in the territory bordering on the west branch of the Susquehanna. These venturesome people lived in perfect peace with a few Indians who still remained within the Forks but when emigration reached to the valleys above the Blue moun- tains, in the country of the Minnesinks, there was a relaxation of this peaceful tension and protests against the encroachment, were in evidence everywhere. For a number of years after the walking purchase, the land officials were apprehensive of trouble and did not grant land titles above the Lehigh until 1741. The land, however, had been well surveyed into large tracts, many years before this period, BUCKS COUNTY NORTH OF THR LRIIIGH RIVER 45 to Philadelphia land speculators, Wister, Page, Langhorne, Graeme, Allen, Boone, Peters and the Penns themselves. Chief of these was William Allen. It was he who assumed the initiative in disposing of his rights as soon as they were acquired and be- fore they were legally free from Indian claim. One of these tracts Allen sold to Nicholas Depui. This was the plantation on which Depui was living and had purchased from the Indians nearly fifty years previous. From 1740 to 1752, is the period when all of this territory was a part of Bucks county. North of the mountains in the Dela- ware valley were many people as early as 1665. This section was vacated by the Minnesink Indians prior to 1720, they having gone to the w-est branch of the Susquehanna. The Indians remaining along the Delaware, from the Water Gap northward, were the Shawnees, who were not directly concerned in the land deals as they were only living in the province through suffrage of the Delaware and Six Nations and with the consent of the proprie- tary government. This was one reason why they were not in- cluded in Cannassattoga's chastisement of 1742. The Shawnees were forced back from the Potomac river by white encroachment about 1720. They had four settlements in Pennsylvania with seat of government in the largest of these, the town and council house being located on an island in the Delaware river above the Water Gap. Their chief man was called "Emperor" and his name was Kakowatchy, noted as an honest man and a good friend of the white settlers. His nearest white neighbor was Nicholas Depew, who had a very extensive plantation on both sides of the river. The land office, always hungry for money, accepted applications for land warrants from actual settlers. Anthony Lee applied for one of his sons, Richard Henry Lee, for a tract on the Lehigh, in 1732. Henry Antes secured 500 acres in the Irish settlement along the Lehigh for the purpose of erecting there a mill, in 1734. Peter Knauss secured a tract on the opposite side of the river. Thomas Smalley acquired 500 acres along Smalley's creek, on which he built a mill in 1732. This mill is still standing in the town of what is now Martins Creek. Martin Delametor made application for an island in the Lehigh, in 1734, now known as Island Park. Solomon Jennings had already settled along the 46 BUCKS COUNTY NORTH OF THE LEHIGH RIVER Lehigh before 1728. He made apphcation and received warrant for the 200 acres in 1736. This was the tract that he was sup- posed to have received from Thomas Penn for his part in the famous walking purchase. These tracts were all located below the Blue mountains. Above these mountains, the country had been peopled long before William Penn had received his charter for the colony. Garret Brink lived along the upper Delaware in 1680. As early as 1690 there was living in the same locality on both sides of the river, the Van Campens, Van Normans, Van Ettas, Westlakes, Schoonoven and many more under the leadership of Schmidt, after whom, the country above the mountains took its name Schmidtvelt, now Upper and Tower Smithfield township, Monroe county. These ancient settlers secured their rights to their property from the Indians, previous to the time that this was considered as part of Bucks county. The Minnesink Indians had already migrated from this section to the country in the Susquehanna forks, to which place they were later followed by many of the Shawnees. Indian ownership to land along the Delaware was vested in rights of their king, Tapa- winzo, who was a Fork Indian and lived at what is now Catasau- qua. That period, now in view, was previous to the walking pur- chase, in 1737, at which time settlement was fast being made both below and above the Blue mountains. Thomas Quick, in 1734, secured a hundred acres on the Match- epecong, on which he built a corn mill. This is the present site of Milford, Pike county. Thomas Quick was the father of Tom Quick, the avenger, who made a vow over the body of his father to kill one hundred Indians to avenge his murdered parent, devot- ing his entire life to the cause, making his name a terror to all Indians and, to this day, the name of Tom Quick is the god of fear to all Indians on the North American continent. One of the later comers to the Minnesink country was Daniel Brodhead, an Indian trader, who, desiring to become a land owner, made application for a tract of 600 acres on Analomink creek. This was then in possession of another Indian trader, John Mathers. Warrant for this application was granted the same day it was received by Thomas Penn himself. Brodhead, evidently feeling elated over his success, made another applica- BUCKS COUNTY NORTH OF THE LEHIGH RIVER 4/ tion for 600 acres. This second tract included an island in the river Delaware, then in possession of Nicholas Depui. Depui had not included this island in his deal with William Allen a few years previous. Daniel was quite up to what, in modern times, is known as "ring- movement," and secured title to the island, which considerably disturbed the old time plantation gentleman of leisure, Nicholas Depui, who in turn devised a scheme to oust Brodhead by petition to the board of property, signed by Lapa- winzo, then king of the Delawares and the names of several other Indians. At a meeting of the board, in March, 1737, with Thomas Penn present, the petition was read, setting forth the fact that Nicholas Depui had been their trusty, loving friend and had often redressed and relieved them from the wrong done to them by the said Brodhead and, therefore, they had given him the same tract of land that they might have liberty to give away what was their own without molestation and that they w'ere re- solved that neither D. Brodhead nor any other should settle the said land in peace except N. Depui, etc., etc. To this petition, the names of Lapawinzo and five other Indians are subscribed. Depui in pursuance of his petition, appeared before the board with Lapawinzo and Corse Urum, an interpreter. Brodhead, happening to be in Philadelphia at the time, was sent for, as was also John Scull, to act as interpreter. The petition was distinctly read by paragraphs and rendered into the Indian language and thereupon Lapawinzo was asked if he knew the contents thereof. and when it was procured from him. To this he answered that Depui had sent for him and showed him the paper or petition and told him that he must sign it, which he did, but the other Indians whose names were also on the petition were not there except one which he called his cousin. That he knew nothing of the con- tents of the paper nor had he anything to say against Brodhead, only that some match-coats which he had from him were not so good as he expected. Thomas Penn, the proprietor then, through the interpreter, told Lapawinzo that as his father, William Penn, had always been kind to the Indians, purchased and paid for their lands, he did not take it well that they should sell any to other people because, as it was unjust so to do, a law of the Province was provided to prevent the sale and render such purchases void and, therefore, to continue the friendship that had always ex- 48 BUCKS COUNTY NORTH OF THE LEHIGH RIVER isted between the proprietors and the Indians, it would be neces- sary to fix the bounds of former purchases by walking out the distances according to the deeds passed by the Indians to the late proprietor, William Penn. To this Lapawinzo answered that it was his desire it should be done but that some other Indians were opposed to the walking purchase scheme, meaning Nutimus and the Jersey Indians who had, sometime previous, settled near the Durham iron works. The proprietor further told Lapawinzo that, as it was the first time he had seen him in Philadelphia, he was welcome to his house, and, afterwards, at parting, he gave orders that a present of Indian goods should be delivered to Lapawunzo. Perhaps this was the time when the portrait of Lapawinzo was painted for Thomas Penn as preparations were then being made to steal the Forks of the Delaware from the Indians, the walking pm^chase taking place a few months later. This, the greatest event in the annals of Bucks county and so well told by W. J. Buck in his "Story of the Walking Purchase." Thomas Penn, with nothing to lose and all to gain, unmindful of the apprehension of the of- ficials who looked after the detail of affairs, consummated the famous land steal in the year 1737, causing a cloud of discontent to overshadow the opening days of the last decade of Bucks county, north of the Lehigh. Of the many early settlers who had made their habitations in the Forks country, only a small number of them are entered on record as making application for land grants, the majority of them having settled on the pre-empted land of the speculators. The overflow of the great German exodus was noticeable in the Forks country about 1730 and while many of these emigrants lived in comparative isolation, others formed communities. It is to these communities that we must look for the first historical data north of the Lehigh and not to the lone dweller in the wilds who lived as much in fear of the Philadelphia authorities as they did of the Indians. Of these communities giving precedence to those of the Hol- landers along the upper Delaware, north of the mountain, next in point of settlement would be the Swiss, at Egypt, now Whitehall township, Lehigh county. The precise time when these Swiss Reformed began settling this exceptionally fertile district will. BUCKS COUNTY NORTH OF THE LEHIGH RIVER 49 probably, never be known. It was only the more prominent whose names are chronicled that enables us to determine the time of settlement. This would make it 1730 to 1732 as on record at Egypt Reformed Church. Yet there are well defined graves at this ancient burial ground that indicate prior dwellings in this community. Eastward from Egypt and within the Forks were the Scotch-Irish known as Craig's settlement which began prob- ably, in 1733. Historians, through collateral evidence, endeavor to establish the time as 1728. There was another Scotch-Irish community in what is now Upper Mount Bethel township, under the leadership of Alexander Hunter. This was known as Hun- ter's settlement. The precise time of their arrival is not definitely known but it was before 1733. Another community of Scotch- Irish settled southward from this point, along the Indian trail and bordering the Delaware river. Their main headquarters were on Smalley's creek, now Martins creek. These were under the leadership of James Martin. They were located here in 1730, but in what numbers, cannot be determined. Smalley, under the name of Smedley, had already erected a mill in 1732, indi- cating that there were people living 'roundabout or there would be no use for a mill. This settlement may have been the Scotch- Irish who were banished from Connecticut about 1710 and thrown on the hands of Governor Hunter, of New York, who furnished a location for them in the wilds beyond civilization where they disappear from history. It is not beyond probabilty that the name Hunter's settlement may mean this community and the term applied as Governor Hunter's settlement in the wilds. The next in point of arrival and of more importance than all the others, were the Moravian pilgrims at Nazareth. Their ar- rival here from the colony of Georgia was in 1738 and this was the beginning of Moravianism in Pennsylvania. Their history cannot be told better than that which is found in Bishop Lever- ing's History of Bethlehem. The Moravians who found an asy- lum within the confines of Bucks county, their promulgation of the teachings of the Christ in the wilds of America, accords them first place on the escutcheon of religious progress in the western hemisphere. The Spanish invasion of 1747 into the lower Delaware bay caused the colony of Pennsylvania to make its first war prep- 50 PENNSYLVANIA GERMAN STOVEPLATES IN BERKS COUNTY aration in defense against an enemy. The call for a volunteer militia was responded to very patriotically by the several counties. Bucks county, notwithstanding the fact that the greater number of its inhabitants were Quakers and Moravians who were non- combatants, promptly furnished its full quota of men. The first of these to respond were the hardy Germans and the Scotch-Irish from the valleys of the Lehigh and Delaware, in sufficient num- bers to head the third regiment which was the first one out of the twenty, to be formed north of Philadelphia. These first defenders from the Forks of the Delaware, under the leadership of Alexander Hunter, William Craig, James Mar- tin, George Gray, Thomas Armstrong and Daniel Brodhead, reached Philadelphia and were part of the procession of the twenty regiments in the review. Their ensign was a blue flag with the device of a dove flying from the cloud. Underneath this, was a scroll, containing the Latin inscription, "A deo Vic- toria." The army disbanded as this formidable array caused the enemy to retreat. Several of these companies from the Forks country, however, were retained and their services were hired out to the Governor of New York by the Pennsylvania authori- ties, for the purpose of strengthening the army of that colony, in their Canadian war where they took part in the battles, at the fall of Louisburg. Shortly after the return of these troops from the north, political influence caused a new era to take place in the Forks country and the mantle of jurisdiction passed from Bucks county to that of Northampton. Pennsylvania German Stoveplates in Berks County. BY B. F. OWEN, READING, PA.* (Riegelsville Meeting, October s, 1909.) I do not know why Mr. Mercer invited me to come here to- day to talk about stoveplates, except on the principal that "a prophet is not without honor save in his own country." All I know about stoveplates I obtained from him; in fact four years * B. F. Owen died at Reading, January 17, 1917, aged 84 years. PENNSYLVANIA GERMAN STOVEPLATES IN BERKS COUNTY 5I ago I knew nothing about five-plate stoves, I did. however, know there was a straight sided ten-plate stove, the kind you are all fa- miliar with, but I now know that the five-plate stove was its prede- cessor. I sui)pose the real object Mr. Mercer had in inviting me is because I am an outsider ; I am free to say that I would not appear before the Berks County Historical Society, which is com- posed entirely of men, to discuss this subject, but you have so many ladies present that conditions are different, they are sym- pathetic and if I make mistakes will be too charitable to criticise me, and even if they do I will not be here to hear it. About four years ago, I was compelled through an unfortunate investment to take off of the hands of a land company the re- mains of a farm, on which there was a magnificent old colonial mansion. As this was unoccupied my daughters conceived the idea of spending part of the summer there. They invited quite a number of their friends to go with them and I sent down a dozen or fifteen cot beds to sleep on. They took cooking utensils along, and had a jolly good time for four or five weeks. While there they ransacked everything in the old place, and discovered among other things, a peculiar old iron plate in the back of the fireplace. This they hauled out and I scoured it and developed the plate called "Marriage of Cana." In the center of the plate is the wine glass pulpit, with a preacher in it wearing a wig, on one side is the man coming out of a door; on the other, a woman with a bou- quet in her hand. I offered this plate to the Berks County His- torical Society, but they refused it, saying "What do we want with that junk?" Not knowing what it was neither could I tell them. Sometime after that Prof. M. D. Learned and Mr. Albert Cook Myers came to Reading hunting material for the museum for Founder's Day in Philadelphia. I showed them this plate, and they said they wanted it for exhibition. They seemed to think it had some value ; the fact is, they rejoiced over it. When the plate was returned, with the endorsement of the Philadelphians, our Berks County Historical Society was ready to receive it. Sometime later Mr. Mercer came to Reading to look for stove plates. He also rejoiced over it, which made me feel very proud of this particular plate. Mr. Mercer w'ith his text book took me through ])rimary, secondary, grammar and high school. I do not think that I graduated ; at any rate I did not receive a diploma, 52 PENNSYLVANIA GERMAN STOVEPEATES IN BERKS COUNTY but I got orders to hustle, and started out to search for stove- plates. The Berks County Historical Society gave an outing in 1908 at the old Moravian Meeting House in Oley township. In search- ing through the house, I discovered an iron plate in the fire- place; and shortly after that I went back to the house and dis- covered three more plates, and during a third visit, I gathered up six more all of which I purchased and sent to the Berks County Historical Society's rooms at Reading. I went there the fourth time to see whether there were any plates in the old bakeovens, but that visit was unsuccessful. It seems to me that I have been "hustling" about for plates ever since, consulting old ladies, and trying to inspire men whom I met, asking them if they had any stoveplates with pictures on them, or, in fact, if they had seen any. I received many encouraging replies, but when I came to look for the stoveplates, found that they had been sold to junk dealers. Elmer E. Billings felt of Adamstown, a curio collector, became interested through me, and he told me of a complete stove that had lately been torn out. I requested him to buy it for me, and after a week or so, he wrote that he had purchased it and was going to present it to the Historical Society on his own account. I noticed a very fine plate in his yard but did not have the nerve to ask him for that after his generosity in presenting a full stove to the society. I was told of a stove in Exeter township which I went to see, and found a "Jonathan and David" plate also three pieces of a ten-plate stove, all of these were cheerfully presented to me for the society, and were gathered together preparatory for ship- ment. I was therefore surprised next day to have him telephone me that he would keep them for himself. However, I consider that one object of my visit had been accomplished, as I had in- terested him enough to start him in forming a collection of his own. Early last spring I was told, by another man whom I had aroused, of a stoveplate in Lebanon county, and on going up there a week ago, I was met at the door by a beautiful young woman. On making known my errand she said : "You are Mr. Owen." She then showed me through what was in 1752 a magnificent PENNSYLVANIA GERMAN STOVEPLATES IN BERKS COUNTY 53 and model building, containing carved wood work of many de- scriptions. She then took me over into the mill to show me a stoveplate over there, which I found was a front plate. She said there were others in the washhouse, and there I found three. She said there is another out here in the chicken house; there I found another front plate, and in going out of the chicken house, I found a portion of a stoveplate leaning up against the chicken house. I explained to her that the Historical Society had no money ; that we wanted these stoveplates for our museum, and there were only three ways of getting them — either as a gift, or a deposit, or I would pay for them and present them myself. Her brother then joined us and after I had made the same state- ment to him, they very readily consented to deposit them. I then gave them some account of these five-plate stoves, saying that they had been cast at many furnaces in Eastern Pennsylvania about 1741 to 1760, that they were not stoves at all in the sense that we regard stoves, but simply radiators, built like a store box, but made of cast iron, with one end open — they have a top, bottom, end and two side plates. In one room there is built a fireplace with an opening into another room, through this opening the five-plate stove is projected and radiates heat into the room by this arrangement ; one fire serves three purposes : first to warm the room containing the fireplace ; second, to use the fireplace for cooking and third to warm the room into which the five-plate stove projects. It is a German idea that was brought over to America. After 1760 the ten-plate stove became popular, and these old five-plate stoves were thrown out and the plates used for lower steps, to cover drains, make walks, put in the bottoms and sides and tops of fireplaces, and some of them on tops of chim- neys. After hearing my explanation, the young girl immediately looked to see if there was a plate covering their chimney, but there was none there. Her brother and I then went back to the mill to examine more carefully the plate that was found there and while doing so she came out and announced "There are three plates in the kitchen fireplace." This made eleven plates in all that I found that day. It was then about time to leave and her brother agreed to pack and ship them to me. On my return I wrote him a letter in which I stated, that I came to his house expecting to find one plate and I found eleven, from which with the three 54 PENNSYLVANIA GERMAN STOVEPLATES IN BERKS COUNTY that he said had been carried away, might possibly make three full stoves when set up. I regretted that I did not get all of them, but I certainly got my full share. The Berks County Historical Society has all the stoveplates it needs, and if we want more, I should have no difficulty in gath- ering single plates for them ; but the great state of Pennsyl- vania has a meagre collection, that she has no means of enlarg- ing, and I requested him to send them to the State Museum, un- der the same terms that he gave them to me, that they would be considered his property and be returned to him if he ever asked for them. I am not going to detain you any longer. I advise all of you to read Mr. Mercer's book, where you will find more information than I can give you; for he is as enthusiastic on this subject as I am. The embellishments on these stoveplates are mostly to il- lustrate scripture scenes. Among them are Adam and Eve, Cain and Abel, David and Jonathan, the Marriage of Cana, Joseph and Potiphar's wife and many others. The later ones, however, discard scripture subjects, and are illustrated by hearts and tulips, sun dials, and very many others of that kind, but the inscriptions on all of them are in German. Some of them have the name of the furnace, some the initials of the proprietor of the furnace and some have no date or name. Generally you find the date on the front. I have several front plates without a date and have a great many side plates; in all, I have about fifteen plates, and a com- plete stove. I have with me a picture of several stoveplates (exhibiting photographs) ; you will notice they are not particularly remarkable for their beauty. These stoves were made from at least twenty different patterns, many of them with designs to il- lustrate the manner and domestic economies of those early days. They appear to have been used almost entirely by the Germans. The Franklin stove, used mainly by the English families, was in- vented about the same time. I never found one of these German stoves in an English family ; neither have I ever found a Frank- lin stove in a German family. Classification and Analyses of Stoveplates. BY B. F. FAC KEN THAI,, JR., RIEGEI.SVILLE, PA. (Riegelsville, Pa., Meeting, October s, 1909.) It would be interesting to know where these old stoveplates, to which Mr. Owen has referred, were cast. It is a well established fact that at that early day all castings made in Eastern Pennsyl- vania, whether stoves, pots, pans or other articles, were made with molten iron taken direct from the blast furnaces. The iron was doubtless first run into ladles and then transferred to the moulds. No castings were made at Durham except when the blast furnace was in operation. I have not examined a colonial stoveplate, but that shows evidence of having been cast in open moulds, i. e. the patterns were placed in the sand with the picture or face side down. This is indicated by the rough surfaces on their backs which were the tops of the moulds. Into these moulds the cast iron was poured. There was an overflow to regulate the thickness of the castings, but this crude method was sure to pro- duce plates that varied in thickness and consequently in weight, even when made from the same pattern, which would not have been so marked if they had been coped. The temperature of the iron also doubtless controlled the weight to a small extent, and moreover, the quality of the iron varied from day to day, some- times it was gray and the castings soft, at other times it was quite hard. This latter quality would not now be considered suitable for castings — it is known as mottled and white iron — but all low sil- icon charcoal pig iron has a tendency to chill. The different grades of iron used for stoveplates are quite noticeable when boring them for analyses, some are so chilled that it is with difficulty they can be drilled. No definite date can be fixed to show just when cast iron, as distinct from wrought iron, was first made. Prof. B. Osann in his book on the iron foundry states that Newmann in "Geschichte der Metalle" (Knapp, Halle), mentions a "Massenhiitte" (blast furnace) in existence in 131 1. Prof. Osann states that 1300 is the time when definite information is had about cast iron made in the blast furnace, deliberately, and not accidentally by some other process. This was made in the Siegerland of Westphalia.^ ' Information from Dr. Richard Moklcnke, Secretary of the American Foundry- men's Association. 56 cLASSii^iCATioN AND analyse;s OF stove;plates Dr. Rossiter W. Raymond, in his article on Iron Manufacture, in Appleton's Encyclopaedia (Vol. IX, page 389, et seq., 1874 edition) says: "According to Verlit, cast iron was known in Holland in the thirteenth century, and stoveplates were made from it in Alsace in 1400. Ancient ornamental castings have been found in Sussex, England, which have been referred by Lower to the fourteenth century ; but Karsten says that the systematic production of iron for foundry purposes cannot be traced with certainty to an earlier period than the end of the fifteenth cen- tury. According to Lower the first cast iron cannon made in Eng- land were cast by Ralph Hogge in 1543." The first casting known to have been made in America, was an iron pot, made at the Saugus Iron Works, Lynn, Mass., in 1644. This casting has been preserved, a cut of it is shown on the margin hereof. It weighs but 2 pounds 13 ovuices ; its capacity is I quart less i gill ; its inside measurements are 4^ inches wide by 4^/2 inches deep.- It is not likely, however, that a casting so difficult to make was the first to be cast in America. Castings of cruder workmanship were doubtless made earlier, and likely at the same furnace. James Logan, Penn's secretary (who at that time owned one- fourth part of Durham), wrote that, "In 1728 there were but four blast furnaces in Pennsylvania." One of these was certainly Colebrookdale, built in 1720; another was Durham built in 1727. The other two were probably Samuel Nutt's Redding furnace (Christine-Redding) on French creek, and Sir William Keith's furnace on Christiana creek in the present state of Delaware, or this fourth one may have been Kurtz's furnace in Lancaster county. Other blast furnaces followed in succeeding years but there were never any large number of them. The operation re- quired water-power, an ore bed and abundance of wood for making charcoal. If any colonial stoveplate or fireback contains the name of any iron works other than a blast furnace, it is certain that such name was put on as an accommodation by the blast furnace where they were cast. The cupola for remelting cast iron (pig ^ From Dr. James M. Swank's "Iron in All Ages," second edition, page 119. CLASSIFICATION' AND ANALYSES OF STOVEPLATES 57 iron) now in universal use, was not used and doubtless not known in the early days of these stoveplates, and therefore the number of places where they were made was limited by the number of what are technically known as "blast furnaces." This was also true of the other early castings to which reference has been made. The Durham books show shipments of pig iron to forges in Berks and Montgomery counties. They also show shipments of castings, but I do not find that stoveplates were shipped to that neighborhood. Some of the stoveplates found there may how- ever have been cast at Durham, and many of those found in Bucks county were cast at other eastern Pennsylvania blast fur- naces. From May 1787 to December 1789, shipments of pig iron were made regularly to Valentine Eckert at Moselem forge in Berks county near Reading. Later Mr. Eckert had a blast furnace of his own. I have endeavored to determine, by chemical analyses, the blast furnaces at which some of these stoveplates were made. This is made possible by knowing the analyses of the ores used, for the blast furnaces were usually situated at or near the ore mines, e. g. the ores used at Durham came from the opening on Mine Hill.. This Durham ore is low in phosphorus, entirely free of copper, and contains but a trace of manganese. This latter element, how- ever, might have been added to the Durham iron if ores were used from any of the near-by brown hematite ore deposits, and these limonite ores would also increase the phosphorus ; but there is no evidence of such ores having been used during the Backhouse administration from 1780 to 1790. Neither is it likely that any soft ores were used at any other of the Pennsylvania furnaces at that early day. It is well known that the mines in Lebanon county contain ores high in copper, and that some of the Berks, Montgomery and Chester county mines also contain small amounts of copper. These facts enable one, in some cases, to determine where the castings were or were not made. Moreover, some plates have the names of the furnaces cast on them; this enables one to 'standardize the cast iron from which they were made. The amount of carbons, sulphur, and silicon in cast iron is controlled mainly by the furnace practice and is of no value in the classification of which I am speaking. Since the Riegelsville meeting in 1909, when the above paper 58 CLASSIFICATION AND ANALYSES OF STOVEPLATFS was read and discussed, I have been able to get borings from a number of firebacks and stoveplates, of which I will append the analyses hereto. Mr. Owen very kindly sent me borings from seven of those referred to by him. The analyses of all show the presence of copper, and my deduction, therefore, is that they were not made at Durham. In all analyses given below, the following symbols are used : — Cu. for copper ; Mn. for rhanganese ; P. for phos- phorus ; Si. for silicon ; and S. for sulphur. Analyses made from borings sent by Mr. B. F. Owen : ■ 131 imber Cu. I .106 2 .112 3 •125 4 •034 5 .014 6 .008 7 .400 P. Si. s. .136 •447 .024 .132 •353 .026 .124 •353 .026 •546 •517 .050 .492 •447 •031 .172 1. 128 .026 •152 i^io5 .026 No. I — "The Wedding Dance," date 1746. An end plate. Referred to in Dr. Mercer's "Bible in Iron," page 58, figure 70. No. 2 — "The Wedding." Referred to in "Bible in Iron" page 57, figure 69. No. 3 — "Temptation of Joseph," date 1749 — "Bible in Iron" page 46, figure 46. No. 4 — Part of a ten plate stove. No. 5 — Part of a ten plate stove, different design from No. 4. Un- dree & Company. "Bible in Iron" page III, figure 187. No. 6 — From a complete stove referred to by Mr. Owen. No. 7 — Marked "Retding Fornes." Note the high copper, which is more than found in any other plate. The silicons too, are higher in numbers 6 and 7, than in any other tests. This would indicate an iron softer and more fluid. There are eight firebacks in "Stenton," the home of James Togan, Penn's Secretary, built in 1728; these are all cast from the same pattern, although some of them are without dates and initials. As Durham furnace began producing iron the very year Stenton was built, and as James Togan owned one- fourth part of Durham, he without doubt had these firebacks made at Dur- ham. The analysis bears this out : they are free of copper, and one only shows a trace of manganese; the phosphorus is just what should be expected from Durham ores. One of these fire- CLASSIFICATION AND ANALYSES OF STOVEPLATES 59 backs is shown in "Bible in Iron," page 119, figure 209. The analyses of three of them are as follows : — - Number 9 10 Mn. p. Si. -S. nil .084 •73 •034 nil .092 .68 .029 race .092 .61 .029 A fireback, bearing date 1728, in "Graeme Park," built by Sir William Keith, resembles in shape those in Stenton but is made from a different pattern and was probably not made at Durham, as the phosphorus is too high. This plate is shown in "Bible in Iron," page 119, figure 208. The analysis is: — Number Cu. Mn. P. Si. II nil .065 .236 .96 •034 Col. Henry D. Paxson very kindly allowed me to take borings from the stoveplates in his collection at Holicong, Pa. None of the eleven selected can be claimed for Durham, in fact with the exception of Nos. 12 and 13, they are all marked with the names of other furnaces. Only one of them (No. 14,) comes within the Durham specifications. The analyses of these eleven plates follow : — tnber Cu. Mn. p. Si. s. Figure in "Bible in Iron' 12 .19 trace .156 ■52 .144 42 13 .20 trace .124 •52 .036 53 14 nil trace .104 .56 036 96 15 ■ 17 trace .092 ■47 .036 108 16 .14 trace .116 .56 .024 112 17 .06 .066 .128 71 036 117 18 .16 trace .056 .56 042 125 19 .17 •033 .068 38 043 127 20 •14 trace •144 .88 047 155 21 •05 .066 .148 66 048 172 22 nil .200 .796 58 043 181 No. 12 — Cain and Abel, 1741 — a side plate. 13 — David and Goliath — a side plate. 14 — S. F. (Samuel Flower) of 1756. 15— Despise not Old Age, J. P. and S. P. (Pots) 1758. 16 — Good for Evil of 1758 (Pots furnace). 17 — God's Well has Water aplenty, (Martic Furnace). 18 — In combangni vor Elisa (Eliza furnace). 19 — Henrich \\ ilhelm, Elizabeth furnace. 20 — Colcbrookdale Furnace, 1763. (See also No. 36 below.) 21 — Mark Bird, Hopewell Furnace. 22 — Thomas Maybury of 1767. 6o CLASSIFICATION AND ANALYSES OF STOVEPLATES Dr. Henry C. Mercer also permitted me to drill his stoveplates of which ten were selected for analyses. Two of these were doubtless cast at Durham, vh: No. 30, an Adam and Eve 1745 end plate, and No. 32 which contains the name of Durham furnace. It was a great disappointment not to find No. 25, an Adam and Eve 1741 side plate, come within the Durham specifica- tions, but the presence of cop- per excludes it, as it also does ^ ADAM UND EFA— 1745 all the others, except the two Stoveplate made at Durham Furnace. I have pointed out. In giving the titles of these stoveplates I have followed the nomenclature in Dr. Mercer's "Bible in Iron." The analyses follow : — mber Cu. Mn. p. Si. s. Figure in "Bible in Iron 23 .10 nil .308 .28 .063 34 24 .18 .066 .100 .80 .100 38 25 .20 .066 .164 •42 .063 40 26 .18 .033 .ICO •52 .100 46 27 .14 .132 .142 .66 ■053 54 28 .08 .132 .140 .66 .042 65 29 .04 trace .200 •94 .032 71 30 nil .066 .096 •42 ■037 83 31 .19 nil .112 .61 .063 100 32 nil .066 .080 .85 •034 188 No. 23 — The Tenth Commandment, 1760. 24 — The Family Quarrel. 25 — Adam and Eve, 1741, side plate. 26 — Temptation of Joseph, 1749. 27 — Samson and the Lion, end plate. 28 — Coat-of-Arms of Germanj^ 29 — The Swarm of Bees. 30 — Adam and Eve, 174S, end plate. 31 — The Wicked Borrower, Retding Fornes. 32 — Ten plate stove Durham (R. Backhouse). Seven other plates tested were of the following analyses: Where no figures are given no determinations were made : CLASSIFICATION AND ANALYSES OF STOVKPLATES 6l Number Cii. Mn. P. Si. S. Figure in "Bible in Iron 33 34 35 36 .012 .008 .17 nil .320 .360 .098 0.64 .082 2.204 .140 .94 .62 1.02 .042 •034 .026 .082 61 68 152 155 37 .I20 .097 .168 .029 210 38 .032 .310 .56 0.22 211 39 nil .560 ■540 1. 00 .067 No. 33 — End plate of 1749. Property of P. E. Wright. 34 — The Prussian Grenadiers. To Bucks County Historical Society by Mr. Fackenthal. 35 — Martic plate of 1761. Property of Dr. Wm. T. Sharpless of West Chester, Pa. Note the excessively high phos- phorus. This is quite different in that respect from any of the other plates, and suggests that it may have been made at a New Jersey furnace out of bog ores, which as a rule are very high in phosphoric acid. 36 — This is another Colebrookdale Furnace, 1763, side plate, the analysis of which is quite similar to No. 20. 37 — Fireback 1734, like the one at Valley Forge. Property of Dr. Sharpless. 38 — Fireback, John Potts, 1741. Property of George H. Potts, Pottstown, Pa. 39 — One of 4 firebacks in the George Taylor house at Cata- sauqua, Pa. G. T., Date 1768. The one tested is the property of Lehigh County Historical Societj'. DURHAM FURNACE, COMPLETED 1876, DEMOLISHED 1912. View from the east before demolishing. (i) Engine room containing blowers and pumps, (j) Blast-furnace stack 75 ft. high. (3) Furnace hoist. (4) Covered stock-house. (5) Cast-house. (6) Foundry. (7) Office, with laboratory on second story. (8) Shops 300 ft. long. (Photograph by William F. Witte.) Excelsior Normal Institute, Carversville, Pa. BY J. B. WALTER, M. D., SOLEBURY, PA.* (Riegelsville Meeting, October 5, 1909.) The following historical sketch of the Excelsior Normal Insti- tute at Carversville, Pa., was prepared for and read at a well- attended meeting of its former students and teachers, held upon the grounds of that institution September ii, 1909, to celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of the opening of the school. During its short career as a school it was an important factor of the educational scheme of its time, and it therefore becomes an im- portant part of the history of our county. Although this paper was prepared for another purpose, I have been requested to read it before this society in order that it may become part of its record, but as time for reading papers at this meeting is lim- ited I will present it by title only. It can then be printed in our proceedings. The paper is as follows : Prior to 1859 the young people who resided in and about Car- versville, when they had gone through the curriculum then in vogue in the public schools, if they wished further to educate themselves, must needs go from home to some neighboring county or state to find an institution where their wants could be supplied. About the year 1858 there were a number of such young per- sons in this vicinity and the matter of further educating their children and the most desirable places to which they might be sent was very naturally discussed among the parents. In one of these conferences Mrs. Elizabeth Stover, wife of Isaac Stover, both long since deceased, said : "Why don't we build a school of our own and keep our children at home?" That w'as the sensible thoughtful mother's timely hint; a seed sown upon good ground, where it took root, sprang up and bore abundant fruit in the Excelsior Normal Institute, the fiftieth anniversary of the founding of which has just been observed. Mrs. Stover's idea having found a lodgment was much dis- cussed and very generally approved of. The neighborhood was canvassed ; subscribers were secured and a stock company was organized and chartered December 16, 1858, when Daniel M. * Dr. J. B. Walter, born Aug. 30, 1S40, died August 18, 1917. EXCELSIOR NORMAL INSTITUTE, CARVERSVILLE, PA. 63 Smyser was president judge of our courts. The petitioners were Lukens Thomas, Samuel A. Firman, Isaac Stover, Morris h. Fell, William R. Evans, George B. Fell and Charles Holcomb, as substantial and enterprising a body of men as the county could then produce. All of them are long since dead. No time was wasted. The grounds were purchased ; founda- tions were put down and the building, splendidly adapted to the purpose, was pushed rapidly to completion. In its issue of October 4, 1859, the Bucks County Intelligencer contained the following notice : "The large and beautiful edifice, erected during the past 'summer for the use of the Normal School Association of Carversville, is now nearly completed and will be entirely ready for occupancy by the 17th of October, the time fixed upon for the opening of the institution. Meanwhile the proprietors of the school design holding an educational meeting in the building on the afternoon of Saturday next, the 8th inst., at 2 o'clock and an effort will be made to please and instruct all who may favor the occasion with their presence." The meeting took place as advertised and your historian can do no better than read the following extract from the local his- tory column of the Doylestoivn Democrat of March 29, 1909, for which he is indebted to the courtesy of Senator Webster Grim : "The Excelsior Normal Institute for both sexes, one of Bucks county's leading educational institutions, was in the prime of its usefulness in 1871. This school edifice, still standing, crowns a bold and graceful slope which sweeps up from the bed of Paunaucussing creek at Carversville and overlooks a charming sylvan scene. The building was erected in the summer of 1859 at a cost of about $10,000. It was regarded in that day as 'an imposing and spacious edifice that does credit to the enterprise and liberality of its projectors.' It was built by a stock concern and the money required was mostly subscribed by persons living in the vicinity. On Saturday afternoon, October 8, 1859, though not quite finished, it was thrown open to the public and dedicated at a notable reception attended by 300 ladies and gentlemen. The ceremonies, of an informal character, took place in the spacious assembly hall. The venerable Dr. Isaiah Michener presided. The exercises opened with vocal and instrumental music by several ladies and gentlemen from Freeland Seminary, Xorris- town. The Rev. Dr. F. R. S. Hunsicker, the principal, briefly explained the objects sought by the founding of the school and made an earnest plea for its support. Then came the intellectual treat of the day, an address on education by the late Attorney General George Lear, of Doylestown. Mr. Lear at that time had been 16 years at the bar and was in his prime as an orator. His address was a strong plea for better 64 exce;lsior normal institute, carversville, pa. educational facilities. It was a scholarly effort, illumined with wit and humor, and added much to the attorney's reputation as a forcible speaker. At the conclusion of the exercises the audience dispersed into groups to inspect the buildings and grounds, which seemed to impress all very favorably as to their general plan. The school was opened on October 17, of the same year, with a large number of students. It had six depart- ments : Preparatory, in which pupils were qualified to enter college ; normal department, for special instruction in methods of teaching; com- mercial department, which offered advantages similar to those of the present-day business college ; musical department ; ornamental department, in which were taught drawing and painting, and the making of wax fruit and flowers, fancy work and embroidery, accomplishments essential to the finished education of a young lady of that day, and an eclectic course. Hundreds of students graduated from this institution and some of the ablest men in the State were its pupils. Among them were Judge D. Newlin Fell, soon to be elevated to the chief justiceship of the supreme court of Pennsylvania; President Judge Henry W. Scott, of Northampton county ; Judge David J. Pancoast, Camden, N. J. ; Professor S. S. Over- holt, for some years its principal and superintendent of Bucks county schools i860 to 1869; former county superintendents Hugh B. Eastburn, 1870-1876; and William H. Slotter, 1887-1902, and many others who have since become prominent citizens. The venerable Dr. Hunsicker, its first principal and some time its proprietor, still resides at Carversville in the enjoyment of good health in the evening of life." And may the gods grant that this mellow twilight of his life may yet run through many years, full of health, comfort, hap- piness and the calm satisfaction which is too often the only reward of those whose years are mostly spent in the service of their fellowmen. The foregoing report of the meeting of October 8, 1859, ac- cords with the recollection of your historian, who was present on that occasion. That was a red letter day for Carversville and its people. Prior to his coming to this institution Dr. Hunsicker was, for some years, one of the faculty of Freeland Seminary, now Ursinus College. With large ability and ample experience he came well equipped to perform efficiently and successfully the arduous duties which he then assumed. He was supported by a corps of instructors as able, industrious and efficient as ever essayed to pilot the buoyant but erratic craft of youth through the shoals and breakers into the haven of knowledge. These were William W. Fell, William T. Seal, A. M. Dickie, A/Iary R. Hampton, Lizzie H. Hunsicker, H. W. Stover, A. H. Fetterolf, Sara E. Fell, Caroline C. Paxson and Eliza Thompson. Having EXCELSIOR NORMAL INSTITUTE, CARVERSVILLE, PA. 05 conducted the school successfully for three years — until the autumn of 1862 — and having had under his care during that time, a large number of students. Dr. Hunsicker's health suc- cumbed to the constant mental and physical strain, incident to the thoroughly conscientious performance of his onerous duties, and he was compelled to vacate his position as principal. He was immediately succeeded as principal by William T. Seal. The school continued to be well attended, there being near 200 stu- dents upon the rolls, and under the able management of Mr. Seal and his highly efficient corps of teachers, vis. : A. M. Dickie, G. Passmore Betts, D. Newlin Fell (later Chief Justice Fell), W. P. White, S. Eva Bolton, Ursula Cushman, Fanny Whitaker and W. P. M. Todd, everything went on well and prosperously for the pupils until the spring of 1865, when owing to a concatenation of unfavoring circumstances, for the occurrence of which he was not responsible. Prof. Seal retired from the principalship. William R. Evans then, on July 24, 1865, leased the property for the term of five years. He occupied the building as general superintendent and employed G. Passmore Betts as principal for the winter, and J. G. Fish in the same capacity for the summer term of 1865-6. W. P. M. Todd, S. Eva Bolton, Mrs. Sarah Fish, S. B. Carr, Miss Fannie Olmstead, Robert Alexander and Harry C. Dean were instructors. The attendance in 1865-6 was 155, which, while somewhat less than formerly, was fairly good. For the year 1866-7, still under the general superintendence of Mr. Evans, Samuel B. Carr was principal, and W. P. M. Todd, Rob- ert Alexander, S. Eva Bolton, Fannie E. Olmstead and William F. Overholt were teachers. For this year no record of attendance is at hand, but from statements of persons conversant with the facts and conditions it appears that the number of pupils was considerably less than formerly. This state of affairs came about because of a combination of circumstances not here neces- sary to be stated. But whatever the causes the old institute seemed to have entered upon a period of decadence. But at this juncture Dr. Hunsicker came again ui)on the scene, and Mr. Evans having surrendered his lease, Dr. Hun- sicker purchased the property on November 27, 1867, and the school was again opened under his supervision. During his last incumbency the average yearly attendance was about 150, not under the circumstances, by any means, a bad showini;. Then 66 EXCELSIOR NORMAL INSTITUTE, CARVERSVILEE, PA. late in 1870 or early in 1871, (the exact date is not known), when payment for the property came to be tendered, misunderstandings developed due, apparently, to a state of mind which our confreres, now upon the "wool sack," would probably label "animus." Be- cause of this Mr. Hunsicker did not take title to the property and again retired from the principalship. That important posi- tion was then assumed by Simeon S. Overholt, late superin- tendent of public schools, who conducted the school for two or three terms, when he fell into financial chaos and disappeared, Henry O. Harris, Esq., now of Doylestown,* who, during the Overholt regime had been instructor in mathematics, bookkeep- ing and French, then, in the autumn of 1872, took charge of and conducted the school for nearly a year, when he surrendered his post and departed. The attendance during the incumbency of Messrs. Overholt and Harris probably did not at the greatest, exceed 60, most of whom were day pupils. To this complexion had it come at last. No longer did students from our own and neighboring counties and even from our neighboring States, New York, New Jersey, Maryland and Delaware, throng these halls and drink in knowledge at the feet of the Gamaliels of the time. The busy spider could, unmolested, spin his web in the dormi- tories erst occupied by youth and beauty and these halls no longer re-echoed the springing tread and joyous laugh of the students released, for a time, from their daily grind of mental toil. The exit of Mr. Harris was, so far as the Excelsior was concerned, an "exeunt omnes." About the time or soon after the retirement of Mr. Harris, William R. Evans purchased the property and employed one, S. N. Walker, to conduct a school. It is under- stood that the attendance was very small and after about six months it was discontinued. So far as can be learned, nothing further was done for about two years, from the spring of 1874 until 1876, when Mr. Evans made an effort to rehabilitate the school. Martin Scheibner was made principal and the school was opened again, but the attendance was insignificant and less than a year demonstrated the futility of the efl:ort to revivify the once very much alive but then hopelessly defunct Excelsior Normal Institute. This brief and imperfect sketch of this institution will be still more incomplete if some reference be not made to a contem- * Mr. Harris was born July lo, 1850; died at Doylestown, January 18, 1917. EXCELSIOR NORMAL INSTITUTE, CARVERSVILLE, PA. 67 porary and dependent organization which, simultaneously with the institute came to an untimely end, t'/xr. : The Baconian Liter- ary Society. Not the least important adjunct to an institution such as the Excelsior is a well organized and conducted literary society. For the purpose of organizing, a meeting of teachers and students was held on October 29, 1859, twelve days after the opening of the school. A committee, consisting of Rev. F. R. S. Hunsicker, William W. Fell, Sarah E. Fell, Mary R. Hampton and D. Newlin Fell was appointed to draft a constitution and by- laws and report at a meeting to be held one week later. Of that committee of five, four are still living. At the next meeting, November 4, 1859, the report was received and adopted ; officers were elected and appointments were made for the next meeting and the Baconian was launched upon its successful, but all too brief, career. Of the first seven officers of this society six are still living. Of the 24 persons whose names appear as active participants in these first two meetings, sixteen (two-thirds) are still living. After 50 years that, as a matter of vital statistics, is certainly a remarkable showing. During its existence of about twelve years there were inscribed upon its rolls the names of 559 persons, as active members, and 80 others were accorded honorary membership. If time and circumstance permitted, num- erous pages might be filled with reminiscences, incidents and stories of the hotly contested debates; of the squabbles over par- liamentary proceedings, the felicitous remarks of the critics ; the reams of poetry, description, etc., which saw the light in the society paper, and the musical, elocutionary and historical pyro- technics displayed at the society's entertainments. No one can say for just how much forensic elocjuence and pulpit oratory membership in that society was responsible, but, no doubt, it con- tributed its share to the success of those who adopted the ministry or the law as their profession. Upon those of us who tag along in the rear of that procession the effect is not so obvious. Prob- ably because of lack of practice we fail in glibness of speech and. hence, remain more or less in obscurity. The life of the Baconian depended upon the continued exist- ence of its parent — the Excelsior. When the parent fell into "in- nocuous desuetude" the offspring could do no otherwise than fol- low. Both are dead. They are only a memory — a dim and fad- 68 i;xCElvSlOR NORMAI, INSTITUTE, CARVERSVILIvE, PA. ing memory in the brains of those of us who yet Hve but who, forty or fifty years ago, came here to quaff as deeply as we might from the fathomless well of knowledge. During its all too brief existence this institution played a most important role in the history of this county but has had scant no- tice at the hands of the county's historians. In, through, and out from its portals passed a long procession of earnest, ardent young men and women — presumably much more than a thousand of them — some of whom have attained to positions of honor and have made their mark upon the time. Many other — more than 260 of them, alas ! are asleep under the daisies. Fifty years — forty years must show many vacant places in the ranks of even the armies of peace. But despite the assaults of time and the rough and tumble struggle for a livelihood, many still survive — near half a thousand of them whose names and abiding places are of record — and of these there are still many who, while they face the fast descending sun and tread the down- ward slope of life are yet erect, alert, and ready to meet cheer- fully and bear with fortitude whatever "slings and arrows of outrageous fortvme" fate may still have ready in her quiver. EXCELSIOR NORMAL INSTITUTE, CARVERSVILLE, PA. Opened 1859. Discontinued as a school 1874. Now called "Hillside" and owned by Harry W. Worthington and his sister Miss Kizzie T. Worthington. (Photograph by B. F. Fackenthal, Jr., Julj' 25, 1917.) Lime Burning Industry, Its Rise and Decay in Bucks. BY WARREN S. ELY, DOYEESTOWN, PA. (Doylestown Meeting, January i8, 19 lo.) The history of the hme-burnnig industry in Bucks county, its rise and decay, as a commercial and domestic industry, is deserv- ing of a much more careful consideration than can be given it in this brief paper. The burning of lime for domestic use, quarried from the lime- stone ledges in middle and upper Bucks county began with the first settlement of these respective sections by Europeans. In a deed from Lawrence Pearson to his brother Enoch in 1703, for a tract of land part of which is included in the little village of Buckingham, the grantor reserves and excepts "the privilege to get limestone from the within granted premises, for the use of the said Lawrence and his children, their heirs and assigns forever." This 200 acres of land included the site of the Buckingham hotel at the intersection of the York and Durham roads, and ex- tended out the former road northeasterly, beyond "the pond" which has long since disappeared, near the site of the Bucking- ham Valley creamery, and extended southeasterly to the top of Buckingham mountain. A long abandoned quarry hole still marks the spot from whence the stone was quarried, but the kilns have long since disappeared. The grant from which the privilege was reserved, included the present Joseph Anderson farm, fifty acres of the Broadhurst farm and a lot of village properties in- cluding the hotel and all the properties on the southeast side of the York road east of the Durham road. This shows that at that early date when Buckingham was only sparsely settled and all north of that township was a primitive wilderness, still covered with virgin forests, the original settlers were already interested in the production of lime. But a few years had elapsed since this very land included in i,cxx) acres conveyed to Richard Lundy, by Jacob Telner, was described in the deed as "back in the woods" and was exchanged for 200 acres on the Delaware below Tullytown. For probably over a century, lime-burning was of very little 70 LIME) BURNING INDUSTRY importance as a commercial industry in Bucks county. The lim- ited building operations requiring its use were far from extensive and the demand for it as a fertilizer was merely local and largely supplied by co-operation among the farmers or by individual pro- duction. No long line of kilns, such as appeared in the second quarter of the nineteenth century, were then in existence. Iso- lated kilns were erected on the farms, often far from the ledges where the limestone was quarried — sometimes miles away — and the stone hauled to the kiln, either by the owner of the kiln, or his neighbors, or both on the co-operative plan, at leisure times as the farm work permitted. The wood necessary for its burning was prepared in the same way ; the product above what was used on the farm being sold to the neighbors or divided among those who contributed in labor and material, the former being the chief outlay as neither the rock deposit nor the wood was then con- sidered of much value. Born and reared in a community where, in my childhood days, limestone-burning was a thriving and profitable industry, employ- ing hundreds of men and a considerable outlay of capital, I re- member distinctly my boyish inquiries of my elders how these isolated limekilns, then already crumbling ruins in an advanced stage of decay, came to be located miles away from any lime- stone deposit. Cropping out of some hillside on land unavailable for cultivation, these limekilns were a familiar sight to many people now living, and the remnants of a number may yet be seen in middle and upper Bucks in rugged hillsides or woodland patches, where the demand for cultivation of the land has not called for their demolition. Personally, I have known of a num- ber of these kilns located on farms where there was no limestone deposit, some of them miles distant. There was, however, a reason for this, for these kilns were either located close to heavily wooded districts or directly in them, and the immense amount of wood required incurred almost as much labor in hauling as the limestone did. Interesting reminiscences have been given by the old men of a generation now practically gone, of nights spent at the kiln mouth, it being necessary to feed the fire night and day until the whole kiln of stone was burned. A limekiln, long in use, was located on the northwestern border of our borough (Doylestown) and gave the name to the "Limekiln LIME BURNING INDUSTRY 7I road," though the Hmestone had to be hauled from central Buck- ingham. Another kiln was located a little over a mile east of the borough, and there were several in upper Buckingham and Sole- bury where the limestone had to be hauled for miles over hilly roads. Two or more important developments led to the building up of the lime-burning industry in Bucks county, in the second quarter of the nineteenth century. In the first place, farmers out- side of the limestone belts were beginning to realize the benefits obtained by an application of lime on heavy soils and farms long fed by vegetable fertilizer alone, and scores of them came from Plumstead, Bedminster, and New Britain to the Buckingham and Solebury kilns for lime, making "frolics" as they were called in those days. From a dozen to twenty farmers joined in convey- ing the lime from the kilns to a farm — enough for a field in a day (forty bushels per acre being the quantity usually used) only to have the compliment returned later, either in lime-haul- ing or other enterprises. These frolics continued to a period within my recollection, and many a jovial crowd of farmers, often from New Jersey, have I seen drive up to the old limekilns, un- hitch their horses and feed them from the wagon-bed, the load- ing of the wagons continuing meanwhile, and too often the free circulation of "liquid refreshments" increased the joviality to a dangerous point, leaving the men unfit to guide their teams on the return trip over many miles of hilly and none too good roads. Another incentive to the development of the lime-burning in- dustry, was the discovery of anthracite coal and its adaptation to lime-burning, doing away with the night vigils at the kilns and stopping the rapid depletion of the forests which had become somewhat appalling to the land owners in the limestone districts at that period. The man who is given the credit for introducing the use of anthracite coal in lime-burning was James Jamison, of Buckingham, a farmer residing south of the mountain. He was a man of much energy and enterprise and rented the kilns of Aaron Ely just below Holicong on the present Paxson farm, and altered them for the use of coal. He built up a large busi- ness but was killed by a premature blast in his quarry ; his son, Robert, and Mark Wismer, a workman, w^ere severely injured. Another prosperous and popular lime-burning establishment 6 'J2 ivIME BURNING INDUSTRY was on the Street road below Lahaska, many years owned by John Walker, whose widow is still a resident of Doylestown. The lime burned there was considered the best in the township and farmers came from Plumstead, Bedminster and New Britain, as well as from townships lower down the county. Henry L. Courson succeeded Walker and made a fortune, for that day, in burning lime. The greatest stimulant, however, to the industry in Bucks county was the opening of the Delaware Division of the Pennsyl- vania canal in 1832. It brought the coal direct from the mines to the limestone region lying along the Delaware from Easton to New Hope, at small cost, and also furnished cheap transporta- tion for the lime to points further south in Bucks county and New Jersey, Extensive lines of kilns were at once erected all along the river front in these limestone ridges. In upper Bucks, in Springfield and Durham, from the time of their settlement, conditions had been much the same as in Buckingham and Solebury. Isolated kilns were located all over this section for the purpose of supplying the local demand. They were somewhat more numerous along the river where the demand from New Jersey required an increased output. At Durham, where the extensive deposits of limestone were largely used at the furnace for the smelting of iron ore, kilns were also erected for the burning of lime before the advent of coal or the canal. A limekiln stood for many years in what is now the center of Riegelsville, where the News office now stands ; and in Spring- field, the ruins of ancient kilns may yet be seen scattered over a wide area. With the coming of the canal and coal, however, all was changed; plants were greatly enlarged and new lines of kilns erected contiguous to the canal with wharfage for loading direct into the boats for shipment. Extensive kilns were erected near the mouth of Durham cave and the limestone, quarried directly from the cave itself. An extensive lime business was also carried on at Springtown on into the '8o's, supplying the farmers in the adjoining parts of Northampton county, and the section of Bucks county lying westward in Mil ford and Rockhill, and south- ward in Richland, Hilltown and Haycock. A large lime business was carried on by Michael Uhler, of Uhlertown, in later years, LIME BURNING INDUSTRY 73 but the kilns and quarries from which his suppHes were drawn were in Northampton county, in fact they were located within the present limits of the city of Easton. In my native township of Solebury, an extensive business was done at what was long known as Limeport, between Centre Bridge and Phillips' Mill on the River road, where there were two extensive plants, one of them on the Eastburn farm (still in the name) where Phineas Kelly was the tenant in the late '30's and until about 1850, doing a large business in supplying neigh- boring parts of New Jersey, and shipping large quantities by boat to South Jersey. The late George A. Cook, of New Hope, was a clerk for Kelly, and about 1850, in partnership with Jacob East- burn, the owner of the property, took charge of the plant, the firm did a large and profitable business, and at the death of Jacob Eastburn in 1863, his son, Robert, who died at Yardley within the past two years, succeeded to his father's interest, and was also a partner of Mr. Cook for several years, the firm having an office and agency at Yardley, and doing a large business. Practically no business is done at either of the Eimeport plants at this time. In the limestone valley extending westward from the Delaware above New Hope to the Buckingham line at La- haska, a large amount of lime-burning was carried on until about thirty years ago. Probably the most extensive business was done at the kilns about the present village of x\quetong, and at the later Stavely kilns near Canada hill, but a considerable business was done on the Ely and Pownall tracts nearer the river. During my boyhood days large quantities of cement were manufactured in the latter named locality. The advent of manufactured commercial fertilizers and the general use of cement for building purposes, have aided in de- stroying the lime-burning industry in Bucks county, and where a thriving business was done a half century ago, giving employment to a great number of men and bringing in a large revenue, most of the kilns and quarries are entirely abandoned, and others are burning a few kilns a year where they formerly burned hundreds. The wisdom of farmers in entirely abandoning the use of lime as a fertilizer is very questionable ; for a time it was probably used to an extent beyond its real efficiency, but as an adjunct 74 I.IME BURNING INDUSTRY in the decomposition of certain salts in vegetable matter, forming the basis of plant food, it cannot be surpassed. Its effect as a base to neutralize the acid condition on overfed or neglected land, in which a vegetable matter has accumulated, is extremely ben- eficial in producing crops. I,IME KILNS AT AQUETONG, BUCKS COUNTY, PA. Typical of all early lime kilns in Bucks county and eastern Pennsylvania. (Photograph by John A. Anderson 1909) Interesting New Hope Relics. BY JOHN A. ANDERSON, LAMBERTVILLE, N. J. (Doylestown Meeting, January i8, 19 lo.) In addition to the valuable collection of implements and other objects of historic interest belonging to the Bucks County His- torical Society, the albums of pictures showing old time scenes and processes are also becoming of increasing value.* Among recent additions to these are some which seem worthy of more than a passing notice. THE HYDRA UEION. The first to be mentioned is an old machine, fortunately pre- served by the Eagle Fire Company of New Hope, which marks a distinct phase in the evolution of fire fighting apparatus, from the primitive bucket to the efficient steam or chemical engines of the present day. This machine is known as the hydraulion, a name now so far out of use that it is not found in Webster. It consists of a narrow box six and a half feet long, in which is a force pump operated by levers mounted on a structure in the middle of the box. The box is mounted on four wheels, having a tongue for horses, under which is retained the original tongue for hand use. The levers extend lengthwise and have cross bars by which they are operated, by firemen standing on the ground. This hydraulion was a part of the earliest fire apparatus of New Hope, having been bought at the same time as the first hand engine, in 1832. The latter was replaced by a new engine, bought in 1864, in which year the Eagle Fire Company was incorporated. The ordinary use of the hydraulion was to draw water, by a short pipe, from any convenient supply, and force it, through a line of hose, from which it was thrown directly on the fire or supplied to the engine which performed that office. The two machines did not differ materially in construction, except that the engine usually had more power, some being fitted with levers and standing boards so arranged that a part of the operating force stood on the box. These were called "double * For complete list of these photographs see pages 745 et seq. jd INTERESTING NEW HOPE RELICS deckers" on which as many as twenty-four men could work at once. Either machine could be used independently or at either end of the line as circumstances required. It is stated that the first apparatus, including this hydraulion, was bought by New Hope and Lambertville jointly. In 1871 the hand engine of the New Hope company was succeeded by their first engine operated by steam, which, in turn, was superseded by the present machine, in 1896. About 1880 the hydraulion was taken and used without an engine, by a new company, which, however, had but a brief existence. For the particulars respecting the early history of the New Hope fire apparatus the writer is indebted to Mr. Oscar A. Burd, now of Lambertville, N. J. In supplying water to the engine the hydraulion superseded the bucket line of earlier days, a method which many now living can remember. The writer recalls seeing it in use in Doylestown, as well as in Lambertville, and, doubtless, the bucket was the original fire apparatus. Buckets were kept on hand by citizens and, on an alarm of fire, were caught up and carried to the scene, where a line of persons was formed to fill and pass them from a pump or other source of supply. The water thus conveyed was thrown directly on the fire, or supplied to the engine after such machine came into use. The empty buckets were returned by another line, in which the ladies were often willing volunteers. It is recalled that, at a fire in Lambertville in 1861 a woman of social promi- nence served in the bucket line, in which she was probably not the only female. It is also recorded of a number of prominent ladies of Easton, Pa., that they stood, at one time, in the icy waters of the Lehigh, filling and passing buckets. Easton had an ordinance requiring citizens to provide fire buckets, which were usually of leather, and men called rowmen were appointed to arrange the lines. A like requirement existed in Philadelphia, with the further provision that each citizen should take to the fire a sack, in which portable articles might be cared for. The interest of the subject may warrant a further departure from county limits to recall some incidents which now seem amusing. INTERESTING NEW HOPE REI.ICS JJ We read of the city fathers, in Philadelphia, gravely discuss- ing the cost of buckets and "hand squirts," and of a home con- tract for one hundred buckets and the importation of two hun- dred and tifty from England. Also of the importation of two hand engines which, with the one on hand, were assigned to certain places in church yards and at street corners. In 17 ii the Mayor of Philadelphia informs the council that in his opinion it is "our duty to use all possible means to prevent and extinguish fires for the future, by providing buckets, hooks, engines, &c.," to which the council agrees that "the board thinks such instru- ments should be provided and the manner of doing it is referred to the next council." Mention has also been found of the use of hydraulions in Philadelphia and of bronze hand squirts in London. We find the following interesting item, respecting early Phila- delphia methods, which, doubtless, presents a fair picture of what occurred elsewhere, including Bucks county. "The present manner of subduing fires presents an aspect quite differ- ent from former doings in such cases. When there was no hose in use and no hydrants, the scene was much more busy than now. Few or no idlers could be seen as lookers on. They made long lines of people to 'hand along the buckets' and if the curious and idle attempted to pass, the cry was 'fall in — fall in.' If disregarded, a bucket of water was discharged upon them. It was quite common to see numerous women in the ranks and it was therefore provoking to see others giving no help, but urging their way to the fires as near as they could. Next day was a fine affair for the boys, to look out all the buckets they knew, of their several neighborhoods, and to carrj' them home. The street posts too, along the streets far from the fire, could be seen capped here and there with a stray bucket, asking for its owner." This certainly presents a lively picture of old time methods which gave way to the engine and the formation of volunteer fire companies. Philadelphia was noted for its volunteer companies and their fights. Seldom were they brought together at a fire without much cutting of hose and cracking of heads, although these same con- testants, with apparatus gaily decorated and with wonderful rivalry in display, joined peacefully enough in frequent grand parades, to the delight of multitudes who came from far and near to see the show. There came, at last, a day when the volunteer system in Phila- 78 INTERESTING NEW HOPE REEICS delphia gave place to that of a paid fire department, which event was signalized by one final, peaceful parade of the old time belligerents, to the number of one hundred and ten companies, marking the going out of a system still in satisfactory use in New Hope and many other places. This parade took place on March 15, 1871, in which year, as already stated, the old hand engine of the New Hope company was superseded by steam power, and it would be difficult to find a more efficient organization and apparatus than those of which New Hope can now boast. THE INDIAN FIGURE.* We turn now to the second relic of our paper, the Indian figure which, for nearly half a century, was a prominent and interesting object, on a tall pole by the Logan house, in New Hope, and which has since, for upwards of thirty years, reposed in the hay mow of the hotel stable. This figure, of heavy sheet iron, strengthened by bars of the same metal, is ten feet in height, representing an Indian in war- like attitude, with bow fully drawn. The pose and proportions indicate a good degree of artistic skill in the designer, whose identity the writer has been unable to discover. When taken from their long resting place the "remains" were found to be somewhat broken, although all the parts were there except the rods representing the arrow and the bow strings. A photograph of the hotel made before the removal of the pole, shows the height of the pole and the figure to have been considerably greater than that of the hotel and the position to have been not far from twenty feet north of the cannon which now guards the ferry against any adventurous foe attempting a landing at the historic spot. As nearly as can be ascertained the pole was twice renewed, and it was finally taken down by Tim- othy T. Eastburn, in 1874. Respecting the origin of the "Indian," Richard Randolph Parry states that he has understood that it was put up in 1829. The late Charles W. Crook at the age of 91, stated, a short time before his death, that it was about 1828, and that the painting was done by Samuel Moon, father of the artist Moon. Gen. Davis, in his * Both the hydraulion and the Indian figure have since been deposited in the museum. INTERESTING NEW HOPE RELICS 79 History of Bucks County, states that the figure was made by Samuel Cooper and was put up February 22, 1828. Assuming the accuracy of the date given by Gen. Davis, it would appear, from the selection of the birthday of the father of his country that considerable importance was attached to the event. The wars of the Revolution and of 1812, by which our independence was secured and maintained, were then too recent for the patriotic spirit they aroused to have lost its fire and we may be sure that it found full expression in the speeches of the day. Unfortu- nately no mention has been found of the orators of the occasion nor of the manner of its celebration. The original of what is now the Logan Inn was built before the Revolution and was known as the Ferry Tavern and. so far as the writer has been able to learn, it was not until after the erection of the Indian pole that the name of Logan was applied to the hotel, as well as to the figure. Davis states that the hotel which has undergone some altera- tions was the first ferry house and that in it was the first bank- ing room of the New Hope Delaware Bridge Company. Also that in 1804 the company of Capt. Samuel D. Ingham of the 31st Regiment Bucks County Brigade, celebrated the Fourth of July at the hotel. As to how the figure came to be erected, it was stated by Mr. Crook, that the idea was that of Abraham D. Myers, the land- lord of the hotel at the time and others. Mr. Parry, however, has understood, from his great-uncle Daniel Parry, that a Mr. Steele was landlord at the time and was succeeded by Myers. Mr. Parry was informed by the late William H. Murray that the figure was paid for by private subscription and was put up in honor of the famous Indian chief, named for James Logan. The fact that the stream running within sight of the hotel had borne the name, from part of it having been owned by James Logan, may well have led to the conception of the idea. The name of Logan is inseparably connected with the history of Pennsylvania and of Bucks county. Upon Penn's second visit to the province in 1699, he was accompanied by James Logan as his secretary, who was, from that time, his constant friend and adviser, and attained great distinction in the province, holding 8o INTERESTING NEW HOPE RELICS many important offices and exerting great influence in the affairs of Pennsylvania. Logan was of Scotch descent, aUhough born in Ireland, to which country his parents had removed. The name of his birth- place, Lurgan, is borne by a small hamlet on the south side of Bowman's hill, where, it is stated, there was, at one time a school house, at which some prominent men of the county were edu- cated. Very soon after Logan's arrival Penn made him a grant of a large tract in Bucks county known as "The Great Spring Tract," which, a few years later, Logan transferred to the Ingham family, as ^et forth in papers in the records of our society, which also mention the fact that the property is subject to a perpetual ground rent which goes to the support of the library which Logan gave to the City of Philadelphia.* Logan's ownership of the spring and of much of the stream therefrom, gave to both his name, until, after the change of ownership, they became known as Ingham's. Both names have now given place to that of Aquetong, which is said to be the original Indian name although, whatever may be said of the last syllable, the others hint suspiciously of a latin derivation. There has been much question respecting the personality of the Indian Logan. In fact, the various accounts which the writer has been able to consult indicate that there may have been two or more Indians who bore the name. A well-known tradition of Stenton near Germantown, Pa., where James I^ogan resided, has it that a young Indian named Wingahocking (some say Wigahockonk), becoming attached to James Logan, proposed, after Indian fashion, to exchange names. Mr. Logan made no objection to his name being assumed by the Indian, but gave good reasons why he could not very well take that of the red man, which, however, he proposed to give to a neighboring stream. This proved acceptable and the stream has since borne the name, although some doubt is thrown upon the manner of its christening, by the assertion that it bore its present designation before this changing of names. Several accounts state that a celebrated chief of the Cayugas named Shikellamy (spelled in different ways), named a son after * See "Loganian Lands in Bucks County," by John L- DuBois, Vol. I, page 572. INTERESTING NEW HOPE RELICS James Logan which son became distinguished for qualities of a very high order and for great love for the whites. When Logan was living near the Ohio river he was led to take up arms against the whites, by the unprovoked murder of some of his family. Upon the conclusion of peace he sent to the council, which he refused to attend, the speech which has become famous for its eloquent pathos. This speech was much admired by Jefferson, who asserted that neither Greek, Roman, nor modern oratory has any passage that surpasses it.* * SPEECH OF LOGAN THE CAYUGA INDIAN CHIEF. There is quite a difference in this speech as reported to the Governor of Virginia in 1754, and as published by Thomas Jefferson twenty years later in 1774, as the following will show: From Thomas Jefferson's "Notes on Virginia," published 1774. See also Hazard's Register, Vol. XIII, pages 94 and no. "I appeal to any white man to say if ever he entered Logan's cabin hungry, and he gave him not meat; if ever he came cold and naked, and he clothed him not. "During the course of our last long and bloody war, Logan re- mained alone in his cabin, an advocate for peace. Such was my love for the whites, that my coun- trymen pointed as they passed, and said, 'Logan is the friend of the white men.' "I have even thought to have lived with you, but for the injuries of one man. Col. Cresap, the last spring, in cold blood and unpro- voked, murdered all the relations of Logan ; not even sparing my women and children. "There runs not a drop of my blood in the veins of any living creature. This called on me for revenge — I have sought it — I have killed many — I have fully glutted my vengeance. For my country I rejoice at the beams of peace. Do not harbor a thought that mine is the joy of fear — Logan never felt fear — He will not turn on his heel to save his life. Who is there to mourn for Logan? Not one." From "Events in Indian History," published by G. Hills & Co., Lancaster, Pa., 1841, page 308. Speech of Savage Lonan in a General Assembly as it was sent to the Governor of Vir- ginia, Anno 1754. "Lonan will no longer oppose the proposed peace with the white men. You are sensible he never knew what fear is — that he never turned his back in the day of battle. No one has more love for the white men than I have. The war we have had with them has been long and bloody on both sides. Rivers of blood have run on all parts, and yet no good has resulted therefrom to any. I once more repeat it — let us be at peace with these men — I will forget our injuries; the interest of my coun- try demands it. I will forget, but difficult indeed is the task ! Yes, I will forget — that Major Rogers cruelly and inhumanely murdered, in their canoes, my wife, my chil- dren, my father, my mother, and all my kindred. This roused me to deeds of vengeance ! I was cruel in spite of myself. I will die content if my country is once more at peace ; but when Lonan shall be no more, who alas, will drop a tear to the memory of Lonan ?" 82 INTERESTING NEW HOPE RELICS Logan was killed a short time after this conclusion of peace. In the "Annals of Buffalo Valley" is found the statement that Shikellamy was chief of all the Iroquois on the Susquehanna, and that "the most celebrated of his sons was Logan, the Mingo chief, who lived near Reedsville, in Mifflin county, near a large spring and that his name was given to the spring, and to Logan's branch of Spring creek, Logan's path, etc." Writers state that both Shikellamy and Logan were converted to Christianity through the instrumentality of the Moravians. The Historical Collections of Pensylvania mention the meet- ing, by a traveler, with "Logan the celebrated Mingo chief," at a spring called the "Big Spring," about six miles west of Logan's spring. From Samuel Drake's History of the Indians, 1837, we learn that the name of Logan "is still perpetuated among the Indians." Thomas' Biographical Dictionary has a brief account of Logan, stating that he was a chief of the tribe of the Cayugas, whose original name was Tah-gah-jute, born about 1725 and killed in a skirmish with a party of Indians in 1780, and that a granite monument was erected to his memory in Fair Hill Ceme- tery, near Auburn, N. Y. In the authorities consulted are found many discrepancies in the statements as to Logan's tribal relations. These are readily accounted for by the fact that writers differ much in the applica- tion of Indian names. Logan is spoken of as a "Mingo chief." This term is sometimes applied to the whole of the Six Nations and Cooper states that it was so used, as a term of contempt, and represents it as so applied by his principal character. Mention has been found of one other Indian Logan. This was a boy of some ten years of age, taken prisoner in 1776 by Gen. Logan, of Kentucky, Avhose name he bore, after having received some education and being set at liberty. This Logan was also very friendly with the whites. He was a nephew of the famous chief Tecumseh, who was killed in our Indian warfare in the northwest in 181 3. To quote all the accounts of Logan would exceed the proper limits of this paper, but a comparison of them leaves no doubt but that the Indian who took the name of James Logan and is known as "The Great Logan," was the son of Shikellamy referred to. It was doubtless his prominence and his connection with INTERESTING NEW HOPE RELICS 83 Penn's friend that led to the erection of the memorial at New Hope. No record has been found of the presence of Logan in Bucks county although several accounts agree in stating that there were many Indian settlements in Buckingham and Solebury, as well as other parts of the county, including one, as late as 1690, at the Great Spring, which place is stated to have been a favorite resort of the Indians. The spring which gave name to the Logan tract has well been termed "Great." It has long been known as one of the most interesting and remarkable natural features of the State, supply- ing a large and never failing source of power to the mills below. There has been much speculation as to whence comes the great volume of water, gushing from beneath the roots of the large overhanging walnut as many remember it, in its original beauty, now concealed by a dam built around it some years ago, for utili- tarian purposes.* About the spring, as we have seen, the original inhabitants pitched their primitive dwellings ; here, it is stated, the great Teedyuscung was born ; visitors find the beauty of the spring and its surroundings a constant source of attraction ; and, at this spot, on July 5, 181 3, while the x\merican forces, by land and sea, were, for the second time, in conflict with those of the "mother country," a notable company gathered for the celebra- tion of Independence Day. Mr. John Ely, Jr., presided over the assembly; the Declaration of Independence was read by the secretary, Dr. Richard R. Corson ; and Mr. Lewis S. Coryell read the act of congress and the proclamation of the President, declaring war with Great Britain. An address followed, by Mr. William Sitgreaves, in which the speaker ably set forth the conditions which justified the resort to arms to maintain the rights of the United States as an independent nation. Following the address a banquet was served, prepared by Mr. Hugh Dunn, at which a number of toasts were drunk, whether in the pure limestone water of the spring or in something more exhilarating, history does not disclose. One of the toasts was to Hon. Samuel D. Ingham, the owner of the spring, near which he was born, and one of Pennsylvania's most distinguished citi- * For etching of Inghaiu Spring see Volume III, page 564. 84 the; swamp of tinicum and nockamixon zens, then absent in attendance upon his duties as a member of congress. All these actors have passed from the stage ; the wigwams have disappeared from about the spring; Logan and Ingham belong to history; the "Red Man" of the latter name has gone to the "Happy Hunting Ground;" but the sparkling waters, the mystery of their source unsolved, and with volume undiminished, flow on, murmuring the music of the past; and the metal figure of our story, though rusted and broken, and long deposed from its lofty station, remains, a mute memorial of a noble member of a vanished race. The Swamp of Tinicum and Nockamixon. BY ROBERT K. BUEHRLE, PH.D., LANCASTER, PA.* (Doylestown Meeting, January 18, 1910.) "Let not ambition mock their useful toil, Their homely joys and destiny obscure' Nor grandeur hear with a disdainful smile, The short and simple annals of the poor." In that portion of Bucks county consisting of the greater part of Nockamixon township and the northeastern part of Tinicum township, lying between the Delaware river and the road leading from Kintnerville to Revere, formerly known as Rufe's Tavern, and continuing on down through a portion of Tinicum township southward as far as the road leading from what was formerly known as Headquarters, now as Sundale, to Erwinna, lies a ter- ritory known as "the swamp." This region then, as now, is thickly strewn with rocks of a peculiar formation, the most famous of which are known as "the ringing rocks," (from the characteristic sound which they emit when struck with stones,) situated on the brow of the hill between Riegelsville and Upper Blacks Eddy. My father, Joseph Buehrle moved with his family in April of the year 1848 into this territory. The log cabin which became our home was situated on a knoll in Tini- cum township near the line that separates it from Nockamixon township, about half a mile south of the schoolhouse now known as Cedar Grove, but formerly called Mount Misery, in Nocka- * Dr. Buehrle is City Superintendent of Schools, Lancaster, Pa. THE SWAMP OF TINICUM AND NOCKAMIXON 85 mixon township. Previous to my father's arrival the log cabin had been tenanted by a family by the name of Grey who had built it on land belonging to a Mr. Hoffman, who now claimed it and rented it to my father. At that time there were very few forei<;n Germans in this region. I can recall such names as Frantz, Steckel, Shafer, Franklin, Witman and Frueh (Fre). But from this time forth until 1858 a steady stream of immigrants poured in almost without exception from the Grand Duchy of Baden, who were mostly Roman Catholic in faith. They came in such numbers as to justify the building of a church among the rocks in the heart of Nockamixon on the road leading to Milford, N. J. Provision was also made for a parochial school in which the children of the faithful were to be educated in the doctrines of their church. The older inhabitants among whom this German colony settled, on the west and south were Pennsylvania Germans, on the east English Quakers and Irishmen. I recall such names as McCarty, Cochran and McEntee as Irish, and Williams, Pursel and Smith among the Friends or Quakers. Among the Pennsyl- vania Germans, the Lears, Hillpots, Frankenfields and Stovers may be mentioned. The German colony transformed what had been practically a wilderness of rocks, morasses (hence the name "swamp") and forests (therefore frequently called the "bush") into well-culti- vated fertile lands well fenced with stones taken from the land in the process of clearing. This process was often hastened by what was known as a "frolic." When a frolic was proclaimed, the neighbors would congregate soon after noon with axes, crow bars and cant-hooks,* picks, grubbing-hoes and teams with heavy wagons, and sleds known as "stone-sleds" and all go to work under the direction of the owner of the field to be cleared or fenced. This clearing of "a lot" as it was called consisted of removing stones and rocks and stumps of trees, and building fences. At the setting of the sun all would repair to the owner's house to partake of a sumptuous repast freely moistened with whiskey, very cheap before the Civil War — 8 to 10 cents a c(uart. This beverage was also freely passed around among the "frolic- ers" while at work during the afternoon. It was, however, not *A cant-hook consisted of a straight bar of wood about six feet long, from near one end depended a curved bar of iron ending in a hook. 86 THE SWAMP OF TINICUM AND NOCKAMIXON often that any of them became so intoxicated as to be unable to continue at work until evening. After supper a dance was often indulged in. Thus the woods were cut down and the soil on which they stood converted into small farms known as lots. The log cabins were occasionally replaced with buildings of stone ; frame houses were rare and brick houses still rarer. MEN AND BOYS BECAME BOATMEN ON THE CANAE. After the opening of the Delaware Division canal in 1832, the men and boys, almost without exception, became canal boatmen, following the canals during navigation season, from about April I to December 10, often entire families with the women and child- ren would accompany the men and boys and live on the boats during the entire season. The system of canals included the Lehigh canal from White Haven to Easton; the Delaware Divi- sion canal from Easton to Bristol, with an outlet lock at New Hope, where boats were ferried across the Delaware river and entered the Raritan canal for New Brunswick, and from there by tow-boat to New York and other tide points. At Bristol there is another outlet lock for boats to pass in to the Delaware river at tide from whence they are towed to Philadelphia, Cam- den, Wilmington and other tide points. At Easton boats were ferried across the Delaware river and entered the Morris canal, which runs across the state of New Jersey to New Jersey and New York tide points, but Morris canal boats were smaller, they rarely entered the Delaware Division canal, except to carry iron ore to Durham iron works, and were not manned by crews from the swamp. The principal freight carried was anthracite coal from the Lehigh coal fields. A large tonnage was also made up of iron ore, pig iron, sand, lumber, and general merchandise. The boats were usually drawn by mules, quite often by horses. At first the boats had square fronts, and were called scows, but about 1850, the round bows came into vogue, and the scow shape gradually disappeared. The capacity of the boats at first was about 60 tons. This was gradually increased to 100 tons.* The families, * In 1907 the Lehigh Coal & Navigation Co., lessees of the Delaware Division canal, built tvifo boats of steel, but the experiment was not a success, at any rate they discontinued building them. Later they put tugs on the canal to tow the boats in place of mules and horses, which proved quite satisfactory. THIi SWAMP OF TINICUM AND NOCKAMIXON 8/ when not living on the canal boat, lived on their modest little homesteads and grew up into an industrious and vigorous race. The women-folk, as might be expected, performed most of the little agricultural labor, to which they had been accustomed in "the fatherland," and acted as managers for the heavier work — they hired such help and teams as were needed from the owners of larger farms. The schools chiefly attended by their children were known as Mine-Spring, on the hill opposite Mil ford, N. J., Rapp's near Rapp's store, Rufe's near Revere, and Mount Misery, all in Nockamixon township and Rocky Ridge in Tinicum township. The school term lasted four months, but the boat boys as a rule rarely attended more than three. Of the teachers I can recall only the names of Warford, John M. Pursell. Brice Weaver, Algernon Walton, and John Monaghan, an Irishman. The books were a medley — few had readers, for almost all read from the New Testament, a verse, one after another, in class. I can, however, remember L,indley Murray's English Reader and the introduction to the same and Emerson's Second and Third Class Reader. Of other books I recall Peter Parley's First Book of History and Frost's United States History which I often borrowed surreptitiously as far as the master was concerned from the girl that was my older brother's first flame. The book was passed from one side of the school-room to the other literally behind the teacher's back. To the best of my recollection I was the only pupil who recited from a geography and atlas which my father had purchased in Philadelphia in 1849. It was Mitchell's first edition. Our spellers were Bonsall's edition of Comly's Spelling-book and Comply 's Spelling-book itself. My arithmetic was the Columbian Calculator bought for my brother in South Easton where we had formerly dwelt, but most of the pupils used Rose's or Pike's Arithmetic. The latter dealt in English money : pounds, shillings, and pence, and was consequently not in high favor because that currency was no longer in use, the terms vmfamiliar, and the solution of the examples very laborious. Rose's and my Colum- bian Calculator on the other hand contained very few examples in British currency. I was also presented with a copy of Warren Colburn's mental arithmetic, but my teachers had no use for it. 7 88 the; swamp oi^' tinicum and nockamixon Spelling schools and debating societies concluded the course and of these the latter were my better educational agencies, and I was passionately fond of them, letting no opportunity to attend them pass by. In penmanship our copies were set by the master — no printed ones were seen if indeed any existed anywhere. Quills were just going out and steel pens coming in. Sunday Schools except at Rapp's a few months in the summer, were unknown institutions until about 1859 or i860 when one was opened at Rocky Ridge, of which I was superintendent in i860 for a few months when home during vacation. the: potte;rie;s. Of the manufacturing industries I can recall the making of bricks by the Danels and a pottery owned by McEntee, and one near Kintnerville owned by Herstine. Splint and willow basket making was also carried on and my sister knitted cotton thread lace which she sold at from three to four cents a yard. She was then from ten to twelve years old and my mother often worked all day in the field for fifty cents a day. The picking of whortleberries, blackberries, and elderberries in their season was quite a business also. The amusements during the summer were watermelon frolics, battalions, and so-called Sunday School celebrations, but in the winter, parties and frolics — dancing to the music of the violin or the accordion were frequently held. The most eminent violinists were William and Samuel Weaver, especially the latter, and the artist on the accordion was Ulrich Meyer. On such occasions the sport was often prolonged far into the next day. The usual time for dances was New Year's day and Shrove Tuesday, known as Fassnacht. Cider was the favorite beverage although beer was occasionally imported. In swell affairs a clarinet and sometimes even a band was engaged to furnish the music. This was espe- cially the case when a ball was held at Kinter's at the annual battalion which was otherwise known as a military review. But with the advent of the railroad all was changed. The boating on the canal gradually became less active; many of the boatmen became railroad employees — engineers, firemen and brakemen — and moved away into the towns along the railroads. THOMAS HICKS, ARTIST, A NATIVE OF NEVVTOWX 89 their lots became merged into farms owned by those who were too old to enter this new occupation and therefore took to farming, and to a large extent the region is again returning to its former wild state. Thomas Hicks, Artist, a Native of Newtown. BY GEORGE; a. HICKS, PHILADELPHIA, PA. (Uoylestown Meeting, January 18, 1910.) Thomas Hicks, son of Joseph and Jane (Bond) Hicks, was born at Newtown, Bucks county, Pennsylvania, October 18, 1823. According to Volume HI, second edition of the History of Bucks county, edited by Warren S. Ely, the antiquarian and genealogist. "The Hicks family of Bucks county descend from Pilgrim stock, their first American progenitor being Robert Hicks, who landed at Plymouth, Massachusetts, November 11, 1622, having sailed from London in the ship 'Fortune,' which followed the 'Mayflower,' and brought over those left behind the two years previous by the famous vessel. The family of Robert Hicks were natives of Gloucestershire, England, and traced their ancestry back in an unbroken line to Sir Ellis Hicks, who was knighted by Edward, the Black Prince, on the battlefield of Poitiers, September 9, 1356, for conspicuous bravery in capturing a stand of colors from the French. "Robert Hicks settled at Duxbury, Massachusetts, and died there at an advanced age. His sons, John and Stephen, in 1642 joined an English company which acquired by patent an extensive tract of land about Hempstead and Flushing, Long Island. Stephen Hicks purchased several thousand acres at Little Neck, Long Island, and erected a large mansion where he lived to an advanced age and died without leaving male descendants. "John Hicks settled at Hempstead, and from him are descended the extensive family of the name on Long Island, in New York, Philadelphia and Bucks count}-, as well as in many other parts of the Union. He was educated at Oxford, and was a man of intelligence and natural force of character, and therefore soon became a leader in the youthful colony, and took an active part in public afTairs, his name appearing in nearly all the important transactions of the time." Without quoting further in detail from the History of Bucks County, it may be stated that the line to Thomas Hicks, the artist, descended down through Thomas, only son of John Hicks, who inherited his father's intellectual ability and became the first 90 THOMAS HICKS, ARTIST, A NATIVE OF NEWTOWN judge of Queens county, New York, and Isaac, eldest son of the judge by his second marriage to Mary Doughty, to Gilbert, fourth son of Isaac and Elizabeth (Moore) Hicks. Gilbert, fourth son of Isaac and Elizabeth (Moore) Hicks, who was born in Queens county, New York, September 19, 1720, married Mary Rodman, April 24, 1746, and was the ancestor of all the Bucks county Hickses. Gilbert Hicks was a man of superior mental ability and was a prominent justice of the peace of Bucks county. He was the great-grandfather of Thomas Hicks. Joseph Rod- man gave the youthful couple as a wedding present 600 acres of land in Bensalem township, on the Neshaminy creek, which he had lately purchased. Gilbert and Mary Rodman Hicks settled upon this tract in 1747. They subsecjuently sold it and purchased 100 acres at what is now Eanghorne, upon which they erected a commodious brick house in 1763, which is still standing. Joseph Rodman Hicks, grandfather of Thomas, was Gilbert and Mary Rodman Hicks' fifth and youngest child and was born November 12, 1756. He married his cousin Margaret Thomas, an approved minister among friends at Makefield meeting. They lived in Upper Makefield township upon a farm adjoining the meetinghouse. Joseph, the father of Thomas Hicks, was the second of eight children of Joseph Rodman, and Margaret (Thomas) Hicks. He was born June 12, 1780, died October 4, 1827, married January 2, 1804, to Jane Bond, of Newtown, Bucks county and had nine children, the seventh of whom was Thomas Hicks, the artist. At the age of fifteen Thomas Hicks entered the employ of his father's cousin, Edward Hicks, the eminent minister among friends, to learn the trade of coach painting. He immediately developed a natural talent for art, having previous to reaching the age of 16 years painted his master's portrait from the rough colors he found in the shop. In 1837 he entered the Pennsyl- vania Academy of Fine Arts, Philadelphia. The following year he went to New York City, where he continued in the study of art at the National Academy of Design. His first important picture, "The Death of Abel," was ex- hibited at the academy in 1841. He studied in Europe in 1845 to 1849, and in 1847 he painted "Italia at Rome." He possessed talent of a particularly high order, which continued to a career THOMAS HICKS, ARTIST, A NATIVE OF NEWTOWN 91 that made him one of the most distinguished artists of his time. When a student he had copied a "Hunt," by Diaz, and the two pictures stood side by side. Amy Scheffer entered the studio, and to his own surprise confessed his inabihty to select the original. Later at Rome he was ordered to change certain de- tails in the dimensions of the chair in his copy of Raphael's "Pope Julius" for the reason that the reproduction was so successful that it was considered undesirable to have its minor features agree with those recorded, in the archives of the collection. Mr. Hicks studied chiefly under Couture, and the great French master's breadth of style and powerful appreciation of humanity were strongly reflected in his pupil's work. Some of Mr. Hicks' portraits are among the very best productions of the country. Indeed, there is one which would stand the contrast with the best in art. He was elected Academician of the National Academy of Fine Arts, New York City, in 185 1, and was president of the Artists' Fund Society from 1873 to 1885. Mr. Hicks studied chiefly under Couture. He painted portraits of Booth, Fisk, Halleck, Dr. Kane, Holmes, President Lincoln, Longfellow, Seward, Bayard Taylor, Harriet Beecher Stowe, Verplank and hundreds of others of America's most prominent men and women. He also painted the famous picture — every- where known by engravings — of the authors of the United States, and another representing the governors of New York state. A fine example of his work in Philadelphia is the full length portrait of General Meade, which is noteworthy for its natural and unconventional treatment of a military subject. The head of General Meade on the national bank note, and one of the pic- tures of the Century War Book, are copies of the bust of the Hicks portrait, and in many of the Meade Grand Army Posts throughout the country are full length photographic copies of the same painting. Two of his works adorn the walls of our Historical Society building, vis.: a full length portrait of Hon. John Jay and a smaller portrait of Martin Johnson Heed. Thomas Hicks died at his country home "Thornwood," Tren- ton Falls, N. Y., October 8, 1890, leaving a widow but no issue. 92 FRIENDS OLD MEETING-HOUSE IN BRISTOL, PA. The parents of Thomas Hicks and their issue given below show that there is none retaining the name of Hicks : Joseph Hicks married Jane Bond. Born June 12, 1780. Mar- ried January 2, 1804. Died October 14, 1827, and had : Ann W., married Jonathan Heston; Charles, died unmarried; Rachel T., married Jonathan Heston, her deceased sister's hus- band; Margaret, died, age, i year; J^evi N., died a baby; Hannah B., married Thomas Bond; Thomas, married Angeline King, no issue ; Priscilla, died unmarried ; Edward L,., married Ellen Colby, no issue living; Caroline S., married Samuel S. Owen. Friends Old Meeting-House in Bristol, Pa. BY JOHN C. MAUIvE, BRISTOL, PA. (Bristol Meeting. May 24, 1910.) While these short and simple annals of the old meeting-house in Bristol, where this meeting is being held, the oldest, with one exception, now standing in this part of the country, may to the twentieth century era of hurry and bustle appear but of little worth, it is yet well in this day to "gather up the fragments that remain that nothing be lost," and these somewhat fragmentary notes may shed some light upon the persevering zeal of our fore- fathers, to which this venerable building is a monument. Nearly all the first settlers of Buckingham, now Bristol, as well as of other parts of the "lower end" of our county, were members of the Society of Friends, and the writer acknowledges his obli- gation for much of the data in this paper to the late Edwin J. Burton, a lineal descendant of Anthony Burton, one of these pioneers, who was greatly interested in the early records and history of the Friends' meetings in these parts. Meetings for worship were^^tablished about "The Falls of the Delaware," some time before the country had received the name of Pennsylvania, the members belonging to a Monthly Meeting held at Burlington, dating from 1674. In 1683 a Monthly Meet- ing was established at the house of William Biles, in what is now known as "the manor," of which friends living at Bristol and at Neshaminy, now Middletown, became members. The governor FRIENDS OLD ME;ETING- HOUSE IN BRISTOL, PA. 93 and his wife, while in Pennsylvania, were members of this Monthly Meeting. Phineas Pemberton, whose name as clerk of the first orphans' court, frequently appears upon our early county records, was its recorder of birth and deaths. The first Bucks Quarterly Meeting, composed of the original Falls Monthly Meeting, and a new one set off therefrom called Neshamine, (now Middletown Monthly Meeting at Langhorne), was held at the house of William Biles on the 7th of 3d month, 1684. For nearly twenty years friends at Bristol were not allowed any regular meeting of their own, and growing weary of being thus deprived of religious privileges they petitioned Falls Monthly Meeting in 1702 that they might be allowed to hold a meeting sometimes among themselves, but it appears that they were not granted this favor until 1707, when permission was given them to hold a meeting for worship bi-weekly, on First-days and once a week on week-days. In 1706 Samuel Carpenter, a wealthy friend, offered to give Falls Monthly Meeting a "piece of ground for a meeting-house and burying place, and pasture at Bristol," and the gift having been accepted by the meeting, the same was ordered to be deeded to Joseph Kirkbride and others for the uses aforesaid. There now began a most striking example of that procrastination which is said to be the thief of time. The trustees appointed by the Monthly Meeting seem to have been most unaccountably derelict in their duties, for we find that in 1710 a minute of the Monthly Meeting stating that "Bristol friends renewed an application, first made in 1706, for the building of a meeting-house. Agreed with and forwarded to Quarterly Meeting for their concurrence and assistance." In the following month comes a minute stating that as several of the trustees appointed to hold the title to the lot given by Samuel Carpenter were either deceased or gone from the Province, William Croasdale and others, should be appointed in their places. The following qyaint minute of the Quarterly Meeting gives evidence that the request of Bristol friends for a meeting-house was soon to be granted. It is as follows : "At a quarterly meeting held at Middletown, ye 226. of ye 12th month, 1 710. This meeting having under consideration the building of a meeting-house at Bristol, it's concluded there be a good, sub- stantial house built either of brick or stone, and the Friends 94 FRIENDS OLD AlDETlNG-HOUSE IN BRISTOL, PA. appointed to take the dimensions, and for the convenientest place is Joseph Kirkbride, Joshua Houpes, John Satcher, Thos. Steven- son and Adam Harker, together with such Bristol friends as they think fit, who are likewise to compute the charge as near as may be, and to appoint whom they may think fit to manage the work, and give an account of their proceeding to the next meet- ing." Three months later, "The Friends appointed to take care about the meeting-house at Bristol report they have made some progress therein, having obtained a grant of a lot land from Samuel Carpenter to set the meeting-house on, likewise has agreed for the dimensions, first ye carpenter work has computed the charge of ye whole, and thinks it will be about 200 pounds." The meeting appointed Josepeh Kirkbride and others "to under- take the first, and the rest of ye work belonging to it, and take care to see it well and carefully done, and with what expedition may be." The meeting also urged friends to make collections in their respective meetings for the new building, and appointed trustees to hold the title for the Quarterly Meeting to the ground given for the meeting place and burial ground, this being a rare instance of title to property held by other than Monthly Meetings. After seven years of delay the meeting-house project was in fair way to be accomplished, and in Twelfth month, 1713, the Quarterly Meeting was informed that "the committee to settle Bristol meeting-house report they have completed the same," from which it would appear that this ancient landmark lacks but two years of being a bi-centennarian. The bricks used in its construction were brought from England, and this doubtless added to the delay in its completion. It would appear that "jerry- building" is not of recent date, for in 1728, only fifteen years after the house was finished, it had to be partially taken down and rebuilt, being in danger of falling. In 1735 or 1736 an addi- tion was built, greatly enlarging its capacity, and in 1756 it was finished in the upper story. Previously to 1839-40 the entrance was in the Market street end of the house, the galleries being at the east end facing the entrance, and the aisle running lengthwise of the building, probably passing through a doorway into the addition in the rear. During the Revolutionary War the house was occupied as a hospital, as appears from the following minute, "9th. Mo. 15th, 1778. Joseph Church, William Bidgood, John FRIENDS OLD ME;e;TING-HOUSE; in BRISTOL, PA. 95 Hutchinson and Phinehas Buckley are appointed to get the meet- ing-house cleared of the troops in the little end of the house so that it may be fit to meet in." A number of the patients in this hospital are believed to have been buried in the lot now occupied by Mohican Hall, on Otter street. In 1820 a school was kept in the upper story of the house taught by Dr. Henry Lippincott, afterward many years in practice at Fallsington, and by Mary Prosser, Letitia Swain and Hannah Coleman. This little account of the old meeting-house would be incom- plete without some mention of the generous donor of the ground upon which it was built. Samuel Carpenter was a native of Surrey, England, and came to Pennsylvania from Barbadoes. He was an intimate friend and associate of William Penn, and a partner with him and Cileb Pusey, in the establishment of the first mill in the province at Upland near Chester. At the end of the 17th century Samuel Carpenter was a wealthy shipping merchant in Philadelphia and reputed to have been the richest man in the province. He owned nearly two thousand acres of land contiguous to and including much of the present site of Bristol, also two islands in the Delaware, and is believed to have been the founder of the Bristol saw and gristmills. In or about 1710 or 1712, he removed his residence to Bristol, having a sum- mer home on Burlington Island, the dwelling being still standing in 1828. He was largely interested in public affairs, being a member of the council and assembly, and treasurer of the prov- ince, and was highly respected by all who knew him. It is some- what singular that in Bristol, where he had such large interests, there is nothing to keep alive his memory save this meeting-house. And while we cannot here show any long-drawn aisle or fretted vault, and while no pealing anthem has ever, within this ancient house, swelled the note of praise, yet, could these walls become vocal, they could tell of many soul-stirring messages of exhorta- tion, of earnest entreaty and encouragement to well-doing, and they could bear witness also to many silent meetings where, as Charles Lamb wrote, the dove sat visibly brooding upon the worshippers. The saintly Woolman doubtless often met here with his fellow- believers, coming from his humble Mount Holly home, clad in those garments worn the natural color of the wool, as a testimony 96 FRIENDS OLD MEETING-HOUSE IN BRISTOL, PA. against superfluities. Here also came Thomas Chalkley, riding up from "Chalkley Hall" at Frankford — He of whom Whittier wrote : — "Gentlest of skippers, rare sea-saint ! — Who, when the dreary calms prevailed. And water-butt and bread-cask failed. And cruel, hungry eyes pursued His portly presence, mad for food. With dark hints uttered imder breath. Of casting lots for life or death. Offered, if Heaven withheld supplies. To be himself the sacrifice. Then, suddenly, as if to save The good man from his living grave, A ripple on the water grew, A school of porpoise flashed in view. 'Take, eat,' he said, 'and be content, These fishes in my stead are sent By Him who gave the tangled ram To save the child of Abraham.' " It seems as though this account could have no more fitting ending than the following quotation from Charles Lamb's essay upon A Quaker Meeting : "Nothing-plotting, nought-caballing, unmischievous synod ! Convoca- tion without intrigue ! Parliament without debate ! What a lesson dost thou read to council and consistory ! If my pen treat you lightly as haply it will wander— yet my spirit hath gravely felt the wisdom of your custom when, sitting among you in deepest peace, which some outwelling tears would rather confirm than disturb, I have reverted to the time of your beginnings and the sowing of the seed by Fox and Dewsbury. I have witnessed that which brought before my eyes your heroic tranquility, inflexible to rude jests and serious violence of the insolent soldiery, repub- hcan or royalist, sent to molest you, for ye sate betwixt the fires of two persecutions, the outcast and ofi^-scouring of church and presbytery. I have seen the reeling sea-ruffian, who had wandered into your receptacle, with the avowed purpose of disturbing your quiet, from the very spirit of the place receive in a moment a new heart, and presently sit among you as a lamb amidst lambs. And I remember Penn before his accusers, and Fox in the bail-dock, where he was lifted up in spirit and, as he tells us, 'the judge and the jury became as dead men under his feet.' . . . O when the spirit is sore-fretted, even tired to sickness of the j anglings and nonsense-noises of the world, what a balm and a solace it is, to go and seat yourself for a quiet half-hour upon some undisputed corner of a bench among the gentle quakers. . . . Get the writings of John Woolman by heart and love the early quakers." Industrial Growth of Bristol Borough. BY JOSEPH R. GRUNDY, BRISTOL, PA. (Bristol Meeting, iNIay 24, 1910.) The west bank of the Delaware river, we are told, was first settled in the neighborhood of Chester by a body of Swedes about 1677. Shortly following that settlement, another group of pio- neers — the ancestors of some of us — found their way farther east and established for themselves a home within what is now the county of Bucks. So numerous had this settlement become that at the end of twenty years we find the provincial government petitioned for the establishment of a market town upon the pres- ent site of Bristol. Four years later, or in 1701, Samuel Carpen- ter, described as a wealthy merchant of Philadelphia, attracted by the water-power furnished by Mill creek, settled at this point and established mills for the grinding of grain and the sawing of tim- ber. This enterprise marked the beginning of considerable activity, as it afforded the settlers a medium of profitably clearing their lands and also of grinding the grain which they were then beginning to grow upon the lands already under cultivation. This industry undoubtedly was responsible for the fact that there followed the establishment of ship-building upon Mill creek, the timber for which the local mill aided in preparing, and further aided in providing cargoes for the ships when built to carry. Thus it was that for practically a century the industry of our neighborhood consisted in the building of ships, the sawing of timber and the grinding of grain, which was freely exported to various parts of the world. In 181 5. history informs us that a woolen mill was established along the banks of Mill creek but its existence was of short duration, a quarrel having occurred in the firm which resulted in the removal of the machinery to Groveville, N. J. The year 1827 saw the beginning of the construction by the State of the Delaware Division of the Pennsylvania canal which was opened for navigation in 1832, providing an outlet from the anthracite coal regions of the north to tidewater. This development gave a tremendous impetus to local shipping and much labor found employment in handling the cargoes of coal 98 INDUSTRIAI, GROWTH OF BRISTOI. BOROUGH which were brought to market through the new waterway, the outlet lock for tide points being at Bristol. In 1853 a body of capitalists gathered together the sum of $12,000, and in the neighborhood of the junction of Beaver Dam road and the northwestern side of the canal established what was known as the Bristol forge, for the purpose of making wrought iron. About this time, however, the borough met with a severe set- back; in the extension of the Philadelphia and Reading railroad from Bethlehem to Philadelphia, by which route thereafter they shipped the coal to their yards in Port Richmond on the Dela- ware. Thus taking from our town the employment and business which had for a quarter of a century played so important a part in its growth and prosperity. From 1855 to i860 was a period of great depression due largely to this cause. It will be noted that up to this period substantially all the activity and business devel- opment had been created by the handling and exporting of raw products either of the mines or of the soil. The requirements of our people in all other than food products were then imported from abroad. The year i860 was one of general turmoil and alarm. A man had been elected president of the United States who was not in sympathy with southern traditions and the south, which for many years had been in charge of the government, was upon the verge of secession. With the control of the government in their hands and with secession in their hearts, it was but natural that ships, arms and munitions of war should have been transferred by those in charge, to points south of Mason and Dixon's line, in anticipation of the coming struggle. When Abraham Lincoln took up his heavy burden, the United States was not only con- fronted with civil war, but it had been stripped of the means of prosecuting it. To provide and equip the army and navy huge expenditures were necessary. The treasury was as depleted as were the arsenals. Enormous loans — at least, enormous for those days — had to be negotiated on the faith of the government, and to provide for the interest and principle of these obligations every method of taxation was resorted to, including heavy import duties upon all kinds of manufactured products imported into our country. INDUSTRIAI, GROWTH OF BRISTOL BOROUGH 99 The import duties on manufactures from abroad, high as they necessarily were, were not the only drawback to procuring goods from foreign lands. Many enterprises of a privateering character were entered into in the name of the confederacy by unscrupulous men who preyed upon the shipping of the northern states. The effect of the government's being a very large purchaser of all commodities, such as clothing, boots and shoes, arms and armament, coupled with the domestic requirements of our people and the great abundance of money due to the unusual expen- ditures on the part of the government, created uni)recedented opportunity for American industries. Under this stimulus, mills and factories sprang up and flourished on every side and the in- dustrial strides made by the north during the civil war were prodigious. The close of the war in 1865 brought many problems to those in charge of our government but none that they approached with more serious consideration than that of restoring the revenue of the government to a peace basis without disturbing the splendid industrial development which had been created by the conditions before described. To prepare for this the congress of the United States appointed a revenue commission consisting of David A. Wells, of Connecticut; S. S. Hayes, of Massachusetts, and Ste- phen A. Colwell, of Pennsylvania. The work of this commission covered a period of two years and proved to be a masterly review of the revenue laws of the land. Its recommendation and the legislation that ensued of a revenue character all had for its pur- pose the preserving, by protective duties as far as possible, of the American market to the American producer. In the industrial uplift following i860 Bristol shared. The Bristol forge located on Buckley street, became the scene of great activity. Its original capital of $12,000 was raised to $125,000, and its products found a ready market both for govern- ment and domestic uses. The prosperity of this company led to the erecting of a similar concern known as the Keystone Forge Company. In 1864 the Bristol Woolen Mills were established in Buckley street for the manufacture of knit fabrics. This prop- erty passed through several hands and afforded, until recent years, employment for many hundreds of people. The year 1868 is notable in Bristol's industrial history as mark- lOO INDUSTRIAL GROWTH 01*' BRISTOL BOROUGH ing the return of Joshua Peirce to Bristol after several years residence in the western part of Pennsylvania. Impressed by the favorable location of Bristol for industrial development and the opportvinities which the Morrell tariff act created, he estab- lished the Livingstone mills for the manufacture from wool of felt products. Actively and enthusiastically he entered into the industrial development of Bristol and in 1871 was instrumental in establishing the Bristol foundry, since operated by ex-Burgess, Thomas, B. Harkins. The sash and planing mills now operated by Messrs. Peirce & Williams were located in Bristol in 1873, and in 1875, likewise through Mr. Peirce's efforts, the Bristol rolling mills Avere built by Messrs. Nevegold and Scheide. In 1876 Air. Peirce organized for the further industrial devel- opment of Bristol the Bristol Improvement Company, and the same year this company erected the worsted mills which were leased to the firm of Grundy Brothers and Campion. In 1877 the Bristol Improvement Company erected for L. M. Har- nerd & Co. the plant known as the Keystone Mill, for the manu- facture of fringe and braids. In 1880 the same company erected the Star Mill for a firm engaged in the manufacture of knit goods, and in 1882 the wall paper mills which have since been operated under various managements were erected by this company. About this time Samuel Appleton erected the mill located on Buckley street near Beaver Dam road now operated by Hender- son & Co. as a carpet mill, and in 1887 the Improvement Com- pany erected the fine property of the Bristol Carpet Mills for the firm of Thomas L. Leedom & Co. In 1899 the leather factory, now known as the Corona Leather Works was established by Boston capitalists, and in 1906 the Bristol Patent Leather Company engaged in a similar line of work to that of the Corona Leather Works was established by its enterprising president, our townsman, Mr. C. L. Anderson. The year following the Standard Cast Iron Pipe and Foundry Company erected the large works in the township just east of the borough line. This last mentioned plant about completes the industrial enterprises now in existence in our district. It is inter- esting to note some of the deductions which may be drawn from Bristol's industrial development. INDUSTRIAL GROWTH OF BRISTOL BOROUGH lOI The fact is that from the settlement of our neighborhood in 1677 to i860, a period of 183 years, the population had grown to only 2,500 people, and in assessed valuation the borough reached a property valuation of slightly under $500,000. During the last fifty years the industrial conditions which had led to the development of Bristol up to i860 have entirely passed away. The business of the canal for the most part was diverted elsewhere, the gristmill has long since passed out of active opera- tion, and with it the sawmill. In their place industrial activity was found in the manufacture of iron, of carpets, of hosiery, of leather products, mill-work, and yarns and cloths for the clothing of our people. In the 183 years since the settlement to i860 our population had grown to 2,500. Fifty years later we approximate 10,000 souls. The assessed valuation which in 183 years had reached nearly $500,000 in i860, since has grown to $3,000,000, and the number of people employed in the mills in 1910 approximate 3,300; the wages annually paid to these operatives total $1,750,000, while the value of the manufactured product amounts to substantially $12,000,000 annually. The past decade in Bristol especially has been one of marked prosperity in its industrial development; its population has in- creased 40 per cent, over that of 1900, and never in the histoiy of the borough has there been a year when public expenditures were as great as that of the year 19 10. There is under way this year one enterprise, that of changing the lines of the Pennsylvania railroad, which will involve an ex- penditure of more than $1,000,000, twice as much money as the entire borough was worth half a century ago. Also we find in the development and extension of mill operations already located within our neighborhood contracts made for the expenditure in new buildings and equipment approximating $750,000. In build- ing operations for homes for our people probably not less than $50,000 additional will be expended, while many more homes would find ready rental if constructed, all directly reflecting a condition of business activity and industrial development much to be desired and encouraged. Those of us who have been identified with Bristol's growth during the last generation, naturally take much j)ride in what I02 INDUSTRIAIv GROWTH OF BRISTOL BOROUGH has been accomplished. But however gratifying the past may have been we feel that should there be no change in the fiscal policy of the government which has made our growth possible, the future of our neighborhood is very bright. We believe the work now under way by the Pennsylvania Railroad Co. will be a great factor in this direction, as it will open up some three miles of lands for development along their new lines which heretofore has been inaccessible, owing to physical difficulties. The removal of passenger tracks at grade crossings from the heart of our town, affording free access and communication to all sections, is something greatly to be desired, and the development which na- turally will follow in trolley service will bear an important part in our future expansion. In all of the problems affecting our development our local government is deeply interested. The question of our future water supply, a question of great importance to every industrial town, is being solved in the direction of municipal control of this important utility. A complete sewer system for the better sanitation of the borough will shortly be installed. Never was there a brighter horizon for our people than that which at this day confronts them. In all ages the valor and bravery of men who have borne arms in the defense of their country has been the subject of grateful appreciation by their fellow man. If this be true in a general sense, when applied to those who fought on the side of the union in the civil war it should have a double significance. Not only did the patriotism of these men preserve our national integrity and deliver unto freedom millions of men who had previously been held in bondage, but perhaps unknown even to themselves it fixed in the minds of patriotic statesmen of that day, what has since become known as the American protective tariff system. The advantages and benefits of the system are directly evidenced by the development and prosperity of this community and our en- tire country during the last fifty years, and the example set has led to the adoption of the system as part of the fiscal policy of every civilized nation in the world but one. Surely it can be said of the patriotic soldiers of '60 to '64, "They builded more wisely than they knew." Historic Sketch of Ottsville and Vicinity. BY GEORGE M. GRIM, M. D., OTTSVILLE, PA. (Red Hill Church Meeting, October 4, 1910.) This vicinity has the distinction of having had two names for ahnost a century, Red Hill and Ottsville. The original name was Red Hill. It is one of the oldest villages north of the Tohickon, and one of the principal stopping places in the early history of Tinicum, notably so, when the old Durham road became the principal line of travel between Philadelphia and towns north of the Lehigh river. The fact, that hotels existed at four different places in the village, is pretty fair proof that it was well patronized by those needing temporary accommodations. The village took its name from natural condition, being the most prominent red hill between Doylestown and Easton. Early in the last century, (about the years 1800 to 1820,) the Ott family was quite in evidence in this section and appeared to have taken a prominent part in the affairs of the township. \Mien the first postoffice was granted in 18 14 it was given the name of Ottsville in honor of that family, and Michael Ott was its first postmaster. The selection of a name, other than that of the village, was made necessary from the fact, that a postoffice by name of Red Hill had already been established in Montgomery county. The first postoffice was on the hill, as we call it, and for a great many years that section was known as Ottsville, and the part below the hill toward Doylestown, was called Red Hill. Some years later the postoffice was moved down into the village proper, and the names as applied to the two sections were abolished. The villages were united under either Red Hill or Ottsville. The postoftice has occupied four different locations, but for the past fifty years, with the exception of a very short time, has been in the village store. Besides the postmaster, Michael Ott, there were numerous other members of that family, prominent in the early history of the village: John R. Ott, held a county office; Dr. Isaac Ott, was a physician of some note, he was father of Immanuel Ott and Henry C. Ott, late of this section. The other early members of the family, moved away, 104 HISTORIC SKETCH OF OTTSVILLE AND VICINITY one branch moving to the neighborhood of Doylestown, and the family name is now ahnost extinct in Tinicum township. Notwithstanding the fact that the postoffice was called Otts- ville the village was almost universally referred to as Red Hill up to quite recent years, or to the advent of the trolley line in 1903, and the name Red Hill will doubtless soon become but a matter of history. Beside the Ott family there were a number of other families, equally prominent in the early history of this neighborhood. This was the early home of the Welder and Summers families, all gone now these many years ; the Kachlines, Weavers, the Smiths, (of the Smith plowshare fame, although the factory was at Smithtown, 1783;) the Wolfingers, Burgstressers, Mills, Hillpot, Yost, Sassaman, Fretz and Shupe. Jacob Shupe kept hotel at the old Headquarters stand shortly after the organization of the township in 1738. He died there in 1799 and was succeeded by Peter Barndt. Beyond this on the Dark Hollow road, we find John Wilson, then a prominent landlord in this section, licensed as early as 1744, losing his license in an altercation with James Carrell. Wilson afterwards (1765) conducted a hotel in Nock- amixon township. The Shively, Steeley, Haney, Hager, Fluck, Frankenfield, Boileau, Scheetz, Gruver and Harpel families were residents here. The Harpel family was among the most prominent of re- cent years, Philip and Samuel Harpel earlier, and Thomas Har- pel later, being in business here for fifty years, thirty-five of which was spent as proprietors of the village hotel. The family sticking best to the locality and being longest identified in this section are the Haneys. Gen. Davis in his History of Bucks County, mentions them as among the earliest settlers in Tinicum, how early he does not know, but Michael Haney bought 150 acres of land in Tinicum in 1745. Jacob and Catharine lived here prior to 1769. A Michael Haney, born 1756, and died, 1830, was probably a son of the former, and Anthony and Sarah died prior to 1780. Our present Michael Haney, a son of the last named Anthony, is the present owner of the farm adjoining the church in which this meeting is being held, and as successor to Samuel and Jonas Yost, was the village blacksmith since 1864 up to a few years ago. He is still in vigorous health and was in- HISTORIC SKETCH OF OTTSVILLE AND VICINITY I05 strumental in organizing the first Haney family reunion only a few weeks ago. A detailed history of the old hotel on top of the hill, one of the first in this section, would fill a small volume. It was the gathering place of the neighborhood for many years and many a fight occurred there. Here was developed the vigorous youth, the strenuous life, needed to carry on the early development of the Country. Later it was rubbing mind against mind, but now it was muscle against muscle, developing the physical properties of Young America, for the country's future defense. What the young man of to-day gets in the college hazing, to stififen his temper, and develop his manhood, was then received, with equal effect, at these hostleries. Fully a dozen different landlords held forth there, among its first were a Mr. Shilling, Nathan Riale and Hank Haney. It was near there that Edward Marshall and party in 1737 took their first rest after a few hours' walk from Wrightstown, and where, no doubt, Jennings gave out. A suit- able marker was erected by James Emery in 1900 to commemo- rate the spot, Charles Laubach, of Durham, delivering an ad- dress.* Other hotels were located in the old house now occupied by William Shupe, and one, conducted by Issac Wolfinger on the Horace Yost property. This later was a favorite stopping place for the trains of Contestoga wagons on the north and south freight line. The present well-known Ottsville hotel was erected in 1871 by Thomas C. Harpel. Sol. Mills, who occupied it the first year, failed to get a license and Mr. Harpel moved in himself in 1873. was given a license, and made it a very popular and well pat- ronized hostelry. It has been for years the principal cattle and horse market in upper Bucks, where John Rich, Nathan Fretz and Andrew Shaddinger sell at public sale their huge droves brought from New York State, and is still well patronized in this line. It also has an enviable reputation as a social centre for young people's gatherings of various kinds, the Red Hill dances having had many patrons coming from as far south as Doyles- town, Centreville and Pineville. • It is unfortunate that the inscription on this monument should be misleading; it reads: "Edward Marshall, Walker of Pa., Sept. 20, 17.37, Gov. Wm. Pcnn." The walk covered two days, Sept. 19 and 20. The walkers reached Red Hill in two and one-half hours, therefore the date on the monument should be September 19. William Penn died July 30, 1718, or 19 years before the great walk took place. — B. F. F., Jr. io6 HISTORIC ske;tch of ottsvilIvE; and vicinity Fully a dozen physicians have resided here during the past century, and the vicinity being noted for its healthfulness may account very largely, no doubt, for the fact that none of them were able to remain very long. Among the earliest we find Dr. James Martin, 1792- 1854, an Irishman of some witty peculiari- ties, who is still remembered by a few, who picture the little Irish doctor with high hat and pony traveling across fields and fences with graceful ease. He is buried in the village cemetery. Dr. Laubach who is still living and keeps a drug store at Easton, is still remembered. He is a brother of William Laubach, the senior proprietor of the Laubach store at Easton. Dr. Wilder- muth, 1816-1864; Dr. Burgstresser, Dr. Clinton Hough, 1876- 1897; Dr. Tom Hough, Dr. Cowdrick, Dr. Arndt, Dr. Grier, Dr. S. Jones and Dr. A. B. Nash, all resided and practiced here prior to 1888. A store has been kept here as far back as can be remembered, its location has changed from time to time, but has principally been located on its present site. Among those conducting it over the past century we find the names of Samuel Harpel, Charles Scheetz, Thomas Harpel, John Z. Rufe, Harpel & Connell, Zieg- ler & Myers, Austin McCarty, John O. Snyder and J. S. Snyder, the present owner. An industry of importance that flourished here some fifty years ago, was the Kachline tannery operated by Aaron and Edward Kachline, the tannery was situated on property adjoining the present home of William Wolfinger, but all evidence of the buildings has long since disappeared. The long flat stone upon which the hides were scraped, and which during the long winter evenings often formed a favorite card table for youthful enter- tainment, now occupies the approach to this church. The church itself is a land mark of no little interest, the first one north of Deep Run. The old log church of which this build- ing is the successor, and the one at Clay Ridge, long since gone, were the centres of all religious activities of the original settlers. The Irish Presbyterians and Dutch Reformed people early joined hands in making this a common place of worship, and before the building of the Tinicum Brick church and the Nockamixon church this was largely attended. During the past fifty years most of the remaining members have made their church home HISTORIC SKETCH OF OTTSVII^LE) AND VICINITY I07 elsewhere, and all we have left of a once flourishing congrega- tion is the church building. No church-body consistory or trus- tees have existed to my knowledge during the past twenty-five years. The Reformed pastor of Lower Tinicum Church up to the past year, held services under the auspices of the Sunday school, once a month, and possibly in this way has retained a right in the property. The Sunday school here, has used the building for years and often invites neighboring pastors to preach after the close of their Sunday school services. The old graveyard adjoining the church is even more historic than the church. It contains the graves of many prominent families which resided here one hundred and fifty years ago, some of them were pioneers of the original Tinicum settlement. Among the markers we find such names as Bennett, 1782; Blair, 1749; Vanderbilt, Wilson Carrell, McElroy, Weaver, Summers, White, Welder, Weidemoyer, Pratt, Boileau, Bissey, Sassaman, Yost, Wolfinger, Heller, Bean, Emery, Wildermuth, Hoppock and Martin.* Much could be written about some of these early families, as well as other points of interest concerning the past of this vicinity, but this would take us beyond the limitations of this paper. Properties in this neighborhood are changing ownership so frequently, that in a few years the old homesteads will be owned by a people who know nothing and may care but little for the history of the early settlers. It would be commendable if the teachers of our public schools of Bucks county would interest their scholars in the study of local history, in order that important details of the past may be preserved. * During the summer of igi6 Miss Abbey Emery of Philadelphia (now Mrs. Rich), who was spending the summer at Red Hill, collected money to rebuild the tumbled down walls surrounding this cemetery, which had been built in 1835. Presbyterian Church of Tinicum at Red Hill. BY WARREN S. ELY, DOYEESTOWN, PA. (Red Hill Church Meeting, October 4, 1910.) Seven years ago to-day, when this society met at Tohickon Park, I gave some account of the first settlement on the Tohickon. As that paper has since been published in our archives,* and many now present heard it at that time it is unnecessary to repeat any part thereof or further refer to these early settlements ex- cept to again state that almost all the early settlers of the land lying between the Tohickon and the Delaware, comprising the present township of Tinicum, except a small English settlement around the ferry at the mouth of the Tohickon were recent ar- rivals from the North of Ireland of Scotch parentage, generally referred to as Scotch-Irish. A few of the same nationality had taken up land on the western and southern side of the Tohickon in the township of Bedminster, but most of the settlers in that township were Germans, the Durham road as later laid out nearly marking the line between the land taken up by the Scotch-Irish and Germans from the upper line of Plumstead to the lower line of Durham township. These settlements were made during the latter part of the fourth decade of the eighteenth century, immediately succeeding the Great Walk of 1737. A few adventurous spirits had located on the banks of the Tohickon prior to that date, some of them an overflow of the Scotch-Irish settlement of the Neshaminy in Warwick and Warrington, but principally of later arrivals from the North of Ireland akin to the Scotch-Irish settlers in Make- field and about Newtown. Among the collections of the Presbyterian Historical Society, is a little manuscript account of the founding and history of Tinicum and Newtown Presbyterian Churches, supposedly in the handwriting of Rev. James Boyd, pastor of the Newtown Church, 1 769-1814. This narrative states that the Tinicum congregation was organized "about ye year 1738, under ye instrumentality of Mr. (James) Campbell, a Licentiate from Scotland, who was ordained for ye congregation and continued for about twelve or * See Volume III, page 296. PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF TINICUM AT RED HILL I09 thirteen years. The con<:jref:^ation was composed of about 55 families chiefly from Ireland." Mr. Campbell met with consid- erable success, and the congregation grew and prospered until about 1748, when dissentions arose in reference to the proposed removal of the church to its present site on the Durham road, (at Red Hill where this meeting is being held), which Mr. Camp- bell strenuously opposed, and as a result of the decision to re- move, resigned about 1750, and went to the Carolinas. Mr. Campbell was at first pastor of Newtown as well as the Tinicum Church, but continued the joint charge but a few years. He preached also at Durham and the "Forks" near Easton. Close relations were maintained with the Newtown Church during all the active years of Mr. Boyd's pastorate and he frequently min- istered to the Tinicum congregation. In the minutes of the Synod of Philadelphia for 1740, we find that "a supplication came into the synod from the congregation of Tinnacom and Newtown respectively, desiring to be dismissed from the Presbytery of Philadelphia and to be joined to the Presbytery of New Brunswick, and it was readily granted." From the minutes of the Synod of New York in 175 1, we learn that "A petition of a Number of Inhabitants of Tinicum or To- hickon praying for Liberty for supplies at the place called the Old House. The synod after hearing what they had to ofifer in support of the said Petition, after consideration thereon do un- animously reject the Petition." This was an effort on the part of the disaffected portion of the congregation under Mr. Camp- bell to maintain a church at the old meeting place after a major- ity had decided to remove to Red Hill. During the interval between the resignation of Rev. James Campbell in 1749, or 175 1 the date given in the Boyd MS., the congregation at Red Hill was supplied "occasionally by members from New Brunswick Presbytery and First Presbytery of Phil- adelphia, and several years of ye Ministry by ye Rev'd Dr. Treate as Stated Supply every 4th Sabbath." Rev. Richard Treate and Rev. James Campbell, of "Tohickon" were both so much affected by the preaching of Rev. George Whitefield in 1739, that they classed themselves as "self deceivers and soul murderers" and both abandoned the ministry for a short time. In the division which shortly followed they both adhered no PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF TINICUM AT RED KIEL to the "Old Side," and Treate resigning the pastorate at Abing- ton in 1742, labored at different points in Pennsylvania and New Jersey, under the New Brunswick, Presbytery, which adhered to the "Old Side." He was located for some time at "the Forks" in Allen township and preached on special occasions at many neighboring points until his death in 1778. According to Webster, the Presbyterian historian. Rev. James Campbell was a native of Argyleshire, Scotland and coming to America in 1730 was licensed by the New Castle Presbytery in 1735, and was well received by the Philadelphia Presbytery May 22, 1739, and "after preaching for four years, part of the time at Tohickon, he became convinced that he was still unconverted and ceased to preach. After conference with Whitefield and Ten- nent he resumed his labors. After his reordination in 1742 he divided his time between Greenwich (N. J.) and the Forks of the Delaware. On the division, he adhered to the New Side, and was sent to preach to the vacant churches." The above would place his appearance at Tohickon as early as 1735, when he was first licensed, as his qualm of unconversion, came in 1739. and it was doubtless then that he "was well received by Phila- delphia Presbytery." While his reordination in 1742 was under the auspices of the "New Side" much has been said of his good work in the Carolinas. He was transferred to the Orange (N. Y.) Presbytery from South Carolina in 1774 (Hist, of Presby- terianism. Vol. I, p. 96). Rev. Alexander Mitchell who was called to Tinicum in 1768, resigned in 1785 and went to Octarora Church, where he labored until his death. At the time of his incumbency of Tinicum Church the congregation numbered 70 or 80 families. His divi- sion of time with Solebury lasted but a short time after which he gave his whole time to the Tinicum charge. The location of the original church is unknown, but it was doubtless located near the graveyard alluded to in 1774 as be- longing to the "Presbyterian Congregation of Tinicum," now generally known as the "Stewart Burying Ground" for the reason that it was located on the plantation of Robert Stewart.* H this were true it accounts to some extent for our inability to locate L PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF TINICUM AT RED HILE III the site by recor,d of legal conveyance, as up to 1761, all the upper part of the township of Tinicum was included in the manor of the Pennsylvania Land Company of London who did not convey land to actual settlers but leased it, under the English manorial system, with a title to "improvements." When the Lon- don Company was dissolved by Act of Parliament in 1760, and trustees appointed to sell the land it was surveyed in large tracts numbered consecutively and much of it was purchased by rep- resentatives of families residing many years earlier on the "Dutch" or Streiper tract adjoining, and comprising nearly the whole balance of Tinicum township. Many of the purchasers among whom Robert Stewart was one of the largest were prob- ably actual settlers long before. That this was true of Robert Stewart and a number of others active in the Tinicum congrega- tion later we know from the fact that they signed the petition for the organization of Tinicum township in 1747, and were not residents upon the Streiper tract, as were however a majority of the signers. There has been a much reiterated tradition that the first con- gregation of Tinicum was possessed of 300 acres of land, which was held in the name of the pastor, who on getting into a dispute with the congregation sold the land and converting the proceeds to his own use was "called" to ministerial work elsewhere. No foundation can be found for this tradition, but it is possible that Rev. James Campbell held a leasehold and had acquired a title to improvements on a tract on which the early church stood, which he sold when he left Tinicum, and which some members of the congregation may have contended belonged to the congregation. The name of James Campbell appears among the petitioners of 1747, but there is no record of a deed to or from him. Though the deed for the property upon which the church and graveyard is now located bears date 1762, the removal to this site was made in 1749, as shown by the MS. record before re- ferred to and also by the tombstone of James Blair, the inscrip- tion upon which you have doubtless noted recording his death as occurring on "Ye 9th day of February, 1749-50." and his age as 83 years. On February 16, 1762, the trustees of the London Company 112 PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF TINICUM AT RED HILI, conveyed to William Wear, of Springfield, and Robert Patterson, John Heany, and James Patterson, of Tinicum, thirteen acres and four perches of land, including the present site of the church and graveyard. On November i6, 1762, these parties made a deed to "Robert Kennedy and James Blair, of Springfield, John McKee, Robert Smith, James McGlaughlin and James Bayley, of Tinicum, and Nicholas Patterson and Alexander McCalmont, of Nockamixon, members of the Protestant congregation of Tin- icum aforesaid, with the townships adjacent of the Denomina- tion of Presbyterians according to the Professed Doctrines, Wor- ship Government and Discipline of the Church of Scotland as set forth in the Westminster Confession of Faith, Catechisms & Di- rectory for Worship and Government, in trust for the members of the congregation aforesaid, which Congregation have ordinary Assembled for public worship at their Public Meeting House erected on a part of the land aforementioned and described, and to be for their use for ever to erect another House for the Wor- ship of God when they shall judge necessary, on part thereof to bury their dead and for other such uses as the majority of the congregation shall from time to time judge necessary for their common benefit and use forever." The tract thus purchased was almost square, the northeast line, part of which is still the boundary line of the present lot, being 48^ perches and the northwest line 43 perches. It extended across the Durham road opposite the church 10 perches on its upper line, the southeast line again crossing the road near the lower corner of the present lot. In 1791, the then trustees made an exchange, by direction of a resolution adopted at a congrega- tional meeting, with Philip Harpel, conveying to him 92 perches lying on the westward side of the Durham road, and he con- veying to them one acre and two perches lying between the said road and the other part of their tract. This tract thus enlarged the congregation held until 1805, hav- ing erected a house thereon, which with the land was for a num- ber of years leased to John London for six pounds a year and a further consideration that he should cut enough wood for the use of the congregation. On May 18, 1805, they sold all but two acres and 141 perches, the present lot, to Elias Gruver. The surviving records of this old congregation recently de- PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF TINICUM AT RED HILL II3 posited with the Presbyterian Historical Society in Philadelphia, begin with 1768. They comprise three somewhat dilapidated books, chiefly records of the session, the oldest labeled "Book of Tinicum Consistory — Red Hill Presbyterian Church," contains some records of baptism, deaths and marriages. The first leaf of this book upon which was begun a list of the members of the church on May 9, 1769, is unfortunately missing. The second leaf marked "continued" gives the names of the fol- lowing members of the congregation : "William Kennedy & Fam., Robert Kennedy & Fam., George Johnstone & Fam., William Armstrong & Fam., Robert Shirley & Fam., Robert Neal & Fam., Daniel Jamison & Fam., Alexander McCammon & Fam., Samuel Morrison & Fam., Samuel English & Fam., Edward Ball & Fam., Widow Worral & Fam., Joseph Blair & Fam., George Denny & Fam., Thomas Little & Fam., James Brown & Fam., removed to Jersey, 1771, Samuel Jones & Fam." On the next page is the account of the call of Alexander Mitchell, as pastor, which is as follows : "Mr. Alexander Mitchell, a candidate belonging to New Brunswick Presbytery, having by God's infinite Mercy & Goodness preached some- time amongst us and from the Blessing of God attending his own means we are encouraged to by our ability and finding the whole congregation to a person unanimous for a call to be presented to Mr. Mitchell for his settle- ment among us & the taking the charge of us as a Gospel Minister & we came to this Resolution. That in the name of God we would give Mr. Mitchell a call & Accordingly waited on the P'y- At Kingwood April 1768 we presented the following call to be put in the hands of Mr. Mitchell." Here follows the call, closing with these words : "And we do appoint our Trusty Friends, & Brethren John McKee, Robert Patterson, Esqr., Abraham \'an Middleswarts & William Mclntyre or any two of them our Commissioners to wait upon ye Rev'd. P'by. & Prosecute yt our Call S: do everything that ma}' be needful & Relative thereto. In Witness Whereof we ha\c here Subscribed our several names hereunto — Tinecum March 26, 1768. "Robert Smith, Senr., Abr. V. Middleswarts, Andrew Patterson, Samuel Morrison, Alex'r McElroy, Robt. Kennedy, Junr., J no. V. Middle- swarts, Robert Wilson, Senr., Saml. Davies, Thos. Ramsey, Jas. Smith, Wm. Campbell, Robt. McF-arland, David Ramsey, Widow Alickelroy, John Kelly, Robert Ramsey, .Mcxr. Patterson, Geo. Douncy, Derrick Jones, Samuel Aberneathy, John AIcKce, John Patterson, Robert Ken- nedy, Senr., John Thompson, Chas. Wilson, Saml. Wilson, Wm. Arm- strong, Wm. Kennedy, Geo. Ladlcy, Thos. Little, Jas. Little, Rodman 114 PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF TINICUM AT RED HILE Eakin, Chris'n Weaver, Wm. Wallace, Widow Davis, Thos. Guy, Jacob Weaber, Alexr. Butts, Saml. Johns, Widow Eakin, Nich Patterson, Jas. McGIaughlin, James Carrell, Thos. Stewart, David Wilson, Andrew Wilson, Joseph Blair, Geo. Johnstone, Francis Wilson, Robert Hagerty, Wm. Eakam, Jas. Loughrey, Geo. English, Eph. Thompson, Pat. Shaw, Jos. Brooks, Jno. Miller, Pat Dunn, Thos. Giles, Widow Baxter, Elias Harrison, Robt. Patterson, Esqr., Robert Stewart, Alexander McCammon, Daniel Jemmison, John Wilson, Robt. Wilson, Junr., Jos. Kennedy, Ralph Wilson, Thos. Martin, Edward Bell, Robt. McNeeley, Geo. Mackelroy, John Tenbrock, Jas. McConoaghey, Jas. Steel, Solo Carrell, Jno Teate, Abrm. Bennett, John Bailey, Robert Shirlock, Jacob Weaver, William Mclntyre. 83 names in all." Following the record of the call is that of a "Petition of In- habitants of Solesbury to the Presbytery of Philadelphia, Sitting at Tinicum," dated November 23, 1768, praying that the said Alyexander Mitchell may serve them as minister one-fourth of his time. This petition was granted. The signers from Solebury were : John Seabring, John Sea- bring, Junr., Roelofs Seabring, Frederick Tucker, James Ander- son, Josiah Winter, Philip Tempbin, Henry Smith, John Mire, Joseph Kelley, Thomas Phillips. All of these were residents about Carversville, and probably had some sort of a church edifice at the site of the old grave- yard now practically destroyed on the Carversville and Aquetong road below Carversville, where there were a few years ago tombstones bearing the names of John Sebring, Senr., John Sebring, Junr., and quite a number of other names mentioned in the latter records of this branch church, recorded in the book. The baptisms during the years 1769 and 1770, include the names McConnaghey, Loughrie, Giles, Jones, Sebring, Mulligan and McNeeley. The next record of interest in the old church book is that of the erection of a new church, and bears date, Aug. 8, 1769 — It recites the fact that the "Congregation has long been destitute of a comfortable House to meet in to Wor- ship God ; that sometime ago we sett about building one & Hav- ing the good hand of our God upon us got our House so far carried on as to have seats on ye lower floor & pulpit erected, and have this day met to chose a committee to settle the seats & places decently." Therefore there was "chose by Vote," John Kelly, Robert PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF TINICUM AT RED HILL II5 MacFarland, Samuel Wilson, James McGlaughlin, William Arm- strong, John Patterson, Robert Wilson, and James Kennedy. Of these William Armstrong lived on the Tohickon in Bedminster near Church Hill, and was the ancestor of the Armstrongs now resident in our county ; Robert MacFarland lived in Plumstead ; Samuel and Robert Wilson in Nockamixon; James Kennedy and James McGlaughlin in Tincum, the latter on the Streiper tract. On August I, 1770 another congregational meeting was held for the same purpose, when Arthur Irwin, Nicholas Patterson, Abraham Van Middleswarts, John Kelley, James Loughrie, Jos- eph Blair, William Kennedy, Junr., and Robert Smith were ap- pointed, with the trustees for building the house, who were, William Mclntyre, Robert Stewart, John Thompson, John Wil- son, George McElroy and Robert McFarland. On the retirement of Mr. Mitchell in 1885, the services of Rev. James Grier of Deep Run were secured for one-third of his time. This arrangement was renewed in 1787 and probably continued until his death in 1791. Rev. Nathaniel R. Snowden was called in 1792 and probably served two years. He was succeeded by Rev. Francis Reppard and the latter by Rev. Robert Russel, and Rev. Uriah DuBois was installed over Deep Run and Tinicum, Dec. 16, 1798, resigning the latter charge on his removal to Doylestown in 1804. Rev. Alexander Boyd had charge in con- nection with the Bewtown Church later, and Rev. Nathaniel Ur- win of Neshaminy supplied them intermittently. There were 36 members in full communion in 1846, after which the congregation rapidly dwindled. By 1843, the congregation had so diminished that it was too small to support a minister, and the church building being much out of repair, it was decided to convey a one-half interest to the Reformed and Lutheran congregations and the church was rebuilt, probably with their assistance. The old building of 1768, was entirely remodeled externally, the old stone stairway leading up into the gallery from the outside obliterated and a number of other changes made. LThe deed of James Carrell, Stephen Bennett, Daniel Boileau, William B. Warford and Jacob Vanderbelt, trustees of the Eng- lish Presbyterian Church in Tinicum township at Red Plill, to Philip R. Harpel and John Rufe, trustees of the Lutheran con- I ii6 pre;sbyte;rian church of tinicum at red hili^ gregation, and Isaac Wolfinger, John Welder, & Lewis Summers, of the German Reformed congregation of the township of Tin- icum, is dated August 12, 1843, ^"d conveys a one-half interest in the church lot, of two acres and 141 perches. A schoolhouse has been erected on the lot under lease for 99 years. The old Scotch-Irish families that established the church in the Indian township of Tinicum one hundred and seventy-five years ago are hardly represented among the present residents of Tinicum or elsewhere in Bucks county, having long since re- moved westward with the tide of immigration, first to middle and western Pennsylvania, later to Ohio, where at least two de- scendants of one of the patriarchs of the first Tinicum congrega- tion are still preaching the Gospel, while numbers of the descend- ants of that early flock are scattered far and wide over the United States. Numbers of them still feel some interest in the home of their ancestors and visit it occasionally. note; by b. f. fackenthal, jr. The Stewart burying-ground to which Mr. Ely refers, known locally as Bunker Hill Cemetery, and near which he believes to have been the site of the first Tinicum Presbyterian Church, (of which the church at Red Hill is the successor,) is located in Tini- cum township 2^ miles, in a direct line, northeast from Ottsville, and one mile, in a direct line, southeast from Revere. I visited this cemetery during December 1910, and found it badly over- grown with weeds, briars and many saplings. It contains about half an acre; the north and south walls are 120 feet long, and the east and west walls 178 feet long all on the outside. It is en- closed by a stone wall 4^ feet high, now partly tumbled down, which originally had a substantial stone coping; the iron gate en- trance is still in splendid condition, and the gate swings on its hinges very easily. There are evidences of hundreds of graves, many of which are marked with small sandstone markers without inscriptions, but 25 markers with inscriptions were found; some of these were not in position and some were badly broken. The following is a memorandum of all that remained. These few records show burials as early as 1744, and as late as 1859, but none between 1831 and 1858. They are as follows: PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF TINICUM AT RED HILL II7 John Baxter — Died July 18, 1744, aged 85 years. James Smith — Died September 25, 1758, aged 40 years. Joseph McFarland — Died November 6, 1759, in the 55th year of his ape. Robert Kennedy — Departed this Hfe March ye 26th, A. D. 1776, aged 83 years. Mary Kennedy- Departed this life June ye 3d, 1773, aged ^i years. Thomas Kennedy — Died January 24, 1794, aged 65 years. Samuel Stewart — Died December 28, 1782, in the 19th year of his age. Jain Stuart — Died April 2, 1786, aged 29 years. Robert Wilson — An aged man who departed this life September 23, 1783. Jane, wife of Robert Wilson — An aged woman who departed this life August 12, 1794. William Mclntyre — Died vSeptember 29, 1784, in the S4th year of his age. Andrew Campbell — Died April 21, 1790, in the 34th year of his age. Mary Kerr — Died May 21, 1792, in the 38th year of her age. John Bailey — Died June 26, 1806, aged 59 years, 4 months, 14 days. Isabella, wife of John Bailey, Sr. — Died September 8, 1822, in the 76th year of her age. John Bailey, Jr. — Died August 13, 1831, in the 56th year of his age. Jane Abernethy — Died December 12, 181 1, in the 35th year of her age. Esther Abernethy — Died March 10, 1819, about 75 years of age. James Wilson — Died September 17, 1823, in the 78th year of his age. Ann, wife of James Wilson — Died October 23, 1798, aged about 36 years. William Weaver — Died March 11, 1858, aged 68 years, 9 months, 10 days. Sarah, wife of William Weaver — Died November 15, 1859, aged 68 years, 9 months, 25 days. Franklin Weaver — Died June 2, 181 1, aged 2 years and 5 months. Rodolphus Weaver — Died September 19, 1826, in the loth year of his age. Nancy H., wife of Moses Weaver, Jr. — Died August 17, 1829, aged 37 years, 8 months, 12 days. The following copies of papers, the originals of which are in the library of the Bucks County Historical Society, show that Col. Richard Backhouse rented a pew in the Presbyterian Church at Red Hill, on June i, 1780, which was two months after he moved to Durham furnace, April i, 1780. In Committee June ist. 1780. Sir: In Pursuance of your Application for a Scat in our Il8 SAINT JOHN THE BAPTIST CHURCH OF HAYCOCK Church — You are Appointed To The Front seat on the Right hand of the Pulpitt- — I am in behalf of the Committee, Yr. Huble: Servt, G. Mc EivROY. 7th. February 1791, Received of Mrs. Backhouse for James Steel Collector of upper Quarter of Tinicum Congregation the Sum of ten Shillings in full of the Assessment for Pew rent from Nov. 1790 to April 10, 1791 per me. John Thompson. Saint John the Baptist Church of Haycock. BY J. H. fitzge;rald, me;chanics valley, pa. (Red Hill Church, Ottsville Meeting, October 4, 1910.) The Church of St. John the Baptist, of Haycock, (Roman Catholic), is located at the eastern base of Haycock mountain in Haycock township, Bucks county. Pa. A few hundred yards east of the church flows the waters of a creek called Haycock run. Haycock Run post-office is about one mile distant. The Durham road passes through Nockamixon township about a mile east of the church. Surrounding the church edifice, (some within a few feet of it,) are tombstones marking the graves of many who worshipped there more than a century ago. The church is built of native stone plastered on the outside. Its dimensions are 30 ft. by 70 ft. with belfry or bell tower 12 ft. by 12 ft. at the base and 55 ft. high. An old tombstone in the graveyard bears the following inscrip- tion: "Here lies the remains of Unity Casey, wife of Nicholas M'Carty; departed this life the first day of June, A. D. 1745, aged about 70 years. R. I. P." There are a number of tombstones that were evidently erected at a previous date but the inscriptions are not legible having been efifaced by the elements; about forty graves in this section are unmarked. SAINT JOHN the: baptist church of itaycock 119 Inasmuch as the mission at Haycock was established in 1744 and was attended for a period of over one hundred years from other churches, St. Joseph's Church, Philadelphia, and St. Paul's Church, Goshenhoppen (now the Church of the Most Blessed Sacrament, Rally. Pa.) a brief reference to the founding of these two earlier churches will not be out of place here. Although Catholic missionaries had labored in Pennsylvania for a number of years previous, Rev. Joseph Greaton, S. J., from Maryland, founded St. Joseph's Church, in 1734. He and his co-workers established many missions and founded churches throughout the Middle States. They were of the religious order of the Society of Jesus, the members of which are called Jesuits. Following the Franciscans and Dominicans they were very suc- cessful in this country. Their names have been given to natural and political divisions and a statue of one of their number. Father Pere Marquette, has been placed in the Capitol at Washington by a western state. In 1 741 Rev. Theodore Schneider, S. J., established a mission at Goshenhoppen, took up his residence there and built a church and school. From this point many missions were established throughout eastern Pennsylvania and in New Jersey. Haycock was one of the missions established by him. In every parish or center of missionary work there is kept a sacramental register of baptisms also of marriages. From these the movements of Father Schneider and his successors can be traced and much information obtained relative to the early his- tory of the territory embraced by Playcock parish. Copies of the registers at St. Joseph's and at Goshenhoppen have been published in the records of the American Catholic Historical Society. The first entry made by Father Schneider was of the baptism of Albertina Kohl, daughter of George and Barbara Kohl, at Falkner's Swamp, Montgomery county. This George Kohl died July 3, 1779. His wife Barbara died September 7, 1779. Their tombstones can be seen in the graveyard at Haycock. Their daughter Albertina Kohl married Nicholas, son of Edward and Catharine McCarty, January 20, 1767, at Haycock. They were married by Rev. Ferdinand Farmer of St. Joseph's Church Philadelphia, and a record of the marriage is on the register there. Mention of this marriage is made here because Father 9 120 SAINT JOHN THE BAPTIST CHURCH OF HAYCOCK Schneider established the first permanent mission at Haycock in the house of Edward McCarty where mass was celebrated. Sub- sequently the. mission was conducted in the house of his son Nicholas McCarty, until the erection of the first church in 1798. This Nicholas McCarty and his brother Edward were baptized by Father Schneider on May 27, 1742, in Christian Haug's house in Tinicum. The tombstone of Nicholas McCarty informs us that he died August 7, 1808. The house of Nicholas McCarty is in Nockamixon township, and is now (1910) occupied by Roscoe McCarty, a son of Thomas Y. McCarty. The latter is a director of the poor in and for the county of Bucks. It may be of interest to relate here the history of the site of the first permanent mission in Haycock. From an old deed now in the possession of Rev. John Neuenhaus, rector of Haycock Church, Edward McCarty, under date of March 11, 1737, secured a w^arrant from Thomas and Richard Penn for a tract of land containing 250 acres. The land was surveyed April 19, 1738. In giving the boundaries the deed mentions lands of John Dur- ham and Thomas McCarty. The consideration was thirty-eight pounds, fifteen shillings and a yearly rent of one-half penny per acre. The John Durham mentioned in the deed had a son John who was baptized on May 27, 1742, by Father Schneider who wrote the name on the register "Dorm." The same error was made by Father Schneider in writing Durham Furnace, where he baptized two on March 17, 1743. Other names apparently misspelled were : "Lery" for Leary ; "Comins" for Cummings ; "Fitzchar- roll" for Fitzgerald and "O'Nayl" for O'Neill. Father Schneider died July 10, 1764, and on November 18 of that year Father Farmer from St. Joseph's visited Haycock. In 1765 Rev. John B. DeRitter, S. J., began his charge at Goshen- hoppen and continued the mission in Edward McCarty's house in Haycock. Father DeRitter died in 1781, and was succeeded by Rev. Peter Helbron. The latter was transferred in 1791 and from that date until 1793 Rev. Nicholas Delvaux was in charge. From the registers of St. Joseph's, Philadelphia, we find that Rev. Ferdinand Farmer was at Haycock on May i, 1781, and again on May i, 1786. Father Farmer was a trustee of the University of Pennsylvania and died August 17, 1786, in Phila- SAINT JOHN THE BAPTIST CHURCH OF HAYCOCK 121 delphia. On September 13, 1791, Rev. L. Graessl from St. Joseph's, Philadelphia, baptized the following at Haycock : Nich- olas Kohl, son of George and Catharine Kohl ; Anna Heaney, daughter of Anthony and Sarah Heaney; Elizabeth Buck, daugh- ter of Nicholas and Magdalen Buck ; Rebecca McCarty, daughter of Nicholas and Elizabeth McCarty. On October 2 of same year, Rev. F. A. Fleming from St. Joseph's, baptized at Haycock, John, son of James and Elizabeth Kohl. In September, 1792, Rev. C. V. Keating from St. Joseph's baptized at Haycock, John, son of John and Elizabeth McCarty. These baptisms are recorded in Philadelphia. Fathers Graessl and Fleming died of yellow fever in 1793 and Father Keating returned to Ireland in 1795. On April 19, 1793, Rt. Rev. John Carroll, Bishop of Baltimore, was at Goshenhoppen and administered the sacrament of con- firmation. From 1793 until his death in 1818 Rev. Paul Erntzen was in charge at Goshenhoppen and early in this period the church was built at Haycock. Under date of May 16, 1796, John McCarty and Elizabeth, his wife, conveyed to "Rev. John Carrell, Bishop of Baltimore, LL.D.," one acre of land in Haycock township, "for a consideration of encouraging the worship of God and the further consideration of the sum of five shillings." Recorded, Bucks county, deed book 30, page 210. Bishop Neumann, of Philadelphia, is authority for the statement that the church was built in 1798. Rev. Paul Kohlman, S. J., attended Haycock from 18 19 to 1829 when he was succeeded by Rev. Boniface Curvin, S. J., with Rev. E. McCarthy as an assistant to care especially for the English speaking people. About this time, according to the Catholic directory. Haycock was detached from Goshenhoppen, and from the same source we learn of the following subsequent appointments for Haycock. Rev. John J. Curtin of Milton, Northumberland county, officiated once a month in 1833 ; Rev. H. Herzog of Easton, attended twice a month, 1834-1837; Rev. James Maloney of Easton. once a month, 1838-1844; (Father Maloney also attended missions at Nesquehoning and Tamaqua) ; Rev. Hugh Brady of Easton, once a month, 1845-1847; Rev. Thomas Riordan of Easton, once a month, 1848- 1850. About this time a rectorv was built at Havcock on land deeded 122 SAINT JOHN THE BAPTIST CHURCH OF HAYCOCK by Francis McCarthy by deed dated March 2, 1850, conveyed to "Francis Patrick Kenrick, Bishop of the Cathohc Church of Philadelphia, in trust for the use, occupancy and benefit of the Catholic congregation of Haycock" 85 and 86-100 perches of land, consideration, twenty dollars. Rev. Francis X. George succeeded Father Riordan, completed the rectory and became resident pastor. In 1856 he was transferred to Doylestown. Under the direction of Father George and while he was at Hay- cock a new church was built on the site of the old one. Rev. John Tanzer, from St. Joseph's, Easton, 1857; Rev. Henry De Lipovsky, 1858; Rev. Francis J. Wachter, 1859-1862; Rev. Francis L. Neufeld, 1863-1866; Rev. Clement A. Kopper- nagel, 1867-1869; Rev. John H. Loughran, 1870; Rev. Francis J. Martersteck, 1871. Father Martersteck was transferred to Manayunk, Philadelphia. He died at the St. Charles' Seminary, Overbrook, July 2, 1901, while attending the spiritual retreat of the priests, and was buried in the cemetery of his church at Manayunk. Rev. Henry Stommel, October 6, 1871, to November 19, 1875. On March 27, 1873, Rt. Rev. Jeremiah Shanahan, Bishop, of Harrisburg, administered the sacrament of confirmation to 213 persons at -Haycock. Father Stommel was succeeded by Rev. Benedict Istman, who remained but a few months when Rev. Martin Walsh was ap- pointed pastor. Rev. Gerard Henry Krake, 1877- 1899, who died January 21, 1900, at Haycock, and was buried in the cemetery near the en- trance to the church. Rev. Joseph A. Assmann, 1900- 1901 ; Rev. Edward G. Werner, 1902-1904; Rev. Anthony M. Koos, 1905-1908; Rev. Joseph A. Schaefer, 1909; Rev. John Neuenhaus, the present rector, in 1910. MISSIONS. When the mission at Haycock became a parish its pastors in turn became missionaries. Rev. F. X. George established missions at Durham furnace and Doylestown, attending these places once a month. Mass was celebrated in the house of William Martin at Durham furnace SAINT JOHN THE BAPTIST CHURCH OF HAYCOCK I23 and in Beneficial hall, Doylestown. On July 31, 1855, the cor- nerstone of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel church, Doylestown, was laid by Rt. Rev. Bishop Neumann, of Philadelphia, assisted by Very Rev. Edward J. Sourin, Chancellor of the Diocese. Rev. Francis L. Neufeld established a mission at Sellersville. On December i, 1872, Sellersville was made a parish with Rev. Hugh McLoughlin as its first pastor. In 1872 the Church of St. Lawrence at Durham furnace, was erected under the direction of Rev. Henry Stommel the land having been donated by Messrs. Cooper & Hewitt, at that time owners of the Durham iron works. On September 20, 1872, it was dedicated and mass celebrated in it for the first time. The church was solemnly blessed by Rt. Rev. Aug. Toebbe, Bishop of Covington, Sunday, September 21, 1873, at 7 a. m., after which Father Borneman, of Reading, Pa., celebrated high mass. Sam- uel B. Kohl w^as the contractor and builder. On August II, 1872, Father Stommel laid the cornerstone of St. Joseph's Church, Marienstein, in Nockamixon township, which was dedicated on the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, De- cember 8, 1872, when mass was celebrated in it for the first time. The solemn blessing of the church took place Sunday, September 21, 1873, at 10 A. M., by Bishop Toebbe, of Covington, Ky., solemn high mass was celebrated by Rev. Father Rosenbauer, C. SS. R., of Philadelphia. After the mass Bishop Toebbe admin- istered the sacrament of confirmation.* The mason work was done by Sebastian Shwar, the carpen- ter w^ork by Samuel B. Kohl, of Bucksville ; the altars and interior work were built by Joseph Shuman. The lumber was purchased from Jacob Housel. In 1875 a hall for St. John's Beneficial Society was erected opposite the church. • The writer was present at the solemn blessing of St. Joseph's Church, Marien- stien, and recalls an incident that caused considerable delay and not a little disap- pointment and confusion. Early in the morning Bishop Toebbe blessed the church at Durham Furnace, after which a handsome team of horses and a new carriage was at hand to convey him to Marienstien, the congregation of which had made elaborate arrangements to meet him on the way, extend a welcome and escort him Jo the church. On one of the roads and nearly a mile from the church, arches were erected which were trimmed with evergreens and flowers. A procession was formed led by the girls followed by the boys, women and men in order, but alas through some mis- understanding the driver, John Hollihan of Upper Blacks Eddy, brought the Bishop by a different route and arriving at the church found only a few persons present to receive our distinguished visitor. 124 SAINT JOHN THE BAPTIST CHURCH OF HAYCOCK On Sunday afternoon, October 5, 1873, Father Stommel laid the cornerstone of the Church of St. Rose of Lima, Piusfield, in Tinicum township. The church was dedicated and the first mass celebrated there on Sunday, December 28, 1873. The land was donated by Patrick McGee. As there were no names for the sites of the churches of St. Joseph and St. Rose of Lima, Father Stommel named them. "Marienstein" is the German for "Mary's Stone." "Piusfield" was so called in honor of Pope Pius IX, at that time the visible head of the Church. Father Stommel also established a mission at Quakertown on Sunday, September 29, 1872, when mass was celebrated in the house of James Fox. There were but nine persons present, priest and altar boy included. The altar boy was Aloysius Fretz, now pastor of the Church of the Holy Ghost, South Bethlehem. Quakertown has since become a parish with Rev. Aloysius Scherf as pastor. At present the missions attended from Haycock are : Durham, Marienstien and Piusfield. The parish includes the whole or in part the townships of Haycock, Springfield, Durham, Nock- amixon, Bridgeton, Tinicum and Bedminster and is about fifteen miles square. By special arrangement a number of Catholics re- siding in Hunterdon and Warren counties, N. J., assist at services conducted in the churches at Durham Furnace and Piusfield as it is more convenient for them than going to their parish churches at Lambertville and Phillipsburg. EDUCATION. With the building of churches, wherever the means and facili- ties were ample, schools were provided for the education of youth where care was taken that the children would grow with a knowledge of God and the teachings of His Church. The first mission house built at Goshenhoppen served as a school and resi- dence and since that date a Catholic school has been maintained there. Many years before a church was built at Haycock there was fi school conducted by the congregation. On the register of marriages at Goshenhoppen under date of July 11, 1784, there is the following entry "Wagner-Creutzer, Ferdinand Wagner, our schoolmaster at Haycock, to Anna M. Creutzer, born Grandjean." Attached to the first church at Haycock was a room used as a RED lUhl, TO THE BLUE MOUNTAINS 12$ school. Philip O'Connell, who emigrated to this country from Longford county, Ireland, in 1828, was a master in this school. He subsequently taught in the public schools of Bucks county for many years. He died June 25, 1891, aged 84 years. In 1861, Father Wachter, with the assistance of a legacy from the estate of Patrick Mulvaney, erected St. Theresa's Academy at Haycock. It was maintained for a time as a boarding school. On Septem- ber I, 1873, under the direction of Father Stommel a parish school was opened there by the sisters of St. Francis ; sisters Stephane, Clotilda and Gregoria. Former pastors at Haycock, now living and attached to the archdiocese of Philadelphia, are as follows: Rev. Henry Stom- mel, permanent rector, St. Alphonsus Church, Philadelphia ; Rev. Joseph A. Assmann, rector, Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church, Minersville; Rev. Edward G. Werner, rector at St. Mary's Church, Beaver Meadow ; Rev. Anthony M. Koos, rector, St. Bartholomew's Church, Paterson; Rev. Joseph A. Schaefer, rec- tor St. Stanislaus' Church, Lansdale. The Indian Walk From Red Hill to the Blue Mountains. BY J. I. CAWLEY, M. D., SPRINGTOWN, PA.* (Red Hill Church ^Meeting, Ottsvillc, Pa., October 4, 1910.) The father of William Penn was an admiral in the British navy, and was a creditor of the King to a large amount which he was unable to pay. He therefore compromised the matter by issuing the grant of a large tract of land in America to his son William Penn, in liquidation of the obligation. It appears that no consideration was given to the fact that the natives, the original owners of all the lands in America, might object to being summarily dispossessed of their lands. The fact that they did seriously object to the proceedings of the white people soon manifested itself along the entire eastern coast of the American continent wherever colonization was attempted. William Penn upon assuming the proprietorship of his estate in America, agreeable to his spirit of conscientiousness and human- ity, purchased from the natives every acre he took possession of. * Dr. Cawley was born October 6, 1853; died December 11, 1915 He was serving as Register of Wills for Bucks county at the time of his death. 126 RED nilviv TO THE BLUE MOUNTAINS He was always absolutely fair and honest in his dealings with the Indians, and instead of experiencing the bloody scenes that befell others he possessed their ftill confidence, love, and esteem, and by that course established protection for his people who were never molested. He died in England in 1718, and his sons John, Thomas and Richard Penn became the proprietors of Pennsylvania. Dm'ing their administration of the estate, many settlers located beyond the territory obtained by treaty from the Indians, and for the first time there was discontent shown by the tribes who saw their favorite hunting grounds and best land taken from them. Their dissatisfaction became more and more acute, and when they became threatening, John Penn, after being urged for three years, was finally induced to come to America, to arrange for another treaty for more land, including that un- warrantably occupied by settlers. The Delawares and Shawnees were peaceable, but the six nations and other tribes were also to be appeased. The first conferences were held at Durham in 1734. In 1737 another was held at Philadelphia. These confer- ences were attended by a large number of chiefs and delegates from the tribes. The policies of William Penn were not adhered to by his suc- cessors, and the Indians were deceived by inaccurate drafts of the territory and other sharp practises, not at all in harmony with the course of the first proprietor. After much discussion the treaty was concluded at the Philadelphia conference, with the Indians believing that the rich land in the forks of the Delaware and north of the West Branch (Lehigh) was still theirs. The deed, however, showed that the walk was to extend along the Neshaminy to its head waters and to continue in a direct course for the distance to be covered in a walk of ij^ days and the ter- ritory to include all land between the western end of the walk and the Delaware river. This walk was not conducted with the scrupulous honesty which characterized the conduct of William Penn. A prelimi- nary walk or survey ordered by John and Thomas Penn in a somewhat secret manner, was entrusted to Sherifit" Timothy Smith and Surveyor General John Chapman, who were to secure three men "who could travel well," and several on horseback with provisions and refreshments. This was in 1735. Trees were RED HILL TO the; blue mountains 127 blazed along the way as a guide for the subsequent walk. The course of this preliminary walk was from Wrightstown, prac- tically northwest reaching the head waters of the Perkiomen creek, passing what are now Strawntown and Applebachsville, in Haycock, Pleasant \'alley in Springfield, Leithsville and Hel- lertown in Northampton county, reaching the famous ford of the Lehigh about a mile below Bethlehem, at Jones' Island, where they crossed and then to the northwest, passing through the Lehigh Gap, and ending about 8 or more miles beyond it. The time consumed in this walk was 10 days, from April 22 to May 2. Matters relating to this treaty were suspended for over two years when the real walk was made. It started from Wrights- town at a point now marked by a tablet, proceeded along the Great road (now Durham road) to near Gardenville where the walkers took a more northerly direction from the preliminary survey and followed that road to the Tohickon creek, where Deep run joins it, where the road ended but continued as a wagon trail to Durham furnace. On reaching Stony Point in Springtield township, they turned off the wagon trail, and struck a smaller trail through Bursonville to Springtown and in a more westerly direction partly over trails, and partly guided by marked trees till they reached the preliminary route which they had left near Gardenville. This was at the present village of Leithsville, about 6 miles south of the Lehigh river. These two routes nearly paralleled each other and they were at no point more than 3 or 4 miles apart. The reason for this diversion from the trial-walk or survey was to avoid the rocky territory of Haycock, Springfield and Saucon, and the longer distance over a smoother road or trail was more favorable for gaining time than the rough woods of the trail- walk presented. We must bear in mind that after leav- ing Stony Point, the route was through a perfect wilderness to its end. I beg leave here to insert a quotation from my paper read June, 1891, at a meeting of the Buckwampum Historical Society at Springtown. "Picture, in imagination, Springtown, all woods and underbrush, the only streets being Indian paths, and deer trails leading to the Durham creek, with whose sparkling waters they slaked their tiiirst. The forests 128 RED HILI. TO THE BLUE MOUNTAINS and meadows overgrown with luscious berries growing in wild profusion. The waters of the creek alive with speckled trout, and no one but the savage Indian to catch them. The quail, pheasant, duck, turkey, deer and rabbit holding high carnival because the crack of the hunter's rifle had not yet been the knell of doom to them. The song of myriads of birds, the cry of the wolf, the growl of the bear, and the war whoop, song and dance of the Indian, and perchance the funeral dirge, as some loved brave, who had been called to the 'Happy Hunting Grounds' was laid to rest in the old Indian burying ground, now known by a clump of trees, near the residence of George Seifert, were the only sounds to disturb the deathlike stillness which reigned here from the time the world began. "This tranquil repose was broken in upon by an English man named George Wilson who came up the creek from Durham some time about 1728. He made himself at home in the meadows, now owned by Henry S. Funk, Esq. "He built the first house we have any knowledge of, and was the first resident of the place. The plans and specifications of the structure cannot be found ; he left no photograph nor description of it to posterity and we are therefore unable to describe the building; but the fact that the land did not belong to him ; that carpenters, and saw and planing mills were scarce, and logs plenty, leads us to suppose that it was a log hut of the rudest description." George Wilson opened a store at once and did a thriving trade with the Indians. All we know of his stock in trade is that he is mentioned in the Bucks county records as a retailer of rum in 1730. On September 19, 1737, he was surprised by the arrival of white visitors. They were the famous walkers of the great "Indian walk." They left Wrightstown at sunrise, came up the Durham road to Stony Point, in Springfield ; there they branched off and came through what is now Bursonville, to the residence of George Wilson, not 200 rods from where we are now as- sembled, where they took dinner. So says George Furness, of Wrightstown, who accompanied the walkers. After dinner the walk was continued through the present town of Springtown to the Lehigh river near Bethlehem. After this purchase of lands from the Indians by the Penns, settlers came pushing into the township of Springfield very rapidly, so that by 1743 there were about 40 families in the township, and Saucon adjoining. Edward Marshall, James Yates and Solomon Jennings, all ex- RED HILL TO THE BLUE MOUNTAINS I29 pert walkers, were employed, their recompense was to be a prize of 500 acres of land to be selected by the winners from any lands not already occupied in the purchase, and £5 in money, to the one who reached the most distant point at the termination of the walk. Two of these men, followed by men on horseback and Indian witnesses, strode into Springfield that September 19, 1737. Jennings had already given up the task before reaching Spring- field. It did not take them long to strike the first and only house they saw in the township that day. that of George Wilson. It was probably the only house in the township, and Wilson was the only white resident within the borders of Springfield at that time so far as is known. It is pretty well established that Wilson's shack stood within 100 feet of a large spring about 40 feet from the walls of Funk's flour mills at the eastern end of Springtown. Tradition in the Funk family has that as the location. It is on the route of the Indian trails leading by the ford at Jones' Island toward Dur- ham, toward the great road at Stony Point, and toward the west- ward to the great trail from the country of the Susquehannas to Pennsbury and it stood on the banks of Cook's (now Durham) creek, which was the highway over which Wilson conveyed his merchandise to his place of business, and his pelts taken in ex- change, to Durham on their way to market. It was in a meadow, as all writers agree, and as Marshall him- self has affirmed, and was the logical spot for him to locate. This land was sold by the Penns to Caspar Wister, a land spec- ulator and manufacturer of brass buttons of Philadelphia, in 1738. A few weeks later is was sold by him to Stephen Twining, who built a mill and conducted it, besides farming the land, till in 1763 he sold it to Abraham Funk. The property has remained in the Funk family to this day. As it came into their possession at so recent a date subsequent to the walk, and at a time still more recent to the departure of Wilson, who in all probability remained till after the land was sold to Twining, there can be no reasonable doubt but that Abraham Funk knew the exact spot where Wilson had lived and that the information transmitted to his descendants from one generation to another is correct. The late \\'illiam J. Puck who was on the spot man}- years -ago 130 RED HII.I, TO the; BI,UE MOUNTAINS corroborated the claim. It would be within the province of this society to perpetuate the spot in some way, so that its location may be preserved to posterity. After a dinner, consuming, it is said, 15 minutes of time, they continued the walk due westward through what is now Spring- town, gently toward the north around the base of the hill called Coleberg, till several miles farther on they reached the great trail to Philadelphia at or near Leithsville in Lower Saucon township, Northampton county, about 6 miles from the ford near Bethle- hem. The distance from Stony Point to Springtown was 4 miles, and from there to what is now the line of Northampton county, 2 miles, a total of about 6 miles. The preliminary walk crossed through about 5 miles of Springfield territory over what is now the old Bethlehem road, and through the present hamlet of Pleas- ant Valley. The walkers spent but little more than an hour in crossing Springfield, for it is said they were at the ford near Bethlehem at about i o'clock. Thence they continued to the Blue Moun- tains ; the Lehigh Gap being generally claimed to have been the objective point, which was reached at the suspension of the walk on the first day. There are various different claims made as to the course taken after leaving Jones' Island, some claiming they crossed the moun- tain at Lehigh Gap, others at Smith's Gap, and still others at the Wind Gap, the two last going by way of Nazareth and Bath. A study of the walk on the half day of September 20, is not intended for this paper, but it may be stated that Yates fell into a creek on the west side of the Blue Mountains and was stricken blind and died three days later. Marshall continued the walk till noon and reached Stillwater in Monroe county. The length of the walk is variously estimated from 60 to no miles — "66}4 being the nearest correct" (Buck). The surveyors of the route all give the distance from Jones' Island to the Gap, whichever gap they passed through, a.t gj4 miles. This is cer- tainly not correct, as the distance to either gap from Bethlehem is about 20 miles ; so the chances are that the distance is nearer RED HILL TO the; BLUE MOUNTAINS 131 to from 72 to 79 miles. ^ From the terminus of the walk, the re- turn trip to the Delaware was made in a line at right angles with the course of the w'alk, which reached the river at the mouth of L,ackawaxen creek in Pike county, thus securing;- about 500,000 acres of land through the transaction; while the idea of the In- dians was that the line would not reach further north than the Lehigh at Easton. They protested they had been cheated, and many a bloody massacre in Northampton county was the result of the dissatisfaction with the sharp practice of the Penns. Mar- shall's wife and son were victims of their thirst for revenge, and Marshall on several occasions barely escaped. The prize which he won he never received. He finally settled on Marshall's island in the Delaware, in Tinicum township, and died there at the age of 79 years, in 1789. He was 27 years old when he made the walk and was a native of Bustleton, Philadel- phia. Yates was a New Englander and lived at Newtown in Bucks county. Jennings lived on what has for years been known as the Geissinger farm 2 miles above Bethlehem on the south bank of the Lehigh, and died there. I beg to acknowledge valu- able assistance received in the preparation of this paper, from George W. and Samuel H. Laubach, of Durham, who has given this subject much careful study. - ^ There has been rtmch speculation as to the length of this great walk, and some little difference of opinion as to its exact route. It should be no very difficult or costly matter to have a survey of the route made, using the best information avail- able. It would be commendable if the historical societies of Bucks and Northampton counties would, jointly, have the route laid out and marked with appropriate monu- ments. — B. F. F., Jr. ^ See paper by John S. Williams, Vol. II, page 348. Memorial Tributes to General W. W. H, Davis. SOLDIER, HISTORIAN, AUTHOR, JOURNALIST. From the Bucks County Intelligencer, (Doylestown Meeting, January 17, 191 1.) Not many men in Bucks county, whose lives have covered nearly a century and whose participation in the history making events of times when feeHng ran so high, have been honored with such a memorial meet- ing as was on Tuesday ac- corded the late General W. W. H. Davis by the Bucks County Historical Society which devoted the after- noon of its annual meeting to the purpose. It was the first time in the history of the society when such a meeting has been held, although its life has covered a period of 30 years. It was one of the very few times when its founder was not an active spirit in its meetings. The addresses were made by ex-Judge Harman Yerkes, who had known him as a '^A GENERAL W. W. H. DAVIS Born Southampton township, July 27, 1820. Died at Doylestown, December 26, 1910. friend and neighbor during his lifetime; Alfred Paschall, for many years his opponent as editor of The Intelligencer; William C. Ryan, who gave reminiscences as one of a later generation who viewed his career as one of the greatest men of the county, and Henry C. Mercer, his associate in making the historical so- ciety the success it has reached. Ex-Judge Harman Yerkes said : — I have not had the time to give to the preparation of what I MEMORIAL TRIBUTES TO GENERAL W. W. U. DAVIS I33 shall say this afternoon, but shall speak from the recollections of almost my entire lifetime of the former president of this so- ciety. The few reminiscences which I shall recall, I feel per- sonally I owe to him — his merits, his character, his friends — to local history and to this society of which he was the founder, and of which he was so proud. When your president called upon me to say something, I felt that I could not decline, because while of the dead it is easy to speak in the commonplace remarks and usual complimentary terms, when it comes to speaking of one who has been a friend and neighbor during a lifetime, there is more expected and to be considered. There must be observed some delicacy in controlling what one would say, and yet at the same time frankness in do- ing justice to the subject; before this society, even that truth may seem harsh. I feel that if propriety and duty combine to impose upon anyone to commend the virtues of the dead, this occasion calls upon me to say something of my knowledge of General W. W. H. Davis. General Davis' father and my father were near neighbors and good friends. In fact, his father was much older than mine, and really he was the friend and supporter of my grandfather, who, in the early part of the last century was the pastor of the old Southampton Baptist Church. My grandfather, Rev. Thomas B. Montanye, organized the first Sunday School in that church about 1820, and General Davis was its first teacher. Upon the night of the marriage of General John Davis to Miss Amy Hart, my grandfather, who performed the ceremony, returned from the wedding, and my mother, who was then a babe, was named Amy Hart Montanye, after the bride of that occasion. And once in each year during my boyhood days, that birth and the wedding were commemorated by a family dinner, at which General John I )avis and his children attended. I can recollect and recall with much feeling, a later occasion, when, as a half grown boy, I had become disabled by an acci- dent, and it was determined that I could not through my life follow the plow, and must select some professional calling. Gen- eral John Davis was called into the family council, and with his daughters and son Watts, there in the old sitting-room down home, with me in the cellar listening through the floor to what 134 M^MORIAI, TRIBUTe;S to general W. \V. H. DAVIS was going on above, my fate was settled by the advice of John Davis. The question was, and it was an important one to the boy in the cellar, whether he should be a minister, which my father favored, where everybody might be his slaves, or whether he should be a doctor, where everybody should be his victims, or whether he should be a lawyer, and the slave of other people. It was then and there determined that for the future of his life he should prepare for slavery. I knew the family of General John Davis intimately. It was the custom every Sunday morning for us all to go over to the Baptist church and listen to an old-time, hard-shell sermon of an hour or more, when we were told, as I once heard Rev. Dr. Beebe, of New York, say, that there was no way of getting into the Baptist church by the windows or by the cellar — they must all come through the door of baptism by water. And then on the way home General Davis invariably rode to his home with us, always discussing the events of the day, for in those days there were other subjects than "bridge," football and gowns, for after-church conversation. No sketch of the life of W. W. H. Davis can be intelligently given without referring to his father General John Davis, who for nearly three-score years was his constant mentor and guarded his every step. The father of our former president was an extraordinary man. I think he was one of the most remark- able men that this county ever produced — without much begin- ning in the way of means; he was a hard worker. Though with- out early education, he became a close student, an intelligent and accomplished disputant and effective debater, who met, and it was conceded, vanquished some of th'e strongest debaters of the period in the discussion of great public questions, one of which still re- mains with us, and of which we speak much if we know little. I refer to the tariff. I can remember him enjoying with the ut- most pleasure any opportunity to engage in debate and discus- sion upon that and kindred subjects. He met such men as Ed- ward Joy Morris, Josiah Randall, E. Morris Davis, and later, on the slavery question, Lucretia Mott, Charles C. Burleigh, Robert Purves, and others of that time. One of the most noted con- tests in which he engaged, was with Caleb N. Taylor over his attempt to create a new county, to be called the County of Penn, MEMORIAL, TRIBUTES TO GENERAL W. W. 11. DAVIS I35 and to be carved out of the lower townships of Bucks. Mont- gomery and a part of Philadelphia, in which he was victorious. General John Davis had but this one son, and with an ambition that characterized every movement and action of his life, he determined that that son should be prepared by hammering, if necessary, to make his way in life, to acquire prominence and win the commendation of his fellowmen ; for without disparagement, rather as a commendation of merit, I wish to say that there could not have been a family more possessed with ambition than this family. The son was schooled by father, mother and sisters in the line of rectitude, hard work and family love and loyalty by discipline as hardly any. other boy of his time experienced "Watts" Davis, in his neighborhood, was regarded by people who did not know the family well, as being a pampered and petted child, but those who knew the truth, were aware that he was compelled to walk the chalk line from rising in the morning until retiring at night, and this made its impress upon his character and his future accomplishments, as recognized by those of us who have known him long; for those of you who have only known him wnthin the last ten or fifteen years, did not know General Davis as he was in the prime of his life His age and the labor that he performed told upon him, and he became, compared to what he once was, but a mere child, and, I regret to say, became, especially in his financial afifairs, the victim of unprincipled scoundrels, who deceived, flattered and stripped him of a greater part of his well earned competence. He was early imbued with the idea of an army life and military success. In those days, politics centered around military afifairs, and the militia camp was the stamping ground of the politicians. If there ever was a politician. General John Davis was such, and he knew it was through military association that men climbed up in the political world, and incidently formed combative habits. Illustrative of that characteristic of the times. I recall very distinctly that my first impressions and observations of the po- litical movement of that day was wdien, as a boy. I went with my father and brothers to a pole raising — the raising of a hickory pole, (General Jackson was lovingly called "Old Hickory") up on Carrell's field, on the site of the Old Log College, and after the pole was raised, the meeting adjourned to Leedom's Inn at the 10 136 MEMORIAI, TRIBUTES TO GENERAL W. W. H. DAVIS corner of York and Street roads, where the Fitch Monument stands. The orators of the occasion were no common men in their day. They were the Hon. Henry Chapman, Hon. Thomas Ross, Hon. Stokes L. Roberts and E. Morris Lloyd, and every one of these speakers commenced his speech, and almost to the termination of it, aroused the voters and inspired the enthusiasm of the audience by dwelling upon what the Democratic party had accomplished in the Wars of 1812 and the Revolution. There appeared even then through the crowd a survival of the bitterness of factional strife and old party lines, as displayed by the criticism of the speakers. One could hear two or three men saying "Well, Harry Chapman is making a good speech, but I can't forget that he descended from the old Federalists." And others would say "Tom Ross has a good deal of assurance to come here, where was one of the first Masonic Lodges destroyed, and to talk Democracy in the face of his Anti-Masonic record and his attacks upon us in his newspaper. The Jackson Courier, and something of the same kind was said of Mr. Roberts, more particularly referring to his indecision, and disposition to be non-committal upon any subject, and poor Mr. Lloyd, the youth of the party, who had been an Old Line Whig — "He just came over to the Democratic party because he wanted to become dis- trict attorney, and if he failed, he would be found seeking other party associates." He was later defeated by such feeling and left his party. I remember it all very distinctly, and refer to it only as illustrating the difference displayed then and now in the method of treating political questions and leaders by the rank and file of the parties. The parties were divided into factions, and in their own camp like the old Roman soldiery, the leaders of the respective legions rivaled each other, learned the art of war by contesting with friends, and bitterly denouncing, almost to the point of an open breach, each other, but when they met the com- mon enemy, like the solid phalanx of the old Roman army, they became invincible against that enemy. It may be interesting to digress here to narrate some incidents which, although not strictly germane to my subject, are of suffi- cient interest to preserve as a part of the unwritten history of our county during the period which made it memorable in the po- litical strifes, which in the days of Andrew Jackson attracted the MEMORIAL TRIBUTES TO GENERAL W. W. H. DAVIS I37 attention of the whole country, and in which General John Davis and his son were active participants. Forty years ago, it was common to hear upon our streets, wherever political discussions occurred, reference to the Fox and Chapman factions. I was curious to learn of the origin of the contentions which contained enough of bitterness to keep alive the fires of faction for so many years, and once asked Judge Chapman to give me the cause of the political troubles referred to. He informed me that as a young man, he was an ardent fol- lower and supporter of Judge John Fox, as against the fol- lowers of Judge John Ross. There had arisen, after the election of Governor Wolf, quite a rivalry between these judges for the control of affairs as the recognized leader of Governor Wolf. It resulted, to some extent, in a drawn battle. Judge Ross succeeded in having his son appointed Deputy Attorney General, and in be- ing himself transferred to the Supreme Court, to be followed almost immediately by the disappointment of seeing Governor Wolf appoint John Fox as the local judge to succeed him. In a brief time there arose the discussions in the cabinet of President Jackson, growing out of the marriage of General Eaton, his secretary of war, to one Peggy O'Neill, the daugh- ter of the hotel keeper with whom Jackson had boarded. To many of the ladies of President Jackson's cabinet it was not con- sidered in good form to bring into the cabinet family the daugh- ter of a mere boarding-house keeper, and at once there arose a social conflict at Washington over the recognition of Mrs. Eaton by the wives of the other cabinet ofhcers. Samuel D. Ingham, of this county, was then secretary of the treasurer. Judge Fox, General John Davis, and some others, were his ardent lieutenants. Mrs. Ingham succeeded in making herself obnoxious to President Jackson by her hostility to ]Mrs. Eaton, whose cause the President espoused, the result being that Mr. Ingham was compelled to resign from the cabinet. When he returned to his home, his followers attempted to make a martyr of him. They received him with military honors, Mr. Chapman, then captain of the Doylestown military company, going out on the road to the Fox Chase to escort him into the county. As the next election approached, the strife became embittered between the Jackson and Anti-Jackson men. It was at this time 138 MEMORIAI, TRIBUTES TO GENERAL W. W. H. DAVIS that General John Davis wrote a letter, somewhat famous in the traditions of the county, to his friend William Purdy, then pro- thonotary, in which, after referring to the division of the party, he said that others might do as they chose, but for himself he did not propose to go to an election at which General Jackson was a candidate. That letter was carelessly left in one of the pigeon holes of the prothonotary's desk by Mr. Purdy, and found there later by William D. Ruckman, who whether carelessly or pur- posely, as they charged, or out of spirit of mischief, delivered the letter to E. T. McDowell, the great leader of the Whig party in the county. W^hen General John Davis became the nominee for the office of Congress in 1838, many bitter things were said, and the campaign became quite personal, and this letter was used, as I may later state. Prior to this time, Henry Chapman had been nominated by the Democratic party as a candidate for Congress, running against Matthias Morris, his brother-in-law, and the breach which led to the formation of the Fox and Chapman factions occurred dur- ing this campaign, as narrated by him as follows : At that day there was but one daily newspaper received in the town from Philadelphia. It was delivered at the old Intelligencer office late in the afternoon by the local stage driver, and there, in the evening, all the notables of the town would assemble to hear the news read. On one occasion there was an incident related of a fight in Philadelphia by two men over a card table, at which it appeared the everlasting Jackson feud was discussed. It resulted in one of the disputants being shot. Judge Fox and Mr. Chapman were both present. Judge Fox sitting behind the desk, near the door of the office, nursing a broken collar bone, caused by a fall from his gig. He remarked "There, the Jackson men murdered that man." Mr. Chapman, realizing that he needed the votes of both factions of the party, deprecated this remark, saying he thought it rather severe. Whereupon Judge Fox said to him "And you have gone over to the Jackson men too, and deserted your friends?" Chapman replied "No, I merely say that the remark is not justified," Whereupon Judge Fox be- came very denunciatory. Mr. Chapman walked from the room, and as he passed Judge Fox, said to him, "Judge Fox, it is well for you that you met with that unfortunate accident, or I would MEMORIAI, TRIBUTES TO GENERAL W. W. IT. DAVIS 1 39 punish you for what you have said." That was the parting of the ways between these high-strung men, and Judge Chapman re- marked to me that from that day the Ingham-Fox people includ- ing Davis and Lewis S. Coryell went to the Whig leaders, and combined with them to defeat him, resulting in the election of Mr. Morris to Congress. This unfortunate misunderstanding did not end there. Within a short time. General John Davis was the candidate for Congress, when it became the turn of the Chapman men and they became the supporters of Mr. Morris for re-elec- tion and were active in circulating the broadside containing the letter of General Davis attacking General Jackson, which resulted in the defeat of Davis for Congress, and the triumphant election of Morris. It was in an earlier campaign for Sheriff that the fol- lowing characteristic handbill was circulated by Stephen Brock against his opponent. General Davis : "To the German Electors of Bucks county : "One letter stating truths, with a real name to it, is worth a hundred lying letters without a name. My enemies have already published a number of such letters, pretending to be Avritten by somebody in the townships of Milford, Springfield, etc., in Rogers paper, without any name. Now it is an absolute fact that these letters were smuggled up in Rogers office by Davis and others, to slander and run me down, and praise up Davis, who is a stranger to you, who can neither say how d'ye do or good-bye to you, much less speak and explain business to you in German. They say I have had the office and got rich. And who is it prefers this charge against me. Why Pugh, Watts, Bennet and Ingham, who have been in office a-11 their lives. I own the old Cross Keys Tavern and 70 acres of land, and this is all I own, and on this I owe $2,400, as may be seen of record in the office, and so far as I have been enabled to improve it I feel grateful to my German friends for their kindness and support. Now my German friends, you know where I live, at the Old Cross Kej-s, and if I don't answer to all the charges truly you can easily tell me of it. After I went out of office I did not put on big airs — I put on no ruffled shirts nor long tailed coats. If my neighbor wants a vendue cryed, I hallow O yes! and am at his service. If he wants his stumpy ground ploughed. Brock is the fellow can do it with his big black oxen that eat the turnip top. vSteve can't be idle ; when the season promises good pasture to the farmer he jumps on his horse, gallops up the Susquehanna, gathers together a drove of cattle of all sorts and sizes, drives them down to Bucks county through hot sun and dust, thunder and hail storms, stops to see his German friends, sells them cows and calves, and all to make an honest penny. lUit because I do these things and because I wore home-made trousers when 1 was sheriff before, and because the common people vote for me, the fellows about Doylestown say I am unfit for I40 MEMORIAL TRIBUTES TO GENERAL W. W. H. DAVIS sheriff, and further my friends, these big fellows, these grandees and their lordly candidate from Maryland, the land of slave drivers, the same squad of half-cocked officers who told you at Camp Marcus Hook that stinking beef was good enough for common soldiers, the same fellows, who say they can make Saml. Smith lead the Dutch by the nose. I understand that they are secretly circulating a story that I have not settled up my old sheriff's business. Now this is a thumper. If I owe any man a cent on my docket, I am ignorant of it. I challenge any man to an examination of it. Now who is John Davis? About the beginning of last war he came from the State of Maryland to this county and vio- lently opposed all the war measures. But his uncle Watts told him that he must turn Democrat and hallow for the war and then he would get an office and he did so. He is one of your big Irish blooded fellows and Judge Watts says he is the very fellow for sheriff, because he is to appoint Joe Burrows his jailor and that's what we want; they have been bothered with the Dutch long enough. These Lords of the Manor have made their brags, that they could make the Dutch vote for any Irishman, even from Maryland. They laugh and say no man can be sheriff without their consent. They say Gen. Dungan must wait till they give him the nod. What are Davis' claims ? He has been but a few years in the county. What has he ever done? He is rich, he owns one of the best plantations in the lower section of the county, a valuable mill and has a large store, and where I am worth $ioo, Davis is worth $500 or $700. Davis would feel himself insulted to tell him he was a poor man, he hardly looks at Brock, he thinks he is one of the big would be Lords of the Land. And this accounts for his carrying a petition all over the lower end of the county for the passage of a law to prevent poor men from shooting a blackbird or woodpecker on his and other great men's plantations. It also accounts for his saying that Brock would get all the poor people's votes who wore linsey pantaloons and roundabouts. These facts I have thought proper to state to you in my own name. More of your slanders without a name. Come out above board or not at all, that's my way. Great exertions are making to set my German friends against jng * * * A hundred lies are afioat. I was born and brought up among the Germans and can talk German as well as English. I am at home among you, give me your fat pork and sourcrout, none of your grandee roast beef and lobster for Stephen Brock. "N. B. — Look out ! The Junto are this minute in Rogers' office, and were overheard by a friend of mine. They say Brock will sweep clean in the lower end, and if he can't be killed among the Germans, he is sheriff in spite of intrigue. They say any lie to kill him among the Dutch. They have agreed to print a handbill, stating, that Brock said he could buy the Germans' vote with a gingerbread or by sticking his tongue out at them. It is said they have hired a vagabond to swear to these things. If I ever uttered such a word, may I never be sheriff! Is MEMORIAL TRIBUTES TO GENERAL W. W. II. DAVIS I4T there a man in the county will believe it. They have been heard to say they will get up any thing to kill Brock among the Dutch. I caution all my friends to examine their tickets before they vote. I am informed they have got my name on their tickets spelt Brok. Look out. Any devilment to kill." This is a fair sample, more humorous than elegant, of the po- litical literature of that time. How much of it was written by Brock, or how much by McDowell, at this day, no one can say. It was shrewdly addressed to the prejudices of the Germans. The "ginger bread" handbill was already in circulation by the Davis partisans. A few years later, by a change in the constitution, it became necessary for Judge Fox to be continued in office by a reappoint- ment from Governor Porter. Again the unfortunate encounter referred to, had its effect. Chapman, Rosses, McDowell, the whig leader, and others of the bar, arrayed themselves against the se- lection of Judge Fox, and in order to secure his defeat by the refusal of confirmation by the senate should he be appointed, it was determined to select a senator hostile to him. As a result, Mahlon K. Taylor was nominated by the Whigs as a dummy can- didate. General Samuel A. Smith was nominated by the Inde- pendent Anti-Fox Democrats, Taylor was withdrawn and Smith supported by the W'higs, which resulted in his election, and fin- ally, in compelling Governor Porter to withdraw the name of Judge Fox as the nominee. Broadsides again figured effectively in the Smith campaign. This action resulted in the appointment of James Burnside to the judgeship in this district. Governor Porter remarking that as the Bucks county lawyers insisted upon quarrelling amongst themselves, he would give them a judge who would discipline them as they deserved. Many characteristic stories are told of the methods resorted to by Burnside in order to bring about harmony at the bar. While there was no harmony, the result was that all learned to admire Burnside, and when he was transferred to the supreme bench, there was no more popular man in the county. In 185 1, when Judge Chapman received the nomination for judge in the district, the old feud was revived, and Mr. Fornance, of Montgomery county, was nominated as an independent can- didate. General Davis was most active in this fight and new po- litical alignments were made. The three-cornered fight resulted 142 MEMORIAL TRIBUTES TO GENERAL W. W. H. DAVIS in the election of the Whig candidate, Daniel M. Smyser and de- prived the county, for a period of ten years, of the able services of Henry Chapman as judge, who elected at the next term, filled the position with such honor to himself, and satisfaction to the people, that he left a record surpassed by none who have occupied that exalted place. General Davis received his youthful impressions amidst such surroundings, and his combative father rejoiced in the opportu- nity to bring his son up in that school. At the militia encamp- ments or turnouts, the father and son were together, the father in his regimentals, and the son an obedient follower, both in the thick of the fight in every battle of words, or even ready to give or take harder knocks. He was sent away to a Military School ; thence to the Mexican War, as aide-de-camp to General Gushing, and there rendered honorable service. He came back from that, and in a short time afterward, having practiced law here for the period of four or five years, he was sent to New Mexico, and his career there, in my estimation, has always been the most in- teresting portion of his entire life. He went into that newly ac- quired territory, and with intelligence and virility he reorganized or rather organized, one of the first territorial governments in that large district acquired from Mexico, performing the duties of most of the territorial officers. He studied the conditions and habits of the people, acquired their language, and followed his work up by writing a history of the conquest of that country, entitled "The Spanish Conquest of New Mexico," that has re- ceived the commendation of the highest historians of our coun- try. In that work he first acquired his thirst and aptitude for historical writing. He returned to Bucks county, and through a disappointment in his father's ambition for him, became involved in a contest in his own party over the issue involving the terms of the admission of the State of Kansas, joined upon the question of the adoption of the Le Compton Constitution. As I have said, his father was very ambitious. He had been a devoted follower of Mr. Bu- chanan and after Mr. Buchanan had become president, he applied for an appointment for his son. I had it from one who was pres- ent, Mr. Buchanan said to him, "General Davis, you have been in office four years under President Polk, your son has been in MEMORIAL TRIBUTES TO GENERAL W. \V. H. DAVIS I43 office four years under President ^Pierce, and I think you and your family should stand back and let somebody else have some- thing. You have had enough." ' I don't refer to this in dis- paragement of the man, because it is commendable for men to be ambitious for place, and this is the way men rise, but as char- acteristic of the father of this man, and of the spirit which he imbibed from him, James Buchanan, from that day, could not count upon the friendship of John Davis, because he was not built that way. These old timers, our forefathers, were fighters, and they either went along in the fight with the leaders, expect- ing the reward of the soldier, or if their friends would not recognize the obligation, they would turn around and fight them, and consequently the Doylestozvn Democrat was purchased, upon the urgency of Colonel Forney of the Philadelphia Press, who also had a grievance, having been refused the recognition he ex- pected by Mr. Buchanan, and then bitter and relentless war was made upon the administration over the Kansas issue. Here, the fight was taken tip by the other faction of the party, and an- other paper, The Standard, was started, and then there was a disruption in the Democratic party to which Mr. Roosevelt's blustering fight in the Republican party don't hold a candle. It was submerged under the tremendous issues of the Rebellion. General Davis was glad to buy in the rival Standard, its editors volunteered in his company, and the Democrat became further identified until now, in more than one sense, with the life and subsequent career and prominence of its owner. The War of the Rebellion, to this soldier who had been through the Mexican War, who had had those hardened experiences in New Mexico, was just the opportunity his family longed for to win new honors in the army. His record there is known to everybody here, and I do not propose to refer to it at this time, because, partially for want of time, and because I think that the Committee on I;)iographies should prepare a brief memorial, in- cluding his military record, to be spread upon the minutes of the association, of the first i)resident of this society. After he came from the war, and after doing good service in his newspaper, not only to his party but to his community, he began to age, and in his later days, mellowed. He was a diflfer- ent man from what he had been when I first knew him, his 144 MEMORIAL TRIBUTES TO GENERAL W. W. H. DAVIS abrupt temperament greatly changed. But he was always loyal to his friends, and he never showed, and I hardly think he ever cherished, resentment toward his enemies. He was ready to for- give, but he had too much feeling to forget much of the injury that was done him, and many of the hard things that were said of him. Even in the history of this society, there were occa- sions when he felt and deeply regretted some surviving spirit of that old-time animosity which, through him, attacked the good name and success of this society. I remember on one occasion, and I have this from the inter- ested parties, it was proposed by Mr. Longstreth to contribute a large amount of money for a building for the society in Doyles- town, and the lot upon which it was to be erected had been se- lected, when some one, or two or three, entertaining some of the old distrust and hostility, went to Mr. Longstreth, and dis- suaded him from engaging in the enterprise, saying, "This is merely a fad of Watts Davis to exploit himself, and after he is gone ,the Historical Society will be a thing only to be remem- bered." Tt hurt him. He said nothing, but he felt that what had become the cherished object of his life had received a killing blow because of personal animosity to him. We are here to- day to commemorate his memory, and with a view of proving that assertion untrue, of taking up his work here where he has left it, of upbuilding it, and extending its usefulness as an edu- cational institution and historic center in our county, so that not only the society shall last, but the name of William Watts Hart Davis will always be cherished and remembered as its founder. And it is for us to unite here now as we do, to continue this work of his creation, more impressive because he was not of a creative nature and bent of mind. Before I close, and go to my agreeable "slavery," I want to say one word of the development of the character of General Davis, because we must take lessons, all of us, from those who have gone before, and from the example which they have set. Now I have said, that the success of General Davis was not due so much to unusual natural talent as it was to inspiration of ambi- tion and energy and persistence in the work which he undertook. Where did that inspiration come from ? I have spoken of his father, but it was not all due to him. In the old days, when ME;M0RIAL tributes to GENERAl, W. W. 11. DAVIS I45 there were such women, the sisters of General Davis would have been the leaders of the Amazons. Women had much to do with the formation of the character, the successes in his life and in the history of this man. They were a noble lot of women, and the sacrifices that they made, the stimulation which they put into his actions and into his ambitions, contributed far more to his success than anyone not thoroughly acquainted with the history of the family can imagine. When he was oft' in the field at the head of his regiment, with his neighbors and county associates as his followers, contesting, offering his life, if necessary, for the preservation of the country and the nation, they at home were doing their work, and one of them. Miss Lizzie Davis, organized in our community, at Harts- ville, a Ladies' Aid Society, which gathered in the community far and wide, and she and her sisters and other noble women with energy and persistence, in season and out of season, through storm and in sunshine, worked and labored and agitated to the aid and support of the men who were in the field fighting, en- couraging in that way their brother and his followers, and creat- ing in the community a feeling of loyalty and devotion to the Union which will ever redound to their honor. Then again, I will not forget the wife. You know a wife has a good deal to do with a man's career, and as I recall her, Mrs. Davis was a domestic women — she believed in her husband, and whatever he undertook, she encouraged and supported. She was not of the whining, selfish sort, she never held him back by the coat-tails, but she was willing to make every sacrifice to aid him in his ambition. The first example of her devotion to his in- terest, was immediately after their marriage, when, in a prairie schooner, she trecked all the way to New Mexico, encountering dangers and privations which many of our women of to-day would turn their backs upon rather than think of undertaking, or preferably would fret their husbands into surrendering the duty to pander to their own social enjoyments, to woman's fads. But the degeneracy of the Republic had not then begun to show the early signs common in history, of the weaker sex essaying to usurp the functions of State. I have heard General Davis tell the story that when, out on the limitless prairie, they were surrounded by the Arrai)ahoo Indians, 146 MEMORIAI, TRIBUTES TO GENERAI, W. W. H. DAVIS one of the most villainous tribes that ever troubled the plains; they were compelled, Mrs. Davis being the only woman in the party, to cover her up in the bottom of the wagon, under the blan- kets, for fear that an attempt to have a peaceable solution of the meeting with the Indians would be defeated if they discovered that there was a woman in the party. And she, with courage and devotion, passed through that experience to aid her husband. This illustrates the character of woman she was. And when again, in the course of events, he devoted himself to the service of his country in going into the army, did she not take up her part, and raise the little family while he was away promoting the good name and ambition of the family? Now I have said that this man was a good friend. He was a devoted friend to those whom he knew and who knew him. He had those qualities of a friend which are shown in quiet and un- ostentatious effort to assist the weak, the struggling and the friendless, and he was not, as we all know, a bitter enemy. He was forgiving; he felt it his place in society to help upbuild and promote the welfare of all and the well-being of the community in general. I think, Mr. President, that this society could not perform a more appropriate act than what is being done here to-day ; in devoting at least one day and one meeting of this association to commemorating the character of its founder and president. And how significant is it of the levelling efi^ects of time? I think it was Mazarin who said : "I and time against the world." To have referred to the incidents I have mentioned a few years ago would have set this whole community by the ears. Now these events are regarded by the descendants of the acting par- ticipants, in them, as illustrative not of personal animosities or shortcomings of their respective forebears, but of the strenuous times in which they lived. One of the most distinguished of these vigorous and able men once said to me : "I thank God I have lived to survive and for- give all the bitterness of those unpleasant days and to actually recognize the great worth of my most violent personal and polit- ical enemies." What recks it that three-quarters of a century ago our oldest and best families were at swords' points socially and politically. MEMORIAL TRIBUTES TO GENERAL W. W. K. DAVIS I47 since to-day their descendants respect their worth and fine spirit and honor and dwell in peace with each other; and a half century- later General W. W. H. Davis, the son of one of the active con- testants dedicated his greatest work, the "History of Bucks County," to Henry Chapman, his father's political opponent, and in this society the son of one of the combatants of those fierce days is succeeded as its honored president by the grandson and namesake of another, whose intelligent active interest in its work and future is fated to raise the name of the Bucks County Historical Society to a level with the greatest of similar institu- tions of the land ? The world moves on, a new generation de- mands its attention; the dove of peace soars above, even though the vultures of political corruption and false pretenses may circle about in undisturbed security as too often indicates the absence of strong and the presence of weak men. The dead have made the good fight and here is the end. "Rcqiiicscat in Pace." WILLIAM C. RYAN. District Attorney William C. Ryan, of Doylestown, spoke of the impression made upon him as a boy when he first met Gen- eral Davis, and of the fact that the late president of the society was a link between the present and the far-oft' past that to most men now living is merely history. Mr. Ryan mentioned the fact that General Davis once told him that it took him forty years to collect the material for "The Fries Rebellion." REV. J. B. KREWSON. Rev. J. B. Krewson, of Forest Grove, who knew General Davis a lifetime, also spoke briefly, expressing the opinion that nothing voiced by any of the speakers was too high praise for the late president. ALFRED PASCIIALL. Mr. Alfred Paschall said :— To attain advanced age has always been held a matter of con- gratulation among men. To have attained long life with the 148 MEMORIAL TRIBUTES TO GENERAL W. \V. H. DAVIS years filled with work has been regarded an enviable record of honorable service. To have attained long life, with the years filled with effort, actuated by pure motives, is the unsurpassed attainment of those whom we most revere. It was the lot of General Davis, the founder of the Bucks County Historical Society, to have been conspicious in each of these relations- — to have reached many years, filled with earnest work, backed by unquestioned motives. The years of his life have by a score exceeded the age as al- lotted by the Psalmist. The hours, even the minutes, of his days were industriously occupied. His motives, in the varied and numerous relations of four-score and ten years, were most excel- lent. That he made no mistakes would be beyond the attainment of mankind, but that he bestowed of his time, effort and purpose, in behalf of that which he knew to be wrong, is no part of Gen- eral Davis' record. As soldier of two wars, the Mexican and Civil war, editor and historian, in many undertakings as a man and a citizen, for his community and for his country, in the varied relations which he sustained toward his fellowmen and our common institutions, he was always a devoted worker, earnest and sincere in his pur- poses and industrious and ceaseless in his energy ; and the suc- cesses which he won and the esteem and respect he received were earned and compelled by the virtues of fidelity, integrity and un- tiring industry. It was my privilege to have known General Davis intimately in two relationships — in the publishing of his newspaper, and in his service in and for the Bucks County Historical Society. For the period from 1873 to the termination of his editorship of The Democrat I saw General Davis almost daily and in our lives and business there was much in common. The general had taken charge of The Democrat in 1858, near the time when Prizer and Darlington acquired The Intelligencer. Both publications were of the popular county- weekly type. Both were leaders of their respective parties in Bucks county and both were well and favorably known throughout the State. This iden- tity of work and interests created an intimacy that was close and constant. The general was not a practical printer, but had able lieutenants in Major John Harton as bookkeeper and John P. MEMORIAL TRIBUTES TO GENERAL W. \V. II. DAVIS I49 Rogers as literary and local editor. This arrangement left Gen- eral Davis free to devote himself to the editorial work and to the compilation of his History of Bucks county, which was in process of preparation for many years before its publication in 1876. As early as 1873 a mass of manuscript had been written, painstak- ingly, by hand, for in those days stenographers and typewriters were not available in Doylestown. Early in the morning the gen- eral was at his office — often the first to be at work within the building. His newspaper work occupied the early hours, and it was rarely that he was absent from the little rear office, on the first floor, wherein the editorial work of The Democrat was done. At a southern window, where the morning sunshine flooded the desk, the veteran soldier-editor was accustomed to do his daily work. Here it was that the gospel of staunch democracy was supported, wherein the party's creed was taught, its principles upheld and regular and complete devotion to the ticket was en- joined. Here visitors found the general with a cordial greeting and the solicitous inquiries about their neighbors and communi- ties, which were the outcome of w'ide and close acquaintance in every section. No doubt the inspiration also from these visits was a source of the personal familiarity of much of the local news and individual political appeal which were a feature for many years of the columns of The Democrat. There was cer- tainly evidenced also the intimate interest of the editor, in the attairs of every district, from Durham to Bensalem, which made the weekly visits of The Democrat of a personal character in the homes to which it was sent. The traditions of the pa])er were sustained, and its interest in the afl:airs of the community were exemplified by the policy pursued and developed under General Davis' editorship. A part of the general's editorial connection was his member- ship in the Pennsylvania State Editorial Association, of which he was one of the early members, if not indeed one of the founders. General Davis was also a member of the Schoeft'er club, a limited organization comprising a few contemporaries, Darlington of Tlie Intelligencer, Wills of the Norristozvn Herald, Coleman of the Philadelphia Ledger, Cooper of the Media American, Walter of the Chester Republican, Evans of The Record, and Moore of The Republican in West Chester, with perhaps a few others. 150 MEMORIAL TRIBUTES TO GENERAL W. W. PI. DAVIS All these gentlemen were leaders of their respective publications and interested in much the same relationships in their respective communities. All were closely acquainted through their news- papers and the meetings at which they gathered each month, and with their wives enjoyed an hour at dinner, were held as exclusive events of rare good fellowship and lasting pleasure. In later years the general was a member of the Bucks and Montgomery County League, but the infirmities of age were upon him, few of his old accjuaintances remained, and he took little part in the last named organization, though interested always in what con- cerned the craft and his associates in the newspaper fraternity. In his newspaper life General Davis was direct, sincere and a voluminous and interesting writer. His administration of The Democrat occurred during a time when partisanship was strong and when politics were often bitter and personal. He gave and took hard blows when in the midst of campaigns, but he always fought in the open. The democracy was the reliance of his pa- triotism. He believed in the principles he upheld. He fought a losing fight as ardently as when his party Avas sure of winning, and his victories and defeats alike were unsullied with the taint of self-seeking or the degradation of graft. Under General Davis' charge The Democrat was at its best as a newspaper and as a property; and his stewardship of the popu- lar old paper was acceptable to the community and creditable to the controlling head. Among the specially prominent interests of the community to which General Davis lent personal and editorial encouragement were the public water service of Doylestown, the erection of the present county buildings, the building of Lenape Hall, the cele- bration of the bi-centennial anniversary of the founding of Bucks county, the centennial of Doylestown, and last and perhaps closest to the general's heart, the founding and conduct of the Bucks County Historical Society. In behalf of each of these purposes General Davis gave a support which was of public influence and value. In reference to the introduction of a public water supply in the borough of Doylestown, it is scarcely to be realized to-day wdiat an opposition existed just preceding the building of the works. There were meetings and petitions, protests and indignation, MEMORIAL TRIBUTES TO GENERAL W. W. II. DAVIS 15I prejudice and ultra conservatism; the plea of increased taxes was urged and even the spectre of danger and damage. General Davis realized that a public water supply was one of the future neces- sities of Doylestown and believing the time was ripe for its in- troduction stood steadily in encouragement of progress. So too in behalf of the present county buildings, when the courthouse and jail of 1812 had passed their usefulness. There were interests enlisted against the new buildings, on accovmt of increased taxes and even more selfish considerations. The new accommodations were, however, a necessity and Editor Davis again stood in behalf of sound public interests. When the present constitution of Pennsylvania was adopted a charter for improvements in Doylestown was in danger of be- coming obsolete by lapse of time. General Davis was one of those who undertook to obtain subscriptions and who by their work and contributions made the charter available, and was later one of the directors and served as chairman of the building com- mittee in charge of erecting Lenape Hall in place of an old and fast decaying hostelry. The bi-centennial celebration of the founding of Bucks county may be said to have been started by General Davis. He drew the attention of the court to the date of the first formal court of record, and was thus instrumental in having a minute made of the anniversary, by order of Judge Watson. Next, General Davis caused to be brought before the historical society, in the autumn of 1 88 1, the fact that the succeeding year would witness the two hundredth anniversary of the legal existence of the founder's county, and thus set in motion the proceedings which culminated in the celebration, covering three days and three evenings, at the county capital, in August-September, 1882, and to which the general himself contributed a most important feature in his his- torical address. The centennial of Doylestown was also due to General Davis' research, which fixed the first date of the naming of the place, in a revolutionary despatch, as March, 1778. For the celebration of the centennial in March, 1878, the general lent his encourage- ment and assistance. The founding of the Bucks County Historical Society, in Jan- 152 MEMORIAL, TRIBUTEIS TO GENERAL W. W. H. DAVIS uary, 1880, was solely the result of General Davis' initiative — born of his deep love for Bucks county, his sympathy with and almost reverence for whatever was of historical interest, and the deep and constant patriotism which has been an inheritance with him only to be fostered and developed by his military* services and experiences and his historical study and researches. Before leaving the period of General Davis' newspaper life there are two topics deserving of a word: — The publication of the History of Bucks County comes first. During a large part of the early period of his editorship he had been gathering material for this county history. The accumulation of matter was from all sources. Nothing was too trivial for examination, all was winnowed over with painstaking and even laborious care, county records were consulted, church archives were searched, family records examined, traditions investigated ; even rumors and re- ports were noted to be run out and confirmed if possible. Thor- oughly straightforward himself the general expected other men to be the same, and was often put to much unnecessary trouble and wearisome work by the inaccurate matter furnished to him by those of whom he sought information. He never wearied, however, and succeeded in producing, in 1876, the most compre- hensive history of his native county that had ever been issued, a labor of love, an enduring monument to his memory and a lasting evidence of his patriotic and filial devotion to the county of his birth. Doubtless growing out of the preparation of the History of Bucks County, certainly largely influenced by the same spirit as impelled the undertaking of that work, came the idea of founding the Bucks County Historical Society. For a considerable period previous to January, 1880, the thought of a formal organization had been close to General Davis' heart. He had discussed it with many friends in a social and in- formal way, and while many cordially assented to the suggestion no one was found willing to make any move toward founding the society or manifested any disposition to engage in the work which might and should claim the attention of such an organiza- tion, and therefore General Davis, from inherent motives, under- took the work singlehanded. He it was, who, upon his own ini- tiative, and out of his own ideal, invited together individually MEMORIAI. TRIBUTES TO GENERAL W. \V. H. DAVIS 1 53 the persons who, in January, 1880, united to form the Bucks County Historical Society. General Davis himself called this first meeting to order, and suggested that for the purposes of organization Josiah B. Smith take the ch^tir. General Davis then stated the object of the meet- ing, and urged upon the willing and sympathetic audience the need for a historical society in the founder's county, pointed out the rich field for historical research, the splendid history be- queathed to the present by the preceding generations, described briefly the material interests which were worthy of preservation, told of the sowing of the seeds of patriotism within the county and their watering with the blood of patriots, referred to the rich legacies within the county's borders in the sites of revolutionary interest, mentioned the settlements of Penn's friends and the German emigrants, touched upon the custodianship of Washing- ton's Crossing, Coryell's Ferry, the Durham iron mines, the Washington headquarters near the Eagle and at Hartsville, the beginning of the walking purchase, recalled the marches and countermarches of the continental army within our borders, and extolled the names of those who had been wise and eminent in Pennsylvania's and in the nation's history. Not only with the interest and education of the trained his- torian, but with the love and fervor of the patriot, was the work and service of a historical society urged. And conviction was carried and enthusiasm was aroused among those who were Gen- eral Davis' associates, and the Bucks County Historical Society was determined upon.* By right General Davis was chosen president; and because of his devotion and zeal was re-elected from year to year for thirty successive years, filling the ofiice of president at the time of his death. As president of the society he was faithful in his attendance at the meetings which were usually held quarterly, weather con- ditions, and distance from his home did not deter him ; I can, in fact, recall but few occasions when General Davis was not in the chair at the meetings, with unfailing punctuality and undimmed enthusiasm, and the minutes bear out this most remarkable rec- ord of devotion. * For full account of the formation of the Bucks County Historical Society see preliminary part of Vol. I. 154 MEMORIAL TRIBUTES TO GENERAI. \V. W. H. DAVIS Practically, in the first dozen years, the president was the so- ciety, for not only was he most regular in attendance but on not a few occasions had he not presented some literary work the meetings would have been without such exercises. Indeed there were occasions, when he feared a dearth of material adec[uate to the occasion, and prepared more than one article with the in- tention of having others read them, so that the hours of literary work might be supplied as he felt they ought. The extra work to himself and the difficulties of different kinds of research, and the additional time and labor bestowed were ignored, in the devotion to his labor of love, and endured that his beloved society might be the gainer. Two of the remarkable meetings of the early years were the gatherings on the William Penn farm, and the meeting in Dur- ham Cave, at both of which places extensive exercises were held, at both many recruits for the society were obtained, and in both of which the local history of the place was made most interest- ingly conspicuous. The meeting at Newtown previously refer- red to, in 1881, was also most satisfactory and noteworthy for itself, and as being the inception of the very comprehensive and successful bi-centennial of the founding of Bucks county which was held later. On the other hand at not a few meetings — of which doubtless too many were undertaken — there were but a handful present and the lack of interest would have been a dis- couragement to a person less earnest and devoted than the veteran who for a generation lead Bucks county's historians. It had long been a prediction of General Davis that the His- torical Society was destined to become the social center of Bucks county as well as the nucleus of patriotic interest and the basis of historical study and research. A very few years after the society was incorporated in 1885 these conditions began to be manifest. In 1895, at the time of the January meeting, there had been some fifty certificates of membership issued. At this date several women in Doylestown conceived the idea of making the meeting more of a social occasion, and entertaining the out-of-Doylestown members and guests. The first entertainment was a pronounced success, and there was a new and most delightful feature in the luncheon hour, when greetings of individuals and introductions and social intercourse were general. These social sessions were MEMORIAL TRIBUTES TO GENERAL W. W. II. DAVIS 1 55 continued, and increased rapidly in interest and attendance, and the enlarged membership in the society and the broad acquaint- ance which was fostered were most helpful and pleasant. In these social hours General Davis had an especial pleasure, in the hand- clasp of many whom he might scarcely have seen in the formal sessions. He felt also a boundless enjoyment in what he regarded as a broadening of the membership and interest in the historical society and a furthering of its work and purposes. A little later, after the opening of Mr. Mercer's collection of Tools of the Nation Maker, General Davis had profound satis- faction in the manifestation of away-from-home interests, and in the visits of students and observers, from outside Bucks county, to see and study the collection. His attitude toward visitors to the society museum was that of a gracious host, proud for Bucks county and the historical society of what was comprised in the collections, yet solicitous that the guest should see and be grati- fied with whatever his interest drew him to observe. In the latter years of his life, so long as health permitted. General Davis was completely identified with the society and its collections and was most happy while at work upon historical subjects surrounded by the collections which represented to him the lives and characters of Bucks county's people, the patriotism and traditions of those who had been settlers here and dwelt upon the soil and the staunch love for their native county of all who had been so fortu- nate as to be born within its borders. From the date of incorporation until the time of his decease General Davis was one of the board of trustees, and in this re- lation his attendance was constant and his interest was solicitous for the society's welfare. In the late nineties, a large portion of his work was done at the room in the court house which the society was permitted to occupy, and w'herein he wrought cease- lessly in research, surrounded by the material evidences of the history and existence of the home people — the Bucks county por- tion of the nation makers. In the more recent past General Davis had the gratification ardently earned and richly merited, of seeing his historical so- ciety suitably established in an appropriate building, and it is not to be doubted that the housing of the Bucks County His- torical Society, in its commodious and impressive new home was 156 MEMORIAL TRIBUTES TO GENERAL W. \V. H. DAVIS of more profound satisfaction to the president than any event which could have affected him merely as an individual. For other county historical societies besides his own General Davis gave a very timely and considerable service in the prepara- tion of a bill, later made a law, which allows county commis- sioners to appropriate yearly, to such organizations, an amount not exceeding $200 upon the fulfilment of certain conditions. The original draft of this law was made by the general's own hands, and was discussed by him with various officers, trustees and other members. With very slight modification the bill was presented and passed as the general had conceived it, and its in- troduction and the securing of its enactment was due to another member of our society Hon. Hampton W. Rice. The measure might well have been named the Davis law. It is impossible in such a meeting as this to present any ade- quate review of a life of fourscore and ten years. It matters little what might be said in any case; the life-work stands for itself and will carry its own impressive influence and lesson. I feel to have merely touched upon some of the familiar relations where the currents of General Davis' and my own life ran to- gether. My sturdy opponent in newspaper conduct, we fought our partisan contests without malice, and in all beyond the po- litical differences there was utmost neighborly craftship between the respective offices. My most devoted colleague in the his- torical society work, for more than a quarter of a century. I present no biographical sketch nor eulogy — simply a few frag- ments from the files of memory wherein are recollections of a life of ardent industry, brave sincerity and ceaseless application to the services undertaken. As president of the historical society the general gave of his best. He contributed of himself, unweariedly, continuously, de- votedly. The foundations which he established in the past, are safe to build upon for the future. The light of his experience may well be the guide of our course in the Society's coming years. The same earnest devotion of President Davis, as consistently fol- lowed as was his work, by his fellow members of the society, will be the utmost honor that can be given to his memory, and will insure the successful continuation of the progress that for so many years was mainly upon his shoulders. MEMORIAL TRIBUTES TO GENERAL W. \V. II. DAVIS 1 57 In the fullness of years, with sincere tributes of respect and esteem from his fellows and associates, for the successful accom- plishment of the end for which he had borne the heat and burden of the day. General Davis has gone from works to rewards as one who wraps the draperies of his couch about him and lies down to pleasant dreams. His personal participation in material affairs will cease, as life's fitful dream terminates, but his ex- ample and devotion arc the historical society's inheritance, and his deeds and efforts will long endure for the uplift of the ob- jects of his solicitude, for the support of the patriotism which he maintained, for the preservation of the history which he val- ued, for the advancement of the society he founded and which is ours to perpetuate. HENRY C. MERCER. Vice-President, Henry C. Mercer said : — Our President, who founded this society thirty-one years ago and who has worked devotedly for it ever since is gone. As I listen to the words of friends which impress this loss upon us, my own memory goes back many years, to the time, when, as a little boy, I saw him ride out of our town to the war, at the head of the 104th Pennsylvania regiment. I can still see the early morning light, the train drawn up at the station, and still hear as I have recalled it to him, the tune the band played as they marched away. If that is my first memory, my last is of a scene hardly less dramatic, when his aged form, clothed in black, stands before the picture which hangs in our library, as he narrates, rather by his presence, than his brief words, the story of the rescue of the flag of his regiment, at the battle of Fair Oaks. But even before the years of interval between these two scenes, in which many of you knew him better as a soldier and public man than I did, he had distinguished himself among scholars of American history, as an antiquary, by rescuing from destruction, and himself translating, a number of Spanish manuscripts, after- wards published, embodying a lost narrative of the earliest Spanish discoveries in New Mexico. When, holding a public office in Santa Fe. among soldiers and 158 MBMORIAI. TRIBUTES TO GENERAI. W. W. H. DAVIS desperadoes, at a time of difficulty, danger and official activity, he seized the opportunity to do this thing, which had nothing to do with his office, or the men and times around him, he did it because he was an antiquary, born not made — born with an en- thusiasm which remained with him all his life. It carried him from facts to ideas, from the present to the past. It took him away from money, from his regular business, sometimes from friends, and even family. But it gave him back a panacea for happiness, that might weather most of life's storms. It opened to him the gates of that city of the mind, inhabited by a favored few, and unknown to the multitude. On the other hand, he was a soldier who volunteered to fight through two wars. But there were other soldiers, men whose names remain upon the records of both these conflicts, and among many contested claims as to who was first in war; it seems well for our town to remember the time when General Davis was first in peace, when he honored his country and advanced the Christian religion by returning to the City of Charleston a war flag which he had captured from one of its ships during the struggle that was over. This leads us to a trait of his character observable in his later years at least, which must have impressed others as it did me, namely his refusal to look at the dark side of things. In contrast to many, who seeking to fulfil the contract in the Lord's Prayer, and refusing to allow themselves per- sonal enemies, nevertheless become exasperated at the trend of public afi^airs, or at the triumph of the wicked, or because they suspect or fear the approach of evil in persons and things, and become bitter or perhaps cynical. General Davis in the later years of his life when I knew him was never bitter, never exasperated, never cynical. No use to come to him full of anger or vitupera- tion against monopolies, yellow journalism, labor unions or po- litical corruption. He would not take it in that way. He turned away, or changed the subject with a word of palliation, excuse or hope. The thirty-seventh Psalm says "Fret not thyself because of the evil doers" and an American scholar, after study among the re- ligious teachers of India and Thibet, when asked what they had MEMORIAIv TRIBUTES TO GENERAL W. W. 11. DAVIS I59 taught him. recently said, that he had learned how to live from them in four words : Eliminate, anger and worry." Had General Davis, with much difficulty and training estab- lished his philosophy of life on these maxims, or did the attitude come to him without elYort as the personal birthright of one oblivious to the appearance of evil. I leave this question to be answered by those who knew him, as I did not, in his younger days. Another impression left upon me by General Davis was that of industry, excessive in degree, something more than most men would endure or attempt. Many people are ready to "chat" in the morning. The General worked. Others read the newspapers at length, or sit restfully gazing at the world. The General w^asted no such time. Reworked. If not by the midnight oil, then in the peaceful light of dawn, in the late morning, in the after- noon, he sat, pen in hand, amidst things printed, pictured or writ- ten, collecting, compiling, composing. If you interrupted him he was not rude. But he declined to be stopped. He never lost the point, and the point was work. Shall we ask why he thus worked on beyond the scope of his editorial labours and his management of this Historical Society, and whether the work was always effective, always valuable. These are indeed important questions, but they involve an im- partial criticism of his histories, his numerous historical papers and his arrangement of private memorials which should belong to another occasion. If General Davis were here, he would not urge upon us a moral lesson on this subject. We would have to have known him, in order to have gathered from his example the inspiration of work. It is the significance of a great number of acts, which compels us to reflect upon what it may mean to a man, who pretends to do anything in the world, and yet ventures to waste his time. Home of the Paxsons, Bycot House, England. BY EX-CHIEF JUSTICE EDWARD M. PAXSON, BUCKINGHAM, PA.* (Doylestown Meeting, January 17, 1911.) During a recent brief trip abroad I made a visit to the Paxson homestead in England. By request I have prepared the following account of my visit which may interest some of the numerous descendants of that family in this county and elsewhere: Henry Paxson, the elder, James Paxson and William Paxson were brothers, and came to Pennsylvania in 1682, in the ship Samuel, of London. Henry came from the Parish of Stowe, Oxfordshire, England. His certificate was from the monthly meeting of friends at "Biddlesdon," in the county of Bucks, or Buckinghamshire, as it is usually designated upon the maps, and bears date Second month 24, 1682. He called his home "Bycot House," and from what I can learn this was the old homestead of the Paxsons. James Paxson and his brother, William, came from the Parish of Marsh Gibbon, in the county of Bucks, which parish is con- tiguous to, or at least is in the immediate neighborhood of the Parsh of Stowe. James and William brought with them a cer- tificate from the monthly meeting of friends at Coleshill, in Bucks, which bears date Second month 3d, 1682. The writer is a lineal descendant of the James Paxson above mentioned and there are numerous other descendants of his scat- tered through Bucks, Montgomery, Chester, Delaware and Phila- delphia counties, with not a few in New Jersey and other states. The town of Buckingham, in the county of Bucks, is about two hours' ride from London by rail. It is an old town, reminding me in this respect of York, Chester and Warwick. Many of the houses are only one story high, with very thick walls, and the small windows which mark the period of the Plantagenets and Tudors. I reached Buckingham in the evening and found my way to the "Swan and Castle," and ancient hostelry, which came well up to my idea of an English inn before the age of railroads and * This paper was written by Judge Paxson, September 29, 1884, and read at the Doylestown Meeting, January 17, 191 1, by Miss Mary Paxson Rogers, of Bristol. HOME OF the; PAXSONS, BYCOT house, ENGLAND l6l cheap travel had revokitionized country inns in England as they have in this country. I found the landlord a live man, which is a rare thing abroad, where the landlord is a sort of mythical person, and you are obliged to make all your inquiries of the female clerks at the office, or of the hall porter. The latter is usually a well-informed person, and his information is of a practical useful kind. He knows everybody and is fully posted as to all the trains, besides being really civil and accommodating. I will state as a curious circumstances that the landlord of the "Swan and Castle" recognized me as belonging to the Paxson family from my ap- pearance, and in response to my inquiry whether there were any of that name in the neighborhood, answered cheerily : "Plenty of them ; why Henry Paxson dined with me to-day, he din^s with me every week; he is president of a farmers' club which meets at my house weekly ; I wish you had been here a few hours sooner you would have seen him." I then asked about Bycot House, the old Paxson homestead; was it still standing? Had he ever heard of it? He laughed and said: "I will send you out there in the morning; it is only two miles out of town." And so I retired for the night, well pleased with the result of my day|s inquiries. The next morning with a carriage and an intelligent driver I started on my little voyage of discovery. It was a glorious July day, bright, clear and cool, and a charming ride of twenty minutes brought me to Bycot House, which I found to be an old manor house, in a good state of preservation, about the size of my own modest country residence, which I have named after it. Bycot Manor, to which it belongs, had originally 340, acres; at the pres- ent time there are about 200 acres attached to the house, which is now a part of the princely domain of the Duke of Buckingham. "Stowe Plouse," the principal estate of the Duke, is in sight of Bycot House; the farm of the latter crosses and forms a part of the ma<,mificant avenue which leads to "Stowe House." The Duke was from home at the time or I would have called upon him, as my letters would have given me access to any person in England of whatever rank. The "avenue" to which I refer is about 400 feet wide and three miles in length in a perfectly straight line. On either side is a double row of magnificent old trees ; the rest is lawn closely cut and constantlv green in this moist climate, with a smooth. i62 home; of the paxsons, bycot house, engeand hard gravel drive in the center. We have nothing hke it in this country. To return to Bycot House. Its present occupant is Langton Bennett, Esq., who has resided there for over twenty years, and is a good type of the English yeoman. When I told him who I was, and the object of my visit, he treated me with the greatest courtesy, and took me over his house and farm. The house is built of thick stone walls in the most substantial manner, over- grown with ivy and vines. The outbuildings are extensive for an English farm, where they have no barns, but merely one-story stables for the stock, and sheds to protect their wagons and agri- cultural implements from the weather. The land is fertile, roll- ing, and the country around as beautiful as I saw anywhere in rural England, where the eye is always delighted with the charm of the landscape. A pretty flower and vegetable garden in front of the house completed the picture, and after looking long and wistfully at the home from which my ancestors came over two hundred years ago, I plucked a rose as a souvenir of my visit, and with many kind expressions of interest from my host, took my leave of Bycot House, the elder. I had still a few hours before my train left Buckingham for London, and I employed it in visiting one or two of the Paxtons in the vicinity. I may remark in passing that they spell the name here Paxton, not Paxson, as we do at home, or at least in this part of Pennsylvania. It is spelled indifferently here, however, but the original name was Paxton. A drive of twenty minutes from Bycot House brought me to "Shelswell," the residence of Henry Paxton. He has a fine farm of several hundred acres, and near by is the farm, of his brother, Edmund Paxton, contain- ing 400 acres. I did not see the latter, but Henry was at home, a large, fine looking English farmer, who spends much of his time in driving over his extensive domain in his dog cart ; looking after his workmen, and in nursing his foot with the gout. He is extremely Paxtonish in his appearance and looks very much like one of my deceased uncles. My reception was most cordial on the part of his family and himself, and declining with much regret a pressing invitation to pay them a visit, I left his hos- pitable mansion and returned to Buckingham. On my way I stopped at Finmere church, an ancient structure, well covered HOME OF THE PAXSONS, BYCOT HOUSE, ENGLAND 163 with ivy, where Henry Paxton informed me many of the family lie buried. I was fortunate enouj,di, as I was looking among- the graves, to meet the rector of the church, who had just dropped in to see to some repairs, and who kindly inquired if he could be of any service. I acquainted him with my errand, and where I had been, upon which he informed me that Henry Paxton was a vestryman in his church, and that the family had been buried there for many generations. He pointed out the graves of several where the inscriptions on the stones were wholly illegible from the ravages of time. He also informed me, which information interested me most of all, that the Paxtons in that neighborhood were all of them my relatives ; that our common ancestor had settled there about the time of the Norman conquest, and a por- tion of his descendants have been there ever since. It was the oldest, or at least among the oldest families in that portion of England. One place in the neighborhood which he pointed out has been in the family and occupied by them for over three hundred years. With many kind wishes on the part of the rector and an offer to be of any service in the future in supplying copies of records from his church I left this, to me exceedingly interesting spot, and retraced my steps to Buckingham, arrived there in time for the train and two hours later was once again in mighty London. I may remark in conclusion that Bycot House is in the near vicinity of many scenes of great historical interest. Among these may be briefly mentioned Woodstock, at one time a royal resi- dence, and immortalized by Sir Walter Scott in his novel of that name; Kenilworth, the magnificent seat of the rich, vain and. imperious Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester, and the lover and acknowledged favorite of Queen Elizabeth. Kenilworth has also been immortalized by Scott, and its massive walls and ruined, ivy-covered towers are still a great attractions to the tourist. Crumnor, where poor Amy Robsart, Countess of Leicester, met her sad death at the hands of her faithless husband, and there is too much reason to believe with the knowledge of Queen Eliza- beth ; Warwick, and Stratford-on-Avon. the home of Shakes- peare, while Oxford, the great seat of learning in England, is at no great distance. Captain William Wynkoop and His Company "A" BY THADDEUS S. KENDERDINE, NEWTOWN, PA. (Doylestown Meeting, January 17, 191 1.) Too often, as the aged look on death, it is with a sort of cynic- ism at thought of the little note made of their exit; little more than a nine days' wonder at their going, the talk con- cerning which begins with the saving phrase "How he will be missed," or "Who is going to take his place ?" the feeling slowing down to wondering if the de- ceased made a will, and then as to what he was worth, and then, through surmise and comment, until the ninth day, when the social surface of the neigh- borhood is as little rufifled by the sinking of one who was a prominent figure thereon as a mill-pond an hour after a stone has been cast into its depths. There are times when one who has made his departure from this life remains long in the memory of the thoughtful who realize how few there are to fill the vacancy made. The memory of Captain William Wynkoop comes fittingly into this suggestion. The subject of this sketch was the son of Thomas and Eliza- beth (Torbert) Wynkoop. His father was of Dutch descent; his mother of Scotch-Irish parentage. His death occurred Octo- ber 12, 19 10, so that he was a few months beyond the three- quarter century mark, he having been born in July, 1835. Next to the late General W. W. H. Davis, Captain Wynkoop was the CAPTAIN WII