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II

1

s

TO

i;

V

OP^
^1

OLUMIUA COrNTV,
PENNSYLVANIA.

m02^

XJXE E-A^ni-IEST Xli^ES.

COrXSKLLOIt A

I

I.WV

EMVELL * BITTKNIIENDER.
IJi.o«tMsnrno. Pa.

PrDusniBS.

2=I^EI^JLCE.

ami labor wliich have been required to prepare this
been fully fo'eseen, it would not have
been uudertaken. Those who are the most competent judges of
what has been done, will be the fiist to excuse and overlook what
may have been left undone. If it had been attempted many
years ago, while the actors in our early history were still alive
much valuable information might have been recovered which is
now forever lost. We have at this day only glimpses of the earDiligent inquiry has in some
ly tinv-'s a. id til'' actors iji thu:ii.
oasu.-4 been rewarded, but in most cases no information has been
For suhstantial reasons the publication could
vouch- safed.
not be longer delayed. :ii.d what has been gathered is here prethe time
IFvohime
for the press had

sented.

An examination of lie table of contents will give full knowledge of the subject n^ fitter jii.d the extended and exhaustive index will enable the reader to turn readily to any subject he may
wish to look over. The bitdy of i!ie book >» ill sufficiently show
the authorities ad persons to whom I have been indebted for assistance and information in t' e conij)ilation of the work
ard it
I

;

;

is

only necessary here totend.r them

The

my

niost sincere thanks.

publ'shers have be ju at considerable expense in illustrating

the work, thus reudeiin^;^

it

more valuable and entertaining.

T-£^BIjE

(DIP

COlSTTEnSTTS-

y

PAGE.

8DB.Ii:(.'T*.
I

Early llistory

1

,

The Kiv.rs

9

The Fort.
Iu(,lian

13

35

Purchases

39

Organization of the Count)'

Streams
I

Mountains

;iii>1

52

and Borough'^

^•.yi;s'iiis

'

^'^^'••=^''"'

liemoval

46

and Productions

iii;>rovement8

55
.r-^Yttr

.

^9

••

65

f.

Ele (ion Returns

74

Bl- .mshui

85

tr

96

I'xrwrjck..

101

(':itawiss:i

198

.lirseytowii

> nailer

Towns

113

The Courts

1

IVio^raphies of President Judges

130

Normal School

151

(

"oiiiinon

Schools

Pop;

167

Soeiety

Au'iii^'ultural

iroiises.

.

22

.

181

184

.

Bibliuuiaphy

187

Madame Montour

195

Post OHices
Legislative

...;..
1\<

j'l

Militarv Record

<t*ntation

206
209

235

f

Brower's Building

86

Mover

88

Brothers'

Buildiiitj^

Columbia County Prison

89

Sanitarium

91

Bloom Fui nace
Exchange Hotel
Keay's Paint Works

92

Orangeville

Academy

Columbia County Court House
Hon. Warren J. Woodward
Hon. William Elwell
Normal School Building
Columb'an Building
Hon. Charles K. Buckalew

94
113

116
122

142
146

153
189
211

HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.
(JHAPTEK

1

KARI.Y IllSTOKV.

write the history
IT within the Forks of the
Susquehanna,
is

hiinlly possible to

introduction to

it,

a sketch, more or

less

of

any county

lying^

without giving as an

extended, of the celebni-

and that is especially the case with
the territory now known as Columbia county, because it is comprised within a region of country, which from Fishingcreek to the
upper end of what is now called Lackawanna Valley, was origiU'd valley in which

nally

known

as

it

lies

;

Wyoming, or in
A number

fying "large plains."

now composing

Indian,

of

Maughwauwame,

tribes

signi-

inhabited the region

West Branch;

the counties lying on the North and

but the earliest historical bands in C'olumbia t;ounty

been

tlu>

Shawanese, who had a village

(mi

the

flats

seem to have
below Blooms-

burg near the mouth of Fishiiigcreek, another at ("atawissa, lusar
(tf the present village, and also another near the mouth of
r.riann-ek below Berwick.
The Delawares were also settled
within the valley, and with some others, were under the control of
the Six Nations, and were «n-dered by them from ])oinl to point,
the site

:it

will.

The Sliawanese came from

the

(-arolinas,

and kept moving

north, until by agreement they wore

Susipiehanna, about IG97.

allowed to settle upon the
They were a brave and warlike tribe,

and gave the Proprietary Government a good deal of trouble.

HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.
•encry f^r liner than any one
Aeseription,
It is

would believe them

The denizens

ofiF

the palm of

of each are strenuous in the praise of their
to many an historical spot.
The Forks of the Sus(pieline, to he drawn from the

and point with exultation

\vn locality,

counties properly included within

'he

anna should perhaps lie south of a
f)f (Minton county at the river,
lorth Branch strikes the Pennsylvania
est line

linton, Lyconiini;.

imbia,

No

Bradford.

point where the
and would include

the

to
line

:

Wyoming,

Sullivan,

Luzerne, C'o-

Montour and Northumberland.

region of Pennsylvania has been written over with so Tuuch

and vim and

ire
ist

from any

they have not seen them."

if

not generally admitted which valley bears

eaiity.

to be

3

zest.

have labored to

The

historian, the poet

illustrate its valleys, aiwi

to

and the romanheighten,

if ))Os-

Comprising many rich and po)>loiLS countu's. to which, years ago. the hardy settlers flocked foi'
heap lands, the pleasures of the chase and the fishing-rod, its
ble,

history

)cal

own

nr
ist

the cliarins of

is

its

scenery.

peculiarly rich.

A

people for the possession

fierce

of

warfare raged

its

rich

l)etween

alluvials,

and

at

the Legislatures of the several States were obliged to interfere

Within its borders occurred some of the most
which the white and red man contended for life
Fierce and protracted were the struggles
nd sulisistence.
and
.e find marks of them not only on their very sites, but so tenastop the feud.

)

loody battles

in

;

ious

was the hold of the Lidian. that he has indelibly stamped

nomenclature upon almost every one of the streams, the mounains. the passes, and the valleys.

lis

Here no cockney has

built his

Londons,

Liverpools,

or

Man-

emigrant from "Der Faderland'' has
;>e-Khined or be-Hhoned our most beautifid river; nor have the
Teeks and valleys to [)lay second fiddle to some European localTheir nuisical, aboriginal names still cling to them, and will
ity.
;hesters

ding

to

:

no matter-of-fact

them

forever.

of them
We have Wyalusing,
Tunkhannock, Lackawannji. Wyoming, Nanticoke, Catawissa,
Mahoning, Shamokin, ('hillis(pia(jue. IMuncy. Loyal Sock, Lycoming. Towanda, Kittaning. Sheshecpiin. an<l many others.
The Indians seem to have called what is now Towanda. "'Awandse
aTid perhaps what is known as I'ine ("reek is a little ejisier
Flark to the nuisic of a few

:""

:

HISTORY OF COLUMBIA aOUNTY.

4

of pronunciation

what

is

known

as

than

the

aboriginal

Muncy Creek

was, in

"Tiadaghton,
the

native

So,

also,

«lialect,

"Oo

cohpocheny," and by some of the tribes was called"Lojigeserango."

The name Muncy was

doubtless given by the whites as

pronunciation, or because the tribes

Wolf

called the "Monseys," or

inhabiting the

easier of

region were

tribes.

Lycoming was in Indian "Locomick ;" and "Stonehauge" is by
some given as the Indian name of Loyal Sock. It, as well as
Muncy, may have been known to different tribes by different
names for Loyal Sock is undoubtedly Indian, and signifies "Mid
the explanation being that it enters the Susquehanna
die Fork"
about mitlway between Muncy Creek and Lycoming Creek. There
;

—

is

reason in

ties

my

this,

and the authority for

it.,

though

mislai<l, satis

mind.

"The Frozen Duc^k," is named from the legend
squaw having met an untimely death u})on the

Chillisqua(|ue,

of a beautiful

banks of that quiet stream.
Nanticoke and Lackawanna are most certainly Indian, and I
am informed by a Welshman that the roots of both words are
He explains them to have reference to streams
certainly Welsh.
of water, in his own language, and their peculiarities answer exa(^tly to those of the streams which they hei-e designate.
It is
impossible to say if the meaning of the words in both languages
is

the same

;

but

it is

a

little

renuirkable, that in both, the

should have reference to water,

rather

than

woods,

words

fields

or

mountains.

Born within the Forks of the Susquehanna, on the very bank
and directly at the mouth of one of its romantic tributaries, with
the tempest roar and sunny s])arkles of both streams, the most familiar sounds and sights of my childhood, and the peculiar, sweetsounding Iiulian name of each in my young ears, it is no wonder
that the region watered by "the river of the win<iing shore"
should be to me the loveliest spot on earth, and from which God
grant that war, pestilence, and famine be ever absent.
And
there is no valley in the world which for beauty of scenery, fertility of soil, salubrity of climate and facility of access
for the
mineral wealth of its hills, the moral health, hospitality, and in-f^
surpasses that lying in the Forks oi
telligence of its inhabitants
the Susquehanna, in the good old commonwealtli of Pennsylvania.!

—

—

'

HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.

5

that this valley is
not only for the things n>entiuni-.l
are fully
recollections
and
Its historical associations
cc4el>i-ited
that terWithin
respects.
w.rthv of its high character in other
tale of
plain
the
Wyoming,
Valley of
ritorv'lic's the beautiful
of the
eyes
the
to
tears
citizens hrinos
the massacre <.f whose
been
have
horrors
and
charms
whose
,nost careless reader, and
Campbell.
of
pen
magic
by
the
tainted but not heightened,
the trad oi
celebrate.l Van C'ampen followed
IIcM-e too. the
cruel handsr
their
in
j-risoner
a
as
Indians, or suffered
,lu>
B;.t

it is

some of them occurring almost
be more exciting than a rowould
i„ si.dit of where 1
Captain Samuel Brady performIn this c-hanned region,
,,y,Zv
escapes.
exploits, and made his hairbreadth
c.d ncu.v of his famous
.,

i.irrative of

whose

advent.ires,

write,

And no

greater

name than

his

brightens

the

rull

of

Indian

which Madame Montour, the
is mlu-en the hea.l, and whose name
ir.terpretess, seems to have
hills,
of
ranges
beautiful
of our most
.k.liblv stamped upon one

\lie celebrated Montour family,

of

the

forks of
and some of them are buried in the
were at
quarters
heii.1
whose
Susquehanna. Catharine Montour,
are
sons
whose
and
lake,
Seneca
Catharine's town, at the head of
also at
and
Wyoming,
of
massacre
•dle-ed to have been at the
and a woman called Queen Esther,
Ihe butchery at Fort Freeland,
and who is alleged to have been
them,
sometimes confounded with
helped
bloody rock of W^yoming, all have

liv.Hl 'ac-te.l.

died,

the executioner at the
Susciuehanna a romantic history.
to give to the Forks of the
and the
original people
Here dwelt the Lenni Leiiape, -the
were
chieftain
most illustrious
council-fires of Tamanend, their
of
first
the
on
For many years annually
kindled in its forests.
;

Mav throughout

his festival

Pennsylvania,

was

In

celebrate<l.

walked the
-Tammany"
Philadelphia, the members of the
tads, and
bucks
with
<lecorated
in procession, their hats
society

streets

;,pon reaching the

wigwam, had

a talk,

smoked the "peace

From him

pij.e,

also the celebrated

New

and performed Indian dances.
in his early youth came
York societv to<.k its name. Here, too,
He has
the Iroquois.
of
orator
and
Lo<ran, the famous chieftain
U.ft"

a

name

that

can never be forgotten

I.Uhos are admired.
',„,. "

sayest thou,

O

ohl

while

^'loq^'^'^f^;;""

Not
mourn for Logan ^
most
man eloquent Thou art mistaken,

-Who

is

there to

'

!

/[ISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.

6

disconsolate chieftain

Who

!

has not

rca.l

of

thy beloved Alvar-

and shed a tear over her sad and untimely
fate, addinjr t.) it
a (topious Hood for tlie ^n'M grief that
rent thy heart ?
Would that r had a pen that could fitly narrate the
story of the
Forks of the Susquehanna
How could a Cooper or an Irving
people its hills and valleys with ever-living
characters
Not one
of the localities made everlastingly famous
by thosi- magic writers
had half the natural beauties an.l adaptations t..
romance and song,
whi(;h lie uncelebrated and almost unknown
within the windings
etta,

!

!

of this exquisitely beautiful stream.
in the fights of the Pennamites
and

cut surveys

What romance

!

the Canadian half-breed,
best society

in

What

withering satire

lies

Yankees over the Connecti-

the history of

liberally educated,

of

Madame Montour
and mixing

Philadelphia, and anon leading the life
tramping scpiaw, witlj the roving tribe of her
husband.

in the

of

the

What

room for incident and adventure, not the imaginings
of romance
but the narratives of sober truth, in the lives of
Van Campen

and
Brady
For although thinly populated before the
Revolutionary war
that portion of the Forks of the
Susquehanna embraced within'
the original limits of Columbia <!ounty
was by no means destitute
of

!

of a place m its history.
It had its Fort Rice, located
near the
head waters of the Chillisquaque—Fort Bosley,
located at Wash
ingtonville, on the CMiiUisquaque—
McClure's Fort, on the Hats below Bloomsburg-Fort Wheeler, three miles
above Bloomsburg
on Fishmgcreek-Fort Jenkins near
Briarcreek, about Jacob
IIiU s present residence-Fort
Freeland on Warrior's Run-Boone's
Mills about seven miles distant from
the last— Fort Montgomery
about twelve miles below Fort Muncy and
not far from Bosley's
Mills— Fort Meninger at the mouth of W^irrior's
Run— and
Fort Swartz about one mile above the present
Borough of xMilton
Each of these forts h.-is its local history which
will be spoken of
in its oi-der.

The

valley

<lians, for

must have been

many remains

very thickly poj.ulated by the Inof Indian towns are pointed out
Very

extensive burial grounds are known
to exist at several places
within the Forks.
Curiosities of various kinds-mounds,
excavations and fortifications, of undoubted
Indian origin— are

found

large numbers.

Through

this valley ran

in

some of the most impor-

OF rOLVMHlA (U)UNTY.

IIISTOIIY

known

taut .ukI frcqiu'iitly travi'lcd '•wai-|»atlis"

the

villuires

you by
can put your tinker on the

Sliall

i:u'(.'.

\'oii

'.'

t}nMn out

trai-i'

I

for

in

7

liistury of

the

I'xislinjj;

roads and

on

"jjatlis"

almost

any map.
••The Slianiokin I'atli" hcijan at tlic place iii»\v called Simbury,
and continiu'd up tlie West Hiancli by tlie inoutli of Warrior
linn and an Indian town there loeali'(l, thence througli the gap

Muncy

in

town

to the

liills

of Muiicy. wliere the jiublic

road

now

passes.

"The Wyoniing

Mnncy on

I'ath" left

(Jladi' l\un, thenct' throu<i;h a

which

eni|itii's

on

the

crossed the

Lu/erne CA)unty through the

West Branch, run up

the hills to

North Hiancli

into the

miles above the junction,

Brantdi to

gaj>

Fishingcreek,

Blooinsburg,

at

creek,

twenty
(now)

passe<l into

Nescopeck gap, and up the North

Wyoming.

"The Wyalusing Path" was

trace<l

w lure the Berwick turn|)ike crosses,

up the Muncy creek, near
then to Dushore, thence to

Wyalusing creek and to the Hats above.
"The !Sheshe<juin Patli" ran u)» Bousers Run. thence to Lyi^oniing Creek, near the mouth (d' Mill Creek, thence up l^ycoming to
the lieaver Dams, thence down Towanda Creek to Sheshequin
Hats.

"The Fishingcreek

I'ath" startc*] on the flats neai- Blooinsburg,

on the North Branch.

Long

thence

I'oml,

this very path that

\

ii|i

Fishingcrt-ek to

(

)rangeville, on to near

across to Tuidvhaniiock

Cre<'k.

It

was on

an Campcn. the most piomiiient Indian figh-

on the North Branch, was captuicd. and
where 1 writ<'.

ter

within

siv miles of

Several other less im|ioitant paths led into these great thorough

and are well known in
Such are the materials for

far»'s,

their neighborhood.

The Forks of tli Susand from other points of view it
has been written
but there is the more interesting one of persoThe many books
nal a<lventure which it seems is lost for ever.
and narratives which have been written provi' the eagerness with

(pichanna.

In

detached

a h.istory of

pii-ces

;

which the
tlu'

piiblit-

desired to

different localiti«'S

know

wiru-h. by

whatevi-r
lo\»'

was remembered of
have been made

and war.

famous.

Some day

justice will be

done

to our most l)eautirul river:

some

HISTORY OF i'OLVMIilA ('OVNTY.

M

tliiy

l!ii<i,lisluii:iii

rtii

or

:iloii!4 its "vvindiiiii:

\vhi<'li

our

:i»liiiire its

coiiiit rvnieii

(Icnnjui,

:i

Irnvcl

shore"

:iii<l

:in

or

Ituli;iii

«'clcl)r:it('

its

!i

Hussiiiii, will

l)(>!iiitic'S

;

sifter

will :i\v;ikeii to its roiiiiiiice, uiid conseiil lo

valleys and love

its liills.

From

tlie

lake

wliieli

in

it

bay into which it <liseliiirges its waters, it is tiie most
tlie history of the jteople who
beautiful stream on the continent
the adlivoil upon its banks is the most mournful and romantic
ventures of its heroes the most thrillitifi' and exciting, and the
most worth V of lh:il ancient lace who roamed throuii,h its

rises, to the

;

;

forests.

/nsToin OF COL CM HI A county.

CIlArTKIi

rilllK

and

We

trihes.
(

was always a favorite stream aiiiori<^ the Iiiupon its hanks was (toveted hy all the

Sus<|M('h;iiiii;i

diaiis,

I

'onays,

tlie

II.

a resideiiee

Delawares, the ShawaneHe, the (iangawt'He, or

tin<l tlie

Monceys and others on the two brandies and

leys lying in the Forks of the Sus(jiielianna.

West Branch was

the weHt side of the
tlie

west

stream can he

i<h'ntilie(l

hy

its

Fishingereek and Hemlock

have

lost all trace

which

I

have
that

the

tlie

Indian name,

an<l

(rreen

aboriginal

be(Mi able to consult,

l»ett(i-

known than

former, almost every
ImiI

not

in

the

latt('r

and Ilnnlingdon poem to

title,

have

the val

I

an<i

in

no antliority

found any certain

cIim"

name.

to ttie Indian

And

of

niiicli

On

of the Xortli Branch.

si<le

in

But ahove the F(>rkH

is

the more singular,

paths of the different tribes

lay

atTOHH and along the streams

because the war an<l hunting
through Columbia county, and

have mentioned.
in 1778 he headed a scouting
party, tliey started from McCIure's Fort, went up Fishingcreek
about three miles to Wheeler's F'ort, thence to the head waters of

Van Canipen

uw that

tells

I

when

Green Creek, crossed over through Eves' swamp to Little Fishing
creek, thence to the Chillis<iuaque Creek, and from that stream to
the Muncy liills, aiul crossing tliem struck tlie waters of Miincy
C'reek, and tlience ascended or descended as the exigencies of t.h<service required.

came upon th< setVan Campen's fatlier and

Subse«piently. in 1780, a party of Indians
tlers

about

Wlieeler's

brother, and taking

Huntingdon
Creek,

Fort,

Moses

killed

tlieru-e

up

tlie

went uj» Big Fishingcreek to
mrmth of Little Tunkhannoek

prisoner,

creek, tlience to the
river to

Big TunkhantMMtk,

and on to Mes-

In
hoppen, Wyalusing and so by the Painted Post to AlVmny.
nfine of the narratives of such exjieditions which I have read, does

IflSTom' OF

10
the

of

(irigiiial Iinlian iiiimt'

foniiatioii
It

must

'IMu'it

;i|)|)<'ar.

the

u|»()ii

or :iny

llistorieal

here

some

oives

its iiffliiciits

authentic

iii-

eili/eiis.

<>ui-

the

that

Society

of

any

aiid

(t('siij;iiati()ii

will interest all

stil>ji'ct

thereon, from

Fisllinjj;ere<'k

CorXTY

rxiiiiA

I*''isliiiif>;fn't'k

such a

perhaps proper to add

is

Pennsylvania

tlu'

!»«•

<'<>!.

iMaj»

of

nanu'

of

llislorieal

llie

Indian

old anthority, as heing

Names-

cesepony.

Nescopeck was the only southern Imlian route i'oi' travel between WyominL!; and Shamokin. (.'omiiii;- down tlu' Susipiehanna
Coneslo^a, I'hiladel(Ml tiieir way to Kaston, Chester, Lancaster,
pliiil,

or other |tlaces for holdiny' councils, tlu'y

Wyoiiiinjx or

or plunder camt'

we have
Valley.

less

down

the

of

on

tlu'

foi-

nuirder

west side.

Consequently

other

portions of (he

than

that

river at

tlu'

ol"

Shawaiu-si' villa^'c located near where

the

oi"

n(»w stands

liloomshurt;

rivei'

krutwli'diije

name

Tlu'

left

and only pi-edatory raids

Nt'scopeck,

at

has nevei'

up

tiiiiu'd

ainon^;st

all

my

researches.

Catawissa
kn(»wdedi4;e.
in

is "yt-

I72M, and doubtless

date of "Cat aw asse,

which

most ancient" village of

and was known by that nanu'

much

May

ye

and

Inilians

.lames Le 'Port writes under

earlier.

1728,"

12,

we have any

whites

to

concernin<;-

a

ditliculty

''We always thought that the Covernor knew
itolhing of the Hight between tin' Shawaynos and the white [»eople."
And the famous chieftain Lapackpitton, w ho left his name
temporarily upon the place, was therein IT.')!.
The West liranch, as it is now calU'(l, was known to tlu' Indians by the name of Otsinachson
and I ref(M- to some of the
localities upon that rivi-r because all the t»'i-ri(orN' above I'uint
near

lliat

place

;

Township

to the

bia county.

In

Lycoming county
17')")

line

was once

Mr. Weiser writes

to the

a part

of Coliun-

(ilovernor that a

<-ompany of Indians had informed him that they intended to build
a town on the river Otsinachson. at a place called Otstuagy, oi- as
givi'n •! sew here, (>tstuacky. and desiring him to send some men
to fence a »'ornliel<l for them.

Sock, and

is

it

creek

on

June following, we

tind

nioi|th of tlu'

"Last night

I

town about

IT)

This place

is

lu'lieved to be

said that a largt' Indi'in vi!lag<"

the

north

side.

him writing

arrived safe

my

was Ux-aied

And

Loyal
at the

act-ordingly,

in

to the (Jovernor as follows

:

from Otstmu-hy, an Indian
miles above Shamokin, on tlu' luutli wi-st branch
at

housi'

leiice in

;i

corn

I

liuve

with

l.een

Kh)wer with

theiu, \\w s;iine

1

.li<l

hiici

ten

I'orthe liidiiUiH, jicconliiif;

fiehl

F:irthcr ah)nf^ in his lett<M he siiys

(M'ler."

iihoiit

where

riv<T.

(,f Si(s.|ii<'li;imi:i

W

or colAJMlilA COUNTY.

lllsrollY

"I h-fl

:

to the In.liuiis

one
(

:it

nieii to

Honors

your

1<»

sjiek of

'iinasorsij^y,

ten inih'S on this sidf of Otstuachy."

S(,, in

anollier letUT

May

sa.ne' phiee. -laU'.!

from the
2,

siitne

he

17.-»4,

Weiser,

("onra<i

Kays

:

"Last

ni-hl

from the
I

arrive.!

VVyomink, of whicli
safe from my
to hiy before you a
onh'rs
Honor's
your
hy
ol)liKe(l
think I am
April the hcvciifolh.ws
is
as
which
account,
.lislinct
an.
just
hy the way of .lohii liar
te.etith I set out from home and went
two high moun
riss an.l Thomas McKee's, being afraid of tlie
ar
Shamokin.
to
tliem
tains an.l the l)a.l road that h-ads from
of
llie
two
that
found
A|)ril,
rive.l at Shamokin th«- twentieth .)f
journey

to

Shamokin and

I

:

I

I

norlh-wetjt
Shick Cahimys Vniing al»out thirty miles .)fT on the
I sent a men
Zinachson,
call<Ml
commonly
branch of SaHc^uehannah,
an<l about
sage for tlieni, tln-n- being a great mnnber of In.iians at
the
Logan,
.lames
with
son
send
my
to
lit
thought
Shamokin.
Oskohary,
to
Li.lian
another
with
(^alamys,
son of Shi.-.k
I

him.-

Nishkibe.kon

Woyamock,

an-l

lliree

Lwlian t<»wns on Sasquehau-

Honor's message. They set out
nali (North Kast IJranch), with your
by waU-r, because tliere was
twenty-second,
the
on
Shamokin
from
no

by the way for horses. On th.- twenty-sixth
again and reported that they lo.lgedth.' lirwt

to be Jiad

f.;.l.h-r

tliey <-.ame

ba.k

chieftain, an.l Sannny
night at ()sk(diary with Lapackpitton, the
t(. James Logan,an.l
Mohock
interprete.l your Honor's message in
was well
Lapackpitt.»n
That
he to Lapackpitton in Delaware.
an.l gave
kindly,
very
them
pleased with the message, thanked
given
had
they
which
again
ba.-k
wampum

them

th.-

l,.-.-k..n,

,hi,.f.

string of

them that it was b.-st K. l.av.- th.- string at Niskiwhere there were more- In.lians. with .)i.l Nutimus, their
was from
Wh.-n tht-y arrived at Niskil>e<-kon, ohl Nutinms

him, and

t.,1.1

h..me, but

th.-

rest

..f

th.-

In-lians receive.l

th.-

message very

Nutimus and the rest of
At Woyanux-k it waH
home.
their In.lians after th.-y shouhl .-..m.n.an th.-re, was frorr. hcune
just th.- same, raxan..sy, th.- .l.i.-f
was tak.-n w.-ll
m.-ssage with an..th.-r string of wampum
kin.lly, an.l sai.l

they

w..ul.l lay

it

b.-fore

als.., th.-

by

th.)se that w.-re at hom.-.
Its.-.-nLs alt..g.-th.-r lik.-ly

that

th.-

points m.-ntione.j an- Cata-

or coiJM liiA coiwrv.

//is/oh'Y

12

Ni"sc<i|»rck ;m(l

\viss;i,
I>»'l:i\\

MIC iiMUir of

same

tlu'

(lialiTt.

(hat "(Miciiastrv,

aiikyliiikon. ihid

WilSKe,"

and that

all
1>\

MO

:ll^<>

()sk«ili:u\

tli:it

reli'ired lo

the

and Pennsylvania

h'ltci' oi'

same

the

••C'henasli-\ "

of Catawissa ereek and

James

|»laee

Catawissa mav

town

ahoiit hall

the

month ol
town of

anthoi-ities is ni\en as the

Ai«lii\t's
'Vor[

\,v

mail seariH'ly ever spells
tribes called (he

;i

it

same place

twice
l>v

Man

the

Irom

iM

I,

I,

*'("ata

and the same dilVuultv,
1>»'

intended.

ua\ between the month
lioarinn* reek
llu>

eliiel"

and mav have been the plaet' ealK'd Oskohaiy.
No two m«'n spell llu' san\e Indian name alike,

(

\\:is

tom'llur with the Indian

L*!>.'>,

.">

1, .SI

itii

Tliece was an Indian

some

pilge

III,

l*!>.">,

2hi, «Miniiiaii'd w

21").

.-ukI

;

I

("ohmial luconls

in

W'yoiiiiiiL;'

CmImw iss:i, :iii(l lliiil (lie otlicr two iiaiiu's .•ir«'
So
\\:i\v soiiu'liiucs hct'ii (lispdst'd
to tliiiik
an Indian town on tlic Susniu'lianna, spoken of

same way.

ditTcient names, as

whieli

liv

I.apaekpitttxi,

same

and

the

The

dill'erent

Catawissa and

Mau«j;hwauwame
i^ui'ss,
and seem to

>skohary, as Wyotnoc-k and Seahaut«>wano and

For \Vy(>minu'

;

distanei's are yivi'ii

depend on the strength

ot tln'

by mt>re

rower or the swiftness of the

hors»>

making- the journey
Fifty yi'ars

as^o

rtiuonn'st ol<J letti'rs

much was known which
and old newspapers some

nHH>vered and madi' to eontributi'
oftl

and ehrouohigieal

t(»

is

now

thin>;s

the personal

i't»rn'ctness of (his attempt.

lost

may

interest

;

but

yet be

and

lo

OF CO HI M HIA (BOUNTY.

insi'OliY

IIAITKIl

(

THE
ri"^IfK territory

origiritilly

J_ iorisi(k'rab]e extent.
urnhcrlaiKl county
s\\\y^\t

III.

I^OI^T3.
Columbia

cornjiOHing

It (j^nnprised

was of

«^y)nnty

portion of North-

that

all

which lay we«tofthe North Branch, exc<*pt the
Within itH first dewcribed limits were

lowtisfiip of Point.

now in S<;huylkill «'-ounty, the whole of Montour,
and the townwhipH of Chillisquaque, Turbot, LewiH and Delaware,
three towiiHhips

now

Northumb<'rlari<l county.

in

All

this,

itH

cause

and history

be more particiilarly referred to and given hereafter

will

l»ec<jrneK

what of

necessary to state the fact here, because
th«!

in

;

but

it

giving some-

revolutionary history of the county,

include' sketches of all the

torts

it
is proposed to
and military stations within its

original Vjoundaries.

had

It

ders,

at least t«!n

named and

such forts or military stations within

located as follows

its

Beginning on the North Brancli, we have "Fort Jenkins,"
ted on Ja(;ob
I'

Hill's

i^liitigcreek.

Fort," located

near

farm,

about three
just below

Hughes farm buildings

miles

bor-

:

Briarcreek

above

— "P'ort

its

Bloomsburg on the

— "Fort Rice," on the

mouth

loca-

Wheeler," on

— '"McClure's

site of the

Douglas

hea^l wat^^rs of (Jhillis-

—

Sunbury -Montgomery's
West Branch "Bosley's
Mills," on the Chillis<juaque, and supposed to be where the borough
of Washingtonville now stands
"Freelands Fort," on the War
rior tun. between four and five miles above its mouth
"Boone's
Mill,' said to be about seven miles from Fort Freeland, at the
mouth of Muddy Run "F'ort Swartz," situate about one mile
al»<nf Milton
and "F'ort Meninger,"' at the mouth of Warrior
<)iia<jue

Fort,

"

creek, about thirteen miles from

twelve miles below Mun(-y, on the

—

I

—

—

—

—

Run.
Bosi.KYs Mii.LH seems to have been an ira|K)rtant military station,

of voluMbia

rrisfonr

i-j

stockaded and held by the

neighborhood

rorN^rr.
The

militia.

earliest

August 10, 1778, in a
Speaking of the
letter from Col. Hartley to the Council of War.
posts at Jenkins on Briarcreek, and Wallace's at Muncy, and at
the head waters of Chillisquaipie which was no doubt Fort Rice,
"I have a body in the Forks of C'heles(iua(iuc," which
he adds
the maps show to be where the borough of Washingtonville
The Chillis(|uaque and tlu' forks
stands, and was Bosley's Mills.
information as to this post

is

of the date of

:

of that creek are very frequently mentioned, for

from

the forts on that

Wyoming

to Muncy.
November ;t, 1778, writing to the Executive Council the Colonel says
"The enemy have come down in force and invested Wyoming.
They have burnt and destroyed all the settlements on the North
Fort Jenkins where we liave
East Branch as far as Nescopeck.
About 70
a small garrison has supported itself for the present.

stream were

in the line of )K)sts

:

Indians were seen about 22 miles from here

[Sunbury] yesterday

evening, advancing towards the Forks of Chillis(|ua(jue, they took
*
*
*
j .j,,^ drawing some
some prisoners yesterday.
little

force together,

and to-morrow

Indians on Chillisipiaque,

if

ment towards Fishingoreek, which
peo])leof

Wyoming."

in

will

a body and

})robably

The Colonel advanced

ming, and on Noveml)er

On

endeavor to attack those

will

they keep

14,

was

at

make

a move-

be of use to the

to the relief of

Wyo-

Fort Jenkins.

Thomas Kemplen was stationed
men under his command, at "Bosley's Mills on ChillThe letter conveying that information also mentions

the 26 of June, 1779, Capt.

with the few
istjuaque."

that the muster roll of Capt. Kem|)lin

is

but

enclosed,

it

has not

would be now a most interesting document.
Fnder date of November 27, 177!', Col. Hunter recommends rebuilding Fort Muncy and putting in a garrison of one hundred
men, twenty-five men at Fort Jenkins, and a "serjent's guard at
Bosley's Mills on Chillisquake."
At this time C-apt. Kemplen was
been preserved.

It

stationed at Mineger's place on the
miles from Sunbury.

umberland, April
outposts,
Mills."

viz

On

:

9,

1780, says

Fort

Jenkins,

the 14th of

"I

:

[>ranch about

date

name

seventeen
of

North-

have manned three material

Fort Montgomery,

October,

scalped an old couple of the
(piacpie

West

Lieut. Col. Weltncr, under

1782. the

and Bosley's
killed and

Indians

of Martin, living on

the Chillis-

about one mile and a half from Col. James Murray's, and

IIISTOIIY
took three young

OF COLUMBIA

women

prisonerH, being

(JOUN^TY.

l.^i

the family that wsis

all

man and
and scalped, and was one that helped to
bury tlicrii." He complains bitterly of the pei-fidious enemy, and
of the f-al.sehood of British assurances that no more parties of sav"This old couple. Col. Hunter ^ays, being

in the house.

wife, I

saw laying

killed

ages should be permitted to be sent against the frontiers.
also that these

murders

will

prevent settlers

from

He

feais

returning, and

After
adds that the Martin family had been back only a few days.
summer of 17H0 we hear nothing more of Bosley's Mills, but it

the

would seem that the post was maintained throughout the Indian
Of Cajit. Kemplin, who appears to have been a good
and active officer the Hon. John B. Linn in his "Annals of Buffalo
hostilities.

Valley." gives the following

paragraph, [page

108].

"'In

a letter

Hunter states that Captain Tliomas
Kempling, as he writes it, and his eldest son were killed by the
In the peIndians at the mouth of Muncy Creek, in March 1781.
tition of his widow, who writes her name Mary Campleton, preMy hussented to the Assembly, September 23, 1784, she says
band aud soji, with others, went on a tour of duty up the West
Branch, early in the spring of 1781, and lying one night at the
mouth of Muncy Creek, in the morning the savages carne on them,
when my unfortunate husband and son with one William Campbell, fell a sacrifice to all the cruelties and barbarities that savages
We were
could irifiict, leaving your petitioner and six children.
driven from house and home, and so reduced that I am unable to
return to the place we had improved upon."
to (ieneral

I'otter,

Colonel

:

Fort MoNT«;o.MKRr

wa.s

Fort Muncy, and
November, 1779. there
The place is mentioned in a letter

twelve miles below

about two miles from Bosley's Mill, and

in

were forty men stationed there.
from CJol. Weltner to the Board of War, Dec. 13, 1779, as being
well situated for the defense of the trtmtier, and that the detach-

ment sent there had erected barracks and other necessary defenc^^.
the 0th of April, 1780, he writes again to the Board of War,
and speaks of Montgomery's as a material out-post, which with
After the latter
Fort Jenkins and Bosley's Mills he had manned.

On

date

I

do not

tind the place again mentioned.

FuRr Mknin<;kr, the place at which Capt. Kemplen was staNovember, 1779, is reported to have been at the mouth

tioned in

HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.

16

of Warrior's

Sunbury.

Run on

At

this

West Branch, about seventeen

the

miles from

time the Captain had but fourteen men. It

is re-

ported to have been a military post previously, and to have been

abandoned in June 1779, when McDonald made his raid into the
Nothing further seems to be known of its history.

county.

Fort Schwartz was

The

located about one mile above Milton.

mention of the place occurs in a letter from Colonel Hunter to
President Reed, dated "Sunbury, 1 7th April 1780," in which be
"Last Saturday a party of twenty Indians struck at Peter
says

first

.

Swartz's plantation about twelve

Branch.

They

killed one

miles

from here on the West
three which are now

man and wounded

town under Dr. Alison's care." He adds that a party in
came within sight of the enemy, who di'opt their packs and
Between the above date
turned up the mountain, and so escaped.
and September 18, 1780, the place must have been fortified for
in this

pursuit

;

under that date Gen. Potter writes from Sunbury, that on receiving mformation of the attack on Fort Rice, he assembled some

and the next morning marched with 170 men to Fort
On the 21st of the same month Col. Hunter writes to
"When the German Regiment marched
President Reed and says

forces,

Swarts.

:

from here I gave orders to the Frontier Companys to embody
and keep one fourth of the men constantly reconnoitering, after
garrisoning P^ort Jenkins, Fort Rice, and Fort Swartz with twenty
off

men

in

each of them."

Fort Rice

by

Sam Hunter

to have been erected
head waters of C-hillisquake about
thirteen miles from Sunbury.
It is first mentioned by Col. Hartley in a letter to the Council of War, August 10, 1778, where
speaking of maintaining posts at Muncy and Fort Jenkins, he adds
that he "was resolved to hold posts at both these extremes, and

by

is

stated

Col.

Col. Weltner's troops on the

have an intermediate one on the head waters of Chelesquaque."

It

seems not to have been molested for a considerable period of time,
but it was attacked about the 6th of September, 1780. by 300 In-

who were repulsed by the 20 men by whom the fort was
manned. In this attack on Fort Rice the enemy had killed but
one man and taken one prisoner. It was at this time and by a portion of this force that P^ort Jenkins at Hill's place was burned, having been evacuated by Col. Hunter upon information of the con-

dians,

HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.

17

Col. Hunter says "the enemy atsundown and fired very smartly, the
garrison returned the fire with spirit, which made them withdraw
a little off, and in the night they begun to set fire to a number of

toinplated attack on Fort Rice.

tacked the Fort, (Rice) about

houses and stacks of grain, which

were consumed.

In the mean-

time our militia had collected to the number of one hundred

under the

command

of Col.

men

John Kelly, who marched to the

re-

and arrived the next day. The people in the
garrison acquainted Col. Kelly there must be two hundred and fifty
or three hundred of the enemy, which he did not think prudent to
engage without being reinforced." Expresses were sent out and
Col. Purdy on the Juneate, turned his forces toward Sunbury, to
engage in the pursuit of the enemy. Volunteers and militia to
Gen. Potter
the number of several hundred poured into Sunbury.
lief

of the garrison,

coming

to

Sunbury

at this time took

command

of

the militia, hav-

ing dismissed the vohmteers, and pursued the enemy.

on
till

Muncy

to

hills,

He marched

but did not find the route taken by the enemy

the 13th, and then followed on across the country, up P^ishing-

creek,

and to nearly opposite Wyoming, where the General

writes,

enemy were found to be so far ahead as to make it useless to
At the same time, he writes that another band
follow them.
"crossed the Moncey hill near one Eveses and went up the Moncey
the

creek."

Nothing further worthy of mention seems to have occurred at
October 24, 1782, when it is related in a letter from
Capt. Thomas Robison to the Executive Council, that Sergeant Edward Lee and Robert Carrethers were sent out from Fort Rice as
and when about two miles from the fort fell into an ambusspies
cade of about eleven Indians, were fired on, and Lee was killed
and scalped- —Carrethers was missing and snpi)Osed to be taken
this post, until

;

prisoner.

Subsequent mentions of Fort Rice are merely incidental.

Boone's Fort was located about two miles above Milton on
Muddy Run, and was about seven miles from Fort Freeland. The
fort at Muncy having been evacuated, the Indians made an incursion in July 1770, and on the 3rd killed three men and took two
prisoners at Lycoming
on the 8th burned the widow Smith's mill

—

— on the 17th burned Starret's mill and
Muncy township

—and on the 20th

all

the principal houses in

killed three

men

at

Freeland's

HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.

IS

Fort and took two prisoners.
succour arrives, the forts at

Col.

Hunter writes "that unless

Freehand's and Boone's cannot stand

people behave more spiritedly."
long, but that he has never seen the
Hill was al)andoned, and
Muncy
above
thing
every
At that time
having driven in
scouting and scalping parties of the Indians
the

together and on the 23th.
the inhabitants, gathered themselves
and Indians attacked Fort Freeof July a large party of British
The firing was heard at Boone's, and Capt. Boone and
land.
men to reinforce the
Capt. Kemplen marched off with thirty-four
surrendered, and a
had
it
Before they arrived
fort at Freeland's.
Capt. Boone
under
company
the enemy met the
all

detachment of

from the fort and cut them to pieces. It is rethe fort, the women and chillated that the enemy were within
and Capt. Boone thus fell into
unguarded,
dren being outside and
The women made signs
wrong.
nothing
the ambuscade, thinking
at a little distance

to

him

four

to retire, but

men fought

commander, long

it

was too

after,

late.

Though

surprised, the thirty-

spoke of

McDonald, the British
Capt. Boone and his heroic

names

the

desperately,

and

Col.

bravery.

.

The following

are the

of

killed belonging to Capt.

Boone, Capt. S. Dougherty, J. M. McGreen, Samuel Neel, M.
Glaghlen, Natt Smith, John Jones, Ezra
and Edward CostWoods
W. McClintock, Hugh McGill, Andrew

Boone's party

:

Capt.

ikan.

another
the names of killed which are given, but
were
party,
Boone's
Capt.
of
account says that thirteen scalps
among
Boone's
Capt.
handkerchief,
i,rought into the fort in a
ye 4th., 1779,'
and Col. Hunter writes under date of "August

These are

all

them;

that there were

of the

relieving force, fifteen

killed

and two

5th. of August, that
wounded. William Maclay writes on the
list above given
The
prisoners.
made
were
men
none of Boone's
Smith, who says: "This acct. I Believe is
is furnished by Matt'w
have Bury'd the Dead, gave
the Fact as the party out yesterday

me the

List."

Nothing further appears

relative to this out-post,

though

it

was

such so long as danger from roaming
doubtless maintained
points of refuge necessary.
such
made
bands of Indians
as

Fort Fbkei.and was

situated about

four miles

up Warriors

HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.

19

Susquehanna about five miles above
Hunter
to be "a little fort near Muncy
Milton.
It was six and a half miles north of
hill, called Fort Freeland."
Milton, and half a mile from Warrior's Run Presbytei'ian church.
There was a gristmill
It is first spoken of as a fort in 1770.
The Freebuilt near there by Jacob Freeland in 1773 or 1774.
land two story log dwelling house, which constituted the fort,
run,

which

eini)ties into

It is said

seems to have

by

the

Col.

l)een picketed in the

fall

of

within the i)ickets half an acre of gi-ound.

and were about twelve
party were from Essex county,
close

feet

high.

New

Jersey.

of Ajtril 1779, a scouting party of

seven of the militia

men

1778.

It

contained

were set
PVeeland

Tlie timbers

The

On

the

20111.

Indians killed or captured

stationed there, but

it

was

iu)t until

28th. of July following that the real attack on the Fort

the

was made.

There were at the time forty or fifty women and children in the
fort, and by some accounts thirty-two men, and by others only
twenty-one. At daybreak on the 28th. of July 1779, a party of
about three hundred, consisting of British and Indians, commanded by Cajjt. McDonald, surrounded the fort. There was
but little ammunition, and Mary Kirk and Phebe Vincent inmiediately commenced to run their spoons and plates into bullets.
The distress of the women and children and the want of ammunition made successful resistance hopeless, and about nine o'clock
John Little and John Vincent cona fiag of truce was raised.
after consultation agreed u})on the
and
(bicted the negotiations,
following articles:

—

AuricLKs OK C.vprm.ATioN, Four Frkki.and 1779. Articles of
capitulation ent'd into Between Capt'n. John McDaniel on his
Majesties ])art and John Little on that of the Congress.
Tlie men in (Tarrison to March out and Ground
Aurici.K 1st.
their .Vrms in the green, in front of the fort, which is to be taken
Agreed
in Possession of immediately by his ^Majesty's Troops.
too.

2dly. All .Men Bearing .Vrnis are to Surrender themselves PrisAgr'd too.
oners of war and to be sent to Niagara.
3d. The Women and Children not to be Strip'd of their cloathing nor Molested by the Indians and to be at Liberty to Move
Agr'd too.
down the country where they Please.

JoHX MoDoXAI.I),
Capt. of Rangers.

John

Litti.k.

HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.

20

Samuel Hunter, under date of " Suuhury August ye 4th.
graphic account
"There Avas in the
garrison at the time twenty-six men and fifty women and children,
who is all come in safe the fireing at Freeland's was heard at
Boon's Mill, about seven miles distance, where a number of the
Captains Boon and Kemplen marchinhabitants had collected.
ed off witli thirty-four men to reinforce the Fort at Freeland's,
but was met a little way on this side by a number of the savages
who surrounded them immediately our men behaved with great
bravery for some little time, but being overpowered by numbers
was almost cut to pieces our loss there was fifteen killed and
two wounded. Among the dead is Capt. Boon and Capt. Saml.
Dougherty, two very good men."
Col.

1779," gives the following

:

;

;

;

was

It

came

uj),

after the surrender of the

so

many

of

whom

fort

that Capt. Boone's party

were uselessly slaughtered by the en-

emy.
In the fort but five men were killed, viz James Watts, John
McClintock, William McClung, James Miles and Henry Gilfillen.
Thirteen scalps of Capt. Boone's party were brought into the fort
:

pocket handkerchief. Among them was Capt. Boone's.
The whole garrison left the fort by twelve o'clock, and the women and children reached Northumberland, about eighteen miles
in a

having eaten a bite during the
that night, not
Col.
Smith writes
to President
Reed from
whole day.
Sunbury, August 3rd, 1770, that he is there "with sixty Paxtang
boys and intends to follow the savages. He reports that fifty
two women and children and four old men came safely from Fort
distant,

He

—

is great
the town
county
Noithumberland
houses,
barns, wheat,
now composes
Such devastation he has not yet
stacks of hay, all is consumed.
The surrender of Fort Freeland and the defeat and death
seen.
Col. Hunter writes
of Capt. Boone left every thing exposed."
under date of July 29th, "The town of Northumberland was the
frontier last night, and I am afraid Sunbury will be to night,"

Freeland.

says the distress of the people

—

And he begs for assistance, as well he might, seeing the helpless
women and children flying down the river, many of the husbands
and fathers

slain,

and those yet

alive

going

off into

hopeless cap-

tivity.

It

would be interesting now

to

know who were taken

prisoners,

HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.
and wlio returned from the captivity.

We

21

have only the names

of Beujaiuiu Vincent, Michael Freeland, Bethuel Vincent, Daniel

Vincent and Capt. John Little.
Daniel Vincent had been married a short time before he was
Upon the
taken prisoner,to Miss Angelica Heuff of New Jersey.
capture of lier husband she returned to the home of her parents,
and for a period of something like four years, heard nothing from
One evening she was out with a sleighing party, and havhim.
ing stopped at a tavern, a roughly dressed stranger happening
She was
there, inquired if a Mrs. Vincent lived in that vicinity.
himself
to
her
notice,
whereupon
he
introduced
him,
out
to
pointed
The
and soon convinced her that he was her long lost husband.
hilarity of the party was doubtless much increased by this unexpected but joyful reunion; which as I aju informed by a de.'icendant, took place at the tavern, and not, as reported, after the party
had broken up and on the return home.
Capt. Little returned to find his wife, deceived by false inforExmation of his deatii in captivity, inavric(l to another man.
Letters detailing liis death were })roved to
planations ensued.
have been received, their falsehood was evident the false husband Med the country, and the })air so long and cruelly separated

—

were re-united.
I add a most interesting and
Benjamin Patterson, the hunter, published in
At the
Judge Mc Master's History of Steuben county. He says
Mkirmish of Freeling's Fort in 1779, he and his younger brother
Robert fought in the party of Capt. Hawkins Boone, and narrowFreeling's Fort on the West Branch
ly escai)ed with their lives.
of the Susquehanna, had been taken by a i)arty of Tories and
Lidians, the former under the connnand of McDonald, a noted
loyalist of Tryon county in New York, and the latter led by
Hiakatoo, the husband of Mary Jennison, the white woman. Capt-

To

tins sketch of Freeland's Fort

graphic narrative of

:

Boone's party of thirty two, volunteered to scout in the neighborhood of the ca}>tured Fort, and to attack the enemy if it could be
I

They advanced

cautiously and succeeded

in concealing themselves in a cluster of

bushes overlooking the

advantageously done.

Both Tories and Indians were engaged in
cooking or eating, while a single sentinel, a Hne tall savage, with
a blanket drawn over his head, walkeil slowlv to and fro. Boone's

<;ami» of the enemy.

I

HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.

22

by platoons of six. The sentry sprang inwhoop and fell dead. The enemy yelling frightarms and opened a furious but random fire at their

men commenced

firing

to the air with a
fully ran to

unseen

foes.

Boone's

men

Their

Ijullets

lay hid,

rattled

through the bushes where

but did no mischief.

dians and tories was dreadful.

The

thirty

The slaughter
two rangers

of Infiring

by sixes, with the unerring aim of frontiersmen, shot down one hundred and fifty (so the story runs) before
Boone's men with strange indiscretion,
the enemy broke and fled.
rapidly and coolly

in pursuit, and immediately exposed their
Hiakutoo with his Indians made a circuit

rushed from their covert

weakness of numbers.

and attacked them in the rear, while McDonald turned ujion their
"Save yourselves, men, as you
They were surrounded.
The enemy closed with tomahawks and
can," cried Capt. Boone.
front.

This part of the fight occurred in the midst of the woods.

spears.

The rangers broke through their foes and fled with such success
that many escaped, but their Captain and more than half his men
were

killed.

Patterson further relates the particulars of his own escape, with
others of the rangers, and their pursuit by a party of the enemy,
while on the return trip to Niagara.

The

discrepancies in these

several

narratives

are

in

a great

measure reconciled by the fact that each writer told what he saw
and knew, without observing what was the condition of affairs at
other [)oints; and having no persons with whom to compare and
But the killing of one
correct their respective remembrances.
hundred and fifty Indians and Tories at Fort Freeland on that
occasion seems to need confirmation, and is certainly not sustained
by any authority which I have consulted. "The hunter" seems to
liave been drawing upon his imagination.

McClure's Fort

vv.ms

located on the North Branch

of the Sus-

quehanna, "on the farm of Mrs. McClure, about one mile above
It was built by
Lieut. Moses Van
the mouth of Fishiugoeek."

Campen

in 1781,

and occupied

tlie

exact

site of

the

present dwell-

ing house on th^ farm of Douglas Hughes, below Blooiusburg. Sev-

had settled along th(i rivtr andon theFishingcreek and
was a central point for the dai ing Indian fighter. Hei e he gathi r
ed his stores, and from this point proceeded on his excm-sions through
eral families
this

HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.

23

was while he held his headquarters at McClure's
no doubt a pleasant rendezvous to him, as he
married a daughter of Mr. James McClure subsequently, that news
was brought him of the assembling of a body of three hundred
the wooils.

It

Fort, which was

Indians at Sinnemahonitig,

with the

They were

making

intention of

a de-

and
upon all the settlements on the same day. Lieut. Van Campen communicated the intelligence to Col. Hunter, who selected a
party of five to go out in disguise, reconnoitre and ascertain their
movements. The company consisted of Capt. Campbell, Peter
Grovf. Michael Grove, Lieut. Cranmer and Lieut. Van Canipen.
and was under th^- command of
It was call'-d the Grove party

scent on the frontier.

to divide into small parties

fall

Van Camf»en is
whose company
Van Campen belonged, in a letter to President Reed, dated Septernber 8th., 1781.
The expedition was highly successful, and
soon after the return from the Sinnemahoning, the Lieutenant
Van

Campeii.

corroborated

Thi-<

i'l

a

1

statement made

-tter

C

from

ipt.

in the

life

of

Robirison, t>

returned to his headquarters at McClure's fort, and entered again

upon the

service of

No

settlements.

pen was

made

conducting scouts

further mention
prisoner

in

the

is

made

spring of

around

the line

of the fort.

1782, about

of the

Van Camthe Bald

Eagle creek on the West Branch, and was not paroled until near
January 1783, and upon his exchange he was ordered to WilkesBarre, where and above which post, he remained until November

when

was ratified and the army diswas dead, and the family was then
Major Van Campen followed, and
living near Northumberland.
McClure's was again his headquarters.
He remained with the
McClure family and tarm for several years, and then removed to
Briarcreek where he remained for five yea's, whence in 1795 he
removed to the state of Nfw York. He died in Livingstni
county between 1845 ajtd 1850, aired nearly ninety years. I find
no ace 'unt of any adventures or any hair breadth escapes related
about th's fort, and if there is a tradition of any I should be glad
to ha-e it put m writing.
1783,

banded.

the

Treaty of Peacn

Mr. James McClure

WiiKr-'.i.Ku's

Fort.

In the spring of

1778 Lieut.

Van Campen

was in connnand under Col. Hunter, of a comj)any of six months
men, raised for the protection of the frontiers, and with these h

HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.

24

was ordered to proceed up the North Branch of the Susquehanna
mouth of Fishingcreek, and following up this three miles
to a compact settlement located in that region, build a fort for
to the

the protection of the inhabitants.

He

selected for a site the farm

whence it was called Wheeler's Fort. It was
built with stockades, and was sufficiently large to accommodate
all the families in the neighborhood. Before the fort was entirelycompleted, a runner brought word of an approaching band of Indians.
The inhabitants lied to the fort, and their houses and
barns and grain and furniture were delivered up by the savages
Then the fort was attacked, but it held
to the devouring flames.
out against them.
By evening the ammunition being nearly expended, Van Canipen sent two men to Fort Jenkins, about eight
miles off, on the river at Hill's place for a supply.
They returned before morning amply provided, and the remainder of the
night was spent in running bullets and preparing for a renewal of
the fight on the approaching day.
The attack was not resumed.
This was in May, 1778.
"What loss they sustained we could not
ascertain, as they carried off all the dead and wounded, though,
from the marks of blood on the ground, it must have been considerable.
The inhabitants who took shelter in the fort had built a
of a Mr. Wheeler,

yard for their cattle at the head of a small flat at a short distance
from the fort, and one evening in the month of June, just as they
were milking them, my sentinel called my attention to some
movement in the brush, which I soon discovered to be Indians
There w^as no time to be
making their way to the cattle yard.
lost
I immediately selected ten of my sharp-shooters, and under
cover of a rise of land got between them and the milkers. On ascending the ridge we found ourselves wuthin pistol shot of them
I fired first, and killed the leader, but a volley from my men
In the
did no further execution, the Indians running off at once.
mean time the milk pails flew in eveiy direction, and the best

—

—

runner got to the fort

first.

The poor

equally frightened,

cattle

leaped the fence and ran off in every direction into the woods,

with their

tails

in the air

Van

and bellowing

at

a most terrible rate.

and
was no danger, as laughable as can well be
imagined.
But though it w^as an amusing scene to us to the
timid women and girls it was a serious fright, for when we returnIt

was, continues

to us Avho

knew

Canqjen, a scene of confusion as wild,

there

;

IIISTOEY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.

25

ed, we found them trembling with agitation, and their faces [tale
from fear. Yet they soon recovered their accustomed feelings,
and as soon as they learned that there was no danger, were ready
to laugh with us at the display which they had made of their

bravery."

Wm.

Maclay writes

to President

"I will not trouble

1780.

Reed from Sunbury, April

you with the

distress of

2,

this county.

will no doubt be painted to the council in lively colors, and
indeed the picture cannot be ovei'charged, nor should I at this
time write to you, but foi- a strong belief and persuasion that a

They

body

of Indians are lodged about the

They were with

creeks.

snow
gone.

Many

us

to

the

head of Fishing and INIuncy
very beginning of the deep

they are with us now before that snow is quite
This country might be examined. This is what we wish.
of our hmiters who went late last fall into that country

last ja'ar,

(which

is

a fine one for hunting) were

so

alarmed with constant

reports of guns, which they could not believe to be white men's
are not strong enough to
that they returned suddenly back.

We

examine this country and dislodge them." Mr.
But the inhal)iMaclay's conclusion seems to have been correct.
tants in and about Fort Wheeler do not appear to have had any
apprehensions of danger, and early in the spring began to return
The only narrative we have of that raid upon our
to their farms.
settlements is the one given by Lieut. Van Campen, which is here
spare

added

men

:

to

"My father's

house having been burned in the Indian deme to go with him and a younger

predations of 1778, he requested

brother to our farm, about four miles
tions for building another,

distant, to

and raising some grain.

make

prepara-

But

little a]»-

prehension was entertained of molestations from the Indians this
season, they had been so completely routed the year before.

We

March, accompanied by my uncle
left the fort about the last
and his son, al)out twelve years old, and one Peter Pence. We
had been on our farm about four or five days, when on the mornof

we were surprised by a party of ten
was lunged through with a war-spear, his
throat was cut and he was scali)ed, while my brother was tomahawked, scalped and thrown into the fire before my eyes. While
I was struggling with a warrior, the fellow who had killed my
father drew his spear from his body and made a violent thrust at
ing of the 30th. of March,
Indians.

My

father

HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.

26
me.

me

I

shrunk from the

turned

it

s]>ear,

and the savage who had hold of
it only penetrated my vest and

with his hand, so that

They were then satisfied with taking me prisoner, as they
had the same morning taken ray uncle's little son and Pence,
though they killed my uncle. The same party, before they reached us, had touched on the lower settlements of Wyoming, and
killed a Mr. Upson, and took a boy prisoner by the name of Rogers.
We were now marched off up Fishingcreek, and in the afternoon we came to Huntington, where the Indians found four
shirt.

white

men

at a

sugar camp, Avho fortunately discovered the In-

dians and lied to a house.

we, the prisoners, were

Having encamped and made

tied

and well secured,

on one side of us and five on the other
course, and leaving the

sued their

;

in the

five

their

fire,

Indians lying

morning they pur-

waters

of Fishingcreek,
touched the head waters of Hunlock's Creek, where they foiind
one Abraham Pike, his wife and child. Pike was made prisoner,

but his wife and child they painted and told Joggo Squaw, "go

home."

They continued their course that day and encamped the
in the same manner as the day previous. It came into

same night

my

inind that soinetimes individuals performed wonderful actions
and surmounted the greatest dangers. I then decided that these
The
fellows must die, and thought of the plan to dispatch them.
next day I had an opi)Ortunity of communicating my plan to my
fellow-prisoners.
They treated it as a visionary scheme for three
men to attempt to dispatch ten Indians. I spread before them
advantages that three men would have over ten when asleep and
that we would be the first prisoners that would be taken into
their towns and villages after our army had destroyed their corn,
that we should be tied to the stakes and suffer a cruel death. We
had now an inch of ground to fight on, and if we failed it would
only be death, and we might as well die one way as another.
That day passed away, and having encamped for the night we lay
In the morning we came to the river and saw their
as before.
canoes up Little Tunkhannock Creek, so called they crossed the
river and set their canoes adrift.
I renewed my suggestions to
dispatch them that night and urged that they must decide the
question.
Disarm them and each take a tomahawk and come to
close work at once.
There are three of us plant our blows with
judgment, and three times three will make nine, and the tenth
;

;

;

II

ni;STORY OF COLVMBIA COUNTY.
one we can

kill at

our

They agreed

leisure.

after that take possession of the

the four, and the other

them.

kill
first

guns and

to

fire

21

disarm them, and
at the one side of

two take tomahawks on the other

side

and

observed that \Aould be a very uncertain way, the

I

shot fired would give the alarm, they would discover

the prisoners, and might defeat

Peter Pence was chosen to

had

I

us.

it

to be

to yield to their plan.

the guns, Pike and myself to tom-

fire

wood to give them a good
ahawk we
The prisoners were tied and laid in their places. After I
was laid down one of the Indians had occasion to use his knife
cut and carried plenty of

;

fire.

;

and I turned my foot over it and concealed
they all lay down and fell asleep. About midnight I got u}>
it
and found them in sound sleej). T slij)ped to Pence, who rose j
he did the same for me
cut him loose and handed him the knife
ami I in turn took the knife and cut Pike loose, and in a minute's
Pence took his station at the guns.
time we disarmed them.
Pike and myself with our tomahawks took our stations I was to
tomahawk three on the right wing and Pike two on the left.
That moment Pike's two awoke and were getting up. Here Pike
proved a coward, and laid down. It was a critical moment, and
their heads turned up fair I
I saw there was no time to be lost
dispatched them in a moment, and turned to my lot as per agreement, and as I was about to kill the last on my side. Pence shot
and did good execution. There was only one at the off wing
his name was Mohaw^ke, a stout, bold,
that his ball did not reach
daring fellow. In the alarm he jumped off about three rods from
he dropped

my

at

it

feet,

;

;

;

;

;

;

the

fire

;

he saw

the war-whoo}>.

it

was the prisoners that made the

He

quick to i)revent him
myself.

me

;

I

As

I

attack, giving
I was
him and

darted to take possession of the guns

—the
my

raised

contest was then between

tomaliawk he

;

turiu'd quick to junq)

from

my

tom-

followed him, struck at him, but missing his head

the back of his neck

he
and
we clinched, his arm was naked
I fell full length by his side
he caught me around my neck, at the same time I caught him
with my left arm around the body, and gave him a close hug, at

ahawk stuck

in his shoulder, or

pitched forward and

fell

—

at

rather

the same time

my

foot

;

sliiijied.

;

;

the

same time feeling

In our scuflle
the

wounded

for his knife, but could not reach

my tomahawk

dropped

shoulder, and almost

out.

suffocated

it.

My

head was under

me

with his blood.

III^TOEY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.

28

we both rose
a violent spring, and Vn'oke from his hold
same time, and he ran it took me some time to clear the
blood from my eyes my tomahawk was covered up, and I could
not find it in time to overtake him he was the only one of the
I always have had a
party that esca[)ed. Pike was })owerless.
Pike
was
trying to pray, and
devotion.
christian
for
deference
Pence swearing at him, charging him Avith cowardice, and saywe were niasters
ing it was no time to pray he ought to fight
of the ground, and in possession of all their guns, blankets,
then turned my attention to scalping
I
match coats, &c.
them, and recov<iing the scalps of my father, brother, and others.
We kept our
I strung them all on my belt for safe keeping,
ground till morning, and built a raft, it being near the bank of the
river where they liad encamp- d, about fifteen miles below Tioga
Point; vve got all our plunder on it, and set sail for Wyoming, the
Our raft gave way, when we made for land,
ne;ire.->t settleni'Mi'.
and we lost C'lnsiderable jjioperty, though we saved our guns and
amnuuiition, and took to land; we reached Wyalusing late in the
aft-Tiu^on.
C uii to the narrows, di:<covered a smoke below, a
that a party of
raft lying at the shore, by which we were certain
I

made

;

at the

;

;

;

—

;

'

Indians had passed us in the course of the

day, atul halted for the

There was no alternative for us but to rout them, or go
over tlie mountain the snow on the north side of the hill was
we knew from the api)earance of the raft that the party
dee})
must be small we had two rifles each my only fear was of
nighl.

;

;

;

Pike's cowardice.

;

To know

the

worst of

it

we agreed

that I

should ascertain their number and give the signal for the attack
I

crept

down

;

the side of the hills so near as to see their fires and

saw no Indians. I concluded they had gone hunting
and that this was a good opportunity for us to make off

packs, but
for meat,

with their raft to the opposite side of the
nal

;

made

river.

they came and threw their packs on the

I

gave the sigwhich was

raft,

and paddles we drove
had got nearly out of reach of

of small, dry pine timl)er; with poles

her bi-iskly aci'oss the river, and

when two

of them came in
we soon got under cover of an
and went several miles we had waded deep creeks through
the day the night was cold we lauded on an island and found
a sink hole, in which we made our fire
after warming we were
alarmed by a cracking in the crust Pike supi)Osed the Indians
shot,

;

island,

;

;

;

;

;

—
;

JlItiTORY

OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.

had got on the

29

island, and was for calling for quarters
to keep
him quiet we threatened him witli his life; the stepping grew
plainer, and seemed coming directly to the fire
I kept a watch,
and soon a noble raccoon came under the light. I shot the raccoon, when Pike jumped up and called out, "Quarters, gentlemen
(piartei-s, gentlemen."
I took my game by the leg and threw it
down to the fire. "Here, you cowardly rascal," I cried, "skin that
and give us a roast for supper." The next day we reached Wyoming, and there was much joy to see us
we rested one day, and
it being not safe to go to Northumberland by land, we procured a
canoe, and with Pence and my cousin, we descended the river by
night we came to Fort Jenkins before day, when I found Col.
;

;

;

;

Kelly and about one hundred

men encam])ed

out of the foit

;

he

came across from the west branch by the heads of Chillisquaque
to Fishingcreek, the

day, where

my

brother was burnt, a part of him only Mas to
Col. Kelly informed me that my mother and her chil-

be found.
dren were
see

me

;

my

father and uncle,

wise.

end of the Knob Mountain, so called at that
he had buried my

father and brother were killed

in

the fort, and

it

was thought that

I

was

killed like-

Colonel Kelly went into the fort to prepare her mind to
I took off my belt of scalps and handed them to an officer
;

Human

to keep.

She had just

lost

nature was not sufficient to stand" the interview.
a husband and son, and one

had returned

to

take her by the hand, and one, too, that she su[)posed was killed.

FoKT Jkxkins was
The
man

on the farm of Jacob Hill, about six
and about twenty rods from the river.

built

miles above Bloomsburg,

was probably a dwelling house originally built by the
whom the fort was named, for Mr. Hill says that a low
j)lace where he built his house was said to be the cellar of a house
l)uilt by Jenkins.
It is first mentioned as a fort in a letter of
August 0th 1778, addressed to Lieut. Col. Zebulon Butler by Col.
Haitley he says "I have established a post and a work is built
at one Jenkins' about six miles below the Niscopeck Falls.
There
is to be
strengthened to-raoiTOW;
is now a garrison there which
fort

after

—

:

when

I

am

reinforced

should you not

my

wish

think yourself

is

to extend our post to

able to maintain

ming, you are to march your troops to
I

have mentioned."

Wioming

yourself at

Wio-

Jenkins' Fort, at the place

In a letter from Col. Hartley to the Council

OF COL UMBIA CO UNT Y.

IfhSTOR Y

;^0

—

"All the
Simbury, August lOlh. 1778, he says:
people of the West Branch above Wallace's (who lives near Munso on the Northcv) had tied and evacuated their settlements
I was reeast Branch, all above Nescopeck Falls were gone
of

War,

ihiU'ii

—

solved to hold posts at both these extremes, and have an intermediate one on the head waters of Chellesquaciue— tlure had been a
small work began near one Jenkinse-i about five miles from NescoIn Novem
pi'ck Falls, near Briaicrtek, this I have garrisoned.''
ber,

1778,

information was brouglit

Indians were

in force

Col. Hartley

to

that the

about Wyoming, and that another b:ind was

moving tovvards the forks of the Cliillisqiiaque and had taken
He says
"I am drawing some little force
some ])risoners.
:

togetlur and to-morrow
the Chillisquaque

if

will

—

endeavor

they keep

to

attack those Indians on

a body and

in

make

a

movement

towards Fishingcreek, whidi will probably be of use to the p( ople
The ent-my does not seem to have approached the
of Wyoming."
settlements

on the

and the

Chillisquaciue

Fishingcreek, owing

and on the 14th of Novem:"
ber he writes to the Council from "Fort Jenkins, near Nescopeck
"•The etiemy are in force between here and Wyoming.
Tliey seem
very intent on plunder, by their desolations near this place they
expected the Frontiers to give way, but the good countenance of
doubtless to the Colonel's promptness

;

;

this garrison has

saved

all

In

belovv."

1770,

April,

INfr.

INFaclay

and deprelations have been committed

writes that "Massacres

at

Wioming, Foit Jenkins, Fishingcreek [Fort AVheeler], Freeland's
Mill, Fort Muncy and Loyal Sock,
almost at one and the same
time."
And Lieut. Hunter writts on April '27111 that on the Sunday preceding, the Indians attacked the inhabitants near Fort
Jenkins and had taken two or three families prisoners, but about
thirty

men from

turned

the fort

Indians, however, drove

out and

rescued them.

The

them

under cover of the fort with a loss
of three killed and four badly wounded.
They burned the houses,
killed the cattle and drove off a number of horses.
In May 1779

was a family of four persons
Branch opi)Osife to Fort Jenkins.

there

tory has

moved

come

to

my

his regitnent

Fort Jenkins vacant.
to

knowledge.
towards

But

in

and scalped on the North
Nothing of their name or his-

killed

In July following. Col. Hartley

Wyoming

and

November

send 25 men to Fort Jenkins for "the

left

Lieut.

Fort Muncy and
Hunter proposes

sui)port of the distressed

HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.
iiihal/itants."

December

Col.

Lund.

Weltner writes

13, 1779, in reference to the

— "I

to

the

31

Board of War,

posture of several fortH on

found Fort Muncy on the West and
Fort Jenkins on the East Branch, with the magazine at Sunbury,
In
to have been the only standing posts that were occupied."

his

taking

command

:

March, 1780, another raid was made, the
from about two

Indians carrying
miles

seven or eight prisoners

and

in

writing

of

about 30 men at

Lieut,

it

Hunter

Fort Jenkins which

sayB

:

above

— "Now we

was not able

away

the fori,

have but

to spare

men

enough out of the garrison to pursue ihe enemy that carried off
Who they were I have not been able to ascertain.
the prisoners "
The few men at the fort were unable to maintain it. It was <l;uly
becoming moie insecure. The Indians weix' gathering round and
the terriHt'd inhiil)itanls were fleeing for

They

tlieir lives.

setin

t(^

have stretigtheuL-d the place shoitly afler, for, on the 9th of Apiil,
"I have
1780, wiiting from Northumberland, Col. Weltner says:

—

manned three material out
gomery and Bosley's Mills."

posts, viz.

In September, 1780, a descent

Fort Jenkins, Fort Mont-

was made by about 300 Indians

and Tories, and an attack made on P'ort Rice, on the upi>er Chillisquaque, which was repulsed but the Indians burned and destroytd ever} tiling in their power along the whole frontier, and
Lieut. Hunter hearing of the advance on P^oit Rice, ordered the
evacuation of Fort Jenkins, which, with all the buildings about it,
was burned by tlie detachment of the enemy which moved up the
North liranch. It seems never to have been rebuilt. Mr. Jacob
;

Hill

furnishes

—

the

following

information

in

relation

to P^ort

was about twenty rods from the river, and
It stood
about half the distance from the North Branch canal.
upon the very spot upon which my house now stands, "^rhere are
no remains left above ground, but I think there might be some
There is a very low spot
piects of the logs buiicd in the ground.
between my house and barn which is said to have been the well
inside the fort.
There is also another such a spot near my house,
and about four rods from the former, which is said to be the cellar of a house built by Jenkins, and in digging the cellar for my
house my hands found a quantity of stone which I took to be the
foundation of some building, among which were some brick of

Jenkins:

'"Its

location

rather singulai dimensions

about four or

five

feet

under ground.

HI.STORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.

32

I well recollect

when

the poets of the fort stuck out of the ground,

bat they can no more be seen.
are

in the vicinity

This

is all I

ing upon

can

tell

scattered with

you about

around

and

The

this

it.

posts

The

were oak.

arrows

fields

Indians use.

such as

There has been so much buildmarks of the fort are
all

spot that

almost invisible."

Columbia
enough to
stimulate inquiry and produce additional history of them, if any
In his "Annals of Luzerne county,"
exists, not already in print.
the Hon. Stewart Pearce mentions a "Fort Freedly, on the North
Branch, below Uloomsburg," and in another place speaks of it as
"Fort Freedley, near Bloomsburg, where Capt. Boone and others
were slain." It is most evident that Mr. Pearce is mistaken.
There was no Fort Freedley neai" Bloomsburg, and the fort where
Mr.
Boone was killed was Fort Freeland, on Warrior s liun.
Pearce also says that Capt. Walker erected Fort Jenkins, and
charges that Van Campen claims that honor.
Certainly no such
claim is made in the ''Life of Van Campen," and I cannot account
for the inadvertence.
Mr. Pearce asserts that Fort Muncy was
built by Capt. Walker.
It was so built in 1778, under Col. Hartley, but it was also as certainly abandoned and substantially destroyed, and remained so, in December, 1779.
Maj. Van Campen
says tliat in March, 1782, at the head of Capt. Robinson's company he was ordered "to march to a place called Muncy, and there
rebuild a fort which had been destroyed by the Indians in the
year 1779." I see no reason to question Major Van. Campen's
veracity in this matter.
He was certainly with Capt. Robinson in
June 1781, and in September 1781, and in April 1782 Col. Hunter
writes to Vice President Potter that Captain Robinson is then at
Muncy and is rei)airing the Fort. Besides, Van Campen's Narrative was written and published at a time when, if false, it could
and would have been contradicted by many a living witness. I
am furnished with the following letter by a gentleman who shows
himself competent to speak on the sul)ject:
"You are no doubt
aware that certain sapient historians have endeavored to make
Abraham Pike the Hero of the killing of the Indian captors instead of the hated and despised Pennamite, Van Campen.
AbraThis

is all

the information concerning

county which

I

am

able to present here,

the

forts

but this

in

is

HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.
ham Pike was
himself and

33

little good for
wandering around from house to

a rather worthless fellow, doing but

still less

to others,

house retailing his Munchausen tales, thereby securing his whisky,
warm corner by the lire, on the strength of his wonderful exploits as related by himself. I have heard an incident re-

bread, and a

lated of

him

for

which

at this distant <hiy

I

cannot vouch.

He had

procured the services of some one of the many "historians" of the
Wyoming Valley to write hL» "memoirs"; the ready writer proceeded until he came to a ciwe of sheep stealing in which Pike

had been engaged; the writer

as

an honest man insisted upon init should

while Pike swore roundly that

serting the transaction,

tlie "memoirs" of this wonderful man
and <leprived the worhl at large of a full knowledge of his
My father was well acciuainted with the boy Rodheroic deeds.
jrrs, who Van Campen relates was captured from the Wyoming

not be put down, which cut

sliort,

(•ttlements

and was present

the same story that

at the killing of the Indians.

Van Campen

did not contradict Pike unless specially appealed
old fellow's whisky and living
his self glorification.

depended

Pike died as he

surdity of Pike's claim to killing the

He

told

and furthermore said he

did,

in

to,

as the poor

a great measure upon

The

lived, a pauper.

Indians

in

ab-

ordinary times

\v<juld have been hooted at, but at that time the passions of Y^ankee and Pennamite ran so high that almost any tale reflecting to
the discredit of the Pennamite was received without question.

.Moses

Van Campen was

a

man

of considerable

aliility,

great ener-

and proved by his being
.;;y and undouV)ted courage, as is seen
chosen to command in such dangerous times, and his continuance in
positions requiring courage and ability. His friends and associates
were mostly men of daring courage, among them old Colonel
Salmon and others of our county, who wouhl never have counte-

nanced a man with the slightest tinge of cowardice

in a

}josition

of command".
It

may

be as well to add here,

u|»()ii

the general subject of these

the following extract from a letter

of Col. Weltner to the
Board of War, dated Sunl>ury, Deceml>er IStli, 1779. He says:
"On my being ordered down from Wyoming the first considerati(jn which engaged my attention
with regard to posting the
troops under my command was to find what position Col. Hartley
and the other gentlemen who had preceded me in this command
forts,

lll.sroin'

34
Ii;i(l

on

I

found Fort

Fast Hrancli

Mimcy

I

Sunbury

to

I

Joiikiiis

havo been

This position
endeavored to revive.

tliat wcri' occiiiiiod.

havo nrvcr sinco heard censured)

Hunter whom

West and Fort

on the

witli tlu' mao^a/.inc at

only slandinu; posts

tlu'

I

lakoii.

(lie

OF CO TATMB IA COUNTY.

eonstdtod was of (he same opinion; Ihe

(wliicli

Col.

only

dif-

on some place (Mpially well adapted to cover the
frontier as Fort Muney was; Fort Muney having been evacuated
MeClnng's wsis agreed on, and a, det;ichnient of
;iii(l destroyed

iieulty

was

to

fix

—

the troo])S accordingly took ])ost there

The

tlie

r)th

troops, l\owever, found this ])lacc so void of

barren of timber that tJiey

of

hist

s]ielt(>r

were obliged to abandon

it,

niontli.
an<l

so

the in-

formation given to council of the def(>nces erected at this place
bi'ing totally false

moved

to

a,

and groundless.

])lace called

''I'his

detaclunent accordingly

Montgomei'y's, nearer to Bosley's Mill and

McClung's.
having erected barracks and other necessary d(>fences, and their vicinity to liosley's Mill being not more
than about two miles distant, makes another ])ost thert' (ptite uneipially well situated for the defentn' of the frontier as

At

this jtlace. the troojts

lU'cessary at ]»resent."

niSTOILY OF

(JO

LC AimA CO (J NT)

cHAi'Ti:!;

HIKltK wen-

ri

riion-

I

tlic soil

aU<'ii))»tH, rrioro

or Iohh honoHt,

of

July,

ill

vurioiiH

State of

th<!

KJHl,

Staiiwix, on

an«l

the; site

I*eniisylvania.

the

of lands within

charter

the

the;

York,

th(!

tiist

indiutiH

|»iir(;haH(;

in

at

at

Fort,

the

Kri<!

|»ro)>iietarieH,

tJie

1708.

final

'i'he

)>iirchaHe

and

l;y

Fort M<;Intosh,

now

to

was

in

th(;

l>(;aver,

Th<M-e W(!re rej>eated and )»ersist<Mit allegations

of fraud and for;>ery
a)»i)areiitly well

'I'lic

of

and

HiicceHsful

lens

hounds was made

(-omiiion wealth,

in <^)etohc'r, 17H1.

A

under

last,

or

titl<r

the jiresent town of Koiik;, on

of

Xew

of

the

to <livcHt

canal, in the State of

name

i\

made hy

tin- Indinii-.

nnd -omf- of ihcMi were

founded.

'general diseussion relating

\.i>

all

tlie niattt^r.s in di,s]jnte

was

had at the council at F^aston in July and Aii«^ist, IToO, ..when and

where the Governor, Hon. VVilliam Denny, and four memhers of
council and ahoiit forty citi/-<Mis of I*hilad(;l|)hia met 'J'eedyuHthe I>eiia))i and VV'anaini, two
ciiiij^, the Delaware chief, king of
Delaware tribes, and of tli^- .Monseys and MohickoiiH. At an adjourned council at the same |)lace in November, 1750, the same
Hubj(!Ct was l»rought u)», and when the Governor askcid tin; chief"This ground
tain to Htate his grievances, the I^eiawarc said
tliat is under me, (stamping with his foot,) is mine and ha,s been
taken from me by fraud and forgery," and he )»roc(;eded to explain and insist upon his view and construe'tion of the treaties and
At a subsequ<;nt council at Easton in
deeds of (conveyance.
])rincij»al parties, the same chargeH
the
same
between
17o7,
July,
were made and pressed home. Again at Fvaston,in October, I7oS,
liis

:

a deed was executed r(;leasing to the Indians a

the territory (;mbraced

in

culty wfiM not settled, and
.\t tlif

that of July, 1754
it

;

large

amount of

but the whole

diffi-

W!is U)> again in 1701.

council in July. 1757.

at

P^aston,

Teedyiiscung discus-

36

HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.

"As
among other things
certain
boundawant
to
have
Wyonien,
we
we intend to settle at
ries tixed between you and us, and a certain tract of land fixed,

sing the question of unsold lands, said,

;

which it shall not be lawful for us or our children ever to sell, nor
you or any of your children ever to buy. We would have the
boundaries fixed all around agreeable to the draught we give you,
(here he drew a draught with chalk on the table,) that we may
not be pressed on any side, but have a certain country fixed for
for

own use, and the use of our children forever."
To this the Governor replied "As to the lands between tShamokin and Wyomen, the proprietaries have never bought them of

our

:

them under any Indian
with
the
choice
they had made of
pleased
was
purchase; that he
use
all
the
means
in
his
would
and
i)Ower to have
place,
that
these lands settled upon \\\w\ agreeable to his request," &c.
The draft made by the Delaware chief, as nearly as it can be
traced from the copy before me, begins on the west bank of the
Susquehanna opposite the mouth of Shamokin creek below Sunbury, thence to the mouth of Lycoming creek, thence along the
east bank of it, by what were known as Burnett's hills, south
of Towanda creek, and in an easterly circular direction to near
Honesdale, and from that point in a southwesterly direction to
the beginning. The territory thus demanded and agreed to be
set off to him for the tribes he represented, comprised about
2,000,000 of acres, and included, in whole or in part, the counties
of Union, Lycoming, Bradford, Sullivan, Wyoming, Wayne, Luzerne, Columbia, Montour and Northumberland.
Houses were
built for them at Wyoming, and missionaries sent to them.
But the great chieftain did not long enjoy his rest.
He was
burned to death in his own house at Wyoming in 1763, but
not without suspicion of arson and nnu'der
and within five
years thereafter, was held the treaty at Fort Stanwix, already
mentioned, whereby not only the aforesaid Wyoming Reservation, but also a large body of other
lands were purchased.
This treaty included the territory, in whole or in part, of the
counties of Northumberland, Columbia, Luzerne, Wayne, Sus(^uehanna, Bradford, Lycoming, Clearfield, Indiana, Armstrong,
Cambria, Somerset, Fayette, Westmoreland, Allegheny, Washington, Greene, Clinton, Montour, Sullivan and Wyoming.
the Indians, and therefore never claimed

;

:

JII.STOIiY
Even before

OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.

37

1768, the country between Hliamokia
have been pre'tty well knowji.
It is not
my purpose to enter upon any examination or narration of tlie
Pennsylvania and the Connecticut claims to the lands within
If Connecticut had succeeded
the charter limits of oiii- State.
in her claim, most of the present county of Columbia would
the line passing
have been included within her boundaries
west would have crossed at the mouth of Fishingcreek, which
latitude, which
is as near as possible on the 41st parallel of
was claimed to be the southern boundary of Connecticut. But
it is referred to here mairdy because it introduces to us for the
first time the name of a prominent settler in the county.
In January, 1769, Charles Stewart, John Jennings and Amos
Ogden took possession of the lands claimed by Connecticut, in the
name and on behalf of Pennsylvania, and on the 8th of February,

and

this date,

Wyoming nmst

;

1769, a

body of Connecticut men appeared on the ground.

putes and l)loodshed succeeded,

time to time; and

among

eacli

Dis-

party being I'eiiiforced from

the most determined opponents of the

Pennsylvania government were some Lancaster county men, who
probably had some personal grievance. Be that as it may. Captain

and in pm-suance of
from Shamokin to Wyoming.
On
•Friday, May 12th, 1769," he wiites to "The Honorable John
Penn, Escpiire,'' a letter from which I make the following extract
"Sir: This afternoon about three o'clock, one hundred and
forty-six New England men, and others, chiefly on horse-back,
passed by our houses and are now encamped on the east side of
Among them is Benjamin Shoemaker and John Mcthe river.
I si)oke to McDowell,
Dowell, with several of their neighbors.
who informed me that at least as many more are on their way,
And I have other intelligence that
and will be here to-morrow.
If this be true
tliey will in a few days be five hundred strong.
C^harles Stewart continued to hold possession,
his duties travelled fretiuently

we can

only act defensively until reinforced.

At

present

we

are

but twenty-four men.

"On my way up

the river from Shamokin, on Wediies(hiy evewas hailed by a man at the mouth of Fishing creek,
named Jaines McCIure, who told me he and foui' others, then at
a tire hard by, was an advance i»arty of one hundred going to
johi the New England men, and that they would chiefly be from

ning

last,

I

HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.

3H

L.aucaster coiinty; that he wduhl he at

hut
It

lie is

Wyoming

as soon

as us,

not yet come."

does not appear whether Mr. James MeChire and the one

liundred

In the progress
men marched on to Wyoming or not.
we shall tind him next at the same mouth of

of this history

Fishingcreek as

a

settler,

taking up

Pennsylvania authorities and holding his
taries.

^1

p

a tract of land under the
title

from the

proi)rio-

:

UIISTORY Oh COLUMBIA COUNTY.

CHAPTER

30

V.

THE countycounty

from tlie territory of which
was taken, originally extended northward
It was organized March 27, 1772,
to the borders of New York.
and took in all the valley of the West Branch, and with small
It conexception the whole northeastern portion of the state.
tained 28,922 square miles, a territory almost as large as Connecticut, Delaware, Massachusetts and New Jersey combined.
At the first ('ourt held in that County, April 9, 1772, I find
of

Nortliiiiii])ei'laii(l,

C'olmiihiii

the following mimite of the formal opening:

"At a court of private sessions of the peace held at Fort Augusta
Northumberland on the ninth day of April
in tlie twelfth year of the reign of our Sovereign Lord George
the Third, by the Grace of God of Great Britain, France and
Ireland, King, Defender of the Faith, and in the year of our
Lord (jod one thousand seven hundred and seventy-two, before
for the county of

Williani Plunkett, Esq.,"

\\u\

among

<fec., <fec.

other matters of business transacted, "on motion

made, the said county of Northd., or as nmch of the extent of the
as is now purchased from the indians, is divided into the

same

following townships, to be hereafter called and
u;inies of

PeniTs twp., x\ugusta twp

—Turbutt

known by

twp

the

—Buffalo twp

— Bald Eagle twj)—Muncy twj) — and Wyoming twp."
Columbia and several

otlier counties

were comprised within the

three townships following, to- wit

"Augusta

—beginning

at

the

mouth

west side of Susquehannah, thence

of

Mahantango, on the

with the county line crossing

Susquehannah to the mouth of Mahantango, on the east side,thence
with the same county line up Mahantango to the sjtread Eagle in
the forks of said Mahantango, thence into the said county line,
east northeast to

tlie

old line fonneily run for a division Vjetween

TIISTOEY OF VOZ ZAMBIA COUWrY.

40

Berks Mild Nortliainjtton Coniitios, llu'iice by the siuiic old lino
Northwest to the Kast bvaiieh of Susquehanna, thence down the
sanu' to Fort Anixusta, thence crossing 8us»)nehannah and down
tln'

same

all

that portion of the

Tims

to the i»hu'e of lieginninu'."

inclu<rmo-

county lying east of the

all

or nearly

river.

—

beginning on the east side of Sus(|uehanna at
Augusta thence up the easterly side of the n(M-tlu'ast brancli
to till' old liiu' formerly rini for a division between in'rks and
Northampton counties, thence by the same line northwest to the
"Turbutt

Ft)rt

to])

of IMuncy

ITill,

tlience along the

the west brant'h of SusipuOiannali

west side and

down

the

same

toj)

an<l

of

tlie

same westerly to

crossing the

sanu' to

to the junction of tlie brajiches

tlie

and

crossing Sus(|uehannah to the place of beginning so as to include
the Forks and Island."

.And so including Avith other lands the whole, or nearly so, of

what

is

now

the County of IMontour.

"Wj'oming

— Beginning

the

at

Lycoming, thence

heads of

southeast to INfuncy Hill, thence along the top of the same west-

between Berks and Northampton,
same line to the present County line,
thence by the lines of the County to the bounds of the present
purchase near Chenango, thence westerly by the bounds of the
present i)urchase to the beg-g at ye heads of Lycoming aforesaid."
Comprising the greater portion of Columbia County, and at
erly to the old

division

line

theiu-e southeast along the

least four of the northeastern

coimties besides

were, however, included in Luzerne, which was

all

;

\\

ciit oflF

hich latter

fnun "North-

umberland, September 25, 1786.
In the year 1772 Mr. James Mc CI u re settled niton the west hank
of the north branch of the Susquehanna river, about one niile

above the mouth of Fishingcreek,

what is now Columbia
farm from the heirs of
William Penn under the nanu^ of ''McClure's Choice." The McClure tract was originally in the application of Francis Stewart,

county,

lie obtained a

dated April

8, 17(59,

and

side of the north east

i)atent

is

for

in

his

described as follows:

"On

the west

branch of Susquehanna near the mouth of

Fishingcreek, adjoining land applied for by William Barton."
The survey was made June 3, 1760 and contains
acres and is

298f

called
6,

"Beauchamp."

1772.

A

large part

The McClure Patent is dated November
of West Bloomsburg is built upon the old

JI [STORY

McCIure survey. On the

OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.

41

among tlie <;<HimiitmemherH for Wiomiiig township, Mr. James McClure, Mr. Thomas Clayton, Mr. VvU'X MelCol. James McClure, who
ick, whose families are still here.
tee of safety

we

find

8tli

named

of f^ebruary, 1770,

as the

died lipon the old homestead on October
est

son of the original proprietor, and

born

in this section

of

Pennsylvania.

4,

was

1850,
tlie

was the young-

first

white child

His mother was a Miss

and his eldest sister mairied Major Moses Van Campen, a
famous Indian fighter in this neighborhood, wliose e.Yjdoits border sometimes on the marvelous.
Esj)y,

same year of 1772, Evan Oucn locutcd hi(ris<'lf on
mouth of P^ishingcreek, and abovf; Mr. James McClure came in their order TViomas Clayton, John Doan, Jolin
Webb, George Espy, the proprietor of P]spytown, and theGingles
family.
There was also, previously to the Revolution, a settlement at the mouth of Briar creek. The majority of these settlers
V}elonged to the Society of Friends.
McClure's house was made
use of as a fort from the commencement of the war, as was also
In 1781 McClure's was surrounded
the building at Briarcreek.
by an enlarged stockade, occupying the very spot of the ]>reseiit
homestead upon that fann.
(Columbia county was taken from Northumberland and Kej>arately organized by act of Assembly of March 22nd, 1813, with
the following boundaries, to wit; "Beginning at the nine mile
tree on the bank of the nortlieast branch of the Susquehanna, and
Witliiu

a

fann

tlie

at the

from thence l>y the line of Point township to the line of Cliillisquaque township, then by the line of Chillisquaque and Point
townsliips to the west branch of the river Susquehanna, thence up
the same to the line of Lycoming county, thence by the line of
Lycoming county to the line of Luzerne county, thence Vjy the
sanie to the line of Schuylkill county, thence along the

same

to

the south-west corner of Catawissa township, thence by the line of

Catawissa and Shamokin townsliijis to the river 8usquehann;i, and
thence
]..

down

said

river to the jdace of beginning." V. L.

]8]'-5.

1 -jO.

There can be no doul)t
were originally

TurV)Ot

tliat tlie

townshi])S of Chillisquaque and

incoi-j^orated

into

Columbia county

in

order to secure the location of the county buildings at Danville;
for the commissioners ai)pointed

by the Governor

to select a site

HI8T0RY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.

42
for

county town were

tlie

rt'quirc'd

to

lix

"uh near the center

it

and Danville having been
named in the report of the said connnissioners, and the object
being thus achieved, an act was passed, and approved the 21st
day of February, A. D. 1815, by which it was provided "That
from and after the first day of May next, the townships of Turbot
and Chillisquaque, in tlie county of Columbia, be, and the same
as the situation thereof will admit,"

are hereby

annexed

to

and made

i>art

of

Northumberland

county.""

P. L. 1815 p. 38.

On

"To run and mark a line dividing the
became a law. P. L. 1815 p. 43.
The seeming trick by which the county seat of the new county
had been fixed at Danville, and the prompt re-annexation of the
two townships of Chillisquaque and Turbot to that from which
they were taken, provoked a spirit of indignation and opposition
the same day an act

counties of Columbia and Luzerne"'

An

in the ujjper part of the county.

agitation for the removal of

the seat of justice from Danville to Bloomsburg, as a more central

and moi*e in accordance with the letter and spirit of the
Columbia county, innnediately conunenced, and continued until success crowned the endeavor, by an act apju-ovedthe
24th day of February, 1845, just thirty 3^ears after, authorizing a
vote upon the question of removal.
The detailed result will be

location

act erecting

found under that chapter in this volume.
Ill the meantime,
however, so active and

new movement

liec<nne

"removal" party.

first

it

became

day of

May

next,

following described bounds, viz
Chillisquaque

thence by the
tour's

t

of the Chillisquaque

Harrison's road

Turbot and

the

at the

corner of Point

Columbia county,
the summit of Mon-

line of

called Strawbridge's road crosses

road to where

the road from Wil-

Chillisquaque meeting

past

Deny

thence by the line

to the

John Muiray's, thence by

at

townships

of

and Tur-

lying within the

intersects said road, thence

over Chillisquaque creek

county,

is

by said

son's mills to Danville

beginning
in

townships along

lines of said

said mountain, thence

corner of

:

townships

mountain, to where what

called

tlie

providing "That from and after

that pai

bot townships, in the county of Northumberland,

and

was

determined

necessary lo conciliate the

Accordingly, on the 22nd day of January, A.

an act was approved,

D. 181 G,
the

that

in

Columbia

bridge

what

is

house to the

the line of

Lycoming

county to the

place of

HISTORY OF (JOLUMIilA (JOUNTY.
beginning,

and tbe same

be,

part of Columbia county."

The

are liereby

P. L. 1816,

43

and made

annexed to

p. 6.

and Turbot which were thus re-anCohimbia became the townships of Liberty and Limestone, now in Montour county.
This action of tlie Legislature
took, for a time, much of the vim out of the removal party, but
the snake was only scotched, not killed, and as the northern townsliips increased in population and wealth, and citizens found thempait8 of Cliillisquaque

nexed to

the whole

selves obliged to travel nearly

length of the

county to

reach the court house, the question again loomed up.
It rt'ceived

act ai)pi-oved

a

new impetus when the Lngislature, in
March the 3rd, j)rovided "That all

Columl)ia and Luzerne counties
viz.

lying within the

1818, by an
thai

pan of

following

lines,

:

Beginning at a corner in the line dividing the county of Columbia from the county of Schuylkill, thence extending through
the township of Catawissa north ten dea^rees east four miles and
a half

to a pine

tree on

the

little

mountain, thence

Catawissa and Mifflin

through the townships of

extending

north forty five

mountain and in a
county of Luzerne,
Sugarloaf in the county of Lueight miles to the line between

degrees east five miles to a stone on Buck's
line dividing the

county of Columbia from the

thence through the township of
zerne, south seventy

degrees east

the county of Schuylkill and the

county of Luzerne, thence along

the said line and the line between the county of Columbia and the

counry of Schuylkill to the place of beginning," should be annexed
to the county of Schuylkill,

and be called "Union" township." P.

L. 1818, p. 130.

Thus shorn

of her

fair

proportions

upon the

one side and the

we were dismembered, and the
Montour was erected from the territory of Columbia, by

other, once more, in the year 1850,

county of

May 3rd, by the following boundaries "All that
Columbia county included within the liniits of the townships of Franklin, Mahoning, Valley, Liberty, Limestone, Derry,
Anthony, and the borough of Danville, together with all that
portion of the townships of Montour, Hemlock and Madison lying
westward of the following line beginning at Leiby's saw mill on
the bank of the Susquehanna, thence by the road leading to the
Danville and Bloomsburg road, at or near Samuel Lazarus' house,
an act approved

:

part of

:

J/I^TOBY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.

44

thence from the Danville and Bloomsburg road to the

back valley

road at the end of the lane leading from said road to Obed Everett's honse, thence by said lane to Obed Everett's house, thence
northward to the school house near David Smith's, in Hemlock
township, thence by the road leading from said

school

house to

the state road at llobbins' mill to the end of the lane leading from
the said road to

John Kinney's house, thence by a straight

line to

John Townsend's, near the German meeting house, thence to
Henry Johnston's near Millville, thence by a straight line to a post
in the

saw

Lycoming county

mill,

line

near the road leading to Ciawfcrd's

together with that part of Roaringcieek

township lying

south and w(St of a line beginning at the south-eastern corner of

Franklin township, thence eastward by the southern boundary line
of Catawissa township to a point directly north of

by a direct
the Schuylkill county lir'S

bouse, thence southward

house, to

Barry township."

On
ation.

P. L. 1850,

p.

line,

at

John Yeager's

including John Yeager's
the

north-east corner of

658.

first of November following the act was to go into operThe excitement over the matter was intense, heightened by

the

the recollection of old contests over the question ot the removal of

the seat of justice from Danville

to Bloomsburg.
Every interest
succumbed to the dominant question of "Repeal," and the ptople
went into the election contest on that issue. Finally by an act approved the loth day of January, 1853, the division line was changed, and now remnins as follows
"The township of Roaringcreek
in Montom- county, and such parts of the townships of Franklin,
Madison and West Hemlock in the same county as lie eastu ard of
the adjusted line between Columbia and Montour counties hereinafter prescribed and established, shall be, and the same are hereby
re-anne.xed to the county, and shall hereafter compose a part of
the territory of the said county of Columbia as fully and effectually
as if the same had never been included within the limits of Montour county.
That the line between the said counties of Columbia
and Montour shall be changed and re-located as follows, to-wit
beginning at the Northumberland county line, at or near the house
of Samuel Reader, thence a direct course to the center of Roaring:

:

creek

in Franklin township, twenty rods above a point in said
creek opposite the house of John Vought, thence from the middle
of the stream of said creek to the Susquehanna river, thence up

HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.

45

same to a point opposite where the present county
between Columbia and Montour strikes the north bank of the
river, thence to the said north bank, thence by the present division
line between said counties to the school house near the residence
of David Smith, thence to a point near the residence of Daniel
Smith, thence to the bridge over Deerlick run on the line between
Derry and Madison townships, thence by the line between said
township of Madison and the townships of Derry and Anthony to
By the same act, what was then
the line of Lycoming county."
Madison township in Columbia county was re-named Pine, and the
parts of Madison which had been set ofif to Mount Pleasant and
Hemlock were re-annexed to the old territory of Madison by this
act reverting to Columbia county, and remain Madison township.
the centre of the

line

P. L. 1853, p.

As
a

2.

at i)resent constituted,

little

Columbia county contains an area of

over four hundred square miles, and a population of nearly

thirty-three thousand.

-I-

g

\

K:zsc^

i

'^

•»-

HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.

46

CHAPTER

VI.

STI?,E^=i.lbv£S ^^IsTID l^^OTJISrT.^kll^

TIIKIIE

is,

perhaps, no County in the State

watered as Columbia.

This

is

which
owing

doubtless

is

so well

to the hills

and which, shedding their Avaters in
County arid or unfertile. It is
impossible to designate, even by name, the multitude of runs and
brooks wduch, through the dry summer season, feed from their
mountain springs the larger streams which pour their waters into
the beautiful Susquehanna, which traverses the County for a distance of nearly twenty miles, entering it at the line of the Borough of Berwick, and leaving it at the Montour County li^ie.
Bounding upon it on the north-west side are Berwick, Briarcreek,
Centre, Scott, Bloom, Montour; and on the south-east Mifflin,
Main, Catawissa and Franklin. The river is crossed at Berwick
by a bridge, at Mifflinville by a rope ferry, at Stonytown, in

which

div'ersify its surface,

all directions,

leave no part of the

Centre township, by another rope ferry, with a third at Espy,

in

by a bridge
near the mouth of IJoaring

Scott township, with a fourth opposite Bloomsburg,
at Catawissa,

and with a rope ferry

creek.

Catawissa Ckkek

rises in Schuylkill

county and runs through

Main and Catawissa
and empties into the North Branch Susquehanna at the point
where the townships of Catawissa and Franklin strike the river.

the entire length of the townships of Beaver,

Its largest feeder is

Scotch run, which, rising

Beaver, drains the Scotch

Valley, and

lengtli of the township, enters the

after

Catawissa

in

the townshi}) of

passing the whole
in

Main township.

RoARiN<i Crkek rises in the township of Koaringcreek, thence
through Locust into Catawissa, thence back into Locust, thence
through Franklin, striking the line between Franklin and Mayberry in Montoui- County, and becoming the boundary line to

HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.
where

it

eiu{)ties into

the Susqueliauiia

The south branch

the Catavvissa.

yiighani townsliip. running

;

about three

47

niiles

below

of Roaring creek rises in Con-

and at its confines
boundary line between Locust township in Columbia County and Northumberland,
and thence turning north into Franklin, empties into Roaring
creek about six miles above its mouth. The Indian name of the
stream is "Popemetung."
its

entire length,

striking Nortlnnnberland County, becomes the

Hkju.ock Cukkk

Madison township, runs through HemMontour and Hemlock for a short distance, and empties into Big Fishingcreek
about one mile aV)ove its mouth, and about one mile from the
town of J31oomsburg.
rises in

lock and becomes the boundary line between

Scotch Run

rises just

beyond the Columbia County

line in

Lu-

zerne county, at the foot of Nescopec mountain, and runs along
Its

base the whole length of Beaver township, and empties

Catawissa creek, near Mainville

in

Hazletoii ik Wilkes-Barre railroad

from

its

length.

mouth to its source. The stream is about
Long ago, but no longer known, as a fine

Beaver Rin
more
post

falls

fifteen miles in

trout producer.

Beaver townshij) on the Luzerne County
westwardly for a distance of ten miles or
into Catawissa creek not far from the Beaver Valley

and after

line,

into

Main township. The Sunbury,
lies on the bank of Scotch run

rises in

a course

office.

LrrrLE Fishinc.creek enters the county at the Lycoming county

and in its course becomes the boundary line between the
townships of Pine and Jackson, then Pine and Greenwood, then
(rreenwood and Madison, then Madison and Mount Pleasant, then

line,

Mount Pleasant and Hemlock, and

entering Big P^ishingcreek

about four miles from its mouth, at a point where Bloom, Mount
Pleasant and Hemlock join, and receiving in its windings various
small streams, as Black run, Sjiruce run. Bear run, and others.

Bk; Fishingchkek, west branch, enters the county from Lycoming at the north corner of Jackson township,and the east branch
tlirough a gap in the mountains from Sullivan county into the
township of Sugarloaf on the lands of Craig, Blanchard

&

Co.;

HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.

48

theuce south through Sugarloaf to about the centre on the west
side, where the two branches meet, theuce nearly to the south

end of Sugarloaf where

it

receives Cole's creek,

ton, near the south-west side

of

which

it

thence into Ben-

receives

West

creek,

thence through and into Fishingcreek township, nearly to the

—

it receives Huntingdon creek
a large affluent
from Luzerne county theuce by a westerly course into Orange
where it receives Green creek, thence south-west to the boundary
line between Orange and Mount Pleasant, thence to the Susquelianna river as the boundary line between Orange and Mount
Pleasant, Scott and Mount Pleasant, Bloom and Hemlock, and
Bloom and Montour; reaching the river about two miles below
Bloomsburg, at Rupert, on the Catawissa and Lackawanna &
Bloomsburg railroads.

south point, where

—

Briarckekk, Big and

Little,

have their heads

in the county.

larger stream rises in Centre, flows eastwardly through
length, into

its

The

whole

and through Briarcreek township, and empties into

the Susquehanna about three miles below the borough of Berwick.

The

smaller rising in Briarcreek

township and flowing through

nearly south, emptying into the main stream about

it

from

its

The Indian name

mouth.

of the stream

is

two miles
"Kawanisho-

ning."

HuNTiNunoN Creeic rises
fed by springs and runs

Long Pond, in Sullivan county, and
Fairmount and Ross townships in
Luzerne county. It enters Columbia county near the south-east
corner of Fishingcreek township, and falls into the Fishingcreek
a few miles above Orangeville.
is

Cole's

Creek

rises in

in

in

Sugarloaf townsliip, in Columbia county,

and runs south, entering Fishingcreek

at

Alinas Cole's mill,

Cole's creek post-office.

Green Creek

rises in

Jackson township, and runs south, meeting
It was one of the Columbia

the Fishingcreek near Orangeville.

county coal

oil locations.

Ten Mile Run
variously through

on

its

Township and after meandering
and absorbing several little brooks
into the Susquehanna, a mile below the

rises in Mifllin
its

winding way,

rich soil

falls

HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.
Grist

village of Miffliiiville.

iiiillR

and

saAV mills are

49

found on

its

route.

Many

beautiful and sparkling

ows and pasture

and to the

feitility,

known

little

streams brighten the mead-

giving to the citizen health, to the

lands,

air salubrity.

Some

of those

soil

whose names are

are given.

Painter Run

in

Sugarloaf township

is

also one of the tributaries

of big Fishingcreek.
L.vte's

Run

rises in

Pine and tiowing south-east

falls into

Fish-

ingcreek not far from Luther German's in School District No.

Lick Run

rises

in Pine, takes

Fishingcreek at Sereno post

Shingle Run,

rises

in

course and enters

a south-east

office.

Pine and gathers up several smaller

brooks, and meets Fishingcreek in School District No.

Spencer's

Run

rises in

3.

Benton and

1.

Fishingcreek.

falls into

Ravkn Creek, which is (juite a stream, rises in Benton township,
formed by two considerable branches, and running south through
entire length into Fishingcreek

its

townshi}), falls into the Fish-

ingcreek at Stillwater.

Pine Creek rises in Luzerne county and running southwest falls
Huntingdon creek in Columbia county, in Fishingcreek town-

into

ship, at

Jonestown.

Bear Run rises in Mount Pleasant and em})ties into Little Fishingcreek at Mordansville post office.
Stony Brook

rises in

Orange township and

falls into

Fishing-

Madison, at the upper end and

falls into

creek a mile above Lightstreet.

Spring

Run

rises in

Little Fishingcreek at

the corners of School Districts Nos. 5 and

8.

Mugser's
falls into

Run

rises in

Locust township and running westwardly

the south branch of Roaringcreek near

the

junction of

Franklin township and Northumberland county.
Mii.i, Creek rises in Roaringcreek township and
branch of Roaringcreek near Cherington's.

falls

into a

HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.

oO

Cai'.in Ki n rises in Centre township und empties
quehanna on the farm of Levi Aikman.

KiNNEv't*

l\i N,

a

little

stream emptying; into the Sus<|uehann:i

at the foot of INFarket street, and

buriT

was once known

to the raft

Mui> CuKEK, which
Chillisquaque,

by which the

men and

Madison and

joins

IMontour county,

\yashingtonville in

townshij) of Liberty empties into the

locality of Blooins-

others.

in fact, properly, tlu>

is

in

rises

into the Sus-

East Ihaiich of the

the

Chill isipiacjue at

and passing through the

West

the Susfpie-

lirancli of

hanna, in Chillis(|ua(|ue townsliip, near the foot of INLontour Ridge.

Limestone

Run rises

in the

county, and runs westwardly

West Branch
1>KVKU

township of that name

in

Montour

through Turbut township, into the

at jNIilton.

RiN

Limestone and runs eastwardly into Chill-

rises in

isquaque.

Touv Run
quehanna

rises

at the

Malioning township and

in

Gas Works

falls into

of the State Lunatic

the Sus-

Asylum, above

Danville.

Beaver Run

rises in

Liberty township aiul runs into Noi thumber-

Innd County and emi)ties itself into the Chillisquaque.

The

C.vr.vwissA mountains give character to

all

that })artof the

county lying east of the river. Between Bloomsburg and CataAvissa, the river, which lias been running a south-west course, suddenly turns south and breaks through the mountain range instead
Some terrible convulsiou must have
of passing down the valley.
caused the chasm through which the winding Sus(juehanna
its tloods,

and the scenery along "The Rocks"

picturesque.

The

hill

Montour county, and

gradually breaks

is finally lost

down

as

is
it

j)Ours

beautiful and
stretelies into

in the gentle dei)ression.

But

on the east side of the river, casting off a sj)ur here and there, it
breaks the whole face of the county into great irregidarities. Between Catawissa and Centralia two distinct ranges of mountains
bar the way, and upon the farther side of the second we strike
the coal measures of

tlie

try differing materially

Schuylkill region, and enter upon a coun-

from

all other parts of the county.
LTpon the opposite or west side of the county the vast ranges

HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.
(jf tlie

Muiicy

hills strike in,

iiiid

51

Kceni to enclose us witliin their

and passing on to the north end we encounter anotlier hrancli of the great Alleglieny range eiiv<'lo)iiiig
])rotectiTig

convolutions

;

us on that side.

NoK mountain rises abruptly in the to\vns)iij» of Orange,
and extends iiortli-eastwardly into Lu/erne county, where it also
<leclines to the level of tlie surrounding country.
Along its }>ase
rushes Huntingdon creek,

wliich

county, and, ]»assing through

a

rises in

part

of

Long Pond
Luzerne,

in

Sullivan
into

ein|)ties

Fishingcreek just at the edge of the township of that name,

whence together they continue to, and pass round its western
its wooded sides and seek the green valleys tliat lie on

leave

eiul,
tlu;

Susquehanna.
Xescoi'eck mountain extends from Black creek

in

Luzerne

(coun-

down at Mainville.
and is now being pros-*

ty westward into Columbia county, and breaks

and regular in its fomiation,
Scotch Valley lies south of it, and beyond the
narrow slip rises McCalla mountain, in wliich there is a large de>
]»osit of coal.
It Vireaks down at about Mifflin Cross-Roads.
BeMcCalla
mountain comes Beaver Valley, and beyond that
yond
Buck mountain, which slides down into the valley some distance
above Shuman's.
A map of the county, giving plainly the names
of streams, hills and mountains is gi'catly needed.
It is beautiful

pected for coal.

Montour's ri<lge extends from the West Brancli above Northumberland eastward, by Danville, to a point north-east of Bloomsburg, where it breaks down and sinks away to the level of the surrounding country. It is a beautiful ridge and rich in minerals;
and derives its name from a celebrated Indian family of that name
whose history and exploits will be related as fully as they have
been rescued from oblivion, in a subsequent chajjter.

HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY

CHAPTER
AND

IMrU<>Vli:\lKNTS

rril IK

piihlic

i-(>:i(ls

of

the

good

]»ossil)le

by the

l'U(

»I)IGTI()NS.

county are iiuinerous, and new ones

J^ are constantly being opened,

county

VII.

sliortest

making

actress to all parts of

routes.

Tliey

condition, well supplied with index boards,

the

generally in

are

and the bridges

over the various streams safe and ])lentiful.
The North Branch Canal i)asses through the county.

Since

them running from Northumberland to Wilkes-Barre, 64 miles in length, has come into the
ownership of the "Pennsylvania Canal Company."
The capital stock of the company is five millions of dollars,
aud the whole length of canal owned by it is ;538 miles. The
officers are all Philadelphians, except Thomas T. Wierman, the

the sale of the canals, that ]»ortion of

chief engineer, who resides in Harrisburg.
In this county Hugh
D. Quick, of llupert, and Hudson Owen, of Berwi(^k, are the active, vigilant and competent local superintendents.

The Catawissa Railroad runs from Tamanend

to Williamsijort,

94jniles; having de})Ots in Columbia county as follows

:

Rupert,

Catawissa, Mainville, Beaver Valley, (4irard Manor, and others.
It is

now under

lease to

the I'hiladelphia

&

Reading Railroad

Company.
Tlie Danville, Hazleton &,

Wilkes-Barre Railroad, now under
Company and known since its

lease to the Pennsylvania Railroad

and re-organization, as the 8uid)ury, Hazleton cfc WilkesBarre Railway, runs from Sunbury to Tomhickon and in Columbia county on the east side of the river, having a depot at Cat-

sale

;

awissa, Mainville, Miftiin
in length,

and

is

a

X

new and

Roads and Glen

City.

It is

40 miles

im})ortant outlet for coal and produce

lieretofore mostly inaccessible.

The Lackaw^anna & Bloomsburg Railroad, from Scranton to
Northumberland, on the west side of the river, is 80 nailes in

HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.

county at Berwick, Willow
and Catawissa
now owned by the Delaware, Lackawanna it West-

uikI lias

lt'iiL;tli,

S|)riiiL!,s,

Lime

IJriduc.

It is

',?,

depots

in Coliaiibia

IJidge, Ks])y, Hloomsbur^', llupcrt

ern Railroad Coni|)any.

The North and We-;t
in this region,

important

one
JVIay

company

the Itoroiigh of Wilkes-Barrc in
soutli side of the
]»oint

bia,

most

by act of Assembly approved

I)i-anch IJaili-oad, a

anthori/.ed

I'mjiowering the

1H71,

l.S,

was

tlie

"to construct a railroad from
county of Luzerne, along the

North Hi-anch of the Sus(juehanna

rivei-,

to a

opposite the town of Jiloomsburg, in the comity of Colum-

and thence by a bridge over said river and by the valley of

Little Fishingcreek to

style

and

ti:le

the

of

the

city

of

Williamsport, by the name,

Nouni and Wi:sr

PANV, with ])Ower to construct

a

IJrancii

K Aii.r.oAD Com-

from near the town of

branch

IJloomsburg u]) the valley of Big Fisiiingcreek to connect with
any existing or projectol railroad in Sullivan county, witli the
right to connect with or cross at grade any railroad now made or
l)e made within the counties
of Luzerne, Columbia,
Montour, Sullivan or Lycoming, and with tlie riglit to build
branches not exceeding ten miles each in length." The road has
l)een constructed from Wilkes-Barre to a point on the river, op-

heieafter to

j)Osite

Bloomsburg, and thence down

necting with the Sunbury, Hazleton

The

tlie

river to Catawissa, con-

and Wilkes-Baire

at

that

from

Bloomsburg to Williamsi»ort has been
surveyed and some further work done, and it is in contemi)lation
])lace.

route

to begin the construction of tlie road at an early day.

Ilunlock's Creek

mouth

is

another

road, "from

])i-ojected

of Ilunlock's creek in the

near the

county of Luzerne, through the

Huntingdon to the borougli of Muncy in Lycoming
by the name, style and title of the Ilunlock's Creek and

towiishij) of

county,

Muncy

Railroad Company, witli

Philadelphia

&

other railroad

now made

ties of

Erie, the

the

connect with the
Bloomsburg, or any

right to

Lackawanna

&,

made within

the coun-

Luzerne and Lycoming, with the right to build

branches

not exceeding ten miles

or hereafter to be

in length."

Several routes have been examined

and surveyed, all of which
through the county of Columbia.
It seems to us impossible to build the road witliout passing
througli Benton or Sugar'.o.if or both.
Our ])eoi)le are theiefore

go

for a shorter or longer distance

HISTORY OF COLVMBIA COUNTY.

54

greatly interested in the construction of the road, which with the
will give to us a positive and per-

North and West Hrancli road
manent advantage in the coal,

and lumber trade of

iron

this re-

gion of country.
hardly necessary to add that nearly all the business places
Bloomsburg are connected by telephone, and many of them

It is

in

The

also to the residence of the respective business houses.

line

has been extended to Danville, Catawissa, Ku])ert, Millville and
Orangeville, from the central office at Bloomsburg.

The Tide Water Pipe Line Company

are

constructing an

oil

through the county, and are accompanying it by a telegraph
line, which connects Buckhorn, Jerseytown and other places, diline

rectly with Bloomsburg.

The limestone trade of the county is very large. The railroads
have transported annually one hundred thousand tons, and a very
large tonnage has been shipped on the canal, but the separate items

made up, so that the number of tons cannot be
The amount used in the manufacture of iron is given

of freight are not
ascertained.

in the statistics of that trade

;

and there are no data for estimat-

ing the immense number of bushels of lime annually burned and
delivered to farmers at the kilns.
It is imjiosible to tell

bia county.

Even

of coal may exist in ColumConyngham and Beaver it is

what amount

in the region

of

only partially developed; and there are claimed to be abundant

and satisfactory evidences of the existence of coal in the
northern townships of the county in Nob mountain and in the
mountains of Sugarloaf. In this latter township it is claimed that
;

there are large and rich dejjosits of iron ore, and

if

coal

is

also de-

veloped, with the lumber thereabouts, there must shortly be a large
access of wealth and population, increased and stimulated

by the
buildiug of the railroads through there which have been mentioned under the proper heads.
But the production of coal is so uncertain that it is hardly worth the while to make any statement
about

say that as much as 400,000 tons has
one year within the county. And the same may be
said of the manufacture of pig iron
but which in any thing like
it.

It is sufficient to

been mined

in

;

a fair commercial year averages about 20,000 tons.
For each ton
of iron manufactured there is recpiired 2.05 tons of coal, 3.25 tons
of ore, and 1.59 tons of limestone.

HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.

CIIAPTEll
TO'^Tw^^SrSIEII^'S

WHEN
ized,

in

it

cSc

VIII.

BOI^OXJOHS.

1813 the county of Columbia was separately organ-

consisted of the twelve townships following, to-wit

:

Bloom, Briarcreek, Chillis(]uaque, Catawissa, Derry, Fishingcreek,
Greenwood. Hemlock, Mahoning, MitHin, Sugarloaf and Tnrbiit.

Turbut township was declared
Court, one of the townships into

at April sessions, 1772, by the
which Northumberland county

was divided.

Mahoning township was

February sessions 1775, out

erected at

of part of Turbut.

Catawissa township was erected at August sessions 1785 out of

Augusta.
township was erected
Turbut and Mahoning.

Chillis(pia<pie

parts of

Derry township was erected

at

at

May

May

sessions 178G out of

sessions 1786,

out of Tur-

but.

P^ishingcreek township was erected at
of part of

August

sessions 1789 out

Wyoming.

Briaicrwk township was

erected at August

sessions 1797, out

of Fishingcreek township.

Bloom

township was erected at August sessions 1798 out of

Briarcreek.

Greenwood township was erected

at

August

sessions 1799, out

of part of Fifthingcreek townshijj.

Of Hemlock, Mifflin, and Sugarloaf the records
any information.

lail

to give

me

HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.

o6

Tlie jtortioiis of Chillisqnaqiie and

Tnrbut iv-aniiexed

to Col-

county by the act of Januaiy 22, 1816, were erected into
the townsliips of Liberty and Limestone, both no\v in Montour
iniibia

eounty.

Madison township was erected out of part of Derry, now in
Montour county, by petition to tlie court at tlie A\)y'\\ sessions. AD. 1817.

Mount Pleasant was formed out
we believe. Bloom,

Fisliingcreek and,

of

parts of

at the

Greenwood and

January

sessions, A.

D. 1818.

Berwick was created a borough by act of Assembly, on the 29th
day of January, A. D. 1818.
Ikoaringcreek Avas cut off from Catawissa, and
shi]» at

became

a town-

the January sessions, A. D. 1832.

Montour townshij) was erected out of
Hemlock at November sessions, A. D. 18.37.

territory taken

from

Jackson became a township at the November sessions, A. D.
Greenwood and Sugarloaf.

1838, being formed out of parts of

Valley,

now

in

ing and Derry,

Montour county, was

also both

sessions of 1839.

It

now

in

stricken off

from Mahon-

^Montour county, at the August

was proposed by the petitioners to call the
it was finally organized by the name of

township "Baldy," but
Valley.

Orange was for a long time a separate election district, but not
But at the April court, 1839, after some opposition,
parts of Bloom, Mount Pleasant and Fishingcreek were carved
out and the name Orange given to the territory.
a township.

what is now known as Mayberry,
Montour county, was stricken off from Catawissa at the April

P^ranklin township, including
in

court, A. D. 1843.

Main was erected

at tlie

January

court, A. D. 1844, out of por-

tions of the townships of Catawissa

and

Centre was formed at the same

court,

parts of

Bloom and

Beaver

Avas for

Mitllin.

January,

1844,

out of

Briarcreek.

a considerable time called the "Paxton Dis-

trict," in respect, Ave believe, to Col.

Joseph Paxton; but

in

the

HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.
year 1845,

Noveniljer sessions,

at

by the name

of Beaver.

It

it

.'7

was erected into a townsliip

belonged fortnerly to

Mifflin.

Anthony, now in Montour county, was struck oft" from the ui)]»er
end of Deny at the November sessions, 1847, and named in honor of Joseph B. Anthony, the then President Judge.
Benton was cut

off

from Sugarloaf at the August session, A.

D. 1850.

Pine was brouglit into existence by an act of Assembly of 15
January, 1853, the fruit of the division process.

Locust came by
April 18, 1853.

its

name by an

present

act

of

Assembly of

It had been received from Montour county in the

line, where it had been known as the
township of "Scott." It had formerly been a part of Koaringcreek, and upon being received back into Columbia was named

straightening of the division

Locust.
Scott township was formed out of a
tember session A. D. 1853.

Conyngham, named

in

})art

Bloom

of

at the Sep-

honor of the then President Judge, was
the February sessions,

formed out of part of Locust townshij) at
A.

I).

1856.

Centralia Borough, in

firmed after a

warm

said

township of Conyngham, was conFebruary court in A. U. 1866.

contest, at the

"The Town of Bloomsburg" was organized by an act of AssemMarch 4, 1870. It embraces all that had been left of the
The organiterritory of Bloom township at the date of the act.
jVfore than one efi^ort had been prevization is quasi borough.
ously made to secure a borough charter, but the bad shape of the
remaining portion of the townshij) had defeated tlie applications.
The act of organization Avas a s})ecial one, embracing some of the
In the elecsections and provisions of the general borough laws.
bly of

tion of

its

nnmiciiial officers the

j>rinciple of

the free vote as ad-

vocated by Senator Buckalew was ai)i)lie(l. Tlie working of it
was practically tested at our first election on the twelfth day of
April, A. D. 1870

had been

;

ai>i)lied in

liuckalew cast the

which was also the first time that the system
the United States, and at that election Mr.

first

vote in illustration of his system.

III.STORY

58

OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.
KKOAriTULATION.

Turbut, original,

Mahoning,

May

original,

Catawissa, original,

February session
August session

Chillisquaque, original,

Derry, original.

8ession

May

May

session

session

1772
177.5

1785
178G
1736

Fishingcreek, original, August session

1789

August session
Bloom, original, August session
Greenwood, original, August session

1797
1798

Briarcreek, original,

Hemlock,

original,

Mifflin, original,

1799

no date of erection

no date of erection

Sugarloaf, original, no date of erection
Liberty,

by Act of Assembly

1810

Limestone, by Act of Assembly

1816

Madison

1817

Mount Pleasant

1818

Berwick Borough
Koaringcreek
Montour
Jackson
Orange

1818

1832
1837
1

838

1839

Franklin

1843

Main

1844

Centre

1844

845

l>eaver

1

Benton
Pine

1850
1853

Locust, theretofore "Scott"
Scott, out of

Bloom

Conyngham
Borough
The Town of Bloomsburs
Centralia

1

853

1853

1856
1

866

1870

nit^TORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.

59

CHAPTER IX
P'O^^TJXj^S^TIOISr
1820 the population as then existing was 17,621,
INafter
the erection of Montour county the popuhition

an<l in

was 17,700; and

same

at the

jteriod

1850

remaining

Montour county had within

its

borders 13,493 persons.
Since 1850 Columbia county has almost doubled in j)Opulation, a
is, howevei', due to the readjustment of
county having been, up to within a very

portion of which increase

The

the lines in 1853.

short time almost entirely

has been
is

less ra})id

largely pursued.

may

agricultural,

the growth in po])ulation

than in those localities whei'ein manufacturing

The

influence

of si)ecial

industrial

pursuits

be shown

by the following figures. In 1850 the population
In 1850 Catawissa was
of Berwick was 486, in 1880 it was 2095.
1143, in 1880 it was 2003— In 1850 Bloom and Scott, then together, had 3122, in 1880 they make 5049— In 1850 Danville
So too, Beaver townBorough was 3302, in 1880 it was 7899.
ship, which had in 1850 a population of 672, had in 1880 increased to 1221. Take it all in all, however, the increase in j)opulation
It has not been stimulated by
has been healthy and satisfactory.
any undue excitement, nor by any unsubstantial and transitory industry.
It is therefore jjermanent, and no greater than can be
Such settlers give
proijerly absorbed and usefully employed.
strength and stability to manufactures, and afford a constant and
remunerative market for the produce of the farmer, and the goods,
wares and merchandise of the shopman.

—

We

give the census

trection
p<

of

the

ar will be properly

new

townshijis

l)y

county.

townships for every decade since the

The

referred by

curious discrepancies
the leader to the

that ap-

formation of

and to ihe erection of Monlour county and the

III.STOBY

60

correction and

rearrangement of the division

opposite the townships

was

The time

in

of

the years

lines.

which

ihey

were formed u

"Township-' and Boroughs,'" and

1S30 the

The bhinks

indicate their non-

Montour county.

can as well

ul'tition

some

of the erection of the different townships

ritory out of

head of

for

except in the case of Koaringcreek. which

existence at that date,
in 18.50

OF COLUMBIA COUNTY

b^'

made by

ill

llu-

snd

tlio ter-

be found

under the
compaiison of p> ))-

the readier as by the coni])iler.

thp couni}, including Mo;, tour, were
found brlow for 1882, for Columbia county
alone, as well as seme estimate of acreage and values; of course the
ter is constantly fluctuating and is consequently only a basis for
Iri

2486.

They

taxables in

will be

future comparisons.

TaxaT OWNSIIirS.

bles

Acies of
unseated
lands.

Beaver

Acres of Value of
•^ea'd

lands unseated

Value of
seated

—

.

HItSTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.
The census

for

figures

1850 are a

the year

little

Gl

confused in

both counties, because of the division that year, and some uncert.'iiiity about the lines.
But for 1860, 1H70 and 1880 they are
substantially, perhaps exactly, correct.

CENSUS.

1820

TOWNSHIPS.

Beaver
Benton
Berwick
Bloomsburg

162f)

Biiarcreek

Catawissa
Centralia

Centre
Conyiighani

,

1719
2520

2081
1706

3130

1840

1850

18ti0

1870

1880

672

901
893
*

1221
1062
2095

1300
1320

969
1050
923
3340
1080
1627
1340
1320
1900

3702
1172
2003
1509
1256
2183

1200
533
1470
1037
539

1370
550
1585
1170
565

1447
543
1710
1080
675

1897

1550

2014

529
1140
1021
485
776
930
555
509
1502

601

1090
1043
624
750
910
760
485
1465

626
1077
1038
662
760
901
911
533
1347

752

701

869

452
1774

486
3122

1451

1091

2060

1143
1019

,

1662
502

,

1088
568

1753
902

1110
I

Greenwood
Hemlock

1078
1464

1110

1146
426

1111

Mahoning
Main

1478

179

1927

Madison

1330
1492

1554
179

Orange

1700
2143
809
609
843

714
1024
409
708
1077

Pine
Roaringcreek

1842

519

630
934

1316

Jackson
Liberty
Liniesione

1681

540

1217
957
265
1329
646

1260
1087
374

Locust
581

Mifflin

]\[ontour

Mount Pleasant.

673

71

Scott

Valley
Sugarloaf
Total

2668
1734
1176

,

Derry
Fishingcreek
Franklin

1830

505

678

17621 20149 24243 17700 25065 28766 32439

'With Briarcreek.

62

HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.
MONTOrR COUNTY.

Though not

separately organized until 1850,

we

give the census

In
of Montour county, before and since its erection, complete.
the chapter on "Townships and l^oroughs" there will be found
some other interesting matter.

Townships.

2

HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.

I'OrULATION OF TENNSYJA ANIA

IIY

(OVXTIES,

TWENTY-ONE.
1882
PorUT.A.TION

Counties.

Adams
Alleghenv

Annstrong
Beaver
Bedford
Berks
lilair

Bradford

Bucks
liutler

Cambria
Cameron
Carbon
Centre
Chester
Clarion
Clearfield

Clinton

Columbia
Crawford
Cumberland
Dauphin
Delaware
Elk
Erie
Fayette
Forest
Franklin

Fulton

Greene
Huntingdon
Indiana
Jeffei-son

Juniata

5
32455
3558G9
47641
39605
34929
122597
52740
58541
68656
52536
46811
5159
31923
37922
83481
40328
43408
26278
32439
68607
45977
76148
56101
12800
74688
58842
4385
49855
10149
28273
33954
40527
27935
18227

IS

31984
347968
47363
39163
34346
122146
52257
58003
67107
52408
46602
5151

31882
37574
76402
40228
43287
25992
32264
681

1

43867
72364
51487
12779
74345
56952
4373
47304
10020
27770
33674
40299
27898
17966

AND CITIZENS OVER

63

HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.

64

Males of

21 and
OVER.

Population.

>

Counties.

o

Lackawanna

O

89269
139447
Lancaster
33312
Lawrence
38476
Lebanon
65969
Lehigh
133065
Luzerne
56486
Lycoming
42565
McKean
56161
Mercer
Mifflin
19577
20175
Monroe
96494
Montgomery
15468
Montour
Northampton
70312
53123
Northumb'd
Perry
27522
Philadelphia
847170
Pike
9663
13797
Potter
Schuylkill
12974
Snyder
1 7797
Somerset
33110
Sullivan
8073
Susquehanna
40354
Tioga
45814
Union
16905
Venango
43670
Warren
27981
Washington
55418
Wayne
33513
Westmoreland... 78036
Wyoming
15598
York
S7841

88971
136596

33076
38391
65851
132310
56508
42211
55735
19362
20020
94731
15361
69987
52929
27358
815362
9579
13770
129616
17778
32994
8070
40135
45699
16772
43120
27784
52774
33482
77349
15577
86481

-u

o

1|

298
2851
236
85
118
755
978
S54
426
215
155
1763
107
325
194
164
31808
84
27
358
19

116
3

219
115
133
550
197
2644
31

687
21

1360

9946
30411
6776
9005
13913
16468
4838
11801
10799
4298
4579
20632
3060
14732
10636
6150
133470
1755
3442
18118
4155
6908
1663
9224
10177
4036
8480
5759
11998
6081
15661
3843
19087

o

'o

O

11862
3762
1532
687
2719
16170
2397
3057
3000
270
449
484
874
3172
2266
237
88987
688
494
12162
44
844
479
1776
2387
105
1882
2215
1625
2599
3333
312
1581

102
772
62
28
37
216
274
143
113
61

43
551
21

98
63
43
8967
27
8

93
6

76
3

70
41

32
146
56
651
10
180
6

359

recapitulation.
Population.

White
Colored
Total

Males over
4,197,016 Native white
85,875 Foreign
Colored
4,282,891

21.

,

797,532
272,860
23,892

HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.

CHAPTER

65

X.

I^Eliv£0 ^^^=^IL.

IM:\rK7>IATELY

after

the location of the seat

of justice

at

Danville, the agitation for a removal thereof to

Bloomsburg
commenced, and it was carried on without intermission and with
more or less intrigue, excitement, diversion and asj^erity, for a
It is hardly wor^i while to write up
period of thirty years.
Its track is strewed
the history of that long and bitter contest.
with the wrecks of unfortunate local politicians who had mistaken
the temper of the people, or were themselves the mere tools of
more designing intriguers. Thus the astute politicians of Danville played off the Borough of Berwick against Bloomsburg
at
one time by proposing a new county to be composed of parts of
Columbia and Luzerne, with the Capitol at Berwick, at another
by threatening to go solid for removal, but making it to be to
;

I^erwick

instead of to

Bloomsburg.

Party politics were lost
and year after year re-

sight of in the election of county officers,

moval ami anti-removal candidates tested the strength of the

re-

spective localities.

But the steady friends of removal had no cause for filibusterTheir object was plain and pronounced, and led by such
men as Daniel Snyder, William McKelvy, Charles H. Doebler
and Thomas A. Funston, their partisans stood up to the work,
and every year showed an increasing vote for the re-location of
ing.

tl\e

seat of Justice.

The

legislative

lobby prevented the necessary

and the weary years dragged on and on.
As a somewhat
curious document, I copy a statement by citizens of the county in
favor of the measure, which very fully sets out the course of the
struggle, and furnishes some matter for thought.
action,

HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.

66

To

"rkmoval of the skat of justice of COIXMBIA COL'NTY.
Honorable the Senate and House of Representatives of
the Commomoealth of Pennsylvania.

the

undersigned, agents in behalf of the petitioners for reColumbia county, beg leave to lay

Tlie

moval

of the seat of justice in

before you the following statement of the principle facts in the
case, and the grounds on which they rely, to procure the equitable interference of your honourable bodies.

an Act of Assembly approved the 22d day of March 1813,
the county of Columbia was erected out of a part of Old Northumberland. Its bounds by that act, were extended to the West

By

branch of the Susquehanna, and included two large townships,
(Chillisquaque and Turbut,) which were, soon after the county
town was fixed at Danville, by an act of Assembly, struck off

from Columbia, and re-annexed to Northumberland county.
By the 9th sectiorf of the Act first above mentioned, it is provided' "That the Governor shall appoint three discreet and disinterested persons, not resident in the counties of Northumberland^
Union, or Columbia, whose duty it shall be, after being sworn or
affirmed before some Judge or Justice of the Peace, to fix upon a
proper and convenient site for a Court house, prison, and county
offices, within the aforesaid county of Columbia, as near tJte centre as the situation thereof vnll admit, and the said persons or a
majority of them, having viewed the relative advantages of the
several situations contemplated by the people, shall on or before
the first day of July next, by a written report," &c. See act of
Assembly session 1812-13, page 146.
But two of the Commissioners appointed by the Governor attended and they did not comply with the requisitions of the act
;

of Assembly, to place the seat of Justice "as near the centre as the

situation thereof

would admit," although the two townships above

were at that time, a part of the county. It was known
to some, and believed by all, that improper and unfair means
had been used to procure the location at Danville the most obvious of which was, the taking in the said townships, against the
will of nine-tenths of the inhabitants, and retaining them until

Trtentioned

—

after the location

was made.

A

large majority of the people im-

mediately expressed their dissatisfaction with the decision of the
Commissioners, and commenced operations to procure a proper

HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.
location of their seat of justice, as will be seen

67

by the following

appeals to the Legislature.

January

11, 1814,

Mr RrrKRT

presented nineteen

rejisons therein expressed, for the

petitions of

Columbia county, praying,

similar tenor, from inhabitants of

for

removal of the seat of justice of

from the town of Danville to the town of Bloomsburg;
and said petitions were read and referred to Messrs. Ru})ert, MilliSee Journal H. R. session
ken, Bollinger, Forster and Dingman
1813-14, page 126.
February 2, 1814, Mr. Rupert from the committee to whom
were referred on the 11th ult. sundry petitions praying ifec, Report, That they have attended to the same, and on examination
find that 1046 of the citizens of Columbia county have signed petitions i)raying the Legislature to pass a law removing the seat of
justice from the town of Danville to the town of Bloomsburg.
The petitioners state that the people of the county of Columbia
have not l)een relieved from the numerous grievances Avhich they
labored under, inasmuch as the seat of justice fixed by the commissioners, at Danville, is on the very verge of the county, and
only twelve miles from the old county town, [Sunbury] and that
the town of Bloomsburg on Big Fishing Creek, a pure and navigable stream of water, and only one mile from the river Suscehanna, Avill be more convenient and much more central.
From a
view of the map and the knowledge some of your committee have
of Columbia county, they are of opinion that the seat of justice
being fixed at Danville, does not comport with the meaning and
spirit of the law, which declares in the ninth section, that the
seat of justice shall be fixed as near the centre as the situation
said county

—

thereof

will

admit.

Believing as they do, that the tOAvn

of

Bloomsburg is more central, and considering that it is in a fertile
country and convenient to permanent streams of water suitable
for water

works, [so beneficial to country towns] they are of

opinion that the j)rayer of the petitioners

They

ought to be granted.

rejiorted the following resolution.

Resolced, That a coimnittee be appointed to bring in a
agreeable to the prayer of the petitioners.

La,id

bill

on the table.

See Journal H. R. session 1813-14, pages 270, 271.

December

14, 1814.

On motion

of Messrs.

ordered that an item of unfinished business,

Owen and
i-elative

Shaffer,

to the re-

HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.

68

moval of the seat of justice of the county of Columbia from Danville to Bloomsburg, be referred to the members from the counties
See Journal H. R.
of Northumberland, Union and Columbia.
session 1814-15, page 54.

Mr. Owen presented twenty petitions of simi1, 1815.
from sundry inhabitants of Columbia county, praying
the removal of the seat of justice of said county from Danville
and said petitions were read and recommended to the early attenSee Journal H. R. page 498.
tion of the next Legislature.
While the foregoing proceedings were pending, the Citizens of
Chillisquaque and Turbut townships were not inactive with but
one voice they had applied to be reannexed to Northumberland
day of
county and the Legislature by an act approved the
detached them from the county of Columbia, and annexed them to Northumberland, thereby rendering
Danville still more out of the centre, both of territory and popu-

March

lar tenor

—

;

lation.

The people under

this

new

aspect of affairs, recoimnenced their

api)lication to the Legislature for

redress,

and the following pro-

ceedings were had.

December

8,

Peti1816, January 16, 1816.
and referred to a committee, reSee Journal of H. R. session 1815-16, pages

1815, January

4,

tions presented for removal &c.

port unfavorable.
15, 105, 210, 206.

[On Thursday the 15th of February 1816 a meeting of delegates
from a number of townships in the county, elected pursuant to a
call of the standing committee, was held in Bloomsburg"for the purpose of devising measures to obtain a removal of the seat of justice
The
for said county from Danville to a more central situation."

meeting was organized by appointing Col. Leonard Rupeit, PresiThe townships were repdent, and Samuel Webb Jr. Secretary.
resented as follows:

—Levi Aikman, Samuel Webb
—John Stewart, George Kelchner.
Catawissa — Major Joseph Paxton, William Brewer.
Derry —Jacob Swisher, Marshal Girton.
Fishingcreek —Daniel Bealer, William Robbins.
Greenwood — Abner Mendenhall, Henry Miller.
Sugarloaf —Philip Fritz, William Wilson.
Bloom

Briarcreek

Jr.

HISTOEY OF (JOLUMBIA COUNTY.
The meeting unanimously resolved

69

petition the legislature

to

law granting the citizens a right to vote "for the seat of
Justice in said county," and Paxton, Mendenhall, and Webb Jr.
were appointed a committee for thejjurpose of procuring the necto pass a

essary legislation.]

February

'11,

may

that a law

1816.
Mr. M'Clure presented a petition praying
be passed to suspend the erection of public build-

ings for the county of Columbia for one year, and that the

zens of said county

may

citi-

be authorized at a special or at the next

general election, by their votes to

fix

Read and

justice for said county.

on

a

place

referred.

the seat of

for

See Journal H. R,

session 1815-16, page 439.

Report that they have had the same under consideration and
are of opinion that Danville
justice,

is

not a suitable place for the seat of

being in a remol:o corner of the county of Cohimbia, and

that there

is

another

site quite as eligible,

much

nearer the centre

and i)robably much more acceptable to the citizens generally.
The connnittee are aware that the choice of a county town by the
mode })ro))osed, is somew hat novel, but at the same time the
choice of the majority is tlu' jn-inciple on which nil our laws are
made and our government depends; a })rinciple which may be
always lodged with safety in the hands of the people, who are the
The committee therefore submit
best judges of their interests.
the following resolution, Resolved, That a committee be a})pointed to bring in a bill agreeable to the prayer of the petitioners.
See Journal if IT. R. session 1815-16, page 504.
The above reasonable proposition was rejected by the House.
See Journal of H. R. session 1815-16, pages 528, 529.

February

1,

On motion

1821.

ordered that the

[)etitions

of

Messrs.

Kinny and Reese,

presented on the 3()th

ult.

relative to

the removal of the seat of justice of Columbia county, be refer-

red to Messrs.

Kinney, M'Clure, Baird,

W. Smyth

'

and Musser.

See Journal of H. R. session 1*^20-21, page 482.

March

6,

1821

:

Mr. Kinney from the committee to

referred sundry petitions on the subject, on

a

bill

No. 311, entitled

An

act to

seat of justice in the county of

whom

were

leave given, reported

authorize the

removal of the

Columbia and for other purposes.

See Journal of H. R. session 1820-21, l)age 784.
December 7, 1821
On motion of Messrs. Clark and Scudder,
:

HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.

70
ordered

tliat aii

item of uiifinislied business relative to the removal

&c. be referred to the members from the counties of Cohimbia,
See Journal H. R.
Luzerne, Northumberland and Northampton.

The members from

session 1821-22, page 51.

Berks, Schuylkill and Lycoming, were

See Journal

]>.

counties of

71.

See Journal of the House of Representa-

Kei)ort unfavorable.

1821-22, page 80.

tives, session

From

the

added to the connnittee.

that time until the

fall

1833, there

of

appears to have

was nevertheless a
subject of constant anxiety within the county, and has always
had a controlling influence in the election of members of Assembly and county otticers.
No man can be elected to any oftice in
As
the county, who is not avowedly in favour of the removal.
the public buildings had in part been erected the excitement
would perhajts have been contined within the bounds of the
county for some time longer, had not the Grand Jury at Novembeen no application to the Legislature

;

but

it

ber session 1833, reported to the Court, that the public records

were
aV)le

in great

danger of being destroyed by

fire,

for

want

of suit-

buildings for their acconnuodation, and reconnnending the

immediate erection of Are proof oftices. This re})ort aroused the
peoj»le, who had long liefore determined that no further expenditure of their

money should be made

buildings at Danville

in

— pe-

removal were immediately circulated and signed with
an alacrity, seldom before witnessed, by full two thirds of the
These petitions were ])resented in both
taxables of the county.
titions for

branches of the Legislature and

bills

removal of the seat of

The

reached

in

reported providing for the

the Senate was only
order and acted on, and lost by a vote of eleven to fifjustice.

bill in

teen.

Last year another appeal was
reported, but too late in

made

the session

and bills again
have any further action

for relief,

to

on them.
It recpiires

that Danville
is

but a cursory view of the county map to discover,
is very far from the centre of territory
and that it
;

equally distant from the centre of population,

what

is

manifest from

follows.

The townships most convenient

to

Danville are the following

HLSTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.
;iiul coiituiii

the nuiuber of

t:ixal)le8,

71

paying tax as follow s.
Taxables.

Tax.

850

$7«6.42

Mahoning (including Danville)

351

1213.G2

Limestone

121

532.94

Liberty

268

498.78

Bloomslmrg, hut none of them more than
from the latter j)lace
109

273.62

Derry

towiislii]*

contains

Hemlock contains 327
of

whom

taxables, one thinl

are nearer to Danville than to

six miles

Accommodated

at Danville

;

HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.

72

one third of the 350 taxables in Derry, which we have
to the credit of Danville are nearer to Bloomsburg

even
set

down

than to Danville, and the remainder are not more than two miles
Danville the average
fnrtlier from Bloomsburg than from

—

of the other two thirds of Derry are not more than four miles fur-

ther from

Bloomsburg than from Danville. From Mahoning town-

ship in which Danville

is

situated,

containing 351

average travel to Bloomsburg will not be ten miles.

taxables

the

Liberty and

Limestone townships form the western bounds of the county and
Limestone contains 121 taxlie north and south of each other.

—

—

Liberty contains 268 taxables these 389 will none of them
have to travel more than eight miles further to reach Bloomsburg, than to reach Danville, and many of them not so far.
ables

We

would further remai'k, that Danville is as far from the cenfrom the centre of pojjulation in the county. It
draws a large portion of its business and supplies from a neighbouring county, by which it is almost surrounded and thus acts

tre of business as

as a continual

medium of the county.
money expended by suitors and
find its way back into the inter-

drain on the circulating

Scarcely a single dollar of the
others attending court, can ever

county

—there

is no trade between them, and no recipbetween the interior of the county and its meti"Opolis.
On the other hand, Bloomsburg is not only very near
the centre of territory and population, but it is also the centre of
business.
It is the natural outlet and commands the trade of
Hemlock, Madison, a portion of Derry, Greenwood, Sugar Loaf,
Fishing Creek, Mount Pleasant, Bloom, and a portion of Briar
Creek townships. It is also in the line of communication for a
large portion of the county, with the markets of Pottsville, Mauch
Chunk, and places below those points.
With a knowledge of all these facts and circumstances, it is
with the deepest sense of injuries sustained, and the unnecessary
inconvenience they have laboured under for many years past that
a large majority of the Citizens of Columbia county, once more
make their ai)peal to the Legislature for relief they ask no boon
but as freemen they appeal to that natural sense of justice, inher-

ior of the

rocity of interest

—

ent in the breast of every honest

mand

and unprejudiced man, and de-

a restoration of valuable rights and privileges, unjustly ta-

ken, and unjustly withheld from them."

.

:

,

HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.
At last however, on

tlie

r3

24th day of February 1845, the legislature

})assed an act authorizing a vote on the question of the location of

the seat of Justice, and un<ler

its

provisions, in the October follow-

ing, the j)eo})le of the county settled the question

The

result

was

by

a direct vote.

as follows

REMOVAL

5
c
c
-r.

Townships
cfq

Bloom

,

Briarcreek

Catawissa
Centre. ...
1 It'rry

P^ishingcreek.

.

.

Franklin

Greenwood.
Hemlock
Jackson

.

.

.

,

,

...

Liberty
Linu'stone

Madison

Mahoning
Maine
Mifflin

Montour
Mount Pleasant
Orange
Paxton District
Roavingcreek
Sugarloaf
Valley

.

.

Majority for Removal

1

845.

74

HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.

EHiECTIOlSr i^ETXJI^iTS
go back to 1860 with the tabThat was a period when parties seemed
to be breaking up, and politicians were seeking new combinations.
From that time the important elections are all given, and for our
citizens are complete and valuable.
No politician can be thoroughly posted, nor able to talk intelligently upon the drift of affairs, without having at hand the results of political contests.
Under the head of "Removal" will be found the official vote on
that question, under the head of "Poor Houses" the official vote
on that question, and at the end of this chapter the official vote
on the License question in 1873. These are data upon which to
base calculations, comparisons and results.
thought

been
ITularhaselection
returns.

sufficient to

PRESIDENT

—

1 860.

DISTRICTS.

Beaver
Benton
Berwick
Bloom East

BRECKENRIDGE. DOUGLAS. LINCOLN.
113
29
142
41
49
80
)

Bloom West j

155

Briarcreek

118
24
116

Catawissa
Centre

Conyngham N.
Conyngham S. }
Fishingcreek
Franklin

Greenwood
Hemlock
Jackson
Locust
Madison

Main
Mifflin

273
52

58
135
111

35

91

206
53
139
104

54
58
155
72

16

71

16

170
139
70
172

135
57
19

48

12

)

.

HI^TOJiY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.
BRECKKNRIIXH-:. DOUGLAS, LINCOLN

Montour

35
75
97
52
38
80
114

Mt. Pleasant

Orange
Pine
Roaringcreek
Scott
Siigarloaf

2367

6

.

40
169
16
86

1873

PRESIDENT
m'ci. ELL.\N.

Benton
Berwick

Bloom East )
Bloom West
l^riarcreek

Catawissa
Centre

Conyngham N)
Conyngham S j"
Fishingcreek
Franklin

.

.

.

Greenwood
Hemlock
Jackson.
Locust

,

Madison
Main
Mifflin

Montour
Mt. Pleasan

t

Orange
Pine
Roaringcreek
Scott ...

Sugarloaf

Army.

.

.

15KLL.

47
65
76
28

DISTRICTS.

IJeaver

75

14

1864.

76

HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.

..
,

nitSTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.

Governor.
1872

Townships.

Beaver
Benton
Berwick

Bloom E
Bloom

W

Biiarcreek

Catawissa
Centre
Centralia

Conyngham N.
Conyi^gham S.
Fishingcreek

.

.

Franklin

Gri'enwood ....

Hemlock
Jackson
Locust

Main
Madison
Mifflin

Montour
Mount Pleasant.
Orange
Pine
Roaringcreek
Scott

Sugarloaf

.

.

77

78

HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.
THE LOCAL OPTION VOTE.
Tlie following are

HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.

1876.

DISTRICTS.

79

President.

S^

®

^
fC

Beaver
Berwick
Benton

264

29

118

213

221

41

Bloom E
Bloom

244

195

140

191

Briarcreek

155

52

Catawissa

194

W

Centralia

122

229
67

Centre

191

65

Conyngham N
Conyngham S

128

8

139

6

Fishingcreek

294

61

Franklin

59

57

Greenwood
Hemlock

203

166

169

52

Jackson
Locust
Madison

122

11

272

125

181

57

Main

133

14

MitHin

200

40

Montour

99

53

Mt. Pleasant

102

61

Orange

136

69

Pine
Roaringcreek

131

80

63

42

Scott

151

122

Sugarloaf

171

13

Total

4394 2069

.

HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.

80

PRESIDENT

O

O
*

Beaver
Benton
Berwick Boro

229

29

Bloom E
Bloom

a
DISTRICTS.

,

W

1

880
:^

^

211

54

190

284

8

295

202

4

5

150

173

9

157

57

15

Catawissa

230

256

Centralia Boro

159

94

8

Centre

207

56

10

Conyngham, N
Couyngham, S

163

28

6

101

27

31

Fishingcreek

288

71

5

56

53

194

157

15

160

62

2

Jackson

129

13

Locust

289

129

Madison
Main

199

47

1

131

7

1

Mifflin

207

49

80

47

Mount Pleasant

105

52

Orange

112

70

Pine

131

Briarcreek

.

Franklin

Greenwood
Hemlock

Montour

....

Roaringcreek

82

Scott East

98

Scott

West

Sugarloaf

67

178

4598
Prohibition ticket 28.

2236

9

«

.

.

.

.

HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.

•

Pierce

<3>

P.

Tomllnson

G.

McMichael

D

ElUott

:ao«osiM>

-SI

•

••-(

;o»m

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•rH.-iioei

.»OU5C^OS'^f-'ffI00T-<

C<

1.

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.

CO

81

-on

«0 CO CO

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:ic

;-H

oo

1-"

'''SSS'*?2iS"'"'''"'S'"'-o^^'*<ocooit-u..-n-oaioo50

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to

I

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Broslus

55 tr ::

^ 2 3 S ?* "i

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= ""^ 'S

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® <* *• "* =0 —

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— Oa CO

•'J'CO

0(N

'

3t-

r-.

t-

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lO

I

L

04

H fChase P

•

§ Cake

G..

P5

W

Junkln

wJ
Si
H
«
«
cc"

Merrick

Q
O
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O
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o

O
O

T-T-

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rcrossman

Africa

O

;COlO

»-<

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:

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Black

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coos

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t— W3 r- <0 Oi CO

coto—'eJifte»o>too-«i-c-<T
COOO-fO'^OOJOOOr^OCOCOl—
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Rawle
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o
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—

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HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.

82

p^

TFrederlck

HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.

83

GOVERNOR, 1882.
Official returns

from the State show a

total vote of 709,217,

an

increase of 135,467, over the vote for State Treasurer one year ago.

Senator Stewart's total vote is 48,602, ai^ainst 49,984 for Mr. Wolfe
in 1881.

The following

candidates for governor,

table

gives the total vote

for the three

com])ared Avith the vote of 1881

for the

same party candidates.
1882.

COT'NTIES.

1881.

>
<

O

W_

Adams
Allegheny

Armstrong
Beaver
Bedford
Berks
Blair

Bradford

Bucks
Butler

Cambria
Cameron
Carbon
Centre
Chester
Clarion
Clearfield

Clinton

Columbia
Crawford
Cumberland
Dauphin
Delaware
Elk
Erie

Fayette
Forest
Franklin
Fulton

Greene
Huntingdon

.

2606
18298
3468
2650
3021
8142
4487
5199
6504
3941
3279

o

C/2

148
4841
185
720
2950
203
3406
259
15922
266
3970
4217 1262
603
7770
512
3464
188
4247
484
86
3061
177
s plurality, 879
6290 1125
112
3473
127
4063
218
2661
102
4139
1520
5071
318i
16191
3351

481
2423
Pattison
7713
1969
2297
1730
1736
3711
4618
3645
373
6941
5671
726
4586
3828
931
150
399
1289
5218
5727
575
5108
3908
96
Pattison 's plurality,, 90
3653
4456 1213
86
611
1036
1635
3546
29
2562
750
2420

2348
15679
2893
2949
3163
4650
3275
4387
6240
3517
3117
519
2152
2344
5636
1739
1814
1819
1247
4507
2922

5793
3221
620
4656
3458
371

4090
768
1530
2629

2871

9860
2»66
2654
3370
9920
2435
2969
6996
3327
3565
479
2719
3491
4298
2734
2994
2525
2878
3718
4023
3800
2372
1212
4130
3752
255
4011
1133
2976
2034

37
5948
317
340
120
139
297
1510
556
771
144
14
103
185
941
132
55
273
127
590
150
951
1574
20
292
88
3
147
8
7

396

1

..

HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.

84

K
W

COINTIES.

>;

•^
*<

W
Indiana
Jefferson

Jnniata

Lackawanna

....

Lancaster

Lawrence
Lebanon
Lehitih

Luzerne

Lycoming

McKean
Mercer
Mifflin

Monroe

Montgom y

.

.

Montour
Northaniptom

.

.

Kortluimberland
Perry
Philadelphia

Pike
Potter....
Schuylkill

Snyder
Somerset
Sullivan

Susquehanna
Tioga
Union

Venango
Warren
Washington

1891

Wayne
Westuioreland

3896
2598
1372
5476
13989
2417
4303
5847
7317
3386
1791
4268
1375
635
9287
1037
4068
3876
2634
70940
256
834
7362
1873
3350
445
2864
2270
1303
2386

.

5192
1462
5644

Wyoming

1421

York

6148

Totals

O
03
S
\.
<

PLi

1^93
2581
1638
6655
9866
1755
2778
7948
1 1830
5114
2137
4521
1776
2934
10588
1664
8741
5054
2674
67287
1088
838
10550
1446
2271
874

3198
2257
1394
2697
1835
5238
2943
7242
1905
10439

«
<
t;
'"^

u

d2

liu"

125
53
752
2525
584
215
98
1642
280
529
385
182
66
622
75
645
582
90
8085
88
418
1077
184
699
30
689
221
682
401
439

220
781

242
165
261

310460 350155 48602

<
pq

HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.

CHAPTER

85

XI.

BLOO^vdlSBTJ IRO.
1776, Wyoming township extended from the mouth of
IXingcreek
to the state line on the north, and Mr. James Mc-

P"'ish-

who

in 1772 had settled on the flats above the mouth of
was one of the committee of safety for the township.
Gradually the name Wyoming was more definitely fixed to the
upper end of the valley, as the state line was pushed northward
and the Connecticut claimants either relinquished or sold, or

CUure,

the creek,

were confirmed

in their claims tlii'ough

submission to the Pennsyl-

But the great beauties of the Susquehainia
valley are not the exclusive property of what is now called Wyoming, but are distributed along the river and to day there is no
landscape anywhere superior to several views of the valley from
the mouth of Fishingcreek to Berwick, which can be obtained in
vania authorities.

;

the vicinity of Bloonisburg.

From

the roof of the

Bloon.sburg State Normal School build-

ing you have conuuand of scenery unsurpassed by any

Your

in

the

winding Susquehanna,
rests upon the fertile valleys north of the river, and on the south it
the majestic Catawissa mounis relieved by the river hill and
tain.
Off to the north the Nob mountain looms up in its picturesqueness, and the valley of the Fishingcreek seems shut up
among the mountains while immediately at your feet spread out
the fifteen hundred acres of land upon which the tov^n of Bloomsburg is built, bounded on the north and west by the Fishingcreek
and south by the ever beautiful Susquehanna, making in the
sparkling sunlight, a band of silver encircling the green valley
ujHin which your eye is resting with unmeasured delight.
Through the midst of the valley with shriek and whoop rush the
state.

eye, for twelve miles along the

;

HISTOEY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.

86

&

Bloomsburg railroad, crossino- the creek near its moutli and sweeping down the bank of the
winding river, awakening the echoes of the rock of the "Lover's

trans of cars over

tlie

Lackawanna

Scarcely has your eye lost the passing train, before along
the mountain side across the river, and in full view, like a demon
roaring for his prey, scattering smoke and fire over the watei-s,

Leap."

echoing train over

leaps the

North & West Branch
railway, and escapes in a cloud
of smoke round the point of
opposite the
the mountain
the

jnouth of Fishingcreek. While
at

the same moment,

your right, the

shrill

off

to

whistle of

upon the Catawissa
calls your ear, and cross-

the train
road,

ing the Lackawanna

burg at right

majestically over

j. J.

&

Blooms-

angles,

moves

the Susque-

hanna river bridge, and over
the North & West Branch
railway at the east end, and

Huowi-:ii s Iu:lLDI^o.

wakes the echoes of the Catawissa

hills.

From "The Grove" north of the Normal school much of the
same view can be obtained, modified in some respects, but with
added features, which in the eyes of some persons enchance its
beauties.

On "The Rocks"
are

north of the town, the same general features

conmianded; and in addition thereto a long stretch of the

Fishingcreek, rolling
the base of the

cliff,

its pur-'

waters and beating vainly against

with the L'ondale Furnaces in the distance,

throwing up their lurid lights, impress other sight seers
altogether the most delightful and romantic.
So, the

brow

of the hill

being

on the Lightstreet road, half a mile

north east of the town affords a view hardly,

any of the

as

some points

if

at

all,

surpassed by

but it
adds to the others a view of the valley of Scott, Centre and Briarothers.

It loses

of

great beauty,

HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.
creek townships, whose fertile
to the eye and to the

fields

and green

hills

87

give delight

heart.

But it is not only in the matter of local scenery that Bloomsburg is worthy of the observation of the tourist. It has one feaIts drives are perfectly charmture which is absolutely unique.
ing, and no matter by whicii of some six or eight road^ yai depart, you can at the end of a delightful drive of from three to ten
You need not for many
miles or more, re-enter it by another.
travelled, and you will
once
of
road
any
portion
a
times go over
Thus
picturesque.
good
and
safe
and
and
all
of
them
each
find
your drives are almost ever new, and you can make different comIndeed it could not well be otherwise with the
binations daily.
Susquehanna

river

on one

side,

the big Fishingcreek, the

Fishingcreek and the Hemlock creek

all in

little

the immediate neigh-

borhood, diversifying the face of the country, and hiding in their
turnings and connexions many beautiful nooks and shady dells

and barren

rocks.

was settled at an early day by several families, and
Major Moses Van Campen says that in 1778 he, with a company of about twenty men, built a fort on Fishingcreek about
He also says that "in the spring of
three miles from its mouth.

The

1781,

vicinity

we

built

McClure's

fort,

a fort on the

widow

McClui-e's plantation,

where our provisions were

The town of Bloomsburg was
The name was pronounced as if
known as Oyersburg. Many of

called

stored."

laid out in 1802

spelled Oyer,

by LudwigEyer.

and the place was

descendants of the Proprie-

the

and are of our most thrifty and respected citMr. Eyer rested in the Lutheran burying ground which he
izens.
gave to the congregation, for many years, but his remains were
recently removed to Catawissa. He was a generous hearted and
liberal minded man, of a stock of whom Pennsylvania is proud.
tor

Btill

reside here

which the
have been taken a part
of Mount Pleasant, a i)art of Orange, a part of Centre, and the
whole of Scott. What was left of the township of Bloom was or-

Bloom township was one

of the original twelve with

county was organized in 1813.

From

it

ganized by an Act of Assembly of March
of BlooTusburg."
tion.

It is built

No town

in the state

has

4,

a

1

870 as "The Town
more healthy loca-

on a high bluff on the Fishingcreek, about one

HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.

88

and a half miles from the river in a straight line north, and about
two miles fi'om the mouth of the creek going southwest. The
ground descends towards the river and the mouth of the creek so
as to afford the most complete system of drainage for all parts of
the town.

A chapter might be written concerning the improvements and
changes of the last thirty years. In 1850 the bridge over the
brook below the old Forks Hotel on Second street was less than
twenty feet wide, and there were no sidewalks at the point of
crossing the brook.

At

the southwest corner of Second and Iron

streets it required a flight of five or six steps to get into the door,

now

level

with the pavement.

wound round

street

The road from the

the bank

of the

Market

straight to the bridge as at the present.

foot of

Second

creek instead of going
street

below Third

being a splendid
thoroughfare a hundi-ed feet
instead

of

was a narrow, crooked,
The road to
road.

wide,

illkept

Espy crossed the canal twice
and dangerous bridges

l)y liigh

within

a

distance

of

three

iiundred yards, instead of nan-

ning along the berme bank,
a

safe,

way.

level

and delightful

To speak

of the private

which have taken
BROS. BUILDING.
the place of old tumble-down
structures, would be to make reference to most of the houses in the
town, as Bloomsburg has been substantially rebuilt within twentydwellings

MOVKR

five years.

To

No

such thing

the public buildings

pro])er.

proper

will, therefore,

be attempted.

and business places some attention is
is mentioned under the

The Normal School building
title in this

volume, together with other educational matter

The Court House,
present requirements

built in

1846,

is

perhaps hardly up to the

of the business for

which

it

was intended,

the bulk of the records, and the legal business having very considerably increased since the County seat was removed to Blooms-

burg.

The

old jail has

been altogether abandoned, and a new

HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.

89

as much comfort can be
prison has lately been erected, in Avhich
the occasion of the visit.
had, as is consistent with the place and

COr-U-MBIA

The Lackawant.a

&

COUNTY PRISOX.

Bloorasburg railroad passes through the

The North Branch
with a depot on Market & Sixth.
The North
Railroad.
the
of
south
yards
Canal lies three hundred
and
Canal,
the
of
south
mile
half
a
is
Branch of the Susquehanna

town,

Branch
opposite bank of the river runs the North and West
railroad,
Reading
Philadelphia
the
by
At Rupert,
railway.
on

tlu"

&

you take the omnibus to Bloomsburg.
proper
Oi tlie newspapers mention will be made under the
but

may

it

title;

be here said that there are at present, published weekly,
democratic; The Bepublican, republican; The

The Columbian,

Sentinel, democratic;

The

streets are

and the Journal, prohibitionist.

numbered from the Fishing creek towards the

and west, nearly; and the cross streets runvary in width from
ning neariy north and south are ?ianiecl They
are over forty
them
of
Most
thirty three feet to one hundred.

river

and trend

east

and are well paved and well lighted. The Hotels, the
business of the
Court House, the Normal School, and the main
and cindered
paved
wide,
a
street,
town are upon Second
feet wide,

thoroughfare.

—

HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.

90

In addition to the many handsome residences, the buildings
which give a substantial and imposing character to the town are
the Exchange Hotel, opened in 1874 the Central Hotel the
Columbian block the block of buildings occupied by D. Lowenberg and J. Cadman the one by Holmes & Schuyler the corner
by A. J. Evans the building of D. A. Creasy the corner of
Clark &, Son Miss Feterman's building McKinney's building

—

—

—
—
—
—
Rawling's building— Barton's

building

—
—Moyer

—

—

Bros' building

and the old McKelvy corner, refitted by Knorr & Wintersteen:
On the north side we have Robbins, Gilmore, Sharpless, Moyer
Bros'

drug

store,

Brower's

Furman's, and Kleim's

Exchange

all

;

building,

of which, with

Hartnian's,

what

block, are three or four story buildings,

Sterner's,

known

is

as the

and of consid-

erable dimensions.

The Opera House on Centre

street

below Second, capable of

seating about one thousand ])ersons, has been fitted up to

attract

and accommodate a variety of excellent entertainments. It is convenient and accessible, and well suited for lectures and public
meetings.

town we can only make
The extensive Car Shops of (t. M. &
K. Lockard the Iron Foundry and Machine Shops of Harman
Hassert the Foundry of B. F. Sharpless the Iron fence man-

Of

the industries carried on in the

cursory mention, to wit:
J.

&

—

—

ufactory of Michael Hess

Brother

—the planing mill of

substantial

Woolen

—
Charles Krug —the

—the Carriage

Mills of S. A.

&

shops of M. C. Sloan

William Neal

&

and lastly the
Company, and of

E. C. Caswell

Anthracite furnaces of the Bloomsburg Iron

&

new, large and
;

Sons.

Nor, in the enumeration of the advantages and attractions, edbusiness and social, should we omit to mention the
Sanitarium, an institution established about three years ago, for
the special treatment of nervous affections.
It is a large and
ucational,

handsome

with all the modern improvements of
and ventilation. It is convenient of access by
rail, has pleasant and extensive grounds, and is in hands fully
competent to the treatment of the diseases for which it was
structure, fitted

heat, light, water

specially intended, as well as for general hygienic purposes.

The churches

are

Second and Iron

as

street

follows

:

St.

Paul's Episcopal, corner of

—Presbyterian, on

Market

street

below

IILSTOliY
P 3

TO
•*

c^

<»

re

—

•-•

^
X

»j
'5

iJ

.«

r^

OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.

91

JIISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY

92

Seoond

— Lutherai),

Market

street

above

Second

— Baptist, Third

— Reformed,

street, above
below Iron— Methodist,
Third street below Market Evangelical, Fourth street above
Iron Welsh Baptist, First street, east of Iron Welsh Wesleyan,

corner of Third and Iron
Iron

— Roman

streets

Third

Catholic,

street

—

—

Iron street, north of First street

— African

—

Methodist, First street,

below Market.
There are two money institutions: The First National Bank,
and the Bloomsburg Banking Com]iany. The capital stock of
each is fifty thousand dollars.
The Bloomsburg Iron Com])auy was incorporated as the
Bloomsburg Railroad Iron com})any, by Act of Assembly of June
The furnaces were erected in 1844, and
22, 1839, P. L., 384.
may be said to have been and remain in continuous 0[)eration,
and mainly in the ownership of the original proprietors or their
descendants.

The furnaces

Neal&

of

Neal

&

Sons were erected by Messrs. McKelvy,

Co. in 1853 and were put in blast, April 14, 1854.

have never stopped except for improvements or

repairs,

They
and are

in successful operation.

The Rosemont Cemetery Company was incorporated by Act
Assembly of A])ril 2, 1853, P. L., 285. Several acres of land
were purcliased by the managers at various times, the area now
comprising nearly ten acres and the grounds have been tastefully
laid out.
Most of the lots have been sold, and many beautiful
and some elegant and costly momunents are being erected therein.
of

;

III.'STOJiY

OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.

93

By

the late o])eniiig of Centre street, the grading of First street
and the Cemetery grounds bordering on it, has been rendered
necessary and is progressing. This with other contempLated im})roveinents will shortly i)ut the grounds in excellent condition.
The Bloonisburg Gas company was incorporated May 28, 1874,
by the couit, with a capital of thirty thousand dollars. Gas was
suj>plied to private takers and business places, October 28, 1874
and the streets were light^'d for the first time. May 1, 1875.
The Park
Of that something ought to be
aye, the Park.
said, if it be only to call attention to the fact, that although the
grounds have been purchased, the Town Council has never thought
it worth while to lay out the grounds, or })lant
a tree, or even
make the fence. If proper and i)ronipt attention had been given
to it it would now be a beautiful and attractive spot, provided
with sparkling fountains, lighted by gas, sweet Avith the perfume
of flowers, shaded by thrifty forest trees, underneath which children, and nurse carriages, free from dust, dirt and danger could
spend the long summer days in unmitigated delight. This should
be done, and at least two other plots of ground adjoining the town
north and east, upon which native forest trees are now growing
should be purchased by the Town and fitted for the public promenade.
It should be done now while they are cheap and not left
.

!

until

they are either not procurable, or

what

three times

it

would be

if

at {)resent.

in

market, at a price

Let us have plenty of

these public jjlaces.

The Bloomsburg Water Company was organized August 14,
The water is filtered into a well

1877, with a cai)ital of !§30,00L).

from the Fishingcreek, and

is

forced,

by two independent

acting i)uniping engines into the reservoir, wh.iee

by gravitation
sity,

there

conij)k'te(l

The

is

to the town.

it is

direct-

distributed

In case of an accident or other neces-

direct connection with the

pumps.

The works

Avere

about September 1880.

site of tlie

Town

of

Bloomsburg was owned by John

Adam

Ludwig Oyer, his
Oyersburg. The origi-

Oyer, and the town was laid out in 1802 by

known

for some years as
from West to Iron streets, and from First to
Third.
The old tannery was built by Daniel Snyder in 1806, and
the Mai-r store buildings were begun to be erected in the same
year, by Abram Grotz.
In that building Mr. John K. Grotz Avas

agent, an<l Avas
nal

town

])lot

Avas

HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.

94

born in 1810, and
in Bloonisburg.

is

believed to be the

When

by birth,
bounding on Mar-

oldest resident,

he was a boy the

lots

ket street on the north of Second, and the site of the street, were
liigh huckelberry bushes, and within their

covered with alders aul

cover, at the site of Dr. Rutter's liouse, was a deer lick, and thence
on many occasions, droves of deer were driven and a choice oue
stopped by the hunter.
Mr. John Barton kei>t the first store and was tlie first i)OStmaster.
Mr. Mills kept the tirst hotel where Moyer Bros' drug
store is now located, and the second one was where Mr. 1. W.
Hartniau now lives. Dr. Park Avas the lirst physician, and Dr.

Bacon the second.

McKelvy

Mr.

came about 1820.
The original Exchange Hotel was
a log and frame
struct ure,and was
l)uilt by Caspar
Chrismanin 1810.

What is now the
Central H o t e
I

was
ip

NEW EXCllANUE HOT

built

by Phil-

Mehrling in
He Avas ac-

1818.
I

I

cidentally

during the erection.
1825, and

it

The

was remove<l

killed

Forks Hotel was erected about

old

in 1875.

Other matters relating to the town will be found under the education head, and also uader the bibliographical.
Many descendants of the original sett krs

among

in

and about Bloomsburg are

the active and thriving business

Grotzes, the

Ruperts, the

men

Bartons, the

McKelvys, the Chrismans, the

of the place.

Eyers, the

Pursels,

the Snyders, the Phillipses, the

Moyers, the

the Chamberlins,

Sloans, the Frys, the Barkleys, the Longs, the

still

The

Ro bisons,

the

—while

McClures and the Weavers^are

represented in the female branch.

Having

for nuiny years been the

most considerable town in the
being for more than

county, and since 1845 the county seat, and

HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.

95

twenty years the place of residence of the President Judge of the
judicial district,

it

has naturally attracted to

itself

men

of culture

and wealth, men who desired educational advantages for their
children, and men who were seeking pleasant residences easily accessible.
In all these particulars it is probably second to no
town in the state, and it is also distinguished for the number and
ability of its newspapers, and for its high social and literary
character.

HISTOBY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.

96

CHAPTER

XII.

B EI^"';7;^ loi^.
BERWICK

claimed to have been founded in 1780, or at
upon by Evan Owen, but it was not known as
It is built on a bluff of about 100 feet
Bei'wick until 1783.
height on the right bank of the Susquehanna, on the eastern
boundary of the county, and on the very edge of Luzerne. The
brothers Robert and John Brown, came early, and Samuel Jackson, who was related by marriage to Evan Owen was among the
early settlers.
It is said that John Jones opened the first store
in 1800, and John Brown the first hotel in 1804.
The travel
across the river
was considerable, the route to Reading
being by Berwick and Nescopeck.
In 1812 a bridge
company was organized, and Theodore Burr built the
bridge at
the cost of
It was
$50,000 or thereabouts.
completed in 1814, and is 1260 feet long. It was damaged by a
freshet in 1835 and rebuilt in 1837, by Eliphelet Edson at a cost
of about $27,500.
It is the terminus of a turnpike famous in its
day, which passed through Bradford county to Newtown in the
state of New York.
It is here also that the Nescopeck turnpike
is

least settled

leading to

Mauch Chunk

terminates.

Berwick was created a borough by Act of Assembly of January 29, 1818.
In connection with this sketch of Berwick,
aster

may

be a fitting incident.

by

river,

has been,

name

indicates, the

Since

1771

the steamboat dis-

the Susquehanna

act of Assembly, a public highway.

But steamboat navigation has been and always will be impossible, owing to
its rapid current and shallow water, and also because it is, as its
"crooked river," or more correctly, "The river
Notwithstanding the difficulties mentioned, several attempts have been made to plow its waters.
In the
of the winding shore."

HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.

97

year 1820 Captain Elger,

in the "Codorus," proceeded as far as
Binghaniton, and returned to York Haven, pronouncing against

the practicability of the navigation of the river.

The next attempt was by a steamboat built at Baltimore, and
named the "Susquehanna," commanded by Captain Collins. She
drew twenty-two inches ^of water, and of course ^proceeded with
great difficulty.

But

multitudes of people

her decks.

At

all

along the river the boat Avas cheered by
out to see, or enjoy a ride upon

who turned

Catawissa and Bloomsburg accessions
all went merry as a marriage

Danville,

of excursionists were received, and
bell.

They reached Xescopeck Falls, opposite Berwick, on the afternoon of May 3rd, 1826. The banks were crowded with spectators
and with a full head of steam "The Susquehanna made for the
falls.
About the middle of the ascent she struck a rock and im'

mediately her boiler burst with an explosion which sent a thrill of
terror to all who heard it.
The passengers and crew were dead
or dying upon deck, or floating

nmngled or scalded upon the foamrescue, and
shortly hotels and private houses were thrown ojien to the sufferDrs. Ileadly, Wilson and Jackson gave their professional
ers.
assistance to the wounded and dying.
Among those who were on board and more or less injured, were
Col. Jose})h Paxton and Christian Brobst of Catawissa, Messrs.
Woodside, William Colt and Sheriff Underwood of Danville, and
Messrs. Foster, William G. Hurley and Isaiah Barton of Bloomsburg.
Col. Paxton says:
"I stood on the forward deck Avith a
long ash j)ole in my hand, and was in the act of placing it in the
ing waters.

spectators rushed to the

Instantly the

water, hoping to steady her,

when

the explosion took place.

young men standing near me were blown high into the
was hurled several yards from the boat into the water.
a
I

cannon had been tired and shot my head off. When in
I must certainly drown, but, making a desperate

thought

succeeded in reaching the shore.

my

hair and a portion of

my

I

Two

and I
I thought
the water

air,

effort,

was badly scalded, and

lost

scalp."

Four persons were killed or died of their injuries, and this untoward event rendered Berwick and Nescopeck Falls famous for

many
It

a day.

was

at

Berwick,

also,

on the 4th of July,

1828,

that ground

HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.

98

was broken for the construction of the North Branch Canal. The
plow was held by Nathan Beach, and the oxen- were driven by
Alexander Jameson, the owner. Another gala day for Berwick,
and hapi)ily without any of the sad results of two years before
the construction and navigation of the "raging canawl" being less
dano-erous than the chartless channel of the winding Susquehanna.
The Berwick Academy was incorporated by an Act of Assem;

bly of June 25, 1839, P. L. 481, and a suj^plement passed April
It has had some able and accomplished in28, 1810, P. L. 480.

and there are on its rolls the names of several men who
have become distinguished. The town is large enough to support
an institution of the kind, over and above the advanced instruction now given in the common schools, and the Berwick Academy ought to flourish more and more as the years go by.
In 1850 a telegraph line was constructed through Berwick; in
1858 the Lackawanna & Bloomsburg railroad was opened; in

structors,

& Woodin

began the manufacture of car wheels,
and the construction of cars soon followed, and within ten years
Then business, trade and populathe rolling mill was erected.
block was erected and many
Jackson's
Berwick.
into
tion poured
bank
built.
w us chartered in 1864
A
were
residences
handsome
judgment
and success.
with
great
conducted
been
has
and
The Methodists have a large and beautiful church building on
Second and Market streets the Presbyterians one on Second and
Vine streets the Baptists one on Front street, between Mulberry and Vine streets. the Evangelical, on second street below
1861 Jackson

;

;

;

Chestnut.

The population of the borough is not less than 2500.
"The first frame house built here still stands opposite Odd Felthe first brick structure was Seybert's Hotel, now
lows Hall
known as the St. Charles the second brick was the old Metho;

;

dist church, corner

which

is

now

Third and Mulberry

occupied as a dwelling

;

streets, erected in

first

1817,

children born in Ber-

of Robert Brown [Annie
was the wife of Jesse Bowman, deceased, and was the first person
married in Berwick ;] the first church built was the Quaker, a log
building, where the Quaker church now stands the first lawyer
was named Bancroft first judge, John Cooper; doctors, Mooreland and Beisswick postmaster, William Brien school master,

wick, John and Annie Brown, children

;

;

;

;

—

;

HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.
Isaac Holloway

99

preachers, Carson and Painter coopers, John
and Peter Solt carpenter, John Brown
blacksmith, Aquilla
Starr tailor, Benjamin Doan
chair maker and painter, Abel
Dalby mason, Jonathan Cooper, sr. dyer. Bush potter, Wm.
Brien tanner, Henry Traugh, sr. dentist, Yallershamp tinner,
Herman Inmann gunsmiths, Hleppy & Co.; wheelwright, James
milliner, Roxana Cortwright
Evans silversmith, Marshall
butcher, Stackhouse weaver, Polly Mullen cabinetmaker, Samuel Herin; saddle and harness maker, Col John Snyder; lime
burner, John Jones, the limestone then being obtained at the bot;

;

;

;

;

;

;

;

;

;

,

;

;

;

;

;

tom

;

of the river.

Among

the

names that

history of Berwick

the

will

be remembered

are

those

Smith, Mr. Daveni)ort, Samuel

Beach, William Kitchin, Dr.

Herin,

A.

in comiection with
Paul Thompson, Richard

of

B.

S.

F.

Ileadley, Josiah F.

Wilson, Dr. Jackson, Dr.

Langdon, Thomas Coles, Bostian Seyberl, A. Miller,
Robert Smith, Charles Snyder, Joseph Stackhouse, Lawrence
Ruch, Judge Mack, Andrew Shiner, Jonathan Cooper, flugh
Thompson, Thomas Richardson, William Herin, J. W. Deitriek,
John McAnall, Michael Frantz, Frederick Nicely, Jesse Bowman
and Mrs. Eckert, nearly all of whom died at an extremely old
Kurtz pampldet.
age."
For forty-seven years, Mr. Hudson Owen has noted the lowest
mark to which the w^ater in the river at Berwick has fallen and
in the beginning of November, A. D., 1882, found it at a lower
point than at any time since his observations began.
One of the features of Berwick is the public library and reading room.
The hall is capable of seating about 400 persons. The
reading room is supplied with the leading American and some of
the best English literature and the library proper comprises
about 3000 volumes. A lecture course has been well sustained
for the last three years, and to the great credit of the people, conThe best lecturers have always been sestantly well attended.
cured, and tlie people have been educated up to a high point of
The library rei)ort shows a
literary and oratorical ai)}>reciation.
monthly circulation of oOO volumes. Tlie association shows sj)ecIleadley, Dr.
sr.,

;

;

ial

attention to

and

young

i)eople, either resident or visiting tlie i)lace^

to the boys of the town,

evening.

Tiiis

who

important enterprise

are gathered every
is

greatly

Monday

indebted to the

^

HISTOEY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.

100

generosity of the Jackson

&

Woodin Manufacturing Company,

energy of Mr. A. G. Kiniberly, the librarian.
and
Clarence G. Jackson, son of Mordecai W. Jackson, was born
March 5, 1842 and died in Berwick May 3, 1880. He graduated
to the

He

at Dickinson Seminary, Williamsport.

company H. 84th Regiment,

entered the army Au-

three years.
ObJanuary 18, 1863, and Captaincy
on July 1st 1863; was wounded and captured at ChancelMay 3, 1863, and upon his release, was
lorsville,
Va.,
transferred to Co. H. 57th Regiment Pennsylvania Volunorteers, January 13, 1865, and was discharged by general
His military record was an excellent one.
der March 10, 1865.
He was a man of much general information, a forcible and fluent
speaker, of tine business qualifications, and great energy of char-

gust

2,

1862,

tained the

1st

for

lieutenancy

acter.

Capt. Ciiart.es B.
1,

1840.

Read law

Brockway was born

in the office of E.

mitted to the Bar September

5,

1865.

at

Berwick, Penna., April

H. Little Esq.

He

and was ad-

entered the army April

and was commissioned First Lieut, in Battery F. First
17, 1861, and served for over tln-ee
years.
The fighting record of the Battery is one with his, aiid
his military record is first rate.
He was mustered out November
1864. He represented Columbia county in the Legislature in 1871,
1872 and 1873, and was the Democratic candidate for Congress
in 1870, and came within 124 votes of an election, in a district usually republican by about 1000 majority.
Capt. Brockway resides
in Bloomsburg.
17, 1861,

Penna. Light Artillery, October

^

g,

,|-— —-»^=I=^-,-|r—i^

^

g

^

HISTOEY OF COLUMBIA

CHAPTER

CATAAVISSA

a large

is

of the Susquehanna,

101

XIII.

and Hourisluiig village on the left bank
mouth of Catawissa creek, about

at the

four miles south of Bloonisburg.

and

j)ieturesque scenery,

(JOUNTY.

is

It

is

situated in the midst

surrounded by a rich and

of

fertile

The town contains over two thousand inhabitants.
by the name of Catawissa is
date and place of a letter written by James Le Tort, an Indian

country.

The
tlie

earliest reference to tlie place

Governor of the province.

trader, to the

wasse.
Yo\-

May

many

It is

given thus,

"Cata-

12, 1728."

ye

reasons

I

goes or Turkey

tribe,

name is a
Mousey or Wolf

think the

wares; but whetlier of the

or the

Wanamese

know, but by the terminal syllable

Redmond Conyngham,
history

the aboriginal

Esq.,

who

has devoted

of the State,

says,

much

Dela-

Unalachit-

or Turtle tribe,

should judge the

I

the

dialect of
tribe, the

I

do not

last.

research to

"The Piscatawese or

Gangawese, or Conoys, (Kenehawas) had a wigwam on the Catawese, at Catawese,

now Catawissa."

Hon. Stewart Pearce says that 'the Shav>-anese, a tribe of the
Eries, driven from the great lakes south about 1608, to Georgia
and Florida, becoming involved tliere with the Spaniards and
southern Indians, returned noith

about 1090.'

It is

certain that

came into the Province in or about 1697. They settled along
Delaware and the Susquehanna, among the Delawares, and

tliey
tlie

Mr. Pearce goes on to say
Fishingcreek near
near Briarsmall
settlement
a

under the control of the Six Nations.

"The Shawanese liad a
Bloonisburg, and at Catawissa, and

however,

village at

creek."

Neither the Gangawese
Delawares, yet

above

stated,

it is

nor the Shawanese belonged to the

not impossible they

may have been

and "Catawese" may belong

to

settled as

one of them, seeing

HISTOEY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.

102

they have the sunie

terniiiial as

the

Wanamese

of the Dehiwares;

and the word in any one of the above dialects may mean,
ed, "Pure Avater."
It

may

as claim-

be curious to note here, that at a council held at Phila-

Thomas Penu and the
Shawanese Indians, upon '"being asked if they are at war with
any Indians to the southward, they said that they were at war
with the Catawbas and Catawas Indians, in Carolina."
delphia in July and August, 1739, between

some troubles occui'ring between us and the ShawanConrad Weiser was sent to Shamokin to have an interview
with them and others. On the 4th of February they met at the
house of Shikellimo, and he found among the assembly "OlumaIn 17.54 Mr. Weiser finds
pies and Lapapeton of the Delawares."
the same Delaware chief, spelling his name, however, Lapackpitton, at Oskohary, doubtless from the context meaning Catawissa
or it may be, an Indian town not far from the mouth of Roaringcreek, which is also spoken of by some early writers; and as I
find in Post's Journal of 1758 the name spelled Lappopetung,
I am the more inclined to locate Oskohary at the mouth of Koaring creek which was in Indian, Popemetung.
He was a man of
some note, and for a time fastened his name upon the town of
"Catawese," and in those ancient deeds the name is spelled Lau'
paugh-petin.
Well peace to his ashes, however it be.
In 1742-3

ese,

!

Certainly as early as 1728 there were white people in and about

but the first account we have of a settlement made
under law and purchase was the granting by patent, of two hundred and eighty-two acres, [on which part of the town now stands],

Catawissa

;

of Pennsylvania to Edward
and Joseph Shippen Jr., the 14th of February, 1770,
who by their indenture on the first of May, 1773, granted the
same unto Ellis Hughes in fee, who, with Hannnh, his wife, by
their indenture of the 27th day of June, 1778, granted ninety-two
acres and one quarter of an acre, [jiart of the above mentioned
tract], unto William Hughes, who laid out the town in the year

by the Honorable the Proprietaries
Shippen

Jr.,

1787.

Although an attempt was made to fasten the name of the
it,
the good sense of the people settled on the already well known and sweet sounding original, and whether

founder upon

HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.
Wananiese, or ShawaiiC'se, or Gangawese,

it

will

103

rem liii "Oita-

wese" forever.
Williajii

Hughes was

a

Quaker from Berks county.

Among

Isaiah

were
Fenton,
William Collins, James Watson, John Lloyd,
Benjamin Sharpless, and others of the Society of Friends. Of
those mentioned there seem to be no records, except'of the Sharpless family, of whom there remain the following interesting facts:
The ancestor ])urchast'd from William Penn, in England, by indenture dated A])ril oth, 1682, one thousand acres of land in the
Province of Pennsylvania, for twenty })Ounds sterling, and an annual quit rent of one shilling for every hundred acres, on the first
day of March, forever. Tlie land was located in Chester county,
about two miles north from Chester, and in Providence township
and Middleton township, now in Delaware county. John Sharpless, the ])urchaser, died in 1685, aged about 61 years, and Jane,
his wife, in 1722, aged about 84 years. Of their children, Thomas
died on shipboard, Phebe and Jane in 1685, and Caleb in 1688
leaving three sons, John, James and Joseph, from whom the entire
Sharpless family are descended. John Sharpless, the elder brother,
married Hannah Pennel, daughter of Robert Pennel, in 1692,
and resided on the tract purchased off Ridley creek, near Chester.
They had nine children, Caleb, Jane, Hannah, John,
Phebe, Rebecca, Margaret, Ann and Daniel. He died in 1747,
at the age of 81 years, his wife having died in 1721.
James Sharjiless, the second brother, married Mary Lewis,
daughter of Ralph and Mary Lewis, from Glamorganshire, in
Wales, and settled on the second tract above mentioned, in Providence township. They had eight children, Lydia, Mary, James,
Rachel, Sarah, Thomas, David and Esther.
Joseph Sharpless, the younger brother, married Lydia Lewis,
sister ;o his brother James' wife, and in pursu;nice of a family
arrangement settled on the third tract, in Middleton township.
They had ten children, Susanna, Joseph, Benjamin, Samuel, Lydia,
Na'han, Jane, Abraham, Jacob and William.
He died in 1757,
and his wife in 1765. Of these children, Benjainin settled in
Plughes

kej)t

Catawissa.

the

first store.

the earlier

})ioueers

His descendants are lunong the leading men of the

town at present.
John Mears, a famous Quaker preacher and physician, a man

HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.

104

became the Proprietor
Of him I am able to
])articulars.
He was born in

of great energy of character, afterwards
of the

give

town by buying up the
following

the

qnit rents.

additional

and came to Philadelphia with his mother,
then the wife of John Lyndall, about 1754. He followed the busIn 1760 he married
iness of ship-joining and cabinet-making.
Susanna Townsend. Sometime afterwards he settled in Reading.
In the war of the revolution lie was a caj)tain in the 4th Penn.
Regt. and was wounded at Brandywine. A siiigle relic of CapGeorgia about

17i?7

tain Mears' military career remains in the j^ossession of his grand-

John Mears,

son,

in

Wallace

street, Philadelphia.

single-bladed knife, a])parently
rather than the battle-field.
ed,

It is a large,

designed for the commissariat

It is well

and on the white broad handle

is

and ingeniously construct-

the following inscription:

St. Luke La Corxe,
To Captain John Mears,
4rii

After his recovery,
ity.

He

returned to

Penxsyla'ania Regiment.

we hear no more

of

him

in a military

Reading, but subsequently

liis

capac-

roving

dis-

him into newer districts of the State. He was the
virtual founder and the patriarch of the town of Catawissa. Here
he held the office of magistrate, and infused his energy into the
inhabitants.
Through the difficult country now traversed by the
famous Catawissa Railroad, he laid out and built the first carriage
road, connecting the valleys of the Susquehanna and the Schuylkill, a great and laudable achievement in those times.
Besides
holding the offices of magistrate and roadmaker, he was Quaker
preacher and physician'; and though his methods were vigorous
and rude, his manly presence, his patriotic services and sufferings,
his integrity and enterprise Avon him universal respect, and embalmed his memory in the connuunity. He died in the year 1819,
at the good old age of 82.
Of his five children, William, the oldest, was born in Philadelphia,
March 9th, 1761; his wdfe was Elizabeth Haller, the daughter of a
colonel in the Revolutionary army.
Thus both branches of the
position led

family contributed patriotic blood aiui loyal impulses to the de-

William himself held a colonel's commission in the
saw no active service. He succeeded his father
as magistrate and like liim, Avas the object of deep and universal
scendants.

war

of 1812, but

OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.

IILSTOIiY
He

respect.

105

died suddenly in Catawissa, June 11th, 1825, in his

sixty-fifth year.

James

1706

In

Among

Watson

out an addition to the town.

hiid

came about 1790
and took or established a ferry across the Susquehanna. Christian Hn)l)st. whose descendants, active and extensive business
the Germans, George

men, are
the

still tliere,

first, if

not the

tril>utary of

made
])rint

Knaj)j)enl)erger

came about

Catawissa creek,

in

John Hauc^ was one of

1793.

build

to

first,

a furnace in

the region, on a

Catawissa township,

in 1810.

rough old ten j)late stove, maiiy of which with
were scattered through the country.
tlie

lie

his im-

The early settlement of Catawissa and the fine and unfailing
water ])Ower of the creek, made the ])lace at once a i)oint of im-

As

]»ortance.

Shoemaker

early as 1789 Jonathan

mil! on the noith side of the creek, just

known

of that
]ii-ol)st

mill.

l^enJMinin Sliarjtless

running a

on

in

a grist

])resent site

1799 Christian

having started to Ohio to settle, visited his
the way and found hitu getting rich,
]Ie

j)ape!' mill.

wissa and having done

And

built

above Shoemaker's.

built one. a quarter of a mile

brother Jonathan

now

McKelvy

as the

above the

so,

induced Benjamin to return to Catahe sold

his farm, lately the

Zarr farm,

by Judge Shuinan, and together with
John Clark they bought tlie Slioemaktr mill and water ])Ower and
put uj» a paper mill in 1811.
Sharpless cfe Clark ran it till about
1H34. when Clark died, and in the division of the property the
Glark heirs took the grist mill and farm, and Sharpless the paper
mill.
The projj'Mty subsequently came into the ownership of
William McKelvy and Joseph Paxton, and afterwards into that of
l)eitig laid

out in lots

Williiun iVIcKelvy.

Since his death

Bros, of Philadelphia, and

is

it

Guie, a practical and compett-nt man,

McCieady
management of E. B.

has been sold to

now under

the

and

is

running very suc-

cessfully.

The shad

fishery of the

Catawissa was one of the most famous

on the Sus<piehanna, both for

tlie

(piantity

and the quality of the

fish.

Close by the town the

Susquehanna breaks through the Cata-

wissa mountain, making some wild and beautiful scenery.

The

rocks overhang the bed of the river, and the legend of the "Lo-

IIi;ST01iY

106

ver's Leaj)"

is

located

OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.
at

the most precipitous

part of the rent

mountain pile.
Although the early promise of the locality has not been fultilled perhaps, yet it has advantages of location which must remain.
The Catawissa Bridge company for the original erection of a
bridge across the Susquehanna was orgarjized by Act of Assembly of March 16, 1810, and the bridge was comjileted in 1832 or
The contractor was one Stone1833, at a cost of about Ji526,500.
berger.
It has on more than one occasion been partially destroyed by freshets, and that destruction was completed in the great
ice flood of

March

17,

1875.

The stone work

was awarded to Grover & Brooks, June
work to Perry tfc Hobart, June 21, 1875.
for travel

November

22, 1875.

The

floor

for the re-erection

and the wood
The bridge was opened
of the new bridge is six

12, 1875,

than the old one, and the piers are thirty feet above
low water mark. It is a Howe truss, single track bridge, eighfeet higher

teen feet in the clear, and cost about thirty-eight thousand dollars.
"]\[r.

Michael Brobst, died on Thursday night, September

1882, at the ripe old age of ninety years.

county,

He was

14,

born in Berks

Pa., in the year 1793.

In 1795

when he was about

three years of age, his parents

came

and located at what is now known as
Geary's mill, wliere they had purchased a tract of land, and u})On
which they erected the first improved flouring-mill on the North
Branch, and which is now operated by JMr. J. H. Geary. Mr.
Brobst resided in Catawissa continuously, until the time of his
to this section of the state

,

death, Avith the exception of three years w^hich

he spent in Ber-

wick and Nescopeck, and was always identified with the business interests of the place.

In 1814 he was married in Bloomsburg by Rev. Mr. Eagle, to
Miss Salome Good, of this place, with wliom he lived happily for
sixty-seven years, and
years.

are

whose death he only survived by about two
Their union was blessed by eight children, six of whom

living,

four sons

and two daughters.

The deceased was

possessed of an extraordinarily strong constitution which enabled

him

to enjoy life far beyond the period usually allotted to man.
held the position of Mountain Land Agent for the late C. S.
Coxe, Esq., for forty years, and in which capacity he acted for

He

the estate up to within a few days of his death.

He was

subject

—

HI;ST()liY
to

no disease, and

He sank
ed by

OF VOLUMBIA COUNTY.

render his

hands that had hcen

deelininu,-

and loving

Keforined, and

meetinghouse, the
old.

Among

his ashes."

In his de-

and the family a kind

Item.
Episcopal, a Methodist,

and a Fiiends'
being over one hundred years

business and social imi)rovements are two ex-

Masonic

hall,

a bank, a paiier mill, and extensive

car and repair shops, belonging to
railroad.

their endeavors to

a Lutheran church,

latter huilding

otiier

cellent hotels, a

in

conitVn-table.

citizen,

Divine worship are an

places of

a (ierman

and

good

lost a

Peace to

father.

knows no wakening, surroundtireless

years pleasant

mise the comnninity has

The

nionents were entirely free from pain.

his last

(juietly into the sleep that

loviui;'

107

The Catawissa

the

Philadelphia

brancli of the P.

W. Branch

&

&

Keading

K. railroad,

tlie

ex-

and the Sunbury, Ilazleton & Wilkes-Barre railroad, pass through Catawissa, and the I).
L. &, W. railroad west of the river, which is spanned by an exThe town has also a very lively
cellent bridge, into tlie town.
newspaper and jobbing office.
tension of the N.

Isaac

He

II.

tfe

Sekshoi/pz was born

entered the

army

r.ailroad

in

Catawissa,

November

13,1837.

the Iron Guards, Co. A. 6th

as 2d. Lieut, in

Ptcserves, April 22, 1861.
Hesigned Oct. 15, 1861, and
was commissioned 2d. Lieut. Co. H. 99th. Regt. P. V. Feb. 5,
Resigned June 9, 1862, and
1862; and 1st. Lieut. May 12, 1862.
was commissioned 1st Lieut. Co. E. 118th Regt. P. V., Janunry
19, 1864. and Cai)t. in Co. K. in same Regt, Dec. 14, 1864, and
was mustered out with Co. June 1, I860. He was in all the battles in which his conn)iand participated, beginning with AntieHe was wounded in the left arai
tam, amounting to twenty-one.
at Shepherdstown and in the right hand at Peeble's Farm, and

Penna.

was present

at Lee's surrender.

with a

rate

lirsl

fighting.

He

is

We believe

military record, which
at present

engnged

in

lie is

a brevet Major,

he fairly

won by hard

busiiess in Catawissa.

^-^i^&i^^^.

HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.

108

CHAPTER XIV
TEIRSE'^TO^iT^lSr,

JERSEYTOWN
Madison

twelve miles west from Bloomsburg, in

lies

towiishi}).

It is

tains about fifty dwellings,

ous mechanics'
graj)!)

of

the

sho})S,

at

old settlement

and

am

village, con-

tw^o hotels, a tannery, vari-

stores,

church, and a school house.

a

Tide Watei- Pipe Line runs through

place and vicinity I

sketches

an

two

it.

The
Of

tele-

this

enabled to pre:?ent the following personal

:

John Funston

settled about

an early day.

He

prominent man

kept the

in the

Justice of the Peace for

year of his

ngo.

He

one mile west of the present village
first

store

many

in

Jerseytown and was a

He held a commission as
He died in the ninety-fourth

neighborhood.
years.

reared a large

seven sons and three daughters.

One

Funston, represented the cou:;ty

in

and respectable family of
of

thfa

sons,

Thomas Atcn

the Legislature in

the years

1844 and 1845. He was born May 3, 1791, in Madison tovvnship,
and died in Bloomsburg April 24,1874. During his service in
the General Assembly he was a member oF several important committees,

and

it

was during his term that the bill for the removal
from Danville to Bloomsburg was passed.

of the seat of justice

Conrad Kreanier now occupies the site of the old store of John
where he originally settled was lately the
property of Esquire John Smitli, now deceased,
Evan Thomas was an early settle)-, but the date of Ids arrival
Funston, and the farm

has not been ascertained.

He

north of Jerseytown, and
hand of the street from Millville,
are on land v,hich belonged to him.
His son, Evan Thomas, jiut
up and drove on the first blacksmith shop in Jerseytown, and he
also kept the first tavern.
He was succeeded by Andrew Hazelett.
Evan Thomas left four sons and three daughters. The late
settled

several of the houses on the light

Caleb Thomas nuirried

his

daiaghter

Prudence,

and after the

OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.

HI, STORY

death of his fathor-'m-law,
his

own

decease.

l)Ou<^lit

has changed

It

109

the farm, ami lived there until
hands several times and is now

Conrad Kreamer.
WArsoNsettled east of.Jerseytown about the year 1780. His
land ran u|j to tiie town, and tlie street on the right hand side
frcnn Kreamers store is laid and built on lots sold off of his land.
in posses8if>n of
ITr(;ii

He

raised

seven sons

and one daughter.

The daughter,

Sarah,

married .James Laird.
PiiiNKAs IJakbku
lie settled on

came

and

six daughters.

now

M. Barber was one of the
from New Jersey, and have
A. Funston noAV owns the old farm.

Tlie Itev. Daniel

The family came
all left

about one mile and a half south

His family eventually comprised seven sons,

west of .lerseytown.
sons.

into the township about the year 1788.

tlie Chil]is(iua«iue

the place.

originally
.Tolin

Wu.i.iAM Pkcmj came from Sussex county,

He was

New Jersey,

about

tlie

on the opposite side of Chillisquaque
creek, adjoining lands afterwards taken by Phineas Barber, on
He raised two sons and two daughters, one of whom,
the west.
year

178.).

settled

William Pegg the second,
farm and raised a large family, five sons and five
The farm is about two miles south west of
or six daughters.
Jerseytown. I find the name of the family sometimes spelled

Sarah, married Jacob Swisher, Esq.
lived on the old

Pague.
^Mkmaki, Bim.iiimk came from Sussex county. New Jersey
in
1776, and settled on Muddy Run, put up a log hut,
cleared off six acres of ground, jiut it in with wheat in
the

fall

of 1777, and just at the time the wheat

Wy<jming tragedy took

jtlace

and they

was

fit

to cut

fled l)ack to .lersey,

the
driv-

ing their cattle with thciii. They stayed three years and when they
came back, found their place at Muddy Run occupied by others.
They then came to wliat is called Spruce creek two miles west of
He had a family of only two children, John and MarMillville.
]Martha died unmarried, but John raised a family of three
tha.
Of these, Michael and two sisters, all
sons and six daughters.
unmarried, live on the old place; John lives on Black run and has
a family.
Pktkii Bmroi.KK came from Jersey and settled on the west side of
Spruce run, south of and adjoining Billhime, about the year J 779
or 1780.
He was a noted hunter in his day and discovered "the

110

iriSTOEY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.

Lick" which bears his name.
Warnersville

now

stands.

He

It is a short distance
is

related to have

covery by the paths the deer liad worn

above where

made

the

dis-

in the hill side in traveling

and from "the Lick". He would go off in the afternoon, climb
up into a tree where he had fixed himself an easy seat, and waiting for the deer which came in droves to the lick, pick the finest?
After some years he removdress it and return before night fall.
ed to Hemlock township where he lived and died respected by all
When
who knew him. He had two sons and three daughters.
about to leave Madison for Hemlock, he revealed the location of
"the lick," and a great many deer were afterward killed there by

to

different pei'sons.
in 1796, and bought and
Run. He raised a large
Spruce
upon
the
Brugler
place
on
settled
Several of his children
family, seven sons and three daughters.
are yet living.
William, on the old homestead, aged 81, and
Thonns near Dewart, in his 85th year.
JosEi'ii HoDCE, also from New Jersey, settled on Spruce Run
about 1780, lived there nine years and tlien sold out his plantation to Lewis Schuyler, and look up other lands adjoining.
He
lived upon the second purchase until 1808, and died of cancer.
He raised two sons and four daughters.
Jacob Swisher settled on Spruce Run about 1796 near the forks
of the road leading from Millville to White Hall, adjoining lands
of George Runyon. He started the first tannery in all tliat section
of country.
He was appointed a justice of the peace by Gov.
Snyder, and held the office until the change in the constitution
made the office elective. He declined on account of age to be a
candidate for election. He raised one son and four daughters, all
of Avhom are dead.
His lands were divided, and Philip Eves lives
on one part and Pemberton Runyon on the other.
Daniel Weluver settled in what is now Madison township,
on Whetstone run, now called Bear run, in the year 1776. He
was driven off by the Indians in 1778, and came back in 1780.
His ])urchase was east of Jerseytown, and took in the farms now
occupied by Vincent Shultz and Silas Welliver. Silas lives on
the homestead of his grandfather Valentine Welliver lives on
the same purchase.
All the north end of the township belonged
to him.
He raised a large and respectable family of four sons

Geor(;k RrsYOx came from Jersey

—

HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.

Ill

and seven daugliters. lie came from Sussex county, New Jersey.
Ki('iiAKi> Diourrr came from New Jersey in the year 178G and
of Daniel Welliver and
His son Richard now occupies the homestead.

settled east of Jerseytown, joining lands

lying east of him.

lie raised a large family of six sons and six daughters, among the
most respectable people in the county. Mr. Jacob Demott, one of
the sons now an old man, relates that he remembers very well,
seeing, when a boy, the ruins of se\eral Indian wigwams, which
had been built upon a high hill south of Valentine Welliver's,.
called Huckleberry hill.
It was so elevated that the Indians
could distinguish the smoke rising from nearly every chimney in

the valley.

John Welliver and Christopher Welliver, cousabove named Daniel, also from Sussex county, New
Jersey, settled in the township about 1780.
A large part of Jerseytown is built upon Adam's purchase, which stretched off to the
north west. Adam left two sons and two daughters. John's
farm lay to the southwest of Jerseytown. There was a family by
the name of Whitmoyer living on it at the time of the Wyoming
Ai>A>i Wkij.ivkk,

ins of the

massacre

in 1778.

When

other settlers left they concluded to

making maple sugar
two of the daughters went to the camp and while they were thus
absent, the Indians came and killed all the rest of the family and
stay,

and

in

the next spring, at the season of

whether there were three or five
old I'oad from Jerseytown to Washingtonville on the left hand side of the road, about
half a mile from town, near where Capt. William Allen now
John ha<l a family of four sons and one daiighter. Phineas,
lives.
well renu'inbered in the neighborhood, was the youngest.
The
old farm is now occuj)ied by Samuel Johnson.
Christopher's
land lay south of Jerseytown. A large part of it has been sold
off in lots, and are now owned or occupied by William Kisner,
John Stout, Samuel Johnson and others. He raised four sons and
three daughters.
Russel, who is (^uite well remembered, was the
youngest son. He kei)t a store in Rohrsburg for a long time and

scalped them.

thus butchered.

now

It is disi)uted

They were buried on the

resides in the west.

James Ma sti-:bs settled on Spruce run about 1786. He came
from one of the lower counties, and was a Quaker. He built the
first saw mill in this section and the first cardint; machine this

HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.

112

side of D:iuvilk'.

He

mnclnnc was erected about 1813.
two daughters. His son David bought

Tlie carding

raised three sons and

owned it till it burnt down in 1849.
It
by George Masters and John IJetz. The old Masters'
farm is east of and adjoining the old Demott farm.
John Eves came to Milville about the year 1774. He is tlie

the Millville mill and
Avas rebuilt

country.

oldest settler in that region of

Just befon- the

Wyo-

ming massacre a friendly Indian came through that way and gave
them information of the intended attack on the st'ttlements, and
the Eves family left and remained away two or three years.
Eves built the first grist mill above Washingtonville. Tluuuas
Eves got the mill property as his share of his father's estate, and
The Eves land lay on both sides of
built a new one in 1812.
Fishingcreek, but his residence was in Madison townshij).
John
Eves was an Ii'ish (piaker. He was married in Ireland and several
He raised eight sous and six
of his family were born there.
They all married and raisi'd large families, except
daughters.
John Eves built
the youngest son, Mark, who died a bachelor.
The present
the first Friends' meeting house in this section.
brick one stands on the site of the old one.

Lewis Soihyi.ku was born
^his

in

Germany

in 1748.

eountiy in 17ol aiul settled in Germantown,

phia.

On

New

Jersey.

He came

to

lu'ar I'hihulel-

he was taken by friends to
neighborhood of Jerseytowu in
In 1799 he bought the Spruce run farm and moved on it.
1794.
He died in 1837 aged 89 years. He was a soldier in the revolutionary Avar.
He married Ilezekiali Horned in November 1781,
and they raised seven sons and three daughters. Tliree sons sur-

John

the death of his

He came

to

parents

the

Lewis in INIadison township,
Wisconsin aged 73 years.
The foregoing Madison townsliip sketches were furnished by
Lewis Sclmyler, five or six years ago and some facts as to persons living, and their ages must be corrected accordingly.

vive,

in

Canada, aged 89 years

aged 75 years, and another

;

in

;

HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.

113

ciiaptp:ii XV"

remains to speak of those

It

sm iller

the county which

villaf,'es in

headquarters for news and trade and social gatherir)gs
where the ptst office is located, wh' re the churches are mainlyare the

;

erected,

and the business of

tlie

township transacted.

RUI'EUT.

Rupert

is in

Moniour township, two miles south of Bloomsburg,
and L;i(;kawanria Su IJlootnsburg

at the crossing ot the Cit^wi^sa,

near

laih-oads,

HKjuth

of

<r( ek.

has several

It

ntat dwelling
es,
/'

one

store,

'i

the

Fishing-

hous-

tavern,

a

blacksmith

a

shop and a marble
workei-.

is

most

Its

important

industry

the paint mill

Henry

S.

which with the

rail-

road depots make
a well

UKAv's

convenient
the

to the

I'AiNi

WORKS.

known

of

Keay,
it

point.

It Is casily accessiblc

& Ilarman, and,
mnnufactory of \V. M. Monroe. The

A<pieduct grist mill of Paxton

extensive powder keg

above cut rej)reseuts lieay's Paint Mill and the warehouse of
Paxton & llarmaij
.

IJTCKIIORN.

Bi'CKiioRN
burg.

It

is

has

in
fifty

Hemlock township
or

sixty

four miles west of Blooms-

dwellings,

a large

school house, a

HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.

114

Lutheran and a Methodist

one

churcli,

liotel,

a

store, a

wheel-

wright, a blacksmith, a harness shop and other shops and business
places.

Buckhorn was for a long time the residence of the lion. John
He was born in Northumberland county, near
McReynolds.
Watsontown, April 3, 1788, and died in Bloomsburg, jVIarch U,
He represented the county in the General Assembly in tlie
1880.
1814-1825-1826-1827-1828; and was defeated for the
1850.
He was nominated for Congress in 1858 but

sessions of
in

office

defeated.

He

was

served

elected

term and

for one

Associate

declined a

Judge

reelection.

in

and

1861

Besides

these

North Branch canal undel- GovCollector of tolls at Beacli Haven
two years
and a member of the Electoral College in the

positions he was supervisor of the

ernor Porter,
for

three

for

years,

;

election of President Franklin Pierce.

EOHRSBURO.
RoiiESBURG is in Greenwood, and about ten miles north of
Bloomsburg. It has a couple of stores, a hotel, smith :ind wheelwright shops two churches and abont twenty dwellings. There
;

is

a grist mill in the vicinity.

The town was

laid out

by Freder-

ick Rohr, about the year 1825.

EYERCJROVK.

Eykrgrove,
smith

in

shoj), store

Greenwood, has a cliurch,
and about fifteen dwellings.

grist

mill, hotel,

MILLVIIXE.

Greenwood township, lies about fifteen miles
The village and township are mainly settled by
Friends. The village has some fifty dwellings, an extensive wagon
maker shop, a grist mill, blacksmith shop, two stores, public
school house. Greenwood Seminary, a Methodist church, a Hixite
MiTj.vii.LE, also in

from Bloomsburg.

and Orthodox Friends meeting houses. It is a place of consideris connected with Bloomsburg by telephone.

able activity and

lOLA.

loLA,

two miles above

Millville on the Little Fishingcreek,

several dwellings has a grist mill, a
tory,

and a Methodist church.

saw

mill, a large

woolen

with
fac-

III.STORY

OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.

115

SKRKNO.

Skrkno, two miles above lola on the creek, has a large tannery,

saw

mills,

<fec.

I.IGHTSTRKET.

Lkjmtstukkt is the name by which a couple of villages, lying
contiguous and now adjoining, are known. It is in .Scott townIt is new, well built, with
ship, three miles north of Bloomsbwrg.
dwellings,
has
a
good
large
school house, three
fine
several
church buildings, stores, smith, tin, stove and furnituie shops, and

two

grist mills.

Trench's paper mill

a bright and active

little place,

is

also in the vicinity.

It is

and formerly did quite a business

the manufacture of ])ig iron.
Gen. Wellington H. Ent, son of the Hon. Peter Ent, was born
at Lightstreet, August 16, 1834, and died in Bloomsburg Nov. 5,
in

1871.

He

gra<hiated

at

Dickinson seminary, Williamsport,

in

and after being under the tutorship of Robert F. Clark, Esq.
was admitted to the bar in 1860. He went into the army in June
1861, as 1st. Lieut, in a volunteer Co. and was commissioned
Cai)tain of Co. A. 6th Penna. Reserves, and after Antietam was
jtromoted to be Major, after Fredericksburg to be Lieut. Colonel
1858,

and after Gettysburg to be Colonel. His brevet came afterwards.
His ])romotions show the brilliancy of his military record.
His brother William was in the militia and died in 1868; his
brother Robert S. was in the nine months seiwice, and died Oct. 16
1882.
His brother Usal H. was in the 84th and 28th P. V.
about fourteen mouths, and is now sheriff of the county.
ORANGKVILT.E.

ORANfiKviLLE

Orange

townshij), six miles north of BloomsWithin a few years a large number of dwellings, quite in
It has several stores, two
the modern style have been erected.
hotels, academy and i)ublic school house, churches, grist mill,
The origitannery, foundry, and al)out one hundred dwellings.
nal i»ro))rietor was Clemuel G. Ricketts, who first established a
Mr. Ricketts was a man of
store there about the year 1822.
taste and culture, and gave to the little village of his residence
quite a position, by the ])ublication of a book of Travels in the
East, in which he described with care and accuracy what he saw
and heard and experienced.

burg.

IS

in

116

HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.

Although the first store was opened in Oranocville in 1822 the
place was settle<l very much earlier.
Ml-. John INIcIIenry, an old and respected citizen who died in
Benton township, March 17, 1808. at the age of 82 years, 6 months
and 4 days, and who was born at Stillwater, a few miles above
Orangeville, in the year 1785, says that

at

the time of his birth,

two or three shanties stood where Orangeville now stands. Mr.
McITenry was the first white cliild born north of Orange on the
famous Fishingcreek, and he spent his whole long life upon its
He was a most successful and ae('oni])lish'(l hunter, and
waters.
He was
killed dui'ing his career more than two thousand deer.
what was called a still hunter. No dogs ever tracked the game
through the forest for hitu. A nice ear, a quick eye and an unerAlthough deer were his princiring rifle made success certain.
pal

were

sport,

yet

among

whose capture
cious

flavor

all

those
Avas

of

the

kinds of game,

especially

wild

turkeys,

whose chase was most exciting,
most satisfactory, on account of the
flesh,

as

well

as

the

skill

and
deli-

recpiired

to

secure them.

The Orangeville male and female academy, spoken of above,
was incorporated by an act of assembly of March 11, 1858, P. L.
104.
It lias had a somewhat chequered career, but has in the

HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.
main, done good work as

and

plensMiitly situated.

an educational centre.
It

quite

is

c*'rtain

It is Avell built

however, that with

the great facilities and advantages offered by the

Bloomsbui-g, such

at

117

Normal School

of learning as that at Orange-

Institutions

and at Millville, cannot offer successful comiietition. Their
must be almost entirely local, but as prejiaratory to entering the Normal school, the children of the neighborhood could
ville

sujjjtort

be very advantageously trained
Col.

born

AVii.i.i a.m

Wam.ack

Orangeville

in

(Guards in

1

SGI.

made Colonel

in 188G.

was

lie

the respective academies.

in

was
army with the Iron

Kickictts, son of Elijah G. Ricketts,
lie entered the

instinctively a military

of Ids regiment July 27, IHfil

man.

came home

;

He was
in

Feb-

ruary 1802 and died at his father's house in Orangeville, August
10, 1862, in the 2rith

W. W.
may

Kicketts and

in this

made himself

is

a brothei- of Col.

a fighting record of which he

Something more

well be {jroud.

record

year of his age.

IJouKnT liincK RicKKTrs of Battery F.

Coi,.

is

said of

them

in the

army

volume.
STILI."\VATKR.

Stii.i.watf.k

creek,

is

a beautiful little

and on the

baid-c

nook

in the

of the stream.

dwelling houses, two stores, a smith

ful

two

It

township of Fisliing-

has several very taste-

shoj),

school house,

and

beautiful church buildings.
15KNTON.

Bkntox, situated

in tlie

townshi]) of the same name, about six-

teen miles north of Bloomsbui-g, contains forty or fifty dw-ellings,

many

them tastfully biiill, an excellent hotel, several stores,
carriage and furniture shops, churches, school house, and grist
mill.
It is a growing village, in a fine agricultural neighborhood.
of

SAMiia. KocKHS, from Orange county.

what

is

now Benton

townshijt, on

now occupied by William
William

Ea<;p:u,

a farm

New

York, settled in

next south of the one

Ilulme.

from the same

i)lace,

settled

on the Hulme

farm.

John Kkklkr, another Orange county man, occupied the farm
next north of and adjoining Eager.

Danikl Jackson came from Jersey in the spring of 1792 or 1793,
and located upon, cleared and occupied the farm upon wliicli the

HISTORY

118

town
what

of
is

Benton now
now Benton

COLUMBIA COUNTY.

OJF"

The whole number

stiuuls.

town^^hip,

was

in

of

1799 about

families

in

fifteen or six-

teen.

COI.ESOUKKK.

Coi.EsoRKKK,

and
shoj)

in

Sugarloaf township, at the forks of Colescreek

P^'ishing creek,
St.

cfec.

is

a post town,

with

Gal)riers Ej)iscopal Church,

store,

grist mill,

[«niith

and a number of dwell-

tlie midst of romantic scenery.
In
have been able to glean the following

ing houses are located there in
relation to

its

early settlers

I

particulars.

what is now Sugarloaf towncame from Northam[)ton county
witli a family of eleven sons, and a nuinher of comely daughters.
He improved a farm in the warrantee name of Jane Boyd, and
E/.ekiel Cole, sonwhich is now occupied by Andrew Laubach.
in-law to William Hess, came at tlie same time and settled on the
south end of the same tract. Mr. Cole built the first grist mill on
FishingFishiugci'eek that did any business worth mentioning.
Wii.kia:\i IIess, the elder, settled in

ship in or about the year 17i>2. lie

creek at that time

and

included the

as far south as to the

whole north end of the county,

Nob Mountain.

John Kh.e, senior, another son-in-law of William Hess, came
from Bucks county, between the years 179;> and 1799, and settled
on the same Jane Boyd tract of land, on what is now occu})ied by
Joseph (). Hess. William Hess and his sons and his family connections in 1799 occupied all the land on both sides of the Fishingcreek, from the North ^lountaiu to the south line of what is

now Sugarloaf
I'liii.ip

townshij*.

F'ritz, senior, a

nei)hew of William Hess, senior, came

into the neighborhood about the year 1797,

northeast of his uncle.

He was

the

first

of the Peace in the north east corner of

and settled on the

hill

school master and Justice

Columbia county.

Christian LAruAcii, senior, also a relative of William Hess,
came into the county in the year 1790 and settled on the hill

senior,

last four famiily names are still among the
most extensive and respected in that region of the county in
which tliey originally settled and it is matter of regi-et that not
more full and specific family history has been recovered.

south east of him. The

;

HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.
Jonathan Coi.ley

settled at

a-i

day on the east side of
His son Alexander came in

early

Fishiiigcreek, south of P^zekiel Cole.
lie represented the

the year 1799.

What

1822 and 1823.

is

W.)

county in the legislature
township, contained

now Sugarloaf

in
in

1799, only about six families.
KSI'Yr<JWN.

Esi'YTowN

also in Scott

is

towiship, and

Bloonisburg about three miles.

is

located east

from

has some fine and pleasant

It

and school houses, one
de])Ot lor the Lackawanna &, Bloonisburg railroad. George Es])y was the pro])rietor
uiid ill early times it was noted for its shad fishery and its race

residences,

tine

stores,

shoi)S,

tavern, a large steam grist

churches

mill,

and

is

a

ground, "VV'ebb's lane."

was for a long time better known as the residence of Mr.
Swaby than for any thing else and he was in many
respects a conspicuous man.
He died at the residence of his son,
Frederick J. Swaby, in Seneca Falls, at the age of 85 years.
31r. Swaby was born in the island of Jamaica, in the year 1791.
He was educated in England, and during the years 1805 and
1806 was a scholar at the school near Barnet Castle, in YorkEs[ty

Frederick B.

;

shire, wliic^li has since

been renderi'd celebrated by being descril>

ed in a vein of very broad but amusing caricature
his novel

and Mr. Swaby was perhaps, the

hall,"

He came

tion.

by Dickens

in

"Nicholas Nickleby," under the name of "Dotheboys
to

this

country

in

last

survivor of that institu-

company with

his fathei"-in-

John Haigh of the British army, in 1821, and settled
at the village of Espy, Columbia county. Fa., where he resided
until 1846, surrounded by many warm friends, for whom he, to
the last, cherished the kindest recollection and regard.
In that
year he removed to Seneca Falls, where he resided with his
His father, Joseph Swaby, died in Jamaica in the year
sons.
1811 he was born in 1727; the lives of the father and son consequently extended through a period of 148 years
During the
law, Capt.

;

nearly thirty years' residence of Mr.

was

in

little

public

home

life,

Swaby

in

Seneca

being rather retiring in

Falls,

he

disjiosition,

and among those whose acquaintance with
was highly prized. He possessed the
keenest sense of honor, which was alwavs manifest in his interbut

in the

him became

circle

intimate, he

HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.

120

course with the world, and the probity of his character was ever

He was a communicant of the church of England,
and always maintained the highest standard of a devout Christian.
His genial and cheerful tem})erament rendered him peculiarly a
favorite among the young.
It was while jaarticipating with them
in their innocent anuisements, that he received injuries from a fall,
which liastened his death. His memory will remain as a precious
legacy to those to whom he was a loved companion for years.
conspicuous.

THE HALF WAV HOUSE.

The Half
hotel,

Way

Hofse,

was years ago

Stonytown,

in the

in

Centre township,

at the ferry, is

now

the stopping place for travel-

and the glory of the old stage
Sanmel Harman made famous.

lers,

Knorr was born

Col. Samuel
24, 1836.

He

read law with

mitted to the Bar

He

now no longer a
known place.

days of stages, a well

Wm.

office

has departed, which

in Centre township,

G.

December

Hurley, Esq. and was ad-

in 1863.

entered the army with the Iron Guards April

22, 1861, at

The Company became Co. A. 6th Penna. Reserves
and he served as Sergeant until Oct. 23, 1861, when he was promoted to 2d. Lieut, and was honorably discharged Oct. 2o, 1862,
on account of physical disability. July 4, 1863, he was commisBloomsburg.

sioned Major of the

Militia, and mustered
and discharged from service August 7, 1863.
Was commissioned captain of the 19th
Regt. U. S. colored troops, Nov, 30, 1863, as Major, Sept. 29,
1864, Lieut. Colonel Feby. 27, 1865, and on January 6, 1866 honorably discharged, on resignation.
His successive and rapid promotions prove his merit and standing as an officer. He was Presidential Elector in 1868, and collector of Internal Revenue for the
13th District of Penna. from April 5, 1869 to May 30, 1873.

into the service of the

35th Regt. Penna.

United

States,

MIFFLINVILLE.

MiFFLiKviLLE

and ancient village nine miles east of
Bloomsburg, on the east bank of the Susquehanna, contains about
thirty dwellings, a couple of stores, a tavern, shops, churches and
school houses,

is

a Staid

and a couple of grist mills.
Branch railroad runs through the village.

The North

&

West

BISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.

121

MAINA'ILLE.
]\rAiNvii,i,K is

ill

Main

to-wnshi)),

about six miles soutli-east from

Bloomsburg', has fifteen to twenty liouses, tavern, stores, grist mill,

and is situated on Catawissa creek, and on the l^eadand Sunhury, Hazleton &: Wilkesharre Railway.

forge, tfcc,
ing,

HKAVKK VALLEY.

Bkavku Valley, twelve

miles south-east of Bloomsburg, has a

tavern, a store, half a do/en dwellings, and a depot for the Read-

ing railroad.

CENTRALIA HOROUGH.

Ckxtkallv Bouougu, situate in Conyngham townshi}), south-east
from Bloomsbuig about twenty miles, in the midst of a coal mining district, and has within and about it several hundred dwelling
houses, a luunber of stores, and hotels and drinking houses innuIt has a beautiful and tasteful place of worship, "Holy
merable.
Trinity Cluireh," belonging to the Episcopalians, also one belonging to the Romanists, one to the Presbyterians and one to the
Methodists.
NLMIDIA AND SLAP.TOAVN.

Kr.MiDLv and Slabtown, lying in Locust toAvnship, respectively
thirteen

and eleven miles south-east from Bloomsburg, have each

ten to fifteen dwellings, store, tavern, sho])S,

Slabtown, whose post-office name

is

The

t%c.

Roaringcreek,

is

of that name, which drives a grist mill tliere located.

4>

village of

on the stream

122

HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.

CHAPTER

C01.UMI5IA

By

XYI.

COUNTY COURT HOUSE.

the Act of Assembly erecting Columbia county,

it was profrom and after the lirst Monday of March, one thousand eight hundred and fourteen, the several courts in and for the
said county of Columbia, shall be opened and held at such house
as is hereinafter provided for in the said county of Columbia,

vided; "That

HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.
Court House shall be erected

until a

in

123

and for said county as

hereinafter directed, and shall be then held at said Court House."

The

sheriflF,

coroner and other

umberland were

officers of

the county of North-

to continue to exercise the duties of their respec-

county of Columbia until similar officers
were appointed within said county.
The county was annexed to the middle district of the Supreme
Court, and to the eighth judicial district of the Courts of
Common Pleas, comprising the counties of NorthumVjerland,
Union and Lycoming and the Courts were to be holden in and
for the county of Columbia on the first Mondays in January,
In districting the state under the
April, August and November.
amended constitution we were put into the 11th district with Lutive offices within the

;

Wyoming, and subsequently into the 26th with Sullivan
and Wyoming, and under the constitution of 1872 Sullivan
and Wyoming were erected into a separate district and Montour
annexed to Columbia, in which connection we are now, 1882. To
this chapter is apjtended a list of the officers and personnel of the
zerne and

Court since the establishment of the county. This is not the
we might add much matter to this division, of personal
history and anecdote, of gentlemen who upon the Bench or at the
Bar, have given to our county a solid and honorable reputation at
home and abroad. Of Robert Cooper Grier, who began the prac-

place, or

Bloomsburg, and rose to be an Associate Justice
Supreme Court of William G. Hurley, for
more than forty years identified honorably with the Bar of this
county of John G. Montgomery, a man of great power and elo-

tice of the

law

in

—

of the United States

—

and subsequently to Congress,
of John Cooper,
himself an eccentric and brilliant man, the son of Judge Thomas
Cooper, renowned in the old world as well as hei"e of George ^V.
Frick, second to none as a man, and as a lawyer of extensive and
solid attainments
of Robert F. Clark and Morrison E. Jackson,
who among the younger members of the Bar, achieved and main-

quence, elected to the

and who

legislature

jterished in the National Hotel disaster

—

—

—

tained a position at the head of the profession in the county.

would

it

be

difficult to select

from among

Nor

names whose
the young men of the

the living,

in the memories ef
learning and chaste professional honor
whose
courtesy,
Bar, and
it would be safe to follow, and ennobling to emulate.

sounds

will

long linger

124

HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.
rRESIDENT JUPGES.

Date of Commls^sion.

Appointed from.

Names.
Seth Chapman,

Julyll, ISll

Bucks,

Resigned October, 10-1833.
Ellis Lewis,

October, It, 1833.

Lyeoniiiig:,

Died

in

Philadelphia^

March 19-1871.

NovthumberiaiKi,

Charles G. Donnel,

.laniiary,

14. 1843.-

Died March, 18-1884.
March, 1844.
Lycnuing,
Joseph B. Aiitliony,
Died January 10th, 1851.
Northumberland,
January IG, 1851.
James Pollock,
November 5, 1851.
Luzerne,
John N. Conyiigham.
Died April 23, 1871.

Warren

J.

Wo )d\vard,

19, 185G.

December

10, 18(11.

23, 1879.

Wyoming,

Aaron K. Peckhani,

May

Luzerne,

Died September
Died March

22,

1865.

William Elwcll,

Bradford,

November

3,

1862.

William Kluell,
William Elwell,

Columbia

Novejnber

6,

1872.

"

January, 1883.

ASSOCIATE jriXiES.

Juhn Murray,
William Montgomery,
Leonard Rupert,
William Donaldson,
George Mack,
Samuel Oakes,
Stephen Baldy,

George H Willits,
John Covanhovan,
Leonard B. Rupert,
George H. Willits,

appointed
"

"
"
"

"
"

"
elected

Peter Kline,

"

Jacob Evans,

"

Siepht n Baldy,

appointed

October

11,

III.

STORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.

John McReynolds,

Nor. 23, 1861.
Nov. 23, 1861.
Nov. 8, 1866.

elected

"

Su*i)hen Biildy,

Peter K. Herbein,

"

Died
Iram Derr,
James Kester,
Charles V. Mann,
Died
Isaac

S. jNIonroe,

Isaac

8.

in office

April

1,

1869.

Nov.

elected

appointed

elected

Iram Derr,
George Scott,

"

Died

in office,

Mayberry G. Hughes,
Franklin L. Shuman,

1866.

Nov.

26, 1869.

Jantiary 24, 1870.

appointed

Monroe,

8,

April 2S, 1869.

elected
in office,

125

"
April 10, 1876.

appointed

Yah.

1,

1870.

Nov. 9, 1870.
Nov. 17, 1871.
Dec.

3,

1

875

April 26, 1876.

Dec.

8,

1876.

Isaac K. ivrickl>aum,

"

Dec.

8,

J

Franklin L. .Sliuman,

"

Dec.

8,

1881.

James Lake,

"

Dec.

8,

1881.

elected

PROTHONOTARY AND CLERK.

George A.

P^rick,

appointed

Dr. David Petrikin,

John Knssel,
Jacob Eyerly,
Janus Donaldson,

Valentine Best,

Jacob Eyerly,

((

u

Jesse Coleman.

elected

876.

HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.

126

\\v]\\n\x.Um

IT.

Ent,
(uMioial Knt,

K.

II. lviii>j;kM-,

''

William Krickbauni,
"

Nov.

''

'),

1,

''

"

1S60.

1871.

appointed
elected
"

B. F. Z:irr,

Dooomhor

elected
tlit(l

1871.

DocomlxM-

1,

Decoiuber

1,

1872.
1875.

1878
1881.

ILLSTOUY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.
Joliii

W.

Hoffman,

127

JII^TOR Y

128

Agib Ricketts
Howell
W. A. Peck
Cliurles G. Barkley
Samuel Knorr
Heny H. Grotz
William II. Abbott
Robert

S.

Brockway
II. Ent
M. M. Traugh
James K. Brugler
Charles B.

Wellington

Peter

S.

OF COL UMBIA GO UNTY.
Bloomsburg
Espy
Berwick
Bloomsbur<r

Russel R. Pealer

Geoi'ge
J.

W.
S.

Practising

Retired

Catawissa

Bloomsburg
u

Berwick
Bloomsburg

Left the county
Practising

Deceased
Left the county
Left the county
Left the county

Centralia

Bloomsburo-

Elijah R. Ikeler

Charles

Practising

Left the county
Practising

Rishel

Michael Whitnioyer
M. M. L'Velle

Left the county

Practising

Miller

Coleman

Deceased

B. Robison

James
M. E. Walker
J. TI.

Practising
Ceiilralia

O. B. Melick

Lightstreet

James Bryson

Centralia

Milton Stiles

Berwick

LeRoy Thompson
John "m. Clark
B. Frank Zarr
A. C. Smith
H. E. Smith
John A. Opi)
Warren J. Buckalew
George E. Ehvi'll
Robert R. Little
Neviu U. Funk
William L. Eyerly
Charles B. Jackson

Frank P. Billmeyer
Levi E. Waller
T. J. Vanderslice

Left the county

Bloomsbui-g

Practising

Bloomsburo;

Practising
a

Left the county
Practising
Left the county

Deceased
Practising

Catawissa

Berwick
Bloomsburg

HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.
H.

C

Bitteubeiidcr

Bloorasburg,

VV. II. llhawii

Catawissa

William Bi-yson
Paul E. Wirt
RolxTt Buckingham

Centralia
Blooinsburo:

129

Left the county
Practising

L. S. Wiiitersteeii

A. L. Fritz
Andrew K. Oswald
Jacob H. Maize
C. C.

Berwick
Bloomsburg

Peacock

Heister V. Wliite

A. E. Chapiu

John C. Yocum
David Leche
Guy Jacohy
Wni. ChrisTuaii
W. II. Snyder
Wni. E. Smith

Catawissa

Bloomsburg

Left the county
Practising
Left the county
Practising

Orangeville

Berwick

MONTOUR COUNTY.
Aloni

JNIarr

George A. Frick
John Cooper
John (i. ^Nfontgomery
Joshua W. Comly
Arthur W. Frick
Edward H. Baldy
Oscar F. Moore

John

I).

Colt

Paul Leidy
B. K. lihodes
W. C. Johnston
Isaac X. (ri-ier
Geo. I). Butler
John C. Montgomery

H. M. Hinckley
L. K.

Mourer

Vincent
W. J. Baldy
II.

James Scarlet
F. C. Angle
Ed.

8.

Gearhart

Danville

Deceased

Retired

Deceased
Practising
Retired

Deceased
Deceased
Practising

130

HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.

CHAPTER

XVII.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OF PRESIDENT JUDGES.

SETH CHAPMAN
Of Judge Chapman I have been able to gather but very slight
He was a resident of Bucks county, and was appointed President Judge of the Northumberland District July 11th,
George A. Frick Esq., writes tome as follows, under date
1811.
memorials.

of Nov. 29, 1871.

"Judge Cha]!)man had not the brilliant talents of many of the attorneys who practised in the Northumberland courts to wit, Thomas
Duncan, David Watts, Charles Huston, Charles Hall, Ebenezer
Greenough and Hugh Bellas but was a better judge than many
When Columbia county was
others we had in Pennsylvania.
formed out of part of Northumberland in 1813, Chapman became
President Judge of our Courts, and held his first court for the
county in Danville, m January 1814.
I was appointed prothonotary of the Conunon Pleas of Columbia county in 1813, and continued until 1821. Both Judge Chapman and myself were appointed by Gov. Snyder. My last appointment was by Gov. Finley."
Judge Chapman resigned October 10th, 1833.

—

;

o

ELLIS LEWIS.
BY

IMRS.

JULIET H.

L.

CAMPBELL,

Ellis Lewis was born, May 16th, 1798, in Lewisburg, Penna.,
town named in honor of his father, Eli Lewis, Esq. This gentleman, who was a person of means, influence and literary tastes,
died when the subject of this memoir was four years of age.
During along minority, his inheritance was dissipated by mismanagement, and he was early thrown upon his own resources.
a

HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.

131

He became a good practical printer and editor studied law, and
was admitted to the bar, at twenty-five years of age. At this
time, he married Miss Josephine Wallis, daughter of Joseph WalTwo years later, he was appointed Deplis, Esq., civil engineer.
uty Attorney-General for Lycoming county. In 1832 he was elected to the Legislature of Pennsylvania. The question of internal
improvements was then an absorbing one, and placed on a special
;

connnittee on this subject he rendered his usual efficient service.

On

a committee to visit

the prisons of the state, he found in
of
county prisons, persons detained for
department
the debtor's
sums less than five dollars. He drew up a bill and report concerning imj)risonment for debt, which was the first step toward
the abolition of this then i)opular custom.

His conspicuous talents attracting the attention of Gov. Wolfe
he was l)y him appointed Attorney-General for the Connnonwealth
of Pennsylvania in 1833 and later, in the same year, became President Judge of the Eighth Judicial District, comprising the counties
of Columbia, Northumberland, Lycoming and Union. The old citi-

and more especially the members of the legal profession, rethe marked ability and acumen with which for ten years
he expounded the laws. In 1843 he became President Judge of
the Second District (Lancaster county) and in 1851 was elected
Justice of the Supreme Court of the State.
In 18o5 he became Chief Justice. The opinions delivered by
him in this capacity are remarkable for profound legal learning,
sound equity and research, and are considered valuable contribuzens,

member

tions to the records of his time.

In

1857 he declined the unani-

mous nomination of the Democratic convention for re-election to
the Supreme Court, and retired to private life.
In 1858 he was
again solicited to render })ublic service, and became one of three
commissioners to
Outside of his

I'evise
official

the criminal code of Pennsylvania.
labors,

which are a valuable legacy to

the legal ])rofession, Judge Lewis published a volume entitled,

All Abridgement of the Criminal Law of the United States,^''
and made occasional contributions to the literature of the day.
The honorary degree of Doctor of Medicine was conferred on him
because of his especial study of Medical Jurisprudence, and he
received from Jefferson College and other universities the degree
He was a ripe scholar, a profound thinker, a
of Doctor of Laws.
^'^

HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.

132
l.'ir^i'

lioartc'd

public spirited

iuid

1871, deejtly inourned l>y

:v

man.

He

died

large circle of friends to

Marcli

whom

19th

he was

endeared by liis bi-illi:iiit and genial qualities.
Judge Lewis was by birtli-right a Quaker, but his residence
cutting him off from intercourse with the Society of P^'riends, he
He died in an expressattached himself to the Episcopal church.
ed liope and trust

in

the love and mercy of his Saviour.

CHARLES

G.

DONNEL.

JuixiK DoNNKi. was the sou of Henry and Margaret Donnel,
and was born Marcli the 14th, 181)1.
On the 14th of January 1843 he was commissioned by Gov.
David K. Porter, President Judge of the Eighth Judicial District,
then composed of the counties of Northumberland, Union, Lycoming and Columbia. He was sworn into ottice on the 16th of January and entered npon its duties. His first term in his own county
began Ai)ril 3, 1843. He presided with great dignity ami urbanity, and would undoubtedly have become emineut as a jurist, had

he been spared to develop his powers. He died on the 18th of
March 1844, aged forty-three years and four days, having held

Judge fourteen months and four days.
Judge Donnel peculiarly illustrated the saying, that the life of
Immersed in, and dethe successful lawyer is an uneventful one.

the office of President

voted to his profession, neither politics nor general business atThe excitements of foreiusic battles were enough for
tracted him.
him, the delights of unravelling tangled threads of evidence occupied his (piieter hours, while his leisure was given to exercise, to

and to fiction. Hard facts are the business of a lawyer,
works of the imagination his recreation. Judge Donnel was a

literature

member

of the Episci)i)al church.

JOSEPH BILES xVNTHONY.
Josi'U'H

on

tlie

liw, and
in 1821

Bilks Anthony was born

19th of June, 1795.

was admitted

He

in the

fitted

to practice at

city

of

Philadelphia,

himself for the profession of

Williamsport

he married Miss Catharine Grafius,

who

in i818,

survived him.

and

HISTOUY OF COLVMBIA COUNTY.
rji^iiig rMj»i(lly in

in j>olitics, the

liis

the State Senate in 1H30.
isfaction of

and becoming

profession,

democrats of

Kotnt'wli.at active

him to

senatorial district elected

his

He

133

served his term

his constituents, that at the

elected to Congress, and re-elected

end of

in

it,

1836, by

iji

much

iso

an

the sat-

to

1834, he was
unpncedented

majority.

In 1843 Governor Porter aj)|jointed him judge of the court for

the adjustment of the Nicholson claims, in wliich position he dis-

played sound legal learning and discrimination.

In

March 1844,

Governor Porter aj)pointed him President Judge of the Eighth Judicial District, composed of the counties of Lycoming, NorthumHe presided in the courts with great acberland and Columbia
ceptability, disposing of many cases of consideiable importance and
turning on nice legal questions.

He
uary

on

died at Williamsport, of heart disease,
the comparatively early age

18.51, at

left to

of

the

lOlh of Jan-

fifty-six years.

He

survive him, a widow, and one son and six daughters.

In politics Judge Anthony was a democrat of the old school; as
a citizen he was social and benevolent; as a lawyer honorable and
talented; as a leprcsentative attentive and faithful, and as a judge
penetrating, prudent and conscientious.
integrity,

and

his

The following
during the

lines

trial,

were written by Hon. Joseph B. Anthony,

before

him,

uary sessions of the court

in

an

of

While the

Mercer, of that place.

One

of the

1846,

Ij<>(jan,

was

trial

were thrown down on the counsel
of the bar.

indictment,

Danville,

shooting a valuable setter dog, called

amusement

All had confidence in his

death was a source of unusual sorrow.

table,

at

in

}>rogre88, the lines

members of the bar has had
now offers them to the

Poor Logan's dead, no more

No more

air

he'll howl,
with deafening cries,

he'll set for

man

the fowl,

In death's cold lap he lowly

lies.

How fondly would he hunt the game.
How closely would he seent the air,

A

for

by the Judge, for the

public.

rend the

man

the property of a Mr.

the lines in his possession ever since, and

And

the Jan-

against a

setter known full well
The huntsman's friend

to fame,
!

his master's care.

;

134

HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.
From day
lie

From

to day, from year to year.
roamed the wood, he scour'd tlie

iield

;

every vicious practice clear,

In faithfiihiess, to none he'd yield.

A

watchful, trusty, peaceful friend,
quarrel, strife and bickering free
He never failed his aid to lend,
But true to huntsman's call was he.

From

In canine veins no drop of blood,
Of "Logan" courses all his race
Is

now extinct,

Man

sent

—

him

—

in

wicked mood,

to his restiitg place.

JAMES POLLOCK.
Jamks Poixock, was born in the Borough of ]\Iilton, NorthHis father
umberland county. Pa., on September 11th, 1810.
William Pollock, was an American by birth, as also his mother
Sarah Pollock. She was the daughter of Fleming Wilson, and was
His paternal
boi'n in Chester county, Penna., in October 1771.
and maternal ancestors emigrated from the north of Ireland to
America at least as early as 1760. They settled m Chester county
Penna., and were the open and avowed friends of American independence during the war of the Revolution. One branch of the
family settled in North Carolina, and some of its members were
intimately connected with, if not prime movers in, the first declaration of Independence at Mechlenberg, North Carolina.
They
were known in that state by the name of Pol'k, an abbreviation
of "Pollock," the original family name.

His father, William Pollock, died in May 1817, leaving to surhim a widow and seven children,-four sons,-of which James
was the youngest,-and three daughters. The widow and mother,

vive

with an energy and determination that characterized her life, assumed at once the responsible duties of educating her children,

and training them up

She was a
and marked
religious character; qualities that aided in forming and moulding
the character of those she loved, and for whose temi»oral and

woman

of strong

in the

intellect,

of

"way they should

go."

great moral courage,

llItiTORY

OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.

135

and prayed. She died in Milton, Pa.
February 19th, I860, in the ninety-fourth year of her age.
The boyhood of the subject of this sketch, was passed principally
Ilis first teacher was the late Hon Joseph li. Anthony,
at school.
afterward President Judge of the 8th Judicial District of Pennsylvania, of whom he became the successor in the same office in the
He remained in the school of Mr. Anthony but a short
year 1850.
eternal welfare she lal)ore<l

time, and, soon after leaving, entered the Milton Classical Academy, under the care of Rev. David Kirkpatrick. He here prepared for, and entered the Junior Class in the College of New
Jersey, at Princeton, and graduated as IJachelor of Arts, with the

highest honors of his class, in

Sejit.

In 1835 he received in

1831.

course the degree of A. M. and in 1855 his

upon him the honorary degree of
Trustees of Jefferson College, Pa.,

Alma Mater

confered

and in 1857, the
confeiTcd the same honorary
L. L. D.

degree upon him.
After his graduation he entered as a student of law the

office

of Samuel Hepburn, Esq., a gentleman of eminent legal learning,
iu his native town,

and was admitted

courts of Northumberland

sequently

in the

he opened an

Supreme Court

otlice in

to

practice

in

the several

November

1833, and sub-

of Pennsylvania.

In Aj>ril 1834

county, in

Milton, Pa. and was successful in the prac-

In 1835 he was appointed District Attorney for Northumberland county, which office he held for three

tice of his profession.

years.

He was

married on the 19th day of December 1837 to Miss

Sarah Ann, daughter of Samuel Hepburn, Esq.

He

held a

number

of important civil offices.

but notwithstanding

He was

a

whig

in

he was, in 1844 elected a member of Congress from the 13th Congressional District of Pennsylvania
politics,

this,

then strongly Democratic; and subsequently twice re-elected from
the same District, holding the office foj- three terms, or six years.

He was

thus a member of the 28th, 29th and 30th Congresses.
a niember of some of the most important committees he contributed largely to the general work of legislation.
In the 28th

As

Congress he was a member of the Committee on "claims," and
his numerous reports attest the extent and quality of his labors.
In the 29th Congress he was on the Committee on Territories,
of which the late Hon. Stephen A. Douglas was chairman.
To

1

J/ IS

;U1

Ton Y OF COL IMRIA

Comuuttoo was roforrod
now Torritorios, aiul tho

o(

ami

and

gt'iuMally

from thr

ovidoiit

liat

t

was

States

a

tlio

t\>

ortiauization

oxohuliiiti' slaviM-y t'voin

ol"

ivf

I'xrlusion.

ti'mju'v of tlir disi-iissions in

The

was approaoluno'.

ci-isis

warmly
It was
Committoo

o\'\vi\ jMTst'iiti'd.

faxor

ilotiM-inined in

and

toiu"

(.\>ni>Toss,

in

qm'stic>ii

Vuhvd

\hv

llu' Ti'Vi ili>ri(,'s ol'

iK'l)att,HU

H) UNTY.

rolatino-

all bills

this

(

ri'iiovts

^avc direction and Wnw t(> luiMic srntimont.
ini'vcasod in warmth and hittrrnrss, and linallv

iVoin this (.'ommitttH'

Tlu' tlisiMissions

onlminatod
qnol \o

all

in

w

and

sooossioii, rovolution

atttanpti'd

hii-h

was the trinniph

\hv

o\'

riuht

and

war.
(lio

tl>i'

so-

abolition

he was an aetive member
"Ways and Means, ol' w lueh tho lion. Sam'P]\e eonntry was tlit'ii enuel F. N'inton, of Ohio, was ehairman.
ii'aued in the Moxiean Avar, and in eousecinenee, the business of
the l\nmuittee was greatly increased.
The duties of the ]»laee
w iMe oneuuis and responsible, but Avere fully and faithfully disPurin*;- the ;>()th (.'on^ress

o( slavery.
o['

the (.\>mmittee of

ehargeil

On

the '2od of Juno 1818, (oDth Oouoress) ho

tion for

tlu>

a]>|>(uutmeut of

oiYorod

eommittoo to

a speeial

the neeessity and praetieabilitv of eonstrut'tin>^-

As ehairman

Taeitie.

House

in

The
House

report

of that eonunittoo

ho

a resolu-

iiu|uire into

a

railroad to the

made

a re|H>rt to the

favor of tho eonstruetion of suoh a road.
Avill

be found

in

the

,'hI

volume

o\'

the.lournal of tho

of Keprosontativos for tho 1st session of tho o()th (.\ingross,

Ko. 738.

This Avas {hi\/irst/arorahle

official act

on this subject,

on tho part of tho Congress of the United States.

The

in its international and doand ])robable results, but only the
opening sentences can be quoted here:
"The proposition at first view is a startling one. Tlio magnitude of the work itself, and the still greater and more magnitieont
results promised by its aeeonqtlishmont
that of revolutionizing
morally and eonnnorcially, if not politically, a greater ]>art of the

report discusses the question

mestic aspects,

its

feasibility

—

habitable globe, and

utary to us

— almost

on examination, tind
nificent,

making

the

\

ast

commerce

of the world trib-

But your eonunittoo,
simple as it is vast and mag-

overAvholm tho mind.
it

a subject as

and see no insurmountable

ditlicultios in

the w ay of

its

successful accomj>lishment."

A

bill

accompanied tho

report,

and was referred

to the conuuil-

JTTSTORY

OF COLUMBJA COUNTY.

137

Whole, \mt no further action was taken on it at that
mid Mr. Polloek soon after left Congress. In the fall of
IHiH, however, he delivered a lecture on the Pacific Railroad, by
tee of tlie

tiirie,

invitation, to a ci'owded house, at Lewisljurg,

closing with the following remark

"At the

risk of

being considered insane,

diction, that in less than

Union county,

Pa.,

vcnluie the

j)re-

:

I

will

years from this evening, a

twenty-five

be completed and in operation between Xew York
and San Francisco, California; that a line of steamships will be established between San F'ranciseo, Japan and China; and there are now

railroatl will

in

my audience,

ladies

who

will, befoi'e

the expiratiojj of the period

named, drink tea brought fi-om China and
U) their

own doors

Jajtan,

by

this route,

!"'

This pro])hetic announcement
with a smile of good-natured

was received by the audience
but some of those very

inci<'(lulity

;

during the year 1869, were able to sip their favorite beverage in exact accordance with the terms of the speaker's predicladies,

tion

!

On

May, 1869, the last rail was
and the great Pacific Kailway, so long

the 10th of

driven,

an accomj»lished

The

laid,

in

the last sjjike

embryo, became

fact.

subjects of special interest during his

of service, were the aimexation
acquisition of California,

tlie

and the "Wilmot Proviso" in
ed Territories of the United
these exciting topics he

took

repeal
its

Congressional terra

Texas, the Mexican war, the

of

of the

Tariff

application

to the

States.

an

votes clearly disclosed his views on

In

all

active part.
all

Act of 1842,
newly acquir-

discussions on
His speeches and

tlie

those subjects.

was appointed President Judge of the 8th Judicial
District of Pennsylvania, composed of the counties of NorthumberlandjMontour, Columbia, Lycoming and Sullivan. He held the office
until the amendment of the Constitution, requiring the election of
Judges by the peojtle, came into operation. He declined a nomination for the j»osition, left the 13ench, and resumed the pracOn his retiring from the Bench, the members of
tice of the law.
the Bar of the respective counties, unanimously passed resolutions
highly complimentary to him as a man and Judge.
In 1854 he was nominated and elected l^y a large majority,
Governor of Pennsylvania, and Avas inaugurated in January 1855.
In 1850 he

HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.

138

He

held the

office

one term, huviiig refused to })ermit his

for

name to be used as a candidate for re-nomination.
At the expiration of liis official term, he resumed the duties of
The principal measures of his administration
his profession.
were

tlie

adoption of means by which the reduction of the public

debt Avas commenced, and nearly two million dollars of it paid;
the sale of the mainline of the Public works to the Pennsylvania
Central K. R. Co. for $7,500,000, which
the payment and reduction of the

and which, added

to the

sum

tically nearly $10,000,000:

sum was made

applicable to

debt of the Commonwealth,

actually paid, reduced the debt prac-

—a

series of

acts

by

Avhicii

increased

were given to the system of common schools;
retrenchment and reform in the various Departments, and econvigor and

omy

efficiency

in the general administration of the

GovernmenJ;.

In the Fall of 1857, occurred a financial crisis which led to the

suspension of specie payments by the Banks of the State, and

threatened every branch of industry with serious derangement

and

injury.

To

avert impending

evils,

an extra session of the

Legislature was called, which convened in

On

his

October of that year.
recommendation, the suspension of specie payments was

legalized for a definite period, the forfeiture of the charters of the

respective

Banks prevented, and other measures adopted which

allayed the public

apprehension, saved

the

credit

of the State,

and removed the dangers to which the general prosperity had
been exposed.
He was appointed in 1860, by Governor Curtin, a delegate
to the Peace Conference (or Congress) which was held in
Washington, D. C. in February and March 1861. The object
of this assemblage was to consider, and if practicable to adjust
the differences and dissensions existing between the North and
the South on the mucli vexed question of slavery.
He took an
active })art in the

deliberations of

failed to secure a favorable result.

that

In

body.

May

Tlie

couferuuce

1861 he was appoint-

ed by President Lincoln, Director of the United States Mint at
when he

Philadelphia, and held the office until October 1st 1866,
resigned, unwilling to
son,

by even

By

sustain

the -'Policy" of

Andrew John-

a seeming acquiescence, in holding office under him.

his efforts,

seconded by the approval of Hon.

then Secretary of the

Treasury, the motto

"In

S.

P. Chase,

God we

trust."

HLSTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.

139

was placed upon our National coins, a motto of deep significance,
and alike honorable to the people and Government of the United
lie was re-appointed, in 1869, by President Grant, DirecStates.
tor of the U. S. Mint, which office he held until 1879, when he
was appointed Naval officer, which position he still holds, 1882.
During the War for the Union his sympathies, efforts and laRebellion
bors were all for his Country, for Union and Liberty.
Union
True
to
the
treason
no
friend.
found no advocate in him
and
huto
liberty
defence;
true
aid
in
its
ever
ready
to
he was
manity, he was always their advocate; true to his country, he rejoiced in the overthrow of her enemies, and in the triumph of
those great and essential principles of liberty and free government that nuxke the United States the first and best of Earth's

—

Empires.

JOHN NESBIT CONYNGHAM.
John Nkshit Conyn(;ham was born in the city of Philadeli)hia
December 17, 1798, and graduated with high honor at the Uni-

He studied law in the office of
upon being admitted to the
and
the Hon. Joseph
valley, and came to Wilkessettle
in
Wyoming
resolved
to
bar,
Shortly afterwards he married Miss Butler, a
barre in 1820.
His atgi-and daughter of Col. Butler, of revolutionary fame.

versity of Pennsylvania, in 1816.

R. Ingersoll,

tention to the jiractice of his ])rofession

year 1833

liis

was unremitting.

In the

seveie forensic efforts produced a bronchial affection

him

from active practice. In 1839, his
upon him the acceptance of
the connnission of Judge of the Court of Common Pleas of his
District.
For thirty years he presided on the bench, with the
dignity and urbanity of a gentleman of the old school.
He came upon the Bench of Columbia county under a commission dated 5th of November, 1851, and remained there until the
formation of the twenty-sixth district, composed of the counties
of Columbia, Sullivan and Wyoming, for which district Warren
J. Woodward was commissioned on the 19th of May, 1856.
Judge Conyngham resigned from the Bench in 1870, upon
which occasion he was honored with a banquet, attended by the
which

coni})elled

to retire

friends irrespective of party, urged

1

HIS TOR Y O F COL UMBIA CO VNTY.

40

AvlioU' l^:u- of
les4al

Luzerne county, to testify their appreciaiiou of

his

learning and unswerving purity and integrity of cliaracter.

But eminent as he was upon the IJench and in his })rofession, it
was not his only, and by no means his highest claim to public couHe was the grandson of Redmond Conyngtidence and respect
ham, and the son of David H. Conyngham of the old and honored
firm of "Conyngham & Nesbitt," eminent in revolutionary finanIn politics he was a firm and consistent Democrat,
cial history.
and his voice and influence were always ou the side of his country.

Under

ham

the ministry

Judge ConyngChurch in
Onderdouk, iii the

of the Rev. Dr. Claxton,

received the rite of contirmation

in St.

Stephen's

Wilkes Barre, at the hands of Bishop Tl. LT.
year 1841, and during a long life he adorned himself with all the
He was a vestrynuxn in Saint Steplien's fi-oni
christian virtues.
Easter 1821, until his death,

a ])eriod of almost fifty years.

He

was elected to the Diocesan Convention for the first time in 1826
and in 1850 he was elected a Deputy to the Genei-al Convention
of the Church, and re-elected to every subsequent one, except one.
In 18G2 he was a member of the connnittee on Canons, with Judge
Chambers of Maryland, Murray Hoffman of New York, and Robert C. Winthrop of Massachusetts. In October 1868 he was elected President of the American Church Missionary Society.
His judgment was sound and eminently conservative. He was
He was a polnot a radical, either in laAV, politics or theology.
ished gentleman, a thorough lawyer, an upright Judge, an humble
christian.

Judge Conyngham were })eAccompanied by Mr. W. L. Congnyham, he
another son, living in Mississippi. They arrived

The circumstances

of the death of

culiarly distressing.

was on a

visit to

about nine o'clock in the evening of
where the train stopped for the passengers to take supper.
While they were thus engaged tlieir train
was taken away from the })lace they left it and another came u}),
and when they returned they went into one of the cars, to find,
however, that it did not belong to their train, and very naturally
they turned to leave it.
The train was slowly starting, and they
did so with some haste, Mr. W. L. Conyngham and Mr. Henderson alighting without trouble, except a harmless fall on the i)art

at Magnolia, in that State,

Thursday, April

23, 1871,

HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.
of the latter.

The Judge was not

141

so fortunate, as in stepping off

the car steps to the platform of the depot, which

was rather low,
between the platform and the
cai-s of the train, and when they had passed it was found that his
legs, below the knees, were crushed in a terrible manner, the
He
whole of the hind trucks having passed over both of them.
was taken to the hotel and medical aid immediately summoned,
and everything possible was done for his comfort. He did not
realize the extent of his injury at first, no })ain attended it, and he
even made an attempt to gtt up, before he was removed from the
he stund)led and

])latform, saying,

fell,

w

"No

illi

his legs

matter,

I

am

not hurt

;

I will

get up in a

few moments." lie lived two hours, and toward the last, when
reaction seemed to be taking place, and he began to feel some
pain, and was told how serious his injury was, he desired am))utaInjections of mor})hia were made to allay
tion to l)e ])erformed.
were making for the am))Utation, but
pain,
while
prei)arations
the
uiidci- the effects of the morphia he seemed to decline, and not a
His last words were, "I
great while after, dissolution took place.
know that my Redeemer liveth." His remains reached WilkesIJarre on the tii'st of March, and were interred on the third, attended to their last resting place by an iinmense concourse of friends
and admirers. He left a widow, and four sons and two daughters.

o

WARREN J. WOODWARD.
the formation of the 2Gth Judicial District, composed of
the counties of Columbia, Sullivan and Wyoming, this estimable
gentleman was appointed President Judge by Governor Pollock,

Upon

upon the reconmiendation of the membeis of the Bar of the several

counties

comjiosing the district, his service commencing in

June of that year, and continuing under the executive appointment until the first Monday of December following. In the meantime, at the general election in October of that year, he was electPresident Judge, for the constituterm of ten years. He connnenced with the expiration of
and served until the first
liis term under his prior appointment,
Monday of December, A. D. 18G1. In the latter year upon the
retiremf'ut of the Hon. J. Prin<de Jones from the office of Presi-

ed without opposition as the
tional

HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.

142

dent Judge of Berks county, Judge Woodward was elected to
succeed him, resigned his office of President Judge of the 26th
At the end of ten
district, and removed to the city of Reading.
years' service he was re-elected President Judge of Berks county

without

oi)i)Osition,

and continued to serve upon the Bench of that

county, until his election as a Judge of the Supreme Court under

new

the

constitution at the general election in 1871.

Taking
first

his seat

Monday

upon the Bench of the Supreme Court on the

of January 1875, he served in that Court for a period

of over four years

and

months, until the time of his death,

six

residence, near Hamden, Delaware
York, Tuesday, September 23rd 1879.
At the time of his death he was within one day of sixty years of
The immediate cause of the Judge's death was nervous exage.

summer

wliich occurred at his

county, in the state of

New

haustion accompanied by an enlargement of the
ty years he had been subject to

liver.

For twenwhich
and death.

recurring bilious attacks,

with over- work appear to have caused his final sickness,
Judge Woodward was born near Bethany, Wayne county, in
this State, secured in his

youth an academic education

Barre, taught school several terms

the printing office of the

Wayne

at

in his native county,

Wilkes
entered

county Herald, at Bethany, and

conducted that newspaper for a time in the absence of its proprietor, and was then for about two years connected with the I^en?i-

sylvanian at Philadelphia

in

an editorial capacity.

He

next studied law at Wilkes-Barre, and then practiced for
about fifteen years with eminent success, holding at the time of
his

appointment to a judgeship, the leading practice at the Lu-

zerne bar.

He had the habits and tastes of a student, and was one of the
most laborious of men, always disposed to master difficulties and
go to the bottom of a subject. A conscientious performance of
judicial duty involves much of concentrated attention and effort,
quite unknown to the outer world because performed mostly in
private.

Even

long run results only become evident it
faithful Judge is a great or accom-

in the

;

comes to be known that the
plished lawyer

—that

— that sound law
tered by him —but
ed

days or weeks or

work is correctly and promptly performpronounced and impartial justice adminislittle is known by the general public of the
years of potent toil, and of self-discipline
his

is

HON.

WARUKN

J.

WOODWARD.

//7/S

TOR Y OF COL UMB TA CO UNT Y.

which have ma*lo him what ho

is

—an

1

43

accompliBhed rniniHter of

juHtice.

Judge Woodward was never a candidate for political office,
in the ordinary sense of that term, but by devotion to his profesBion of the law lie qualified himself for higli judicial positions and
Uiton the
o>)tained them without j)ersonal solicitations or effort.
bench l»e exhiV)ited great ability and impartiality, united with a
All business before

faithful devotion to the duties

of

him was promptly

and the intrusion of

dis|tos('d of

ings or other sinister

He

vented.
its

liis office.

into

infiuence

his

))olitical feel-

courts was sternly pre-

brought to the bench a mind which had received
Judge Conyngliam of Luzerne

training and discipline under

county, before

His

passed.

whom

his

professional

qualities, constituting

life

at

the bar had l>een

high qualifications for a

ju<lge,

were gi'eat integrity of j»urpose, great industry, and a most sincere,
unassuming devotion to justice. And in social inten.-ourse off
the bench, his temper was genial and kindly, and his friendsliij)
was considered a pro])er object of just and honora})le (;ffort.
His walk was remarkably erect, his limbs and face clothed with
little flesh
but his frame was of fair size, his body substantial,
and his head showed intellectual development and power. His
;

eye was kindly and kindled
tion

was emphatic, without

in

familiar

violence,

discourse; his conversa-

and had the charms of earn-

general literature, and obtained larger
fairs
all

He

much

of

views of mankind and

af-

estness and variety in intercourse with friends.

read

than those of the mere lawyer or plodding judge.

his

characteristics, conscientiousness was,

perhaps,

But of

the most

connnanding and constant; this was the spur to labor and study
throughout his career, carrying him with tireless activity through
all the obscurities and difficulties of every case, and presenting to
him at all times a wholesome apprehension that some man's right
or

some

From

]»rinci])le

of justice miglit be overlooked or neglected.

notices which were published at the time of his death, in

leading journals of the State,
abilities

it

plainly appears

and high character of Judge

known and

apjtreciated

that the

Woodward had come

generally by the legal

great
to

be

profession and

by

the people of the whole state, and most sincere regrets were ex-

pressed at the loss
tained by his death.

which the a<lmiTiistration of justice had susHis opinions, to be found in the books of re-

—

,

HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.

Ml

|uirls. will ri'iuaiii to \iv:\v
o'liau'i'

ami coinimsition

of

I'viiU'iUH'

his ability.

to j^ratily all r^'adcrs

;iii(l

tlu'ir

l;ui-

sound taslr and

ut

jiidn'iiu'ut.

At Ihr

o|)riiiim'

of

tin'

session of

CVmrt

Su|)rrnu'

tlu'

in I'itts-

^Monday of October, 187!), W. D. Moore, Ks(|.
AlU'<;']ieny
eoimly bar, called attention to tln' death t)f
o'^ the
^^'ood\\a^d,
in soint' well eonsidiTi'd and eoniiiliinentary
JudLi'e
bniu, on the

remarks.

first

They

will

found

be

in

the

o|n'nin^' pagi's

oi'

the lOth

volunu' of N'orris' IJeports.

Chief Justice Sharswood
'Vo all

has

that

bei'n

follows:

replii'd as

said to

the character, attainments

we

((ualitications of oui- lanienled bridher,

rence.

'I'he

conununily has

from us which

it is

sulVii'ed

ditlicult

to

with practice and prcci'tU'Uts

in

his early

estimate.

law, intimate

principles of

n\astery of the general

loss

a

i>ro]>erly

and

our cordial concur-

a(Ul

in all their details,

removal

'Vo thoroui^h

ac(|uaintanco

he added a sound

judgment, intlexible integrity and untiring industry,

lie always
was with him a matter of
administer the laws as settled by

stood by the ancient landmarks, and

conscience not to

make

adjudged

We

cases.

but to

it

nuvy be }»ermitted as our especial testinu>ny,

tt>mentit)n his unvarying gentleness, courtesy, amiability

bearance, which endeared him to his colleagues
all

his personal frientls.

with him

no

His

as a

and

and

for-

inadi' thi'm

In the whole period of their association

instance of unpleasant

collision

can

be

recalled.

upon opinions exhibiting independent research, expressed in a char and forcible style, without
His
pretensions to eloqnejice, models of judicial composition.
memory will long ))e cherished by all who knew him. and all w ho
know how to ai)preciate the character and services <.^^ a faithful
ami learned judge.
t'anxe

judge

will

rest

-o
A. K.

rKCKIIAIVI.

HY .lAJlKS W. I'lAlT, ESQ.

Aauox

Kingsi.ev

Pih'kiia:\i

Peckhani and Hannah
Bristol county,

was

a farmer

Rhode

Ketta

was the second child o'i Kiugsley
Kounds and was born at Bristol,

Island. October 15th, l81o.

and while residimr

in

Rhode

Island

His

father

made

a bare

OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.

lIltiTORY
comp(;t<'iu;(' for

and
he

facility

left

himscH'

fiiiiiily.

;iii(l

Learning of the

with wiiich land could be acquired

Rhode

Island in the Hpring of 1829, and

in

145

(;ho;ij)nesH

l^ennHylvania

after a long

and

tedious journey fraught witli the dangers, difHcidtio.s and discour-

agements incident

to the season

The expenses

Bylvania.

and mode of

travel, arrived

and

Columbia, Bradford connty, Penn-

settled early in the spring, in

of the trip left

his

fatlier little to

begin

went earnestly to work in the heavily timbered forest, soon made a clearing and erected habita})le buildings.
At
fourttnui years old, just
tliis tiuie the subject of our sketch was
the age when he should have been placed at school and had o|)with, but he

portunities for fitting himself better for his

after work.

lie re-

mained with his father until about the age of nineteen assisting
in clearing, working the land and making improvements in spring,
summer and fall, and attending the common schools of the neighborhood in the winter. He then procured a tract of land in Armenia townsliip, Bradford county and went to work for himself.
Not a tree had been cut ujion this tract when he went upon it.
He cut and cleared a number of fallows, set up a good sugar
bush and made sugar several seasons. The land has now become
a fine farm and is in the possession of Benjamin Knight.
He remained there until the spring of 1838 when he rented a pail factcn-y of Samuel Myers and C. M. Manville near Towanda, Pa.
It was shortly after he began manufacturing pails that he determined to study law. He entered his name as a student with
Johti C.

Adams

his business

was

and

a<lmitted at

of the
in

Towanda

addition

Towanda

bar.

He meanwhile

taught school winters.

carried

on

In 1842 he

a meml>er of

the Bradford county
county was separated
from J^uzerne county and he went to Tunkhannock to engage in
practice.
He opened an office on Tioga street in a frame Ijuilding which was subsequently destroyed by fire and stood near Lobar.

It

was

at this

as

time that

Wyoming

For about three years he practiced alone. Col.
Elhanan Smith, now of the Towanda bar, went to Tunkhannock
in 1845, when a law partnership was foraied under the name of
beck's lilock.

Peckham

&

Smith.

This partnership

years and was the only one formed by

contirmed

him during

about three

whole legal
immediately obtained a fair share of the business
in the county and by his industry, application and perseverance

practice.

He

his

ins TO li Y OF COL U3fBIA CO UlSTTY.

146

worked

his

In 1860

way
tlie

into a d:oo(1 practice.
late

Warren

Woodward,

J.

tlie

tlien

Presiding

Judge of tlie then 26th jndieial district, eoin])rising among- others
Wv«nning connty, was elected President Judge of tlie 2.'{d judicial tlistrict and surrendered his connnission as Presiding .Judge of
Governor Andrew i\. C^urtin coniinissioned \. Iv. Peckthe 26th.

ham

to

fill

the vacancy in the

of

fall

1861.

In the

fall

of 1S62,

Judge Wm. Elwell, then a member of the Bradford county bar
and now Presiding Judge of the 26th district, was nominated by
Judge
the Democrats and concurred in by tlie Rei>ublicans.
Peckham declined to be a candidate. Upon December 1st 1862,
his commission expired and he resumed his practice at Tunkhannock, continuing there until the time of his death, March 22d,
1865.

He

T'. INIanville
at Towanda, February 21st,
She died at Tunkhannock the 5th day of July, 1855. By
her he left one daughtei", Mrs. N. P. Hicks, who now resides at
Towanda, Pa. He married Jane E. Ivnowles at Chittenango,
N. Y., November 24th, 1858. By lier he left one daughter, Mary,
Avho now resides with her mother at Chittenango, N. Y.
He was regarded as an enterprising citizen, a kind neighbor,
a considerate husband and parent. I know of nothing mort? apt

married Jane A.

1845.

to say of

him than that which

rnscribed

is

upon the monument

over his grave at Tunkhannock.
"In

life

au upright

of justice, and

hostile

devoted companion,

citizen,

parent and faithful friend.
to

Always

affectionate

and eHicient
oppression and Avrong.

all

firm

i)i

defence

He

being

dead yet speaketh."

WILLIAM ELWELL.
WirxiAM Elwkll was born
October 9th, 1808.

in

Athens, Bradford county, Penn.,

lie received a

good English education

at

the

Athens academy. At the age of nineteen he was an assistant
under Chief Engineer Randall in running exploring lines on both
sides of the Susquehanna river for the location of a canal from
the

New York

corjts

he

state line southward.

taught

menced the study

school
of the

After leaving the engineer

for

three

years

law

in the

office

and then comHorace Willis-

of

'J

HON.

wii.i.iAAr

K\.\vy.i.i..

HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.

148
toil,

Esq. and was

admitted to the Bar in February, 1833
profession

sixteen years he ])ractise(i his

as

For

partner of his pre-

counties of the state, and until the appointment of Mr. Williston as President Judge of the 13th Dis-

ceptor, in the nortlun-n

trict

lie

was a member of

his tirst

session

conxmittee,

who

among

tlie

Legishiture in 1842 and 1843, and at

Harrisburg, was chairman of the Judiciary

at

the

members of which committee were men

afterwards attained great distinction, notably Judge Shars-

woed. Judge Gamble, Judge Barrett, liendrick B. Wright and
Thaddeus Stevens, and of whom ho was in every respect the equal.
In 1843 lie was chairman of the committee of ways a'.d means.
As chairman of the Judiciary Comjnittee he prepared and reported Ihe bill to abolish imprisonment iov debt, which witli a single
cliauge, stands

In 1844

now

as originally reported.

declined being a cjuididate for Congress, preferring

lie

the practice of his profession to a
luctantly yielded

to the

demands

})olitical life;

of his

but in 18GG he

re-

i)arty (the Deiuociatic),

and accepted the nomination in the 13th Congressional DistrictHe ran far ahead of his party vote, but did not overcome the liepublican majority.

The Supreme Court

Re])orts

show the extent

of his

i)raetice,

containing as they do, over one hundred cases argued by him.

was elected President Judge of the 26th Judicial
composed of the counties of Columbia, Sullivan and Wyoming, no candidale being named against him; and upon the expiration of his term, in 1872, he was re-elected withont a dissenting vote. In May 1874, Wyoming and Sullivan were created the
44tli Judicial District, and Montour county was added to ColumIn 1862 he

District

bia, the District still

remaining the 26th.

1862, he removed to Bloomsburg, where he

ITpon
lins

his

election in

ever since resided.

Judge Elwell Avas chosen umpire to settle the
between the operators and the miners in the Anthracite
coal regions, and his im|»artial judgment was accepted by all
parties as a just and eijuitable solution of the troubles.
He has
been frequently urged to become a candidate for the Supreme
Bench, and he has been voted foi- in convention for that place
but he has uniformly declined to authorize a canvas in his favor,
In April 1871,

dithculties

;

forthe

office,

not deeming

it

consonant withjudicial propriety.

And

HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.

149

same reason he has refused to allow his name to be canoffice of Governor of the Commonwealth, for which
has been frecjuently and warmly nrged.

for the

vassed for the
lie

On

the exj)iration of his second term as President

Judge of the
and without
distinction of i)aity re^juested him to accept a third term, to which
he consented and the political convention of the Democratic and
Republican party respectively, followin«»' the lead of the J5ar,
He was
nominated him to the office for the election of 1882.
then iiLiaiii unanimously elected.
2nth District, the JJar of the District unanimously,

;

Judge Elwell is a member of the EjtiseopaJ Church, having
He was a]»been conlirmed a few years since by Bishop Howe.
jiointed on the Bi-Centennial committee by Gov. Hoyt in 188],
but his

official

him from taking any active part.
Bloomsburg State Nonnal
1873 he has been President of the Board of

duties jtrevented

In 18(j8 he was elected a Trustee of the

School, and since

Trustees, and in the dark days of the school he did

ing

through to

it

It is

its j)resent

believed that Judge Elwell

than any Judge

advantage of
have been

much

in

guid-

successful condition.

has held more special Courts

And in order to have the
and ability mariy important cases
to Columbia county from other districts and

now

ujion the Bench.

his legal learning

certified

tried before him.

Among

many

the

notable cases which

Williamsport l^ondcase

— Tryon
AV^ill

he

has

tried

are the

— Fisher against the City of Philadelphia

and Dull against Munson, and the celebrated Cameron

case from Union county, each involving the rights of parties

amount

to the

of hundreds of thousands of dollars, and

in

all

of

were affirmed by the Supreme Court. On the
ai)peal in the wiii case, after elaborate argument by eminent counsel for the apjjellant, the decision was affirmed, the Supreme Court
adopting the o)»inion of the Court below as the opinion of that

which

his opinions

Court.

The Mollie Maguire
ander
itself

W.

case

growing out of the murder of Alex-

Kea, which was affirmed by the Supreme Court, of

forms a large volume, and establishes

tions on the law of homicide,

Numerous

was

many important

ques-

tried before him.

cases in Equity in thi> and other counties liave been

150
he:ivd

HISTORY OF C0LU3IBIA COUNTY.
and decideil by him, and

ex('('i)t

decisions liave been sustained on

His

opinions

Weekly Notes

which

of Cases,

as valuable additions

t

)

in

ai)[)ear

in a single instance these

aj»j)eal.

and other

the

State

Reports,

in

the

legal j)ublications, are considered

the legal literature of the time. It

is

wor-

thy of mention that of all the ca^es in the Court of Oyer and
Terminer, (Quarter Sessions and Orphans' Court, not a single case
from his district has been revei'sed during the twenty years he
has been upon the bench.

-^S

1^

HI^STORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.

CHAPTER

While

facts

151

XVIII.

and circumstances are still fresh in the knowledge
it is
well to put upon record what ought to

of citizens,

be renienibered, of the early historyof "Tlie Bloonisburg Literary
Institute

and State Normal School."

In the year 1856 the following named gentlemen, to-wit;
Sloan, M. Coffman, E. Mendenhall,
J. J.

Brower, B. F. Hartman,

S.

A.
II.

J.

Wm.

Evans,

Miller,

Philip Unangst, Jesse G. Clark, A. Witnian,

J.

A.

J.

McKelvy,

M. Chaniberlin,

Michael Henderson,

John G. Freeze, Levi L. Tate, Peter Billmeyer, M. C. Sloan,
Jonathan Mosteller, Alexander J. Frick, E. B. Bidleman, Robei't
F. Clark, A. M. Kui)ert, K. B. Menagh, W. J. Bidleman, Robert
Cathcart, A. C. Mensch, and H. C. Ilower, associated themselves
together "for the promotion of education both in the ordinary and
higher branches of English literature and science, and in the
ancient and modern languages," and therefore jiresented a petition
to the Court, and at the September term, A. D. 1856, became and
were a corporation under the name, style and title of "The Bloomsburg Literary Institute."

Under

the articles of

incoriioration

constituting the Charter,

William Robison, Leonard B. Rupert, William Snyder, Elisha
C. Barton, William Goodrich, D. J. Waller, Joseph Sharpless,
John K. Grotz, and I. W. Hartman were made Trustees, to serve
until the annual election

provided for in the Charter.

The min-

Board of Trustees have never come into the hands of
the writer, and neither the organization nor any of the proceedings are known.
But a school of a high grade was promptly
opened, and for some time kept in successful operation. It was
held in a building located on the lot now owned and occupied by
utes of that

the

Roman

Catholic

Church.

The causes

sulted in suspending operation need

that

eventually re-

not be here detailed

;

but a

HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.

152

hetwcon the closing of the school in the
re-opening in what was known as tlie
Old Aca<len»y Building. In the meantime the ]>ublic schools had
improved considerably, and a more general feeling for a higher
A number of young men
educational training was develo})ed.
were to be fitted for college, and though the standard i-ate of
public school teachers was raised by the State, yet all the educational interests of tlie county were in a most backward condition.
('(Hisidorable tiinc elapsed
huildiiij:; iiientioiied.

None

its

came near tilling the
was the duty as Avell as the oppoitunilead in a new, and lasting and magnificent

of the schools, either private or public,

])ublic

ty of

and

requirements, and

Bloomsburg

to

it

educational enterprise.
In this conjuncture of alfairs Mr. Henry Carver appeared in
town and o|)ened a classical school in the Old Academy on Third
street. He was successful in his then undertaking and acquired in
a large degree the conlidence of our people.
The tirst and best
result of that feeling of contideuce was the re-organization of the

''BUu)msburg Jjiterary Institute."

Pursuant to a notice given, the Trustees of the liloomsburg
J. Waller on the evening
of May 2nd, ISOti; present D. J. Waller, William Snyder, J. K.
Grotz, L. B. l{uj)ert and I. W. Ilartman. On motion of J. KGrotz,
D. J. Wallei- was elected }>resident and I. \V. liartman secretary.
The places of E. C. Barton, Wm. llobison and Wm. Goodrich
Avere declared vacant, and John G. Freeze, liobert F. Clark and
William Neal were elected to till the vacancies.
Literary Institute met at the study of D.

At

the next meeting.

May

4th, the resignation of

Joseph Sharp-

was accepted and Conrad Bittenbender was chosen to till the
vacancy.
A committee of six was named to open books and
take subscription to the stock of the corporation.
A committee
on location of the building was also chosen, and Wm. Neal was
less

elected to be treasurer.

sor Carver

number

of

At

the next meeting,

May

25th,

was elected principal of the contemplated
subscriptions to the

stock-holders met in the

Profes-

school.

A

stock having been obtained, the

Grand Jtny room, June 16, 1866, to lox4fter some discussion the question was
postponed, and the meeting adjourned to June 22nd. On assembling, i)ursuant to adjournment, propositions were received from
William Snyder, Wm. B. Koons, M. S. Appelman, C. Barton &

cate the school building.

IIISTOEY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.

154

Vo. and D.

lows

J.

Waller.

On

a vote being taken

it

resulted as fol-

:

location
489 votes.
3 votes.
For Koons'
On the same day the Board of Trustees at a meeting resolved
to accept William Snyder's j)ropositioii and adoj)ted the location
voted for by the stock-holders.
On the 29th of June the Board ordered that jjlans and specitications be at once procured and a building be contracted for and
})ut up at a cost not to exceed $15,000.00.
The resignations of Wm. Neal and J K. (4rotz were tendered
and accepted, and thereupon M. S. Appeliuan and Peter Billmeyer
were elected to till the vacancies. On the 12th of July Mr. Hartman resigned, and F. C. Eyer was elected, in his place.
M. S. Api)ehnan who was electe<l to till tl»e place of J. K. Grotz,
not accepting, Mr. John Wolf was chosen. On the resignation of
Wm. Neal, Wm. Snyder was elected Tieasurer. The Snyder location having been accepted, a committee was ajjpointed to select
On the 18th of July Mr. Waller offered a minority re.
the site.
]>ort in favor of locating the school buildings on the north side of
the extension of Main street, but Mr. Snyder declined to sell that
and upon the acceptance of the present location, Mr. Waller resigned from the committee, and on the 21f-t of July, from the
Presidency of the Board and fi-om the Board of Trustees and
subsequently Freas BroAAm was elected in his stead.
Hon. Leonard B. Rupert was elected President of the Board of
Trustees in the place of Rev. Mr. Waller, resigned, and was annually re-elected until May 9, 1873, when Hon William Elwell
was elected and is still, 1882, the President.
During all this time tlie matter of subscriptions and building
were pushed forward with considerable vigor. On the question
of location, some difficult v was experienced.
It was designed to
locate the building north of the projection of Second street, but
Mr, Snyder did not consent to the change. We all see now how
great the advantage would have been.
A committee waited upon
him about the matter and after consultation wiih him, at a meeting on the 4th of August, 1866, it was
P'or Snyder's

;

"Resolved, that in accepting the location offered by Mr. Snyder,
the Board act in view of the assurance given to the public in con-

HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.
iiectioii witli

that

oflFer,

155

that the owners of the Porks Hotel will, at
hotel, and open Main street directly to

no distant day, remove that

the front of the Institute grounds."

On

such terms and conditions the grounds

were accepted and

the building erected.

On Thursday,

April

4,

1867,

The Bloomsburg Literary

tute was opened and df(licated to the purposes of education.

Insti-

The

day was warm and beautiful, and at one o'clock in the afternoon
the Bloomsburg Brass Band lieaded the procession, marching from
The
the Old Academy Building on Third street to the Institute.
Band was followed by tlie Board of Trustees, then by the
Clergy, next the parents of the pupils, then the pupils, and lastly
The piocession passed up Third to Market, up Markthe Faculty.
Second and uj) Second to the Institute. On arriving at the
door Judge Rujjert, President of the Board, unlocked it, the
Band fell back and escorted the Faculty and pupils, who entered
et to

lirst,

followed by the parents and Trustees.

The Hall

of the In-

was filled by the citizens and friends of the School in attendance at the inauguration.
After nuisic by the band, prayer was offered by the Rev. I). J.
Waller, a song, "Welcome Chorus," given by the glee club, after
which Hon. L. B. Rupert, President of the Board of Trustees
made a report of the inception and progress of the work. The
The
<ledicatory address was made by Prof. Moss of Lewisburg.
Brower,
Misses
following named pupils took part in the exercises
Purse], Hendershott, Bittenbender, Rupert, John, Lowenberg,

stitute

:

Harman, VanBuskirk, Abbot, Tustin, McKinney, Williams,
ner, Torbet, Correll, Edgar,

Dereamer,

Ster-

Caslow, Bobbins, Lutz,
and l>y Masters Waller,

Armstrong, Buckingham, and F.lwell
Little, W. H. Clark, Snyder, Buckalew, Billmeyer, Funk, Hendershott, G. E. Elwell, J. M. Clark, Bittenbender, Neal, Schuyler,
:

Woods, and
At he
I

I'nangst.

close of the afternoon exei-cises, Mr. E. R. Ikeler, on be-

teachers of Columbia county, with an apprr)priate
Prof. Carver with an album, containing i)orpresented
speech,
It was retraits of the donors, as a testimonial of their respect

half of the

ceived by the Prof,

returned his acknowledgements in a few
and after a song by a class of the pupils,

who

well chosen sentences,

the audience was dismissed.

:

HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.

156

In the evening- the hirge hall of the Institute

M\as filled

with a

and appreciative audience, and the exercises began with
A song was then given by the
a prayer by Rev. J. R. Dimm.
glee club.
At the request of the Board of Trustees, Judge Ehvell
gratified

then delivered an admirable address, in brief reciting the history
of the Institute,

and urging the friends of education

the work, and complete the
vide a library and

to push

on

building, beautify the grounds, pro-

necessary apparatus

,

and assuring them that

thus they were affording to their children means for an ample education,

and bestowing

u})on

them

a

legacy which would be for-

ever a blessing.

The evening
Misses L. E.

exercises

were engaged

Jolm, Appleman, M.

Bittenbeiider, Clark,

Edgar,

in

by the following

John, Ehvell, Lutz, Sharpless,

Caslow,

McKinney, M.

Irving,

Sharpless, Armstrong, Pursel, Brower, Rupert,

E.

Agerand Robbins;

and Masters J M. Clark, Bomboy, Hartman, Neal, G. A. Clark,
Pursel, Billmeyer, Pardee, Turnbach, Smith, B. Pardee, G. P.
Waller, Irving, Swisher, Rupert, Schuyler, L. Rutter, Sloan, Morris, Lutz, McKelvy, Buckalew, Mendenhall, Bittenbender, L. Waller, H. Rutter, Dillon, P^unk, Thomas, Evans, Edgar, Appleman,
Girton, E. Rutter, Woods, G. McKelvy, Van Buskirk, Hendershott, J. K. Morris, jr., Melick, 1). J Waller, jr.. Little, L^nangst,
T. F. Connor and G. E. Ehvell.

Looking back now upon that occasion, important as it seemed
it is doubtful if any one realized all that it has accom])lished for the Town, and will yet accomplish. All its influences
have been for good, and must continue so to be. It has brought
many strangers to our town it has been a means of education to
many here who could not have gone elsewhere all its surrounding influences and teachings are of the pleasantest kind.
at the time

;

—

On

the 4th of

May

1867,

—

the stockholders

of the

Bloomsburg

Literary Institute met and elected the following Board of Trustees

:

For one year, Robert F. Clark, Peter Billmyer, F. C. Eyer.
For two years, J. G. Freeze, L. B. Rupert, Wm. Snyder.
For three years, John Wolf. C. Bittenbender, J. P. Connor.

On
to

fill

the 2oth of October, 1867, Mi. E. Mendenhall
the vacancy caused by the death of

Wm.

was

Snyder.

elected

HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.
During the year 1867, a

tine bell

placed in the cui)ola of the school,

The money was
J. VValler Jr.,

raised

157

weighing 2171 pounds was
at

a cost of about $1,200.

by subscription through the

D.
were

efforts of

Geo. E. Elwell and Charles Unangst,

wdio

then pupils in the school.

And

here

we may pause

for a

moment

in

the

history

of this

Contrary to the expectations even
of friends, in spite of the sneers and opposition of the indifferent
and close-fisted and narrow-minded, the building and school were
great educational enterj)rise.

As

a proud success.

it

stood there in

its

solitary

grandeur upon

the work with
Undeniedly it increased the value
of all the i»roperty in Bloomsburg; it increased the attractions of
the town as a place of residence; it cheapened the cost of the necessary preparation of boys and girls for the active duties of life;
it raised the true re})Utation of Bloomsburg among the surrounding counties, and even beyond the State lines the rumors of us extended, and pupils came thence among us.
The liberal and
large hearted man rejoiced in the good he had accomplished, and
knew it was a monument to his labor and perseverance more lasting than brass.
One after another the faint-hearted became footsore, and weary
but as they fell out of the ranks their places
were tilled by others, and when at the end of the first year a
Board came to be elected, it ajipeared that but four of those whose
names appeared among the first roll call, had struggled on. together to the end.
It had been a struggle, such as they only who had
gone through it, could api)reciate.
Amid so many discouragements they were surj)rised at their own success, but having succeeded it is but right to say that a very large majority of the citizens of Bloomsburg gave substantial support to the enterprise.
In the meantime the year 1867 was passing away, the school
was attracting attention, the building was large and conspicuous,
and our citizens began to awaken to its importance. Mr. Wickersham, the State Superintendent of Public Schools, had heard of
us, and seeing wliat we had already accomplished, suggested the
erection of additional buildings and the organization of a State
Normal School, to be run in connection with the Literary Institute.
Discussion on the subject was general and warm, and on
the 9th of March 1868, the Board "Resolved that the Trustees of

the

hill,

the Board of Trustees

satisfaction

and

gratification.

;

could look

\\\)Q\\

HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.

158

the Bloomsbiirg Literary Institute agree to establish in connection

with the same, a State Normal School under the Act of Assembly

2nd of May, 1857, and

of the

to ])rocure the

the necessary buildings as soon as the
dollars

is

sum

grounds and put up
seventy thousand

of

subscribed by responsible persons, agreeably to the fore-

going propositions."
In })ursuance thereof, at that and subsequent meetings, committees on plans, specifications

and subscriptions, were appointed and

proceeded to the discharge of their duties.

On

was held in the
Normal School to
be located at Bloomsburg." The Rev. Mr. Waller was called to
Mr. Neal
the chair, and Capt. Brockway was chosen Secretary.
the 18th of April, 1868, a public meeting

Recorder's

office to

consider "the S!ibject of a

stated the object of the meeting.

After a very fiee and spirited

were moved and carried
"That the Trustees of the Bloomsburg Literary Institute be
earnestly requested to pjirchase the necessary grounds and proceed
to make an agi^eement to carry forward the enterprise of erecting
discussion, the following resolutions

:

the building required.

That the plans submitted by Prof. Carver be reconmiended

to

the ti'ustees for adoption.

That

it

be reconmiended to

let

the building to Prof.

Carver at

his estimate of $36,000."

and i-ecommendations of the piiblic meeting
Board of Trustees, then in session, the
Board on the same day appointed a building committee, consisting
of L. B. Rupert, P. Billmeyer, and F. C. Eyer, and authorized it
"to contract for the erection of the building with Prof. Carver at
his bid of thirty-six thousand dollars, in accordance with the recominendation of the citizens," and it was accordingly so done, and
Tlie ])roceedings

having been

certiiied to the

the building

was put

in process of construction.

On the 2d of May, 1869, the stockholders elected the following:
For three years, Robert F. Clark, William Elwell, William Neal;
For one year, Elias Mendenhall.
It

being thought best to have the building committee members

of the Board,

were

On
the

Judge Rupert, Judge Elwell, and William Neal,

elected.

the 23d of June, the Board met to consider the subject of
Normal School Building. It was "Resolved, that the following

HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.
specific articles

be put

in the corner-stone

of

159

new

the

buihling,

A

copy of the Bible, a certified copy of the charter,
names of the Board of Trustees as follows L. B. Rupert, President John G. Freeze, Secretary Elias Mendenhall, Treasuier
Robert F. Clark^ Conrad Bittenbender, John Wolf, Joseph P.
Conner, William Elwell, and William Neal
Catalogue of Faculty and Students, State School Board as follows
Maj. Gen.
Geary, Governor of the Conmionwealth
Hon. J. P. Wickersham,
Superintendent of Common Schools
C. R. Coburn, Deputy Superintendent; last message of Gov. Geary
cpy of School laws
history of the Institute and school buildings one copy of The
Columhia7i, The Republican and The Democrat
proprietor of
the grounds, and first treasurer, Wni. Snyder deceased
building
connnittee, Leonard B. Rupert, William Elwel! and William Neal;
architect and builder, Heniy Carver
ad-.dsory architect, Samuel
one specimen of each of the following curre icy
Sloan
1 three
to-wit

:

:

;

;

;

;

:

;

;

;

;

;

;

:

;

;

:

cent j)ostal currency,

currency,

1

1

five cent postal currency,

three cent silver piece, late

issue,

1

1

ten cent postal

five

cent silver

and programme of the anniversary exercises.
The laying of the corner stone of the Bloomsburg State Normal School was performed upon the 2oth day of June, 1868.
At 1:30 p. m., the Hon. C. L. Ward, delivered an oration in the

piece, old issue

;

At its close a procession was formed, headed by the Board of Trustees, and proceeded to the corner where
Arrived there and opening to the
the stone was to be placed.
hall of the Institute.

Wickersham, and other distinRev. Mr. Waller offered
Gov. (4eary then laid the corner stone, after having deprayer.
posited within it, the articles mentioned.
After the stone had
been placed, with a]»i)r()priate ceremonies, the Governor made an
Judge Elwell then, on behalf of the Board of Trustees
address.
made an address. Judge Rupert, read a history of the Institute as
deposited in the corner stone.
Governor Geary then handed the

right and

left.

Gov. Geary, Mr.

guished gentlemen, came forward.

])lans of the

new building to

Prof. Carver, with a short address

;

Prof. Carver accepted them, promising to urge the completion of

the building as ra))idly as possible.

sham met and addressed
tute,

In the evening Mr. Wicker-

a large audience, in the hall of the Insti-

on the subject of education generally, and of Normal Schools,

particularly.

HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.

160

Thus this new and important enterprise was fairly under way,
and a reasonable prospect of sufficient interest in it to insure its
completion. There was still a small element of croakers, clogs on
all progress, who sneered at the whole matter and predicted it
would never succeed.

As

it is

intended that their names shall be

forgotten, they do not appear in this sketch.

What

do they think now, however,

that enterprise,

tlie

the Susquehanna

when they

—the building

see following

within the forks of

erection of the best hotel

upon Second

street of

more than

—of extensive imparts of the town —the erection of
provements and repairs
an Opera House —the introduction of gas and water— the removal
of unsightly obstructions from the streets —the opening, grading
a dozen

three story brick buildings

first-class

in all

and extension of thoroughfares —the large
and desirable citizens.

influx

of

permanent

It is but fair to say that little, if any, of all this would have
They are
happened had not those buildings first been erected.
an advertisement of the town of which it has not yet shown itself
It was the first deterto be, collectively, entirely appreciative.
mined effort at improvement and progress, and it Mas an effort
whose far-reaching good can never be measured. And it brings
money, and reputation, and population to the town, as well as

providing healthful educational influences to

thousands of our

coming men and women.

On

the 19th of February, 1869, the Legislative committee, com-

Hon. Wilmer Worthington, Hon. James C.
Brown, Hon. George 1). Jackson, and Hon. Henry M. Hoyt, met
at Bloomsburg for tlie purpose of inspecting the buildings, grounds
&c., pre{)aratory to reconunending it to recognition us a Normal
School.
The report was unanimously favorable, and the announcement was heard with lively satisfaction.
Si)eeches were
made by Judge Rupert, Hon. Thomas Chalfant, Gen. Ent, and
posed of Messrs.

others.

On

the 22d February, 1809, the

ment, recognizing

it

as a State

proclamation

Normal

School,

of

the Depart-

was published, and

our legal existence dates from that famous d ay,

the birthday of

Washington.

The following

is

the full report of the State Superintendent of

:

HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.
coiiiTnon schools

on

tlie official

recognition

of the

State

101

Normal

School of the sixth district

"A

connuunicution, was

received at this

department,

dated

and signed by L. B. Rupert, President, and
John G. Freeze, Secretary, of the Board of Trustees, of the
Bloonisburg Literary Institute, stating that said board had obtained grounds, erected buildings, and opened a school, which
they desired to have inspected by a committee appointed according
to the provisions of the act of Assembly approved May 20th,
1857, with the design of having the institution recognized as the

February

State

8th, 1869,

Normal School

of the Sixth District.

Accordingly, with the consent of the Governor, the following

Hon. Wilmer
the committee
Worthington, Hon. Jas. C. Brown, Hon. Geo. D. Jackson, and
Hon. Henry jNI. Hoyt; the several County Superintendents in the
counties composing the district were notified, and Friday, the
19th day of February, was agreed upon as the day for the

named gentlemen were appointed

:

examination.
All the

members

api»oiiited,

of

Connnon

of the

and they,

in

committee were present on the day

connection with the State Superintendent

Schools, and the

County Superintendents of the coun-

Columbia, Montour and Union, proceeded, at 9 o'clock A.
They first atM., to discharge the duties of their appointment.
tended the opening exercises of the school in the Chapel of the
ties of

and then spent some time in visiting the several classrooms and listening to recitations in the various branches. After
this, they were conducted by members of the Board of Trustees
and delegations of citizens over the grounds and through the
institution,

buildings.

All the official papers appertaining to the

were duly examined,

its

Full explanations

tions.

ization of the school, the

study,

tfcc,

institution

deeds, charter, by-laws, rules and regula-

were

elicited in reference to the

constitution

of

its

faculty,

its

organplan of

&c.

The connnittee retiring for consultation, then organized by
electing Wilmer Worthington, President, and J. P. Wickersham
Secretary, and, after due deliberation, adopted the following pre-

amble and resolutions, and thereto appended their proper signatures

:

162

HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.

Bloomsburg, Columbia County, Feb. 19, 1869.
Institute," having made
formal api)lication to the Department of Common Schools for the
ap})ointment of a committee to examine its claims to be recognized as the State Normal School of the Sixth District, according to
the provisions of "An Act to provide for the due training of teachers for the Common Schools of the State," approved the 20th day
of May, 1857; and
Whereas, The undersigned, being duly appointed and authorized under said act, and having personally, and at the same time,
on Friday, the 19th day of February, 1869, visited and carefully
inspected said Institute, and made a careful examination thereof
of its by-laws, rules and regulations, and its general arrangements
and facilities for instructing, and having found ihem to be substantially such as the law requires
Resolved. That the "Bloomsburg Literary Institute" is, in our
opinion, entitled to recognition as a State Normal School, with all
the privileges and immunities enjoyed by other institutions of

Whereas, The "Bloomsburg Literary

;

like character in this

Commonwealth.
WiLMER WoRTHiNGTON, Chairman.

George D. Jackson, ^

Committee.
James C. Bromt^,
Henry M. Hoyt,
J. P. WicKERSHAM, Sec'y.
)
C. G. Barkley, County Stipt. Columbia Co,
C. V. Gundy, County Sti^^t. Union County.
Wm. Henry, County Supt. 3fontour County.
announced
to a large audience, which had asreport
was
This
sembled in the Chapel of the institution to hear it, and was receiv>-

ed with the most lively

satisfaction.

Principal of the school, presided

Prof.

Henry Carver,

at this meeting,

and

the

a'l dresses

were delivered by different members of the committee, Judge
Rupert, President of the Board of Trustees, Hon. Thomas ChalIn the evening a "Sociable" was
fant. General Ent, and others.
held at the school, and this was followed by a banquet at one of
the hotels.

The following is the proclamation of the Department recognizing the Bloomsburg Literary Institute as a State Normal School:

Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, "^
V
Department of Common Schools,
Harrisburg, February 22d, 1869.

\

Whereas, In pursuance of the api)lication to this Department
of the Trustees of the Bloomsburg Literary Institute for the appointment of a committee to examine

its

claims to recognition as

HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.

163

the State Normal School of the Sixth District, according to the
provisions of "An Act to provide for the due training of teachers
for the Couiraon Schools of the State," approved the 20th day of
May, 1857, the following gentlemen were appointed, viz: Hon.
Wilmer Worthington, of the County of Chester Hon. James C.
Brown, of the County of Mercer Hon. George D. Jackson, of the
county of Sullivan, and Hon Henry M. Hoyt of the County of
Luzerne and,
;

;

;

Whekkas, The committee

so appointed, in conjunction with the
Schools, C. G. Barkley, Esq.,
County Superintendent of the County of Columbia, C. V. Gundy,
Esq., County Suj^erintendent of Union, and William Henry, Esq.,
County Superintendent of the County of Montour, the County
Superintendents of the other counties in the district Northumbeing
berland, Snyder, Dauphin, Perry, Juniata, and Mifflin
unable to be present, after having, on the 19th day of Februaiy,
1869, visited an<l carefully inspected said Institute, and made a
careful examination thereof of its by-laws, rules and regulations,
and its general a'rangements and facilities for study, reported
unanimously that said Institute is entitled to recognition as a
State Normal School, with all the privileges and inununities
enjoyed by other institutions of like character in this Common-

State Sui)erinten(lent of

Common

—

—

wealtli:
iVo*o, therefore, I, State Superintendent of Common Schools, do
hereby give notice, as required by law, that I have recognized the
said Bloomsburg Literary Institute as the State Normal School
of the Sixth District, composed of the Counties of Columbia,
Union, Montour, Snyder, Northumberland, Dauphin, Perry, Juniata, and Mifflin.
^^^A^.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and
-< L. S. V affixed the seal of
the De})artment of Conmion Schools,
at Harrisburg, the 22d day of Februai y, 1 869.
'

——
r

-'

WICKERSHAM,

J. P.
State Superintendent of

It is not the ;.ur})ose of the writer to

course of events
it

in

Common

Schools.

follow chronologically the

the history of the school.

It is impossible, if

were desirable, to describe the strugirles of the Trustees in con-

of building.
The very
amount of money required, the falling off of subscriliers,
the want of jtrompt payment of those which were good, the talk
of those who were not in sympathy with the movement, were all
discouraging circumstances. The Trustees were therefore obliged
They
to assume personally the cost of carrying on the work.
have had upon themselves at one timr, as a personal obligation

tinuing and carrying forward the work
large

III^TOJiy

164

—more
iintl

OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.

twenty thousand

than

detieieneies

the

to

amount

IJepnirs,

dolhirs.

of

from one

lo

exj)en(litnre8
tliree

tlious-

have been provided for by them, on their
They liave given days and nights to the
pi'rsoiial responsibility.
business of tlie school, tliey have borue for tlie public and general
good, burdens which no num in the town has struggled under in

and

annually,

(h>llars

When State aid came slowly or not at all,
own business.
when subscriptions failed, when the daily pressure of debts was
almost unbearable, when Prof. Carver left us so unceremoniously
without a Principal, the Trustees shouldered the work and accept-

his

Sometimes it seemed doubtful on Friday
ed the responsibility.
evening whether there would be a teacher or a student on the
but Professors Brown and
hill on the coming Monday morning;
Ferree were true as steel to their duty, and with the other

mem-

bers of the faculty kej)t off the daily threatened catastrophe.

This

is

only a nuM-e outline of the daily and nightly

toil

and anxiety,

and no man needs to wish a closer acquaintance with the busiBut the school was without a head, the Sheriff" had sold
ness.
the lease of Prof. Carver for his debts, and all parties were hanging by the eyelids. The Jioard called upon Mr.Wickershamfor advice and assistance, and he met them on the 19th of December
After a long and contidential
1871, at the othce of Col. Freeze.
talk upon the subject, Wickersham suggested Charles G. Barkley,
Superintendent of Cohnnbia County Common Schools, as a proper
person for Principal and on motion of K. F. Clark, Esq. he was
unanimously elected. He accepted the position upon condition that
he should be relieved as soon as the Trustees could supply his
The Board of Trustees met at the Hall the next moriung,
place.
December 20th, accompanied by Mr. Barkley and Mr. Wickersham.
Col. Freeze announced to the Faculty and School the action of
the Board in the election of a Principal, and Mr. Wickersham ad;

dressed theni,

were made

in

warmly endorsing the
management and a

the

selection.

visible

Some changes

in[)rovement oc-

curred.

Mr. Barkley continued
1872,

when

at

his

own

charge of the school until March 27,
and the Rev.
and on Thursday March 28, the Board,

in

request he was relieved,

John Hewitt was elected,
accompanied by Mr. Hewitt, proceeded
Barkley called the

to

the building.

Mr.

school to order, Mr. Freeze announced the

HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.
election of the Priiici])al, and Mr.

took i'onual charge of the School.

end of that school year,

until the

165

Hewitt made an address, and
He continued to conduct it
June :^6, 1873, and the improve-

ment begun under Mr. Barkley continued, closing the year
condition

much ahead

opening

of the

in

every respect.

in a

But,

that the crisis in the affairs of the school was
was a large deficiency, and the Board was again
obliged to sit day after day and night after night as a committee
of ways and means. It would be most mon- tonous to repeat here
what has before been said as to pressing pecuniary difficulties.
Again the Trustees were obliged to step into the breech and
pledge their own names and means to satisfy creditors, and save
I am i)Uisuaded that
the pro])erty and credit of the Institution.
the time and labor have not been fully appreciated by the comBut let
nninity who are reaping the benefit of the expenditure.
Dr. Griswold assumed the duties of Principal at the
.that pass!
Commencement in June, 1873, and it isiiot proposed here and
now to speak of the management and success of the school under

although

all

felt

past, yet there

his administration; but

it is

only justice to state that he

made

it

—

pay expenses a thing it never did before. In May, 1874, at a
meeting of the Stockholders, Hon. Wm. Elwell, Elias Mendenhall,
Conrad Bittenbender, Leonard B. Rupert, Jacob Schuyler, John
A. Funston, William Neal, John Wolf, and John G. Freeze, were
elected Trustees; and on May 3, 1875, the same jiersons were reelected, together with J. J. Brower, Hon. C. B. Brockway, and
Joseph Sharpless, the Legislature having increased the Board to
At the same time the Superintendent of Public Instructwelve.
tion appointed on the part of the State the following

named gen-

Hon. C. R. Buckalew, Charles G. Barkley, D. A.
Beckley, Col. Samuel Knorr, Hon. M. K. Jackson, and C. W. Mil-

tlemen,

ler,

viz:

Esq.

On Wednesday, August
largest

list

one and
year.

all

But

1875, the

25,

of students ever entered

looking forward to an
in a

moment,

as

it

were,

upon

school opened
its

books,

with the

and we were

increasingly successful school
all

our hopes were dashed to

the ground.

On Saturday
was

was
two hours the magnificent building

afternoon, September 4th, the Boarding Hall

observed to be on

tire,

a nuiss of ruins.

and
It

in

was a

total

loss,

the

$30,000 of insur-

HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.

166
aiu'c

IxMiijjj

less

furniture and

t]\:iii liivlf

lixtur(>s.

cient aid of the eitizens

the value of

But

tlii'

tlu'

building,

not including

Hoard of Trustees, with the

of Hloonisburtf,

elU-

gra})pled with the emer-

gency, and took innui'diatt' measures to begin the (>reetion of a
new, eidarged, and inipioved building. Their late exiterienee now
stood tiiem in good stead, and tlu'y [)ushed tlie work with great
energy.

The Corner Stone of the new Nt)rmal lioarding Hall was laid
on Saturday October, 80th, IHTT), and although the day was very
inelement, there was in attendance a large concourse of people.
The ensuing winter was an unusually mild and open one, and
with the exception of a very few days the work of re-erection and
construction went rapidly forward.
So nuich so, that on Wednesday, April 2()th 187(), the building was formally dedicated to use,
and opened for the admission of students, and the beginning of
the spring term.
After some time Dr. Griswold was superseded,
and the Rev. David J. Waller Jr. was elected Principal. His administration of the school has been siiccessful and satisfactory,
and it is to be hoped that a brilliant career is now open to the
Bloomsbnrg State Normal School.

///A'

TO R Y O F COL UMBIA CO UNTY.

CHAPTER

The common

scliool

1

07

XIX.

Hystem had been

cxiHtfnce in

in

the Btate

more or less succeHH, wh(;n in 1H54 an Act creating tlic office of County Superintendent and defining his powers
and duticH j)aHsed the legislature. Although conHideraV>le opposition was manifested, yet upon the whole the eflFect has been favorsince 1835, with

able to the advancem<'titof

employed and

thc^

Better teachers hav(! been

schools.

better discipline has

been

During

maintained.

all

these years howerer, owing doubtless to the continued inefficiency
of the public schools, private schools as distinguished from the com-

mon, have been supported

Up

at differ'-nt places in the county.

to

within a very short time, at Blootnsburg, at Berwick, atCatawissa,
at Miilvillc,

and

have Vjeen schools, and at
which the classics and higher matheSometimes they have flourished with

at Orang(;ville, there

some places there are

yet, in

matics have been taught.

great vigor, and at others have languished

blighting

inefficieticy

schools, both public
It has

of

the

died

out under the
in all the

and private, there has been great improvement.

been manifested not only

in

the character and

of the teachers, and in the grade of

dard proposed, but

or

Nevertheless,

principal.

also,

studies,

and notably,

in the better character of the

school houses, and their appointments.
ty but elsewhere, the

common

acquirements

and the higher stan-

sch(Kjls

Thus, not only

in this

have superseded

coun-

the pri-

vate, and have thus also improved their tone and character.
Year
by year the school department issues very elaborate reports on the
educational system, with statistics and tables, and as these are constantly changing, and are as regularly coming into the hands of

my

readers,

to trouble
is

it

has been thought not to

any one with columns of

V>e

figures,

expedient or necessary

which while the book

passing through the press are heconiing incorrect and mislead-

ing.

niSTOBY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.

108

The early liistory of schools, school houses, and education is
more iiiteiesting than any presentation of the present condition
and future prospects of the subject and 1 therefore gladly avail,
myself of the lepoit of William II. Snyder, late County Superintendent, concerning tlie early schools in Cohunhia county, and
which he has \i ry kindly allowi d me to coj)y. i\lr. Snyder says
'"These schools, with but one excei)tion, weie snj)porttd by subscription, and the houses were generally built in the same manner
up to 1834, when the public schools vv(3re established. The
branches usually taught in them were spelling, reading, writing,
and written arithmetic. A pu[)irs ouifit was a very modest affair;

:

A

Webster's spelling-book,

an

English reader, or a Testament, a

Daboll's arithmetic, a slate, a goose-quill,
per,

covered the entire range of

known

and a few sheets of pamaterial

for

winter after

winter, as long as he might go to school.

After i)ublic schools were established, Malte Brun's geogra{)hy
and Smith's grammar, on tlie inductive system, were soon adiii)ted.

Seeing the numerous algebras, geometries, histories, rhetorics,

philosophies, physiologies,

copy books, drawing-books, language-

books, etc, in the schools at the present day, one can scarcely realize the vast

improvement.

How much

higher and broader the

schools

shall

be elevated,

is

only a question of time.
IJK.WKK.

The

first

school in Beaver, was

by Isaac Davis,

taught in Mr.

Four years

Kostenbauder's

Mr. Davis
opened another, in his private dwelling, which stood where Davis
church now stands.
In speaking of j(?r/ya^6 dwellings, or residence

grist-mill,

we

shall

in 1821.

later,

omit the word "private," hereafter.

In 1825, Henry Schell taught in a dwelling which stood near
wheie the church Jiow stands, by the road leading from Beaver to
Mainville, and Adam Holocher, in a similar building, which was
located on the land now owned by Charlen Michael.

After teaching several terms,

which were usually held during

his school, when another
was opened in a dwelling which was situated on tlie land owned
by Joseph Lehr. The instruction in these schools was principally
in German.

winter, Mr. Schell permanently

closed

TTTSTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.

169

BENTON.

During the year 1799, there were but two families living in the
Here Isaac
vicinity where llie village cf Benton now stands.
Young opened the first school, in a private dwelling. After it
permanently closed, another was opened in a similar building,
which stood where Eli Mendenhall's barn now stands, above the
As the pine forest fell before the sturdy axeman, a small
village.
log school-house was built on West creek, above, and another be
low Benton, where Stephen Jjazarus now lives.
Honorable Alexander Colley, who died Monday, June Gth, 1S81,
age of nearly 95 years, having been born August 17th, 1786,

at the

was

for

many

member

years the only surviving

school board.

He was

a

man

school teacher, and had been a

of the

first

public

of sound judgment, a surveyor, a

number

of the lower

house of the

Legislature.

BERWICK.

A mist

enshrouds the early school history of Berwick.

1800, lierwick h;id

character nothing

its
is

schools, but

Before

under what teachers, and of what

known.

From 1800 to 1837, it was customary to hold school for a few
months in each year. Prominent among the teachers of this period were Mr. Holloway, David E Owen, son of the founder of
the town Doctoi- Duilon, David Jones, Doctor Roe and James
These men taught between the years 1800 and 181S, and
Dilvan.
;

men of education. The prominent teachfrom 1800 to 1837, were Messrs. Comstock, Hoyt, Richards,
Reverend Crosby and Simon Haiks.
were, without exception,

ers

The

innrket-house

and Quaker church were the only school-

buildings during this time.

1837, on

In

the

ot the market-

site

house, the academy was erected.

This was a prominent step for Berwick.
who taught in it were Rev.

guished teachers

Among
J.

George Waller, Joel E. Bradley, and Mr. Runk.

the distin-

H. Ritterdiouse,

The

school flour-

ished for several years, but finally, the building was sold for public

school ])urposes, and has since been torn down.

In 1872. a splendid brick structure

cluding

all

was

necessary equijtments, $15,000.

"tj^

'Wv

C

erected,

which cost

in-

^s

1

HISTOR Y OF COL UMBIA CO UNTY.

70

BLOOM.
Bloorasburg had her early schools, but as to their whereabouts,

whom taught,

known. The first school
was taught about the year 1802,
by George Vance, in a small log-building, which was located
where the Episcopal church now stands. Finally, this house was
torn down, and a frame one erected in its place, in which William
Love taught for some time. The hii^hest branches taught in this
school, were reading, writing, and arithmetic.
The advanced reading class read in the Bible, and the second class in the New Testaand by

of which there

any

is

nothing

is

definitely

recollection,

ment.

The ncYt

school was established in the lower end of town, in a

building which was located near where Joseph E. Barkley's cabinet-

now stands Robert Fields was its first teacher. Messrs.
Love and Fields were succeeded by William Fergeson, Murray
Manville, and Joseph Warden.
About the year 1830, Hiram W. Thornton opened one in a chair
or wagon-shop, which was located where Mr. William Neal's resishop

;

dence now stands.

The

academy, which was erected on the

old

site of

Dr. Evans'

present residence, and opened for school purposes in the spring of
1839, was a

monument

anterior

the introduction of the

to

of zeal in the cause of education, at a time

standard of instruction was elevated,

ment

of the

first

teacher,

to

public school system.
if

The

judged by the advertise-

give instruction in the

Hebrew

lan-

guage, which was not extensively pursued at that early day in

Bloomsburg.
But the teacher's literary reputation dwindled
when, on perusing a copy of Shakspeare, he inquired whether
this was the celebrated author of that name, and what were his
principal works and evinced his astonishment in the question,
;

"

'What

f " This building contained four schoolrooms, and Avas occuj)ied for public school purposes until 1875.
!

these dialogues

Between 1850 and 1860, Professor Joel E. Bradley taught a
high school in the room now occupied by the Democratic Sentinel
and Mrs. Anna K. Drake a primary one in the adjoining room.

About the same time Miss Mattie Wells, was also teaching a select
school in a small building which was located where William Gilmore's establishment now stands and Miss Susan Painter another
in the back part of her father's justice office, on Market street.
;

Hli^TORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.

IIX

[The interesting sketch by Mr. Snyder, was only intended to
few facts relating to early schools. The
improvements since made were not in the task imposed upon him.
rescue from oV)livion a

Nor

intended to give

is it

publications every

official

shall therefore only

mark

of the schools, with wliich

full statistics

year fully acquaint our people, and

work, different schools are spoken

of,

I

In other portions of this

special cases.

and need not be here repeat,

ed.

In 1870, the school
eastern

jtart

erected

directors

of the t«jwn, a large

on Fifth

street, in the

two-story brick building with

two wings, containing four main rooms and

five recitation or class

rooms, one of the class rooms being intended and mainly used for
is about 50 feet by 70, and
The building will accommodate
from 800 to 1000 children. It is heated by steam, with the latest
and most ap])roved school furniture, including maps and apparatus of all kinds.
The whole expenditure was not less than fifteen

The

a library.

building

princi])al

the wings about 18 by 20

thousand

feet.

dollars.

In 1873 a second building was erected, on the
at the

west end of the town, on Third

brow

of the

hill,

It is a trifie larger

street.

than the Fifth street school, but in all material respects, upon the
same plan, and heated and furnished in the same complete manner.

The two

buildings were so arranged as to accommodate

children in the town, and no other

These, with the

exists.

common

Normal School

all

school building

the

now

place Bloomsburg in the

front rank in point of educational advantages.]

BRIAU CREEK.
In

the year

1800, the

first

school

was opened

in the stone

standing near Samuel Kelchner's residence. Ten
years later a school house was built at Foundryville, when the
former school closed and all the pupils in the vicinity attended
church,

still

The next house was erected below BerThe third
land now
on
the
stood
school was taught in a dwelling which
owned by William Stout The names of the teachers who taught
the Foundryville school.
wick, on the land

now owned by Daniel Romback.

these schools were Cordelia A. Preston, Daniel Goodwin, Morris

Hower, and John Arney.

OATAWISSA.

The

lirst

st'liool in this U)\vnshi|)

whirh was

jvor's (Iwt'HinL:',
pl.'U'o,

now owiumI

ostablisliod in
is

Conrad (Ji'iMrlntyro

calU'd (he

Towksbni-y. and

M.

K.

'oy

was

on what

h>i'aletl

tan^lit

l>y

Martin

Stiu'k.

year 18l)-l, Mrs. Mjivy Paxton oiumumI a school in hor
which was UH'atod noar the Friends' nieetiny,' house, at
C\itawissa, and in atUlition to thi' usual branches, taught sewingand knitting. Those who eould not remain at school were pcrAl'li-r this school was kept in
niittetl to retire alter riH'itatitMi.

Abont

tlio

rosidonoi',

successful

operation

for

time,

son\(.'

small

a

franu'

house

was built near where Frederick Ffahler's lesidencc now stands, in
which Elijah Harger, of Chester county, taught, followed by Ellis
Hughes.
Finally, Joseph Paxton, (son o\' the former teacher,)
built an addition to the house for his daugliter liuth Ann. In 1815,
Mr. Kent, of New Vork, (whose son is a popular dry-goods mer.1

chant in Philadelj)hia,) ojtened a liigh school in the resident'

occupied by Mrs. Kelh'r.
of

New
The

w as succeeded

IK'

by a ^Ir

now

l^ly, .also

York.
in
ISIS, by Thomas Barger, uj)
which stood on the land now owneil by
liarger was succeeded by ,1ohn Stokes, .li^sej)!!

next school was

opened

stairs in a spring-house,

•lohn Keifer.
(JittUn>4. :ind

ed by

pu[»ils of

Ezra
school

3[r.

Thomas

S.

Main

Ellis.

llayhurst, to

lab(,)rs,

The

seluH>l

w as principally support-

townshi}).

whom

l^itawissa

not only assisted

taught successfully for some

in

is

nuu-h indebted for his

establishing

schools, but also

Next catue Joel
and opened a scliool

time.

E. Hradley,

from the "land of steady habits,"
in the academy, which was founded in IS.'^S. He continued until lS4l.\ when
Jeiemiah J. lirower took his place in the same building until 1S48.
[Since the preparation of this sketcli by Mr. Snytler, there has
been erected in Catawissa, a Public school building, second to
none in the county. It occupies a beautiful location upon rising
ground, on tlie one side overlooking the river, and on the otlier
the valley of Catawissa creek.
It is fully up to all the modern
improvements, in heating, lighting and apparatus.
In size it is a
little greater than the Bloomsburg Third Street School House;
and is intended to sujH'rsede all the public school buildings in
Catawissa, and by concentration of lieat :uid teaching force and

JILSTORY OF (COLUMBIA COUNTY.
oversight, give

pupils increased advantages.

all

It

is

173

claimed that

some respects the Catawissa house is an improvement upon any
thing else, and such may be the fact.]
in

(JKNTKALIA.

was taken from Conyngham township in 1867.
its present limits was erected i)i
18.')8, in which school was continued
until 1868, when it was engulfed by the breaking down of tlie mines.
In the following year, a frame building, with two rooms in it,
was erected to till its place. Here Mr. Bowers was emi)loyed to
teach a term of eight months, at a salary of iifty dollars per
month. The number of pu})ils increased so rapidly, that it was
Tliis l)or()ugh

The

Hrst school-building within

necessary, in 1S72. to erect another

This

l)iiilding.

is

a first-class

building, well furnished and properly ventilated.

There are now (1877) four good schools
able supervision of

W.

Mr.

J.

in the

l>iirke, lule

borough,

priiicijial

uiidei-

the

of the Ash-

land high school.

CENTRE.

The earliest schools in this township were tauglit in dwellings,
which were located as follows: One neai' the ferry, taught by
Solomon Friedeci another near Lime Kidge, where Joseph Geiger now lives, and the third on the land now owned by Hiram
Schwe)j]»eidieiser, which was taught by John Dietterich.
The first house for school purposes was located at Centreville
in 1810.
Being destroyed by fire after a few years' service, another was erected at the lower end of the village, where the pub;

lic

school-buildings

now

stan<l.

Solomon Xeyhard, who died 10 January, 1879, aged about
80 years, was the only surviving member of the first public
school board.

Husbandry in this townshij) erected a
room on the first floor with improved
and employed Professor Lockard to take charge

In 187.>, the Patrons of

beautiful hall, furnished the

school furniture,

of the school, which

in

is still

a prosperous condition.

CONVNflHAM.

18.j(').

township was formed from the southern part of Locust in
It ami the borough of Centralia had no schools before the

jiublic

school

Tills

law was

in

force.

Its

school history only dates

JIISTOEY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.

174

back to 1857, when, through
school buiUling was erected
product of this region, which

Gerniantown.

was developed

large population. Consocpiently,
buihlings, which were

all

of Mr. A.

exertion

tlie

at

we

su[)plied

The

a

mineral

in 1860, attracted a

tind, in 1865,

with

W. Rea,

ricli

four

new

school

school apparatus, and in

character far sujterior to the earlier.

FISHING CREEK.

The

first

school

in

township was taught by Christopher
which stood where John Zaner's resi-

this

Pealer, in a weave-shop,

dence

now

stands.

About the year 1794, Henry

came from Philadelpliia to
which belonged to his father.
Being a young man of more than ordinary ability, he was persuaded to open a school there in a dwelling house.
The first school house was built at Pealertown, in which Jonalleiss

Stillwater, to oversee a tract of lau'l,

Colley taught.

tlian

The next was erected near where Zion church now stands. The
Pealer town school finally closed, and the i)upils attended this
school.

FRANKMN.
After the school closed at Mclntyre, in Catawissa township, a

was built, just above the foundry, on tlie land now owned
by Williaiu Stocker, to accomiuodate the settlers at the mouth
of Catawissa creek.
Mr. Stuck, wlio liad taught at Mclntyre, was
succeeded in this school by Daniel Krist and Daniel Kigles. Sevliouse

eral

married men availed themselves of the opportunity to receive

school.
Near where Joseph T. Reeder now
Joseph Ilorlocher opened a school, which was called "Clayton's school," the same name the one goes by in this district now.
The one established below Esther furnace was taught by Samuel

instruction at this
lives,

Bitler

and James Stokes.

Anterior to public schools there
river,

was

also one

about where the public school ))uilding

now

kept at the

stands.

GREENWOOD.

About the year
ville.

now

1785, a school

was kept

in

a dwelling, at Mill-

In 1800 a house was built near where Richard Ileacock
lives,

and occupied

until 1836.

In 1805, another was built on the laud

now owned by Jacob

,

HLSTOR Y OF COL UMBTA CO UNTY.
Gerard.

'^I'his

Iiouhc not

1

75

being suitably located, was abandoned

and a more convenient one erected,
few
where Catharine McCarty now lives, west of Kohrsburg. In
1838, when public schools were adopted, there were six houses

after a

years'

service,

erected.

Prominent among the early teachers were Jesse Haines, Jacob
Wintersteen, John Shively, Mr. Thompson, Mr. Ferguson, Benjamin Kester, Jonathan Colley, Robert Lockard, and liis daughters,

Jane and Nancy Lockard.

HEMLOCK.

About the year

1801, Mr. Donaldson established the

first

school

dwelling which was located on the land now owned Ijy
Eight years later, Thomas Vanderslice opened one
Isaac Pursel.

in a

same kind of building, which was erected on the land now
owned by M. S. Appelman and John Boonemother, at tlie forks
Henry Ohl
of Hemlock and Fishing creek, near James Barton's.
succeeded Mr. Vanderslice as teacher. The next was opened in
in the

by Jacob Wintersteen, in a building which was located on
now owned by Dennis Pursel. The house located at
the forks of the road, where the brick school-house now stands, is
given in Montour township sketches. The Doll school, which
was kept near where ex-Sheriff Smith now resides, in IHKJ, was
principally composed of pupils from Madison townshi]), now West
Hemlock, in Montour county.
1810,

the estate

JACKSON.

John Denmark taught the first school in the township, in 1820which was located near where the Union church
now stands. In 1822, a school-house was built close by, in which
John Keeler taught four, and William Yocum three terms. The
house was then torn down. In 182.5 a house was built at the
lower Jackson church, and Mr. Yocum, who had taught in the
former building, opened the first school. He was succeeded by Cornelius McEwen, Miss Helen Calvin, Joseph Orwig, and Peter
In 1832, a house was re-locuted at the Union church,
Girton.
and those who taught in it before puVjlic schools were established
were William Riche, John Fullmer, and Isaac K. Krickbaum
21, in a dwelling,

lately associate judge.

176

HI8T0EY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.
LOCUST.

The

first

school in

this

townsliip cannot be accurately 2,iven,

as there were several scliools in session about the

same

time.

Joseph Stokes taught one in his residence, which was located
on the land now owned by D. Mears. Joseph Hughes taught
another at Kerntown Alexander Mears one at Slabtown and
James Miller one near where the old Quaker church now stands.
There was also one at Esther furnace, but by whom taught is unknown.
When the vote was taken on tlie public school question there
was considerable excitement in the township. Had it not been
for Mr. John Kline, who induced his tenant not to vote, (but voted himself,) the election would have been a tie consequently,
there was one majority in favor of establishing public schools.
;

;

;

MADISON.

The first school in the township was taught, in 1799, by a Mr.
Wilson, in a dwelling Avhich was located at Jerseytown.
In 1810, Thomas Lane opened one in a similar building, which
stood on the land now owned by Leonard Kisner.

The

third and fourth were also in dwellings, one of which

erected near where the

Reformed church now

stands, close

was
by the

road leading from Jerseytown to Bnckhorn, and the other in the
eastern part of the township, near Millville.

Jacob Demott

is

the only surviving

member

of the

first

public

school board.

MAIN.

This townsliij) formerly belonged to CataMassa.
school

was established

obliged to

attend the

witliin its

school

present limits

the

Before any
pupils were

which was held up stairs in the
which was consid-

s[)ring-house spoken of in Catawissa township,

ered a very important school.

About the year 1820 a school was established in a dwelling
which was located near where the old fulling-mill stands, above
Mainville, and was taught by Jacob Gensel.
In 1824, John Walts opened another in the same kind of building, which stood near Avhere Fisher's church now stands.
When
this church was completed, the old church which stood close by

:

HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.
was

fitted

and occupied for school purposes

uj)

177

until

public

schools were established.

Daniel Krist was a prominent teacher of this school.
MIFFLIN,

In the year 1794, David Jones opened the

first

school in this

among the scrub pine and oak
land now owned by Christian Wolf.

township, in a hut which stood

below Mifflinville, on the
There being no primary books

market, the teacher printed

in

the alphabet on shingles for the abecedarians.

This hut was occupied but a short time, then abandoned, and a
in a building located where the Lutheran

school was opened

church now stands

at Miftlinville.

Another school-house was

finally built

the

in

eastern part of

the township.

MONTOUR.

The following

a synopsis of John G. Quick's report, secre-

Montour

tary of

The

is

my

was established in the year
Judge Rupert.
She opened this school in a shanty, which had been built and occupied by contractors, while making the North Branch canal, and
building the aqueduct across the mouth of Fishing creek. In
this shanty Miss Rupert commenced instructing the children in
first

school, to

recollection,

1831, by ^liss Harriet Rupert, daughter of the late

Rupert, charging one dollar for each pupil per
After teaching here a short time, she had a room comfortably fitted up, in a log house near her father's dwelling, in which

the

vicinity of

term.

she taught successfully for some time.

She, being

a

Christian

lady and model teacher, always opened school with reading the
Scriptures and prayer.
After this school closed, we Avere obliged
to travel fully

two miles

to a school, M^hich

was taught by James

L. Nevius, in an old log-building, located at the forks of the road
leailing

from Bloomsburg to Buckhorn.

belonged to Hemlock township.

The

At

this

time Montour

law, in those days, provid-

ing for the schooling of indigent children at the expense of the
county, was scarcely realized.
Parents would rather have their
children

grow up

cated under this

Then came

in total ignorance,

than permit them to be edu-

act.

the passage of the

common

school law, which crea-

HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.

178
Xx'i\

:i

gTo;it sons.'ition.

The

ple for X\\o schooling of

idea of

iissossintij

children,

all

was

a tax U]>on the

jieo-

thought with

serious

a

some, and, consequently, a division of Hemlock township was
brought about, by a caucus being held by some of the citizens in
the southern

])art

who

of the township,

thought, by dividing the

township, they could get rid of the school law.

paring the past with the jtreseut
say, that I

have been a director for

of the rising generation.

and have

six years,

1838,

com-

just entered

after the future blessings

loathe to say, there

Yet, I

are o[)posed to public schools, and

director for faithfully and

in

said, in

but, in conclusion, I sluxll only

;

upon the duties for three nu)re, to look

who

Thus,

Much might be

Montour was taken from Hemlock.

are

some

ever ready to criticise a

conscientiously discharging the du-

ties of his office.

Why

make our school-houses and grounds
our homes ?

not

pleasant and at-

tractive, as well as

One

of the greatest privileges

I

enjoy

to

is

visit

our

scliools,

and compare their contrast with those of forty years ago.
JIT.

The

first

riJiASANT.

school in Mt. Pleasant

He employed

an instructor, at his

was founded by Peter Oman.
own expense, to come to his

dwelling to instruct his and his neighbors' children.
three houses were built, one upon the laud

Finally

now owned by Joseph

upon the land now owned by Aaron Kester, and annow owned by Andrew Crouse. These
houses were of the same description as early school-houses generally, built of logs, filled between with sticks, daubed over with
imui mixed with cut straw, and furnished with slab seats. Careful provisions were made for a large fire hearth, and spacious
Gilbert, one

other upon the land

door, so that

amusement

logs

could be rolled in for

fuel.

This afforded

for the boys at recess.

OKANGE.

The first school in this township was taught in a building which
was located on the north eastern part of Honorable H. R. Kline's
farm, by Daniel Rake, Philij) Doder, and Jonathan Colley, father of
Alexander Colley, of Benton. In 1820, George Vance, Avho taught
at Bloomsburg, opened a school in a small log-building, which
stood on the land now owned by William Delong, below Orange-

HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.

179

Mr. Vance was succeeded by Clemuel G. Ricketts, William
The house was then torn down, and a more

ville.

Kantz, and John Kline.

suhstantial one erected at Orangeville, on

the

very spot where

Mr. Kline's residence now stands. This house was accepted

ward

for ])ublic school purposes.

Among

after-

the earliest teachers

were Abraham Kline, Ira Daniels, and Charles Fortner.
In regard to adopting public schools, the same feeling arose
here as elsewhere in the county. The most enlightened, by whom
nearly all the taxes were paid, advocated their adoption.
PINK.

This township was not as early and rapidly settled as some of
In 1830, there was but one school
which was taught by John Masters, in a house located at
In 1836, when public schools were accepted, education
Sereno.
took a new impetus, and at present the schools in this, as well as
the schools in other sparsely settled townships, compare favorably with those in towns and villages.
the townships in the county.
in

it,

ROARING CREEK.

The

first

school within the present limits of this townshij), was

by Joseph Stokes, in a small dwelling which beMahlon Hil)bs, and stood on the land now owned by

taught

in 1816,

longed

to

William Rhoads.
This school continued only one term. The following year
C'herington, a surveyor and experienced teacher, opened a

Thomas

school in his son's dwelling, which stood on the land now owned
by Samuel Hauck. After teaching several terms, making his
entire work in the field as a teacher, forty winters, he abandoned

the profession, and assigned the school to

taught

successively

it

n)»

his

son

Samuel,

who

to the introduction of pul)lic schools.

In 1821, C'harles Breech re-opened another school in the same

which xMahlon Hibbs liad taught, and about the same
time, David Chase also opened one in an old log-dwelling, near
The first
where the Methodist Episcopal church now stands.
house for school purposes was built on the site where "No. 2"

house

in

school house

the

first

now

stands, fourteen years after the organization of

school.

SCOTT.

The

first

school-house.^ were built in Scott, about the year 1805.

HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COXTNTY.

180

One at Espy, on lot No. 56, and the other below Light street, on
This lot belonged to the tract
lot now owned by J- W. Sankey.
of land pnrchased from Tlionias Penn and John Penn, Esqnires,
])roprietaries

and governors-in-chief of the Province of

Penn-

sylvania, in 1773.

The

school at

Espy was established by Messrs. Webb, Kenne-

dy, and Waters.

In 1814, the third school was opened in a building which was
located on lot

now owned by

Amnierman,

B.

at

the

n}>per

end

of Light street.
of the teachers who had charge of these schools
George Vance, Joseph Solomon, William Love, and John
Kennedy.

The names

wei*e

SUGARLOAF.

The

pioneers, following

waters.

uj)

Among them was

Fishingcreek, settled along

a scholarly gentleman, by the

He

Philip Fritz, from Philadel()hia.

taught the

tirst

its

head-

name

of

school of the

township, in a log hut, which stood where Saint Gabriel's church
now stands. This hut was occupied for school purposes for some

in

it

was erected on the land now owned
Joseph Massey, a professional teacher, taught

Finally, a school-house

time.

by Andrew Hess.

many

terms.

N.VMKS OK COrXTY SITEKINTKN DENTS, AVIIEN,

Joel E. Bradley, elected June

5,

AND HOAV SELECTED.

1854.

Reuben W. AVeaver, appointed January

1,

1855.

William Burgess, elected May 4, 1857.
Lewis Apj)leman, elected May 7, 1860.
William Burgess, ai)pointed October 23, 1861.
John B. Patton, appointed Marcli 31. 1863.

May 4,
May
re-elected May

C. G. Barkley, elected

1863.

C. G. Barkley, re-elected

1,

1866.

C. G. Barkley,

4,

1869.

William H. Snyder, elected M.ay 7, 1872.
William H. Snyder, re-elected May 4, 1875.
William H. Snyder, re-elected May 7, 1878.
J. S.

Grimes, elected

May

3,

1881.

HI.STORY

OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.

181

CHAPTER XX.

The "Columbia County Agricultural Society" was incor])orated
by the Court on the 15th day of December, 1868 Deed Book "V",
Page 97. It has been in existence as an Association however,
:

since about 185.5, the last having been the 27th

Aimuul

Fair.

The charter provided and set out that Benjamin F. Ilartman,
James Masters, William II. Shoemaker, Caleb liarton, IMathias
Hartman, Joseph P. Conner, Thomas Creveling, Jacob Harris,
Johnson H. Ikeler, Andrew J. Sloan, Charles G. Barkley, Palemon
John, Joshua Fetterman

and Elijah

Ikeler

I{..

had associated

themselves together, "for the promotion of science, to foster and
improve agriculture, horticulture, mechanics and the domestic and

household

arts.''

It

can well be said of

has been a success from the beginning.

it,

that as a

Society

In the amount,

it

variety

and quality of displays, the County Fair has been second to none
in the State, considering its area, and in nmltiiudinous attendance
it

stands unrivalled.

Doubtless

if

the scientific

}»art

of the

agriculture and horticulture received

more

charter,

as applied

attention,

to

and the kind

and quality of our soils were investigated so that the best methods of culture and manuring should be taught in an annual scientific lecture or report to go out with the official proceedings, much
more might be, than has yet been accomjdished. On this department some money might be judiciously and advantageously expended. This part of their charter promises they have not performed. Ill the more than a quarter of a century in which the
Society has been in existence,

much

effective

work

in the direc-

ought to have been done. The
county ought to have been divided into sev^tions, and subjecte 1 to
Scientific examination as to soils, and other characteristics for the
tion

of scientific

agriculture

HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.

182

It is to be hoped that now this duty to
.'uid
its
material
interests will be taken in hand.
county
If
ihe
farming is a science, why should it not be scientifically done?
And if it should, whose duty is it to see that it be done, if not
that of the Society, which, by its charter has assumed that duty?

hig^iest prodnotiveiiess.

has long been seen, and the fact has heen the subject of wellgrounded comj)laint, that more attention is paid to the S};ecd of
horses, and lo the accommodation of sharpers and showmen than to
For the
the more legitimate business of tlic annual e\'hiV)iti()n.
connnou duty of life, the })air of hoi'ses that will walk the most
miles in a day, is worth more than the pair that will trot or run
The liorse
the most miles \n a minute or an hour or a day.
trained to walk rapidly, is tlie horse that makes time, of which
fact, the fabled race between the hare and the tortoise is an illusIt

t

ration.

The

soils in

limestone, red

loam.

Columbia county are very various. We Inive clay,
shale, white and black slate, and river bottom

All these are differently constituted, fitted to produce dif-

and root cro|)S, needing for their improvement ditfeient kinds of mamire, and a <lifferent rotation of cro|)S
and yet, in all these years, the Agricultural Society of Columbia
county has not informed the farmers, for whose advantage it was
supposed to be incorporated, of the nature and character of the
soils of the different parts of the county and of the methods and
manures, and crops, which scientific ex[)eriment and examination
have ascertained to be the most profitable.
ferent kinds of grain

;

If the Annual Fair is a mere holiday and pastime, if it is a mere
method for getting together a large number of people, then it is
an abundant success; but if it is intended year by year to show
scientific and practical iinjirovement in farming and raising and
fattening stock; to ascertain Avhat soils are adajjted to what crops,
and what roots and foods are the most nutritious, then it h-is been
a failure.
The very large attendance at the annuixl exhibitions

slvows the interest the people

and

take in

the doings of the Society,

ought to stimulate the managers to the raising of the Agricultural and Horticultural {losition of Columbia county to the very
it

front rank.

The "Columbia County

Horticultural Society" was incor})or;ited

ITISTORY OF (COLUMBIA COUNTY.
by an Act of Assembly, passed April

8,

1872, P. L. 82G.

183
Its pro-

ceedings have not attracted the attention of the public, and indeed
if

the

first

above named Society were fully alive to

its

there would be no occasion for the existence of this latter.
is,

however, a

little

wholesome comi)etition might be

vantage of both of the'Societies.

to

duties,

As

it

the ad-

:

MISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.

184

CHAPTER
IPOOI^

XXT.

HOTJSES.

BLOOHr I'OOR DISTRICT.

BESIDES

the statutory provisions for the care, support and
maintenance of the poor, the county of Cohimbia has had

furnished for three several portions

farms for

tlie

of

its

more comfortable existence of

houses and
needing public

territory,
tliose

care.
It

was

first

county into a

and attempted to organize the whole
and a bill was passed for that purpose,
the 17lh section of which it was provided

|)roposed

j)oor district,

in 18G6, P. L. o67, in

"For the purpose of ascertaining the sense of the citizens of
Columbia county, as to the ex})ediency of erecting a poor house,"
an election was ordered to be held on the Urst Tuesday in June
of that year
and "if a majority of the votes in any township or
borough shall be against a poor house, then the foregoing act to
))e null and void as to the townships or boroughs voting against
that

;

such poor house."

The

election

was accordingly held with the

following result

FOR

TO^VNSUIPS

Benton
Beaver

Bloom

137

1

73
4

227

Berwick

_

Briarcreek

AGAINST

3

1

80

4

128
109
45
64

Catawissa

7

Centralia

5

Conyngham

4

Centre

8

131

Fishingcreek

6

119

Franklin

'

53

HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.
TOWNSHIPS.

185

KOR.

AGAINST.

Greenwood

107

72

ITeiulo(;k

102

15

2

66

Jackson
Locust

223

Montour
Madison

2

52

23

116

Ml. Pleasant

13

92

6

126

Mifflin

Main,

21

58

5

100

Orange
Pine
Roaringcreek
Sugarloaf

56

Scott

No

it

was

also

53
69

were

liad

under that act; but

the

erection of a poor liouse

the township of Bloom, in

which

8
'I-I

authorize

further proceedings

P. L. 320, "an act to

in

9

53

the

in 1869,

county of Columbia "was

])rovided, that

"at

taxable inhabitants of any township

the request

in the

of

by

i)assed,

any ten

county of Columbia,"

an election should be ordered to decide whether said township

Under

should become a part of said jioor

district.

the townships of Scott, Sugarloaf

and Greenwood elected to be-

that provision

come members of the corj)oration in 1870.
The poor house farm comprises about 100 acres, and is located
on the Fisliingcreek, in Mount Pleasant township. The buildings
are of a commodious and substantial character, and the management lias been entirely satisfactory.
CONYNfJIIAM AND CENTRALIA.
In the year 1869, P. L. 1228, the legislature passed
erect a poor house for

"An

act to

Conynghara township and the boi'ough of

Columbia county."

In ])ursuance thereof they purLocust township, comprising about 75
acres, and established the poor of the township and borough

Centralia, in

chased a tract of land
thereon.

By

the

18t]i

in

section of

the act, "all the proj)erty, real

and personal, of said corporation, be and hereby is exem])t from
It was doubtless an act of wisdom as
all taxation, except state."
well as economy, to make the location outside of the distx-ict to

HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY

lS(i

lie

aocommodatod. and tlieveby put the managonu'iit as imich
the immediate inthieiiees of the ueigliborhood

jiossiblc, bt'voiul

be

as
to

beiu'lited.

MAMisoN rooi: hovsk.

Madison township yoov house was authorized by "An Aet of
1*. L. ll)!>and uiuh'r it the eorporalion pur-

Assendily of IS72,

;

chased a traet of huul in the lownslii[), eoniiJiising about 100
aeres, and liave sinee then assembled tl)e [toor in nuuh more eomfortabh' quarters

In

tliaii thosi' in

wliieh thi'v

rare, that a small
lia[»})y

expenditure will make

and contented.

The

assistanei'

without

lislnnent

health

is

outside

lielj),

and

secured to the inmates.

man hard-worked

in

his

all

tliat

usually give to a kiiul hearted steward, w

of a

iisiiallv tind

pui'ely agrieidtiu'al ecunniunity, eompK'ti'

a

ill

thus

thi'mselves.

destitution

who

is

so

nei'd assistauee

the uidortunates can

run the wlu)le esiab-

mental and physical

Thus provided

youth, m.iy be and

for, tlie

old age

shotdd be free

from repining on the one hand, and from public contplaint on the
other.

Where such

supjiort

redound to the credit

institutions
anil

are needed their erection and
honor of the community.

HISTORY OF C0LU3IBIA COUNTY.

CHAPTER XXIT.

10^ by 17 inches, pub-

TWV. Br.ooMSHUur, Rkgister, a newspaper

by James Delevni', was beariin about the first of October,
a|)pears by the oldest co[»y I have seen, being in thepopses-

lisliocl

1826, as
sioi:

Leonard B. Kin)ert and bearing date May 10. 1827, and
No. 32. So far as my researches have extended, I
unable to find any older, and conclude th^' Sloomshurg Regisof Hon.

being Vol.

am

ter to

1.

be the

first

paper published

in this

town.

Thomas Painter purchased the pajier from the
owners and changed the name to the Columbia County Register
In April, 1828,

as appears

by a

coi)y of

so that he also began a

charge of the paper.

am

it.

No. 47, Vol.

2,

dated February

9,

1830;

new vohune and mimber when he took

He

continued the publication until

1

844, in

was discontinued. The Register was
devoted to the party opposed to the democracy, and was vigorously edited by Mr. Painter, who was a man of more than average
ability and force of character.
He was born in the town of NorApril, when, I

told, it

thumberland, l^ennsylvaiiia, Jur:e
Sheriff of his nativi- county,

Assembly, for several terms

was

at Lancaster,

Harrisburg.

He

;

w*.

fiist

served one term as

member

a

while the

and afterwards when
died in

He

178.1

8,

and

of

ca|)itol

the
of

General

the

State

had been removed to
Muncy, Pennsylvania, on the 12th day
it

of February, A. D. 1863, in the 78th year of his age.

The Columbia Democrat was
issued April 29, 1837, by

John

he was joined by Fianklin

S.

permanence, and

who continued

it

in

it

io

He

and

in

first

number

Then, or shortly

after,

Th^y conducted the paper
Capt. Her ry Webb.
He gave

1847, in March, s»ld

until 1866,

to Elijah K. Ikelcr.

established, and the

Ingrmi.

Mills.

for one year, and in 1838, sold
it

S.

it

to Col.

Levi L. Tate,

February, of that year sold

consolidated

it

with the

it

Star of The

IIISTOJIY

188

OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.

and called the coiubiiiation the Democrat

JSForth,

ct Star, and
Bloomshurg Democrat.
until Jatniaiy, 1869, when it
Brockway, and merged into The

name to
was continued under that name

subsequently changed the
It

the

was bought by Capt. Charles Ji.
Columhian.
The paper was, undt-r all its name^ and varying
sistently democratic

Of

fluential.

New

Mills to

its editor-*,

Jersey, Tate to VVilliamsport.

Henry Webb was born

Capt.

fortunes, con-

and was always deservedly inIngram went from here to Pottsville,

in its politics,

necticut, July 23, 1796,

in

and died

Windham
iti

in the

state of

Con-

Bloomshurg, September

22,

^848.
established by Reuben W. WeaGilmore retired
February
Gilmore,
Benjamin
S.
1, 1849.
ver and
August 1, 1850, and the paper was continued by Mr. Weaver until

The Star ot Thk Nouth was

December 2, 1857.
was subsequently sold by

his death,
It

AVilliamson H. Jacoby, in

October

16, 1862,

suspended

when he went

administrator and bought
1858.

He

into the army,

published

it

by

until

and the paper was

August, 1863, when he returned and resumed the
It was cai'ried on under the old name nntil February,

until

publication.

1866,

his

January,

when

it

was consolidated with the

Columbia Democrat,

then owned by Elijah R. Ikeler, as the Democrat and Star.
At the end of about seven months, Mr. Ikeler sold his interest
in the establishment to Josiah P.

ran the paper

nntil

Jacoby continued the paper
January, 1869, when he sold

merged

it

into

Shuman, and Jacoby

&

Shuraan

Shuman retired, and
the Bloomshurg Democrat, until
to Capt. Charles B. Brockway who

January, 1867, when Mr.
as
it

The Columbian.

The paper was always democratic

in its political faith.

County REruuLiCAN Avas established March 1st
-1857, by Dr. Palemon John. In 1869 he sold the })aper to a stock
company, and Dr. William H. Bradley was employed as editor.
Dr. Bradley and Lewis Gordon subsequently purchased the paper,
and in 1871, sold it to Daniel A. Beckley and John S. Phillips,
who became the publisher, the editorial department being managIn 1873, E. M. Wardin bought the interest
ed by Mr. Beckley.
of John S. Phillips and not long after, that of Daniel A. Beckley,

The

Coi.ujriUA

J1I8T0RY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.
and became
C.

Brown

tinued
editor.

it

tlie 1st

of

August 1875, James

purcluise"! th»'

paper IVom E. M. Wardin, and has con-

to the i)resent

time witli Daniel A.

As

its

name

Republican party

THE

Tmk

On

tlie sole propi-ietoi-.

189

imports,

it

I-5ecl:ley as

has been and

is

associate

the organ of the

in the county.

COI.r.AiniAN

Coi.L-.MiUAN

HIII.DINC,

KKKCTEn 1881.

was established May

the Johnson Republicans,

SG6, as the organ of
5th,
under the managtnient of George H.
1

OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.

UltiTOllY

I'JO

The good will, subMoore, who published tliirty five numbers.
list and material was then i)urchased by a number of
Democrats of the county, and placed under the charge of John G.
Freeze, January 4th, 1867, as a Democratic newspai)er, beginning

scription

Vol.

1.

No.

He continued

1.

Capt. Charles B.

until P'ebruary

Brockway became

when

15th, 1867,

associated

with him,

and

eventually bought up the stock and took entire charge and ownershij)

of the paper.

to be printed

It

was enlarged July

on a steam power

press.

12th,

On

1867,

tho

first

and began
of January,

Bloomshurg Democrat., from Mr.
The Golumhian became the sole Democratic paj>er in
On the 1st of January 1871, Henry L. Dieffenbach
the county.
bought the paper and published it one year, when Capt. BrockIn July 1873, Mr. Dieffenbach again
way resumed the control.
took the paj)er and continued until October 1st 187o, when Charles
B. Brockway and George E. Elwell ])urchased it. They continued
it to October 1st 1870, when Capt. Brockway retired, and on that
(hiy Mr. John K. Bittenbender, a practical ])rinter, i)urchased an
interest in the i)aper, and the publishing firm became Elwell &
1869, by the purchase of the

Jacoby,

Bittenbender.

Columbian has been democratic

Since January 1867, the
l)olitics,

and devoted

to the general policy of that party.

tober 1881 the otlice was

moved

into a three story brick

in

In Oc-

building

and now occupies the first
floor and basement of the building. The presses are run by water
power, and in all its appointments the oflice is one of the finest
erected specially for

it,

on Main

newspaper establishments

in

street,

the state.

The Christian Messenger was

started by Edward PI Orvis, at
was a montldy of 24 pages. In
1872 the title was changed to the Messenger & Laborer, and D.
Oliphaiit of London, Canada, was admitted as co-editor, with E.
E. Orvis as the publisher, and the publication was enlarged to 32
pages.
In January 1875, the Messenger & Laborer was changed
from a 32 page monthly to a four page 24 column weekly. The
publication office was moved to Orangeville, October 1, 1875. Oliphant retired from it in December, 1875, and it was suspended
December 26lh of that year, for want of support.

Benton,

in

January, 1870.

It

HISTOR Y OF COL UMB IA CO UNTY.

1

91

The Inokpendent Weekly was started by William H. Smith
and Edward E. Orvis, in Benton, April J, 1874, as a democratic
newspaper. It was continued by them until October 1, 1875,
when it removed to Orangeville with the Messenger & Laborer^
when and where Smith cfe Orvis dissolved, the Independent being continued by Smith.
On the first of Aj^ril, 1876, The Independent Weekly returned to Benton, where it was published until
September, 1877, when it was removed and established in Milton,
.Northumberland county, by the name of The Argus, and where,
with varying fortunes,

published.

it is still

TiiK Democratic Sentinel was established in

Bloomsburg, in

1871, by Mr. Charles M. Yanderslice, and has continued under his

management
tics,

and

as

has, as

editor
it

and publisher.

It

democratic in

is

poli-

deserves, a fair share of patronage.

The Bloomshur« Journal was begun

by G. A. Potter,
was a five column
four )>age i)aper.
In October 1881 the form was changed to a
quarto of twelve pages, and then of 16 pages.
In September
1882, Dr. Jacob Schuyler purchased a half interest in the paper,
and the new firm changed the form to the old folio style. The
paper
a

is

])l;u'C'

The

Jiepublican in politics so far as
in

its

Sin, a

it

It

allows politics to have

colunms.

paper,

<hiily

B. Tate and H.

W.

was put

in issue in

April 1881, by

Alem

Kahler, and about eighty numbers were issued.

Dissensions in the management and

want

in 1876,

temperance and family newspaper.

as a

of support, put an eclipse

ditticulties

upon the Sun,

growing out of a
end of about

at the

three months.

The Herald of Freedom was published by
named Case, between the years 1850 and 18(50. It
a sort of 'workingman's free

soil

struggle the establishment was

McEwensville

;

and

it is

my

advocate.

a

gentleman

was,

I believe,

After an unsuccessful

transported from Bloomsburg to

imjiression

that

it

ceased to be pub-

few months. Except the general fact of its
short existence, nothing seems to be certainly remembered by any
body either of the pa})er or of its editor.
lished there after a

—

HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.

192

CATAWISSA.

by Gideon E.
nnmber being issued the 16th of May.
politics, but of Republican proclivities, and

The Np:ws Item was
Myers, in 1878, the
It is

independent in

established in Catawissa

first

has established a successful business.

BERWICK NEWSPAPERS.
BY COL. JOHN

M.

SNYDER.

The Independent American commenced

to

be published in

Berwick, in the spring of 1812 or 1813, by William Carothers, by
whom it was continued until 1818, when David Owen, son of

Evan Owen the founder of Berwick, took charge. He was succeeded in a short time by Orlando Porter, who managed the paper for about five years, and up to 1827. During this time it was
Daniel Bowen assumand continued it in the same general line unIn this last year, 1832, George Mack became the editor
til 1832.
and proprietor, and changed the name of the paper to Berwick
Judge
Gazette, and gave it a democratic political direction.
Mack continued the paper for several years, and until it passed

devoted mainly to local and foreign news.

ed control

in 1827,

into

The Argus,

a well

edited Democratic journal,

Evan

published and edited by

1839 disposed of

it,

and

it

O. Jackson,

year

edited

by

Col. Levi L.

In 1840, Col. Tate associated with himself in the business

Mr. A. _M. Gangewere.

Gangewere

The

the

next appeared as

The Democratic Sentinel published and
Tate.

managed and

who about

retiring.

The partnership was

disolved in 1843,

Col. Tate then established

Enc^uirer, a-nd in 1845 Mr. B.
the paper, and took

S.

Gilmore purchased a half

it; Col. Tate
going to Wilkes Barre and starting the Luzerne Democrat.
In
1847, Mr. Gilmore bought the whole of the Enquirer from Col.

interest in

general charge of

who at about the same same time purchased the Columbia
Democrat from Capt. Henry Webb, and removed to Bloomsburg.
Gilmore continued the Enquirer until the spring of 1849, when

Tate,

HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.

193

he removed the material to Bloomsburg, and with additional new
material, in company with Reuben W. Weaver, commenced the
publication of the Star of the North.

The Sentinkl, a whig paper, was issued m 1834 by John T. Davis
who continued it until about the year 1838, when it passed out of
his hands,

and became

Thk Inukpkndbnt Ledger,
Messrs. Wilber

& Joslin,

about one year, when

it

an eight page literary journal, by
and was cai-ried on by them as such,
was bought up by several gentlemen,

and

The Conseuvator was
editor.

It

issued by them, with

John T. Davis

as

continued during the "Hard Cider" campaign of 1840,

and its ultimate fate I have not learned; but am of opinion that
was discontinued shortly after the election.

it

the Noutu was projected by A. M. Gangewere
he and Col. Tate dissolved; and it was published
by him about one year. He disposed of the good will and material, and the paper appeared by U. J. Jones & John H. Winter,

The

St.vr of

in 1843, after

who

continued

it

until

sometime about the year 1848, when

it

ap-

peared as

The Standard, published and edited by Dewitt C. Kitchen^
who moditied the politics of the paper, and supported the opposition to the Democracy.
From 1848 till the spring of 1850, the
paper was issued, when it again changed hands, and appeared as
The Tele(;raph by

John M. Snyder, the paper returning
Democracy. From April 1850, until the
spring of 1851, it was so published, when once more the name
and ownership changed and it became
to the support

Col.

of the

Laird.
He pubwith considerable new type and
material; at the end of which time the office and outfit were sold.

The Berwick

lished

it

Citizev,

by Jaines McClintock

until the spring of 1853,

The Investigator was established in 1853, by Stewart Pearce
and John M. Snyder. Mr. Pearce retired at the end of a month,
but Colonel Snyder continued the publication until the spring of

HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.

194

I800, whoa tho paiHT \v:is ])uiTh;ised by Col. Levi L. Tato and
the iianu' changed once move to the
Berwick Gazeite, and pnblished and edited by Tate and Irwin.

They continued

tlie

})aper

until

when Walter

18o(),

II.

1857 by Aleni

Ilibbs

Tate
succeeded them, lie was succeeded
published it until about the year 1860 when it was jjurchased
by Jeremiah S. Sanders. It was continued by Mr. Sanders until
in

15.

who

1809, wlieu he

Thus

for the

removed
tirst

press,

type and materials to

time in about

fifty

years,

Ila/.leton.

Berwick was with-

For about the last twenty years, all the papers
hadbeen Democratic in politics, ami their circulation and inlluence in Columbia and Luzerne counties had been considerable.
They were usually well printed, aiul edited with good taste and
out a newspaper.

judgment; nor, except on very rare occasions, did tluir columns
become vehicles of i)ersonal abuse or objection ublc ptditical discussion.

was issued by Charles B. Snyder on the lirst
and material entirely new. Frank L.
Snyder was assistant editor and Col. John M. Snyder had charge
The Messrs. Snyder coiulucted thr paof the local department.
per with success for about nine years, when they sold out to Robert H. Bowman who changed the title to The Berwick LidrpendThe paper, though neutral in politics, is in the hands of a
ent.

The

lNiM>:rExi>ENT

of June

1871,

the

outfit

gentleman who is in politics a Republican. On his retirement
from The Independent Mr. Charles \^. Snyder succeeded Mr. J.
Sanders in the proprietorship and editorial management of the
Hazleton daily and weekly Sentinel, in Luzerne county.

S.

The Berwick Gazette,
gun March

2o,

politics but of

borhood news.

1882,

being the second of that name, was be-

by Mr.

J.

H. Dieterick.

democratic proclivities, and

It is neutral in

full of local

and neigh-

HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.

CHAPTER
3ivii:^A^IDu?L.3N/£E

SKETCH

A

(jf

I

Ills

105

XXIII.

JMIOlNrTCTJI^.

celebrated womaii

uiid

Ik r

family

will

be

properly introduced by a short description of the magnificent

mountain ridge whidi bears her name.
Montour's Uidge rises somewhat al)ruptly (m the West Branch of
the SusquHhatiM.i, near the mouth of Chillisquaque creek in Northutid)erlaiid county, PennsylvaniH, and stJirtirii; out in a noitheast
course become-* the boundary between tfie townships of Point and
Chilli-quaque in Northumberland counts, and between Point and
the townships of Liberty and Mahoning in Montour county, near
Danville, wheie Mahoning creek bieakn through to the North
Branch of ihe .Suscpiehai/iia thence beconing the boundary between Valley and Mahoning, and West Hemlock and Cooper in
Montour county, and between Hemlock wwA Montour lownshijjs

—

in

Columbia county

;

breaking down again where Hemlock creek

flows through into Fishingcreek, and again at short distance, where

Fishingcreek

rolls

between

burg, off south-west wardly

again

its

sides north of BloomsNorth Branch; then rising

i>recii)itous

into

the

and throwing towards the surface

its

rich

iron

deposits

and sinking forever, after developing millions of tons of limestone, north and east of the lown
north and east of Bloomsburg,

of Espy.

A

geological axis of elevation passes nearly along the middle

composed of hard
which are covered along both sides,
times quite to the top, by slates and
the low^er part of which consists of
of

the ridge,

gray and reddish sandstone,
sometimes nearly and someshales

of

overlying series,

yellowish or greenish slates,

containing thin strata of limestone, in which are impressions of
and near these is a very valuable layer
shells and other fossils
;

of brow^nish red iron ore, from six
thickness,

also containing

inches

to

fossil impressions.

over two feet in

This ore

is

found

HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.

196

on both sides of the ridge us far east as the vicinity of Bloomsburg, where the strata converge over its top as it sinks away on
the east, and finally disappears under the overlying red shale in
the neighborhood of Espytown.

In the slates above the iron ore

some thin layers of dark colored limestone, succeeded by a
thick bed of red shale, which forms the upper j)ortion of the
Overlying this red shale is a limestone formation, which
series.
encircles the ridge outside of the red shale, and which may be
seen not far from the river above Northtiniborland, and along the
dipping under the Fishrailroad from ])anville to Bloomsburg
ingcreek half a mile above its mouth, and passing under Bloomsburg, it rises again near Espytown, and extends nearly to Berwick, where it sinks away beneath the overlying slate. A fine
deposit of mantle and roofing slate of the very best quality?
are

;

develops
burg.

itself

It

on Little Fisliingcreek, about a mile above Blooms-

has been wrought and apjn-oved of by competent judges

and workmen, and needs only

and enterprise

capital

to

become a

recognized industry of the county.

Thus

will

it

be seen that Montour's ridge

ornamental, rich as well as rugged
iron ore, limestone, slate

;

is

useful

as

well

as

yielding right at our doors

and building stone

in

almost unlimited

quantities.

There are three celebrated Indian
portant
that

parts

of the

exploits

and

other, that

it

in

the

women who have

played im.

history of Pennsylvania, and especially in

Forks of the Susquehanna
but their names, their
have become so interwoven with each
;

their persons

has become a

distinguish them.

From

matter relating to them,

I

difiicult, if

not an impossible, task to

the mass of obscui-e and contradictory
shall

however, endeavor to assign her

some of the
romance and correcting some of the statements which have heretofore been received as veritable history; or at any rate, as history
proper position and actions to each one, dissipating

applicable to certain persons.

Those three women are
and Queen Esther.
In his

Day

Madame Montour,

Catharine Montour

"Historical Collections of Pennsylvania"

Mr. Sherman

speaks of "the celebrated Catharine Montour, sometimes

call-

HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.

197

ed Queen Esther, whose more perinaiient residence was at Cath.
ariiu'stown, at tlie head of Seneca hike, as being a half-breed who

Her reputed father was one
had been well educated in Canada.
of tlie French Governors of that i)rovince, and she herself was a
She was much caressed in Phillady of conijiaiative retinenient.
She exercised a conadelphia, and mingled in the best society.
trolling influence among the Indians, and resided in this quarter,
[Tioga point, Bradford county] while they were making their inIt has been even suscursions upon the Wyoming settlements.
pected that she presided at the bloody sacrifice of the Wyoming
but Col. Stone who is good authority
prisoners after the battle
;

upon the history of the Six Nations, utterly discredits the story.''
Here we have the three women utterly confounded. Let us see if
we can separate them and assign to each one her own history and
individuality.

Who

was Madame Montour?

Lord Cornbury

in

a letter under

date of August 20, 1708, published in Vol. V. page 65 of the Colonial History

by the name

of

New

York, speaks

a French

of

gentleman

Canada previous to 1668,
who married an Indian woman by whom he had three children,
one son and two daughters and that subsequently to the birth
of the children they got among the Miami Indians in the neighborhood of Detroit. Some sort of intercourse was kept up with
the east, and a woman calling herself Madame Montour is
of Montour, settled in

;

reported lo have been with the Senecas
tess, in

1711.

In 1744

at a treaty there held

at

Albany, as an interpre-

Madame Montour was

with the Six Nations, and

at Lancaster, Pa.
in a

conversation

with Mr. Marsh, Secretary of the Maryland Conmiissioners, she
told him that she was born in Canada, whereof her father, who

was a French gentleman, had been Governor, under whose adminFive Nations of Indians had made war against the
French and the Hurons in that Govi-rnment, and that in the war
she was taken by some of the Five Nations' warriors, being then
about ten years of age, and by them was carried away into their
country, where she was habited and brought up in the same manner as their children That when she grew up to years of maturity she was married to a famous war captain of those nations,
*
by whom she had several children, but about l".f*
istration the

:

i/rsTO/n'

198

or coLiwiui

tiHMi voiirs fts^o l»o w:v^ killiHl in a

whicli she

had not boon

with tho

)):itll<'

inarrii'd

That

:

('()r^^TV.
(.''atawbiis,

slu> liad

lit(U>

sinoo

or no ro-

inoinbraiice of tho pbioo of hfr hirtli, nor iixh'ed of lior pariMits,

it

from thom by tlio
bi-iiiLT noar
Mr. Marsli also says, tliat ''in h^M* cabin wore two of hor
lailiais.
dauijhtors by thi> war i-aptain. wlio woro bi>th niarrioil, ami that
At this
»uio of thorn had a boautifiil boy about livo yoars ohl.
tiftv

tinio, 17

t

I,

quohanna,

in

Indians, or

,)anios l.o Tort, an

a oommunioation

"That intondim;

last

Twooht woys,

Mrs. Montour,

a

to

tradi'

Indian
tho

to

to tako a

fall

ravisliod

Montour must

thoroforo. IMailanu'

sixty voars old.

was

sho

voars sinoo

l\avo
tradi'r

(Ti>vornor

jinirnoy as

with

thi'ni,

boon ;'.\)out
upon tlu' Susin

172S, says,

far as tho

ho

Miami

had oonsullod

Fronoh woman, wifo to C'arondawana, about his
haviuL:; livod amonj^st and havino a sistor

journov thithor, who

marriod to ono of that nation," ito., sooms thus to oomph'to tho
identity of Madanu> Montour and tho littlo Fronoh L^ivl.

husband was Holand
husband waa
Onoidas.
oliiof
of
the
I>y
iirst
husband sho
a
hor
Oarondawana,
had four sons Andrew, llenry, Robert and Lewis, and two diaiijh
Ono of tluMu, named Margaret was already, in ITo;?, n>artors.
named Katarionioohn, and was livini«- in the
rioil to an Indian
neighborho h1 of Shamokin. The name of tho other daughter has
It

sooms agrood on

all

l>ands that hor

Montt>ur, a bravo of tho Sonooas.

Ami

first

hor soooiul

not been ascertained.

Madame Montour makes

her

first

appearance

in

onr history at a

1727, between
Hon. Patrick Gordon, Lieutenant Governor, and his coimoil on
one side, and divers chiefs of the Five Nations, the Conestogoes,
Gangawese, and Susquehanna Indians, on tho other. The council being mot and seated
"The Governor told thom by M. Montour, a Fronoh wojuan wdio had lived long among those people,
and is now interpretess, that ho was glad to see thom all well after so long a jonrney, and was now ready with his council to receive what they have to say."
The meetings continnotl several
days, Mailamo Montour making tho interpretations between the
parties.
Again in 1728, in some ijist ructions given by (^ovornor
Gordon to llonrv Snii:'i and John I'ottv, then about to visit tho
council held at Philadelphia, on the ;b-d
the

:

of

July,

UTS TO II Y
SiiHqneli;iiiii;i IiHlijiiis,
jiIko f<»

Let

|nir|)i»sc.

Kitiiic

I

great captain,

F

fi"

(

;uii|

';iriiii(lov\':iii;i

(

()

L II M li I A CO (IN T Y.

Jfivcnior

I

the

at

all th(;

and true

mviri

to

liirn,

And

he

1

>f>

to tlie

that hh he

is

f

kind love

tliein

peoph; about

heart(!d, a^

Treaty."

my

"(4ivo

Kpeak

cxjxjct of

I

take care that

whow themselves good
hope to see him
that

sayK:

wife, ainl

liis

know

liiiii

lie will

(!()

liini

Ih

a

shall

and
same

himself,

agiin, in the

memorandum: "It was afterwards
what present might be proper to be
made to Mistress Montour and her husband, Carandawana and

year, there

is

the following

by the

considered

lioanJ

the Five Nations, appointed to resi<le
Shawnese, whose services had been and may yet be of
great advantage' to this <ioveniment:
An<l it was agreed that
live pounds in bills of (credit should be given U) Mistress Montour

likewise to Shikellima, of

among

th<!

and her husband.'

husband

After the death of her second

doubt a good deal

in

I*hil;ul«-lpliia.

sh(;

was no

Marsh, before

referre<l

172'.)

in

her "a French lady,'" and "being a white

to, calls

mucli caressed

V>y th(;

ge-itlemen

dies of that city always invited

made

her well an<l

ht-r

several of the Oneidas
tour,

Mr.

now

seveial

and

of that

her to

city,"

tlnir

presents."

otliers

coming

woman was very

and that

Imjus'js,

Accordingly
to

"tlie la-

entertained

1734

in

town, "Mrs. Mon-

town but not a memljcr of the delegation," was inand importance, and they were enand rewarded with some reference to her information
in

quired of as to their standing
tertaineil

concerning them.

From

hen(;e

we

are authorized to conclude that

Madame Mon

tour was always a friend of the proprietary Government: and

conclusion

is

strengthened

V>y

tliat

the fact that at least three of her

sons re<-eived large grants of "donation lands" from the government.

mouth, Andrew's on
the Loyal Sock, near Montoursville, and Lewis' at Shade Gap, in
Henry's lay on

tlie

Chillisquaque,

near

its

ILmlingdon county. Li Sejitember 1742, Shikellimy, the great
Cayuga cdiief was living at Shamokin and was there tlien visited
by Conrad Weiser, Count Zin/endorf, Martin Mack and his wife,
After s]»ending some time at Shamoand several other |»ersons.
Count and pail of his comjtaiiy forded the Sus'pjehanna,
and went to Ostonwachin on the West liranch. This place was
kin, "the

then inliabited,

not only by

Lidians of different

tribes,

but

V>y

OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.

JII.STOUY

200

Imd adopted

tlic Indian manner of litV.
Anionowoman, JMadame Montonr, wlio had married an Indian warrior (Carondawanna alias llol)ei-( Iliiiitt'i;, but
lost him in a war against the C'atawbas.
She kindly entertained
the C\Mint
for two
days.
The Count soon af((.'r wi'iit to

E\iro))eans, wIki
lattoi-

till'

was a

Wyoming.
has

the

I*''renc'h

In

his

"History

(^i

Eiglit

(\)unties,"

"When Count

following remark:

]Mr.

Zin/.endorf

\\\\y\i

visit-

ed Ostonwaehin (or Frenehtown) he was met (July 30, 1742) by
an Indian who understood I'^reneli and Knglish." Conra<l Weiser

under date of jMareh

1st 17.").), to Governor Morris, speaking of
Shawanese Indians, wlio had lately come from the Ohio,
says: "They jointly intend to make a town lu'xt sj»ringon the AVest
Hraneh of Susquehanna, eommonly railed Ot/.inaehson, at a

sonn'

pl;ice called

mokin."

Otstuagy, or Frenehtown, about forty miles above Sha-

And

the Indians desired the Governor to send up

dustrious people to fence a cornfield for them.
12, 17.5,5,

Mr. Weiser says

an Indi;in town about

lie

Under date

some inof June

has just returned from Otstuacky,

forty five miles

North West Branch of the Susquehanna

above Shamokin, on the
river, "where I have been

men to fence in a cornlield for the Indians, according to your Honor's order."
lie says he left them a sack of Hour,
with ten hired

and that he

miles below
from Bethlehem to
Quenischaschachki, they say: "In tlie :vfternoon of Sunday, Aug.
2(i, 17.58 we launched our canoe and paddled up the river.
Four
miles above Shamokin we came to Logan's place * * * *. On
the 27th we arrived at John Shikellimy's hunting lodge * * * *

Otstuacky.

left

aiu)t]ier at

Canasoragy, .about ten

In the journ;il of

Mack and

(xinibe

.

After dinner we canle to the nu)uth of Muncy creek, forty miles
above Shamokin.
As the Susquehanna was high, and current
rapid, we left our canoe in care of an Indian ae(]uaintance, shouldered our packs, and kee]>ing along the banks of tlu' river, arrived
\\\

Otstonwakin

in

the evening.''

The

distances are not to be de-

pei\ded upon, for they were determined by the pace of the walker,

arm of the n)wer; nor is the spelling of the Indian names of
more certain, each man spelling it as it struck Ins ear.
But it seems certain that a town at the nu)uth of Loyal Sock creek
now called Montoursville, was, over one hundred years ago, known

or the

places any

indifferently as
;ind

Otstuacky

Frenehtown, Ostouwackin, Otstonwakin, Otstuagy,
was, in 1742,tlie residence of Mad:ime Montom-.

;xnd

HISTORY OF COLUMBIA C0UN2Y.

201

no evidence that slie ever lived any farther up the
she never was uj) the North Branc?i.
In 1744
she was with the Indians at tlie Treaty at Lancaster, and
Shamokin, which was
in 1745 SpangenVjerg visited her at

There

is

West Branch, and

then her

On

|)lace of residence.

her statement,

the general question of

we

in

addition

as

1733 writing of her as "ancient," and

to

find

James Logan
in

1734 she

lier

as
is

age,

early

spoken

by a chief and messenger from the Six Nations, as "an
old woman."
But still further, her son Andrew, in 1756, on an
of

examination as to distances,

testified

tViat

he thought

it

sixty

Logstown to Weningo, that he had travelled the road
three times, once when his mother was blind, and on horse back,
The date of the death
an<l he led the horse on foot all the way.
of Madame Montour I have not been able to ascertain; but I have
found no mention of her after 1745, though the death of Shekelliraus at Shamokin in 1749 is mentioned.
miles from

No

history nor authentic

connects

tradition

Madame Montour

with the shedding of any blood, white or Indian. The whole
tenor of her life forbids it, and her constant friendship with the
proprietary

Government prevents the conclusion

the massacre of

Wyoming

1734, and blind before her death, as

of

her being at

A

woman, old in
mentioned by her son An-

or of Fort Freeland.

drew, in March 1754, would not, at the age of almost one hundred
years,

imbue her hands

blood of those with

for the

whom

she

first

had

time in blood, and that the
all

her

life

been on terras of

friendship.

So much it seemed necessary to say, that the truth of history
might be vindicated, and the confusion or error which the authorthat the good repuities leave upon the mind might be dispelled
tation of Madame Montour might be as immoval>le as the rocks
tliat underlie the beautiful ridge which perpetuates her name, and
that her memory should be as green and grateful as the pines
that clothe its sides, and waive over its summit.

—

»

Wlio was French Margaret ? It already appears that Madame
Montour had two daughters, one of them named Margaret, and
married, and the authorities show that French Margaret was the
same person. She and Madame lived at Montoiirsville in 1742?

HISTDHY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.

202

anil the dausxlittM- roiuaiiicd tliciv

had

si'vt'ral fliildrcii, (linn'

Catliariiu'
S.

and IMary.

CoiiccniinL^-

Clark of Auburn, N.
"Kstlior

('(.'rtaiiily

'N'.

was the wife of

as lato as

wmiuMi,

tliesi' tlircH'

Ei'liooluind,

In the

The Monsi'y

at

or

(u'li.

JdIui

king of the Mousey chin
s])riii<;

of IToo nearly

the Indians of the lower Suscjuelianna abandoned that

river.

Slu'

writes as follows:

of the Sus(|uehanna Delawari's.

country and settled

17(i().

of wliom wcit dau^httTS, to wit Kstlior,

i)ai't

all

of the

Tiooa Point and above on the Chen>un<;

Wolf

elan

settled

at

Aehsinnissink, near

Big Flats, on present Sing Sing creek, about
Here they I'eniainnini' miles by way of the river al)o\e Klniira.
ed until tlie destruction of all tlu' towns on the OluMnung, in 1764
the site of i>resent

l)y iiarlies st'ut out by Sir William Johnson, one of which was
conuuanded by Andrew Montour. This chm then retired to the
protection of tlio Senecas, and remained tliere until the peace,
when they returned down the river and founded the town of Sheshequin.on the west side of the Sustpiehanna, some six miles below
Tioga roinl. They remained iicre until 177l\ when the christian

]iarty

migrated

west

of

the AUeghenies, undi'r

the

leadership

pagan parly removed up tlie Uiver about six
miles, and founded the new titwn, afterwards gencrallv known as
In the meantime, Kchgohund having
(Jueen Esther's Plantation.
died, his wife Esther became generally known as (^''i'*^'" Esther,
a rank to which she was fully entitled, as the widow i>f the Mousey
King. His town was destroyed by C/olonel Hartley in 1778, when
they probably retired to (.^henuing, which was also destroyed
by the ai'iny under (Jeneral Sullivan in the succeeiling year, when
of Kotli, and the

all

retired \o Niagara.

I'red

at

around

lu-r

Long Point

After

tlie

close of the revolution she hov-

former home for a few years, but

in

Cayuga county. New York, about

finally settled

a mile .~outh

where she was living with the noted Cayuga
Chief, Steel Traj*, and where she died and was buried on the east
shore of Cayuga Lake, at an advanced age, well known as Queen
Esther, the fiend of Wyoming.
Koswell Franklin, the first settler
of that locality, who was well accpiainted witli her when living on the Susquehanna, also kiu'W hvv wi'll when living near
him at his liome, at present Aurora.
of ITnion Springs,

Catharine Montour marrii'd and removed up the Susquehanna

HISTORY OF (COLUMBIA COUNTY.
;iim1

foiiiiilc(| tlic

town of

Klihiiicrnct, loctutc*]

cnt W('llsl)nig, Hotn(! nix miles below

yeurs

seveiiil

her

witli

Esther, her sister, was living

up the ('hemung, and

rarily

the

F^lniiru.

Aehsinnissink, n(!ar

at

in 1704,

when they

after. th(! jteace

new town on Sheocjuaga

nearly opposite prew-

when; she livtHl for
and during the same time tliat

inotlier,

This town was also destroyed

203

liig

Flats.

retinn! temjjo-

niturned arul founded

miles from the
and where she and they remained until the
town was destroyed by Sullivan in 177!), when they retreated with

Seneca

hea<l of

creek, ahont

three

I.,ake,

After the return of peace

the others to Niagara.

slie

returned to

her old home, died there, and was buried on a natural

mound near

present Havana, in the

knr»wn

generally

immediate vicinity of her former home,

Catharines-town.

as

that she was buried at

tiiis

place, that to

I'he

belief

deny

it

is

so general

would be looked

upon by the good people of Havana as evidence of the greatest
ignorance of the

fa(;ts

of history.

IVrhaps the most satisfactory contemporary evidence
to thes<'

eharactters

is

that of

young knew (^ueen Ksther

and also

well,

hei-

in

regard

who when

Mrs. Wliittaker,

sister

Mary.

quite

Mrs.

was a daughter of Sebastian Strope, who settled at
Wysox, Pennsylvania, in 1773. (^uecMi Esther was a welcome and
frequent visitor at his house, and it is to the recollection of Mrs.
VVhittaker

Wliittaker that

we

ai-e

indebted for a descnption

appearance, com[)lexion,
peculiarities.

Esther on a

woman
ter.

the color of her hair

Mrs. Wliittaker
visit at

of her ))ersonal

and her dress and

us that on ojie occasion.

tells

Queen

her father's, was accompanied by a half-breed
C^ueen Ksther said, was her

called Catharine, who, as

sis-

This Strope family was afterwards captured by the Indians,

and during the captivity of the family were under many obligaThe daughtions for the acts of kindness of their fonner friend.
ter, while a prisoner, rambled over the grounds of the Queen, and
Sometime after this, while an
describes her )>alace particularly.
route to the

West

as a

prisoner,

Mrs. VVhittaker stopped for a

week at Catharine's town, and while there she again saw the same
woman and recognized her as the same one that she had previously seen in conipany with Queen Esther, and who had introduced
her as her sister."

The

history of the sister

Mary

is

not as easily traced.

In 17o3

JII^TORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.

204

FriMio'h ]\r:irg:irot told

Mack,

hor son and son-in-law hail boon

th;vt,

killod tho provious wintor whilo

(IMacks Journal, Moniorials of

on a niarand against

tlu-

MtM-avian oluiioh,

tlio
\V,\0,

Crooks."
noto.)

what wo know about tho othor
girls, that tho son-in-law was tho husband of JMary. Slio is known
as ^lolly, and Mrs. Whittakor know hor woll.
Ilor oxistonoo and
Tt is i>iH>l>ablo, in

tho light

o{

and oonsoquontly to Quoon Ksthor, are
by tho following roferenco to hor in Pennsylvania Colonial
Kooords Vol. Vlll, page 499.

rolatiitnship to Catharino,

sottlod

"Soptond)or
jNIr.

IVlli,

17(10

;

tho

following

letter,

received

from

Holland, the Indian Agent at Shaniokin, waa ordered to be

entered

:

Shamokin, 9 Mo.,

17th, 1700.

Permit me to acquaint tho Governor:

That John Hatson arrived here on the loth, in 8 days, from
Town, and deliver'd me the inclosed string of Wampum,
and the following speech, which he said was sent to the Governor
by Catharine, the l^aughter of French Margaret.
That she desired, by this String of Wampum, to acquaint the
Governor of the receipt of his by Papunohoal, and that she was
sorry tho Indisposition of hor Family had so long prevented her
from conq)lying with the tTOvernor's request to bringdown tho
prisoners, but that she would bo down this Fall with the two that
belonged to her, and desired that she may Jiot be blamed for her
sisters carrying the woman she has to the Allegany, as it was not
in hor power to prevail with her to take hor to Philadelphia; in
continuation of which she sent tho (.Tovornor tho inclosed String
JMargaret

of

Wanq)um.
John informed me that Molley was

with the white
ed Cate here in

woman

to set off for the

Allegany

and that he expectten days, and that he should go with her to Philafter he left the towMi,

adelphia and ilolivor them to the Governor.

from thy

friend,

Natiianiki, HoM.Axn."
It is entirely

but

possible that l\Iary never returned from tho west,

may have remained among

ily in

Ohio.

The

the

members

of the

Montour fam-

history of the Montours has yet to be written.

HLSTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.

205

This chapter has been only an attempt to disentangle the person
ality of the five women who have given to them a name and
place in history.

Of

the sons

this article,

of

Madame Montour, mentioned

Andrew was

in the

course of

the most prominent, and held a Captain's

commission, and was for a considerable time engaged as interprebetween the Government and the different tribes. It is a

ter

somewhat remarkable fact that the family generally were natural
One Mary, whom I take to be our "Molly," is spoken
linguists.
of as a regular polyglot, speaking English, French, and nearly

the western Indian dialects.
little

attention

was paid

to

It is

all

greatly to be regretted that so

the personal

history of those Indians

who showed themselves to be men and women of character and
ability.
Where there was one Marsh or Logan who inquired and
wrote down what was learned, a hundred persons with equal or
I
greater opportunities, made no inquiry, or no memorandum.
see that Dr. Egle, of Harrisburg,

is

about to issue at that place,

a quarterly periodical, of "Notes and Queries, Historical and Genealogical, relating to Interior Pennsylvania,"

look for something elucidating

still

and

in that

we may

further the history of the

Montours.

^f^

HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.

206

CHAPTER XXIV.
IPOST OI^IE^ICES.
is

You may know nearly

located.
ent,

but his nearest post

promptly.
ity of

know at what
may happen to be

matter of great convenience to

often a
TTpointvery
of a county or township

I

office is

have therefore,

each one

in the

Or near the line of

a

post office

the residence of your correspond-

required in

in a general

way

order to reach him
indicated the local-

township, and in cases where they are on

adjoining townships also stated that fact

;

as

Derr s, cfec. Bear Gap is on the line between Columbia and Northumberland counties and as is known.
New Columbus, Cambra, Fairmount Springs and Red Rock, are in
the county of Luzerne, but lying so near the line of Columbia, as
to accommodate people on the east side of Fishingcreek, Benton
and Sugarloaf townships. And just as Berwick in Columbia
county, on the very edge of Luzerne, is the nearest office to many
persons of the lower end of that county.
in the case of lola, Sereno,

;

NAMK OF

OFFICE.

Bear Gap
Beaver Valley
Benton

Bloomsburg
Buckhoru

TOWNSHIP.

LOCATION.

Locust

West side

Beaver
Benton
Bloomsburg

West side

Hemlock

Canby

Mt. Pleasant

Catawissa

Catawissa

Central

Sugarloaf

Centralia

Con) ngham

Colescreek

Sugarloaf

Berr's

Greenwood

Centre

South east
Centre

West

side

North
South centre
South

East-edge of Jackson

HLSTORY OF COLUMBIA

HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.

20S

NAME OF

TOWN SUIT.

tH'KlCK.

Greenwood

Soreno

LOCATION.

— edge of

West

IMiio

Still

Water

Fisliiiiiivreok

North west

\':iii

Camp

FishiuLCcreek

North

Waller

.1

Wellivers

Mount Pleasant

acksou

Centre

Whitinire

Centre

North east
North east

Willow Springs

Centre

Southeast

/

1

L»'

•

P^*

.

HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.

209

CHAPTER XXV.

UNITEI> STATES SENATE.

Although not the

first in

order, yet as

the

first in

dignity,

it is

proper to begin this chapter with the representation which Columbia county has furnished, in the Senate of the United States, in
the person of a distinguished citizen, a native of this county

Charles R. Buckalew was born in Fishingcreek township, Columbia county, Pennsylvania, December 28, 1821. After receiving an academic education, he studied law with M. E. Jackson,
Esquire, of Berwick, Pa and was admitted to the Bar of the same
county at August term 1843. He was appointed Prosecuting
Attorney of Columbia county in April 1845, and resigned in 1847.
In 1850 he was elected to the State Senate for the District composed of the counties of Luzerne, Columbia and Montour, and re1853.
In
1854
he
was appointed special
elected in
commissioner to exchange the ratifications of a treaty with Paraguay, and made a journey to South America by way of Eng,

land.

was chosen a Senatorial Presidential Elector for
In 1857 he was chairman of the Democratic State
Coimnittee, and in the same year was re-elected to the State Senate for the district composed of the counties of Columbia, MonIn the following winter he
tour, Northumberlajid and Snyder.
was nominated by the Governor, and confirmed by the Senate to
In 1850 he

Pennsylvania.

be one of the commissioners to revise the criminal code of the
This post, and the office of Senator he resigned in the
State.

summer

of 1858, and was appointed Minister Resident of the
United States at Quito, in the Republic of Ecuador, where he remained three years.
On the 14th of January 1863, he was elected a Senator of the
United States for six years from the 4th of March following. In

—

HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.

210

1869 he was re-elected a State Senator for the

district

composed

of the counties of Northumberland, Montour, Columbia and Sulli-

van.

the

In 1872 he was the nominee of the Democratic party for
Governor of the state, but was not elected.

office of

At the same election. Col. Freeze was chosen a member of the
convention to reform the Constitution of the State, and upon the
defeat of Mr. Buckalew for Governor, promptly tendered to him
the seat to which he

had been chosen,

in

the Convention.

Ac-

cordingly, on the third day of the sitting of the Convention, Col.

Freeze offered his resignation to that body, and on the next day

November

the 15th, Mr. Buckalew was selected to fill the vacancy
and served during the sittings.
In the same fall of 1872, Mr. Buckalew published a work on
"Proportional Representation," which was edited by Col. Freeze,
and issued by John Campbell & Son, Philadelphia.
In March 1876, at the Democratic Convention, at Lancaster,
Mr. Buckalew was, by acclamation, nominated to head the Democratic Electoral Ticket of

the

State at the ensuing Presidential

election.

Duj-ing his term in the Senate of the United States, Mr. Buckalew, in addition to

March

his ordinary legislative

duties,

on the

1st of

1864, submitted to the Senate a "Minority Report on the

Repeal of the Fugitive Slave Acts," Mr. Sumner submitting the
On the 20th of February 1865, he subniitted an elaborate report on the subject of lighting, heating and
report of the majority.

ventilating the Halls of Congress.

On

the 21st of February 1866

he delivered his celebrated speech on "Representation in Congress."
On the 15th of January 1867, he addressed the Senate "On the
Executive power to make removals from

"On Reconstruction"

—

— and on

office"

— on

July 11th

the same day on "Cumulative Vot-

on January 29, 1868, on the subject of "Reconstruction"
on the 26th of March, on "The McArdle Case Jurisdiction of the
Supreme Court" on the 3d of March 1869, he submitted a "Report on Re})resentative Reform"
and on the close of the proceedings, an "opinion on the Impeachment of Andrew Johnson."
Since the adjournment of the constitutional convention, Mr.
ing"

—

—

—

Buckalew has been practising law
leisure limes

Pennsylvania.

in

in the preparation of a

Bloomsburg and engaged at
work on the Constitution of

C.

r..

HICKALICW
.i5TAT

r.0.

HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.

212

STATE LEGISLATURE.
By

the eighth section of the

was provided

— "Tliat

l^ill

erecting-

inliabitants of the

tlie

berhmd, Union and Colunibm

sliall

Cohnnbia county, it
county of Northum-

jointly elect four

representa-

tives.

1813
Sannu'l Bound, Leonard Rupert, Thonuis

Kreanier were

elect I'd.

^Vll

Murray

Jr.

and George

Democrats.
1814

David E. Owen had 2218 votes in district.
Robert Willit had 20;M votes in district.
Capt. Joseph nutcliison had 1990 votes in district.

Henry Shaifer had 14")!) votes in district.
John Maclay had 1 96 votes in district.
James Strawbridgc had 1188 votes in district.
Andrew McGlenachan had 1080 votes in district.
James Hammond had 1040 votes in district.
John MontgOTiiery had 239 votes in district.
Abraham JNIcKinney had 892 votes in district.
1

In 1815 Columbia county was
district

made

with one nuMuber.

1815

James McClure had 892 votes.
David E. Owens had 579 votes.
181

Sanuiel

Bond had 807

()

votes.

James McC^lure had 731

votes.

1817

Samuel Bond was

elected.

1818
Sanniel

Bond had 757

Samuel

Webb

had 487

votes.

votes.

a separate

representative

HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.

213

1819

James McClure was

elected.

1820

John Snyder had 768 votes.
Col. James McClure had 754 vote-i.
Dr. Russel Park had 352 votes.
William Uobison had 92 votes.

Col.

1H21

John Clark was

elected.

In 1822 Columbia county was made a separate district with

two members.
1822

William McBride had 1313
Alexander Colley had 1282

votes.

votes,

and they were

elected.

1823

William McBride and Alexander Colley were

elected.

1824

John McReynolds, Democrat, had 836 votes.
Eli Thornton, Democrat, had 1121 votes.
Christian Brobst, Democrat, had 601 votes.
1825

John McReynolds, Democrat, had 1991 votes.
Christian Brobst, Democrat, had 1071 votes.
1826

John McReynolds and William McBride were

elected.

1827

John McReynolds and Christian Brobst were

elected.

1828

John McReynolds and John liobison were
In 1829 Columbia county was

made

member.
1829

John Robison was

elected.

elected.

a separate district with one

1

214

HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.
IS.SO

Uzal Hopkins was

elected.
1

Uzal Hopkins

S8

Avas elected.
ih:32

Isaac Kline was elected.
1

888

1

884

Isaac Kline was elected.

John F. Den- was

electetl.

Deir was

elected.

1885
Jolni V.

In 1836 Colninbia county was a separate district with one

mem-

ber.

1880

Evan

O. Jackson was elected.

Jolui

Bowman, Whig, was

1837
elected.

1888

William

Colt, l^emocrat, liad

2807 votes and was elected.

183<)

William Colt had 1602 votes.
Geo. H. Willets had 794 votes.
1840
Daniel Snyder had 2787 votes.

John

C. Lessig

had 914

votes.

1841

Daniel Snyder was elected.
1842

Daniel Snyder was elected.
In 1843 Columbia county was a se})arate district with one
ber.

1848

Daniel Snyder had 1^87 votes

niul

was

elected.

mem-

5

HIS TOR Y OF COL U3IBIA CO UN TY.

21

1844

Thomas A.

Fiinston had 2075 votes.

E. G. llickotts liad 1443 votes.
Jos. Brobst

Thomas A.

had 1196 votes.
was elected.

Fiinstoii

1

84')

Thomas A. Fmiston had 2a76 votes and
David Clark had 2029 votes.

Avas elected.

1846

Democrat, had 1667 votes.
Isaac Low, Whig, had 1443 votes.
Stewart Pearce was elected.

Stewart

l*earce,

1847
Stewai t Pearce, Democrat, had 2829 votes.

George

W.

Lott,

Whig,

liad

1502 votes.

Stewart Pearce was elected.

1848
Stewart Pearce, Democrat, had 2900 votes.
Jonas Flayman, Whig, had 2106 votes.
Stewart Pearce was elected.
1849

Benjamin 1'. Fortner, Whig, had 2113 votes.
John jVIc Reynolds, Democrat, had 1732 votes.
Benjamin P. Fortner was elected.

Columbia
with one member.
In

is.")i»

:ind

Montour were

a representative district

1850

Columbia
Montour

McReynolds, Democrat.
2036
402
McKeynold's majority

C. B.

Bowman, Whig.
419
1823

196.

1851

Colundiia

Montour

M. E. Jackson, Democrat.
1490
1354

Jonas Hayman, Whig.
1337

Jackson's majority 651.

856

HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.

21()

1852

M. E. Jnckson, Doniocrat.

Geo. Scott, Doinocrat.
(.\>lumbi:i

2400

548

401

1703

^lontoiir

Geo. Scott's majority 55G.

1853

Columbia
Montour

Joseph R. Pattou.
713
oDO

Geo. Scott.
2346

735
(.100.

Scott's majority KiGD.
1

Jas.

(i.

Columbia
Montour

W.

INIaxwcll,

854

John Bilhneyer.

G. Hurley,

25

22!)9

4

1014
1

855

John G. Monlgoniery, Democrat.
Columbia
Montour

John

Stalcy,

1005

1032

894

483

2491)

1515

Whig.

Montgomery's majority 984.
1856

John Sharpless, Whig.

Peter Ent, Democrat.

Columbia
Montour

2405

1412

1141

715

3546

2127

Peter Ent's majority

1419.

In 1857 the representative district was Columbia, Montour, Sullivan

and W^yoming, with two members.
1857

Peter Ent, John V. Smith, D.

Columbia 2364
Montour 1069
Sullivan

Wyoming

II.

B. Brower,

Henry

Metcalf.

2355

1070

1091

1070

572

574

524

354

126

368

1174

1179

832

828

HLSTORY OF COLUMBIA C0UN2Y.

217

1858
G. D. j!u;kKon,

OakeH,

ColumV>ia

Iline,

1965

Montour

724
517
982

] :>{){)

Sullivan

611

Wyoming

989

1

1

Blaker.

363

1286

811
13

6

55

859
Masters,

Mo user.

Columbia
Montour

2040

1746

1162

760

1215

1101

658

314

Sullivan

1009

950
516

651

585

347

195

G. D. Jackson,

Wyoming

Oakes,

GOo

1800
II.

Columbia
Montour

R. Kline
2040

Osterbout

Harding.

1786

1757

r>2

1151

1027

535

376

12o5

1254

1049

1018
379
1225

Tate

Tutton
2600
1187
546
1087

1 1

Sullivan

Wyoming

Strawbridge

2590

1861

Columbia
Montour

2571

1174

545

Sullivan

Wyoming

1017

Lazarus

Jennings.

1904

1892

937
396
1398

933
398

1492

1862
G. D. Jack Hon

Columbia

.

C. Ellis

Montour

035

Sullivan

Wyoming

Sam'l

2914
1244
624
13G3

2913
1248
1364

Hays Jacob Kennedy.
1375

1375

778

762

267
1140

267
1130

1863
G. D. Jackson,

Columbia
Montour
Sullivan

Wyoming
In 1864

J.

C

Ellis,

M

Whitmoyer,

S.

Bondman.

3344

3344

1770

1771

1458

1459

1092

1090

720

713

344

341

1441

1441

1343

1343

Columbia and Montour were made a representative
one member.

district witb

HISTOKY

218

OJ^

COLUMBIA COUNTY.
1

W.
l\)luinl)ia

II.

.laooby,

8(M

L. S. StiucMUiUi,

l>;iii'l.

Snyder.

TTTSTORY

OF COLUMBTA COUNTY.

210

1H73

Brock way had 2652 votes.
Buckalew John M. had 1021

votes.

1874

Under
187

4,

the Constitution of

Coliitnbia

1S73, and

by the act of 10th May,

county was authorized to elect two members.

The vote was
E. J. McHenry, 3014
:

votes.

Ryan, 2!)40 votes.
John McAnall, 1133 votes.
Hon S. P. Ryan, died April
P.

S.

12, 1876.

1876

McHenry had 43.55
Brown had 4131 votes.

E. J.

votes.

had 1085 votes.
Eggert liad 2014 votes.

Smitli
Jcjliii

1878
T.

J.

•

Vanderslice had 3258 votes.

Jos. B. Knittle

had 3081 votes.

A. Phillips had 1467 votes.

W.

H. Abbott had 1472 votes.
1880

had 4402 votes.
T. J. Vanderslice, Democrat had 3823 votes.
G. A. Jiiickingham, Republican, had 2248 votes.
J.

1j.

Knittle, JJemocrat,

Eli Barton, Itepublican Greenbacker,

C.

M. Blaker, Greenbacker, had 133

had 1152

votes.

votes.

1882

William Bryson, Democrat, had 4052 votes.
Thos. J. Vanderslice, Democrat, had 3004 votes.
Mahlon Hamlin, Independent Democrat, had 1526 votes.
E. M. Tewksbury, Democratic Prohibitionist, had 227 votes.
G. W. Supplee, Republican, had 1748 votes.
E. B. (luie, Republican, had 1482 votes.
Eli l^arton, (ireenbackcr, ha<l 256 votes.

HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.

220

SEnsr^=^TOi^iua.L.
Cohmibia oounty we were put into the
tho counties of Luzerne, Susquehanna
and T^nion, witli two Senators, and were then and until the election under the hill of 1815 rei)resented by Thomas Murray, jr_
and William Koss. We bore a part in the election of the Senathe

bill

orcctiiig

By

district coinposod of

tors in 1814.

1814
Thos. Murray,

jr.

was

elected.

In 1815 our Senatorial District was
berland,

Columbia,

ll^nion,

made

the Nintli, Northum-

Luzerne and Susquehanna, with two

Senators.

181G
(I5ut

one Senator elected.)

Charles Frazer had 2846 votes in

Adam

Light had

'2''^'c>o

district.

votes in district.

Cornelius Courtright had 1341 votes in district.

John Baldy had 78 votes

in district.

1818

Simon Snyder was

elected.

Special election to

fill

1819
vacancy occasioned by death of Simon

Snyder.

Robert Willett had 1732 votes in district.
Samuel Hepburn liad 944 votes in district.
1820

Redmond Conynghani had 5152

votes in district, and was elec

ted.

In 1822 our Senatorial District was made the tenth, Luzerne

and Columbia, with one Senator.

HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.

221

1824
R. Moore,

N. Beach.

Robert Moore was

elected.

1827

Robert Moore was

elected.

In 1829 the same Senatorial District was continued.

1830

Jacob Drumheller

wa.s elected.

1833

Uzal Hopkins was elected.
In 1 836 we were made the Ninth Senatorial
and Schuylkill with one Senator.

District,

Columbia

1S37
Charles Frailcy was elected.

1840

Joseph Brobst.

Headley,

Samuel F. Headley was

elected.

In 1 843 we were made the Thirteenth Senatorial
umbia and Luzerne with one Senator.

District, Col-

1844

Columbia
Luzerne

Ross,

Beaumont,

2243

1748

634

2467

2796

787

William

S.

Ross' majority 166.

Davis.

222

HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.
1850

Buckalew
Columbia
Luzerne
Montour

2201

V. Best
272

3642
405

2379
1813

C. R. Buckalew's majority 1784

1853
C. K.

Buckalew

HItiTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.

223

1860
Keller

Colunibia

Montour
Nortli'hind

Snyder

Bound

2487
1080
2556
1133

1910
1075
2633
1694

1863

Montgomery
Columbia

3339

]\[ontour
North'! and

1459

Snyder

In 1864

Willetts

3383
1328
D. B. Montgomery's majority 2289.

1784
1096
2585
1755

we were made

counties of Columbia,

the Fifteenth District, comprising the
Montour, Northumberland and Sullivan,

with one Senator.

1866

Jackson

Columbia

1939

3830
414

3350
778

M out our
North'land
Sullivan

Frick

3594

Geo. D. Jackson was elected.

HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.

224
Tlie

change

the State

in tlie Constitution

for Senators,

Fourth District but

and

Avith the

in

required a change in districting

1874

same
1875

we were made

counties,

the

Twenty

and one Senator.

Hll^TORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.
1882

W. W.
Columbia
Montour

Lycoming
Sullivan

Hart.

3958
1723
4510
779
10,970

225

—

HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.

226

The

district

by the

bill

erecting the

county was as follows

:

"That the said county of Columbia shall form part of the district
composed of the counties of Northumberland, Union, Lycoming,
Luzerne, Bradford, Potter, Susquehanna and Tioga for the elec-

members

tion of

of Congress.

It

was the Tenth, with two mem-

bers.

1814

William Wilson \
^Elected Oct.
and
Jared Irwin

11th, 1814.

\

Mr. Irwin died March

1,

1818.

1816

Wm.

Wilson had 6106 votes in disti-ict.
David Scott had 5920 votes in district.

1817
vacancy occasioned by David Scott's acceptance of office of President Judge of 12th Judicial District.
John Murray was elected.
Special election to

fill

1818

John Murray had 7423 votes in district.
Geo. Dennison had 7229 votes in district.
1820
Geo. Dennison had 9545 votes in

Wm. Cox

district.

had 6528 votes in district.
Mr. Dennison died in Wilkes Barre in 1831.
Mr. Wm. Cox Ellis died in Muncy Nov. 13, 1871 aged 85
Ellis

years.

1821
Special election

Wm. Cox

to

fill

jr.

was

vacancy occasioned by resignation of

Ellis.

Thomas Murray,

elected.

HISTOBY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.
By

227

we were put into a disti'ict numThe counties of Columbia, Union,

the apportionment of 1822

bered the Ninth, as follows

:

Northumberland, Luzerne, Susquehanna, Bradford, Lycoming,
and McKean, and elected three members.

Potter, Tioga

1822

Wm. Cox

Ellis,

Samuel McKean and Geoi'ge Kreamer were

elected.

1824

Samuel McKean, George Kreamer and Espy Vanhorn, were

elec-

ted.

VOTK
George Kreamer,
Samuel McKean

Ol'

COLUMBIA COUNTY.
1307

1358

Wm. Cox Ellis
Espy Van Horn

1030

400
1826

Es})y

Vanhorn, Samuel

McKean and George

Ki-eamer were

elected.

Mr. Kreamer died
Mr.
Mr.

in L^nion

county September

11, 1854.

Van Horn died at Williamsport July 25, 1829.
McKean died in McKean county June 23, 1840.
1828

Philander Stephens had 12,003 votes

in district.

James Ford had 11,163 votes in district.
Alem Marr had 10,855 votes in district.
John Murray had 2944 votes in district.
Geo. M. Hollenback had 1632 votes in district.
Chauncey Alford had 2583 votes in district.
1830
Lewis Dewart, Pliilander Stephens and James Ford were

elec-

ted.

Mr. Ford died at Lawrenceville in August 1859.
Mr. Stephens died at Si)ringtield July 8, 1 842.
In 1832 our congressional district was
iimbia and Luzerne, with one member.

1832

Andrew Beaumont was

elected.

made

the Fifteenth, Col

228

HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.
1834.

Andrew Beaumont was

He

elected.

died at Wilkes-Barre, October 30, 1853.

1836

HISTOMY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.

229

1848
Hendi-ick B. Wright,

C. Butler,

Samuel P. Collings.

Columbia
Luzerne

2556

2005

504

2343

2929

1434

Wyoming

717

778

280

2168

H. M.

Fuller.

932
2948
619

230

HISTORY OF C0Lr3[BIA COUNTY.
1854
Wrioht,

Columbia

2034

Lnzenie

3549
794
710

Montom-

Wyoming

Columbia

Fullor

1483
5475
888
1269

HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.

231

1861
In June 1861 a special election

by the death

of Mr. Scranton.

was held

to

fill

the vacancy left

The candidates were both Demo-

crats.
IT.

Colunil)ia

Luzerne

Montour

Wyoming

B.

Wright

D. K. Randall

1949
6059
933
1047

1373
2211
393
763

H. B. Wright's majority 5248.
In 1861 a bill was passed putting us in the twelfth district corncomposed of the counties of Bradford, Montour, Columbia, Sullivan, Wyoming and all of Northumberland except Lower Mahanoy
township. But the party in power becoming frightened lest the
Democrats should carry the district, in 1862 re-arranged the
apportionment, making the district, the counties of Bradford,
Wyoming, Sullivan, Montour, and Columbia; under which the
following was our representation.

1862

Columbia
Bradford

Moutour
Sullivan

Wyoming

Tracy
2820
3575

Clark
1467

4035
807

1183
609
1333

281
1113

Henry W. Tracy's majority

1817.

1864

Mercur

Piollett

Columbia
Bradford

Montour
Sullivan

Wyoming

1449
5798
912
319
1162

2905
2618
1308
622
1270
U. Mercur's majority 1001.
1866

Bradford
Columbia

Montour
Sullivan

Wyoming

Elwell

Mercur

3185
3644
1550
762
1512

7078
1907
1114
435
1406

Ulysses Mercur's majority 1287

232

MISTOBY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY

HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.

233

In 1878 a bill was passed putting us in the eleventh district
composed of the counties of Montour, Columbia, Carbon, Monroe,
Pike, and the townships of Nescopeck, Black Creek, Sugarloaf,
Butler, Hazel, Foster, Bear creek, Bucks, Roaringbrook, Salem,
Hollenback, Huntingdon, Fairmount, Springbi-ook, and that part
of the city of Scranton south of Roaringbrook creek, and east of
Lackawanna river, and the boroughs of Dunmore, New Columbus,
Goldsboro, White Haven, Jeddo, and Hazleton.

1874

234

HIS TOBY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.
1880

HIISTOEY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.

I^A.TILjTT.^TI'^Z-

235

IRECOI^nD.

INTRODUCTORY.

The
given

military record upon

me more

desire to have

which

are about

Ave

it full

and

correct, to

get the names of

sons in the service, to attach them properly with

And

rank, has required unusual care.

omissions and

to enter has

The

trouble than any other portion of this work.

erroi's

all

the per-

their official

yet I cannot be certain that

In the dire confusion of

have not occurred.

the period an error or omission in the weekly newspaper was
either

not observed, or not thought necessary to be corrected.

Many

of our people, seduced by larger bounties, entered the service

to the credit of other counties,

them was

lost,

or

owing

certainly recovered.

in

In

and for that reason

many

all

such cases I have done

separate and claim those belonging to
tiently

and laboriously the

all

lists

of

trace of

cases to similarity of names, un-

our county.

my

best to

And

names have been made

so pa-

up.

In

two or three instances my attention has been called to inaccuraAll the works I have examined
cies, which have been adjusted.
disagree more or less, and in most cases the facts were beyond
my ascertainment, and I followed what seemed at the time to be
the most trustworthy authority. Bates' History, of course, was

From contemporary publimen of our county, both
cations I have given the lists
State and Federal, and I feel that in many respects, this chapter
is unusually full and correct, though it may not be })erfect.

the great store house of inforniation.

of drafted

My
all

design

is

to put in a cheap, accessible

and permanent form

the information attainable on the subject, together with

names

all

the

of our soldiers, so that in every house a record of pati'iotic

action and gallant service

may be had and

preserved.

HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.

236

CHAPTER XXVI.
MILITARY RECORD.
Mr. Lincoln was inaugurated as President of the United States
Fort Sumpter in Charleston Harbour was tired
4, 186L
on April 12th, and on the loth, the President issued a call for
75,000 men.
Calls and orders were subsequently issued under

March

date of

May

3d, July 22nd,

and July 25th, for the aggregate of
was a call for 500,000 and on the 4th of August one for 300,000, supposed to be the
number needed to fill the last preceding call.
500,000 men.

On

the 2d of July, 1862, there

On the 5th of September, 1 862, the Rebels invaded Maryland,
and a levy en masse in Pennsylvania was called. On the 15th of
September a large number of "emergency men" left Bloomsburg.

On

the 17th, the battle of Antietara was 'fought.

On

the 18th,

army evacuated Sharpsburg and recrossed the Potomac.
On the 22nd, more "emergency men" left Bloomsburg.
On the 1 5th of June, 863, a proclamation was made for the
militia.
On the 15th of October there was a call for 300,000 men;
the^rebel

1

and on the

February 1864, the President ordered a draft
the 10th of March.
On the 14th of
March there was a call for 200,000 men on the 18th of July one
for 500,000, and on the 19th of December for 300,000.
1st of

for 500,000 to be

made on

;

Besides these, there was a lot of "Ninety Days Militia," and
other irregular musters,

all of which will be found under the prophead or section, in this chapter.
These various calls were filled by enlistments, volunteering and
drafts.
We have made diligent and careful examination amongst

er

HLSTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.
sources of information accessible,

all

name

the

of eveiy

man mustered

battles in

;

together with the Company,

which they were engaged.

detail in relation to

be also found in this volume.
There were four drafts made
State authorities for

previous calls

fill

and have given, we believe
from Columbia

into the service

Regiment
The same fullness of
the troops furnished by Montour county will

county, and so credited

and

237

;

tlie

one on

in

Columbia county

— one by the

one on September 17th, 1863, to
the 3rd of June, 1864, and one on

militia

;

the 14th of April, KSGo.

Gen. Lee having surrendered April 9th, these
The last battle of the war was fought May

ed.

last

were releas-

12, 1865,

and the

surrender of Kirby Smith, the last army organization, was on the

26th of May.

During the war there were for Pennsylvania two grand emerThe first in September, 1862, which Avas relieved by
At that time Sept. 11th, GovMcClellan's victory at Antietam.
ernor Curtin called for 50,000 men, and Columbia county re.
sponded by sending four companies, and Montour by two comThe second emergency was in June 1863, on the 15th of
panies.
which month the President called for 100,000 men. Of the number required, Columbia county sent five companies and Montour
gencies.

two.

Many
ties,

citizens of

Columbia

count)',

owing

to larger local

entered into organizations outside the county.

Some

of

boun-

them

have been able to follow; doubtless however there are a number
Among the comwhose names and fate I have not discovered.
panies mustered originally in our county, there were quite possibly,
infilling up the depletions of battle and sickness, some new recruits
from other counties, though in nearly all cnses officers detailed for
the pin-i)ose came back here to fill the ranks with the neighbors

I

and frien<ls of the fallen or disabled heroes.
During the war, as is well known, great complaint was made
that we, in Columbia county and in the Congressional district, had
been unfairly dealt with by the enrolling officers. Strenuous efforts
Little
were made to have the number of enrolled men corrected.
After great trouble a reor no heed, was paid to our complaints.
vised enrollment was obtained and the justice of representations

was manifested.

JUS 70 in' OF C0ZZ'3iniA COUNTY.

238

Envollinont in 13th District 31

r ruler

300,000

call.

Dec,

IHO-t

1

Quota

Corrected enroll luent

4,003

Quota sliould be
So that tlie AVar Depart iiu'ut was
district nearly

tempt inu" to

(h-a\v

825
from tlie

as many men as we were honestly
But there was neither redress nor abatenuMit
the overplus already sent into the field, nor

credit for

to be furnished,

a reduction of the nund)er

We

outrage was certified to them.
rule,

at

three times

obliged to furnish.

— neither

1,280

2,301

and were only

save(l

from

when

the

egregious

stood powerless under military

still

furtluT injustice by the action

For the past
in t\)ngress.
was no redress, but in "An Act to amend the sevi'ral acts
enrolling ami calling out the National forces," JNIr. l>uckalew inof our

Senator and Represent at ive

there

troduced the following as the 13th Section:

"That where any revised

etn-ollnient in

draft district, has been obtained or

ing of names from the enrollment

may

be

made

lists,

adjusted and apportioned

any Congressional or

prior to any actual draw-

the quota of such district

to such revised enrollment, in-

stead of being applied to or based

up(n> the enrollment

as

it

may

have stood before revision."
But notwithstanding the correcticm of the enrolbnent, and in
8j»ite of the Act of Congress, the War Department refused to do
us justice, and drafted from the district one third more men than
they were

entitled to

call.

'I'he

from lion.

following letter

Mr

Tracy will explain the action
Wasuinijton, D. C, March 15, 1865.
John G. Fukezk, Esq Dear Sir: The Provost Marshal General of tlie U. S., after sending up an agent to investigate the enrollment in our district, and receiving his report, has removed
Capt. Manville, the Provost Marshal, and has ordered the draft to
proceed upon the basis of an enrollment of (5,000 which is a reduction of nearly one halt' from the enrt)llment before any adjustment, and must materially reduce our (piota.
:

—

;

I

am

yours trulv,

H. W. Traoy
which we propose to print, many errors, dupBut for all
licates, ami names of men then dead will be found.
these we were required to furnish our quota; for the young and
the old the maimed and the dead, Columbia county was held to
In the draft

answer.

lists

HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.

239

ENROIJ-MENT OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.

We

give two

lists

of enrollmentH.

They give

us the military

strength of the county at the date they were taken.
are V)oth subject to the corrections mentioned

both

in

1862

— one

including minors

constituted the basis of

all

and the

our quotas and drafts

September, 1862, was 1447, of which

we had

But they

They are
other not.
They

above.

:

our quota in

in service 595.

IN SKRVKJE.

TowNsuirs.

87
31

12
7
21

25
93

45
21

18

30
21
5

42
9
2

13
15

2

34
10
11

62
11

Total

4587

626

IllSTOliY

240

OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.

>

TOWNSHIPS.

»!

S S

^

w;

S G
5 £
o S
w 2

O

/ ^

^
!^

5

HO
•

'^

«

f^

^
a 3

S?

^

G

Klooiu

366

l.SS

91

Uorwick

101

30

24

13

Hriaivroek

174

0()

12

"54

47

Hoavor

150

06

7

H)

Hoiiton

148

24

21

33

Conyughmu

318
214
208
78
215
210

120

30

30

SI

25
66
22

56

17
31

64
52

20

31
16

Coutro
Catawissa
Franklin
Fishingorook

Groonwood
llomlook
Jaokson
Loc-ust

]\h>ntour

Mt. rioasnnt

Main
MilHin

Madison
Oranoo
Pine^
Roaringcreek
Soott

Sugarloaf

7!)

30
81

83
54

13
S

145
60
226
77
108
87
147
164
124
95
52
244
129

^^2

10

46
36
20
92
48

34

12

17
15
71
10

19
5
31

4844

1447

595

852

21

5

87
28

44

41

15
13

33
54

4

1

43
24
26
20
53
52

38

IIIsrOIiY

COLUM/ifA (JOUNTY.

<>I^

CONSCIKNTIOIIH

241

HCIUIl'I.E KXK.MI'T.S.

Tlic naincH of tlioHo pcrHonH who wore exempt from the perforof military <liity hoeaiiH*' of rtoiisoioitioiiH scniphiM were
Ours were the following:
furriiHhed l)V tli(; (liflVrciil, hoartls.

mance

Parvin iMasterH,
Elli-;

.Josiah H(?a<;o(;k,

FraticlH Eves,

Aaron Kester,
Algernon S. KcHter,

Lemuel OarriHon,

KveH,

Buth.-r Ivlj^ar,

Daviil Masters,

Wm.

K.

Hiram

S. Tinjj^lcy,

J. VV.

FranciH

.John

S.

K(!Hter,

L. (it^arhart,

Shadraeit Eves,

Kves,

il.

V.

\'>.

T>afayc1t(' ("reaHy,

W.

Kzra EveH,

Hai^fMihueh,
Moi-ris Masters,
Jesse Ileaeocjk,

P^ves,

W.

J>on^Khore,
Kci^liard,
Jacoh Kcstcr,

fSehechterly,

.John Milh-r, -^
Kcstcr,

B. !•'. Kest(!r,
Philip Oeasy,

H.

C

Isaat;

lleacock,

Wm.

ileese,

George Eves
STAI KMKN
''i''hc

<jf

The

NIMIIKK

OI

Secretary of War,

House of
ber

r 0|-

VOM NTKKKS
in

(;ompIianee witli

resolution of the

a

num-

volunteers (lalled for V)y the Presirlent at various periods.
first call

was April 15,1801
2,

1802, for :iOO,000; calls of Oct.

for 75,000; calls of

1802 for 500,000
15,

1803, and

;

May and

call of

July

August

Feb. 1804, for

March 14, 1804, for 200,000 call of July 18, 1804,
500,000; call of December 19, 1804, for 300,000 namely:

500,000
for

lUOM KACII STATE.

liepresentatives, has furnisyied a statement of the

1801, for 500,000: call of July
4,

CAI.I.KI*

;

HTATKS

call

of

;

;

A

242
STATES

HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.

HISTORY OF

(JOLTJMBIA COUNTY.

243

THIUTEENTl UKf I M KNT.
I

Or^.ani/('<l

September 12-17,

J

lHf;2

— Discharged

September 25-

20, 1802.

Field and
MeariH

fitaff:

Quartermaster,

Surgeon,

Asst.

Welsh

('oloncl, .lumcH

Jolirmon

Newman;

Lt. Col.,

;

.John F.

James W. Chemberlin;
W. McK<-lvy; Surfj^eoii, Williuni M. It(?ber;

Major, Samuel

;

I.

II.

Frederick

W.

Adjt.,

Vandorsloot

(/liaidain,

;

Benj. G.

Major B. S. Powers (2uartHrmaster Sergt. L. F.
Fuller; Commissary Sergt., Benjamin Mussleman Hospital Steward, Benjamin Pursell.
Sergt.

;

;

;

Company A. — Ca})tain,
M.
Simon Lyon,

Grier; 2d

])orals,

W.

Lt..

Jno.

Klias Kneir,

Robert Adams,

;

Fcrrine;

Thomas

jr.,

Wm.

Musician, John

II.

Ist.

Sergeants,
C. Ilullihen,

J.

W. A.
Hammer

Lieutenant,

John G.

Wm.

Piii-sell

i

Cor-

John
Earp, Jolm Weikheiser, Sam-

l{:uiis< y,

Cieorge Irwin, Saniiicj

"^J'liatcher,

uel Ilarmari

Winner;

Jolui A.

(?.

I'>.

K. Vastine,

Hunt.

I'KIVATKS.

John Adams

W. W. Hayes

Charles

Ilezekiah Ilolbert

Peter Baldy

Bichai'd Jenkins

Andrew

Best

Wtii.

II.

Jenkins

Peter F. Bourgenot

Kase,

Wm.

11.

Crcarliart,

Wm. McLain,
Moses Netter,

Hervey

II.

J.

Daniel H. B. l^rower, Charles
WilV)ur

Brower,

(t.

II.

jr.

GibVw,

Frank Gibbs.

S.

"^riieodorc!

Baker

Palmer,

Sam'l L. But terworth, Samuel M. GriHiii,

West Perry,

William Bryant,
Isaac X. Grier,
Herbert (Jaskins,
Nelson Carr,
Robert M. Cathcart, Michel Ilaiipt,

Isaac Pursel

James M.

Criswell,

W.

Lamar

Ilahn,

Henry Walton,
Willianv H. (\>ol,
William Wand,
William Cummings, Samuel Ware,

Charles

Childs,

lieuV»en S. Reild,

Aaron I). Uockafeller,
A. M. Russel,
Warren liidgeway,
John C. Shaver,
Joseph Sechler

Henry

jr.

Stephen Cuthbert,

Samuel

Wm.
Wm.

Dean,

Peter Werklieiser,

(^yrus F. Styers,

Dent,

Duncan

VVelliver,

C. Snyder,

Wesley Deshay,

Charles Kaufman,

Lewis Tittle,
Samuel Y. Thompson,

Jos A. Doran,

Alfred Kneas,

Ste})hen C. Vansant,

Christian Ernst,

Fred Kreps,

Jolm

Edward Evans,

Henry

Thomas

C. Ilartman,

Koclier,

L. Vastine,
J.

Vastine,

HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.

244

Josiah Frantz,

Charles Liraberger,

William E. Walton,

Sara'l B. Flick,

Reuben Werkheiser,

Alex. M. Gearhart,

Samuel Lyon,
Wm. C. Lyon,
John V. Martin,

Edmund

Franklin Miller,

Evan Fisher

jr.

Gearhart,

Geo. B. O'Conner,
Samuel J. Pardee,
-From Montour county.

Samuel Werkheiser,
B. C. Welsh, chaplain,
Josiah Wolf,
Robert Wilson,

—

Company B. Captain, William S. Potts 1st
Nicholas D. Harmau 2d Lieutenant, Mahlon Hamlin
;

;

Lieutenant,
;

Sergeants,

Lewis Hayhurst, Albert Schmick, Samuel B.
Dieraer; Corporals, Nelson P. John, George Davis, Clinton W.
Harder, Theodore Schmick Musician, Norman W. Walter.
Geo.

S. Gilbert,

;

PRIVATES.

Jer. S. Fahringer,

Valentine Metz,
John W. P\iller,
John Guinn,
Clemon Osman,
Mayberry G. Hughes,George Reifsnyder,
Thomas Kartman,
Stephen B. Rahn,
Nelson C. Hartman, Jeremiah Fahringer,
Marvin T. Hartman, George Roup,
George R. ILi.y hurst, Charles Strausser,
Edward Hart,
George W. Soult,
Lewis Kietfer,
Joseph Walter,

Amos

Daniel Kostenbader, Alfred Yetter,

William Berlinger,
George W. Clark,
C. A. Crosthwaite,

Elijah C. Cleaver,

John Care,
William Eyer,
Brittain A. Fortnei",

August Frantz,
Fahringer,

William G. Yetter,

Peter Fenstermacher,William Knittle,

Lloyd Zarr.
From Columbia county.

—

Company D. — Captain, Robert F.

Clark

;

1st Lieutenant,

David

Fowler; Sergeants, Hiram
W. Thornton, Thomas Winner, Peter Billmeyer, James A. Jamison, Levi L. Tate Corporals, Leonard B. Rupert, Thomas J. Barton, Elisha B. Beidleman, George W. Edgar, Henry C Barton,
Musician,
Fi eas Brown, Thomas W. Edgar, Henry B. Wells
William H. Abbott.

Lowenberg

;

2d Lieutenant, Charles

S.

;

;

PRIVATES.

Philip Angle,
Eli Barton,

D. A. Beckley,

William Bahme,

Cyrus A. Eilenberger,Henry W. Mellick,
John L. Evans,
John McCormac,
Robert East,
Franklin McBride,
And. J. Evans,
Wm. P. McBride,

;

HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.

Kester McMichael,
Foster McCoy,

Benj. F. Bi'ooks,

Robert Fowler,

James B. Case,

C. S. Fisher,

Watson

George Fleckinger,

Chas. H. Noll,

Henry Kesty,

John Penman,

Case,

John Cadniau,

245

Peter S. Rishel,
Alfred M. Cad\valader,Peter Kinney,
Richard B. Menagh, James Rodgers,
James Carr,

Ebenezer

S.

Case,

Geo. Carey,

Rodman

E.

Philip

Mover,

S.

Cyi-iis Miller,

Drinker, George Moyer,

Fred'k. C. Ever,

Clinton Mellick,

John Fry,
Geo. Frederick,

James
Henry

John

Peter Jacoby,

F. Fox,

Miles Fry,

Henry
Geo.

C. Grotz,

W,

Garrison,

Plill,

J.

Hess,

W. H. Jacoby,
Uriah Johnson,
Wm. Kramer,
Hiram Reese,

Geo. Green,

Roup,
Lewis A. Rank,

Eli

John Risewick,
George Ruckle.
Henry I. Slater,
John Shaffer,
W. H. Shuman,
Matthias Shaffer,
Joseph Townsend,
David P. Thomas,
B. H. Vannata,

Shipman, Wesley Wirt,
Daniel A. Walter,
Henry Shiptou,
Shannon,
Amos Wanich,
Joseph
L.
Albert Hendershott,
Wilson Wanich,
illiam Hagenbuch, Bernard Stohner,

Leonard

George Hughes,
John Hummel,

V>.

W
—

John G. Wooley.
From Colnmbia county.

—

Captain, William Young; 1st Lieutenant, Al
2d Lieutenant, Alfred Patton Sergeants, Morrison
B. Munson, A. Jerome Harder, Geo. W. Ramsey, Alex Hofner
Corporals, Alfred Yarricks, Hugh P. Liphart, Lewis Byerly, Wm.

Company K.

fred Melon

Miller;
Sergt),

:

;

Musician, Beverly

John

W. Mussleman

(promoted to Com-

Geist.

PRIVATES.

David James,
George Lunger,

John W. Krebs,
Samuel Kelly,
James Best,

Samuel Amerman,
John C. Alexander,
W. H. Leighow,

W.

Victor Lotier,

Sylvester Blockridge,

Oaklej- V.

Amerman,

H. Beyerly,

W.

Samuel Moore,
John Bedow

C.

Franklin Myers,

Murtin Cornelison,

John Dean,

Wm.

David

Bodine,

W.

Moore,

P. Pursel,

C. D. Millard,
Jos. H. Cauipbell,

James Martz,
Leonard Dinunick,

HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.

246

Joseph E. Dougherty, Lewis Rodinhefer,

John T. Patton,

Wm.

Wm.

D. Everhart,

C. C. Herr,

Riffle,

Francis Rockafeller,

John Hale,

David M. Springer,

J. S. Hall,

Geo. L. Sanders,

W. W.

William Treas,

Duncan W. Heller, Geo. W. Watts,
James M. Aramerman.

PTorner,

— From Montour county.
On

men from Colum-

the same time and occasion the additional

bia county were organized, and attached to the twenty-first regi-

ment and became

Company

—

Captain, Hiram R. Kline 1st Lieutenant, Jacob
G.
2d Lieutenant, Charles W. Forrester Sergeants, WmM. Ent, Wni. G. Thomas, Jacob N. Harman, Abraham M. White,
Wm. H. Stackhouse Corporals, Elisha C. Ager, James M. War-

D. Mellick

;

;

;

;

din,

Thomas Williams, Wesley W.

lington

Ruckle,

Wm.

C.

Sutliff,

Charles F. Suit, BiL

Barnes, Samuel H. Smith

;

Musicians,

John M. Snyder, John F. Harman.
PRIVATKS.

Samuel Achenbach,
Cyrus B. Apjjleman,
John S. Bachmau,
Samuel L. Bettle,
Darius Buscoder,
(Benscoter)

Richard M. Johnson, John Roup,
Samuel M. Keeler,
Clemuel Ruckle
Jeremiah B. Kisner, James R. Ruch,
Benj. F. Kline,

John

Sanderson Lazarus,
John Leonard,

Joseph Sanborn,

Sarley,

Nathan B. Santee,

Daniel Boise,

Benj. F. Lunger,

Adam

John Bredbender,
Bergen A. Browe,
Henry C. Conner,

Wm.

Jeremiah

R. Mather,

Hiram

S.

Marr,

A. Schuyler,
S.

Seesholtz,

Chas. Stackhouse,

Samuel Montgomery,John M. Stackhouse,
Jeremiah H. Mears, Samuel Shoemaker,
Fred Muffley,
Albert Searles,
Wm. J. Eves,
Benj. F. Pursel,
Milton M. Traugh,
Wm. Fenstermacher, Llewellyn Prosser, Wm. Warrick
Wm. Fisher,
Jeremiah B. Rice,
(Wanick)
Wm. Remley,
M. B. Hughes,
Silas E. Walton,
Benj. F. Jacoby,
Geo. W. Rittenhouse,Charles R. Woodin,
Mason C. Johnson, Hartley N. Ror,
Samuel K. White,
Wesley Zaner.
From Columbia county
Lewis Crawford,
John Edgar,

—

HISTORY 01 COLUMBIA COUNTY.

247

COLUMBIA COUNTY KESERVES.
This company of

"Emergency Men," left Bloomsburg on the
22d of Seittember 1862. I have not been able to find that they
were ever mustered into the service, or placed in any regiment.
Dr. P. John, Capt.

McKamey,

I.

Achd

Patterson,

Lieut. Samuel Musgrave,

1

Pealer, 2 Lieut. C. O'Brien,

S. J.

M.

C. Vance, 1 Sergt.D. J. Patterson,

M.

C.

R.

S.

T.

McD

Price,

Alfred Creveling,
Sylvester Pursel,

Thos. Hughes,
McCollum,2 Ser.C. L Krickbaum,
A. P. Ale,
Jesse B. Hayman, 3 SWm. H. Krickbaum, H. N. Ammerman,
Rich, 4 Sergt.

E. M. Wardin,

1

C. Bittenbender,

Corp.Ira Doty,

Benj.

F. P. Masters, 2 Corp.E. P. McCollum,

H.

W.
W.

W.

J.

D.

Ira Hess,

Bangs, 3 Corp.J. B. Lutz,

W.

Hess,

Michael Wenner,
A. Crawford,

Gilbert,

John

Bellas,

Thomas

Robbins,

Wm.

Green ley,

John Hoffer,

Hill,

E. B. Brower,

R. R. Pealer,

E. P. Bender,

J. L. Parker,

Jesse Shoemaker,

W. W.

Elisha C. Barton,

J.

John

Wm. Henry,
Samuel Achenbach,

Redline,

J. C.

W. W.

Clayton,

Josiah Heacock,

C. Patterson,

N. B. Reece,

Eveland,
Depue,

A. A. Harvey,

Elias Hicks,

Silas

Henry Kicli,
Solomon Lewis,

Alfred Johnson,

Andrew

P. F. Ashleman,

J.

John l\eeee,
David Doty,

T. J. Thornton,

J.

L. T. Sharpless,

Benj. F. Hicks,

Patrick Dillon,

W.

J. J.

Brower,

E. Sands,

T.

Conner,
Parks,

Samuel Farver,

Wesley Eveland,
Fleckenstine,

Andrews,
o

EMERGENCY MEN 1863.

The emergency of 1862 ended with the defeat of the rebels by
McClellan at Antietam in September, 1862. But in December
1862 our troops were beaten at Fredericksburg under Burnsides
;

May, 1863, still more disastrously under Hooker, at Chancellorsville
and in the month of June, 1863 the rebels prepared
to rei)eat their invasion of Pennsylvania.
On the loth of June a
rebel brigade entered Cliambersburg, and other forces followed.
On the 12th of June Gov. Curtin had issued his proclamation, and
and

in

;

HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.

248

men was

and around
was a
nuistering of forces and a gathering of troops and material on
both sides, and on the first days of July, 1863, the tendency of the
rebel army was towards Gettysburg.
And there on the 1st, 2d
and .'?d days of July, tlie fierce and contested and much discussed
battle of Gettysburg was fought.
The rebels were beaten, and
before the middle of the month of Jnly, had recrossed tlu> Potonxac, and the "emergency" was over,
In this call for men the following persons went from Ci»lund)ia
and Montour.
They were mustered into service in June and discharged in August.
rWKNrY-FIKST UKGIMENT
Mustered in June ll)-24, 18G3— Discharged July 27-28, 1863.

by

a largo force of

tlu' ITtli

From

irarrisburg.

that date to

encaiiiped

tlie last

— Colonel. James Chamberlin

Field and Staff
Mci^leery

Wm.

in

of the month, there

;

Lieut Col. John

Jessup; Adjt., Jacob Mellick Quartermaster, Thompson G. Evans
Surgeon, Geo. Lotz Asst. Sur;

Major,

II.

;

;

;

Henry

geon,

C.

Roberts; Sergt. Major, Albert E. Barnes; Quar-

termaster Sergt. Sanniel
J. Slei)py;

H.

Orwig

Hospital Steward,

Wm.

Company C— Captain, Robert

;

Conuuissary Sergt. Thonnis

S.

Moyer.

F. Clark;

Lieutenant,

1st

Kd

Green; 2d Lieutenant, Thos. W^enner; Sergeants, Andrew
Madison, Isaac McKamey, VV. II. Abbott, Isaiah W. Masteller,
C\

Isaiah
(too.

Hagenbuch; Corporals, Emanuel Garrison,

K. Green, ITarman

Hoffman,

M.

Johnson, Peter

Wm. W. McCoUum,

S.

Eli

llishel,

Barton,
Geo.

W.

John Penman, Musician, Willits C.

Gearhart.
riiivvTics.

Francis Albertson,

Sanniel Harp,

Iviclnirdson Parker,

David Hartman,

John

Daniel Baker,

Ira Hess,

Jolin J. Uisewick,

Jos. K. Bogart,

Alvin A. Harvey,

IxMij. F. Sterner,

Sanmel Bogart,

Josiah Heacock,

Wm.

Isaac

Albert

Geo.

W. Andrews,

S. Brittain,

F

Peiifer,

Shoemaker,

HendershottPeter F. Shoeman,

Franklin Brocliius,
Oscar Buckalew,
Oscar B. Case,
Michael Chemberlin,

Tobias Henry,

Moses

Benj. F. Hicks,

Ilezekiah B. Thomas,

Samuel Howard,

Sylvester Crawford,

Eleazar Jones,

Josiah Townsend,
James Turby,
Charles Trump,

Isaiah

I.

Jamison,

Stiff,

HISTORY OF COLUMBIA C0UN7Y.
Clark

Crt'veliiig,

SainiK'l

Dodge,

249

KiclllU'll ,I(;hllS011,

Thomas Vamiutta,

Eli as

John B. Vaiihoni,

I

licks,

Van

Ira Doty,

David

Francis P. Drinker,

Eli Kuiikle,

John

Wni.
John
John

Alonzo Lockhart,
Theodore May,

Philip C. Whiteiiight,

James A.
James K.

Merrill,

C. K.

Mills,

Jacob Wei'kliciscr,

P^ilwards,

W.
W.

Thos.

Evans,
P2yer,

Fil/-<;('i-ald,

K

Chas.

Geo.

Wm.

li. (ireeii,

Cyrus

(Jroul,

Criiber,

P.

Benj. F.

Whitenight,

Woodin,

Mc Bride,

— From Columbia county
Conqyany IL — Captain, Uzal H.

Hampton 2d

VVa(4onseller,

Isaac iNIordan,

Fiiiniaii,

li.

Ilernboldt,

J.

Hervey B. Walter,
Nathan Walj),
Nels(jn McCaity,
Alnion Woodworth,
Matthew McColluni, John Watkins,
John L. Parker,
Jacob Waiiipole,

Ashiir K. Follmcr,
Elias

C.

H. Ivliiie,

Eiit

;

1st

Lieutenant,

Jos. D.

James C. Hinkson, John H. Bates, C. H. Smith, Mason B. Hughes, John L Haitinan, Reed R. Vargason
Corjjorals, Jos. S. Hayraan, Marvin J.
Kline, Jos. \^. Aiman, Charles MufHey; Musicians, Chas. H. Allabach, John Fortner.
:

Lieutenant, Jesse Tate

;

Sei-geants,

;

rUlVATKS.

Furguson Eveland,
James P^oster,
Theodore Fedder,

Geo. \V. Anderson

W.

Bodine,

F.

Geo. K. Bidleman,

Thos

J.

Henry Floyd,
James J. Fowler,

Brinton,

B. H. Ji.ooks,

Tavlor

L.

Jiowman

Isaiah N. Mears,

Isaac MufHey,

Joseph Nice,
Geo. O'Malia,

Jesse Griswold,

W. Hayman,

Benj. Payden,
H'^man A. Prentiss,
Simon D. Pealer,

Jeremiah Comsti^ck,

Geo.

Wesley Crawford,
Enoch Cadman,

Hersey Hower,

Francis A. Pealer,

Benj. G. Hess,

Charles N. Shaffer,

Lewis C. Crofford,
Frederick Hicks,
Caleb C. Coburn,
Noel B. Lee,
Wm. H. Connor,
Thonnis Meredith,
Redmon<l C. Drunun^Jolin B. Mears,
William Yantz,
Isaac F. Yost,

— From ColnmV>ia

Absalom Tonkin,
Chas. M. Vanderslice,

Owen D. Webster,
Sidney C. Williams,

county.
o

IN

THK THIUTIKTII

Company E. — Captain,

Josiah

RF.UI.MKNT

W.

David Hollingshead; 2d Lieutenant,

WERE

Williams

Wm.

J.

;

1st

Lieutenant,

Brady; Sergeants

HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.

250

Lloyd

W.

J.

B. Fistler, Alvin K.

Kostenbader, John Ludwig

;

Cleaver, Scott

Hite,

James B.

Corporals, Joseph Walter, Geo.

W.

Wni. B. Whiteside, JNI. M. llendershott,
Henry M. Yocuui, Samuel Beaver.

Rett, Allen B. Fortner,

Alex B.

Quiini,

rUIVATKS.

Lorenzo N. Briggs,

Theodore Miner,
William Gearhart,
Gideon B. Mutchler,
Thonuis E. Plarder,
Frederiek Miller,
(promoted to Sergt.Clemnu)n Osmun,
Major June 27, '63) Geo. W. Reifsnyder,
Isaac Hagerty,
Ira Rodarmel,
David Hagerty,
Marshal S. Rhawn,
Alex Ilite,
Charles Rhodes,

Jesse Cleaver,

Lionel Hopkins,

Jose])h Schlee,

Wesley

Simon Huntsberger,

Daniel Shoemaker,

Jacob Cofenhaver,
John Davis,

Jacob Johnson,

Josiah VV. Smith,

Wash

Jacob Kitchen,
Edward E. Watkins,
Theodore L. Kramer, James Wartman,

Charles C.

Albert Kisher,

Ixill,

Zachiiriah Beach,

Samuel IJiieher,
John J>reiseh,
Henry Bredbenner,

Wm.

Brobst,

Martin V. Briggs,

(^ooley,

Dyer,

Jj.

D. Kase,

Charles Dougherty,
Harvey Laniberton,
Lloyd Fahringer,
Jeremiah Fahringer, Archibald Lewis,
Amos Fahringer,
George Morgan,
Abel T. Fincher,
Thomas jMalay,
From Columbia county.

David Stewart,

Daniel Wary,

W

M.
Wintersteen,
John D. Whiteside,
Tobias Weaver,

—

o
XHIRTY-FIl'TH RKGIjMKNT.

Mustered

in

July

2,

— Discharged

1863

Fidd and Staff.— Qo\o\\v\,
onel,

Edward

C.

Scheitfelin

August

7,

1863.

Ileiuy H. INlcKean: Lieutenant Col:

Major, Sanniel Knorr;

Adjutant,

Henry H. Roe Quartermaster, Hugh Young Surgeon, Renssalaer Ottman Assistant Surgeon, W. W. Webb; Chaplain, Wm.
H. Dill Sergeant, ]Major, Wni. H. Humphries; Quarter JNIaster
Sergeant, John G. Keeler Conmiissary Sergeant, Clark E. Davis;
Hospital Stewards, Lemuel A. Rdigway, John C Lacy, jr.
Company H was raised by the personal exertion of our townsman David Lowenberg, Esq., and after they were sworn into the
service, by a vote of the company they unanimously adopted the
name of the '*Lowenberg Guards," and were as follows
Company H. Captain, J. Boyd Robison 1st Lieutenai,'. John
;

;

:

;

;

:

—

;

ULSTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.
Low;

B. GuiklH; 2d Lieutciiiint, George L.

Sergeants,

251

Reuben

L.

John F. Decker, Tolnus Hinaid, Parvin
Eves Corporals, Henry J. Robbins, Thomas 13. Miller, John M.
Sanks, Samuel Musgrave, Francis Knorr, John Edgar, Charles
Nesbitt, Francis M. Girton.

Rich, Henry

W.

ReerH,

;

I'UIVATK.S.

Wm.

Jasper Deinott,

James H. Ilildebrand, Samuel Rimby,
John C. Richart,
J)avid Ileiser,
Henry Rich,
Alexander Hazlett,
Michael Shoemaker,
Henry J. Johnson,
Eli M. Knorr,
John F. Smith,
Richard Shannon,
John W. Kennedy,

Francis M. Drum,

Al>salom J^ewis,

William Shoemaker,

David Edwai'ds,

Jacob K. Latshaw,
Jonathan Lemon,
Jolm Lemon,
Heniy Long,

Thos. E. Sands,

Allen Harvey,

James R.

Josiah

George Heacock,
John W. Hunter,

Jeremiah Millard,
h'lederick MufHey,

Enninuel

Abraham W. Monroe, Wm.

Baker,

Wash

IJittenhender,

Henry C-roiii),
John I. Case,
Joseph Davis,

Michiiel (Jruher,

Ad:im Gensil,
Ethen Hampton,

Hill,

Andrew 13. Pines,
Harvey Rhoads,

Hokendaffer,

— From Columbia county.
Companij — Captain, Wm.
I.

Stiles,

John Staley,
ILirmon Smith,

Amos

William

Stewart,

Jacob Stern,

Mordan,

J<din

(Jeo.

Edward

Mills,

Davi<l K. Hower,
Hill,

Daniel Shannon,

J.

Terode,

Whitenight,

John G. Wooley,
John A. Wise,

A. Barton

;

1st Lieutenant,

John

N. Hughes: 2d Lieutenant, James F. Trum]> Sergeants, John F.
Eck, Orion B. Mcllick, Oscai- B. Millard, John Betz, Tilghman
;

Faux

;

Corporals, Clark

Reece, Kimlter C.

Price,

Ent, Samuel

John

Musicians, Chai-les F. Doan, (Jeoi-ge

S.

liachmari.

Napoleon B.

McTowler

Trumj), Robert

H.

;

W. Monroe.

I'KIVATES.

Philip Angle,

Joseph lierdcott,

Comfort

James

E. Butler,

Wm

H.

Dill,

Prom(jted to Chaplain
Case,
(ieorge \V^. Creveling, July 9, 1H63.
ii.

Priscus K. Boml)<)y,
Alfred (i. Burlingame.Isaac ('reveling,
Peter Coons,
Charles A Jiooiie,
Patrick Dailey,
Simon O. Berger,
(Jeo. A. Frederick,
William Briggs,

Ge<j.

Thos.

W.

E<lgar,

W.

P2dgar,

Joseph L. Evans,
Charles

S.

Fowler,

)

HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.

2r^-2

Win. Fenstermacher, Win. ILigenbuch,

W.

S;nnuel

Henry

Girton,

Robert
Geo.

S.

W.

Thomas

Samuel McKainey,

Garrison, Daniel ITannuoiul,
Will.

Howell,

Garrison,

II.

Oscar D. Price,

Jessuj),

(leo. S. Patterson,

Iveul>en Johns,

John Pugh,

W.

Piiilip J. Piles,

H. Kiiouse,

Win. Lake,
J ohn S. Lenhart,
Daniel Mowrey,
Cyrus B. Miller,

L. Hess,

Geo. C. Hnglies,

Joseph Heckman,
Isaiah Hall,

Henry Trembly,
Thos.

B

Trowbridge,

Henry Waiiich,
Silas E.

Walton,

Henry Zeigler,
Charles W. Zaner,
-From Columbia county.
F( \IV\- V\ RST

F'u'hl
onel,

and

Staf.

Alexander

KK( IM KXT.
i

— Colonel, Edward
Frick

J.

;

li.

Mayer

Major, John

Stejthen D. Soiile; Quarterniaster,

Abtam

H.

;

Lieutenant Col-

Oliver; Adjutant,

Longaker Surgeon,
Theodore C. V eager;
Chaphiin, John Thomas
Sergeant Major, Frank W. Watson;
(Quartermaster Sergeant, Gould P. Parisli
Commissary Sergeant, Ivussel A. Thayer, Hospital Steward, Frank Barnes.
Company E. Captain, Alexander J. Frick ({>roinoted to Lieutenant Colonel July 5, 1863), George W. Ileay
1st Lieutenant,
John W. W. Klase 2d i.ieutenant, Erastus Hill; Sergeants, Sheldon T. Gibbs, Jacob F. Kedtield, John Keim, Samuel G. Quick,
Will. Henrie
Cori)orals, E. Dallas Smith, Ogden H. Ostrander,
Charles Small, John A. Elliott, George Wallace, John J. Roderick, Alexander M. Russel, William M. Watts; Musicians, Augustus
Woods, Benjamin J. C^ook.
Pobert

S.

Simiiigton

;

B.

;

Assistant Surgeon,
;

;

—

;

;

;

PRIVATES.

Samuel Amermaii,
Wm. G. Brower,
Win. Evan,
James M. Amermaii, Elisha W. Conkling, Wm. D. Evans,
Latimore Amerman, Hawthorne Clare,
Wm. P. Edmonds,
George Auten,
Isaac Crewitt,
Moses R. Furman,
Wm. Beckham, jr. Edward Ciithbert,
Alvin Fowler,
Charles S. Baker.
John Dodson,
Ziba Gerringer,
George Berdaniel,
Joseph A. Doran,
Geo. W. Gray,
John W. Bailey,
Wm. Davis,
Samuel Hays,
Tlios. Brown,
Hiram S. Eggert,
Chas. S. Hinkley,
Joliii Bunker,
Evan S. Edward,
Win. H. Hardin,

HISTORY OF (JOTAJMBIA COUNTY.
Wm.
Wm.
Wm.

Hullihcn,

Wm.

R. Hahn,

Dewitt C. Millard,
Mathias Muiray,
Ednujnd Milner,
Samuel N. Miller,

Iloff,

Win.

F. Horner,
Wellington Howe,

A. Marr,

Evan Jordan,

Benj. F. Mayers,

Lewis li. Jones,
H. Wm. Johnson,
Frank Johnson,
Samuel Kester,

Wm.
Wm.

Wm. D. Wilson,
Uriah G. Kust,
John H. lounger,
Wm.

Milner,

lain July 12, 1863)

W. Van

Daniel Paugh,

Geo.

StaiKlish I^hillips,

Samuel Van kirk,
Wm. Vought,

Wm.

Leighow,

David M. Springer,
Wm. Shawda,
Samuel Y. Thom])son,
Sam'l. M. Trumbower,
Robert Teple,
John Thomas,
(Promoted to Chap-

Moyer,

D. Rogers,

Gilder,

John

Ivichard,

Wm.
Wm.

Wm.

Randall,

Robt. G. Williams,

JacoV) H.
jr.

jr.

253

Ruch,

John Levers,
Wm. M. Smith,
David Litehenthaler, Robert M. Slack,
Thos. Loudon,
John B. Snyder,
Henry H. Leisenring,Wm. H. Snyder,
From Montour county.

Williams,

1st,

Williams, 2d.

Burton G. Waples,
Charles Williams,

William A. Young,

—

o

FIFTY Tlimi) REGIMENT.

Company

Z>.

— Captain,

Thomas Chalfant;

1st.

Lieutenant,

Mahlon K. Manley; 2d Lieutenant, John S. Ware; Sergeants,
Benneville K. Vastine, Samuel Antrim, James H. Burns, Simon
Vought, John C. ICUis Corporals, Geo. D. Butler, James McWilliams, Wm. Dean, Peter Zeigler, Alexander Share, Samuel M.
Wuite, Benj. F. Hagenbuch, Daniel Linn.
;

PRIVATES.
Jesse C. Araerman,

Patrick Brazil,

(Promoted to Sergeant James C. Baylor,
Major July 8, 1863) Joseph VL. Campbell,
John Amerman,
John Carlan,
Martin H. Cuthbert,
James Ash worth,
Hiram H. Amerman, Stephen Cuthbert,
John Boudman,
Josei)h Coopersmith,
Michael Callan,
Jacob Byerly,

Lewis Byerly,
Jos. Brigham,

Michael Dalton,
Jackson Diehl,

Nicholas Baker,

Daniel Fry,

Matthew Gafny,
El wood Garrett,

W.

H. Gearhart,

John Gilroy,
Matthew Handy,
Samuel Herr,
John Harvey,
Alex. Huntingdon,

Henry Heist,
Henry Hockey,
David James,

254

HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.

P]j>hraiin

C

Jacob

Kostor,

T\riit«'hler,

J.

Win. Linn,

John McCadey,
Sylvester McNully,

Charles lA'ighow,

Jones Snyder,

Walter Scott,
Geo. D. Scott,

Jos. Ta'vots.

Denis O'Neil,

John

John L.'twson,
Engonc Li'nh;ut,

David Parks,

Levi Sechler,

H.irkley Perry,

Conviid

Max

Caleb Snyder,
Jacob Straub,

Ijoctlniler,

Pi'rcy,

John

Michael INIurphy

Matthias

Peifer,

John Mowrer,

Morgan

Philip Miller,

Charles Pedtield,

Jos. ]\[o\vrer,

John

IT.

Sniitli,

George Tillson,
Win. TT. Winter,
James D. Ware,
James Younu'.

Peter M. Messenger, Charles Peiffer,

—From Montmir connty.

Sechler,

Price,

Keedi'r,

o

THK nUAKlKD

The following
in

is

a

CVilumbia connty.

list

MIl.rriA

of

OK COT.UMIUA COUNTY.

the drafted

The townships

ough of Berwick having fnniishcd
were exein]>t from draft.

Militia of each townshiji

of Catawissa, Pine and Bor-

their cpiota

by vohinteering,

lu.ooM rowN'suir

A. M. Ixnpert,

James Hen wood,
Henry S. Arthur,
M. CAbbott,
Philip Shoemaker,

Henry W. Heller,
John Girton,
Denison Brink,
Eli Roup,
Eli Barton,

Thos. W. Gunton,
Henry Bodine,
Jesse Shoemaker,
G.

W.

Correll,

John Foster,
W^m. Girton,
Eckard Smith,

Wm.

Evans,

Jacob (Jii'st,
David Evans,

Samuel Stead,

Isaiah Nuss,

Benjamin Bomboy,

Samuel Gross,

Josc])!) Witts,

Wm.

Edgar,

Joseph L. Shannon,

Samuel Yetter,
Solomon Smith,
Philip S. Moyer,
Abraham TT. Thomas, Wm. Coleman,
I'rederick C. P^yer,
Samuel McNinch,
W^n. F. Hagenbuch, Henry Fans,
John Giest,
Wm. IT. Jacoby,
Jacob Sechler,
Thos. J. Barton,
Andrew MeCabe,
Ethan A. Scott,
Ilobert Edgar.
Samuel H. Searles,
Oliver C. Ivahler,

Wm.

E. Sterner,

HUIARCKKKK
David Kline,

Wm.

Wellington Reiswick,
Augustus B. Raub.

TOAATSISHIP

(Mewell,

Conrad Markle,

Eli as Yost,

Emanuel Smith,
Stephen Michael,

HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.
Isaiah Mel lick,
John H. Martz,

Fowler,

(ico.

(4eorge Arty,

Alex. Bingham,

Joseph Blank,

Reese

Henry Laymon,

John

M

Eck,

Ilai'inan,

Albert Ox,

Stephen Creasy,

Ellas Kop]iis,

Wm.

Madiz Bomboy,

Will. Iliitplesteol,

J.

Silas E.

Moyer,

PI.

Stahl,

P. Gordiner,

Jacob R. Mosteller,
Wm. Lynn,
(too. Bovver,
James Meean,
Jacob WeiKe,
Morris Hittcnhoiise, David Shaffer jr.,
.James Sponenberg,
Samuel K(l<ly,
Augustus B. Clewell,
Samuel Dieterick,

Ne'li. Kitteiihouse,

Owen

Suit,

Thomas Adams,

255

Roney

(Jordetdieizer,

William Wald,
Sampson Fold,
Milton M. Traugh,
Job Grass ly.
Miles Maitiney,

Wm. Bower,
Jolm Harris,

I^evi IJiiiard.

HKAVKli TOWNSIill".

Solomon
Joseph

Slicker,

Sinj^ley,

Frederick

I

louts,

Joseph Nabs,

David Link,
J)avid Nabe,

Jacob Longaberger,

Henry Swank,
Reuben Sherman,
John Longenberger, Jonah Johnson,
Josiah Rittenhouse,
John Naus
Wm. Michael,
Samuel Herring,
Aaron Johnson, jr.
Levi McAfee,
Michael Moorand,
John Delyas,

Amos

M.

Fred Hosier,
John Defiance,
Henry Miller,
Levi Fisher.
Nathan Eruin,
Yeager,

Joseph Louden,

F. Hosier,

Isaac Schell,

W.

Jacob Hoffman,
M. Herring,
Nathan Longaberger ,John Mensinger.
l*hilip Detiance,

Moses

I'atrick Tinch,

Eli Ervin,

Jacob Bernberger,
Uriah McAfee,
Phili)) Moorand,
John Longaberger,

Slicker,

BKN TON Tf)WNSIIIP.
Philip A. Kline,

Peter Ashelman,

Merice R. Smith,
Parvin Masters,

John

Jolm Swartout,
W. K. Krickbaum,

Joel Keefer,

Oscar Conner,
W. Bangs,
Phenias Remley,
Geo. M. Hartman,

Elias Shultz,

Hiram

Peter Laubach,

Earl Boston,

John

Jared Gauff,

Wheeler

Peter B. Shultz,

Geo.
Eli

W.

Clinger,

McHenry,

W.

Russel

Beishline,

Shiiltz,

Shultz,

Ilendric

Seigfried,

J.

Karns,

Philip F. Krickbaum,Nathan B. Tubbs,
Elias Ash,

David

S.

Laubach,

jr.

256

III

STORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.
CONYNGIIAir TOAVNSIIU'

Geo. Snyder,

Wm.

Michael Sclmbuly,

E. L. Bitterly,

John Grady,

Reuben Wasser,
John J. Wagoner,
Peter Umlawf,

llobt. Gorrell,

David Bruens,
John Hughes,

Bairt,

Michael Mulligan,

Jacob Roderan,
Dennis Manly,
Jim Crawford,

John Campbell.

Tom

Patrick (Tologham,

Michael ShuUer,

Pat Manehau,
John Yost,
Jacob Wagner,

Tom

Henry Zinnnerman,

Daniel Jones,

John McDowell,
Durkin,

Franklin Shappell,

Tom

Nolle,

Jacob Shultzj
Wm. Duefaw,
H. Warmich,
Simon Clirist,

Wm.

Anterson,

Butler,

Hugh

Hart,

Chas. Sharp,

Peter Carlely,

Tom

M. Cook,

Pat Shoshay,
Timothy Carney,
Pat Agen,

John Bloss,
James Ryan,

Andrew

Mull,

Tom McCook,
Walter Dugal,
John Wilebrant,
John IjclHer,
Owen Gane,
Pat Wills,
Joseph \\'^arlem,
Jacob Oridauf,

Tom
Tom

Butler,
\\'elsh,

Michael Whittier,
Frank Warnick,
Pat Fye,

Wm.
Dan
Toni

l^ranchitz,

(Jrum,
INIeury,

Ellis V^alentine,

CENTRE TOWNSniP.

John Nnngesser,

Charles Goodman,

Josepli

Witmeyer,

Sanniel Knorr,

Wm.

Mahlon

B. Hicks,

James Wardin,

Kinly,

Samuel C. Kelchner, Michael Hogan,
Thonnis Fry,
Henry Sidell,
Daniel B. Witmoyer,
John Remly,
Daniel Shaffer,
George Conner,
Isaac Arewine,
James K. Fisher,
Elisha Hagenbuch,
Fred Nuss.
John Miller,
Daniel Howei",
Phoe,
Samuel Witmoyer,
Charles Bornick,
Imanuel Hill,
Silas Harmon,
John C\iw,
Freeman H. Deterick,Theo. McD. Price,
W^m. Durline,
Tilghani D. Straus, John Stiner,
Samuel Martz,
Wm. Remly,
Daniel Dauberd,
Adam W. C. Kelb,
Geo. H. Boone,
Mordecai M. Hicks, George Younger,
Hiram Hetler,
Eli as Young,
Matthew Hogan,
Jesse J. Frederick,
Richard Ru{)ert,
John Faux,
Adam Hill,
John Workeiser,
Frederick Michael,

HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.

257

Aaron Nusb,

Daniel Lowry,

Jacob Spenser,

Samuel Hilbum,

Nathan

Frederick Hagenbuch

Miller,

FISHINGCREEK TOWNSHIP.

Augustus M. Weaver,Hiram Pealer,

Wm.

M. Laudenbach,

Joseph C. Ruiiyan,
Jeremiah Yaple,

A. P. Unangst,

Jackson Ale,

Jacob Farver,

William Hess,

Charles F. Kindig,

Hiram McHenry,

Abraham

John

Eli Robbins,

Daniel Yaple,

Levi Bishline,
Isaac

McHenry,
Kline,

William Santee,
George Heath,
Jo8e})h Thomas,
Samuel F. Pealer,
Elisha B. Emery,

Reuben Savage,
John M. Buckalew,

J.

AUiger,

Silas

McHenry,

Alias Ash,

Wm.

Conrad Hipplesteel,

Elias P. Bender,

Ira D. Kline,

John

J. Fuller,

Hiram Labour,
Stott McHenry,

Wm.

McGill Woods,

Unangst,

Reuben Boston,

Monroe Markle,

William Hagenbuch, George Pealer,
Christian J. Ash,
Alexander Kramer,
John Dietereck,
Marma W. Simonton,
Moses McHenry,
Alfred ¥. Creveling,

Stephen Dresher,

Washington

William M. Stoker,

Thomas Yaple,

William

FRANKLIN TO^VNSIIIP.
Joseph Beaver,
Thomas F. Harder,

Paul Wolfe,

Miller,

Bellis,

John McHenry.

Christian L. Artly.

GREENWOOD

TOAVNSHIP.

Richard Kitchen,

Wm.

Wm.

Burgess,

Algernon

Abm.

Seybert,

George B. Thomas,
Jacob Ha)Tiian,

Harrison Deterick,

Cornelius Rees,

John

Wilson M. Eves,
Charles Hower,
Joseph Hayraan,
Perry D. Blair,
Samuel McHenry,
John Lemon,
Joseph D. Fulmer,
U. J. Campbell,
Joseph C. Parker,
A. B. Brown,
W. E. Heacock,

Alber Shields,

C.

David M. Kester,

Joseph

Jacob F. Deterick,
Joseph W. Rees,

Virgil Robbins,
Jos.

Isaac Kline,

Clinton Robbins,

John Thomas,
George Ikeler,
Jackson Shannon,

Daniel R. Pursel,

Davis,

Elijah J. Ikeler,

Wm.

Fox,

Harvey G. Smith,

Elwood

Heacock,

J.

Kester,

S.

Levi Pilkington,
Robbins,

J.

W.

Kline,
S.

W.

Andrew

Kline,

Huntzinger,

J.

Crawford,

Philip Knouse,
Jacob S. Boone,
Jacob Mussleman,

Charles Forsythe.

HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.

258

IIEMI-OCK TOWNSHIP.

Daniel Holder,

Levi Wright,

James W. Ecke,
James Powell,
Henry Whitenight,

Amos Townsend,

Ed. G. Smith,

Wm.

Hartman,

jr,

Elias Gigger,

John Mussleman,
William P. Jones,
George L. Shoemaker,
John C. Miller,

Charles Sage,

Eli Ohl,

John Harman,

Michael Whitenight, John Eyer,

Jacob Miller,

John

James D.

Joseph Evans,

Ludwijj

Piirsel,

S.

jr.

Miller,

Henry Shaffer.
Thomas Russel,

Hartman.
JACKSON TOWNSHIP.

W. McHenry,

Silas

Wm.

Charles C. Mastellar, Stephen McHenry,

Young,
Samuel Hess,
Martin Getz,

George Remly,
Jesse Rhone,

Hugh

Joseph F. Derr,

W. W.

Calvin Derr,

Thos.

Shultz,

Sanmel F. Hess,
Elijah

Andrew

J.

Derr,

Wilson Albertson,
Geo. G. Maiming,
John H. Fritz,
Roberts,

S.

Hess,

Yocum.
LOCUST TOWNSHIP.

John Beaver,

Chas.

S. G. Arning,
Sebastian Kechelries,Dan Bellmon,

Cyrus Shaffer,
Joshua Womer,

Wright Hughes,

John Krisher,

Chas. Williams,

Peter Beaver,

Dan

Wm.

Christian Mensch,

Israel

Dan Longaberger,

Wm.

Chas. Miller,

John Erwin,
Samuel Loan,
Lewis Rinebold,

Wm. Winn,
John Swenk,

Wm.

Dan

Martin V. B. Kline,
Nicholas Backer,

John Mensch,
Stephen Yohe,
Emanuel Ashton,

Ben Beaver,
John Mirnen,

Pifer,

Jackson George,
Daniel B. Stephens,
D. K. Lockard.

Stine,

Beleg,

Leiby,

Henry V. Yeager,

Wm.

Yeager,

Whary,

H. Reinbold,
Wesley Perry,

Wm.

Roat,

David Adams,
Henry Hoffman,

MONTOUR TOWNSHIP.
Chas Fetser,
Frank Miller,
Emanuel Conner,

Wm. Low,
Josiah Edwai-ds,

David Mai-tial,
James Farnsworth,
Josiah Brown,

Chas. Reader,

Wm

Jesse Somers,

Tom

Lloyd Paxton,

Weaver,

John G. Quick,
Linn,

Silas

Conner,

IlISTOMY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY
Jackson Leiby,

Martin Kline,

James Foster,

Joseph Decker,
Michael Ranch,

Dan

Gigger,

jr.

259

Jonathan Fry,
Caleb Dies,

Dan

Lazarus.

MAIN TOWNSHIP.

Wm.

P.

Win.

Swislior,

Shuman,

David Shuman,

Benjamin Nuss,

Lewis

Abraham Shuman,

F'elger,

Leniuel Bredbenner,

Wm.

Dan

Chas. Fisher,

Miller,

II. W. Brown,
Gideon Nuss.

Peter Fisher,

Samuel Dalious,
Aaron Miller,
Daniel Harmony,

Christian ITarinan,

Francis Fleminu".

MOUNT

Dan

Vanderslice,

Amos Gru1)er,
Amos Wanick,
Sam Hartman,

Tom

Jones,

Longaberger,

PI.E.VSANT TOWNSHII'.

Lemuel Shoemaker,
Henry W. Mellick,

Joe R. Vanderslice,

Henry Wilkins,
Andrew Shoemaker, Russel Appleman,
Andrew C. McArty,
All)ert Miller,
John Mordin,
Andrew J. Ikeler,

Geo. Steinmiller,

Henry Mel ick,

John Hippensteel,

Eri J. Ikeler,

Philip Stroup,

Chas. Shaffer,

Aaron
David

K ester,

John Osmun,

Brees,

Geo.

W.

Mathias Kindt,

Jacoby,

John

Patterson.

S.

MIFFUX TOWNSHir.

Sam

Piefer,

Wm.

Piatt,

Sam

John H. Davis,

E. D. Kirkendall,

Plnlip Stuly,

A. W. Hess,
Michael B. Hetler,

jr.

Peter C. Eokrote,

Jacob Fox,
Reuben Hons,

David Brown,

ReuV)en Frey,

Geo. Mowery,

Peter

Wm.

Stephen Hetler,

Obediah Swank,

Aaron Hess,

Henry
Kenry

K. Smith,

Pettit,

Isaac Lutz,

Dan H.

Iluttenstine, E.

W.

Kirkondall,

J.

Lantz,

C. Hooffnagle,

Hetler,

J. J.

Hess,

Sam

Micliael.

Samuel Lutz,
John Michael, jr.
H. Schweppenheiser, David Mensch,

Tom

Aten,

Jonathan Spade,

Stephen Dieterick,

Wm.

John R. Yohe,

Andrews,

Isaac

Elias Dererick,

Geo. Spade,

John Creasy,
Sam Andrews,

J.

Joe Frederick,

Martin Keller,

John Kirkendall.

F. Keller,

Zimmerman,

Isaac E. Feets,

Adam

Miller,

HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.

260

MADISON TOWNSHIP.

Robert Fruit,
S. S. Runyan,

Edward Stout,
Henry Dildine,

Daniel Mencal,

Jacob Girton,

Jacob Kramer,
Mahleii R. Roads,

Charles Johnson,

Samuel Brugler,
Isaac Whipple,

Uriah Welliver,
Richard F. Stout,

James Kindlen,

Francis Eves,

Wesley Demott,
Henry Wagner,

Wm.

Parvin Swisher,

Silas Welliver,

Wintei'steen,

Geo. H. Whitenight, Nelson Welliver,

John

W.

Joel Moser,

Samuel S. Lowry,
John Stetler,
Michael Haup,

John Straupt,
David Ross,
O. P. Runyan,
James Mills,

Thomas

Cyrus Demott,
H. Clay Mills,
David A. Watson,

George Runyan,
Adam Coderman,
William Graham,

Felix Ritter,

Wm.

N. B. Welliver,

Geo. H. Welliver.

Masteller,

Girton,

Daniel S. Bechtel,
Alexander Carr,
Gingles,

Nicholas Barber,
Silas

W.

Wm.

Fairman,

John

Barber,

Fruit,

ORANGE TOWNSHIP.
William Fisher,
Emanuel Johnson,
Wesley W. Sutliff,
Keeler,
Aaron
Patterson,
B. F. Patterson,
Win. M.
ried,
William
Jacob
Seigf
Ingold.
Montgomery,
D.
M.
S.
SUGARLOAF TOWNSHIP,
Peter Masteller,

Michael Bishline,

A.

Alex Hess,

Benj. F. Patterson,

James Peterman,

Gearhart Nuss,

John Gates,

Jefferson Fritz,

Franklin Nagle,

Ezra Stephens,
Uriah Golder,

Newton Harrington,

Shadrach Hess,

Josiah R. Fritz,

Hiram

Philip Hess,

James Swart,
John Cole,
James Penington,
Rodman Betterly,
Samuel Hess,
Edward Roberts,
Robert Montgomery.

Wm.

Cole,

Cornelius Shultz,

Emanuel

Dills,

Joseph E. Harp,

J. Fritz,

George Hess,
Fritz,

SCOTT TOWNSHIP.

Oscar P. Ent,
Daniel G. Ent,
Wm. Fausey,
Theo. Howel,

Samuel Hagenbuch,
George Heckman,

Harvey

J.

Sylvester

Geo.

W. McEwen,

James K. McMicKel,

Creveling, Charles Schug,
J.

Fox,

Wm.

G. Girton,

Daniel L. Everhart,

George Carr,

Ebenezer Case

W.

F. P. Kelly,

James

H. Shuman,

Carr,

^

.

HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.
Daniel Mordin,

Wm.

Hiram

Jacob Clossen,
Lewis Hess,
Theo. McDowell,

S.

George

Wm. E.

Marr,

Zeigler,

Shannon,

Wm.

John Turner,
Henry Oman,

P. Creveling,

Harvey Jones,
DRAFT

The following

is

a

We

the above date.
the

— SEPTEMBER

list

of the

give the

number drafted
BEOOM TOWNSHIP-

Abbott,

Jacob Hartzel,
Franklin Slayman,
Robert S. Ent,
Valentine Kressler,
Joseph Crawford.

17, 1863.

men drafted at Troy, Penn'a., on
number of lirst-class enrolled, and

:

Benj. F. Brooks,

Peter
T. J.

S.

Rishel,

Mayhew,

(col)

•194.

James Rogers,

Albert Surles,

John A. Beach,
Henry Fornwalt,

Joseph Weaver,

Wm. W.

John Deily,
Samuel A. Writter,

John Coleman,

Thornton,

Chas. A. Moyer,

nRAITBD 58.
Jas. M. Thornton,

Josiah Ralston,

Tobias Henry,

W.

NO.

P^rank P. Drinker,

Miles Fry,

H.

Wm.

Master,

261

Keifer,

Jeremiah Cooper,

Wm.

Ritchie,

Jer. S. F'aliringer,

W.

Rathbun,

B. H. Vannatta,

Rudolph H. Ringler,
Henry Wells,

Herman

Wm.

John Brobst,

Daniel Leacock,

Geo.

Jacob F. Fox,
Samuel Shaffer,
A. B. Evastnus,

James Burt,

Harris

Jonathan R. Diram,

Geo.

John

Gilroy,

Wm.

Staley,

Smith,

Hug'ies,

J.

Sheep,

W. Gormer,

Henry Kesty,
Philip C. Whitenight,
Jacob Shaffer,
Geo. Mover,
Isaiah W. McKelvy, Nelson McCarty,

Abraham Perry,
Henry J. Krumm,

Wm.

Sam'l. S. Miller, (col)

Wm.

Henry Shipton,

Thos. Hawkins,

Jesse C. Tate,

Michael M. Snvder,
Thos. H. Cullen,
(col)

Surles,

Price,

Isaac Crawford,

C.

G'Parkley,

Robt. C. Fruit.

MONTOUR TOWNSHIP 51
NO.
Moses Enley,
Jesse Wertman,
George Linn,
Wesley Fleming,

Evan

Davis,

Richard Francis,

Andrew

P. Koth,

Alfred Irwine,

James Irwine,
Emanuel Lazarus,

1>RAFTEI) 15.

John Clarke,

Noah Mouser,
Reuben Rouch,
Edward .Stosser»
E. L. Spencer,

HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY

262

FISHINGCRKEK TOMTISHir

Wonner,
Daniel Wenner,
Wesley Evans,
Micluiol

Wm. Edgar,
Mathias Kvanior,
McHenry.
Emanuel Edgar,
George Lazarus,
John Depo,

Henry

NO. nRAFTEI) 38.

1 2r).

Wilson McMichael,
Harnian H. I^abor,
Alexander Yajtle;
Ezra Chapin,

Sitler,

Wm.

M. Stoker,
Samuel Thomas,
AVm. Santee.
Klisha Emory,

Wm.

Elias S. Stoker,

Daniel Golder,

Jackson McHenry,
John Bender,
Fred Hartman,
Peter J. Weaver,

Hiram Karns,
H. N. Ammerman,
Elias

M. Laubach,

B. Kester,

Charles Eyer,

Silas

Daniel Pealer,
Elias

Wenner,

Uriah INIcHenry,

Wm.

Eyer,

Isaac Lauderbach,

Elisha K. Robbins,

John

John Trexler,

J. Fuller,

Elisha Trimmer.

GREENWOOD TOWNSHIP 1 1 2.
Edwin John,
Jesse Hayman,

NO.

DRAFTED 34.
John C. Richart,

Paxton Kline,

Allen Harvey,

Wm. McEwen,

Abraham

Abm.

Daniel Patterson,

John Cromley,

James Y.

Alfred Kline,

B. F. Battin,"

John

E. Heacock,

E. Kline,

Driblepiece,
Gillespie,

C. R. Watts,

Thomas Mather,
Avery G. Smith,

Wm.

R. Mather,

John Robbins,

T. M. Potts,

John

S.

E. H. Parker,

Abm.

Geo. B. Thomas,

Peter H. Girton,

J.

Jackson Robbins,
Henry Humphries.

Hiram Albertson,

Perry D. Black,

Hugh

Fairman,

Wm.

Patterson,

47.

NO.

Silas E.

Lynn,

Peter Eckroth,

G. Girton,

DRAFTED

14.

Philip Hartman,

Ira J. Richart,

Shadrack Eves,
Elias Watts,
Robert Potter,
John Fans,
Thos. Y. Stackhouse, John Johnson,
v. Wintersteen,
Emanuel Bogart.
BRIARCREEK TOWNSHIP 83.
Levi Sitler,
Peter Bachman,

Wm. Ringrose,
W. Yanderhoven,

Alfred Heacock,

Seybert,

riNE TOWNSHIP

Thomas Young,

Wm. F McEwen,

Mather,

Montgomery Cox,
Elijah Shoemaker,
Elias Coruelison,

NO.

DRAFTED 2o.
Emanuel Smith,

Josiah H. Martz,

Haldebrand,
Joseph Lamon,
Gideon Fehnel,

Ira Eaveland,

John Betz,

Charles Miller,

Wm,

Linden.

J. 11.

HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.
Daniel Kelchner,
Silas

E

]Moyev,

David

Shatter,

Ili'iiry

Laiuon.

Xathan Sitler,
Henry Melon,

Levi Shatter,
NO.

Isaac Lutz,

Peifer,

Martin Hutchison,

David Knouse,
Wm. A. Lynn,

Nelsoh Stackhouse,

rowNsmi' — 81

John

Charles Kux,

DRAFTED 24.
John F. Creasy,
R. Zimmerman,

Albert Millard,

Albert Brown,

Henry Fulk,

Samuel Snihh,
Jeremiah Kelkner,

Suuiuel Michael,

Adam Smith,
Wm. Rote,

Reuben House,

John H. Davis,
Harvey Hess,

Isaiah Frederici,

Uriah Spade,

John Wolf,
Jacob

263

John Bond,
Mensinger,

Silas

John Michael,
MADISON TowNsiur — 89.

Stephen Kirkendall.

DRAFTED

27.

W.

Nicholas ¥. Barber,

Geo.

Charles Johnson,

Thos. Ball,

Jacob Zeisloft,
Joseph R. Kisner,
James Richards,
Ezra Eves,

Daniel Welliver,

Thos. Jingles,

Wm.

John Shetler,
David N. Welliver,
David Haines,

John Kramer,

Andrew

Stouffer,

R. C. Johnson,
Morris E. Masters,
Alfi-ed

Pegg,

Russel

W.

John D.

BENTON TOWNSIIII'

Hiram

F. Everett,

Miner K. Smith,
Dennison Cole,
Joel Keitter,

Stout,

68.

Cyrus Day,

Wm.

NO.

Allen,

Theo. H. Runyan,
S.

Lomison,
S.

Allen,

Frederick Kramer,
Jas.

Ellis,

Whitenight,

W.

Eves, (single)

DRAFTED 2L

John

F. Conner,

Josiah H. Kline,

Elias

Mc Henry,

Samuel P. Krickbaum,

Abijah Hess,
Phineas Sitler,

Thomas

S.

Smith,

Caleb O'Bryan,

Russel Karnes,
John Keiffer,
Silas Karnes,
Samuel Hartman,
Peter Ashleman,
Joel E. Roberts,
John W. Kline,
James Conner,
George Poust,
CENTRE TOWNSHIP 89. NO. DRAFTED 27.
Wesley Hess,
Isaac Grover,
John W. Clarke,
Hugh Wenner,
Charles Kelchner,
Peter M. Boone,
Emanuel Sitler,
Josiah H. Nagle,
A. C. Hagenbuch,
Wm. Deitrich,
Levi Remly,
Morris B. Freas,
Thos. W. Hagenbuch, J esse Hoffman,
Samuel Neyhard,

—

Thos.

W.

Freeman

Fry,
Sitler,

Daniel Baker,

Wm.

Thos. Cain,

Mordecai Millard,

Hidlay,

jr.

1

JIISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.

20

Lyman Croup,
Do Long,

llonry Sidle,

John A.

.Tolin

,Iohn

Hill,

soorr TOWNSHIP

Jackson A. Tobias,

—

152.

Noyhani,

,l:u'ob

W. Lohinan.

no. DRAtn-En 45.

Klias Mills,

Cico. S. Patlorson,

.lolin

Win. G. Girton,

Goorgo Hrino,
Joseph L. Evans,
Wni. L. C^weling,

Philip Anglo,

.Tohn Kline;

Robert Hatlerst>n,

Kobert

Abn\. M. White,

John Turner,
John W. lleiser,

Goo.

W.

.Tohnson,

Daniel A. Creasy,

S.

Howell,

Harvey Jones,
Patrick Daly,
U/.al

II.

Enl.

Jos. H. Vansickle,
Eli Hartnian,
C^lark Masteller,

John Hartnian,
John Wliitenight,
James Lees,

Wesley Crawford,

Kobt Ent,
W. Shannon,
Thos. JMorodith,

H. G. Creveling,

Butler Edgar,

KiinberC. Ent,
Geo. F. Unangst,

Jolin Miller,

Joseph Bucook,
Nelson S. Tingley,

Heuben Sitler,
Mason C. Johnson,

Valentine Kressier,

Kobt. M. C. Fowler, Charles S. Fisher,
John Brown,
John A. White,

Norman

Lloyd Kressler,

S.

Pursel,

TOWNSUie 11(5.
Wm. Thomas,

NO. OKVl'TKO 3o.

Wni. (loarhart,
Keuben Kahringer,
Jacob Mellick.

Jolin Eveland.

Henry K.

John H. Howell,

Peter IL lA>ng,

Francis Kern,

Jacob Helwig,

Go. rge Boyer,

Wm.

Bonneville

l.OOL'ST

Abraham Koop,

Tyson,

Wni. George,
Bare,

Wary,

Jacob L. Artly,
Wm. M. K. Wilson,
Natlian Kostenbader, Wobb Thomas,
George Leiby,
John Oliver,
John B. Boup,
Samuel Price.
Amos Yeager,
Wm. Helwig,
Chas. H. Gable,
James Brofee,
Jonathan Kisliel,
Geo. W. Kreisher,
Alfred Marks,
John Holdren,
David Helwig,
Henry H. Koads,
Daniel K. Lockard,
UKRWICK lJOROU(;il 85. NO. ORAITEO 19.
Tl\omas Stackhouse, John McINrichaol,
Emanuel Frantz,
Ira A. Coleman,
Abia Phillips.
Wm. J. Knorr,
Walter Hinkly.
Wm. Kogers,
Wm. Kunkle,
Edward B. Hull.
Daniel Keedy,
George Thompson,

John

Billeg,

—

Elisha Kisner,

Jeremiah
Geo.

W.

S.

Hoin-y L. Freas,

Sanders, James A. Pollinger,

Meixell,

Henry Hockman,
LowoUyn Prosser,

niHTORY OF COLUMBIA
SUOAKI.OAK TOWNSHIP
Klijali

MathiuH

Samuel

Fritz,

Wm.

Kit(;li»;n,

Elias

S. Fritz,

K.

I^'ritz,

Philip IlesH,

Jefise Herririgton,

Eli Frit/.,

Lowri(! Cole,

Shadrach HeHH,

Frunk

MastclUer,

Joliii Diltz.

Jacob

li.

IIckh,

.MOLNT I'I.EASANT TOWN.SrilP
Dildino,

W. Hock,
John H. White,
John C. Morden,
Tho8. S. Lorow,
Geo.

Andrew

J.

Martin

— 53.

I^.

VVosley

Mill<;r,

Jacob Fox,
iKaac K. Appleman,
Win. JoliiiHon,

NO

47.

(Jlinton Sterling,

Samuel Shuler,
Noah Critz,
Marshal Hendershott,Wm. Teeple,
Peter S. Ford,
Jackson (Jl(;aver,
Samuel Hoagland,
Aaron Loreman.
.MAIN TOWNHIHI'

Wm.

1

little,

B. F. Kester,

Wm.

Owrnan,

W. W.

Kline,

NO. I>KA1TKI>

7.

George Kreisher,
David Gearhart,

Yocuin.

KRANKMN TOWNSHir

S.

10.

M(;Carty.

Peter M. Beaver,

David

OKAITKO

Micliaf;] Ilock,

KOAKINOCKEKK TOWN.SHIl' 24.
John M. Sanks,
H. p. Cherin^ton,
Charles Mensch,
John Mowry.
Isaac

NO.

KlirK;,

Franklin

JG5

NO. I>HAF'rKI> 14.

47.

Wrri. MaHtdler,

JortiaFi

IIcriiH,

COUN'JY.

Brown,

Kline,

Erastus Shuman,

34.

N(J.

1)UA)T1,0 14.

Wm.

Iluber,

David Reader,
Wellington Clark,
Benj.

1>KAKTII>

Zimmerman,
1 ')

Daniel Miller,

Wm.

Daniol Kline,

(ieorge riauster,

Nathan

Uriah Berninger,

Knajij),

Fisher,

Charles Shiiman.
<;oNYNf;nAM TowNSiiir.

— 210.

UUAITKO

05.

David Camp,
James Madden,
Alexander W. Ilea,
James (Jleary,
William James,

Philip Nixon,
Jacob ChamV^ers,
Augustus liider,

Michael Sherlock,

Mahlon Myers,

Martin Laughlin,

John

Frederick Goble,

Daniel Mos«'r,

Wm. Hoagland,
David Crisher,
Richard Phillips,
Robert Lawless,

Patrick Horrity,
Philip

McBhyne,

.John lintlcr (miner)

Lendlin Hart,

I'oe,

Tobias Leisar,
Charles Sharp,

Wm.

Nelly,

Ference Cave,

George Clark,
Uriah Til ley,
Joseph Crider,
Augustus Glessner,

266
Michael

inSTOET OF
How,

Sivuiuel B.

Long,

Moses Snyder,
John Meinsinger,
David Evans,

C0Lir3[BIA COUNTY.

Andrew

Henry

Mull,

Wm.

Wni. l->rennin,
John Murphy.
Stephen ]N[ainhew,
l*atrick Quinn,

Henry Eckerling.

Hugh

Cliristian Soner,

I'eter Hrenin,

Janu's l>reninill,

Thonuis Brennon,

Wm.

Hart,

Summers,

Geo. H. Moshier,
Thos. Cununings,

Thonias Riley,
John Snyder,
Henry Williams,
Patrick Fhmnegan,
Mich C\MnuM\ laborerPatrick Keeling,
Frank Warisicker,
Michael McMulty,
John Fry,
James Scott,

BEAVER TOWNSHir

100. NO.

Christian Snow,
John AUvar,
Peter Hower,

Absolom Womer.
DRAFTED

Henry Hoffman,
Aaron Dreisbach,

William Berry,
Nathiin Erwine,
Daniel Longenberger,John HaAvk [single]
Wm. McFee,
Daniel Singley,
Joseph Singley,
Thomas Dande,
Henry Swank,
Charles Hotz,
John Henninger,
Henry Hinterliter,
John Hostler,
Josiah Johnson,
Wm. McFee,
Michael Mumy,
Frank L. Shuman,
Thos. Hoft'man,
Edward Scliell,
Reuben Henninger,

33.

John Deats,
Wasliington Fry,
Philip JMumy,

Franklin Shell,

Tlnunas Miller,

James Prescott,
George Dreisbach,
David Erwine,
Aaron Johnson,
Levi Fraster,
Daniel Swank.

CATAWISSA TCWNSIlll'— 97. NO. DRAFTED

David Strouse,
Geo. HoUenback,

Wm.

Fitz,

Teffer,

29.

B. S. Reifsnyder,

Strouse,

Ephriam Kramer,
Jacob Miller,
Pinkerton DrumhellerPeter Fenstermacher,John Fit/gerald,
Easick Kerns,
David Snyder,
Geo. R. Hayhurst,
Wm. T. Shuman,
Alexander Hide,
Fleming Jacoby,
Stephen B. Rahn,
Walter Scott,
Tobias D. Barninger,

Geo. Briesch,

Clinton

W.

Edward

G. Hart,

Harder,

Daniel Cleywell,

Lewis Hayhurst,
John Martz,

Wm.

Wm.

Claywell,

Charles Gaumer,

Richards,

John H. Butz.

Thomas Barry,

JACKSON TOWNSHIP

— 37.

NO.

Chas. C. Mausteller,

Daniel

George Getty,

Thos. H. Robbins,

S.

Young,

DRAFTED IL
Geo.

W.

Farver,

Geo. Remely,

HIISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.
p](l\v!vrfl

Ben Savage,
John Blacker,

Roberts,

IIIO.MLOCK

Jului S.

David
Henry

TOWNSHIP

1

NO.

29.

DRAFTED

Hugh

George Ivy,
Ralph Ivy,
Win. Pursel,
Amos B. Hartman.

Xeyhart,

Shaffer,

Ilirani Girton,

Emanuel Somers,

Apitlcnian,

Wm.

Michael Wliitenight, Knock P. Evans,

Hiram Reese,
John Appleman,
Jacob Workheiser,

W.

Harris,

Jackson Leidy,
Mathew Tubby,
Vivian Stephens,
Isaac N. Leidy,
Henry W. Wagner, Jacob Andes,
Joseph K. McMichaelSanford Shoemaker,
John C. Folk,

Joseph Walters,

Geo.

35.

F. McBride,

Lewis Hartman,
Sam. Workheiser,
Boyd Girton,
Daniel Yocum,
Sidney S. Shoemaker,George Hooper,

C. Grotz,

Lafyette Faust,

Wni.

Washington Knouse,

j.-

Franklin Hamlin,

267

Faust,

OKANGE TOWNSHIP

NO.

60.

DRAFTED

18.

David E. Hayman,
Thos. F. Schuyler,
Jasper Kline,
John Beagle,
Joseph C. Hughes,
James B. Hannan,
Monross S. Hayhurst,Samuel A. Sharpless, A. C. Bidleman,
Alfred H. Kisner,

Orville A. McGargle, Robt. G. Paden,

Franklin Keifer,

Joseph A. Henrie,

Thomas Ruckle,

David R. Ap})leman, Sidney

DRAFT

The following

is

a

list

Charles AUabach,

C Williams,

JUNE 3d, 1864.

of the

men

drafted at Troy, Penn'a., OH

the above date.

BLOOM TOWNSHIP

—NO.

DRAFTED

E. R. Drinker,

Lloyd T. Sharpless,

27.

Thomas McGill,

Harman,

David Beers,

Hazle,

Thomas McCormick,

Oliver C. Kahler,

Peter

John T. Williams,

Ransom

Albert F. Yost,

George Hassert,
Jacob Diehl,
Ohas. H. HendershottJohn McCormick,
Oliver Palmer,
Douglas Hughes,
Samuel Gehringer,
Thomas Downes,

Andrew M.

Rupert,

Samuel H. Surles,
James Hen wood,
Henry Rosenstock,
Henry S. Arthur,

S.

Enos Jacoby,
Nelson Bruner,
Michael McCormick, John Coleman.

HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.

268

—

BRIARCREEK TOWNSHIP NO. DRAFTED 18.
Neimah Ritteiihouse, William Thomas,
M. Klinetob,
William Tillman,
Jacob Biedner,
Josiah Blank,
Enes McAffee,
Evan D. Adams,
Clark Bower,
Jacob Fenstermacher,Ephraim Trowbridge,
Eckard Smith,
Samuel Rinard.
BENTON TOWNSHIP NO. DRAFTED 33.
John W. W^eaver,
Conrad Miberham,
Thomas Seigfritz,
David P. Crossley,
Livingston Rhone,
Charles Keefer,
Edward McHenry,
Thomas Appleman,
Joel Albertson,
Robert L. F. Cully, John Swartout,
Elisha Shultz,
Daniel Kitchen,
John Appleman,
Isaac K. Krickbaura,
Henry Shultz,
Charles Dodson,
Abraham Harman,

Wm.

—

Jacob Knouse,
John Hartman,
A. Davis,
George Alten,

Harmon

Peter Laubach,
Benjamin Brink,

Reuben

L. Stine,

J.

Davis,

Parvin Masters,
Chester S. Dodson,

BEAVER TOWNSHIP

Thomas Hartinan,
McHenry,

Elias

Clark Brink,

William

S.

Kase,

Rohr McHenry.

NO. DRAFTED, 48.

Levi Michael,

Peter Schilcher,

Thomas

Wm.

Daniel Hinderliter,

Robert Watson,
James Gallagher,

John Wilson,
Henry Baker,
Jacob Lindermuth,

Jacob Hoffman,

Peter Shellhammer,

Wm.
Wm.

Peter Eckrote,

Samuel Sherman,

Morgan Davis,

Samuel Mungster,
Conrad Harman,

Josiah Johnson,

Solomon Hunsigner,

John Hunsinger,

Joseph Berry,

Elias Erwine,

Levi Feoster,

William Michael,
David Bidleman,
Patrick Lynch,
Aaron Johnson,
David Fry,

J. Painter,

Andrew Knittle,
Amos Yeager,

Milton,

Prescott,

Nathan Bredbenner,
Wertz,
Shuraan,

Peter Hawk,

Enos Ritten house,
John Hinterliter,
Moses Schlicher,

Reuben Shumaii,

A.

Jacob Eggert,
John Lonenberger,

J. Bretts,

Gideon Hutisigner,
Stephen Lehr No
Wm. Naus,
Paul Yry,
Stephen Lehr.
HEMLOCK TOWNSHIP NO. DRAFTED 18.
Seth Shoemaker,
Geo. L. Shoemaker, John P. Guild,
Elijah Miller,

2,

—

Thomas A. Lewis,
Passeville Folk,

John C. Fox,
John Havtman,

Geo.

W.

Whitenight,

Jefferson Reese,

Hl;STORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.
John H.

Miller,

Joel Folk,

269

James T. Estop,

Michael Grover,
Martin Kinney,

Isaac Kitchen,

John Robbins.
Samuel W. Girton,
JACKSON TOWNSHIP NO. DRAtTED 21.
Wm. Shoemaker,
Abra. Hidler,
A. J. Kline,
Geo. W. Manning,
Ellis Young,
Hugh Shultz,
Henry Wagner,
Theo. W. Smith,
David Bishline,
Joseph Derr,
Wm. Kester,
Joseph Yorks,
Elijah Yocum,
Michael Kesler,
Gotlieb Wagner,
Levi Keeler,
Daniel Young,
Calvin Derr,

Abraham

Stauffer,

Frederick Hees,

W. W.

Ezekiel Cole,

LOCUST TOWNSHIP

—NO.

Peter Miner,

Peter Kline,

John Morgan,

Geo.

DRAFTED

Wm.

W. Yeager

jr.

Roberts.

55.

Carl,

Geo. H. Patterson,

C. P. Mears,

Michael Stein,

Gera Hower.
Joseph Thomas,

Geo. Morgan,

James Berd,

Chas. C. Eck,

W.

Alex. Ernest,

James

Wm.

Bernard Ten f el,
Calvin Achenbach,
David Adams,
Joseph Rhoads,
Jacob Herner,

Peter Fettenuan,

Isaac

J. Fisher,

Nicholas Englehart,

John Yost,
Jacob Carl,
Lloyd F. Farringer,
Jonathan Beaver,
Wm. Ausnean,

J.

Campbell,

E. Walter,

Reuben Leiby,

John H. Stokes,
Nathan Kostenbader,
John Morris,

George Eisenbach,

Wm.

Daniel Wary,
Henry Klein,

Christian Small,

Benj. Fetterman,

Asa

Yeager,
Deily,

Geo. Resdy,

Adam Dimmick,
Adam M. Johnson,

Wesley Pony,
John A. Bitner,

Stephen Yohe,

Sara Miller,

L.

W.

B. Fisher,

Daniel Bilnean,

Sol. Strauser,

H. Reinbold,

John Watkins,
Jacob Stein

jr.

Jos. Sanders.

Louis Reinbold.

MADISON TOWNSmi'

Henry Thomas,
Geo.

W.

Parmer,

Isaac Wipple,

Edward

NO.

Stuart,

DRAFTED

38.

Wesly Demott,

Joseph C. Smith,

Cyrus Demott,

John Strong,
Wm. Graham,

Thomas Boker,

John Haines,
Robert F. Start,

Jackson Biddle,

Wm.

Philip Eves,

Wm. Townsend,
Cyrus Richard,
Jacob Straufer,

George Ohl,

David Ross,

Mosteller,

Joseph Moist,

HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.

270

Wni. W. Carahani,
Henry Wagner,
Cyrus Welliver,

Jacob Slioemaker,
Stephen Ellis,

Josiah Moist,

Wni. Wintersteen,
Cox,
Phenias Wilken,
Jacob Kramer,

Samuel P. Demott,

Andrew

Felix Hitter,

Abm.

Daniel Merkle,
Peter

Sniitli,

Geo. Deinott,

Amos

S. Allen,

Swisher,

CATAWISSA TOWNSHIl'

W.

NO.

DRAFTED

32.

Jacob Hoffman,

John,

Theodore Kreigh,

Geo.

Edward

Broombach,
John A. Shuman,

Jesse K. Sliarpless,

Harvey Miller,
Nathan Creasy,
David Metz,
James S. McNinch,

Amos

Wellington Clayton.

Wm.

Solomon D. Rinard,
John Getkin,
Mark B Hughes,

Thomas Howlin,
Thomas Hartman,
Ambrose Sharpless,

Burton W. Fortner,
Jacob Haines,

Wm.

B. Reed,

Jacob Martz,
Wm. H. Hartman,
Gensil,

Jacob Breech,

James Stanley,
Harvey Geiger,
John Scott,
Jacob H. Creasy,

CENTRE TOWNSlUr

NO.

Henry

Wm.

Peter

DRAFTED

(Tuinn,

J.

S.

Boiber,

Miller,

]\[cNeal,

13.

Chas. Zinmierman,

Wm.

Shadrack McBride,

John Horn,

George K. Hess,
David K. Sloan,

Joseph Conner,

Henry Masteller,

Henry

Isaac Arnwine,

John

Durling,

L. Freas,

Daniel Rinard,

Shaffer,

Jesse Freas,

CONYNGHAIM TOWNSlllF

NO.

DRAFTED

91.

Henry Hechst,
John Heapenny,

Jinkins

Bernaixl Kelly,

Richard Keley,

Elias Stobich,

Henry

Patrick Kinney,

J. S.

Beadle,

Bowem,

John

Gristol,

Anthony Cosgrove,

Michael Zimvet,

Martin Costello,

Daniel Lunger,

Anthony Gallagher,

Michael Gloglau,

Henry Heckman.

Patrick Devine,

Thomas Nixon,

Michael Brinnin,

(tco.

David Black,
William Shuman,

John Stall,
George Womer,

Jacob Fisher,

Josej>h B. Knittle,

Thomas

Michael Conner,

Henry Cyrong,
Joseph Edwins,

John Dolney,

Henry Foy,

Thomas

Uriah

Geo.

INIaidenfort,

W. Mitchell

Baers,

Farrel,

Joseph Brian,

W.

Davis,

Frank Smelser,

Tilley,

Frederick Snyder,

HISTORY OF COLUMBIA G0UN2Y.
John Mull, jr.
Stei)hen Thomas,
Moses Morrison,
James McDonald,

Lewis Bloss,

271

Peter Huneloaf,

Abin. Williams,

Tobias Lisar,

Reuben Tilley,
David Brown,
John Langan,
John I lor,

Peter Maley,

Peter

Peter Huttensteine,

John G. Han ley,
James Monj^le,

Thomas
Thomas

Piilrick Joice,

Patrick Burke,

James

J.

Scott,

Jiastin,

(ik-nner,

Butler,

Patrick Demott,

Michael McCole,

M. Finch,

John

Michael Glessner,

Collier,

Thomas Burke,

John Koe,
Lafayette Fetterman, James Darrach,
Jacob Harmaii,
John Stetsler,
Daniel Kietter,
Peter Snow,

Moses Long,
Frank D. Long,

Wm.

John Stuben,
Anthony Kiley,
John McDonald,
Robert Humphrey,

Wm.

Lills,

Elias Barringer,

Daniel F'etterman,

Thomas

Kilcoll,

Peter Brenin,

Wm.

Snyder,

George Mastiii,
Barney McGuire,
John Fleming,

Hoagland,

William Branchide,
MOl'NT PLEASANT TOWNSHIP
Sanniel Jacoby,
Isaac K. Appleman,

James

J.

Thomas,

Jackson M. Hower,

Aaron Kister,
Aaron Fox,
Mathias Kindt,

Samuel Marr,

Emanuel Sitler,
John B. Crawford,
Thomas C. Kester,
Josejth Crawford,

NO.

DUAFTKO

36.

James Bittenbender, Joshua Hartzel,
Daniel Bonawitz,
Russel Appleman,
Sylvester Crawford, Alexander Rambo,
John Osman,
Henry W. Mellick,
Joseph Gilbert,
Samuel Harp,
G. Hartzel,

Gabriel Everett,

Joseph Hildebaum,
Robert Howell,

Henry Kitchen,

R. Bittenbender,

Melchia Ruck^l,

S.

Alfred Miller,

Alexander Zigler,
John Hippensteel,
David Stroup,
Robert S. Oman,
Clemuel Shoemaker, Geo. L. Oman.

MAIN TOWNSHIP

NO.

DRAFTKO

18.

William Ritter,
William Angel,

Thomas Quinn,
Tx)uis Filker,

Samuel

John Wesley,
N. H. Brown,
Jacob Bauman,

David B. Gitting,
John G. Pifer,
Solomon Deaiier,
Francis Flemming,

Franklin Shuraan,

Martin Nuss,

Jonas N. John.
Schell,

Reuben Shuman,
Lewis

W.

Culp,

Conrad Bredbender,

HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.

272

MONTOUR TOWNSHIP

Andrew

P. Roth,
Jackson Leiby,

NO. 1»RAFTK1>

Eiuanuel Summers,
Franklin Miller,

6.

James

F. Foster,
Isaac B. Schull.

MIFFUN TOWNSHir NO. DRAFTKO 3.
David Eckrothe,
Stephen H. Schwank.
ORAKGE TOWNSHIP NO. DRAFTED 39.
Emanuel Appleman,
James R. Handiwork, Nelson Crouse,
Adam A. Schuyler, Abm. A. Kline,
Samuel Trump,
Jeremiah Hess,
Jeremiah B. Kisner, John Fislier,
Philip Hess,

—

Righter
Isaac

K

W. Bowman, (ieo.
Dildine,

Daniel Shultz,

G. Lott,

Henry

Charles Brewer,

Stiner,

M. D. Montgomery,Benjamiu Paden,
Miles A. Williams,
John Trumbore.
Charles Jones,
Samuel Johnson,

Jonathan Poust,
McClure Drake,
Robert B. Rickets,
Henry Bowman,
Samuel Achenbach,
Peter Bogart,
Alexander Herring. Aaron R. Patterson, Joseph C. Hughes,
Archibald Patterson, Geo. W. Rittenhouse,Elwood W. Coleman,
Marion B. Hughes,
John M. White,
Emanuel Snyder,
Taylor Bowman,
Charles Allabaoh,
Clemuel R. Henrie.
PINE TOWNSHIP NO. DRAFTED 20.
Clark Whitmoyer,
Wm. Hinney,
Richard W. Lyons,
Wesley Keller,
W^m. Thompson,
Isaac Sweeny,
John Wintersteon,
John Lore,
Jacob Gordner,
Wm. P. Fans,
Alvin Fowler,
Joseph Driblebis,
Lafayette LTnger,
Montgomery Cox,
Geo. Crossley,
Lafayette Applegate, John E. German,
Jacob Christian,
Pemberton Piatt.
Clemuel McHenry,
ROARINGCREKK TOWNSHIP NO. DRAtTED 14.
Robert S. Hampton, Owen Hoagland,
Phenis Thomas,
Martin Wintersteen,
Benneville Rhodes, Joseph Buck,
Henry Y. Gable,
Joseph Witner,
John M. Trump,
John B. W^itner,
Benj. Levan,
Wm. H. Eck,
S.

Abraham

Beaver,

Sam'l L. Cherrington.

FISHINGCREKK TOWNSHIP
Geo. M. Howell,

Joseph Kline,

Enos Pealer,
Peter Bogart,
John W. Harrison,
John Hile,
Evan E. Bittenbeuder,Frauk Wolf,
Jacob Kline,
Reuben Savage,

MO.

DRAFTED 34.
James Campbell,
Wm. Hagenbuch,

Emandus Bender,
Hiram McHenry,
Jacob O. Wilson,

—

HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.
F

John McHenry,

Jiinu'S

Jjicob Slioeniaker,

Abniliam

Isaac McIIt'ury,

Thomas M.

Auf^ustus

Stoker,
TJiiangst,

W. Weaver, Alexander

Sutton,

Samuel Shive,

Aiitliony Ilunsinger, Mathias Aj)[)leman,

Amos

Samuel Pealer,
John F. Hutchison,
Wni. lloycr,
Charles Ash,

Yaple,

Cah'h O'lirien,

I)avi<l Savai^c,

273

Amos

Dresher,

Savage,
KXtANIvl,IN

Joel Zarr,

Miner

Ililes,

Silas B.
iiichai'd

Hartman,
II.

Biddle,

TOWNSmr

NO. I>RAKrEI> 12.

Jonathan Loreman,
John Loreman,
John It. Urobst,

Hiram

William Sway/e,

Israel

GREKNWOOI)

TOVVNSIIII'

Benj. Stackhouse,

John

VV'm.

SmitI),

Daniel Dunn,

Ashton,

NO. DK.\I.TKI» 18.

Valentine (nirnet,
1*.

T. llower.

Isaac Richards,

Francis M. Roe,

McK. Musgrave,Peter Ilayman,

Mc Henry,

Sajnuel All)i'rtson,

Reese

Jacob Watts,
Joshua Davis,
Richard J. Fves,

George Ikler,
Jacob Shultz,

John Lemon,

A.

Erastus Hendershott,

i*.

Geo. Gieenly,
Geo. F. Kindt,

Heller,

scorr TowNsiur

no. okai

ri;i)

32.

Patrick Daly,

N

Abner H. Hiown,
George Gilbert,
David J. Quick,

Robert Farst,

Prisciis F.

Jesse .Merrell,

Flisha B. Pursel,

Geo. B. Kitchen,

Daniel Johnson,

Geo.

F. C-ain,

William Masteller,
Chaucey C. Trench,
Theodore McDowell, Isaac J. Kester,
Charles Schug,

Emanuel Ruckel,

Wm.

Esl)and

A. Case,

Cliarh's S. Fowler,

John
I'riah

Turiu'r,

W.

Montgomery

Bomboy,

.

John Wolf,

Henry Gman,
James Greenage,
Charles Merrel,

John B. Vanhorn,

Edgar,

Phili}) Dieterick,

sU(;aum)ak township

Jacob H. Fritz,
Alexander Hess,

Transue,

Daniel Mauron,

Fowler,

John W. Hunter,
(ieo.

>L Edgar,

S.

I.

Zeppamiah

—no.

drafted

L. Kline,

15.

George

Jesse Fritz,

Wm.

Ellison,

Peterraan,

Mordecai Goodwin,

Nathariiel H. Steward,

Samuel H. Hess,

John

Cornelius Girton,

Stephen Larish,

John Montgomery,
James Petennan,

Cole,

T. Brink,

—

—

HI STORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.

274

A supplemental^

draft

was made

cancies in townships under

KISIIINGCKKEK TOWNSlIir

Hiram lless,
Evan Bittenbender,
James Campbell,
J. Deemer McHenry,
James Paden,

Dec. 1864 to

in

tlie jn-eA^ious calls.

— NO.

Edward

(n'ors^o IK'uth,

Abraham

.I:unes E. Jones,

Golder,

Samuel Savage,

George Fullmer,

Michael Beishline,

Thomas

Wm.

\\.

Elisha Evans,

John Moomey,

Christian

<.\)rneiius Bellas,

John Dreschei',
Richard B. Bright,

riNK TOWNSIlir

lloyer,

J.

Ash,

Ya])le,

F. E.lgur,

Will. Shugars,

Daniel

l^laiik,

Aivhibakl llichart.

REQUIRED

NO. DRAFTKl) 8

4.

John Johnson,

Isaac Sweeney,

IJobert Lvoih,

Ira C. Pursel,

Abel Ilartinan,

Elisha Taylor,

<).

Tliomas

P. Swisher,

ouan<;e TOAVNsiiir

jNIcl^ride,

drafted 24

no.

required

Stephen H. Ilill,
Ai-chibald Patterson, Jacob Remley,

W.

E.

Thomas D. Kline,
Augustus Everhart, Charles W. Low,
Calvin Herring,
Emery Day,
John Graham,
John Delong,

Abraham

Daniel G. Ent,

J.

Sanderson Woods,! )avid
I.

M

Ilayman,

E. Patterson,

JIADISON TOWNSIlir

NO. DRAl'TED 20

15.

Coleman,

Charles Kelcliner,

Jacob Roub,

15.

ITnangst,

Jacob Slioeniaker,

Daniel Winner,
John M. Buckalew,

E'rank ITuinmel,

some va-

as follows

— NO. UlXjlJIUEl)

DIIAKTKU 29

Wesley Kline,

lill

was

It

Joseph C. Hughes,
I\I. White,
Simon P. Johnson,

Wm.

Fritz,

Justice Ikeler,

Clemuel \i. Ilenrie,
Samuel K. White,

—REQUIRED

10.

Alinas Kline,

Felix Ritter.

Richard F. Stout,

Lawson Hughes,

Phineas Welliver,

Jacob Zeisloft,
8imon Cotner,

James Welliver,
Abraham Young,

Watkius Prosser,
John P. Runyan,
Wm. Graham,

S. S. Runyaii,

i^harles Gibbons,

Joseph Moist,
Wilson Masters,

Ashcr Ileitsman,

M. A. Moore,

IJENTON

Ephr'm

TOWNSHIV

NO.

DRAFTED 18

P. McCollum,Russcl Shultz,

Furnian Smith,

John

J.

Karns,

Ezra Vandine,
Issachar Titnian,

REQUIRED

9.

Mathias Appleraan,
Jesse B. Shultz,

:

HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.
Oscar
Jolui

Klias Asli,

('oiiiicr,
.[.

.lessee

LiviiigstuMo

IJiirik,

lilioiie,

Charles N. Dodsoii,

Jared

Preserve Conner,

Wni.

.Tolin

.lAtMvSON TOWNSIIIl-

Case,

Fenningtoji,

Thoiniis A))])]eMian,

Moses IMc Henry,

S.

II.

275

NO. UUAFTKl) 10

Coll",

Lemons.

NO. UKt^H'IUlCn

.5.

John Edgar,
Henry (ietty,

Joslnia Iless,

Cliaiincy Strong,

L

Isaac liCwis,

(^eoi-ge

.Toll

11

Samuel

IIe>s,

Keller,

\Vm. Brink,
Kemley,

Aslier ^'orks,
si

(iAUI.OAK I'OWNMIII'

DKAirKI) S

N(t.

Valentine Stout.

Kli;is "N'oung,

]M;irtin Miller,

Clinton

Clinton Hess,

Ezekiel Frit/,

W.

Lewis,

HEt,>ri ItKD 4.

Andrew La

Wm.

;l.acii,

Peterman,

o

On Tuesday
cies in the

.January

1.5,

1865, the following di-afts for deficien-

townships named, wire made at Troy.
MA]»ISON.

Jacob M. Beishline,
Wilson W. Smith,
John Shoemaker,

.Jeremiah Stiles,

Jacob Flick,
Ashly Laylan,

Peter H. Shultz,

Silas .Johnson.

Jos.

Joseph Wagner,
I{. Pennington,

.John Zeisloft,

Calendar Clark,

Wesley Dildine,

George Gibbons,

John

Daniel Shultz,

Gei-ei",

ORANGK.
.lames

S. I^azarus,

Ba/.aleel Hayliurst,

lllram B'lwman,

Emanuel

Henry

Geo. U. M. Abbott,

Stiner,

Ij.

I).

H. Megargel,

.lohnson, .Jonathan Poust,

Thomas McHenry,

Wm.TIeidhiy,
FISIIINfJCKEEK

Martin Albertson,

Monroe Markle,

(ieo.

McBride,

•Jolm Dietterick,
.TACKSON.

Theodore W. Smith, Thomas McHenry,
Jacob I'^arver,
StIGARI.O.VK

Elinas

Coll',

Samuel Park,
riNi:.

John E. German,

David Shoemakei-,

Noah

Bogart,

HISTORY OF COLUMBIA Cons' lY.

•276

On Friday
Troy

to

till

the 14fch

day of

April, 180'),

a draft

the quota of Columbia county on

wa> made

at

last call of the

tlie

President.
Bi.oor.

William Morgan,
Allen Cadwallader,

Hiram Ileacock,
Washington Ruckle,

Samuel J. Kelchner,
Robert Roan,
Bernard H. Stohner, Jacob Stiner,
Robert C. Fruit,
Isaac S. Kuhn,
Michael Whitmoyer, David Winner.
Clark M. Brown,

H. Clay Hartman,

Joseph Morris,
Phineas Welsh,

James B. McKelvy,
Henry Wanicli,

J. J. R!)))bius,

E.

li.

Yordy,

Hutchison Vaniiatta,

David Lowenberg,

Wm. Shoemaker,
Jacob F. Vox,
John AV. Shannon,
James F. McBride,
Wm. Edgar,

Jacob Geist,
John Rinker,
Jacob Diehl,

Daniel Ingold,

R. E. Wil-^on.

Henry

Mills Chemberlin,

W.

Wm.

John W^esley,

Samuel Hughes,

Julius Greenbaum,

Andrew Madison,

T. J. Thornton,

Solomon Heist,

John Beagham,
Samuel Garringer,
John Rinard,
Lucas N. Moyer,

B. H. Vannatta,

Henry Garrison,
Jonah Townsend,
Peter Downs,
John Cadman,
Samuel M. Prentiss,.
Henry Ariwine,

Gilmore,

Andrew

Seager,

H. Hannan,

Oliver A. Jacoby,

Clinton

W.

Xcal,

David W. Fisher,

Wm.

Howell,

Watson Furman,
John Morris,
Palemoii John,

B. Cathcart, Cliarles P. Sloan,
IIKAVKU.

David Hinterliter,
John Hoflfman,

Andrew Huntsinger,

Joel Swaiik,

J no. Dalevson,

Peter Kneclit.

Samuel Hinterliter,

Jno. Hawk,
Thomas Miller,
Isaac Harringer,

Peter Shellliouse,

Ste})hen Lehr,

Jo'm Naus (Xaas)
John Fry,

Conrad Brcdbeuder,

Daniel Mensinger,.

Tilriian Rlttenhouse,

Edmond

Peter Fisher,

John Dreisbach,

Uriah McAffee,

Geo. Shuman,

Henry

Henry Sherman,

Andrew

Sliuman,

John Harrine,
Joseph Keister,

John Holtz,

Ilarninger,

Wash

Schell,

Herring,

Peter Slicker,

N. Longenberger,

Aai-on Johnson,

Morton Johnson,

John Floats, jr.
Fred Sherman,
Enos Ritteidiouse,

Jacob Baumbergery
John Singlev,

Henry

Miller,

JIISTOIIY

OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.

277

Henry Lehr,
James Large,

Juliu lliuitzinger,

Isaac Ousback,

<Jeo. VV.

Hock,
Sajnuel Moore,
Jacob Cliiiginaii,

Stephen Michael,

Eli as Barriiiger,

Lewis Yeager,
M. Kittenhouse,
.Ino. S. Mann,

Joliii Slierrnaii,

Triah ^rcAffee,

P^reeman Barringer,
Alfred Mann,

Henry

Henry

Peter

Hosslci-,

Jolui llmit/.iiiger,

Nathan

Ilinterliter,

Daniel Slicarhart,

Wm.
(tco.

Baker,
Dreisbach.

Fislier,

Morton Dawes,

Jlons,

HKNTON.

John W. Fiilhner,
John VV. Smith,
Sanuiel M. Wilson,
Septimus Hess,

E.

Laubach,

Geo. Miller,

Silas Benjamiji,

Silas F. Karns,

Thomas Hartinan,

IJiehard Stiles,

John P. Ikeler,
David Yocum,

Samuel Shultz,

Andrew

Wm.

Jacob M. Beishliue,

Hartinan,

Nathan A. Tiilths,
John Kant/,

E. Kii-kendall,

Kli

Stine,

Mcllenrv,

Thomas

B. Cole,

Jonathan

Steele,

I'eter ]x Shultz,

Clark Calendar,

tJATAWISSA.

Samuel
Peter

J.

Frederick, Daniel Gearhart,

S. Biler,

Jacob

S.

Creasy,

Samuel Yeager,
John H. Guimi,

Jiall)hM. Lashell,

Alem

Nathan Krunun,

Levi Ash,

Geo.

W.

Lewis

Clark,

Keill'er,

Percival Uhodes,

Wm
Wm.
Wm.

U. Yetter,

John,

Fortnei",

Geo. Kichial,

Peter B. Cami)bell,
Britton

W.

Fortner,

Theodore Schmetz,
Nalhan Creasy.

^Augustus Frantz,
H. Orange,
Mayberry G. Hughe^ ;,Wm. Mertine,
Chas. Hartmun,
Thos. Cietkin,
Jacob Metz.
Daniel Zarr,

Michael

IJees,

M. M. Brobst,

Jacob Breck,

James 1*. Right,
David Hower,
Henry Jones,
Theodore Kreigh,
Hamilton Fisher,
Benj. C. Ludwig,

Wm.

Eyer,

J no. S. Mench,

Jno. Hibben.

George Gwin,

Amos

Berger,

AVm. Parr,
Jacob Zinnnerman,

Ambrose H. Sharpless,Ziba Barnes,
Valentine Metz,

Joseph Martz,

CONYNGIIAM.

Thomas McCormick, John

Wm.

Lees,

Patrick Eagen,

Paric

S.

Longbinn,

Da

Mott,

Peter Lauban,

Pat Herran,
Nicholas Longbeein,

Evan

Jones,

H rSTORY OF

278
Geo.

I\Ii'Nc"il,

C0LU3IJBTA

Patrick Mc(Jiiiley,

(WUNTY
Jno. Shlosser,

Michael Gorey,

Biirney Mc()uinn,

Jt>s. Steele,

Win. Grant,

Jno.

Jos. Snyder,

Heladd,

Tlios.

Jno. Eiigle,

Jno

S.

Goo.

W.

Thos.

Kline,

Davis,

INIaluMi,

James

(Toniiinjj,s,

IVIiehael

Horn,

Morton Hrennan,
Jno. Thomas,
Thos. Delton,
Pat McOonm'll,
Clinton Di'witt,

Robert

(iorrell,

JNlull, jr.

Thomas,

Sylvester HotVman,

Pat Lenchan,
Frank D. Long,

Stei»hen

Patrick Kennedy,

Jno. Skilling,

Peter Lnpert,

Martin Nenss,

Thos. Kilk-Ml!,

AVm. Kiitc,
John Met/inger,

Jos. D. J.,ong,

Moses Long,
Hugh Monday,
John Laras,
John Moyer,
Henry Diesher,
David Black,
J.

X. Frick,

PCI i as

Barringer,

Ellis Valentine,

Martin Briiinan,

Jacob Stots,
James McCollum,
Danii'l

Cnimm,

George Reedy,
Cnas Angle,

Daniel Jones,

Jno. McDonnell,

John

Elijah Harinan,

Philij) Cain,

L. D. Mendeuhall,

Sanuiel

Sanu

Henry

Wm. Webb,

('KN'rUF,.

Shult/.,

Pesteier,

Mordecai Hieks,
Levi Creasy,

Ct.

iSmitli,

W. Dodson,

el lx)i)ne,

Geo. P. Stiner,
T.

W.

Fry,

Levi Hidlay,

Geo. Hidlay,

Knorr,

Elias Brown,

Erastus VV. Baker,

H.

He/.ekiah Boone,

T.

Henry R. Remley,

Samuel Rinard,

Alfred l^ower,

Chas. R. Boone,

Jos. Weis,

Jacob Miller,

J.

MeD

Price,

Chas. Zimmerman,

Jesse Hieks,
FRANKl.IX.

Shultz Knittle,

William Mensch,

John Artly,
Henry Edmans,

Jos. B. Belber,

Hiram

Geo. Zarr,

Washington Parr,
Samuel Yetter,

John Cooner,
John S. ]\IcWilliams, Jacob Bolder,
Geo. Hartman,
David Huber,

AVi'llino-ton Clark,

Christian Artly,

Jacob Knit tie,
Benj.

Zimmerman,

D.ivid

J.

W.

Reeder,

Wm.

i>:uninger,

Keiflfer,

UOAKINCCIJEKK.

John Karig,
Joseph Buck,

Emanuel K. Case,

Samuel Leiby,

Michael Knittle,

Peter Strausser,

HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.
Elias Rarig,

Phineas Thomas,

John

Geo.

Joseph Kline,

(tco. Kreishei',

P>l<tss,

John
John IIaiii))toii,
Jacob Longaberger,

liloss,

s(

Michael

IJriltoii,

Prjscus E. l^omboy,

Beeder Mack,
Pulaski Mellick,

•<

279

C. Hovver,

Jacolj Erwin,

)rr.

Daniel Hamlin,

Daniel Snyder,

John B. Vanhorn,
Th(nnas Merrill,
David Whitmire,

Aaron Neuss,
Wm. E. Hower,

Jackson Garrison,
G. Fensterraaker,
Theodore McDowell,

Alfred P. Fowler,

Geo. Ruckle,

I'INK.

Lore,

Jacob Gorden,
Clenuiel Mc Henry,

Wesley Long,
Pemberton Piatt,

Mathias Crossley,

Jacob Cliristiati,
John Lore,
Fred Wagner,
Abijah (i. Girton,
Samuel Stackhouse,

Jolni

U. Franklin Derr,

Jackson Iliimmel,
Wilson Thomas,

James Dewitt.

M. B Shultz,
John Thomas,

Wm. R. Mather,.
Perry D. Black,
(i. W. Washburn,

\i.

lienj.

Eves,

Isaac Irens,

(iUKKNWOOI).

Jos.

('.

I'arkcr,

Samuel Patterson,
Zebulon Shultz,
Thos. lieese,

Wm.

Trivelpiece,

Geo. Derr,

Jacob Ilayman,

Geo. lleacock,

David Masters,

Israel

John Staddon,
George Reese,
John Thomas,
John Moore Eves,

Jos.

Harrison Dietterick,

P. Ikeler,

Robert Musgrave,

Wm.

Davis,

Peter Swisher,

W. (xirton,
W. Eves,

Abrahain Titman,

Thomas Wilson,
Jacob Mussleman,
Richard J. Eves,

Sylvester Albertson,

Clinton Jlol)bins,

Thomas

Augustus Wilson,

James L. Preston,
John C. Lemons.

Parvin Eves,

Wm. U. Parker,
Wm. ¥.. Patters<jn,

Jesse lleacock,

W^m.

Frank

lioberts,

Jonas Hess,

Rohr

jMcIIenry,

J.

Davis,

Sands,

JACKSON.

l^hilip

John

Knouse,

Kt'ller,

Elijah

Yocum,

Jesse Rhone,

Josiah Robbins,
Jno. Young,
Israel Heath,

HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.

280

John Fox,
Sylvester Richards,

Purseval Fulk,

HEMLOCK.
Mathias Whitenight, Hugh A. Hartman,
Reuben Rouch,
Perry Whitenight,
John Coons,
James D. Pnrsel,

Thomas Weaver,

Henry Somers,

Willits Pursel,

Daniel Wanich,

Peter

Harris Hartman,

S.

Brugler,

Azima W^hitenight,
Peter Brugler,
John S. Shoemaker,
Reuben Werkheiser, James Rounsley,

Geo.

Wm.

W.

Philip Hess,

P. Leidy,

Charles Green,

Gideon Stecker,
Michael Gober,

W.

Foust,

H. Shoemaker,

John Hartiuan,
ORANGE.

Fred

JVIufler,

John

S.

Pettibone,

Jeremiah Hess,

P^-ed Payden,

Milton Trumbore,

Matthew B. Patterson,

Lemuel White,

Alex. McHenry,
Jerome Kisner,
Oscar Achenbach,
Emanuel Appleman,
Henry Stewart,

Abraham White,

Charles Conner,

Geo. L. Johnson,

John Fisher,

Henry W.

Kisner,

Isaac R. Dildine,

Martin

Kline,

Miles DeLong,
Patterson,

Ai'chibald

Joshua Trumbore,
LOCUST.

Franklin Rarig.

Jesse G. John,

Jacob Yost,

Jonathan Beaver,
Jacob Ruch,
Joseph Sanders,
Isaac C. Myers,
Henry Hoffman,

David Rhodes,

Geo. Isenbach,

Geo. Bittener,

Wm.

John Lindermate,
Joseph Breck,
S. Schaeffer,

Wm.

Campbell,

Adam
Ellis

M. Johnson,

George,

Simon

Carroll,

Jacob Lindermate,
Israel Warry,

John Miner,
Brine Hongbener,
David Fetterman,

Michael Hongberger, Isaac
Charles Bellig,

Wm

D. Paler,
Jacob Long,

Wm.

Irwin,

Adam Mensch,
Wm. Lourman,
George Wary,

Hemy

Yost,

Bahm,
J. Fisher,

David Helwig,
David Reeder,
Wm. Wynn,
David Levan,
Lloyd P. Fox,
Solomon Strausser,
Jacob P. Kesliner,
John C. Walters,

Solomon Rider,
Wellington Hower,

Amandus

Wni

Wm.

Parker,

Billeg,

Peter Beaver,
Smith,

Peter Rhodes,

W.

Wm.
Wm.

Shultz,

Gabel Warry,

Goodman,

Daniel P. Levan,

H. Reinbold,

HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNIY.
Wesley Perry,
Win. Adains,

Solomon Yeager,
David Leibig,
Nathan Kostenbader ,David Long.

Abram

Andrew Scott,
Jacob Care,
Harris H. Fox,
Adam Marks,
Richard E. Watkins, Samuel Miller,

Wm.

Rice,

Fettermaii,

John Artley,

281

MADISON.
Kobt. Fruit,

Jonathan Pogg,

Alex. Carr,

Joel Moser,

Joseph C. Smith,

Geo. Breece,

D.niel Welliver,

Lemuel Kisner,
James Kindline,
John D. Essick,
Wm. Graham,

Elisha B. Hartman,

John Roan,

Francis Eves,

H. Clay Mills,
John Demott,

Abram

Wm.

L^riah Welliver,

Adam C'odennan,
Wash Wei liver,
Eli

Wagner,

Kitchen,

John Mosteller,

W.

Swisher,

Jno. Shultz,
Jno. Kramer,

Josejdi Moist,

Silas

JacoV) Zeisloft,

A. R. Smith,

Henry

Conrad Ivranier,
Wni. iNl as teller,

Wesley Demott,

Wilson

Bai-ber,

Biddle,
J.

Masters,

Cyrus R. Johnson,
MT. I'LKASANT.

Isaac Culp,

John

Gabriel Everett,

Lott Johnson,

Philip Miller,

David

John

II.

II.

Mordan,

F.

Oman,

Vanderslice, Melchi Ruckle,

Andrew

J. McCarty, Benj. Kester,
Hu'am Thomas,
Aaron Kester,
John Barnes,
Kussel Apijlenian,
David Musgrave,
John W. Kramer,

Wm.

Samuel Jacoby,
Chas. Johnson,
Philip Stroup,
Jos.

H. Kitchen,

Hiram Kramer,
Christian Eck,

Joshua Hartzel,
Robt. Howell,

Peter llippensteel,

Henry Mellick,
Emanuel Gilbert,

Levi Thomas,

Amos

Clinton

Millard L. Thomas,

Beers,

R. Heacock,

JNIellick,

James Lemon,
John Johnson,

Wm. W.

Lewis Felker,
G. M. Longenberger,
Thos. Pleasants,

Longenberger,
Campbell,
Wm. Erwin,

Josiah Fleming,

John

Kline,

Geo. Steinmiller,

Matthias Gilbert,

Alfred Miller,

Jer.

Benj.

IT. J.

David

A

Sluunan,

Hawkae,
Bigilling,

Nath. H.

W. Brown,

TTISTORY OF COLUMBTA COUXTY.

L>8i

Geo. Robeuliolt,

Hezekiah Kelolnu'r,

Win.

Philip llcss.

Win. KoIc-Iuut,

Daniel House,

Samuel E. Smith,

Wash

Stei)hen Hetter,

Wm.

Jos. K. Miller,

Kilebaugh,

John

Jaeob Snyder,

Wm.

Michael,

Z.

,1.

E. Sch\ve|)[)enheiser,

ITartzel,

Zimmmnan,
Thos. W. Hutchison,
Jer.

Fleas,

Abr.im M.

(iitliiig,

Arasteller,

John Kint,
Alfred Hess,
Ste|)hen Dietterick.

Lewis Creasy,

Whitney Hess,

VictDr Ronald.

Sanuiel Shives,

Hiram McHenry,

R^^nj-

Jacobs. Hishline,
Geo. M. Howell,

Leyi Winner,

Monterville McHenry,

Abrani W. P.itterson, Dennis Kline,

I'hili]) Bellas,

Thos. M. Station,

Cyrus B. Fox,

Keuben Hess,

D. C.

James McMichael,

Geo. Gilbert,

Alex. Jackson,

J Campbell,
Elisha K. Kobbins,

Stot

FISniNCU'UKKK.

,]as.

Sutliff,

Oolder,

Jacob Kline,

Wm.

McHenry,

Perry Buckalew,

Eyens,

Reuben Appleman.

SrGAKIA).\F.

Hiram Lunger,

Hiram Lunger,

Elijah Peterman.

Jos. L.

Geo. Case,

Clinton Cole,

Elijah Hess,

Benjamin Peterman, Cyrus Larish,
Reuben Betterly,
Richard Hess,
Elias Golden,
Abijah Hess,

Peter Masteller,
Sanniel Roberts,

John

W

JVotc.

teering

or for special

foregoing

lists

some

cates,

They

had

quotas by yolunwas postponed. Li the

tilled their

reasons the draft

nniny names are manifestly wrong,

of persons deceased, or long absent.

are thus ai)parent
ist.

Fritz,

Michael Beishline,

Kline,

—The other townships
;

Jer. Vansickle,

Amos

Harp,

many

The

dupli-

errors that

must not be charged to the printer or the copyfrom the furnished or printed lists,

are correctly copied

and giyen as per copy. To those who know the persons the correction is easy, and it was thought best to permit that to be done
by the reader, and to give the names as we found them. The
careless incorrectness ^vas
zens,

and these

worse.

lists

much trouble to our citimonument of incompetency or

the cause of

are a lasting

HLSTOEY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.

CHAPTER

283

XXVII.

dkaftp:d militia—nine months' service.
178th KKCilMKNT.

J.

W.

Cheniberlin, Major, promoted from private,

Both Ivcgimeiit, P. V.

Regiment 27th July,

November

21,

Company A,

18G2, mustered out witli

1863.

Isaac Pursel, Quartermaster, promoted from 1st Lieutenant,

pany

P",

December

3,

Com-

1862, mustered out with Regiment, 27

July, 1803.

—

Quarter Master Sergeant mustered
promoted from ('ompany F, December 8,
lH(t2, nuistered out with Regiment 27 July, 1863.
William Fisher, Commissary Sergeant, mustered October 3, 1862,

Williamson

November

H.

Jacoby,

24, 1862,

promoted from Sergeant, Company A, Dtcember 8, 1862, mustered out with Regiment 27 July, 1863.
William F. (Jruver, Hospital Steward, mustered X'ovember 2, 1862,
promoted from Corporal, Com[)any F. Uecembei- 3, 1862, mustered out with Regiment, 27 July 1863.
The Regiment was recruited in Columbia, Montour, Lancaster
and Lii/erne: companies A, II, and I were from Columbia
The regiment
county, and F and G mostly from Montour.
was mustered iiito the service between October 30th and November 4th, 1862, and was mustered out at Harrisburg July 27, 1863.
The men not otlierwise designated, were mustered out with the

Company. The Regiment moved to Washington December 6,
and reached Yorktown on the 29th. In April it had a skirmish
near Williamsburg, and was on the advance picket line until the
23d of June. When the rebels moved into Pennsylvania, a demonstration towards Richmond was made by our troops, and the
178th under Gen. Keys moved towards Bottoms Bridge on the
Chickahominy. It had a brisk skirmish on the 2d July. It held

HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.

284

the picket line until the 6th, wjis then returned to Williamsburg

and hurried to Washington to reinforce the army of the Potomac.
Hut the defeat at Gettysburg relieved it, and it was sent to Ilarrisburg and mustered out.
CO:\IPANY A.

John M. Buckalew,

Ca})tain,

nuistered

out

with

company, 27

July, 1863.

Martin V. B. Kline, 1st Lieutenant,
certificate,

January

Karns.

,I()hn J.

May

Lieutenant,

1st

discharged

on

surgeon's

22, 1863.

jjroinotcd

from 2d Lieutenant

lo, 1863.

Janu's

Muchler, 2d Lieutenant, promoted from Sergeant,

S.

May

15, 1863.

Montgomery,

Sanuiel

Sanuiel F. Peal(t

W.

John

discharged March

19, 1863.

Creveling,

Sergeant,

promoted from Corporal, July

Stephens,

Sergeant,

promoted from

1863.

Zebulon
1,

1st Sergeant.

1st Sergeant,

Shortz, Sergeant.

Alfred L
1,

r,

S.

Cor{)oral,

July

1863.
11.

Keeler, Sergeant, promoted from private July

1,

1863.

William Fisher, Sergeant, promoted to Commissary Sergeant,

December
Samuel Park,

8,

1

862.

C-orporal.

A. A. P. Unangst, Corporal, absent at hospital at nuister out.

Henry Wagner, Corporal.
Abraham B. Browe, Corporal.
William Comstock, Corj)oral.
Kli Ivobbins, Corporal, absent in hos]iital at nuister out.

John W. Beishline, Musician.
William J. Pobbins, Musician.
Allegar, John Y., Private, absent

in hospital at nuister out.

Beishline Levi, Private.

Beishline Michael, Private.

Beiuler

P^lias

I'.,

Bangs Ilendrick W.,

'•

-'

Boston Reuben, discharged on surgeon's
22, 1862.

certificate

November

OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.

IlIISTORY
Bitterly

285

certificate

November

on surgeon's

certificate

Redman, discharged on surgeon's

22, 18(52.

W., Private,

Bellas Geo.

November

discharged

22, 1SG2.

Buss Joshua, T*rivate, died at Harrisburg, December 6, 1862.
Cole Benjamin I), nnistered out with company July 27, 1863.
Cole William,

Private.
"

Cole John,

"

Connor Oscar,
Dietrich Jolm,

Dodson Chester rs.,
Eveland Wesley E.,

"
"

Eveland Fred K.,
Evans, John W.,
Fans Henry,
Fuller, Joseph D.,

"

"
"

Andrew J., Private, discharged on
November 22, 1862.

Fritz

Fuller John

vember

J.,

surgeon's

certificate

Private, discharged on surgeon's certificate,

No-

22, 1862.

Getz Jolm, mustered out with company July
Getz Martin,
Hess Benjamin W.,

.

TIarp Joseph,

"
"

Hartman Jesse
Hartman Geo. W.,
Hartman Minor,

"
"

"

Howard Charles,
Hoche Geo. W.,

"

Harrington Newton,

l*rivate,

November

27, 1863.

"

discharged on surgeon's certificate

22, 1862.

Heath George, Private, dischaiged on surgeon's
vember 22, 1862.
Kline Ira D., Privat-, mustered out with
Killinger (ieo. W., Private.

KufT Jarcd

"

Kindig Charles

F.,

"

Keeler, SannicI

^I.,

"

certificate

Company July

No-

27, 1863.

///s7'()/n'

i>s(;

Novombor

:?l\

l.auUaoh

•-'_*.

s

rortitioati^

disi'harm'd on suriionn's i-crtilioato

ah',

ilisi'hary;oil

on sii'^oon's

I'ortiiioalo

No-

1S(;l>.

l>anii>l,

nmstoivd out

l.audorbarh William, riivato,
NoviMulu'v

I'L*.

MonliionuM-y

witli i'OiH|iauy -7 July,

IS(k"!.

on surjiootrs

(iisi'li.aiiiotl

(.'ortitioaU'

IS(c'.

Musslcm.an Jacob,

1

sur^'oii

ISii:?.

Klino ,Ioso|»h S. rrivato,
MMiilu-r

on

disohai-oi'.l

1S(!l'.

'2-J.

William. Prix

Kr'u'kl)ai:;n

corx/v.

I'o/.r.y/u.i

Prixato.

Ki-iv'kl)auiu rhili|t.

NoviMubiM-

or

mustrr

l*ii\ato. absont.siok at

1\oIhm-1. l'ri\ali>. nuistoi-od out

out.

with comjiauy

I'T

July

S(>;>.

Moori>

(.''hristian

rrivati'.

1...

Marklo Monro.
MastoMor Im'O. W.. Privatr. .U'sorlOil Novombor lo.
MoP.oury Kli. Privato. ilosortod DooiMubor ;U), lS(il*.
(>smon(l Ji>hn. Privnit'. nrastonnl oul with

Park

Palmer Severn

1*7

July, 18lio.

1>.,

Patterson Paniel

S..

M.. "

James

I'enninixtoii

K

KvMuley Pavid

,

CJeoru'e,

W..

KobiM-ts \\in

Klione NVm.

P

,

Punyon Joseph C".. Private.
November "Ji*. IS(>2.
Stoneeker
July

St>'.'.

Private.

(ha-in.

Kemle\

company

1

Henry.

Pri\ ale.

clisclKU;^e(l

mustered

on surgeons

out

with

eerlitieate

con'^pany

^7

isi>;v

Private.

Shult/. FJias.

Wheeler,

Shult/..

Shidt/. Kussol.
Shult/.

Peter

K/.ra.

Santee

William,

November

"

P.,

Stevens

•_>!>.

Prl\ ate,

discharged on

siirL^eons

certiticilo

1S(?l\

Shult/ Cornelius, Private, discharged on surgeon's eertitieate No-

ven\bor

'J'J,

\W2.

OF

I/Is'ronv
Wesley

SiitlidV-

V 21.

.I;uiii;ii

Srnilli .MiiKM-

Tnl)l)S

Tliotniis

\\'., I'iiv;i1,<', <liH(;har«(e<l

15

on

Kiir;^e(*ii'H

287

certificate

H<;;5

I

N;itli;iii.

(JOLirMIlfA aOTTNTY.

Xoveinlter 21,

I'livate, descried

,

I'livale, uiiiHtered

u

otil

I'rivatc. discliari^ed

J(»'~('|)li,

il li

.jii

1

SG2.

eomjiaiiy July 27, lHf]3.

Kiirj^ef)ii's

cerlific^ate

No-

vciiiImt 22. 1^02

W.

Uiiatii^st

II.. I'll v;ilc,

Wolfl'a.il,

Wo(h1s, Will

willi

oiil

coniiiany 27. July lHf)3.

"
"

Mc(;.,

Wri^Iii Moses,
VV(!aver

mustered

I'livate.

Aiic^iistiis VV., l'rivat<',

dischar[^ed on surf^con's certificate

N<»veinl>er 22, IH(;2.

YoiMiLT Williairi, Private, riiuslered out witli cotiiitany July 27,1803.

Yaple

Djiiiiel,

Yount,'

Private,

Private, desi-rted .Xovendx-r 21, 1802.

I^llis,

"Vajil"' 'riioiiias,

Ya]»le

J*rivato, descrte<l

Private,

.{ereiiiiali,

died

November
at

5,

Fortress

1802.

Mrjnroe Dec<;niV)er

30, 1802.

rOMI'ANY

This <'<)m])any
server! tfiat

\v:is

crerlifcd to

many

of

tin;

men

!•.

Montour county,
are

from

Vuit

it

('ObiinV)ia. It

will

be ob-

was nmster-

in mainly Xovc^mber 2, 1802, and mustered out.Tuly 27, 1803,
and unless ot}ier« iso disposed of, that is the record of each
man named.
John A Winnt-r, (.'attain, mustered out with cfimjtariy .Jidy 27,

ed

1803.

Isaac

I'ursell, 1st

ber

Abner

3,

Lieutenant, juomoted to (^uaitermaster

Decem-

1803

II.

Hiown,

Decend.er

1st

Lieutenant, |)romot<;d

from 2d Lieutenant

24, 1802.

Samuel A. Mills, 2d Lieutenant, jjromoted from 1st Sergeant December 24, lS(i2.
Elias W. Yoidy, Isi Sergeant, promoted from Sergeant January 1,
1

803.

Reese Flanigan, Sergeant.
"
George A. Brown,

Emanuel
H.

W.

Peters,

"

Musslenian, Sergeant, promoted from private,

March

1,

1863.

HIS TOBY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.

288

Daniel MoIIarn,

Corporal.

David P. Childs
David P. Young
Henry W. Snyder

"
,

"
!

Charles Sage, Corporal, abs.ent, sick at muster out.
Williiin A. Kittle, Corporal, promoted
1

to Corporal

i

December

28,

t

862.

I

William

F. Gruver, Corporal,

ceraber

3,

promoted to Hospital Steward De-

I

1862.

f

John K. Rishel, Corporal, died

at

Georgetown, Virginia, January

.

;
'

12, 1863.

John H. Hunt. Musician.
Arnwine George W, Private.
Asliland Alexander, discharged on surgeon's certificate

November

21, 1862.

Baylor I'eter,
Bogart ('yrus
Bogart Joseph
Burgi

r

1

|

''

'•

Peter

Burger \Vm.
Byerly Wm.
10,

Private.
"

H
II.

'•

deserted

November

19, 1862,

returned December,

1862

Bowman

John,

Private.

"
Bodine Charles W.
"
Basel Lewis
Creveliiig Moore, deserted November 19, 1862, returned April 1
1863, absent in hospital at muster out.
Coxey Tliomas A. discharged on sui'geon's certiticate November
21, 1862.

Cooj)er Charles

W,

discharged on surgeon's certificate, January

19. 1863.

Cooper Albert, deserted November
Derr Fredench,
Private.
"
Dreiblepice Jacob
Dreiblei)ice James,

"

Elmes William,

"

Everett John,

"

Fox John,
Fox Samuel

"

T,

"

13, 1862.

Ij

HISTORY Ot COLUMBIA COUNTY.
Fought Edward,

289

Private.

Flick Erastus,
"

Fetter Cyrus,

"
Gaskins Herbert B.,
Gotsclialk \V. W., died at Yorktown, Virginia, July
buried in National Cemetery, grave 115.

Heinbach Peter,
Heinbach David
Johnson John,

Jr.,

12,

1863,

Private.
"
"

"
Jones Daniel H.,
Jacoby Williamson H., promoted to Quartermaster Sergeant De-

cember 3, 1862.
Karshner Daniel, Private.
"
Karshner Peter,
"
Washington,
Kuouse
"

Koons Samuel,
Kelly Stephen

S.,

transferred

to

Company K, 163d Regiment,

Pennsylvania Volunteers, November 24, 1862.

Lawrence Thomas, Private.

Lynn Wni.

"

S.,

Lazarus Daniel

T.,

"

Miller Wesley,

"

Miller Andrew,

"

Mensch Solomon,
Mover John D.,

"

"

Morrell Sanuiel H.,

"

Marshall David,

"

Marshall Daniel,
Mellick Henry M.,
.Ah'llick

Henry W.,

Mtirdon John R.,

"

"
Musgrave Franklin,
Milhr William, died at Yorktown, Virginia, March
Mott Daniel, deserted, date unknown.

McHenry

Samuel,

Omaiis Geo.

L.,

Persing

H.,

Ilif

Rudy Jeremiah
Riffle

James

S.,

S.

Private.
"

"

"

31, 1863.

HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.

290

Roup Layfayette

Private.
"

F.,

Reppert George,
Runyon Samuel C,

"

\

"

Rmiyon Oliver P.,
Runyan Sheppard, deserted November 12, 1862.
Reushaw Robert, deserted November 15, 1862.
Snyder Clayton,
Snyder Peter K.,
Spotts Jolm

Private.
"

Spotts William,

"

Shult Harrison, deserted

November

19, 1862,

returned December

10, 1862.

Stroup

Private.
"

Phili]> A.,

Smith Harvey,

Shearer Charles, discharged on Surgeon's certificate January
1

15,

868.

Snyder John

S.,

deserted Novend)er 18, 1862.

November

Sheetz Jolm, deserted

19, 1862.

Swisher Clement, deserted November
Thom})son Wm., Private.

Thomas

Joel, deserted

Wintersteen H.

Jr.,

Walter Jackson,

Wise

November

12, 1862.

18, 1862.

Private.
"

Elias 0., transferred to

Company

I,

163 Regiment Pennsyl-

vania Volunteers, November 23, 1862.

Wintersteen John, deserted November

West Lewis

D., deserted

Yarich David

P.,

November

8,

19, 1862.

1862.

discharged on Surgeon's

certificate

November

22, 1862.

o
CH).-\irANY

(5.

This company was from Montour county, except a few names,
and was mustered into service mainly November 4, 1862, and
mustered out July 27, 1863, and unless otherwise accounted
for, the men were mustered out with the company.
William Y. Adams, Captain, mustered out July 27, 1863.

Thomas

Butler, 1st. Lieutenant.

Stephen C. Vansant, 2d. Lieutenant.
Charles D. Levan, 1st. Sergeant.

1

IIItiTOR Y
Joliii II.

John

S.

OF COL UMBIA CO UNTY.

29

Leidy, Sergeant.
"

Mahaii,

"

Phineas llaldren,

James S. Headings, '•
James W. Lowry. C()r})oral.
"

Thomas P. Perry,
Henry D. Geiger,

"

'•
George Haldron,
'"
Vansant,
Thomas M.
"
Daniel M. Adams,
"
Jacob J. Bardole,

Allien Peter V., Private.

Ande Thomas H.

"

Albeck Jacob, deserted November
liutler John 8 l*rivate

20, 1862.

,

Burch Peter,

Bomboy

jr.

Daniel,

"
"

Beers David,

Biddle James

I{,

discharged on surgeon's certificate November

^'l^

1862.

Bechtel Jacob, discharged on surgeon's
]

certificate,

November

14,

862.

Bechtel Daniel S, discharged on surgeon's certilicate,

November

14, 1862.

Barber Silas W, discharged, date unknown.
Barber Nicholas, deserted November 21, 1862.

Cooper Abraham, Private.
"
Confer William,
"
Cox William J,
Confer PliiHi>, dii-d at Yorktown,

\'irginia,

Februa'T

7,

1863.

Carr Ale.xaiider, discharged on surgeon's certificate November 14,
1862.

Cox Amos, discharged November lo,
Carr Andrew, jr., deserted November
Cotner Daniel, absent without leave

Conway Jesse,
Dry Adam,
Derr Thomas,
Derr Iliram,

deserted Noveml)er
Private.
"
"

1862.
4,

at

1.),

1862

muster out.
1862.

or

292

rrrsiTORr

Di'greoti

Augustus Private.

Dyor .Taoobr
Kyov Johi\,
Evans David,

ooLrr^nir.l coiryi

"
i

''
I

deserted, date unkuo\vn.

Private.

(xiuder Jacob,

Gordon Ernst,
Grim John II. deserted November
Huttenstine

y.

18, lSfii>.

I'rivate.

J.

"
Herner John,
Harries John
Heiner William, discharged on surgeon's
''

certiticate

November

22,

1S62.

rrikert Samuel, deserted November '2'2. 18n2.
Hartman Lewis, deserted November 21, 1862.
Irvin \Vm..

Private.

Kelly Jo!m

Kester Jeremiah

"

Kersteller Leonard,

Kline Isaac,
Kitchen John

"•

"
II.

discharged on surgeon's certificate November 22,

18(52.

Kirkner Leonard, deserted November
La-hell

Wm.

MathU'n James,

"

M;igonigal Thomas,

Murray Joseph

21, 1862.

Private.
"

S.,

"

K.,

"

^lurtz John,

More George,
Mi'ler Wnj. H,

''

Planning AVm. L.,
Myers James I)., discharged on surgeon's

certificate

November

22,

18(i2.

Morris

Edward

M., deserted

November

13.

1862.

Mcv'racken James, Private.

Mc^Iahan James,
b.M- 22.

jr.,

discliarged on

1862.

Richard Hiram,

Ruse Corneliu-i,
Roads Mahlon,

Private.

"
''

surgeon's certificate

Novem-

HIHTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.
(^fOi

293

Stineman Frederich, Private.
"
Starr John I).,
"
Smith Alexander,
"

8weitzer John,
Shiras liownian

8weitzer Wni.

"

1).,

"

\V.,

"

Strouse Win.,

Shock

discharnod November 21, 1802.

KniaiiiK'l,

November 17, 18G2.
November 17, 1862.
deserted November 9, 18G2.

Shires \Vm., dischirged

Stecker Moses

discharged

L.,

Shultz Itobt-rt M.,

Swisher

deserted Novembei- 20, 1862.

IJiiri^es,

Smitli David, dcsei-tcd

Thomas
Tayhjr

F

liunj.

Xovembir

6,

1862.

Private.

,

C^yrus,

Thomas

''

Jolin,

Tinchdl Andrew, discliai-ged on surgeon's ceititicate

Tanner

Ileni'y, jr., deserted

Weisnar Wm.,

Wykoff

Wm.

2,

1863.

v.,

Andrew

J.,

Wanicli Amos,

Warner

May

lo, 1862.

Piivate.
"

Vaiisickle Jolin A.,

AVellever

November

Christian, tlied at

"
"

Newport News,

^'irginia,

December

16,

1862.
certificate,

November

discharged on surgeon's certificate

November

Weisner Augustus, discharged on surgeon's
22, 1862.

Wertman

Ileniy

L.,

13, 1863.

Young George W.,

deserted

November

OOMrANV

2.j,

1862.

II.

was nnistered into service mainly on the 28th of
October 1862 and was mustered out at llarrisburg July 27,
lS6;i.
If not otherwise stated ihe men were mustered out with

Tiie comjtany

;

the

Company.

Theodore McD.

Price, Captain.

Wm.

1st Lieutenant,

II.

Evans,

discharged

May

6,

1863.

ffrsT07?y

i>;n

Frank

Howard.

A.

M.iy

1"),

Miihloii

1>.

II.

l.iop.UMiniU. [ironu>(o*l

1st

1'roiii

iM

l.ii'iiti'iiant

is(;;>.

llicks. proiuotiMl to 1st Scvgo:mt ,I;iiui;u-y

2(1 I/u'iitiMiMut.

Win.

or coLrjnuA corxrv.

Stalil.

Juiu'

1st

i;>.

I

Sd;?,

to

Jiilv

1,

18()3.

6,

promotod from Corporal

Sorui'iiiit.

iS(>;v

August

B.

ClowrlK

iiromotod from Corporal .laiiuarv

ISi'rg'i'anl.

1.

1 86;i.

Ilonry

IT.

Sorgoaut

Mart/.,

Win. Girton, Sergeant.
Jacob Weiss, Sergeant. i)ronioted from private July 1. 18GM.
Wm. Remley, Sergeant, discharged on surgeons certiticate February 27, ISGo.
Isaac Lutz. Sergeant, deserted

Richard Ivupert,

Xovember

24, 1862.

Cori)oral.

James D. Evans
George P. Stiner
AVm. A. Lynn. Corporal, deserted November
Enos L. Bower, Musician.

10, 1S()2.

Elijah Bower. ^lusician.

Andrews Sanuiel. Frivate. discliargcd on surgeon's certiticate
November S, 1862.
Andrews Isaac, discliarged on surgeon's certificate November 22,
1S62.

Boon Benjamin
Bomboy Armanis
Boon George H.

Private.
''

"

Blank Josiah
Bi'ck Wasliington
"

Brobst William

Brown David

discharged on

jr..

surgeon's

certificate

November

12, 1862.

Bower Wm.
Clewell

Wm.

F.. deserted

H.

Deitriek Hervey
Durliii

Wm.,

November

2o, 1862.

Private
'*

J.

dischaiged on

surgeon's

certificate

1862.

Deitriek Harrison

II..

deserted

Krwiae Wilson, Private.

November

8,

1862.

November

22,

HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.
Fiilk

!^:iins(»ii,

295

Private.

Fre<leiick Jesse J., discharged on surgeon's certilicate

November

12, rso2.

November

Fraiii Pliiliii, deserted

Fink David, deserted Novendjer

Ganbier .Jonathan
ber

8,

J

li.,

18G2.

8,

8,

18G2.

discharged on surgeon's certificate,

Novem-

802.

Grassley Job. deserted

November

19, 1862.

Gordenhisei- Itona, deserted Noveinber

Hippenstccl

Wm.

Hetler Hiram

9,

1862.

Private.
''

II.

Hetler Pefer

A(him
"
Hoppis Elias
Herring Sanmel, discharged on surgeon's
Hill

certificate

November

22, 1802.

Herman Jolm,

discliarged on surgeon's certificate

1862.

Hoffman Jacob, deserted November

9,

Herring William, deserted Noveml^er

Harman

Silas,

deserted

November

1802.

12, 1802.

23, 1862.

Hunsinger J W., deserted November 8, 1862.
Jones William M.
Private.
"
Johnsr)!! Aaron 11
Johnson Josiah H., deserted November 8, 1862.
Kitchen Ricdiard,
Private.
"

Kramer George,
Kanady William,

"

Knorr Phineas,

"

Kelchner Samuel C, discharged November, 1862.
Lant/ Peter J., absent in hospital at muster out.
Longenberger N., Private.

Lowery David, died July 8, 1863.
Lynn Henry, deserted November 20, 1862.
Longenberger John, deserted November 15,
Laylon Aspy, deserted November lo, 1862.
Martz Samuel,
Masteller Henry,

Mowei-y George,

Private.
''

"

1862.

November

22,

HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY

29(i

Miller

Private.

Jiicol),

Markle Conrad,

"

Mills James,

"

Mummy

November 9, 1862.
November 9, 1862.
deserted November 23, 1 862.
deserted November 23, 1862.

Michael, deserted

Meiisiiiger Samuel, deserted

Mummy
Moyer

Philip,

Silas E.,

Nuss Aaron,

Private.
•'

Price John,

"

Roniick Charles,

RitU'uhouse Josiah, deserted November

Rinad

Levi, deserted

Shellhannner Jacob,

Shannon William,
Sponeyberger S.,
Sponeyberger P.,
Suit Owen,
Sherman Reuben,

November

8,

1862.

10, 1862.

Private.
"

"
"
"

"

Shaffer Daniel, absent in hospital at muster out.

Strohmoyer John

P.,

Private,

Suit Charles F.,

Schlabach Wm. H.,
Smith Emanuel, deserted November 10, 1862.
Sitler Freeman, deserted November 23, 1862.
Slasser Solomon, deserted November 23, 1862.
Wells John,
Private.
'•
Witmire Daniel B.,
"
Witmire Samuel,
"
Witmire Joseph.

Walp

William, discharged

Yohe William,
Yost Elias,
Yinger George,

November

1862.

Private.
"

Y^ohe James, deserted October 30, 1862.

COMl'ANY

I.

The company was mustered in mainly from the 1st to the 5th of
November 1862, and nnistered out 27 July 1863, and all the

HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNIY.
men

297

not otherwise disposed of were mustered out with thecom-

piiny.

William 11. .Shuman, Captain.
William H. Reinbold, 1st. Lieutenant, discharged May .5, 1863.
Robert S. Ent, 1st. Lieutenant, promoted from 1st Sergeant, June
6,

1863.

Daniel G. Ent, 2d Lieutenant discharged

on surgeon's certificate

April 29, 1863.

Albert McDowell, 2d Lieutenant, promoted from private to Ser-

geant December

16, 1862, to

2d Lieutenant May 15, 1863.
promoted from private July

P^ranklin P. Kelley, 1st Sergeant,

1,

1863.

Thomas

F. Harder, Sergeant, promoted from Corporal July

1,

1863-

Daniel B. Stevens, Sergeant, absent in hospital at muster out.

Jacob H. Yohe, Sergeant, promoted from private July

1,

1863,

Daniel L. Everhart, Sergeant.

Uriah J. Campbell, Sergeant, discharged December 2, 1862.
Ebenezer S. Case, Corporal.
John Krwin, promoted to Corporal December 16, 1862.
George W. Jacoby, promoted to Corporal December 2, 1 862.
Alfred F. Slayman, Corporal.
William Abbott,
"
Samuel P. Levan,
William E. Shannon
Thomas H. Hamilton deserted December 10, 1862.

Adams

David,

Ashton Emanuel,
Arnierling C.

S. G.,

Beaver Joseph B.,
Boon Emanuel,
Backer Nicholas.
Beaver Benjamin,
Beaver John,

Private.
"

"
"
'*

"
"

"

B.-aver Peter,
cei-tificate

November

22,

Billeg William, discharged on surgeon's certificate

November

22,

Bredbenner

S.,

discharged on surgeon's

1862.

1862.

Creasy John

P.,

Private.

ITTSTOUY or COLUMBTA COVXTY.

29S

Cornier Henry,
Crawford Jackson,

l*riva(e.

Can- George, deserted November 22,

Drake Benjainin,
Derr Jolm,
Deir .Joseph,

18()2.

Trivate.
"

"
'•

l)ailous Jolm,

"

Dailoiis Samuel,

'•

Krnst, Frederick,

Eves William M., discharged on surgeon's

cerlificate

Xovember

22, 181)2.

Ftustaniaker II,

Private.

Forsylhe Charles,

Fausey William, discharged on surgeon's
1

(ietling InMijamin,

(irover Stephen,

W'm

(iirtou
1

certiticate

Novend»er22

8()l>.

(r

,

Private,
"

discharged on surgeon's certiticate ]Srovend)er 22,

802.

Ciensell Joseph, transferred

to Ulman's

lndej)endent ]>attery, 2

December, 1862.
TTowell Theodore,
Iluttenstine D. M.,

Hagenbuch W. K.,
llunuuel John J.,

Harmon Benjamin,

Private.
"

"
"

Hart/ell Jacob,

'"

Harmony

"

Hill

Daiuel,

dames.

Hock Michael,
dones Hervey, discharged on surgeon's
1

certiticate

862.

Kindt Mathias,
Kline

Abraham

Knouse

Philip,

Private.
"

"

Kreischer Jerre

Kline George C, absent, sick at muster out.
Kneclit Daniel \V.,

Kline Martin, deserted

Private.

November

2o, 1862.

November

22,

I

HI.STORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.
Lou-

Priviite.

Willi.'im,

Loiigenberger

200

J. B.,

deserted

November

22, 1862.

Longeiiberger John, deserted November 22, 1862.
Meiich Christian,

Private.
"

Miller Fnuiklin,

Mosteller

«

Wm.,

Miller Charles, discharged on surgeon's certificate,
1

November

22,

November

22,

s(;l>

Menere John, discharged on surgeon's

certificate

1862.

R

Mack Sedgwick

,

transferred to Ulman's

Inde|)endent Battery,

December 2,
r Henry L., deserted November 21, 1862.
McMichael Josej)h K., discharged on surgeon's
1862.

Milk

certificate

Novem-

ber 22. 1862.

Nuss Benjamin, deserted November 26, 1862.
Nuss Gi(ieon, deserted November 26, 1862.
Potter John,

Private.

Price Jonas,

"
''

Patrick James,

"

Potter Lemuel,
Russell Thomas,

"

Rider Daniel,

'*

Reinbold Lewis,
Reinliart John, deserted

November

4,

1862.

Stine Michael, absent, sick at muster out.

Shannon Jared

Y.,

Seigfried Iliram,

Private.
"

Schug Charles, discharged on surgeon's

certificate

November

22,

1862.

Steely Philip, deserted

November 26, 1862.
November 20, 1862.
December 5, 1862, returned

Seigfreid Jacob, deserted

Turner

Jolin, deserted

April

1,

1863,

nnistered out with company.

Wardin James

Woomer

M., absent, sick at muster out.

Joshua,

Whare(VVharey)

Private.
Israel

"

Williams Charles, discharired on sur<reon's
22, 1862.

certificate

November

300

HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.

Yohe Elish.'i,
Yohe Stephen
Yeager Henry

Priviite.

"
V.,

'•

Ziniiiieriuaii .lerre, lU'serted,

date unknown.

171st REGIMENT.

Wesley Wirt, C'onunissary Sergvant, mustered into servii-e October 28, 18G2, mustered out witli regiment August 8, 18(U.
lIiMiry S. Artlnir. (Vmpany A, 1st Sergeant November 2, 18G2,
mustered out witli eom]>any August 8, 1863.
Thomas J. Barton, C\nn})any A, Sergeant, November 1, 1862,
mustered out with company August 8, 1863.
Leonard K. Bomboy, eomjiany A, musician, November 2, 1862^
nnistered out with company August 8, 1863.
Henry S. Bodine, eomi)any A, private, November 2, 1862, mustered out with company August 8, 1863.
C A Eik'nberger, cH)mpany A, private, November 2, 1862, mustered out witli comj)any August 8, 1863.
Uriah Gohler. company A, private, November 2, 1862, mustered
out with eomjiany August 8, 1863.
Kichard Hess, com{)any B, private, November 2, 1862, nnistered
out with company August 7, 1863.
Lewis Hess, com})any B, ])rivate, November 2, 1862, mustered out
with company August 7, 1863.
Samuel Y. Hess, company B. private, November 2, 1862, nnistered
out with company August 7, 1863.
George W. Hittle, company B, private, November 2, 1862, mustered out with cotin)any August 7, 1863.
Jolm Heighmiller, comitany B, i)rivate, November 2, 1862, mustered out with comany, August 7, 1863.
Knoch Ikeler, company B, private, N«)vember 2, 1862, mustered
out with comjiany August 7, 1863.
Cyrus Demott, company G, private, December 6, 1862, mustered
out with comjiany, August 8, 1863.

HIiSTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.

301

The regiment left Camp Curtin on November 27, and proceeded by Wusliington Jind Norfolk to Suifolk, Virginia. December
28, it jiroceeded to Newbern, North Carolina, and went into win-

who had appearWashington and
erected breastworks at Hill s point.
The 171st was detailed to
storm them, but were witli<li.nvii
Su]»se(piently it was in a demter quarters.

ed

before

In

March they

Newbern.

mnved

onstration towards lliclimond, in

and then took a
it

Hill

towards

favor of

])Osition in a ))ass in the

Meade

at

Gettysburg,

South Mountain which

It
then marched to Frederick;
was mustered out.
There may be other Columbia county men in this regiment, but
cannot distinguish tlicm, and must rely upon those given for

held until the

rebfl ictrcat.

thence to Harrisbuig, where

I

Gen

re}»ulsed

Hill

information

it

as to naiues (unitted.

If

they are

record will become more and more perfect.

^^^^fr

furnished

tliis

,

HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.

302

MONTOUR COUNTY— THREE MONTHS'

SERVICE.

11th REGIMENT

COMPANY
Mustered

H.

in April 26, 1861.

Elliot James,
Williiun McClure, Captain.
Samuel Hibler, 1st Lieutenant. Frick Augustus G.,
Thomas Maxwell, 2d Lieutenant.Farren William J.,
Fairchild George,
John Doyle 1st Sergeant.
Fields Robert,
Sergeant.
2d
Waters,
Jonathan
Goodrich
Maxwell,
Sergeant.
3d
Carroll,
Lawson
Goodrich William C,
Seth Freeze, 4th Sergeant.
William Roberts, 1st. Corporal. Galligan Thomas,
Jerome A. Harder, 2d Corporal. Gibbs Moses
Wm. E. Seesholtz, 3d Corporal. Gibbons Moses,
Green Patrick,
Philip Renn, 4th Corporal.
Harper Samuel,
Frank Lewis, Musician.

M

Charles Munma,
Aggry Henry,

Musician.

Howell Thomas,

Arter William O.,
Boushlpger Federick,

Beaumont

Charles,

Burn John,
Burns James,
Cuthbert Edward,
Cuthbert

Wm.

1^.,

Crossley Daniel P.,

Clave John,
Cain James,
Clark John,

Coup Peter M.,
Clark Jesse C,

Harris Frederich,

Jenkins Charles,

McAdle James,
McCann James,
Milner William,

Moore James G.,
Oakes Peter M.,
Petrusky Herman,
Paugh John,
Quick John G.,
Rishel Daniel,

Ridgeway Edwin
Reid John C,
Reily Martin,

O.,

HUSTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.
Kay Adam,

Deshay William,
Davis Thomas C,
Day Andrew,

Rollan Patrick,

Robinson John,
Rodgers Chai'les,

Devers James,
Devers Isaiah,
Everdale George,

Kulp

Roberts Caleb,
Riddle Richard,
Stoddart Thomas,

Elias,

Kelly

Suppinger Amos.

\Villi;uii,

Lee John,

Sherr Adolph,

Mellen Isaac,
Mellen William

Toole Thomas,

Taylor Martin,

II.,

Weidle Joseph,
Watkins Edwin,

Murray Mathias,
McCarty Clarence,
McGuire Andrew,

McGor

303

Yarrick Peter,

William,

After being armed and equipped, Captain McClurc was stationed

Maryland. Thence June 18th to Chambersburg, thence
few days to Hagerstown. Ordered by forced march to Williamsport to repeal an attack, but the enemy had retired.
On a
forward movement from Williaraspoit, they encountered Stonewall Jackson and beat him, at Falling Waters, and had the compliments of Gen. Patterson. The regiment volunteered for the
three years service, but was mostly, on re-muster, filled with new

at Elkton,
in a

men.

14th RE(iIMKNT.

COMPANY
Mustered

in

Oscar Ephlin, Captain.

John A. Winner,

C.

April 26, 1861.

Jenkins John R.,

Ist Lieutenant. Johnson

Joseph H.,
2nd Lieut. Jones Edward,
Henry M. Trumbower, Sergeant.Jones Matthew,
Arthur Amandus, 2d Sergeant. Jordon John,
Clinton

Freeze

John
Jacob

W.

Pursel,

Mc Williams,

3d Sergeant. Kelly Patrick,

C. Perrin, 4th Sergeant.
Miller, 1st Corporal.

Kelly Martin,
Kesler Michael,

HlSTOIiY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.

304
Geo.

^V^.

Thomas,

VaiigiUlor, 2d Corporal. Luudiin

Adolphus Bookheister

3d

Cor-Lewis John O.,

Mencer John,

poral.

Hoose Fhuiigan,

4tl\

Corporiil.

Mowor

Cluirlos,

William Milliner, Miisieian.

McNiiich Samuel.
Markel William,

Aleorn John,

Miller Jaeob

llt'iiry Met/., IMusioiivn.

C,
Ogden Andrew B.,

Alward John,
Blue Sanuiel,

Pursel

Browu Benton

Boush Montii'onuMy,
Billmeyer William,

Davis Lewis

James M.,

Kobbe Ji»seph,
Rank Ellis II.,
Koderiek Edward W.,

Barnharl William,

(.'aldwell Sanuiel

.lolin,

Philli])s

B.,

W.,

Kusli Stephen I.,
Kollin Harris G.,

L.,

Danks George,

Small Charles,

Davis Kichai-d,

Stall

Deiss Reese,

Snyder John C,
Spade Hiram M.,

Everheart Nathaniel,
Fields Elijali,

Fenstermacher Joseph
Foin John A.,

II..

Sanmel,

Sigler Robert,
Tlu)mas James,

Thomas William

J.

Ciaskins Harbit,

Terry Charles,

Ilandly William,

Tusman

Iluutingdun John,

Thorp James,
Thacher Edward,
Wise JMark W.,
Watts William M.,

-loui's

James,

llouser James,

Howe John T.,
Hopkins Richard,
Handshaw

Peter,

llouser John

J.,

Johnson Stei>hen,

Casper,

Williams Daniel,

Woods
Young

Jol\n,

AVilliam,

Patton AltVed

B.,

Exeejiting marehiug and drill the 14th did not see nmeh service.
Although several marches were made for the purpose, they never
succeeded in encountering the enemy. They Avere with Gen. Patterson on the Potomac.
Upon being nmstered out, a large number
of the

war.

men took

service in other regiments recruiting for the

Ill STORY

OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.

305

16th RKGIMENT.

COMPANY
Ill

C.

April 1861, the following citizens mainly of Berwick, went

They were mustered in April
months but at once agreed to re-enlist at the
ex|<ir!iti(Mi of that time, which most of them did.
Their Captain
wat< Dorsheimer, and the regiment was a part of the 4th Brigade,
First Division
and subsequently of the Fifth Division and held
Was in the second forward
the h'ft of the line at Bull Run.
movLinont towards Martinsburg, thence to Bunker Hill, thence by
forced march to Harper's Ferry, thence by Smithfield, menaced
by Stuart's cavalry, to Charlestown in Virginia, thence at close of
term of service to Harrisburg, where they were mustered out
to JI;irri8V>urg to enter the service.
20, 1861, for three

;

;

July 30, 1861,
S. F. Sliwartz,

M.

J.

Goodman,

N. G. Williams,
Jacob ]^>fl,

A.

S.

Kensey,

Fernando Lake,
W. C. Thompson,
E. C. Bahl,

Thomas Stackhouse,

W.

Harrison Swank,

A. C. Thompson,

H. Crandall,

J.

W.

James Smith,

J.

A. Yount,

A. Lockart,

J. V.

Robert Webster,

Lyman H.

William CampV>ell,

Cyrus RoVjbins,

Lafayette Myers,

Wesley R.

A.

1).

J. F.

Seely,

Gilroy,

Hertz,

Fowler,
Price.

Chemberlin,

100 DAYS SEBVICE.
193d. REdlMKNT.

COMPANY

B.

The Company was from Montour county, was mustered into
Novembers, 1864.
On the day of the organization of the regiment it moved for
Baltimore, and went into camp there at Mankinds woods.
About
the service July 17, 1864, and mustered out

806

JUS TORY

September

1st. it

OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.

moved

to

Camp

city on the line of the Baltimore

Carroll, a mile southwest of tlie

and Ohio

railroad.

Detaohments

regiment were used for provost duty, escorts, and other
similar service but were not in any battle or skirmish.
Fnless
otherwise marked, all the men were regularly nmstered out with
of the

;

the company.
John A. Winner, Captain.
James Foster, 1st. Lieutenant.
Isaac D. Crewitt, 2d. Lieutenant.

David K. Shutt, 1st. Sergeant.
John Keim, Sergeant.
Jacob Ixiokmiller, Sergeant.
James M. Elliott, Sergeant.
Henry Kneibler, Sergeant.
Hiram Echert, Corporal.
William Hordner, Corporal.
David Aten, Corporal.
Charles
Melville

S.
11.

Baker, Corporal.
Ditt. Corporal.

David Lochenthaler, Corporal.
Janies Bullauiore, Corporal.

James R. Wilds, Cori)oral.
Augustus Woods, Musician.
Sanuiel Morgan. Musician.
Ashtoti Alexander,

Private.

Alexander Park,
Brent William,
Bright Edward R.,
Bookmiller John.

Bredbender W. M.,
Buckalew W., deserted July
Cook Benjamin,
Crossley John M.,

Cummings

Russell,

•Carroll Patrick,

Consor Asa A.,
Doran Joseph A.,
Di'nmick Emanuel,
Davis John-

20, 1864.

HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.

307

Davis James \V.,
Evelaiid Hiram,

Evans John M.,
Evans George D.,
Pluck Lewis

,

A.,

Fitzgerald Tliomas,

Gearhart Alexander M.,
Guntiier Cyrus S.,
Gib])s Slieldun

promoted

T.,

to

Commissary Sergeant July

lS(i4.

Hale John,
Hale Joseph,
Hinckley Charles

R.,

Hilkert John,
Hoiiier William L.,

Housel .Jacob P.,
Harding Terrence

Heddings William M.,
Jones

CalcVi,

Johnson Henry W.,
Jones Stephen A.,
Jones, Francis W.,
Jones.

Henry C, deserted July

2

>,

1864.

Klase Jesse,
Larafer William,

Lloyd William M.,
Learny William,
Learny Dennis, deserted October
Martin John,

McGrath James,
Newberry Josiah,
Faugh Robert,
Purcell (Jharles P.,

Rake John,
Reninger William,

Rhoads George,
Robins Abram V.,

Runyan Jesse,
Robenbach Joseph

H

,

12, 18G4.

2

1,

308

HISTORY OF COLUMBIA OOUNIY.

Snyder Henry,
Snyder Jacob J.,
Stadler Aaron W.,
Scott Robert,

David L..
John G.,
Suit Alonzo J.,
Sterick

Sarapsol

Strawhecker D. H.,
Taylor John H.,
Taylor William E.,
Thomas James,

Woodside Charles,
Walker Harvey V.,

Weaver Benjamin,

HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY

309

NINE MONTHS' SERVICE.
132d KEGIMENT.

COMPANY

A.

This company was from Montour county and was mustered into
August 15, 1802. The Regiment was at South Moun-

the service
tain,

Antietara,

record

is first

Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville.

rate.

When

were nuistered out with

tlie

not otherwise

Its

war

men
Clinton W.

accounted for the

Company, May

24,

1863

Neal, of Bloorasburg, was Quartermaster of the Regiment.

Joseph E. Slireve, Captain, promoted to major September

18^ 1862.

Charles E. Norris, Captain,
G.

W.

Vangilder, 1st Lieutenant, discharged on surgeon's

certifi-

cate October 26, 1862.

Tliomas Maxwell,
Charles A.

1st Lieutenant.

Meylert, 2d

Lieutenant, missing since February 22,

1863.

Edward W. Roderick, 2d Lieutenant.
David Shutt, 1st Sergeant.
J. M. llassenplug, 1st Sergeant, killed

at Antietam,

September

17,

1862.
Jolin S.

Ware, Sergeant.

Isaac D. Crewett, Sergeant.

Michael Kessler, Sergeant, wounded at Fredericksburg, December
13, 1862.

George Lovett, Sergeant.
Jacob II. Miller, Sergeant, discharged Jauuaiy 30, 1863, for
wounds received at Fredericksburg, December 13, 1862Joseph H. Nevins, Sergeant, discharged on surgeon's certificate
March 6, 1863.
Daniel Vanronk, Sergeant, killed at Antietam September 17, 1862,
Jacob lit'dfield. Corporal, wounded at^Chaucellorsville, Virginia,

May

3, 1863.

HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COlfNTY.

310

Jjinies VVilliiuns,

CA)ri>()r;il.

Conrad S. Atcii, Corjjoval.
George Snyder, Corj)c)ral, absent, siek
Alexander Huntingdon, Corporal.
Samuel Stall, Corporal.

Henry Vincent,

at

muster

out.

Corporal.

flohn tlarig. Corporal.

Charles Flick, Cor|)oral, discharged December

(i,

iy(t2, for

wounds

received at Antietam, September 17, 1862.

Nathan

F. Lightner, Corjioral, discharged on surgeon's certificate
December, 18()l>.
William C. McCormick, Corporal, discharged March 1, 1863, for
8

wounds received at FredericksV>urg, December 13, 1862.
Henry L. Schick, nuisician.
Ai)pleman, Amos, Private.
Arnwine, Sylvester W. wounded at Antietam.
Adams Henry, died September 22 of wounds received at Antietam
September 17, 1862.
Beaver Arthur W.
Bookmiller Jacob, wounded

at Chancellorsville

May

3,

1863.

Blee Franklin G.

Black Jeremiah.

wounded

Carroll William,

at Chancellorsville

May

3,

1863.

Cooper Sanniel E. deserted October 22, 1862.
Devine Franklin.
Davis William.
Dye Sanuiel \'. discharged on surgeon's certificate April
Earp William jr., wounded at Chancellorsville.
Easton James S.
Eggert Hiram.

8,

1863.

Feidel Joseph.

Flickinger Samuel.

Foin John B. A.
Foster James.
Fitzsiiumons C.

W.

Fields John L.
J^Vancis George, discharged on surgeon's certificate

1862.

Goodall Thomas.

November

15,

IflSTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.

311

Gulicks Samuel.

Gibson John, killed
Hale .Josei»li.
Hunt George E.
PIornl)er<fer

at Antietani.

Adam.

Hendrickson D.
Hillner Sanuiel, killed at Antietara.

Hununel Hiram,

killed at Antietam.

Jones Thomas.

James Tiiomas.
Jones James W. killed at Fredericksburg.
Klase W. J. W.
Klase J-)aniel J. P., killed at Antietam.
Leehthaler Conrad, discharged, date unknown.

Langer Sanmel.
Leicliow John,

discharged October 28, for wounds received at

AnticlaiM. September 17, 18G2.

Long dacol), killed
Morgan Watkiii.

at

Antietam.

Miller J.evi M.

Moyer Jacob W.
Mayer Leonard.
Moyer Cornelius C.
Morris John, wounded

McCoy
McKee

Antietam.

at

John.

James, deserted August 16, 1862.
Neese William li. wounded at Antietam, discharged date unknown.
Philli[)s James M.
Reaser John P.
Reidy Simon.
Rantz Isaac
Rank David H. discharged on surgeon's certificate Januaiy 29,
1863.

Ringler William A. discharged
at

Antietam September

Rice Jonatlian, killed
Stewart William.
Smith Edward D.

at

17,

May

5,

1863, for

wounds received

1862.

Fredericksburg, Virginia.

—

312

IIISTOEY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.

Sunday William.
Schreiver August.
Stiue John.

Smith Edwin L,
Switzer Oliver B.

Snyder Sharps M.
^

Sechler Aaron.

Vandling Archibald, discharged on surgeon's

certificate

November

28, 1862.

Wright Angus.

Waugh Andrew.
Wallace John, discharged, date unknown.
Wate

Samuel.

Wright Matthew R., killed at Fredericksburg.
Wray James D., deserted September 19, 1863.

COMPANY

E.

COLUMBIA COUNTY GUARDS.

The following is a list of the officers and privates of the "Columbia County Guards." They left Bloomsburg on the 8th of
August, 1862, and were mustered into service August 13, 1862,
and mustered out at Harrisburg, May 24, 1863. They were in
the pursuit at the battle of South Mountain, in the battle of Antietam, in the thick of the

and at Chanshows the closeness
of the work.
General Trench in an order issued by him, says
•'Knowing the character of the one hundred and thirty second
Pennsylvania Volunteers, which has fought under my eye in two
of the bloodiest engagements of the war, and which has the highest encomiums from its brigade commander, General Kimball,
who knows what brave men are," etc.. shows the high character of
the whole command.
All the men not otherwise accounted for,
are to be considered as having been mustered out with the comcellorsville.

The number

fight at Fredericksburg,

of

men

lost in battle

pany.
OFFICERS.

Captain, Michael Whilmoyer, Bloomsburg.
1st Lieutenant,

Andrew

C.

Mensch, Bloomsburg.

HIS TOR Y OF COL UMBIA CO UN2 Y.

313

2d Lieutenant, D. R. Mellick, Lightstreet.
Sergeant, Wnx. A. Barton, Espy.
"
Wm. H. Gilmore, Bloomsburg.
"
Wm. J. Renn, Chestnut Grove.
Corporal, Charles P. Sloan, Bloomsburg, promoted to Sergeant 10th
of January 1863.
Corpora', T. Newton Kline, Orangeville, promoted to Sergeant 10th
of January 1863.
Corporal, J. Pierce Melliek, Lightstreet, died at Washington, D.
C, of wounds received at Fredericksburg, Virginia, December
13, 1863.

Wm.

Cor{)oral,
tificate

C. Robison, Espy,

October

discharged on Surgeon's cer-

26, 1862.

Corporal, Clark Krcssler, Espy.
"
Ephrain) M. Kline, Benton.

Henry M. Johnston, Jerseytown.

*'

W.

promoted

to

Quarter Master August

Azama V. Hower, Bloomsburg,

discharged on Surgeon's

Corporal, Clinton

Ni'al,

22, 1862.

Fifer,

January 29, 1863.
])rummer, John Staley, Rohrsburg.
Wagoner, Tilglnnan Faux, Espy.
certificate,

PRIVATES.

James S. Bomboy, Bloomsburg.
"
James W. Cook,
"
James Cadinan,
"

Henry D. Croup,
tificate

October

8,

discharged on Surgeon's cer-

1862.

M. Fisher, Bloomsburg, wounded at Antietam, Mai-yland,
September 18, 1862.
Henry C. Hartman, Bloomsburg.
Charles M. Hendershot, Bloomsburg.
Wm. C. Shaw, Bloomsburg, absent, sick at muster out.
H. Clay Hartman, Bloomsburg.
"
prisoner from December 13,
Samuel Harder,
C. S.

1862 to

Adam

May

^I'l,

Samuel Harp,
July

1863.

Hoist, Bloomsburg.

13, 1863.

"

discharged

on

Surgeon's

certificate

HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.

314

Au<j;iistus JVI. Kurtz, Bloomsburg.
*'
Jonathuu W. Snyder,
Joseph Penrose, Bloomsburg, missing

burg, Virginia, T)ecend)er 13,

in action

ut Fredericks-

18(>2.

Oliver I'alnier, Bloomsburg.
"
wounded at Fredericksburg, Virginia,

Josiah Keedy,

December
,I(>ii!i

13, 18G2.

Bloomsburg.

Ivoadarmel,

"

Isaac Roadarmel,
C'harles

W.

Snyder.

Frederick M. Staley,

•'

"

George W. Sterner,

Edward C. (Treene,
Amasa W'liiteniglit,

'•

corporal, 10

"

wounded

land, September 17, 1802.
Samuel Wood,
Orangeville, corporal
David Kuckel,
"
George W. Howell,

Charles

W.

25tli

February, 1803.

"

Lazarus, killed at Antietam, Maryland, September 17, 1802.

Ilayman, deserted August
Samuel R. Johnson, Orangeville.

.losepli S.

Hiram F.
Jesse M.
ginia,

Kline,

"

llowell,

"

July

8,

30, 1802.

died near

Falmouth, Vir-

1803.

Elwood W. Coleman, Orangeville.
Levi H. Priest,
Josiah

Benton.
"

Stiles,

Thomas

O.

Kline,

II. Ti'eller,

Lenmel Mood,

absent, sick at muster out.

Orangeville.
"

Sanmel Krickbaum,
Francis M. Lutz,
F. J.

1802.

Antietam, Mary-

"

:MutHey.

Daniel Markle,

Wm.

November

at

"

Lewisburg.

Lightstreet.

Lafayette Applegate, Sereno.

W. H. Hunter, Sereno.
Joseph Lawton, Pine.
John Lawton,
Lsaac M. Lyons,

"

"

HIiSTORY OF COTAJMnTA COUNTY.

31;5

Joseph W. Lyons, Pine.
Leonard Bciii^Ie, Mordansvillc.
"
Henry M. Sands,
Hiram M. Hroat, Jerseytown.
Clark Price, Lime

Rid!:;e.

James F. Trump,
Jacob W. Homboy.
Isaiah S. Hartman,

l^^!^]>y''

"

died October

1(5,

of

Antietam, Maryland, September 17, 1862.
Jeremiah Keece, prisoner from May Hd to May

wounds received

at

Samuel M. Vanhorn, Greenwood,
10, 1863,

Thomas

certificate

Harmony

buried in

C'arutliers,

C'hestnut

February

1

o,

die<l

1)urial

(^rove,

at

22,

l.^ifiS.

Washington, February

ground,

I).

(J.

discharged

on

surgeon's

1863.

Gaylord Whilmoyer, Chestnut Grove, discharged on surgeon's
certificate February 17. 1863.
Peter O. Crist, Chestnut Grove.
Philip Watts,

Sanun Young, Rohrsburg.
Abel Dialy, lioaringci'eek.
1

"

Charles A. Folk,

Jchn Moore Eves,

Amos
John

Millville.

Y. Kisner,

"

F. Eck, Briarcreek.

Gotleib Wagner, Jackson.

Geo. M. Kline,

Town

Hill.

Moses J. Trench, Plymouth.
James B. Fortnei', Mt. Pleasant,

promoted to

corporal 10th of

July, 1863.

Robert P. (Trillesj)ie, liuckhorn.
"
John P. Guiles,
Christian C. Hughes, Cambra.
John N. Hughes, Fowlersville, |tromoted to corporal 10th of January, 1863.

JII.STOBY

316

OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.
COMPANY

H.

CATAWIS8A GUARDS.
Georg«.»

W.

John, Captiiin, resigncMl December

M. Brobst,
cember 9, 1862.

Miirtiii

Isaiah

W.

Willets,

CaptJiiii,

1st.

December
1862.
Henry H. Hoagland,

promoted from

9,

1st.

1862.

Lieutenant, De-

Lieutenant, promoted from

1st.

Sergeant

!),

December 14 of wounds
December 13, 1862.
Lieutenant, promoted from Corporal Decem-

2d. Lieutenant, died

received at Fredericksburg, Virginia,
P.

11.

ber

A.

II.

ber

Margerum,

2d.

16, 1862.

Sharpless,

1st.

Sergeant, ])romoted

from Corporal Decem-

16, 1862.

Samuel F. Savery, Sergeant.
George Reedy, promoted to Corporal January 22, 1863.
Hiram N. Brown, promoted to Corporal January 22, 1863.
William McNeal, Sergeant.
Tluuxlore Kreigh,

Uolandus Herbein,
Sanuiel J. Frederich,

Private.
"
"

Francis M. Thomas, woundet] at Fredericksburg, Virginia, Decem-

ber

13, 1862.

John P. Iloagland, promoted to Corporal November 21, 1862.
Ephraim L. Kramer, promoted to Corjioral January 20, 1863.
D. Hollingshead, promoted to Corporal ,Tanuary 20, 1863.
Theobald Fields, promoted to Cori)oral January 20, 1863, wounded at Chancellorsville, Mrginia May 2, 1863.
(leorge Harder,

Burton W. Fortner,

Brumbach II. II.,
Brobst John II.,

Private.
"
"
"

Burger William H., wounded
Beaver William,

Brumbach

at Chancellorsville,

May

3,

1863.

Josejih,

Bell John,

Barret Julius

A., discharged

on surgeon's

certificate

January

1863.

Bates John, discharged on surgeon's certificate February 1863.

13,

HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.
Bruiubach Win.

J.,

discharged February

2,

317

1863.

Clewell Christian,

Cool Phinciis, discharged on surgeon's certificate January 1863.
Cool Ilirani, discharged January 1863 for wounds received at Antietani,

Maryland, September

17, 1862.

Dillon John,

Drum Morgan G.
Dyer William H., died

at Belle Plain, Virginia,

December

Derr John, killed at Fredericksburg, Virginia, December
Erwine Albert, died at Belle I'laiii, Virginia, December
buried in Military Cemetery, D. C.
Fetterman William.
Fetterman Daniel.
Fedder Christian M.
Fortner Henry B.
Fields Samuel A.
Fischer iJoyd W. B.

1862.

13, 1862.

1862,

1,3,

Fischer Jacob G.
Fischer John

D., discharged on

surgeon's ceriificate, date

un-

known.
Hite Scott.
Iiam])ton John, absent, sick at muster out.

Harder Arthur.
Harder Thomas E.

Hampton Ethan.
Hartman W. H. H., discharged on

surgeon's certificate April 12,

1863.

Harder Clark, discharged on surgeon's

certificate

January

21,

1863.

Hawkins George H., died October 4, burial record October
wounds received at Antietain, Maryland, September 17,
buried in National Cemetery, Section 26, lot B, grave 221.

John Henry I.
John William E.
Kreigh Jeremiah S.
Kramer Edward.
Lashell Ralph M.
Lewis Emanuel L.

Ludwig John.

10, of

1862,

HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY

318

INIargerum Juiiies P.

Marks

Williiuii.

Martz Joseph.

Mensch Adam W.
Mears Coininodore
Malony Charles.

W.

Masteller Isaiah

McGraw

P.

Patrick, died at Warreiiton, Virginia,

Ohl John F.
Payne Ervine

November

1862.

6,

C

Parks William

J.

D., died

December 28

Fredericksburg, Virginia, December

Asylum Cemetery. D.

13,

of

wounds received

1862, buried in

at

MiHtary

C.

Fredericksburg, Virginia, December 13,

Phillips David, killed at
1862.

Keinard Tobias.
Reese PVederick.
Hider T.loyd I.
llishel Elias

C. wounded

at Chancellorsville, Virginia,

December

13, 1862.

Robbins TIenry J.
Rhoades Jeremiah,

absent, sick at muster out.
Rider Wesley, died at Belle Plain, Virginia, December 1862.
Richards James M., killed at Antietam September 17, 1862.

Roup

Josiali G., died of

wounds received

at

f-

Antietam Septeiuber

17, 1862.

Schmick Benjamin B.
Schmick Charles S.
Snyder Jeremiah II., absent,
Stewart Clark B.
Stokes John H.

sick at muster out.

.

Shoemaker Jesse.
Sanks John M., discharged on special order October 14, 1862.
Sterne George F., killed at Antietam Septeriiber 17, 1862.
Small Christian, killed at Chancellorsville, Virginia,

May

3,

1863.

Tlieile Lewis.

Thomas Samuel M., died at Falmouth, Viiginia January 8, 1863.
Troup John, died Oclober 4 of wounds received at Antietam September 17, 1862.

9

nm TOE Y OF COL UMBIA

CO UNT Y.

31

Waters Dennis.
Watkiiis Robert M.

Warne Monroe C.
Yeager Daniel L.
The "Catawissa Guards" were Company H, 132 Regiment, and
were mustered into service August 14, 1862, for nine months, and
mustered out May 24, 1863. In all cases where nothing is said
of the fate of the soldier named, he was mustered out with his
company. On the 13th of Sejjtember the regiment by a forced
march reached South Mountain just as the fight closed for the
On the 17th. it was in
It joined in pursuit of the enemy
day.
several men were
where
Antietam,
battle
of
in
the
quarters
close
killed.
It was in the reconnoissance towards Leesburg and

was in the assault on Mary's Heights at FrederHenry H. Hoagland was killed while receiving
from the hands of its dying bearer, and after the battle

Charleston.

It

icksburg, where

the flag

Falmouth, Virginia, in camp and picket
forward movement upon Chancellorsville.
and on the 3d of May was moved to the front and held its i)OsiThe regiment earned and sustion until the retreat conmienced.

moved

the regiment
duty.

was

It

tained a

first

to

in the

rate military record.

136th REGIMENT.

COMPANY

Alem

August

B. Tate,

August

25,

1862,.

Commissioned 2d Lieutenant
Lieutenant 27 January 1863,

27, 1862, ]>romoted to 1st

mustered out with company

John

I.

C. Karns,

August

May

25, 1862,

29, 1863.

promoted

to Corporal

1863, mustered out with company May 29, 1863.
George Nicholas, promoted to Corporal March 1, 1863,

out with

company May

Boone Samuel W.,

Bowman

Joseph

Eves John

P.,

J,

mustered

29, 1863.

nnistered out with

P., nnistered

company May

out with conii)aiiy

died December 18 of wounds

icksburg, Virginia,

March

December

13, 1862.

29, 1863.

May

29, 1863.

received at Freder-

IIIS

320

TOUT OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.

Fhn-k Williiuu A., imistored out with company May 29, 1SG3.
Fox Isaiah, wounded and captured at Fredericksburg, Va Dec.
1802, died at Kichnjoud, Virginiii, January 10, IStuV
,

Hirlenian David G mustered out with company May 29, 1863.
Kitchen Joseph H., mustered out with company May 29, 1863.
Mott Samuel M., discharged on surgeon's certificate March 10,
,

1

803.

Puff Jacob, mustered out with company

May

29, 1863,

and never

heard of since

Kemley Daniel

II

,

died in hospital Jiear Belle Plain

Lauvling of

fever.

Khone Livingston, mustered
Vansickle

J.

11

,

Vanilerslice T. J

out with com}>any ^lay 29, 1863.
mustered out with company May 29, 1803.
,

musteied out with company May 29, 1863.
with company May 2\^, 1863.

Van>ickle Aaron M., nuistrred out

Wright Thomas, nnistered out with company May 29, 1803.
On the 26th of August the Kegiment was one of the cordon of
defenses of Washington.
Thence to Sharpsburg, Warrenton,
Brooks Station, ^Vhile Oak Church and Falmouth. In the battle
of hVederioksburg the Regiment lost 140 in killed, wounded and
missing. It wa-* out on the
lorsville

at

it

lost several

Mud

March.

In the

l)attle

men, and saw hard lighting.

Harrisburg, the 29th of

May

1863.

i^\h

1

y

of Chancel-

Mustered out

JI J

STORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.

321

ONE YEARS SERVICE.
74Tn RKOIMENT.

COMPANY

A.

Recruited in Columbia county.

Those marked with a *

in

Wyoming

county.

Samuel J. Poalor, Marcli \?>, I8O0, discharged May 8, 1865.
"
promoted from iHt. LieutenJohn W. lieisliline,
ant to Captain July 1, I8G0, mustered out witii company August 29, 1865.
*Joiin F. Miller,

March

tenant, July

1865.

1,

13, 1865,

promoted from

2d. to Ist. Lieu-

*John Beikler, September 6, 1861, promoted from Sergeant Company K. to 2d. Lieutenant, July 2, 1865.
William Saunders. March 4, 1865.
•Charles B. Fisher,

"

Hagenbuch, February
"
Brown,
Hiram

Isaiah

21, 1865.

W

RoV>ert C. Parks,

"

Fred M. Staley, February
Albf^rt Series,

Walter

Moulton,

John Lemon,
Francis

W.

17, 1865.

"
"
"

Jones, February 25, 1865.

Severn B. Palmer, March 1, 1865.
Nelson Williams, February 7, 1865.
William Peck,
Samuel B.Anderson, March 4, 1865.
"
Charles W. Wood,
Abbott William, discharged by general order May
Beers David, March 4, 1865,

12, 1865.

IIi;ST01iY

322

OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.

Blakely Alex R. March 10, I8G0.
"
Butters Comfort E.,
"
Booue Samuel W.,
*Burlingauie A. G.,

Buckalew A.

G.,

Bower Jonas

M.,

Brittain Frank,

Brines Charles, March

Betz William

S.,

"

"
"
4,

I860.

"

Baker (Charles,
Bean Benjamin F., Fehruary 16, 1865.
Brown James M., March 10, 1865, died
ginia,

May

at

Beverly,

West

Vir-

14, 1865.

Cain Pliilip, February 9, 1865.
Cain Michael, February 10, 1865.
Case James B.. March 4, 1865.
Creveling Clark, March

10, 1865.

John,

"

Campbell William D.,
Clu'onias Nathan,
Eveland Peter,
Emory Hervey,
Fox Lloyd, February

"
"

L'aden

Finley Martin, March

"

"
2,

4,

1865.
1865.

March 4, 1865.
Fox George. March 10, 1865.
Fowler Miles

B.,

Howey

William, February 16, 1865.
Herson James, February 16, 1865.
Hufnagle George F., February 9, 1865.
Hartman David, March 10, 1865.
Hill Abram, March 10, 1865.
Henrie Francis S., March 10, 1865.
«
Herring Alex B.,
Mahlon
B.,
Hicks
Holligan Patrick, March 10, 1865, discharged by general order

May

29,

1

865.

James John C, March 4, 1865.
Kelchner E. A., March 4, 1865.
Kishbauch William, March 10,

1865.

HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.

323

Kline John C, Miirch IJ, 186.5.
Lantz John, March 4, 186.5.
May Joseph, February 21, I860.

Miimmey

March
March

Israel,

Miller Cyrus U.,

"

B

Miller Joseph

10, 1865.
4, 186.5.

,

"

Markle Joseph,
*Mellon Jacob

May

F.,

February

16, I860,

discharged by general order

24, I860.

Nathan E., February 16, 186.5.
*McNeal Ilervey, March 4, 1865.

*Miller

Oliver Aithur,

"

Oman Henry

"

F.,

R March 0, 1 865.
"
Pohe Stephen,
*Rasty Peter, March 4, 1865.
*liuckey Emanuel, Ma.ch 4, 186.3.
Price Wesley

1

,

Robins Abram V., February 9, i860
W, February 27, 1865.
Shipnian William A., February 21, 1865.
Shultz J.'iraes. February 21, 1865.
Stiller George P. March 10, 1865.
Stahl John W.,

Rol)ins William

Shaffer Winfield
Suit Alonzo

S.,

Febru iry 9, 1365
Swank Wilson, February 9, 1865.
*Thompsou James M., March 4, 1865.
*Titus George W., March 4, 1865.
Trons'.ie

.).,

George, March

10, 1865.

Truni;) Charles W., Marcli

Williams

4,

1865.

February 10, 1865.
Wertmaii Willoughby, March 4, 1865.
Williams Montgomery, Match 10, 1865, discharged by general
der

.Joliii,

May

or-

24, 1865.

Zinnnerman George, March 10. 1865.
This company was assigned to the seventy-fourth in March
1865.
It was at th.at time on guard and garrison duty on the
Baltimore and Ohio railroad, with headquarters at Green Spring.
T.ie regiiU-M: procejdv-vl thence by rail to Webster, from which

TTTSTORY OF COLUMBIA

324

COUNTY

It remained at the last named place
place it marched to Beverly.
on picket and guard duty fi'om April 8, to May 12, when ordered
Subsequently the headquarters were at Parkersto ClarkslDiirg.
V)'irg. wlience it did guard duty along the Parkersburg branch of
It Avas mustered out of serthe Baltimore and Ohio Railroad.
vice at Clarksburg, August 29, 1865, Avhence it returned to Pittsburgh, where it disbanded. All the men not otherwise accounted
for, Avere mustered out with the company.

103d RKGIMENT.

COMPANY

B.

llecruited in Bloorasburg.

George H. Jones, Captain.
E. B.

Yordy

1st Lt.

Win. E. Sterner, 2d Lt.
John G. Gilroy, 1st Sgt.
Frank B. Gibson, Sgt.
H. C Hartman, Sgt.
Alvah Wolcott, Sgt.
Shannon, Sgt.

Jos. L.

Jones Richard,

Krumm Amos,
Andrew

Klett

T.

Kline Harmon,

Kunkle Charles,
Kitchen Isaac H.

Long John,
Morris Robert,

Elias Hoffman, Corp.

Mittever William,

Thomas

Moyer Philip

Jacob

Wm.

B. "Williams, Corp.

W.

Fisher, Corp.

Thomas, Corp.

John Cox, Corp.
Jacob

F. Fox, Corp.

C

S.

Millard Samuel

May

J.

William,

I

Mears John B.
Nuss Isaac,

Albertson David,

Owens John,
Powell John D.
Powell Abiathan,

Auman

Penman John,

Chester

Marr, Corp.

A. M. Cad wall ader, Corp.

Ananias,

Bodine Henry F.
Braut George,

Richart John

Rooney

.

C

Patrick,

Brian David,

Reiswick Well H.

Bennett Abraham,

Rehm

Brink Dennisoii,
Boice Daniel,

Reichelderfer Michael,

Bradshaw Chas.

John,

Roanoke Island N.
deserted.

1865.

died at

C. April 18,

IIISTOliY
<J:i(liii;ui

OF COLUMBIA COUNTY

John,

Cox Lloyd,

32.>

Stiner Jacob,

Sands William,

•

Diley Abel,

Shijie Jonas,

Evans Thomas,
Evans John W.
Evans James D.

Shaffei- Harrison,

Snyder George

I.

Siout Valentine,

Stephenson John

Freas B. \^.
Golder Henry,

\\.

Moses
Snyder Joseph,

Stiff

llower Azima V.,

Summers Jesse, sick
out— absent.
Thornton Hiram W,

Hopkins Thomas,
Hart Charles,
Heist Gideon,

at

muster

Terwilligor William,

Howell William,
Hendershott Frederick,

Trout William,
Vannatta Benj.
Kitchen Eli,
Van Liew Peter,
Williams George.

Hartzell Jacob,

Heist John,

Hess Sliadrack,
Jones John C.
Jones Franklin,

into the service during the montlis
and attached to the 103d Regiment.
They were mustered out of the service at Newbern, North Carolina, June 2o, 1865.

The company was mustered

of FrlMiiarv and March,

ISO.'),

209th REGIMENT.

COMPANY
Recruited

in

An<lrr\v C. Mi-nsch, Ca[)tain

May

Wm.
out

J.

E.

Columbia county.
September

12,

1864,

mustered out

31, 1865.

Robbins,

May

1st Lieutenant,

Sei)tember 23, 1864,

31, 1865.

Karns, 2d Lieutenant, September 12, '64.
Cyrus H. White, 1st Sergeant, August 31, '64,
George W. Sterner, Sergeant, August 31, '64.

l^issell

Sauuiel Stead, Sergeant, Seiitember

2, '64.

mu.stered

326

HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.

WilHam A Robbiiis. Sergeant, Sejitember 1, 1864.
W. Hess, Sergeant, Sei»teniber 9, '64.
Camden Mears, Corporal, August HI, 1864.
Beiijaiuin

"
John F. Hutchi'^on, Corporal.
"
James F. Carnes, Corporal,
Joseph C Runyon, Corporal, September
general order, June 6, 1865.

1,

1864,

discharged by

Ebenezer S. Kase, Corporal, August 27, '64.
Jacob Trivelpiece, Corporal, Sej)teniber 1, "64.
John F. Ohl, Corporal,
Oliver Palmer, Corporal, September 3, '64.
Amermau C. AV., August 31, '64.
"
Andre HS Irvin I.,
Abbott Oscar, August 31, '64, wouiuled at Petersburg, Va., April
2, 1865, discharged by general order June 13, 1865.

Abbott George W., September

2, '64.

"

Bittenbender E. E.,

Bogart Samuel, Sept; mber 1, '64.
Baker Samuel W., September 1, '64.
Bright John II., August 31, '64.
Bigger George W., August 27, '64.
Barnes William C September 1, '64.
Coleman William H., August 31, '64.
Croeman Mitchell, September 1, '64.
"
Croop Henry,
Coleman Clinton J., August 31, '64.
Crawford Joseph, August 31, '64, deserted September
,

Dietrick Joseph B., September
Dietrick John, September

Edgar George

W

,

21, 1864.

1, '64.

9, '64.

September

Guist John,

1, '64.

*•'

"
Garrison Emanuel,
Holdren George, September 9, '64.
Holdren Austin, September 9, '64, discharged by general order
June 6, 1865.

Holter Isaiah, September

Hess Peter, September

Hunt David

P.,

9, '64.

1, '64.

September

1, '64.

HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.
Hirliman George W., September
order June 9, 1865.
Heller George, September 1, "64.

1864,

1,

327

discharged by general

Thomas, September 1, '64.
Alexander
Hughes
M., September 2, '64.
Hughes John N., September 3, '64, promoted to 2d Lieutenant
?Iartnriii

coinjiany D, 210th Regiment P V., Sei)tember 19, 1S64.
Henson John, September 1. '64, died December 26, 1864, buried
in Loudon Park National Cemetery, Baltimore, Md.
Henry William, September 1, '64, died at Point of Rocks, Maryland,

February

12,

buried

186.5,

in

Point, Virginia, section F, division

Hall George D.,

SeptemV)er

1, '64,

Itchner Frederick. Se])teml)er

1,

National Cemetery, City

grave

deserted

71.

Se{)tember

7,

1864.

2, '64.

Jamison Isaiah J., September 9, '64.
Jones David F'., September 9, '64, wounded at Petersburg, Virginia, April 2, 1865, discharged by general order May 31, 1865.
Kline David B., September 9, '64.
Karnes Jackson, September 9, '64.
Karns Jacob, September 2, '64, discharged by general order,
June 19, 1865.
Kisner Amos G., September 2, '64.
Kin ley Levi, September 2, '64, discharged by general order

May

31, 1865.

Kline Parvin, September

2, '64.

Lathrope Stilman F., September
Lauderbach Jesse, September 2,

13, '64.
'64.

Lee Noel, September 9, '64.
Long Henry, September 9, '64.
Lyons Richard W., September 9, '64.
Leonard Merritt, August 31, '64, wounded at Ford Steadman,
Virginia, March 25, 1865, absent in hospital at muster out.
Lazarus (ieorge, August 31, '64.
Lawbaeh Samuel, August 30, ^'64, died December 30, 1864,
buried in National

Cemetery, City Point,

division 3, grave 39.

Miller Henry, September

James

1, '64.

September 1, '64.
Maury Daniel, August 31, '64.
Mills

R.,

Virginia, section C,

HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.

3:?8

Manning Robert, September
Marteeny Henry, September
January 23, 1865.

2, '64.
1, '64,

McConnnons Peter, September
McBride William B.,
"
Ormsby William A.,
Pealer Jacob M., September
Pealer Samuel

March

J.,

August

died at City Point, Virginia,

1, '64.

2, '64.

'64,

31,

discharged by general order

12, I860.

Potter Gustavus A., September
"
Parks Andrew H.,

9, '64.

"

Peifer George,

Palmer Uriah, September 2, '64.
Pursel Robert, September 9, '64.
Rupert Richard, September 1, '64.
Royer William, August 31, '64.
Robbins James P., August 27, '64.
Rantz Philip, September 2, '64, died
January 18, 1865
Schuyler Lewis H., September
Stewart Edward, September 1,

Segar William,

2, '64.

'64.

9, '64.

"

Shaffer John,

Lepo, August 30, '64

Sharp John, September 12, '64.
Stadden Joseph H., September
order April

Smith Loomis

3,

1,

'64,

discharged

by

special

1865.

B.,

September

Thomas William, September
ia,

City Point, Virginia,

"

Shutt Henry, September
Slife

at

2,

9,

'64,
'64,

deserted September

7,

1864.

died at Alexandria, Virgin-

April 20, of wounds received at Petersburg, April

2,

1865.

Unangst William H., September 2, '64.
Unangst Abraham, September 2, '64, wounded at Fort Steadman, Virginia, March 25, 1865, discharged by general order
June 24, 1865.

Vanover Samuel, September 9, '64.
Warner John B., September 9, '64, mustered out May 31, 1865.
Wenner Thomas, September 9, '64, wounded at Fort Steadman,

HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUN2Y.
VirL,'iiii:i,

March

25, 1865,

discharged by general order June

829
19,

18G5.

Whitniire Amos, September

9, '04.

Weaver Samuel

31,

Virginia,

A.,

March

August

'2b,

'64,

wounded

at

Fort Steadman,

1865, discharged by general order June 20,

1865.

Yocum

rdiles S., September 9, '64.
Yinger George, September 1, '64.
The Kegiment was organized at Camp Curtin, September 16,
1864.
It was then sent to the front and was engaged in fatigue
and picket duty, seeing some service, however. On the 25th of
March, 1865, occurred the battle at Fort Steadman. in which the
regiment behaved very gallantly. On the 2nd of April Fort
Sedgwick was captured after a severe contest. Engaged thereafter in railway work, to Nottoway Court House, where it remained till A)>ril 20th. Thence to City Point, thence to Alexandria, where it went into camp, and on May 31, 1865, was muster-

ed out.

HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.

330

CHAPTER

XXVIII.

THREE YEARS' SERVICE.
REGIMENT.

3oTIl

SIXTH RESERVES.

COMPANY

A.

"the iron (iUAKDS."

William \V.

liicketts,

April

22, '61,

promoted

Colonel

to

July

27, 1861.

Wellington H. Ent, April

'61,

'I'l,

promoted to Major Septem-

ber 21, 1862.

Samuel Waters, April
,

27. 1861, to

wounded

1865,

muster

H

Isaac

'61,

"2.'!^

Captain March

promoted

to 2d. Lieutenant July

1863, to brevet

Bethesda Church,

at

May

Major March

I'l,

'61,

22,

'61,

resigned October

16, 1861.

})romoted from 1st Sergeant to

Lieutenant April 24, 1863, to brevet captain, March

Samuel Knorr, April
Harrison

13,

30, 1864, absent at

out.

Seesholtz, April

Albion B. Jamison, April
1st

1,

J.

22, '61,

13, 1865.

resigned October 25, 1862.

Conner, April 22, 1861, promoted from sergeant to 1st

Lieutenant March

1,

1868, to brevet 1st Lieutenant

March

13,

1865.

James

Stanley, April 22,

'61,

})romoted to

1st.

Sergeant Api'il

15, 1863.

W. S. Margerum, April
George W. Mears, July
November

22, '61.
8,

'61,

wounded

at

27, 1863, absent in hospital at

George R. Gensel, April

22, '61,

New Hope

muster

Church

out.

discharged on Surgeon's

December 6, 1862.
R. W. Bowman, April 22, '61, discharged March
wounds received in action.

certifi-

cate

9,

1863, for

ni;sTonY of Columbia county.
Amos

Gensel,

May

v.,

Uriah
v.,

B.

\\.

A})!'!!

31, 1SG4.

2i',

transferred to

8, '61,

regiment, P.

191st. regiment, P-

promoted

'61,

22,

to

Sergeant Major

22, 1861.

Charles H. Brockway, April 22,
43(1.

191st.

Veteran.

31, 1864.

ITayhurst, April

R.

June

to

Veteran.

Burkert, July

May

transferred

'Gl,

331

'61,

transferred to

Battery F'

regiment P. V., date unknown.

W illiam k. Snyder, July 13. '61.
Joseph R. Hess, April 22, '61.
Randolph llayman, July 13, '61, transferred to Veteran Reserve
Corps date unknown.

—

Marks

B. Hughes, April 22,
Benjamin F. Sharpless, July
William ]\IcNeal, ^Vpril 22,
cate September 6, 1861.

John

C. Clark, April

V, May

'I'l.,

May

31,

13,

'61.

'61.

discharged on surc'eon's

transferred

'61,

to

certifi-

191st. regiment, P.

Veteran.

31, 1864.

George Whitesides. July
P. v.,

'61.

1864

8,

'61,

transferred to

191st.

regiment,

Veteran.

S. Furman, July
Corps October 28, 1863.

13,

'61,

transferred to U.

Daniel M. Patterson, April

22,

'61,

died

Chester

March

S.

Signal

31, 1862.

George M. Demorest. April 22. '61, died September 23, 1862, of
wounds received at South Mountain, September 14, 1862.

Harman A. Shuman. Ai»ril 22, '61, <lied March 10, 1863.
Achenbach Cliaries, April 22, '61.
Achenbach Calvin, July 13, '61. discharged December 6, 1862,
{'or wounds received in action
Abbott John H., November 30, '61, dishonorably discharged
April 10, 1863.

Bowman Henry C,

April 22,

'61.

Bruner Nelson, April
Berger Jeremiah, April 22, '61, discharged on Surgeon's certificate September 6, 1861.
Boltz John K., April 22, '61, deserted March 21, 1863.
Coleman John, April 22, '61, discharged on Surgeon's certificate
22, '61.

October 24, 1863.

HIISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.

332

Coleman George

Apiil

S.,

'I'l^

'61,

promoted

13.

'61,

to

Adjutant August

11, 1862.

Chamberlin James W., July
1862, to accept promotion
ed

discharged November 21,

Major 178th. Pennsylvania

as

draft-

militia.

Coffman William

E.,

wounds received

July

Chamberlin John, July

August

1863, for

13, '61,

transferred to

U.S. Signal Corps

21, 1861.

Drinker Francis
cate

discharged July U,

'61,

«,

in action.

December

P.,

July

8,

1861.

13, '61,

discharged on Surgeon's

Eck Alfred, April 22, '61.
Eck Joseph S., April 22, '61.
Eck William IL. April 22, '61, died May
ceived in

8,

1863,

of

certifi-

wounds

re-

action.

Fornwald Charles S., April I'l, '61.
Griffith Thomas, April 21, '61.
Gottschall Samuel G., April '12, '61.
Gottschall Henry, April 22,
Gottschall John Y.,
P. v..

May

March

'61.

5,

Hamlin Peter S., April 22, '61.
HoUingshead William, April 'I'l,
Hause Joseph P., April '22, '61.
Hughes Jonas H., July 13, '61.

Hower Sylvester, July 8,
Harman Henry C. April
for

transferred to 191st.

'63,

regiment,

31, 1864.

wounds received

'61.

I

'61.

22, '61,

discharged January 17, 1863,

in action.

Hayman Joseph S., April
tificate May 12, 1862.

22, '61,

discharged on surgeon's cer-

Hartman Isaac, April 22, '61,
cate November 28, 1862.

discharged on surgeon's

certifi-

Harder Charles S., July 8,
cate February 2, 1863.

discharged

on surgeon's

certifi-

'61,

Hagenbuch A. H,, March 10, '62, discharged May 16, 1863, for
wounds received in action.
Hoover Sebaldus, July 8, '61, transferred to 191st regiment P.
v..

May

31, 1864.

Veteran.

HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.
Hite George W., April

Howell John, March
v.,

May

deserted,

'61,

22,

to 191st reoinient P. V.,

by sentence

retnrnt'd,

transferred

of general court martial,

transferred to

10, '62,

333

regiment P.

191st

31, 1864.

TTatnlin ]\Iilton G.

W.,

April 22,

'61.

killed

December 3. 1862.
Hess John J., September 9, '61, killed
cember 13, 1862.
Jamison Benjamin F July 13, '61.

Fredericksburg,

at

Fredericksburg, De-

at

,

Jacoby Flemings, April

May

Jacoby Alonzo, July 8,
Kern William, July 13,
Kortz Josiah, April 22,

May

'61,

22,

captured

Bethesda Church,

at

30, 1864.
'61

'61.

discharged on surgeon's

'61,

certificate,

21, 1862.

Kramer

Julius

C,

April 22,

'61,

discharged on surgeon's cer-

August 27, 1863.
Kostenbauder M. V., July 13, '61, discharged on surgeon's certificate December 31, 1861
Karns Moses, April 22, '61, transferred to U. S. regular army
tificate

July 18, 1862.

Kern Henry, July

May

31, 1864.

'61,

8,

Kurtz Emanuel, April

November

1,

regiment P. V.,

transferred to 191st

Veteran.

promoted

'61,

22,

to

principal musician

1862.

Kline John, April 22,

'61,

Lewis Hiram B., April
Linn Henry, April 12,

died August 31, 1862.

22, 1861.
'61,

died

March

1st,

1863, of

wounds

re-

ceived in action.

Mendenhall Theo., November
Millard Augustus, April 22,

Mann Andrew W.,

April 22,

Metz David, April
December 2, 1862.
Megargell

Dethic

22,

H

,

29, '61.

'61.
'61

'61,

discharged on surgeons certificate

April 22,

February 4, 1863.
Mason Malcomb W., April 21,

'61,

discharged

on surgeon's

certificate

Monroe Robert, July
received in action.

13, '61,

'61,

died February

died January

2,

12, 1864.

1863, of

wounds

McBrido
ber

April

Tsaiali,

2i\ "(U, killo

1

Fre'ierit'ksburg. Do.-oiu-

at

i;^ 18Gl>.

Nolton Meury, April

V,

of Columbia county

irrsToin'

334

'61.

22,

transforrod

191st

to

rogiiuont P.

Voteran.

:^[ly ;>K 18()4.

Palmer William II., April 22, *(il, discharged on surgeon's eertirtcate June 4, 1804.
Price William H., April 22. "01. discharged June 17. 1863, for
wounds received in action.
Quimby Frank ,]., April 22. '61, discharged oh surgeon's certiti
cate February o, 1S63.

Raup William.

April 22,

Ross David

April

A^,

May

S.,

]\clir

Franklin, August

for

S.,

wounds received

Staler

February

Henry

Schwaderer

died of

Signal

S.

'61,

13,

P.,

April
F.,

13,

1863

discharged March 30, 1863,

at Fredericksburg,
22,

April

0.

wounds Marcli

'61.

April 22.

'I'l,

December

discharged April

"(il,

at Fredericksburg,

Seitzinger Ludwdg,
tificate

U.

'61.

Strausser Franklin, April

wounds received

transferred to

'61,

11, '62,

Shortz Abraham, April 22,

Leonard

regunent P.

191st

to

18, 1863.

Sterling Bait is, July 13,

Stineman

transferred

July 23,

li.,

Corps I)cccnd)er

'61,

Veteran.

31, 1864.

Ramsay James

\\\.

22,

'61,

December

13,

1862.

lo, 1863. for

13, 1862.

discharged on surgeon's cer-

1863.
31, '61, deserted

April

25,

'61,

Saptetuber 21, 1862.

deserted

August

21,

1862—

Schuylkill county.

Smith Ashabel W., April

Waher Reuben
ed Felu-uary

II.,

5,

22, '61.

April 12,

'(>!,

not on muster

discharged

22, '61.

2.),

C,

Ajjril

22,

'61, killed

at

o.i

Surgeon's

l)raines\ ille

1861.

Wit. nan Jamc>

receiv-

discharged on Surgeon's cer-

Waters George, .\pril '>>, '61.
WhitenighL P. 0, April 22, '6J, discharged
ficate October 18, 1862.
ber

wounds

1863.

Tremble Georg.' W., April
tilicaie Noveuiber20. '6:i.

Walter Sanmel

roll.

for

F.,

July

13,

'61,

died Septeaiber

1,

1801.

certi-

Decem-

Ills TO n
Jerciniuli

\<)n\\\f

August

Corj>8

F COL UMB IA CO UNT Y.

()

traiisf<!irod

22, 'OJ,

S., 7\|>ril

to

:^S

">

U. S. Signal

21, 18G1.

iVlexander, April

Zeigler

June

Y

'01,

32,

innslcicd

out with coinpuiiy

11, 1864.

OUIfilNAI. MKMr.KICS

— NOT IN

liATKs' IIl.STOUY.

Gelkiu Frank, uiiaccountcMl U)V.
Getkii) Jerciiiiah, unaccounted for.
C'roKsley .John

Willanl

A,

Lunj^er ISenjaniin

Smith

Hee

12th.

I

AiiLCUHtuti, returne(l

I^eter

!>.,

2<1.

F., unu<;counte(l

unaccounted

lietz J<»hn,

unaccounted

On Thursday, June
J-Jloornsburg

the names:

for.

for.

ii>r.

14, 1804,

and had an

loi'.

for.

Jiowman Joseph P.. unaccounted
Vox Aaron, unaccounted for.
Jirown John, unaccounted

F

Artillery. J3attery

with conijjiiny .June 14, 1864.

Col. Wellington

II.

returned to

''The Iron Guards'"

e thusiastic reception.

Ent,

The following

Adjutant George

S.

are

Cole-

man, First Lieutenant A. J). Jameson, Second Lii^utenant H J.
Conner, commanding company. Sergeants James Stanley, W. S.
Margerum, Corj)orals W. II. Snyder, Benjamin F. Shar|)less, Joseph K. Hes.s, Marks B. Hughes, Privates Charles Achenbach, H.
C.

Bowman, Alfred Eck, Thomas

Griftiths,

Henry

Gotschall, Wil-

Theodore Mendenhall, A.
W. iMann, Baltis Sterling, George Waters, Nelson Bruner, Joseph
S. Eck, Charles S. Fornwald, Samuel G. Gottschall, P. S. Hamlin,
J. II. Hughes, J(jhn Kern, Augustus Willard, William Ilaup, Abliam Ilollingshead,

Sylvester Hower,

raham Shorl/, Alexander
Col.

IJicketts

died

at

Zigler,

Emanuel Kurtz.
August 10,

Oningeville,

1862, having

been discharged on surgeon's certificate F'ebruary 27, 1862. Wellington II. Ent was promote<l from Captain of Company A to
Major September 21, 1862, to Lieutenant Colonel May 1, 1863,
1863, to brevet Brigadier General March 13,
1,
wounded at Bethesda (Jhurch May 30, 1864; mustered out
with regiment June 11, 1864. General Ent was the democratic

to Colonel July
1H6.');

camlidate for Surveyor General of Pennsylvania in

was not
Tlic

1868,

but

elected.

re.nment was organized June 22, 1861.

On

the

Uth

of

HISTORY or COLUMBIA COUNTY.

836

July it moved to Groeueastk>, Pa., and on the 22d was ordered
by the way of Harrisburg and Baltimore to Washington. It
was nmstered into the service of the United States July 27, 1861.
On
It was assigned to the Third lirigade of McCall's Division.
December 20th the battle of Drainesville was fought, in which
the Reserves

won

the lieserves in

their tirst

all

their

almost a history of the

victory.

movements

war.

It is

imjjossible to follow

and marches.

It

would be

On the 13th of .lune, 1862. it emOn the 2hth it was abandoned

barked for White House, ^' a.
and the stores burned, and the army fell back, McOlellan having
been beaten in the Seven Days' tight. The regiment reached
The last days of July
Harrison's Landing on the 1st of July.

came the

three days'

mameuvreing

tight at AVarrenton.

After the

Second liull Hun the Regiment moved towards South Mountain
and took position on the extreme right. They performed a gallant
service in capturing the rebel position on the mountain top, and
the next two days were in the victory gained by McClellan at
And so it continiu'd in march counter marcli and drill
Antietam.
due course moved on toward Fredericksburg, in which
It made the celebrated
battle it took a very prominent part.
from Fairfax Station
moved
"Mud March," and on the 25th June
Thence
to Falling Waters,
campaign.
in
the
Gettysburg
to join

and

in

l\appahannock, Bristoe Station,

New Hope

Church, through the

campaign of the Wilderness, and on to the battle at Bethesda
Church, fought after its term <>f enlistment had expired, and gaining a signal victory, it started for Harrisburg 1 June, 1864, where
it was mustered out on the 11th of the same month, with a military reputation unsurpassed by any in the service.

-*»^

HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.

COMPANY

K.

SIXTH RKSEUVKS.

Recruited

in

Montour county.

Mahlon K. Manley, May
cate March 22, 18G3.

May

Charles Richart,

14,

14,

'fil,

May

Iloni,

from

Ist

certifi-

Lieutenant to

brevet Major, March 13, I860.

discharged on Surgeon's certificate

'61,

14,

])roraoted

'Gl,

Captain Au^nist 27, 1863,

John

discharged on Surgeon's

337

Sei>tember 27, 1862.
Joniah Mull,

May

'61,

14,

promoted from Sergeant October

11,

1861, to 2d Lieutenant April 13, 18G3.

George W. Deen, May 14, '61, promoted to 1st Sergeant May
15, 1863, Commissioned 2d Lieutenant March 21, 1863,not nmstered, mustered out with Company June 11, 1864.
Joel Metz,

Thomas

May

27,

Sergeant.

'61,

Levers, June

1861, to Sergeant April

William \. Moyer,

May

15,

May

burg, Virginia,

14, '61,

Kriner,

May

Corporal April

missing in

May

6,

1862, Sergeant

'61,

14,

action at Fredericks-

1862.

discharged

May

26,

1862,

for

accidentally.

May

14,

'61,

transferred to 191st

Regiment

31, 1864, Veteran.

Abraham Wand, May

May

'61,

14,

13,

William E. Ackey,

House,

15,

1862.

December

wounds received
P. v..

6,

1863.

Nicholas Frieze,
AVilliam

May

promoted to Corporal July

'61,

26,

14,

12, 1864,

'61,

wounded

at

Spottsylvania Court

absent at General Hospital, Washington,

D. C. at muster out.
William Lezerve, May 14, '61.
William E Gillespie, June 20, '61, transferred to IQlst Regiment P. V. May 31, 1864, Veteran.
H. Kustenbather, July ,11 '61, transferred to 191st Regiment P.
V. May 31, 1864, Veteran.

—

LoHUt,

Jolui

.Inly 11,

M;iy JU, ISO

v.,

1*.

Aaron

May

Edwin

.Iiiiic 2"), '(il,

May

May
May

Lockliart,

May

14,

f

rniisicncd to lOlst

'(;i,

killed

Hrllicsda (Mnircli,

at

Vir-

traiisrcncd to

'(>2,

1*.

V.

U'i>j,

at

KN'^inicnt

l!)lst

:n, iMdI.
27,

'()1,

Moniidcd,

Hristoo Station, Yiroinia, Octolx'v 11,

1

witli

loss of

S()3, al)seiit, in liospital,

nnistcr ont.

May

Buttles William,

V.

IJc^imciil,

11, T.l.

1,

Adrrlioldl Kaiiu'st, .hdy

at

Kcoitnciil P. V.

1!»lst.

ISdl, N'ctcraii.

'M),

Kicliart, April

.1.

to

;U, 1S()1, VctiMMn.

II. (Jil)soii,

liiiiia,

tr:iiisf«"rr('.l

'(il.

Vctonm.

I,

'riiiiddcus S. Smith,

Eli

or ('OLUMIUA COl^NTY.

IllSTOlir

888

May

Brown James
Eebruary
July 28,
Mareli
Bin<;inan

May

11.,

2'), '(11,

May

21,

'(>!,

(leoioc,
12,

discliarnt'd

diseliaro-ed

May

11,

May

14, Y)l, deserted

'(il,

(ieoi-^-e.

;U, 18(il,

June

(>,

on

Siirj^-eon's ceil ificate,

on

Suro«M)n's

certilieate,

disc'liavi^ed

(Jliaplain Orvill,

Elinn James,

H, '(12.
1*.

V.

"(il,

disehar<jjed on

Surujeon's eerlifi-

1H()2.

2(),

May

25,

'(il,

June

20,

discharn-ed on Surt;;eoirs ecrtilicate,

'(il,

at

muster out of Company.

dist'lniri>:ed

on Surneon's

ecrtiticate,

20, lH(il.

May

20,

'(12,

diseharged on Surtjoon's
Grill Josiah,

1

II, '(il.
1,

January 2!), lH(i2.
Davis John, June 21, '(!1.
Darfus John, May It, '(il, absent
Erant'is Tliomas,

September

Veteran.

February

November

on Sui'^con's certiru'ate

transferred to IDlst lu'giment

'(51,

C^innin<:;liam Robert, M:iy

May

1*.

1H()8.

I'lironistcr .lolm \V., ,lune

cate,

KN^inuMit

traiisfciTcd to llUst

'()!.

(\)wdt'n SanuH'l,

May

'(11,

12, 1S()2.

Bailey Olney,

Bowman

25,

81, 1.S04, Vctovan.

June

20,

'(il,

— date unknown

wounded

in

certitioate,

December

transferred

action

to IDlst

19, 18(>2.

Iveoinient

31, 18(54, Veteran.

Garner Autjustus, July 20,
Hare Joseph, :\lay 14, '61.
Jlilgert Jacob,

May

16, '61.

'(Jl,

deserted February 11,

1S(!2.

P. V.

nisTonv OF coiAjMiiiA bounty.
H:it(:iii

(

M:iy 21,

!li;iil<'S,

May

Ilfisiicr Il(!iiry,

wouikIh received

til

14,

1

;il

of

riiiistci- out,

(liscli:ir<M'il

i''fl)rii;iry

( "<)iii|);iiiy.

12,

for

IHO;},

in action.

Mocker George, AiigUMt
llunl William

;iI)H(ii1

,

'<tl,

WW.)

May

II.,

0, 'Ol,

14,

missin;^ in ;iclion,
at

(il, <li<<l

I''aiifa.v,

May

18(14.

.'JO,

Virginia, April

1,

H(;;j.

May

Tiilcinan I"'rankrni,
ber,

Ilurst, Miles,

June

<;,'()!,

May

Jl.uir William,

Jones licnjamin A.,
cate,

August

Johnson, M.
J 1111(1

"01, killed al

2."),

Decem-

l''r('d('ricl<hl»nr|^,

1H(;2.

l.'{,

1:J,

May

May

deserted

14,

G,

14,

1S(;2.
|S(;.'5.

discharged on Snrj^eon'H

'(il.

C(!rt,ili-

1802.

0,

May

li.,

deseil.ed Se|)lc[ni)er

14, '01,

died

14, '<il,

I-'rederickshiirg,

at

Virginia,

1802.

King, luchard W., July
,\nderson\

2!),

dl, captured

Cieorgia, (>ctol)er

ille,

Karigiier, (iottleib,

wonnds recived

May

2.

1

May

1804, died

20,

804, grave 11,

discharged March

14, '01,

at

Veteran.

Hi;}.

18,

18(52,

for

in action.

Kie/er John, July 20,

'01,

discharged on surgeon's

(;(;rtiiicate,

Feh-

rnaiy 17, 1802.

Krclner CJeorge,

wounds

May

.'iO,

discharged

'01,

March

28,

18(j.'},

lor

receiv(!d in a(;tion.

May 14, '01, d(!S(;rte(l Augnst 28, 1802.
King James II., Marcli 11), '64, not on muHter out roll.
Lucas Abraham, May 25, '01, committed suicide at (yaiiij) Tenally
K<ionH John,

Maryland. October
Miller .losepli,

House,

Marchal
Moy«'r

May

June

Miller .lacob,

1801.
'01,

wounded

at

Spottsylvania

(Joiirt

1804, absent, in hospital at muster out.

11,

Carlisle,

Ii(!wiH,

4,
215,

May

14, '01.

June 25, '(il.
August 27, '(il, discharged SeptemlKn-

wounds received
Metzgar Sebastian,

12, 180^^, f<<r

in action.

May

25, '01,

discharged Fel)ruary 28,

180.'}.

for

woun<Is received in action.
Miller J(din, .May 14,

May

.'}0,

'(il,

killed

at

Beth(^H<Ia

('hurcli,

Virginia

lHf)4.

May 2.5, '01, deserted November 23, 1802,
May 14, '01.
M'Laughlin li.. May 2.5, '01, deserte<l December 11, 1862.
Mallon Feliv,

M'(;ill (Jeorge,

Mclson Oscar, July
1(>,

Ott

OF

rrrsv'onv

'Ml

ooLir.u/ifA (lorrNrr.
tlischiirt^cd l»y

'(>1,

27,

Aiijfust

onlcr,

sid'ciiil

18(52.

Al|)li(Mis I)., .Inly

February

2!),

'()1,

10,

tlitul

Brisloi'

at

Slatioii,

Vir<jjinia,

1S()I.

l*urs(>ll I'orry, .luly

by

dist^liarocd

'(il,

">,

August

order,

sjiocial

11, IS()2.
I'l-'uu'

Abraliam, August

tember

Richard John
lvou|» Jonas,

().,

May

May

11,

killcil

South

:it

iMouiilaiii,

(il,

absent in hospital

at

action

inissinii; in

'(>1,

Kose .Toseph, May 14,
December 12, 1H()2.
lH(il,

iiiustt'r

out.

at

liethesda (^hnrch.

IStil.

;{(),

Keinhardt Kdniund. June 2."), '(il, transl'crrcd to
]». v., May .*n, lH(i4.
Veteran.

Shedon

Sep-

absi'nt, in hospital at nnistfi- out.

2r), '(il,

Ivantz Isaac, .Inly 20,

May

2(i, '(>!,

14, IH02.

May

.John,

11,

discharged

.'(il,

wounded

'(il,

absent, in hosjiital,

at

muster

at

on

regiineni

l!Hst-

surij^eon's

certilicati>,

Helliesda Church,

May

12.

out.

May 11, '(U.
May 14, '(il.

Staub 1-onrad,
Shult/, .John,

Springer

June

8,

Sintijhiser

cate,

C\)nr:ul,

M:iy 14,

'(il,

discharoed on suri^con's

certilicale,

18G2.

Theodore, .luue

February

"(il, <liscliar!j,(>d

(i,

on surgeon's

certili-

13, 18(i;?.

ISevarts (lotleib, .June

(i,

'(il,

discharged April 20,

ISd.S, for \voun<ls

received in action.
l*hili[), August 28, 18()1, discharge<l iMay 10, 18(i;? for
wounds received in action.
Snyder William, May 14, '(il, discharged on surgeon's certilicale,

Steii\heiser

September

Hi, 18(i2.

Seohman Samuel, May

14,

'(il,

died .luly

lo,

18(),'?

wounds

of

re-

ceived at (TCttysburg.
Shiirert Jacob,

May

14, 'Gl, killetl at

Fredericksburg,

December

13, 1862.

Springer Philip, .Tune 1,
Traub Williani, July 27,

'(il,
'(il,

deserted August 24,

died at (icorgetown,

18, 1861, buried in Military

Vocht George, May

14,

'(il.

Asylum Cemetery.

18(i2.
1).

C.,

October

II I

\';iii

STORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY

\'i-aiil<iii

I).

M:iy

I).,

2."j,

"(il,

misHiiitr in iictioii

:^41

M;iy 20, 1H(M.

VekTiin.
V;ilf ('ynis, Miiy

1

<>1,

I,

'Ik'I

May

Welliv«'i-

'riiDiii.is,

Wagner

Otto, .Inno

Wagner

1,

I

cate .January

May

H,

on surgeon's certificate

discharged on surgeon's

cH-rtilicate

27,

'(il,

tlischarged on surgeon's

(H-rtili-

May

14,

sjucial

order,

disch irged

"(il,

i»y

II, 1H02.

,

7,

iliscliargcd

1802.

Walter Joseph, July
her

(il,

11, '01,

August

C'hi'istoplier,

August

7, '(Jl.

IH(i:i.

WillianiH (iecu-ge,

Woods

C, August

SOI.

('luist ian,

April 20,

VVasliiiigtoii, J).

'(il.

1, '(il.

Wi'sl Christ inn, August 27,
J)e(H-nil)er

iit

2'),

12,

'(il,

1,

"01.

died at (ieorgetinvu,

JJ.

C, Septeni-

iSOl.

Weaver Joseph, June

killed

at

South Mountain Septemlxr

14, 1802.

Walls John, July 21, '01, deserted August M, 1802.
Vordy Williani '1'., May 14, "01.
'01, deserted June 4, 18GI1
Zeihe Wilkins Iv., June
'j,

l''roni

J)r:iines\ ille to JH'thesda

(

hurch, hy

JNlountain, Frederickshurg, (iettyshurg,

the

way

of Soutlj

and .Sj»ottsylvania Court

House gatliering daily greener lauiels, is glory enough for Clonipany E., of the Si.xtli Reserves. 'I'lii- company was mustered out
and
of service June 11, 1804, witli an unstained military rec(;rd
discharged.
thus
all tlie men not otherwise accounteil for weie
;

;

HISTOIiY OF COLUMBIA

342

COUNTY

I'OUTV-TIURI) UKCIMKXT.

FIRST ARTlLV.KnY.

BATTKRY

K.

COLIMT.IA ANO MONTOUR.

R. Bruce Ricketts, mnstored
tenant August

cember

John

1,

to

F. Campbell, nuistered

May

1S65.

July

8, 'Gl,

Captain

May

promoted
8,

to Hrat Lieu-

1863, to Major, De-

in

July

8, '61,

promoted

to second

Lieutenant December 1, 1864,
I860, mustered out with Battery June

20, 1864, to first

Captain April

to

in

breveted Colonel.

180-4.

Lieutenant,

9,

5, 18(il,

17.

Veteran.

Charles B. Brockway, mustered in July 8, '61, jtromoted to second
Lieutenant February 28,1862, to first Lieutenant March 16,1863,

commissioned Captain November 30, 1864, not mustered, brevet
Captain March 13,1865, discharged October 22,1864. Veteran.

Henry Wireman, imistered in July 8, '61. promoted to first Lieutenant December 6, 1864, mustered out with battery June 9,
Veteran.

1865.

William H. Thurston, mustered in July 8, '61, promoted to first
Lieutenant, A}»ril 22, 1865, mustered out with battery June 9,
Veteran.

1865.

Francis H. Snyder, mustered in July 8, '61, promoted to second
Lieutenant January 31, 1864, Avounded at Mine Run, Virginia,
discharged October 8, 1864.

George

W". Mowrer, mustered in July 8th, 1861, promoted to
second Lieutenant, April 22, 1865, mustered out with battery

June

Frank

9,

P.

1865.

Veteran.

Brockway, mustered

seco.id Lieutenant

tery June

9, 1

865.

December
Veteran.

in

January 1, '62, promoted to
mustered out with bat-

21, 1864,

—

HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.
WiHiiiiu

Truiup, mustered

II.

July

in

tered out^with battery June

1865.

9,

8, '61, first

343

Sergeant, mus-

Veteran.

Stephen K. Hidgeway, mustered in December 30, '61, Quartermaster Sergeant, mustered out with battery June 9, 1865. Veteran.

William B. Melick, mustered

July

in

6, '61,

discharged on Sur-

geon's certiticate July 18, 1862.

Albert Ilerbein, mustered
battery June

9,

August

in

5, '61,

mustered out with

Veteran.

1865.

Franklin Ilouser, mustered in January 27,
Veteran.
battery June 9. 1865.

mustered out with

'62,

il. Christian, mustered in July 8, '61, w^ounded at Gettysburg July 2, 1863, mustered out August 8, 1864.
Jacob S. Yurdy, mustered in July 8, '61, mustered out with batVeteran.
tery June 9, 1865.
Jacob M. larman, mustered in March 9, '64, mustered out with
battei'y June 9, 1865.
Appleman Cyrus B., March 15, '64, wounded at Tolopotomy May
31, 1864, mustered out with battery June 9, 1865.
Fause Thomas E., mustered in July 8, '61, mustered out with bat-

John

I

tery June

9,

Veteran.

1865.

Fox Jacob, mustered

July

in

Washington, D. (1
Gotschall William, mustered
battery June 9, 1865.

8, '61,

died October 16, 1862, at

February

in

1,

64,

Garringer Charles, mustered in February 21,
ington, D.

Haag

JacoV),

June

9,

C, September
mustered

1865.

Hughes Mason
A.,

died at

Wash-

8, '61,

mustered out with battery

Veteran.
B.,

mustered

with battery June

Hart Johu

'64,

11, 1864.

July

in

mustered out with

in

February

27, '64,

mustered out

1865.

9,

mustered

in

July

8,

1864, mustered out at expira-

tion of term.

Harder I'riestly S., mustered in December
Veteran.
out January 23, 1865.

Need

FraiK-is,

mustered

exjtiratioii of

in

8, '61,

discharged

'61,

May

mustered
31,

1864

term.

Powell Williuin, nuistered
certitii;ate

July

31,

February

in

July

10, 1863.

8, '61,

discharged on Surgeon's

344

HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.

Rake John

G.,

tery June

9.

mustered
1

865.

in Jiiniiary

Roberts Josiah K., mustered
witli battery June 9, 1865.

Rake Isaac,
March 26,

1, '64,

mustered out with bat-

Veteran.

nnistered in

in

July

February

1, '61,

64, miistered out

10,

transferred

1864, mustered out with the battery

Remline Francis, mustered
Slii}»inan Charles,

mustered

in

in

July

5, "61,

July

8, '61,

Veteran.
tery June 9, 18()5.
Shoemaker .John, mustered in January

to

June

Battery G.
29, 1865.

not on muster

roll.

mustered out with bat-

22, '62, dischargeil

on Sur"

geon's certilicate.

Savage Charles N., mustered

in

January

1, '62,

deserted October

16, 1862.

Thompson Edward, nmstered

in

December

26, '61, killed at

An-

tietam September 17, 1862.

Weaver John

July 8, '61, on detached service as
F'., mustered in
Regimental Hospital Steward.
The above are all certainly ascertained to belong to Columbia
Battery F participated with distinguished gallantry
or Montour.
and efficiency in the following engagements, viz Winchester
Second Bull Run, Chantilly, Antietam, Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, Bristoe Station, Mine Run, VVildernessj
Spottsylvaiua, North Anna, Tolopotomy, Cold Harbor, Petersburg
and Deep Bottom, a roll of battles of which they may well be
proud, as well as of the additional fact that they remained in the
service till the war was over, always doing their work thoroughly
:

and taking it as it came, tlie march, the battle or the prison, with
which Capt. Brockwuy has had close acquaintance.

all of

HISTORY OF COLUMBIA C0UN2Y.

345

FIFTY- Sl'XOND REGIMENT.

COMPANY
RECRUITER

William

Silver, Captain,

IN COLUJIBIA

September

May

'63,

19,

COUNTY.

16, '61,

resigned July 17,

'62-

promoted from Adjutant to
mustered out January 27, '65 expira-

Nathan W. Pierson, August
Captain

G.

15, '61,

—

tion of term.

Augustus

2%

W.

Kush,

1st Sergeant,

September

16, '61,

resigned July

'62.

Timotliy Mahony,

November

Lieutenant, August

to 1st

4,
1,

'61,

promoted from 1st Sergeant
mustered out November 5,

'62,

expiration of term.

'64,

John S. Marcy, November 4, '01, dismissed September 21, '64.
James W. Evans, November 4, '61, promoted from Sergeant to Ist
Sergeant, Ai)ril 9, '65, to 2d Lieutenant June 3, '65, mustered out with

company July

12, '65.

Veteran.

Richard Shepherd, November 4, '61, promoted from Sergeant to
1st Sergeant January 1, '64, mustered out November 5, '64,
expiration of term.
"W.

^V'.

Snyder,

'64 to

March

November

4, '61,

Sergeant November

26, '65.

piomoted to Corporal April 9,
Commissioned 1st Lieutenant

6, '64,

Veteran.

William H. Johnson, November 4, '61, promoted to Corporal November 6, '64, to Sergeant April 3, '65, Veteran.
John J. Dasher, September 24, '63, drafted, promoted to Sergeant November 6, '64.
George Besli, November 4, '61, promoted to Corporal January 1^
'64, to Sergeant November 6, '64.
Wesley Cooper, November 4, '61, promoted
1, '64.

to Sergeant

January

HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.

346

William Shultz, November
geant January 1, '64.

4, '61,

promoted from Corporal

Thomas Slaughbaugh, November

4,

'61,

discharged

to Ser-

November

wounds received at Fair Oaks, Virginia, May
William S. Stark, March 11, '64. promoted to Corporal June
Henry C. Mott, November 4, '61, promoted to Corporal June
18, '62, for

31, '62.
18,'64.
18,'64,

Urias Trate, October 26, 63, drafted, pi-omoted to Corporal

William Adams, November
ber

November

November

Corporal Novem-

6,

24, '63, drafted,

promoted

29, '63, drafted,

promoted to Corporal

to Corporal

'64.

H. Rummerfield, November

4, '61,

promoted

to Corporal

Novem-

6, '64.

Lewis H. Breeze, March 17,
Caleb Creasy, November 4,

'64,

'61,

promoted to Corporal May 8, '65,
promoted to Corporal, January

'64.

William H. Robbins, November
uary 1, '64.

W.

to

'64.

6.

David Eberts, September

ber

promoted

4, '61,

7, '64.

Jacob Ebliug, September

1,

May

'65.

1,

November

Weathervvalks,

4, '64,

4,

'61,

promoted

to Corporal Jan-

discharged on surgeon's

certificate April 9, '62.

Charles E. Bohl,

November

Adam« Noah, November

4, '61.

Anderson William, September

Ace George, October
Bush Jacob, October

Veteran.

Veteran.

4, '61.

23, '63, drafted.

19, '64, drafted.
8, '62

Boyer John, October 24, '63, drafted.
Bowers John, October "22, '63, drafted

Bunn Samuel, October 17, '63, drafted.
Burgher Abram, February 25, '65.
Bouch Frederick, July 24, '63, drafted.
Blon Nicholas, July 24, '63, drafted.
Bumbaugh Andrew, March 20, 1864.
Bloom John, March

12, '64

Bumbaugh Andrew^ November,
'64,

expiration of term.

4

'61,

mustered out November

5,

HIJSTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.

347

November 4, '61, discharged on surgeon's certifiNovember 30, '62.
Brown Amos, November 4, '61, killed accidentally at Charleston,
Baily Weston.
cate

South Carolina, February

Veteran.

18, '65.

Carroll William, Se|)tember 24, '63, drafted.

Chatman William, November
Carey Chesterfield, October

Veteran.

4, '61.

31, '63, drafted.

Culver Solomon, Novembers,

mustered out November

'61,

5, '64,

expiration of term.

Covey Vincent M., November
Davis Edward

H„ November

4, '61,

deserted

March

14, 1862.

12, '63, drafted.

Delamp Alamaza, October 24, '62.
Dalton Thomas, March 2, '65.
Dougherty James, November 4,
certificate December 9, '62.

'61,

discharged on surgeon's

Etchells Alfred, July 24. '63, drafted.

Engle Stephen, October 15, '63, drafted.
Ersenhower M. W., October 28, '63. drafted.
Edwards Joseph D., February 27, "65.
Early James, March 23,

'64.

Evans James, November
October

4, '61,

discharged on surgeon's certificate

19, '62.

Fitzgerald Patrick, September 24,
Fritz Charles, September 25,

Hew

George. November 4

"63,

drafted.

'63.

Veteran.

'61.

Foust Edward, September 24, '63, drafted.
Fix James, October 29, '63, drafted.
Fitzgerald Walter,

March

3, '65.

Frederick John, December
Galligan John 2d,

1,

November

Grass Charles, September 23,
Gilligan J^hn
'64,

1st,

November

'61,

deserted April

4, '61.

5, '64.

Veteran.

'63, drafted.
4,

'61,

mustered out November

5,

expiration of terra.

Gemian Thonias, November

4, '64,

discharged on surgeon's cer-

tificate April, '63.

Gilligan Peter, January

1,

'62,

mustered out January

piration of term.

Haines Le<niard, October 12, '68, drafted.
Hepler William, March 18, '65.

22, '65, ex-

HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.

348

Hawk

diaries, Scpteiuber 24,

Halstead Theodore, March

Hand

John, November

lloran Stephen,

May

March

July 31,

Harris Job,

absent at luuster out.

Veteran.

4, '(51.

James, J(Uy 24,

llankiTi

sick,

'(58,

20, '65.

'G3, dratted.

2, '65.

discharged by

drafted,

'63,

general order

26, '65.

Horor Michael, November

mustered out

'61,

4,

November

5, 64,

expiration of term.

November

Ilaight William,

mustered out Novembei'

4, '61,

5, '64,

expiration of term.

Holland David. November
cate

November

Harley John,

Holmes

on surgeon's

discharged

4, '61,

certifi-

13, '62.
,

not on muster out

Charles, September 24,

Johnston James P., November 4,
Jones Edward D., November 4,
vice February 17, '62.

roll.

drafted, deserted

'63,

'61,

June

18, '64.

Veteran.

'61.

transferred to

gunboat

ser-

Keys

Albert, October 30, '63, drafted.
Keating John, Septeuiber 24, '63.
King William C, December 9, '61, mustered out December

Id, '64,

expiration of term.

King Henry

December

H.,

9, '61,

mustered out December

16, '64,

expiration of term.

Kinney Edward, July

Long

drafted, deserted

24, '63,

William, Septend)er 24,

'63,

Decend)er

8, '64.

drafted.

Lamberson A. B., September 23, '63, drafted.
Lockard Alfred A„ March 17, '64.
Lawrence John, October 22, '63, drafted, absent,

sick

at

muster

out.

Lake Fernandez,
'64,

November

4,

'61,

mustered out November

5^

expiration of term.

Lelley Samuel,

November

4, '61,

mustered out November

5, '64,

expiration of term.

Lehman

Joseph, September 24,

eral order

Lane John

July

E.,

October

South Carolina, June

Muntz John

'63, drafted,

discharged by gen-

12, '65.
14, '63, drafted,

29, '64.

F. October 30, '63, drafted.

drowned

at Morris Island,

HISTORY OF COLUMBIA OOUNTT.
Mott James

March

S.,

349

'61.

17,

Mack George, October 8, '62.
Mack James, October 8. .62
March 20, '65.
November

Miller Edward,

Merrellua Cornelius,
certificate

February

Miller Jeremiah, February
Carolina, January 17,

'61, discharged

on Surgeon's

'62,

13,

died at Hilton

Head, South

'6.5.

Motz William, November
tober

3,

20, '63.

4, '61,

died at Yorktown, Virginia,

Oc-

2, '62.

McAfee Joshua, Novt'mber
cate P'ebruary

November

Nichols Riley,

4, '61,

discharged on Surgeon's

certifi-

4, '63.

discharged on Surgeon's

4, '61,

certifi-

cate October 29, '62.

Oberender John N., February 15, '65.
Ocks Adam, February 15, '65.
Ocks Charles, February 16, '65, discharged on general order June
25, '65.

Ollendick Joseph, October

South Carolina, June

16, '63, drafted,

died at Hilton

Head,

27, '65.

Parks John, November 4, '61, Veteran
Porter James, September 24, '63, drafted.
Patton John, October 12, '63, drafted.
Padden Henry, March 2, '65.
Philliits Henry, February 14, '65.
Fringle Caleb. November 4, '61, nmstered out November

5, '64,

ex-

piration of term.

Pointon John, November

4, '61,

discharged on Surgeon's

certifi-

November 14, '62.
Powell James, November

4, '61,

discharged on

Surgeon's

certifi-

discharged on Surgeon's

certifi-

cate

cate

June

2, '63.

Phillips Henry,

cate

June

November

4, '61,

11, '62.;

November 4, '61, died at
8, '62, of wounds received

Phillips David,

vania,

May

June

Philadelphia,

Pennsyl-

at Fair Oaks,

Virginia,

31, '62.

Paden John, November

4, '61,

deserted

March

Rittenburg Joseph. November 4, '61, Veteran.
Ryan William, November 9, '63, drafted.

28, '61.

HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY

350

Rupert John

September

J.,

24,

Riiidy John, September 24,

Rush Henry, November

'(>;?,

drafted.

'63. drafted.

4, 'Gl.

November 4, '61.
November 4, 'Gl, mustered

Rozelle P^dward E.,

Redcay

Charles,

out

November

4, 'G3,

expiration of term.

Redeay George, November

4, 'Gl,

mustered out November

5,

'64,

ex})iration of term.

Ritcli Jolm,

October

November

discharged on Surgeon's certificate

4, '61,

29, '62.

November

Scott Wesley,

Veteran.

4, '61,

Sanders George M., November
Shu|)p Charles, October la,

4, '61,

Veteran.

drafted, absent, sick, at muster

'63,

out.

Steinhower Jacob, October 4, '63. drafted.
Seibert Franklin, September 24, '63, drafted.
Schrick John,

August

Novembea

discharged on Surgeon's certificate

4, '61,

44, '62.

Smithers John, Fovember

discharged on Surgeon's

4, '61,

November 30, '62.
Stout Joseph, November 4,

certifi-

cate

Marcli

discharged on Surgeon's certificate

'61,

8, '62.

November

Shiner Joseph,

mustered out November

4, '61,

5, '64,

expiration of term.

Stout William H.,
tificate

July

November

Smith Martin, November
ruary

discharged on Surgeon's cer-

4, '61,

died at Washington,

D. C, Feb-

1, '62.

Smith John
ruary

4, '61,

6, '63.

P.,

November

4, '61,

died at Washipgton, D. C, Feb-

8, '62.

Shunian Milton, November

Swartz John, November
Thoui])son A.

TI.,

4, '01,

4, '61,

November

deserted September

deserted September

4, '61,

nuistered out

1, '63.

1, '63.

November 5,

'64,

expiration of term.

Thomas
June

Charles, September

1, '64,

discharged by general order

4, '61,

discharged on Surgeon's cer-

24, '65.

Taylor Dilton N., November
tificate September 16, '62.

Vanduser James, March

28, '64.

:

HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.
AVilliaiii Curtis,
ex|»ir;itioii

Welsh

.John,

November

4, '61,

mustered out November

351
4,

'64,

of term.

October

16, '63, drafted,

deserted

November

1, '64.

Columbia county men were among the lirst in
the field and the last out, and in every place did credit to themThe Regiment was at first under General
selves and the county.
Henry M. Naglee, and was in the following engagements, viz
Lee's Mills, Bottom's Bridge, and a four days' fight on the advance
to Kichmond, Fair Oaks, Mechanicsville, and the line of the
Chickahoniiny. In December, 1862, it was sent to North Carolina, in January, '63, to Port Royal in South Carolina, and went
through an arduous campaign. They made the assault on Fort
Johnson, in July 18G4, led by Colonel, late Governor Hoyt, and
A detachment of the
if su])i)orted would have catured the place.

Many

52<1,

of these

on the 18th February,

'65,

planted her flag on Fort Sumter.

When Sherman marched through
joined him.

South Carolina, the Fifty-Second

Their march terminated in April, with Johnson's

surrender near Raleigh.

Thence to Salisbury, N. C, and thence

to Harrisburg, and -a tnuster out July 12, '65.

JilSTOliY

352

OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.

KKiHTV-KOrUTH REGIMENT.
COMl'ANY

l>.

HUUl.EY (iUARl>S.

AlcxaiuU'V

J.

Frick,

cuptaiu, mustered

in

Si'[)tember

IS, "01, re-

siyiu'd ()(.iol>er 2, '62.

George Ziim,

eaptaiii,

ant eomi>:uiy

October

B October

'61,

1,

promoted from 2d lieuleu-

lieutenant colonel

2, '62, to

December

2o, "63.

Alexander O. Thornton, captain, December 2-1, '61, wounded at
Fort Tublic June, 9, '62, promoted from 1st seargent to 1st lieutenant October 2, '62, to captain December 28, '62, discharged
July

8, "64.

John W. liissel, captain, december 9,
major to 2d lieutenant December

November
ber

July 26,

16, '63, to captain

i)romoted from sergeant

'(il,

1862, to

23.

1st

lieutenant

discharged Decem-

'64,

14, 1S64.

F/al n. Ent, 1st Lieutenant October 1, '61, resigned October 2,'62.
James W. Hunter, August 1, '62, promoted to 2d lieutenant Sep-

tember

22, '62, to 1st lieutenant

8e})tember 15,

David Larish, December
October

17,

January

13, '65.

'(54,

24, 1861,

transferred to

]M.

ginia,

Clark, October

May

discharged

23, '62,

3, '63,

promoted

company

G

to 1st

Lieutenant

57th regiment P. V.,

Veteran.

Calvin MacDowell, August 30,

Lewis

December

'63.

2, '61,

'61,

resigned June 25,

'62.

captured at Chancellorsville, Vir-

transferred Xo

company G, 57th regiment P.

v., January 13, '65.

William A. Tobias, December 24, '61, not accounted for.
James G. Moore, December 24, '61, captured at Chancellorsville,

May

3,

1863, exchanged, not accounted for.

Veteran.

Hampson, December 24, '61, not accounted for.
Henry Funk, December 24, '61, wounded at Winchester, March

Josepli D.

HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.
23, 1862, killed at

Josiah

Mine Run,

IleiiiiiiiLfer,

,

V'irginia, Noveiiibcr

not accounted

3(J,

353
1863.

for.

James W. Price, December 24, "61, wounded at Winchester, Virginia, Marcn 23, 1863.
Chark'H Manning, December 24, '61, wounded at Winchester,
Virginia, March 24, 1862.
Fred C Hess, December 24. "Gl, transferred to coiniiuny G. ';7th
ReLriment P. V. January 13, '6o, promoted to Coi])oral, Veteian.
Stephen Johnson, Decemljer
Virginia,
in

May

24, '61,

captured

National Cemetery, section E, division

Pierce Russel, December 24,
18, '62,

wounded

ferred to

'61,

promoted

Chancellorsville,

at

June

23, '63, died at City Point,
1,

to

May

at Chancellorsville, Virginia,

Company G, 57th Regiment

])romoted to 1st Sergeant January

trans-

3, '63,

January

P. V.,

1, '65.

buried

19, '64,

grave 154. VeteranCorporal February
13,

'65,

Veteran.

Chai'les Sill, DecemV)er 24, '61, not accounted for.

Theobald M. Dawson, December 24, '61, captured at Chancellorsfound
ville, Virginia, May 3, '63, exchanged, not accounted for
in Company G, 57th Regiment P. V. January 1, '64, transferred

—

to

Company

William

Virginia,
P. V.

II

l*rosser,

May

January

June

10, '65,

December
3, '63,

Veteran.

24, "61, caj^tured at

transferred to Comi)any

13, '65,

promoted

to

Chancellorsville
(t,

57th Regiment

Sergeant July

1,

64.

Veter-

an.

John

F.

'64, to

Crawford, December 24,

March

2, HSi>,

'01,

August 16,
March 7, '65.

prisoner from

discharged April

13, to

date

Theodore W. Overpeck, December 21, '61, not accounted for.
Roman Dunn, December 24, '61, transferred to Company G 57th.
Itegiment P. V. January 13, '65.
Apsker (teorge, December 24, '61, not accounted for.
Arble James B., December 24, '61, killed at Port Republic,, Virginia, June 9, ''(^2.
Albert John, Decend)er 24, '61, died at Washington, D. C, Jidy,
'62.

Albaugh Henry A., December 24, '61, not accounted for.
Bunker Isaiah W., December 24, '61, not accounted for.
Barrett Frederick, December 24, '61, promoted to hospital steward.
Bowers Cornelius D., December 24, '61, wounded at Winchester,
Virginia, March 23, '62, not accounted for.

II1.ST0RY

354

Bailey Fr:nu'is
Yii-giiiia,

January

P. V.

Deceiubei- 24,

J.,

May

OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.

3, '03,

13,

'01,

wounded

transferred to

''Q'^.

at Chanccllorsville,

Company G

57th Ilegiment

A'^eteran.

Boger Christian, December 24, '61, not accounted for.
Benton Anderson, captured at Chancellorsville, May 3, '03.
Baish Ephraim, October 7, '^2., wounded at Chancellorsville
3, '63,

transferred to

Company G

May

57th Regiment P. Y. January

13, '65.

Biiigaman John, September

May

January

wounded

26, '62,

Company G

transferred to

3, '63,

at Chancellorsville,

Regiment P. V.
Veteran Reserve Corps March 21,

13, '65, transferred to

57th

'65.

Clayton James

E.,

December

Campbell John
Clark John A.,

accounted

for.

not accounted

for.

24, '61, not

Crofut Alonzo D., December 24,

December
December 24,
T.,

'61,

24, '61, not
'61,

accounted

not accounted

for.

for.

Connelly Patrick, captured at Chancellorsville, May 3, '63.
Connell John, transferred to Company G 57th Regiment P. V.
January 13, '65, mustered out at expiration of term.

Dawson Daniel W., December
ville,

May

Dweany

3, '63,

Pliilip,

wounded

'61,

24,

not accounted

at

Chancellors-

for.

captured at Cliancellorsville,

May

3,

'63,

died

at

died

Novem-

Virginia,

'63.

Doney

Peter, captured at Chancellorsville

February

Philadelj)hia, Pennsylvania,

Eby

Jacob, wounded at Chancellorsville

ber

3, '04,

3,

May

3, '63,

buried in National Cemetery, Arlington.

Fowler Thomas C, December

March

May

5, '65.

23, '02, not

24,

accounted

'61,

wounded

at

Winchester,

for.

Fowler William R., December 24, '01, killed at Winchester,
Virginia, March 23, '62, buried in National Cemetery, lot 10.
Fest Henry, December 24, '61, not accounted for.
Frank Penrose, December 24, '01, not accounted for.
Foster John, December 24,

'61,

not accounted

for.

Farley Charles, June 28, 'ti2, transferred to company G, 57th
regiment P. V., January 13, '05, discharged by general order

June

1,

'65.

December 23, '61 captured at Chancellorsville
transferred to company A, transferred to company

Fitzharris Michael,

May

3, "63,

OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.

IIIISTORY
G. 57th

P. V.,

regiiiieiit

to

})roiuottHl

355

sergeant June

10,

'65,

Veteran.

Foust Cornelius, October 7, "G2, transferred to company G, 57th
regiment P. V. 13 January '()5, promoted to corporal June 10,
'65.

Gessner William, September 26,'G2, transferred to company G, 57th
regiment P. \ January 13, '05, discharged by geneial order
.

June 6, '65.
Hess Asa Y., December 24,
Hess Wilbur F., December

'Gl,

Hildebrandt Joseph, December

Hilburn

May
343.

Z.

W., December

30, '64, buried

not accounted for.

24, '61, not

National

in

for.

Virginia,

Cemetery, section A, grave

Veteran.

Harding John, December

24, '61,

wounded

Holcomb Guy, Deceiuber
23, '62,

wounded

Winchester, March

at

23, '62, killed at Port Republic, Virginia.

June

9, '62.

Winchester, March
transferred to c >mpany G. 57th regiment P. V. Jarmary

13, '65.

24, '61,

Virginia,

May

3, '63,

3, '63,

January

L.,

at

Chancellorsville,

at

Chancellorsville,

wounded

12, '62,

Company

G, 57th Regiment P. V.
discharged by general order June 1, '65.

transferred to

13, '65,

wounded

24, '61,

not accounted for.

Hagar Charles W., August

Hall Hosea

at

Veteran.

Hakes Reuben, December

May

for.

accounted

died at Yorktown,

"61,

24,

accounted

24, '61, not

April 12,

'64,

died June 28,

'64,

buried

in

National

Cemetery, Arlington, Virginia.
Hojikins Kelroy, December 24,

'61,

not accounted for.

Jacoby George, Decendier 24, '61, wounded
May 3, '63, and at Petersburg June 19,
Company G 57th Regiment P. V. January
Sej)tember

9, '65.

at
'64,

Chancellorsville

transferred to

13, "65.

discharged

Veteran.

Jones Joseph, December 24, '61, wounded at AVinchester March
23, '62 discharged 23 December, '64, expiration of term.
Kline Abner W., December 24, '61, not accounted for.
Kline Jacob, December 24, '61, not accounted foi-.

Kline Abraham

E.,

Decend^er 24,

Knapp Harvey W., December

'61,

57th Regiment P. V. January 13,

King James,' December

not accounted for.

24, '61, transferred to

24, '61, not

'65.

Veteran.

accounted

for.

Company

G,

FTISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.

356

Andrew, Docomber

Lun<j:or

24, '61, not

Larish Cyrus W., December 24,

Larish Wilbur
')7th

F.,

December

Ueo-iment P. V.

for.

24, '61,

Tompany

transferred to

(t,

Veteran.

Lyncli Robert, December 24,

Learner George. October

ncoountcd

not accounted for.

'61,

'61,

not accounted for.

wounded

8, '62,

3 '63, transferred to (\Mnpany

(t

at Chancellorsville

May

oTth Regiment P. V.

Leader Henry, captured at Chancellorsville May 3, "()3.
Loudenshlager J. J., September 21), '62, transferred toC\)mpany
")7th Regiment P. X. <lischarged by genei-al order .lune 1,

(1,

'().'>.

Frank M., October 16, '62, transferred to Company G, o7th
Regiment P. V. 13 January '65, discharged by general order
June 8, '65

Iiarish

Millard Lockard F.,

December

24, '61, not

Merrell Charles C, December 24,

June

9, '62,

'61,

accounted

Conn)any G, 57th

transferred to

for.

missing at Port Republic

Regiment P. V.

Veteran.

Milheim Augustus, December

14, '61, not

accounted

for.

December 24, '61. not accounted for
Murray Ferdinand, December 24, '61, not accounted for.
Morrison John, December 24, '61, not accounted for.
Moore Benjamin W., August 11, '62, transferred to Com|)any G,
57th Regiment P. V.
Miller Miles,

Prosser John, December 24,

ed

at

'61,

Winchester, March 23,

Resei- Heub^Mi H.,

December

Riddle John, December

died JMarch 31 of wounds receiv-

,62.

24, '61, not

24, '61,

accounted

not accounted

for.

for.

Kutter Anthony E, December 24, '61, died July
Cypress Hill Cemetery, Long Island.

16, '64,

buried in

Simonton Thomas E., December 24, '()1, not accounted for.
Seeshultz William E., December 24, '61, not accounted for.
Smith Peter B., December 24, '61, not accounted for.
Sanders George W., December 24, '61, not accounted for.
Steele Samuel A. L., December 24, '61, captured at Chancellorsville.

December 24, '61, not accounted for.
December 24, '61, captured May 29, '02.
Squires Smith B., December 2-4, '61, not accounted for.

Shellenbergei-, J. G.,

Steele Calvin,

iriSTORY OF COLUMBIA
Schooley Jacob, December

December

II.,

December

Sage "William, December

24,

'fJI,

Missouri,

not accounted for.

Company

G, 57th

P. V.
2(J, '()2. ti

Kegiment P. V.
Teter James C, December

24, 'Gl,

Wheeler Jesse

L.,

not accounted

December

aiisf erred to

Company G 57th

discharged June G for wounds

received at Winchester, Virginia,

J.

Loiuh,

St.

24, 'Gl. transferred to

Sheadle Milton, Scpteinber

Wingate

at

3r.7

19, '63.

Sanders Jolin

Kegiment

24, 'Gl, died

COUNTY

15, *G1,

March 23, '62.
wounded at Winchester, and

for.

December 24, 'Gl, jtroiuoted Company G, 1st
August 15, 'G3, died 18 June, ()4, of wounds receiv-

Kussel,

Jiieutenant

ed at Petersburg.

Wigherman
musician

Poster, December
Not accounted for.

24,

'Gl,

piomoted

to

principal

Wi'.lard H. H., not accounted for.
Wc'llcr Henry, Oct.

7, '(52,

transferred to

Company

G, 57th Regi-

ment P. V.
Weller David, transfei-red to Company G, 57th Ilegiment P. V.
Williams S. Charles, not accounted for.
This Comi)any, known as the '"Hurley Guards" was recruited
in Columbia and Montour, and a few men 8ubse<juently were received from other counties.
I have not thought it necessrry lo

The Regiment reached Hancock, Md.,
January 2, '^32. The battle of Winchester was fought March 23,
'62; and that at Port Republic June 9th.
On the 15th of June
Sanniel M. Bowman of Columbia county was conmiissioned Colonel.
The Regiment was also in the battle of Fredericksburg,
and received a handsome compliment in the report of Gen. Carroll.
It did gallant service at ('hancellorsville, lost heavily and was
highly spoken of in the campaign of the Wilderness, and along
down to Petersburg, in the thick of the fray, keeping up its milL
tary record, until its muster out, when as has been seen a large
number of the men went into the 57th Regiment P. V., and reseparate or omit them.

mained

until

nmstered out June 29,

'G5, at

the close of the war.

STORY OF (JOLUMIUA COUNTY.

II r

;jr)H

liKdniKNT.

NlNKI'V-TllIUI)

COMI'ANV
"r.Ai.DV

Hocmitcd
.losoph V.

Charles

ill

(;rAUi>^

Montour ooimty.

October

Iviiinsuy, rcsii^iu'd,

W.

11.

I'l,

18()2.

KckuiMii, Scptciiiln'v 25, 18()1, wouikU'iI ;U Wilderness

May 5, and

Cedar Creek, Viroinia, Oetober

at

promo-

19, iSlil,

ted from 2d to 1st Tiient'iiant July 25, to Cai)taiii, October 21,
1S()2, to MenteiiMiit Colonel Novcnibei' 27, 1S()1, to Colonel

January

2.'5,

iMOri.

.[o-seph II. .fohnson,

Seru^eaiit

October

October
1,

21,

1S()2. to

May 1, iMtll'^, to
November 2S, 1S(>4.

2d Lieutenant
to ('a|)tain

Lefferd \L Kase, Octobi'r 21,

Max

K.

Goodrich, October

2d Lieutenant, July

"111,

21,

Sergeant

from (\)rporal to
January 1, ISC^, to

1st Lieutenant, Aiisxnst

1,

1

H(i4,

resioiied July 20, 1S(52.

'(51,

25, to

proinott'd

"(11,

1st

1st

promoted from 1st Sergeant to
Lieutenant October 21,18(52,

died June 14, of wounds received

Wilderness, N'irginia, INLiy

at

5, 18(5;i

Oscar

Shar|)less,

October

geant, January
to

1.

18(5;?,

brevet CJaptain

'(SI,

to

1st

April

Court House, Virginia,
Seth V.

21,

1,

18(52,

12, 18(51

from Sergeant

resigned March 12,

to

2d Lieutenant, No-

18(53.

Jared llunyan, promoted to Cori)oral March 18,
July 1, 1864, to 1st Sergeant November 3')th,
tenant January
2,

Ve

18(55,

1, 18(55,

discharged

wounded

on

to Ser-

November 30, 1864,
wounded at Spottsylvaiiia

2, 18(55,

May

Fretv.e, ])roinotcd

vember

promoted from Corporal
Lieutenant,

18(5;?,

to

18(54, to

Sergeant
2d Lieu-

at Petersburg, \^irgiuia, April

surgeon's certilicate

May

15,

18(55.

.M-an.

Fre lerick Laubich, October

21,

'(51,

})romoted

from Cor2>oral

to

TO 11 Y

// fs

January

Sergeuiit,

co:ninissi<)iuMl 2(1

May

oner

Clark

:^il

'.>,

F COL UM li IA CO (IN TY.

18()8, to

1,

to Oetolter

1st

May

Lieutoinmt

iHOo, not

wounded

1S()4,

Petersburg, Virginia, Mareli

1805,

2.3,

I8(j.">,

to Sergeant Sc))-

'()4,

1,

May

o,

absent

at

Wilderness,

at

I,

mustered, pris-

V^eteran.

ISd.'i.

.SI,

3o9

ScrLiCiuit .laiiii.uy

l.'S,

proniotcfl to ('orpoi-al .Inly

(Juiiiii,

teinlxM-

()

1804 and at

muster

out.

Veteran.

W

illiani Miller,

lH(i

May

18(!4,

.'>,

21,

promoted

'(51,

and

at Fetersl)urg

to C'orporal (October

wounded

1804,

1,

March

18(5.'),

2.5,

1,

at Wilderness,

absent at nuis-

Veteran.

ter out.

Charles

October

Sergeant D^'ceinber

to

I,

\s

.

Slioles, Octoln/r 21,

promoted

'(51,

ber, 80, 1804, to Sergeant .lanuaiy
ness, Virginia,

May

1

1801 absent on

T),

Corporal

to

wounded

18(51,

furloiigb

NovemWilder-

at

niustei- out.

at

Veteran.

John

Howe. October 8, (51, <leserted, returned, jjromoted
Septemb«r 1. 18(>4, t(j Sergeant April 8, 18Go.

T.

to

Cor[)oral

Alfred H. Pa'ton, October

August

icate

William Young, October

May

1801, discharged on surgeon's certif-

3,

14, 1802.

wounded

8, "(51,

at Fair Oaks, Virginia,

1802, discharged on surgijon's cerLilicate

.'51,

September

22,

1802.

David

Kckman, wounded

it.

Wilderneas, Virginia,

at

jiromoted to Corporal October
18(5;5,

to

Qiiartei'iuaster

May

0,

1804,

Sergeant January

1802, to

1,

Sergeant January

1,

l8(5o,

1,

absent on

furlough at muster out.
J.

A. Penstermacher, October
ber

8,

1801,

Wilderness

promoted

May

1,

1802,

wounded

at

Veteran.

19, 1804.

"(54,

October

1804, killed at Opeipia, N'irginia, September

1,

Hiram Layland, October
30,

j)romoted to Sergeant Octo-

'(51,

8,

to Sergeant

to sergeant

5, '04, killed at

;>,

prom<^ted to Corjior.d

'(51,

January

1, '05,

Petersburg, April

W(junded

2, '6.>,

November

at W^ilderness

May

buried in Poplar Grove

Natii)nal (Jeinetery, division E., Section E., grave 90. Veteran.

George

\. (iarrow,

ber 80,

Wesley

'(51.

(J.

October

12,

Gl,

piomoted

to corporal

Ncnem-

Veteran

.Miller,

March

5, 'Gl, pro. noted to

17,

"(51,

wounded

corporal Novenjber 80,

at

Wilderness,

'04.

Veteran.

May

HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.

8(i0

Gideon Mellon, February 25, '61, wounded at Wilderness,
1864, promoted to Corporal November .SO, 1M04.

Amos

October

Crass,

in hospital at

John
1,

promoted

21, 'GI,

w^ounded at Potersbursj^,

IMfij),

V.

muster

C/orporal

Mareh

2.5,

21, '01,

Charles Kneibler, October 21,

promoted

to Corporal

January

'61, i)roinoted

to Cor[)oral

Aj)ril 3,

wounded at Fair Oaks, M.ay 81, 1862 and
Virginia, Mareh 2.5, 1H6.5, absent at muster out.
1.S6'),

Sanuiel (Juinn, October 21,

promoted

'01,

to

at Petersburg,

Corporal March

1,

V(U,eran.

ISOf).
(i.

IJowei',

October

wounded

1<S(),),

at

1,

iHGo, absent

Veteran.

186.")

John

.January

5,

Vetei-an.

out.

liiouilt, ()c,tobc;r

to

V^irginia,

May

muster

Orvilh'

out.

at

21, '61,

to Corporal .January
2,

1S6'),

1,

absent

Veteran.

Harder, Octobi-r

1).

promo'ed

Petersburg, V^irginia, April

.'?,

IStil,

discharged on surgeon's cer-

September 22, 1S62.
Charles W. Weaver, October 3, '61, discharged on surgeon's
tificate January 27, 1863.
Oeorge S. Walk((r, October 21, '(51, discharged on surgeon's
tificate,

tifi(%ate

cer-

cer-

April 14, 1863.

^Fohn llyerly,

October

21,

'(>!,

dischargt d

December

17, 18()4, to

date expiration of term.

M. Yoder, October

licwis

ginia,

May

.5,

18(54,

21, '61,

wounded

at

Wilderness, Vir-

discharged on Surgeon's certificate October

27, 1864.
Silas

Iv.

llai'lnian, Octol)i'r

.'5,

'61, killed

at

Cedar Creek, Virginia

October 15), 1864. Veteran.
Martin V. Murray, October 3, '01, promoted to Corporal January
Charlestown, Virginia, August 21, 1864,
1, 186.5, wouiuled
.at
killed at Petersburg, April 2, 1865.

John Henedict, February
October
L.

1).

2!),

Veteran.

1804, transferred from Com])any

G

28, 1864.

Maugliawout, October

3, '01,

June 11, 1862.
Joseph L. Hale, October
January 11, 1803.

3, '01,

Acor

8,

discharged on surgeon's cer-

tificate

Jose{»li S.,

October

discharged on surgeon's certificate

1804, drafted.

HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNIY.
Auld Fumes, October

3, "Gl

.

December

Ammerman
cate

discharged

.

on surgooirs

301

certificate

24, 1802.

Jolui, Octol)er 21, '01, discharged

June

on surgeon's

certifi-

28, 186?.

Albright James, August

2(>, '()3,

June 14, 18f).')
Brocius Luther S Octobei-

drafted, discharged on surgeon's

certificate

24, '01, piisoner

,

1803

May

3, to

October 27,

Veteran.

Bhie Thomas II., February 25, '04.
Henry, November 26, '64, substitute, wounded

Br.int

Peters-

at

burg, Virginia, March 25, 1865.

Brobst John R., Fel)ruary
burg, Virginia, April

Behnoy

2,

Veteran.

10, '04.

Brodlieid Daniel W., October

wounded

13, '64. drafted,

at Peters-

1805

Eiihraim, February 27,

'03.

Blatcliley Samuel, February 27,

Berger George, December

'05.

25, '01,

discharged on surgeon's

certifi-

cate July 24, 1862.

Beal C^onrad, September 20,
A'irginia, Marcli

25, '05,

'64, drafted,

wounded

discharged by general

at Petersburg,

order June

7,

1865.

Buckley William, September
burg. Virginia, March

June

20,

Bariiliart
5,

1

May

at Danville, I'a.,

March

27, '61, missing in action at Fair Oaks, Vir-

31, 1802.

Brunner Jacob L., August
der June 13, 1805.
Brugler

21, '01, died

Veteran.

Bear Joseph, Octol)er
ginia,

wounded at Petersby general order

1865, discharged

865.

Henry C, October

1864.

20, '04, drafted,

'1^,

Edward

S.,

20, 1803,

Feliruary

discharged by general

17, '64, not

on muster out

or-

roll.

February 21), '04.
Cam))bell John W., November 14, '64, drafted.
Canada James D., October 3, '01.
Caldeiwood Kiios, November 10, '04, drafted.
Cornelison Jacob, February 24, 1805.

Culp

.lolm,

Cleaver

Alem

tificate

B.,

November

September

23, 1802.

12, '61,

discharged on surgeon's cer-

If [.STORY

sr)2

C/omish
ciitc

OF COJATMHIA COUNTY.
2S.

Georjjfc, J;itiu;iry

disitliarn'cd

'(!4,

on

siir^'coirs cc^rtifi-

iHli.').

(.'nip

Williiim, Fchniary 24, 'Ol, kilU'd

Cliiu-

CharK's

Dcc-i'iiibor

Diivcr

Wildenu'ss
at

May

(i.

I.SIU.

Washiiin-tDii, D.

C,

iHdt

2(),

Au^-ustiis, Novembi'i'

May

order

eral

at,

Scpti'iiibcr S, '(il.dicd

I).,

(il,

1(1,

drafted, discharged

l)y

gen-

30, 18()5.

November

Daiigherty lames,
,

2(S,

Deiti'iiek Charles F., Novendx'i'

Point, N'irginia, Mai-ch

2(1,

of

'(J-l.

2().

substitute, died

'()l,

wounds

ri'ceived

at

at,

C^ity

IN'tei'sbiirg,

Virginia, March '1^^, ISC').
Dauby James, November 8,(54, substitute, deserted I^'ebruary (i,'()4,
Kekenrodt! Joseph, November 29, '04. substitute, wounded at
Petersburg, Virginia, March 25, 18(55.
lOverett

l*iiilip,

October

.'5,

mustercil out October 27,

'(il,

lcS()4,

ex-

piration of term.

Nathaniel

I^^crliart

!>.,

Oct()l)er

.'5,

October 2;5, I8(j2.
Eciimau Piiilip II., October 3, '(51,

'(il,

dischargetl on surgeon's

certilicate,

May

Henry

b'ree/A'

licate
i'\)ley

killed

at

Fair Oaks, N'irginia,

31, 18(52.
F.,

October

Septend)er

'I'heophilus

15,

,1..

discharged on surgeon's certi-

2!), '(51,

18(52.

October

3, '(11,

dischargml on surgeon's certit

icate 18{;2.

Flanigan Wilson, October
cate
l^'oley

June

Charles

E.,

Fortner Harris

January

3, '(11,

3,

B.,

November 2, '(51, dischaiged November 5, 18(52.
November 21, '01, died at Washington, D. C,

1862.

Frame Robert
ginia, March

II..

25,

February

ary

5,

killed

at

Petersburg, Vir-

25,

'(54,

(11,

deserted January, 1802.

1805

Fryinire William, October 21,
Fitzpatrick

dischai-ged on sui'get)n's certili-

It, 18(12.

James, November

3, '01,

substitute, deserted

Febru-

1805.

Gulic Charles V., October 24,

Gibbs Sheldon

T.,

October

'01.

3, '01,

Veteran.

discharged on surgeon's

certifi-

cate October 15, 1802.

Garrow John, died

at City Point, Virginia,

received at Peter-burg, M;uvh 25, 1805.

March

2(5,

of

wounds

STORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.

JIT
CJ;in:i

DccciiiImt

.I.inics,

Hower
Iliiun.'i

October

Uriali,

Hummel

ginia, April

IS, '04, drafted.

November

February

Ileury,

Felniiury

27, '64.

James, November

Ilannoii William,

substitute, deserted

'(!i,

I,

?^V^

16, '64, drafted.

wounded

13, '65.

at

Petersburg. Vir-

1H6.5.

2,

Ileury Williain, OctoV)er

3, '61,

discbarged on surgeon's

(X'rtiticate

April 28, 1862.

Hower
July

.John

Hoovci-

Octolx-r

J.,

September

.lac(tl) B.,

Harvey Franeis
ruary

3,

6, '64,

November

J.,

November

deserted

21, 186

I,

12, 18(54.

substitute, deserted Feb-

1865,

Jones William
Jones Robert

14, '64.

Marcli

L.,

E.,

November

James H., October
September 22, 1862.

Jolinsoii
cate,

(yommissary Sergeant

3, '(il, |)r()m()t('(l to

1864.

1,

21, '64, drafted.
3, '61,

Jenkins Hicbard, 0(;tober 21,

'61,

discharged on surgeouV

('crtili-

mustered out October 27,

'64,

expiration of term.

Septeud)er 27,

.lohiisoii Toliias S.,

burg,

March

Virginia,

'64. draftcMl,

'65,

2.'),

discharged

wounded

at Peters-

by general order

June 25, '65.
Johnson Jackson B., October 21, "61, wounded at wilderness May
6th, '64, and at Fisher's Hill, Virginia, September 22, '64, died
October 13, '64, Ijuried in National (Jemetery, Winchester, Virginia, lot 18.

Kreigh

I).,
October 21, '61, discharged on surgeon's cerSeptember 5, '62.
Kline John, October 3, '61, discharged on sui'geou's certificate
September 22, '62.
Kline Daniel, October 21, '61, mustered out October 27, '64, ex-

(ireorge

tificate

piration of term.

Kurtz Samuel
buried

in

H.,

October

Knerr William, Octol)er
ginia,

May

3. '()3,

I'ranklin,

3, *61,

Fair Oaks

3, "61,

October

captured

Veteran.

IJ,

31, '62,
lot 126.

at C'hancellorsville,

deserted Jnly

12, '61

May

Seven Pines, Section

died at Danville, Pa., August 23,

Kirst Sanmel, October

Lebo

13, '61, killed at

National (Cemetery,

2, '63.

"63.

Vir-

OF COLCMBIA COUNTY.

III.STORY

864

Lynn

ITonvy, Fobrn:iry

"

woundod

i^l. '<»!,

Si)o(lsylv:ini;i C\)urt

;it

llouso, Virn'mia, M:iy 12, '64.

Lohniaii

A., Novonilu'r

F>s|>y

Li'isonriiig H, II

May

81,

Ootobor

,

substitute.

iMi, '(it,

wounded

'(il,

.'?,

at F.iiv

Oaks, Viiginiii,

discliargod on surgeon's eertitieate C)etol)er 81,

'(iL*,

Leiby Harnian, February
eate September 22, '(52.
Lawrence John, Oetober

on

diseliarged

8, '()!,

November 21, "(>2.
Lehman Henry C\, September

'(12.

diseliaroed on suroet>irs eertiti-

2(i. "()2.

surgeon's

eertiti-

eate

general order.lune 20,

Levers Jolm, Oetober

21,

'(M,

disebarged on

drafted,

'(i.).

diseliarged

8, '(>!,

surgeon's

o\\

eertitieate

February 17, '()8.
Lawrence Harnxan K., Oetol)er 21, not on nuister out roll.
Menseh Tliomas ^1., Oetober 8, (U
Miller Pereival, February 1. '64, wounded at Fair Oaks, May 81,
'()2 and at Opequa, ^'irginia, September 19, '64.
Moore James H., November 21, '61, diseliarged on surgeon's eertitieate
]\Iiller

June
JNliller

May

November

Franklin,

6, '(VA.

September

by general order

discharged

8, '64,

20, '6o.

Henry. August
0, '64,

18, '62,

wtninded

Muteheler Joseph K.,
ceived at Fair Oaks, Virginia,
Miller Joseph

1).,

Oetober

3, '61,

buried at Alexandria, grave

Mowrer John
tember

19,

Jt.,

October

Wilderness, Virginia,

wounds

re-

wounds

re.

28, of

81, "62.

died

May

26, of

House, Virginia,

1!I88.

1, '61,

20, '6o.

May

18 '64,

Veteran.

killed at

Ope^ua, Virginia, Sep-

'()4.

Morrill Thomas, Oetober
at Sjtottsylvania

Andrew

8, '61,

died June 14, of

Court House, Virginia,

Miller John, October

McAllister

May

Spottsylvania Court

eeived at

at

by general order June
Oetober 8, '61, died June

diseliarged

8,

G.,

McFatridge Michael,

(il,

not on muster out

November

November

Petersburg, Virginia, April

McClure Philip H., October
ginia, September 22, '62.

May

wounds received
12, '64.

Veteran.

roll.

18, '64, drafted.

18,

'64,

drafted,

wounded

at

2, '65.

21, '61, died at Fortress

Monroe, Vir-

TO RY OF COL UMBIA OO TINT Y.

// LS

Osmuii TN'ttT

OctoV)cr

v.,

May

Viririiiia,

action at

Fair Oaks,

discharged

3, 01,

on

surgeon's

certifi-

'02.

1,

1

inissiii<^' in

31, '02.

Perrin Richaifl, October
cate April

'01,

li,

365

John W., Stptcniber 20, '04, drafted, discharged on general oi'der June 21), '05.
Persing Josej)!! B., September 0, '04, discharged by general order
June 20, '05.
Pennsyl Kli, October 3, '01, wounded at Fair Oaks, Virginia,
Patt'ii

May

02, died at Baltimore,

31.

Jolm VV

Phillips

Virginia,

Ramsey

May
May

01,

3,

Maryland, July 5th '02.
missing in action at Fair Oaks,

31, '02.

December

lteuV)en,

V^irginia,

October

,

June

20, '01,

wounded

at

Chancellorsville

Veteran.

3, '03.

liilchie

Jacob

Khady
Ranch

Josei)h,
\V. H.,

October

May

31, '62,

dischan^ed on surgeon's certificate September 28,

G.,

4, '64,

November

draft' d.

20, '64, substitute.

3, '61,

wounded

at

Fair Oaks, Virginia,

"02.

Rishcl Ohai-les

Ji.,

(Jctober

3, '01,

February 16, 62.
Reynolds Alfred, October 21,

discharged on surgeon's cer-

tificate

May

'01, killed at

Fair Oaks,

Virginia,

31, '02

Slay William, October

Veteran.

01.

3,

Steward John, (^)ctober 24, '01. Veteran
Stephens William, Octol)er 24, '01, wounded
ginia,

May

31, '62.

at Fair

Oaks, Vir-

Veteian.

Slay Peter, February 25.

'64.

Veteran.

February 25, '64, wounded at Wilderness, Virginia,
]\Iay 5, '05, and at Petersburg, April 2, '05.
Shissler James, February 25, '04, wounded at Wilderness, Virgini^i. May 5, '64, and at Petersburg, Virginia, April 2, '65.
Shaffer John I,., February IG, '64.
Sylvccster Cliarle-s, November 12, '64, substitute, discharged by

Swank

Isaac,

general order June
Stertz Peter,

August

June

'(35.

drafted,

discharged by

general order

2, '(J5.

Sholes Charles L.,
tiiiciitc

14,

7, '04,

July

October 25,

7, 'G'2.

'01,

discharged on surgeon's cer-

HISTORY OF COL UMBIA COUNTY

366

Stephens Charles,

October

September
Sperring Jacob H., October
tificate

discharged on surgeon's cer-

21, '61,

13, '62.

titicate

July 26,

discharged on surgeon's cer-

'61,

2i),

'62.

Smith William, October 24, '61, wounded at Fisher's Hill, Virginia, September 22, '64, discharged on surgeon's certificate
June 14, '6o. Veteran.
Sechler William W., wounded at Fisher's Hill, Virginia, November

'64,

3,

discharged on surgeon's certificate June

14, '65,

Veteran.

Snyder Lambert P., September 6, '64, discharged by general
order June 20, '65.
Snyder Henry F., October 3, '61, died June 19, '62, at White
House, Virginia.
Snyder William M., October 3, '61, killed at Williamsburg, Virginia,

Shissler

May

5, '62.

Edward, October

Snyder John C, October
Pa.

May

3, '61,

5, '64.

10, of

wounds received

Veteran.

died October 14,

Danville

'64, at

Veteran.

Shannon John M., Octoler

May

May

died

3, '61,

at Wilderness, Virginia,

11, '65, to

Taylor Jonathan W.,

3, '64,

September

general order .June 20,

discharged by

3, '61,

date October

26,

general order

expiration of terra.
'64,

drafted, discharged

by

'65.

Turner William, October 21, '61, wounded at Fair Oaks. Virginia,
May 31, '62, drowned October 5, '62, at Point Lookout, Maryland.
Tittle Oscar,
19, '64.

October

3, '61,

killed at

Varus Valentine, November

18, '64, drafted.

Williams John W., December
burg, Virginia,

March

Wiley John, November
Waltmire

Woods

Opequa, Virginia, September

Veteran.

,Tacob,

wounded

at Peters-

18, '64, drafted.

3, '61,

discharged on Surgeon's certificate

3, '62.

Warntz Alem, October
April 11,

substitute,

26, '64, substitute.

November

Charles, October

January

1, '64,

'lb, \Sk^.

'62.

3, '61,

discharged on Surgeon's certificate

HI8T0RY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.
Wagner

Charles,

November

9,

'61,

died

July

14,

367
City

()4, at

Point, Virginia.

Wilson Tliomas, November

30, '64, substitute, deserted

Febrtiary

3, '6.5.

Winner

IJobert,

December

6, '64,

substitute,

deserted March 29,

'6.').

Wirtz

May

Israel,
3, '63,

October

3, '61,

captured at Chancellorsville, Virginia,

exchanged, deserted, date unknown.

Young Hiram B., substitute.
The Ninety-Third saw much and arduous service.
bers killed and wounded and missing in Company
that the men were always in the front.
The official

The num-

H
list

prove
of

en-

gagements is as follows, viz: Yorktown, Williamsburg, Fair
Oaks, Malvern Hill, Fredericksburg, Marey's Heights, Salem
Heights,

Gettysburg, Wilderness,

Spottsylvania, Coal Harbor,
and Cedar Creek. Those not
otherwise accounted for were mustered out with the company
June 27, 186.').

Petersburg, Oj)e(iMa, Fisher's Hill

HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.

368

ONE

KEGIMENT.

IIUNDItKI) EIGTV-Ki>URTll

COMPANY

B.

A. Stauk'v Gearliart, Captain, discharged on Surgeon's oertiHcate

August v5, '64.
Abner II Brown, Captain, promoted from

1st

Lieutenant January

7, '65.

Adam
S.

Hand, 1st Lieutenant, discharged June 9, '6o.
Hamilton Norman, 2d Lieuteuant. promoted from private Company K, iBJth Regiment P. V, April 29. '64, died June 24, of
wounds received at Cold Harbor, Virginia, June 3, '64

Thomas

vS.

Anderson, commissioned

1st

Lieutenant June

'I'o^

'65,

Veteran.
Dani'

llarkels, Sergeant,

II

1

commissioned 2d Lieutenant June

Veteran.

26, '65.

William H. Jenkins, Sergeant.
Cyrus

Apph

S.

bee, Sergeant.

James C. Henry, sergeant.
George W. Crnm, Sergeant, prisoner from June 'I'l, '64
1, 1865, discharged by general order June 12, 1865.
Stephen T. Stasa, Sergeant, discharged on surgeon's

May

1,

to I\Iarch

certiiicate

1865.

David C. Sutton, Corporal.
John Riley, Corporal.
David R. Bailey, Corporal.
Mic.iaci Riley, Corporal.
Ja> ob Kline, Corporal.

Andrew

J.

William

J.

Stewart, Corporal.
Kline, Corporal.

Winn, Corporal.
Charles MacGregor, musician, absent in hospital at muster out.

P^iyette

Acre Franklin, private.
Boughner William B., discharged by general order July
Veteran.

14, 1865.

HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.
Bailey William C,
'65,

wounded

at

369

Cold Harbor, Virginia, June

3,

absent in hospital at muster out,

Bastian Mathias D., discharged on surgeon's certificate March 23,
1865.

Barger John, discharged by general order June 20, '64,
Brown Elias, discharged by general order June 3, '65.
Brown Perry, discharged by general order June 3, '65.
Blyer Samuel, discharged by general order June 3, '65
Berry Simon J., discharged by general order June '65.
Browerson George, discharged by general order June 8, '65.
Bruner Henry M., killed at Deep Bottom, Virginia, August 14, '64_
Bilger Jesse R., killed at Boydtown Plank Road, Virginia, October 27,

'64.

Bursline Edwin, killed at Cold Harbor, Virginia, June

3, '64,

bur-

Cemetery section D, as E. T. Burslem.
Bastian Joseph D., died July 14, of wounds received at Petersburg
Virginia, June 22, '64, buried in National Cemetery, Arlington,
ied in National

Virginia.

Bessee Robert

S.,

missing

in

August 25, '64.
Burd Franklin G., died May

action at

Ream's

24, '65, buried in

Station, V^irgiuia,

National Cemetery,

Arlington, Virginia.

Burd Harvey

R., deserted

November

13, '64.

Carpenter Dennis, mustered out with company.
Castle Adolphus, transferred to

Company

eran Reserve Corps, August 17,
der July 26,

Crawford
24, '64,

'64,

E.,

7th Regiment, Vet-

discharged by general or-

'65.

Lott, captured, died at Andersonville, Georgia,

October

grave 11,436.

Chrisman Charles, died August '64.
Burke Isaac, mustered out with company.
Deckert Jesse, discharged by general order July 13, '65.
Dreese William, discharged by general order July 13, '65.
Devore Lewis, killed at Petersburg, Virginia, June 22, '64.
Durke John H., missing in action at Petersburg, Virginia, June
22, '64.

Gearhart William, discharged by general order June 3, '65.
Galespie Anthony, transferred to Veteran Reserve Corps, Sep-

tember 30,

'64.

870

JIl.S

TOR y OF COL UMBIA CO UNTY.

•Greene Aduiii, killed
in

:it

Cold

TI;irl)()r,

Virginia, June

3, '04,

buried

National Cemetery, Section B.

Healoy John S., mustered out with company. Veteran.
Harris Thomas, discharged on surgeon's certificate June 7, '65.
Hedglin John, died at Phihideli)hia, Pa., July 1, of wounds received at Cold Harbor, Virginia, June 3, '64.
Haskel lleuben, missing in action at Petersburg, Virginia, June
22, '64.

Hand

Isaac, died at Philadelphia, Pa., July 21, '64.

Jenkins John, mustered out with company.
Katterman Benjamin, nuistered out with company.
Keistard Godfrey, mustered out with company.

Kinney Irwin, discharged by general order June 3, '65.
Kinney Isaac, discharged by general order June 3, '65.
Kulp David, missing in action at Petersburg, Virginia, June

22,

'64.

Krominger Jacob,
tober 18,

ca]>tured, <lied

at

Andersonville, Georgia, Oc-

'64.

Lattimore R'obert, transferred to N'eterau lleserve Corps,
1864.

•
•

Lott John T, deserted

Mart/

May

Isaac, absent, sick at

Morgan

18, '64.

muster

'

'64.

Archibald, discharged Atigust 23,

Morgan Dennis,

died

March

20)

out.

Miller David, died at City Point, July
•Petersburg, Virginia, June

May

>•

1,

of

wounds received

at

'22, '64.

25, '65.

Miles John, died at City Point, July

1,

of

wounds received

at

Pe-

tersburg, June 22, '62.

Meed

Harley, captured, died at

ber 21,

'64,

Andersonville, Georgia. Septem-

grave 9583.

Mansfield Jose])h, died

May

15. '64.

Morgan Matthias R," died July 21, '64.
McClune Johiij mustered out with company.
McCurdy Samuel O., discharged by special Order October

13. '64.

Nickerson Bernard, deserted October
Nolen James, discharged by general order May 15, '65.
Osborne Daniel D^, discharged on surgeon's certificate May'15,'65
PolT Josejdi, absent, sick at muster out. Veteran.
10, '64.

ITTSTOJIY
Pifer Daniel

OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.

371

transferred to Veteran Reserv6 Corps September

S.,

30, '64.

,

Persing Stei)hen K., transferred to company
Corpi», February 24, '64.

Veteran Reserv-^

II,

Reese Conoway, mustered out witli company.
Rhodes Morris K., discharged on surgeon's

March

certificate

10, '6o.

Reed Emanuel, discharged by general order June 20,
Robbins Asher W., discharged by general'order June
Reescr David ^f

Ray James

killed at Petersburg, Virginia,

,

R., captured, died at

'05.

20,. 'Oo.

June

22, '04.

Aiidersonville, Georgia,

grave 4476.
SteplieiiP Asa A., mustered out with comjmny.
Shop William, discharged by s]>ecia] order October

'64.

Stasa John

June

August

1, '(54,

(1..

near Petersburg,

killed

Virginia,

IS,

'()4,

buried at Meade's station.
Slay man Josc|di.

killed near

Petei'sburg, Virginia,

June

18, ()4,

Poplar Grove National Cemetery.
Simmons Harrison, missing in a(;tion at Petersburg, Virginia,
])uried in

June

22, '04.

Sleek William, transferred to 33d company 2d battery, Veteran
Reserve Corps, October 20, '64, discharged by general order

Se])tember

4, '56

Trempore Jolm, discliarged by general order June 3, '65.
Tomlinson William P killed near Petersburg, Virginia, October
,

20, '64.

Vauglian Edward, mustered out with coni])any.
Wagoner Augustus, killed at Cold Harbor, Virginia, June 4, "64.
WelHey Nathan, killed at Boydtown Plank Road, Virginia, October 27, 04.

Waide Andrew

J.,

22,

(Jold llaibor, \'irginia,

killed at

Williams Smith, missing

in

action at Petersburg,

June

3, "6-1,

Virginia, June

64.

Warner

C'yrus

tember

C,

21, '64,

Wilson John.

captured, died at

Audersonville, Georgia, Se])-

grave 9464.

«le.serted

May

18,

'()4.

Williams Charles, deserted April 3, '(55.
\'<KUiii Henry M., mustered out with company.
VouuLj JoFin W.. discharged on surgeon's

certificate,

June

28,

'(55.

HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.

372

Yoeman George W.,

died

at Alexandria,

Virginia,

January 25,

grave 2791.

'G5,

Zitunierman

W.

Zimmerman

A. W., discharged on surgeon's certificate March, 'C5.

H., mustered out witli company.

This company was recruited in Montour county and the regiment was organized May IBtli and joined the Army of the Potomac as it was ci-ossing the Pamunky river, May 28, 'G4. The
next day it was in the battk^ of Tolopotoniy creek. Was in that
and was in the assaults constantat Cokl Harbor, kising heavily
;

ly,

losing in 2G days 350 men.

dition,

in the

constantly on duty
luattox Court
ton.

A

Was

Weldon Railroad
House

till
;

the

in the

fight,

at

Deep Bottom
Hatcher's Kun,

capture of the llebel

and was

in the

Army

grand review
and glorious

fitting close to a long, perilous

at

exjje-

and

at A])i)0-

Washing-

career.

HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY

ONIC

lUNDRKI) KKMl'rY-SKVKNTII UKOIMKNT.

COMPANY

A

373

C.

Company recriiitofl in Montour county, was a
known as tlie First Jiattalion, organizcMl for six
month's service. It was Company D, of that organizaticMi, musterpart of this

body

of troops

June

musteivd out January

9, '64, but was immediand became Company C, of the 187th lleginient
Company D had done guard and provost duty in the State,
and tliis ))ublication follows the fortunes of Company C, which
was organized in ]Marcli '04 at Cam)> Curtin. It reached the army
in the field during the battle at Cold Harboi-.
In all the heavy
fighting before Petersburg it had a full share, and was highly
complimented. It had the head of the procession at President
Lincoln's funeral obsequies, from Baltimore to Inde})endence
Joseph
Hall.
It was mustered out at Ilarrisburg August 2, '65.
F. Ramsay, Lieutenant Colonel, discharged September 29, '64^
All the
the Company being in command of Captain Young.
men not otherwise accounted for were nmstered out with the
Regiment.

ed

in

22, '63,

re-organized

ately

William Young, Captain.
Orville D. Harder, 1st Lieutenant.

George G. Lovett, 2d Lieutenant, promoted
K, discharged March 9, '65.
James R. Johnson, 2d Lieutenant.
Alfred

John

JJ.

S.

to Captain

Company

Patton, 1st Sergeant.

Ware, Sergeant.

Sette K. Sharpless, Sergeant.

William H. Cool, Sergeant.
Frank Rockafeller, Sergeant.
James B. Moore, killed at Petersburg, Virginia, June
John C. Irvin, Corporal.

Hugh

P. Liblcirt, Corporal.

18, '64.

nrSTOEY OF COLUMBIA COJJNTY.

:\7\

Amos
John

(Jurmaii, (^n'porul.
II.

William

Harder, Cor[)oral.
II

Molir, Corj)oral.

Daniel Marsiiall, deserted .January

James

19,

Mo.

B. Forest, Musieian.

Charles P. Harder, Musician.

Alward Arthur, private.
Brown Benton B, private.
Brown George W., private.
Beatty John li., private.
Berdaniel George W., [)rivate.
Bryant William, private.
Beaver Charles S., ])rivate.
Brace Henry E., private.
Birtch Isaac, private, deserted October 10,

'(54.

C'utair Charles, private.

Case Nelson

1>.

Caslin Michael.
Cani[)bt'll

Andrew.

C-raig William, died at Williamsport Pa., April 12,

'tj4.

Devine John C.
Echart Sanmel.
Elliot William.

Easten James 8.
Eyerly Charles W.

Funston Charles K.

Foreman Osman.
Frame .loseph L.
Fox John.
Fribley William

II.

Flanigan lleese, died
buried

at

Dand's Island N. Y., August

Cypress Hill Cemetery, L.
( Jaudihlue Joseph,
in

23,

I.

(iibbons James H.

Gibbs James M.
Gibbs (^harles II., discharged on general order May 30,
Geiger William, transferred to lo7th Regiment P. V.
IIei;ry .lolin.

IlefHer Jacob

W.

'6o.

'04,

IIISTOKY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.
lliillilu'ii

F.,

\N'illi;iiii

Hale Epliraini

K

,

discharged on general order July

diseliarged on general order Jidy

Hawrer John, deserted February

375

o,

(35.

o, 'O.j.

21, '64.

Ickus John.
Ickus Henry.
Jackson (ieorge

Jackson Caleb.
Jones William

W.

1*.,

deserted

March

1, 'Go.

Kercher (iottleib.
Kutchnian Theodore, transferred to Veteran lieserve Corps.
Levers Joseph.

Lewis William.

Maney

Patrick.

Miller John.

Morgan Thonias V.
Morgan Watkins.
Milner William, discharged on Surgeon's certificate July
Mellin Oscar G., discharged on general order July
Nasli William,

June

wounded with

18, '64, dischai'ged

loss of leg at

October

81, '65.

O'Brian John.
Oplinger Samuel, deserted

May

11, '64.

Powley Henry.
Patton Irwin T.
PoUan John, deserted March

Rank David H.
Reed Peter M.
Rishel (ieorge.
llishel Charles.

Uoberts John.

Kantz

Isaac.

Kidgway Warren M.
Roderick John J.
Spoonebager Peter.
Smith Fdwanl D.
Slack Jacob.
Sechler Jolm.
Stahl Samuel.
Sni'U Isaac.

1, '65.

4, '6o.

5, '65.

Petersburg, ^'irginia,

HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.

376
Sl:ick

'65, for

AV., (lisc'liiirgod Ai»ril 17,

.Toliii

wounds received

in

action.

Sponeberger James, deserted March 31, Or).
Sicwurd William, deserted JMarcli l?l, T)").
Thornton CJrier M., dishonorably discharged.
Vangilder George W.

Vogle William.

Wray Lewis

V.,

wounded

Petersburg, Virginia, June

at

18,

'05,

and nuistered out with Company.

Wertman

John.

Werkheiser

^V.

Ware James

1>.

D.

Watts William M.
Wallace John IT.
Williams William.
Warren Henry.

Warren

(Tcorge, absent, sick,

at

nmster

Wirt William, absent, sick, at nmster
Waldren John, discharged January 5,

out.

out.
'65,

of arm, received at Petersburg, Virginia,

Wray

.lames, deserted I^'ebruary

.

«=T-

-*H-

<»-

2, '(M.

cm,
S^' 5
fy

wounds with
June 28, '61.

for

loss

HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNIY.

ONK lIUNI>KKO

ANI> TWEI.ITH RE<;iMENT.

SECOND

ARTII.I.EUY.

IJATTKUY

COLUMI5IA

V.

MONTOUR.

ANI>

liolirsljiMg,
CV)r-

iJear

from

I

furnisli u list of

this

the dates in

my

county,

I

Col

:

names

3rd, 1878.

In
of

complying

men

with

your

Battery F, 2d Pa.

in

have endeavored to be as accurate as

possession would

names already published,
plete

December

I'ii.,

Jno. G. Freeze,

requcHt that
Art.,

?>11

m

{)ermit.

order to

— have furnished a few names of

make

I

the

parties

have included the
record more com-

who never

returned

and a few names of parties that entered from
Montour county but upon their return located here, in this
to this county,

county.

As

may

know

why some

were comwas the result of
conflict of authority.
In the Spring of 1864 our regiment had
become very strong, numerically, numbering about 2500 men, its
numbers rendering it unwieldy. Then it was proposed that a
regiment be formed from the surphis men of the old to be known as
Governor C.'urtin commissioned a full
the ISilth regiment, I*. \.
set of otlicers from the old organization, taking such as had been
To this arrangement Col. Gibidentified with its early liistory.
son, then connnanding, objected, and having the ear of the War
Secretary (they being West Pointers) the Governors authority
was set asi<le. The new regiment was sent to the front as a
provisional affair
named 2nd Pa. Provis. Art., its organization
l)eing temporary and somewhat imperfect.
it

not

l)e

^^entTally

missioned and not nnistercd,

I

will

n

state that

officers

it

—

Respectfully Yours,

Geo.

W.

Urr.

HI8T0JR Y

378

Wm.

M.

Mc(1ui-(>, Jaiiuiirv

regiment

October

to Colonel,

D. Struwbridge, Janiniry
tery

I,

December

ment, P. v.,

March

January

promoted

conunissioned

Colonel Ajiril

term

Captain of Bat-

to

not mustered,

'()'),

11,

not nuistered,

conunissioned Major of

'64,

30,

'64,

80, '64.

8, '62,

13, '62,

April

18, '(io

commissioned Colonel 189th

'(12,

-1,

Volunteers, April 30,

Peniisylv;iiii:i

promoted
S.

OF COL ITMBIA CO ITNTY.

18l)th regi-

Colonel

breveted
18, '60,

discharged

expire<l.

John S. Kline, |)romoted to (A)rporal August 7, '62, to Sergeant
June 12, '()3, conunissioned 1st Lieutenant of Battery K, 189th
regiment. P. V., April 30,

January

15,

'65, to

with battery January 29,

John Moore Wilson,
tober 24,
CTCorge

'62,

'63,

mustered, to 2d Lieutenant,

not

Lieutenant

1st

May

3, '65,

mustered out

Veteran.

"6(5.

])romoted to 1st Jjieutenant

discharged February

Battery D, Oc-

15, '64.

Utt, December 24, '61, promoted from Sergeant May
commissioned Captain Battery I 189th regiment P. V.,
30, '64, not mustered, discharged December 26, '64, ex-

W.

4, '63,

Ai)ril

j>iration of term.

Lloyd T. Brewer, July "1^^, '62, promoted to Corporal July 4, '63,
to 2d Lieutenant July 1, '65, mustered
to Sergeant
out with battery January 29, '66.
,

Josiah Mensch, January 28,
'64, to

'62,

Sergeant December

Jaiuiary 29,

1, '64, to

tery Jaiuiary 29,

uary 29,

John

''^'6.

64, to

1,

'62,

promoted to Corporal Octo'65, mustered out with bat-

promoted to Corporal November
nmstered out with battery Jan-

Veteran.

January

29, '66.

P. Kline,

Sergeant

1,

1, '(55,

2,

''^'1^

promoted

Sergeant December 22,

January
Franklin

'(Jl,

Veteran.

'66.

Sergeant July

Hart/.ell,

25,

Sergeant February

John Marshall, January
10, '64, to

promoted to Corporal October 1,
'64, mustered out with battery

Veteran.

1866.

John McMullen, November
ber

1,

'65,

to Corporal

inustered out

December

1,

witli battery

Veteran.

promoted

INIay 6, '65,

to Corporal

discharged October

February
•l'^,

'65,

1,

'64, to

expiration of

term.

Jonathan P.

Bare,

Novend)er

29, '61,

promoted

froju

Corporal

TORY OF COLUMBTA COUNTY.

JITS
J.uiiiiny
•

1 "),'(»;-$,

disoharged

Novfinbcr

Ileeso

cxpinili'in of

24, '01,

term.

379

'

J.

January

Millard,

Pa. A., from April 20, to
cliargcd

l»y special

Captain

2, '02,

August

order Marcli

battery

in

26, '64, jiaroled

2d Pro.

T,

prisoner; dis-

'65.

lf>.

Mowrer, December 4, '64, promoted from Corporal December ID, '(;;{, 1st Lieutenant in l»attery I 2d Pro. l*a. A.,
from April 20 to August 26, '61, discliarged l)y special order

C'liarles

November 10, '64. Veteran.
Norman C. Kline, Janiniry 26, '(i2, promoted
7, '65,

Corporal Januai-y

to

mustered out with battery J:inuary 29,

Charles Mattis, December
29, '05,

mustered out with balteiy January

Thomas H. Beimet,
February

"64,

1,

November
discharged

Veteran.

'66.

October

pi-omoted to Corporal

3, '61,

promoted

'61,

29,

November

Veteran.

29, '66.

Cor[)oral

to

expiration of

'64,

28,

term.

John Lanciscus, Deceml)er 11, '61, [tromoted to Corporal December 10, '63, discharge*! December 10, 64, expiration of term.
Henry J. Pr)tter, November 29, '61, promoted to Corporal February

discharged November 2S,

'64,

1,

Calver Zimmerman, January
ber

13, '63,

died at

January 29, '66. Veteran.
Antrim Samuel li., July 13,
2!>,

'()3,

expiration of term.

C.,

March

IS, "64,

mustered out

4, '61,

Novem-

buried

with

in

l)attery

mustered out with battery Jan-

'63,

'{'A').

Buchecker Edward
17,

'64,

jiromoted to Corporal

Washington D.

Harmony Burial Grounds.
Adams Albert J., December

uary

15, '62,

E.,

December

IS, '61,

discharged December

expiration of term.

Craw ford Franklin, November 2(), '61. mustered out with battery
January 29, '()6. Veteran.
Crawford Isaac, February 24, '64, mustered out witli battery January 29,

'66.

(yoopcr Peter, Nov(<mber 11,

nary

29, "66.

Curry Pobert, November 16,
October 14. '62.
Crossley John .\., Decembi'r
received

at

'61.

mustei-ed out with

battery Jan.

V^eteran.
"61, die<l

;it

27, "61. died

Petersliurii-, \'irginia,

Fort

Saratoga,

July 24,

'63,

of

on the 15th of Jtdy.

D.

C,

wounds

HISTORY OF C0LU3IBIA COUNTY.

880

Colo (loorgo W., mustered out witli Battery Jaiiujiry 29,

'OO.

Eggert Richard "\\\, August 22, 'Q>2, diseliarged by general order
June 24, '65.
Farver (George, December 25, '(U, mustered out with battery January 20,

Veteran.

'tU).

Fogle Michael, January

May

1, '(52,

discharged on Surgeon's certificate

29, 62.

December

Farral John,

May

discharged on Surgeon's certificate,

1, 'Gl,

10, "02.

FaiiMuaii William, dischargi'd Ot-tobcr 2S,

Fowler Joshua K., discharged October

'()5,

expiration of term.

28, '65, expiration

Farver Theodore, mustered out with Battery January

o1"

term.

2^^, "(Hi.

Farver Samuel, transferred to Veteran Reserve Corps, January
29, '04.

Adam

Graulz

June

September

J.,

Ilendrickson .lacob.
'04,

10. '02,

discharged by general order

24, '05.

Dcci'inbiM" 11.

"01,

discharged Dci-ember

J^,

expiration o( term.

ITeacock Win.
ITeacoclv Geo.

F.,

absent at nnister out.

imislcred out with liattery Janiiary 29,

T^.

'05.

llollman (icorge W., discharged by general order June 27, 05.

Johnson William R., December

19,

'(51,

discharged December 18,

expiration of term.

"(54,

Ktdp

Elias,

December

discharged December

19, '61,

18,

'04,

ex-

piration of term.

Kesty John, August
gust 29,

'04,

sion B. Section

15.

Petersburg, Virginia, AuGrove National Cemetery, Divi-

22, '62, killed at

buried in

l*oi)lar

grave 53.

Keller George, discharged by general order June 24,

Lee George

S.,

November

Battery F, 189th

20, '01, commissioned 1st Lieutenant
Regiment P. V. Ajiril 30, '04, not nmstered,

mustered out with

Lee Stephen

'05.

B.,

l->attery

December

January

18, "01,

29,

'(50.

Veteran.

discharged December

17,

"04,

di.<charged December 27,

'04,

e\|)iration of term.

Long

Charles

S.,

December

exj)iration of term.

27,

"(51,

HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.
Liitz

M., mustered out

P"'raiicis

381

with Battery, January 29,

'66.

Veteran.

Lutz Jacob H mustered out with Battery, January 29, '66.
Lotshaw Jacob P., mustered out with Battery January 29, '66.
Murir Larnont, July 24, '64, n)ustered out with Battery January
,

29, '66. V^eteran.

Manning

November

Philip,

28, '61,

discharged

November

29, '64,

expiration of term.

Mazaell Martin, December 11,
Corps, January 28,

'61,

transferred to Veteran Reserve

'64.

Magill Thomas, January

2, '62.

discharged January

1, '65,

expira-

tion of term.

McEwen

George, December 27,

January 29, '66, Veteran.
McClure John, December 27,

'61,

'61,

mustered out with Batteiy

discharged December 27,

'64,

expiration of term.

Musgrave Simon, January
piration of

15, '62,

discharged January

14, '65, ex-

teiTii.

Major Samuel, January

28, '62,

discharged January 27,

'65,

ex-

jiiration of term.

MufHey Charles, mustered out with Battery January 29, '66.
McMulIen David, discharged by general oider, June 24, '65.
McCarty David H., December 11, '61, promoted to Corporal December 27, '61, transferred to Signal Corps, Jauuaiy 12, '64.
McC ormick Thomas, August 22, '62, discharged by general order
June 24, '65.
Price Clarence, December 25, '61, mustered out Avith battery January 29,

Veteran.

'66.

Pursell Benjamin
Pursell Joseph

S.,

C, mustered out with battery January
discharged by general order June 24,

29, '66.
'65.

Parker John K., died at Fortress Monroe, Virginia, July 27,
buried in National Cemetery, Hampton, Virginia.
lloe

Henry

uary 29,

P.,

Dcviember

'66.

Veteran.

24, '61,

'64,

mustered out with battery Jan-

,

Robison George, November
January 29, '66. Veteran.

25, '01,

Rarabo Alexander, December
January 29, '66. Veteran.

6, '61,

mustered out with batteiy
mustered out with battery

niSTOJn' OF COLUMlilA eOUJSTTY

382

Thomas

IvHiubo

January

Fobruury

11,,

William, February

KeniU'v

January
April

"(U, mustered

ID,

24,

'(»4.

prisoner from

65, nuistereil out with battery

17,

out

w

battery

itli

'(>()

'I'd,

David, February

lIuokLe

with battery

lo. .'OK mustori'il out

Veteran.

2!>, 'GO.

July

January

oO,

2iK

tit

to

Vet-

"(Hi.

eran.

Kuekel
in

January
June 2(5,

IJillingtou, uuistere«l out with battery

Uoe Hartley,

kilted at

Petersburii", N'irgiuia,

2!\

City I'oint, seelion D, division

National I'enietery,

'(Hi.

buried

'01,
4,

grave

74.

diseharget] Oetoher 28, "Oo, exi>iration

IJiili Israel 1..,

Koe Asa

F., transferred

by general order, November

Keese John,

near

killed

Reserve

to \'eteran

ol"

term.

diseharged

Corj)s,

14, 'Oo.

Ibirnham,

Fort

\ ir^inia,

buried

in

National Cemetery, Hamilton.

Ragan
ter3%

^laariee,

Petersburg, buried

killed at

Reiehelderfer Thomas, Deeember

January
Shoemaker

William, Deeember

May

nuistered

(Uit

with Battery

'til,

tliseharged

on surgeon's

"01,

2."),

nnistered out

with battery Jan-

N'eteran.

'()().

Shult/ Josepli

2."),

29, '02.

Aaron, Deeember

uary 29,

2, '(U,

29, '00, Veteran.

eertilieate
SliatVer

National Cenie-

in

Hamilton, Virginia.

4, "01,

R., Deeend)(.'r

diseharged Deeember

o, '04,

expiration of term.
Steiuer John,

uary 29,

Deeember

'00.

Smith Steplieu
expiration

2o,

(il.

December

J.,

expiration of term.

January

28,

*

Jan-

11,

(il.

diseharged Deeendier

10, '04,

Deeentber

10, '04,

11, '01,.diseliarged

1.").

"02,

transferred

to

Veteran Reserve

23, "04,

mustered out with battery January

Veteran.

Tliateher Kdward,

January

battt-ry,

'(i4.

Sands John, February
29, '60.

with

,

Daniel. January

Corjis

o\\{

of,,t.erm.

Smith Daniel H., December
Spjide

nuisti'red

\'eteran.

November

29, '00, Veteran.

13, '01, nnistered out

with

Battery

JTTSTORY
Triflfpiece

OF

Henry, January

(JOLTJMJilA
25, '01,

COUNTY.

383

discharged Januury 24,

'04,

expiration of term.

Utt William H., December

20. '01, discharged

December

29, '04,

expiration of terin.

Utt

October

Pjlias,

27, '02, discharged

October

20, 'Oo, exjiiration

of term.

Utt Jacob, October

29, '02,

discharged October 28,

'05,

expiration

of term.

Weidel Josejjh, December
ary 29,

'00.

1, '01,

mustered out with battery Janu-

Veteran.

Wilcox Alvin, December

29, '01, deserted

Se].tember 30,

"03.

until some time in '04,
was divided, and jjart of it was in the Ijattle of the Wilderness and <ni up to Petersburg.
It was at Cold Harbor and at
the Mine exph^sion, where it lost heavily.
It was also in the fight
"at Fort H;iiris(ui, losing over 2U!) in killed, wounded and prisoners.
On the evacuation of Petersburg it was ordered to duty in
that city.
It was on (bity in A'irginia, for the purpose of maintaining order and tranquility till January, '00.
It was mustered,
out at City Point, Viiginia, and disclinrged v)n the lOtli of F'ebru-

This legimeut garrisoned Washington

when

it

ary at Philadelj)hia.

384

HIS TOBY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.

KltTTY-SECONI) REGIMENT,

COMPANY

of
in

1'.

V.

A.

In this CJompauy, recruited in Luzerne county, quite a nmuber
Columbia county men are found. I may not have succeeded
culliui^ them all out, and shall be obliged to the survivors if

thev will inform me of any omitted names. The Captain of the
Company was George R. Lennard, and the regiment was at first
under the command of Colonel John C. Dodge, jr., and afterwards
of Colonel

Henry M. Hoyt: The o2d was

in the

movement

of '62

Richmond, and all that peninsula campaign in the siege
and the taking of Charlestown and it was the
old Ha'' of the 52d that first floated over recaptured Sumter. The
reinment was mustered out July 12, '65.
ao-ainst

;

of Fort Nassier

;

Ezra O. West, mustered September

November

23,

'(51,

promoted

to Corporal

6, '64.

Loren D. Rosell, mustered September 7th '61, promoted to Corporal November 6, '64, mustered out with Company.
Allabach Ed. W., mustered October 9, '61, discharged August 1,
'62 for wounds received at Seven Pines, Va., May 24, '62.
Ager Wellington, nuistered September 23, '61, killed at Fair Oaks,

May
Adams

31, '62.

Robert, discharged January 26,

'65,

expiration of term.

Ditts Charles G mustered September 23, '61, discharged on surgeon's certificate October 20, '63.
Davis Elias, mustered September 23, '61, discharged on surgeon's
,

certificate'May 25,

Dodson

Cliarles

'63.

M., nuistered September 23,

surgeon's certificate September

Everett Sanuiel,j October 15,

'61,

discharged on

4, '62.

'63,

drafted— mustered out with

Company.
Eveland Nelson
June 21, '65.

S.,

September

2, '61,

discharged by general order

HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.
Hess Jacob, August

mustered out November

27, '61,

385

5, '64,

expir-

ation of term.

Harrington Henry, October

9, '61,

Corps November 15, '63.
Hess Samuel W„ October

transferred to Veteran Reserve

9, '61,

died

at

Washington, D. C,

December 28, '61.
Lutz M. P., October 9, '61, discharged on surgeon's
December 3, '62.
Laubuch Fred, October 9, '01, discharged on surgeon's
October

certificate

certificate

27, '62.

Meeker Albert, March 12, '64, mustered out with Company.
Megargel O. A., March 28, '02, nmstered out with Company.
Patterson A. D,, October

June

9, '61,

discharged on surgeon's certificate

20, '63.

Roberts Samuel, October

17, '61,

mustered out with company.

Veteran.

KIl'rV-SKVKNTH REGIMENT.

COMPANY

H.

Clarence G. Jackson, mustered into service August

2, '62,

in

Com-

pany H, 84th Regiment P. V. promoted from 2d to 1st Lieutenant, January 18, '63, to Captain July 1, '63; wounded and
captured at Chancellorsville, Virginia,
to

Company H,

May

3,

'63,

o7th Regiment P. V. January 13,

transferred
'65,

and

dis-

charged by special order March 10, '65.
Hiram S ^larr, October 16, '62, promoted to Corporal March
'65, to Sergeant June 1, '65, mustered out June 29, '65.

Uriah Edgar, September
1,

16, '02,

1,

discharged by general order June

'65.

18, '62, mustered out June 29, '65.
September 18, '62, mustered out June 29, '65.
Hossler Jacob, September 18, '62, absent sick at muster out.
Seeley Andrew D August 6, '02, transferred from 84th Regiment P. v., 13 January '65, discharged by general order June

Hilburn Samuel, September

Hossler Fred

jr.,

,

1, '65.

insTOh'Y or

386

ow

111

Ni>KFn vM>s\\rv riKsr un;niiNi

]\iissol K. roiiKM-,

mustoviHl (V-tobcr

motod from Sorgoant Major
'tU, to 1st Lioutonaiit

May

Virginia, l-'obruarv

"(>.'>.

11,

(>,

corx/r

('()i.r.)fn/ A

8,

to

'2,

iM

"t?."^,

-six vniNrii

i

^v

into (.\>iup;uiy K,

'(>!*,

wiMUnloil

llatvluM's

at

mustorod ou\ with

(.\>uii>aiiY

ll',

Kun,

Au^'iist

CV'lobi'r L\ '&2, into (.'ouipany K.

luotod troiu Qiiartormastor 8ori>o:iut to iM Lioutoiiant

bor

IS.

(,>•_'.

to 1st Lioulonaiit

.'>.

'(>.">.

woiMuioil

May

at

S.

I.

.Inly

'2~,

l>()lh,

ill.

"(i.'>.

i\

\\'2,

'(M. to

\ ir^inia,

inustorod

pro-

N'ovomCaptain
,linn>
(Mit

TJ,

with

'iJo.

Ashloman, mustoroil (\'tobor

transtVrrod

ruary

11,

Soplombor

Trovilian Station.

transforrotl to C\nnjiany

Company August
IVtor

[>ro-

niHHMulH'r

Lioutt'iiant.

"1)5.

Daniol C\ Swank, nmsteroil

'(>{,

vi i:\.

Company

1.

into

(.\Mnpany

disi-har^ini on Snrgoon's oortitiratf

K,

l"\>b-

"l>o.

John Notoslino, nnistiMVil Oi'tobrr "JT ,'(>_. (."omjiany 1"\ proinotoil
to Corporal Juno 17, "l>o. JisohargiHl by oonoral orJor .Inly "Jl.
"(io.
^-i

iu;nrY-Fiusr uiciMKNr.

Daniol Harris. Ov'tobor
Virginia, Jinio oO.

lo. 'lH.

'&2.

kiUoJ

at

CIkuIos City Cri>ss KoaJs

HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.

387

CHAPTER XXIX.

ONE YEAR'S SERVICE.
TWO
J.

IILM)Ki:i>

AM> TKNTJI UKGIMKNT.

Milton Shumaii, August 30,
private to

Ist

'64,

Company

special order F'ebruary 14,

promoted from

p],

Lieutenant, September 19,

"64,

discharged

by-

'6.5.

13, '64, into Company B, promoted
January 28, '65, wounded at Hatcher's Run
Virginia. February 6, '05, absent without leave at muster out.
John P. Guild, September 7, '64, 1st Lieutenant, Company D,
mustered out with Company May 30, '65.

William

II.

Evans, Seplcinber

to Ist Lieutenant

— company

ONK iu;ni>kko am> sixth kk<;imknt
William

S.

Town.send, mustered in April

battle of the Wilderness, died at

Hill Hospital,

May

ONK IILNDKEU AND

8.

'62,

o.

wounded

in the

Philadelphia at the Chestnut

29, '64.

Fll

"rY-SECOND

REGIMENT

TIIIKD ARTILLERY-

liATTERY D.

Amos Townsend,

mustered

River November

in

December

FIFTH REGIMENT

Charles A. Knorr.

13, '62,

6, '64.

BATTERY

M.

died

on James

HTSTORY OF COLUMBTA COUNTY

388

EIGHTIETH REGIMENT.

SEVENTH
Tn 1861 William

Soorotary of

Sipes of Pliiladolphia, was authorized

B.

War Cameron

the 19th day of

CAV.Vl.UY.

December

to recruit a

the

of

Harrisburg, Pa., for liouisville.

ed to Gen. Buell.

It

remained

regiment of eavalry.

same year

it

by

On

broke camp near

and ui)on arrival tliere reportarduous and active service un-

Ivy.,

in

A

the close of the war, and was discharged August 23, 1865.
part of Co. D. and a })art of Co. H. were recruited in Montour

til

have euileavored to select from them the names of
If they are omitted I will be glad to
have the names supplied to me, to be added.

county, and

I

the Montour county men.

COMPANY

i>.

Samuel Robinalt, deserted December 8, '64,
Michael Breckbill, mustered out with Regiment.
Samuel Sprout, nmstered otit with Company.

Newton

L. Sayers, deserted

December

2o, '64.

John Dugan, discharged on surgeon's certiti<'ate July
William C. McCay, deserted Januarj' 12, '(Si*.
Joseph lletHer, died at Madison, Indiana, January 12,

W.

'(53.

22,

'6o.

Forest.

John T. Newcomer, mustered out Octi^ber

ol, '64, expiration of

term.
T.

J.

Trumbower,

ruary 13, 1862

died

at

Feb-

Kentucky,

Louisville,

—National Cemetery, section A, range

13,

grave

6.

Martin Kieffer.
Charles K. Wagner, nmstered

out with

Company.

Hiram Wertman.
William H. Kietfer, mustered out
Charles A. Balliet, died

Daniel

W.

at

witti

Company.

Limestoneville, Pa.,

Rank, mustered out December

May

16, 1864,

7,

1864.

expiration of

term.

Capt. James Bryson, died at Louisville, Ky., April

W.

1, -(S2.

Caldwell.

Jacob F.
1863.

Balliet,

discharged on surgeon's

certificate,

Februaiy

HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY

889

Joseph D. Fulton, mustered out with Company.
Carnathan.
Alfred Roberts, mustered out with Company.

Thomas H.

Wm.

Sanders, not on muster out

A. Fetter, mustered out October

Thomas

roll.

3, '64,

expiration of time.

Keisteller.

Daniel G. Dildine, died at Bardstown, Ky., February 22,
Daniel F. Wagner, discharged on surgeon's

certificate,

'62.

November

16, 'Q2,

COMPANY

H.

Capt. Samuel Hibler, resigned February 16,

'62.

Thomas J. Wenck, mustered out with Company.
Thomas Davis, prisoner from August 20, '64, to April
charged June

17, to

date

May

28,

Go, dis-

18, '65.

"THE COLUMBIA GUARDS.
This Military Company, belonging specially to Danville, but
famous all over Columbia county, in honor of which it took its
name, by its connection with the Mexican war, was organized in
1817.
On the breaking out of the war with Mexico, the Company
was under the connnand of Capt. John S. Wilson, and their offer
of service being accepted they were mustered into the service of
the United States on the 28th day of December, 1846. They were
their way to the seat of war,
and cheered on their way with every
demonstration of popular approval. They were placed in the Second
Regiment of Pennsylvania Volunteei's, commanded by Col. Wynkoop, and afterwards by Col. Geary, afterwards Governor of Penn-

escorted as far

by

a

number

of

as Pittsburgh, on
citizens

sylvania.

Capt. Wilson died at Vera Cruz on the 10th day of April, 1847
and the command devolved on Dr. C. W. Frick, who gallantly led
Their first engagement was at
the Guards during the campaign.
the storming of Vera Cruz, and the second at Cerro Gordo, where
At the battle of Chepultepec
they lost one man, John Smith.

HISTORY OF COLUMBTA COUNTY.

390

two men, Willijun Diotiich and

tl\('y li)st.

proiu-hino- |lu> city of
all

Jolin Snyder.

On

a})-

Mexico, the defense of San Angelos, with

the military stores, was coTuniitted to the Guards

13th of Se{)teinber 1H17,

tliey

were among the

;

and on the

in triiunjthant

first

entry into the city.

They returned to Danville on the 28tli day of July 1H4!). The
whole county turned out to welcome them, and such a demonstration as was then made had never been seen in Danville before or
The

(ruards kept up their organization until

tlie

llebellion, and,

On the exentered the Union service under Capt. Oscar Ei)hlin.
pir.ition of their term of service they were honorably discharged
and the (Company disbanded.
The following is the muster

roll of the Columbia Guards, as
went into the United States service for the war with Mexico:
Captain John S. Wilson.
Lieutenants— 1st,, ('larence II. Friek 2d, Edward P]. LaClere
3d, William lirindle.
S,>rgeants— Isl, (Jeorge S. Kline; 2d, Jas. D. Slater; 3d, Robert

t,hey

—

;

Clark

4tli,

;

Cort)orals
4th,

Music

—

;

Charles Evans.

1st,

John Adams;

2d,

James Oliver;

3d,

John Smith;

Arthur Gearhart.

— Drummer, Thomas Clark;

Fifer, Jesse G. Clark.

I'KIVATKS.

Charles

W. Adams,

Alvin M. Allen,

Jacob Apj),
Geo. W. Armstrong,
Frederick Brandt,

Samuel Burns,

Elam

B. Bonhani,

Wm.

Banghart,

Jasper Musselman,

Edward McGonnel,
George Miller,
William Moser,
Archibald Mooney,
Mahlon K. Manly,
John G. Mellon,
Alex M'Donald,

John Birkenbine,
Sanmel D. Baker,

Daniel Martial,

Francis Bower,

Charles Moynthan,

Francis B. Best,

Robert M'Almont,

Richard

?I.

M'Kean,

William Brunner,

Hugh MFadden,

Wm.

James M'Clelland,
Nortnan B. Mack,

H. Birchfield,

Randolph

Ball,

HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.
Peter Brobst,

William McDonabl,

Abraiii B. Ciirley,

Casper Oaten welder,

Michael Corrigau,

Daniel Poorman,

Win. Dieterech,
William Erie,

Philip Rake,

Daniel
Chas.

Robert

Fullmer,

S.

W.

Fortiier,

11.

Forster,

Peter

S.

Reed,

James A. Stewart,
Peter M. Space,
Jona R. Sanders,

Sewell Gibbs,

Oliver C. Stephens,

Edward Grove,

Daniel Snyder,

Geori^e

Gamer,

Edward

Seler,

Thomas Graham,

Peter Seigl'ried,

Shepherd W. Girton,
Samuel Ilmitiiigdon,

John C. Snyder,
John N. Scofield,
William Swartz,
Joseph Stratton,
Wm. II. Sawaney,
John A. Sarvey,
Benj. Tumbleton,
Adam Wray,

Adam

Ileisler,

Henry

Ilerncastle,

Oliver Ilelme,

William 8. Kertz,
William King,
Jerome Konkle,
Charles Lytle,

Wm.

Ira Lownsberry,

I^enjamin Laform,

George Wagner,
Jacob Willet,
Jerome Walker,
George Wingar,

Benj. J. Martin,

Peter

Robert Lyon,

John A. Lowery,

White,

W.

Yarnell,

391

;

OF COLUMlirA COUNTY

//ISTOh'Y

n«)2

mTKOOlU'TOKY.
Tn the year 1860, a narrativo of tho military ooiMipation of Col-

umbia county, tho

arrest

of

many

of our citizens,

iheir incarcer-

ami their subsequent trial before a military commission, appeared it\ the colunms of The (\)Iu»ibian
newspaper.
It was accompanied with a cojumentaty on the facts
and cvi»lence adduced upon the trials; and to these were adtU^l
ation in military prisons

of additional cast's and personal experiences tif harsh,
and unlawful treatment sutTcred by innocent persons in our
What was then and there publislu'd stands uncontracounty.
dicti'd. and as a portion o\' the history of the county is heri' inserted.
A few paragraphs by way of connnent and remark have
rejtorts

cruel

been i>mitted.

The

tirst

August

m.uh' for several days,

thousand men.
trials

of troops arrived in

detacliment

tn-dav evenino-,

The

connnenced

at

men

1.'^,

IStvl,

until the

arrests ^vere

and

Bloomsburg on Sat.
cttutintied to

additit>ns

be

number amounted to about one
made August 81, ISfil, and the

Uarrisburg, t)ctol)er

17, ISlM.

William Applenian, paid his
tine: one, Sanuicl ICline was par(U>ned by President Lincoln
and the, John Kant/., .lohn Lemons, Joseph VanSyekle, Rev. A.
K. Hutan, Henjainin CoUey and ^'alentine Fell were par(h>netl by

Of

the seven

ctmvicted, one,

President Johnsim.

To

the narrative

o\'

these

occurriMU'cs

is

added,

interesting matter, the .argument of Hon. Jeremiah

S.

among

other

Uhu-k bcfcM-e

Supreme Court of the United States on the Milligan case,
with the opinion of the Court, delivered by Mr. Justice Davis.
This oj)inion fully viiulicates the legal position taken by our
jn'ople, ami is a just and authoritativi' condcnmation of the

the

actions of

t]u>

military

detai'lnnent,

ces bv the militarv connnission.

and of the

trials

and senten-

iriHTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.

393

CHAPTP:!! XXX.

MILITARY OCCUPATFOX
OF

COLUMBIA COUNTY.
Ill

preserve an faithful a

or<l<;r to

r<M'.ord uh pOHsible

dates and evidence in our |K>sseHsion,

we propose

from

factH,

to cast int<j

the

form of a snccinct and corrected narrative, the incidents preceding and a(5Companying tlie arm(,'d occupation of (Columbia county
The publications heretofore made on the
in the year A. D. 1S04.

many

subject omit

cd

in

matters important to be

known and rememVjer-

connection therewith.

During

tli(;

civil

war, the licpublican party, backed by

ministration and the army, which

liad

been subsidized to

the adits

pur-

and revolutionary in its
No man was allowed to
jiurpoHcs with regard to goverrmient.
f-peak freely agairjst or criticise or condemn the course the domAll over th(; loyal North military
inant party were pursuing.
spies, irresponsible I*rovost Marshals and armed forces were dislribut«-d f<jr the; purj>os(; (A overawing the peoj^le and of jjreventAnd
ing at tlic elections a fair and free expression of ojtinion.
the nearer the I'residential election of 1HC4 approached, the more
overbearing becatne these government officials and employees, unThe State
til a reign of terrf»r was inaugurated
in the country.
of Pennsylvania was particularly the scene of atrocious outrage.
Where it was thought the elections required to be manipulated
there soldiers were located, citizens were arrested, property was
destroyed, the State itself degraded, and the constitution and laws

poses,

became insolent

set at defiance.
I'ike,

the

in its V>ehaviour

The counties of Berks, Columbia, Clearfield,
many others were subjected to military raids

Schuylkill and

memory

of which will abide with the victims and their poster-

ity for generations.

About

the

first

of

August 1804, a squad of men

led

by

a

young

STORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.

III

394

Robinson,

niiiii iiiiiiu'd

by

Btoj)

iiiolit

clnillcngint;'

time, scvi'ral

fjir iis hiis

Neither

;i

citizen of Lu/.ci-ni' coiinly,

upon

ol'

;i

our citizens

—citizens

ever been ascertained, w

panions slightly.

Th((

any of the

ant horitii'S to search for or arrest
ly a

man named Smith was taken

the

olTV'iise.

and

Ilobinson

half of the governnuMit.

or

ad'ra-y

names have never

haps

com|)any

was never
liad

no

arrests, or to act in

or

any way on betiiis

shoot-

some person or persons (whose name
and

Representations seem to liave been

as a foundation for a military raid, that the drafted

had

for

tried

authority

yet transpired) went to Ilarrisburg

to VVashino'ton.

uiid>ia I'ounty

the civil

SnbstMpient-

FoUowinij^ inmiediately u[)on

believed that

it is

his (H)m-

ol"

made by

pai'ties.

up, but he

his

make

pretense of authority to

so

law.

challensjjed

tJie

and one

sevei'cly

short no attempt was

in

whom,

military

to

the

in

passed, no infoi'mation was made, no

ail'aii"

warrant was taken out,

county,

not oni' of

amenable

[jarty kiiowiuiji; the otlier in (he darkiu'ss,

party tired and wounded Kobinson

ing

lis

to

;itteinptc'(i

|iubiic luLjIiwiiy of tliis

Whatmoiv was

nevei- reported.

men

in

j»er-

made
C'ol-

alleged has not

residt was, that on Saturday evening, August
detachment of soldiers arrived in Bloonisburg;
and in a. few days, by constant accretions, the armed force numbered one thousand men.
It was given out by those in ttie secret,

been

leai-ned.

18th

18()4,

or

who

The

the

iirst

desired

county.''

to be

thought

so,

They encamped upon

"that they were to

the

Agricultural

l"'air

scour the
(Jrounds,

below Bloonisburg, and on Tuesday the Kith of August, Major
General Couch commanding the Department of the Sus(piehaniia
arrived, and he made our town for a time his Head Quarters. At
that time the force consisted of Capt. Lambert's Independent

Company

of

mounted men

of IMiiladeiphia, under
of Infanlry under

;

one section of the Keystone Battery

command

Lit'ut.

of Lieut. Roberts,

Col. Stewart.

and a batallion
they were

Subsequently,

reinforced by a batallion of the Veteran Reserve Corps, complet-

ing the

Army

of {)ccuj>ati«)n.

The leading Republicans had long and earnt'st interviews with
Gen. Couch. Finally Senator Buckalew was sent for. Subsequently several gentlemen waited upon

Col. Freeze with a {>rop-

message from the General commanding the
Department to the non-reporting drafted men. lie at first declined to go, but finally yielded to earnest solicitation and acosition

to

bear a

HTSTORY OF (JOLUMBTA COUNTY.
ceptcfl

tlic

ex|)l;iin

the

letter

mission.
oV)j(!ct

is (tlmi.

'I'lic

iiii<l

fi)llo\viiig

coiulitioii of

corrcspoiHloncc

395
fully

will

iitfairs at tlie tiriic.

1l\w first

C'Oiieh's official tnariifcslc).

IIca<l<jiiarterH Departiueiit of the SuKqueliaiiiia,

Bloornsburg, Pa., August 16, 1864.

Col.

.j.

FuKKzi;,

(i.

Hlooinsburg, Pa.,
Sir:

You
those persons

quired undei'

duly

August

by me

are authorized

to

inform

eounty who liave not reported as

|)revious "dr;ifts,''

tlie

that the charge

they

(,'olumhia

ill

of desertion shall

report themselves

re-

and are known as deserters,
be remitted

hy me provided

on or before 12 P. M., Saturday,

20, eurrent.

Tnis does not apply to

those charged with
I

am, very

tlie

crime of murder.

respt.,

D. N.

COUCH,

Major General Commanding

I)e]>artment.

Several days afterward, in order to put upon reeonl every circumstance relating to Col. Freeze's expedition up the creek, he

addressed the following note to a gentleman

fads and circumstances

cognizant of

all

the

:

liloomsburg, Pa., August 22, 1864.
CiiAKi.Ks K. 1'axton, Esy.,

]Jear Sir

:

As you were
(pi.iiiitcd

the creek,

with every step, preliminary to
fronj

Maj.

the Susquelianna,
will permit,

with.

in

I

(ien. Coueli,

beg that you

am,

witli

Commanding Departnient
will, as

fully as

whieli,

ac-

of

your leisure

great respect, your friend,
J.

To

fully

taking a message up

the facts in connection there-

reply to this, state
I

my

G.

FREEZE.

on the next day, Mr. Paxton replied as follows

:

Bloomsburg, Pa., August 23, 1864.
John G. Fukkzk, Es<^.,

Dear

Sir

:

Yours of yesterday is received,
and I will, with pleasure, comply with your request. It was
thought by Gen. Couch to ])e advisable to notify the deserters in

HIiSTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.

806

that the penalties to which
would be remitted, provided they
would innnediately report to tlie Provost Marshal. At the General's retpiest, or with his approbation, I saw Mr. Buckalew who
a{>proved of the plan, and suggested that you would be a tit person to conununicate with the deserters, and said he would see
After he had seen you, I
you, and try to induce you to do so.

the northern part of

they were subject

jis

this

county,

deserters,

you and you refused to go. Subsequently, for reasons
to me, you consented to go provided Gen. Couch would
give you in writing the coninumication it was thought expedient
to send to the deserters, the substance of which is above stated.
I then introduced you to the General and left you with him.
Respectfully and truly yours,

called on

unknown

C.

During the interview spoken
take Gen. Couch in a carriage

u})

of above Col.

the creek to

him personally meet the people aud hunt the

all

K.

PAXTON.

Freeze offered to
points and have

fort alleged to

have

bi'cu erected or if the General preferred, each one should choose
a friend and the four proceed together in a carriage on the ex;

pedition.

The Colonel

})ledged himself for the

entire safety of

and agreed to drive to any and every place where any
one said the fort was located, or entrenchments or defensive or
The General declined,
oll'ensive preparations had been made.
while admitting he thought there would be no danger. Gen.
Couch returned to Harrisburg, Wednesday August 17th.
On that same evening Col. Freeze had an interview with Col.
Stewai't, in connnand of the forces, and gave him a statement of
all the facts iu his knowledge in relation to the Kobison alfair,
also a full report of his mission up the creek, from which he had
just then returned, assuring him there would be no resistance by
the party,

any

citizens to the arrest of alleged deserters, that ten

arrest

them

the same olfer to

men could

hundred and concluded by making
him, that had already been made to Gen. Couch.

as safely as ten

;

Col. Stewart also declineil.

This peraistent refusal on the

become acquainted with our
with

localities

and

facts,

})art

})eople,

of the military authorities to

and make themselves familiar

argues very strongly that the object of

the raid upon our County had an entirely different object than the
one so ostentatiously set forth, to-wit, the arrest and mustering

HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.
into service of non-reporting drafted men.

They

397

listened only to

and exaggerated reports and stories of the
enemies of the people, and were thus prepared to "Scour the
County."
And to prove beyond controversy that such was the case, the
fact exists that during the time the troops were encamped on the
F'air Grounds, a cavalry officer told Col. Freeze in the presence of
the false, malicious

Ammerman and
by a prominent Republican
that to his, the Republican's "certain knowledge, there were five
hundred non-reporting drafted men up the creek." Another Republican who had a corn field adjoining the grounds or near
them, requested the soldiers not to take any roasting ears from
his patch, and pointed out to them one belonging to a "copperhead," which was a proper object for destruction and spoliation.
Again, when Gen. Couch first arrive<l at Jiloomsburg, he was advised to call upon Senator Buckalew who had just returned from
a session at Washitjgton whereupon the General mounted Cedar
Hill, "solitary and alone," and found the Senator at work in a
field.
lie then detailed to him his dreadful story of insurrection
in the Fishing Creek Country and insisted that it was very extenCol. Iliram K. Kline, Messrs. Levi

Cyrus Rohl>inH, that he had

V>eeii

Cox, Martin

told

;

sive and dangerous,

and that

it

n'ax rr^presented to

him {Coxmh)

that

Colonel Kline wan the leader. Mr. Buckalew's reply was, as we
are informed, that he had no particular information of what had

Creek region beyond newspaper statements; that
any general combination of the inhabitants to resist the draft; that the statement about Col. Kline
was inconsistent with the character of that gentleman and was
no doril^t a falsehood, that in his opinion any military or civil
officer could proceed into any of the uppei* townships without beHe further proposed to postpone a journey which
ing molested.
he was about to make to Niagara and accompany Couch to any
place he might desire to visit in the county for the ascertainment
The General alleged that he was pressed for time,
of the truth.
and the interview .closed. The Radical leaders no doubt had
given Couch his story, and it would seem they were very anxious
to have Col. Kline, (an active Democrat and respectable gentleman,) arrested. In fact it is very likely that Couch's visit to Mr.
Buckalew and the emphatic statement made by the latter alone
occurred

in the

he did not believe there was

HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY

398

prevented the arrest of Col. Kline and his incarceration in a Govei'ninent Bastile.
TIIK AURKST8.

The

troops collected in the

manner described, moved from the

Fair Gronnds, near Bloomsbnrg on Sunday August 21, 1S64, and
They were
advanced up Fishingcreek, on the Orangeville road.

under the immediate command of Lieutenant Colonel Stewart.

The column was

escorted

by a large number of sympathisers in
The force was com-

military methods in buggies and carriages.

posed upon the highest principles of military

and

artillery

being uiuted

in

art; infantry,

cavalry

proper proportions, and the flng of

prostituted for a base purpose, was borne in
But the great feature of the scene was the civilian escort.
It was for them a joyful Sunday and their looks spoke their exulSo far as they were concerned the churches were abantation.
doned, the quiet of the day disregarded, and a political raid upon
Their passions
their fellow citizens attended and encouraged.
were gratified and their hopes were strongly excited at the prospect of political advantage from the armed occupation of our territory, and the application of military influence to our elections.
Up past tlie Forks, over Cedar Hill, through Light Street, along

the United States

front.

the narrows beyond,
tary line and the

all

the

way

to Orangeville,

Radical escort "in

stance' of inglorious war.

all

streamed the mili-

the ])omp and circum-

Beneath the hot rays of an August

sun the army of occupation approached the doomed region of the
Upper Townships, in which its exploits were to be performed and

infamy nnide complete. We will not now, however, follow
further the military advance to the North, but will return to
Bloomsbnrg and trace subsequent events.
On Saturday, August 28, Major General George Cadwallader
arrived here from Philadelphia to assume command, and he continued his progress up the creek the next day with three hundred
Again was Sunday selected to push troops foradditional troops.
its

The General returned
ward to the proposed scene of operations.
Bloomsbnrg on Tuesday, the 30th, and had long conferences
and during the night of the 30th, upon
with leading Radicals
orders from him, troops were posted i^t various points in the upper
townships, and at the break of day next morning about one hun-

to

;

HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.

399

and marched to a meeting houKc near
Here they were subjected to a siimmarj'^
oriU'al and iiisi>ection, their cases being passed upon by a scoundrel officer in the ]>ulpit upon whispered consultations with promdied

citi/t'iis

wt-rc aircKtt'fl

the vilhige of Benton.

inent KadicMls of the neigliborhood.

with good reason

;

— We say "a scoundrel

officer"

was subseipiently tried by a military
a viUain, and we have besides the proof at

for he

court and convicted as

hand (which will be hereafter given) that he extorted a bribe
from one of our citizens under circumstances of peculiar infamy.
There was no open examination of the cases of the arrested men
nor any o]>portunity afforded them for explanation or dnfense.
Whispeied consultations between theirmalicious political enemies
who were on the ]»ulpit platform or near it, and the military satrap whose will and word stood in place of all law and justice,
constituted the grounds of judgment by which they should be discharged or ordered into exile from their homes to be incarcerated
Finally a part of them were discharged within distant ])risons.
for their arrest or explanation of their
reason
assigned
out any
discharge but forty-five were ordered under guard to Bloomsburg, thence to be conveyed by rail by way of ITarrisburg and
Phihidel})hia to Fort MifHin on the Delaware. The prisoners were
neaily all driven on foot like cattle, the long 18 miles from Benton
to Bloomsburg, without breakfast, and had no meals furnished to
them on their way to Philadelphia.
;

They reached Fort MilHin on the first day of September. One
number was released on the second day after the arrest.
The names of the persons arrested and detained, with their

of the

ages and occupations, and length of incarceration, are as follows
AGK.

NAMES.

Daniel McHenry,
Elias J.

McHenry,

*Joseph Coleman,
Mathias Kline,

Abraham

Kline,
45.

"

a soldier in the

war of 1812.

Samuel Coleman,
Josiah Coleman,
Chailes Coleman,
John Lemons,

*Wa8

53

:

400

HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.
31.

:

HltiTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.
None

of these persons,

we

401

believe, (with the

ed) were drafted men, or amenable

one exception notupon any pretense whatever to

the jurisdiction of military authority.

Cadwallader then moved his forces up the creek beyond Benton
and hunted in all directions for the fort, field pieces and intrenchments, for a week.
He came back to Bloomsburg after the
search, and in an interview with Senator Buckalew, Judge Elwell
and Col. Tate, pronounced "the whole thing a complete farce."
He left Bloomsburg for his home in Philadelphia, on Wednesday
evening, September 7th, 1864.
OBJECT OF THE RAID.

During the progress of the occupation of 1864, calumniation of
our people was scattered broadcast by the radical press and by
radical orators.

It

was announced by them that insurgents num-

bering hundreds or thousands were armed and organized in tliis
county that they had thrown up intrenchments that they had
erected a fort that they had field-pieces or cannon, and that ref;

;

;

ugees from Canada and deserters from other sections had joined
them in considerable numbers. Though all these statements Avere
utterly false, they were

made and

dence because an excuse was

repealjed with the utmost confi-

wanted for the steps taken, for the

outrages committed by lawless powx'r.
slanders

A

may

certain

be mentioned

Reuben

One

examj^le

of these

:

E. Wilson, a preacher, then resided in Blooms-

burg and was seduced from

his sacred calling.

The following letter will show the flagitious statements made
by him in a street speech at Milton, and will illustrate the course
of insolent slander to which

our people Avere subjected in the

days of the military occupation.

Milton, Sept.
J.

G. Freeze,

14, 1865.

Est^.,

Dear

Sir

Your note
ceived, and in reply, say, that I did

Rev. Wilson myself; but he stated

of the 12th inst.

not hear the speech
in his

is re-

made by

speech in this place in

some thousands of men up Fishingcreek in arms against the Government that these men attempted to set fire to the town of Bloomsburg several times, and
had burned Mr. Clark's stable.
the open street, that there were

—

—

JIlK'iTOJiY

402

OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.

I have made inquiry since the receipt of your letter of those
who heard the speech and tliey say he said as above stated.
The exact number of thousands tliey do not now recollect.
;

Truly Yours,

W. THAKP.

C.

Mr. Tharp

is

a gentleman of high credit, a

member

of the Bar,

and has recently represented Northumberland county in the Legislature.
It is perhaps only necessary to add, that it is understood that Mr. Clark's stable was burned through the carelessness
of some little boys who were playing about it with matches, and
that the other statements made by Wilson were without foundation.

But no matter what were the statements made
military inroads, or to give
})roi)riety, after trooi)s

to

it

.abroad

to

invite the

a color of necessity or

were sent here one thing

is

very certain:

That the military authorities were without any excuse Avhatever
for continuing their occupation of the county and for holding our
citizens in prison, as well as for

ized

by them

Avhile

sundry acts connnitted or author-

the occupation continued, (to which

we

shall

For the troops traversed the whole course of
Fishing Creek from its mouth to its sources, and ascended the
North Mountain into the forests of Sullivan, "scouring" the whole
region through Mhich they passed, and ascertained beyond all
no field works, no fort,
question that there was no insurrection
no cannon, no refugees from Canada or deserters from abroad
and that there had not been, in point of fact, in all that region any
hereafter refer).

—

actual

resistance to the execution of the

any

othcer, civil or military, in the

this

was

fully

known not only

laws or molestation of

performance of
to the corrupt

his duties.

ofticer

All

(Lt. Col.

who had immediate charge of the troops, but to C4en.
Cadwallader himself. His declaration that the alleged insurrection (or his chase of it?) was "a complete farce," was based upon
of his scientific
his personal examination of "the seat of Mar"
inspection of the sugar-camps of Benton and the huckleberries of
Sullivan
as well as upon his personal intercourse with the inStewart)

—

—

habitants upon the line of his route.

We

aware that there were any deserters (properly so
county at the time of this military incursion. If
there were such they must have been very few in number. There
are not

called) in the

HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.
were some non-reporting drafted men
parts of the country, but

as

tliere

were

403

in all other

j)re})osterous to allege that the pur-

it is

pose was to secure them to the public service. They were not
numerous and not one among them (so far as we know or believe)
had ever offered the slightest resistance to a legal or regular arrest.

Certainly troops were not to be called for to arrest drafted

means had failed, and then only so many
were reasonably necessary for the purpose. Besides, the army
sent into the county was more likely to drive off drafted men than
to arrest them, and its cost was twenty times as much as would

men

until the ordinary

as

have been required to obtain voluntary enlistments equal in numBut in point
ber to the number of men who had failed to report.
of fact it was announced that the occupation of the county was to
put down an armed and organized insurrection, and the troops
proceeded at once to arrest citizens who did not owe military service, instead of drafted men, thus exhibiting its object in an unmistakable manner.
NECESSITY OF THIS NARRATIVE.

Having described

the beginning of the occupation, exposed the
and mentioned the first arrests made in the prosecution of its unholy work, we are brought naturally to the narration of its performances after it became fixed upon our people.

pretenses for

The

it,

narrative

necessity for this

consists

in

the fact that

we

de-

some degree of punishment is to
be inHicted by public opinion, and that justice demands that the
scribe a great crime for which

victims of the military raid as well as our people generally, should

be defended against falsehood and slander. Besides, our review
must be instructive as it will admonish us that arbitrary power is
always selfish, unjust, and opitressive, and that its encroachments

and usurpations are

be oi)posed Avith sleepless vigilance and

to

steady courage.

But we proceed without further digression, with
of occurrences after the troops were located in

tlie

narrative

the county.

TROOPS AT ELECTIONS.

"No body

of troops in the

Connnonwealth

shall

:

BO construed as

of the

United States or of

this

this Commonwealth during the time of
Provided, That nothing herein contained shall be
to jirevent any ofhcer or soldier from exercising

place of election within

such election

army

be present, either armed or unarmed, at any

.

HISTORY OF COLUMniA COUNTY.

404

the viglit of suffniojo in the oloction district to Avhich
long,

if

may

lio

be-

otherwise qualified accordiiig to haw."

2nd July 1839, See. Or>— P. Laws, 541.)
a very ]>hun hvw and a very good one, ii\tended to st^
cure tlie independence of ehn^tions, and it was in full force in
was liehl in con
l>iit it
IStil at the time of tliese «>ccurrences.
tempt by the military power and was rudely broken.
(Act,

This

is

Tlu' following performances took place in the county

At the ehn'tion eleven soldiers with arms stood

:

election

the

at

polls in (.\'ntre townshi}> all da\

In Heaver townshiyt a can»[> of about sixty soldiers was located

within a few rods

them

i>f

the polling {)lace

:

and from ten to iifteen of
relieving one another.

stotxl at the polls all day, the scpiads

from ten to
morning before the
tended the voting the whole day, armed.
In JNlount Pleasant townshij)

upon the ground

In b^ishingcreek township ten to
stationed

at

antl at-

polls o|)i'ned,

twelve

came

soldiers

iifteen

in the

armed were

soldii'rs

the polls and otlier squads within call

at three differ-

ent points on the road leading to the place of holding the election.

Two men

wen' arrested on

tlie

Hemlock township eleven

In

election day.

armed,

stood

soldiers

day

all

at

the polls, and sonu> part of the time twelve were present.

In Benton township, ;it the State election, about fifteen soldiers
prowled around the eh'ction ground all day and at the Presidential election about f\>i-ty of them were in the township, some of
;

them attending the polls.
In Jackstm township there were eight or ten

who
ami

n\arched around the place
at

the close of

demanded

tlu'

the returns.

of

election they

all canii'

Of course they were

In Sugarloaf tt>wnship at the State election

were

loi'aled

within

h;ilf

;i

mile of elect

— two more within a quarter of a mile
at E/.ekiel Cole's

election

two armed

in

aiu>ther

mih'

ed past the polls repeatedly during the day.

and

refused.

house

a

day,

all

into the house

iiui

and West Creek, within

squads of two,

in

liolding the

in oiu'

:

soldiers

direction

—

two or nuu'c
and four march-

And

at the

Presi-

armed soldiers and an orderly stood
house where the election was being held, and

dential election six or eight
in the

yard of

tlie

others near by.
turns, sword

in

In the evening they c-aww and diMuanded the re-

hand.

IIISTOEY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.
111

Diiiircreek township

before the
all

day

November

until

lour soldiers urined, arrived

40.5

tlie jiight

and they staid about the grounds
the closing of the polls. They arrested one man dinelection,

ing the day.
In Orange township and within the village and within easy disj)olls, there were a number of soldiers at the October
Between that and the November election an additional

tance of the
election.

number

arrived, took jiossession of

the

by a school of about seventy

public school house, then

and held it till so
township were deprived
of the bencHi of a jtubiic school foi- the year.
This seizure and
appropriation of ))rop('rty ami violation of private right was most
\\anloii and iiii])rovoked, and was instituted and applauded by
civilians who Irid passions to gratify and interests to subserve.
occujiied

pupils,

late in the winter, that the people of the

KI.KCTION AHUKSTS.

and on the day of the State Election, (1864,)
a number of arrests were made at various points in the County to
prevent citizens from voting, and in one instance to wreak revenge
Iiiinicdiatcly before

upon a county officer foi- j)reventing, in a particular case, the consummation of such a rascally jiurpose. A part of these arrests
were made under military orders by soldiers of the Army of Occupation, and j)art under authority of the Deputy Provost Marshal
for the county, by soldiers who constituted his guard, having been
Some of those cases (selected by
assigned to him for service.
way of example) we will hereafter describe. For the present we
projiose to open up a little the character of the officer who commanded the troops and whose word, for a time, was law absolute
in this county.
As the main instrument of despotism in making
arrests, and clearly responsible for most of them, he merits particular notice and shall receive it.
I.lKl T. C<JI..

One

STEWART.

of the corrupt iierformances of this officer

is

shown by the

subjoined documents, the originals of which are now
essi(jn.
Mr. Alexander Hess of this county, a drafted

in

our poss-

man

clearly

entitled to be excused by reason of physical disability, was coerced

him $100, as the condition of escai)ing au
from the draft. Observe the date
when the reign of terloth September 1864
of this transaction
ror was liilly establislud, and when the military commander could

by Stewart

into j^aying

arrest or Mtaiidiiig discharged

—

—

—

)

:

HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.

406

power

witli most. c'fTect use his
ru[)t villian

knew

This cor-

to iiluuder his victims.

perfectly well that he had no

power

discharge

t<j

power residing in the IJoard of Enrolhnent of the District, and he knew also, from a personal examination of the case, that Mr. Hess was unfit for service and would
But the opnot be held to service by any comi)etent authority.
portunity of extortion was greedily seized by him and he approany one from the

draft, that

money

priated the hard-earned

and carried

ments are

it

off

of this poor

with him when he

left

man

to his i)rivate use

The docu-

the county.

as follows:

Ai'FiDAvrr.

of Pennsylvania,
County of Columbia, j

State

Alexander Hess of the said County being duly sworn saith
That he was drafted into the military service of the United
States in the year A. D. 1864 That on the 15th day of September,
A. D, 1S64, he reported to Charles Stewart, Lt. Col. Connuanding U. S. Forces in Columbia County. That Col. Stewart inquired of your Deponent what sum of money he would give to be discharged from the Draft and not to be further troubled stating at
the same time that he had the authority to discharge him. Your Deponent replied that he was poor and not able to pay much, but of:

;

;

fered to Col. Stewart for a certificate of

^\%i^\\'dx^^

fifty dollars.

Stewart refused this and notified your Deponent that he would be
held to service, and that he (Stewart) could do as he pleased
with him.

payment

the discharge upon the
That sum was thereupon paid
Colonel Charles Stewart, and he gave a dis-

Finally he agreed to grant
of one hundred dollars.

to him, the said Lt.

charge of which the following is a copy.
Hkaixjttautkks

lt. S.

Forces
Sept. 15th, 1864.

Tins

is

I have this day examined Alexander Hess
Columbia county, and find him badly rup-

to certify that

of Sugailoaf township,

tured and unfit for service

in

the armies of the United States

CHAS. STEWART,
Lt. Col.

Com'dg."

That upon presenting the original of the forgoing certificate to
William Silver. Dei)uty Provost Marshal of the District, he was
That
informed that it was worthless, an<l that he must report
:

HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.
your Deponent

thousand

gave bond with seeurity

tlieii

dollars, to

report

the proper

to

in tlie

407

sum

authorities

of one
whenever

called upon.

That he received a notice hereto annexed, requiring him to reBloomsburg, on the 2oth January A. D. 18G5. That he
did so report, and was by them discharged as is certified by the
said Dep. Pro. Marshal, hereto annexed
port at

;

:

Alexander Hess,
Columl)ia County,

On

tlie 2")tli

ss.

day of February A. D. 1867.

])ersonally

appeared

before me, Je>ise Coleman, Prothonotary of said county Alexan-

der Hess the said I)e])onent to

me

personally known, and l»eing

duly sworn acc'>rding to law snith, that the facts set forth in the
forgoing statement subscribed by him are true to the best of his

knowledge and belief.
Sworn and subscribed ^

before me 25th Febr'y. [-Alex. Hess.
A. I). IS67.
)
Jesse Coi.eman, Frothy.
1U)NI).

Know

that we Alexander Hess of
County of Columbia and State of
Pennsylvania, and H'-nry C. Hess and Joshua B. H^ss. all of the
same township are held and firmly bound unto the United States
of America in the sum of two thousand doUa'S lawful money of
ail

men by

Sugarloaf township

these presents
in

the United States to be

the

]>aid to

the said United States or the au-

same to which payment well and truly to be made and done we do bind ourselves
and each of us by himself for and in the whole, our heirs, executors and administrators and each of us firmly by these presents;
sealed with our seals and dated the seventeenth day of January
thorities properly constituted to receive the

A. D.

;

186.-).

Whereas, the said Alexander Hess has been drafted into the
military service of the United States; now the condition of this
obligation is such that if the said Alexander Hess shall, whenever
called upon by the Deputy Provost Marshal of said Columbia
county or by any other of the properly constituted authorities of
the United States aforesaid to report as a drafted man as aforeif \\v shall so report when so called upon then this obligasaid,

—

—

HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.

408

tion to bo null

.-ind

void, or else to bo

and

roiuain in full force

and

virtue.

Signed,

sealed

in })resence of J.

W.

and delivered^
S Woods and ^-

Wirt.

)

Alex Hess,

[L. S.]

H.

[L. S.]

J.

Hess,
B. Hess,
C.

[L. S.]

NOTICE.

Deputy Provost Marshal's

Office,

Hloonisburg Jan. 24th

18(i5.

Alexander Hess,
Sir
ters

Wednesday

:

You

Jan. 25, 1865,

will report at these Head Quarwithout delay to meet the Board

of Examiners at ten o'clock.

By Order

of

WILLIAM SILVER,
Deputy Provost Marshal loth

District Pa.

Per W. H. Abbott, Agent.
CERTFICATE.

William Silver, late De])Uty Provost Marshall of the 13th
District of Pennsylvania do hereby certify on honor, that Mr.
Alexander Hess, within nanunl, in pursuance of the annexed noI,

tice,

did report at Blooinsburg, to the Board of Examiners, on the

25th day of January A. D.

18(55, and that upon examination he
was discharged by the Board on account of })hysical disability
Rupture.
Witness my hand this 25th day of February A. D.

1867.

WILLIAM SILVER,
Late Deputy Provost Marshal.

—

Case of Rev. A. R. Rutan: On the 31st day of August 1864,
gentleman was arrested by three soldiers at his residence in
the lower end of Luzerne county and brought across the county
this

about ten o'clock at night, to the camp near Benton. The
Lt. Col. Stewart before Gen. Cadwall ader who, perceiving no reason for holding him, discharged

line,

day following he was taken by

him upon parole to appear when called for, and he returntdhome.
Ho was not wanted or called ior until the night before the October
election, when six drunken soldiers arrested him again at his residence and hurried him across the county line to the camp near
Coleman's. This was late in the night and the arrest was made
in a rude and tliroatonino; manner to the great disturbance and

HLSTORY OF COLUMBIA C0UN2Y.

409

A uiaii iiaiiuMl Steele was compelled to
Mr. Kutan's team to the camj). Mr. Rutan was kept at the
camp two days and nights, slee})ing on the ground, and was then
sent to IIarrisl>urg by way of Bloomsburg, under guard.
Thu^
alarm of a quiet family.

drive

an additional voter was silenced at the October election.

The 44

meantime securely held
in custody at Fort Mifflin (save one who died a prisoner,) and a
number of citizens (some of whose cases will be mentioned hereafter) were also arrested on the day of election, or just before,
and withheld from the polls.
Mr. Kutan confessedly had broken no law, nor had he interposed any act of resistmce to the prosecution of the war. He was a
man well advanced in years and not liable to military duty or to military jurisdiction and he was a peaceful and inoflFensive citizen. But
tlicsi- circumstances counted as nothing in his favor when the grasp
of military power instigated by political hostility was upon him and
he was comi^'lied to pass the ordeal of an unlawful military commission.
They were "as dust in the balance" against the fact
that lie was a Democrat, that he had been active or at least emphatic in his condemnation of the party in jtowei*, and that his arrest and conviction for some j)retended offense might intimiilate
tlic peoj)le of his section and weaken the friends of honest government and Constitutional rule. He was arrested three times and
at Ia<t convicted on a sham trial and sentenced to imi)risonment,
from which lie was subsequently discharged upon the urgent remonstrance of influential men of both parties, and permitted to reelectors of this county, first arri'sted, were

turn to his home.

When

he was

first

taken to

Ilarrisburg,

at

the time

already

mentioned, a fellow named Wessels was j)laying Judge Advocate
before the Military

''making up a

c;ise"

Commission and industriously engaged
against Columbia county prisoners.

He

in

con-

ceived the idea of using Mr. Kutan for his purpose, and the latter

was approached with suggestions that he "should tell all he knew",
(meaning something he di<l not know) "and be saved from all
fuithei- trouble."
"Me should be free at once and go harmless if
\\v would make a dean l)reast of it, etc., etc."
These urgent invitations to turn informer were received by Rutan with [trudence
lie restrained his indignation, and Wessels
supposed he had pro(ImcciI tlif desircil iniprossion upon him and could coerce him into
;

410

HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.

performina; the Avickcd
to

sjo

work proposed.

Ke therefore paroled him

hrtme, upon condition that he should write out "all he

knew

about a meeting near Benton" at which a man named Headley or
Hadley spoke, and transmit the narrative to Harrisburg. This

Mr. Rutan could very honorably and safely promise to do, for the
meeting in question was perfectly innocent and harmless (as was

and a truthful statement
It had been held more
than a year and a half before and had no connection whatever
with the Military Incursion or with the events which immediately
preceded it.
Mr. Rutan returned home, but as he knew perfectly well that
what Wessels wanted was not the truth, but falsehood concerning
the Iladley meeting, and to fix and use him as a witness upon the
Columbia county trials, and that the transmission of his true
statement would probably result in his being again arrested, he
During this
hesitated a short time in performing his promise.

shown upon subsequent
concerning

it

investigation,)

could do no possible harm.

government runner,
"would clear him
of all, and there would be no more arrests made on him, and there
would be no more soldiers troubling his family by coming after
him." This contract for peace and quiet was executed in part,
when Mr. Rutan was arrested for the third time by soldiers, in the
night time, and hurried oflf to Harrisburg. It seems that Wessels
had become impatient, as he was in pressing need of testimony,
and had ordered Mr. Rutan to be seized and sent to him that he
might be subjected to direct and thorough manipulation. And he
was put under strong pressure to extort from him confessions or
statements which could be used upon the trials of the other prisoners, and justify their seizure and imprisonment. It was thought
that his age, standing, and clerical character would give importance and inliuence to whatever testimony, true or false, could be
obtained from him. Mr. Rutan in mild language informs us, that
he "was interrogated upon the disloyalty of different men of whom
he knew nothing wrong," until the experiment was abandoned as
hopeless.
He was given up as incorrigible. The pumping and

hesitation he

who

was approached by a

self styled

for a valuable consideration, agreed that he

threatening process

being

in his case a

complete failure, because

he knew of nothing Avrong and would not falsify, nothing was left
He
to the military power but to punish him for his contumacy.

—

HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.
was

thrust into prison

kejjt there until

among

about the

411

deserters and bounty-jumpers,

hist of

November when,

and

as he expresses

—

had some kind of a trial," that is, he had a summary, imand hostile hearing before a Military Commission,
and was subjected to an unjust, unlawful, cruel and infamous
He had offended the Judge Advocate and other manasentence.
it,

''he

perfect, unfair

had disappointed their hopes
had refused to become a false witness and rogue at their bidding.
As he would not become their instrument, he was made their victim, and was taught that vengeance will not linger when lawless
])ower is offended by the scruples or integrity of the citizen.
gers of persecution very deeply

The hopes
pointment

entertained of

felt at his

;

;

making him a witness and

following extract from one

of the

—the

radical

Philadtlphia Inquirer.
the Columbia county prisoners
of that time

the disap-

delay in making report, are indicated by the
sensation newspapers
It

said,

speaking of

:

"One named

Reutant,'' (Rutati)

"a preacher, manifested

much

and begged to be permitted to fill
The commission consented, on condition that
the vacated pul])it.
he would, when he got home, write a full account and confession
concern

of

all

he

in

regard to his

knew

in

flock,

connection

with these conspiracies.

To

this

Reutant (Rutari) "expressed himself willing to comply, and he
was accordingly paroled, but he has not since been heard from, as
promised."'

Upon the (so-called) trial of Mr. Rutan, we believe the Hadley
meeting was not insisted upon as a disloyal assemblage andj;he
participants therein as criminal, although it was with reference to
it that Mr. R. was originally examined with great strictness and
The pretense that it was crimidirected to make up a statement.
nal ()!• disloyal had in the meantime been completely exploded
upon the trial of other prisoners and could no longer be set up.
But other ])retexts for his conviction were found. It was charged
that he had attended one or more political Club meetings in Luzerne county, the most remarkable feature of which was, that
like those of the "Loyal Leagues'" they were held in secret.
He
was also charged with having made disloyal declarations on several occasions in discourse or conversation.
The main declaration
insisted upon however, was neither proved nor credible.
It consisted of violent and profane language, which no sensible man

HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.

412

ever believed he uttered, and the witness to prove

it, was flatly
and that too even by republican witnesses. A balder case for mei'ely censuring a man was
never made out, and there could be no pretense even that a criminal offense had been committed.
Such hovrever was the case upon which Mr. Rutan was convicted and sentenced to a severe imprisonment which was only
terminated by the intei'ference of the President of the United
Altogether he was subjected to great hardship and sufStates.
fering his croi)s were lost his business broken up, and his family harassed and humiliated.

impeached

as

unworthy of

belief,

;

;

Case of David lewis

:

—Mr.

Lewis, a leading citizen and rep-

was taken out of his bed
day before the State election of 1864,
by i^oldiers, and compelled to go Avith them to the military camp
He was kept there without exat Coleman's, six miles distant.
amination over election day and until 11 o'clock on the day folutable gentleman of Sugarloaf township,

at 11 o'clock at night of the

lowing,

when Capt. Short who was,

in

command

at the camj), ex-

amined and discharged him. There was no pretense that he had
committed any criminal offense, and the questions asked him were
only a])propriate to him in the character of a witness. Mr. Lewis
was tifty-three years of age, and would at any time have attended,
upon request, at the camp or elsewhere in the neighborhood, to
answer interrogatories. Of course he was arrested simply to prevent him from i)olling his vote at the Sugarloaf election, and after
that object was accomplished he was permitted to go home and
never further called in question.
Mr. Lewis made the following statement in regard to the mat-

Columbia county. On Monday night, October 10, (the night before the election.) soldiers
came to my house and arrested me. It was about 11 o'clock, and
There were two soldiers
I had been some time in bed and asleep.
A third one was in the road, having in charge Ezeat the house.
kiel Cole, who had been arrested at his house a mile distant, and
from his bed as he informed me. I was taken with Cole to the
camp below Benton, on the Coleman farm, about six miles, arriving there shortly after midnight. I was there put under guard
and kept until Wednesday without any examination or in formater: "I reside in Sugarloaf toAvnship,

:

HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.
tion as to the cause of arrest.

About an hour

rived in camp, Rev. Mr. Riitan was brouglit

after Cole

in,

413

and

I ar-

(probably between

one and two o'clock,) and on Tuesday morning Daniel B. Hartman, one of the election board of Benton township, was brought
Neither I nor any of the others were drafted men. I am 53
in.
years of age, the others are

about the same age, except Hartman,

who is a cripple.
On Wednesday morning Cole was

called

questions asked him, was discharged.

I

up, and after some
was called up about 11
o'clock and asked several questions by Capt. Short, which I an-

swered.

He then

consulted with a

called "Professor Pealer"

—for

man named Pealer

— commonly

a few moments, and then told

me

was dismissed for the present. He ordered the guard to let me
go.
I told him I would have thanked him kindly if he had called
me up the day before and asked me those questions. He said he
could not attend to it.
Hartman had been examined the day before and released.
Rutan, Cole and myself, were legal voters, and we were deprived of our votes by these night arrests and by being kept in custody over election day. We had all, as well as Hartman, been
living openly at our homes for some time before.
I would have answered all the questions put to me by Capt.
Short, at any time, without hesitation, and would have attended
I

for that purpose at the camjt or an}' other

place

in the

neighbor-

hood, upon reasonable notice.

David Lewis.

Nov. nth, 1864.
Case of Fzekiel

Cole:

— Mr.

Cole

w^as also a citizen of

loaf township, of reputable standing, not

nor charged with any offense.

He

liable

likewise

before the election by soldiers, taken

to

Sugar-

military duty

was seized the night

seven miles to the Coleman

camp, kept over election day and discharged the morning afterwards.
Till' form of putting a few questions to him was gone

was told he might go home. In his case
was silenced, and the election return of Sugar-

tlirough with, and he
also a lawful voter

loaf township slightly inij)roved for the radical party.

—

Case of Daniel B. Hartman
This gentleman who was a
and one of the election officers of Benton township, was

cripple

HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY

4W

seized on election uiorninL?

camp

to the

several miles

;it

the place of voting and hun*ied off

This was one of the acts

distant.

in-

tended to intimidate voters and keep them away from the polls.
Mr. H. was, however, discharged some time during the same day
and perniitted to go home as he best could. There was no reason
at all for his arrest except the political

one above mentioned.

—

Case of Thomas Downs: Thomas Downs was an elector of
Bloom township in 1864, a son-in-law to Michael Casey, an old
and well-known citizen, and had been a soldier in service in the

May ISOl and served a year and a half when
He was subsequently paroled and reportauthorities at Annapolis by whom he
military
our
to
himself
ed
was directed to go home and remain there until called for. He

He

war.

enlisted in

he was taken prisoner.

never i-eceived any notice that he was exchanged nor any information that renewed service under his enlistment was required.
In the

summer

of

1864, however, he

scription law, reported
lars

was drafted under the con-

himself in a proper manner, paid 800 dol-

conmuitation money, and was discharged from the draft. He
at Bloomsburg many months before the general

had been openly

election in 1864, when,

upon going to the place of election and

approaching the polls, ticket in hand, he was seized, })ulled away
and taken into custody by soldiers of the Deputy Provost MarHe was held by them very carefully, permitted to
shal's guard.
to go home for his dinner, but not permitted to approach the
Court House Avhere the election was held, and was subsequently
forwarded as an arrested soldier to Georgetown in the District of
Columbia. This arrest on election day was a great administration
Another vote was 'gained, or rather another voter was
triumph.
silenced, and for the time Cajtt. Silver and his soldiers were in

high

credit.

editor of I'he Columbian became fully acquainted with
the facts of Mr. Down's case subsequently, and upon his energetic
remonstrance to the Provost Marshal General regarding the hard-

The

ship of his case, the injustice done him, and the positive illegality
of holding him to double service that is, under his enlistment

and under the draft

— secured

—

the refunding to his

Avife of

the

This was accomplished after

$300 connnutation paid by him.
some expense and much trouble, in June 1865.

:

Hli^TOEY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.

We

only

will

:idd,

that

Mr.

Downs complains

415

that his certifi-

from the draft was taken from him, or stolen
Georgetown, whereby he was prevented from produc-

cate of discharge

from him,
ing

it

at

nj)on

liis trial.

—

Case of Daniel II. Fry
Mr. Daniel ?I. Fry of Main townwas not in accord in his political views with the administration at Washington.
His case required attention and he was
waited upon the day before the election (Monday, October lOth,
18(i4,) by soldiers, and arrested by them.
Mr. Fry stared upon
shij)

and inquired the cause of his arrest. They told him
he was a deserter, which statement put Mr. Fry into a state of
complete bewilderment. He protested he could not understand
his captors

the accusation

;

that he

a militia training,

had never been

much

less in

in military service

a regular force

;

that he

even at

had never

enlisted or been drafted for the war, nor had he been informed in

any manner that his military

The answer

ernment.

abilities

to all

his

were required by the Gov-

protestations was, that "orders

must be executed," and he was brought forthwith across the Sus(juehanna to Bloomsburg and presently found himself thrust like
a felon into

him and

its

the county
iron chain

jail.

The

thick

jail

was hooked securely.

door closed behind
All this was quite a

new experience to Mr. Fry, the idea even of going to jail never
having before entered his mind, but he summoned his courage
and recollecting that his friend Mr. Michael F. Eyerly resided
hereabouts, he sent for him, opened to him his situation and re-

quested his friendly

aid.

Mr.

Eyerly was skilled in the German

language, had some inkling of the law, and naturally sympathized

knowledge under difficulties." His
and friend was therefore judicious. It happened also that the elder Fry had followed the younger to Bloomsl>uig, and that he likewise was inquisitive as to the cause of his
son's arrest.
He had brought him up "to the best of liis kiuiwledge and belief" in a proper manner, and was astonished and
grieved to find not only that he was the inmate of a public jail
but that he had concealed his iniquity (whatever it might be)
from parental inspection and reproof.
Mr. Eyerly and Mr. Fry Sr., prosecuted their researches for
some time without result. The arrest continued a profound myswith Mr. F.

in his "pursuit of

selection as adviser

HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.

416

counsel, parent and public.
But at length Capt.
opened a little the road of investigation, for he was found
competent not only to execute the law but to exjjound it also.
His exposition was to the following purport
'True it was,' he
said, 'that Daniel II. Fry had not been in fact drafted into the
military service or notified to appear, but he ought to have been ;
that Daniel Fry, the father, had been drawn in the draft, had
been notified to appear and had duly re])orted himself to the
Board of Enrolment, but this was all a mistake; the proceeding
ought to have been upon Daniel H. Fry, tJiereforc the latter had
been seized as a deserter f He might have added, like another
Dogberry, that though this was not ^croioner quest law' it was
good Provost Marshal law, which had become to all intents and
purposes, "the law of the land."
His ex])lanation not being satisfactory, affidavits of the facts
were at once })repared and sworn to, and ap})lication made to the
Dep. Prov. Marshal to discharge Mr. Fry, parole him, to take
bail for his ai)j)earance, etc., but all to no purpose.
He was held
in confinement bey(nid election-day, when upon orders from the
military authorities at Harrisburg, he was discharged u])()n the
ground that his arrest was illegal, unauthorized, and imj)ro[)er.
We will add, that it was clearly outrageous and criminal also,
and that the sole motive for making it was to deprive Mr. Fry of

tery to client,
Silver

:

his vote

and

to affect the result of

time when the arrest was

tended

aihl

followed

it,

this

to merit the slightest attention.

and

the

conclusion

pretext put forward for his arrest

Cases of IIalter

the election.

made and

Heller:

It merits

— On

tow^nship was arrested by

Considering the

circumstances which atis

inevitable.

And

the

too absurd and )»reposterous

is

(three days before the State election,)

Hemlock

—

only contempt.

Saturday October 8, 18G4,
Daniel liolter a citizen of

soldiers

under the orders of

the Deputy Provost Marshal, and Avas brought by them to Blooms-

burg and lodged in the county jail. On Monday following Wm.
H. Heller, another citizen of Hemlock township was arrested by
He was
the same authority and was also lodged in the jail.
again
and
Monday
case
on
examination
of
his
promised hearing or
In fact both the
on Tuesday morning, but none was given him.
prisoners were connuitted to prison without any warrant or other

HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.

All

written authority, or cause shown, and no hearing or examination
of their cases

when

was permitted up to

'the

afternoon of election day

That they
were unlawfully arrested and for the express purpose of depriving
them of their votes at the election, is most unquestionable.
Ilolter and Heller secured their votes in the manner we shall
describe, but were hurried off to Harrisburo- on election nitihtand
But when their cases
held there in coutinement for two days.
were examined by the military authorities there, they were
promptly and honorably discharged and returned to their homes.
There being no cause or even a reasonable pretense for their arthe events to be presently mentioned took place.

they could not be held

rest,

tinued.

against

in

custody nor their persecution con-

The high-handed, outrageous and shameless proceedings
them canle to an inglorious conclusion.

Furman and Robert C. Fruit — Holter and
whom we have just spoken) being in the custody of

Case of Sheriff
Heller (of

:

the Sheriff on election day,

it

was believed that their votes were

silenced or pi*evented and that a certain radical gain was secured.

The

fact

was the subject of conversation

in

the town and of evi-

was so good a thing
have power on their side to have an accommodating Deputy
Provost Marshal with a guard of soldiers under his hand, acting
in concert with the troops in the county, to pick up voters and
keep them away from the polls
After a time the rights of Holdent exultation with the radical leaders.

to

It

;

!

ter

and Heller

as voters

came

into

consideration

among

their po-

and the Sheriff consulted Senator Buckalew on the
subject.
The latter promptly advised him that Holter and Heller
had been unlawfully and improperly arrested; that they were not
liable at all to be arrested by the military authorities of the United
States, never having been mustered into the Federal service nor
drafted undei- United States laws that there was no law. State
or Federal, which required or authorized him (the Sheriff) to relitical friends,

;

ceive drafted nien

or deserters, or those claimed to be such, into

them there in custody for one moand that what he (the Sheriff) had already done and might
thereafter do in the matter of receiving and holding such men in
charge, was and would be entirely voluntary and upon his own
responsibility without any obligation of law.
These views were
the county prison, or to hold

ment

;

III

41«

STORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.

aftorwardH fully sufltainod by the military autlioritics at Harrisand by (tov. (Purlin and his Sotrolary and Attorney (icnoral.

hiirpr

The

ShcrilT

was

Provost Marshal

furtlu'r

advised that his

in the matter, (putting

relations

to the

Deputy

the legal question

:i8ide,)

were 8im])ly tl\ose of comity that liaving received the men to
acconunodate the Deputy I'rovost Marshal and holding them for
that reason alone, good faith could only require that he should
;

not permit their esca]>e, but should deliver tliem

\\\)

to tlie

Deputy

Provost Marshal when called for. In the meantime he could ])ermit them to vote in their proper election district without any vio-

was evident

tlyit Holcharge not only
sritlumt lawful cause, but for the express purpose of depriving

Further, that

lation of faith or of duty.
ier

and Heller

them

liad

it

been arrested and put

of their rights as electors, aiul

that

in

to

his

this frauduU'ut

and

unlawful enter{)rise he (the Sheriff) would becouie a party by
This, as nearly as we can :isIvceping thrm away from the polls.
certain,

upon

it

was the advice received by Sheriff Furman and he acted
A carriage was procured, Mr. Ivobert C. Fruit

promptly.

((^lerk to the

Oouiity Oonnnissioners) volunteered as an

;iid

to the

from the jail by way of Iron
Htreet and the mouth of Little Fishing Creek to the Hemlock elec.
Thus
tion ]>olls, four miU>s distant, wluM-e they gave their votes.
All
Ihe shanu^ful fraud intendeti by their arrest was defeated.

SheriiV,

and the men were

driv<'n

to Jofiiah H. Furman and to the men concerned with liim
executing this act of evident justice! They preserved the law
fix>n\ violation, securing to two of their fellow-citizens their un-

honor
in

doubted rights and defied the rage and vengeance of power
Their ac(ioi\ was legal, laudable, bold and timely, met the necessities of the case in exactly the proper manner, and deserves to
I

be held in lasting remembrance.
Hut the Sheriff and his assistant did not escape punishment for
their upright cotidtu't

.

When,

in

the course of the afternoon, the

had taken Holter and Heller to Buck
Horn to enable them to vote, radical excitement and indignation
bticame intense. To have the fruits of rascality snatched from
their montlis in tbe very hour of sweet enjoyment Avas intolerable
Hud a desiiv for full vengeance filled every breast. Tlie dignity
ftJ«o of Mr. Deptity Provost Marshal Silver had been touched at a
tender ])oint and required signal vindication. Therefore, a squad

fact transpired that they

HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.

419

of soldiers of Capt. Silver's guard was sent in pursuit of the Sheriff and his conii»anion8 with orders to arrest them
and bring them

[lossible,

Head Quarters in the Exchange Hloek or liiggs'
This order was executed with as nujcli of Hpee<l us
but almost too late to take the arrested parties ^a^ranie

delicto.

For the

to the Captain's

Buildings.

in

Sheriff

charge were within

the

soldiers

party

—

put

and

/iOO

his assistant with Holter

and Heller
on their return, when
They were all the whole

yards of the

jail,

—

met and arrested them.
oonhnement and held behind bayonets and

in strict

barred doors during the remain<ler of the day, with

inijK-rfect

ac-

cess of friends and with no

knowledge of the treatment or fate
for wiiich they were reserved.
That there was no popular outbreak upon that occasion; that the arrested men and their friends
and the peojde generally subinittcMl to this open and insolent outrage upon the laws this njost tlagrant invasion of private right
and of the principles of liberty furnished high evi<lence not only

—

—

of their peaceful disposition
color of justification

biit

of their determination to give no

to the slanders

of

their enemies.

In fact,

during the whole latter half of 1864 while arrests wholly unjustifiable were being made in various parts of our county and circumstances well calculated to excite indignation and turbulence were
continually occurring, our people everywhere remained peaceful

Under great and continued

and law-abiding.

jtrovocation

they

and by their conduct gave the most effectual
contradi(!tion possible to those miscreants both at home and abroad
who defamed them. By uid)roken }>atience and by upright con.
duct they proved beyond all dispute that the charge of insurrecfirmly kept the peace

tion

spirit among them, was a
only for denunciation or contempt.
the others above named, were arrested

by them, or of an insurrectionary

base and utter falsehood,
Sheriff

Furman

an<l

They were sent in the eveunder guard, to Ilarrisburg, where they arafter midnight.
They were then thrust into a room

about four o'clock

ning of the same
rived a

little

in the third story

among

fit

in the afternoon.

«lay,

of a

building used

by the Provost Marshal,
and other vile scum of

negroes, bounty jumpers, deserters

the army.

There they were kept that night and Wednesday and

Wediies«lay night, but by reason of the active exertions of their
friends on Thursday, they were graciously allowed quarters in the

County Penitentiary.

HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY-

420

Discharge of Sherijf JBurtnan and others:

—

It will

be observed

by our narrative, (carried already to the point of time when Sheriff Furman and Mr. Fruit were furnished quarters in the Dauphin
county Penitentiary,) [^that two important offices in our county
were virtually suspended and the transaction of public business
The Sheriff was withdrawn from his office and from
interrupted.
the charge of the County prison, as was Mr. Fruit from the office
of the County Commissioners, whose business was confided to him

between the meetings of the Board. Public interests
were assailed in the election
day arrests which we have described. It will also be observed
that the Courts of Justice were wholly ignored in the proceeding
and treated with open contempt. Judge El well, it may well be
assumed, had a proper interest in the uninterrupted performance
as well
of duty by the Sheriff the principal officer of his Court
>.as in the maintenance and due administration within his judicial
district, of ihose general laws of the State which guarantee and
But no opportunity was sought
protect the libei-ty of the citizen.
as Clerk

therefore, as well as private rights,

—

—

or pennitted of bringing the arrested
tion

;

in fact they

were hurried

off to

men before him for examinaHarrisburg to avoid due

quiry and judicial action by him, which

condemn the arrests and restore the
was any greater respect paid to the
States having jurisdiction

in this

it

arrested

men

to liberty.

District Court

county

in-

was well known must

(to

Nor

of the United

which any offender

against the ^laws of the United States might have been sent in

due course of law) than Avas paid to our State Court. Military
power, when it assumes despotic functions, avoids and hates the
Civil Courts as much as the Devil is said to avoid and detest holy
water, and never willingly submits to their jurisdiction and censure; lawless itself, it hates all regular justice

which
But we

that justice
will

is

and the tribunals by

administered.

i^roceed to trace the progress of

those events at

Harrisburg which affected Sheriff Furman and his fellow victims.
And in doing so we shall avail ourselves of papers and memoranda which were made at the time Avhen the events occurred (and
now furnished us) as well as of personal information concerning
-unwritten facts which
soiarces.

we have been

able to procure from reliable

Fortunately, at the time in

subsequently, a

member

of our bar

question and at other times

was

in attendance at Harris-

:

HISTOBY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY
Lurg

421

Cohmibia county prisoners first
and accurate information of all that took place there. To him and to the other
counsel (members of the Harrisburg bar) who were engaged in
the defense of our people before the Military Commission, we are
largely indebted for documents and for details of fact upon the
subject of the military inroad and oc'eut»ation.
as OIK' of the counsel for tlie

arrested,

and was

in a situation to obtain full

Passing over intervening time we will come to the occurrences
Thursday October 13th 1864. Early in that day Mr. Buckalew (who had arrived at Harrisburg) visited the secretary of the

of

Connnonwealth (Mr.

Slifcr) and opened up to him the matter of
Subsequently by appointment he had an interview
in the Executive Building with Gov. Curtin, Secretary Slifer and'
Mr. Meredith, the Attorney General. The whole subject was con-

the arrests.

common opinion entertained and expressed that the
were improper and unlawful. Gov. Curtin, however, upon
being ai)pealed to as the Chief Magistrate of the State (and as

sidered and a
arrests

Buch bound to see that the laws were faithfully executed, and that
his

subordinate state

officials

received due protection) declared

do nothing with Capt. Dodge (the little military
satrap who held connnand at Harrisburg at the time;) that Dodge
had treated his Secretary in an insulting manner upon a recent'
thut he could

occasion

when

attempted

;

a proper interposition on

behalf of a citizen was

but that he would telegraph a statement of the case

to xUr. Stanton, Secretary of

War,and ask

for

him an

ol'der of dis-'

This plan of proceeding involving delay and an uncertain issue, Mr. Buckalew said he would himself confront the terri-

ciiarge.

ble Dodge and endeavor to obtain from him what was desired.
Pursuing this design he went to the court house and found
Dodge, cap in hand, about to leave his office and apparently not
at all inclined to a jn-otracted interview or to any [latient attention to business.
We have had the scene which ensued described
to us,

can hardly hope to succeed

l)ut

ten language.

being heanl,

much

in

representing

it

by

writ-

Dodge wanted to be olf; the Senator insisted on
and there was a hearing and conversation jtretty

after the following fashion

J>odge

:

"That was a pretty bold proceeding by the

carry off our ]>risoners."

Sheriff, to

"

HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.

422

Senator "No law was broken and it was just. Besides, there
was no escape."
Dodge: "They were in custody and it was the duty of the
You say you adSheriif to keep them in prison until called tor.
:

vised this ?"

the men had a right to vote. The
was not bound to take them or keep them in charge at all.
His act in receiving them was voluntary and you have no jurisdic-

Senator: "Certainly I did

;

Sheriff

tion over him."

Dodge: "His conduct was not

i*espectful to us.

They were our

prisoners."
is not your business to manage elections or take
give lawful votes. Why should these men be
men
when
offense
disfranchised? You could complain of the Sheriff only in case he
Now
refused to return your prisoners when you wanted them.

Senator: "It

Major

—

I

believe you are a

Major?

—

Dodge (becoming interested): "Well, I'm

not sure

;

I

was nom-

inated but I believe not confirmed at the last session."

Senator: "Yes, I think I remember the case. No doubt it will
come up again next winter."
About this time the Major (in prospect) underwent a complete
He had been standing,
transformation in demeanor and speech.
But the sudden reflection that the
half impatient, ready to leave.
man before him would have a vote in the Senate upon his confirmation to a higher rank in the army, worked like a charm. He
passed back across the room, put down his military cap, placed
himself at his writing-table,

})olitely

invited his visitor to take a

and resumed the conversation
{very kindly): "Well, what do you want done ?"
Senator: "An order to discharge the Sheriff and his assistant."
No sooner said than done the order Was written and handed
Dodge then rose from his chair all benignity, radiant with
over.
In fact, at that moment,
satisfaction at a good action performed.
Dodge felt at peace with the whole world felt a benevolent infelt or imagined
terest in the welfare of all his fellow-creatures
he felt, already, the gentle i)ressure of a Major's straps upon his
He was a happy man and quite open to any appeal
shoulders
The occasion was improved in the inof benevolence or of duty.
Dodge was reminded that he had the Hemlock
terests of justice.
chair,

:

Dodge

—

—

!

—

HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.

423

voters (Ilolter and Heller) also under his hand that they were
unlawfully held and should also be discharged. He promptly took
back his order and underwrote upon it what was desired. That
;

document

in its final

form was

as follows:

dodge's order.

Opdyke

Columbia county and
on charges preferred by Cap. Silvers.
These men will hold themselves subject to any order which may
in future be received from the recorder of the Military Commis.
"Capt.

will release the Sheriff of

his assistant, confined

sion in session here.

Richard

J.

Dodge,

Capt. Dept. Com'dg.

Mr. Buckalew" states that the two
delinquent drafted

men from

men

arrested as deserters are

the draft of 1862.

not liable to arrest as deserters.

R.

J.

If so,

they are

D."

The above paper being produced to Capt. Opdyke, who was,
we believe, a Deputy Provost Marshal and was playing i)ri8onkeeper. Sheriff Furman, Mr. R. C. Fruit, Daniel Holter and

Wm.

promptly brought uj* and discharged. They
left in the night train and an-ived at Bloomsburg, Friday mornHere they were met at the depot by a con.
ing, October 14.
course of citizens and welcomed home with cheers and rejoicing.
H. Heller were

all

THE COUCH CORRESPONDENCE.
Senator Buckalexn

General Couch.
Bloomsburg, Sei't. 26, 1864.
Major General D. N. Couch, Chambersburg, I*a.
I have refrained from writing you on the subject
Dear Sir
:

of the

to

—

arrests of citizens of this county, in the confident expecta-

would be discharged
Most of these persons
some of them
are men of fair character and respectable position
are aged men accustomea to active employments, upon whom im})risonment is peculiarly severe, and as to all of them, their famiAnd surely the offences
lies and business suffer by their absence.
tion that they, or the greater part

and permitted

to return

to

of them,

their homes.

;

with which they are charged can be neither grave nor dangerous,
when they are not announced or recognized in the community

from which they are taken. Only conjecture or suspicion can be
exercised upon their cases even by those least friendly to them.

HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.

424

tlie charges upon wliich tlie arrests were orsome degree from a disordered state or condition of
luind in their accusers, who Avere carried away by an impression
of combination and armed resistance to the laws in the Fishing
Creek to\vnshi]is. Upon inquiry made by me since my return
from Washington in July, and particularly since our interview in
August, I have oV)tained information which enables me to speak
confidently upon this subject.
And I have to say, that there has

I

do not doubt that

dered arose

in

not been a time during the present year
or other executive officer, could not have

when

a Sheriff, Marshal,

executed peaceably any

warrant or writ whatever in this county; that there have been
no fortifications or military positions prepared or occupied by in-

any intention of establishing them that there has
men assembled in arms to resist the
conscription, as was reported that no cannon or other arms were
obtained for a position on the North Mountain that neither deserters from abroad nor refugees from Canada came to the assissurgents, nor

;

been no large number of

;

;

tance of the so-called "insurgents," and, in short, that the reports
sent abroad of insurrection in this county, (and probably also the

statements sent to Washington as to the foregoing particulars,)

were quite groundless and false. Gen. Cadwallader's researches
upon the upper Avaters of Fishingcreek and on the North Mountain I believe were thorough, and should be held as satisfactory

by the
trict

authorities.

])ublic

and

to

To

the President

Judge

of this dis-

me, he characterized the alleged erection of Avorks of

and the assembling of men in arms to resist the Governa "farce."
But the arrests in question Avere ordered
and actually made before the North Mountain Avas scaled and before the imposture Avhich had misled men abroad, Avas fully exploded.
Had the truth been knoAvn in the outset, I conclude I would
have been spared the composition of this letter and you the trouble
resistance

ment,

as

of perusing

it.

But Avhilethe imposture of "the Fishingcreek rebellion" remained undetected before the advance of Gen. CadAvallader upon the

—

—

forty-four of our citizens Avere taken into custody and transported to Fort MifHin, Avhere forty-three yet remain.
With a single possible exception, none of them were deserters or
drafted men. They were farmers and business men, having no
forests of Sullivan

connection Avith the military service of the United States and

HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.

425

many of them above

the age of forty-five years.
Neither they
nor their friends were distinctly informed of the charges against
them, nor has the privilege of giving bail for their appearance to

answer, been permitted tliem.

known

And

their

accusers are

still

un-

by which they were arrested. I
hear it said recently, that their arrest was under an order from
the Provost Marshal General at Washington, in which case you
as well as the authority

are not responsible for the order, but only for

its

execution.

These men, thus arrested, have been confined in prison nearly
one month, in an imperfectly ventilated bomb-proof of a Government Fort, subjected to vermin and other hardships, and even if
it can be shown that they have been guilty, to some extent, of imprudent or criminal speech or action, they have undergone enough
to satisfy the demands not only of justice but of vengeance.
Besides, two of them are officers of the county (the one a Commissioner and the othei* Treasurer) whose attention at home to public
business

is

necessary.

I

therefore

now make

application for their-

discharge without further proceedings or delay,
justice

as a measure of
and humanity, warranted by the facts and demanded by

public opinion in this section.

submit to you any observation upon the
nor upon the propriety of turning these

I shall not, General,

illegality of these aiTcsts,

men over

for trial

(if

they are to be tried at

court of the United States

all)

joining county (at AVilliamsport.)

proper

to the

which holds regular terms
It is sufficient for

in

my

an ad-

present

purpose to say, that the arrests were unnecessary that no such
formidable combination of men to resist the laws as was alleged
;

had any existence and that these men have undergone already
I suppose no advocate of
severe and prolonged imprisonment.
military arrests of citizens in States untouched by actual war, will
;

pretend

thej^

should be

nor that j)unishment

in

made except

in cases

of utmost urgency,

such cases should degenerate into persecu-

tion.

must add some remarks upon the subject of keeping troops
This county has a population of 30,000 and no more peaceFor
ful, law-abiding district is to be found in the United States.
many years the quarterly terms of our County Courts have not
had an average duration of four days. The introduction of a
large armed foi-oe here was not therefore ])rovoked by the general
I

here.

HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.

426

character of

oui*

people,

but must have been occasioned by the

particular falsehoods already mentioned and

exposed.

With

their exposure the

which have been

fully

reason for an armed force of

occupation wholly failed and a part of that force has been withdrawn. I shall hope you will find employment elsewhere for the
remainder, and

if

will give the officers in

command

interfering with our elections,

and par-

not, that

stringent orders against
ticularly against placing

tempt of an

you

troops at the places of election in

ancient statute of this

con-

Commonwealth.

remains only to notice in this communication, the two facts
which remain after freeing the case of "the Fishingcreek insurIt

They are: 1st. That here, as elsewhere,
some drafted men had failed to report for duty and 2nd, That
there had been a small night aifray in which a young man named
Robinson was wounded. I have to observe upon these points (to
which the case as originally stated has dwindled,) that for the arrest of the offender in the affray, a single officer, or at most a
Constabulary force, was adequate and that as to the drafted men
though they were probably impertinent and boastful, they were
not numerous nor formidable. I believe that in all military movements there should be an employment of force clearly sufficient to

rection" from falsehood.

;

;

accomplish the purpose in view, but in the case of these
failed to report, the advance of a single

had
would have had the same

effect as the

company

men who
of troops

advance of an army,

to-wit,

their dispersion or submission.

The men whose

folly or malignity

spectre of the insurrection, and

was exercised

in creating the

who have caused an unnecessary

and large outlay by the Government, (perhaps in all a quarter of
a million of dollars,) are those upon whom the indignation of auIn a
fall, rather than the men now in custody.
proper place and in due time, I shall probably conceive it to be
my duty to insist upon an investigation of this whole transaction,

thority should

to the end that the truth shall
ity be placed

where

it

become known and just

responsibil-

belongs.
I

am, General, respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
C.

R.

BUCKALEW.

HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.
Reply of General Couch.
Head Qtarters, Dep't. of the Susquehanna
Chambersbuig, Pa., September
Hon. C. R. Buckalew,

Dear

29, 1864.

•,\

j

United States Senator,
Bloomsburg, Pa.:
Sir:
I have the honor to acknowledge receipt

—

of your note of the 26th.
arrested in

inst., in

427

this

day

reference to the Citizen Prisoners

Columbia county, &c., &c.

The commission

for their trial has been ordered and I had hopwould have been ready to take up their cases before this,
but there have been delays beyond my control, still everything is
being done that can be to expedite matters.
I went to the Fort on Saturday last for the purpose of seeing
myself how the prisoners fared, inspect their quarters and if necessary order them to be removed to a more comfortable place of
confinement there seemed to be no cause for complaint and
hence no change was made.
I fully agree with you that no fortifications were erected by

ed

it

—

the "insurgents," but General Cadwallader

amination of the country
ably two

satisfied that

is

who made

a close ex-

they had one, and prob-

was an organization to remembers of which were armed, and I have
other information to the same effect.
The men arrested are charged in general terms with resisting

sist

j>ieces of artillery, that there

the draft, the

the Draft, which covers the case of those

who

advised resistance,

procured arms, knowing they were for that purpose, or sold arms
for the

The

same

object.

arrests

were not to

my

knowledge, made by direction of

the Provost Marshal General, nor are the prisoners held to satisfy

vengeance, but to determine whether they are guilty of the great

crime of which they are charged, or not.

As regards
your friends

the

may

troops interfering with

the elections, you and

rest assured that there will

be no just cause for

complaint.

When

assigned to the

command

structed by the Secretary of

which being

in

accordance with

scrupulously carried out.

of this Department, I

War, not

my

was

in-

to interfere with politics,

natural inclinations, has been

HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.

428

moment

cannot for one

I

think

tliat

you believe troops are

re-

tained in Columbia county to control the elections.
I

was very glad

to receive your letter,

ure our interview in

me

August

last,

recollecting

with pleas-

and the assistance you extended

at that time.

subject has received my careful consideration and I hope
able
to so conduct matters, that none but the guilty shall
be
to
suffer, and so soon as I can satisfy myself that any of the sus
pected parties are only slightly involved in this treasonable move-

The

-

ment,

it

will

be consistent with

my

duty to the Government to

order their conditional release.
I

am

Sir,

very Respectfully,

Your

obd't. Servant,

D. N. COITCH.

Major General Com'dg. Dep't-

A

second

letter to

Gen. Conch.

Bloomsburg, October

11,

1864.

Tuesday Evening.
Gen. D. N. Couch,

—

due course of mail your letter of 29th
duly sensible of your politeness in giving so
prompt an answer to my communication. I notice with satisfaction youi- statement that you visited "!• ort Mifflin" and gave at-

Dear

Sir

:

I received in

September, and

am

tention to the treatment of our citizens confined there, as the fact

proves your possession of those feelings of humanity which do
honor to our common nature. I read also with satisfaction and

upon non-interference Avith our elecby troops under your command or control, and particularly
your assurance to me and my friends (as you expressed yourself)
that we shoidd have no cause foi- complaint in that particular.
These were good words and I have no disposition to tliink tliem
But, unfortunately, the proor to re})resent them as insincere.
approval your observations

tions

ceedings of your subordinates have not been consistent with them.
Col. Albi-ight,

who came

preparatory to the

trial of

u})

to this

county to collect evidence,

our citizens at Harrisburg, did not con-

He went upon the stump in Bloomsburg with the republican candidate for Congress, and made the first
As represented to me it was a
political speech of the campaign.
fine himself to that business.

HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.

429

very inflammatory speech, and gave a most exaggerated and unfair
representation of the difficulties in this county.

speak from
position to

documents

He

professed to

and used his
inflame public passion against the men who were to be
tlie official

in his possession,

and to render their prosecution useful for party purposes.
But 1 proceed to mention events more recent which deserve, as
Some days since soldiers were
I think, your particular attention.
I do not know what they have done
sent south of the river.
there, but a i)risoner was forwarded here yesterday from Main
township and is still kept here. His case is as follows His name
His
is the same as his father's except a middle initial letter.
father's name was drawn in the draft; the father was notified, appeared before the board of enrolment, and was exempted for legal
It is now said, or pretended, that the son was really meant
cause.
and he, without any notice whatever, is seized and taken away
from his district, tfie day before the election and held here in spite
No one can doubt the motive, and the effect
of full explanation
the deduction of one vote from the
is precisely what was desired
poll of Main township.
In Fishingcreek township, soldiers were stationed for the day
on the main road near the polls, obviously to watch the election.
In Benton township one of the election officers was arrested this
morning just before the polls were open, and carried off, the
others had been previously disposed of and the people found no
Last night several men were ^arrested in
officers to act for them.
the neighborhood and kept away from their places of voting. I
They were citizens,
believe no one arrested was a drafted man.
and had been openly at their homes before.
Seven mounted nien were met going toward the Sugarloaf polls
early in the day and they, or another squad, were reported later
tried

:

!

—

in the

day watching the road of approach beyond.
the returns come in it will doubtless be found true that

When

have been held in several districts, because many
been
intimidated and deterred from attending the
citizens have
polls, in addition to those who were taken away by actual arrest.
No cause for the arrests is known and no man can feel safe in atlight elections

tending the election. Of course the intended effect is as certain
as the means of securing it are unscrupulous and disgraceful.

At

the election here in Bloomsburg a

man

Avas arrested in

go

fflSTOBY OF COLUMBIA

430
iiig to

vote

;

soldiers ftp})earing at the

State law to which

I

reforrod you in

OOVNTY

polls in

my

violation of

fornior letter,

lie

the

was

perm Iff <d to i/o /lotne for /iif> di/tner
His ease was one of doubtful dereliction
under a former enlistment which has expired. He has since
been enrolled and drafted under the U. S. laws, and I saw to day
kept in hand during the dA\,

but not to the polls.

his certiiicate of

having paid commutation money.
more without question

living here openly a year or

Two

men

He
until

has been

now.

living openly in the neighborhood for

two years
past and voters in the adjoining townshi[) of Hemlock were ar"
one on last Saturday night and the
rested and put in jail here
They were not liable to arrest and have not
other yesterday.
been drawn under either one of the V. S. drafts. One of them
was pi-oniised a hearing yesterday and again this morning, but it
was not given. Of course none was intended until the election
should close. I said to the Slieriff who had them in custody, this
afternoon, that be would be perfectly jvistitied in conveying them
other

—

to their election district to vote, taking care

to prevent their es-

cape and holding them ready for any requisition upon him.

took an assistant, conveyed them to their

He

and had returned with them almost home when he and his assistant were arrestHe had been abed by order of the Assistant Provost Mai-shal.
sent less than two houi-s, but in that tinuMncalculable mischief had
been done. Two of the four men who were to be disfranchise<i
district,

given true and lawful
and laws of this Conunonwealth .
And these votes will stand good, and the deprivation of rightful
suffrage here be narrowed to the two other c:vses before mentioned.

bv being kept here

in

confinement, had

votes under the Constitution

General, in the war of 1812 the State of

Massachusetts refused

the use of her prisons to the United States for the detention of
Immediately afterwards Sinu^n Snyder, Governor
captives *S:c.

of this State, addressed a patriotic message to our Legislature denouncing the conduct of Massachusetts, and at his instance the
Legislature passed the act of 8d March, 1814, opening wide our
prisons for the admission of hostages and prisoners of war of the
L^nited States and charging upon our Sheriffs and jailors the duThe prior act of oth December. 1789, had
ties of their ciistody.
authorized the admission of prisoners of the United States **coraraitted

by

virtue of legal process," obviously

meaning

in

some

ju-

1

HI!^ TORY
dicial proceeding.

I

OF COL ITMB TA CO UNT Y.

know

of no statute of this

43

Commonwealth

charging uj)On our Sheriffw and prison-kee])erH; the duty of hohling cilizeiiH in draft proceedings under the authority of the Uni-

But even if such statute existed, the duty the Sheriff
would owe to the United States would be simply the safe custody
of the persona committed, and the rendering of them up on proper
demand. And while they were in his custody he would have
ted States.

complete control over them, subject to the regulation of our own
laws, and would share his powers with no other

official

whatever.

do not object to the use of our prisons by
the United States in the fullest manner, and to invoking the principle of comity for that i»urj)Ose where legal provisions may be
Observe, General,

But the purposes of the United States being subserved,
government has reason to concern himself furth-

wanting.

no
er

I

officer of that

and

to

determine

who

shall

be })ermitted to vote under the

State laws.

which 1 have descril>ed were made by the use of
your command, and their occurrence justifies
my aj)p('al made to you in a former letter for the withdrawal of
troojjs from our county, or, in case they were not withdrawn, that
stringent orders should be issued against their interfering with
our elections and particularly against their presence at our places

The

arrests

soldiers subject to

of election in violation of express law.

In conclusion, I must express my opinion that some signal condemnation of the wrongs and outrages already committed in this
county is due to our people from the j>ublic authorities, and that

some

effectual provisions should be

made

against the repetition of

such occarrences in the future.
I

am, General, very truly

Your

obd't serv't.,

C. R.

BUCKALEW.

:

HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.

482

OBSERVATIONS UPON THE COUCH CORRESPONDENCE.

The Couch correspondence demands some notice before we proceed to other matters but we shall be brief in our remarks upon
it because more important topics lie before us and invite us for
ward. As to the latter we will, just hei'e, take our readers into
;

our confidence and imform them what they may expect (in part)
from our researches. Be it known, then, that we have obtained by
unexpected good fortune though not without difficulty, full records
of the evidence in the three leading cases of Columbia county prisoners, tried before the Military Commission at Harrisburg, and shall
publish them entire, or their full substance. The cases to which we
refer are those of John Rantz, Stott E. CoUey and Daniel McHenry,
men upon whom the prosecution the Military Judge Advocate,
the spies, informers, pimps and radical politicians, in short all the
persecutors and their instruments expended the whole force of
their industrj% ingenuity and malice (backed by public power) in
In the main, thank God those
order to secure their conviction.
For
the truth and the right did
efforts were expended in vain.
lies
their
webs
of
were broken their wickedtriumph in the end;

—

—

!

;

and the prisoners, the objects of their hosforth from unlawful bondage vindicatpersecution,
went
tility and
Those prisoners went not forth however without
ed and free
not without grievous expense and
scars of conflict upon them
great suffering first incurred, nor without bitter and enduring
memories of wrong and outrage inflicted by lawless poAver.
But, to return to the Couch correspondence, the matter immediness

came

to nothing,

!

;

ately in

hand

be seen that Couch was notified before the end of
September, by reliable and responsible authority, that the pretexts
for the invasion were false, and was called upon to discharge the
1.

It will

Mr. Buckawas answered by him
due course of mail and

prisoners and remove his troops from the County.
lew's letter to

him dated September

26th,

on the 29th. He received it therefore in
was fully acquainted with its contents. Why did he not accept
the information thus given him and take proper action upon it ?
Assumnig (with gratuitious charity) that he had been misled in
the outset,

why

did he persist in the

wrong ?

HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.
2.
lie

Gen. Couch in his

had

them that

tluit lie told

It

letter

visited the jirisoners in

may appear

yet keep

them

433

of 29th of September states that
Fort Mifflin, but he does not state

their arrest

"was the worst act of

incredible that he could

make

his

life.'?

this declaration

and

custody and allow the persecution again5>t them
to continue, but the fact is too well attested to admit of doubt and
can be fully proved if called in question.
He was conscious
that

in

wrong had been done, and when he stood
was extorted from him by

his victims the truth

tion or of

sympathy which he could not

ings did not long continue, or at

all

face to face with
feelings of contri-

restrain.

But those

events had but slight

feelinflu-

He knew too well what his masters
exacting were the demands of Radicalism

ence upon his after conduct.
recpiired of

and that

him

how

;

commission would be forfeited by any open exhibiand humanity, and he followed the
suggestions of self interest instead of the promptings of his better
his

tion of independence, justice

nature.
3.

Gen. Couch's letter enables us to grapple with the points of
the prisoners as they were finally arranged

accusation against

(and subsecpiently appeared in formal charges before the Military

Commission) and

is

for that reason a valuable contribution to the

history of the occui)ation.

By it,

to a certain extent, our field of in-

narrowed and has assigned to it definite boundaries.
In the first place there is no imputation that any of the arrested
men were concerned in the night affray in which Lieut. Robinson
was wounded. Further, the General agrees fully that no fortifications had been erected for purposes of resistance to the military
power. But he says that "Gen. Cadwallader who made a close
vestigation

is

examination of the country

is

satisfied that

they" (the alleged

'in-

"had one and probably two pieces of artillery, that
there was an organization to resist the Draft, the members of
which were armed," and that he had other information to the same
effect.
He says further, that "the men arrested are charged in
ireiieral terms with resisting the Draft, which covers the case of
those who advised resistance, procured arms knowing they were
This is the
for that purpose, or sold arms for the same object."
whole case against the prisoners as stated by Gen. C >uch one
month after their arrest and after the Albright affidavits had been
surgents')

obtained or extorted

in the

Fishingcreek country.

—

HISTORY OF COLUMBIA

434
It will

COUJ^TT.

be our business in the further progress of this narrative

and by record evidence, to ansv»^er and explode these charges so
far as they came under examination in the military trials at Harrisburg, and we pledge ourselves in advance to perform this work
in the most effectual manner.
But we choose to brand at once
the statement about "one and probably two pieces of artillery,"
for which General Cadwallader is given as authority, as an utter
falsehood.
No evidence to sustain it was ever produced upon
any of the military trials, thoTigh if such a fact had existed it
could have been easily proved and would have been gladly seized
upon by the prosecution. Besides, the common statement of all
persons who had means or opportunity for information on this
subject, has been, that there was no piece or pieces of artillery
known of in the whole region of the alleged "insurrection."
CONTINUED IMPRISONMENT.
Within a few days after the general arrests were made (Aug. 31,
1864,) some of the prisoners' friends in Bloomsbui-g sent Col. Ent
down to Fort MitHinto confer with them and ascertain, if possible,
the charges against them, the line of their defence and the names
of their witnesses.
He performed his mission with diligence, but
not one of the prisoners could tell why he had been arrested. One
of them had been in the military service, many of tliem had just
subscribed money to af^sist in raising volunteers in the pending
They
draft, and others had sons and other relatives in the army.
were not conscious of having conniiitted any offence or of having
done any act Avhich should render them obnoxious to the military
power, and they knew that the general vague reports of "insurrection'' in their neighborhood would be put down upon even
slight investigation fairly conducted.

They could not

therefore

prepare for defence against unknown charges nor anticipate that

they would be long detained

Cadwallader

also, as

in prison.

The character

a gentleman and honorable

officer,

of Gen.
gave as-

surance that there would be fidelity and promptness of investiga-

and that the day of relief and of vindication
them would soon arrive. They did not understand that political malignity in the radical breast was utterly relentless, and that,
united to self-interest, it would disregard all law and all justice

tion in their cases

for

the most sacred obligations of duty and the most

mands

of

humanity

itself

!

Nor

imperative de-

did they understand that officers

—

HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.

435

army

(in high coruiuand even) were under duress to politiand constrained to perfomi the behests of party as the
indispensable condition of their continuance in command and of
their promotion in the public service
that command, rank, pay
and constant favor were for the subservient officer, and embarrassment and reprimands, if not dismissal and disgrace, to the independent and just one. Nearly all the prisoners were continued in
continLMMcnt throughout the whole of September and beyond the
election in October without a hearing of any description and with-

of

tlie

cal leaders

;

out notice of charges against them.

Meantime

as

Gen. Cad wall a-

der could report nothing sufficient or definite against thcni and as
Lt. Col. Stewart was equally unsuccessful. Col. Charles x\lbright

was sent up
a

case.

to do

How his

what they had failed to accomplish make up
work was performed we nuiy choose to describe

whnt we are now concerned with is the result of his
affidavits and statements whicli by an aid-decamp of Gen. Couch were well described as "trash,'' which the
hereafter;

labors

— a bundle of

General himself spoke of subsequently with contempt, and m hich
when subjected to deliberate examination and answer before a
Military Commission were found to be in their essential

features

These papers however furnished a
pretext for the continued imprisonment of our citizens.
Though
they had been taken in secret and by most disreputable means,
though they were afterwards withheld from public inspection and
whylly

false

or

their contents

worthless.

unknown

to the prisoners in their Bastile

upon the

Delaware, they were proclaimed to be most danmatory upon the
accused, a complete revelation of iniquity in Columbia county and
a full vindication of the occupation and all its works. This was the
speech of the Radical Press at Philadelphia, at Harrisburg and at
Bloomsl)urg, along the West Branch and in Luzerne, wherever
interest could be felt in the affairs of this
tal

be

made by

county or

political capi-

the calunuiiation,of our people.

But time passed on; the State election was held on the 11th of
October and one of the main objects of the occupation became an
More than forty citizens had been kept from
accomplislied fact.
the election by direct imprisonment, while others had been intimidated or restrained

in their free action as electors,

of conspiracy and

resistance to law in

tensively used

this

and the reports
county had been ex-

abroad for the purposes of party

in the election

HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.

436
canvass.

Under these circumstances

of

consummated

iniquity, of

—

accomplished purpose it was not unreasonable to think that an
appeal on behalf of the prisoners for long delayed compassion
and justice would be regarded with favor, or at all events would
be heard with civility,
was accordingly made

by the
in the

military power.

Such an appeal

proper quarter, and we will proceed

and results.
THE EXPEUITION TO CH.VMBERSBURG.

to state its character, progress

On

Friday, the 14th of October, (after the discharge of Sheriff

Furman and

his companions,) Mr. Buckalew and Col. Freeze
went over from Harrisburg to Chambersburg to see Gen. Couch
and induce him to discharge the Fort MifHin prisoners. The
General had his headquarters at Chambersburg, and the application to him was recommended by Gov. Curtin as more convenient
and hopeful than would be one addressed to the War Department
An interview with Gen. Couch was promptly
at Washington.
had and the arrests were fully discussed, together with the circumThe
stances of hardship attendant and consequent upon them.

unquestioned fact that there had never been any actual resistance

any

this county, was called to
were the further facts, that the pris
oners had never been drafted and were not subject to military
jurisdiction, and that they had been in confinement a month
and a halfvnthout trial or notice of charges against them. He
was reminded also, that he had already ascertained that the several reports concerning the alleged 'insurrection' (upon which
the occupation of this county by troops had been ordered and the
to

officer

the General's

of

the

Government in

attention

;

as

made) wei'e either wholly groundless or greatly exaggeraand that no public necessity could require further proceedings

arrests
ted,

for the purpose of either precaution or punishment.

reply was scattered and evasive, though

made

Gen. Couch's

at sufficient length.

Perhaps the word "shuffling" would describe it more neai-ly than
any other word in the language. It was not belligerent or uncivil
nor was it specific and responsive to the application made to him.
It indicated incertitude of mind and a deficient will, a temper not
unamiable nor yet pronounced and confident, but above all an apprehension, or a fear of responsibility to
of M'Clellan (under

eyes

whom

— a commander who

be incurred.

The

fate

he had held command) was before his
for failing to do political work and con-

HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY

437

—

duct a war of spoliation hail been degraded and he hesitated
between the demands of humanity and justice on the one hand
and the promptings of fear and selfish interest on the other. He
recited his journey to Columbia county at the inception of the occupation, touched upon his visit to Fort MitHin, expressed his sym]);ilhy with the prisoners and particularly the old men among
them, nuide sundry excuses for delay in the examination of their
cases, thought many of them might turn out to be innocent or

very

when they could be tried
much as possible. He said
three of the men who were

blame, could not say just

little to

but would

expedite proceedings

as

he liad ordered the release of two or
reported to be sick:

—At

point of the discourse Col. Freeze
remarked, "General, one of those men,
(Mr. Koberts,) has been discharged by a higher authority than
yours he is dead!" There followed an awkward pause, but cons'giiiricantly

and

this

severc-ly

—

versation was presently resumed.

The

General's

attention

was

called to the act of Congress which expressly required that where

persons charged with resisting a draft were arrested by the military

\).)\\(iY

they should be forthwith delivered to the cioil author-

and it was urged upon him that he could end all
and embarrassment, so far as he was concerned, by complying with the law, while he would extend to the prisoners a lewhich they were clearly entitled. To this he made
••al right to
no direct answer, but said he would write to Washington for inities for trial,

difficulty

•

He was then requested to allow the prisoners (or such
he would not discharge) to give bail for their appearance before a Military Connnission for trial, whenever the Judge
.\(lvocate should be prepared to proceed against them, so that in
the meantime they might return home, escape the hardships and

struct. ons.

of

them

as

danger to health inseparable from confinement, and.be enabled to
prepare their defense in other words, to allow to them one of
;

extended by law to persons accused of
and he was told
the courts of justice
that a.jy amount of bail which he miglit require would be promptly
The General thought he could not take bail, and turnfurnished.

the ordinary

privileges

criminal offences

before

ing to Mr. Buckalew said

bond

;

:

for the appearance of

"I ask

you

as a

lawyer whether a bail

the prisoners would be good for any-

thing and could be enforced?" To this direct question Mr. Buckalew answered, that i/' the proceeding of arrest and trial of our

HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.

438

by Military Commission was lawful, such bail-bond would
it would be taken to enforce a legal obligation; ^y'the
military power had jurisdiction of the cases, a contract of bail in
aid of that jurisdiction would bind the parties and could be enforced, but if the proposed trials were unlawful a bond for the
appearance of the accused would be worthless. Gen. Couch said
he thought so too a bond would be good for nothing and he
must hold on to his prisoners in order to secure their appearance
for trial.
What an acknowledgment was this of usurpation and
outrage That brute force, naked power, acting in contempt of all
law, could alone hold these men in prison or drag them before
It was an unblushing announcement of the
strange tribunals
rule of the strong hand and of despotic will, as a substitute
for all those fundamental and statute laws which can aloue bind
citizens

be good, for

—

—

!

!

the rightful obedience of the citizen.

At the instance

of Col. Freeze, however, the cases

the prisoners were acted upon favorably by Gen.

of

Couch.

two of

They

were shown by certificates to be sick and suffering from confinement and an order was made for their discharge upon parole to
appear and answer when called for. The interview closed with
an appointment for another at a later hour of the same day.
That second interview was had, but without any definite result.
During the latter part of it Col. Alex. K. McClure was present
and interposed some remarks in favor of the prisoners or of their
Though a republican leader he was sagacious enough
discharge.

and political persecution could not, in
advantageous
to his party, and he scorned the
the long run, be
short-sighted, petty and vindictive policy which inspired and dicto see that arbitrary arrests

tated the outrage upon our people.

The following morning, October

15th, a final interview

was had

with General Couch and the application for discharge of prisoners
again urged. He was still fidgety, and chatty, but undetermined,

and

it

become necessary

conclude the negotiation.

at last to bring matters

to

a point and

Mr. Buckalew therefore said to him,

we came

to you to get relief for our neighbors, supjjospower over them and would be disposed to act
kindly.
Even their enemies might now agree to their discharge
as the election is over.
If you can act, say so
if you cannot, we
will go at once to Gen. Cameron and apply through him to the

"General,

ing you had

full

;

HISTORY OF COLUMBIA CO UN 7 Y.

439

War and the President for relief, I believe he will
and we cannot go home until this question is settled." The
true ground was at last reached.
Couch knew that Gen. Cameron
was hostile to him and had denounced him, and he had a wholesome terror of Stanton. He therefore came to a quick conclusion
and answered with energy, "Don't go to anybody
I will do
whatever I can for your men I'm sorry there has been so much
delay, and I will send an officer at once to inquire into their cases.
As soon as he can report to me I will discharge all of them but a
few to be held for trial." He proceeded to say that he would
Secretary of
aid us

;

;

immediately

call in the officer to

and give him

his directions.

manding the Department

be detailed for the investigation

And thereupon

'"the

General Com-

of the Susquehanna'' rang his

or-

bell,

(we believe a Col Meredith) and informed him that beside the written order which would
be furnished him he would explain to him the object of his apdered to his presence one of his

pointment.

He was

officers,

to })roceed forthwith

Harrisburg and

to

in

connection with Captain Wessels (the Judge Advocate) examine
the papers in the Columbia county cases and report to

the names of the principal ofFendeis to be held for
that the rest might be discharged.

quickly as possible

number
dozen

To

The

was

to be

in order

made

a question put to the General as

to be held for trial, he replied,

— about that."

report

him (Couch)

trial,

The

"tive,

officer retired to

seven,

nine,

to

as

the

half a

prepare for his mission

and soon afterwards, farewell civilities having been exchanged
between the General and his visitors, the latter turned their faces
towards home.
DISCHARGES MADE.

"Head Quarters" already deshown by the following letter from Gen. Couch which
we copy from the Columbia Democrat of April 1st, 1865:

The

result of the expedition to

scribed,

is

General Couch

to

Head Quarters,

Senator Buckalevo.

Dep't. of the
Chambersburg, Pa., October 18, 1864.

Susquehanna;)
j

Mr. Senator Buckalew,
Bloomsburg, Pa.:
you that the Board of officers
were
you
notified, to examine and see how
ordered,
as
which were
many of the Columbia county prisoners could be safely released,

Dear

Sir:

I

beg

to inform

HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.

440

have recommended (21) twenty-one to be

The nature

certain conditions.

more can be

set

of the evidence

under

at

liberty

is

such that no

safely released at present.
I

am,

Sir,

very Respectfully,

D. N.

The number

21,

COUCH,

above mentioned, included

ously discharged on account of

Maj. General.
persons previ-

five

John Yorks,
William E. Roberts (who died before his discharge reached him),
Joseph Coleman, Rohr M'Henry, and Elias M'Henry.
The number of new cases of discharge was therefore just sixteen.
Desickness,

ducting twetity-one, the total number of
four, the original

half

still

in

number

confinement

half a dozen

;

of prisoners,

:

discharges from fortywould leave more than

so that Gen. Couch's "five, seven, nine,

— about that,"

ber to twenty-three.

to- wit

to be held for trial,

had

risen in

num-

This computation does not include Mr.

Rutan who was arrested

after the olhers.

that "the nature of the evidence," rendered

The general declared
it

unsafe to release

Of course Capt. Francis Wessels, Judge Advocate and
manager of the prosecutions, was opposed to discharges.
He
showed very pertinacious and sometimes unscrupulous hostility to
the prisoners upon the trials subsequently had, and he was actuated by strong motives to oppose their release and to press for
their conviction.
His service as Judge Advocate was much more
safe and more lucrative than service in the field, and he had reason to expect promotion in rank and increased pay as the result
of a successful campaign against the citizen voters of Columbia
county.
By activity and zeal followed by success he expected to
win re])utation, and he knew that by exhibiting those qualities
against the accused he would recommend himself to a political
party that had power to reward him, and would not be critical
upon any course of conduct which he might pursue in their service.
He reported therefore to General Couch that it would be unsafe
more.

to discharge so

way

many

prisonei's as proposed,

before his objection.

The

smaller

man

and

his superior

gave

controlled the greater

one, and nearly

twenty victims suffered in consequence.
Wessels had then left in his hands twenty-four prisoners for

persecution at pleasure.
convict,"

was

to

A

Military Commission,

'-organized to

be furnished him as an instrument for his work,

HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.

441

he was authorized to employ agents and runners to prepare
evidence, a stenogra}»her to relieve him of labor and trouble, and
had subject to his call any military assistance he might require.
Nor were "the sinews of war" wanting for his campaign.
Any
amount of money for his purpose could be drawn from army
apj)ropi-iatious, and that too without responsibility to public
o])inion for the extent or the character

The draina

of

the

of the trials Avas about to open, and

outlay incurred.
all

due prepara-

had been made. Power, confident and insolent, smiled upon
tiie suffering and terror of the weak and defenceless who were to
be oitenly smitten and crushed. The performance was to open
Judge Advocate, informer and loyal witness were all ready for
their j)arts; the ])ublic expectant
nothing remained but to organize the Mock Court and begin
tion

;

;

!

HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.

442

THE
TiiK Military CojiMissiON

Mock Court

(called 'a

Harrisburg for the
three

Army

;

TRIALS.

— On the 17th

of October,

trial

of the prisoners.

officers, to-wit:

1864,

a

was organized at
was com})osed of

Military Coinniission')
It

Colonel CMiarles N. Provost, Colonel

J. M. Frink and Captain Lee, with Captain Francis Wessels as
Judge Advocate. It convened under orders of 'the General Commanding the Department of the Sns(piehanna,' that is without
any authority at all excej)t one wholly usurped and lawless. The
members went through the form of taking an oath, and business

began.

The first case called for trial was that of John Rantz (which
was supposed to be the best or strongest one for the prosecution)
and the charges and sjtecifications against him were })roduced.
They were, in substance, that he had confederated with others to
resist the draft (what draft was not mentioned) and had formed
or united with a secret society conuuonly known and called the
"Knights of the Golden Circle," the object of which was to resist
the execution of the draft, and that he had publicly expressed
disloyal sentiments and opinions with the object of defeating and
weakening the power of the Government in its efforts to suppress
In brief, he was charged to be a conspiratoi-, an
the rebellion.
organizer or member of an unlawful secret association, and a man
of disloyal speech.

For the defendant, John G. Freeze, Hamilton Alricks and A.
Herr, Esqs., appeared as counsel, the two latter being members
of the Harrisburg Bar, and Mr. Herr District Attorney for Dau-

J.

phin county.
Plk.v OF
tlie

John Rantz TO the Jurisuiction

:

—

Mi-.

part of the defence promptly tiled an elaborate

Alricks
written

on
plea

It set forth that by most
and imi>erative provisions of the Constitution of the United
States and of the Constitution of Pennsylvania the defendant was
entitled to a trial by jury, inasmuch as he was a citizen and not

to the jurisdiction of the Commission.

clear

HI^STOJRY

OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.

I'lniiloycd hi the military or

nuval service

;

443

recited the provisions

of several acts of Congress, and particularly the habeas corpus

and enrollment acts of 3rd March, 1863, as conclusive that the
courts alone had jurisdiction in the case, and referred to
sundry legal authorities as confirmatory of the position taken.
civil

The

"The defendant

plea concluded as follows:

mits that he
the

is

resi)ectfully

sub-

not triable by this Commission, not being within

jurisdiction

thereof,

or

any other military

of

tribunal

whatever."

This was
answer,al)le

;

ver}'

but

—

good law sound, settled, evident and unit
was thrown away upon a tribunal which

The
little about law (or justice either) and cared still less.
was overruled and the defendant required to plead to the
charges directly whereupon to each charge and sj)ecification he
That plea to the
plead "not guiliy," and the trial proceeded.
jurisdiction however, which was repeated (though in brief form)

knew
plea

;

subsequent cases, stands ui)on record as an enduring i)ropower, and proves that there was no voluntary acquiesence by our people in the jurisdiction assumed over
in the

test against des[>otic

A

them.
sion,

similar plea to the

made

jurisdiction of a

in the Milligan case in

tained by the Supreme Court of the

which

will

remain one of the

Military

Commis-

Indiana, was subsequently susIgnited States in a

beacons of liberty

judgment

in future times.

was unanimously and promptly overruled by the
Hanisburg: precisely the same )>lea, in
another case, was unanimously and deliberately sustained by the
Supreme Court of the United States at Washington. Such is the
the latter endiffereiu^e between a mock court and a real one
forces the laws and is competent to its work, will almost always
be found learned, patient, impartial and just, while the former
will
violate laws and exhibit ignorance, impatience, passion and

The Kantz

plea

Military Commission at

;

its proceedings and in its judgments.
Conviction ok R.*ntz. The trial of John Rantz proceeded for
He was
several days and was concluded on the 24th of October.
thousand
one
found guilt ij <iud was sentenced to pay a fine of

injustice throughout

—

and to tindergo an imprisonment in Fort Miffiin for
term of two years. The witnesses examined against him
were Nathan J. Hess, Adam Lutz, Richard Stiles, and Edward
M'Henry. For the defence the witnesses were, Abraham Young,

dollars
the

IIIHTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.

444

Samuel Rhone, Jolni O. Dildinc, Duvid Savage, Andrew Lau))ach, Nicholas Kindt, Martin A. Annnernian, E. J. McHenry,
and Wni. Applenian. Tiie evidence was closed on tlie 20th
on
;

the 21st, Mr. Ilerr submitted, on behalf of the prisoner, a written

aioiunent, reviewing the whole case, and on the

the

24th,

reply

Judge Advocate to the defence (also in writing) was put
in.
The whole of the evidence as it was carefully taken down at
the trial will be made the subject of future examination and
comment.
of the

Otiiku Convictions:

—The

trial

and conviction

Kline followed imediately after the case of Rantz.
tenced to two years imprisonment in Fort MifHin.

pleman was next

tried.

suffer imprisotmient for

Samuel
was senWilliam Apof

lie

He

also was convicted and sentenced to
one year in Fort MifHin or to pay a fine
He chose the alternative of paying the

hundred dollars.
and after some delay succeeded in borrowing money for
He paid the fine and was discharged from impristhe purpose.
onment November 22nd 18()t. John Lemons, Josej)h Vansickle,
Valentine Fell and Ijeiijainin Colley were also tried successively,
convicted and sentenced to imprisonment in Fort MifHin.
Conviction followed trial with a certainty and regularity which
were refreshing to the radical observer and furnished tlie unthinking and ill-informed an apjiarent justification, or at all
events an excuse, for the arrests and for the military occupation
of five

fine

of our county.

The sentences

of several

of

the prisoners

whose convictions

were mentioned were as follows: Benjamin Colley, one year,
Joseph Vansickle tlie same Valentine Fell and John
at labor
each
six months, also with labor,(Col. Dem. Feb. 4, 18G5,)
Lemons
Mr. Fell's trial was concluded January 14, 1865, and was, we be;

;

lieve, the last of

We

these already referred

to.

Wessels, the Judge

Advocate, rejoiced
and looked forward
with confidence to his coming reward. But one of the remaining
cases gave him some concern and as proceedings upon it progressIt was that of Daniel MTIenry, Treasurer
ed, no little trouble.
of Columbia county, whose conviction was greatly desired but
who showed from the outset an unmistakable disposition and in-

have

said

that

greatly over his success in those

early trials

ni,STORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.
tention to

enormous

make vigorous

fight

and

wliich stood

to

overcome

in the

way

if

445

possible the

and
go home and prepare for trial, nor was there much to encourage continued resistance in the circumstances which surrounded him. His counsel
even (who were very intelligent gentlemen^) advised him that a
defense would be useless, as in their opinion, the commission
would convict without much regard to any evidence which might
be produced, and the Judge Advocate whose control ovi r the result was almost absolute, was evidently hostile and anxious to
convict him.
Nevertheless our friend from Stillwater remained
unmoved and undiscouraged in the position he had taken, and
we say advisedly that the peoi)le of this county generally, as well
as his fellow prisoners were under deep obligations to him for his
exhibition of courage, fortitude, energy and sound judgment at
rlifticulties

triumiihant defense.

that time.

own

lie

was not allowed

of

a

full, fair

to

Thereliy he secured their vindication as well as his

— the turning back of

theretofore had

the tide of radical defamation

moved on unchecked, and

of evidence for a righteous

which

the regular collection

judgment by histoiy upon the subject

of this military occupation.

His friends collected his witnesses with the advantage of the
afforded by the previous trials, and (after vexatious and
expensive delays inter)>osed by the prosecution) his case was fully
light

heard and an honorable judgment of acquittal was pronounced.

But pending the consideration of his case, the case of Stott E.
CoUey was called for trial (Nov. 21, 1864,) and a large part of his
witnesses were examined in Mr. Colley's defense, thus narrowing
the field of investigation when his own case was proceeded with
on the 14th of December. The evidence taken in the two cases
must therefore be con-<idered together in order that we may possess ourselves of complete information when we come to examine
the charges or articles of accusation against the prisoners. Those
charges were very nearly the same in all the cases tried, but oidy
in the cases of Mr. Colley and Mr. M' Henry was full defence
made and records in all respects satisfactorily made up.
On the Colley tiial the veracity of Edward M'Henry (the princi})al Government witness) was successfully assailed and his credit
broken. The character and j)urpose8 of the CluV) meetings of
1^6;^ were also shown to have been entirely lawful and innocent

HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY

446

and

tlie

importimt

f;urt tli:i(

njore tlian a year before

the last one

them had been held

of

occupation, was put beyond dispute.

tlie

more fully in the trial of Mr. M'Henry,
August 14th, 18(51 was explained and relieved from most of the imputations cast upon it by the prosecution, whili' the fact that it hid been held after the troops came to
the eountii and therefori' could not have caused their being sent
This evidence nu>t and exploded
here, was phiced in bold relief.
the prior convictions had taall the general t'harges upon which
ken place. Absolutely ni)thing was left of all the nuitters of genIn that

trial too,

and

the Ivantz meetin<;-

still

ol"

eral accusation against the prisoiu'rs, aiul the

occupation stood

ut-

condemned before its own extraordinary and partial tribunal
— the Military Commission and in the presence of all the peo})le.
tei-ly

—

By

the unanimous acquital of Mr. Oolley and

Mr. INT'IIenry slan-

was silenced and the ]»olitical raid upon Columbia
placed forever beyond justiiication or excuse.
diM-

It is true

made

that

particular

charges

of

against the prisoners, or some of

count}'^

disloyal discourse were

them, in

addition

to the

So far as these related to Mr. Colley and Mr. M'llenry their futility and injustice will appear
But
when we come to recite the evidence in their cases.
we will here remark concerning these charges against lie
prisoners generally, that they were cpiite secondary or subordinate to the main ones before mentioned, that they were supported
general matters of accusation.

by very doubtful
were

in their

or tainted testimony in nu)st cases, an<i that they

very nature vague, uncertain or suspicious.

the discourses which the
this

prosecution

Besides,

attempted to prove uruler

head of accusation were almost invariably mere improprieties

of speech and

fence

tlu'ir

utterance could not constitute

a criminal of-

Tn fact, the alleged disloyal renuvrks of some of the pris-

om-rs were obviously introduced

upon their

trials

rather as con-

firmatory of the general charges of criminal conduct
thciii,

and

to color their cases

with

odiiun, than

made

against

as distinct

and

substantive oifences.

Before proceeding to sum up the cases of Stott E. Colley and

Daniel M'Henry with a detail of the particulars which gave them
peculiar interest,

by

reciting the

we

shall lay a solid

foundation for our renuirks

main parts of the testimony both for the prosecu-

tion aiul the defence.

HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.
Edward M'Uknuy

:— This

a witnkss

as

man and was

drafted

portiiig

was u

])L'rsoii

iincjuestionably

447
iion-re-

guilty of a(;tive

op|)Usiti()ii to tlie enforceiiient of the coiiscri})ti()ii hiws, and that
both by sj>eech and eonduet. He was arrested on tlie 19th of
September 1HG4 in a state of intoxication and placed in the jail

There he was visited by two of the leading
lie was taken on to Harrisburg and held
in confinement there until the 22d of October, when he was released upon condition that he would become a government witThe negotiation with him was finally concludcid by Col.
ness.
Albright, and he was suddenly transformed from a culprit to a
patriot, was put on governmetit pay, and became the main support and instrument of the jjrosecution, in all the trials which
at liloomsburg.

radicals of

town.

tlie

subsecpiently took

that

Upon

j)lace.

testimony, of the contradictions
his general character

and of

testimony, mainly,

his

all tlie

were had, and therefore an examination of

convictions

earlier

and

to

was subjected
it
become important in

which

credibility,

our investigation.
In

till'

Daniel M'llenry

follows

fied as

M' Jlenri/

JMii-ard

on the

trial,

1

4th of

turorn:

— "I

IJenton township, Columbia county

testi-

am a carpenter and reside in
know Daniel M'Henry I was

;

;

barn about the 14th of August

at Rantz's

December, he

.•

from taking the drafted men.

to resist the soldiers at liloomsburg

The meeting was gathered when

The meeting was

last.

got there at 11 o'clock

I

;

I

sup-

There were some speeches made, Samuel
Kline made the first one: He advised them to form into squads
or companies to I'esist the soldiers nothing else said. Daniel M'pcjse

100 to 125 there.

;

llenry was the

were

times

critical

resisting

next speaker,
;

I

gave them a

the soldiers
as

thought

unanimous

;

I told

That

little

them

is all

speech

;

other spi'ech.
the spc, iking

I

said

I

I

in

recollect of his

spoke

in

recollect.

I

in

saying that

favor of

resisting

men were encouraging
reported, we could do no

more but don't

'these

resisting the

as the old

we were drafted and had not

than resist

;

;

unanimous

were

they

the draft, the people were

draft and the soldiers.'

day;

he

understood him to say

I

it,

and

better

did not hear any

Daniel M'Henry 8|)oke a couple or three minutes

was about

2 or 3 o'clock in the

afternoon.

A

;

j)or-

;

448

HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.

tion of the meeting

was armed

The meeting formed

I

;

squads

suppose about one

— ahnost

lialf Avere.

There were five
squads, Samuel Kline was Captain of one squad, Jacob Shultz of
another, a young man from near Orangeville of another, Elias
Kline another. I was the other. The squads elected their Captains.
These squads did not afterwards resist the soldiers that I know of
from what I understood the soldiers were too strong. Part of the
squads went to the mountain to keep out of the way.
I heard the
story that the soldiers were coming to burn and destroy property.
Some believed it and some did not. We resisted the soldiers to
prevent the drafted men from being taken.
I attended so-called 'secret meetings'; I was a member, I joined
in the spring of 1863 in Jackson township, near the Union church.
We were required to take an oath, which was, 'to suppoit the
Constitution of the United States and resist the conscription act.'
William E. Roberts administeied the oath to me. It was not a
secret meeting at Ezekiel Cole's I think Col. Tate and Daniel
MTIenry made speeches there I heard him (D. M'Henry) say,
that they ought not to furnish a man or a dollar towards the war;
I don't know whether he was on the stand or not
I do not recollect that he said anything about the draft in his speech.
Do
not recollect of seeing Daniel M' Henry at any of these secret
meetings I live several miles from him I never attended any
secret meetings in his neighborhood.
Cross-examined: Can't say I was arrested for same offence as
that charged on defendant.
I was a drafted man and did not reThe
port; I can't say who arrested me or where I was arrested.
I was in
first I knew I was in the county jail, and I was drunk
confinement from the 19th of September till the 22d of October I
got my liberty. I do not know that any drafted men but myself
were set at liberty. Col. Albright told me if I would make a clean
breast of the difficulties up Fishingcreek, as far as I knew, I could
have ray liberty. I was not drunk at Rantz's. I don't remember
of having said at Rantz's that we would trim apple trees and
would turn the ditches. I did not understand that the meeting at
Rantz's was occasioned by fear of the Harvey ville boys. Absalom
M'Henry was at Rantz's, I heard Daniel M'Henry's speech distinctly, I was examined in these Columbia county piisoner cases.
A question submitted here by counsel for Defendant, but objectinto

all.

;

;

;

;

;

;

;

:

HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.

449

ed to] I do not recollect that T threatened that I would convict
Daniel ^M'Henry I do not recollect that I said in the cars coining
;

knew what

to say and would say. it.
Daniel M'Ilenry had no more to do with the meeting at Rantz's than Iliad,
f A question by Mr. Herr for defence, objected to and overruled.]

to Ilarrishurg

I

men we were drafted, had not reported and the best thing
we could do Avas to resist. The next day Valentine Fell asked
I told

go up with him
went with him.

nie to
I

to Sugarloaf to get people to turn out

and

—The secret meetings were

call-

Re-examined by Prosecution

do not know when
do not know any name used when I was initiated.

ed "Kniglits of the Golden Circle,"
I

lie-cross

Examined;

"Knights of the Golden

I

— Sometimes

Circle''

the

I

joined:

meetings were called

by way of reproach and sometimes

not.

The foregoing testimony
complete as given by him,

of Ed. McIIenry,

may

be taken

which

But was he a credible witness?
lowing statement made by an honorable gentleman,
McIIenry trial, answer:
statement of

fact.

Jesse Jlartman sinorn:

—

is

exact and

his revised

as

and

final

Let the

fol-

in the Daniel

and
had a conversation
with him in Benton and also in Harrisburg.
He told me in Benton "if the conscripts would stick to him till he got them together, he would soon drive the hell-hounds (the soldiers) out of
the county."
I met him in H;xrrisburg at Park House, the time
of Colley's suit; I said, 'Ed. McIIenry you have altered your
opinion since I sfioke to you at Benton.' He said ''the;/ had
caught him, and handcuffed him,, and he coxdd do no better
than swaar as he did, and that the innocent at such times must

am

a farmer.

I

'•!

reside in Sugarloaf township,

know Edward McHenry.

I

:

sK.ff'er

But

irith the

Ave

cliaractcr

f/ifllti/.''

go furtlur we will cite the strong testimony upon
which was given on the Colley trial.
:

his

Jacob Welliver, farmer of Benton, testified that lie had known
McHenry twenty years, and that his reputation for truth and
veracity was bad.
He would not believe him upon oath where
\w was particularly interested.
Ed.

HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.

450

Williayn Ash, n farmer of same neigliborhood, testified

he knew Ed.

McHenry and

that his reputation

for truth

tliat

was not

very good.

William Brink, of Jackson township, testifiied "I know Ed.
McHenry, his reputation is pretty bad. I would not believe him
:

on oath."

Hiram Ash,

testified

:

good, I do not think that

"McHenry's reputation
I would believe him on

for truth

is

oath.

would

I

not

not.

Cross Examined: "I think

He

truth.

is

man

a

ing given evid^^nce

it

do not know of

I

tell

the

his hav-

have known him otherwise to speak

I

:

hard for him to

pretty

not of his word.

false."

John Savage, a farmer of Jackson township, another witness,
said he knew Ed. McHenry and his reputation for truth was not
good.

Martin A. Amm,erman,
tance from Ed.

of Fishingcreek said he lived

McHenry who was

considered a rowdy.

a disIt

was

a hard question to say whether he would believe him on oath.

Moses Yocum, farmer,
Henry,

his

of Benton, testified

reputation for truth

poor.

is

"I

:

know Ed. Mc-

think

I

would not

1

believe him."

"Would

Cross Examined:

had an

interest in

not believe him

he would not

;

tell

drinking and cutting up since a boy.

would do so and

so,

Hon. Iram Derr

I

in

anything he

He

has been
have heard him swear he

the

truth.

and then do the reverse."
:

''Ed.

Mc Henry's

character

is

not good

;

so

the people say."

Samuel Jihone,
tion

is

John

O. Dildine, of

not good
believe

JEsq., of

Benton, said

:

McHenry 's

Ed.

reputa-

not very good.''

;

Benton, said

:

McHenry's reputation is
whether I would

not well enough acquainted to say

him on

oath,"

These citations of testimony

will

answer,

we

suppose,

on the

question of character, especially in view of the fact that not one

witness was called on behalf of the prosecution to sustain Ed.

McHenry

against this strong impeachment.

HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.
The Witness Richard
ed

Stiles:

451

—This person, who may be rank-

importance next after Ed. M'Henry, was a

in position if not in

swift and willing witness for the prosecution, and though his revelations of fact were

not very important nor at all reliable in
were well intended to secure the party objects

their details, they

of the prosecution.

Upon

the Rantz

trial, in

October, Stiles testified that he heard

of the Rantz meeting on the 14th of August, but
that he attended a meeting at the Ash's School
last of

March

present

1864, at

which twenty

was not there
House about the
;

twenty-five

to

men were

he believed the school directors called the meeting to

;

know whether

the people would be willing to be taxed to raise a
bounty for volunteers. Some were in favor of the proposition
and some were not. "Rantz was opposed advised the people to
keep their money to buy arms to fight at home. John R. Davis
said, 'John, we can't do it, we are too weak.'
Rantz said he
thought not he had been to Bloomsburg that day just came
from Bloomsburg. He said lawyer freeze had told him, Illinois
was about seceding and the State of New York was about to go
Rantz said. Abolition leaders had seven pockout of the Union.
ets and never were satisfied till they got them all full of money.
Meeting adjourned to meet again without doing anything." The
witness jiroceeded to state a conversation he had with Elias
M'Henry on 14th of August, and another which he had with
Rantz in 1862, in which the latter said his son Jonas was not of
age to be enrolled, and made declarations similar to that above
mentioned about fighting at home. He (the witness) "went on
;

;

and

left

him

;

talking."

Stiles then detailr-d a conversation

man

in

lows:

the spring of 1863,

— "I

sist

the draft

;

I

he had with William Apple-

regard to secret meetings, as

fol-

heard you had a secret meeting at Ash's
I told him I understood they were sworn to reunderstood liim to say they were not sworn at

saitl to

School House.'

in

him

'I

he said they did take upon themselves an obligation to support the constitution of the United States and of the State of
Pennsylvania.
I told him I had been straightly informed the oball

;

was to resist the draft, and if so, they would all be arrested
and put into prison and he replied, 'there would not be prisons
enough to hold us.'
My sister, Mj-s. Peter Appleman, informed

ject

;

HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.

452

meeting

nie of the object of the

had been

in,

but not

till it

was

;

also Daniel Karns, M'ho said he

finished, unless

he Avould be one of

In answer to questiots by the

Commission witness to!d
some particulars he had heard about the Rantz meeting of the
I4th of August, and said he had seen men armed going to and
returning from it.

them."'

Gross-examined: The meeting I speak of [concerning bounThey adjournAsh's School House was the first meeting.
ed to meet again without coming to a conclusion I think SamI think there was a vote taken
uel Rhone was chairman
I
''

ties] at

;

;

think the majority

Rantz did not vote

;

night was in favor of raising the money.

tliat

at all

voting was by raising the right hand

;

;

kept a sharp look out there was but one more meeting then
a committee avus appointed to canvass the sub-districts John J.
Stiles, Thomas Davis, William Appleman, John R. Keeler and

I

;

;

;

I do not remember if Lemon's hauling was on that day or
Rantz did not oppose my nomination for Sheriff I consider
Rantz a man that talks considerable."

others

not

;

;

;

Examintd hy

the

Commission:

"I can't state

who

voted in

There was a negthink Rantz voted against it, and spoke right

the minority at the meeting to raise bounties.
ative vote taken.

out against
Reaiauivs

I

it."

—

1.

Stiles said,

[to rais'^ bounties]

coming
finally

there

to

a

a vote taken

aiiythin^^

Then,

But pressed by farther questions he
contradiction by saying
"I think
think the majority that night was in

conclusion."

gave to himself a

was

domg

"they adjourned to meet again without

cross-examination,

1

on direct examination, "the meeting

adjourned without

;

flat

I

:

favor of raising the money.''

Speaking of the same meeting he said, on cross-examination
not vote at all voting was by raising the right hand;
1 kept a sharp look out.'
But again he flatly contradicted himself in saying, in answer to a question by the Commission, "I
think Rantz voted against it and spoke right out against it."
2.

"iJant'^ did

;

Stiles' narrative of what was said by Rantz at the meeting
mn^t be greatly exaggerated, if not a gross fabrication. Samuel
'\

IIISTOBY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.
IMione,

4o3

wlio

\v:is l*iesident of the meeting, testiiiod subse
he "did not hear Rantz make any remarks made uo
public speecli
litard no remarks from Ka-itz ;" and no Avitness

P^sq.,

queiitly, that

;

;

was

called to

corroboraie

within

fwrt^ier, that

Sules.

week

a

JJesiiles,

after

Esq.

Rhone

testified

meeting Rautz told him
be high but we must try and

the

'we must help the boys, the tax will
it ;" and
William Appleman testified, "1 took subscription
for bounties, John Rantz subscribed $103.03 for himself, and
pay

S2o.00 for another man.

These were voluntary subscriptions

in

addition to the tax."
Stiles says

4.

his conversation

that in

with William A])ple-

him
But immediately

maii concerning the secret (or Club) meetings, he understood
to

deny that the members were sworn

at

all.

afterwards he admitsthat Applemau told him they took an obliga-

United States and the conwhich was in fact the very oath of inishown by abundant testimony upon the several trials.

tion to support the constitution of the
stitution of Pennsylvania,
tiation as

On

the 22nd of

November

Stiles

18()4,

was examined

as

witness against Stott E. Colley and testified to declarations

by the

latter a year before,

directed against himself by

give his testimony as

''Richard
mer.

I

iStiles,

know

an enrolling

it

wa

sicorn

:

'.

and also to an attempt of intimidation
some person w holly unknown.
We
delivered.

—

I

reside in

Benton township

:

Stott E. Colley, for fifteen years or more.

officer for

the

a

made

first

nine month's drafted

men

a farI

was

;

also

revised third enrollment after second enrollment.
I received a letter about the 1st of last May, [^Evidence of the
contents of the letter objected to by the Defense but admitted by
Found a letter nailed in a coffin and the lid
the Commission.']

—

Letter was left as a solemn warning charged me
with dragging my friends and neighbors to a field of slaughter in

turned down.

defence of an inferior race of beings
At one time at
[Letter jn-oduced.]

— gave me solemn
in

warning.

Benton township

had a conversation with the accused. It was about one year ago,
He contended if tliere had been a
after the election of 1863.
fair election Woodward would have been Governor. It was through

HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.

454

fraud Curt in was elected.

box once more

;

if

Tlio Douiocrats

would try the ballotwould be blood

they had not fair play there

spilt.

—

Cross-examined: Prisoner never threatened or intimidated me;
do not know who wrote the letter ])roduced. I think tlie conversation with him was in November 1868, about one month after
I

election."

TiiK WiTNKss

this

one perhaps

that

we can

—

Nathan

for the prosecution
is

Of all the witnesses examined
J. IIkss
whose testimony was relevant and important

least liable to criticism or censure.

detect a few inaccurate statements

It is

true

made by him, and

was not of a high
seem to have been actuated by any malicious or br^se motive or to have been misled by unworthy passions.
He was examined as a witness in all the trials of which we have
and
records before us those of Rantz, Colley, and M'llenry
mainly in regard to the Rantz meeting of August 14th 18()4.
When we come to treat of that meeting as a distinct subject of
iiwfcstigation, the testimony of Hess will become most valuable,
and will be freely used. It will exhibit (indirectly at least) the
cause of that meeting as alleged in defence upon the trials, and
also the circumstances under which it assembled.
Unfortunately
the witness was not present at the meeting in the afternoon.
He
says, he went to it "about 10 o'clock and staid until 12.
The
meeting had adjourned to go to dinner when I left; I did not
return after dinner."
We have not therefore, the advantage of
his testimony as a check upon other statements of what took
place and was said in the afternoon, but as far as it goes it has
its value and will be made available for our purpose of ascertaining and exposing the whole truth in regard to the Rantz meeting.
In the Colley trial, Hess testified to a remark by the defendant
about a future fair election and spilling of blood if it should not
be had, almost identical in terms with that testified to by Richard
Stiles upon which we have already commented.
In the Rantz trial Hess was examined as to his knowledge of a
secret meeting at the house of Peter Case, but nothing important
was elicited. He was not, therefore, examined upon that point

we

are at liberty to suppose that his intelligence

order, but he does not

—

in the subsequent cases.

—

We

only refer to his testimony concern-

*

HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.

4o5

meeting for the purpose of saying that the witness was
its date.
He fixed it, "about a year ago,''
which would be in October 1803, whereas it was in fact held many

ing
in

tliat

error regarding

months before that date, as was fully shown by other testimony.
Heas says there were no speeches made at the Case meeting that
he was not initiated as a member of the club or association, and
that he did not know its object.
He had heard the meetings
called "Knights of the Golden Circle,'' (but does not say when, or
by vihofn "don't know if that was the name or not."
Hess had served in the war but returned home 5th of August
1864.
Afterwards and at the time of the trials he was, as he
;

;

says,

in

no regular employment.

His invited

presence at the

some evidence that they
were innocent in character. It is believed he was induced lo become a government witness in order to save his father from a
Every effort and influence possible were used
threatened arrest.
in the days of the occupation to make up evidence against our
citizens.
It was sought with avidity and used without scruple.
It was invited from all quarters and sometimes extorted or subFear, interest, family affection and party passion were
sidized.
meetings above mentioned

in itself,

is,

each appealed to for the false, perverted or irrevelant testimony
which should consign innocent men to dungeons and gloss over

and conceal the iniquity of their arrest and punishment
That
J. Hess did not swear more strongly and unfairly under
the pressure of power, was due to his own scruples of honor or of
conscience and not at all to any sense of justice or of moral obligation in those who employed him.

Nathan

The Witness

—

Sii-as Karns
Another government witness ajiupon the scene under circumstances of a very peculiar
He came into view in the Mccharacter and full of instruction.
Henry case for the first time, and fresh from the manipulation of
the military authorities to whose jurisdiction he was amenable.
For he was a non-reporting drafted man who had made terms
with power and was transformed from a criminal to a witness,
from being an object of vengeance to occupy a position of tolerance and favor. The witness was Silas Karns (who was supposed to have been concerned in the shooting affray in which Lieut.
Robison was wounded) and he was produced under instructions

pears

:

:

HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.

456
and

well calculated

c'oiKlitioiis

A

prosecution.

world

to

si)ur his zeal

of nieaniug

contained

is

behalf of the

in

the following

in

language obtained from his cross-examination in the Mcllenry
trial

"7"a>M
leased

and

years

drafted in first three

Capt. /Silver said, if

— and

I kneto

tell all

the shooting

I came

draft

and

here

— in fall of

about this case,

Vi'o2>.

I

shotdd be re

and

liutaiis case,

testified

of Hobison."

Of course Capt. Silver acted under instructions and was not primarily responsible for this arrangement and for the manipulation
of the witness, who,

pelled to

make

being within
best terms

tlie

tlie

grasp of power, was com-

he could.

The

military authori-

Harrisburg and the i"adical politicians who instigated
tliem, are the parties to be held responsible for all that was done
at

ties

and about tho

in

And what

trials

including the i)reparation

of testimony.

Discharged Karns
from all responsibility and took him into favor upon the express
comiition that he would tell them about the shooting alfair and
swear against Daniel Mcllenry and ]\Ii-. Uutau. Tlu' latter objects

did they do in the case

were of course the main ones.

quite a secondary matter

by violence

lost

before us

—

it

?

Tlie Itobison

honiicide was

involved only the question of a

—but the ct)nviction of

life

JMcIIenry and IJutau was

an im{>ortant and darling object and to be accomplished by the
use of

all

possible means.

It

was

"a political

necessity" that

they should be convicted and }tunished, for they had been contumacious to power and their ac(piittal would openly condemn
their persecutors before the people.

C)bserve

the

tenq)tation

from army service;

held

from

a whole

year

(or not reporting for

—

witness
exemption
punishment for desertion

out to the

e.\em})tion

all
;)

innnunity,

for

all

possible

participation in the homicide affray, and finally, enqiloyment and

The road in one direction was made
smooth and inviting, while an opposite course pointed to prison
and bonds— to poverty, disgrace and i)unishment.
compens.ition as a witness.

Tt

nmst

ai)i>ear

very remarkable to good unsophisticated peo-

ple Avho supposed the military occupation had

that deserters were not pursued
in

shooting Kobison

legitimate objects,

with vigor, and those concerned

sought out and punished.

Although the

IIISTOMY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.

457

county was occupiLMl by :iii jirmy for luoiillis, at an expense of
hundreds of thousands of dollars, very little was done by it to
accomplish the first of these objects, and (so far as the public
knew) nothing to accomplish the last. It is true that deserters
(non-reporting men) were not numerous here, and that a few
of them left the county
but of those accessible scarcely
any were arrested by the troops. Those reclaimed or secured
to the public service were almost exclusively
reclaimed or
secured through the
regular agency of the Deputy Pro;

vost Marshal, either by voluntary reporting to him or (in a
few cases) by arrest under his authority.
The airny expended its attention upon innocent citizens and watched the
elections, but mostly lounged away its time in inglorious but expensive idleness.
We have seen too that when so called deserters wtre arrested the main object was to make them witnesses
against the citizen ]»ris()ners instead of securing them to the public service or punishing them for their dereliction of duty.
Karns was examined as a witness on the loth of December
1864.
As his testimony related entirely to the Rantz meeting we
shall reserve it until we enter upon the subject of that meeting.
In fact we shall rely upon ])arts of it in our exposition of the
Kantz meeting as a valuable contribution to the cause of truth
and justice.

—

TiiK Witness Aija.m Li tz:
This witness was examined against
Kantz and Colley but not in the Daniel M'Henry case.
He
resided in the village of Benton, was a pumjj-maker and farmer
and about the time of the trials an inn-keeper.
In the liantz case, Lutz testified that he had heard of the Kantz
meeting but did not know its object, and that upon one occasion
(the time of which lie could not state) he had heard Kantz say
that they (the people) should save their money to buy powder and
This remark was made after a
lead to shoot the abolitionists.
He further
failure to raise bounty money to clear the township.
testified to a conversation with Kohr M' Henry, to which allusion
has been already made, and which was manifestly intruded into
the case without reason or justification.

was wholly

irrelevant to the case

})lainly unjust to

an absent party.

on

We

trial

omit

and

its

it

because

it

introduction

;

HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.

458

In the Stott E. Colley case, (November 23d, 1864), the testimony
of Lutz

was

Adam

as follows

Lutz, sworn:

:

— ''Reside

harvest, about July, got into

draft and about election.

Curtin put in by intrigue.

South
battle.

in

;

order.

know

Last

prisoner.

with him about the

every engagement, lost

in

said our armies were

good lighting

;

He claimed Woodward was elected
He stated we could never whip the

we had been whipped

He

Benton

in

conversation

He

said

all

cut up while the

we could not

fill

every

south was

up our armies

volunteering was played out, and there was no use in drafting.

asked him

why

they couldn't

fill

the armies by drafting; he

;

I

said

men should be sent south to be
draft was made it would be enforced.

they did not intend any more
slaughtered.

He

I

said, if the

him if a
Government undertook that there would be war

told

home, and the bloodiest times 1 ever heard
would be sorry that I had ever left the party.
at

Cross-examined:

— We

came nearly

talked some before that day.

He

South any chance to come back

way I stated."
Upon the face

said

in the

tell of.

He

said

We

having blows.

to

we had never given

He

Union.

of the above testimony

it

spoke

I

in

the
the

a})pears that the parties

—

had a warm dispute about politics that they
had "talked some before that day" and that there must have
been more of the discourse between them than that reported. There

to the conversation

—

is here great opportunity for mistake not only as to the actual
language used but also as to the connection in which it was utter-

ed.

But the declarations of

Colley, (assuming the fact that they are

reported with substantial correctness,)

fall

short of criminality.

However improper and censurable they may be thought
their utterance violated

And

no law and

to be,

could justify no conviction.

remembered that they were spoken in excitement
and not deliberately, and that they were very probably provoked.
it is

to be

The Witness Robekt La Fayeite Colley
make but a single appearance in our narrative,

:

—This peison
as

we have

will

the re-

cord of his testimony in one case only; but while he remains beHere
fore us for inspection we shall endeavor to do him justice.

:

HI8T0RY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.

459

what ho said on the 23d November 1864, on his brother's trial,
whether the latter, who had already undergone nearly three months of dungeon life, should be further
persecuted and punished

is

wlien the question was

7?.

L. F.

trade, I

Colley,

know

sicom

Stott E.

:

Colley

I
;

Benton

live in

he

is

my

,

a shoemaker by

brother.

On Monday

evening after they m(t at Rantz's, I heard Stott E. Colley say, in
Benton town, "if the soldiers came on that side of the bridge
they would butcher every devil, or d d one of them." He had

—

a gun

—

saw two others with guns that evening Mathias Kline
and Valentine Fell. Through the day saw squads of near twenty
armed ni'.
some had arms, some few had none. I heard Philip
Knouse say, their intention was to give ihe soldiers tight on their
way from Bloomsburg to Benton. If they found them too strong
they would lay in the brush. If the soldiers come up and behaved
themselves they would not disturb them.
If they disturbed, or
;

I

ri

;

endeavored to arrest the drafted men, they intended to fight
them.
He said he knew the drafted men had no Y>eace for a long
time and tliey would not stand it any more. P. Knouse left that
night; not heard ot him since the arrest.

Cross-examined
There was a good deal of excitement in
I was no nearer to my brother than across the street.
I
suppose he was excited. There was great excitement in the
neighborhood. My brother was not present when P. Knouse
spoke what I have detailed. I think I saw him that day I saw
him at Appleman's. It was a common talk that the soldiers
would burn the houses of the drafted nieti."
:

town.

;

We

have already examined the evidence and general status
called by the prosecution in the Ilarrisburg trials. Those which remain may be disposed of more briefly
with two notable exceptions. We are anxious on the one band
of six of the witnesses

to present

all

the testimony against the prisoners or

its full

sub-

and explain who the persons were by whom it was given,
and on the other to avoid prolixity and undue minuteness of deOur narrative to be fair, exhaustive, satisfactory and contails.
stance,

clusive, imist be reasonably full in

both sides

;

but we will

exhibiting the evidence

upon

consult the convenience of our readers

460

UTSTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.

by being

;m immumsc

;is

our

pti-sibic in

fiivtlier (.-itations aiul stiili'-

luents.

Against Daniel

IM'TTiMiry

woiv exaniint'd

Five of

tion to those before mentioned.

pose

we

sliall

now

dis-

reserving o\w for futnre treatment.

of,

Gu.HKur

C

M'VVaixk,

Esi^.,

of Sbiekshinny, ft)rnK'rly of Hunt-

made by Daniel M'llenry
The witness says that he

ington townsliip, testified, to remarks
at a

six witnesses in addi

tliese

meeting

in

Benton,

in

June. 18G3.

attended the meeting to obtain volunteers, (we suppose to

quota of Huntington township,) that h" showed

gave public

invitation.

opinioM

quickest

till

his authoi'itv

M'llenry thereupon said that

the

and

was his
was \,oX to
furnish a man or a dollai-."'
l"|)(m his eross-exainination, however, the witness testified fur; her, that JNF Henry "argued the
cause of tlie war; said the troubles were brought about by tlie
aboliti'inists and the war might have been settled on the basis of
the Crittenden emnpromise,
thiid< he did say if we would pass
the Crittenden conq)romise to the Constitution we need not furnish men or money.
He made a remark that they should wait
patiently and ai)i)eal to the ballot-box; I do not think he said
anything disloyal. He opposed tlie carrying on of the war to
liberate tlie negroes: he favored carrying on the war for the Constitution and the Union."
tlie

way

down

to put

"it

the rebellion

1

Taken

together, this testimony

exhibits

;i

politic:il

;ugument,

which, whether correct or not, wa'< innocent and wjxs one of com-

mon and open
in part at that

It may have been prompted
time by the attempt of the witness to obtain men

use during the war.

to be credited on the «piota of

stripping M'llenry "s
their own.

At

sion of o})inion

and

it

;is

means for tilling
was simply an expreswliat should be done to restore the Union,

events

all

a district in another county, thus

m ighborhood

to

what

was not an expression of

of

available

w;is saiil

hostility to

the

enforcement of

law.

CuAS GnuiONS

Benton townshi]>, a farmer, testified that he
meeting (Aug. 14, 64) in the forenoon but
left about one o'clock.
He further stated that he had "attended
three or four of the so-called secret meetings; never saw JM'Henry
His testimony conat one, nor ever heard of his .attending any."
of

attended the Rantz

—

HISTORY OF
ceniiiii^

the

shall be

reaeliefl.

Kaiitz

(JOLL'MJilA
we

incotnig,

COUNTY.

will reserve

401

until that subject

Jonas Dotv of Fishirigoreek townshi]), fiirmcr, \v;is eullcd to
de(!lfirations made by M'lleiirv tlire.e years before in a
conversation with him.
They were improbable in character and
evidently colored and perverted if »iot manufactured outright,
l^pon objection ma<Ie by counsel for defendant the Commission
rejected this testimony and it was struck from the record.
jjrove

Aarox Smith

l^cnton township, farmer, testified that he atmeeting at the house of Peter Case. He was
The oath as near as he could remember was this

of

tended one secret
a

member.

:

"to be true to the Constitution and the laws of the United States

the signs were

was

a<lderl, '-that

all

M'llenry was not
the remarks of

On

be revealed."

not to

ever knew about the oath
Daniel
This witness was also examined as to

that

I

there.''

M'Henry

;

Benton meeting

at the

not giving money, or men, to the war, the
II is

way

M'Waine, though somewhat

\V:\i.

Evans

of

less distinct

Fishingcreek, boatniaii, was

subject of secret meetings but without any

He

sult.

in

1863 about

was carried on.

which was

at the

it

turncMl out

and emphatic.

exannned on the

very satisfactory

"attenflcd so-called secret ineetings

not say positively,'' but

;

re-

one or two, could

that he attended but one

Savage School House

in

March, 1803. The date

important as fixing- the time when those club meetings were in

vogue, and this witness
tlie

only

meetings.

tlie

worth

The witness appears

never went through

was

is

looking after because he

one who locates Daniel

to escape responsibility.

I

it

testimony upon this was very much the same as that given

l)y P]sq.,

is

;

cross-examination he

;

I

He

in his

says, "I

was invited

only one [initiated]

]M'IIeiiry

;

I

;

in

one

of

is

those

testimony timidly anxious

was partly a member I
I nevei" was there but once
;

;

did not get through."

Sul>se-

no secret meetings after that time.
the meetings ;] I went boating .''
The fact was, the witness was afraid and confused before the
ho had the terror of military [tower before liis eyes,
Conmiission
and hence his scattered answ< rs and discb'moi-s. Although inhe did
itiated niid sworn he says he was only partly a member
(piently he says, "I atteiided
I

did not walk far

down

[to

;

;

;

HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY

462

not get through.

went bouling

As

;

he did not walk far to the meeting, and he

as quickly as possible

!

by him and the object of the meeting,
Evans proceeded to say "the oath, near as I can recollect it, was
to support the constitution of the United States and the Union.
The Constitution of the United States was to be the Constitution
to the oath taken

—

of the society. * * I cannot recollect whether we were to support
* * I got there by being told there was to
all laws of the land.
It was public; the house was
was not considered a meeting to resist tlie draft. It

be a meeting at the school house.
all

open.

It

not for purpose of resisting the draft.'
He
were twenty to twenty-five persons present

was purely

political

also

"tliere

said:

;

would not say the number; Daniel M'Henry made a speech there.
It was a political speech.
Can't recollect what he said.
John
Savage, Charles Kramer, William J. Kramer, Alexander Kramer
and one of the M'Uenry's were there; also Levi Lunger."
This concludes the testimony of a government witness about a
about a disloyal assemblage
secret meeting which was open
which was sworn to support the Constitution of the Union.
!

Thk WiTNKSs Charlks M. Dodson:

—James M'Henry, Esq,

of

Canibra, Luzerne county, was arrested at daylight on the morning

August 31st 1864, and hurried across, four miles, to Benton
in this county, where the other prisoners were assembled.
Without examination he was then taken with the others to Fort
Mifflin and was kept inconfinement until December, or for a period
At the end of that time he was inof more than three months.
authorities
military
had fiothing against him
formed that the
and was discharged and permitted to return home. And who was
James M'Henry ? A merchant of Cambra, of intelligence and
character, who had committed no offence nor given the slightest
provocation for his arrest to the military authorities. His standing in the conmmnity was attested, subsequent to his imprisonment, by his election and re-election to the Legislature as a RepWlien arrested he had his
resentative from Luzerne county.
name upon a note in Bank, along with Edward Hughes, for the
amount of $2,000 to raise bounties for volunteers to till the quota
of Huntington township.
Mr. M'Henry 's arrest was upon the information, it is believed,
of

church

HOST DRY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.

463

Dodson a young man of Benton township who had
but was at home on leave.
Engaging in the
government informer, runner and witness, he had his

of Charles M.

been

in

the army,

business of

and thus escaped active service and danger for
He took witnesses to the military camp in Benton
against D. L. Chapin, Esq., and perhaps others, gave information
himself, and was at Harrisburg several times as runner and witleave extended

many months.

ness.

Dodson 's story against James M'Henry was that he had heard
make a s[»eech in opposition to the draft, a speech of an

the latter

inllannnatory and disloyal character, in the

Upon

per end of Benton township.

fall

of 1H63, in the up-

hi«»,
which
and long imprisonment of Mr.
M'llenry were based. The facts were, that at the meeting in
question (which was held pending the election for Governor in
18f)3) political speeches of an ordinary character were made by a
Mr. Wagner (who had been a soldier and a republican) and by
James M'Henry being present and called upon, made
others.
remarks
in favor of Judge Woodward, the Democratic cansome
didate for Governor, stating his i)ersonal knowledge of him and
Confining himof his high fitness and character as a candidate.
self to that subject his remarks were brief and had no reference
whatever to the draft or any other general question of discourse

was a complete falsehood, the

this

statement of

arrest

or debate.

Ascertaining by good fortune what testimony Dodson proposed
him before the Military Commission, Mr M'Henry

to give against

manner and urged
For a month or more, however the
prosecution delayed the hearing while efforts were made to secure additional evidence against him. Mr. Wellington Hughes of
Cambra, an honorable gentleman and a republican, was asked to
become a witness against his neighbor; in fact we believe he was
sent for or brought from one of the western states to testify.
But he declared h*^ knew nothing against Mr. M'Henry. Additional witnesses failing the prosecution, and a large number of
reputaV)le men standing ready to contradict Dodson, the further
persecution of Mr. M'Henry had to be abandoned. Dodson, utterly
discredited and impotent for further mischief, could only make
the wretched and miserable excuse, that he had beefi mistaken
prepared himself for

trial in

the most effectual

that his case should be heard.

—

HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.

464
that

it

iras

not J'amen 31' Henry

who had made

the disloyal

speech, but another 7iian.

Dodson's father hud resided for years about two miles from
tlie family were accustomed to trade at that i)hi.ce.

Cambra and

^['Henry's store and Mr. M'Henry himself were as well knowji
whole country. !t
them
all, as was any place or man in the
to
was therefore just impossible that young Dodson could have mistaken any other person for James M'Henry at the Benton meetjNIr.

ing of 1863.
TiiK WrrxKss Natitaxiki: L. CAiMrnKu,

:

—This witness appeared

upon the serene at Harrisburg to testify against Daniel ^fHenry. but he succeeded in making up for himself a soniewliat
remarkable record. Testifj'ing to an interview and conversation
between himself and M'Henry at Stillwater in February, 1S64,
he w;is confronted and contradicted by four or five credible witIn sliort, his
nesses upon every material point of his evidence.
story was completely overthrown, and his appearance instead
late

of aiding the prosecution contributed to secure
quittal for the defendant.

timony

literally

and

wlu'lming testimony

in full,

We

will

an

now proceed

following

it

to

honorable acgive his tes-

with a recital of the over-

in reply.

—

Nathaniel L. Camphell, sirorn : "I reside in Centre township,
T know Daniel
M'Henry.
I
Columbia county
a farmer,
attempted to till the cpiota of our township in February last,
I
attempted to fill cpiota by liiring volunteers, paying a
I
local bounty of §200, in addition to Government bounty.
it was in Februhad a conversation with Daniel M'Henry
Daniel jNI'Henry's and got my
stopj)ed at
ary 1864.
I
T live above
horse fed and dinner, as I was returning home.
;

;

Bloomsburg; I stopped. He commenced talking about the war.
He remarked war was waged against the South by the black aboI told him 1 thought
litionists of the North to free the negroes.
he Avas mistaken. He said men going down there to fight now
were not going to fight for their country: thej' were going to
He said they were really murfight for their money, you know.
derers and ought to be shot before they went there or ought to be
He remarkshot when they got theie or wheii they came home.
ed, the volunteers were reatly murderers and ought to be shot be-

;

HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.
foro they

went

there, or after they got there, or (I think he put to

as soon as they

it)

men

46.',

came home.

I told

be drafted.

him

I

thought

it

was

bet-

He

remarked, he would not
give a pence of money to hire volunteers and he would not go
himself.
I remarked if he was liable to draft he would have to
ter hiring

go

tlian to

as well as me.

leave

him

at

T

remarked. Government would not draft and
take me. He either said he was armed

home and

and prepared or he would arm himself; if he had to die he would
die at home and have a decent burial.
I said I thought he was
foolish.
He might shoot down an officer and he would either be
shot down or hung.
He said we have 500 men ready to defend

him or any other drafted men

—or any other

— was the way he expressed himself

man

in the neighborhood I undertsood
remarked I liad heard a report of that kind in the neighborhood before but I did not believe it; but, I said, suppose that
to be the case I think I remarked it was merely a matter of moonshine to attempt to resist the government, the government would
send enough men up there to take the whole of them. He said
that was not all there was half a million of men in the United
States armed and ready at a moment's warning, all they wanted
was a man that had nerve and courage to strike the first blow.
1 rejnarked, if that was really true the country was in a worse
situation than I sup])Osed it was. but if there was not a man in
half a million that had nerve enough to strike the first blow it

him;

drafted

I

;

was not very dangerous. He insisted that a majority of the peoin the North were opposed to carrying on the war any further and the South would eventually whip us and there would be
a rising up of the peoi)le in the North against the prosecution of
the war.
He talked on for a considerable time and insisted the
war was unjust and a war to free the negroes and I insisted tlie
war was just. He talked on for near one hour. I had no other
]»le

M'Henvy but

conversation with

with him before that time.

would arm himself and
(1)'0SH

to
<

fill

Examined.

our quota,

I

ing to get

fight at

that

said

time.

if

1

never conversed

drafted he was armed or

home.

went into Benton township to

do not know that

plot a of his township.

men out

I

He

Did not come

of his township.

raise

Daniel M'Henry was
to high
I did

words

in

men

filling

attempt-

think he was excited

HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.

466

I told him I was a Jackson Democrat.
thought it strange. We were not both greatly excited. The
words were not spoken in presence of any one about to volunteer.
There were four men in the bar-room they were strangers to me.

we

parted good friends.

He

;

had accomplished my business and was about to return home.
The words had no influence on me. I do not know that they had
on any other person. I had got the men I needed. He said the
majority of the people of the North were opposed to carrying the
war further that the South would eventually whip us and there
would be an uprising in the North. His opinion was that the
war was carried on to free the negroes. That opinion was carried
through all his conversation. I d(j not recollect that he mentioned slaves. I understood the half million of men were to defend
men that were drafted, I could not tell who were present there
I

;

;

wei'e four

persons present.

I

did not

behind the stove and M'Henry at the
27th of February last.'"

know

bar.

It

They stood

them.

was previous

to the

—

Contradictions of the Witness N. L. Campbell
These were
no less than twelve in number, and covered all the material points
It will be remembered by
in his testimony as given heretofore.
our readers that Campbell stated in his testimony that "there
were four persons present" when ht had his conversation Avith
Daniel M'Henry at Stillwater in February 1H64. Those persons
seem to have been James Edgar, W. B. Kline, Moses M'Henry
and Wm. Raber, of whom the three first named were called as
By them Campbell was flatly contrawitnesses for the defense.
1st.
That D.
dicted in the following statements made by him:
M'Henry '^commenced talking about the war" and the South 2d,
"that he talked on for near one hour;" 3d, that "he insisted the
war was unjust;" 4th, that he said the men going down South to
fight "were really murderers and ought to be shot ;" 5th, that he
said "he was armed or would arm himself" to resist if drafted;
6th, that he said "he would not give a pence of money to hire
volunteers or go himself;'' 7th, that he said there were "five hundred men ready to defend him or any other drafted man" (of the
:

—

;

neighborhood as the witness understood;) 8th, that he said "there
half a million of meti in the United States armed and ready
moment's warning" to resist the draft; and 9th, that he said
a
at

was

:

HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.

467

"the Soutli would eventually whip us and there would be a rising
up of the people in the North against the prosecution of the war."
So far we have a denial by three witnesses against one that cerBut the
tain words were spoken at the interview in question.
Campbell having denied on
contradictions did not stop there.
Henry was filling
cross-examination that he knew "that Daniel
the quota of his (M'llenry's) township,'' and asserted also that he
and M'Henry "did not come to high words" by his (Campbell's)
attempt to get volunteers out of M'Henry's township, the three
witnesses above mentioned proceeded to narrate the conversation
which actually took place, which consisted mainly of a dispute
betwt en Campbell and M'Henry, about the attempt of the former
to get volunteers from P^ishingcreek to fill the quota of Centre,
and recited the ''high words" which really passed between them
on that subject, thus showing the complete unfairness and false-

M

hood of Camjjbeirs

story.

(in order to show that no disabout obtaining volunteers from Fishingcreek had taken
place) that he ((Campbell) "had gone into Benton township to

Again, Canqtbell having stated

jtute

raise

men

to

fill

the quota" of

Centre, and that he "had accom-

plished his business and was about to return

home" when the conM'Henry occurred that "lie liad got the men he
nei'ded.
Andrew Freas, Esq., of Centre, was called to contradict
him upon that statement. The testimony of Mr. Freas was as

—

versation with
'

—

follows

Andrew

Freas, Esq., stoorn:

— "I

reside

in

Centre township,

Columbia county, I'm a farmer.

Samuel Henderson, Tilghman
Noblet, Andrew Freas, Dr. Elisha Low, and Nathaniel Camj>l)(,'ll,
[were ajjpointed to act for Centre township in raising

men

to

fill

her quota] and he, Nathaniel L. Campbell, went up Fishingcreek.

me on the 27th of February (when the citizens
came together) that he did not get any men above M'Henry's he
got them two miles above Bloomsburg. One young man's name
was Chester Dodson. He had none when he got to Daniel M'Henry's.
He got two men on the 27lli of Febiuary, near us or
Bloom. They were going to Philadelphia, Campbell said."
Campbell liaving testified that he had "no other conversation
with Mllenry, but that one tiuR," and that that "was previous to

Mr. Canq)bell, told

;

irrSTORl'

468

OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.

'iTtli of Fobrn:»ry," the ooiitradiotion of him by Aiuirow Froas
was complete. In point of fart ho l\aii not obtained "the men he
needed" and ''accomplished his business," before his interview
It follows,
that the testimony of
with MTlenry. at Stillwater.
Edixar, Kline, and M' Henry, about the dispute eoneerniuL;; volunteers fr.MU Fishin>::;ereek to till the quota of (.\Mitre. was reasonable and probable, .and tliat Campbell's denial of such ilispnte
was not aeeordinii' tn the fart.
The testimony of the witnesses for the defence, to whii-h we
have referred in the foreu'oine; exhibit, was as foHows

the

:

f/(^r//^,^•

is

about

tJilgar, strorn:

M'Heury
dinner.

— "I know

Nathaniel

K.

Campbell, that

was present at a conversation between Daniel
Campbell, and hoard the whole till they went to

I

all.

a-id

Tl\ey were pretty

much

excited towards the

last

"f their

conversation, but no violent languag:e passed between them.

The

conversation started from getting volunteers.

Campbell was out
from his township to hire volunteers in MTtenry's township. Daniel Mllenry did not s.ay anything about having live hundred men
to resist the draft, nor about dying at home, nor that men who
went south should be killed, nor about half a million of men. nor
about a rebellion in the North.
Cami>bell said he wanted to hire
men. M'llenry said they could not be got in his township; Campbell said he h \d a right to hire where he pleased. M'llenry told
him he had, but it woidd not be a very gentlemaidy act he would
not do so in his (CimpbeU's) township.
Campbell said it was no
more than lie expected from a disloyal or secession townsliip.
Tiien MTtenry got pretty well excited and the bell rang for dinner.
That is about all I know.
:

—

I heard all the conversation in tlie bar-room
do not know that I could recollect every word
not word for word.
They talked tifteen, twenty,
or twenty-tive minutes, might be logger, though I think not. That
was all was said as I recollect. It might have been longer. I do
not think I heard Campbell tell M" Henry if he was drafted he
would be obliged to go. M"IIenrv did not ?ay anything about

Cro.-i.^h\-anihud:

where I was.
tliat was said

men being

I

—

they volunteered for the war.

siiot if

They were talking about
quotas.
They talked about

so in the bar-room.

trying to

till

their

He

did not say

war and about
what
their quotas
the

:

:

OF

JIIST(jKy

(JOLUMJilA (JOTJNTY.

W.)

ahout the war

I cannot say further.
I do not recollect
was a netjro war. I do not recollect about
the South.
Aftei- (Jarnphell nairl it was a disloyal townsliip they
liotli got a little mad
what I meant by a sj>at. M'llenry said he
would test his loyalty with Campbell, or the loyalty of their
township witli Campb(firs townshiji that he had done as much

tliey said

that

M'Henry

Haid

it

—

;

to get

volunt(;erh

mN<;li as tin-

as

and

(,'ampbell,

liis

township had done as

other township."

Kline, Hwor7i

— "I

Fishingcreek township;
was present at the conversation Itetwccn Daniel M'Henry and Camjibell, and heard tlie
whole ol' the conversation.
Nothing was said about five hui:\V.

li.

a tanner.

men

dred

I

know N.

L.

tion of the

who went to tight the South ought
anything about lesisling the prosecu-

those

to be killed, nor did he say

war av that the South would whij; us

of nerve nor any

lielpf<l to

I

to resist the flralt, nor about half a million of men, nor

did M'llenry say that

ni.ui

reside in

Campbell.

till

(jiiota.

I

such
saifl 1

etc

,

nor about a

sentiments.

Daniel M'PIenry has
would give one hundred dollars. He

—

would do that miu^h more and would heljj us w'ould
double the aniounl if necessary. That was al^out the time the
draft was <H-dered.
1 heard him tell drafted men they had better
report instead of skedaddling round.
I met Campbell a few rods
from defendant's rt sidence. I accompanied him into the barsaid he

room.
Cros8-exaniinfAl:

— Daniel M'Henry
war

j)articular aln^ut the

of

what he

sairl

cannot word

I

;

at that time.
it

did
1

word

not say

anything

in

remember the substance
for

word.

Nathaniel

had there.
M'Henry replied that he thought theie were no more thau for
Campbell said he was going to have some
their own townshi]).
Can)pbell inquired

of the

men.

if

there were any volunteers to be

M'Henry

said he

should not

if

he could

help

it,

was tilled. Campbell made answer they
could not expect anything Ijetler from a disloyal township. M'Henry replied he was leady to test loyalty with Mr. Camjibell
The bell rang for dinner; it was
for himself or the township.
until

our

<m\ n

township

a short time, live or ten minutes or longer, could not
I

do

raising (juota.

I

fix

the time.

anything said about the draft except as to
might have joined in conversation but Jo i;ot

not rememljer

or Columbia county.

nrs-ro/n'

470

rcMiuMiibiM- tliat

know but
(he

Aft it

dill.

1

both oxi'itod

wore

M'llenry said

oiven and taken.

lie

words passod.

The

and taken.

w;vs given

tlu' lie

disloyalty they

insiiuiation of

(ho

rather rotioji

iind

rouiih

T do
not
words were

C'annil)ell liad uttered dis-

loyal sen(inien(s (here; Canipbell said in re|>ly

tiiat

he eould

wol

exj»eet anvthing better o{ M'llei\ry when he ealled him a liar. As
Campbell retnrneil tlie
tar as I remember that is the substant.'e.
lie

In eonneetion witi\

to the delendant.

jitld

— Campbell

thin;:;

better

M'llenrv
1 th)

replied *yon are a liar

and then

vou,'

ot"

J^aid

not renuMuber

(l>a(

:

(U'esent.

said

I

l\>r

wish to

I

expeet any-

not

diniu

Mr.

i-.

lUf Coniniinsio/i

:

— C.impbell,

five

do

\\o\.

Oaniel ^Tllenry, JMoses

^^'illianl Kal>er,

— "M'llenr)

mention was imule of

1

draft ov abinit his going.

William IJaber

wards.
110

did

he said (he war ough( (o stop.

^rilenrv. ,)an>es M'llenry,

were

1

rang

bell

thi'

what

he had snbseribed to raise substitutes or volunteers.

know anything said abou( the
lu (xanihud by dcftuct
self

and

is

an old

James Kdgar and my-

man — about

tiO

did mit say that he was

hundred men or h;df

or up

armed;

a million."

—

••!
am a meri'h;int :md reside in
JfoK(f< J/' //iiit'i/. finu^ni:
Fishingereek townshi|>, 1 w:(s present at eonvers:ition between

Heard the whole of the eonversation,

and C;impbell.

defend;int

Daniel M'llenry did no( say anything about five hundred men (o
resis( the draft, nor speak of being armed, nor about h.alf a million of

men

dr:vfted.

got some

in

the North to go to

w:vr,

nor of dying

C^impbell e ime to defeiuhint ;ind said
id"

our

men

to

till

tpiota of

eoming

at

home

if

he would like to
draft.

l)efend:int

we wouKl have any men to spare as we
He said we
were making preparations to till our own township.
would have to work liquet men enough to do it. C:»mpbell said

said he did not

think

Defend:int ;isked
l\e would like to h;ivo some or nmst get some.
him why he did \\o\ get them nearer home, out of his own towntheir men he did not think it
if we did not interfere with
ship
rinht iov him (CampbelT) to eome (o onr township and interfere
with ours. C;impbell said he had a right to get men wherever
Oefendant s;ud he knew he had but he did
he eould get them.
th;it style when he knew wo
in>t think a gi'utleman would aet in
Daniel M'Henry
were trvino- io elear our own township.
told him he should not have a man if he eould help it till wo
;

HISTORY OF COLUMBIA GOUNIY.
could see vvhat'we could do
for dinner.

I

uilli

liave lived over

owv

ten

own men, and
years

471

the bell rung-

with Daniel JVI'IIcnry.

There was nothing said at dinner concerning tlie draft. They apjjeared a good deal excited and could not agree, and stopped it.
There was a man named Wolf drafted into the army and while
there his wife was confined
Defendant gave me orders to giveher anything she wanted.
Wolf owed him at the same time. He
died after his return and defeiuhint forgave her the debt.
I am
a nephew to defendant.
A young man named Mllenry had
l)een in the army and came home wounded.
Defendant got up an
extra dinner, went with a hors(i and carriage and brought them
to a free dinner and told liini if he wantetl to ride out he could
Wolf was no relation. Last Febhave his horse and carriage.
ruary Zinnnerinan came home on furlough, ttc.
I met Carn]>bell
Ijar-ioom.
fiisl in
lie
I
went in witli him to dinner and dined
I

with them.

Cross cxaini/ied:
four or five years
last
It

—

I

am

a

and then

nephew
became

of the accused
his

j^artner.

;

was

We

his clerk

dissolved

The conversation was a quarter of an hour.
Towards the last they were a good bit ex«

spring a year.

laslfd a little bit

was some pretty rougli language. 1 think the lie
I think Campwas exchanged between them used some oatlis.
bell gave the lie iirst. Daniel was talking about secession; CampDefendant said our towns^hi]) had done
bell said it was a lie.
more than theirs; Campbell said it was a lie. Campbell said some
He said he
thing about secession; Defendant said it was a lie.
done as
Campbell
he
had
loyal
man
as
a
considered himself as
much for the war and would test loyalty with him in any way he
had a mind to. Defen(hiiit said if Campbell called him 'secesh'
he was a liar. Campbell said he had come there for volunteers
Nothing was said
;ind he had a right to get them he thonglit.
about drafted men that I heard of. 1 do not know that he said
I have heard liim say at
at that time that he would go if drafted
Campbell did not
other times lie would go or get a substitute.
say he had got all the men he wanted I do not know that he
said he had got any. Defendant did not say there would be trouble
I could remember the
in the North if continued to draft men.
whole conversation there was some general con vei'sation which
I have
T caniu)t remember unless my attention is dii-ected to it.
cited; there

—

;

;

;

;

//isTom' or COLT. y HI. (\)rxTy.

472

I

o^ivoii

but

!i

;ill

the oonvoi\-;;Uiou

sliort tiino.

V>erh:ii>s

thov

not over ton niinntos.

THE KAN
Hut

a

single

the volimtoors; tl\oy oouvorsod

about

nbout

(.'onvorsoil

reserved

bounty

havo stated

I

all

anil

that

volnntoi'vs.

was

said.

rz MEKTINC^.

point

t^on

wliieli

evidenee

for

the

der that

was given) remains tor further exposition, in orthe whole strength of the case against our eiti/.ens

shall be

eoniplotely presented.

prosecution

at

the

house

o\'

John Kantz

We

refer

Henton

in

to the

meeting held

township on the 1-Uh

day of August. ISiU, in eonseqnenee of the arrival of troops in
the eounty, and of the eireulation of reports that property was to
be burnt and destroyed by them, and by persons from the lower
end of Luzerne county. AVe havo at hand in the records of the
tri.als the
means of judging what wore the objects of that
mooting, wliat was said and done by those who attended it.
Hut
and what character is to be assigned to it in our history.
in ti'eating the subject of that meeting we shall not contine ourselves to the testhuouy given by the government witnesses, nor
even strictly to the military records before us. We shall use the
testimony given on both sides at the trials, and resort, as occasion
niay in\ite. to other and independent sources of information.
Tiu: TniF.

Wuf.x

rr

was Uki.o:

— The date of
was the

the Rautz

moot-

August, IStU,
the daiz/olloirhiff the arrival of troops at JBIoomsburg, and most
It was
of those who attended it came to it in the afternoon.
called suddenly and it assembled because the troops came, and
ing deserves particular notice.

It

1-kth of

because exciting and alarming reports were abroad. That meetingdid not cause the military inroad

;

on

the

contrary,

the

armed

Troops did not c»>me to the
county because of the Kantz meeting. They were ordered here,
and a part of them were in fact here, before the meeting was
hold.
On August 13th, eighty mounted men and forty infantry
Tliey
with two pieces of artillery, arrived in Bh omsburg.
were followed by other troops, no doubt under orders issued prior
tiftv
to the I4th.
t'*!! the n^orniui:: of the UUh. two hundred and
occupation caused and produced

it.

•

HLSTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.
more

Jirrivcd, uiid

within u few days,

by

additions,

the

473

army

of

occupation was made to number one thousand men.
It is i»erfectly phiin then and undeniable that the Rantz meeting
cannot be plead as an excuse or justification for sending troops into
our county. Those troops were ordered here without any possible

reference to a meeting which had not then been held or projected

and which never would have been held or thought
had not been sent.

Who
other,

some

It:

Co.Mrosp:i)

classes of persons

and

it is

—The

who are

meeting was made up of several
from each

to be carefully distinguished

to be observed also that

later in the day, that

apart

some attended

who

attended

earlier

and

before the meeting ended,

left

and that liantz himself was absent a part of the time.
together, the persons

the troops

of, if

may

Taken

al-

be described as follows:

—

P^irst, Non rejjorting drafted men, of whom (so far as we now
remember) not one was ever seized and punished by the military
authorities
Second, citizens who attended from curiosity and
without any foimed or definite object, (these constituted the lar;

gest class

;)

Third, several

their advice

the meeting.

and

infiuence,

We

rej^eat,

persons

who

attended to prevent, by

any imprudent or improper action by
these several classes of persons are not

confounded with each other and the same judgment applied
to each, for the same motives and conduct Avere not common to
to be

all.

It is

not our

purpose to acquit

who attended, from cenmen who had been draft-

all

sure for imprudence, or to justify those

call of the Government, but it
from the testimony which we shall produce that the meeting together of the citizens was not criminal,
that it was produced by reports of danger to ]>erson and jiroperty
in the neighborhood, and that a just discrimination must be made
between the motives and conduct of the different classes of jjersons who attended.
Having done this we shall next show that
the military authorities, (obviously from political reasons and instigated by men in this county who had their ear,) proceeded to
seize and imprison men whose conduct at the Rantz meeting was
innocent and in fact laudable, while they passed by, uncensured
and unpunished, those who were to blame. In fact, it will appear,

ed
is

in their failure to

respond to the

our j)urpose to show

that the

man most

])n)minent at that meeting in counselling vio-

OF COIATMBTA COUNTY.

niiS'rORY

474
lence and

who was

properly liable to puiiisliment under the law as

man

a non-reporting drafted man, was the very

taken into their

confidence and favor and used by them as their ])rincipal witness
to se(uire tlie conviction of innocent
Its C'Ausk:

— Nathan

dead,)

tc>stified

of

14tli

tile

on the

J.

citizens.

government witness, now
"on the morning
or H o'clock, Rantz notified him of

//csk,

trial of J).

of August, about 7

and upright

(a

M'llenry, that

he went to Kantz's through curiosity to see
what was going on that he went there about ten o'clock in the
forenoon and left about noon, and that he heard at the meeting
that the soldiers at liloomsburg and the Harvey ville men were
coming up to burn tiie projierty in and around Benton."
Upon tiic tiial of fb)lin l\antz, the same witness, i)eing more
the meeting; that

;

fully exaniiiu'd,

He

testitied

with

completeness on this

gri'ater

still

was reported around by dilfirent |»ersons that
soldii'rs w iTc coming u[> to help some citizens who had been trying \o taki' drafted men, and that they would burn the buiMings
'I'lu re was
of those that were drafted and of them that resisted.
no op|)ositi(>n made or rt'sistance olVercd to the soldiers when tiu'y
point.

canu' up"

*

said, "it

* *

day, or three or

"I lu'ard the rei»orl, as to the object of soldiers
foui',

before this meeting,

a

heard afterwards that

I

the object was because they heard thesoldieis W('re going to burn
and destroy was to protect iheir property from soldiers and citizens from other ])laces from Kairmount who had been trying to
arrest draft ei nu'u, and that brought on the shooting." * * * It
was reported among the nuMi who met at the barn that citizens
were coming from Kairnioinit :nid llarveyville to burn and assist
in burning pro|)erty. ***•'! heard that repoi't four or live days

—

;

I

before the meeting."

Confirmatory of this evidence was
of other witnessi's examini'd u})on

and

I'oi'

mony

thi'

But we

trial,

Iv.

L. F.

for the

of a

number

prosecution

ourselves to the testi-

CoUey

testilied

on

his

"there was great excitement in the neighborhood.

was a connnon

the drafti'd

testimony

shall conline

of governnu'ut witnesses.

brother's
It

defense.

tlu'

the trials

talk that the soldiers

would burn the houses of

nuui.''

iSilas A'arns,

testitied, in the IM'lTcnry trial,

storv that the soldiers were

coming there

to

"that he heard the

burn

and destroy

HLSTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.
|)ro|>(ity;

lieard

lie

also, testified,

Chas. Gibhens

that day at the meeting."
it

said at the meeting

wore corning to burn houses and

diers
It

it

"that he heard

475

that the sol-

kill children."

thus appcjars with sufficient clearness from the evidence for

the prosecution (without resorting to other sources for information)

neighborhood
and before, and that they constituted
one of the leading causes of the meeting if they did not alone
jjroduce it.
A great part of those who attended went to it like

that exciting and alarming reports were rife in the

when

the meeting

Nathan

J.

was

held,

Hess, from motives of curiosity, but

it

was a

curiosity

stimulated by alarm and without any formed intention regarding

As

the action which shou]«l take place.

to

all

such persons, (and

they constituted the great mass of the meeting,) there can

l>e

no

imputation of any criminal design or unlawful pur])Ose.

may be

It

feais

tlie

was
IK)
11'

said that

the rejiorts to which

founded upon them

in fact

we have

were alike groundless

referred and
;

that there

no datiger to the persons or property of citizens and

necessity for consultation in regard to the impending invasion.
all

this

should be conceded, the explanation

the Ixantz meeting would
as the result of

among

still

remain

;

it

might

we have given
still

of

be regarded

excitement and of a real apprehension of danger
But we ore not at all certain that there were

the people.

no good grounds for excitement and alarm. Threats had been
freely uttered at Harveyville and in this county against the socalled "Fishingcreek insurgents," and troops in large numbers,
beyond any public requirement for the arrest of drafted men, w^ei-e
being introduced into the country.

The

idea of visiting the Fish-

and sword was certainly entertained
and such visitation was openly threatened, and troops were prepared or collected apparently for that very work. Therefore, an
inircreek country with fire

expi-ctation or fear

and injury

among

inflicted

upon

the people that violence would be used

thetn,

was not unreasonable or prepos-

terous.

— There was

no organization of the meeting
kept of what was done.
l)y the choice of officers,
nor was any question
proposed,
or
adojtted
No resolutions were
Irs ru<»(Ki',i)iN<;s:

nor any record

whate/er submitted to a vote. It was therefore quite Informal
and had no official or regidar character as an organized body. Be-

irrSTOKY OF rOLrMIiFA cor^TY.

476

sides, us already

mentioned,

Some attended

throughout.

tlie

siinie })ersons

in the

did not eonipose

forenoon and

it

tlien U>ft; otliers

eame in tlie afternoon. Kantz himself nujst have been absent a
good part of tlie time, for upon his trial, E. J. M'llenry testified
as follows

"I

:

saw Kant/,
I live

o'eloek.

at

my

house on

Sunday. August Hth, about 12
lie has a farm about live

three miles from him.

miles from where he lives, whieh he

and

nmst pass

my

house to

s2;o

see."

Now

obvious that to a meeting- of this irregular kind,

is

it

in its membership, we eannot
apply the same rules or reasoning whieh would apply to one of a
regular eharaeter and uniform eomj>osition.
An individual mem-

without organization and shifting

ber of the meeting ean only be held responsible for what oecurretl
while he was aetually present and to whieli

he direetly eontribu-

ted by speeeh or eonduet.

Presumptive or implied responsibility
upon him as a member of the meeting for the aetsof his assoeiates,
is out of the iiuesti(.)n and eannot be assumed.
Henee it beeomes
important, in order to form a jtroper judgment of the Kantz tueeting, to distinguish and diseriniinate between the diflerent elasses
of persons who were there, and to explore the motives and traoe
Some men, it is said, eame armed to the
the eonduet of eaeh.
meeting squads were at one time formed in the highway; three
persons made brief speeehes or rt marks in the barn, and there
was much of conversation during the day among those present.
These are the salient facts presented by the testimony for our examination but in examining tluiu the remarks we have already
made nmst be kept steadily in view, so that an intelligent, discriminating, complete, and satisfactory judgment shall be reached
npon our general question, and at the same time fair treatment
and full justice be extended to all individual citizens concerned.
;

;

Dk.vfted
citizens,

Mkn

were

in

Pkksknt:

— These,

as

a position of contempt

for they liad not responded to the draft.

large nor was

there any formed

distinguished

from other

to the conscription laws,

Their number was not

association to resist their arrest

as was falsely pretended: but some of them were no doubt disposed toward violent counsels, or at all events to continued evaThev constituted, therefore,
sion of tlieir dutv under the law.

JITSTORY

OF COLUMBTA COUNTY.

All

tlie objectionable ingredient of the meeting and to all of
the adviee given by Daniel M'llenry upon another occasion

most

ai)i»ro|)riate,

they should

to-wit: that instead of

But

r(q)ort for duty.

it is

them
was

"skedaddling around"

to be

remembered that not

one of the drafted men present at the Rantz meeting (so far as we
can. learn) was ever tried or punished by the military authorities,
ulthougli sonje of them w(;re subsequently in their power.
On
the contrary
t

two of them were produced

as notable witnesses for

he government upon the trials at Harrisburg and

were treated

commendation than of Cf-nsure or
We allude to Edward MTIenry and Silas Karns,
punishment.
whose testimony, though given under some degree of coercion
and imperfect in cpiality, was used with fatal effect against innocent and U|)right men.
rather as objects of favor and

TiiK Fou.MiNc

vSt^iADs:

<»i-

— Karns (who was the fairer

of the two) stated in his testimony,

that

at

the

witness

meeting "they

foi'med into companies and s<piads to be placed in different places
to

Nothing was done duringthe day

proU'd property.

time

ill

until

some

the afternoon." * * * "There

or scpjads of

men formed

to one of these squads.

;

were different companies
could not tell how many.
I belonged

Ily.

Kline

commanded

it.

We

propose

mountain and stay tfiere to see what the result was.
This company was mostly composed of drafted men.
We went
to the mountain to see what the soldiers were going to do
to see
to

go

to the

;

the

rt'sult

of the soldiers

three year's draft

From

—

coming

up." * * * "J

am

drafted in

first

in the fall of 1803."

other parts of the evidence

it clearly api)ears
that most
met afterwards, and that not the slightest
attempt was jnade in any quarter to resist or annoy the soldiers
when they came into the neighborhood.
The squad movement
which was foolish, improper and wrong, was aljandoned or given
up without any overt a(;t, and resulted only in the exodus of a
small niiiiil»cr (of whom the witness Karns was one) to the North

of the sfpiads never

^loiintaiii.

Who Wkkk

—

The men at the Rantz meeting who
we have already remarked, were not held
They escaped, or nearly all of them
responsible for their conduct.
But with innocent men or those
escaped, the stroke of ])Ower.
were <q>en to

Akkkstki)

(^ensure, as

:

irZS'rOJiY

478

little llablo to

OF C0LU3IBIA COUNTY

blame, the ease was different, and will

business to point out particular instances

of

now be

in the Rantz meeting,
and outrageous.

ment, for alleged pai'ticipation

beyond

«piestion, unjust

all

miles distant.

—

The evidence of E.
was distinct and

given heretofore,
Rant/,

trial,

as follows

August

:

John O. Dildine,

J. iM'

Henry on

14th.

He

As Karns and

j)oint

j».

m.,

on Sunday

has a farm about live miles from where he

He

as

upon the

a rejuitable gentleman, also testified

whence he was

mile from him.

this

Besides,

conn)lete.

— "1 saw Rantz coming home about 4

in the direction

conning.

I

has a son in the army

others testify

lives,

live three fourths of

who

is

a

a minor."

was nothing done in
have been absent from

that there

the forenoon, and as Rantz appears

noon

were,

wliieli

We have already called attention to the fact
Rantz was absent from home about noon, two or three

John Hantz:
tliat iNFr.

our

and punish-

arrest

to

about the time the meeting adjourned,

he can

hardly

be held responsible for any proceedings which took place.

Inde-

until

meeting was held on his pretnises,
there was very little evidence against IMr. Rantz on his trial, except that he had made excited or extravagant remarks on several
occasions, which were pretty well accounted for by Richard Stiles,
consider Rantz
(a witness examined against him,) who said
'"I
pendent of the fact that

this

:

a

man who

talks considerable.''

—

His loose talk however (suj)pos-

be correctly reported) was accompanied by very distinct
acts which gave it an innocent complexion. He t'urnislied a minor

ing

it

to

son to the army, he subscribed $100.00 to raise a bounty fuiui for

must be assistand he waited u})on the soldiers and informed them that "they
could hunt up all the drafted men and arrest them, and they would
not be disturbed."
Rantz was however arrested and severely
his district, he declared the ''bovs," (or volunteers)
ed,

He was

convicted (as we have heretof'oie shown) after
and unfair trial before the Military Connnission at
Harrisburg, ami underwent more than eight months of dungeon
But his piison doors were at last opened by ^Andrew Johnlife.
son shortly after he succeeded to the duties of the Presidential
ottice. We are informed that the cases of Mr. Rantz and of several
punished.

an imperfect

of the other prisoners wert' i)eiiding before President Lincoln, for

consideration, at the time of his death, and that they

were taken

:

HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.
u]),

acted u})on and disposed of by his successor without any

apjilicatioii,

ers

479

request or solicitation.

remaining

in

Very promptly

all

new

the prison-

custody were pardoned and discharged.

—

Samuel A})plemari
This gentleman is recorded as having
undergone an imprisonment for 53 days. It appears in the evidence that he resides in the immediate neighborhood of Kantz
that he went to the meeting in the afternoon, but was there only
about 15 minutes and then returned home. He does not seem to
have taken any part in the meeting, or to have given any other
;

pretext for his arrest.

Joseph Coleman, another victim, aged 68, a surviving soldier
war of 1SI2, was at Mr. Appleman's house on the 14th of
August, when Daniel M' Henry arrived tliere, accompanied by his
Mr. Colewife, child, and a niece, on his way to visit a relative.
man spoke to M'lTenry and referring to the Rantz meeting asked
him to go up to it and induce the people "to go home to tht-ir
request he was joined by Mr. Absalom
this
business."
In
Upon D. M' Henry's reM' Henry who was there at the time.
marking that they themselves should go up, they replied that he
had better go that he was more competent than they were and
could accomplish more. Thereupon D. M'Henry went up to the
He left his people
met'ting accompanied by Absalom M'Henry.
at Appleman's, and abandoned the visit he had intended to make.

of the

;

These facts are fully set forth in the testimony of Absalom
M'Henry and of Samuel Appleman given before the Military
Commission on tlie Hith day of December, 1864.
It will, then, be seen that Mr. Coleman was instrumental in
sending a gentlemm to the meeting to discourage and disperse it.
We next hear of him as an arrested man. He was seized and
taken to Fort MilHiii without any regard for his years or his innocence, and was kept there for a period of 49 days, when he was
discharged without trial, under an order issued by Gen. Couch.

Meantime,

his

farm was occupied for a military encampment and

extensive depredations were committed upon his

property.

For

these no compensation has ever been made.

Daniel M' I/eiiry's

arrest

is

the

only additional one

we

will

iri«Mi(ion, in this particular connection, although many others,
The testimony of Aboutr.i"-eous in <-har:icter. might be named.

:

JIl.SJ'OKY

4S0

OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.

sjilom ]\r'ITonry. to wliu'li

roiVroiu'o

tho

mooting, and also

Kant/,

Wo

wliilo thoro.

M

Absalom

umbia oounty
son:

;

what

shall thorol'oro givo

inony of John Hakor giv«Mi
//t /in/,

am

sirorn

it

in full, adiling

tho tosti-

tho sauio tiino.

at

a farmor.

already boon mado, oxwhioh D. IM'lIoniy wont to
was said and dono by liini

lias

plains oloarly tho oironnistaiioos undor

:
1

know Daniol M'llonry

—

"1 livo in .laokson

kn(>w

Kdward

township, Col-

I\rilonrv

:

hi> is

n\y

saw liim on tho Mti\ of August.
\\v oanio to Samuol Apploman's whovo 1 Avas. 1 was thoro a little
boforo hinj.
.losoph C\Woman was j>iisont.
1 askod
l^aniol M'llonry if ho was going up to tlio mooting: ho s;iid ho had not intondod to g<\ ho was g«>ing anothor oourso.
llo thou got out of
his wagon :ind lurnod it.
told him
w'uld liko him to go up
and soo what thoy woro d»>ing thoro :is ihoy might go into moasuros that I did not oonsidor right and I wouhl liko him to gt^ up
and spoak and disoourago thorn, lli' wont into tho houso and ho
s:iid no word about going up.
;igain ;vskod him and wo wont.
1

;

I

1

1

Wo

t:dkoil

:is

wo wont along

wo should adviso

th;it

thorn to dis-

porso and not do anything contrarx to hiw, and ho advisod
s[>oak to

thom

as

was

T

older.

NN'o

mo

to

w:ilkod up to tho Ivautz barn,

mado a spoooh his spoooh w:is sliort. llo t;ilkod vory muoh
wo h;ul spokon. llo told thom thoy had hotter go home and if
the st>ldiors did oomo ;vnd burn their houses they had tho law to
llo

:

as

f:ill

b;u'k

think

1

o\\,

and tho neighbors would not leave thom sutler.
whole of his spoooh distinotly and that w:is the
1

ho;ird tho

loading point.

1

w:is pretty oh>se

ti>

lie did not lulviso tho

hini.

would luvve remembered it. There was some oonversatiim between us and ho w;inted
drafted men to pay or report.
Kdw:»rd M" Henry saiil the drafted
men should st;uid together and ho wimld bo with ihoni.
n\on to stand together.

CroS{i-K.vaniin(d

—

If

ho h:vd

l);iniol

s;iid

it

1

MlliMuy did

not say ho

believed

what they had undort.nkou. The
objoot of tho mooting at Kant/'s
thoy met to eonsnlt what they
should (h^ if tho soldiers should oomo up whether thoy should
stand luit :ind del\Mul themselves if thoy should injuro them. Thoro
was a gooil ntany dr:»ftod men thoro. Ed. M'llonry was at the
further I'ud o\' tho barn and 1 eould not hoar all ho s;ud and
tho peoi»le woro un:inimous

in

—

:

1

would h:no r:nhor ho would not have spoken,

llo

:ul\

isod the

:

:

HIHTORY OF (JOLUMBIA
*lr;ift(!f]

rrifri

tlieir plan.
aj^airiHt th(^

to
I

Htick tog<;t her

difl

Re- JlJj-arninc.d

tlic

KoUliciH

carrio to

4 Ml

carry

out

underHtand that they intended to rebel

not

lawH unless

intended to resist

if

(JOIJNTY.

it

was

in self-defence.

if

the soldiers

—

I)ani<;l

came

The

to arrest tliern

M'Hcnry advised

\\u:

;

drafted
so

I

men

thought.

peojilc to

dis-

perse and go home."

Jolin Baker, Hworn:

I

— "I

Benton townsliip; a w'ag<ni
r»f
August last.
saw Daniel M'llenry there about 3 P. M. or after. He spoke a

maker.

little

I

was

while; could not

meeting 1o

n;side in

at the Ilantz mer-ting on the 14th

rlisj)erse.

tell

He;

the words. Tie talked to persuade the
thought they might be very cautious,

some malicious person might commit some depredations. His
remarks were not in favor of the meeting; the substance of his
speech was against the meeting.
I saw
Edward M'Henry there.
that

I

can't

He said they would have trouble and as
would not go. His remarks were in favor of resistDaniel M'Henry is a true and loyal man I think.

word

his speech.

for his j»art he

ance.

CrosH

Kramined

—

I

started

from liome

after dinner;

got

The people were forming V.>efore I got
Daniel M'Henry was not there long. I did not see
to the barn.
him long. T saw him come to the barn. I do not remember of
seeing him after lie made his speedi."
back at early supper time.

"^fo the same purpose with the foregoing was the
testimony of
James Evans, who was also present at the Rantz meeting and was
examined as a witness for tlie defence.
The government witness, Silas Karns, stated M'Henry 's ren)arkfi
somewhat diffeiently, though substantially to the same effect. He
admitted that "Daniel M'Henry did not advise them to resist the
soldiers," and that "he advised them not to go on l>iit to liold on
and see what was done in the matter."
Such tlien are the facts in relation to Daniel M'Henry 's connecHe went to the meeting upon retion with the Kant/, meeting.
quest to oppose all violent and imprudent counsels, and to induce
those who were there to disperse quietly and go home, and he

carried out his intention faithfully and fully.

HIS TO RY OF COL UMBIA CO UNTY.

482

The Spekcues
nesses infonn ns,

M'FT

in y.

:

— Rem arks were

by SaTimel

They were

made

the barn, as the wit-

in

Kline, Daniel IMTTenry

brief l)nt were not

all

to the

and Edward
same pnrpose

made with the same ol>jeet After some observations by Kline,
M'Henry spoke in tlie manner ahead }' described and very propThen Ed. M'lTenry made some excited remarks.
erly and wisely.
or

I).

He

tliinizs) as 'e])orfed by the witness Karns,
ni'in tha*. hal sp ke hefor:' hhn; that
vai liO'. (is
some men ha I pi'omised to protect tlieai and when tlie -rial came
He did ot name who they
some men had done so.
refused
what
ho
did
say I heard wliat I have
conld
not
tell
I
wei'e.
coidd
not
said
recollect
to tell liere.
tliini:;s
I
some
Some
stated

said (amon<>- other

that 'he

tl>.<?

—

'

;

;

men had backed
'j'he

ont."

meaninti- of

in favor of doing-

that they should

all this is

nothing

very evident.
in

the

way

of

D. M'Henry's remarks
resisting the soldiers,

wait and see what was done and that even

if

was burned they had the law to fall back upon, were
Hence his
vei-y unwelcome to Ed. M'Henry, and angered him.
bluster and protest; his disagreement with the previous speaker
and his accusation that some men had backed out.
Protection of the property and families of drafted men and of
other citizens against an apprehended raid upon them had been
the topic of consideration, and squads of observation with reference to this object exclusively were afterwards formed, composed
pro[)erty

however

of a portion only of the persons present.

the arrest of

drafted

men does

not seem to have

Resistance to
b'

en discussed

avowed as an object at the meeting, but it is likely that
at all
and some others in his position desired to promote
M'Henry
Ed.
their personal safety by ulterior measures not then proposed.
Be this as it may, there was a direct issue made at the meeting
between Daniel and Edward M'Henry; between the man of peace
or

and the man of violence between the law-abiding citizen on the
one hand and the draft-skulk on the other.
Now what was done by the military authorities in regard to
How were they regarded and treated respectively
these two men
;

'?

and by the agents of military jusdone.
The man whose conduct
what
was
We well know
tice?
seized and put in prison
of
praise
was
worthy
and
was upright
and
impoverished by an unpersecuted
was
and
months,
for four

by the

chiefs of the occupation

—

HISTOIIY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.

483

nnd in;ili<;ii:i'a prosecution. The otliev, tliough arrested,
was allowed to go forth free aul uupiiiiishe;! aud was put under
govenimeut i»ay as a witness against tlie very man whose i)eaceful (;ouns<.']s he had oj>pos(.'(l and spurni'(l!

just

THE
One

CLUr. MHKTiX(;s

of the principal clnrges

trials at Ilarrishiirg.

made

tlie draft.

1863.

against

was that they had

zation or society to resist

OF

our citizens

oi'_'ani/,ed

in

the

a secret organi-

This cliarge (which was enand was contained in
used by tlie Judge Advocate.

tirely false) ap|»eared in all the cases tried

the

form of accusation

printed

Names and

dates were

tilled in

the printed form, in each case, but

same in all the cases, and
were had. The form of the accusation as it
appeared in the charges and specifications against Stott E. CoUey,
one of the p'-isoTiers, was literally as follows
the sub^tunce of the accusation was the

convictions upon

it

:

Specification

:

— "In

tliis.

that he the said Stott

E

CoUey, a

cit-

Columbia county, Pennsylvania, did unite, confederate
and combine with John Rantz, Rohr Mllenry ind many other
disloyal persons whose names are unknown, and form or unite
with a society or organization commonly known and called by the
name of the '-Knights of the (xolden Circle," the object of which
society or organization was and is to resist the execution of the
izen of

draft,

and

pri-vent persons

who have been

drafted under the pro-

March

visions of the said act of Congress, approved

3d, I860,

ami

the several supplements thereto, from entering the military service of the United States.
ship, Columl)ia

This done at or near Benton townor about August 14,

county, Pennsylvania, on

1804, and at divers times

and places before and

after said

men-

tioned day."

Theie are three averments

in denial of this

established beyond dispute by the

now

charge which were

evidence and which

we

shall

and sustain.
1,
That the (so-called) "secret meetings," referred to in this
charge, were held in the s|iring of 18G3 and none l:;terthan about
state

: :

/rrs TO R

484

month

the

Y O F CO L UM /i TA CO UN T Y.

of INIay of that year

nearh/ one year

and a half

:

consoqiuMitly that they wore h<'ld

boforo

tl\i>

arrests

were mnde

at the

end of August 1864.

That they were politieal ehibs simply, and had no unhvwful
and particuhvrly tliat they were not intended,
nor organized and eondueted, to oppose tlie eonseription laws of
2

or improper objeet

;

the Tnited States.

That they were not e.alled or known, during their existence
name of "Knights of the Golden Circle,"' nor was any
such name ever assigned to them in any (piarter until tlu> time
,'V

by

tlie

the trials or shortly before.

of

the Uantz

(.)n

dence

trial,

on

this

we have

point

David Savage, ti>ri>rfi — am a member
ciations.
The only secret about them was
1

were sworn

to support

.Vlmost

*he draft.

of those secret Asso-

We

the pass word.

the constitution of the Ignited States and

of Pennsylvania, and the laws.
sist

the following evi-

:

all

There was no organization

to re-

the persons belonging to this Associa-

to pay bounties, itc.
The Associations
Kantz said to me he had been in to see
the soldiers, and told them they could hunt up all the drafted men
rtn«l arrest them, and they winild not be disturbed.

tion subscribed

were

money

])urely |>olitical.

Nirhola,< Kindt,
ti>ns.

They ceased

the *)nly secret in

sirorn:
last

—I was

May

member

a

a year

1

think.

of these

Associa-

The password was

The

obliiration was to support the c-mistituand of Pennsylvania and the laws acThere was no organizaticm to resist the draft.

it.

tion of the United States

cording thcr

to.

Martin .liniitt rnian. siror/r. — 1 was member of tliese AssociaThey ceased last spring a year. The oath was as stated by
There was ni) organization to resist the draft.
the last witness.
The tmlv S' cret was the sign of recognition. Never heard these
.a

tions.

organizations called Knights of the Golden Circle,
tliat

till

lately,

and

by outsiders.

()n the trial of Stott K. Collcy,

the

following very

conclusive

testimony was given for the defence:
,T(ieoh lYelii>'er. .^iror?i

— "T reside

in

Renton

:

am

a farnu'r.

T

—

HlSTOUy Oh (JOLUMJilA (JOUNTY.
knew

.lackson

of iiieotiiifrs in

IovviikIuj).

48.'>

wiis tliert; twice.

I

Knew

about them but their signs. I was initiated;
whether there or not cannot say positively.
The strangers were
only excluded when signs were given. They were callerl "JJetnoof

nothiiiGT

Hecret

I heard.
Those that could speak, spoke.
were lo support the Constitution and laws of llie United
States; nothing was said about the conscript act; nothing said
that I ever licard of about i-esistiiig the conscription act.

cratic Lodges'' as far as

We

— Never he

(JroHH Ej-<iiiutt(d:

and

:il!

William Ask,
few

Hvjorn:

—

Henton township;

initialed that

pleman, K. IJoyd.

"I

was
hk

I

t

Slates,

meetings

at secret

in sjiring of

Ed. Arilenry there; there were

evening; Ilirani Asli was

The

obligation

tion of the United Slates
in

and of the United

conslit ut ional laws.'"

1.S03 in
;i

we were

oalh but twice;

ird the

to support the Constilulion of the State

was

and the State

«if

llieie,

William Aj)-

sujipoit the Constitu-

to

Pennsylvania

the oalh about resisting the conscrij/tion act.

I

noihing

;

when

wa.s in

persons were initiated.
Cross- Examined:
at

—

T

meeting.

I

could not

P2d. M'Henry because he spoke
two meetings; he spoke at the first

reinembtr

ineeiings; I only attended
tell all

he said or give the substance.

not advise the jieople to lake up arms.

<lid

drafted

men should

leport.

\U)X,

I

did not hear

The oath only bound

He

him say

us to sup-

was never a regular
niernlx'r.
The signs were the secrets. I was no mend^er and j)aid
no ulteniion to the signs.
was not in all the time;
I
was not
present during the whole initiation.
Did not see Stott E. Colley
there.
The oath was to support the C>jnstiluti<jn of the U'^nited
States, and State of Pennsylvania."
jioil

each other as far as the laws went.

1

I

Win. lirink, sworn:
meetings

in

— "I

spring of IH&6,

Jackson township.

I

attended

only atten<led one place:

Ed. M*-

live in
1

Jlenry was theie a couj)le of times.

I

was

initiated

They

called

(Some have called it the 'Golden Circle,'
bill ihe name was 'Club Meeting.') There was noihing secret only
the signs.
Thtre tras a siibscriptinn to laise bounty money for
We raised over $7UU
volunteers oiw. evening 'w/ien I vas in.
/loir niuc/i 7/iorc 1 cannot tell.
They lead fiom Constiturujn ai.d
it

their "'Club Meeting.

"

;

irrsTORY or Columbia county.

480

spoke and Ed. M'Heiny
and I told M'llenry to behave
Nothing said about resisting

a ne vspainT. Once, a iiino numtlis' solilirr

objcH'tod to a soldier being a leader,

himself:
the

it

ought

to raise

JJiraiii
18(il^

was

broke up

;

meeting.

tlie

Kd\var<l IM'IIenry

(irafl.

^irorji:

.I,s7/,

— "I

Ed. M'Henry was

to

support the

ITnited States

had

talked about

funds to keep drafted

was

I

Constitution

They were trying

he allowed they

:

in

in tlie

*

Benton,

The

in

initiateil

of

Pennsylvania and of the

obligation

about conseriplion

oath

act.

There was

to raise funds to raise volunteers.

A

nothing secret about the meetings except the signs.
coidd be

*

*

was

not a word in the

;

it

home."
house

sciiool

at

tliere.

iniui at

room when the oath was administered.

stranger

Tlie meet-

ings were called 'Union Clid>' and 'Democratic Club.'

Cross-e.ratNhud:

— We did

not take an

by the members,

at

any such meeting

tlo/ni Saraf/e, sirorii:

farnu-r.

I

was

ship in 1S63.

— "I

live

oath

No

other: never such an oath did I take.
I

was

to

suppoit each

such obligation taken
;it.'"

Jackson township;

in

am

a

one so-called secret meeting in ,l;ickson townWe took an obligation to support the Constitution
;it

and haws of the ITnited States. I c:dled it same society it was
McHenry beloiiged
over the township.
I do not know that Ed.
Nothing said in o;vth about resisting conscription act or
to it.
The secret was signs.
draft.

— The signs

were to know each other, and
Took na
one another know.
oath to support each other. The sign was merely to know each
It runs in my mind tliere w as nothing about
other when we met.
helping e:u'h other: that we would know each other by the signs
some couUl helj> e:uh other out."
if we were to meet one another
Cross-exai/il/ied:

whenever got into trouble

to let

;

Jfartin A. Am»n'r»iaf>, sironi:
ship.

I

ingcreek.

was
«

Pennsylvania

—

'd live in Fishingcreek

initi:ited into the so-called secret meetings

*

*

The oath was

:ind of the

in

Fish-

to support the Constitution of

United States, nothing

in the oath :ibout

the conscription act, nor anything about resisting the draft.
last meeting was in March or Ajiril. 1808, that I attended.
mcmbr/'ti of the Society raised

town

money

to

pay

rohinteei-s.'*

The
T/ie

:

HIHTORY OF COLUMBIA C0UN1Y.
Wc'liiivfli ii'tolon; given

tilt!

testimony

A;in>n

(>r

Williiun Kv.'ins, governinent witnesses, very
[dirpose

effect with the

;in(l

Chih meetings.
testilied

tliiit

Sinitli

to

iiiuch

487

the

;in<l

s:iine

foregoing testimony concerning the

government witness,

C'harles (iihlions, unother

he "iittended three or four of the so-called

secret

meetings," hut no question was asked him regarding the character
or the proceedings which took place wh(Mi he was

inference to he

drawn from

notliing wiiich w(juld

this fact

ondemn them

motives or conduct of the persons

have

VV^e

iiin'i(;(3iit

tfien

is,

that he

]»resent.

could

I'lie

testify

or cast suspicion

to

upon the

who attended them.

one dozen rej)Utab]e witnesses who testify to the

and lawful character of

the

meetings of

Clid>

against a single witness upon the other side.

JlJcery

(ttniaed in relation to those Club meethtys whether

Ed.

ernment, or for the defense, saoe
their vindication

from

all

M^ Henry,

1HG3,

witness ex-

for the govpronounced

censure or enil imputation.

SPECIAL CASES.
THE CASE OF WILLIAM

The case

KESSI-ER.

of William Kesslerof Jackson township in this county,

occurring about the time under di(;cussion,
interesting.

drawn

in

is

both instructive and

Kessler was improperly enrolled and his

a draft.

When

name was

the officer or person employed for the

gave notices to the men drafted at- that time, he was informed thai Kessler was non compos mentis, tliat he had recently
escaped from tlie IIarris\)urg liUnaiic Asylum, was utterly and
notoriously unfit for military service and that notice to him would
No notice was therefore served in the case,
V)e idle and absurd.
Kessler was arrested as a deserter and
afterwards
time
some
but
Nothing can
hurri" d away from home for trial and punishment.

]»urpose

more

fidlv

show the

unfitness of

military

tribunals for the ad-

ministration of justice to the citizen, than the
case.

In the Congressional debates of

ing remarks made by Mr. Huckalew,
this case

in

1807,

proceedings

we

in his

find the follow-

the Senate, in

reft

rence to

HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.

488
"T

know one

oaso of

jv

luan

fresh

from the Poniisylvania State

who was reported upon one of these lists [of non(h-af ted men ;] no notiee was served u})on him or on

Lunatic Asylinu
report

in*;-

was carried olV and tried before a military tribuand put in prison, and under the sentence passed upon him lu' was loaded down with a ball and chain an insane man. The case was heard ra})idly, summarily nobody appeared for him the court did not knctw that he was insane they
asked him some questions, he gave absurd replies, and they supposed he was an incorrigible offender. It was necessary to appeal to the President in that case and have the man pardoned in
order to discharge him from liis prison and from bonds."
Cong.
Globe \st Sess. -iOth Con. l\ GG2.
The following letter was written, pending the application to
the President for Kessler's pardon and discharge from Fort
any one

else: he

nal at lIarris\>uro;

—

;

;

;

Mittiin.

July 24, 1865.
INIonday afternoon.

'•W.\siiiN(; roN,

Dkau

Siu.

—

1

|_
\

had an interview with the President, on Saturday

and brought the case of Kessler to his
conviction not being among the jtapeis

notice.

The record

of the

went to-day to the otlice
of the.Iudge Advocate General (but Holt is absent) and found it.
A report from that oilrtce will be realy at 10 o'clock to-morrow
when I will go again to the President and have the case determined.
The record says the Defendant confessed the facts and said
he never intended to report, whereupon the sapient commission
gave him tic) i/cars with ball and chain !
Yours very truly,
C. R. BUCKALEW."
COI.. J. G. FUKKZE.

We
the

next give

War

the

order of

1

discharge which was issued from

Department:

War

DlsrART^lKNT,

Adjvtant Gknkkak's
Washington, July

Ori-ici:

^
[-

2oth, I860. )

Special Oroers,
Tlie unexpired portion

Martial

in

the case

of

the

I,

^^^.^^.^^^

»

sentence of the Gener:vl Court

of Private Willi:vni Kessler, an un;issigned

[TTSTORY OF (JOLUMBTA COUNTY.

4S()

draft(!fl man, from I^emisylvaiiia, Ih remitted.
He will be released
from confinement at Fort MifHiri, PentiHylvania (where he is now
supposed to be,) discharged the service of the United States, and

returned

charge of a guard

in

to

home

his

Columbia county, Pennsylvania.
The (Quartermaster's Department

will

in

Jackson township,

riunish

llie

necessary

transport atifui.
liy order of the rrcsident of the

United States.

{/Signed.)

E. D.

TOWNSEND.

Assistant Adjutant (General.
Official,
li.

Williams,

Ass't. Adj't. (Jeiieral.

be observe<l

Kessler was to be sent liome in charge
was incapable of taking care of hinjself.
And ytt hf liad undeigone protracted imprisonment, under a severe and ignominious sentence, for an offence wliich, from the
very nature of tlie case, he was incapable of committing
It will

lh;it

of a guard, because he

!

CASK OK DYKU

TIIK

This gentleman was,
peace resident at

New

in lSfi4, a

I,.

<

IIAIMN.

meichant and

justice

of the

C'olumbus on the bolder of Luzerne county,

and had previously lepresented that county in the Legislature.
arrested and taken to Benton cliurch. ^Ist August, 18G4,
and thence, with the other citizen jjrisoners, to Fort MifHin on
the Delaware, where he was detained until taken to Ilarrisburg

He was

for trial on the MJth of
J)ec('Miinr

he

was

December

tried

following.

before the

Military

On

the

2Hth

of

Commission and

ac(juitted.
He was finally discharged
from custody on Saturday the 31st of the same month and jjerinittedto return home, having been precisely /bwr months within

promptly and honorably

llic

grasp of military power.

The following

otlicial announcement of the finding in
by Maj. Gen. Cadwallader, in general orders
No. 4, dated at head (piaiteis. Department of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, January 14tli, \H(')').
"Before a Military Commission which convened at Harrisburg,
Pa., pursuant to Special Orders * * and of which Brig. General
is

the

his case, as ai)jiroved

—

or Columbia county.

irrs'/'onv

4it()

Tluiiiuis A.
:"

triod

Kowlcy, V.

*

*

Di/iV L.

"2ii(l

the follow ing

Ch<ipiii..

cliari;'*'

and

v\[\/.vu

;\.

iSpi'cijicdtioti:

and deliver to
two pounds of lead, more

the

thai

M.

States soldiers coining- up the valley of

knowing the same were

l*:i.,

resisting the said soldiers of

Chaitin,

L.

on

usi'd

did

gun caps and

Ikeler,

be

to

less,

Dyer

said

oni' I^'i'ancis
(M-

I'a.,

:

resistance to the draft.

alx'ttinji,-

Furnish, sell

county,

and

.'irr;iiL!,ne(l

o^ Liizcnic coimty,

s|ircilii':i(ion

— Aiding and
—^Inlhis;

Chaiujc:

wore

S. Vols., is |in'si(^('iit,

*

aii'ainst

I<'ishinL!,'i're(

United

k, in C\)lunil)ia

to be used for the [nirpose of

United States:

tlie

done on or ;d)out August 11th, 1S()4, at or about the vilNew Columbus, Lu/erne county, ]*ennsylvania.
wliich chaige and s|)ecilication tho accused, Dyer L. Cha-

'I'iiis

lage of
'I\)

pin, a citi/.en of

niidiiig:

Lu/,erne county, Pennsylvania, plead "'not (]uUty^'

—The Coinniission after mature

evidence adduced, Hnds

tlie

accused.

Dyer

of liUzerno county, Pennsylvania, as folU)ws

Of the Speciticatioii,
Of the Charge

Not
Not

on

deliberation

\j.

Ciiapin,

:

Guilty.
Guilty.

And

the Commission does therefore acquit him."

The

accusation on which Mr. Chapin was tried ai)pears

farcical uj>on its face

found

Jiesides,

false.

made

after his ariest or

to

almoHt

was
was either concocted
lake the place of more

but slight and frivolous as

and

to be unjust

some time

;

it

was,

it

it

material matters of accusation whicli could not be sustained.

was

first

heard

of,

It

manner, when Col.
expedition as an evidence hunter toward

or produced

Albright came upon his

the

a citizen

in

a

formal

the end of Septend>er, but othtr matters of accusation, or a ditfert'ut

form

o'(

tlie

same accusation, wH)uld seem

to

\Ve have heard that a

or

bruited about before.

Mr. Chapin's for
of lead;'

tlu'

curing or

"-2

lbs of lead,"

furnishing

sni>iilies

the eoi'ri'spoiulenei' which

remai'ks as

it

fidly explains

have been
voucher o{

was read or rej>orted as "2
th.Mt he was engaged in

ch'ar inference being

for the

so called

bl)ls,

pro-

"insurrection."

made concerning liim is ventilated
we subjoin. W'e submit it without

.Vnother wonderful statement
in

bill

itsi'lf.

—

iiisTonr or columbta covnty.

v.)\

((>Kl{i;SI'(iNI»KN( K.

Nkw

CoHMIU'S,

jNInrcli,

MkSSRS.
•Sirs:

\\',\l>.-\\ (ll.

I

AM>

11,

.I.ACdl'.

FlT/.(;H{.\l

l>,

j"

— Jjidr

you do iin' tlic l;i\or to ihmIiico to wriliiig ;i st:il('iiK'Mt
your rt'soni c by (iwyriii 'I'yrcuiiui conccniiiiLC :i rcjiort

ill

|

lie li:id

(•;iMiioii

and

".

(

}

— Will

niJidc
tliat

1'.

1*.\.

2d, 1870.

juit

llii<.iUij;li

circuhiliou

iu

'1\)\\

II

seeing

:il)OUt

Hill, the hitUT

j

uiy icaui

liiiuliiig

art of tht Miiniiicr ol

a

I.S04

ol)lim'

Yours very

lesjiuctrullv
I).

I..

Cumin.

Town

Hii.i., 1'a.

\

1870./
Hon. D. L. CiiAi'i-N. JJear Sir: Your favor of the second inIn coni][»liance with your
stant in before us, and contents nottd.
Miircii

3i\,

—

we aiine.v the following Htatenient.
About the time the military forces of tlie United States were
marched up Fishingcreek, in the latter part of the summer of
18(il, it was reported that (Jwyiiii Tyrenian liad occasion to be up
hite one bright moonlight night, and had seen your team pass

retiueist

through Town Hill between midnight and daylight with a cannoD
which your learn was hauling to Henloii or Fishingcreek in Columbia county for the coiiscrij)t8, who it was rei)orted were congregating there in a large force to resist the draft. Subsequently we
were in A. J. Hess' store in Town Hill, and heard him ask Gwynn
Tyrenian about seeing your team hauling a cannon to the conscripts ill lieiiton and Fishingcreek, in answer to which Gwynn

had never seen your team hauling a
cannon or anylhiiig of the kind ami that he had started the

Tvieman

replied, that he

report just to create an excitement.
ivespeclfully Yours,

P.

C

Jacob

Wadswortii,
FrrzcjiKUALU.

In the following letter received from Mr. Chapiii, that

man

refers to certain jjajters

and gives some interesting

gentle-

details of

his case.

Nkw
('.

and

r>.

IJu()(

I'loiii

KWAV,

Es*,).,

— Dear

Messrs. ^Va.lsv^()rth

CoiXMius, March 7th, 1870.
Enclosed iind a letter
Sir.

and

—

I'^il/gerald.

1

hardly

to,

know

HIISTOKY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.

492

what more

my

to soiul you.

I will,

however, annex a brief sketch of

career for about 17 years previous to

tary.

I

moved

to

New

C\)hiinbus, A])ril

my
1st.

arrest

by

1847, and

tlie

mili-

engaged

In ISo^ I was elected a justice of the
Huntingdon townslii|), and was re-elected again in
1858 in the same townshij), which was strongly republican, without opposition.
In 1850, I was elected a member of the LegislaIn 18(U, I was elected a justice of
ture from Luzerne county.
Arrested August 31st, 1864, by the military,
the peace again.
and transported with a rush to Fort MitHin where I remained
until the 19th of December. 1864, (hiring which time I sulfered
severely with tlie ague and rheumatism, which disabled me to
such an extent that I was obliged to use crutches for some time.
On the 18th of December, 1864, an order came to Fort Mifflin
for my removal to Ilarrisburg for trial, where I arrived on the
evening of the 19th. and was marched up to Canterbury Guard
House near the State Cai)itol Hotel, where I was kept with Daniel iM'Henry and others.
Daniel jM'IIenry's trial closed and mine
was to come next. I was called for on Tuesday, December 27th,
but the Commission was not ready. December 28th, was called
for again
this time the Military Commission was ready.
I was
arraigned before the Star Chamber and one w^itness, F. M. Ikeler,
examined against me, and N. J. Hess was asked one question and
my trial was over. It lasted about one hour. I did not call a
witness.
On Saturday an order came for my discharge and it
appeared strange enough to be permitted to walk the streets of
Harrisburg without a guard by my side, or in the rear. I ai rived
at home on the 2d of January, 1864.
About the 12th of December, 1864, Colonel Eastman, the comuiaudaut of Fort MitHin, sent
for me to come to his quarters, where, of course, I made my appearance; when he inquire<l if 1 knew what I was arrested for, I
answered, that I did not then I asked him the same question, and
received for an answer that I was arrested for resisting the draft
in Columbia county.
I very pointedly informed him I did not
live in Columbia county, which apj)eared to surprise him very
much he then informed me that he had a letter that my wife
had written Governor Curtin, which he handed me to read. Governor Curtin had forwarded my wife's letter to the War Department and thev had sent it to Fort IMitHin. whether to increase the
in the mercantile business.

peace,

in

;

:

;

HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.
sevority of tny iniprisonment, or relax the iron grasp
cal rlespotism

During

my

knew

I

not

— she talked plainly to

interview with Colonel Eastman,

them

493

of tyranniat

any

rate.

nothing to regret, that

I

had
had never resisted the draft or advised

others to do so, and

I

liad

if

my life

I

told

hira

to live over again I

T

did not

would act diffei'ently from what I had since the war commenced. I have not got a copy of F. M. Ikeler's evidence before
I think it can be had of
the Military Commission.
A. J. Herr,
Esq., who was my attorney before the Military Commission.
It
differed materially from the two affidavits, of his, I gave you,
taken in Fishingcreek or Benton. Soon after my arrest in 1864,
of the intensely loyal in
a report was in circulation that som
New Columbus were to be arrested, and in great haste they re.
ported to Colonel Stewart at Benton, who, very generously, informed them that he would noiify them when he wished to see
think

I

*

******

them.
I think

this,

outline of

my

put

it

I
gave you, gives a brief
and imprisonment, and you are at liberty to
such shape as you may think best. Should you

with the other })apers
arrest

together in

require any further information

my

I

will cheerfully

D. L.

—

give

it,

in

if

Yours very Respectfully,

power.

CHAPIN.

might remark here that it is not customary for merchants to ask their customers what they intend to do with their
purchases.
T had sold fjun caps and lead for seventeen years, to
any one of my customers who called for it and John Ikeler's children had been in the habit of coming to the store frequently.
P. S.

I

D. L. C.

He

was tried for resisting the draft, though he had been one of

the most active
for the war.

mei in his section in assisting to furnish soldiers
oncluding his cise we will ask our readers to

In

peruse the following statement written by Mr.

Dec.

14, lSf)4,

every word of which

is

Chapin

in prison

indubitably true.

'Fort Mikfun, Dec. 14, 1864.
On or about the 7th of August 1862, Myron Fellows who was
then living with me, made up his mind to enlist in the army and
try a-id raise a squad of volunteers to entitle him to a Lieutenwas very sorry to lose his services,
mind to enlist, I would piocure him

rejtlied that I

ancy.

I

he had

made up

his

but, if
all

the

HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY

494

procuring volunteers.

assistance 1 could in

we

recruited between sixty

and seventy men.

twelfth of August, 1862, the

vous

af.

Town

up

made

a

or

about the
to .rendez-

James Tubbs and myself

Myron Fellows being

in line,

out

On

company recruited were

Hill preparatory to starting for the Rail

pot at Shickshiuny.
teers

In about one week

and helped

roll

to get. the

Road Devolun-

the

called

Jinavoidably absent.

1

recruits conveyances to

transport them to Shickshinny, where they remained a few days

when E. S. Osborne Esq. joined them with thirty or forty men.
Myron Fellows yi^'lded his right to the position of Captain and
accepted that of First Lieutenant. The Company was attached
to the 149th P. V.

Roy

Stone

was elected Colonel.

A

short

time after in the same year C. K. Hughes began recruiting a company to whom I furnished a spring wagon to haul his music and
speakers to r*^cruiting meetings, or as they were called war meetings, for nearly a
recr\iiting his

Regiment

month, and frequently went with him to aid in
full was attached to the 143rd

company which when

P. V.

— When the

dr;ift was made under the State law in 1862
Columbus in which I live was exempt. Our
quota was 14, and we had in the military service 18 volunteers
leaving a credit for New Columbus Borough of four Tuen after
In 1863 New Columbus
filling all calls made for volunteers.
and our credit
Township,
Borough was enrolled with Huntington
The
draft was
township.
deficiency
in
the
absorbed
in
the
was
ordered and the Borough being attached to the Township we

Srcond.

the Borough of

New

Some
filling our quota with volunteers.
were drafted who all reported and paid their commutation or went into the army except two, one of them was stricken off, and the other belonged to the 143rd Regiment P. V. Uncould do nothing toward

six or seven

der the next call in the winter of 1864, the quota of

A

bus Borough was two.

was

called.

draft should

I offered

meeting of those

liable

New

Colum-

to the draft

each one liable to the
each to raise funds to pay

a resolution that

pay twenty

five dollars

bounty of $275.00 to eaoh volunteer, which passed. I drew
sub.^cription and signed twenty five dollars, subsequently
increased it to $30.00, to make up the deficiency which was more
than any one else })aid. The men were protuired and our quota

local

up a

filled.

d

HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.
UiKler

tlie

next

lution before the

call

our quota was

Town

by my

filled

4<)5

offering a reso-

Council which was passed to levy a tax to

pay bounty to volunteers, which was levied and enough collect'
pay $300.00 local bounty to volunteers to fill our quoia, the

to

last of

May

1864.

Under the next call
Borough was Jour. I

for 500,000 the quota of
offered

Council, which passed, authorizing the council

Bonds

j^ayable in one, two,

the

Town

B

>r<)ugh

to issue

to raise money to i)ay
The volunteers were i-Uiiag 'd

and three years

$300,00 bounty to each volunteer.

and promised '^A2o

New Columbus

a resolution before

bounty each, h aving $5)0 to be raised
and some not able to ]»iy
anything. Hei'e my efforts to fill our quota with voluntt-ers were
about to fail. I th'Mi proposed to those liable to the d.-al't t.) get
the men ready to start to Scranton on Tuesday morniu!i the 3)th
w>) ild adof August an<l raise all the money they could and

among

15 or 20

local

men

liable to the draft

I

vance the

rest.

The day

ai-rived

and

to

make up

the deiiciency

hundred and twenty-eight dollars. John llogert and
went to Scranton with the V' lunt'-ers on the 30th
day of August 1S64 and returned with the Provost Marshal's receii)t the same evening before I left my office.
The next morning August 31, 1864, I was arrested and sent to
Fort MifHin where I am now confined a citizen prisoner, without
I

paid six

R. S. ]>ingham

knowing what

great crimes

I

am

accused of."

A CASE OF HANGING.
COMMHIA

COUNTY,

SS.

Leonard R. Cole, of Jackson township, in said
county, being duly sworn according to law, saith
That he is a son of Ezekiel J. Cole of said township of JackThat on Saturday afternoon
son, and is sixteen years of age.
November 5th, three soldiers came to his father's house and
:

searched

it.

to the orchard

One
barn.

barn and deponent started
to drive out the sheep to another field.

They then went
near

it

of the soldiers stopped

Two

of

them were

to the

him and took him to the stable in the
They said they would make

there.

:

WW

or ror.DtniA corxrw

//is7'()/n'

i!)(i

toll

\>

ga|), to

mv

horo

ho had ^ono

t'alhor

hunt, and U>ld hln\

tion thoy put a

roju'

and drew on
had a book to sot
l>olo

rootod

\v;i>*.

licnvn

othor to pull

till"

uiy

1

\\\c\\\

tlie

(lu'vo.

liold

Onriny;

Ho

thai

said

ovor a

mow

the i\>po and tho otliur

my

tlio

my

it.

hook

dl-

had boon

tathor

thoro two hoiM-s botoro. thoro was no nso lionyinu"

Tho ropo was

:

examina-

tlio
it

Tho ono with

said.

hardor.

know

dul not

1

mountain, np Wost oifek

nook, aiul throw

thom

i>t'

what

\o

way

tl>i>

around
Chio

it.

toM

1

Monday wook

on

I

donioil ho

woro drawn
otV tho tK>or, .-md
wasblimlod and unabh> to spoak. ^ly mothor
and KU/.aboth Ki>bbins approaohin>;' thoy took ofT tlio ropo, and I

had boon

thoro.

puUoil until

hools

I

out of

stHiiijoroil

and

tl\ov

(^no of

stablo.

tlio

oluainod anothor piooo

gothor to draw

mo

up.

1

in

thom

with him

a ropo

hat!

tho stabU> and tiod tho two to-

had answorod tho tpiostions thoy

Inul

askod mo. and had not ixivon thom any unoivil languagv.
tho namos of tho soldiors in tho stablo, but
1 do not ki\ow
would know thom upon sooinu' thom. Tho third ono was Ephraim
Klim\ oi Honton township.
llo was at tho oorn orib botwoon
tho liouso and barn.
l.Ft>N

Sworn and

subsoribovl bot'oro

mo Novombor

\un K.

C'oi.K.

7th, lS(i4.

.IeSSK C\>l.K>l.\N,

Prothouotary.
1^

TllK KlSlllNi; (.MJK.KK

Tho

stalo slandors about this subjoot

th<>rouiihly rofutod

Wo

CONH^^EDKKACY.

that

havo boon so ofton and so

wo soUKmu pay muoli

attention to thom.

howovor, an artiolo on tho subjoot by

oi^py.

Shtnandoah Ihrahl,

1ST-, an

tlio

oditor of tho

Indopoudont journal, whioh how-

Tho writer was
knows whereof ho

ovor supports a portion of tho Kojniblioan tiokot.
a

member

of

tho

".Vrmy

of

Invasion," and

speaks

So

it

is

with tho ohariro of fathorino- the "Fishing Crook Conis oast upon tho statesn\an like shoulders of

fodoraev" whioh

in

Yet wo know
took part

this

oharge

is

OK

Vl.KW.

false, for

in the oolebratoil eampaiL::n to

wo wore on
orush

it.

and
do we re-

tho spot

"Well

in STORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.
iiioinbor the }jcroic cliarge

of

tlie

we made on the supposed battlements

confederates after a fortnight's preparation, reconnoitering,

scouting and picketing, and quite vivid

minds

41)7

«jf

the disgusted countenances of

is

the picture

still

in

our

the one thousand braves

summit of the mount where we were taught
Creek army was massed and which for one
long monlli we had regarded with awe and expectancy, and found
not a man, nor the meanest evidence that a man had ever Ijeen
there.
Such was our extreme disappointment that our sojourn
in ("oiuml^ia county was shortened none too soon and but a few
days ehijised before not a soldier was to be seen where for six
weeks all had Vjeen bustle, an<l activity. The Government was
beautifully fooled by a few jjeople who wanted to see the soldiers.
as they reached the

to Vjelieve the Fisliing

In a word, impartial reader, let
as a

confederacy to

resist the

us inform

U. S.

you, that such a thing

Government never existed

in

Columbia county, that the trouble that existed there during that
interesting pi-riod (jf time when the draft was so severe, auKumted to nothing more than what existed in this and other counties
of the State, and that was the desertion of a few men that had
been drafted and their refusal to appear when summoned in deNo open resistance, no organization in
fence of their country.
opposition to the federal authorities, nothing but the act of a few
men who fled to escape being forced into the army and this is

—

the history of the "Fishingcreek Confederacy."

CAPTAIN SILVERS' ST ATP:MENT—COLONEL STEWART CONTRADICTED.
State

of Pennsylvania, county of Columbia,

»s.:

Personally appeared before me, a notary public, in and for the
said county, Captain William Silvers, who, being by me first <luly
sworn, dej.oses and says that he has carefully read a lengthy article

Kvening Bulktin^oi Saturday, September 2l8t
inst.,about Mr. Buckalew and the so-called "Fishingcreek Confedermaking
acy," together with the affi<lavit of Colonel Charles Stewart
in the I'liihidelphiu

HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.

49S

charges against Mr.
it

Buckalew. wlucli are so false that

political result, but in justice to

surance that

than

eitlier

who was

I

know more

I

tliink

—

them not for any
Mr. IJuckalew, and with the as-

a duty as a citizen and a neighbor to correct

about the draft troubles in this county

the editor of the Bulletin or Colonel Charles Stewart,

county but a short time. Deponent further says
disabled and honorably discharged from the
was
that after he
army he was appointed by Governor A. G. Curtin draft commissioner for Columbia county, and was subsequently appointed depin this

district, which office he held
and therefore thinks he had better opportunity of knowing the affairs of this county during the war

uty provost marshal of the thirteenth
until tlie close of the war,

than the editor of the Bulletin or Colonel Stewart. The latter
asserts that he had received orders from General Couch to proceed
to the Fishingcreek,

drive these

men out

Columbia county, and
of the country."

This

''to
is

kill,

capture, or

materially different

from the orders given deponent as deputy provost marshal by
either General Couch or Major R. I. Dodge, i)rovost marshal of
the State, both of whom were here. Dei»onent's orders from both
were to be tinn with the men charged with desertion, but to use
no violence unless under compulsion. The statement of Colonel
Stewart is false also in stating that Mr. Buckalew addressed the
I was informed
''Rantz meeting" on Sunday, August 14, 1864.
of an intended meeting the Saturday night previous, and proceeded through the woods to watch the movement, but Mr. Buckalew
neither addressed the meeting nor was he at any time present. At
the trial of the arrested

men

at Harrisburg, nor since,

until

this

campaign, was he accused of being there. Colonel Stewart states
another falsehood when he says that he detailed Lieutenant Magee
to arrest Mr. Buckalew, and that the latter absented himself, and
that Magee could not arrest him. I could have arrested j\Ir. Bucka-

any time had I received orders so to do, either at his home
I further assert that Colonel
or whilst Congress was in session.
alleged
deserters
and received money
arrested
here,
while
Stewart
from them, giving them written discharges, but that the men were
subsequently held to service and that I wrote to him asking his
authority for so doing he replied by stating that "the Government wanted tnoncy and not un'iiP Whereujjon T reported the
facts to the provost marshal- and he was inunediately relieved

lew

at

;

;

HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.

499

from his coiiiiiiiukI. I fuithennore swear that in all my searches
through Columbia and Sullivan couuties I never found the least
trace of earthworks or fortifications, nor did 1 have any knowledge
of artillery to resist the draft or United States troops.
WlFJ.IAM Su.VKKS.

Sworn
1872.

[ska I,.]

to

and subscribed before mc,

this

30th day of September^

Wm. Pkacock,
Notary Public

HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY-

500

^j^i=:PEnsr:Di2^ i^o, i.

PLEA OF JOHN RANTZ.
To
when

!ill

respectfully"

proper jurisdiction will

begs leave to

risdiction of this court
1.

John Rantz, the

the cliavijes and specitioations

in a court of

The charges

tile

prisoner,

})load not guilty,

but

the following written plea to the ju-

;

involve

high and infamous crimes, and the

Constitution of the United States expressly provides that no per-

son shall be held to answer for a capital or otherwise infamous

crime unless on a presentment or indictment by a grand jury, except in cases

ainsing from

(Amendment

Cuist. Art.

5.)

land

the

militia, wheti in active service in

or

naval forces, or

in

the

time of war or public danger.

And

again

:

"In

all

criminal cases

the prisoner shall enjoy the right of a speed)'^ public trial by an
impartial

jury

of

the

have been committed.''

State

and

district

(Amendment

where the crime

to the Const. Art.

shall

6.)

These provisions were adopted after the organization of the
of the United States under the Constitution and for
the purpose of placing the trial by jury entirely beyond the
The
j)c)wer of Congress and all other bodies of the Government.

Government

Constitution, as originally adopted, contained the following provisions on the subject

:

of impeachment, shall be

"The trial of all crimes, except in cases
by jury and such trial shall be held in
;

the State where such crime shall have been committed."
Sec. 2.)

So jealous were the people of the right

(Art. 4,

in question that

they recpiired the amendment tpioted, notwithstanding the original provision.

The defendant

is

a citizen of the

United States and of the State

of Pennsylvania, not in the land or naval forces or in the
in

active service.

He

is

militia

therefore not within the exception

amendments above
rights any more than

Article 3 of

cited.

affect his

if it

of

That exception does not

did not exist.

The

several

HISTOEY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.
provisions of the Conslitutioii are absolute as to
constitutional provision can p.otect a right

it

501

liiiii
and if an\
would seem that he
;

ought to be protected from a trial not in confonnity with them.
It seems tnat he cannot, in fairness, be tried without being presented by a grand ]nvy, or tried without

Vk

petit jury of the

dis-

wherein the alleged offences were committed.
But it may be said that we are in a state of war that the writ
of habeas corpus is suspended
and the provisions in question are
trict

;

;

under similar suspension.

But there

is

iio

provision

ileed authorizes the suspension of the

the land, generally adojtted

habeas corpus

States

in the

and higher ground.

visions of the Constitution against

The

is

all

in-

— a law of

placed on a different

secured by these several

It is

act

prior to the Constitu-

The right of trial by jury, however,

tion.

for the sus-

The Constitution

pension of any branch of the Constitution.

absolute pro-

chances and under

all cir-

must be potent enough to
abolish every princii)le of the Constitution, and all those primordial rights that existed before the Constitution and so far as human foresight provide against their invasion, protected by plain
cumstances.

fiat

that suspends

it

constitutional provisions.
If

should be contended then, that the powei' necessary

it

suspension of the habeas corptis involves
pension of the light of
his opinion,
Ist.

The

it

trial

by

jury,

in its

f(

r

the

exercise the sus-

he begs leave to say that,

in

cannot, for the following reasons:

trial

by jury

is

placed by the Constitution

among

the

and must, in favor of natural
against the exercise of any doubtful power

original reserved rights of the people,
liberty,

be held safe as

upon the principle of construction applied to constitutions, that
grants of power are to be construed strictly as againsL the power
and in favor of liberty.
2. But being last in point of time and of e pial authority with
the provisions in relation to the suspensions of habeas corpus, the

amendments must be held to restrain tliat provision so far as may
be necessary to the perfect enjoyment of the rights asserted in
the amendments.
3.

Simply, however, because they are amendments to the Con
e\eiything in that instiunitnt that may in any view be

stitution,

held to impair rights therein asserted must give

way

to them.

To

that extent they change and modify the powers conferred on the

;

HISTORY OF COTATMBTA COUNTY.

502

Government,
jury in the

in

the

The

original instrument.

e:uses referred to

cannot be impaired

—

of

riglit

— nnicli

triiil

by

taken

less

by the suspension of the habeas corpus, nor indeed by
any order of the Executive or law of Congress. To this effect
see 2d Story on Con., See's 1,778 to 1,795, inclusive.

away

But not only may

this right of trial by jury be regarded as
and secured to the citizen by the provisions of the Constitution, but any and every other mode of trial
must be taken to be exclnded and prohibited. Thus "No })erson shall be held to answer for any capital or otherwise infamous
crime unless in case of jtresentmcnt and indictment by a grand
jury,'' tfcc, clearly precludes the notion of any other form of
4.

aftirmatively asserted

:

trial.

The

old

common law and

England, brought

great statutes of

over with them by the founders of the English colonies, and in
force at the time of the adoption of the Constitution of the

United States, excluded

all

other modes of

cited, expressly

point and in

great act

is

appeals to

and

as fola>ws

The oOth chapter

or in any

"The judgment

of his

who

alluded

peers," here

;

He

our more immediate

we

nor will

his peers, or

says

to,

are called the peers of the

being of like condition and equal."

"When

this

of this

imi)risoned, or disseized or out-

way destroyed

upon him unless by the lawful juilgment of
law of the land.''
the trial by jury,

citizen

:

shall be taken or

lawed, or banished,

of any

Magna Charta upon

(piotes

snp[)ort of this position.

"No freeman

trial

Mr. Justice Story, as already

not in the military conunission.

pass

by the

Story, "is

party accused,

also expressly says

ancestors

removed

to

America

they brought this great privilege with them, as their birth right
and inheritance, as a part of that admirable common law which

had fenced round and interposed

barriers

the approaclies of arbitrary power."
]->ut

this denial

of any other

form of

by military commissions, was asserted
passed in the third

on every side against

P. 1779.

and especially that
the "Petition of Rights"

trial,

in

year of Charles the First.

acted and established. "That no

should be put out of his

man

laiuls or

of

what

tenements,

It is

state
n(n-

therein enor condition

taken, nor im-

HISTOIiY OF COLUMBIA 00UN2Y.
jiri.soiR'd,

nor disinherited, nor

]»ut to deatli

-)03

due

witlioiit

i)rocess

of law."

And

in

speaking of the commissions, aforesaid, the act nseth

the following terms:

"Which commisssions, and
and directly contrary

to the

others of like nature, are wholly

all

said law

and statutes of the realm."

Similar language was employed in the Bill of Rights passed at

the time of the Revolution of 1688.

And

it

may

be safely

member

not a

tial

of the

army

or

navy or

England against any person
in

the militia

in actual ser-

English Judge has said

Indeed, a distinguished

vice.

no jn-oceed-

stated that since that time

ings of this nature luive taken place in

law as of old docs not exist

in

England

at

all,"

"Mar-

:

and

is

con-

and has been for a century totally exj.lodiMl."
(Irant vs. Gould 2 Hume Bl. 69 I Hale P. C. 246 Kale
com. law C 2, 36 This, it has been remarked by a learned
judge, "is correct, as to the connnunity generally, both in war
and peace."
trary to the Constitution,

;

By

an act approved July 31, 1864, Vol.

provided,

namely

:

By

trial

in

statutes at large,

12,

l»age 2184, conspiracies are defined, and the

the Circuit

mode
or

of punishment

Disti'ict

Court of

the United States of the proper circuit or district.

Can

these parties be

hold not.

By

tried before

the President's

any other tribunal

i»roclaraation of Sept.

'.

We

24th, 1862,

suspending the writ of habeas corpus, it was ordered, "That
during the existing insurrection and as a necessary measure for
suppressing the same, all rebels and insurgents, their aidei's and

rnited States, etc., shall be subject to martial
and punishment by court niai'tial oi- miliWithout stopping to in(iuire whether the
taiy cotnniission."
liroclaniation was authorized, and if so. whether it embraced per-

abettors, within the

law and liable

to trial

sons charged with
State not

in

committing

insunectioii, and

a substantial

when

the couits

of their powers, the defendant claims that

it

offense

within a

;ire in full

exercise

has been sujterceded

by the act of Congress of the 3rd of Marcii, 1863, (Vol. 12, statutes at large 77')) relating to the writ of hahi'un corpus and the
I'resident's proclamation, based thereon of the loth of September,
1862.

BISTOIiY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.

504

The

first

section of the act of 1863, authorizes the President to

suspend the writ of habeas corpus.

The second

Secretary of State and of

the

requires

War

to re-

United States Circuit and District
Courts the names of persons held in military custody by order of
the President in their respective districts, and if the grand juries
of the proper districts fail to find bilL<, it is the duty of the judges
to have all such persons discharged on taking the oath of allegiance and giving bond if required.
port

to

The

the Judges

of

the

third section provides

ported, shall be entitled to

that

all

persons so held and not re-

a discharge in the

same manner

as

is

provided in the second section, after a failure on the part of the
proper Grand Jury to indict him.

Here are all the sections of this act which bear on the question
and it will be seen that while they contemplate and sanction military arrests, they do not countenance or authorize military trials.

On

the contrary ihey fairly discountenance them.

The

President's proclamation based on

pension of the habeas
law, or to the rules

this act, limits the sus-

corpus to persons amenable to military

and

articles of war,

&c.

No

order

is

contain-

and the infei'ence is irto act under the rules of

ed in this proclamation in regard to

trials,

resistible that the proper courts are

left

law upon that subject, and these are too well defined to require
comment. Civil courts try offences against the law committed
by citizens. Military courts and commissions try such as are subject to the rules and articles of war, and the defendant claims
that he does not fall within that class.

The

5.

recent

act

giving military courts jurisdiction of

fences against the civil laws,
citizens

by

to be tried

1863,

p.

its

silence

by the

when committed Ly

from any such

civil courts for all

of-

soldiers, excludes

jurisdiction,

and leaves them

such offences.

See Rev. reg.

541.

But all doubt, if there could be any on this question, is put to
by the act of 3rd of March, 1863, entitled or known as the
Enrollment Act, where it is expri ssly provided, That where per-

rest

sons are charged with resistina: the draft, they shall be forthwith
delivered to the civil authorities.^'' and
ished.

The

Statutes at large, vol. 12,

p.

upon conviction be pun-

735,

pi. 25.

President's proclamation of 15th of

September, 1863, pro-

HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.
fesses to

conform to

tlie

statute, indeed

makes the

505

statute the rule

of action under the proclamation, and does not impair the right of
trial

by

We

jury.

have, however, in

the enrollment act of the

24th of July, 1864, the Executive and

legislative construction of
the then existing law, for the hearing of the party in such like
cases is exclusively assigned to a Couit of competent jurisdiction

and the Circuit Court of the United
the offence was committed,
Statutes at large, vol. 13,

The defendant
question

is

p. 8,

12.

j)l.

determining that of the jurisdiction, viz: Can the

in

in

dictment for the offence charged
cited.

not, in

which

further desires the commission to consider this

sentence of this court be j)leaded

seem

States, in the district in

specified as the only proper tribunal.

bar to a prosecution upon

in

the civil courts

?

It

in-

would

view of the recent legislation of Congress, already

The

legislation

clearly gives

jurisdiction of this case to

the civil courts, and upon their failure to try and convict him entitles

him

to be discharged, either

upon terms or absolutely.

In view of these considerations, the defendant resjjectfully sub-

mits that he

is

not triable by this commission, not being within

the jurisdiction thereof, or any other military tribunal whatever.
All of which

is

respectfully submitted.

JOHN RANTZ.

Jt^^t

HISTOllY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.

50(3

MILITARY TRIALS AT HARRISBURG.
Some

note ought to be

made

of the

place in this city, during the late civil

military

war,

and

trials
I

ihiir

may

look

i'lcniise

on the spot at the time, I believed then and lidieve
now, that they were arbitrary and unconstitutional, were w liolly
It
unnecessary and without justification, jjalliation, or excuh<'.
that, living

must be recollected,that we in Pennsylvania were living, or thought
we were, in a State which was not engaged in the rebellion :igainst
the
the government; but it turned out that we were mistaken,
<>n
the
legislation
the
notwithstanding
for
was;
Department
War
subject, by our State legislature and by Congress, the W:ir Department arrested the citizens of this State, and tried them by
military commission, as if the State was in open rebellion. :Mid as
if all the courts in the State had been closed; and this, too, alter
the State had sent two hundred thousand men to suppress (he
<>i'

rebellion.

The Constitution

of the

third article that "the trial

United States has provided
of all critnes, exctpt in cases

in

the

<>f

im-

peachment, shall be by jury, and such trial shall be held in the
Str^te where such crime shall have been committed ;" and tin n in
the amendments to the Constitution, article 5, that "no |>eison

answer for a capital or otherwise infamous crime,
presentment or indictment of a grand Jury, except in

shall be held to

unless on

a.

cases arising in the land or naval forces or, in the militia wImmi in

actual service, in time of war or public danger," "nor be deprived
And
of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law.''

criminal prosecutions the accused si all
enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial by an impartial jury
in the State and district wherein the crime shall have been committed, which district shall have been previously ascertain"/ hy

in article sixth, "in all

lamr
Our

i

State legislature in order to prevent any person from

aid or assistance to the rebellion, passed an act
April, 1861,

by which,

in

on the

Liiv

\'^\\\

one lengthy section, they provide

iitg

of
for

HItiTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.

507

every possible case, in which any person could give aid or comfort

United States of America,"
and also where any one should persuade any person or persons
from entering the service of this State or the United States "or
induce any person to abandon such service'' and enacting that
'•every person so offending, and being legally convicted thereof,
shall be guilty of a high misdemeanor and shall be sentenced to
undergo solitary imprisonmeiit in the penitentiary at hard labor
to the "enemies of this State or tlie

not exceeding ten years, or be fined in a sum not exceeding
thousand dollars, or both, at the discretion of the court."

five

Congress, by an act passed 3d March, 1863, directed that where
[)ersons are

charged with resisting the draft they "shall be forth-

with delivered to the

And by

civil authorities."

the act approved on the

31st

of

July,

1864,

further

and punishment of conspiiacies against the
government, and directed and required these trials to be had
provided for the

trial

before "the Circuit or District Court of the United States for the

proper circuit or

dis^trict."

As many perhaps

twenty or thirty private citizens, all living
Susquehanna river, principally in Luzerne or
Columbia counties, were arrested at their homes and tried by
as

east or north of the

military tribunals in this city in the year 1864 or 1865.

the trials were held in

the

lower room of

Some

of

the north corner of

Market street and River alley, others in the most easterly upper
room of the court house over the court room. The mode of trial
was by three military men sitting as a military court, with a person acting as judge advocate, who took no oath to perform his
duty honestly, but whose decision on every point was taken as
conclusive.
A guard stood at the door, and no person was admitted but the one witness called and the counsel of the prisoner.
Every cpiestion was retpiired to be suV)mitted in writing. It was
with great difficulty that the prisoner's counsel could gain admitHe was required

tance to the prisoner's room to see the prisoner.

visit to produce an order from the provost marshal. The
charges against these persons were generally the same; either for
combining to resist the draft, or uttering disloyal sentiments and

on every

threatening to resist the othcers of the government.

was never ac(piainted with any one of these
These offences were such

as the State

The writer

))risoners.

courts

were authorized

I/I>STOBY

r)08

OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.

And
by the act above cited to try, and on conviction to punish.
they were the very kind of cases for which Congress had specially
provided by legislation and had directed and required to be tried
before the United States Circuit or District Courts of the proper
district.

The

prisoners in

the military court

;

every instance pleaded to the jurisdiction of
is, denied that the court had jurisdiction

that

by the State Court, as
Court
provided by
these
})leas
were
disregardHut
Congress.
of
directed
by
Act
as
ed by the War Department. That Department had the military
in its hands and would treat every other branch of the government with contempt. The Act of our State Legislature and the
State courts, the Act of Congress a<id the United States Courts,
as well as the Constitution of the land, were all treated with utter
contempt, and the party arrested was tried in each case as if we
had no written Constitution and no law, and as if the states not
the case, and asked

in

that tliey be tried

the Act of Assembly, or by the United States

were under a military despotism. The evidence in
most of these trials revealed a case so trilling and insignificant as
and after a
to be only fit to be heard before the quarter sessions
was acnearly
every
prisoner
trial
stately and elaborate military
in rebellion

;

quitted.

was any man arrested with arms in
company, but every cue was arrested
A large force, of ])erhaps seven hundred
at his peaceable home.
soldiers, had been sent to Columbia county, and after encamping
In no instance,

I

believe,

his hands, or in a military

there

f-

r ten

borhood,

all

days they arrested about forty farmers in the neighwhom were at their respective homes, and many

of

These
and afterwards brought
Had any of these n;en violated the Act of
to this city for trial.
the State Legislature, or the Act of Congress, and been tried in
the State or the United States courts and convicted and punished;
no reasonable man could have objected or found fault with the
proceeding but these prisoners were unnecessarily dragged away,

of

them

in

bed

prisoners were

with their families,

all

at the time of arrest.

taken to Fort Mifflin

;

Act of our Legislature and the Act of Congress,
contempt of the courts, and tried at the seat of government, as
if to cast contempt upon the reputation of this Commonwealth
and her citizens. I have not heard of a single instance in which

in the face of the
in

HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.
any

509

had been injured in an attempt to arany of these prisoners. Hut if it was necessary to take a
military fon-e to the ground to arrest them, then why were they
not taken before the civil courts for trial ? If the Court of Columbia county could not be trusted with the trial, why were the
prisoners not taken to the United States Court at Williamsport,
in the adjoining county, pursuant to the Act of Congress?
All
these courts were open and unobstructed by the rebellion.
No
armed rebel ever set his foot on the eastern shore of the Susquecivil or military officer

rest

hanna,

nor within

hundred miles of the place where these
and no State or United States
Court east of the Susquehanna was ever closed or interfered with
by the rebellion. Indeed, some of these trials were held in our
court house while our court was sitting.
I ask then, where was
the necessity for these trials by the military ? It was not pretended that the prisoners tried were in the army "in actual service in
time of war or public danger."
Some of them could not belong
to the army, for one, a farmer by occupation, named Samuel M'Henry, was seventy years of age. The mode of trial in some of
the cases would have disgraced any military despotism in Europe,
and is a scandal to the age in which we live.
Take for instance the case of Daniel M'Henry, of Columbia
The charges ag^^inst him were substantially thftse above
county.
stateil.
The trial proceeded before three military men for a day
or more, ii'hen suddenly one of these judges or members of the
court disapj)eared. and a new man in military dress, who had not
been present at the trial, nor heard any of the evidence, appeared
and claimed to take the place of the absentee without consulting
otie

prisoners lived and were arrested

the prisoner.
the

The counsel

two remaining

;

for the prisoner of course objected,

officers or jurors or

the case until they could hear from Washington.

afterwards the }>risoner was informed that the
liad

been heard

ceed.

fi-oju

and the

trial inimt proceed.

Those who gave the orders

in the

and

judges, agreed to adjourn

In a few days

War Department
A'd

it

War Department

did pro-

no doubt

hoped that notwithstanding this scandalous violation of the rights
of the citizens and of the Cotistitution of the United States, some
effort would be made by an U'iscruptdous partisan Congress, which
lost no opportunity to show its contempt for the Constitution and
whifh treated the Suj^reme Court of the United States with un-

510

HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUN'TY

mitigated hatred, to screen them afterwards from
ces of their acts.

But

it

consequen-

tlio

must be recollected that Congress can

pass no law that contravenes the Constitution of the ITnited States.

Congress was created by the Constitution and is inferior to it.
conduct of the War Department, exhibiting the most stringi ut exercise of a military despotism, was not attempted to be
justified; but our courts were overawed and would not have dared
to grant a writ of habeas corpus in any case, and I am confident
that if any man had declared publicly that these trials were in the
face of the Constitution, he would have been j)icked up on the
same day, by the military at the point of the bayonet, and would
Til is

have been

subjected to a

whose power and

When

trial

before this very military court

jurisdiction he utterly denied.

one prisoner was

\ip

for trial a piece of paper

over his head having written on

it

was pinned

the words, "Death to Traitors."

trifling the offenses for which these men were tried,
punishment authorized by our State law of imprisonment
for ten years in the penitentiary, made the crime an infamous
one, and therfore clearly within the Constitution which requires

However

yet the

a presentment or indictment.

The people

whole land ought to understand that the
United States is tlie foundation of our government, and the Supreme Court of the United States is the juIf the Supreme Court of
dicial expounder of the Constitution.
the United States can be so manipulated by Congress, as to
of this

Constitution of the

become a political partisan
and the constitution can be

institution, instead of a

construed in such a

judicial one,

way

as to

con-

whole genius of our government in establishing a
military despotism over the whole land, because of a partial rebellion, that there is an end to all appeal to civil government.
The people must either submit to this military despotism in the
hands of the War Department, or offer open resistance, and stand
upon their rights guaranteed to them by our form of government.
useless to talk of amending the Constitution or
It would I'O
making a new one. for if a Constitution framed bj' Washington
and the men of tlie vcvolulion can be treated with contempt and
disregarded, no reasonable man would suppose that a Constitumade by the men of the present day, or by the men of any future
iicneration would be reoarded.
travene the

HIti TOR
-"Ifiunly

I

oi

bel I've that

Constitution to

till

ha\'' Ix-eii claiiiie<l

a-k the

1

Y OF

it

exei(i>(<l

hy

who, what

in

broa'l land ever beli^-ved that

ington and
thai

\v

liis

tlie

itcinlfd Ity

thi
i.i

iii

in tlie late

common

("onstitution

511

fiameis

tlit;

the powers that

ol'

takes phice in om-

every other part are to

])eo|»lf in

i

com])eers, establislied as

reb<Uion

a

lien

m-ver

u.i-;

CO UNT Y.

1

coiifiT Lpoii llu- militai'y

aii<l

(juestion

C O L UMB 1.

war.

sense in this

framed by Wash-

a rule of iroverniiient,
j)ait

of

tlie

Union, the

be snl>jected to a military

.ies-

hands of the War Department, until the rebellion is
This is the great question that lies at the founda-

jtotiMH in the

suppiessed?

tion of these military trials.
Doe.-,

not

it

that alter

by a

furnish further evidence of a military despotism,

men have been draj^ged away from the civil
tribunal unknown to the laws, and acquitted

courts,

was
most of these men,) that after h)eing turned loose
they >iiould be denied in every case all knowledge of the name of
the person at whose instance they had been arrested.
tricfl

{-.Vi

the case with

Take another

illustration of the workings of this military law:
drunken officer galloped one day furiously up and down our
streels. and rode across the pavement in the centre of the town
into a large hotel on horseback, then turned and rode out again.
When remonstrated with by the police, he arrested the police,
took them into the house and put them under guard, whilst his
aids Hourished their naked pistols in tiie faces of the citizens who
came in to look on. No magistrate nor court would have dared
to issue a warrant for the arrest of these military rowdies, and no
warrant could have been executed. But the conduct of these military men was of course all right and necessary as a "war meas-

A

ure"'

hccause a rebellion existed in the ^Southern

Do

they -hill by their repeated assaults
fort

<

and

/States.

the leaders of the present party in Congress reflect that

lu

make

lidelity,

it

that

])artisan,
in

destroy

its

independence,

a short time their party

oril V, .ind their si/ccessors

in office

if

the judiciary, and their ef-

oil

may

may

its

stability

pass into a min-

iniitate their

bad example

and show themselves as reckless and
and if they shoidd prove so, what then? With a Supreme
Court which is a mere shuttlecock between political parties, what
will the Constitution be worth to the i)eople of the whole land?
what pn^tection will it afford to any man?
<lesperatc as the present lead-

ers

.'

HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.

.,12

Wlial would any citizen of Pennsylvania say while living, as
he supposes, securely under tiie Constitution of the United Slates

he was told that a rebellion had been inaugurated in New Engand that instantly every person in Pennsylvania had been
divested of his right of personal security, and of trial by jury,

if

land,

guaranteed to him by the constitution, and that any day or hour,
any expression of o})inion he was liable to be picked up at the
point of the bayonet, by a hie of soldiers, to be tried by three
for

and whether convicted or not, would
be sent to Fort Delaware, to sleep in an apartment below the
surface of the surrounding water, and have an open privy used by
a dozen of men kept in the room in which he drank and
strangers, in military dress,

what would he say

slept?

to such law, as the

law of the land?

the law insisted upon and practiced upon in Pennsylvania, at
in the late civil

seat of governnvent,

war.

Can

it

its

be pretended

when a citizen, not in the army, is arrested by the military, and when the civil courts are all open and unobstructed in
the administration of justice, the military can try him, and when
acquitted, if the prisoner asks why he was tried, and at whose

that

instance he was arrested, he

your business
inquire

;

you can go

!"

War

be treated as

If this

if

soldiers,

is

in

had demanded
it is

living in a State not in rebel-

Had

the

every other county in the State, as

this, a military court,

of the county,

so,

they were slaves or brutes?

Department placed

they did in

is none of
have no right to
then why were our civil

be ansvyered "that

Are the people

courts established?
lion to

may

a matter about which you

it is

;

and that

the right to try

all

court,

the

backed by

criminal

its

business

doubtful whether the claim would have been

resisted.

To

who would

stand by and look on at these miliwas perfectly astonishing to see with what
ease a civil government, founded on a written Constitution and
laws, could be made, by usurpation, to slide over into a military
a person

tary proceedings

it

one.

Had we now
of the peo})le,

a Congress that respected or regarded the interest

we might hope

adopted repudiating

all

that

some proceeding would be

these military trials where the civil courts

were open and had jurisdiction.
It is

very evident that the construction put upon the Constitu

HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.
tion

by the

War Department

raihtary arrests and military

in

trials,

513

war on the subject of

the late

leaves to the citizen, living in

a State not in rebellion, no personal security whatever, and treats

him

as

if

he lived

tary despotism.

in a

land where the government

Whether the people

willing to allow the construction of the

of

is

a sheer mili-

the United States are

War

Department

as a precedent in case of another insane rebellion or not,

to stand
is

a ques-

ought to command the attention of the
whole land from the Atlantic to the Pacific.

tion of such vast import as
j)eople of this

Harrisburg, 1867.

H. A., 2d

street.

HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.

514

.i5^i=:PE:isriDi2c: InTO.

2,

UNITED STATES SUPREME COURT.
MIOTARV TRIALS OF

CIVILIANS.

THE INDIANA CONSPIRACT

Argument

CASES.

of the Hon. Jeremiah S. Black.

In September, 1864, L. P. Milligan, W. A. Bowles, Stephen
Horsey, and others, were arrested and brought before a military
commission at Indianapolis, Indiana, charged with being members
of the order of

"American Knights," or "Sons of Liberty,"

in

league with armed rebels, and with having conspired to release
the rebel prisoners of war confined in the United States military
prisons at

Indianapolis, Chicago

and Rock

Island.

The three

named, after a protracted trial, were found guilty of the
charges and specifications preferred against them, and condemned
The findings and sentence were approved by the Presto death.
ident and promulgated by the War Department on tlie 2d of May
1865, and the 19th day of the same month was fixed for the exeOn the 10th of May, however, they applied by petition
cution.
to the circuit court of the United States for the district of Indiana (Judges Davis and McDonald) for a writ of habeas corpus, or
for an order of discharge, under the act of Congress approved
March 3. 1863, entitled "An act relating to habeas corpus, and
parties

regulating judicial proceedings in certain cases." The judges of
the circuit court were divided in opinion upon this apj)lication,

and

certified the following

questions, on

which they

diifered, to

the Supreme Court for decision
"On the facts stated in said petition and exhibits, ought a
1.
:

writ of habeas corpus

to be

issued

according to the prayer of

said petition ?"
2.

"On

the facts stated in

said

petition

and

exiiibits,

ought

HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.

.31

o

the said parties to be discharged from custody, as in said petition

prayed

?''

"Whether, upon the facts stated in said petition and exhibits, tlie military commission
mentioned therein had jurisdiction
leij^ally to try and sentence said parties in manner and form as in
said petition and exhibits is stated?"
3.

After the action of the circuit court, certifying

Supreme Court

for final decision, the President

tence of the petitioners to imprisonment for

tlie

case to the

commuted

tlie

sen-

life.

The argument of these questions, which commenced on the 5th
and terminated on the 13th of March, 1866, was conducted on the
part of the petitioners by J. E. McDonald, Esq., of Indiana, Hon.
J, A. Garfield, of Ohio, Hon. J. S. Black, of Pennsylvania, and
David Dudley Field, of New York and on behalf of the United
States by B. F. Butler, Esq of Massachusetts, Hon. H. Stanberry,
of Ohio, and Hon. James Speed, Attorney General of the United
States.
The argument of Mr. Jii,AOK for the petitioners was
;

,

as follows

May
I

it

am

:

please your Honors:
not afraid that you will umh-rrate the

concerns

importance ol this

of the whole people.

Such quesby anus. But since the be<riuning of the world no battle has ever been lost or won upon which
the liberties of a nation were so distinctly staked as they are on
The pen that writes the judgment
the result of this argument.
of the C »urt, will be mightier for good or for evil than any sword
tViat ever was wielded by n>ortal arm.
As might be xpecteil from the nature of the subject, it has
been a good deal <liscussed elsewhere, in legislative bodies, in
public asseml)lies, and in the newspaper press ot the country.
mingled with interests and feelings not
J-lut there it has been
Here we are in a higher
very friendly to a correct conclusion.
atmosphere where no passion can disturb the judgment or shake
Here it
the even balance in which the scales of reason are held.
and I can speak for my colleagues
is purely a judicial question
as well as myself, when I say that we have no thought to suggest
which we do not suppose to be a fair element in the slrictly legal
judgment which you are require to iiKike up.
case.

It

the

rights

tions have generally been settled

<

;

1

oI6

HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY-

In psrforming the duty assigned to me in the case, I shall necmere rudiments of constitutional law to the

essarily refer to the

;

most commonplace topics of history, and to those plain rules of
I beg your
justice and right which pervade all our institutions.
thatjthe
think
because
I
done
honors to belitve that this is not
Court, or any

member

of

it,

familiar with these things than

is less

but simply and only because,
there is absolutely no other
the
subject,
of
view
according to
principles of Amerfundamental
If
the
it.
with
dealing
way of
driven
behind the inner
are
and
we
attacked,
are
liberty
ican
I

am. or less sensible of their value

;

my

Constitution

walls of the

to

(defend them,

we can

repel the as-

same old weapons which our ancestors used
You must not think the worse of our ara hundred years ago
mor because it happens to be old-fashioned and looks a little rusty

sault only with those

from long

The

disuse.

case before you

exceedingly plain one.

presents
It

is

but a single point, and that an

not encumbered with any of those

vexed questions that might be expected to arise out of a great
You are not called upon to decide what kind of a rule a
war.
military commander may impose upon the inhabitants of a hostile
country which he occupies as a conqueror, or what punishment
he
of

may inflict upon the soldiers of his own army or the
or yet how he may deal with civilians in
his camp
;

uered city or other place in a state of actual siege,
quired to defend against a public enemy.

followers

a beleag-

which he

is re-

This contest covers no

such ground as that. The men whose acts we complain of erected themselves into a tribunal for the trial and punishment of citizens who were connected in no way whatever with the army or
And this they did in the midst of a community whose sonavy.
cial and legal organization had never been disturbed by any war
or insurrection, where the courts were wide open, where judicial
process was executed every day without interruption, and where
all the civil authorities, both State and national, were in full exercise of their functions.

My

were dragged before this strange tribunal, and after
a proceeding, which it would ^e mere mockery to call a trial, they
were ordered to be hung. The charge against them was put into
writing and is found on this record, but you will not be able to
decipher its meaning. The relators were not accused of treason
clients

;

HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY

517

if true, would come within
was not conspiracy under the act
of 18G1
for all concerned in this business must liave kno^n that
co!is|)iracy was not a capital otfc se.
If the connuission* rs were
able to read English, they could not help but see tliat it was made
])unisliable even by fine and imprisonment, only upon condition

for nothing
tlie

iinjtuted to

is

which,

tlieiii

definition of that crime.

It

;

that the parties should

be convicted before a circuit or dis-

first

The judge advocate must have
meant to charge them with some offense unknown to tln^ laws,
which he chose to make capital by legislation of his own, and the
connnissioners were so [)rofoundly ignorant as to think that tlie
I
legal innocence of the parties made no difference in the case.
do not say what Sir James Mackintosh said of a similar proceeding that the trial was a mere consjjiracy to commit willful murThe commissioners are not on trial;
der upon three innocent men.
tliey are absent and undelended; and they are entitled to the benefit of that charit) which presumes them to be wholly unacquainted with just principles of natural justice, and quite unable to comtrict

court of the United States.

;

prelu'nd either the law or the facts of a criminal cause.

Keeping the character of the charges in mind, let us come at
once to the simfjle question upon which the court below divided
in opinion
Had the commissioners jurisdiction were they invested with legal authority to try the relators and put them to

—

:

death for the offense of which they were accused ? We answer,
no; and therefore the whole proceeding from beginning to end

was

utterly null

and

necessary for those

On

void.

who

the

other

oppose us to

that the commissioners liad

compl<^te

hand,

assert,

the facts

absolutely
assert,

legal jurisdiction both of

the subject-matter and of the parties, so that their

the law and

it is

and they do

judgment upon

absolutely conclusive and binding, not

is

subject to correction nor open

to inquiry in

any court whatever.

Of these two opposite views, you must adopt one or the other
for there is no middle ground on which you can possibly stand.
1 need not say, (for it is the law of the horn books,) that where
power in other resi)e<;ts,j presumes
to try a man for an offense of which it has no right to take judicial cognizance, all its proceedings in that case are null and void.
a court,

(whatever

If the parly
in

is

may

accjuitted,

be

its

he cannot plead the acquittal afterwards
if he is found guilty and sentenced^

bar of another prosecution;

HIS TOBY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.

518
he

is

entitled to be relieved

from the punishment.

If a circuit

court of the United States, shouhi undert-ike to try a party for an
oifense

within

clearly

courts, the

the

exclusive

judgment could have no

jurisdiction

effect.

of

the State

a c 'unty court in

If

the interior of a State should arrest an officer of the Federal navy,
try him,

and order him

to be

hung

for

some offense against

tlie

law of nations, committed upon the high seas or in a foreign port,
nobody would treat such a judgment otherwise than with mere derision.

The Federal

against the laws
State courts

is

of

courts

have

jurisdiction to try offenses

the United States, and the authority of the

confined to the punishment of acts which are

made

where the accusation does
not amount to an offense against the law of either the State or the
Federal (jrovernmeiit, no court can have jurisdiction to tiy it.
Suppose for example that the judges of this Court, should organpenal by State laws.

ize

It

follows that

themselves into a tribunal to try a

heresy, or treason, against

the

man

witchcraft, or

for

Confederate States of America,

would anybody say that your judgment had the least validity ?
I care not, therefore, whether the relators were intended to be
charged with treason or conspiracy or with some oifense of which
Either or any way, the men who underthe law takes no notice.
took to try them had no jurisdiction of the subject-matter.
Nor had they jurisdiction of the 7:)«r^/cs. It is not pretended
that this was a case of impeachment, or a case arising in the land
or naval forces.

It is either

nothing at

all

or else

it

is

a simple

crime against the United States, conunitted by private individuals
not in the public strvice, civil or military.
that relation to the

Government

Persons standing in

are answerable

for

the

offenses

which they may
So says the Constitution, as Ave read it; and the act of Congress
of March 3, 1863, which was passed with express reference to
persons precisely in the situation of these men, declares that they
shall be delivered up for trial to the proper civil authorities.
There being no jurisdiction of the subject-matter or of the
parties, you are bound to relieve the petitioners. It is as much the
duty of a judge to protect the innocent as it is to punish the
guilty.
Suppose that the Secretary of some department shoidd
take it into his head to establish an ecclesiastical tribunal here in
the city of Washington, composed of clergymen "organized to
commit, ordy to the

civil courts

of

the country.

—

HIS TOR Y OF COL UMBIA CO UNI
convict" everybody

who

prays after a

the supposed safety of the State.

If

519

Y.

inconsistent with

fusliioii

mem-

he would select the

odium theologicum, I think I
could insure liini a coiuinission tliat would hang every man and
woman who might be brought before it.
But would you, the
bers with a"proper regard to the

judges of the land, stand by and see their sentences executed?
No you would interpose your icrit of prohibition, your habeas
;

corpus, or any other process that might
lietweeu

them and

be

your command,

at

And you would do

their victims.

that for

which requires your intervention here
because religious errors, like political errors, are not crimes which
anybody in this country has jurisdiction to punish, and because
precisely

ecclesiastical

among

reason

the

commissions,

military

like

commissions,

Our

the judicial institutions of this people.

are not

fathers long

ago cast them both aside among the rubbish of the dark ages

;

and

they intended that we, their children, should know them only that
we might blush and shudder at the shameless injustice and the
brutal ciiielties which they were allowed to

perpetrate

other

in

times and other countries.

Bui our friends on the other
these views.

side are not at

all

impressed

projiounded by the Attorney General, in a very elaborate

paper which he published
then avowed

it

last July,

to be his settled

upon

this

same

words) persons

and kill, try and execute,' (I
who had no sort of connection with

And though

this be

official

He

subject.

and deliberate opinion that the

military might '-take

navy.

with

Their brief corresponds exactly with the doctrines

done

in the face of the

the judicial authorities, according to him, are

use

his

own

army

the

or

open courts,

utterly

pow'erless

That is
which may thus be carried on.
counselors
assistant
and
his
which the Attorney General

to prevent the slaughter

the thesis

are to maintain this day,

power

if

they can

maintain

it,

Avith

all

the

of their artful eloquence.

We, on

the other hand, submit that a jierson not in the military

or naval service cannot be punished at

open, public

trial

all until

before an impartial jury,

in

he has had a
an

fair,

ordained and

has been given by
There is our proposition.
Between the ground we take and the ground they occupy, there
It is one way or the other.
is and there can be no foniproniise.

established court, to which the

jurisdiction

law to try him for that specific offense.

520

HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.

Our proposition ought to be received as true without any argument to support it because if that, or "something precisely equivalent to it, be not a part of our law, this is not what we have
;

always supposed

it

to be, a free country. Nevertheless 1 take

upon

myself the burden of showing affii'matively not only that it is true,
but that it is immovably fixed in the very framework of the Government, so that

it is

utterly impossible to

detach

stroying the whole political structure under which

it

without de-

we

live.

By

removing it you destroy the life of this nation as completely as
you would destroy the life of an individual by cutting the heart
out of his body.
In the

first

I

proceed to the proof.

place, the self evident truth

the trial and punishment of an offender

will not

be denied that

against the Government

the exercise of judicial authority.
That is a kind of authority
which Avould be lost by being diffused among the masses of the
people.
A judge would be no judge if everybody else were a
judge as well as he. Therefore in every society, however rude or
however perfect its organization, the judicial authority is always
committed to the hands of particular persons, who are trusted to
use it wisely and well and their authority is exclusive they cannot share it with others to whom it has not been committed
Where, then, is the judicial power in this country? Who are the
is

;

depositaries of

it

here

?

;

The Federal Constitution answers

question in very plain words, by declaring that

''the judicial

that
poto-

of the United States shall be vested in one Supreme Court,
in such inferior courts as Congress may from time to time
ordain and establish.'''' Congress has, from time to time, ordained and established certain inferior courts and in them, together
with the one Supreme Court to which they are subordinate, is vested all the judicial power, properly so called, which the United
States can lawfully exercise.
That was the compact made with
The States
the General Government at the time it was created.
and the people agreed to bestow upon that Government a certain
portion of the judicial power which otherwise would have remained in their own hands, but gave it on a solemn trust and coupled
er

and

;

with this express condition that it should never be
used in any way but one that is, by means of ordained and established courts.
Any person, therefore, who undertakes to exercise judicial power in any other way not only violates the law
the grant of

it

;

HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.
of the hiiid, but he treacherously trainples upon the

521

most import-

ant part of that sacreil covenant which holds these States together.

May it please your honors, you know, and I know, and
everybody else knows that it was the intention of the
men who founded this Republic to put the life, liberty, and
property of every person in it under the protection of a
regular and permanent judiciary, separate,
apart, distinct,
from all other branches of the Government, whose sole and
exclusive business it should be to distribute justice among the
people according to the wants and needs of each individual.
It was to consist of courts, always open to the complaint of the
injured, and always ready to hear criminal accusations when
founded upon probable cause surrounded with all the machinery
necessary for the investigation of truth, and clothed with suffici;

ent power to carry their decrees into execution.

In these courts

was expected that judges would sit who would be upright,
honest, and sober men, learned in the laws of their country, and
indelovers of justice from the habitual practice of that virtue
pendent because their salaries could not be reduced, and free from
party jtassion because their tenure of office was for life. Although
this would place them above the clamors of the mere mob and
beyond the reach of Executive influence, it was not intended that
For any willful or corru))t
they should be wholly irresponsible.
and they
violation of t;heir duty, they are liable to be impeached
it

;

;

cannot escape the control of an enlightened public opinion, for
they must sit with open doors, listen to full discussion, and give
In ordisatisfactory reasons for the judgments they pronounce.
nary tranquil times the citizen might feel himself safe under a

system so organized.
But our wise forefathers knew that tranquillity was not to be
always anticipated in a republic the spirit of a free people is
They expected that strife would rise between
often turbulent.
classes and sections, and even civil war might come, and they
supposed, that in such times, judges themselves might not be safejudicial

:

ly trusted in criminal cases
cal offences,

— especially

in prosecutions

where the whole power of the Executive

against the accused party
of any government

for politiis

arrayed

All history j)roves that public officers

when they

are

engaged

in a severe struggle to

HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.

o22
retain

their })hices,

become

bitter

and ferocious, and

liate

those

who oppose them,

even in the most legitimate way, with a rancor

which they never

exliibit

malignity vents

itself in

towards actual crime.

This kind of

prosecutions for political offences, sedi-

tion, conspiracy, libel, and treason, and the charges are generally
founded upon the information of hireling spies and common delators, who make merchandise of their oaths, and trade in the blood
During the civil conunotions in England,
of their fellow men.

which lasted from the beginning of the reign of Charles I. to the
revolution of 1688, the best men, and the purest patriots that ever
Judges were
lived, fell by the hand of the }iul)lic executioner.
made the instruments for indicting the most merciless sentences
on men, the latchet of whose shoes the ministers that prosecuted
them were not worthy to stoop down and unloose. Let nie say
here, that nothing has occurred in the history of this country to
justify the doubt of judicial integrity which our forefathers seem
On the contrary, the highest compliment that has
to have felt,
ever been paid to the American bench, is embodied in this simple
fact; that if the executive officers of this Government have ever
desired to take

away the
come

life

or

contrary to

liberty of a citizen

they have
and stepped over the Constitution, and
created their own tribunals, composed of men whose gross ignorance, and supple subservience could always be relied on for those
But the
base uses to which no judye would ever lend himself.
framers of the Constitution could act only upon the experience of
that country whose history they knew most about, and there they
saw the brutal ferocity of Jeffreys and Scroggs, the timidity of
Guilford, and the base venality of such men as Saunders and
law, they have not

gone outside of the

Wright.

It

into the courts to get

it

done,

courts,

seemed necessary therefore, not only

to

make the

judiciary as perfect as possible, but to give the citizen yet another

To that
shield against the wrath and malice of his Government.
end they could think of no better provision than a public trial before an impartial jury.

do not assert that the jury trial is an infallable mode of ascertaining truth. Like everything human, it has its imperfections. I
only say that it is the best protection for innocence and the surest
mode of punishing guilt that has yet been discovered. It has borne
I

the test of a longer experience, and borne

it

better than any other

:

HLSTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.
legal

iiistiiiitioii

iliat

over existed

atnoiii):

more of her freedom, her grandeur, and

nuMi.

lier

523

England owes

prosperity to that,

than to

all other causes put together.
It has had the approbation
oidy of those wlio lived under it, but of great thinkers who
looked at it calmly from a distance, iindjudgrd it impartially
Montes(piieu and DeTocqueville speak of it w ith an admiration as

not

rapturous as Coke and Blaekstone.

Within the present century,
Europe have transinto their countries; and no people ever ado{)ted it once

the most enlightened states

planted

it

and were afterwards willing

of

continental

it.
It, was only in 1830
Belgium provoked a successful insurrection which permanently divided one kingdom into two.
In
the same year, the revolution of the Barricades gave the right of
trial by jury to every Frenchman.
Those colonists of this country who came from the British Islands, brought tliis institution with them, and they regarded it as
the most precious part of their inlieritance.
The immigrants from
oilier })laces where trial by jury did not exist became e<pially attached to it as soon as they understood wliat it was.
There was
no sul)ject upon which all the inhabitants of the country were
more j)erfectly unanimous than they were in their delermination
to maintain this great right unim[)aired.
An attempt was made
to set it aside and substitute military trials in its place, by Lord
Dunmore, in Virginia, and General Gage, in Massixchusetts, accora[>anied with the excuse which [has been repeated so often in
late days, namely, that rebellion had made it necessary: but it excited intense j)oj)ular anger and every colony from New Ham{)shire
to Georgia, made common cause with the two whose rights had

that an interference with

been especially invaded.

thundered

it

it

to part with

in

SuVjsequently the Continental Congress

into the ear of the world, as an unendurable outrage,

sufficient to justify universal insurrection against the authority of

the

Government which had allowed

If the

men who fought out our

it

to be done.

revolutionary contest,

when they

frame a government for themselves and their posterity,
had failed to insert a provision making the trial by jury perpetual
and universal, they would have covered themselves all over with
infamy as with a garment; for they would have proved themselves
basely lecreant to the principles of that very liberty of which they

came

to

professed to be the special champions.

But they were guilty

of

Hli^TORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.

524

iiosiu'h treachery.

They not only took

care of

ttie trial

by jury, but

they reguhited every step to be taken in a criminal trial. They
knew very well that no people could be free under a government

which had the power
the

to punish

Federalist,

in

when he

said, that tlie arbitrary

ment
ism
is

without restraint.

the universal

pressed

Hanulton ex-

sentiment of his time,

power of conviction and j)Unishhad been the great engine of despotages and all countries. The existence of such a power
incompatible with freedom. The difference between a

for pretended offenses,

in all

utterly

master and his slave, consists only in this that the master holds
the lash in his hands and he may use it without legal restraint,
wJiile the naked back of the slave is bound to take whatever is
:

on it.
But our fathers were not absurd enough to put unlimited power
in the hands of the ruler and take away the protection of law from
It was not thus that they meant "to sethe riglits of individuals.

laid

cure the blessings of liberty to

themselves and their posterity."

determined that not one drop of the blood

They

which had been

during seven centuries of
shed on
contest with arbitrary })Ower. should sink into the ground but
the fruits of every popular victory should be garnered up in this
the otiier side of the Atlantic,

;

new government.
not an atom away.

Of all the great rights already won tliey threw
They went over JIagna Charta, the J^etition

of Eights, the JBill of Rights, and the rules of the common law,
and whatever was found there to favor individual liberty they
carefully inserted in their own system, improved by clearer expression, strengthened by heavier sanctions, and extended by a
more universal

api)lication.

They put

all

those

the organic law, so that neither tyranny in

party rage

in

for a

executive,

nor

the Legislature could change them without destroy-

ing the Government

Look

the

provisions into

itself.

moment

at the

i)articulars

and see how carefully

everything connected with the administration of punitive justice
is

guarded.

No man shall be
1. No ex post facto law shall be passed.
answerable criminally for any act which was not defined and
made punishable as a crime by some law in force at the time
when
2.

the act was done.
For an act which is criminal he cannot be arrested without a

HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.
He

judicial warrant fouiuled on proof of j)roV)able cause.

not be kidnapped and shut up on the mere report

.525

shall

some base
spy who gathers the materials of a false accusation by crawling
into his house and listening at the key-hole of his chamber door.

He

3.

may

shall not

of

He

be compelled to testify against himself.

be examined before he

is

committed, and

tell his

own

story

he pleases; but the rack shall be put out

of sight, and even
nor shall his unpublished
{>apers be used against him, as was done most wrongfully in the
if

his conscience shall not

lie

tortured

;

case of Algernon Sydney.

He

4.

shall

be entitled to a sjteedy

an indefinite time

trial

not kept in prison for

;

without the opportunity of

vindicating his

innocence.

He

5.

of a

shall

The

grounds.

be informed of the accusation,
public accuser must put

indictment, so that the

legal

its

nature,

and

the charge into the form

party can

meet

it full

in

the

face.

Even

6.

to the indictment he need not

jury, after hearing the

they believe

it

answer unless a grand

evidence, shall say upon

their oaths that

to be true.

must be before a regular court,
and established for the State
and district in which the crime Avas committed; and this shall not
be evaded by a legislative change in the district after the crime is

Then comes the

7.

trial, aYid it

of competent jurisdiction, ordained

alleged to be done.
8.

jury.

sense,

sworn

His guilt or innocenc:" shall be determined by an impartial
These English words are to be understood in their English

and they mean that the jurors shall be fairly selected by a
officer from among the peers of the party, residing within
of the court.

the local jurisdiction

When

they are called into

he can purge the panel of all dishonesty, prejudice, i)ersonal enmity, and ignorance by a certain number of peremptory
challenges, atid as many more challenges as he can suf'tain by

the

l)o\-

showing reasonable cause.
9.

The

vantage

trial shall

may

be public and

be taken.

The party

0))en, that

shall

no underhand ad-

be confronted

with the

own

witwitnesses against hira, have compulsory
defense.
in
his
counsel
of
assistance
nesses, and be entitled to the
jirocess for

10.

After the evidence

is

his

heard and discussed, unless the jury

HISTORY OF COLUMBIA GO UNI Y

526

upon

shall,

xmanimously agree

their oaths,

to surrender

him up

into the hands of the court as a guilty man, not a hair of his

can be touched in

way

After a verdict of guilty he

11.

unusual punishment shall

except what

is

head

of punishment.

l)e

annexed by

is still

inflicted,
tlie

protected.

No

cruel or

nor any punishment at

law to his

offense.

all,

cannot be

It

doubted for a moment that if a person convicted of an offense not
capital were to be hung on the oi'der of a judge, such judge would
be guilty of murder as plainly as if he should comedown from the
bench, tuck up the sleeves of his gown, and let out the prisoner's
blood with his
After

12.

own

all is

hand.

over,

the law continues to spread

Whether he

ship around him.

is

No man

never again be molested for that offense.
put

in

jeopardy of

These

life

its

guardian-

acquitted or condemned he shall
shall be twice

or limb for the same cause.

rules apply to all criminal prosecutions. But, in addition

to these, certain special regulations were required

for treason

the one great political charge under which more innocent

—

men

A tyrannical government calls everyhave fallen than any other.
body a traitor who shows the least unwillingness to be a slave.
The party in power never fails, when it can, to stretch the law on
that subject by construction, so as to cover
entious oj)ponents.

its

honest and consci-

In the absence of a constitutional provision

was justly feared that st'Uutes might be passed which would
])atriotic citizens at the mercy of the
basest minions that skulk about under the pay of the Executive.
Therefore a detinitiou of treason was given in the fundamental
law, and the legislative authority could not enlarge it to serve the
purpose of jiartisaii malice. The nature nnd amount of evidence
required to prove the crime was also prescribed, so that prejudice
and enmity might have no share in the conviction.
And lastly,
the punishment was so limited that the propei'ty of the party
could not be confiscated and u<ed to rewai'd the agents of his
it

put the lives of the most

persecutors, or

strij)

his family of their subsistence.

unchangeable and irrebondsmen.
Every citizen
lawful calling in the open day
and at

If these provisions exist in full force,

pealable, then

may

we

are not hereditary

safely pursue his

night,

if

he

is

conscious of innocence, he

and sleep the sound sleep of a freeman.

;

may

lie

down

in security

a

HLSTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.

527

I say they are in force, and they will remain in force.
We
have not surrendered them, and we never will. If the worst
comes to the M'orst we will look to the living God for His help,

and defend our rights and the rights of our children to the last
Those men who think we can be subjected and abjected to the condition of mere slaves are wholly mistaken.
The
great race to which we belong has not degenerated so fatally.
But how am I to prove the existence of these rights ? I do
not ])ropose to do it by a long chain of legal argumentation, nor
by the production of numerous books with the leaves dog-eared
and the pages marked, If it depended upon judicial precedents,
I think
I
could ])roduce as many as might be necessary.
If I
claimed this freedom, under any kind of prescription, I could
prove a good long possession in ourselves and those under whom
we claim it. I might begin with Tacitus and show how the contest arose in the forests of Germany more than two thousand
years ago how the rough virtues and sound common sense of
that people established the right of trial by jury, and thus started
on a career which has made their posterity the foremost race that
The Saxons carried it to
ever lived in all the tide of time.
England, and were ever ready to defend it with their blood.
It
was crushed out by the Danish invasion; and all that they suffered of tyranny and oppression during tlie period of their subjugaIf that had been
tion r»^sulted from the want of trial by jury.
conceded to them the reaction would not have taken place which
liut
drove back the Danes to their frozen homes in the North.
those ruffian sea-kings could not understand that, and the reaction
came. Alfred, the greatest of revolutionary heroes and the
extremity.

;

wisest

monarch that ever

sat

on a throne, made the

first

use

of

Saxons restored it, to re-establish their ancient
laws.
He had promised them that he would, and he was true to
them because they had been true to him. i>ut it was not easily
done: the courts were op}»osed t'» it, for it limited their power
kind of power that everybody covets the power to punish without regard to law. He was obliged to hang forty-four judges in
his power, after the

—

—

one year for refusing to give his subjects a trial by jury. When
the historian says that he hung them, it is not meant that he put
them to death without a trial. He had them impeached before
the grand council of the nation, the Wittenagemote, the parlia-

;

528

HISTOBY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.

During the subsequent period of Saxon
soil was powerful enough to refuse
If any minister or any king,
a legal trial to the meanest peasant.
in war or in peace, had dared to punish a freeman by a tribunal of
his own appointment, he would have roused the wrath of the
whole population all orders of society would have resisted it
lord and vassal, knight and squire, pi'iest and penitent, bocman
and socman, master and thrall, copyholder and villein, would
have risen in one mass and burnt the offender to death in his
castle, or followed him in his flight and torn him to atoms.
It
was again trampled down by the Norman conquerors but the
evils resulting from the want of it united all classes in the effort
which compelled King John to restore it by the Great Chartei*.
Everybody is familiar with the struggles which the English
merit of that time.

domination no

man on English

;

;

people, during

many

generations,

made

for their rights with the

Plantaganets, the Tudors, and the Stuarts, and which ended
ly in the revolution of

1688,

when the

liberties of

final-

England were

placed upon an impregnable basis by the Bill of Rights.

Many

times the attempt was made to stretch the royal authorenough to justify military trials but it never had more
than temporary success. Five hundred years ago Edward II
closed up a great rebellion by taking the life of its leader, the
Earl of Lancaster, after trying him before a military court.
Eight years later that same king, together with his lords and
commons in Parliament assembled, acknowledged with shame
and sorrow that the execution of Lancaster was a mere murder,
because the courts were open and he might have had a legal trial.
Queen Elizabeth, for sundry reasons affecting the safety of the
ity far

;

State, ordered that certain

tried according to the

army should be
But she heard the storm of

offenders not of her

law martial.

popular vengeance rising, and, haughty, imperious, self-willed as
she was, she yielded the point; for she
ject the English

knew

that upon that sub-

people would never consent to be

Lord Lieutenant of

trifled with.

Viscount
Stormont before a military commission, and cut off his head.
When impeached for it, he pleaded in vain that Ireland was in a
state of insurrection, that Stormont was a traitor, and the army
would be undone if it could not defend itself without appealing
The Parliament was deaf the King himself
to the civil courts.
Strafford,

as

Ireland, tried the

;

HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.
could

not save

traitor

aud a murderer.

liini;

condemned

he was

Charles

I.

to suffer

issued commissions

529

death as a
to divers

officers for the trial of

his.enemies according to the course of milIf rebellion ever was an excuse for such an act, he

itary law.

could surely have pleaded

it
for there was scarcely a spot in his
kingdom, from sea to sea, where the royal authority was not disputed by somebody. Yet the Parliament demanded in their petition of right, and the King was obliged to concede, that all hia
commissions were illegal. James II claimed the right to suspend
;

the operation of the penal laws

—but the experience of

—a power which the courts denied

his predecessors taught

not suspend any man's right to a

trial.

He

him that he could

could easily have con-

victed the seven bishops of any offence he

saw fit to charge them
he could have selected their judges from among the mercenary creatures to whom he had given commands in his army.
with

if

But

this

to a jury

He,

too,

He was obliged to send the bishops
and endure the mortification of seeing them acquitted.
might have had rebellion for an excuse, if rebellion be
he dared not do.

The conspiracy was already ripe which a few months
made him an exile and an outcast he had reason to
that the Prince of Orange was making his preparations on

an excuse.

afterwards
believe

;

the other side of the channel to invade the kingdom, where thous-

ands burned to join him; nay, he pronounced the bishops guilty
of rebellion by the very act for which he arrested them.
He had

army to meet the rebellion, and he was on Ilounslow
Heath reviewing the troops organized for that purpose, when he
heard the great shout of joy that went up from Westminster Plall,
was echoed back from Temple Bar, spread down the city and over
the Thames, and rose from every vessel on the river the simultaneous shout of two hundred thousand men for the triumph of
justice and law.
If it were worth the time, I might detain you by showing how
this subject was treated by the F'rench Court of Cassation in
raised an

—

Geoff roy's case, under the constitution of 1830, when a military

judgment was unhesitatingly pronounced to be void, though
ordered by the King, after a j)roclamation declaring Paris in a
Fas est ah hoste doceri : we may lawfully learji
state of siege.
something from our enemies at all events we should blush at the

—

thought of not being equal on such a subject to the courts of

HIS TOR T OF COL UMBIA CO UNTT.

530

Virginia, Georgia,

Mississippi,

and Texas, whose decisions

colleague, General Garfield, has read and

The

truth

that no

is,

commented

my

on.

authority exists anywhere in the world

Attorney General. No judge or jurist,
no statesman or parliamentary orator, on this or the other side of
Every elementary writer from Coke to
the water, sustains him.
for the doctrine of the

Wharton
know the

against him.

is

military

All

authors

who

profess to

duties of their profession admit themselves to be under,

No

not above, the laws.

book can be found

justify the assertion that military tribunals

may

in

any library

to

try a citizen at a

When I say no book, I mean,
acknowledged
authority.
I do not deny
of course, no book
been
found
to
disgrace the
have
often
clergymen
that hireling
divine
right
of
kings
and other
the
prove
trying
to
pulpit by

place where the courts are open.
of

rulers to govern

they please.

as

It is

many

ophants and party hacks have

true, also,

that court syc-

times written pamphlets, and

perhaps large volumes, to show that those whom they serve
should be allowed to work out their bloody will upon the people.
No abuse of poAver is too flagrant to find its defenders among

Those butchers' dogs that feed upon
garbage and fatten upon the offal of the shambles are always
ready to bark at whatever interferes with the trade of their massuch servile creatures.

ter.

But

this case

depend on

does not

It is rather

authority.

a

question of fact than of law.

would prove my
conveying
undeniable evidence of long and undisit to me, coupled with
turbed possession under and according to the deed. There is the
It is called the Constitucharter by which we claim to hold it.
It is signed by the sacred name of
tion of the United States.
George Washington, and by thirty-nine other names, only less
I

prove

title to

my

right to a trial

an estate

if I

held in

by jury

my hand

just as I

a solemn deed

They represented every independent State
illustrious than his.
then upon this continent, and each State afterwards ratified their
work by a separate convention of its own people. Every State that
subsequently

came

standard by which
that has ever held

in

acknowledged

that

this

was

their rights were to be measured.
office in

the great

Every man

the country, from that time

has taken an oath that he would support and sustain

it

to this,

through

HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.

531

good rei)ort am! through evil. The Attorney General himself
became a party to the instrument when he laid his hand upon the
gospel of God and solemnly swore that he would give to me and
every other citizen

What
"The
by

does

it

tlie full btMietit

contain

of

contains.

all it

among

This,

?

other things

:

crimes except in cases of impeachment shall be

trial of all

jury."

Again

"No

:

person shall

be held to answer

otherwise infamous crime unless on

grand jury,

of a

except

forces, or in the militia

public

danger

pelled in

nor shall

;

be twice put

oflFense to

any

law

in

life,

arising in

naval

war or
any person be subject for the same
jeopardy of life or limb, nor be combe a witness

in time of

against himself, nor

property without due process of

liberty, or

nor shall private property be

;

the land or

in actual service

criminal case to

be deprived of
just

incases

when

for a capital or

a presentment or indictment

taken for public use without

compensation."

This

is

not

all

public trial by

another

;

prosecutions the

article

declares that "in

accused shall enjoy the right to

all

criminal

a speedy and

impartial jury of the State and district wherehave been committed, which district shall have
been previously ascertained by law and to be informed of the
nature and cause of the accusation to be confronted with the
witnesses against him to have compulsory process for the witjhi

in the crime shall

;

;

;

nesses in his favor, and to

have the assistance of counsel for his

defense."
there any ambiguity thei-ef

Is

does not signify that a

If that

and only means of ascertaining
guilt in criminal cases, then I demand to know what words or
what collocation of words in the English language would have

jury

trial

shall be the exclusive

that effect?
trial

by an

against

Does

this

mean

that a fair,

open, speedy,

impartial jury shall be given only

whom

no special grudge

is

felt

to those

by the Attorney General,

or the judge advocate, or the head of a department?

inestimable privilege be extended only to
istration does not care to convict?

who commit ordinary crim^s
be denied to men who are accused

inals,

public

persons

Is it

men whom

Shall this

the admin-

conBned to vulgar crim-

against society, and shall
of

it

such offenses as th'se for

which Sydney and Russell wcro belieaded, and Alice

Lisle

was

—

:

HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY-

032

hung, and Elizabeth Gaunt was burnt alive, and John Bunyan was
imprisoned fourteen years, and Baxter was whipped at the cart's
No the words of the Contail, and Prynn had his ears cut off t
;

stitution are all-erabracing

"As broad and general

The

of

trial

ALL

as the casing air."

shall be

crimes

cused shall enjoy that privilege
answer in any other way.

by

jury.

ALL

— and NO person shall

persons ac-

be held to

That should be sufficient without more. But there is another
which gi\es it ten fold power. It is a universal
rule of construction, that general words in any instrument, though
they may be weakened by enumeration, are always strengthened
by exceptions. Here is no attempt to enumerate the particular
cases in which men charged with criminal offenses shall be enticonsideration

tled to a jury trial.

But that

is

It is

simply declared that all shall have

it.

coupled with a statement of two specitic exceptions

cases of impeachment; and cases arising in the land or naval forces.

These exceptions strengthen the application of the general rule
to

all

Where

other cases.

the

law-giver himself has declared

what circumstances you may depart from the general
rule, you shall not presume to leave that onward path for other
To exce[)tions, the
reasons, and make different exceptions.

when and

maxim

is

in

always applicable, that expressio

tijiius

exelusio est

alterms.

But Ave are answered that the judgment under consideration,
was pronounced in time of war, and it is therefore at least, morThere may or there may not be something in that.
ally excusable.
I admit that the merits or demerits of any particular act, whether
it involve a violation of the Constitution or not, depend upon the
motives that prompted it, the time, the occasion and all the atWhen the people of this country come
tending circumstances.
to decide upon the acts of their rulers, they will take all these
But that presents the political aspect
things into consideration.
of the case with which, I trust,
decline to discuss

it.

I

we have nothing

would only

to

do here.

I

say, in order to prevent misap-

prehension, that I think it is precisely in a time of war and civil
commotion, that we should double the guai'ds upon the ConstituIf the sanitary regulations which defend the health of a
tion.

HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY
city are ever to be reluxcd,

pestilence

is

it

When

abroad.

oiiglit certainly

not to be done

the Mississippi

natural channel, and creeps lazily

533

when

shrinks within

its

along the bottom, the inhabi-

adjoining shore have no need of a dyke to save them

tants of the

from inundation. But w hen the boon.ing
from above, and swells into a volume which

Hood
rises

conies

down

high above the

on either

side, tlien a crevasse in the levee, becomes a most
So in peaceabb- and quiet times, our legal rights
are in little danger of being overborne
l)ut when the wav e of arbitrary power laslies itself into violence and rage, and goes surging up against the barriers which were made to confine it, then
we need tlie whole strength of an unbroken Constitution to save
us from destruction.
IJut this is a question which properly e-

plain

serious thing.

;

I

longs to the jurisdiction of the stump and the newspaper.

—

There is another quasi political argument necessity. If the
law was voilated because it could not be obeyed, that might be
an excuse. ]}ut no absolute compidsion is pretended here. These
commissioners acted, at most, under what they regarded as a
moial necessity. The choice was left them to obey the law or
disobey it
The disoliedience was only necessary as means to an

which they thought desirable and now tliey assert that
though these means are unlawful and wrong, they are made right,

tiid

;

because without them the object could not be accomplished; in
other words, the enil justifies tlic means. There you have a rule
of conduct denounced by all law, human and divine, as being pernicious in policy and false in morals.

See

how

it

applies to this

Here were three men whom it was desirable to remove out
of this world, but there was no proof on which any court would
take their lives therefore it was necessary, and being necessary
it was right and proper, to create an illegal tribunal which would
liy the same mode of reasonput them to death without proof,
to poison them in their food,
right
ing you can prove it equally
or stab them in their sleep.
Nothing that the worst men ever propounded has produced so
case!

;

much

oppression, misgovernment. and

of Stale necessity.
ish plea;"
it

A

sulferiiig

great authority calls

and the connnon honesty of

all

it

as this pretence

"the tyrant's devil-

mankind has branded

with everlasting infamy.

Of

course,

it is

mere absurdity

to

say that these rel.itors were

HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.

534

necessarily deprive*! of their right

a

and legal

trial,

for

the record shows that a court of competent jurisdiction was

sit-

ting at the very time and

have been done without

lo

fair

same town, where justice would
But concede for
by jury was wholly impossible

in the

sale, denial, or delay.

the argument's sake that a trial

;

admit that there was an absolute, overwhelming, imperious necessity operating so as literally to compel every act which the commissioners did, would that give their sentence of death the validity

judgment pronounced by an ordaitied and
itself.
This trial was
a violation of law, and no necessity could be more than a mere
If the commissioners were on
excuse for those who committed it.
trial for murder or conspiracy to murder, they might plead necessity if the fact were true, just as they would plead insanity or
anything else to show that their guilt was not willful. But we
are riow considering the legal eifect of their decision, and that depends on their legal authority to make it. They had no such authority they usurped a jurisdiciion which the law not only did
not give them, but expressly forbade them to exercise, and it foland force of a

legal

The question answers

established court?

;

lows that their act

is

supposed excuse for
If these

void,

whatever

may have

been the real or

it.

commissioners, instead of aiming at the

of the relators,

had attempted

by a sentence of

confiscation,

to deprive

them

would any court

clare that such a sentence divested the title?

make

life

and liberty

of their property

in

Christendom de-

Or

M'ould a person

any better by showing that the illegal assumption of jurisdiction was accompanied
by some excuse which might save the commissioners from a crimclaiming under the sentence

his right

inal prosecution?

Let

me

illustrate still further.

Court, to be

Suppose you, the judges of

this

surrounded in the hall where you are sitting by a

of armed insurgents, and compelled by main force to pronounce sentence of death upon the President of the United States
for some act of his upon which you have no legal authority to adjudicate.
There would be a valid sentence if necessity alone
could create jurisdiction. But could the President be legally executed under it? No; the compulsion under which you acted
would be a good defense for you against an impeachment or an
indictment for murder, but it would add nothing to the validity

body

IIISIORY OF COLUMBIA CO UN IT.

o35

11 jiuigmc'iit wliich the law forbade you to givt.
That a necessity for violating the law is nothing more than a
mere excuse to the perjjetrator, and does not in any legal sense
change the quality of the act itself in its operation upon other

of

parties,

is

proposition too plain on original

a

the aid of authority.

I

principles to need
do not see how any man of common sense

But there is decisive authority
stand up and dispute it.
upon the point. In I8I0 at New Orleans, General Jackson took
upon himself the conunand of every })erson in the city, suspended
the functions i»f all the civil authorities, and made his own will
It was believed to be absofor a time the only rule of conduct.
Judges, othcers of the city corporation, and
lutely necessary.
members of the State Legislature insisted on it as the only way
to save the ''booty and beauty" of the place from the unspeakable outrages committed at Badajoz and St. Sebastian by the very
same troops then marching to the attack. Jackson used the
power thus taken by him moderately, sparingly, benignly, and
only for tlie jturpose of preventing mutiny in his camp. A single mutineer was restrained by a short continement, and another
was sent four miles up the river. But after he had saved the

is to

and the danger was all over, he stood before the court to be
by the law his conduct was decided to be illegal by the
same judge who had declared it to be necessary, and he paid the
city,

tried

;

The sujjreme court of Louisiana, in
Duncan, decided that everything done during the

penalty without a murnnir.

Johnson

vs.

siege in pursuance of martial rule, but in contlict with the law of
the land was void and of none effect, without reference to the

circumstances which

made

it

necessary.

Long afterwards

the fine

imposed upon Jackson was refunded because his friends, while
they admitted him to have violated the law, insisted that the necessity which drove him to it ought to have saved him from the punishment due only to a willful offender.
The learned counsel on the other side will not assert that there
was war at Indianapolis in 1864, for they liave read Coke's Institute, and Judge Grier's opinion iu iheprize cases, and of course
they

know

it

to be a settled rule that

war cannot be

said to

exist

will not set up the absurd

They
civil courts are open.
plea of necessity, for they are well aware that it would nut be
They will hardly take the ground that any
true in point of fact.

where the

III8T0R Y O F COL UMBIA CO UNTY.

o3G

kind of necessity could give legal validity to that which

tlu-

law

forbids.

This, therefore, must bo their position.

That although there
where this commission sat, and no actual
necessity for it, yet, if there was a war anywhere else, to which
the Ignited States were a party, the technical effect of such war
was to take the jurisdiction away from the civil courts and

was no war

transfer

it

at the place

to

army

officers.

GEN. BUTLEK. We do not
Mr. BLACK. Then they can

take that position.
take no ground at

for noth-

all,

do not wonder to see them recoil from their
own doctrine when its nakedness is held up to their eyes.
But
ing else

is left.

I

they 7nust stand upon that or give up the cause.
state their proposition precisely as I

way

of putting

But,

it.

been the doctrine of

in

state

substance,

it

it

is

They may not

that

;

their

is

too plain a

doctrine

the Attorney General's office ever

— has

since the

—

incumbent and is the doctrine of their
and filed in this case. What else can they say ?
They will admit that the Constitution is not altogether without
a meaning; that at a time of universal peace it imposes some
kind of obligation upon those who swear to support it. If no
war existed they would not deny the exclusive jurisdiction of the
advent of the present

brief, printed

civil

courts in criminal

cases.

How

then did the

military get

jurisdiction in Indiana?

All men who hold the Attorney General's ojnnion to be true,
answer the question I have put by saying that military jurisdiction conies from the mere existence of war
and it comes in
Indiana onlj- as the legal result of a war which is going on in
Missisippi, Tennessee, or South Carolina.
The Constitution is
repealed, or its operation suspended in one State because there is
:

war

in another.

The

courts are open, the organization of society

is intact,

the judges are on the bench,

impeded

;

but their jurisdiction

our opponents, war
of that fact

is

is

and their process

gone.

Why ?

is

not

Because,

say

and the silent, legal, technical operation
to deprive all American citizens of their right to a
exists,

fair trial.

That
jury

is

class of jurists

and statesmen who hold that the

lost to the citizen

trial

by

during the existence of war, carry out

their doctrine theoretically

and practically to

its

ultimate

conse-

;

HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.
TIk' light of trial

(jueiiCL's.

are gone with

it

therefore a

;

by jury

V)fiiig

man may

be

gone,

.537

all

other rights

arrested

without an

accusation anil kept in prison during the jtleasure of his captors

may be searched without a warrant; his property may
be confiscated behind his back, and he has no earthly means of
his papers

redress.

a

new

Nay, an attempt to get a

crime.

He

just

remedy

is

construed as

dare not even complain, for the right of free

gone with the rest of his riglits. If you sanction that
what is to be the consequence ? I do not speak of what
is past and gone
but in case of a future war what results will
follow from your decision endorsing the Attorney General's
At the instant when the war
views ? They are very obvious.
begins, our whole system of legal government will tumble into
ruin, and if we are not all robbed, and kidnapped, and hanged,

speech

is

doctrine,

;

and drawn, and quartered, we will owe our inununity, not to the
Constitution and laws, but to the mere mercy or policy of those
persons wlio may tlion happen to control the organized j>hysical
force of the country.
in a most precarious condition
we must
war about half the time, do what we may to avoid it. The
Pi-esi(lent or Congress can wantonly provoke a war whenever it
and they can keep it going
suits the purpose of either to do so
as long as they please, even after the actual conflict of arms is
over.
When peace woos them they can ignore her existence
and thus tliey can make the war a chronic condition of the counNay, we are at the
try, and tlie slavery of the people perpetual.
mercy of any foreign potentate who may envy us the possession of

This certainly puts us

;

liave

;

;

those liberties which

we boast

of so

much

;

he can shatter our

Constitution without striking a single blow or bringing a

bear upon

us.

to us than an

A

simple declaration of hostilities

army

is

more

gun

to

terrible

witli banners.

To me, this seems the wildest delusion that ever took possession
If there be one principle of political ethics
of a human brain.
more universally acknowledged than another, it
especially civil war, can be justified only when

is

that war, and

it

is

undertaken

to vindicate and uphold the legal and constitutional rights of the
He who carries on a system
people; not to trample them down.

of wholesale slaughter for any other jnirpose, must stand without
excuse before God or man. In a lime of war, more than at

—

TIISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.

538

any other time, imblic

And

she

is there in

therefore bound to
citizens

;

liberty

in tlie

is

defend

her,

hands of the public

officers.

and
by the common obligation of all

double irust

iirst,

;

as

tliey are

cili/ens

and next, as they are her special guardians

"Who

should

ai^aitist

her murderers shut the door

Not bear the knife themselves."
The opposing argument, when turned into plain English, means
this, and this only: that when the Constitution is attacked upon

one

side, its otHcial

rebellion strikes
blin<lness

it

guardians

may

in the face,

assail it u])on the other:

they

may

when

advantage of the

take

produced by the blow, to sneak behind

it

an<l

stab in

the back.

The Convention when it framed the Constitution, and the peowhen they adopted it, could have had no thought like that. If

ple

would o])erate only while perfect peace
would
h:ive given us some other rule to
continued, they certainly
would
not have left us to v\ ander
Avar
they
time
of
go by in
they had supposed that

it

;

howling wihierness of anarchy, without a him]) to our
Another thins proves their actual
feet, or a guide to our path.
They recjuired that every man in any
intent still more strikingly.
about

in a

kind of

])ublic

employment, state or national,

civil

or military,

should swear, without reserve or qualification, that he would supSurely our ancestors had too much regard
])ort the Constitution.

and religious welfare of their posterity, to impose
upon them an oath like that, if they intended and expected it to
be broken half the time. The oath of an officer to support the
for the moral

Constitution

as siujple as that of a witness to tell the truth in a

is

court of justice.

What woidd you

think of a witness

who should

attempt to justify perjury upon the ground that he had testified
wlien civil war was raging, and he thought that by swearing to a
lie he might promote some public or ])rivate object connected
with the strife

?

—

No, no, the great men who made this country what it is the
heroes who won her independence, and the statesmen who settled
her institutions

— had no such notions

in their

minds.

Washing-

ton deserved the lofty praise bestowed upon him liy the president
that he had always
of Congress whefi he resigned his commission
regarded the rights of the civil authority through all changes and

—

through

all

disasters.

When

his

duty as President afterAvards

re-

quired him to arm the public force to suppress a rebellion in west-

HIl^TORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.
em

I't'imsylvaiiia

lie

never thought

the

iliat

New

abolished, by virtue of that fact, in

539

('oiiKtitiition

was

Jersey, or Maryland, or

would have been a dangerous exi)eriinent for an adany time, to propose that he should
deny a citizen his right to be tried by a jury, and substitute in
place f it a trial before a tribunal coniposed of men elected by
hini>eir fnini among his own creatures and dependents.
You can well imagine liow thai great heart would have sw elled

Virginia.

It

viser of his at that time, or at

'

with indignation at the bare thought of such an insulting outrage

upon the liberty and law of

man emphatically

his country.

called the Father

war

of 1812, the

Constitution was the

Talk of perilous times

su[»remc K.vecutive Magistrate.
the severest trial this

In the

of the

!

there was

Union ever saw.

That was no half-organized

rebellion

on the one side of the

be crushed by the hostile millions and unbounded reThe existence of the nation was threatened
sources of the other.
by the most formidable military and naval power then ui)on the
Every town ujion the northern frontier, upon
face of the earth.

cuntlict, to

the Atlantic seaboard, and upon the Gulf coast

hourly danger.

The enemy had

jienetrated

was

in daily

and

the heart of Ohio.

New

York, renn8}ivania, and Virginia were all of them threatenThis Capitol was
fi(im
the west as well as from the east.
ed
taken, and burned, and pillaged, and every member of the Federal
Administration was a fugitive before the invading army. Mean-

was breaking out into actual treason all over
Four of those slates refused to furnish a man or

while, party spirit

New

England.

a dollar even for their

own

defence. Their public authorities were

dismemberment of the Union, and individuals among
them were burning blue lights upon the coast as a signal to the
enemy's ships. But in all this storm of disaster, with foreign war
in his front, and domestic treason on his Hank, Madison gave out
no sign that he would aid old England and New England to break
On the contrary he and all his supuj) this government of laws.
with darkness and with danger,
round
compassed
porters, though
and its enemies
Constitution
the
between
faithfully
stood
plotting the

••To shield

The framers
died

of the

and were buried

tinued

(Ml

it,

and save

it,

Consiitulion
;

their

or perish there too."

and

all

cotemporaries

their

children succeeded

them and con-

the stage of public; aiVairs until they, too,

—

HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.

540

"Lived out

tlu'ir

lease of

life,

To time and mortal custom

and paid

their breath

;"

and a third generation was already far on its way to the grave before this monstrous doctrine was conceived or thought of, that
public officers all over the country might disregard tlieir oaths
whenever a war or a rebellion was conmienced.

Our friends on the other side are quite conscious that when
they deny the binding obligation of the Constitution they must
put some other system of law in its place. Their brief gives us
notice that, while the Constitution, and the acts of Congress, and

Magna

Charta, and the

common

law, and

all

the rules of natural

remain under foot, they will try American citizens
But the law of nations takes
according to the late of nations

justice shall

!

system did contain a special progovernment might hang one of its own citizens
without judge or jury, it would still be competent for the American people to say, as they have said, that no such thing should
ever be done here. That is my answer to the law of the nations.
But then they tell us that the laics of tear must be treated as
paramount. Here they become mysterious. Do they mean that
code of public law which defines the duties of two belligerent
parties to one another, and regulates the intercourse of neutrals
with both ? If yes, then it is simply a recurrence to the law of
nations, which has nothing on earth to do with the subject.
Do
they mean that portion of our municipal code which defines our
duties to the Government iu war as well as in peace ?
Then
they are speaking of the Constitution and laws, which declare in
])lain words that the Government owes every citizen a fair legal
trial, as nuich as the citizen owes obedience to the Government.
They are in search of an argument under difficulties. When
and when they inthey appeal to international law, it is silent
terrogate the law of the land, the answer is an unequivocal contradiction of their whole theory.
The Attorney General tells us that all ])ersons whom he and
his associates choose to denounce for giving aid to the rebellion,
no notice of the subject.
vision

If that

that a

;

are to be treated

as

being themselves a part of the rebellion

they are public enemies,

and therefore they may be punished
by a competent court or a jury. This

Avithout being found guilty

convenient rule

woidd outlaw every

citizen

the

moment he

is

HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.
charged with a

unfounded both
accuse

guilty,

to

bigoted

men who

is

and

ments or conduct
true
tri

—that

all

fact

convict them

generally

as under

ated

enemy they

before the

But

military courts.

sit in

all

who

live in the

or

ignorant and
this court

enemy's

terri-

without regard to their personal senti-

and the

;

who

protection of a

Whether innocent

in law.

in

to

enemies,

jiublic

the

prosecutions against them are most likely

decided in the prize cases that
tory are

political offenders are pre-

who most need

persons

court and jury, for the
to be

But

political offense.

cisely the class of

541

reside

converse of the proposition

our

inside of

the protection

own

is

equally

territory are to be

of the law.

they help

If

the

but they cannot be punished without

are criminals,

legal conviction.

You have heard much
cerning the natural and
fend

itself

(and you will hear more very soon; coninherent right of the

without regard to law.

a despotism the autocrat

is

Tliis

is

Government

to de-

wholly fallacious.

unrestricted in the

In

means he may use

own

for the defense of his authority against the opposition of his

and that is precisely what makes him a despot.
But in a limited monarchy the prince must confine himself to a
If he goes beyond that, and
legal defense of his government.

subjects or others

;

commits aggressions on the rights of the people, he breaks the
social compact, releases his subjects from all their obligations to
liini, renders himself liable to be hurled from his throne, and
This principle
dragged to the block or driven into exile.
James II, and
Charles
I.
and
of
cases
was sternly enforced in the
here that
authority
official
highest
on
the
announced
we have it
the Queen of England cannot ring a little bell on her table and
cause a man by her arbitrary order to be arrested under any preIf that be true, how much more true must it be
tense whatever.
here, where we have no personal sovereign and where our only
government is the Constitution and laws! A violation of law on
pretense of saving such a

Government

as ours

is

not self-preser-

vation, but suicide.
,Salus pojytdi

safety of the
law.
their

When

suprema lex— ohaervc

7^co/>;g, iiot

those

hands behave

the safety

who hold
in

\i

of

is

the

the authority

such manner

as

not

of the

to put

rights of the people in jeopardy, the people

salus regis

;

the

r^^er, is the, supreme

ma)

Government

in

the liberties and
rise

against

them

HISTORY OF COLUMBIA GO UNI Y

542

and overthrow them without regard

The maxim

obedience to them.

simply the right to
It

againM

the people.

out violating
its

its

own bosom

legal

mode

without regaid to prescribed

of ours has no

Government

the sooner

which requires
and expresses

can never be used to stretch the powers of gov>'rnment

forms.

If this

tyranny

resist

that law

to

revolutionary

is

it

;

own
it is

laws,

power

a poor, weak,

tumbles over the

to

But

of protecting itself against

itself

with-

staggering thing, and

blind,

better.

defend

seeds of destruction in

carries the

it

it

has a most efficient

possible danger.

all

It is

clothed from head to foot in a complete panoply of defensive ar-

mor.

am
am

What

are the perils

which may threaten its existence ?
to think of more than these which

moment

not able at this

about to mention

foreign

;

I
I

domestic insurrection,

invasion,

mutiny in the army and navy, corruption in the civil administraand last but not least, criminal violations ot its laws comHave we
mitted by individuals among the body of the people.

tion,

not a legal

mode

of

defense against

all

these

Yes, military

"?

you preserve
you
preserve the purity of the civil administration by impeaching disand crimes are prevented and punished by
honest magistrates
You are not merely compelled to
judicial
authorities.
the regular
use these weapons against your enemies, because they and they
you ought to use them because they
only are justified by the law
are more efficient than any other, and less liable to be abused.
There is another view of the subject which settles all controversy about it.
No human being in this country can exercise any
kind of public autViority which is not confen-ed by liw and under the United States it must be given by the express words of a
writtt-n statute.
Whatever is not so given is withheld, and the
Courts-martial in the army
exercise of it is positively prohibited.
force repels invasion and
discipline in the

suppresses

insurrection

army and navy by means

;

of courts-martial

;

;

;

;

and navy are authorized they are legal institutions their jurisdiction is limited, and their whole code of procedure is regulated
;

;

by

Upon

act of Congress.

they have or can have

bestowed by

courts
law,

all

and

the jurisdiction
if

one of them

and void.
commission is not a court-martial, and it is not a
It is not governed by the law which is made for

goes beyond what
I?ut a military
civil court.

is

the civil

is

written,

its

action

is

ultra vires

HI8T0R T OF COL UMB IA GO UNTY.
and

either,

we have

has no law of

it

own.

its

Within the

.543

years

last five

seen, for the first time, self -constituted tribunals not only

assuming power which the law did not give them, but thrusting
courts to which the power was exclusively

aside the regular

given.

What

is

the consequence?

and

"undefined,

gated j»ower

is

its

exercise

is

This terrible authority

The

alvva}'? unlimited.

field

that

the Constitution and laws has no boundary.

make me

a king

;

my

for then

hands

the laws which define the duties of that
tector of the

commonwealth and

ute restraining arid limiting
rae."

I

are

the royal

known among

them; and they exercise

plies to

oftice

of

sceptre were
and answered,
be tied up by

will

make me pro

but

;

can do what

So these commissions have no

by which they

outside

lies

Thierry, the French

offered to Cromwell, he hesitated for several days

not

Undele-

when the crown and

historian of England, says that

"Do

wholly

is

without any legal control.

please

I

legal origin

and no

the children of

men

power

the

all

no

;

stat-

prerogative will apply to

for

legal

name

no law ap-

;

paradoxical

reason that none belongs to them rightfully

Ask

the Attt>rney

sions in the exercise

Gemral what rules
of

Come, Mr. Attorney, "gird up thy

demand

loins

now

of thee, and thou shalt declare unto

derstanding.''

How

is

come within

if

man

I will

;

thou hast un-

What

What

offenses

What

its jurisdiction'?

members

of its

is its

What

is

?

code of procedure

shall witnesses be compelled to attend it?

uess to swear falsely?

a

like

me

civilians.

a military commission organized?

number and rank

shall be the

commis-

apjjly to military

assumed authority over

their

Is

the function

it

?

How

perjury for a wit-

of the

the members how they must

judge advo-

does he
Does he tell
of
the
Goviernagent
the
he
convict?
Is
only persuade them to
ment, to command them what evidence they shall admit and what
cate?

sentence they shall pronounce
right or wrong, by the mere

What

is

;

or does he always carry his point,

force of eloquence and

of their punishments?

the nature

find, or

May

ingenuity?

they confiscate

properly and levy fines as well as imprison and kill? In addition
may they also deny him the last conso-

to strangling their victim,
lations of religion,

of giving

and refuse his family the melancholy privilege

him a decent grave?

To none

of these

questions can

tl

e

Attorney General make a

HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.

544

reply, for there is

He

no law on the subject.

will not

attempt to

"darken counsel by words without knowledge" and, therefore,
like Job, he can only lay his hand upon his mouth and keep silence.

The power exercised through
only unregulated by law but

What

is it

assert the right of

which you

whom

that government

choose to impute an offense.

"?

give you a de-

I will

will not

the executive

intervention of the judiciary, to

person to

not

is

incapable of being so regulated.

that you claim, Mr. Attorney

finition, the correctness of

You

these military commissions

it is

attempt to gainsay.

government, without the

capture, imprison, and kill

or

This, in

its
its

very essence,

is

any

may

paid dependents

despotic

and lawless. It is never claimed or tolerated except by those
It has been
governments which deny the restraints of all law.
exercised by the great and small oppressors of mankind ever since
the tools it
the days of Nirarod.
It operates in different ways
uses are not always the same it hides its hideous features under
many disguises it assumes every variety of form
;

;

;

;

change shapes with Proteus for advantages,
And set the murderous Machiavel to school."

"It can

But

in all its

mutations of outward appearance

it is still

identical

and origin.
It is always the same great
engine of despotism which Hamilton described it to be.
Under the old French monarchy the favorite fashion of it was
lettre
a
de cachet, signed by the king, and this would consign the
in principle, object,

party to a loathsome dungeon until he died, forgotten by

An

world.

the

all

imperial uJcase will answer the same purpose in

Rus-

faithful subject of that amiable autocracy may lie
evening to dream of his future prosperity, and before
daybreak he will find himself between two dragoons on his way

sia.

The most

down

in the

to the

mines of Siberia.

In Tui'key the verbal order of the

in a sack

Paul of
gospel.

man

Sul-

up
Nero accused Peter and
spreading a "pestilent superstition," which they called the
He heard their defense in person, and sent them to the

tan or any of his powerful favorites will cause a

to be tied

and cast into the Bosphorus.

Afterwards he tried the whole Christian chia*ch in one
body on a charge of setting fire to the city, and he convicted
them though he knew not only that they were innocent, but that
he himself had committed the crime. The judgment was followcross.

—

H18T0JRY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.

545

ed by mstant execution he let loose the Praetorian guards upon
men, women, and children to drown, butcher, and burn theniv
Herod saw fit, for good political reasons, closely affecting the
permanence of his reign in Judea, to punish certain joosstWc traitors in Bethlehem by anticipation.
This required the death of
all the children in that city under two years of age.
He issued
his "general order;" and his provost marshal carried it out with
so much alacrity and zeal that in one day the whole land was tilled with mourning and lamentation.
Macbeth understood the whole philosophy of the subject. He
was an unlimited monarch. His power to punish for any offence
or for no offence at all was as broad as that which the AttorneyGeneral claims for himself and his brother officers under the
United States. But he was more cautious how he used it. He
had a dangerous rival, from whom he apprehended the most serious peril to the "life of his government." The necessity to get
rid of him was plain enough, but he could not afford to shock the
moral sense of the world by pleading political necessity for a
murder. He must
"Mask the business from the common eye."
Accordingly he sent for two enterprising gentlemen whom he
took into his service upon liberal pay "made love to their assistance ;" and got them to deal with the accused party.
He acted
He made a most elegant and stirring
as his own judge advocate.
speech to persuade his agents that Banquo was their oppressor,
and had "held them so under fortune" that he ought to die for
that alone.
When they agreed that he was their enemy, then
said the king
;

—

"So

is

he mine, and though

I could

sweep him from my siglit
And bid my will avouch it yet I vimt not,
For certain friends, who are both his and mine.
Witli barefaced power

;

For

these,

Whose loves I may not drop."
and "many weighty reasons" besides, he thought

it

commit the execution of his design to a subordinate
agency. The commission thus organized in Banquo's case sat
upon him that very night at a convenient place beside the road
where it was known he would be traveling and they did precisely what the Attorney General says the military officers may
do in this country they took ayd killed him. because their embest

to

;

—

HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.

rA6

ployer at the head of the government

wanted it done, and paid
them for doing it out of the public treasury.
But of all the persons that ever wielded this kind of power, the
one who went most directly to the purpose and object of it was
She reduced

Lola Montez.
1848.

when

it

the

to

elementary principle.

In

she was minister and mistress to the Kin 2 of Bavaria

she dictated
troublesome.

all
.

the measures of the government.

All over

Germany

The times were

the spirit of reberion was rising;

everywhere the people wanted to see a first-class revolution, like
Many persons in Bavathat which had just exploded in France.
ria disliked to be governed so absolutely by a lady of the character which Lola Montez bore, and some of them were rash

Of course that was treason, and she went
to say so.
about to punish it in the simplest of all possible ways. She
bouij-ht herself a pack of English bull dogs, trained to tear the
and with
flesh, and mangle the limbs, and lap the life-blood
enou(j-h

;

dogs at her heels, she marched up and down the streets of
Munich with a most majestic tread, and with a sense of power
which any judge advocate in America might envy. When she
thf'se

saw any person whom she chose to denounce for "thwarting the
government" or ''using disloyal language,'' her obedient followers
needed but a sign to make them spring at the throat of their vicIt gives me unspeakable pleasure to tell you the sequel.
tim.
The people rose in their strength, smashed down the whole machinery of oppression, and drove out into uttermost shame king,
From that time to this neither man,
strumpet, dogs, and all.
woman, nor beast, has dai'ed to worry or kill the people of Bavaria.

All these are but so

many

The

different

ways

of using the arbiti*ary

means which a
it is bound to
Everywhere it is but another construction, on the same
pi-otect.
principle, of that remorseless machine by which despotism wreaks
In a civilized country it
its vengeance on those who offv'nd it.

power

to punish.

variety

is

merely in

tyrannical government takes to destroy those

nearly always uses the

the

whom

military force, because

that

is

the sharp-

can be
and
found for such a purpose. But in none of its forms can it be introduced into this country; we have no room for it; the ground
here is all preoccupied by legal and free institutions.
est,

surest, as well as the best looking instrument that

HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.
Between the

officers

wlio are liable to

who have a power

become

its

may be contented

slave

your

in his

;

own hands

at his discretion, either with his

and

relation ex-

The master may be kind and the
bondage but the man who can take

or restrain your liberty, or despoil you of your property

life,

owns you and he can

overseer,
are,

and the people

like this

victims, there can be no

cept that of master and slave.

547

force you

or by

means of

to serv<' him.

a hired
All you

you have, including your wives and children, are

all

his

property.
If

my

learned and very good friend, the Attorney General, had

this right

<)f

domination over me,

frightened, for

man

in all

not

is

I

should not be very

should expect him to use

the world; but

very discreet.

blood

1

He

n)ighi

much

as moderately as

any

should feel the necessity of being

still I

change

The

in a short time.

an appetite which grows by what

know him by

it

it

feeds upon.

thirst for

We

can-

Robespierre resigned a
because he was too tender-hearted

present appearances.

country judgeship

in

early

life,

pronounce sentence of death upon a convicted criminal. Caligula pas-ed for a most amiable young gentleman before he was

to

with the imperial purjde, and for about eight months afterIt was Trajan, I think, who said that absolute power
wards
would convert any nian into a wild beast, whatever was the origiIf you decide that the Attorney
nal benevolence of his nature.
General holds in his own hands or shares with others the power

clotht'd

of

life

cautious in ray
all,
I mean to be very
audi warn you, the judges whom I am

and death over us

intercouise with him;

now addressing, to do likewise. Trust not to the gentleness and
kindness which has always marked his behavior heretofore. Keep
voiir distance; be careful how you approach him; for you know
not at what
ing tiger.

moment

(u-

by what a

trifle

you may rouse the sleep-

"Go not near
come unto him,

Ivemember the injunction of Scripttire:

to the man who hath ))()wer
see that thou make r.o fault,

to kill;
lest

and

if

thou

he take away thy

life

presently

;

for thou gocst amoiiLT snares ami walkest ui)on the battlenients of

the city."

The

right of the executive govermuent to

zens for political

oflfi-nses ha>^

kill

and imprison

citi-

not been i)ractically claimed in this

country, except in cases where commissioned officers of the army
Why should ii be conlined to them?
were tlie instruments used.

1

IIISTOR Y

548

Why

shoultl not naval otticei-s be permitted to share

reason that connuon

the

is

ed from

all

soldiers

.

\\\

and seamen

it

What

'?

exchid-

are

?
No law lias bestowed
more than upon other persons. If

participation in the business

the rigl^t upon

men

OF OOL UMBIA CO UN T

army

otticers

are to be hunor up without that legal trial Avhich the Consti-

why not employ co.innissions of clergymen, merchants, manufacturers, horse-dealers, butchers, or drovers,
It will not be pretended that military men are better
to do it
qualified to decide questions of fact or law than other classes of
tution guarantees to them,

'?

people

;

for

al rule, least

it is

of

known on

the contrary that they are, as a gener-

to

perform the duties that belong to a

all fitted

judge.

The Attorney General

which takes
a most
His idea of humanity as well as law is emmerciful dispensation.
bodied in the bureau of military ju:?.tice, with all its dark and
bloody machinery. For that strange opinion he gives this curious
reason that the duty of the commander-in-chief is to kill, and
unless he has this bureau and these connnissions he nuist "butcher"
indiscriminately without mercy or ju>tice.
I admit that if the
oommander-in chief or any other otHcer of the Government has
think-*

that a proceeding

avvay the lives of citizens without a constitutional

trial is

:

the

power

of an

Asiatic king,

to butcher the people

at pleasure,

he ought to have som"body to aid him in selecting his victims, as
well as to do the rough work of strangling ami shootinof.
But if

my

learned friend

will only

condescend to cast an eye upon the
all the executive and milita-

Constitution, he will see at once that
ry officers are completely relieved

a citizen shall not be taken
court and jury.

You

by the provision that the

at all until after legal

cannot help but see that military commissions,

to go on, will be useti for most pernicious purposes.
cized none of their past proceedings,

nor

life

of

conviction by a

made any

if
I

suffered

have

criti-

allusion to

But what can be the meaning
them among us ? Certainly not to punish actual guilt.
All the ends of true justice are attained by the
prompt, speedy, impartial trial which the courts are bound to give.
Is there any danger that crime will be winked upon by the judges?
Does anybody pi-etend that ci>uris and juries have less ability to
decide upon facts and law than the men who sit in military tribtheir history in the last five years.

of this

elfort.

to maintain

—

HISTOJiY OF VOLUMBJA COUNTY
uiiuls
in<>:

The

?

counsel

not insult ycMi

in tliis ciiuse will

What

such an opinion.

righteous

l)y

.549

even

liiiit-

or just j)uri)Ose, then,

em

None, whatever.

tliey serve'?

But while they a'e
good, they

will l)e

utterly powerless to do even a shadow of
omnipotent to trample upon innocence, to gai;

the truth, to silence patriotism, and

They

country.

will

crush the liberties

viction will follow the accusation as surely

day.

The (iovernmeiit

night

as

whom

it

predetermines to

Tlie accuser can choose the judges, and will

lect those wh(j are

the

known

ruin

and de-

certainly se-

most ignorant, the most un
do whatever may please the
promotion and plunder. The will-

to be the

piincijded. and the most ready

power which gives them

folhnvs the

of course, will accuse none bofon- sucli a

commission except those
stroy.

(»f

always be organized to convict, ami the con-

))ay,

to

ing witness can be found as easily as the superserviceable judge.

The treacherous spy, and the base informer — those loathsome
wretches who do their lying i)y the job will stock such a market

—

with abundant perjuiy, for the authorities that employ tliem will

be b(Mind

to

protect

and tyrannical

command,
its

crimes.

as

well

government,

will

shock

Plied as

it

the

reward

as

with

such

world

may be by

them.

with

A

engine

an

the

the arts of a

corrupt
at

enormity

malignant

its

of

priest-

and urged on by the madness of a raving crowd, it will be
worse than the popish plot, or the French revolution it will be
a combiTiation of both, with Fouquier Tinville on the bench, and
You can save us from this
Titus Gates in the witness's box.
honible fate. You alone can "deliver us from the body of this
liood,

—

death."

To

}Our hands.

that fearful extent

From

is

the destiny of

the Reporter.

^^-•^fgF^

this nation in

—

HISTORY OF (WTAJMBIA COUNTY.

550

OPINION OF THE COURT.
No. 350.

Ex

parte

Deckmbeu

'Ikkm, 1865.

On

In matter of Lambilin P. Milligan, petitioner.

:

cate of division of opinion between

the

a certifi-

Judges of the Circuit Court of

the United States for the District of Indiana.
Mr. Justice Davis delivered the opinion of tlie Court:
On tlie 10th day of May. 1865, Lanibdin P. Miiligan presented a petition
to the Circuit of the Uniied States for the district of Indiana, to be discharged from an alleged unlawful inipris'uiuient.
The case made by the
petition

is

this

twenty years

jVIilligan is

:

Indiana

in

;

a citizen of the United States

;

has lived for

and, at the time of the grievances complained

was not, and never had been in tiie mililary or naval service of the
United States.
On the 5th day of October, 1864, while at home, he was
arrested by order of Gen. Alvin P. Hovey, commanding the military district of Indiana
and has ever since been kept in close conflnenient.
On the 21st day of October, 1864, he was brought before a military
commission, convened at Indianapolis by order of Gen. Hovey, tried on
certain charges and specifications; found guilty, and sentenced to be
hanged and the sentence ordered to be executed on Friday, the 19th day

of,

:

;

of

May,

On

1865.

day of January. 1865, after the proceedings of the military
commission were at an end, the Circuit Court of the United States for
Indiana met at Indianapolis and empanneled a grand jury, who were
charged to inquire whether the laws of the United States had been violated and, if so, to make presentments.
The court adjourned on the 27th
day of January, having, prior thereto, discharged from further service
the grand jury, who did not find any bill of indictment or make an}' presentment against Miiligan for any offence whatever, and, in fact, since
his imprisonment, no bill of indictment has b(?en found or presentment
made against him by any grand jury of the United States.
I^Iilligan insists that said military conunission had no jurisdiction to try
him upon the charges preferred, or upon any charges whatever, because
he was a citizen of the United States and of the State of Indiana, and had
not been, since the commencement of the late rebellion, a resident of any
of the States whose citizens were arrayed against the Government, and
that the right of trial by jur}' was guaranteed to him by the Constitution
of the United States.
The prayer of the petition was. that under the act of Congress, approved March J, 1863, entitled "An act relating to habeas corpm and regulating
:

the 3d

HIIS'lORY

OF COLUMBIA COUN'JY.

r.rA

proceedings in certain cases," lie may be brought before the
either turned over to the proper civil tribunal to be proceeded
against according to the law of the land or discharged from custody

judicial

and

court,

altogether.

With the petition were filed the order for the commission, the charges
and specifications, tlie findings of the court, with the order of the War
Department reciting that the sentence was approved by the President of
the United States, and dinctiug tiiat it be carried into execution without
The petition was presented and filed in open court by tlie counsel
delay.
for ]Milligan; at the same time tiie Disfict Attorney of tlie United States
for Indiana appeared, and, by tiie agreement of counsel, the application
Tlie opinions of the Judges of the Circuit
was submitted to the court.
Court were opposed on tliree questions wliich are certified to the Supreme

Court—
'"On the facts stated in said petition and exhibits ought the writ of

1st.

habe/iH roipus to

be issued ?"

"On the facts stated
Lambdin P. Milligan to
2d.

prayed

in said jK-tition and exhibits, ought the said
be discliarged from custody as in said petition

?"

upon tlie facts stated in said petition and exhibits the
commission mentioned therein had jurisdiction legally to try and
sentence said Milligan in manner and form as in said petition and exhibits
iJd.

"VVhetlier,

military

is stated ?"

The importance

main question presented by this reconl cannot
framework of the Government
and the fundamental principles of American liberty.
During the late wicked rebellion, the temper of the times did not allow
that calmness in deliberation and discussion so necessary to a conecl
be overstated

;

of the

for

it

involves the very

conclusion of a purely

judicitil question.

IVien,

considerations of safety

were mingled with the exercise of power; and feelings and interests
prevailed which are happily terminated. Now that the public safety is
assured, this question, as well as all others, can be discussed and decided
without passion or the adruixture of any element not required to form a
legal judgment.
We approach the investigation of this cast, fully sensible of the magnitude of the inquiry and the necessity of full and cautious
deliberation.
But we are met with a preliminary objection.
It is insisted that the Circuit Court of Indiana had no authority to certify these
questions; and that we are without jurisdiction to hear and determine
them. The sixth section of the "Act to amend the judicial system of the
United States," approved April 29,1802. declares "that whenever any
question shall occur before a circuit court upon which the opinions of
the judges shall be opposed, the point, upon which the disagreement shall
happen, shall, during the same term, upon the request of either party or
their counsel, be stated under the direction of tiie judges and certified
under the seal of the court to the Supreme Court at tiieir next session to
And
be held thereafter and shall by the said court be finally decided
;

:

HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.

ri52

the decision of the Supreme Court and their order in the premises shall
be remitted to the circuit court and be there entered of record, and siiall

Lave

according to the natare of the said judgment and order
shall prevent the cause from proceeding, if, in the opinion of the court, further proceedings can be had
without prejudice to the merits-"
effect

Piovided,

:

That nothing herein contained

*******

under this provision of law that a circuit court has authority to
certify any question to the Supreme Court for adjudication. The inquiry,
therefore, is, whether the case of Milligan is brought within its terras.
It was admitted at the bar that the circuit court had jurisdiction to entertain the application for the writ of habeas corpus and to hear and
determine it
and it could not be denied, for the power is expressly
It i«

;

given in the t4th section of the judiciary act of 1789, as well as in the
later act of 1863.
Chief Justice Marshall, iu Bollman's case, (4 Cranch,)
construed this t ranch of the judiciary act to authorize the courts as well
as the judges to issue the writ for the purpose of inquiring into the cause

commitment

and this construction has never been departed from.
maintained with earnestness and ability that a certificate of division of opinion can occur onlj^ in a cause. and that the proceeding by a
party moving for a writ of habeas corpus does not become a cause unid after
the writ has been, issued and a return made.
Independently of the provisions of the act of Congress of March 3,
1863, relating to habeas corpus, on which the petitioner bases his claim for
relief, and which we will presently consider, can this position be susof the

But

;

it is

•

tained

?

It is true, that

it is

usual for a court on application for a

and on the return

wi'it of habeas

but the
court can elect to waive the issuing of the writ and consider whether,
upon the facts presented in the petition, the prisoner, if brought before

corpus, to issue the writ

to dispose of the case

;

could be discharged. One ot the very points on which the case of
Tobias Watkins, reported in 3 Peters, turned, was whether, if the writ
was issued, the petitioner would be remanded upon the case whicii he
had made.
The Chief Justice, in delivering the opinion of the court, said:
''The
cause of imprisonment is shown as fully by the petitioner as it could appear on the return of the writ
consequently the writ ought not to be
it,

;

awarded

if

the court

is

satisfied that the prisoner

would be remanded

to

prison."

The judges of the Circuit Court of Indiana, were, therefore, warranted
by an express decision of this court in refusing the writ, if satisfied that
the prisoner, on his own showing, was rightfully detained
but it is contended if tliey differed about the lawfulness of the imprisonment, and
could render no judgment, the prisoner is remediless, and cannot have
the disputed question certified under the act of 1803.
His remedy is
complete by writ of error or appeal, if the court renders a final judgment
refusing to discharge him but if he should be so unfortunate as to be
;

;

;

HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.
placed in

whether

lie

.553

predicament of having tlie court divided on the question
should live or die, he is hopeless and without remedy. He

tlic

wishes the vital question settled, not by a single judge at his chambers,
but by the highest tribunal known to the Constitution
and yet the
privilege is denied him, because the circuit court consists of two judges
;

Such a result was not in the contemplation of the Legisand the language used by it cannot be construed to mean
any sucii thing.
The clause under consideration was introduced to further the ends of justice, by obtaining a speedy settlement of important
questions where the judges might be opposed in opinion.
The act of 1802 so changed the judicial system that the circuit court,
instead of three, was composed of two judges
and, without this provision or a kindred one, if the judges diflfered, tlie difference would remain,
the question be unsettled, and justice denied.
The decisions of this
court upon the provisions of this section have been numerous. In United
States vs. Daniel, (O Wheaton,) the court, in holding that a division of
the judges on a motion for a new trial could not be certified, say: "That
the question must be one which arises in a cause depending before the

instead of one.
lature of 1802

:

;

court relative 1o a proceeding belonging to the cause." Testing jVIilligan's
case by this rule of law, is it not apparent that it is rightfully here; and
that we are compelled to answer t)ie questions on which the judges
below werr- opposed in opinion? If, in the sense of the law, the proceed-

ing for the writ of habeas cmpim
it,

then

it is

evident

thvtt

was the "cauxe" of the party appl3'ing for
was pending before the court, and

the "cause"

it, belonged to it, and were matand not of discretion.
But it is argued that the proceeding does not ripen into a cause until
It was the cmtfte of ]\Iilligan
there are two parties to it. This we deny.
when the petition was presented to the circuit court. It would have been
the cav>-e of both parties if the court liad issued the writ and brought
Webster defines the word
those who held Milligan in custody before it.
"cause" thus
"A suit or action in court, any legal process which a
party institutes to obtain his demand, or by which he seeks his right, or
supposed right"— and he says, "this is a legal, scriptural and popular use
of the word, coinciding nearly with case, from cado, and action, from
"
ago, to urge and drive
MilliIn any legal sense action, suit and cause are convertible terms.
gan supposed he had a right to test the validity of his trial and sentence
and the proceeding which he set in operation for that purpose was his
"cause" or "suit." It was the only one by which he could recover his
liberty.
Ik- was powerless to do more; he could neither instruct the
judges nor control their action, and should not suffer because, without
Bui the true meanfault of liis, they were unable to render a judgment.

that the questions certified arose out of

ters of right

:

ing to the term
tions in

Weston

One of the ques"suit" has been given by this court.
Council of Charleston (2 Peters) was, whether

vs. City

a writ of prohibition wjis a suit

;

and Chief Justice Marshall says

:

"The

HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.

554

term is certainly a comprehensive one, and is understood to iipply to any
proceeding in tlie court of justice by which an individual pursues that
remedy which the law aflFords him." Certainly Milligan pursued tlie only
remedy which the law afforded him.
Again, in Cohens vs. Virginia (6 Wheaton) he says
"In law language
:

a suit

is

the prosecution of

"To commence

a suit

is

to

in

a court of justice."

demand something by
and

cess in a court of justice:

When

some demand

Also,

the institution of pro-

to prosecute the suit is

to

continue that

demanded his release by the proceeding relatand he has since prosecuted it
ing to hahedx cKrpus he commenced a suit
One of the questions in Holmes vs.
in all the ways knowu to the law.
demand."

Milligan

;

Jennison (14 Peters) was, whether under the 25th section of the judiciary
Ciiief Justice
act a proceeding for a writ of hnbe<is corp/t.-t was a "suit "
Taney held that "if a party is unlawfully imprisoned the writ of habeas
It is his suit in court to recover
cor}>iii< is his appropriate legal remedy.

There was much diversity of opinion on another ground of

his liberty."

jurisdiction, but on this, that in the sense of the 25th section of the judi-

was a suit, was not controverted
and he thought that "suit" and "cause"
as used in the section mean the same thing.
The court do not say that a return must be made and the parties appear
and begin to try the case before it is a suit. When the petition is tiled
the suit of the party making the apand the writ prayed fur it is a suit
plication.
If it is a suit under the 25th section of the judiciary act when
the proceedings are begun, it is by all the analogies of the law, equally a
suit under the 6th section of the act of 1802.
iJut it is urged tliat there must be Iwo parties to the suit, because the
point is to be stated upon the request of "either party or their counsel."
Such a literal and technical construction would defeat the very purpose
the Legislature had in view, which was to enable any party to bring the
case here, when the point in controversy was a matter of right and not
of discretion
and the words "either part}'," in order to prevent a failure
of justice, must be construed as words of enlargenent and not of rentriction.
Although this case is here ex ;)ar<e, it was not considered by the court
below without notice having been given to the party supposed to have an
ciary act, the proceeding

bj'

any except Baldwin,

bj-

hibeas corpus

Justice,

—

,

The statements of the record
but conclusive inference. When the
counsel for Milligan presented to the court the petition for the writ of
habeas corpus, Mr. Hauna, the District Attorney for Indiana, also appeared;

interest in the detention of the prisoner.

show

that

this

is

not onlj' a

fair,

and, by agreement, the application was submitted to the court, who
took the case under advisement, and on the next day announced their
It is clear that Mr. Hanna
inability to agree, and made the certificate.
It
did not represent the petitioner, and why is his appearance entered ?
admits of no other solution than this that he was informed of the ap-

—

plication,

and appeared on behalf of the Government

Government was

the prosecutor of Milligan,

to contest

who claimed

it.

The

that his im-

HIiSTOEY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.
prisonmcnt was

illegal;

iiiul soiiglit,

was

Tlie case

in the

a grave one

555

only Wfiy he could, to recover

and the court, unquestionably,
directed that the law officer of the Government should be informed of it.
He very properly appeared, and, as the facts were uncontroverted and
the difficulty was in the application of the law, there was no useful purhis liberty.

;

pose to be obtained in issuing the writ.
The cause was, therefore, submitted to the court for tiieir consuleration and determination.
But Milligan claimed his discharge from custody by virtue of the act of Congress
"relating to

and regulating judicial proceedings in certain
Did that act confer jurisdiction on the

Ar/6ea.s ro)pi/x

cases," approved

March

8, 18(i3.

Circuit Court of Indiana to hear this ca«e

?

In interpreting a law,

the

motives whicli must have operated with the Legislatu>e in passing it are
proper to be considered. Tliis law was passed in a time of great national
peril, when our heritage of free government was in danger
An armed
rebellion against the national authority, of greater proportions than his-

was raging; and the public

tory affords an example,

writ of habens corpus should

the privilege of the

safely required that

be suspended.

The

President iiad practically suspended it, and detained suspected persons
in custodj' without trial
but liis authority to do this was questioned. It
;

was claimed

that Congress alone could e.vercise this power;

and that the
and not the President, should judge of the political considThe privilege of this
erations on which the right to suspend it rested.
and, as the
great writ had never before been withlield from the citizen
exigence of the times demanded immediate action, it was of the higiiest
importance that the lawfulness of the suspension should be fully establisiied.
It was under these circumstances, which were such as to arrest
the attention of the country, that this law was passed. The President
was authorized by it to suspend the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus
and he did, by
whenever, in his judgment, the public safety required
Legislature,

;

;

proclamation, bearing date the

15tli

of September, 1863, reciting

among

The suspension

of

other things the authority of this statute, suspend

it.

the writ does not authorize the arrest of any one,

but simply denies to

one arrested the privilege of the writ in order to obtain his liberty.
It is proper, therefore, to inquire under what circumstances the courts
could rightfully refuse to grant this writ, and when the citizen was at liberty to invoke

its aid.

law are explicit on these points.
meaning of the Congress
cannot be mistaken. Tlie public safety demanded, if the President thought
proper to arrest a suspected person, that he should not be required to
give the cause of his detention on return to a writ of habeas corpus. But
should be detained in custody
it was not contemplated that such person

The second and
The language used

third seclions of
is

plain

and

unless certain judicial proceedings known
a certain fixed period
common law, were commenced against him. The Secretaries of
and War were directed to furnish to the judges of the courts of the

beyond
to the

State

tlie

direct, and, the

United States a

;

list

of

names

of all parties, not prisoners of war,

resident

HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.

556

iu their respective juris'lictions, 'vho tlien

were or afterwards sliould be
who were citizens

held in custody by the authority of the President, and

which the administration of the laws in the Federal tribunals
was unimpaired. After the list was furnished, if a grand jury of tlie district convened and adjourned and did not indict or present one of the persons thus named, he was entitled to his discharge and it was the d.ity
of the judge of the court to order him brought before him to be discharged, if he desired it.
The refusal or omission to furnish tl)e list could not
operate to the injury of any one who was not indicted or presented by the
grand jury; for, if twenty days had elapsed from the time of his arrest
and the termination of the session of the grand jury, he was equally entitled to his discharge as if the list wore furnished
and any credible
person, on petition verified by affidavit, could obtain the judge's order for
of States in

;

;

that purpose.

from imprisonment, averred
under the terms of this law to give
Indiana jurisdiction. If he was detained in custody

Milligan, in his application to be released

the existence of every fact necessary

the Circuit Court of

by

the order of the President,

was

otherwise than as a prisoner of war,

if

he

a citizen of Indiana and !iad never been in the military or naval ser-

and the grand jury of the district had met, after he had been arresttwenty days, and adjourned without taking any proceedings against him. then the court had the right to entertain his petition
and determine the lawfulness of his imprisonment. Because the word
"court" is not found in the body of the second section, it was argued at

vice,

ed, for a period of

the bar, that the application siiould have been

and not

made

to the

judge of the

but this U vol .«o, for power is expressly
conferred in the last proviso of the section on the court equally with a
judge of it to discharge from imprisonment.
It was the manifest design
of Congress to secure a certain remedy by which any one, deprived of
liberty, could obtain it, if there was a judicial failure to find cause of offense against him. Courts are not always in session, and can adjourn on
the discharge of the grand jury
and before those who are in confinement
could take proper steps to procure their liberation. To provide for this
contingency, authority was given to the judges out of court to grant recourt,

to the court itself

;

;

any party, who could show, that, under tlie law, he should be no
longer restrained of his liberty. It was insisted that Milligan's case was
lief to

defective, because

and, therefore,

was

it

it

list was furnished to the judges;
under which section of the act it

did not state that the

was impossible

to say

presented.

It is

not easy to see

diction.

how

this

Milligan could not

omission could effect the question of juris-

know

that the

list

was

furnisiied

unless the

judges volunteered to tell him for the law did not require that any
record should be made of it or anybody but the judges informed of it.
Why aver the fact, when the truth of the matter was apparent to the
court without an averment? How can Milligan be harmed by the absence
of the averment, when he states that he was under arrest for more than
;

HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.
sixty days before the court

and grand

557

jury, whicli should

have considered
that under tiie
h'lhenx cnrpux act of 1863 the Circuit Court of Indiana had complete jurisdiction to adjudicate upon this case, and, if the judges could not agree on
questions vital to the progress of the cause, they had the authority, (as
we have shown in a previous part of this opinion,) and it was their duty
to certify those questions of disagreement to tliis court for final decision.
It was argued that a final decision on the questions presented ought not
to be made, because the parties who were directly concerned in the arrest and detention of Milligan, were not before the court; and their
rights might be prejudiced by the answer which should be given to those
(pu'stions.
But this court cannot know what return will be made to the
writ of lutbean corpKs when issued
and it is very clear thai no one is concluded upon any question that may be raised to that return. In the
sense of the law of 1802, which authoriz.cd a certificate of division, a final
his case,

met

Indianapolis

at

?

It is

apparent,

therefore,

;

means

the points certified final upon the court below,
from any adverse ruling in all the subsequent proceedings of the cause.
But it is said that this case is ended, as the presumption is that Milligan was hanged in pursuance of the order of the
President. Although we have no judicial information on the subject,
for otherwise learned counsel would
yet the inference is that he is alive
not appear for him and urge this court to decide the case.
It can never be in this country of written Constitution and laws, with
a judicial department to interpret them, that any chief magistrate w^ould
be so far forgetful of his duty as to order the execution of a man who denied the jurisdiction that tried and convicted him, of/er his case was

decision

so that

it

is

final ui)ou

:

estopped

;

before Federal judges with power to decide it, wlio, being unable to agree
on the grave questions involved, had, according to known law, sent it to
But even the sugthe Supreme Court of the United States for decision.
gestion is injurious to the Executive, and we dismiss it from further consideration.
There is, therefore, notiiing to iiinder this court trom an investigation of the merits of this controversy.

The

question in the case

controlling

Milligan's petition,

mentioned

in

\l

and the exhibits

junniiirt inn

is

filed,

legally to try

this

:

Upon

the

/>ic/.s

stated in

had the military commission
and sentence him ? Milligan,

not a resident of one of the rebellious States, or a prisoner of war, but a
citizen of Indiana for twenty years past, and never in tiie military or

naval service,

while at

is,

his

home, arrested by the military power of

the United States, imprisoned, and, on certain criminal charges preferred
against him, tried, convicted, and sentenced to be hanged by a military
'

ommission, organized under the direction of the military commander of
Had this tribunal the legal power and

the military district of Indiana.

authority to try and punisli tiiis man ? No gr iver question was ever considered by this court, nor one which more nearly concerns the rights of
the wiiole people

when

;

for

it

chartred with crime,

is

tiie

to

birlh rigiit

of every

American

citizen

be tried and punished according to law.

ins TORY OF COLUMBIA CO UN Y

558

'I

of punishment is, alone through tlie means which the 1k.ws
have provided for that purpose, and if they are ineffectual there is an
immunity from punishment, no matter how great an offender tlie individual may be, or how mucli his crimes may have shocked the sense of justice
By the protection ot the law
of the country, or endangered its safety.
human rights are secured; withdraw that protection, and they are at the
mercy of wicked rulers, or the clamor of an excited people. If tiiere was
law to justify this military trial, it is not our province to interfere if there
was not, it is our duty to declare the nullity of the whole proceedings.
The decision of this question does not depend on argument or judicial
precedents, numerous and highly illustrative as tiiey are. These precedents inform us of the extent of the struorgle to preserve liberty and to
The founders of our governrelieve those in civil life from military trials.
ment were familiar with the history of that struggle and secured in a
written Constitution every right which the people had wrested from power
during a contest of ages. By that Constitution and the laws authorized
by it, this question must be determined. The provisions of that instrument on the administration of criminal justice a»e too plain and direct to
leave room for misconstruction or doubt of their true meaning. Tiiose applicable to this case are found in that clause of the original Constitution
which sa3's, "That the trial of all crimes, except in case of impeachment,
shall be by jury ;" and in the fourth, fifth, and sixth articles of the amendments. The fourth proclaims the right to be secure in person ami effects
and directs that a judicial waragainst unreasonable search and seizure
rant shall not issue "without proof of probable cause supported by oath or
affirmation." The tifth declares "that no person shall be held to answer
for a capital or otherwise infamous crime unless on presentment by a

The power

;

;

;

grand jury, except
militia,

when

be deprived of

And

the

land or naval forces, or in the
time of war or public danger, nor
or property without due process of law."

in cases arising in th'-

in actual service in the

sixth

life,

liberty,

-iuarantees the right of trial by jury in sucli

manner and

with such regulations that with upright judges, impartial juries, and an
it is in
able bar, the innocent will be saved and the guilty punished,
"In all criminal prosecutions the accused shall enjoy the
these words:
right to a speedy and public trial by an impartial jury of tlie State and
district wherein the crime sliall have been committed, which district sliall
have been previously ascertained by law. and to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation, to be confronted with the witnesses
against him, to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his
favor, and to have the assistance of counsel for his defence. " These
securities for personal liberty thus embodied, were such as wisdom and
experience had demonstrated to be necessary for the protection of those
accused of crime. And so strong was the sense of the country of their
importance, and so jealous were the people that these rights, highly
prized, might be denied them b}' implication
that wiien the original
constitution was proposed for adoption, it encountered severe opposition
;

;

HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.
and but for the belief that U would be so Jimetided as
it would n(!ver have been ratified.
Time has proven the discernment of our ancestors

;

embrace

to

r.oO

tliem,

for even these pro-

words that it would seem the
ingenuity of men could not evade them, are mm, after the lapse of more
than seventy years, sought to be avoided. These great and go(<d men
foresaw that troublous times would arise, when rulers and people would
become restive under restraint, and seek by sharp and decisive measures
to accomplish ends deemed just and proper, and that the principles of
constitutional liberty would be in peril, unless established by irrepealal)le
Tlie hi.«.tory of the world had taught them that what was done in
law.
Tlie Constitution of the
the past might be attempted in the future.
United States is a law for rulers and people, equally in war and in peace,
and covers with the shield of its protection all classes of men, at all
No doctrine involving more pernicitimes and under all circumstances.
ous consequences was ever invented hy the wit of man than that any of
its provisions can be suspended during any of the great exigencies of
Government. Such a doctrine leads directly to anarchy or despotism,
visions, expressed in such plain English

for the Governbut the liu-or^' of necessity on wiiieh it is based is talse
ment, within the Constitution, has all tlie powers granted to it which are
necessary to perserve its existence, as has been iiappily proved by the re;

sult of the great effort to tl«row off its just authority.

by the Constitution l)een violated in
and if so, what are they? Every trial involves tlie
exercise of judicial power; and from what source did the military com-

Have any

of the rights guaranteed

the case of Milligan

?

Certainly no part of the
mission that tried him derive their authority ?
power of the country was conferred on them, because the Constitution expressly vests it "in one supreme court and sucli inferior
courts as the Congress may from time to time ordain and establisli," -ind
estabit is not pretended that the commission was a court ordained and

judicial

They cannot justify on the mandate of the Presicontrolled by law, and has his appropriate sphere of
duty, which is to execute, not to make the laws; and there is "no unwritten criminal code to which resort can be had as a source of jurisdiction." But it is said that the jurisdiction IS complete under tiic "i;>ws

lished by Congress.

dent

;

because

lie is

what
of war."
It can serve no useful purpose to inquire
those laws and usages are, whence tiiey originated, where found, and on
whom they operate they can never be applied to citizens in States
which have upheld the authority of the Government, and where the

and usages

;

This court has judicial
courts arc open and their process unoitstructed.
knowledge that in huiiana the Federal authority was always unopposed,
and its courts always open to hear criminal accusations and redress grie rances; and no usages of war could sanction a military trial there for any
offence whatever of a citizen in civil life, in nowise connected with the
and, to the
military service.
Congress could grant no such j ower
:

lienor of our national legislature be

it

said,

it

Ins never been provoked by

—

fnS7'()KY

660

OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.

the state of the country even to tittonipt
constitutional piwisions was.

its

exercise.

One
when

of the plainest

Milligan was
by a court not ordained and established by Congress, and not composed of judges appointed during good beliavior. ^Yhy was he not
delivered to the Circuit Court of Imiiana to be proceeded against according to law ?
Xo reason of necessity could
urged against it, because Congress had
declared penalties airaiust the otTences charged, provided for their punisluuent. and directcil that court to liear and determine them.
And soon
infringed

therefore,

tried

W

tribunal was ended, the circuit court met, p.>acefully
business and adjourned.
It needed no bayonets to protect
and ivquircd no military aid to execute its judgments. It was held iu

after

this

transacted
it,

military

its

a State eminently distinguished for patriotism, by judges commissioned
during the rebellion, who were provided with juries, upright, intelligent,
and selected by a niarshal appointed by the rresident. The tiovernment
had no right to conchule tliat Milligan. if guilty, would not receive iu
that court merited punisluncnt
for its records disclose that it was
;

constantly engaged in the

and was never interadministration of criminal justice.
If it was dangerous in
the distracted condition of atYaii-s to leave Milligan unrestrained of his

rupted

trial of sin\ilar otYences,

in its

because lie "conspired against the Government, atforded aid and
comfort to rebels, and incited the people to insurrection," the /.iic said arrest him, contine him closely, render him powerless to do further misliberty,

chief; and then present his case to the grand jury (^f the district, with
proofs of his guilt, and, if indicted, try him according to the course of
the common law.
If this had been done the Constitution would have

been vindicated, the law of 18(>3
liberty preserved and defended.
Another guarantee of freedom
trial by jury.
The great minds
rect interpretation to be given to

enforced, ami the securities for personal

was broken when Milligan was denied a
tlie country have differed on the cor-

of

various provisions of the Federal Conand judicial decision has been often invoked to settle their
true meaning; but until recently no one ever doubted that the right of
trial by jury was fortified in the organic law against the power of attack.
but, if ideas can be expressed in words, and language
It is n>nv assailed
has any njeaning, thi^ t'ujht — one of the most valuable in a five covuitry
stitution;

;

is preserved to every one accused of crime who is not attached to the
army, or navy, or militia in actual service. The sixth amendment affirms that "in all criminal prosecutions the accused shall enjoy the nglit
to a speedy and public trial by an impartial jury," language broad
enough to embrace all persons and cases but tJie fifth, recognizing the
necessity of an indictment, or presentment, before any one can be held
to answer for high crimes, excepts cases arisuig in the land or naval
;

forces, or in the militia, wlien in actual service, in

time of war or public

danger;" and the framei-s of the Constitution, doubtless, meant to limit
the right of trijvl by jury, iu tlie sixth ameudment. to those persons who

Til
were subject

STORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.

to indictment or presontmorit in

Tiie discipline, necessary to the efficiency of

.061

tlic fifth.

army and navy, rcquirother and awifler modes of trial than are furnislied by the common law
courts; and, in pursuance of tiie power conferred by the Constitution,
tlie

eil

Conj^ress has declared the kinds of

trial, and the manner in which they
conducted, for offenses committed while the party is in the military
or naval service.
livery one, connected with tliese fjranclies of the public

hhall

1)(!

is amenable to the jurisdiction which Congress has created for
government, and while thus serving, surrenders his right to be tried

srrvice,

their

by the

civil courts.

<»j)en,

if

irial

Al\ other perHom, citizens of States where the courts are
charged with crime, an; guaranteed the inestimable privilege of
by jury. This privilege is a vital principle, underlying the whole ad-

ministration of criminal justice; it is not held by sufferance, and cannot
be frittered away on any plea of State or political necessity. When peace
prevails,

and

authority of the

Government

undisputed, there is no
for the ordinary modes
of trial are never neglected, and no one wishes it otherwise
but if society is disturbed by civil commotion
if the passions of men are aroused
and tlie restraints of law weakened, if not disregarded these safeguards
need, and should receive, the watchful care of those entrusted with the
guardianship of the Constitution and laws. In no other way can we translli(!

difficulty of preserving the

is

safeguards of liberty

;

:

—

—

mit to posterity unimpaired, the blessings of

liberty,

consecrated by the

sacrifices of the revolution.
It is claimed that martial law covers with its broad mantle the proceedings of the military commission. The proposition is this That in a time
:

of

war the commander

armed force (if in
and of which he is

of an

his opinion the exigencies

demand it.
to judge,) has the power,
within the lines of his military district, to suspend all civil rights and
their remedies, and subject citizens as well as soldiers to the rule of fiix
of the country

wilt, and in the exercise of his lawful authority cannot be restrained, except by his superior officer or the President of the United States.
If this
position is sound, to the extent claimed, then when war exists, foreign or

domestic, and the country is subdivided
mere convenience the commander of one

into military departments for

of them can, if he chooses,
within his limits, on the plea of necessity, with the approval of the executive, substitute military force for and to the exclusion of the laws, and
punish all persons, as he thinks right and proper, without fixed or certain
;

rules.

shows its importance
for, if true,
and there is an end of liberty regulated by law. Martial law, established on such a basis, destroys every guarantee of the Constitution, and effectually renders the "military independent of and superior to the civil power" the attempt to do which Ijy the
King of Great Britain was d(;emed by our fathers such an offence, that
they assigned it to tiie world as one of the causes which impelled them to
declare their in<lependence. Civil liberty and this kind of martial law
Tlie statement of this proposition

ri-publican

government

is

;

a failure,

—

HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.

r,62

cannot endure together; the antagonism
flict, one or the other must perish.

is

irreconcilable;

and

in tlie con-

This nation, as experience has proved, cannot always remain at peace,
lias no right to expect that it will always have wise and humane rul-

and

ers, sincerely

atttached to the principles of the Constitution.

Wicked

men, ambitious of power, with hatred of liberty and contempt of law,
may fill the place once occupied by Washington and Lincoln and, if this
right is conceded and the calamities of war again befall us, the dangers
;

human

If our fathers liad failed
such a contingency, they would have been false to the
They knew the history of the world told them
trust imposed in them.
the nation tliey were founding, be its existence short or long, would be
involved in war how often or how long continued, human foresight
could not tell, and that unlimiteil power, wherever lodged at such a time,
was especially hazardous to freemen. For this and other equalh^ weighty
reasons they secured the inheritance they had fought to maintain, by incorporating in a written constitution, the safeguards which tune had proved were essential to its preservation. Not one of these safeguards can
the President or Congress or the judiciary disturb, except the one cou-

to

liberty are frightful to contemplate.

to provide for just

—

—

;

•cerning the writ of habeas corpus.

the safety of every Government that, in a great crisis,
one we have just passed through, tliere should be a power somewhere of suspending the writ of habeas carpus. In every war there are men
of previously good character wicked enough to counsel their fellow citizens to resist the measures deemed necessary by a good government to
sustain its just authority and overthrow its enemies, and their influence
may lead to dangerous combinations. In the emergency of the times an
immediate public investigation according to law may not be possrible, and
yet the peril to the country may be too imminent to sulTer such persons
to go at large. Unquestionably, there is then an exigency which demands
that the government, if it should see fit in the exercise of a proper discretion to make arrests, should not be required to produce the persons arrested in answer to a writ of habenx corpus. The Constitution goes no
further.
It does not say after a writ of habeas corpus is denied a citizen,
that he shall be tried otherwise than by the course of the common law; if
it had intended this result, it was easy by the use of direct words to have
accomplished it. The illustrious men who framed that instrument were
guarding the foundations of civil liberty against the abuses of unlimited
power they were full of wisdom, and the lessons of hist ory informed
tliem that a trial by an established court, assisted by an impartial jury,
It is essential to

like the

;

was the only sure way

of protecting the citizen against oppression and
thev limited the suspension to one great right and
left the rest to remain forever inviolable
But it is insisted that the safety of the country in time of war demands that this broad claim f(^r mar-

wrong.

tial

law

Knowing

this,

shall be sustained.

If this

were true

it

could be well said that a

JITSTORY OF (JOLUMBJA COUNTY.

563

country prcserveil at the sucriflce of all the cardinal principles of liberty
Happily, it is not so.
i8 not worth the cost of preservation.
It will he borne in mind that this is not a question of the power to proclaim martial law when war exists in a community, and the courts and
Nor is it a. question what rule a milicivil authorities are overthrown.
tary commander, at the head of his armj', can impose on States in rebellion to cripple their resouices

and quell the insurrection.

TIki jurisdic-

claimed is much more extensive. The necessities of the service,
during the late rebrllion, required that the loyal States should be placed
within the limits of certain military districts and commanders appointed
tion

in

them

and,

;

it is

uri^ed, that this, in a military sense, constituted

them

the theatre of military operations; and, as in this case, Indiana liad been

and was

a<;ain

threatened with invasion by

furnished to establish martial law.

tiie enemy, the occasion was
The conclusion does not follow from

If armies were collected in Indiana they were to be eraanother locality, where the laws were obstructed and the naOn her soil there was no hostile foot; if once
tional authority disputed.
invaded, that invasion was at an end, and with it all pretext for martial
Martial law cannot arise from a threatened invasion. The necessity
law.
must be actual and present, the invasion real, such as effectually closes
the courts and deposes the civil administration.
It is ditlicult to see how the sufely of the country required martial law

the premises.

ployed

in

If any of her citizens were plotting treason, the power of arcould secure them, unlil the Government was prepared for their trial,
when the courts were open and ready to try them. It was as easy to
protect witnesses before a civil as a military tribunal and as there could
be no wish to convict, except on sufficient legal evidence, surely an ordained and established court was better able to judge of this than a military tribunal composed of gentlemen not trained to the profession of the

in

Indiana.

rest

;

law.

from what has been said on this subject, tiiat there are ocIf in foreign invarule can be properly applied.
sion or
courts are actually closed; and it is impossible to
administer criminal justice according to law, then, on the theatre of active military operations, where war really prevails, there is a necessity
It

follows,

casions

when martial
civil war the

a substitute for the civil authorit}', thus overthrown, to pre-

to furnish
.scrve

army and society; and as no power is left but the
allowed to govern by martial rule until the laws can have

the safety of the

military,

it

is

As

their free cour.se.
for

if

i'ii.0

necessity creates the rule, so

f/nveriimenl is

continued,

gross usurpation of power.
are open,
tion.

and

It is

in the

it

limits its duration;

the cr)urts are reinstated,

it is

a

Martial rule can never exist where the courts

proper and unobstructed exercise of their jurisdicBecause during
locality of actual war.

also confined to the

the late rebellion
tional authority

follow that

aflei-

it

it

could have been enforced

was overturned and

should obtain

in

tl:e

in Virginia,

where the na-

courts driven out,

Indiana, w here

tliat

aiithority

it

does not

was never

rilSTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY-

504

disputed, and justice was always administered.
a foreign invasion, martial rule may become a

And

so in the case of

necessity in one State,

when in another it would be "mere lawless violence." We are not without precedents in English and American history ilhislrating our Tiews of
but it is hardly necessary to make particular reference to
this question
:

them.

From

the

tirst

year of the reign of Edward the Third, when the Parli-

England reversed the attainder of the Earl of Lancaster, because he could have been tried by the courts of the realm, and declared,
'tliat in time of peace no man ought to be adjudged to death for treason
or any other offence without being arraigned and held to answer; and
that regularly when the king's courts are open it is a time of peace in
judgment of law," down to the present day, mart'al law, as claimed in
this case, has been condemned by all respectable Englisli jurists as contrary to the fundaniental laws of the land, and subversive of the liberty

ament

of

of the subject.

During the present century an instructive debate on this question occurred in Parliament, occasioned by the trial and conviction by courtmartial, at Demarara, of the Rev. John Smith, a missionaiy to the negroes, on the alleged ground of aiding and abetting a formidable rebellion in that colony.

Those eminent statesmen, Lord Brougham and

Sir

.Tames IMacIntosh, participated in that debate, and denounced tlie trial as
illegal, because it did not appear that the courts of law in Deunirara
could not try offences, and that ''when the laws can act every other
of punishing supposed crimes is itself an enormous crime."
So sensitive were our revolutionary- fathers on this subject, although
JBoston was almost in a state of siege, when Gen. Gage issued his proclamation of martial law\ they spoke of it as an "attempt to supercede the
course of the common law, and instead thereof to publish and order the
use of martial law." The Virginia Assembly also denounced a similar
measure on the part ot Gov. Dunmore "as an assumed power, which the
King himself cannot e.xercise because it annuls the law of the land and

mode

;

introduces the most execrable of all systems, martial law."
In some parts of the country, during the war of 181"3, our ollicers
arbitrary arrests, and by
in ti\e military

service.

military tribunals, tried citizens,

These arrests and

trials,

made
who were not

when brought

to the

notice of the courts, were uniformlj' coiuiemned as illegal. Tiie cases of
Smith vs. Sliaw, and McConnell v^.. Hampton, (reported in 13 Johnson)
ttre illustrations, which we cite, not only for the principles they determine,
but on account of the distinguished jurists concerned in the decisions,
one of whom for many years occupi( d a seat on this bench.
It is contended that Luther vs. Borden, decided by this court, is an authority for the claim of martial law advanced in this case. The decision
Th:ii ca^e grew out of the attempt in Rhode Island
is misapprehended.
to s\ipereede the old colonial government by a revolutionary proceeding.
Rhode Island until that period had no otlier f<n-m of local government

GENERAL INDEX.
McKeynolds, John

571

r>72

steamboat Coclorus

GENERAL INDEX.

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