History of Lancaster, (Lancaster County) Pennsylvania United States of America

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Local History Notes:

LANCASTER, a county in the S. E. part of Pennsylvania, bordering on Maryland, has an area of 950 square miles. Susquehanna river forms its boundary on the S. W., and the Octorara creek on the S.E. It is intersected by Conestoga creek and its branches. The ridge called South mountain, or Conewago hill, extends along the N. W. border; and Mine Ridge traverses the S. E. part. Between these is a broad and fertile limestone valley, the surface of which is undulating, and the soil a rich calcareous loam. The county is well watered, highly cultivated, and densely peopled. In respect to population, it is only inferior to Philadelphia and Alleghany counties; in the value of agricultural productions it is not equalled by any in the state. Grain of various kinds, potatoes, fruit, cattle, horses, and swine are the staples. In 1850 this county produced 1,803,312 bushels of Indian corn; 1,365,111 of wheat; 1,578,321 of oats; 215,277 of potatoes; 96,134 tons of hay, and 1,907,843 pounds of butter. The quantity of oats was the greatest raised in any county of the United States; that of wheat the greatest in any except Monroe county, New York; and that of corn greater than in any other county of the state. There were 191 flour and grist mills, 68 saw mills, 4 iron mines, 54 limekilns, 31 manufactories of farming implements, 37 of cabinet-ware, 26 of coaches, 12 of guns, and 23 of bricks, 5 iron foundries, 11 furnaces, 12 forges, 2 cotton factories, 17 woollen factories, 1 rolling mill, 3 machine shops, 9 potteries, 37 distilleries, and 53 tanneries. It contained 190 churches, 10 newspaper offices, 17,001 pupils attending public schools, and 943 attending academies and other schools. The county contains quarries of blue limestone, suitable for building, and of roofing slate. Marble, chrome, and magnesia, are also found. The creeks furnish abundant motive-power. It is intersected by the Philadelphia and Columbia railroad, and in part by the Lancaster and Harrisburg railroad. Organized in 1729, and named from Lancaster, a county of England. Capital, Lancaster. Population, 98,944.

Biographies:

Benjamin Bausmon, clergyman, was born at Lancaster, Pa., Jan. 28, 1824. He was educated at Marshall college, Pa., and studied theology at the seminary at Mercersburg, Pa., leaving the latter in 1852. His first pastorate was at Lewisburg, Pa. In 1858 he became editor of the Reformed Messenger. He subsequently held pastorates at Chambersburg and Reading. He was delegated by his denomination to the Reformed diet at Lubeck in 1856, and to the council of the alliance of Reformed churches at Belfast in 1884. He published: "Sinai and Zion" (1860); "Wayside Gleanings in Europe" (1876), and "Bible Character"(1893).

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor

Thomas Clark, author, was born at Lancaster, Pa., in 1789. He was educated, with a view to entering the Roman Catholic priesthood, at St. Mary's seminary, Baltimore, Md. In 1812 he joined the army as a lieutenant of artillery, was promoted captain of engineers and employed on the defences of the Delaware river, serving throughout the war. He was mustered out in 1815, and applied himself to literature. He edited a series of Greek and Latin classics, Boyer's French grammar, and a series of mathematical works. He wrote a Naval History of the United States from the Commencement of the Revolutionary War (2 vols., 1813-14); and Sketches of the Naval History of the United States (1813). He died in Philadelphia, Pa., in 1860.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor

Alfred Nevin, editor and author, was born in Shippensburg, Pa., March 14, 1816; son of Maj. David and Mary (Pierce) Nevin, and grandson of Daniel and Margaret (Williamson) Reynolds Nevin. Daniel Nevin came from England with his brother, and settled in Cumberland Valley, Pa., before 1800. Maj. David Nevin was a merchant; served in the war of 1812, and was a member of the Pennsylvania constitutional convention of 1837. Alfred Nevin was graduated at Jefferson college, A.B., 1833, A.M., 1838; was admitted to the bar in 1837; abandoned law, and was graduated at Western Theological seminary, Allegheny, Pa., in 1840. He was ordained by the presbytery of New Castle in May, 1840, pastor at Cedar Grove, Pa., where he served, 1840-45. He was married, May, 6, 1841, to Sarah J., daughter of the Hon. Robert Jenkins of Lancaster county, Pa. He was pastor of the German Reformed church at Chambersburg, Pa., 1845-52; of the Second church at Lancaster, Pa., 1852-57; of Alexander church at Philadelphia, Pa., 1857-61, and was moderator of the synod of Philadelphia in 1856. He edited The Standard, 1861-66, which was merged into the Northwestern Presbyterian, Chicago, Ill., in 1866, and the Presbyterian Weekly, 1872-74, and was chief editor of the Presbyterian Journal, 1875-80. He lectured in the National School of Oratory in Philadelphia, Pa., 1878-80, and was frequently a commissioner to the general assemblies and synods of the Presbyterian church. He was a member of the Presbyterian, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin historical societies, a member of the Presbyterian board of publication and a trustee of Lafayette college, 1863-65. He received the degree of D.D. from Lafayette college in 1855, and LL.D. from Western Theological seminary in 1873. He edited the Presbyterian Encyclop?dia (1884), and the Presbyterian Year Book for 1887-88 (1887), and is the author of: Christian's Rest (1843); Spiritual Progression (1848); Churches of the Valley (1852); Guide to the Oracles (1857); Words of Comfort for Doubting Hearts (1867); Commentary on Luke (1867); The Age Question (1868); Popular Commentary (1868); The Voice of God (1873): Sabbath-School Help (1874); Notes on Exodus (1874); Men of Mark of Cumberland Valley, Pa. (1876); Notes on the Shorter Catechism (1878); Glimpses of the Coming World (1880); Triumph of Truth (1880); Prayer-Meeting Talks (1880); Parables of Jesus (1881); Letters to Col. Robert G. Ingersoll (1882); How They Died (1883); Folded Leaves (1885), and Twelve Revival Sermons (1885). He died in Lancaster, Pa., Sept. 2, 1890.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor

William Marvel Nevin, educator, was born at Herrons Branch, near Shippensburg, Pa., Feb. 7, 1806; son of John and Martha (McCracken) Nevin. He attended the College of New Jersey and was graduated at Dickinson college in 1827. He was admitted to the bar, but devoted himself to the Study of medicine and finally abandoned both professions for that of teaching. He taught school in Ohio, Pennsylvania and Michigan for several years; was professor of Latin, Greek and belles lettres in Marshall college at Mercersburg, Pa., 1840-53; of the same at Franklin and Marshall college at Lancaster, Pa., 1853-72; of English literature and belles lettres there, 1872-86, and was professor emeritus, 1886-92. He received the degree of LL.D. from Dickinson college in 1881. He was married to Hannah Jane McClay of Shippensburg, and secondly, in 1854, to Mrs. Adelaid (Mellier) Irwin, daughter of Amadie Mellier of Switzerland. He contributed to religious periodicals and is the author of verse and prose. He died in Lancaster, Pa., Feb. 11, 1892.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor