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:

Marriott Brosius, representative, was born in Coleraine township, Lancaster county, Pa., March 7, 1843. He received an academic education, and on the breaking out of the civil war enlisted as a private in the Union army. In March, 1863, he was promoted sergeant, and in 1864 re-enlisted as a veteran, served with gallantry, and in a brilliant charge at Green Plains he received a severe wound, from the effects of which he ever after was a sufferer. In 1865 he was commissioned 2d lieutenant for bravery on the battlefield. After the war he finished his education, was admitted to the bar in 1868, and practised his profession in his native town. He was elected a representative from the 10th Pennsylvania district as a Republican to the 51st, 52d, 53d, 54th, 55th, 56th and 57th congresses. He died at Lancaster, Pa., in 1901.

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

John Williamson Nevin, educator, was born at Herrons Branch near Shippensburg, Pa., Feb. 20, 1803; son of John and Martha (McCracken) Nevin; grandson of Daniel and Margaret (Williamson) Nevin, and a descendant of Daniel Nevin, emigrant, and of John Williamson, who came from England to Chester, Pa., 1730. He was graduated from Union college in 1821 and from the Princeton Theological seminary in 1826. He was instructor in oriental and biblical literature at the Princeton Theological seminary during the absence of Dr. Charles Hedge in Europe, 1826-28; supplied pulpits at Big Spring, Pa., 1829, and was professor of biblical literature at Western Theological seminary, Allegheny, Pa., 1829-40. He was married to Martha Nevin, daughter of the Hon. Robert and Catharine (Carmichael) Jenkins of Lancaster county; granddaughter of the Rev. John Carmichael of Brandywine Manor, and great2-granddaughter of David Jenkins, a native of Wales. He was ordained an evangelist by the presbytery of Ohio, April 22, 1835. He was professor at the German Reformed Theological seminary at Mercersburg, Pa., 1840-53; president of Marhall college, Pa., 1841-53; professor of ?sthetics and history at Franklin and Marshall college, Lancaster, Pa., 1861-66, professor of mental and moral philosophy, 1868-76, and president of the college, 1866-76. He retired to private life in 1876. The honorary degree of D.D. was conferred on him by Jefferson college, Pa., in 1839, and that of LL.D. by Union college, N.Y., in 1873. He edited the Mercersburg Review at Chambersburg, Pa., 1849-53, and is the author of: Biblical Antiquities (2 vols., 1827); The Anxious Bench (1844): The Mystical Presence (1846), and The History and Genius of the Heidelberg Catechism (1847). He also assisted in the preparation of A Liturgy or Order of Worship for the use of the German Reformed Church in the United states of America and An Order of Worship for the Reformed Church (1867). He died in Lancaster, Pa., June 6, 1886.

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

John Francis Hoff, clergyman, was born in Lancaster, Pa., Jan 10, 1814; son of George and Margaret (Hager) Hoff. He was a student at Dickinson college in the class of 1830, 1827-28; a sophomore at Yale in the class of 1832, and was graduated at the University of Pennsylvania, A.B., 1833, A.M., 1836. He studied at the Virginia Theological seminary at Alexandria, 1834-36, and was graduated at the General Theological seminary, New York city, in 1836. He was rector of Christ church, Georgetown, D.C., 1838-43; St. Mark's, Frederick county, Md., 1844-47; Christ church, Millwood, Va., 1847-58, and of Trinity church, Towson, Md., 1858-81. He was married to Juliana Johnson, daughter of William Ross. Yale conferred on him the degrees of A.B. and A.M. gratioe causa in 1879, and William and Mary, the honorary degree of D.D. in 1870. He is the author of a series of tracts and essays setting forth the doctrines and polity of the Protestant Episcopal church in America. He died in Baltimore, Md., Dec. 18, 1881.

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