MANCHESTER DISTRICT, No. 6.
Manchester District, the Sixth District of Carroll County, is bounded on the north by Pennsylvania, on the east by Baltimore County and Hampstead District, on the south by the districts of Hampstead and Westminster, and on the west by Westminster and Myers Districts. The principal stream in the district is the Gunpowder Falls Creek, which passes through the northeastern portion and flows into Baltimore County, and which has several small tributaries. Big Grave Run has its source in the centre, and flows southeast into Baltimore County, and the head-waters of Big Pipe Creek and the North Branch of the Patapsco take their rise in the district. The population of Manchester District was in 1880 three thousand five hundred and one. The metes and bounds of Manchester District, as laid out by the commission of 1837, are as follows:
“Beginning at the forks of the county road leading from Westminster to the town of Hampstead and George Richards’ mill; thence to the falls of Aspin Run and Long Glade Branch; thence up said branch to the spring near the house of Joseph Bowser, deceased; thence to the spring near the house of John Orendorff; thence to the forks of the most northern branch of Patapsco Falls and Bosley’s Spring Branch, where they unite in Wm. Albaugh’s meadow; thence through the farms of John Reed and Joshua Bosley, Sr., leaving said Reed and Bosley in District No. 6; thence to Michael Baker’s tavern on the Hanover and Baltimore turnpike road, leaving said Baker in District No. 6; thence across said turnpike east of Shriver’s tan-yard; thence through the lands of Daniel Caltuder, leaving said Caltuder in District No. 6; thence through the lands of (Gist’s; thence through the land of) George Caltuder, deceased, and John Wareham, leaving said Caltuder and Wareham in District No. 8; thence to Michael Miller’s well on the middle road; thence to Joshua Stansbury’s spring, near the house on the Falls road; thence through the lands of Hair, leaving said Hair in District No. 8; thence to Henry Zimmerman’s county road, where said road crosses Carroll and Baltimore county line, at a blazed hickory-tree; thence on said county line to the Pennsylvania line; thence with said line to Rinehart’s county road; thence with said road to a point nearest to the head spring of Ohio Branch; thence down said branch to where it crosses Trump’s county road; thence through Peter Bixler’s farm to Big Pipe Creek, where Lawer’s Branch unites with Big Pipe Creek, leaving said Bixler in District No. 6; thence up said branch to Baughman’s county road; thence with said road to the mouth of a lane between Royer and German; thence through the farm of Abraham Shaffer, leaving said Shaffer in District No. 7; thence to the forks of Manchester and Hampstead road thence to the place of beginning.”
Manchester was made the place of holding the polls.
Among the earliest surveys were “Rattlesnake Ridge,” of 50 acres, surveyed July 18, 1738, for Edward Richards, and patented in 1739; “Three Brothers,” of 300 acres, surveyed Aug. 2, 1746; “Easenburg,” Aug. 26, 1761 ;”Shilling’s Lot,” of 40 acres, Oct. 3, 1751; “ Heidelburgh,” Aug. 10, 1752, and resurveyed Feb. 22, 1762, for Elias Harange; “Frankford,” surveyed Jan. 27, 1761, for Conrad Barst; “ Motter’s Choice,” resurveyed December, 1751, for 162 acres; “Potter’s Lot,” of 40 acres, for John Prlack, Oct. 30, 1760; “Richard’s Chance,” of 50 acres, Jan. 1, 1749, for Richard Richards; “Pomerania,” near Whistler’s Mill, now Bixler’s, for 50 acres, to William Winchester, Jan. 8, 1755; “Johnsburg,” of 130 acres, resurveyed for John Shrempling, May 20, 1761; “Mount Hendrick,” of 48 acres, to James Hendrick, March 3, 1768; “McGill’s Choice,” of 50 acres, to Andrew McGill, June 12, 1744; “Winchester’s Lot,” Oct. 23, 1751; “Everything Needful,” to Richard Richards, May 16, 1763, and for 1646 acres; same afterwards resurveyed, Nov. 14, 1786, as “Everything Needful Corrected,” to Samuel Owings, in three parts, one of 1573 acres and one of 58½ Ulrich Freeland getting the latter; “Warms;” “Bridgeland,” Feb. 28, 1754; “California,” of 490 acres, March 26, 1765; and “Dey’s Chance,” June 10, 1755.
The earliest actual settlers were Germans, mostly from Pennsylvania, and some from the Fatherland. Among these may be mentioned the Showers, Ritters, Jacob Shilling, Philip Edleman, Jacob Utz, Michael Burn, Kerlingers, Faess, Gethiers, Motters, Werheims, Weavers, Steffers, Everharts, Bowers, Warners, Bachmans, Ebaughs. Paul Everhart, an emigrant from Germany, settled first at Germantown, Pa., and in 1761 removed to this district. His son George, then seven years old, died in 1851. Paul settled where are now the iron-ore works. His great-grandson, George Everhart, born in 1800, is still living.
Manchester, the commercial centre of the district, is the second town in size and importance in Carroll County, containing in 1880 six hundred and forty inhabitants. It is situated on the Hanover turnpike, and contains a population of about nine hundred inhabitants, with a number of churches, a Masonic Hall, an Odd-Fellows’ Hall, an academy, and a number of stores and manufactories. The people, as a rule, are educated and enterprising. A number of railroads have been projected, which if completed will make the town a centre for business second to none in Maryland outside of Baltimore. Of late years an æsthetic taste has been manifested by the inhabitants, which has given rise to associations for the culture of literature and music, and the town now possesses all the elements for enlightened existence in the country remote from the temptations and, embarrassments of a large city.
From 1760 to 1790 a few houses stood where the site of the present thriving village is situated. In 1790, Capt. Richard Richards, an Englishman, living in the Hampstead settlement, laid out the town and called it “Manchester,” after that city in England, from which he had emigrated many years before. It was part of a survey of fifty acres, called “New Market,” patented to him in 1754, but which was surveyed for him March 5, 1765, and thirty-three of which he laid out in lots. These lots were sold subject to an annual ground-rent, and to this day on one and one-fourth acres of land George Everhart pays a yearly rent of five dollars to Judge John E. Smith, of Westminster, the representative of or successor to the Richard rights. The ground-rents on all the other lots, have expired. “The German Church Lands,” of twenty-five acres, adjoining the above and a part of the town, were surveyed Dec. 20, 1758, to Jacob Shilling, Philip Edleman, Jacob Utz, and Michael Burns, as trustees. The church at the present time receives from its ground-rents on these lands or lots an annual sum of more than one hundred and fifty dollars. The town is designated on the old maps as “on the original road leading to Baltimore and near Dug Hill.” The oldest man in the town is George Everhart, aged eighty-two, who came here from the country in 1826, and was nearly half a century in the mercantile business. The oldest house in the village is an old log building now owned by Edward Oursler. It was formerly kept as a tavern by Christian Heibly. On the lot now owned by Mr. Brinkman, the jeweler, a tavern once stood before any other house had been built in the town. The first physician was Dr. Urnbaugh, who was followed by Dr. Turner and Dr. Jacob Shower. The last began practice in 1825. Among the first schoolmasters was a Mr. Keller, who taught part of his pupils in the German, and the others in the English language. About the first storekeeper was George Motter, and in 1826, George Everhart bought out Mark Spencer (an Eastern man from the State of New York), and continued in business until 1877. George Linaweaver was the earliest blacksmith. George Gettier, born here in 1791, was a soldier in the war of 1812, and died in Cincinnati, Ohio.
The town was incorporated in 1833, and a supplementary act of 1836 revived the incorporation, confining the limits of the town to the lots on the several tracts of land known as “New Market” and “German Town.” The corporation was reorganized by an act of 1870, before which the records are mislaid or lost. Since that time the officers have been:
1871. ***—Mayor, E.A. Ganter; Councilmen, George Everhart, Adam Shower, John Weaver, James Kelly, Henry Reagle; Secretary, L.C. Myerly; Treasurer, John Weaver; Bailiff, James Greenhultz.
1872.—Mayor, John C. Danner; Councilmen, Wm. Walter, Geo. Everhart, John Weaver, James Kelly, Henry Reagle.
1873.—Mayor, John Carl; Councilmen, James Kelly, Henry Reagle, Simon J. Grammar, Henry E. Masenheimer, D. Hoffacker.
1874.—Mayor, John Carl; Councilmen, John Fultz, W.L. Tracy, S.J. Grammer, H. Masenheimer, D. Hoffacker.
1875.—Mayor, John Carl; Councilmen, Henry Reagle, H.E. Masenheimer, D. Shultz, Edward Oursler, S.J. Grammar.
1876.—Mayor, Jacob Campbell; Councilmen, Emanuel Shaffer, Henry Reagle, Edward Oursler, Luther Tramp, Oliver Lippy; Secretary, Ferdinand A. Dieffenbach.
1877.—Mayor, Jacob Campbell; Councilmen, John J. Lynerd, Henry Reagle, Luther Tramp, John Bentz, Edward Oursler; Secretary, G.W.J. Everhart.
1878.—Mayor, H.W. Thomas, who resigned, and George M. Stien took his place; Councilmen, Cornelius Miller, E.A. Ganter, E. Shaffer, Geo. M. Stein, Dr. J.F.B. Weaver; Secretary, G.W.J. Everhart.
1879.—Mayor, John H. Lamott; Councilmen, E.A. Ganter, N.W. Sellers, P. Gober, Emanuel Shaffer, Cornelius Miller; Secretary, G.W.J. Everhart.
1880.—Mayor, John H. Lamott; Councilmen, Edward A. Ganter, N.W. Sellers, P.G. Ober, Emanuel Shaffer, Cornelius Miller.
1881.—Mayor, Henry H. Keller; Councilmen, E.A. Ganter, E. Shaffer, Oliver Lippy, John J. Lynerd, Edward J. Sellers; Secretary, G.W.J. Everhart; Treasurer, E.A. Ganter; Bailiff, Wm. J. Eisenbrown.
In 1878 the first crossings were laid to the streets; in 1879 the town was supplied with street-lamps, and in 1881 the streets were all graded.
Zion Church, with two exceptions, was the oldest congregation in Baltimore County (in which Manchester was located until 1836). It was organized Feb. 12, 1760, by a union of the Lutheran and German Reformed congregations. During that year was erected the first meeting-house, a log structure, which stood until 1798, when a brick edifice was built. It was repaired in 1836, and a steeple built from the ground up in November of that year. During these repairs Rev. Jacob Albert was chief manager, and Philip Grove and Charles Miller, assistants. Jacob Houck was the contractor for making the repairs, John Matthias was the contractor for building the steeple, Michael Gettier did the masonry, John M. Miller was the gilder and painter, and Jarret Garner furnished the materials; Jacob Weyant, Peter Shultz, Joshua F. Copp, Jesse Shultz, H. and W. Brinkman, Jacob Garrett, and Philip Crumrine were the under-workmen; Rev. Jacob Albert (Lutheran) and Rev. Jacob Geiger (German Reformed) were the pastors. In June, 1862, this church was taken down, and each of the two congregations erected a separate church building, that of the Lutherans being on part of the old church tract. The first church (log) of 1760 and the second (brick) of 1790 stood in the graveyard lot. This church was popularly known as the “Union Church,” from the fact that two congregations worshiped peacefully therein. The Lutheran pastors who preached in it were:
1760-83, Rev. Newburg; 1783-90, Johan Daniel Schroeder; 1791-96, Rev. Meltzheimer (the elder); 1797-1825, John Herbst; 1826 (six months), Emanuel Keller; 1827-37, Jacob Albert; 1837-38, Jeremiah Harpel; 1838-42, Philip Williard; 1843-44, Frank Ruthrauff; 1844-48, Elias
Swartz; 1848-53, Jacob Kaempfer; 1853-62, Daniel J. Hauer, D.D.
The German Reformed pastors to 1862 were: from 1823 to 1848, Rev. Jacob Geiger, C.F. Collifiower, and Henry Wissler. The names of subsequent pastors are not accessible.
Emanuel Lutheran Church, after the old “Zion Church” was torn down in 1862, erected in that and the following year its present edifice. Its pastors have been:
1862-65, Peter River; 1866-69, R. Weiser; 1870-81, G. Sill; 1881 (April 1), B. Manges.
The superintendent of Sunday-school is D.H. Hoffacker.
After the taking down of the “Zion church” in 1862, the Trinity Reformed Church congregation erected its present building, which was completed in 1863. The German Reformed pastors of Zion and Trinity Churches from 1760 to 1881, as far as ascertainable, were: 1823 to 1848, Jacob Geiger, C.F. Colliflower, Henry Wisler, J.W. Hoffmeirer, D.W. Kelley, and William Rupp, the latter the present pastor, who came July 2, 1877. The superintendent of the Sunday-school is J.P. Baltozer; elders, J.P. Baltozer, George Bixler; deacons, Emanuel Shaffer, Charles Brillhart.
The corner-stone of the Methodist Episcopal church edifice was laid in 1839, before which there was a mission here with occasional preaching. At the erection of the building Rev. E.G. Ege was the pastor, and the present incumbent is P. Benton Winstead.
The erection of the Manchester Bethel church (United Brethren in Christ) was begun in 1870, and was completed in the same year. The building is a handsome brick structure. It was dedicated on Sunday, Jan. 1, 1871. At its dedication Bishop J. Weaver, of Baltimore, was present, and preached morning and night to a large congregation. Rev. John Shaeffer, of Baltimore, preached in the afternoon in the German language. The spire is forty feet above the roof, and presents a fine appearance. The first pastor, under whose auspices the building was erected, was Rev. Mr. Hutchinson; the next one, Rev. J.B. Jones; and the present incumbent, Rev. Mr. Quigly, who took charge in 1881. In the rear of the church is a neat graveyard, in which are buried
Mary M. Baring, born July 25, 1752, died Jan. 29, 1830; and her husband, Ezekiel, who died March 30, 1838, aged 87.
Rev. Ezekiel Baring, born Jan. 16, 1780, died Feb. 14, 1861.
John Baring, died Dec. 17, 1869, aged 85.
Villet Baring, wife of Jacob Swartzbaugh, born Jan. 17, 1796, died March 2, 1857.
Margaret A. Stultz, born April 1, 1780, died April 23, 1861.
Elizabeth, wife of John Young, died Nov. 18, 1873, aged 76.
Catherine Lynerd, died Nov. 5, 1873, aged 73.
Martha Burkett, died July 17, 1866, aged 83.
Levi Beecher, died Oct. 11, 1866, aged 52; and his wife, Eve, Nov. 22, 1865, aged 53.
This church organization had a log church prior to 1870, on the same lot where the brick building now stands. Its trustees in 1857 were Samuel Dehoff, Joseph H. Little, Jacob W. Baring, Amos Williams, and Henry W. Steffy.
St. Bartholomew’s Catholic church was built by the Redemptorist Fathers of Baltimore, who had charge of it until 1876, when it was placed under the pastorate of Father John Gloyd, pastor of St. John’s Church, Westminster. It was erected under the supervision of Mr. Frederick, an eminent architect and builder of Baltimore.
The Manchester United Academy was incorporated March 3, 1829. The first trustees were Rev. Joseph Geiger, Rev. Jacob Albert, Dr. Jacob Shower, Solomon Myerly, George Motter, John Weaver, George Everhart, Peter Sable, Martin Kroh, George Shower and Frederick Ritter. The building was erected in 1831, and its first teacher was Hon. Joseph M. Parke.
Irving College was incorporated by the Legislature Feb. 1, 1858, with the following trustees: Ferdinand Dieffenbach, John H. Falconer, John W. Horn, and Henry B. Roemer. Mr. Dieffenbach was a refugee of the Revolution of 1848, and a fine scholar and educator. This institution opened with two pupils, and soon became flourishing and noted. Its able head died in March, 1861, when it was for some time carried on under the auspices of his widow. Subsequently Lewis C. Myerly was at its head, and in 1880 Prof. D. Denlinger took charge, under whose management it yet remains. He changed its name to Irving Institute, and has made it a boarding-school for students of both sexes. Its aims are to prepare students for business, for teaching advanced classes in college, or the study of a profession. The course of study embraces Latin, Greek, French, German, mathematics, the sciences, music, painting, and drawing. Since the abandonment of the old “academy” this institution receives all the advanced scholars of the town and neighborhood.
The Thespian Society was incorporated in 1835, and the Manchester Band in 1836. The latter was reorganized in 1855. Its first leader for a few months was Dr. Charles Geiger, and since then it has been under the direction of Edward A. Ganter. The following are its present members: Edward A. Ganter (leader), C.J.H. Ganter, C. Frankforter, D. Frankforter, Jesse Leese, Nelson Warheim, Jeremiah Yingling, John Stump, Ephraim Freyman, Aaron Hoffman, J.P. Lotz, N.W. Sellers, Jacob Hoffman, William Hoffman, R.L. Simpers, S.F. Frankforter.
The first Sunday-school was organized in 1828.
The first newspaper was issued Nov. 14, 1870, by W.R. Watson as editor, and J.A. Bartley, assistant. It was called the Manchester Gazette, an independent journal, and was published up to March, 1872, when it was sold to Messrs. Smith & Sites, who removed the paper and presses to Glen Rock, Pa., where they established a new journal. The next paper was the Manchester Enterprise, established in November, 1880. It is a sprightly four-page sheet of twenty-eight columns, devoted to general and local news, “independent in all things, neutral in nothing.” Joseph S. Cartman, late of Carlisle, Pa., is its editor, a journalist of ability and experience.
The Lutheran and Reformed cemetery was set apart for burial purposes in 1760, and interments began to be made in that year. Among the persons buried there are the following:
Frederick Ritter, died Feb. 9, 1864, aged 76.
George Motter, born Nov. 27, 1751, died Oct. 1, 1800.
Erwar Conrad Kerlinger, born 1731, died October, 1798.
Henry N. Brinkman, died Oct. 22, 1867, aged 76.
John Kerlinger, died Nov. 27, 1823, aged 51.
Elizabeth Kopp, died March 18, 1861, aged 75.
John Manche, born March 19, 1771, died Sept. 11, 1837.
Catharine Faess, died March, 1850, aged 86.
Carl Faess, born 1752, died 1815.
Catharine Gettier, born Oct. 27, 1822, died 1826.
Anthony Hines, died Nov. 29, 1825.
Hannes Motter, born April 10, 1771, died March 28, 1819.
Jacob Motter, died 1798.
John Peter Gettier, died Dec. 2, 1837, aged 80; and Elizabeth, his first wife, Aug. 22, 1791; and his second, Mary E., Oct. 14, 1856.
George Kerlinger, born Nov. 18, 1795, died Oct. 6, 1797.
Catharine Motter, born 1782, died 1790.
Daniel Bowman, born Feb. 27, 1783, died May 24, 1854.
Johannes Swartzbaugh, died Feb. 7, 1825, aged 86.
Heinrich Werheim, born 1758, died 1828.
Elizabeth Kantz, died Oct. 28, 1854, aged 86.
Joseph Kopp, died Jan. 26, 1852, aged 75; was in all the Napoleonic wars.
John Ritter, died March 17, 1831, aged 73.
John Ports, Sr., died July 19, 1854, aged 82.
Henry Glase, died Feb. 24, 1879.
George Warner, born Jan. 17, 1791, died Aug. 24, 1874.
George Yingling, died May 14, 1879, aged 85.
Michael Ritter, died Oct. 1, 1878, aged 81.
Henry Beltz, born June 27, 1783, died March 19, 1858.
Johannes Schaurer (now Shower), born 1730, died 1810; married in 1764, Anna Maria Eine, who was born in 1740, and died Aug. 10, 1833.
John Adam Shower, died Aug. 27, 1833, aged 59; and his wife, Anna E., Feb. 13, 1854, aged 81.
George Weaver, born Jan. 27, 1776, died Jan. 15, 1852; and his wife, Mary Magdalene, March 23, 1850, aged 69.
Elizabeth Utz, born 1742, married 1766, to Peter Utz, and died 1797.
Margaret, second wife of Peter Utz, died Jan. 3, 1826, aged 75.
Peter Utz, born 1740, died 1820.
Martin Kroh, died May 23, 1866, aged 83.
Elizabeth, wife of John Sellers, born Feb. 5, 1768, died Sept. 26, 1860.
George Utz, born Oct. 7, 1774, died 1842.
Henry Lamott, died Feb. 15, 1845, aged 75.
Daniel Hoover, born Sept. 9, 1792, died Aug. 16, 1864.
Louisa, wife of Jacob Bear, born Aug. 30, 1761, died March 9, 1856.
Jacob Sherman, born Jan. 19, 1779, died April 8, 1861.
Michael Miller, died Jan. 10, 1845, aged 80.
George Lineweaver, died April 12, 1844, aged 75.
Michael Stefee, born Dec. 16, 1769, died May 18, 1850; and his wife, Christina, born April 8, 1760, died June 16, 1854.
George Everhart, died July 4, 1857, aged 86; and his wife, Elizabeth, March 7, 1868, aged 90.
Rev. Jacob Geiger (31 years and 6 months pastor), died Oct. 19, 1848, aged 55 years and 2 days; and his first wife, daughter of Jacob and Mary Seltzer, born June 1, 1801, died March 12, 1835.
The Union Fire Company was incorporated by act of the General Assembly, March 26, 1839. The incorporators were Solomon Myerly, Jacob Sellers, Lewis Riggle, George Messamore, David Lippy, Elias Buckingham, Jacob Houck, George E. Weaver, George Everhart, George Trump, William Crumrine, Jacob Lineweaver, Henry Krantz, Henry Brinkman, John Shultz, Jesse Shultz, Andrew Pleifer, Ezekiel Baring, James Davis, Jacob Frankforter, David Frankforter, Joseph Gouter, George Baker, Joseph Gardner, Jacob Wentz, Frederick Hamburg, Jacob Kerlinger, Jacob Miller, Charles Miller, S.B. Fuhrman, George Matter, David Houck, Amos Gauman, Jacob Campbell, Adam Shower, J.F. Kopp, John Kuhn, Michael Gettier, George Lineweaver, Levi Maxfield, Michael Matter, Garret Garner, Richard Jones, James Stansbury, Henry E. Beltz, Joseph M. Parke, Philip Crumrine, Frederick Smith, John N. Steffy, Levi Mansfield, Henry Lippy, John Krantz, John Everhart, David Whiteleather.
The Carroll Literary Society was organized Feb. 12, 1881, with J.P. Baltover, president; Dr. J.W. Bechtel, vice-president; Joseph S. Carnman, secretary; P.G. Ober, treasurer. The object of the association is general improvement and the development of a taste for belles-lettres.
The school-house for the pupils of the public schools is a fine brick building, seventy-five by forty-five feet, erected in 1878.
The dispensation of the Knights of Pythias, Manchester Lodge, No. 78, was dated Sept. 14, 1872, and the lodge was instituted on the 17th of that month. The first officers were:
C.C., J.W. Dehoff; Prel., Aaron Miller; V.C., .J.S. Kerlinger; M. of E., Cornelius Miller; M. of F., E.A. Ganter.
The charter was dated January, 1878, and the charter members were John W. Dehoff, Aaron Miller, J.S. Kerlinger, E.A. Ganter, H. Falkenstine, Jr., C.J.H. Ganter, James Cross, M.D., G.W.J. Everhart, Daniel Dubbs, C. Miller, George Pfeiffer, Luther Trump. The officers for the second term, 1881, were:
P.C., Emanuel Sherrick; C.C., John W. Burns; Vice C., Charles F. Bergman; Prel., D.M. Brillhart; M. of E., Jacob Wink; M. of F., Cornelius Miller; K. of R and S., J.P. Baltover; M. at A., Aaron Hoffman; I.G., D.F. Boose; O.G., J.C. Hoffman; Rep. to Grand Lodge, J.E.
Mensenheimer; Dist. Dep., R. Lee Simpers; Trustees, Christian Buchanan, A. Appold, Charles Brillhart.
Number of members, 40.
Lebanon Lodge, A.F. and A.M., No. 175, was instituted Oct. 9, 1856, as No. 104, and its first officers were:
W.M., William L. Nace; S.W., Ferdinand Dieffenbach; J.W., John H. Lamott; Sec., Dr. Jacob Shower; Treas., George Shower; S.J., Amos L. Wolfang; Tyler, John Bentz.
It lost its charter, but on May 14, 1879, it was re-chartered as No. 175. Its officers then were Dr. Theodore A. Shower, W.M.; E.G. Sellers, S.W.; John M. Bush, J.W. Its officers for 1881 were:
W.M., Lewis C. Myerly; S.W., Wm. C. Murray; J.W., E.T. Sellers; Sec., Adam Shower; Treas., Samuel Miller; S.D., John Fultz; J.D., Jacob Fink; Tyler, John H. Lamott.
Number of members, 25.
The present secretary, Adam Shower, was initiated in 1859, and became secretary in 1861.
Daniel and Jacob Lodge, I.O.O.F., No. 23. A petition was sent to the Maryland Grand Lodge of I.O.O.F. in 1834 for a lodge to be located here, the two first petitioners on the list being Daniel Hoover and Jacob Shower. The petitioners designating no name for the proposed lodge, the Grand Lodge named Daniel and Jacob, in honor of Daniel Hoover and Jacob Shower. The charter was dated Oct. 17, 1834, and signed by James L. Ridgely, G.M., and Robert Neilson, G.S. Its first officers were: N.G., Dr. Jacob Shower; V.G., Daniel Hoover; Sec. and Treas., Jacob Kerlinger.
At the first meeting the following were the initiates: Samuel Lamott, Wm. Crumrine, Henry Brinkman, John Lamott. The second set of officers were: N.G., Daniel Hoover; V.G., William Crumrine; Sec. and Treas., Jacob Kerlinger. The officers for 1881 were:
S.P.G., John Fultz; N.G., Henry Boose; V.G., Nimrod Armstrong; Rec. Sec., G.W.J. Everhart; Per. Sec., E.A. Ganter; Treas., Edward Oursler; Marshal, Wm. A. Wolf; R.S.N.G., N.W. Sellers; L.S.N.G., Henry Reagle; R.S.V.G., John Wink; L.S.V.G., George L. Beltzer; I.G., John Emmel; O.G., A. Pfeiffer.
The lodge owns a fine hall, and has 74 members. Its accumulated funds are $1500. The district deputy is William A. Wolf.
The charter of Carroll Encampment, No. 17, I.O.O.F., dated Oct. 26, 1866, was granted by J.L. Baugher, G.P., and John M. Jones, G.S. The charter members were Wm. Crumrine, Henry Falkenstine, Henry Zimmerman, Samuel Wilhelm, C. Frankforter, Adam Barns. The first officers were: W.C.P., Conrad Frankforter; H.P., Henry E. Beltz; J.W., Samuel Wilhelm; Scribe, Henry Falkenstine.
The following were the initiates at the first meeting, Oct. 26, 1866: Theo. J. Kopp, J. Alfred Kopp, E.A, Ganter, G.W.J. Everhart, E.H. Croutch. The officers for 1881 were:
W.C.P., John C. Denner; H.P., Wm. J. Eisenbrown; S.W., D.H. Hoffacker; J.W., Samuel Miller; Rec. Sec., G.W.J. Everhart; Per. Sec., A.N. Ganter; Treas., N.W. Sellers; Dist. Dep., Samuel Miller.
Number of members, 39.
Bachman’s Mills is a small village on the road leading to Hanover turnpike, seven miles from Westminster, five from Manchester, and at the head of Big Pipe Creek. This was formerly Bower’s mills, erected about 1780. William and A.C. Bachman own the mills, and the latter is postmaster. The village lies in a beautiful and productive valley, which was settled early in the eighteenth century.
Jerusalem Church was organized in 1799 by the Lutheran and Reformed congregations, who have jointly used the same building in their worship. The first edifice was a log structure, but the present is a substantial brick building, and was erected but a few years ago. Since 1825 its pastors have been the Lutheran and Reformed preachers living in Manchester.
Lazarus Church is also a union church of the Lutheran and Reformed congregations. It was erected in 1853. The building committee were V.B. Wentz, John Kroh, and George Weaver. The Lutheran congregation organized Sept. 5, 1853, and held its first communion June 4, 1854. Since 1863 the Lutheran and Reformed pastors have been the Manchester preachers. Its flourishing Sunday-school is under the charge of Francis Warner as superintendent.
On Feb. 27, 1770, Jonathan Plowman conveyed to John Davis (pastor), John Whitaker, and Samuel Lane fifteen acres of land “for the sole use of a meeting-house for the worship of God forever.” In 1828, the Particular Baptist Gunpowder Church was incorporated by the General Assembly, and Thomas Layman, John Perigoy, and Benjamin Buckingham were designated in the act as its trustees. Of these, two died, and one removed from the neighborhood. The meeting-house fell into decay, and the congregation was broken up. The Particular Baptist Church of Black Rock, Baltimore County, being the nearest church of the same faith and order, appointed John B. Ensar, Joshua Plowman, and James Blizzard as trustees, who began erecting thereon a suitable house of worship. To cure all existing and supposed legal disabilities of the trustees, and to ratify their proceedings, the Legislature incorporated this church again, March 4, 1858, retaining the trustees above named.
St. John’s church is used jointly by the Reformed and Lutheran congregations, and was built in 1846. It is a log structure weather-boarded. It is five miles from Westminster, which supplies it with pastors.
The Baltimore and Hanover Railroad Company was organized under the general railroad act passed by the General Assembly of Maryland in 1876. Its southern terminus is at Emory Grove, nineteen miles from Baltimore City, on the Western Maryland Railroad. Thence it passes north through Baltimore and Carroll Counties to Black Rock Station, where it connects with the Bachman Valley Road, the latter forming a connecting link with the Hanover Junction, Hanover and Gettysburg Railroad. The Baltimore and Hanover road forms a most valuable and important connection of the Western Maryland company, by which it is enabled to drain the rich and fertile territory of Southern Pennsylvania. The officers of the company are A.W. Eichelberger, president; William H. Vickery, vice-president; L.T. Melsheimer, secretary; R.M. Wirt, treasurer; Directors, Stephen Keefer, Hanover, Pa.; William El. Hoffman, Baltimore County, Md.; Charles W. Slagle, William H. Vickery, Baltimore; C.C. Wooden, Carroll County, Md.; L.F. Melsheimer, Hanover, Pa.
Bachman’s Valley Railroad runs from the iron-ore banks and intersects the Hanover Railroad. Its present officers are: President, Capt. A.W. Eichelberger; Directors, Stephen Kiefer, H.C. Shriver, Joseph Dellone, Joseph Althoff, C.L. Johnson, J.W. Gitt, Levi Dubbs, Perry Wine, Edwin Thomas, Samuel Thomas, E.W. Heindel, and Adam Newcomer.
Parr Ridge Gold and Silver Mining Company.—Many years ago gold was discovered in various places on a ridge extending through Manchester town from Cranberry Valley. In 1879, Messrs. Keeport and Lafeber, of Littlestown, made a thorough examination of the gold region, and found by assays that it was in sufficient quantities to pay for digging. In the summer of 1881 this company was organized with Daniel Beckley as president, and C.J.H. Ganter as secretary. On Aug. 13, 1881, the stockholders at a called meeting voted to purchase the necessary machinery to proceed to work, and the work is being pushed to an apparently successful conclusion. The largest quantities of gold have been found right in the town, or on farms close to the corporation limits. The company has leased several farms, and is actively engaged now in searching for the treasure.
The Dug Hill Mutual Fire Insurance Company has been in operation several years, insuring buildings and general farm property against loss by fire. Its president is P.H.L. Myers, and secretary, John Strevig. Its main and home office is in Manchester. Its former secretary was Francis Warner.
The Shower Foundry, a large manufactory, was established in 1851 by Jacob Shower, who used to employ some thirty hands in the manufacture of different kinds of machinery, of which the larger part was agricultural implements. It is now operated by his son, William H. Shower, and employs some fifteen persons in its various departments. This foundry cast a cannon which was successfully used on the Fourth of July, 1881.
The following are the district officers serving at this date (1881): Justices of the Peace, Henry Motter, J.P. Boltoser, Samuel Hoffacker; Constables, George P. Burns, Geo. Reagle.
Ebbvale is a village on the Bachman’s Valley Railroad, nine miles from Westminster, and near to Big Pipe Creek. C. Wentz is postmaster. Of the iron-ore mines located here C.L. Johnson is superintendent, Martin Hugenborn and F. Schenck, engineers, and F. Tragesser, mine boss.
Melrose is on the same railroad, and thirty miles from Baltimore. C.B. Wentz is postmaster. Dr. J.S. Ziegler, physician, C.R. Wentz & Sons, merchants, and Levi Hoff, hotel-keeper.
Springfield Grange, No. 158, is located near Bahn’s Mill, and has seventy members. Officers for 1881:
Master, Francis Warner; Sec., J.D. Sharer; Treas., Joseph Miller; Lecturer, John Hinkle;
Door-keeper, D. Resh; Steward, J.H. Hoffman; Pomona, Mrs. J.A. Bahn; Flora, Mrs. Francis Warner; Ceres, Mrs. E. Sharer; Lady Assistant Steward, Mrs. Lydia Sharer.
This is the best-conducted grange in the county, and is well officered.
The names of the following persons, residents of the district, aged seventy years and upwards in 1879, are given as a matter of local interest:
Josiah Dehoff, 78; Mrs. Nancy Dehoff, 88; George Yingling, 85; Mrs. Yingling, 82; Mrs. Catherine Ganter, 78; Mrs. Mary Frankforter, 76; Henry Steffy, 84; George Leese, 79; Mrs. Susannah Leese, 80; John Sellers, 84; Mrs. Sellers, 74; Mrs. Elizabeth Martin, 83; Mrs. Sarah Bixler, 83; Mrs. Mary Gettier, 89; Henry Glaze, 79; David Lippy, 73; Geo. Everheart, 79; Dr. Jacob Shower, 76; Mrs. Mary Shower, 74; George Shower, 74; Mrs. Rachel Shower, 76; Mrs. Barbara Warner, 78; Mrs. Elizabeth Shaffer, 85; Mrs. Lydia Black, 75; Mrs. Catherine Zepp, 75; Henry Lucabaugh, 85; Mrs. Mary Yingling, 85; Mrs. Anna M. Wolfgang, 77; Ephraim Tracy, 76 John Redding, 76; John Everheart, 76; George Trump, 71; George Warehime, 89; Stephen Reys, 78; Christian Kexel, 78; Adam Merkel, 83; Mrs. Martha Stansbury, 76; John Bentz, 72; Mrs. Maria Bentz, 75; Mrs. Mary Stansbury, 79; Sarah Butler (colored), 81; Nicholas Warner, 81; John H. Bordleman, 76; Benjamin Lippy, 71; Elizabeth Gettier, 73. Females, 22 aggregate ages, 1741; average, 79. Males, 23; aggregate ages, 1803; average, 78.
Mr. John Sellers, one of’ the soldiers of the war of 1812, and a member of Capt. Adam Shower’s company, died at his residence, in Manchester District, on Feb. 27, 1879, aged 84 years, 4 months, and 11 days.
Dr. Jacob Shower, a prominent citizen of this county, and well known in former years throughout the State as a Democratic leader, died at his residence in Manchester on Sunday, May 25, 1879, aged seventy-seven years. He was the son of Col. Adam Shower, who represented Baltimore County in the House of Delegates for many years during the early part of this century. Dr. Shower entered politics when quite young, and served in the House of Delegates from Baltimore County several years prior to the organization of Carroll County in 1837, and was in the Legislature when the bill for its formation was passed. He was upon the first ticket nominated in this county for the House of Delegates, and was elected. He was elected for a second, and declined a nomination for the third term. In 1841 he was appointed to the position of clerk of the court, made vacant by the death of Dr. Willis, and served about seven years. In 1851 he was elected a member of the Constitutional Convention, but declined the position. Since his term in Congress, from 1854 to 1856, he had not been in public life, but had ever evinced a great interest in State and national politics. He was a member of the first Andrew Jackson Club in this State, which was formed at the Washington Hotel, on Gay Street, Baltimore, in the year 1824, and which adopted the die for the figure-head, “Jackson and Liberty.” Dr. Shower was possessed of a strong mind. His genial disposition and general fund of information endeared him to all who knew him, and his society was much sought by the politicians of the State. As a politician he was a link between the past and the present. He saw the rise of the Democratic party, was a participator in all its contests, saw its overthrow, and again witnessed its triumph. He left a large circle of relatives and friends to mourn his death. His was one of the most familiar faces in all the State Democratic conventions from the time of his first connection with politics until his death. He was arrested by the United States provost-marshal in 1863 upon some trivial charges, and imprisoned for some months.
The following is a list of school trustees and teachers for this district for 1881 and 1882, with number of pupils:
1 and 2. Grammar School and Primary No. 1.—J.H. La Motte, D.H. Hoffacker, John M. Gettier.
3 and 4. Primary Nos. 2 and 3.—G.W. Everhart, Jacob Wink, H.K. Grove.
5. Miller’s.—George K. Frank, George P. Miller, John P. Frank.
6. Zimmerman’s.—Benjamin Bowser, J. David Shearer, John Hilker.
7. Kroh’s or Lippy’s.—Joseph Price, Francis Warner, C.R. Wentz.
8. Tracey’s.—Jonas Warner, Wm. Zepp, A.J.P. Rhoads.
9. Wentz’s.—Peter Gettier, Phaniel Wentz, G. Bixler.
10. Krideler’s.—Edward Krideler, Philip Yoatz, Samuel Shaeffer.
11. Bachman’s Mill.—D.S. Palmer, Jacob Shaeffer, Samuel Wine.
12. Royer’s.—Daniel Reese, Christian Royer, Jeremiah Mathias.
13. Union.—J.J. Abbott, H.B. Houck, Nathaniel Leister.
14. Old Fost (Nace’s).—Charles Grove, Jacob Boring, L. Kreitzer.
15. Bosley’s.—H.M. Menshey, D. Burns, D. Garrett.
16. Ebbvale.—Oliver Hoover, C. Wentz, Edward Garrett.
The teachers for the term ending April 15, 1881, were:
1, Nellie R. Lilley, 40 pupils; 2, J.P. Baltzer, 41 pupils; 3, Willie Cox, 45 pupils; 4, Lizzie Trump, 39 pupils; 5, E.S. Miller, 55 pupils; 6, Emma Lorrenger, 38 pupils; 7, V.B. Wentz, 58 pupils; 8, Noah Peterman, 42 pupils; 9, J.R. Strevig, 58 pupils; 10, J.F. Peterman, 47 pupils; 11, G.T. Palmer, 42 pupils; 12, Mary C. Bixler, 47 pupils; 13, J.A. Abbott, 65 pupils; 14, G.W.J. Everhart, 34 pupils; 15, Laura M. Burnee, 27 pupils; 16, T.R. Strevig, 33 pupils.
The following were the votes cast from 1851 to 1861, inclusive, for local officers:
1851.—Vote for Primary School Commissioner: George Crouse 229, Philip H.L. Myers 76, David Bachman 56, John C. Price 30.
1853.—For Justices: George Everhart 234, Jacob Kerlinger 386, John C. Price 324, Wm. Walter 358; Constables: John Shultz 455, Anthony Hines 358; Road Supervisor: Frederick Ritter 488.
1855. —For Justices: J. Kerlinger 445, W. Walter 445, Henry Motter 423, Geo. Bixler 104; Constables: J.A. Hines 435, Henry Krantz 425, Emanuel Trine 63, John Shultz 113; Road Supervisor: Frederick Ritter 437, Samuel Witter 102.
1857.—For Justices: John C. Price 479, Wm. Walter 474, Henry Motter 134, Henry Glaze 401; Constables: J.A. Hines 501, Henry Krantz 501; Road Supervisor, Michael Ritter 497.
1859.—For Justices: Henry Motter 476, John C. Price 480, Wm. Walter 490, Michael Sullivan 134; Constables: Henry Krantz 491, Eli Myers 474, John Shultz 151; Road Supervisor: Michael Ritter 491.
1861.—For Justices: Henry Motter 326, John C. Price 318, D.T. Shaeffer 311, Henry Glaze 299, Geo. Hartley 309, John Fultz 318; Constables: Henry Krantz 330, John Lockard 281, Henry Reagle 308, Henry Cramer 264; Road Supervisor: D.H. Hoffacker 329, Henry Fair 307.
Among the thrifty and industrious German emigrants to Pennsylvania in 1720 was Jacob Warner, a young man from the kingdom of Bavaria, who settled in York County of that State. His son, Melchior Warner, removed, about 1780, to that part of Baltimore County now forming a part of Manchester District, in Carroll County. His son, Jacob H. Warner, was the father of Francis Warner, who was born July 28, 1826, three miles east of Manchester. He lived on a farm until the twenty-first year of his age. He was liberally educated at the noted “ White Hall Academy,” near Harrisburg, Pa. He was elected magistrate by the voters of his district during the late civil war (1863), and was subsequently repeatedly appointed to this office, which he held with complete satisfaction to the public for eight successive years. He was twice elected surveyor of Carroll County, and in 1879 was chosen county commissioner, which position he now most acceptably fills, having for his colleagues Col John K. Longwell, of Westminster, and William C. Polk, of Freedom District. He was for nine consecutive years a director of the “Farmers’ Mutual Insurance Company of Dug Hill,” and its secretary and treasurer for five years. He resides on “Dug Hill,” an historical part of the district, situated on the Pennsylvania State line, and settled about the middle of the past century. He takes great interest in educational matters, having been engaged in teaching fourteen years, and is one of the trustees of School No. 7. He is superintendent of the Sunday-school of Lazarus Church, jointly erected and occupied by the Reform and Lutheran congregations. A practical farmer, and thoroughly conversant with agriculture in all its minutiæ, he has ever zealously labored for the material interests of the tillers of the soil. He is Master of Springfield Grange, No. 158, located near Bahn’s Mill,—the most flourishing organization of the kind in the county,—formed and chiefly built up under his management. He was married, Nov. 8, 1859, to Adaline C. Wolfgang, daughter of Jacob Wolfgang, by whom he has three children,—two daughters and a son. Besides having served two terms as county surveyor, he has for many years been engaged in private surveying, in which profession he stands deservedly high because of his proficiency and skill. He has filled all public positions intrusted to him with credit, and the board of county commissioners has rarely had a member who paid closer attention to the wants and interests of the public than Mr. Warner.
History of Western Maryland by Louis H. Everts, 1882, Chapter 39A, p. 830-.)
Transcribed by Carol E. Eddleman.