History of Northumberland Co., PA - Chapter 16



CHAPTER 16 - Pages 545-591
MILTON(1)
PIONEER HISTORY - THE TOWN PLAT - INHABITANTS FROM 1804 TO 1808 - TAXABLES
IN 1818 - BOROUGH GOVERNMENT - THE POSTOFFICE - FACILITIES OF TRAVEL AND
TRANSPORTATION - GENERAL BUSINESS INTEREST AND INDUSTRIES OF THE PAST AND
PRESENT - FLOODS AND FIRES - SECRET AND OTHER SOCIETIES - CHURCHES SUNDAY
SCHOOLS - MISCELLANEOUS MORAL AND HUMANITARIAN ORGANIZATIONS - EDUCATIONAL
INTERESTS - LOCAL PAPERS - CEMETERIES

   THAT part of Northumberland county above the Montour ridge is justly
considered one of the finest agricultural regions in the valley of the
West Branch. The scenery is agreeably varied, the drainage is excellent,
the soil is fertile and productive. At the month of Limestone run, a
stream of relatively greater geographical importance than its volume would
indicate, is situated the borough of Milton, the commercial, educational,
and religious center of this region. Founded in 1792, it has experienced
in the century that is nearly closed much of slow expansion and moderate
prosperity, of rapid business and industrial development, no less than
dire disaster and overwhelming misfortune, from which the recuperative
energies of its people have built the Milton of today. By the census of
1890 the population was five thousand three hundred seventeen.

PIONEER HISTORY

   Within a few years after the purchase of 1768, the valley of the
West Branch was marked by the presence of the adventurous pioneer, and
to this class belonged Marcus Hulings, Jr., who secured the "Big Island"
in the Susquehanna directly west of Milton in 1770 by purchase from the
Proprietaries. He built a log house on its eastern side north of the
river terminus of Center street, and north and west of this residence
planted an orchard of apple trees, one of the best in the county. In
that rich alluvial soil the orchard flourished; the trees became large
and spreading, and produced abundant harvests of white and yellow summer
and autumn fruit and large red winter apples. At the same time the
pioneer husbandman also cleared his land and planted crops of grain and
corn. Separated by many miles of unbroken forest or winding river from
the older established communities in the southeastern part of the State,
he next directed his attention to the construction of a canoe for the
transportation of his products. This was accomplished by hollowing out a
large pine log, and with this rude, specimen of river craft he could
take grain or peltries to the amount of about one ton down the river at
each trip. The first regular river boat made here was constructed by
John Clendenin, and after that Hulings also built boats, some of them
large enough to carry from eight to ten tons. About this time he
transferred his residence to the eastern bank of the river at the
western extremity of Broadway; there he erected a rude log cabin, in
which he was licensed to keep a house of public entertainment in 1772.
At some time during the Revolutionary period he went down the
Susquehanna by boat to Duncan's island, near the mouth of the Juniata.
Subsequently he removed to Pittsburgh and thence to Franklin, Venango
county, Pennsylvania, where he again found himself in the vanguard of
civilization and pursued the occupation of boatman the remainder of his
life. His descendants still reside in that county.
   The lands in the southern part of the town, afterward comprised in
the Farley and Cameron estates, were occupied in 1772 by Neal Davis as
tenant, and a year or two later George McCandlish established his
residence in the eastern part of the present borough limits. It was at
his house that the delegates to the Constitutional Convention of 1776
were elected for Northumberland county. When Andrew Straub first
visited this locality the improvements made by Hulings had been burned,
and there were no buildings of any kind in the immediate vicinity. There
was, however, a log house of good size in process of erection and about
ready for the roof, evidently intended as a farm house and probably
built by the Black family of Sunbury, by whom that part of the town
above Broadway was partly owned at that date. This house was
subsequently completed, and in later years was owned by Dr. David
Waldron. It stood at the corner of Broadway and Front street, and was
destroyed by fire on the 4th of May, 1876.
   The "Big Island," after Hulings's departure, was practically
unoccupied until the Indian troubles had subsided. Its next resident was
Isaac Hemrod, who combined the occupations of agriculturist and waterman;
in 1782, or shortly thereafter, Bethuel Vincent, having returned from
Canada, purchased the island from Hulings. When the convenience of the
public required it, a ferry was established, the landing on the eastern
bank being at the end of Broadway. This ferry was the principal feature of
the place and almost the only evidence of civilization. While the travel
was not large, there was sufficient to attract attention to the
eligibility of the location as a town site, and this governed its
selection for that purpose perhaps as much as any other consideration.
   A body of land aggregating nearly three thousand acres, embracing
the mouth of Limestone run and extending inland from the river a
considerable distance, was secured by Turbutt Francis, one of the first
justices of the county and otherwise prominent in its early history. He
divided this extensive tract into smaller subdivisions suitable for sale
or lease to actual prospective settlers; that part embracing the site of
Milton, which remained in his possession at the time of his death, was
purchased by Andrew Straub and Christian Yentzer at sheriff's sale on
the 1st of March, 1790, and confirmed to them by deed of June 10, 1790.
The recital of this deed states that in the common pleas court of
Philadelphia county at June term, 1783, "judgment was given for a
certain Isaac Hazlehurst against John Conolly and Sarah his wife, late
Sarah Francis, executrix, (who survived Samuel Mifflin, executor,) of
the testament and last will of Turbutt Francis, late of the county of
Northumberland, aforesaid, deceased, in the sum of eleven hundred
pounds. Of this sum two hundred fifteen pounds were derived from the
sale of property by the sheriff of Philadelphia; for the remainder a
writ of fieri facias was issued, September 6, 1788, directed to Martin
Withington, sheriff of Northumberland county, by virtue of which this
tract of two hundred acres was levied upon. On the 13th of November,
1789, it was appraised, and having been found insufficient to satisfy
the debt, was accordingly sold, and purchased by Straub and Yentzer for
five hundred fifty pounds. At that date it was in possession of Henry
Lebo, probably as tenant; the adjoining tract on the east was owned by
James Jenkins, and that on the south by Neal Davis. Yentzer was not,
evidently, well satisfied with the purchase, for on the 18th of March,
1791, he disposed of his moiety to Straub for one hundred one pounds,
thirteen shillings, and five pence, less than half its cost to him a
year previously.
   Andrew Straub, the founder of Milton, was born on his father's farm
just back of the town of Columbia, Lancaster county, Pennsylvania,
February 14, 1748. In his early manhood he learned the trade of
millwright. He first visited the West in April, 1784, returning to his
home in the spring of the following year, and on the 1st of May, 1787,
married Mary Eveline Walter. Th 1790 he took up his residence at Milton
and built a log house on the lot now owned by the Milton National Bank.
Two years later he built a house near the intersection of Center and
Filbert streets and moved his family thereto. In 1795 he completed a
residence on the eastern part of his farm, at or near the southeast comer
of Center street and Turbut avenue, and lived there until his death,
August 2, 1806. He was an enterprising and public spirited citizen, and
was active in promoting the growth of the town with which his name will
ever be associated. He made donations of ground for religious and
educational purposes, established mills, encouraged local business and
manufacturing enterprises, and lived to see Milton, a village of
considerable relative importance, then, as now, one of the most prosperous
towns in the valley of the West Branch.
   Matthew Smith, who resided on his farm a short distance above the
mouth of Limestone run at the time of his death, was the eldest son of
Robert Smith, of Paxtang, Dauphin county, Pennsylvania. He served in
Bouquet's expedition, the final campaign of the French and Indian war;
at the outbreak of the Revolution he organized a company of riflemen,
which was assigned to Colonel Thompson's battalion and joined the
Continental forces at Boston. On the 5th of September, 1775, his company
was detached to Arnold's command for the expedition to Canada. Captain
Smith survived the hardships of the march through the Maine woods, the
disastrous assault at Quebec on the 31st of December, and the brief
confinement as a prisoner of war which followed, and rejoined his
regiment with the survivors of his company, but resigned his commission
on the 5th of December, 1776, on account of the appointment of a junior
captain to a majority. He was thereupon promoted to major in the Ninth
Pennsylvania, to rank from September 27, 1776. In the spring of 1778 he
was elected member of the Supreme Executive Council for Lancaster county
and took his seat in that body on the 28th of May; he was elected vice-
president of the State, October 11, 1779, but resigned shortly
afterward. When intelligence of the fall of Fort Freeland reached
Paxtang he marched to Sunbury with a volunteer company at the earliest
possible moment, and commanded the five hundred militia who endeavored
to overtake the retreating invaders. On the 4th of February, 1780, he
was appointed prothonotary of Northumberland county, serving in that
position until September 25, 1783, and resided in the county the
remainder of his life. The following obituary appeared in Kennedy's
Gazette, July 80, 1794:-

   Died, the 22d instant, about sunset, at Milton, Colonel Matthew
Smith, aged fifty four years, being one of the first patriots for
liberty; went to Canada in the year l775, and suffered extremities. He
was once prothonotary of Northumberland county, was interred 23d
instant, attended by a number of his friends and acquaintances, together
with the volunteer company of light infantry from Milton; conducted by
Major Piatt and commanded by Captain James Boyd, who, after marching
about six miles to Warrior Run burying ground and shedding a tear over
the old patriot's grave, deposited his remains with three well directed
volleys and returned home in good order.
  
THE TOWN PLAT

   The original survey of the town plat was made in the month of March,
1792, and extended from Ferry lane to the north side of Broadway, with
its eastern limit nearly identical with the Philadelphia and Erie
railroad; Three years later (1795) James Black laid out his land from
Broadway to Locust; he gave to the continuation of Front street the name
of Water, and to the second street the name of Front, for which its
present designation, Arch, was substituted after the fire of 1880. No
important additions were made to the town plat until after the opening
of the railroads. In 1853 J. J. Reimensnyder laid out "Shakespeare," and
William McCleery's addition was made soon after. William F. Nagle's
addition was made in 1855, J. B. Davis's in 1856, Lawson & Schreyer's in
1864, Moses Chamberlin's in 1867, William Heinen's in 1872, and various
others since that date, as the increase in population and demand for
building sites required; Front street, extending along the river and
parallel with its course, is the main business and residence
thoroughfare of the borough. The streets parallel with it, though not
continuous, are Elm, Arch, Filbert, Bound avenue, Cemetery avenue, Rose,
and Garfield; the intersecting streets are Line, Ferry, Apple, Lower
Market, Mahoning, Center, Broadway, Walnut, Upper Market, Locust, First,
Second, Third, Fourth, Fifth, Hepburn, and Willow. While not
characterized by the degree of uniformity that would have been
desirable, the plan of the town is not noticeably irregular.
  
INHABITANTS FROM 1804 TO 1808(2)

   Bethuel Vincent, postmaster, had been taken to Canada as a prisoner of
war during the Revolution; returning after an absence of three years he
had considerable difficulty in finding his wife, and their first meeting
was very affecting.
   Ezekiel and James Sanderson were merchants; after the death of Ezekiel
his brother, William, succeeded to his interest in the business.
   Jared Irwin, merchant, sheriff, colonel in the war of 1812, and member
of Congress, was a man of prominence in the community.
   Robert McGuigan, tailor and justice of the peace, was an intelligent
and highly respected gentleman, fond of discussing the topics of the day.
   Arthur and Isaac McKisson were distillers; the former subsequently
became sheriff of Lycoming county.
   Arthur Patton, tobacconist, resided on Front street.
   Abram Trout, shoemaker, resided in the lower part of the town.
   William and Thomas Pollock were merchants; their grandparents emigrated
from Ireland before the Revolution, and their father was born in Lykens
valley, Dauphin county, Pennsylvania. Both entered the mercantile business
under Thomas Caldwell, the former in his store at Lewisburg, Union county,
Pennsylvania, the latter in his store at Newberry, Lycoming county. They
first engaged in business at Milton on a small scale, and were in
partnership many years.
   David Rittenhouse, justice of the peace, manufacturer of surveying
instruments, and repairer of watches and clocks, resided on Front
street.
   Jerome Egler, blacksmith, did an extensive business, employing
several assistants.
   John Fribley, farmer, enjoyed the reputation of being one of the
most successful in this part of the county.
   Christian Wood, shoemaker, resided on Front street; he was an
active and zealous Methodist, and, being a performer on the fife, headed
the military on training days.
   Josiah Galbraith, merchant, Front street, was from Lancaster
county. He was small of stature, and a gentleman of intelligence.
   Alexander McEwen, merchant, Front street, subsequently became the
founder of McEwensviile.
   J. Shunk, hatter, Front street, was a German; he made hats for both
ladies and gentlemen.
   Eliza Miller - "Dutch Lizzie" - kept a small stand for the sale of
cakes, beer, gingerbread, etc.
   Christian Holler, inn keeper and saddler, and an officer in a local
cavalry company, resided on Front street below the bridge.
   Moses Teas, distiller, was a man of social proclivities, dignified
in manner, interesting in conversation, and the owner of a good library.
His most intimate associates were George Eckert and George Calhoon; the
trio were bachelors.
   Samuel Teas, brother to Moses, was associated with him in business.
   James Purviance, who was employed by Daniel Smith as steward of his
farm, was an Irishman, a gentleman of old-fashioned manners, a neat pen-
man, and good bookkeeper.
   John Chestnut, saddler, owned a farm east of Milton.
   George Calhoon, merchant, Front street, was of Irish descent, and a
Presbyterian in faith. He acquired a valuable estate.
   The Marr family resided in the upper part of the town near the old
Episcopal church. One of the sons, Alem, obtained a liberal education
and became a lawyer.
   George Lawrence, a good politician, had the reputation of being the
best ball player in the region.
   Jacob Seydell and brother, pump makers, supplied this part of the
West Branch valley with articles of their manufacture. They were
originally from Bucks county.
   Low Huff, boatman, was a man of good size, powerful strength, and
obliging manners.
   Isaac Osburn, cooper, was hale and lusty in person, and a man of
industry; he made flour and whiskey barrels on an extensive scale.
   Peter Schwartz, stone mason, built the first stone houses and bridges
in this part of the county.
   Seth Iredell, merchant and miller, was an extensive dealer in grain
and flour, and president of the first bank at Milton. He and his wife
were Friends.
   Joseph Hammond, inn keeper in the upper part of the borough, was an
excellent judge of horses, and introduced improved breeds among the
farmers.
   Philip Housel, justice of the peace, was a watchmaker and resided
on Front street.
   Michael Gower, the only regular butcher of Milton, was a German of
large build.
   Frederick Burman, dyer, prepared woolen and cotton yarns for the
ladies, who, in their leisure hours, generally engaged in knitting
stockings.
   Mrs. Lamperly, druggist, had formerly been a celebrated nurse at
Philadelphia.
   Robert Patterson, dancing master, was one of the best violinists of
his day, popular in his profession, and intelligent in conversation. He
also had classes at Northumberland and other places. The first teacher
of dancing in Northumberland county was a Frenchman named Blondell.
   Philip Goodman, weaver and maker of weavers' reeds, was a native of
Berks county, and an industrious man.
   John Davidson, wheelwright, made spinning wheels, for which there
was a large demand.
   Guyan Arthur, stone mason, was an artisan of exceptional accuracy
and skill, building his walls without line or plummet, and executing his
work with precision by the eye. He was a native of Sweet, Ireland.
   Mr. Kirk, stocking weaver, resided on Front street.
   Christian Merkle, sawyer, had charge of Eckert's mill.
   Samuel Jordan, boatman, resided on Front street.
   James Miller, miller, had charge of the Milton flour mills; at a
later date be removed to Jersey Shore.
   Thomas Painter, son of John Painter of Chillisquaque township, was
a prominent politician.
   James Moodie, merchant, and dealer in grain and stock, was
succeeded in business by Charles and Thomas Comly.
   George, John, and Montgomery Sweney resided with their widowed
mother on Front street. George and Montgomery were printers.
   David Derickson, auctioneer, kept a hotel on Front street below the
bridge. Henry Alward, afterward first sheriff of Columbia county, was a
celebrated horse jockey and politician.
   James McCord, cabinet maker, was a native of Dauphin county and a
bachelor. There was a great demand for his work, owing to its superior
quality.
   William Piatt, clerk, was a candidate for sheriff while a resident
of Milton, and defeated by only a few votes. His son became sheriff of
Lycoming county.
   John B. Hogan, cabinet maker, succeeded to the business of McCord.
He was a son-in-law to Bethuel Vincent; during the war of 1812 he served
as captain and disbursing officer.
   Arthur McGowan, manufacturer of sickles, had a mill near the river.
   James Hutchinson, tailor, Front street, employed several "jours"
and apprentices.
   Joseph Rhoads, a German by birth and son-in-law to Andrew Straub,
resided in the lower end of the town. He derived the title of major from
his connection with the militia.
   John Armstrong, tanner and currier, was a native of Montgomery county,
Pennsylvania, married at Oley, Berks county, and died at Milton in 1814.

TAXABLES IN 1818

   The borough of Milton was incorporated in 18l7, and at the first
assessment thereafter the following named persons were returned as
subject to taxation: Guyan Arthur, James Armstrong, Joseph B. Anthony,
Daniel Beckley, Abraham Bowman, John Bost, Jane Brady, Valentine Best,
John Brady, Thomas Buskirk, Thomas Best, Valentine Bowman, Frederick
Bowman, Daniel R. Bright, Hannah Buoy, Mary Brick, Frederick Brick,
Barnhart Buser, John Burrows, Michael Berk, Elijah Babbitt, George
Berryman, McGowan Baylicor, David S. Brown, Thomas Comly, James Crouse,
George Corry, Elizabeth Crist, John Chestnut, David Campbell, Seth
Christie, Levi Climpson, George Cowell, John Cowden, Daniel Clark,
Thomas Campbell, James Dougal, James Dougal, John Davidson, David
Derickson, Jesse Derickson, Jonathan Egler, Daniel Eckert, George
Eckert, William Cox Ellis, Henry Eckbert, Charles Fisher, John
Fausnaught, Henry Frick, William Fleming, Andrew Forrest, Anthony Fox,
Joseph Gibson, Adam Gundekunst, Robert Gray, Michael Gower, Joseph
Gibson, Andrew Gillespie, Richard Goodman, John Herron, John Hames,
Lawrence Huff, Philip Housel, Samuel Hogan, Jr., William Housel, James
Hutchinson, John Hetherington, John Hougendobler, Mr. Hooenecker, Samuel
Hepburn, Joseph Hartman, Jacob Hass, Samuel Henry, William Heding,
Joseph Hunt, Hugh Harrison, John Hunter, John Heddings, John B. Hogan,
Charles Hegins, Andrew Huston, Joseph Hartman, Samuel Jordan, Amos
Jordan, William Jordan, Seth Iredell, John Jones, John Jones, Obadiah
Kelly, Peter Kelchner, Benjamin King, Joseph Kerr, Margaret Kirk,
William Kirk, Henry Kirk, Sr., Henry Kirk, Jr., Daniel Lutz, Peter
Lambert, Joseph Lawrence, George Lawrence, John Lawrence, Solomon
Ludwig, Ezekiel Lunger, Abraham Martz, Samuel Morrison, William Miller,
John McKisson, James McKisson, Christian Markle, John Markle, Arthur
McGowan, Mary Montgomery, Robert Moodie, Robert McGuigan, Thomas Morgan,
John Miller, James Moore, Hugh Morrow, George Nagle, John Moore, John Orr,
Isaac Osmond, Philip Poaps, George Poaps, William and Thomas Pollock,
George Park, Robert Patterson, Joseph Penny, William Pott, William Ross,
Joseph Rhodes, Peter Ruth, David Rittenhouse, John Rippel, Hannah Reese,
Jacob Rouscoup, James Ramsey, Daniel Scudder, James Sherer, William Story,
Joseph Straub, Samuel Schwartz, Philip Suyer, Abraham Suyer, Aaron Sutfin,
Andrew Straub, James P. Sanderson, William H. Sanderson, Eleanor
Sanderson, Jacob Seydell, John Schwartz, Adam Shunk, Jacob Siegfried, Mary
Straub, James Stewart, Peter Schwartz, Sr., George Schwartz, John Swisher,
Peter Schwartz, Jr., John Sweney, Abraham Straub, A. J. Schneider, George
Surlo, George Seitsinger, Isaac Straub, George Sweney, John Taggart, Moses
Teas, Abraham Trout, James Tharp, Arthur Thomas, John Teitsworth, William
Tweed, Bethuel Vincent, Daniel Vincent, Jr., John Vandegrift, Daniel
Welshaus, William Welshaus, William Wheeland, George Worst, Daniel
Waggoner, William Wilson, Jacob Wheeland, Michael Wheeland, Benjamin
Whiteman, John J. Wills, Thomas Whitson, Christopher Woods, George
Welshaus, Conrad Weishaus.
  
BOROUGH GOVERNMENT

   The borough of Milton was incorporated by act of the legislature,
February 26, 1817. The first election for borough officers was held in
the following month; John Chestnut was elected burgess; Bethuel Vincent,
assistant burgess; Henry Frick, high constable; Joseph Hartman,
constable; David Derickson and Daniel Beckley, supervisors; Amos Jordan,
Daniel Eckert, John Davison, Adam Gundekunst, Abraham Trout, David
Rittenhouse, and William Jordan, councilmen. The following is a partial
list of chief burgesses: 1855, P. H. Schreyer; 1856-57, A. F. Moodie;
1858, H. A. Moodie; 1859, David Waldron; 1860, Lewis G. Sticker; 1861-
63, Charles Foy; 1864, Samuel A. Leidy; 1865, Robert M. Frick; 1866,
Charles Hoy; 1867, Robert Datesman; 1868-69, William H. Bogle; 1870-71,
Thomas R. Hull; 1872, C. C. Straub; 1873, William H. Bogle; 1874, A.
Cadwallader; 1875, L. F. Wilson; 1876, Charles H. Dougal; 1877, John J.
Fausnaught; 1878-79, Spencer L. Finney; 1880, O. B. Nagle; 1881-83, H.
C. Sticker; 1884-85, William H. Hackenberg; 1886-88, A. Cadwallader;
1889-90, John L. Hulsizer; 1891, John Jenkins.
   Proceedings for the annexation of parts of Turbut and Chillisquaque
townships to the borough were instituted at May term, 1889, and reached
a favorable consummation, November 7, 1889, when a decree of court was
promulgated by which the limits of the borough were extended on every
side. Five wards were formed from its territory, May 12, 1890.
   The Fire Department had its inception in 1798. The Harmony Fire Company
was incorporated on the 12th of August, 1841. The Miltonian Steam Fire
Company and three hose companies constitute the present organized
protection against the destructive element that has figured so prominently
in the history of the town.

THE POSTOFFICE

   The Milton postoffice was established, January 1, 1800. The following
is a list of postmasters, with the respective dates of their appointments:
Samuel Hepburn, January 1, 1800; Jared Irwin, July 1, 1802; Bethuel
Vincent, June 29, 1803; John Davison, February 22, 1822; Bethuel Vincent,
July 13, 1822; William Jordan, June 23, 1829; Benjamin Morrison, May 11,
1831; Robert H. Hammond, March 6, 1832; Stephen Wilson, April 4, 1837;
Leonard Stoughten, February 22, 1841; William C. Wilson, November 21,
1844; Lyman H. Wilson, June 9, 1849; James H. McCormick, June 3, 1853;
George W. Strine, March 26, 1858; George Lawrence, March 19, 1861; Willis
H. Lawrence, January 7, 1864; John Peterman, March 6, 1866; Carlton B.
Davis, September 21, 1866; Daniel Burnman, May 4, 1867; Mrs. Mary Eckbert,
February 12, 1868; William P. Wheeland, April 21, 1869; Leander M. Morton,
December 8, 1873; William H. Bogle, June 23, 1879; J. A. Logan, June 21,
1882; Allen S. Hottenstein, July 26, 1886; Robert W. Correy, June 26,
1890, took office, August 27, 1890.

FACILITIES OF TRAVEL AND TRANSPORTATION

   The opening of a public road on the eastern side of the West Branch was
ordered at the first session of the court of quarter sessions after the
organization of Northumberland county. Some years elapsed before this
order was carried into effect, owing to the state of the frontier, and
during the intervening period a winding bridle-path, at no great distance
from the river and subject to such changes in its course as individual
preference might determine, was the avenue of overland communication
between the Limestone run settlements and the county seat. The public road
as ultimately opened coincided with Front street.
   River navigation contributed in an essential degree to the prosperity
of the town during the period preceding the construction of the canal.
Rafts, flat-boats, and other varieties of river craft were loaded at the
public wharves of the port of Milton with cargoes of grain, whiskey, etc.,
and consigned to Columbia, Baltimore, or other river points. After the
canal was opened this traffic was transferred to it; packet boats were
also established, and the people of that day regarded themselves as highly
favored with such facilities of rapid communication at their command.
   The Susquehanna river bridge was first built in l832-33, by a local
company incorporated by the legislature. The contractors were Abraham
and Isaac Straub, and the contract was executed for the sum of twenty-
four thousand dollars. In 1847 the middle section was carried away by a
flood, and rebuilt by Thomas Murdock. The entire structure was demolished
by the flood of March 17, 1865; it was again rebuilt, however, and again
carried away in June, 1889.
   The opening of the Philadelphia and Reading railroad to Milton
occurred in 1854. It established railroad communication with
Philadelphia, and was continued to Williamsport in 1871. In 1883 the
Reading Company constructed their line from West Milton to Shamokin,
thus giving Milton the advantage of a competing line in that direction.
   That part of the Philadelphia and Erie railroad between Milton and
Williamsport was opened in 1854; it was then extended to Northumberland
and Sunbury, giving to the town its present rail facilities by this
great artery of the Pennsylvania system.

    Important business interests were developed at Milton at an early
period in its history. Four merchants at this place advertised in the
Northumberland Gazette in 1794, viz.: John Teitsworth, Robert Taggart,
John Dickson, and Jared & Charles Irwin, while James Black, William
Fullerton, George Calhoon, and Samuel Hepburn were also engaged in
merchandising prior to 1800. Black's establishment occupied the site of
J. B. Smith & Company's store on the east side of Water street above
Broadway. During the fifteen years immediately following the opening of
the first store no less than thirteen merchants were engaged in business
at Milton. Arthur McGowan's establishment, a small frame building on the
river bank below the Front street bridge over Limestone run, was the
first in that part of the town, James Moodie had a store on the east
side of Front street above the bridge on the lot immediately below that
occupied by the Methodist church. It was here that Charles and Thomas
Comly conducted business many years as successors to Moodie. The store
of Burns & McCann and that of George Calhoon and Isaac Cowden were also
on Front street, the former in a small yellow frame house. The next was
that of Teitsworth & Taggart, previously mentioned. The Sanderson
brothers, Ezekiel, James, and William, occupied the present site of the
Milton National Bank as their place of business. William and Thomas
Pollock had a store on the west side of Front street above Broadway and
nearly opposite the establishment of James Black, while the store of
Jacob Seydell was situated still farther up Water street. There were
four other stores on Front street, owned respectively by Josiah Galbraith,
Alexander McEwen, Mrs. Edith Hepburn, and Mrs. Lamperly.
   In 1794 there were three taverns at Milton. That of Daniel P. Faulkner
was a log house on Broadway, subsequently owned by Dr. D. Waldron for some
years and destroyed by fire in May, 1876. John Chapman's was on the east
side of Front street, and that of Michael Gower on the northwest corner of
Lower Market and Front. Faulkner was succeeded by John Brady, Jr.; the
early successors of Chapman were David Derickson and George Nagle. In 1798
Hugh Montgomery built a frame house at the present site of the Methodist
church, and opened therein a hotel. He died in 1802, and was succeeded by
John Brady; Jr.; when the latter removed to Faulkner's he was followed at
this place by Daniel Eckert, from Reading, cousin to George Eckert, the
miller. In 1802 Joseph Hammond established a hotel in a frame house on
Front street in the upper part of Milton, where he was followed in the
same business by Jacob Seydell and others. Bethuel Vincent opened a tavern
in 1804 in connection with the postoffice, at the southwest corner of
Front and Broadway. In the upper part of the borough hotels were
established at an early date by Lemuel B. Stoughton, Henry Eckbert,
Anthony Wilhelm, and Samuel Morrison; and in the opposite direction the
hostelries of George Lawrence, Philip H. Schreyer, Daniel R. Bright,
Abraham Schreyer, etc., were among the public houses of the town,
   The stores and hotels of Milton at the present time are a most
conclusive evidence of the enterprise and prosperity of the town. Every
line of business is well represented, and many of the stores are among
the largest in their respective lines in this part of the State. The
hotels are also large and well patronized, and without instituting any
invidious comparison, it may truthfully be stated that there are many
towns of much larger population in which the facilities in this respect
are much inferior to those of Milton.
   The Northumberland, Union, and Columbia Bank, the first in the
county and one of the earliest in the northern central part of the
State, derived its corporate existence under an act of Assembly passed
March 21, 1814. Daniel Montgomery, John P. De Gruchy, James Sanderson,
John Boyd, Daniel Lebo, Jacob Dentler, John Dreisbach, Matthew Colvin,
John Cowden, and Bethuel Vincent were appointed commissioners for its
organization. Seth Iredell was president, and William Cox Ellis cashier;
the banking house was on Front street. This institution became defunct
in 1817 or 1818.
   The Milton National Bank was organized in 1858 as a savings
institution with a capital of twenty thousand dollars; the first board
of directors, composed of James Pollock, William Heinen, Samuel Shannon,
William C. Lawson, Thomas Swenk, William F. Nagle, and Moses Chamberlin,
was elected, June 28, 1858. In December of that year business was begun
at the corner of Broadway and Front. The bank building was burned in the
fire of May 14, 1880, all the effects of the institution being saved,
however, and three days later business was resumed at the house of B. F.
Wilson. The present banking house, a brick building on the east side of
Front street, was first occupied in 1881. Originally a savings bank, it
became a bank of issue under the State law several years after its
organization, and assumed its present name in 1863 with a capital of
seventy-five thousand dollars, since increased by one third of that
amount. The first president was James Pollock, elected in July, 1858;
he was succeeded by William C. Lawson, the present incumbent, July 2,
1860. R. M. Frick has been cashier since the bank was first established.
   The First National Bank of Milton.- The charter of this institution
was granted, February 13, 1864, and extended, February 24, 1883. The
first officers were J. Woods Brown, president; S. D. Jordan, cashier,
and J. Woods Brown, William McCleery, Samuel T. Brown, John Datesman,
James P. Armstrong, William H. Marr, William Savidge, Henry Frick, and
John Bower, directors. The directory was increased to eleven members,
January 6, 1805. Mr. Brown died, January 6, 1888, and H. A. Fonda was
elected president, January 18, 1888. Mr. Jordan died, April 17, 1875,
and J. M. Caldwell was elected cashier, April 19, 1875. Mr. Caldwell,
the first teller, was elected to that position, May 14, 1866; Thomas L.
Wilson was elected as his successor, April 19, 1875. Messrs. Fonda,
Caldwell, and Wilson are president, cashier, and teller, respectively,
at the present time. The original capital, eighty-five thousand nine
hundred dollars, was increased, January 28, 1876, to one hundred
thousand. The first place of business was in the old Lawson building on
Front street; the present banking house was erected in 1880.
   The Milton Trust and Safe Deposit Company was incorporated,
February 17, 1887, and organized with the election of the following
officers: president, John McCleery; vice-president, S. J. Shimer;
treasurer, Edmund Davis; secretary, M. H. Barr; directors: W. A.
Schreyer, R. F. Wilson, S. J. Shimer, John McCleery, D. M. Krauser, D.
Clinger, W. A. Heinen, S. W. Murray, A. P. Hull, E. H. Heaton, Cyrus
Hoffa, J. B. Godcharles, J. M Caldwell, T. S. Moorhead, and C. W. Tharp.
The authorized capital is two hundred fifty thousand dollars, ten per
cent. of which was paid in when the company began business, March 15,
1887; the present paid-up capital is one hundred twenty-five thousand
dollars. The banking house on Front street was erected in 1888.
   The Milton Gas Company was organized, August 1, 1860, with William
C. Lawson, president; William H. Frymire, secretary; William F. Nagle,
treasurer, and a directory composed of William C. Lawson, William F.
Nagle, Thomas Swenk, William H. Frymire, U. Q. Davis, Edward W. Chapin,
and Thomas S. Mackey. At present R. F. Wilson is president, C. F.
Follmer, secretary and treasurer, and the capital is thirty thousand
dollars.
   The Milton Water Company was incorporated in 1883 and organized
April 14th in that year, with R. F. Wilson, president; W. P. Kramer,
treasurer; H. R. Frick, secretary, and S. W. Murray, John McCleery, P.
J. Criste, W. P. Dougal, John Jenkins, and E. Bickel, directors. The
capital, originally thirty-five thousand dollars, has since been
increased to fifty thousand. The Susquehanna river is the source of
supply, and the reservoir, northeast of the borough at an elevated
location, has a capacity of three million barrels. Water was first
supplied for general consumption in January, 1884.


INDUSTRIES OF THE PAST AND PRESENT

   The earliest manufacturing establishment of Milton, as well as the
town itself, was founded by Andrew Straub. A millwright by trade, he had
doubtless considered the eligibility of Limestone run as a mill site in
selecting and purchasing his land, and in the summer of 1791 dug a head-
race with the idea of diverting the waters of that stream to his mill
and thence to the river. At that time the run approached the river in a
westerly course, but when within a hundred yards from the bank it turned
to the southwest and joined Housel's run some two miles distant. At the
point where it came nearest the river there was a strip of low ground,
which was cultivated but was frequently overflown; consequently, for the
purposes of drainage, a depression was made at its lowest part. On one
occasion when an open furrow had been left here, the run overflowed and
opened a new channel through this furrow, forever deflecting the stream
from its former course and presenting a mill site much superior to that
contemplated by Straub. He improved the opportunity by erecting a log
mill near the site of the present stone structure, and it at once
received a large patronage. In 1816 the stone mill was built by George
Eckert, by whom it was operated until his death. The next owner was
George Baker. The mill is no longer operated; its walls are still intact
and give evidence of substantial construction, and the old building is
one of the few landmarks of the past that survive the great fire of
1880.
   Milton Steam Tannery.- The next industrial establishment, and one
that has been continuously operated until the present time, was the
tannery of John Armstrong. This business was begun in 1795. From
Armstrong it passed to William Jordan, and then successively to Abraham
Straub, Samuel T. Brown. William H. Reber, and Thomas B. Gould, the
present proprietor. A large part of the square bounded by Elm, Center
and Mahoning streets is occupied by this establishment. It was burned in
1880, and rebuilt with improved appliances under the name of the Milton
Steam Tannery. The daily capacity is two hundred fifty sides of leather
daily, or seventy-five thousand per year; six thousand cords of bark are
consumed annually, and employment is given to fifty men.
   Arthur McGowan's Carding Mills and Sickle Factory, at the mouth of
Limestone run, were important and valuable adjuncts to the farming
interests of this part of the county during the period of their
operation. The building was considerably damaged by a flood in that
stream in 1817.
   Five Distinct Distilling Establishments were in operation at Milton
within a few years after the founding of the town. Moses and Samuel
Teas, either in partnership or individually, had two, one of which was
situated on Elm street at the south side of Limestone run, and the other
on the opposite side of that stream a little farther south. John
McKisson's distillery occupied the southwest corner of the grounds of
Shimer & Sons' machine shops, and drew its water supply from Eckert's mill
race. John Sweney's was situated at the present site of the Milton Steam
Tannery. These were all log or frame structures. John A. Schneider's, on
the north side of Limestone run near the alley that extends from Center to
Mahoning street, was a brick structure of some pretensions, and in its
arrangements and appliances was much more commodious than the others.
These five distilleries were the earliest established, and were in
operation many years. Two others were subsequently added, those of
Fleming W. Pollock and John Davidson. Pollock's was built of Red Hill
stone on the east side of the canal above Upper Market street, and was
subsequently incorporated in a building of the Milton Car Works.
Davidson's was on the east side of the canal at the extremity of Lower
Market street. There was also a brewery, a large brick building on
Mahoning street erected by William Nice and burned in the fire of 1880.
   Bickel & Bailey, founders and general machinists, Locust and Arch
streets, are the present successors to Joseph Rhoads, by whom the first
foundry in the valley of the West Branch was established in 1830. Nathan
Mitchell was associated with Rhoads at the first or within a few years
thereafter. It was subsequently operated by John and Jacob K. Trego, and
passed to the present firm in 1875.
   The Milton Roller Mills, Kemerer Brothers, proprietors, were
originally erected in 1832 by Fleming W. Pollock and were the first
steam flour mills in this section of the State. Elias Bickel succeeded
Mr. Pollock, and was followed by W. B. Kemerer. The present firm was
formed in 1882, when the roller process was introduced and the building
enlarged. It has a capacity of fifty barrels of flour per day, with
other grain products.
   Abraham and Isaac Straub's Mills on the island opposite Milton were
built in 1834. The proprietors were the inventors of a reaction water
wheel, the first in the United States, and their lumber and grain mills
at this point were quite extensive. Sufficient fall was obtained by
damming the outer channels of the river at the head of the island, but
the construction of the Lewisburg dam in 1840 interfered with this to
such an extent as to necessitate removal to a new location. The mouth of
Muddy run, a mile above Milton, was selected, and there the business was
continued for some years.
   John Patton's Foundry, established prior to 1840, passed to White,
Mervine & Lawson and ultimately to John S. Lawson; a variety of
agricultural implements was manufactured, also engines, lathes, and
mill-gearing, but the works were burned in 1880, and never rebuilt.
   The Steam Saw Mills established in 1842 by William McCleery were the
first in the valley of the West Branch. The original location was just
above Locust street. Some years later Moses Chamberlin, John Runkle, and
Charles Newhard became associated in the business, and a new mill was
built on the opposite side of the canal some distance farther north. It
was destroyed by fire and rebuilt, and ultimately absorbed by the Milton
Car Works.
   E. F. Calvin's Foundry and Machine Shop was first placed in
operation in 1843 by Joseph Sassaman, from whom it was purchased in 1885
by the present proprietor.
   D. Clinger's Planing Mills, Arch street above Locust, established
in 1855 by Balliet, Billmyer & Goodlander, were the first in this
section of the State and have been continuously operated since their
first inception, being almost the only industrial institution of the
town that survived the fire of 1880. The present proprietor has operated
the mill since 1866.
   R. F. Wilson & Company's Fly-net Factory, corner of Front street
and Ferry lane, was established in 1856 by Robert Wilson, who originated
the first machinery for the manufacture of leather fly-nets. His net was
also the first patented, and early attained a large sale. Thirty men are
employed.
   W. K. Wertman's Carriage Works were established in 1857 by the
present proprietor on Broadway at the location of the Catholic church,
then occupied by the Kirkpatrick academy building, which constituted the
first factory. Here the business was conducted until its destruction by
fire in 1880, when it was removed to Arch street. Employment is given to
twelve or fifteen men.
   The Milton Car Works.- The firm of Murray, Dougal & Company was
organized and the erection of the Milton Car Works was begun in 1864.
During the first years of its existence a number of changes were made in
the membership of the firm, which was finally composed of S. W. Murray,
William P. Dougal, C. C. McCormick, and John McCleery, who remained
associated and conducted the business until the retirement of John
McCleery in 1875. C. C. McCormick withdrew in 1878, and William P.
Dougal a few months later in the same year. The business was still
continued under the original firm name of Murray, Dougal & Company, and
a reorganization of the firm was made in 1880, when C. H. Dickerman and
B. C. Carter became associated with S. W. Murray as a limited
partnership under the law of 1874. Soon after this reorganization
William B. Kramer became a member of the firm and in 1881 B. M.
Longmore, and under this organization the firm has existed until the
present.
   The business of the firm has been principally the construction of
all kinds of freight cars including oil tank cars, which has been an
important branch, and of which they have built a very large number. The
firm was engaged also for several years in the construction of iron
bridges, but the bridge department of the works was destroyed in the
great fire of 1880 and was not rebuilt. They also for a time had a large
trade in the construction of oil tanks for storage purposes and also
steam boilers. The manufacture of freight cars has, however, been the
leading business of the firm, and there is no description of car used in
the freight traffic which has not been turned out of the Milton Car
Works.
   A large number of their cars have been exported to Cuba and the various
countries of South America.
   The capacity of the works is ten sixty thousand-pound hopper coal cars
per day, or three thousand cars per year, and employment is ordinarily
given to about four hundred hands, though at times the number has reached
nearly five hundred.
   Those portions of the works which were destroyed by the great fire
of 1880 have been replaced by substantial stone and brick building, and
every department is amply supplied with the most approved machinery and
appliances.
   Connected with the plant is a saw mill for the manufacture of the
oak lumber used in the business, and sixteen acres of pool for the
storage of logs, which are purchased along the Susquehanna river and its
tributaries and brought from Muncy dam by the canal.
   The works are located between the Philadelphia and Erie railroad and
the West Branch canal, with a branch from the Philadelphia and Reading
railroad running to the premises, which gives unusual transportation
facilities
   The Milton Iron Company was organized, March 7, 1872, and incorporated
in the same year, with W. A. Schreyer, president; P. C. Johnson, secretary
and treasurer; W. A. Schreyer, S. W. Murray, John McCleery, William P.
Dougal, and John P. Harris, directors, and John Jenkins, superintendent.
Messrs. Schreyer, Johnson, and Jenkins still retain their respective
positions. The original capital was sixty thousand dollars, since
increased to one hundred fifty thousand. The works were placed in
operation, November 29, 1872. The bar mill is one hundred twenty by eighty
feet in dimensions, with a wing of nearly equal area. The plant consists
of one fifteen-inch train and one eight-inch train, one gas heating
furnace, and one blast heating furnace. There are three double and five
single puddling furnaces, and the product of this department is five
thousand tons of merchant bar iron annually. The forge occupies a building
sixty-five by one hundred thirty feet; it is equipped with three heating
furnaces, one upright steam hammer, one helve steam hammer, two cut-off
and centering lathes, and boilers over the furnaces which supply steam for
the engines and hammer. This department is devoted exclusively to the
manufacture of car axles and shape-work, with a yearly capacity of ten
thousand axles. The company also operates the Williamsport Nail Works.
   The C. A. Godcharles Company, manufacturers of iron and steel cut
nails, spikes, muck bars, etc., was originally organized under the name
of C. A. Godcharles & Company in 1875; the constituent members of the
last named partnership were M. H. Taggart, S. A. Andrews, Charles D.
Godcharles, William H. Godcharles, R. A. Bostley, C. A. Bostley, R.
Johnson, and C. A Godcharles. As reorganized in 1888 under the present
name the firm is composed of C. A., C. D., J. W., and J. B. Godcharles;
the original company controlled also the Northumberland and Towanda nail
works, but since the reorganization the present company has restricted
its operations to the works at Milton. These consist of blacksmith,
machine, and cooper shops, and were placed in operation in the autumn of
1875. The plant comprises eighty-eight nail machines, nine double and
two single puddling furnaces, three heating furnaces, one twenty-inch
plate train and one three-high twenty-inch muck train, and employs from
three to four hundred operatives. The full capacity is fifty thousand
kegs per month, for which fifty tons, respectively, of muck iron and
nail plate are required in every period of twenty-four hours.
   S. J. Shimer & Sons.- In 1872 the senior member of this firm,
associated with George Shimer, George Applegate, and C. L. Johnston,
established a planing mill at the present location of their works in the
Third ward of Milton. Although the business of the firm was the
manufacture of lumber almost exclusively, a small machine shop was
operated in connection with it, and here a matcher-head was originated
by George and S. J. Shimer, for which they secured letters patent. The
establishment was burned in the fire of 1880 and rebuilt as a machine
shop, and as such it has since been operated, almost entirely in the
manufacture of matcher-heads and other specialties. The main building,
thirty-six by one hundred forty feet in dimensions, is thoroughly
equipped. with engine lathes, planers, shapers, millers, drills, etc.,
and in another building, thirty-six by seventy-five feet, are the lathes
and planers upon which the heavier product is manufactured. Seventy-five
operatives are employed. The matcher-head made here is used in all parts
of the United States, in Australia, England, Canada, and elsewhere, and
has probably attained a wider circulation than any other of Milton's
industrial products.
   The Milton Manufacturing Company, identical with S. J. Shimer &
Sons in ownership and management, was incorporated several years since
and buildings were erected between the Philadelphia and Erie and
Philadelphia and Reading railroads for the purpose of developing such
specialties in the iron trade as should be found advisable. The
original idea was never successfully carried out, however, and it was
not until the fall of 1888 that the works were placed in operation under
the present management. The plant consists of two frame buildings; the
smaller is forty-five by one hundred twenty-five feet, with engine room
attached, and in this building are four double puddling furnaces and one
train of muck iron rolls; the larger building, sixty by two hundred
seventy-five feet, contains one heating furnace and a ten-inch train of
rolls, with other appliances for a complete rolling mill plant, and
washer-cutting machines (originated and patented by Mr. Shimer in 1889)
which cut from four to six standard washers at each stroke. The daily
capacity is eight tons of plate iron and from ten to twelve thousand
pounds of finished washers. The number of operatives varies from
seventy-five to one hundred.
   Klapp & Luca's Carriage Works, Arch and Walnut streets, were
established in 1880 by the present proprietors, and receive a fair share
of the carriage trade of the borough and surrounding region.
   The Milton Steam Boiler Works, Shay & Berry, proprietors, occupy
the former location of Lawson's agricultural works, Upper Market and
Arch streets, and were established in 1881. Steam boilers and sheet-iron
work of every description are manufactured.
   Jacob Fetter's Planing Mill, Center street, occupies the former
site of a furniture factory, the only building in this part of the town
that survived the fire of 1880. When the work of rebuilding was begun it
was converted into a planing mill and so used until 1881, when it was
destroyed by fire. Two years later a local company erected a building
upon this ground for the manufacture of a patent sash weight, but before
its completion the enterprise was abandoned; Mr. Fetter purchased the
uncompleted building, transformed it into a planing mill, and has since
operated it as such.
   The Milton Knitting Company was organized and incorporated in 1883.
The first officers were W. A. Schreyer, president; H. G. Cohill,
secretary and treasurer; W. A. Schreyer, R. F. Wilson, S. J. Shimer, S.
L. Finney, A. Cadwallader, M. Lieberman, and Joseph Musser, directors.
Operations were begun in February, 1889; the product consists of hosiery
exclusively. The present president is S. J. Shimer; secretary and
treasurer, A. Cadwallader.
   Miscellaneous Industrial Establishments include cigar factories,
brick yards, etc., which, although relatively small individually,
perceptibly increase the capacity of the community to furnish
employment, and swell the aggregate of local production. The repair
shops of the Philadelphia and Reading Railroad Company employ several
hundred men.
    While immunity from calamity and disaster is the fortunate
attribute of a very small number of towns, it is questionable whether
there are many that have experienced a visitation of the destructive
element to such an extent as Milton in the year 1880. Preceding this
were several minor casualties, which may first receive attention.
   On Saturday, August 9, 1817, the waters of Limestone run, swollen
to an unprecedented height by heavy and protracted rains in the region
of its sources, swept away the three-arched stone bridge in Front
street; the inn of Mr. Hill, occupied by George Nagle; the dwelling and
store house of Arthur McGowan; Mr. Marble's saddler shop; the store
house of Daniel R. Bright, and the foundation of his tavern, occupied by
Henry Wolfinger; the store house of Moses Teas, and one corner of George
Eckert's stone mill. The force of the current was so great that two
large mill stones were swept away and never recovered, and a gravel bar
was formed at the mouth of the run, extending half-way across the river.
Such was the first public calamity experienced by the citizens of Milton.
   The river flood of 1847 carried away the middle section of the
Susquehanna bridge, and the great flood of March 17, 1865, demolished
that structure entirely, flooding the town and doing considerable damage
to stores, residences, and streets. On the 1st of June, 1889, a
repetition of these experiences occurred; the bridge was again carried
away, residences and stores were flooded and their contents seriously
damaged, and the water rose to a height never before attained within the
recollection of the oldest inhabitant.
   The great fire of Friday, May 14, 1880, was one of the most serious
disasters that ever involved an inland town of the size and population
of Milton. It originated in the framing shop of the Milton Car Works,
just above Locust street, east of the canal and opposite D. Clinger's
planing mill, and the alarm was given at fifteen minutes before twelve
o'clock by the blowing of the whistles. The day was bright and clear but
a high wind prevailed, and, although when first discovered the fire had
just begun, it was rapidly communicated by the combustible materials of
the shops to the dry house and other buildings on the south; burning
faggots were carried by the wind directly toward the business and
residence portion of the town, and only a few minutes elapsed before
several houses and the Lawson and Bickel & Bailey foundries were being
rapidly consumed. By this time the alarm had called out the citizens,
and heroic efforts were being made, to suspend the progress of the
conflagration. The utter futility of their work became apparent when it
was seen that the Reformed and Methodist churches were in flames, and
with the increasing volume and velocity of the wind it became evident to
the most sanguine that the work of the citizens was utterly inadequate;
telegrams were sent to neighboring places for assistance, and the
people, abandoning efforts at united resistance, turned to their houses
to save, if possible, their most valuable effects. Families left their
homes, carrying with them such things as could be hastily collected, or,
in many instances, glad to escape with life and limb unimpaired. At one
o'clock in the afternoon the entire district lying between Locust and
Broadway had been consumed, except the west side of Arch and either side
of Front above Walnut. The Academy of Music, Associate Reformed,
Methodist, Reformed, Presbyterian, and Catholic churches, with a number
of residences and stores and several factories, were in ashes.
   The desolating element had also included in the theater of its
activities that part of the town south of Broadway; and soon after the
Reformed church was found to be in flames, fire was discovered in the
postoffice building on the south side of Lincoln park, occupied by the
Western Union telegraph office, the Miltonian, etc. Thence the flames
spread to the opposite side of Front street, and down that street on both
sides as far as the bridge, where their progress in that direction was
stayed by the action of the wind and the efforts of the firemen. In an
easterly direction, from Front street to the railroad, and from Broadway
to Lower Market, scarcely a building remained except a planing and
flouring mill and a few small houses between the canal and railroad at the
Mahoning street bridge. Prominent among the buildings destroyed in this
part of the town were the Baptist, Lutheran, and Evangelical churches, the
Milton National Bank building, the principal stores and hotels of the
town, with a number of residences and industrial establishments. Of the
business of the place but two small groceries and one drug store
remained. In three hours one hundred twenty-five acres had been burned
over, involving a loss of property aggregating in value two million and
a quarter dollars, six hundred sixty-five buildings of all kinds were
consumed, and six hundred families were rendered homeless.
   Immediate measures were taken for the relief and comfort of the
destitute. A relief committee was formed, composed of Rev. S. H. Reid,
J. F. Bucher, George J. Piper, Robert Riddle, W. A. Schreyer, W. P.
Dougal, J. M. Hedenberg, Alem Dieffenderfer, R. F. Wilson, C. C. Straub,
C. H. Dougal, George W. Strine, Moses Chamberlin, C. W. Tharp, Daniel
Weidenhamer, J. F. Wolfinger, W. C. Lawson, A. Cadwallader, George
Barclay, S. L. Finney, W. H. Reber, Cyrus Brown, Jacob Seydell, Frank
Round, and O. B. Nagle, by whom an appeal was issued to the country at
large for assistance. This appeal met with a prompt response. Lewisburg
and Williamsport were the first to send provisions; the next was a car
from Harrisburg, and these, with wagon-loads from the adjoining farming
region, supplied the immediate necessities of the people. On Saturday a
consignment of tents was received from Harrisburg, and these afforded
protection and temporary shelter. Cash contributions to the amount of
eighty-seven thousand eight hundred nineteen dollars, nineteen cents
were received from various cities and towns throughout Pennsylvania and
adjoining States, and distributed among the sufferers by the fire under
awards made by Benjamin S. Bentley, James Gamble, and Samuel Linn,
matters in chancery appointed by the court of common pleas of
Northumberland county, August 12, 1880. The expenses of this commission
were deducted from the relief fund, and a small balance, less than a
hundred dollars, was placed to the credit of the borough for the benefit
of the poor. Assistance from outside sources was also received in the
rebuilding of churches, and the legislature made an appropriation to aid
the directors in erecting a school building. While the town was thus
almost completely demolished, its resources remained substantially
unimpaired, and under the energetic efforts of its citizens the work of
rebuilding was promptly begun and continued, with such results to the
general material, religious, and educational interests of the community
as need no amplification here.

SECRET AND OTHER SOCIETIES

   The following is a list of secret societies, with dates of institution
or organization: Milton Lodge, No. 256, F. & A.M., September 13, 1851;
Pilgrim's Encampment, No. 160, I.O.O.F., November 18, 1857, and May 17,
1880; Mutual Lodge, No. 84, I.O.O.F., June 1, 1880; Canton Mutual, No. 7,
I.O.O.F., August 17, 1886; Henry Wilson Post, No. 129, G.A.R., April 12,
1881; Hepburn Pollock Camp, No. 21, S. of V., July 6, 1883; Washington
Camp, No. 188, P.O.S. of A., March 19, 1886; Milton Castle, No. 265, K. G.
E., April 3, 1889; West Branch Council, No. 414, Jr. O.U.A.M., March 12,
1890.

CHURCHES

   The earliest religions services in the immediate vicinity of Milton of
which there is any well authenticated account were held by a minister of
the Reformed church on the west bank of the river. They were attended by
the families of Andrew Straub and others, who crossed the river in boats.
The clergyman was from Carlisle, Cumberland county, Pennsylvania.
   St. Joseph's Catholic Church had its origin immediately after the
close of the Revolutionary war, and is the oldest parish in the valley
of the West Branch. Although its early history is largely traditional,
it is well authenticated that a rude log building was erected for
religious purposes and some interments made on the farm of Martin
Kieffer by the Catholics of Turbut township as early as 1787, and before
the Indian troubles of the frontier had subsided. A missionary priest
would occasionally visit the settlement to celebrate Mass, instruct and
baptize the children, and preach the word of God to the little
congregation, thus keeping alive the spark of Catholic faith in the
hearts of these pioneer families. Among the pioneers of this faith at
Milton and in the adjoining country districts were the families of
Martin Kieffer and sons, John and Martin, Morris Lawrence, Jacob Spring,
and the Buoys, Cauls, McGees, O'Donnells, Riffles, Avels, Fillmans,
Gibsons, McBrides, McElarneys, Murphys, Schells, Shadmans, Divels,
Walters, Wolfingers, Yoegys, and others. The heads of these families
were principally natives of Ireland and Germany, who had left the land
of their forefathers to escape both religious and political persecution.
Many of them died here and were buried in St. Joseph's cemetery, two
miles east of Milton.
   Four acres of ground for parochial and burial purposes were finally
deeded to Rev. Francis Neale of Georgetown, D.C., by John and Margaret
Kieffer, May 13, 1805, adjoining the site of the primitive log church in
which the congregation first worshiped, and early in the present century
a more pretentious log structure replaced the old building. The timbers
were cut and prepared on Montour ridge by Jacob Spring, and hauled to
their destination by John, Dennis, Peter, and Daniel Caul, Dennis Buoy,
and other members of the congregation. The building was in the form of a
square, with the entrance on the northwest, the altar opposite, and a
gallery over the entrance. In due time it was dedicated, and placed under
the patronage of St. Joseph, by Rev. Francis Neale, who also consecrated
the cemetery on the same occasion. A brick parochial residence was
afterward erected by Rev. John Fitzpatrick, and many years later an
orchard was planted in the northern part of the grounds; of the church and
residence scarcely a vestige remains, but the orchard is still in a
flourishing condition.
   Jacob Spring was the most munificent benefactor of St Joseph's
church, and his memory should forever be held in grateful remembrance by
the Catholics of the West Branch valley. On the 13th of September, 1836,
he deeded to Rt. Rev. Francis Patrick Kenrick, bishop of Philadelphia, a
farm of two hundred twelve acres in Chillisquaque township, the annual
income derived therefrom to be devoted to the maintenance of the pastor
of St. Joseph's church. About one half of this farm is under cultivation,
and to the wise foresight of its generous donor St. Joseph's largely owes
its present prosperity. Mr. Spring also requested at his death sufficient
means to build a stone wall around the graveyard, which project was
afterward carried out.
   The priests who first officiated here were from Philadelphia, and
the Jesuit Mission of Conewago, Adams county, Pennsylvania. About the
year 1820 Harrisburg became a parish, and included this congregation in
its field of labors. Subsequently it was attached to Pottsville, and
about 1825 Rev. John Fitzpatrick was appointed the first resident pastor
of St. Joseph's church. The following is a list of the successive
pastors since Father Fitzpatrick: Reverends Father Curtin, Edward
Maginniss, Father McGlorian, John C. Flannigan, Father Fitzsimmons
(under whose pastorate the first church at Milton was erected in 1844),
Father O'Keefe, John Hannigan, Father Kinney, Basil Shorb, Michael
Sheridan, George Gostenschnigg (who died while pastor, May 2, 1860), M.
Muhlberger, Emil Stenzel, J. J. Koch, Emil Stenzel, M. A. O'Neill,
Thomas J. Fleming, Louis Grotemeyer, W. F. McElhenny, and H. G. Ganss,
the present incumbent, who became pastor, November 14, 1881.
   For more than half a century the congregation continued to hear
Mass and have the Gospel preached to them in the successive log churches
on the Kieffer farm. But when a new church finally became a necessity it
was decided to erect it at Milton, as a more convenient and desirable
location. Father Fitzsimmons was then pastor, and in 1844 a site was
purchased and a church erected thereon, at the brow of the hill on the
north side of Broadway, a short distance northeast of the old Milton
Academy. It was a plain brick structure two stories high, costing twelve
hundred dollars, and was the place of worship until its destruction by
fire, May 14, 1880. A temporary frame building was then erected and
occupied until the completion of the present church. On the 1st of March,
1882, Father Ganss bought the property previously known as the old academy
hill, lying south and east of the brick parochial residence built by his
predecessor, and upon the exact site of the academy he erected the present
handsome church at a total expense of about ten thousand dollars. The
corner-stone was laid by Bishop, Shanahan, September 3, 1882, and its
dedication took place, September 23, 1883, Bishop Shanahan officiating,
assisted by Reverends McBride, Koch, McGovern, O'Neill, and Ganss. Father
Ganss subsequently laid out the grounds in lawns and terraces, and the
property is now one of the handsomest in Milton. All this was accomplished
under the most trying difficulties, but with indomitable zeal and
perseverance Father Ganss carried the project to a successful completion.
The interior of the church is a perfect gem in design and finish, and the
whole building is in thorough harmony with the best and most approved
ideas of English Gothic architecture. It is conspicuously located on the
old academy hill, one of the most historic spots in Milton, and around
which cluster many of the tenderest ties and most sacred memories of
pioneer days.
   The Protestant Episcopal Church erected the first place of worship
at Milton. There were a number of English families in the vicinity of
the town at an early date, among them those of John Covert, William
Hull, Joseph Marr, McCurley, Samuel Stadden, and Matthias Webb, who,
with the families of Hepburn, Rittenhouse, Seydell, and others in the
village were early organized as a parish. In May, 1793, Matthias Webb
appeared at the diocesan convention in Philadelphia as their
representative with a petition requesting that Caleb Hopkins might be
appointed minister of "Christ church in Turbut township." But as Mr.
Hopkins had never studied the Greek and Latin languages, his
qualifications were not deemed sufficient, and a committee was appointed
to make further inquiry regarding his character and ability. At the
convention in the following year Bernard Hubley appeared as delegate
from Christ church in Derry township and Christ church in Turbut
township, and repeated the request for Mr. Hopkins's services as rector.
The committee having reported favorably, Mr. Hopkins was accordingly
ordained, He resided at that time or at a date several years later at
Bloomsburg, Columbia county; East street in that town was laid out by
him, and was known for some years under the local name of Hopkinsville.
He is represented as a man of tall and portly form, and although not a
classical scholar, his discourses were often eloquent. His field of
labor included that large part of Northumberland, Montour, and Columbia
counties embraced between the North and West Branches of the
Susquehanna, with preaching places at half a dozen points, and to his
work is justly due the honor of having established the churches of his
denomination in this section of the State.
   On the 18th of August, 1795, Joseph Marr donated to Matthias Webb,
Samuel Stadden, and John Covert, trustees of the Turbut or Milton
"Christ Church," a small field from his farm for the double purpose of a
church site and burial ground. A small log church edifice was erected
thereon, with gallery, and pulpit of the style then in vogue. This was
situated on Marr's lane, the boundary of the borough as erected in 1817,
and at the site of the present Lincoln Street school house. It was just
beyond the original northern limits of the borough, but may properly be
regarded as a Milton church, although Mr. Hopkins occasionally preached in
the afternoon under the trees on the bank of the river above Broadway to a
promiscuous congregation composed of his regular attendants at morning
service and other residents of the village. The Marr's lane church was
occupied until the year 1849, when a brick edifice was erected on the
north side of Upper Market street on a lot of ground donated for the
purpose by Roland McCurley of Union county. Rev. B. Wistar Morris was
pastor at the time, and the dedication occurred, July 17, 1849, Bishop
Potter officiating. This was the only church edifice that was not
destroyed in the great fire of 1880, and was appropriated to the use of
the Ladies' Relief Committee during the period of destitution that
followed that calamity.
   In the year 1820 Mr. Hopkins was succeeded by Rev. Elijah D. Plumb,
who remained until 1826, and from that date the succession of rectors
has been as follows James Depui, 1826-34; Isaac W. Smith, 1835-36;
Joshua Weaver, 1844; B. Wistar Morris, 1847-49; John G. Furey, 1850;
William White Montgomery, 1853; J. W. Gougler, 1855; John G. Furey,
1861-63; Lewis W. Gibson, 1863-64; B. Hill Browne, 1865; J. H. Hobart
Millet, Charles A. Vandyke, 1868; George F. Rosenmiller, 1872-73; B. R.
Phelps, 1874; George F. Rosenmiller, 1875-76; Charles L. Newbold, 1876;
M. Karcher, 1877; W. H. Johnson, 1881; M. W. Christman, 1890, present
incumbent. At various times throughout its history the parish has been
without established pastoral service and dependent on the diocesan
missionary or the clergy of neighboring parishes for preaching and the
administration of the sacraments.
   Methodist Episcopal.- The itinerant system of this denomination is
well adapted to the extension and sustentation of its organizations, in
sparsely settled districts, and hence at an early period in the history
of the church in this section its enterprising clergy had penetrated the
valley of the West Branch and established small but permanent societies.
One of these was at Milton, but the exact date of its organization and
its constituent membership can not be ascertained, although it is known
that the family names of Bennett, Buoy, Chamberlin, Clark, Covert,
Cowden, Crouse, Evans, Forest, Gillespie, Goodlander, Harris, Henry,
Hetherington, Hougendobler, Huff, Jones, Kepler, Longan, Markle, Mears,
Mervine, Murdock, Moody, Patterson, Randolph, Reeder, Strine, Tharp,
Sweney, Trego, Wheeland, White, Wilson, Woods, etc., were conspicuous in
the early records, although few of them are represented at the present
day.
   The first services were held at private houses, and the introduction of
Methodism therefore antedates the year 1796, when the first school house
of the town was erected. From that time until 1807 this school building
was occupied; in the latter year upon ground donated by Andrew Straub a
one-story log church was built on the north side of Lower Market street,
and the first ministers who preached here were Reverends Nicholas Willis
and Joel Smith. This was the place of worship during the ensuing thirty
years, and in a burial ground at the rear many of the older members were
interred, The location of the building was somewhat elevated, and as the
eastern wall was only partially constructed, there was an open space
beneath the floor, in which it is related that a flock of sheep
sometimes retired on sultry summer Sundays, confounding the eloquence of
the pulpit in a manner scarcely less exasperating than amusing. The
story is also told of a clergyman from Virginia, who remarked the number
of dogs in the audience and the absence of children, admonishing his
hearers that the canine element might well be dispensed with entirely
and much more attention bestowed upon the juvenile portion of humanity.
These incidents may serve to illustrate the humorous features of the
somewhat uneventful current of religious life in an inland village half
a century ago.
   But the growth of the congregation at length exceeded the capacity
of this old church, and in 1837 it was sold to B. Bowers, by whom the
materials were removed and converted into a dwelling house on the north
side of Lower Market street, which was burned in 1880. A one-story brick
church was built on the ground now occupied by Center street where it
crosses Filbert on the east side of the canal; there was a basement
beneath, in which the Sunday school was conducted, and here the
congregation worshiped twenty-one years. In 1859 the lot was sold to the
borough authorities, and in the same year the third church edifice of
this congregation was built on Arch street above Broadway on the lot
subsequently occupied by the residence of John J. Fausnaught. In the
construction of the second edifice Thomas Evans had been chairman of the
building committee and the moving spirit; in the erection of the third
this position devolved upon Moses Chamberlin. The latter building was
substantially constructed of brick, two stories in height, without tower
or dome, and was the place of worship until destroyed by the fire of May
14, 1880, a period of twenty-one years. As it was thought that a more
central location was desirable a site was secured on the east side of
Front street below Center, and in the summer of 1880 the erection of the
present church edifice was begun thereon. It is a stone structure in the
Gothic style of architecture, ample in extent, and conveniently adapted
to the various purposes of a large congregation. The chapel was
dedicated, November 27, 1881, Bishop Andrews, Reverends Swallow and
Yocum, officiating. William K. Wertman, S. W. Murray, and Moses
Chamberlin were largely instrumental in the success of this enterprise.
   The Northumberland circuit, embracing the entire West Branch valley
with other extensive territory, was formed on the 6th of May, 1791, at a
meeting of the Methodist Episcopal conference at Baltimore, Maryland.
Milton circuit was formed in 1841, and this church became a station in
1858. Under these different arrangements the following clergymen have
preached in this part of the county and at Milton at the respective
dates: 1791, Richard Parrott, Lewis Browning; 1792, James Campbell,
William Colbert; 1798, James Campbell, James Paynter; 1794, Robert
Mauley, John Broadhead; 1795, James Ward, Stephen Tinmous; 1796, James
Seward, Richard Sneath; 1797, John Lackey, Daniel Higby; 1798, John
Lackey, John Leach; 1799, James Moore, Benjamin Ridlack, Daniel Stevens;
1800, Ephraim Chambers, Edward Larkins, Asa Smith; 1801, Johnson Dunham,
Gilbert Carpenter; 1802, Anning Owen, James Aikens; 1803, Daniel Ryan,
James Ridgeway; 1804, Thomas Adams, Gideon Draper; 1805, Christopher
Fry, James Saunders; 1806, Robert Burch, John Swartzwelder; 1807,
Nicholas Willis, Joel Smith; 1808, Thomas Curren, John Rhodes; 1809,
Timothy Lee, Loving Grant; 1810, Abraham Dawson, Isaac Puffer; 1811, B.
G. Paddock, J. H. Baker, R. Lanning; 1812, George Thomas, Ebenezer
Doolittle; 1818, Joseph Kinkead, Israel Chamberlin; 1814, John Hazzard,
Abraham Dawson; 1815. Renaldo M. Everetts, Israel Cook; 1816, John
Thomas, A1pheus Davis; 1817, Benjamin Ridlack, Peter Baker; 1818, Gideon
Lanning, Abraham Dawson; 1819, John Rhodes, Darius Williams; 1820, John
Rhodes, Israel Cook; 1821, Marmaduke Pearce, John Thomas; 1822, John
Thomas, Mordecai Barry; 1823, Jacob R. Shepherd, Mordecai Barry; 1824,
R. Cadden, F. McCartney, R. Bond; 1825, Robert Cadden, Richard Bond;
1826, John Thomas, George Hildt; 1827, John Thomas, David Shaver; 1828,
Charles Kallfuss, William James; 1829, James W. Dunahay, Josiah Forest;
1830, James W. Dunahay, Alfred B. Eskridge; 1831, David Shaver; 1832,
Marmaduke Pearce, Isaiah Forest; 1833, Isaiah Forest, J. Reed, Jr.;
1834, Henry Tarring, Oliver Ege; 1835, Henry Tarring, J. Guyer, R.
Beers, T. Myers; 1836, Charles Kallfuss, J. T. Chaney; 1837, Charles
Kallfuss, John Hall; 1838-39, James Sanks, Ira T. Stratton; 1840, Thomas
Taneyhill, William Hirst; 1841, Thomas Taneyhill, James W. Miles - John
Bowen, William Hirst; 1842, John Bowen, Thomas M. Reese; 1843, George
Guyer, George A. Coffey; 1844, George Guyer, Alfred Wiles; 1845, Alem
Brittain, E. T. Busey; 1846, Alem Brittain, J. W. Tongue; 1847, H. G.
Dill, J. J. Pearce; 1848, H. G. Dill, B. B. Hamline; 1849, M. G.
Hamilton, David Castleman; 1850, M. G. Hamilton, John Moorhead; 1851-52,
P. B. Reese; 1853-54, J. S. McMurray; 1855, Franklin Dyson; (Milton
circuit: 1853, John Stine, S. Barnes; 1854, Thomas Taneyhill, C. C.
Maybee; 1855, Thomas Taneyhill, Franklin Dyson); 1856-57, S. Barnes;
1858-59, P. Rescorl; 1860-61, John W. Langley; 1862-63, Reuben Wilson;
1864-65, George W. Cooper; 1866-67, S. W. Sears; 1868-69, E. W. Kirby;
1870-72, William A. Houck; 1873-74, S. C. Swallow; 1876-77, A. D. Yocum;
1878-80, A. M. Barnitz; 1881, William C. Robbins; 1882-84, Samuel
Creighton; 1885-87, John B. Polsgrove; 1888, Richard Hinkle, present
pastor.
   Presbyterian Church. There was a considerable Presbyterian element
among the early population of Milton and vicinity, connected with the
organizations of Warrior Run and Chillisquaque, of which the Rev. John
Bryson became the first regular pastor in 1789. After the erection of a
school house at Milton he began to preach there occasionally, but it was
not until the year 1806, ten years after these services were begun, that
arrangements were made for their regular continuance. In this movement
James P. Sanderson appears to have been the active spirit; he formulated
a subscription paper for the support of preaching "every other Sabbath
for one year from this date" (April 17, 1806), and in this manner the
sum of sixty-two dollars, fifty cents was pledged by the following
persons: John Armstrong, John Brady, Calhoon & Cowden, John Chestnut,
David Derickson, John Gillespie, Elizabeth Gallagher, Robert Gray, Edith
Hepburn, John Hetherington, James Humes, James Hutchinson, Polly Housel,
Jane Irwin, Samuel Jordan, Henry Kirk, James McCord, Arthur McGowan,
James Miller, Isaac Osmond, William and Thomas Pollock, John Quin,
Ezekiel and James P. Sanderson, James Seringer, Daniel Smith, Robert
Taggart, Moses Teas, and Bethuel Vincent. It is probable that this list
includes all the Presbyterians of the town, and also others without the
pale of that church. In the following year the subscription paper was
again circulated, and the following new names appear: Guyan Arthur, John
Davison, John L. Finney, Philip Goodman, James Moodie, George Searles,
and Samuel H. Wallis. Mr. Bryson continued to preach at Milton under
this arrangement, probably until 1812, and was connected with religious
and educational work in this and adjoining counties until his death,
August 3, 1855. In 1810 Rev. Thomas Hood succeeded him, and in 1811,
with the approbation of Northumberland Presbytery, he organized a church
at Milton, of which James P. Sanderson, Lazarus Finney, and Arthur
McGowan, the first elders, were installed, December 3, 1811.
   The school houses on Lower Market street and Broadway and the
Episcopal church in Marr's lane were the places of worship until 1817,
when the Presbyterians united with the Lutheran and Reformed
congregations in the erection of Harmony church. This was abandoned in
1832, and from that time until 1838 the Baptist and Associate Reformed
churches were occupied. On the 29th of August, 1836, a congregational
meeting was held to devise measures for the erection of a church
building, and a committee was appointed to solicit subscriptions, but
the movement subsided without definite results. It was renewed at a
congregational meeting on the 8th of August, 1837, and pushed to a
successful consummation; July 29,1838, a one-story brick edifice on
Front street above Broadway was dedicated, and in this building the
congregation worshiped until 1856, when it was superseded by a two-story
brick edifice on the same site, dedicated August 16, 1857. This was
burned in the fire of May 14, 1880. Services were then held under a tent
on Upper Market street, in the Episcopal church, the building of J. R.
Smith & Company, and the armory on Upper Market street, successively,
until the 25th of June, 1882, when the first service was held in the
lecture room of the present church edifice, and on the 21st of January,
1883, the audience room was occupied for the first time. This is a stone
structure; the main entrance is on Walnut street, and the spire rises to
the height of over one hundred fifty feet. The entire cost was forty-two
thousand dollars, and the dedication occurred, November 20, 1887,
Reverends R. F. Sample, D. D., and R. M. Patterson, D. D., officiating.
   Rev. Thomas Hood was installed as pastor of this church, October 7,
1812, and dismissed, April 21, 1835; James Williamson, installed,
November 27, 1838, was dismissed, October 8, 1845; David Longmore, D.
D., installed, November 17, 1846, was dismissed, April 16, 1854; James
C. Watson, D. D., installed, December 14, 1854, died, August 31, 1880;
S. Henry Bell, installed, February 22, 1882, was dismissed, April 17,
1889; W. P. Breed, present pastor, was installed, February 10, 1890.
   The following is a list of elders, with dates of ordination or
installation, and of death or removal from other cause: James P.
Sanderson, December 3, 1811, died, September 2, 1852; Lazarus Finney,
December 3, 1811, died, 1833; Arthur McGowan, December 3, 1811, died,
December 24, 1838; Robert Gray, August 14, 1819, ceased to act, 1843;
William Nesbit, August 14, 1819, died, 1863; Joseph Marr, May 17, 1827,
died, August, 1881; William L. Housel, May 17, 1827; Thomas Candor, May
17, 1827; John Vandyke, May 17, 1827, ceased to act, November 27, 1838;
Thomas Pollock, July 25, 1839; Joseph Bound, July 25, 1839, died, May
12, 1873; John Sample, November 23, 1839, ceased to act, May 20, 1849;
John Murray, November 16, 1849, died, July 8, 1866; Robert Candor,
November 16, 1849, died, January 10, 1881; Robert Hayes, November 16,
1849, ceased to act, May 2, 1863; John Finney, April 29, 1859, died,
July 3, 1877; William C. Lawson, April 29, 1859; David Krauser, April
29, 1859, died, August 11, 1875; William Stedden, April 29, 1859, died,
November 7, 1889; Samuel McMahan, January 14, 1871, ceased to act,
September 29, 1876; Samuel Oaks, January 14, 1871, died, January 3,
1887; Spencer L. Finney, January 14, 1871; Isaac D. Kase, March 29,
1885, died, February 12, l888; Robert M. Longmore March 29, 1885.
William C. Lawson, Spencer L. Finney, and Robert M. Longmore constitute
the present session
   St. John's Reformed Church. It has been stated that the first
religious services in the immediate vicinity of Milton of which there is
any record were held by a Reformed minister. This denomination was
early represented among the German element, and although there is no
record of the organization it was doubtless among the first religious
bodies that secured regular pastoral services. The school house on Lower
Market street was the first place of worship. In 1807, uniting with the
Lutherans, a small one-story log house on the south side of Mahoning
street was purchased for school and church purposes, and here the Rev.
Justus Henry Fries and other early Reformed preachers conducted worship
and administered the Sacraments agreeably to the usages of their church.
   In 1817, neither the Presbyterian, Reformed, or Lutheran congregations
being strong enough numerically or financially to undertake the erection
of a church edifice individually, they united in the construction of a
union church building near the foot of the hill at the eastern end of
Mahoning street. In this movement Daniel R. Bright was the leading spirit;
associated with him as building trustees were Adam Follmer and Adam
Gundekunst, and under their supervision the carpenter work was done by
Conrad Henry, and the stone and brick work by James Shearer and John
Snyder. The corner-stone was laid, October 5, 1817, by the Reverends Hood,
Repass, and Fries, in the presence of Lutheran, Reformed, and Presbyterian
people. The work did not progress very rapidly, however, and it was not
until the 23d and 24th of May, (Sunday and Monday), 1819, that Harmony
church was dedicated. At that time the Reformed congregation was fully
organized with Christian Markle as elder and Joseph Rhoads as deacon, and
Mr. Fries became its regularly installed pastor.
   As thus completed, Harmony church was a large two-story brick edifice,
fronting toward the west, and surmounted by a cupola and bell. Spacious
galleries extended around three sides of the church; the pulpit was at the
east side, made of beautiful carved work, and elevated considerably. There
were four entrances, two on the west and one each on the north and south.
The completion of so expensive a work of architecture as this was
considered at that day left the joint owners a debt of several thousand
dollars, for the liquidation of which resort was had to a lottery. The
tickets were sold at three dollars; but from various causes the necessary
amount was not realized. This was in 1822, and in the month of June of
that year, while the lottery scheme was being energetically pushed, a
singular natural phenomenon occurred. On the afternoon of a clear day a
small cloud was observed to rise in the west; it crossed above the town,
and without any of the other accompaniments of a storm a single flash of
lightning struck the steeple of Harmony church, tearing a crooked furrow
in the plastering of the southeast side from the ceiling to the floor.
This was regarded by many as an indication of divine displeasure at the
discord then prevailing among the three churches, and disapproval of the
methods resorted to in raising money. At all events, the lottery was
abandoned; the Lutheran and Reformed churches paid the debt in 1827, and
instituted civil proceedings to compel the Presbyterians to contribute
their share, obtaining judgment in the sum of one thousand two hundred
sixty-two dollars. On the 27th of January, 1831, the interest of the
Presbyterians was sold at sheriff's sale and purchased by Adam Follmer for
eight hundred dollars. The Reformed and Lutheran congregations thus
secured exclusive possession, and for nearly a score of years were the
joint occupants of the church, during which period the name was somewhat
more appropriate than during its previous history. In 1850 the Lutherans
withdrew, and from that date the Reformed congregation owned and occupied
the church individually until 1866.
   At a congregational meeting in January, 1866, the desire for the
erection of a new church edifice was formally expressed by the
appointment of a building committee composed of Levi Truckenmiller,
William H. Frymire, J. M. Follmer, Charles Newhard, Aaron Reber, John
Houtz, and Jacob Houtz. The consistory at that time consisted of William
H. Frymire, Charles Newhard, Jacob M. Follmer, and Levi Balliet, elders;
deacons: John J. Fansnaught, William D. Snyder, Simon Gheris, and Aaron
Reber. The corner-stone was laid, May 17, 1866, and the dedication
occurred on the 18th of November following. The materials of the old
church were largely utilized, and the new building, two stories high and
constructed of brick, occupied the same site as the present place of
worship on the west side of Arch street above Broadway. It was destroyed
in the fire of May 14, 1880. July 24, 1881, the corner-stone of a new
church was laid; Charles Newhard, Israel Scott, Levi Balliet, John
Houtz, Peter Rangier, and Rev. S. B. Schafer, the pastor, constituted
the building committee. This edifice was completed in due time, but
owing to defective construction it was removed in 1887. The corner-stone
of the present church was laid on the 4th of September, 1887, and the
basement was used for the first time on the first Sunday in May, 1888.
This is a handsome brick structure with a seating capacity of eight
hundred, and cost seventeen thousand dollars. The Rev. Justus Henry
Fries continued to serve this church as pastor until 1823. He was
followed by Samuel Gutelius, 1824-27; Henry Wagner, 1827-35; Daniel
Gring, 1835-46; Ephraim Kieffer, English colleague to Mr. Gring, 1840-
44, followed by Henry Harbaugh, 1844-46, when he succeeded to the
pastorate entirely and remained until 1849; Edwin M. Long, 1840-52;
Albert G. Dole, 1853-65; Samuel H. Reid, 1866-73; F. F. Bahner, 1873-77;
S. B. Schafer, 1878-82; F. C. Yost, 1883-89; D. W. Ebbert, 1890, present
pastor.
   Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church. Among the first Lutherans at
Milton were the families of Angstadt, Bastian, Beckley, Beidleman,
Bright, Burrman, Kreitzer, Dressier, Egner, Eckbert, Fidler, Follmer,
Freed, Gehrig, Goodman, Haller, Hartman, Hill, Kohr, Leib, Markle,
Morrison, Noriconk, Overpeck, Peeler, Peterman, Robins, Schreyer, Stine,
Strine, Swenk, Trout, Wilhelm, Wolfinger, etc. The first clergy of this
denomination who held services at Milton were traveling preachers who
visited this part of the State at irregular and infrequent intervals,
and their first place of worship was the school house erected on Lower
Market street in 1796. After the Broadway school house was built it
became the meeting place. In 1807, uniting with the Reformed congregation,
a small one-story log house on the south side of Mahoning street was
purchased for school and church purposes; but the school was not a
success, although occasional worship was conducted here by the Reverends
Eyer, Stock, and Engle. In 1817 the Lutherans were represented by Adam
Follmer in the building committee of Harmony church, and at its
dedication, May 23, 1819, they were regularly organized as a church with
Philip H. Shreyer as elder, John Hill as deacon, and Rev. Philip Repass as
pastor. When the interest of the Presbyterians in Harmony church was sold
it was purchased by Adam Follmer, a member of this church, for the
Lutheran and Reformed congregations, who worshiped there until 1850, when
the former disposed of their interest and erected a two-story brick
edifice on the south side of Mahoning street near the central part of the
town. It was dedicated, May 4, 1851. In 1868 this was sold to the
Evangelical church. On Sunday, August 25, 1867, the corner-stone of a new
church had been laid at the southeast corner of Mahoning and Second
streets, and on the 1st of November, 1868, the lecture room of this
edifice was dedicated. It was a brick building, erected at a cost of
thirty thousand dollars, and was justly regarded as one of the most
commodious churches in central Pennsylvania.
   The fire of May 14, 1880, having destroyed this building, the
pastor, Rev. W. H. Gotwald, called a meeting of the council three days
later, at which it was resolved to undertake at once the work of
rebuilding. Assistance from the church at large was generously given in
the sum of five thousand five hundred thirty-three dollars, twenty-two
cents; the Lower Market Street and Center Street school buildings were
occupied until May 13, 1881, when the first service was held in the
lecture room of the new church. The architect was C. G. Wetzel, the
contractor, Charles Krug, and the cost, ten thousand dollars. The
lecture room was dedicated, May 15, 1881; the first service was held in
the audience room, March 19, 1882, and on the 26th of that month it also
was dedicated.
   The first regular pastor was Rev. Philip Repass, who resided in
Union county and preached at Milton only at long intervals. His
successor, Rev. F. Waage, was the first resident pastor at Milton; his
field of labor included also Williamsport, Turbutville, Follmer's,
Muncy, Chillisquaque, Strawberry Ridge, and Hall's. He had charge three
years, 1826-29, and from that date the pastoral succession has been as
follows: William Garman, l829-30; C. P. Miller, 1831-33; J. G. Anspach,
June 19, 1836, to June, 1837; C. F. Stoever, September 2, 1837, to 1842;
Eli Swartz, 1842-44; Frederick Ruthrauf, April 1, 1845, to November,
1850; J. J Reimensnyder, April 17, 1851, to April 1, 1854; C. C. Culler,
June 30,1854, until death, August 19, 1860; T. T. Titus, March, 1861, to
April, 1863; S. P. Spreecher, May, 1863, to April, 1865; George Parsons,
July 1, 1865, to October 1, 1868; U. Graves, October 2, 1868, to September
24, 1870; A. Buhrman, April, 1871, to 1873; W. H. Gotwald, May 1, 1878, to
1887; J. M. Reimensnyder, present pastor, assumed charge in 1887.
   Christ Evangelical Lutheran Church was organized, July 5, 1888, at
the Milton opera house, with about one hundred members, of whom the
following were elected as officers: Peter Oliphant, Edward Hoy, elders;
William Wetzel, Charles Gast, John Noriconk, Thomas Brooks, deacons.
Rev. J. A. Flickinger, then of West Sandlake, New York, preached his
first sermon to this congregation, July 8, 1888; he accepted a call to
become its pastor in September, removed to Milton November 27th, and
assumed the pastoral functions December 1st of the same year. The
congregation worshiped at the opera house during the erection of the
present church edifice on Center street east of Elm, of which the
corner-stone was laid, February 27, 1889, and the dedication occurred on
the 6th of October following. It is a brick building, with Sunday school
rooms in the rear; the audience room has galleries at the front and
aides, and a seating capacity of eight hundred.
   The Associate Reformed Church was organized in 1818 by Rev. George
Junkin, and included among its membership the families of Pollock,
Arthur, Davison, Dieffenderfer, Dougal, Fleming, Hepburn, Hutchinson,
Kelchner, Landis, Mackey, Marr, Rittenhouse, Rhoads, Seibert, Teas,
Tweed, Vanlew, etc., most of whom had previously been connected with the
Presbyterian church and separated from it because of a preference for
Rouse's version of the Psalms and various other considerations. The
school houses of the town and the Episcopal church were the first places
of worship. In 1820 a frame church edifice was built in Church lane, now
called Filbert street, and the first meeting therein was held, January
19, 1821. This received the name of Shiloh church. In 1854 it was sold
to the Philadelphia and Erie Railroad Company, and a brick edifice was
erected on Walnut street at a cost of nine thousand dollars.
   Rev. George Junkin, the first pastor, and the first resident
clergyman at Milton, resigned in 1830, and was succeeded by the
following ministers: William Wilson, 1831-36; John McKinley, 1837-39; J.
A. Crawford, 1840-45; Matthew Smith, 1847-48; W. H. T. Wylie, 1854-65.
From the latter date there was no regular pastor. The church edifice
erected in 1854 was burned in 1880 and the site was sold to the
Presbyterians. And thus this church, for many years a prominent factor
in the religious life of the town, ceased to exist.
   The Milton Baptist Church originated in the labors of the Rev.
Eugene Kincaid, a missionary of that church who visited this place in
1826 while on a preaching tour through the West Branch region. There was
then but one member of his church here, Miss Susanna Thomas, but Mr.
Kincaid at once entered upon the work of preaching, and on the 25th of
August, 1826, organized a society with nine members, viz., Eugene Kincaid
and Almy his wife, William Thomas and Catherine his wife, Susanna Thomas,
Nathan and Martha Delany, Sarah Watts, and Harriet Geddis. The first
service of baptism by immersion in the Susquehanna at this point occurred
on Sunday, September 10, 1826, immediately after the morning sermon, when
the missionary pastor baptized his recent converts in the presence of a
large concourse of people assembled on the river banks. The first
deacons of this church, James Moore, Sr., and William Thomas, were
ordained in August, 1832.
   The first church building, a plain one-story brick building of
medium size, with steeple and bell, was built in 1829 on the west side
of Church lane (Filbert street), upon ground donated for the purpose by
James Moore, and served as a place of worship until 1868. In that year a
two-story brick edifice was erected at the southeast corner of Elm and
Center streets. It was burned in 1880, and was succeeded by the present
church building, a brick structure with tower in front, one of the most
substantial and attractive places of worship in the borough.
   The following is a list of pastors since the organization of the
church: Eugenio Kincaid, 1826-30; George Higgins, 1830-34; Thomas B.
Brown, 1835-37; David C. Wait, 1838-39; Collins Hewitt, 1840-45; Joel E.
Bradley, 1846-52; Howard Malcolm, D. D., president of Bucknell
University, 1853-56; Thomas F. Curtis, D. D., professor in Bucknell
University, 1856-63; James Parker, T. E. Clapp, and William B. Thomas,
1864-68; A. C. Wheat, 1868-70; Joseph Green Miles, 1871-78; E. C. Houck,
A. H. Emmons, and W. C. McNaul, present pastor.
   Zion African Methodist Episcopal Church, as an organized body, dates
from the year 1849, when the old Broadway school house was purchased and
removed to its present location on the hill east of the railroad; there it
has since been the place of worship for this congregation. Traveling
clergymen had occasionally visited Milton prior to the date given, but the
society did not enjoy the advantages of regular pastoral care until the
arrival of the Rev. Philip Lum, who has been succeeded by the following
ministers: Reverends Jacob Trusty, Shadrach Golding, Samuel Gray, J. P.
Laws, John Scott, John Carter, Basle Macall, Joseph Sinclair, John Carter;
John Cox, John Anderson, Isaac Coleman, Charles Wallis, Mr. Spence, H. H.
Baskiston, James Barnes, James Henry, John Price, Bluford Powell, Taylor
Brown, Mitchell, Tillman, Dangerfield, Ephraim Frisbee, and John H.
Williams, present pastor.
   The Evangelical Association established a mission at Milton in 1866
under the Rev. Samuel Davis, who labored here for two years with marked
success in the old Lutheran church on Mahoning street. A society was
regularly organized in the spring of 1869 under Rev. J. M. Pines. In
1870 a lot of ground on Lower Market street was purchased for a church
site, and a log house thereon fitted up for temporary occupation as a
place of worship. This was removed in 1872, and the erection of a frame
church building, forty by seventy-four feet in dimensions, was begun; it
was dedicated, January 31, 1875, by Bishop Rudolph Dubs, and at that time
the society numbered eighty-four members. This church was burned, May 14,
1880; the erection of the present edifice was at once began, and it was
dedicated, December 18, 1881. The following is a list of pastors:
Reverends Samuel Davis, J. M. Pines, A. H. Irvin, Henry B. Hertzler, Adam
W. Schenberger, S. P. Remer, Henry A. Stoke, J. A. Irvin, C. W.
Finkbinder, A. H. Irvin and G. W. Curran, the present pastor.
   Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church was organized in
1878 by Rev. William Williamson, and worshiped until the fire of 1880 in
a warehouse on Broadway at the canal. Then for two years their services
were held at the house of Edward Carter, and after several years' effort
the present frame church edifice was erected on Willow street. The
trustees in 1881 were Edward Carter, James Bond, Cyrus Woodson, and
George Hector. Reverends Williamson, Henderson, Palmer, Riley, Skinner,
Steward, Woodson, and Thomas have successively served as pastors, Mr.
Thomas being the present incumbent.
  
SUNDAY SCHOOLS

   The first Sunday school in Milton was commenced in the spring of
1815 in the Broadway Street school house, subsequently the African
Methodist church. The names of the teachers and officers were as
follows: superintendent, Benjamin Vincent; teachers: B. Vincent, Thomas
Chestnut, Joseph B. Anthony, James Armstrong, Thomas Armstrong, Fleming
W. Pollock, James P. Sanderson, Henry P. Sanderson, Sally Vincent,
Eleanor Sanderson, Katy Chestnut, Ann Chestnut, Hannah Reese, Polly
Armstrong, and Nancy Reese. Each scholar furnished his own books, which
included the Bible, hymn book, and catechism. Regular attendance was
encouraged by the distribution each Sunday of blue pasteboard cards,
upon each of which a verse of Scripture was printed, and a certain
number of these entitled the holder, by a species of arithmetical
progression, to a Testament or Bible.
   The second Sunday school was organized in the spring of 1816 at the
frame dwelling house of David Derickson on Front street. It was
conducted entirely by ladies, and the executive authority was vested in
two directresses, elected monthly. The teachers were Mary Vincent,
Eleanor Sanderson, Hannah Reese, Mrs. David Rittenhouse, Mrs. Samuel
Hepburn, Mrs. Jeannie Brady, Mrs. Mary Jones, Mrs. Joseph Campbell, and
Martha Johnson. Misses Vincent and Sanderson were the first two
directresses. The Derickson room having been found too small, more
commodious quarters were found at the house of David Rittenhouse, then
in course of erection. The school was composed principally of very young
children, and with the approach of winter its sessions were suspended,
never to be again resumed.
   Sunday school work was not again undertaken until 1825, when a third
organization came into existence at the suggestion of Rev. Thomas Hood,
pastor of the Presbyterian church. This school met at the Lower Market
Street school house, and Arthur McGowan was its first superintendent.
Among the first teachers were Joseph Marr, Phineas B. Marr, Daniel
Gaston, Samuel F. Headley, David Hull, Hannah Reese, Mary McGowan,
Martha Jones, and others. In 1826 Mr. McGowan was succeeded by William
Housel; at that date John M. Patton was secretary of the school, and its
teachers were Daniel Gaston, Samuel F. Headley, David Hull, John F.
Wolfinger, Hannah Reese, Mary McGowan, Martha Jones, Hannah Maria
Hepburn, Maria Buchanan, and Elizabeth Moore. Subsequently the school
met at Harmony church, then again at the school house; in 1833 it was
moved into John Chestnut's frame building on Front street; then to the
Lancasterian school house on Elm street, and in 1838 to the Presbyterian
church. At the latter date it became a Presbyterian school, with Joseph
Bound as superintendent, and has since continued its career of prosperous
usefulness.
   The fourth Sunday school of the town, organized exclusively for
very young children, was commenced in the spring of 1826 in the east
room of a frame house that stood at the corner of Elm and Mahoning
streets. The first superintendent was Samuel F. Headley, and his
immediate successor was David Hull. The place of meeting was
subsequently changed to John Chestnut's saddler shop on Front street,
but the school disbanded when Mr. Hull retired from the superintendency.
   In the spring or summer of 1820 the Associate Reformed Sunday
school was organized in the Rev. George Junkin's church with Matthew
Laird and Daniel Gaston as superintendents. The first teachers were
Daniel Gaston, Joseph Marr, Phineas B. Marr, Samuel F. Headley, David
Hull, Samuel Pollock, James Pollock, James Ireland, William Ireland,
Ellen Sanderson, Sarah McCleery, Jane McCleery, Jane Hutchinson, Ellen
(or Eleanor) Hutchinson, Hannah Rittenhouse, and Mary Rittenhouse. May
26, 1833, it gave place to another school organized in the same church
with Dr. Samuel Pollock as superintendent. From 1833 to 1839 it had an
average attendance of seventy scholars, and was continued with varying
success until April 1, 1865, when it disbanded entirely.
   The Baptist Sunday school was organized in March, 1833, with William
Thomas and James Moore, Sr., as superintendents. Among the first teachers
were Robert M. Seydell, James Ward, and Mrs. Harriet Markle. It is still
continued with a large measure of usefulness, and has been a sectarian
organization throughout its history.
   The Methodist Sunday school was organized in 1837 with Robert Moodie
and John Nevins as its first superintendents. Among the teachers at an
early period in its history were Thomas Evans, Moses Chamberlin, Thomas
Mervine, James White, John Clark, Katy Hougendobler, and Rachel Correy.
This school has always been distinctively denominational in its character,
and has shared in the prosperity of the flourishing organization with
which it is connected.
  
   In the spring of 1838 the Lutheran and Reformed congregations
established Harmony Sunday school under the superintendency of Daniel
Vanlew. July 20, 1840, it was reorganized under the name of the "New
Harmony Sunday School," with Daniel Vanlew, superintendent; Abraham T.
Goodman, librarian; Daniel Sterner, secretary; Daniel S. Goodman,
treasurer, and L. L. Beidleman, John Datesman, Frederick Goodman, and
Thomas Strine, managers. On the 16th of October in the same year the
name was changed to "Union Sunday School," and under this name it was
continued until August 9, 1847, when it became a distinctively Lutheran
school and has so continued. In the year ending July 26,1847, it
numbered one hundred thirty scholars and twenty-two teachers, and had a
library of three hundred fifty volumes. The Bible class was organized,
July 18, 1854, and the infant department, November, 5, 1854.
   The Reformed Sunday school was organized, June 1, 1851, under
William H. Frymire as its first superintendent, and is still continued
with a fair degree of prosperity.
   The first African Sunday school was started in 1850 under the
management of John Chambers and Mrs. Sarah Carter. A second was begun in
1878.
   The Evangelical Sunday school was organized in 1868, with Rev.
Samuel Davis as first superintendent, and, although one of the most
recently formed in the town, has proven a useful adjunct to that church.
   A Lutheran mission school was established in 1873 with Isaiah
Ditzler as superintendent. This is still continued as the Sunday school
of Christ Lutheran church.

MISCELLANEOUS MORAL AND HUMANITARIAN ORGANIZATIONS

   The Susquehanna Bible Society was formed in 1815, embracing the
counties of Northumberland, Columbia, Lycoming, and Union, and its first
meeting was held at Milton, October 20,1816. It sustained an existence
of fluctuating vitality for twenty-three years, and doubtless subserved
a useful purpose.
   The Milton Bible Society, auxiliary to the Susquehanna Bible
Society, was originally organized in 1816. It became extinct in 1829,
but was reorganized, August 20, 1839, with Rev. James Williamson,
president; Reverends John McKinley, Charles F. Stoever, and John Miller,
and Samuel Hepburn, vice-presidents; John F. Wolfinger, secretary, and
James Pollock, treasurer. Its expressed object was "to distribute the
sacred Scriptures without note or comment, and to aid the Susquehanna
Bible Society with its surplus funds." It was superseded after six years
of active existence by the Female Bible Society of Milton, organized
August 23, 1845, which became a valuable adjunct to the churches of the
town in disseminating religious truth.
   The Northumberland Missionary Society was formed in October, 1818;
it was coextensive with the Susquehanna Bible Society in territorial
extent, and was designed to provide preaching for destitute or
indifferent localities as well as to extend the circulation of the
Bible. The first officers were Rev. John Bryson, president; Rev. Thomas
Hood, secretary, and James P. Sanderson, treasurer, in addition to whom
there were three vice-presidents and nine laymen as managers. The
Auxiliary Missionary Society of Milton was organized, October 8, 1824,
for the purpose of promoting the interests of the parent body.
   The Milton Sunday School Union was organized in 1826, and included
all the Sunday schools in Northumberland, Columbia, Union, and Lycoming
counties. Meetings were held annually for several years, and tabulated
statements transmitted to the American Sunday School Union at
Philadelphia. These embraced a summary of the condition of each school,
numerical and financial, its officers, literature, etc. It does not
appear that this association enjoyed a very long period of active
existence.
   The Susquehanna Tract Society was formed at Milton in 1828. The
first tract depositarian and the active spirit in the movement was Rev
George Junkin; he was successively followed by Eliza McGuigan and John
F. Wolfinger, and the latter, under direction of the Philadelphia Tract
Society, wound up its affairs. There was a Milton society auxiliary to
this and formed about the same time.
   The Milton Temperance Society was organized in 1830, mainly through
the efforts of Rev. George Junkin, its first president. Two years later
Rev. John Rhodes was president and John F. Wolfinger, secretary. While
this society denounced the use of ardent spirits as a beverage, it
permitted the use of wine, beer, ale, and cider, and it was not until
March 20, 1835, that a total abstinence organization, the Milton
Reformed Temperance Society, was formed, its first president being
Joseph Bound and first secretary John F. Wolfinger. They sustained the
same official connection with the other society, and by the united
efforts of the two organizations temperance meetings were held and
addressed by the best local talent as well as by speakers from a
distance. They also cooperated with similar societies at other points in
a series of "Northern Temperance Conventions," which were held at
various points in the West Branch valley and formed an important part of
the temperance propaganda in this section of the State at that period.
   The Milton Association for the Better Observance of the Christian
Sabbath was formed in 1844 with Joseph Rhoads as president and John F.
Wolfinger as secretary. It was designed to secure the enforcement of
Civil enactments regarding Sabbath observance and to promote the growth
of public sentiment favorable to such observance, in both of which
objects it met the expectations of its friends.
   The Young Men's Christian Association of Milton had its inception
in 1872. An organization under that name was formed at the Presbyterian
church on the 9th of April, 1858, but through lack of competent
leadership it disbanded after a brief career. The present association
was originally organized, March 8, 1872, as the "Young Men's Prayer
Meeting of Milton" with seventeen members, of whom John A. Bright was
elected president and John M. Caldwell secretary. This was effected at
the study of the Lutheran pastor. In the following year the name was
changed to "The Young People's Prayer Meeting of Milton," and on the
16th of April, 1876, it became "The Christian Association of Milton,"
with a membership including both sexes and all ages. The present name
was adopted, June 30, 1878, when the officers were as follows:
president, Spencer L. Finney; vice-presidents: William P. Wheeland and
William B. Snyder; secretary, John F. Wolfinger; treasurer, George T.
Gawby, and librarian, John M. Caldwell. Hitherto it had been purely a
local organization, but became associated with the district and State
movements on the 1st of March, 1887. In April, 1889, A. Murrman,
assistant secretary at Harrisburg, was sent to Milton by the State
committee and effected an organization upon the present basis with a
board of managers composed of John M. Caldwell, president; B. B. Cannon,
vice-president; R. M. Longmore, treasurer; John M. Correy, recording
secretary, H. R. Frick, S. W. Murray, D. Clinger, A. A. Koser, J. M.
Hedenburg, J. D. Hartzel, John Y. Buoy, U. G. Beck, S. J. Shimer, W. H.
Beck, and A. L. Swartz. For some years the meetings were held at the
different churches, and it was not until 1887 that rooms were secured
specially for the use of the association. The present quarters on Front
street were first occupied in September, 1889, when Mr. Murrman assumed
charge as general secretary, and from that date the usefulness of the
association in its social fe