Photos & Stories from Danville, Pennsylvania
[A Post Card Tour]
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When Captain Kidds Treasure WASN'T Found in Danville - the 1884 Hoax
Events
Famous Visits
The Canal
Trolley & Trains
Bridges
Floods
Art & Artists
Parks & Various Social Events
Fire
Goodwill Hose 4, Center Street Danville Pa
Stores & Businesses
Historic Buildings & Landmarks
When Thomas Beaver Built A Library For Danville
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Danville's City Hotel
Montour Hotel, Danville Pa
Union Hall Hotel
Union Hall Hotel, near the court-house, was built by Philip Goodman, in 1818. He had previously kept the "old Pennsylvania House." The house was kept by Mr. Goodman for several years; but it seems that its building, together with a line of stages to Pottsville, swamped him, financially, and he moved to Owego, New York, whre he died some years ago. Several persons kept the house from that time until 1836, when it was purchased by William Henrie. He made several improvements and also changed its name to "Union Hall Hotel," which was suggested by his son Arthur, a brave young soldier, who died soon after the war. Mr. Henrie successfully conducted Union Hall Hotel for thirty-five years. It enjoyed great popularity under his administration. Some years ago it was nearly destroyed by fire, after which it was re-constructed and enlarged. It was afterwards kept by Alem M. Sechler, and others. - Bowers History Of Danville
The Danville Morning News reported on the Wooden Awnings being removed down Mill Street, April 2 1914
The Hospitals
August 1967
Steam Boat
Industries
Maps
Sanborn Fire Maps
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The History of Danville, Montour County, Pennsylvania
[Source: A COLLECTION OF HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES, BY D. H. B. BROWER, Founder of the MONTOUR AMERICAN and the DANVILLE RECORD. HARRISBURG, PA.: LANE S. HART, PRINTER AND BINDER. l88l
DANVILLE is situated on the right bank of the North Branch of the Susquehanna river, and about eleven miles above its confluence with the West Branch at the town of Northumberland. It is surrounded by the most charming and picturesque scenery, and is nestled in a narrow valley, between Blue Hill and Montour Ridge. Tall hills, in their wild grandeur, and clad in their, native robes of emerald, rise on every side, and down the pleasant vale, beyond the river, the beautiful white cottages of South Danville and Riverside dot the landscape. In the north-west, and close at hand, Bald-Top rears its barren crown above the stately furnaces at its base, whilst dense volumes of smoke and clouds of steam roll slowly up its rugged steep. A view from the summit is one of the grandest imaginable, if you delight in wild and varied scenery-pine-clad hills and broad majestic rivers. The whole town from that point, from Sidler's Hill to Sageburg, and from Swampoodle to Frogtown, like a vast panorama, is spread out before you. Drowsy Mnemoloton looms up beyond the river, whilst almost beneath your feet railroad trains, like huge serpents with fiery breath, traverse the scene. The asylum, the opera house, the great iron works, almost a score of churches, and two thousand dwellings, are all before you. From below, Bald-Top seems like a frowning fortress on the line of Montour ridge, and, although its slopes are covered with spruce and pine, its crest is bald and bare, where scarce a shrub has grown within the memory of man. Half a mile below is the "dark ravine" and the precipice known as "lover's leap." It is true that almost every locality boasts a " lover's leap," but the title to this is derived from a veritable Indian legend well known among the Delawares, and often rehearsed among the early settlers of Danville. It is said that the daughter of an Indian chief, related to the renowned Tamenund, whose wigwam stood in the village, on the banks of the " Crooked river," at the confluence of Mahoning, was given to a young brave of the warlike but waning Leni Lenape; but the dusky maiden had chosen a lover of her own whom she loved with all the deep and deathless devotion of her passionate race. A short time previous to the proposed marriage with " Big Turtle," she met her Huron lover near the precipice, and as her tribe was on the war-path against the Hurons, she was discovered by a scout and confronted by her father. The old sachem, with a thunder-cloud on his brow, demanded of his daughter the final renunciation of her chosen lover. True to the impulse of her woman's nature she refused, and with one piercing cry sprang from the rock and sacrificed her life on the altar of a deathless passion. There, in that dusky glen, she sleeps a dreamless sleep in her virgin purity, where now the careless feet of another race and another generation tread upon her low ly mound, and where the merry voices of a strange people have long since broken the solitude of her lonely grave. The gladsome voices of the young and the gay now mingle with the music of the brooklet as it rushes to the river; and as they spread their dainty fare on the mossy rocks, or dance upon the green, do the votaries of pleasure ever think of the dark-eyed maiden that quietly sleeps beneath their feet?
Altogether the scenery around the town of Danville is not surpassed in this portion of the State, and in its wild romantic beauty can only find its rival among the Alleghenies. It is true, the restless enterprise of a growing population is here and there slowly working a change, but the silver sheen of the river will continue to sparkle in the morning sun, and there will stand forever Blue hill, around whose hazy brow, in misty veils, still hang the legends of Indian lore.
Land Titles.
The land embraced in the corporate limits of Danville was originally within the boundary of Northumberland county, and its inhabitants were involved in all the horrors of border warfare with the French and their Indian allies, and afterwards with the English and the same bloody savages. The Shawanese, the Senecas, and the Delawares were in the neighborhood. The latter were the most numerous, and, for the most part, the least troublesome. The Iroquois, who made frequent and murderous raids on the white settlements, often acted the part of incarnate devils. The Delawares had a village of considerable importance at the mouth of the Mahoning creek, just below the present town of Danville, and the boys of today still find arrow-heads and other warlike implements fashioned by the rude skill of "old Nakomis," or some other dusky arrow maker of the forest. The same spot is now frequently occupied by the semi-barbarous Zingari-the wandering gypsies-the descendants of Egypt.
In 1772, Northumberland county was taken from Berks, Lancaster, Northampton, and Bedford. It then included Columbia county, of which Montour was a portion. Columbia county was taken from Northumberland and organized as a new county on the 15th of March, 1813, and Danville was made the county seat of Columbia county. But the county seat, by a popular vote, authorized by the Legislature, was moved to Bloomsburg in 1845. The people of Danville, and those of the lower end of the county, were not satisfied, and demanded a division of the county. Accordingly, on the 3d day of May, 1850, an act was passed by the Legislature erecting the county of Montour, and making Danville the county seat of the new county. The writer of this volume was then a member of the State Legislature, from Butler county, and cast his vote in that body in favor of the new county.
The ground occupied by the town of Danville belonged to several tracts, and it is exceedingly difficult, if not impossible, to trace the various transfers previous to the purchase and settlement of Gen. William Montgomery. By the old parchment deeds and surveys, in the office of George W. West, Esq., present surveyor of Montour county, it appears that one of these tracts, containing one hundred and twenty acres, extending from Chestnut to Church street, and from the river to the base of Montour ridge on the north, was surveyed to George Jewel, on the 3d of April, 1769, and transferred to Turbet Francis on the 16th of December, in the same year, and on the 2d of May, 1782, sold to John Simpson, and by John Simpson and his wife, Ann Grimes, sold and conveyed to William Montgomery, for ;£6oo, on the 15th of April, 1783. The tract below Chestnut street, including the mouth of Mahoning creek, containing one hundred and eighty acres, was known as a Proprietary Manor, and was patented to Rev. Richard Peters. Another account says that the Proprietor, John Penn, patented the same tract to John Lukens, the State Surveyor at the time. A. F. Russell, Esq., in his biography of General William Montgomery, says that William Montgomery purchased land here of J. Cumming§, and also that he bought a tract of one hundred and eighty acres of J. Simpson, on which the town of Danville was laid out, by a deed bearing date November 26, 1774. If the reader can get the precise facts, by studying the old records, he is wiser than the writer of this book. It is certain that the land occupied by the greater portion of Danville was purchased by General William Montgomery, prior to 1776, the period of his location in this place. There may have -been conflicting claims to the land, that were subsequently purchased by General Montgomery, and so to us confused the records. On the north of these tracts, the land belonged to John Montgomery; on the north-east to Amos Wickersham, which afterwards became the property of the Frazers and the Yorks; on the south-east, were the lands of the Sechlers, who were among the earliest settlers of this place.
This was known for some time as "Montgomery's Landing," and also as "Mahoning Settlement," until the town was laid out by General Daniel Montgomery, son of William Montgomery, in the year 1792, or that part of the town lying between Mill and Church streets, and from the river to the canal, which ground he had purchased from his father. As Daniel Montgomery was then the most enterprising business man in the place, whose store and mill were the centers of attraction to all the country around it, and as he was very popular and highly respected, the people, by general consent, began to call it "Danville," out of compliment to Daniel Montgomery. In 1776, General William Montgomery built the log house that still adjoins the stone mansion he afterwards erected, and there his youngest son Alexander was born, in 1777, and died in the same room in 1848. The widow of Alexander resided there until her death, which occurred only a few years ago.
At an early day Jacob Gearhart established a ferry across the river. The ferry-house stood above Ferry, at Pine street. John Sechler, father of Jacob Sechler recently deceased, laid out that part of the town above Church street. Between the Montgomerys and Sechlers, they made something of a muddle near where the planing-mill now stands in not properly joining the streets.
General William Montgomery, after Daniel had laid out his land in town lots, laid out that part lying below Mill street, down to Chestnut, donating at that time thirty-one lots for the endowment of an academy, stipulating that it should be under the control of the Presbyterian church, and that one of his descendants should always be on the board of trustees.
Amos Wickersham donated to the Presbyterians the ground on which the Grove church is built, and also the adjoining burying ground.
The court-house ground was donated by General William, and that on which the jail stands by General Daniel Montgomery.
General William Montgomery.
General William Montgomery was the most notable settler of this region. He came from Chester county, where he was born on the 3d of August, 1736, and was a prominent actor in the Revolutionary war, and also in civil life before he came to this place. He first located in Northumberland, and moved to Danville in 1776. He immediately began to make improvements, but on account of the murderous raids of the Indians, he took his family to a place of safety until the campaign of General Sullivan gave security to the settlers. General Montgomery himself was inured to the hardships of war, having been schooled in the camp, the field, and the forest. During his lifetime, he was called by the people to a variety of responsible positions, both civil and military. He was a representative in Congress and president judge of the courts in Northumberland county. But chiefly does he claim the gratitude of posterity for his constant efforts for the material and moral welfare of Danville, for his devotion to the physical comfort and religious training of the growing community of which he was the founder. He occupied many positions of public trust during his long and useful life, and always with honor to himself and to the advantage of the public. He died in 1816. This note is brief, but his life-work will, in a measure, appear in these pages, as we trace the various movements and enterprises that gave birth, life, and character to the town of Danville.
The Post Office
The Danville post-office was established in 1806, General William Montgomery being the first postmaster at this place. * He and Daniel Montgomery served until 1813, when Rudolph Sechler was appointed, April 3 of that year. He held the office until James Loughead was appointed, on the 24th of November, 1820. David Petrikin succeeded him, on the 1st of February, 1834. Next John Best was appointed on the 21st day of March, 1837, who served until the appointment of Sharpless Taylor, on the 25th of March, 1841. He was followed by Alexander Best, who was appointed on the 9th of November, 1842. Gideon M. Shoop was appointed on the nth of April, 1849. During his term the new county of Montour was created. On the 26th of November, 1852, Thomas C. Ellis was appointed, and on the 21st of September, 1853, Thomas Chalfant received the appointment. During his term, in 1856, the Danville post-office became a Presidential appointment, and Mr. Chalfant was re-appointed by the President, on the 21st of February, 1856, and served until the 28th of May, 1861, when he was succeeded by Andrew F. Russel, who was re-appointed on the 14th of July, 1865, and1 served until Ogden H. Ostrander was appointed, on the 16th of April, 1867. Charles W. Eckman was appointed on the 5th of April, 1869, and re-appointed on the 18th of March, 1873, and again reappointed on the 7th of April, 1877. Colonel Charles W. Eckman is the present incumbent. Under his administration there have been great improvements, both in the arrangements and appointments of the office and in its management, giving the highest degree of satisfaction to the department and to the public. In September, 1874, he moved the post-office to the opera-house, a central location, fitting it up with seven hundred and fifty-six Yale boxes. These boxes, with the handsome casing, give a stylish appearance to the office, where every desired convenience is afforded. There is not a country town in the State that can boast a better-conducted, better-arranged, or more elegant post-office than that of Danville.
In every country town the post-office is a good place to study human nature See that individual who only gets one letter in six months, who always struggles to be first at the delivery. At last he gets a letter! See how he turns it over and over, looks at the address, examines the stamp, and seems astonished to find himself in possession of the prize. He looks up at the crowd with an air of importance, whilst the crowd is silently reading him. Next look at that spruce young clerk, who gets a dozen or more for his employer. How wise he looks, and seems to say to the crowd, "Look at my correspondence." Then comes the indignant individual, who wonders why he got none, and thinks there must be something wrong in the management of the mail. He calls on the postmaster to know why it didn't come. Now comes the bashful young man, who expects a letter from his lady love. He looks as if the postmaster and everybody else knew the nature of the precious epistle, and slips away to enjoy it by himself. There comes a big man, carelessly treading on other folks' corns. He gets a dun from his washwoman, and tries to pass it off for a draft on the bank. Do you see that booby on the side-walk, or, in cold weather, backed against the inside wall, just to see who comes and goes, or to glance at what others get. There comes Miss Sweet Sixteen. She expects a letter from "somebody," but, seeing the crowd, she retreats until the coast is clear. She does not choose to let all the world see her blushes as she receives the prize. But now make room for the man from the rural district, who inquires for the whole neighborhood. He at last gives way to the confident chap, who gets mad when he fails to get a letter, because he is sure it was mailed. So if you want to take a good lesson on human nature, just go to the post-office at mail time. And don't forget to take a quiet smile at the fussy man, who rushes in, peeps into half the boxes, then peers down the schute where the drop letters go. What he sees there, has never been revealed.
Grove Presbyterian Church
The Grove Presbyterian, or, as it was originally called, Mahoning Presbyterian Church, is the oldest religious organization in Danville. While this place was still known as " Mahoning Settlement," Rev. John Bryson was the first Presbyterian minister. He preached at first in Gen. Montgomery's dwelling house, and when the congregation became too large services were held in the barn. The first, or the old log church was built 1778 or 1779. The logs for the church were nicely prepared. They were scored by George Maus and Isaac Boudman. They were hewn by Thomas Hughes. This church stood until 1826, when a plain brick church was built. This modest structure was the sacred temple in which the generation worshipped that is now passing away. Though services had been held with some degree of regularity as early as 1777 the congregation was not organized until 1785. Unfortunately there exists at the present time no complete record of the church in those early days. Our sketch must, therefore, of necessity, be very brief in relation to a subject so full of interest to many who are now living here and elsewhere.
Among those who contributed to the preaching of the Gospel in "Mahoning Settlement," previous to the organization of the church, were William Montgomery, Peter Blue, Gilbert Vorhes, David Goodman, John Emmitt, John Wilson, John Irwin, Peter Mellick, Robert Henry. Benjamin Fowler, John Ogden, Lemuel Wheeler, David Carr, John Clark, John Black, Daniel Kelly, Garret Van Camp, William Gray, Joseph Barry, Martin Todd, John Evart, Peter Rambo, Andrew Cochran, Charles McClahan, James Grimes, William Lemon, William Montgomery, Jr., Robert Giles, Joseph Rosenberry, and David Subingall.
At a later period, namely, in 1793, the salary to be paid to the pastor by Mahoning church was fixed at seventy-five pounds per annum, said pastor to divide his services between Mahoning and Derry congregations. The salary was guaranteed by Joseph Biggers, Hugh Caldwell, Thomas Gaskins, James Stephenson, William Donaldson, John Emmett, Sr., Robert Donaldson, John Donaldson, Joseph Williams, John Woodside, George Caldwell, John Jones, William Colt, John Montgomery, Daniel Barton, Christian Campbell, Robert Williams, Alex. McMunigal, William Montgomery, Jr., John Moore, Daniel Montgomery, Robert Montgomery, John Carr, James Loughead, Robert Campbell, Thomas Best, James Consart, Gilbert Vorhees, James Curry, Peter Blue, Andrew Cochran, M. Gulick, Richard Robinson, Jacob Gearhart, Jr., Frederick Blue, John Emmett, Jr., John Young, Elias Harrison, Isaac Woodruff, Stephen Hunt, Albert Ammerman, and Philip Young. This congregation, as stated, was organized in 1785. Gen. William Montgomery was chosen an elder at the same time, and continued an active and faithful officer until his death, which occurred in 1816.
The brick church built in 1826 was a neat and plain structure, presenting quite a picturesque appearance, embowered as it was in a grove of forest trees. The new church is a massive and handsome structure of artistic stone-work in the Gothic order of architecture, and was dedicated in 1875. It occupies the site of the old brick church on the Knoll, surrounded by the remaining forest trees and a grove of beautiful young maples that were planted to take the place of the ancient oaks that are rapidly passing away. The building of this magnificent temple was superintended by Mr. Joseph Diehl, a master mechanic and builder, whose handiwork is seen on many a public and private building in this region. As previously stated Rev. Bryson was the first pastor of Mahoning, now the Grove Presbyterian church, and with the aid of the old pioneers he laid the foundations deep and strong for a lasting church, a religious home to bless the passing generations for centuries to come. Rev. Patterson was a worthy successor. His ministration was long and abundantly blessed. Greatly beloved by his people, his name is still a household word among their descendants. Rev. Dunlap succeeded him in the pastorate of Mahoning church, and he was followed by Rev. Halliday.
Then came Rev. Doctor Yeomans, who, as a scholar, a preacher, and pastor, will be long and gratefully remembered. He died in this place, universally lamented, as every Christian knew that a good man and a strong leader had been called away. During his pastorate, about 1849 or 1850, the question of a new church edifice was agitated. There was some division of sentiment in reference to its location. A portion favored the erection of the new church on the south side of the canal, and others adhered to the old site in the grove, now rendered doubly dear as the place where their fathers and mothers had worshipped. The former succeeded. A new church was built on Mahoning street, and Rev. Doctor Yeomans continued his ministry in the new church. The adherents to the Grove were without a regular pastor, as the organization, with the pastor, had gone with the new church. In 1855, however, Presbytery organized a new congregation in the old church, and called it "Mahoning Presbyterian Church, North." But this title was considered too cumbrous, and through the efforts of Rev. C. J. Collins and others it was changed to the more convenient and more euphonious name of "The Grove Presbyterian Congregation." Rev. C. J. Collins was the first pastor. He remained some ten years and resigned to assume the duties of an educator in an institution of learning. Rev. Collins was somewhat austere, an excellent scholar, and an eloquent preacher, but not remarkable for his knowledge of human nature, and, consequently, less a pastor than a preacher. He had a deep bass voice-sanguine in temperament and full of patriotism, he preached some flaming war sermons, as well as many eloquent discourses on the Christian warfare. He was succeeded by Rev. Doctor J. Gordon Carnachan, a graduate of Scotland's most celebrated university, and a profound scholar. For close logical reasoning and theological attainments, he has few equals in this country, and his impassioned perorations touched the finest chords of the human heart. Dr. Carnachan is not only an eloquent preacher but a man of commanding ability, unexcelled in this country as a Greek and Hebrew scholar, on whom the greatest university of Europe conferred its highest honor. He left this place to take charge of a congregation in Meadville, where he still remains. He was followed in the pastorate of the Grove church, by Rev. Reuben H. Van Pelt. Rev. Van Pelt was a good man, and an earnest preacher. If more limited in his mental power than his predecessor, he was more successful in his pastoral relations. Rev. W. A. McAtee was next called to the charge of the Grove church. And whilst he engaged the affection and confidence of his people, as a faithful shepherd and a man of more than ordinary ability, there is some difficulty in correctly analysing his mind. A shade of sadness at times seemed to fall on his most brilliant efforts, and a far-away expression succeeded the moments of rapture. But none doubted his goodness, none questioned his ability, nor did his people withhold their love and respect. After his resignation Rev. John B. Grier became the pastor of the Grove congregation. He is the youngest son of M. C. Grier, who was long an elder in that church, and lately deceased. The Grier family has given the church a number of eminent preachers, and Rev. John B. Grier bids fair to maintain the high degree of ability and usefulness to which they attained. His learning, his aptness to teach, and his vivid imagination, inspired by the spirit of religion, cannot fail to result in the accomplishment of his mission. With a critical, and yet a comprehensive mind, cultured with care; a generous nature open to all; and, though young in years, yet strong in the spirit and power of the Gospel; who will say he is not destined to eminence in his high profession? Among the families connected with the old church, and whose descendants still worship in the Grove, mention is made of the Montgomerys, Maus, Currys, Yorks, Diehls, Griers, McMahans, Magills, Walizes, Cathcarts, Boudmans, Moores, Gearharts, and Russels.
The Grove church contains the largest organ in Danville, costing some three thousand dollars.
Mahoning Presbyterian Church
This church was built in 1853, on Mahoning and Ferry streets, the congregation, as before stated, retaining the name and the organization of the original church. The building is handsome and well-arranged. It is surmounted by a steeple containing a bell and a town clock. Some years ago a storm blew down the spire, which was never replaced. There is a fine memorial window in the rear of the pulpit. The designs in colors are elegant and appropriate, having been placed there by E. B. Reynolds, in memory of his mother, who had been a member of the congregation for many years. Rev. Doctor Yeomans, who was the pastor in the old church, continued his ministrations in the new for a number of years, and died greatly lamented by the community, as well as the members of his own religious household. Rev. Doctor Yeomans was a man of very superior powers of mind; in truth, he was a great as well as a good man. He may not have been fully appreciated at home, but he ranked with the most eminent divines of the Presbyterian Church in the United States. His reputation extended all over the country, and his great ability was not only acknowledged by making him Moderator of the General Assembly, but in according to him the deference that exalted merit demands on all occasions.
Rev. Ijams succeeded to the pastorate of Mahoning Presbyterian church, after the death of Dr. Yeomans. He was something of a sensationalist; eleoquent he was, and, withal, rather dramatic. Of course a sermon would be dull and lifeless without it; yet it should not be all drama, nor yet the most prominent feature of a discourse. His imaginative powers were good, and as an orator he stood deservedly high, but the people missed the solid, glowing force of truth they were wont to hear from Dr. Yeomans. Rev. Ijams resigned, and Rev. A. B. Jack was called to the charge of Mahoning Presbyterian church. He was distinguished for originality, for a wide range of thought and power of language. His descriptive powers are something remarkable, his oratory peculiar, startling, and effective. For sublimity of conception and beauty of expression, some of his discourses were unsurpassed. After officiating for several years, he resigned to take charge of a congregation in Hazleton, where he still remains. Rev. F. R. Beeber succeeded him in this place, and if not as brilliant as his immediate predecessor, he is a solid thinker, a good speaker, and an excellent pastor. In his earnest life-work, Rev. Beeber endeared himself to the hearts of many; his faithfulness as a minister, his ability as a teacher, and his fidelity as a friend, will not be forgotten. Rev. R. L. Stewart, the present pastor, has just entered upon his work in this place, and the indications point to the best results.
Climate and Longevity.
In glancing at the climate of Danville and the longevity of its people, I again copy from the memoranda of Mr. J. Frazer. He says, the climate of Danville is exceedingly favorable to the health and longevity of its inhabitants. Epidemics seldom prevail. Its near proximity to 41 ° north latitude, approximates that of the insalubrious cities of Pekin, Constantinople, Naples, and Barcelona. Yet the isothermal line shows that it corresponds with the more salubrious regions of New Jersey, Long Island, England, Ireland, Belgium, Southern Germany, the Crimea, China, Japan, Washington Territory, Montana, Nebraska, most of which are several degrees north of its parallel of latitude, and showing a divergence between that and the isothermal line.
The peculiar and admirable location of Danville is most favorable. The description of the mountain in a far remote geological period, caused by the bursting through its barriers by the pent-up waters of an ancient lake or primeval ocean on its northern side, or by some other stupendous convulsion of nature, scooped out a gateway through Montour Ridge to effect an outlet for the Mahoning, and thus afford a most admirable site for the town. It reminds us of the Blue Ridge, cloven asunder to yield a passage for the Potomac below its confluence with the Shenandoah, at Harper's Ferry, which Jefferson so graphically described, and to see which, he asserted, was worth a voyage across the Atlantic. And thus Danville is in a favorable situation to receive the sunshine of early spring, the balmy and invigorating breezes of summer, which reach it from the Susquehanna, and the prolonged and delightful autumn. Few places are so highly favored. The extreme old age of many of its people corroborates this, extending, as they do, much beyond the three score and ten years of the Psalmist. From memory we can recall the names of the following ancient residents of the place and vicinity who attained a great age: Robert Finny, ninty-five years; Mrs. Jane Montgomery, ninty-three years; John Sechler, ninty-three years; Peter Baldy, ninty-two; Sarah Lloyd, ninty-one; Joseph Maus, Rudolph Sechler, William Philips, each ninety; Charles M. Frazer, eighty-nine; George A. Frick, eighty-six; Michael Blue, eighty-four; William Donaldson, the Revolutionary patriot, eighty-two; Thomas Woodside, John Deen, John Moore, each eighty; and the following beyond the seventy years: Paul Adams, John Frazer, John Russel, John Reynolds, John Cooper, John Montgomery, John Yerrick, Daniel Frazer, Daniel Woodside, Dr. David Petrekin, William Whitaker, William Yorks, Samuel Yorks. To this list scores, now living or recently deceased, could be added. Among those still living, are the following octogenarians: Jacob Sechler, ninty years; Dr. William H. Magill, eighty-six; Judge William Donalson, now of Pottsville, in his eighty-second year. Many others of a good old age could be enumerated who are " natives to the manor born," or who resided here for many years. Among these is Rev. Samuel Montgomery, now of Oberlin, Ohio, in his seventy-fifth year.
The health of a people is a desideratum of the first importance. Without it, all the temporal blessings lose much of their value. This is painfully apparent in the South, and in some places in the great West. Surrounded by regions of exuberant fertility, yet so unhealthy that the valitudinary inhabitants would gladly exchange their luxurious homes for those of less productiveness, if they could thereby have their impaired health restored. The people of Danville should duly appreciate the great blessing they enjoy in having so favorable a climate.
Prominent Men
It is a source of deep regret that no reliable record can be obtained of such prominent men in the past history of Danville, as Reverend John B. Patterson, Doctor Alexander C. Donaldson, Rudolph Sechler, William G. Hurly, and many others. Moreover, what record we have of others is meager and unsatisfactory. From a few notes made by Mr. F., and what could be gathered from other sources, the following brief notes are presented:
Alem Marr graduated at Princeton in 1807, and was admitted to the bar in 1809. He represented this district in Congress from 1829 to 1831, and spent his whole professional life in Danville.
Samuel Kirkham, the grammarian, succeeded D. C. Barrett in the Danville school, about 1819 to 1821. He was a competent teacher, but not so successful as Mr. Barrett. His "Lectures on English Grammar" was one of the most popular school-books of the day, and almost as generally used as Webster's spelling-book. It went through one hundred and twenty-nine editions. His "Essay on Elocution" was a valuable treatise, but never attained a tithe of the popularity of his grammer. President Lincoln obtained his grammatical knowledge from the latter treatise, and there is yet in the hands of one of his admirers in Iowa, the identical volume in which the great emancipator studied. His signature is on a fly-leaf, with the homely caution, "Steal not this book, &c."
Dr. David Petrikin was a native of Bellefonte. He studied medicine and practiced his profession in Danville. He represented this district in Congress two terms, from 1837 to 1841, and died on the 3d of January, 1849.
Daniel Frazer was born May 2, 1755, and married Sarah Wilson in 1772. She died in 1775. He was again married. His second wife was Isabella Watson, whom he married on the 6th day of February, 1777. He died in Danville on the 26th of March, 1828. His children were Charles, Emma, Margaret, James, Alexander, Sarah, Jane, William, Christiana M., Agnes, Daniel, and Thomas; all of whom are dead, except Christiana, who married Enos Miller, who died in 1870. All deceased except Mrs. Miller. His descendants reside in Montour county, New York, and Michigan. He came to this place about 1790, and purchased of John Frazer one hundred acres of land in the south-west part of his two hundred and eighty-four acre tract. On this land he resided thirty-eight years, until his death, in the seventy-third year of his age. He was an honest and industrious farmer, enjoying the respect and confidence of his fellow-citizens. For a long time he resided at the base of the hill, near the site of an old Indian trading post, and a very short distance north of the spring. In 1824, he built the substantial stone residence which is still standing. All the southern portion of his farm is now within the corporate limits of Danville.
Ellis Hughes came to this place from Catawissa, about 1820. He was a school teacher and surveyor. He was also appointed register and recorder by the Governor, and served with great satisfaction to the people. He taught school for some years in a school-house that stood near where the Record office now stands. He was a good teacher, and was universally respected by the community. He also took care to see that his children were all well educated. Ellis Hughes was a faithful member and an efficient officer in the Methodist church, and died in the faith of the christian, in the year 1850.
Daniel Montgomery, a brother to Gen. William Montgomery, lived in the old frame house now occupied by Mr. Bentzbach, near the river. He kept a store, but was chiefly known as a painter-in fact, an artist of no mean pretensions. He was the father of Judge Montgomery.
William Hartman was one of the old-time citizens of Danville. He was a chair maker, and resided on the premises now occupied by his son, Joseph Hartman, on Mill street. William Hartman came to Danville in 1814. He was a class-leader in the Methodist church, and was one of the six members formed into the first class in this place in 1815. He was an honest, industrious citizen, and a true christian. He died in 1851.
Union Hall Hotel
Union Hall Hotel, near the court-house, was built by Philip Goodman, in 1818. He had previously kept the "old Pennsylvania House." The house was kept by Mr. Goodman for several years; but it seems that its building, together with a line of stages to Pottsville, swamped him, financially, and he moved to Owego, New York, where he died some years ago. Several persons kept the house from that time until 1836, when it was purchased by William Henrie. He made several improvements and also changed its name to "Union Hall Hotel," which was suggested by his son Arthur, a brave young soldier, who died soon after the war. Mr. Henrie successfully conducted Union Hall Hotel for thirty-five years. It enjoyed great popularity under his administration. Some years ago it was nearly destroyed by fire, after which it was re-constructed and enlarged. It was afterwards kept by Alem M. Sechler, and others.
Danville News 1903
Ammerman Building
Danville News, 1899
Danville News 1905
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