What today is the town of Lewisburg began as land owned by Ludwig Derr. Derr first purchased land from the Indians in the late 1760's . That land however, was also part of the Stanwix treaty, and it was a portion that the Penn's had reserved for themselves. Still, Derr made application for his purchase, and the Penn's did not bother with him.
Three years later, the Penn's gave away the 320 acre tract, which included Derr's land. Fortunately, the man who received this gift was thoroughly aware of the circumstances, and he graciously conveyed the entire tract to Derr for a small sum, in September 1773.
A little more than 10 years later, with the war having ended, settlers who had left in the Great Runaway began to return to the West Branch, in large numbers. It was then that Derr saw the benefit of laying out a town.
In 1785, Derr held a lottery for land in the newly surveyed town. Some lots sold, the first, #351 at Water and Louis streets, selling to William Wilson.. Seeking to promote sales, Derr went to Philadelphia in September 1785. He signed a deed of sale on October 18, 1785, and then simply disappeared. Derr's son George went to Philadelphia to search for his father, but returned a short time later, unsuccessful. It was later learned that Ludwig Derr had fallen ill, and died while in Philadelphia.
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"Ludwig Derr was a man of magnificent physique - standing a little more than six feet in height, had well cut defined features, blue eyes, florid complexion. He was not an old man, as has been depicted. At the time of his death in 1785, he was on his 65th year"
- Mrs James Dietrich, a great great granddaughter of Ludwig.
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Derr's Arrival To The Valley - 1767, or 1769?
In 1769, when John & Thomas Penn announced that lotteries would be held for the land at the West Branch of the Susquehanna River, Ludwig Derr left his home in Berks County, to enter the lottery. When Charles Lukens made the surveys along the river to the mouth of White Deer Creek, in 1769, he mentions Ludwig Derr being with him.
Derr was close friends with Conrad Weiser, the first white man to set foot in the West Branch Valley. It's probable that Derr had traveled into the Buffalo Valley with Weiser on several occasions before his visit in 1769.
Derr family histories state that Ludwig was living here before the survey. "As early as 1768, Ludwig Derr was engaged in constructing his Trading Post and residence. He completed construction of his mill in 1768 operating it as early as 1769. Among Derr's holdings of land it is interesting to note that in 1769, Dietrich Pees applied for land adjoining Ludwig Derr in Walnut Bottom - which location embraced New Columbia nd land North and West of it."
Most histories state that Derr applied for a tract of land near New Columbia, in the land lottery, but he failed to get it. Through family tradition, we learn that Derr then purchased the site of land later known as Prescott, Buffalo Valley, from the Indians, and commenced clearing the land. Soon after, Derr opened a trading post, and built a grist mill and saw mill.
Which time line is correct, it's impossible to know, unless more concrete records are found.
Derr's Land, Or Penn's Land?
"Due to the Indians lack of knowledge of points of compass, Derr felt it necessary to enter application upon the opening of the land office, for this land from the Penns." The purchase entered in April of 1769, and completed in November of 1773. The deed was recorded in Book No 22, Page 444, County Of Philadelphia.
The Penns reserved for their personal holdings one-tenth of each purchase of lands made from the Indians - these reservations to be selected by them and laid out before the land office was opened for the granting of applications. Among the selections, and under a special warrant of January 1769, the Penns ordered William McClay to mark off for them a tract of 320 acres. In February the survey was made, and named Prescott.
Derr's property was part of this survey, the land he purchased from the Indians actually belonged to the Penn's. The Penn's were aware of the situation, and did not bother Derr, allowing him to stay where he had settled.
But three years later, in August of 1772, the Penns donated the 320 acre Prescott tract to Richard Peters Esq, who had "been of immense service to them." Peters, thoroughly understanding the situation, knowing that Derr had made application for the land in 1769, graciously made a deed of conveyance to Derr in 1773, for a nominal sum. On September 17, 1773, the land where Lewisburg is now located was conveyed by deed to Ludwig Derr.
Derr's Mill, Trading Post, and Home
In 1770, with the help of his wife Catherine and son George, Derr built his log house and mill along the Run today known as Bull Run. His house was later incorporated into a larger building at what is today 34 Brown Street. Derr's mill was located nearby at what is today 40 Brown Street.
In order to supply water for his mill, Derr almost single handedly scooped out a wide trench from a point on Bull Run to his mill near the mouth of the run. Derr's Mill race is shown on Pomeroy's 1868 Atlas. The borough filled in the run in 1883.
Settlers came from as far as 40 miles up river to have their grain ground, and to purchase flour. They came by canoe, the journey taking as much as three to four days. "They came armed against attacks of Indians, and sometimes never returned to their families - having been killed or scalped."
Ludwig Derr never exacted payment from the poor for grinding their grain.
Derr's larder was well supplied, with corn meal and wheat flour. It was the custom of his wife Catharine to make large batches of cookies on Saturdays. She would place them in baskets and her husband would distribute them to the poor in the neighborhood.
Derr & The Indians During The Indian Troubles
"It was during the Great Runaway in 1778 when the torch was put to dwelling, post, and mill by the Indians from Wyoming to the Mahantango, that Derr's residence, trading post, and mill stood, and he and family stayed with them. The incident evidences that aside from friendship, the Indians recognized an obligation to Ludwig Derr in his purchase of land from them."
Ludwig Derr alone seems to have been able to maintain continuous settlement in the region throughout the war. His trading post was the center of frontier activity, hosting both Indian and Revolutionary War Councils. Derr's small mill was located "on the run that empties into the river below town". There Derr supplied the Indians with powder, lead, and rum.
Almost directly across the river, on the east side, Captain Brady resided, before he moved his family to Muncy. Brady, and two others, were selected by the people of Fort Augusta to approach the Seneca and Muncy Indians, in the hopes of making a treaty.
In an account written in 1831 by R.B. McCabe Esq, for the Blairsville Record, the following account was given:
The Indians met the men in a friendly manner, and promised to go to Fort Augusta for discussions.
"The came down about 100 strong, and dressed in war costume. The people at the Fort were too poor to give them anything of value, and so they did not suceed in making a treaty. The Indians left in good humor however, taking their canoes, and proceeding homeward.
Late in the day, when Brady returned home, he saw the canoes of the Indians on the bank of the river near Derr's. The squaws worked the canoes over to his side of the river, and when they landed, they made for the thickets of sumac that grew on his land. They were conveying the rifles, tomahawks, and knives into the thickets, and hiding them. Brady jumped into a canoe and crossed to Derr's trading house, where he found the Indians drunk, and a barrel of rum standing on end before Derr's door, with the head out. Brady instantly overset it, and spilled the rum, saying to Derr, "My God Ludwig, what have you done?"
Derr replied "Dey deels me you gif um no dreet down on de fort, so I dinks I give um one here, als he go home in bease". One of the Indians told Brady he would one day rue the spilling of that barrel; Brady begin will acquainted with the Indian character was constantly on guard for several years.
A Town Is Born
In 1784, after the Revolutionary War had ended, settlers who had left the area during the Great Runaway began to return to the area in large numbers. It was then that Derr saw the benefit of laying out a town.
According to Weiser's survey "the southern boundary commenced at a post at the river, at the corner of the land of said Derr, SW 121 perches to a stone; thence NW 164 perches, to a stone; thence NE about 139 perches to a post or stake, by the north-west side of Buffalo Creek; thence down the creek to its mouth, and thence down the river to the place of beginning, and contained about 128 acres...divided into 355 lots." [excerpted from Annals of Buffalo Valley]
From the river westward the streets were named Water, Front, Second, Third,Fourth and Fifth. The cross streets from south to north were George, Catherine, Louis, Market, John, Mary and Anthony. (The streets were likely named for family members, whose names coincided with saints) The alleys were named for fruit trees and shrubs.
Lots are uniformly 66' wide and 155', 157' or 165' deep. Weiser received lot #5 for his surveywork.
Lots 42, 44 and 46 on Market Street were given to the (English) Presbyterian congregation for a meetinghouse and cemetery.
Lots 121, 123 and 125, at St. Louis and S. Third streets, were given to the (German) Lutheran congregation
In 1785, Derr held a lottery for land in the newly surveyed town. Some lots sold, the first, #351 at Water and Louis streets, selling to William Wilson.. Seeking to promote sales, Derr went to Philadelphia in September 1785. He signed a deed of sale on October 18, 1785, and then simply disappeared. Derr's son George went to Philadelphia to search for his father, but returned a short time later, unsuccessful. Most local histories state that Ludwig became ill and died while in Philadelphia, but whether that was later learned by the family, or merely conjecture, I am unsure.
Derr died intestate (without a will), but there is a probate record, recorded December 9, 1785.
Ludwig's wife Catharine died a year later.
There's a find a grave entry for Ludwig Derr in the Presbyterian church, Lewisburg PA, but it's unlikely he is actually buried there.
Derr was often spelled Doer, and pronounced "Tarr".
In 1772, Ludwig Derr was empanelled on the first grand jury of Norhtumberland County.
In 1778, Derr was one of a party of 6 men appointed to lay out a road from the fording between his own, and John Aurands mill through the Buffalo Valley to the narrows.
In 1779, Derr & James McCelvy were appointed overseers of Buffalo District.
In 1783, Derr served as constable of Buffalo.
Ludwig & his son George served as privates in Capt. John Forsters Company, Northumberland Co Militia, during the Revolution.
Derr's Trading Post, located along the banks of Bull Run, was a story and a half log building, constructed of heavy logs. It was a meeting place for both settlers and Indians, and it was known as a stopping place for travelers and patriots during the revolution.
A number of elections were held there in early 1776.
House
Derr's house was constructed of "unusually heavy logs, well re-enforced with grass as a base of plaster"
The main entrance opened into a large living room and directly back of it was a dining room and kitchen combined. From this room a boxed stairway led to the second floor, consisting of two rooms and a "well-built commodious garret."
The windows of the house were of ordinary size with deep casements.
A wash house with fire place was used as a dining place for farm hands. Nearby stood a spring house, built of mountain stone. A large oak tree stood at the southwest corner of the house.
In later years, the property was remodeled, leaving the main portion intact but adding a west wing and clapboarding over the entire structure. (today, it is an apartment building)
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Ludwig Derr came to America from Heidelberg Germany in 1750, settling in Philadelphia. From their he moved to Heidelberg Twp, Berks County in 1754. It was there that he met Conrad Weiser, and they became close friends. Derr is believed to have made numerous excursions into the West Branch Valley with Weiser. He was recorded there on the tax records through 1756, when he moved to Bethel twp, Berks County.
Ludwig married Catherine Lorah (Laurer) in the old zion church in Philadelphia in 1758.
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The original mill at Lewisburg, built by Ludwig Derr, was photographed in 1860, nearly a century after it had been constructed. The Mill was located near the mouth of Spring Run, later known as Wilson Run, Limestone Run, and finally, Bull Run.
Historical Marker at 34 Brown Street Lewisburg, PA 17837
"Home of Ludwig Derr. This log house was once the home of local businessman Ludwig Derr. Built in 1785, it was used as a trading post, gristmill, and sawmill."
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George Derr, son of Ludwig, was not as interested in real estate as his father had been. In 1789, he sold all but 17 lots of Lewisburg to Peter Borger, a land agent. Borger sold them to Carly Ellenkhuysen, of Holland. Ellenkhuysen purchased the land for his son Mathias, with the hope that his son would develop it. Matthias was not inclined to do so.
He did move to Lewisburg, along with his wife Clara and a Catholic Priest by the name of John Baptist Charles Helbron, who was to serve as both spiritual advisor, and land agent. The Ellenkhuysens resided in a log house on "the high west bank of South Water Street", overlooking the dock for Mathias' ferry boat. Mathais died in 1792, and his wife Clara then moved to Erie, Pa.
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According to Weiser's survey "the southern boundary commenced at a post at the
river, at the corner of the land of said Derr, SW 121 perches to a stone; thence NW 164
perches, to a stone; thence NE about 139 perches to a post or stake, by the north-west
side of Buffalo Creek; thence down the creek to its mouth, and thence down the river to
the place of beginning, and contained about 128 acres...divided into 355 lots." [excerpted
from Annals of Buffalo Valley]
From the river westward the streets were named Water, Front, Second, Third,
Fourth and Fifth. The cross streets from south to north were George, Catherine, Louis,
Market, John, Mary and Anthony. The alleys were named for fruit trees and shrubs. Lots
are uniformly 66' wide and 155', 157' or 165' deep. Weiser received lot #5 for his survey
work. Lots 42, 44 and 46 on Market Street were given to the (English) Presbyterian
congregation for a meetinghouse and cemetery. Lots 121, 123 and 125, at St. Louis and
S. Third streets, were given to the (German) Lutheran congregation
In 1785, Derr held a lottery for land in the newly surveyed town. Some lots sold, the first, #351 at Water and Louis streets, selling to William Wilson.. Seeking to promote
sales, Derr went to Philadelphia in September 1785. He signed a deed of sale on October
18, 1785 and died sometime thereafter. Ludwig Derr's will was filed December 9, 1785.
His wife Catherine died in 1786.
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Ludwig Derr bought the tract on which Lewisburg now stands, during the summer of this year, from the Reverend Richard Peters. His mill, which is still standing, being the front
portion of Smith & Fry's, so many years John Brown's mill, was in existence in the fall of this year. How long previous I cannot ascertain. Derr bought the "Joseph Hudnot tract," (still owned, except the part belonging to Joseph W. Shriner, by his grand and great-grandchildren,) in June, 1772, of John Coxe, merchant, of Philadelphia, for £175.
Christian Van Gundy recommended for license. He kept a tavern
at the Strohecker landing, his house standing on Derr's land.
Its remains were removed by excavation for the railroad in 1854.
5th July, Robert Fruit and Thomas Hewitt, county commissioners,
at the request of Ludwig Derr, who desired to borrow money from
the loan office, valued the land, three hundred and twenty
acres, (now the site of Lewisburg,) "on which said Derr now
lives, having a grist and saw-mill, dwelling-house and barn,
clear upland and meadow, at £1,000, Pennsylvania currency." On
7th, their sworn valuation of Robert Clark's, now Judge Hummel's,
two hundred and fourteen acres, et al., dwelling-house, and
barn, was £428; Walter Clark's, (Slifer place,) one hundred and
eighty-eight acres, dwelling-house, and barn, £564; Aurand mill
tract, (now Jenkins,) grist-mill, two pair stones, saw-mill,
dwelling-house, and barn, two hundred and twenty-eight acres,
at £700.
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May 1935
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You've done a tremendous amount of work putting this together and I truly appreciate it. I am a direct descendent of Ludwig Derr through my grandmother Mary Jauss Graber (later by marriage Glaspey then Milnor). Oddly, when I was working for the US Department of Labor in Washington, DC, I met a far removed cousin who was also related to Ludwig. I was born and raised in Harrisburg and my my mother's and paternal grandmother's families have been there for hundreds of hears. I'd always heard tales of "mad Ludwig" and knew he was associated with Lewisburg, your blog fills in a lot of holes.
ReplyDeleteLudwig Derr is my 5th great grandfather. My mother, Camelia Mae Derr, is the daughter of Clarence Aaron Derr. Thank you for all of the research and publishing of that information.
ReplyDelete