"A Delightful Trip", Taken by D. Hammill Alexander To The Susquehanna Valley, 1897
I love these old trip diaries, often sent to local newspapers to be published. In this one, H. M. Alexander of Marietta was traveling through Harrisburg & Sunbury on his way to Watsontown and the Warrior Run area, before going on to visit Lewisburg. Alexander was from Union County, owning two farms in Lewisburg and graduating from Bucknell before starting his vaccine farm in Marietta Pa.
In the letter about his trip, he mentions the Wilkes Barre and Western "weak and weary" train, "The Banner Farm Of the West Branch Valley"- unnamed, but located near the Warrior Run Church, Paradise Church, & in much detail, Bucknell. He also mentions the home of Dr. Geo G. Groff, professor at Bucknell. Dr. Alexander said that from the veranda on Groff's residence, seven counties could be seen" Union, Northumberland, Snyder, Lycoming, Montour, Columbia and Sullivan.
For more on Dr. Alexander and his vaccine farm, I have included quite a bit at the bottom of this page, under "read more".
A Delightful Trip. From the Marietta Register.
LEWISBURG, PA., June 24, 1897.
"Being from the country, it is but natural that I find myself meandering about this hotel at an hour when all other guests are still sleeping. While waiting for breakfast time, I will give you a short history of a short trip, which has been as pleasant as any ever taken.
On last Saturday morning, in order to make close connections at Harrisburg. Mrs. A. and myself drove to Mt. Joy and took the News Express, passing that point on its westward race at 6.55. It was a rapid drive, for we had beheld the light of that beautiful morning at too late a moment to do more than partake of a stand-up breakfast, with but 22 minutes to be five miles away.
Notwithstanding the Sheridan like ride, we did not fail to appreciate that we were passing through country more beautiful than man can find in all his travels through this land; and tourists, who should know, have added foreign climes. I think we fail to appreciate to the full the magnificent section of this world it is our privilege to call home.
At Harrburg we met our old townsman, Prof. Pleam, who stated he was going to Halifax. We were sorry to learn this fact, as in the days of our youth we had consigned so many of our enemies to this same spot.
The Watsontown Train Station
After enjoying the mountain scenery from Harrisburg to Sunbury, we entered one of those beautiful valleys for which the West Branch of the Susquehanna is noted. At 19.30 we left the train at Watsontown, about 9 miles from our starting point. This is a well-built town of 400 people, with a number of manufacturing industries.
Some years ago a railroad was built from this point to Wilkesbarre, the intention being to make it part of a through western line for the Reading system. It never reached Wilkesbarre, having found its terminus at a place called Mill Creek. It was named the Wilkesbarre & Western, which, in consequence of its slowness and uncertainty, the inhabitants of this pretty and fertile section have changed to "Weak & Weary," occasionally calling it the "Worse & Worse.'
The Warrior Run Church
We found our destination just two miles out on the line of the "Weak & Weary." Spending two days on a beautiful farm, which for the past thirty years has been known as "Banner farm of the West Branch Valley," going on Sabbath morning to service at the old Warrior Run church, an historic church of the Presbyterian denomination, which reminds one of old Donegal.
Note - was "Banner Farm" a description, or was that the name of it? There was a farm on Schuyler Road in Turbotville Pa, once named the Banner Farm.
Paradise Church, Milton Pa
In the evening we drove to Paradise church in the Paradise Valley, where an exceedingly strong Reformed congregation holds forth; spending Monday driving around the country calling on friends.
On Tuesday morning we drove by way of Milton, and across the Susquehanna to Lewisburg, the county seat of Union county, and the home of old Bucknell. This county is my old home For several years I had teen the recipient of invitations to attend the commencement exercises of Bucknell.
This year I had a special invitation to the President's reception. The town was crowded with people as I never saw it before; the hotels so full that people were obliged to sleep on cots in the halls, mattresses thrown on the floors and sofas in the parlors. Private houses were thrown open to accommodate the strangers, so great is the interest taken in the matchless Buck ell. Coming as we did, in the midst of the ceremonies, proved that friendships and recollections are of some avail, for we were told the hotel was full, but the courteous proprietor, who had learned his a. b, c's out the same backless bench in the old school house in Kelly township, appeared on the scene, and whether it was the remembrance of these old school days or the fact that later on I had been guilty of shining up to his beautiful wife in her single days and had spared him - for one reason or the other I was in formed that two rooms had been reserved for their regular customers that might drop in, and one of these was at our disposal.
Soon old friends began to appear and we have certainly been treated quite royally. The greatest surprise of all came in three tickets to the Commencement dinner in Bucknell hall, for well do I remember when a boy in this beautiful town and later a student at Bucknell, that the greatest honor the old town had to give was an invitation to this great college banquet, and that they seldom found their way to the hands of any but the select few whose educational attainments and successful careers lent lustre to this great annual banquet. Lewisburg is a town of 4000, situated on the west bank of the West Branch of the Susquehanna. It is well built and beautiful, with wide streets and magnificent church edifices; possesses a refined and educated people. The influence of Bucknell can be seen, heard and felt the moment you enter the town and meet her people.
The college, with its many surrounding buildings, I will not attempt to describe; it 13 situated on a high hill, surrounded by a natural grove so well kept that exclamations of surprise and admiration were heard on every side. The twilight concerts, given on the college campus by the Ringgold band of Reading, with forty pieces, were much enjoyed. On the first evening, as our carriage turned into the campus and we beheld the thousands seated beneath the trees on the beautiful grassy hillside, with the last bright rays of the evening sun shining through the tree tops, with the band discoursing sweet music from the grand stand on the flat below, surrounded by more than one hundred carriages, filled with well dressed people, I felt that it had never been my good fortune to behold anything more beautiful.
Dr. Geo. G. Groff a professor in Bucknell, a sanitarian of Nationwide note," as Judge Bell put it, a member our State Board of Health, and who will be remembered by a number of our citizens, who have on several occasions met him at my vaccine farm, resides on this same hill. The Doctor took us through his beautiful grounds, where every tree or fruit-bearing bush that will grow in this climate can be found, and then giving us seats on his veranda, pointed out seven counties that could be plainly seen without the aid of a glass. They were Union, Northumberland, Snyder, Lycoming, Montour, Columbia and far -distant Sullivan. But I must bid good-bye to Lewisburg and old friends, and take our carriage and drive to the old farm on which I was born; the old school grounds and "the loved spots which my infancy knew."
Very truly yours, H.
M. ALEXANDER. [Dr. Alexander is the proprietor of large vaccine farms at Marietta. He is well known all over the country; and his recent visit to Lewisburg was highly cherished by his many friends here. -Ed.
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Lancaster Intelligencer Wednesday, October 14, 1903, p.1
Well Known Men Die. Dr. H. M. Alexander Expires After a Brief Illness From Heart Disease at His Home Near Conewago
Dr. H. M. Alexander, a physician who was widely known, died at 9 o'clock on Tuesday night at his summer home, near Conewago station on the Pennsylvania railroad. The cause of death was angina pectoris. He attended the meeting of the State Medical society at York during the 22d, 23d and 24th of September, and was taken sick shortly after returning to his home. On Tuesday morning he appeared much better, and had intended starting for his other home, just outside the borough of Marietta.
Dr. Alexander was born in Lewisburg on the 17th of May, 1851, a son of John and Jane (Sankey) Alexander. The name is of Scotch origin, but the original American representative, our subject's grandfather, was born in Ireland, and from there came to Huntingdon county, Pa. John Alexander was born near Alexandria, Huntingdon county, Pa. in the year 1812, and though receiving only very limited educational advantages, was a man of more than average ability and intelligence. By his neighbors, he was regarded as an unusually well informed and able man. He was successful, and became the owner of two farms in Kelly township, Union county, Pa., where he resided until fifty years of age. He then moved to Lewisburg, the same county, where he remained until his death, in the spring of 1876, at the age of sixty-four. Politically, he was an active member of the Republican party, and in religious belief was a Presbyterian.
Twice married, the first wife of John Alexander was Mary Sheller, a member of an old and prominent family residing in the central part of Pennsylvania. Seven children were born of their union, namely, Rev. H. P., a Presbyterian clergyman, of Garrett, Kan.; Martha, wife of J. H. Myers, postmaster at Holden, Mo; James O., who died of yellow fever while serving in the Union army, at the age of twenty-two; S. S., a farmer, living at McEwensville, Northunberland county, Pa.; Margaret E., deceased, wife of John Geist, of New Holland, Lancaster county; Florence C., wife of J. J. Davis, district attorney at Des Moines, Iowa; and Mary J., wife of T. J. Hughes, member of the hardware firm of Damman & Hughes, of Honeybrook, Chester county, Pa. The mother of these children died in 1846.
The second marriage of John Alexander occurred in 1850, his wife being Jane Sankey, whose father Jeremiah Sankey, lived at Potter's Bank, Centre county, Pa. Two children resulted from this union, our subject and Elmira. The later was born in 1853, and died in 1858, at the age of five years. The father passed away in 1876, at the age of sixty-four. The mother died three years later, aged sixty-seven. Our subject was in youth a student in the schools of Kelly township.
STARTS VACCINE FARM
Graduating from Bucknell university in 1873, and from the medical department in 1876, Dr. Alexander was afterward employed in a hospital, then opened an office in Marietta. Being young and inexperienced, he had the usual difficulties in getting a foothold, but with the words of his motto, "Continue to the end," to encourage him, he worked diligently until he secured recognition, and ere long had established a handsome practice. In 1889 he abandoned the regular practice to devote his entire attention too the propagating of vaccine virus, which he had started in 1882. In this he has met with flattering financial success, and his net profits in a single year have been many thousands. In addition to this place, he owns one hundred and sixty-seven acres, comprising one of the finest farms in Northumberland county, Pa., to the management of which he gave his personal attention. He also owns valuable property in Omaha and Minneapolis.
A Republican in politics, Dr. Alexander has served as school director in East Donegal township. A Presbyterian in religious belief, he is now a deacon in that church in Marietta. He is a member of the State Medial Society, and the Lancaster City and County Medical associations. He is connected with the Washington Life and Maturity company, the Baltimore Building and Loan association, and the Home Building and Loan association of Marietta.
Dr. Alexander was one of the projectors and chief promoters of the American Exhibitors' association, organized at the world's fair, and became vice president of the association. At that exposition he received the only premium awarded on vaccine virus. His virus was afterwards pronounced, as a result of scientific investigation by the most eminent chemists of the country constituting a board for that purpose, to be the purest vaccine manufactured by any concern in the world.
AIDED FLOOD SUFFERERS
This sketch would be incomplete were no mention made of Dr. Alexander's connection with the relief work in behalf of Johnstown sufferers. He was invited by the Pennsylvania state Board of Health to deliver an address before the sanitary convention in Pittsburg on the 31st of May, 1889, the day the flood occurred. He learned of the disaster early Saturday morning, June 1, in fact heard a few rumors about it Friday night. Joining in with other strangers who were at the convention, and having friends in Johnstown, many of whom were drowned, he aided in loading cars with drug relief supplies during Saturday, and went down on the first train Saturday night. Leaving the train at Sanghollow, a Mr. Turner and himself were the only ones who would venture to cross the six miles into Johnstown, over the dangerous landslides and wash-out to reach that place. They carried some medical supplies and blankets, reached the stone bridge on Sunday morning, and remained for five days working with the relief department in that stricken city. Once the doctor fell into the Conemaugh river, by the breaking of a temporary bridge, and one night he spent sleeping against an oak tree, having sat down in the rain to rest for a few minutes, and failed to arise until the next morning. His labors consisted in what help he could render from a medical standpoint, and what other outside assistance fell in his way. On his return home he was called upon by his fellow citizens to deliver an address upon the subject, the receipts going to swell the funds for the relief of the sufferers.
The deceased was married to Miss Martha H. Woodman, daughter of Samuel Woodman, of Philadelphia, on May 23, 1877. Besides his wife he leaves six children: Edith, Mertie, Hamill, Lillian, Marion, and Jacob, all of whom are at home. J. Hume, a son, who was a lad of remarkable intelligence, died at the world's fair in Chicago on June 6, 1893.
The funeral will take place on Friday Afternoon at 2 o'clock.
"Born in Lewisburg in 1850, Alexander graduated from Bucknell University and the University of Pennsylvania Medical School. Shortly thereafter, he moved to Marietta, where he took over the family practice of a Dr. Norris, who was ready to retire. Alexander soon become a successful and beloved local doctor, galloping through the streets on horseback as he rushed from one house call to another.
A few years later, Alexander took an interest in the smallpox vaccine, which was not readily available here, despite having been developed nearly a century earlier in England by Edward Jenner. According to this 1930 biographical story about Alexander published in the Sunday News, the young doctor traveled around the country to visit farms that were involved in vaccine production, even going so far as to take a job undercover as a laborer at one such location.
By 1882, Alexander was making smallpox vaccine in Marietta - first in a renovated chicken house next to his office with a single heifer, soon after at the Marietta Vaccine Farm with a herd of hundreds. He used the technique established by Jenner of infecting cows with smallpox, then drawing their blood and using the cows' antibodies to produce a smallpox vaccine for humans."
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George G. Groff was born on April 5, 1851, on a farm near Valley Forge, Pennsylvania. He received his early education in the public schools and in academies at Phoenixville and Norristown, Pennsylvania. He was educated at West Chester State Normal School; Michigan University; and Long Island College Hospital, Brooklyn, New York. He taught in the public schools and at West Chester State Normal School before he was appointed as Professor of Organic Sciences in Bucknell University in 1879.
Dr. Groff, an outright proponent of co-education, advocated that women be admitted to the college and be allowed to receive degrees. In 1886, he studied in Germany, as did many nineteenth-century American academics. He served as acting president of Bucknell University for the 1888/1889 Academic Year. While serving in this capacity, Dr. Groff made provision for a course in the theory and practice of teaching to be taught in the Academy in the spring of 1889 by a visiting instructor.
Dr. Groff was a physician and a scientist who was active in public affairs as well as academic pursuits. In 1889, he was in charge of sanitation at Johnstown after the great flood. For a number of years, he lectured on health and scientific subjects at Teachers' and Farmers' Institutes. He was the author of a Series of School Physiologies; Farm and Village Hygiene; School Hygiene; Dairy Hygiene; and a textbook on mineralogy. In 1897, he was president of the State Board of Health and a member of the State Medical and Dental Councils. Dr. Groff was a member of the Baptist Church.
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