ADAMS COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

ILLUSTRATED BOOKLET

The history of Adams County, PA, home of Gettysburg, where the bloodiest battle of the Civil War occurred, is recalled through a mixture of colorful tales and factual data in this NEW 58 Page Booklet, reprinted primarily from three hard-to-find books: the 1843 edition of Historical Collections of the State of Pennsylvania by Sherman Day, An Illustrated History of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania (1876) by William Egle, M.D., and Pennsylvania, a Guide to the Keystone State, a WPA project published in 1940. The spiral-bound booklet is printed one-sided on 60# paper, with the print enlarged for easier reading. A clear vinyl sheet has been added to protect the front cover.

Besides Gettysburg, the communities mentioned include: Abbottstown, Arendtsville, Beechersville, Berlin, Caledonia, Cashtown, East Berlin, Fairfield, Hampton, Hanover (Rogue's Rest), Heidlersburg, Hilltown, Hunterstown, Littlestown, McSherrystown, Mechanicsville, Middletown, Millerstown, Mummasburg, New Chester, New Oxford, New Salem, Petersburg, Seven Stars, Waynesboro and York Springs.

The Day and Egle histories cover the early development of this area, while excerpts from the WPA book, give a nostalgic glimpse from a 1940 vantage point, including interesting historical notes, especially as they relate to sightseeing possibilities. There is occasionally some duplication of material, but often with a different slant or emphasis.

Among the many and diverse subjects in the booklet are: Early Scotch-Irish Presbyterian Settlers; Early German Settlers; "The Tape-Worm," an unbuilt $700,000 railroad and political fiasco in 1842; Red/Blue Cockade vs. Black Cockade - a sign of political unrest; Early Churches; the Lutheran Theological Seminary; Pennsylvania College (Gettysburg College); an Expensive Pair of Shoes; a Wild Hot Air Balloon Ride; York Sulphur Springs; Captured by Indians; a Day by Day Account of the Battle of Gettysburg; a Tour of the Battlefield; the Soldier's National Cemetery; the Battle at Hanover; the Adams County Agricultural Society; the 1938 Blue and Gray Reunion and other interesting bits of history and trivia.

The booklet has no index, but I went through and picked out the following names: Rev. Alexander Dobbin, James Cunningham, Jonathan Hoge, James Johnston, Garret Vanosdol, James Gettys, Rev. Paxton, Rev. Watson, Rev. John Black, Rev. David McConaughy, McPherson, Warrell, William McClellan (McLellen), Capt. David Wilson, Capt. Nicolas Bittinger, Rev. S.S. Schmucker, Rev. Benjamin Kurtz, Rev. E. L. Hazelius, Charles P. Krauth, Henry I. Smith, Rev. D. Jacobs, Rev. H.L. Baugher, Rev. W. M. Reynolds, Rev. Henry I. Smith, D. Gilbert, M.L. Stoever, Gottlob Bessler, John Wise (balloonist), John McClellan, Peter Fleck, Isaac Sadler, Jacob Garner, Jacob Fickes, McCosh, Richard Bard, Hannah McBride, Samuel Hunter, Daniel McManimy, William White, Lt. Thomas Potter, David Moore, Joseph Farris, Hugh McKean, Matthew Black, Robert McPherson, William Black, James Agnew, John Alexander, Moses Jenkins, Richard Hall, Richard Fosset, Adam Hall, James Wilson, John Steel, John Johnson, John Hamilton, Hugh Vogan, John McWharter, Hugh Sweeny, Titus Darley, Thomas Hosack, Allison, Campbell, Horrison, Edie, Rev. James A. Brown, Rev. Charles A. Hay, Rev. J.G. Morris, Rev. S.A. Holman, Rev. J. Herbst, John L. Rice, Thaddeus Stevens (famous abolishionist), David Wills, Gov. Curtin, Joseph Griest, Dr. John Arnold, Daniel Deardorff, Henry Martzsaal, John Hartman, Albert Van Dyke, Col. Richard McAllister, Mary Jemison ("White Woman of the Genessee"), Major Calvin Gilbert, John Burns, Jenny Wade, Joshua Speakman, Vincent Pilkington, Henry Kuhn, Joseph Pattison, John Frankenberger, Peter Houshill, Andrew Comfort, John Hildebrand, Charles Himes, James Sarbach, James Mackey, Robert John Chester and Peter Lane.

ILLUSTRATIONS include: Gettysburg (about 1842), Theological Seminary (2 pictures), Pennsylvania College (2 pictures), York Sulpher Springs, Gen. Lee's Headquarters, General Mead's Headquarters, Plan of Battle of Gettysburg, National Monument (full page), Monument to General Reynolds, Map of Gettysburg showing Points of Interest.