The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1893-04-22

substantial dwelling house on each lot, at
least Is feet square, within three years
from May LIST, 1765 The road opened in
1916 he called King street, and the road
leading from Baltimore to Pittsburg (now
the Gettysburg and Petersburg turnpike)
was called Queen street In his deeds he
calls the town Petersburg; and states that
he wishes tito be called so forever His
wishes we're not carried out. Captain
Joseph Mcclellan, in his Diary of the
Pennsylvania Line, says:
;'May 26th, 1871. Marched from York
at a H., under the command OF Gen.
Wayne, and encamped IL miles on the
road to FredericktowD.
"May 9th. The general beat at day
light, and the troops took up the line of
march at sunrise, and halted near Peter
Littlestown, it being IA miles.
"May 18th. Marched through fancy
town, and halted upon the banks of Pipe
Creek, being II miles.
The force consisted of 500 effective men,
and the troops were on their way to York
town, Va. The town grew slowly. In
1897 it contained about so houses. In
1900 the population was $50; and the
next census it had grown to 2o7. BY the
formation of Adams county out Of York,
in 1900, Littlestown became the oldest
town in the new county.
The building of the Gettysburg and
Petersburg turnpike road in lS07-l4 was
an event in the history of the place, max
ing it an important stop for stages and
wagons on their route from Baltimore to
| Pittsburg.
The Littlestown railroad-a line of Z
understanding to Hanover was begun
July 18th, 1857 and completed in June
following. This gave new life to the town.
James Renshaw and George Myers laid out
new lots. two warehouses were built, and
a new hotel. Business increased and the
population grew from 1874 in 1850 to 702
in 1860. During the battle of Gettysburg
the Union troops passed through the town
ON their way to battle, while trains OF
wagons and lines of prisoners kept coming
and going. The U. B. Church was turned
into hospital.
Among the distinguished wounded cared
for at Littlestown was General Daniel K.
Sickles who lost his leg at Round Top and
who was carried on streteher from the
field of battle to Littlestown. where he was
placed on the cars Col w. w. Dudley,
late U. S. Pension Commissioner, was
wounded at Gettysburg and had his leg
amputated at the house of Hon. Ephraim
Myers, in Littlestown, by DIR. Thomas
Kinzer The National Hotel was also used
as hospital The land about town, especi-
ally that of Hon. VIM. McSherry, was
used for several days by Gen. Gearys
command as camping ground; he and his
staff, embracing Major Moses Veale, now
Health Commissioner of Philadelphia,
Occupying the family residence as their
headquarters. The fences were burnt,
crops, destroyed, and fields cut up and
damaged.
About century after it began to exist,
Littlestown received legal recognition by
being incorporated as a borough by the
Court of Adams county, February 23d,
1864. The litigation began August 10th,
1860, by filing a petition for incorpora-
ton, which was followed by remonstrances
and exceptions. Jan. I'd, 1863, the Court
ordered an election to be held on Feb. 18th
following, to determine the wishes of the
residents of the territory embraced in the
proposed borough, and appointed DR.. R.
s. Seiss, Judge; Dr. E. F. Shorb and Joseph
Barker, inspectors. At the election "a
votes we're cast in favor of and % against
the erection of borough This was fol
lowed by petitions for resurvey by James
Renshaw and VIM. McSherry. There
were 90 freehold residents in the proposed
borough From 1855 to 1868, about 30
houses were put up near the railroad and
the square The first election was held
August 10th, 1864, at the ''most westerly
school house. in the borough. The result
of the litigation was that the land of Mr..
McSherry was excepted from the borough
limits and that of Mr. Renshaw retained.
| The walks were dug down, or filled up, as
required; and excellent payements were
laid. The next event of importance was
the completion Of the railroad to the Mary
land line in 1871.
Littlestown is located in Adams county,
Pennsylvania. The population of the
borough proper is 991, and with those adj
iacent about 1900, The chief streets,
East and West King, and North and South
Queen, are well piked; and are SO feet
wide; there are also Lombard and Gene
terry streets. The length of the borough
is about one mile and its breadth about
three-quarters of that distance. The town
is compactly built and has many fine resi-
dences. Many of the houses are surround
cd with beautiful yards ornamented with
flowers. The streets are well shaded and
the houses and fences are neat and we'll
kept. The stores and public buildings
compare fayorably with those of the cities
There are two commodious warehouses, the
same number of hotels, a fine bank build,
ing, large ublic school house, two
story brick fire engine house, fully equip.
ed, and an excellent weekly newspaper,
"The Adams County Independent" The
citizens are thrifty, industrious, and intel
gent All are engaged in some pursuit
and find occupation in making cigars, car
riages, and the usual avocations. There
are FIVE churches in the town, the Catho-
lie, United Brethren, Methodist, German
Reformed and Lutheran. The country
about LittlestoWn is rolling. The soil il
fertile, and the climate healthy. Th'
hospitality of the past has descended to thu
present citizens; and to their other gooc
qualities they have added an energy which
promises to win wealth for themselves anC
descendants, and prosperity for their town
Twenty-Five years ago advertising wa
largely an experiment. today it is knownt'
hear a fixed relation to business. Larg