CONOY is in the 
								northwestern corner of Lancaster County.  
								It is bounded on the north by Dauphin County, on 
								the east by West Donegal township, and, on the 
								south and southwest by the township of East 
								Donegal and the Susquehanna River.  It is 
								crossed in the southern part by Conoy Creek, on 
								which  
								are several mills, and in the northern part by a 
								small stream called Brubaker’s Run, on which are 
								a grist-mill and a saw-mill.  Another 
								smaller stream, called 
								Stony Run, crosses the township still farther 
								north, and Conewago Creek forms its northern 
								boundary and separates it from Dauphin County.  
								The surface 
								is undulating, and the soil is exceedingly 
								fertile, producing the great staples of this 
								region, wheat and tobacco, in abundance. 
     This township enjoys excellent facilities for travel 
								and transportation.  The Pennsylvania 
								Railroad and Canal pass through it along the 
								Susquehanna River, and several principal 
								highways cross it from east to west.  The 
								river road, which was an early thorough-fare, 
								traverses the township in a northerly and 
								southerly direction along the river. 
     The name of the township was derived from that of a 
								tribe of Indians that formerly inhabited the 
								region, though it is believed that this name is 
								somewhat corrupted. 
     Conoy was separated from West Donegal and erected into 
								a township in 1842.  Its population in 1880 
								was two thousand one hundred and fifty-five.   
								The justices of the peace elected in the 
								township since its organization have been: 
     Magistrates. - The 
								justices of the peace in Conoy have been: 
								Thomas Eagan, 1843; Jacob Foreman, 
								1844; M. W. May, 1847; Jacob Foreman, 
								1849; John Filbert, 1852; Joseph 
								Engle, Joseph Foreman, 1854; 
								Christian S. Erb, Jacob Foreman, 
								1859; C. S. Erb, Jacob T. Bare, 1864; 
								Jacob T. Bare, 1869; C. S. Erb, Frank 
								McNeill, 1874; Frank McNeill, 1879. 
     Members of Assembly. - 
								Bertram Galbraith was the first citizen 
								within the present limits of Conoy township who 
								was elected to the Assembly. 
     Frederick Hipple was a county commissioner in 
								1842, and was at one time a member of the 
								Assembly. 
     Jacob Foreman, a native of Maryland, was a 
								merchant in Bainbridge.  He was elected to 
								the Assembly in 1840-42. 
     Pioneer Settlers. - The 
								first white settlers and land-owners were Indian 
								traders. 
     The following letter of James Logan to 
								Isaac Taylor, the surveyor of Chester 
								County, gives the date when the first surveys 
								were made in the township.  All of those 
								named lived in the neighborhood for a number of 
								years prior to the date of this letter.  
								What is known in early history as “Old Peter’s 
								Road" was thus named from Peter 
								Bizaillon, who had a trading-post at Conoy 
								Indian Town, and which ran from "Moor's Mill," 
								at Downingtown, Chester County, to Conoy Town.  
								This letter was a private one, and not intended 
								for old Peter’s eyes: 
 
									
										
											| 
											 "PHILADa, 
											4th, 9 mo., 1719. 
											"ISAAC 
											TAYLOR: 
          "Loving ffriend. 
     "Thou wilt receive from Peter Bizaillon himself 
											the warrants on orders for surveying 
											a thousand acres of land to his wife 
											and her brother, in executing of 
											which I doubt it will be difficult 
											to reconcile his and Anne Le Tort's 
											expectations, but I request thee to 
											use thy endeavours. 
     Peter will talk high, but generally 
											harkens to reason.  However, 
											his an M. Combs' conveniency 
											are principally to be regarded, tho' 
											on the other hand I am very desirous 
											the old gentlewoman should have some 
											land that she may be fixed, and 
											leave something to her 
											grandchildren.  Pray see that 
											it be laid out of a sufficient 
											depth; I think a mile and a half or 
											a quarter, at least, is little 
											enough, but this is left to three, 
											and thou art by no means to produce 
											or mention this letter. 
     "J. Le Tort is also to have 500 acres laid out 
											in the same manner, but remember 
											that if any person whatever shall 
											pretend to say that if they cannot 
											have it in such or such a manner 
											they will have none, doe thou appear 
											willing to take them at their word, 
											wch is ye only way to 
											make them easy.  Keep this 
											wholly to thyself. 
          "They real friend, 
											"J. LOGAN."  | 
										 
									 
								 
								     In pursuance of 
								these instructions Mr. Taylor 
								proceeded to the Susquehanna River in the fall 
								of 1719, and commenced his surveys at or near 
								the mouth of Conoy Creek, and located three 
								hundred acres for James Logan, 
								which he afterwards let Jonas 
								Davenport have, who never took out a patent 
								for the land, and was compelled to part with it 
								again.  Immediately below Logan’s 
								tract he laid out four hundred and fifty acres 
								for Moses Comb, who was a brother 
								of Martha Bizaillon, and who sold 
								or conveyed the same to his brother, John
								Comb. 
     Below that tract seven hundred acres was surveyed for
								Martha Bizaillon, and adjoining 
								this last-mentioned tract on the east, nine 
								hundred acres was surveyed for James 
								Le Tort, who, after occupying it for 
								a few years, sold it to James Logan, 
								who took out a patent for it for the first time. 
     This last-mentioned tract extended a short distance 
								below Groves’—Shock Run. When these several 
								tracts of land were sold and by whom purchased, 
								is fully described elsewhere. 
     As a general rule the frontage on the river was about 
								one-third of the depth of the land.  Le 
								Tort’s tract was, however, nearly square.  
								As has been already shown elsewhere of the 
								Indian traders, it is not necessary to give a 
								more extended sketch.  The land upon which 
								Conoy Indian Town stood was upon the McComb 
								purchase. 
     Peter “Bezellon” died July 18, 1742, aged 
								eighty years. 
     John Combs died Sept. 12, 1736, aged 
								seventy-eight years. 
     Moses Combe, the brother of John, 
								died about the same time. 
     Martha, the wife of Peter Bizaillon, 
								died about the year 1746. She was the sister of 
								the Combes.  All 
								--------------- 
								1. By Samuel Evans, Esq. 
								[Pg. 749] 
								are buried at St. John's Episcopal Church 
								burying ground at the "Compass," a few yards 
								east of Salisbury township. 
     Bertram Galbraith was the son of James 
								Galbraith, Jr., and Elizabeth 
								Bertram (the only daughter of the Rev. 
								William Bertram, the Presbyterian minister 
								who located at Swatara, and preached at Paxton 
								and Derry Churches in 1729).  He was born 
								in Donegal in 1738.  He received the best 
								education the schools of that period afforded.  
								In connection with his other studies he was 
								taught surveying, and became an accomplished 
								land surveyor, which is fully attested by the 
								large number of his surveys now on file in the 
								Land Department at Harrisburg.  While yet 
								in his minority he raised a company of "Rangers" 
								during the French and Indian war of 1755-58 and 
								marched to Fort Hunter, located along the left 
								bank of the Susquehanna River, several miles 
								above Harrisburg.  He displayed a great 
								deal of military talent, which, in connection 
								with his patriotic spirit, was of incalculable 
								service to his country, which he served 
								faithfully during the trying period of the 
								Revolution.  Before this conflict came, and 
								during the repose which pervaded the province 
								between the Indian wars and that period, he was 
								one of the foremost, and rendered the most 
								valuable aid in behalf of the improvement  
								of the navigation of the Susquehanna River. 
     When the tocsin of war was sounded at Boston Harbor he 
								raised a battalion of troops in the township of 
								Donegal and vicinity.  He was appointed the 
								first lieutenant of the county whose business it 
								was to organize, equip, and place troops in the 
								field.  He was required to meet every 
								requisition made upon him by the Supreme 
								Executive Council or other proper authority.  
								In cases of emergency he was compelled, upon 
								short notice, to select a quota of militia from 
								the various classes and put them in the field.  
								He had sub-lieutenants in various sections of 
								the county, who rendered valuable assistance.  
								They met with great opposition in half of the 
								townships in the county from the farmers, who 
								refused to pay their military tax, and in many 
								instances used physical force to prevent the 
								enlistment and calling out of the militia. 
								Col. Galbraith was in the saddle night 
								and day often in performance of his onerous 
								duties. 
    In the spring and summer of 1777 the republican cause was in 
								great peril.  Several drafts of militia in 
								the several classes were called out and 
								additional excise tax levied.  Bertram 
								Galbraith writes to President Wharton 
								from Donegal, May 19, 1777, as follows: 
								     "By 
								this I'm to inform you that I have hitherto lost 
								no time in endeavoring to embody the militia of 
								this county, since my appointment, but find it 
								an arduous task - I have got Six Batallions out 
								of Nine formed, the three yet to form are in the 
								heart of the Mininists Settlements in our 
								County, who pamper with the Constables and 
								prevent them of making their Returns, by which 
								I'm rendered unable to do anything with them; I 
								have heard it reported that they mean to 
								withstand the measures . . . .  If your 
								Curiosity should lead you to enquire further 
								into the State of this County I refer you to 
								Col. Lowrey, who will be with you and can 
								inform you particularly." 
								     Again he writes to
								Mr. Wharton, June 2, 1777, stating that 
								he called a meeting of the sub-lieutenants 
								appointed to his assistance, and that he divided 
								the county into nine districts, and that on the 
								5th day of April last he issued warrants to the 
								constables of the different townships for 
								returning to him the names of all the male white 
								persons between the ages of eighteen and 
								fifty-three years. 
     After the time allowed for making their returns, he 
								waited at Lancaster for the receipt of them, and 
								received returns from Lancaster borough and 
								twenty-four townships out of thirty-three; eight 
								townships remained unreturned, and seemed to 
								give violent opposition to the measures.  
								He sent a guard for two of the constables, whom 
								they arrested.  They had to give bonds for 
								their appearance at court to answer.  Six 
								hundred of these militia were ordered to march 
								to Chester.  A number of persons opposed to 
								bearing arms assembled in different sections off 
								the county to oppose the march of these militia 
								to Chester.  He offered ten pounds per 
								month for substitutes, but could not procure 
								them.  In eight townships violent 
								opposition was made to the draft and the payment 
								of taxes. 
     John Bayley writes from Donegal, June 27, 1777, 
								stating that armed resistance was made by 
								Samuel Albright and twelve or fourteen 
								others to the collection of the tax, and they 
								killed one of the militia who went to assist the 
								constable. 
     On the 28th of June, 1777 Col. Galbraith writes again 
								from Lancaster, stating that he alone, with a 
								few individuals, became the “butts” of the whole 
								county, and that he had been threatened, but 
								paid no attention to them.  He also says 
								that unless something spirited is done, “I know 
								not whether I may be safe, as they have begun 
								with so much violence.”  On the 5th day of 
								August, 1777, in answer to a pressing demand 
								from President Wharton for troops, 
								he stated that he sent expresses to the several 
								colonels of battalions to get their companies 
								together and march as quick as possible to 
								Chester. 0n the same day he would have a guard 
								in readiness to receive the prisoners of war and 
								Tories at Anderson Ferry on their arrival- They 
								were being Sent to Frederick, Md. 
     On the 14th of August, 1777, he writes to the President 
								that he set nearly three-eighths of the 
								battalions on foot for the camp at Chester.  
								This number was supposed to be one thousand.  
								The militia of Lancaster borough were detained 
								to guard the prisoners.  The gunsmiths 
								wanted nine pounds for "musquetts and bayonets," 
								a shocking price.  He also says he had to 
								ride eighteen miles that day to hold an 
								election. 
     On the 19th day of August, 1777, he writes that he 
								ordered double guards for prisoners in 
								Lancaster. 
     On the 2d of September, 1777, he writes that the 
								Hessian prisoners were sent to Lebanon, and that 
								it took three companies to guard them. 
     The letters give but partial account of the trying 
								times of 1777.  Councilman Bayley 
								writes from Don- 
								[Pg. 750] 
								egal in 1777 that Col. Galbraith and 
								Col. Lowrey were in the saddle night and 
								day, and were worn out. 
     In July, 1778, he called out four hundred militia.  
								Many of these militia were sent to the frontiers 
								to protect the settlers from the Indians. 
     On the 28th day of February, 1738, his cousin, John
								Galbraith, took out a warrant of survey 
								for four hundred and forty acres of land, which 
								he located at the mouth of Conoy Creek, the bulk 
								of which laid upon the west side.  On the 
								29th day of December, 1757, John 
								Galbriath and his wife, Dorcas, sold 
								three hundred and eighty-three acres of this 
								tract to his cousin James, the father of
								Bertram.  This part of the tract lay 
								on the west side of Conoy Creek. 
     On the 8th day of March, 1760, James and 
								Elizabeth Galbraith sold this land to
								Patrick Work.  It was 
								afterward sold by the sheriff and purchased by
								Samuel Scott, who kept tavern at 
								Big Chikis Creek, on the old Paxton and 
								Conestoga road, for nineteen hundred and fifty 
								pounds.  Samuel Scott died in 
								1776, and left his large estate to his nephews 
								and nieces, among whom were the children of his 
								brother, Josiah Scott, whose 
								daughter Bertram Galbraith 
								married, and through whom he came into 
								possession of this valuable farm at Conoy Creek. 
     On the 4th day of August, 1735, James
								Logan took out a patent for four 
								hundred acres of land adjoining John 
								Galbraith’s tract on the west.  On the 
								same day Logan sold this tract to 
								Christian Grofl' and Jacob 
								Hertzler, and on the 4th day of October, 
								1758, the heirs of James Logan and
								Jacob Hertzler sold two hundred 
								acres of the four hundred acre tract to 
								Michael Graff, of Martic township.
								 
     On the 25th day of March, 1760, Michael Grafl' 
								and his wife Elizabeth sold this tract to 
								James Galbraith, Jr., who on 
								June 4, 1773, conveyed the same to their son, 
								Bertram Galbraith.  Logan 
								had established a ferry where Bainbridge now is. 
								Bertram Galbraith erected a large 
								stone ferry-house and mansion, which was 
								destroyed by fire some years ago.  Its 
								bleak and ponderous walls stood for many years 
								after the fire did its work, a reminder of the 
								once magnificent and costly structure.  The 
								walls were torn down within a year or two, and 
								the material was used in the construction of 
								other houses. 
     Melchoir Breneman, the 
								pioneer settler of that name in the county, was 
								a Mennonite preacher, and was born in the Upper 
								Palatinate.  With other 
								friends of this denomination he fled from the 
								religious persecution then prevalent in Europe, 
								and came to Lancaster County with the 
								Brubakers, Hostetters, Greiders, Hersheys, 
								Stonemans, Leamans, Swarrs, Tuberts, Kauffmans, 
								and other Swiss Mennonite refugees, early in the 
								fall of 1717.  On September 7th, in that 
								year, he took out a warrant for five hundred 
								acres of land, and subsequently two more tracts 
								adjoining this on the east, one of which 
								contained ninety acres and the other about one 
								hundred and twenty-five acres.  This land 
								is located due south from Lancaster borough, and 
								lies upon both sides of Mill Creek. 
     On the 3d day of December, 1728, Melchoir 
								Breneman purchased seven hundred acres of 
								land from Martha Bizaillon, which 
								was situated on the western boundary of the Le 
								Tort-Logan tract.  On March 30, 1730, 
								Melchoir Breneman and his wife 
								Elizabeth conveyed to their son Adam 
								one hundred acres of the first mentioned tract. 
								Adam died in 1753. 
     In 1719 there was surveyed for John Combe, 
								brother of Martha Bizaillon, four hundred 
								and fifty acres, adjoining the latter's tract of 
								seven hundred acres on the west.  Both of 
								these tracts lay along the river below Conoy 
								Creek. 
     On the 5th day of April, 1738. John Combe 
								conveyed his tract of land to his sister 
								Martha, who, on the 14th and 15th days of 
								March, 1739, conveyed the same to Christian
								Breneman, who resided upon the 
								Bizaillon tract, purchased by his father in 
								1728. 
     On the 2d day of August, 1746, Melchoir 
								Breneman (No. 1) conveyed to his son, the 
								aforesaid Christian, seven hundred acres, 
								the same which he purchased of Martha 
								Bizaillon. 
     On the 7th day of May, 1751, Christian 
								Breneman and his wife Susannah conveyed to 
								their son Melchoir one hundred and 
								eighty-seven acres, which was made up and taken 
								from the Combes and Bizaillon 
								tracts; and on the same day and year be conveyed 
								one hundred and eighty-seven acres to his 
								son-in-law.  John Stoneman (Stehman).  
								Prior to this time Mr. Breneman 
								and his wife conveyed four hundred acres of the
								Bizaillon tract to Abram Hess. 
     Melchoir Breneman (2d) was a 
								Mennonite minister.  He died in the year 
								1809, aged eighty-three years, and was probably 
								buried upon his own land.   
								There is nothing to mark the spot where his 
								remains were interred. 
     Jacob Haldeman, the ancestor of that 
								branch of the family in this vicinity, was born 
								in German Switzerland, Oct. 7, 1722, came to 
								America with two brothers, and settled in Rapho 
								township between the years 1740 and 1750.  
								He died in the summer of 1783.  John, 
								his son, was one of the boldest and most 
								successful business men in the State.  He 
								surmounted every difficulty and impediment which 
								stood in his way and threatened to wreck his 
								financial ventures.  He gradually increased 
								the number of his acres and extended his 
								business.  In 1790 be erected a large 
								grist-mill at the mouth of Conoy Creek.  He 
								also carried on distilling ‘extensively.  
								He sent his flour and produce down the river in 
								keel-boats as far as "Wright’s Ferry," thence to 
								Philadelphia.  He in vested his surplus 
								means in the purchase of lands in various 
								sections of the State.  He purchased 
								several hundred thousand acres of land in North 
								Carolina.  He was elected to the 
								Legislature in 1800. 
     He gave his eldest son, John B., the mill and 
								homestead at Conoy Creek, which was subsequently 
								conveyed to his fourth son, Henry. 
								[Pg. 751] 
     After a successful business career he retired to a life 
								of ease and leisure in Columbia.  He took 
								his youngest son, Peter, with him, and 
								established him in the mercantile business in 
								1812, which is now carried on successfully by 
								George W. and B. F. Haldeman, sons of 
								Peter. Some idea of John 
								Haldeman's extensive business ventures may 
								be gleaned from the fact that between 1812 and 
								1815 his deposits in the office of discount and 
								deposit in Columbia amounted to two hundred and 
								fifty thousand dollars. 
      
								  
								  
								[Pg. 752] 
								  
								  
								[Pg. 753] 
								  
								  
								[Pg. 754] 
								  
								  
								[Pg. 755] 
								stands at Locust Grove, on Conoy Creek, near the 
								Susquehanna River, a mile below Bainbridge.  
								The tract of land on which this mill was built 
								was taken up by John Galbraith in 
								1738, purchased by Mr. Haldeman in 
								1786.  It is worthy of note that Bayard 
								Taylor’s grandfather, who was a mason, 
								worked on this mill when it was erected.  
								It was burned about 1800, but was at once 
								rebuilt, larger than at first, by Mr. 
								Haldeman.  It had four runs of stones, 
								and it has had only ordinary repairs since it 
								was rebuilt.  It is a large building, and 
								has facilities for storing large quantities of 
								grain.  It has always been both a merchant- 
								and custom-mill. 
     Henry Haldeman, a son of John, succeeded 
								the latter in the ownership of the mill, and his 
								son, Cyrus S. Haldeman, inherited 
								it from him.  In 1855 it was purchased by 
								John H. Smith, who sold it to John Wiley, 
								the father of Henry H. and John E. 
								Wiley, the present owners.  
								  
								  
								  
								  
								  
								  
								     The Lutheran and 
								Reformed Church of Bainbridge1 
								was  
								  
								  
								  
								     Church of God. 
								-  
								  
								[Pg. 756] 
								  
								  
								  
								     Bainbridge 
								Methodist Episcopal Church1 was 
								  
								  
								     Methodist 
								Episcopal Church of Falmouth -  
								  
								  
								     River Brethren.
								-  
								  
								     Bainbridge 
								Cemetery. - At an early day interments were 
								made in a cemetery within the present limits of 
								the town of Bainbridge, but when the town was 
								laid out some of the streets were made to pass 
								through this burial place, and two stables now 
								stand on a portion of it.  Another 
								graveyard was on a hill one-fourth of a mile 
								north from the town, on land now owned by 
								Christian Herr, butt this has ceased to be 
								used.  After the town came into existence 
								the Lutheran churchyard was used as a place of 
								burial and the town owned two lots therein. 
     In 1874 an association was formed and incorporated 
								under the name of the “ Bainbridge Cemetery,” 
								with a capital of two thousand five hundred 
								dollars in shares of fifty dollars each.  
								The corporators were Israel M. Grofl, Henry 
								C. Fahs, John Hykes, John Marlrley, Thomas 
								Haden, Samuel Hackenberger, George W. 
								Hackenberger, Harrison Hipple, Peter Sides, and 
								George Beane. Of these Samuel 
								Hackenberger, George Beane, 
								John Markley, Henry C. Fahs, and Harrison
								Hipple were the first directors.  A 
								lot of‘ five acres, just south from the town, 
								was purchased, inclosed, and laid out for a 
								burial-place, and interments have since been 
								made there. 
     The remains of many who had been buried elsewhere have 
								been removed to this more tasteful and better 
								kept cemetery, and the place is assuming more 
								and more the attractive appearance which is 
								generally given to modern cemeteries.  The 
								presidents of the association have been 
								Israel M. Grofl' and Samuel 
								Hackenberger, the present incumbent of the 
								position. 
								     Bainbridge Lodge, 
								No. 627, I. O. O. F. - This loge was 
								instituted in the spring of 1868, with Dr. 
								George T. Deseman, N. G.; John B. Small, 
								V. G.; R. G. Galbraith, Sec.; John 
								Markley, Treas.; and E. K. Davis, H. C. 
								Fahs, A. M. Smith, A. K. Stoner, Jefferson G. 
								Galbraith, Dr. George D. Beane, John F. 
								Galbraith, Henry Isaac, John H. Finley, B. 
								Doyle, John Killinger, Jacob Piper, G. H. 
								Feltenberger, Frank Feltenberger, Simon C. 
								Camps, and James Murphy, charter 
								members. 
     The Noble Grands have been Dr. George T. Deseman, 
								John B. Small, John Markley, A. M. Smith, H. C. 
								Fahs, B. G. Galbraith, Henry Isaac, John F. 
								 
								[Pg. 757] 
								Gailbraith, B. Doyle, Jacob Piper, G. H. 
								Feltenberger, Frank Feltenberger, Joseph H. 
								Walton, Jacob Shoaff, Jacob R. Brenner, A. K. 
								Stoner, E. Fullerton, M. Ressler, George E. 
								Good, George Walton, E. Walton. 
    The lodge has enjoyed uniform prosperity, and although it 
								has paid large sums in benefits it has now in 
								its treasury about two thousand dollars.  
								It 
								has also a lot in the town, on which the 
								erection of a hall is contemplated. 
								  
								--------------- 
								1. By Rev. J. E. Granley, pastor 
								[Pg. 757] 
								  
								  
								  
								  
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