This Was Doylestown, 1904

Marshall's rifle donated to Bucks County Historical Society -

Editor's note - In 1737, James Logan, secretary to the proprietors of Pennsylvania, hired three men to measure an undertermined area of land, purchased from the Lenape Indians in 1686, which began in Wrightstown and extended as far north as a man could walk in a day and a half. Edward Marshall, Solomon Jennings and James Yeates left Wrightstown the morning of Sept. 19, 1737. Jennings and Yeates dropped out along the way, but Marshall, accompanied by men on horseback with provisions, continued at a fast pace and the next day reached a point near today's Jim Thorpe, a distance of about 65 miles. The Walking Purchase caused resentment among Indians who felt they had been tricked by the white men.

One of the most valuable acquisitions to the collection of interesting relics in the museum of the Bucks County Historical Society [then inside the courthouse] has just been placed on exhibition there. It is the famous rifle of Edward Marshall, renowned in the history of Bucks county and the country for his wonderful walk of 65 miles from Wrightstown to the Blue Mountains above Easton in one day and a half.

This remarkable firearm was deposited in the museum last week by Marshall Ridge, of Tinicum township, a great-great-nephew of the famous Indian slayer. It is 52 inches in length, with a flintlock, brass trimmings and wooden rammer, and shoots an ounce ball.

Edward Marshall was unable to secure a rifle that satisfied him in this country, so he purchased the barrel and lock of the gun in Germany and had it mounted here. It is a handsome gun, very heavy, and would still be admired for its graceful lines, beautiful wood and workmanship. It is in excellent working order, and the hair trigger is as sensitive as when Marshall set it to shoot "Injuns."

On the top of the barrel the following letters are faintly seen: "I.A.D. Rothenberg." In the flint box is the identical rammer screw that Marshall used to clean the piece 170 years ago before he started to hunt human game. It is doubtful whether any firearm in existence has shed so much human blood.

The story of his determined slaying of Indians began with the murdering of his wife by the red fiends. He made a vow to kill every Indian he could and according to the best accounts he kept his vow.

It is said that when asked how many Indians he had killed with the rifle, Marshall would evasively reply: "Whenever I took aim at an Indian, I shut my eyes, pulled the trigger and never saw him again."

Marshall made his famous walk in 1737 and died at the age of 79 years [in 1789]. He was buried in what was known as Marshall's graveyard about a mile east of Headquarters [Tinicum Township].

After Marshall's death, the rifle was in the possession of William A. and Thomas Ridge, and at the sale of the effects of Marshall in 1812 it was purchased by Moses Ridge. The rifle was presented to Marshall Ridge, who deposited it in the Historical Society museum, by his uncle, William A. Ridge, in 1894.

Doylestown baseball team wins game -

Doylestown had a hairsbreadth escape from defeat on Saturday afternoon, when it tore a victory by the score of 4 to 3 from the strong U.G.I. team of Philadelphia.

In the language of the rooters, the locals "played ball some," and a great deal of the credit is due to Miles, who tossed the ball for the locals. From the beginning of the game he was right where he was wanted and pulled the team out of some tight places. With that kind of twirling Doylestown can smile comfortably at any team that comes here--if it doesn't get over-confident.

There were some plays that didn't come up to snuff, but inasmuch as they were exceptions it isn't necessary to mention any names. Second baseman Lingerman made one error but that was due to misfortune rather that poor playing, for the chance was decidedly mean--one that anybody could fall down on. Any way you look at it, a praiseworthy victory for the home team can be figured out, for the U.G.I. is not the kind of team that loses in a farmer game.

In the first part of the game it looked as if the locals would score a shutout, leading 4 to 0 in the fifth inning. With two men out in the sixth inning, the U.G.I. scored a run on Lingerman's error on a two-bagger. From then on things looked dangerous several times, and the bleacherites had periodic gloomy spells.

Thereafter, the visitors bunched their hits pretty nicely and secured another run in the seventh and a third run in the ninth. Only the fact that a poor batter came up in the ninth when two men were out and a runner was on third, averted a tie score and what everybody was willing to bet would have been a defeat for Doylestown. Bastian, who was on third, evidently fearing a strikeout, made a desperate attempt to steal home and met his Waterloo. That finished it.

Memorial Day to be celebrated as usual -

Nothing unusual is scheduled to appear in the Memorial Day celebration in Doylestown. Year after year the same program has been carried out without change, and it will be the same Monday.

In the morning, the Daughters of Liberty will arrange the floral designs, and residents of the town and others are requested to furnish all the flowers and greens they can. The school children especially can help in this respect. It is a duty owed by Americans to show their respect, at least this small way, for the old soldiers.

As usual, the Germania Band, of Quakertown, will furnish the music for the day, arriving shortly after ten o'clock in the morning and giving a short concert in the court house park.

In the afternoon at 1:30 o'clock, the procession will form on Oakland avenue before the headquarters of General Bodine Post, G.A.R. [Grand Army of the Republic, an organization of Union Civil War veterans] and march to the 104th Regiment monument, where the usual ceremonies will take place.

At the court house the following program will be rendered: "Poet and Peasant Overture," band; Memorial orders, Post Adjutant John Clemens; Music, "PIctures from the North and South," band; Prayer, Rev. J. Riley Bergey; Intermezzo, "Anona," band; Oration, Rev. John W. Sayres; March, "American Republic," band; Singing, "America."

Proceeding to the Doylestown Cemetery, this program will be carried out: Introductory, Commander C.A. Cuffel; Dirge, Germania Band; Prayer, Rev. J. Riley Bergey; Reading the death roll, Adjutant John Clemens; Decoration of graves, Comrades C.D. Bigley, John Townsend, Jacob Clemens and Rev. J. Riley Bergey; Firing a salute, Co. G, Sixth Regiment, and Sons of Veterans; "Taps."

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ONCE MORE AT THE OLD STAND...We will sell at Public Sale on Wednesday, May 25, 1904, at the Fountain House, Doylestown, Pa., one carload of Iowa horses, consisting of roadsters, draft and farm chunks. We have a fine lot and can give you a good selection. Sale to commence at 1:30 p.m....N. FRETZ'S SONS.

Six graduate from Doylestown Township High School -

Editor's note - Doylestown Township High School, on Sandy Ridge Road, was in existence from 1892 to 1921. The building then housed grades one through eight until October 1936, when it and four other township grammar schools were closed and the students sent to the new Doylestown Township Consolidated School (now ) on Turk Road. The former schoolhouse now is a private residence.

Doylestown township students maintained their standard for good work on Saturday afternoon, when the class of 1904 graduated from the township high school at Sandy Ridge.

The exercises were held in the school building and the building was crowded. The room was decorated with the colors of the graduating class, gold and black. Some very fine watercolors and crayon drawings adorned the walls. In the rear of the platform was a reproduction of the painting showing the separation of the paths of pleasure and duty. At the bottom of the steps leading to these paths was the date 1804, and at the top, 1904.

The graduates who now must separate and choose which of these paths they will follow are Viola K. Eckert, Edythe A. Rich, Martha Garges, Elsie VonToor, Mary Ella Worthington and J. Wesley Jacoby.

At 2:30 o'clock, the graduates marched on the platform and the exercises began. After the invocation had been pronounced by Rev. James Riley Bergey, the salutatory was delivered by Viola Eckert. She spoke on the class motto, "Sailing Today, Where Shall We Anchor." Miss Eckert compared the launching of the class of 1904 to the launching of a ship laden with a precious cargo.

If the crew of the ship spent their time in feasting and pleasure, the ship would be dashed on the rocks, but if each sailor attended his duty, wisely and well, the craft would come safely into harbor. So if those who are now launching their lives choose pleasure, their path will be stormy and their success nothing but a resting place on a wreck-strewn shore. If they choose duty and purpose, fortune is theirs for the asking.

The enlightenment of women at the present day and the advanced respect in which they are held was discussed by Elsie VanToor under the title of "The Twentieth Century Woman." Miss VanToor thinks women are more intelligent than men and that their executive ability is is equal to if not greater than man's.

"The Ideal" was the subject of the valedictory, and was delivered by Mary Ella Worthingon. She said that while the ideal may be a characteristic of youth and that ideal conditions occupy less of the older minds, if we wish to succeed we must have ideals and ambition enough to enable us to strive toward them. If you never make a resolution, you can not expect to succeed.

Sewerage system to be constructed in Doylestown -

Town Council held a special meeting on Tuesday evening to hear what the representatives of the Doylestown Sewerage Company had to say in regard to their intention to construct a sewerage system in Doylestown.

Wynne James, Esq., representing the company, and John D. Harris, of Philadelphia, who has been awarded the contract to construct the system, were present to explain anything in relation to the building of the sewerage system which council cared to learn.

Mr. James said it was impossible for the company to present a draft showing exactly where the sewer pipes would be laid on the streets, as required by the ordinance, as the borough has no charts to show where the water and gas mains are located. In relation to this, it was afterward stated that the company's bond would indemnify the borough for any damage done to these mains in the laying of the sewer lines.

Contractor Harris explained to council on which streets the mains would be located and how they would be operated. The main sewer would be on Franklin street, and a 15-inch pipe will be put in there. Pipes will be laid on almost all the streets north of Ashland street. They will vary from 10- to 12-inch, according to the importance of the streets. Below Ashland, they will not be laid unless fifteen residents contract to take sewage, as that part of the town is not as thickly settled.

Mr. Harris explained that he was very anxious to begin work on the sewerage system within three weeks and intended to complete it as soon as possible. The dumping beds, which will be located north of the town along Cook's Run, will be the first part of the plant to be constructed.

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Doylestown Town Notes -

One of the most unusual modes of traveling is used by a young man who came to Doylestown from Philadelphia on Wednesday. He has had both legs cut off close to the body and walks by means of his hands. He has pieces of wood in each hand, rests the weight of his body on his hands and thus swings his body forward. He cleared a neat sum Wednesday evening selling lead pencils to the crowds on the streets.

Mr. and Mrs. Frank J. Gerlitzki and daughter, Marion, will leave Saturday for a trip to Gettysburg.

Herbert Nicholas has accepted a position as a soda dispenser at the pharmacy of Martin Hulshizer. The new machine for making milk shakes is being kept warm by the constant calls for that drink. Mr. Nicholas will handle ice cream sodas also.

The Pennsylvania Botanical Club will join the Bucks County Natural Science Association in their spring meeting along the banks of the Neshaminy, at Edison, on Saturday morning.

Miss Carrie Scott entertained a few friends on Friday evening in honor of her birthday at her home on Ashland street. The guests spent a pleasant evening playing pit, flinch and other games.

The alumni association of Doylestown High School held a meeting on Saturday evening in the public school. There are about one hundred members of the alumni.

Work began Monday morning on the excavations for the new Bucks County Historical Society building [now the Elkins Building on South Pine Street].

W.C. Payne held a sale of his personal property on Saturday at his home on State street, and it was largely attended. Everything sold well.

Rev. C.A.R. Janvier, of the Holland Memorial Church, a former missionary to India, will preach in the Doylestown Presbyterian Church on Wednesday evening.

Handsom, the Philadelphia professional checker player, was in Doylestown on Saturday and had several contests with the local players in which they made a very good showing.

The flower beds at Doylestown Cemetery have been refilled with beautiful plants by a local florist.

E. F. Bloom, agent at the Philadelphia and Reading station in Doylestown, left Saturday with a party of Reading Railway ticket and station agents for a visit to the St. Louis Exposition. The object of the trip is to equip the agents with facts regarding the exposition in order that they may talk intelligently on the subject to people seeking information about the fair.

From the Doylestown Daily Intelligencer, Week of May 22-28, 1904