Union County Historical Highlight:
18th Century Dissenters Were Key to America’s Early Pursuit of Liberty
Dotted with scenic farmscapes and historic downtowns, Union County was established in March 1813 from a portion of Northumberland County. The name “Union” was intentional – it was a clear nod to the federal Union of the United States. Mifflinburg served as its first county seat, then moved to New Berlin in 1815, and finally to Lewisburg in 1855, where it remains today.
Union County is expansive and includes the towns of Allenwood, Laurelton, Lewisburg, Mifflinburg, New Berlin, Vicksburg, West Milton and Winfield.
A Brief History
The county’s early history saw significant settlement by Scots-Irish and German immigrants who established the region’s agricultural heritage. This can be easily seen today by its old stone farmhouses and barns dotting the picturesque landscapes.
Throughout its history, agricultural life blended seamlessly with industrial development, driven largely by its location to the Susquehanna River as a transportation corridor, allowing people and goods to be moved to and from larger urban centers to Central Pennsylvania.
Though difficult to navigate, the construction of the Pennsylvania Canal, and the “Lewisburg Cut” in particular in the 1830s connected Lewisburg to a much larger canal system, making the region a hub for lumber and iron ore trade. Eventually, railroads were built, often along the same routes as the canals.
From its earliest beginnings and into today, agriculture remained a cornerstone of the economy thanks to the Buffalo Valley’s fertile soil, producing field crops, dairy products, meat and poultry.
The forested northern and western parts of the county supported a thriving lumber industry with timber from Bald Eagle Mountain.
Local deposits of iron ore also contributed to a booming iron-making industry which flourished into the late 19th century.
Union County is particularly well-known for producing high-quality wood products, thanks in large part to the skills of German craftsmen. Mifflinburg, in particular, was a center of buggy manufacturing, earning the names “Buggy Town” and “Buggy Capital of America.” Lewisburg was also home to a variety of industries including foundries, grain mills, and furniture companies in the 19th and 20th centuries.
Notable Figures
Three significant historical figures are often associated with Union County:
-
Ludwig Derr (1743-1801), the founder of Lewisburg (originally Derrstown) who laid out the town in 1785 and was key to its early development, including donations of land for public purposes.
-
Colonel John Kelly (1744-1832), an early settler of the region, was a prominent figure in the American Revolution. He was known as an “outstanding Indian fighter” in the Buffalo Valley and served with distinction in the battles of Trenton and Princeton.
-
Eli Slifer (1818-1888), a well-respected politician (local and state government) and industrialist, he co-owned a canal boat-building business and later served as the Secretary of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania during the Civil War, and in charge of fulfilling the requests that Lincoln was making on behalf of the Union.
Early Dissension in Union County was Key to America’s Founding
In a recent interview, local historian and board member of the Union County Historical Society, Bruce Teeple, said the significance of Union County during the Whiskey Rebellion cannot be overstated.
If you’re a little rusty on late 18th century history, the Whiskey Rebellion was a violent tax protest in the United States beginning in 1791 and ending in 1794 during the presidency of George Washington.
Teeple said, “Even the disparaging name of the rebellion, coined by Hamilton, conjured up images of drunken hillbillies out in the west (of Pennsylvania) who didn’t want to pay their taxes – but nothing was farther from the truth. The situation around here was that people had serious questions about the Constitution. What they wanted and what they fought for during the American Revolution was a form of government similar to the 1776 Pennsylvania State Constitution. That was described at the time, and still has been described, as the most democratic form of government in the western hemisphere.”
He continued, “They were extending the vote to free white males and free black males; you did not have to own property to vote.”
Teeple said early residents of the County wanted a return to the land bank that the state operated in the early 1700s, “That’s why Pennsylvania was known as the best poor man’s country, that’s why everybody flocked here, because the land bank had reasonable rates and terms for getting the land in Pennsylvania for farmers.”
Teeple said Union County had a number of vocal dissenters of Hamilton’s and Washington’s economic policies.
“This area was a real hotbed of political radicalism in the 1790s,” Teeple said.
He said they were so vocal because they thought the policies were replicating the policies of Parliament.
Several regions in Central Pennsylvania even erected visible symbols of resistance – in Northumberland, Milton, Lewisburg below the Street of Shops, and Mifflinburg.
“In fact, in the Susquehanna (River) Valley, there were four Liberty poles, which was a serious statement – that was tantamount to giving the finger to the government – and the militia was ordered to cut them down,” said Teeple.
He said Hamilton and Washington had to find a way to suppress it so it didn’t get out of hand.
What is the relevance of history today?
“A lot of the questions, for example those in the Whiskey Rebellion, are still relevant today: How responsive is the government supposed to be? How much dissent are they going to tolerate? What is the relationship between capital and labor and the government? Those were things that were never really resolved and we’re still paying the price today. Other countries have worked out arrangements, but we have not. I’m hoping some day we will learn from this,” said Teeple.
He continued, “I still have faith in the government and the American people.”
Union County Historical Society Contact info:
103 S. 2nd Street, Lewisburg in the Union County Courthouse
570-524-8666
info@unioncopahistory.com
https://www.unioncopahistory.com/
Hours are Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. They are closed for lunch from 12-1 p.m. It is highly recommended to call or email before your visit to ensure someone is available to meet with you.
