| Mercersburg, Pa. |
Mercersburg is situated in southern Franklin County, Pennsylvania, and has been
referred to as the "jewel box" of Franklin County because of the large number of historic
buildings that have been preserved.
James Black, the son of an early settler in the area, was granted a warrant for the
ground on which Mercersburg now resides in 1751. However it appears that Black may
have resided or made use of the land as early as 1738. At any rate, as the small
settlement grew it became known as Black's Town.
In October of 1759, William Smith purchased a part of Black's tract along with a mill, a
store and some other structures. Thereafter, Black's Town became Smith's Town or
Squire Smith's Town.
Men from the town and surrounding area are known to have participated in the Indian
conflicts of the time and were called to duty to serve in the Colonial Armies of the
Revolution. One of these men was Dr. Hugh Mercer, a Scottish Immigrant. After General
Braddock was routed by the French and Indians in 1755, the Indians became bolder.
Companies of Rangers were formed by the colonists to provide for their self-defense.
Dr. Mercer was made Captain of one of these companies in 1756. Dr. Mercer held
several other military positions. In 1758 he was placed in command of part of the
Expedition led by General Forbes against Fort Duquesne. It was then that he met
George Washington, a brigadier general of a force from Virginia. They became fast
friends.
At the conclusion of the French and Indian War, Dr. Mercer moved to Virginia at the
suggestion of his friend Washington. In June of 1776, Mercer was made a Brigadier
General of the Continental Army upon the advice of Washington.
referred to as the "jewel box" of Franklin County because of the large number of historic
buildings that have been preserved.
James Black, the son of an early settler in the area, was granted a warrant for the
ground on which Mercersburg now resides in 1751. However it appears that Black may
have resided or made use of the land as early as 1738. At any rate, as the small
settlement grew it became known as Black's Town.
In October of 1759, William Smith purchased a part of Black's tract along with a mill, a
store and some other structures. Thereafter, Black's Town became Smith's Town or
Squire Smith's Town.
Men from the town and surrounding area are known to have participated in the Indian
conflicts of the time and were called to duty to serve in the Colonial Armies of the
Revolution. One of these men was Dr. Hugh Mercer, a Scottish Immigrant. After General
Braddock was routed by the French and Indians in 1755, the Indians became bolder.
Companies of Rangers were formed by the colonists to provide for their self-defense.
Dr. Mercer was made Captain of one of these companies in 1756. Dr. Mercer held
several other military positions. In 1758 he was placed in command of part of the
Expedition led by General Forbes against Fort Duquesne. It was then that he met
George Washington, a brigadier general of a force from Virginia. They became fast
friends.
At the conclusion of the French and Indian War, Dr. Mercer moved to Virginia at the
suggestion of his friend Washington. In June of 1776, Mercer was made a Brigadier
General of the Continental Army upon the advice of Washington.
The friendship between Washington and Mercer remained strong. It is held that Washington
consulted Mercer on military matters. During the Battle of Trenton in January of 1777, the
American troops were surprised by the 17th British Regiment led by Colonel Mawhood. Mercer
was at the front of the force mounted on a gray horse. The first British volley killed his horse
and also his trusted lieutenant, Colonel Hazlett. Mercer, pinned by his fallen mount, was
surrounded by British troops who supposed him to be General Washington. They demanded
his surrender. Freeing himself, he refused and tried to fight his way out of the predicament
with his sword. But he was knocked unconscious by a gun butt blow to the back of the head.
While lying on the ground he received seven bayonet wounds to the body and two to the head.
He was transported after the battle to a farm house and was cared for there for nine days
before expiring from his wounds. He was interred in Christ Churchyard in Philadelphia, where
it is said that over 30,000 persons attended the service
Squire Smith's Town was renamed Mercersburg in honor of the fallen hero.
consulted Mercer on military matters. During the Battle of Trenton in January of 1777, the
American troops were surprised by the 17th British Regiment led by Colonel Mawhood. Mercer
was at the front of the force mounted on a gray horse. The first British volley killed his horse
and also his trusted lieutenant, Colonel Hazlett. Mercer, pinned by his fallen mount, was
surrounded by British troops who supposed him to be General Washington. They demanded
his surrender. Freeing himself, he refused and tried to fight his way out of the predicament
with his sword. But he was knocked unconscious by a gun butt blow to the back of the head.
While lying on the ground he received seven bayonet wounds to the body and two to the head.
He was transported after the battle to a farm house and was cared for there for nine days
before expiring from his wounds. He was interred in Christ Churchyard in Philadelphia, where
it is said that over 30,000 persons attended the service
Squire Smith's Town was renamed Mercersburg in honor of the fallen hero.
Mercersburg has been home to other famous sons and daughters. William Findlay served the State of Pennsylvania in
the Pennsylvania House of Representatives from 1797 to 1807. At that time he was elected State Treasurer. He remained in
that position until 1817. In 1817 he was a candidate for Governor and was elected. He was Governor until 1820. At that time
he was elected U.S. Senator for a six year term. At this time his brother John was serving in the National House of
Representatives. When William's term expired, he was appointed Treasurer of the Mint in Philadelphia. He held this position
until he retired in 1841.
Dr. John McDowell, LL.D. was the first President of St. John's College in Annapolis, Maryland. In 1806 he was chosen
Professor of Natural Philosophy at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia. In 1807 he became the third Provost of the
University. He held both positions until 1810 when he resigned them due to poor health.
the Pennsylvania House of Representatives from 1797 to 1807. At that time he was elected State Treasurer. He remained in
that position until 1817. In 1817 he was a candidate for Governor and was elected. He was Governor until 1820. At that time
he was elected U.S. Senator for a six year term. At this time his brother John was serving in the National House of
Representatives. When William's term expired, he was appointed Treasurer of the Mint in Philadelphia. He held this position
until he retired in 1841.
Dr. John McDowell, LL.D. was the first President of St. John's College in Annapolis, Maryland. In 1806 he was chosen
Professor of Natural Philosophy at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia. In 1807 he became the third Provost of the
University. He held both positions until 1810 when he resigned them due to poor health.
In 1783 a 23 year young man from County Donegal, Ireland immigrated to America.
Debarking in Philadelphia, he found his way to Stony Batter, five miles from
Mercersburg at the foot of the North Mountain. Here he clerked in the store of John
Toms. Within five years, the bright industrious young man, James Buchanan, owned
the store. In 1788 he married a young woman from the foot of the South Mountain,
Elizabeth Speer. In 1791, the future 15th President of the United States was born and
named James after his father. In 1796 the Buchanan family moved into Mercersburg,
where the elder James opened a store two years later.
Educated in Mercersburg, the young James was sent to Dickinson College in 1807.
He had a rough first year after falling in with a rowdy group at the school and was
asked not to return in a letter to his father from the school. But he was able to turn
himself around and with intervention by friends was allowed to return to Dickinson. He
was admitted to the Bar in 1812. In 1814 he was elected to the lower House of the
Legislature. He left the Legislature to return to private practice of law after the
1815-16 session.
About this time James became engaged to Miss Anne C. Coleman of Lancaster. In
the late summer of 1819, Miss Coleman sent James a letter asking him to release her
from the engagement. He did. A few months later, on December 9th, while on a trip to
Philadelphia, the young lady died suddenly.
Debarking in Philadelphia, he found his way to Stony Batter, five miles from
Mercersburg at the foot of the North Mountain. Here he clerked in the store of John
Toms. Within five years, the bright industrious young man, James Buchanan, owned
the store. In 1788 he married a young woman from the foot of the South Mountain,
Elizabeth Speer. In 1791, the future 15th President of the United States was born and
named James after his father. In 1796 the Buchanan family moved into Mercersburg,
where the elder James opened a store two years later.
Educated in Mercersburg, the young James was sent to Dickinson College in 1807.
He had a rough first year after falling in with a rowdy group at the school and was
asked not to return in a letter to his father from the school. But he was able to turn
himself around and with intervention by friends was allowed to return to Dickinson. He
was admitted to the Bar in 1812. In 1814 he was elected to the lower House of the
Legislature. He left the Legislature to return to private practice of law after the
1815-16 session.
About this time James became engaged to Miss Anne C. Coleman of Lancaster. In
the late summer of 1819, Miss Coleman sent James a letter asking him to release her
from the engagement. He did. A few months later, on December 9th, while on a trip to
Philadelphia, the young lady died suddenly.
In a letter to her father after her demise, James laments the cause of the tragedy. In 1820 he returned to Congress. He
served in a distinguished manner in the Congress until 1831. At this time, President Andrew Jackson appointed him Minister
to Russia. Buchanan completed a very difficult commercial treaty with Russia. He returned to America in 1833. In December
1834 he was chosen United States Senator, succeeding Mr. Wilkins who took his position as Minister to Russia. He remained
in the Senate till 1844, when newly elected President Polk chose him as his Secretary of State.
In 1853, newly elected President Franklin Pierce made him Minister to England. Being a bachelor and facing the demands
of the social life in London, his niece Harriet Lane traveled to England and accompanied him in social situations.
He returned in April of 1856 and the Democratic party nominated him as their candidate for President. He won the election
and became the 15th President of the United States of America. But the States were not to remain United for long.
Buchanan's successor Abraham Lincoln was saddled with the secession of states and the onset of the Civil War.
Many have tried to lay some of the blame for the War Between the States at the feet of James Buchanan. But it seems that
events were in place that no mortal could have successfully resolved. Buchanan served one term as President and then
retired to his home of Wheatland in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. He died June 1, 1868 and was buried at Lancaster.
The log cabin that James Buchanan was born in has been preserved and is now located in Mercersburg on the grounds
of the Mercersburg Academy.
served in a distinguished manner in the Congress until 1831. At this time, President Andrew Jackson appointed him Minister
to Russia. Buchanan completed a very difficult commercial treaty with Russia. He returned to America in 1833. In December
1834 he was chosen United States Senator, succeeding Mr. Wilkins who took his position as Minister to Russia. He remained
in the Senate till 1844, when newly elected President Polk chose him as his Secretary of State.
In 1853, newly elected President Franklin Pierce made him Minister to England. Being a bachelor and facing the demands
of the social life in London, his niece Harriet Lane traveled to England and accompanied him in social situations.
He returned in April of 1856 and the Democratic party nominated him as their candidate for President. He won the election
and became the 15th President of the United States of America. But the States were not to remain United for long.
Buchanan's successor Abraham Lincoln was saddled with the secession of states and the onset of the Civil War.
Many have tried to lay some of the blame for the War Between the States at the feet of James Buchanan. But it seems that
events were in place that no mortal could have successfully resolved. Buchanan served one term as President and then
retired to his home of Wheatland in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. He died June 1, 1868 and was buried at Lancaster.
The log cabin that James Buchanan was born in has been preserved and is now located in Mercersburg on the grounds
of the Mercersburg Academy.
Harriet Lane, daughter of James Buchanan's sister Jane. Harriet was born to Jane and
her husband Elliot T. Lane. In 1839, Jane died. And two years later Elliot too passed away.
This left Harriet and her sister Mary without parents and alone. They were invited to become
members of the household of their uncle James, now living in Lancaster at his Wheatland
estate. Here Harriet learned to become comfortable amid the presence of the constant flow
of notable and important people of the day.
As her uncle was away much of the time in Washington D.C., she and her sister were
under the watchful eye of two elderly maidens from the Lancaster area. At the age of twelve,
Harriet and Mary were sent to a school in Charleston, WV. There they spent the next three
years. Then followed two years at the convent school in Georgetown. One weekend each
month during this time was spent visiting with her uncle at his home.
Soon after being appointed to be Minister to England by President Pierce, Mr. Buchanan
allowed Harriet to join him in England. Always careful to advise her against becoming self
important and to conduct herself with grace and dignity. She was to become very popular in
the court and was the recipient of much admiration. All of this was grand preparation for the
role she was soon to play.
When James Buchanan was elected president, Harriet Lane at the age of twenty-six,
became the hostess of the White House. She served in this capacity with honor and
distinction.
In 1866, Harriet was married to Henry Elliott Johnston of Baltimore, MD. She lived a
comfortable and happy life until her death in 1903.
her husband Elliot T. Lane. In 1839, Jane died. And two years later Elliot too passed away.
This left Harriet and her sister Mary without parents and alone. They were invited to become
members of the household of their uncle James, now living in Lancaster at his Wheatland
estate. Here Harriet learned to become comfortable amid the presence of the constant flow
of notable and important people of the day.
As her uncle was away much of the time in Washington D.C., she and her sister were
under the watchful eye of two elderly maidens from the Lancaster area. At the age of twelve,
Harriet and Mary were sent to a school in Charleston, WV. There they spent the next three
years. Then followed two years at the convent school in Georgetown. One weekend each
month during this time was spent visiting with her uncle at his home.
Soon after being appointed to be Minister to England by President Pierce, Mr. Buchanan
allowed Harriet to join him in England. Always careful to advise her against becoming self
important and to conduct herself with grace and dignity. She was to become very popular in
the court and was the recipient of much admiration. All of this was grand preparation for the
role she was soon to play.
When James Buchanan was elected president, Harriet Lane at the age of twenty-six,
became the hostess of the White House. She served in this capacity with honor and
distinction.
In 1866, Harriet was married to Henry Elliott Johnston of Baltimore, MD. She lived a
comfortable and happy life until her death in 1903.
| Harriet Lane |
| James Buchanan |
| General Hugh Mercer |
The home where Harriet lane was born and spent the her early childhood days is still in use and is privately owned. It is
one of the many homes in the Historic District of Mercersburg that have been so well preserved. It stands across the street
from the store and hotel that James Buchanan's father operated after they moved from Stony Batter.
one of the many homes in the Historic District of Mercersburg that have been so well preserved. It stands across the street
from the store and hotel that James Buchanan's father operated after they moved from Stony Batter.
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