AREA HISTORY:  Franklin Township, York County, PA

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History of York County, Pennsylvania.  John Gibson, Historical Editor.
Chicago: F. A. Battey Publishing Co., 1886.
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THE TOWNSHIP OF FRANKLIN – Page 661

THIS township was originally included in Monaghan.  In 1808 a petition was 
presented to the court asking for the erection of a new township, whereupon 
Henry Gentzler, Michael Spangler and George Julius were appointed viewers.  They 
presented their report of the survey to the court, which was confirmed in 1809, 
Judge John Joseph Henry presiding.  On the original draft “Dill Township” 
appears as the name, which was crossed and the present name written.  Stony, or 
Fisher’s Run, was made the eastern boundary of Franklin.  In 1810 there were 175 
taxable inhabitants in Franklin.  The property valuation was $97,521.  This is 
less than the present assessed valuation of Dillsburg, which then was a 
collection of but half a dozen houses.  Michael Mumper, the largest land owner 
in the district, was assessed with 790 acres, valued at $7,740.  Francis Coulson 
was justice of the peace; William Butt, constable; Peter G. Arnold, Jarries 
Kennedy and Samuel Smith, inn-keepers.  William Wireman, who also owned a 
tannery, and Solomon Marteemie were physicians; Peter Wolford owned a grist-
mill, saw-mill and one slave; John Lease, a saw-mill; Jacob Knoop, a saw-mill 
and grist-mill; Adam Ehrhart, a distillery, saw-mill and grist mill; Peter 
Kline, Michael Mumper and David Myers, each owned a distillery; Thomas Furgeson 
was “the village schoolmaster,” Henry Deardorff, Jacob Dollheimer, John 
Deardorff, Abraham Frederick, William Heikes, Lemeul Heikes, William Heikes, 
William Kerr, Michael Kneisly, Jaob Lerew and Jacob Muntweiler were weavers.