Excerpts from "DANVILLE"
Montour County, Pennsylvania 1881
By D. H. B. BROWER
Son of Maria (Mary) Goodman and
Grandson of Peter Goodman (born 1751)
"My Grandfather and Grandmother Goodman were among the old residents of Danville. They are buried side by side in the old Lutheran graveyard. Grandfather Goodman was a coverlet weaver, and made bed coverings according to the fashion of that day. They were woven of bright colors in fanciful patterns. Some were ornamented with birds, flowers, stars or trailing vines. An old record speaks of him as a "man of culture." He had a good library, chiefly German books, many of them in large quarto, Leipsic editions. He devoted much of his time to study. Grandmother survived him a number of years, and was killed by being thrown from a wagon by a runaway horse.
The Scotch weavers had been famous in the early days of the settlement. Of those who were engaged in the business fifty years since I can only recall the names of Christopher Smith and Peter Goodman. The latter was a most respectable and industrious German from the Fatherland.
Union Hall Hotel, near the courthouse, was built by Philip Goodman (uncle to the writer) in 1818. He had previously kept the " old Pennsylvania House" The house was kept by Mr. Goodman for several years; but it seems that its building, together with a stage line to Pottsville, swamped him financially, and he moved to Owego, New York, where he died some years ago.
Among the soldiers who endured the hardships and encountered the dangers of the War with Mexico (1846-1848), was Peter Yerrick, (cousin to the writer). In all the battles that marked the course of General Scott's triumphant march to the city of the Aztecs, Yerick bore a prominent part. He was severely wounded at the storming of Molino del Rey, Mexico City and when the city was taken, he was carried within the walls where he remained six months. He was then honorably discharged on account of wounds received in battle. He reached his home in Danville in May 1848…Served in U.S. Army (1838-1843) and (1846-1848)
In the summer of 1823 there was a battalion parade in Danville, on the open ground between Bloom and Center streets. The parade was said to have been the grandest display ever witnessed in Danville. Among those in the parade was Charles Goodman (uncle to the writer), veteran of the war of 1812 (SparksBattalion,Pa.Volunteers)"
A COLLECTION OF HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES
by D. H. B. BROWER
Founder of the MONTOUR AMERICAN and the DANVILLE RECORD
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