Page:Notes of the Mexican war 1846-47-48.djvu/605

Rh At Economy we stopped to take on wood. A notice was given out that we would stop here for about an hour, to give the "Jewess" a chance to catch up to us. This gave the soldiers a chance to get on shore and view the town, which lies along, and running parallel with, the Ohio river; laid out with wide streets, and well shaded with fine large trees. It is about 18 miles from Pittsburgh. Through a conversation with one of its oldest inhabitants, I learn it was first built by a community called Harmony Society.

This Society was first organized at Ephrata, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, in 1703. They still talk what we may call the real Pennsylvania Dutch dialect language. They put me in mind more of the Lancaster County people than any other class I have had the pleasure to meet with. The women wear plain dresses, but neat, clean and Quakerish-looking bonnets, and the men wear broad-brim hats; yet they are not Quakers.

In 1803 this Harmony Society emigrated to Butler County, Pennsylvania, purchased a large tract of land, and built a town called Harmony. Here they were joined by Mr. George Rapp, a thrifty, intelligent German gentleman, and very popular man, who soon became their preacher and a great leader in their Society. In 1814 they became dissatisfied with their location in Butler County; sold all their lands and houses in Pennsylvania, and moved to the State of Indiana. They settled near the Wabash river, bought a large tract of land, and built another town called Harmony; but they soon became discontented and demoralized, on account of the unhealthy climate and hostile feelings amongst their new neighbors, who did not want their Society in their State.

In 1825 they again sold their houses and land, and went back to old Pennsylvania, and bought a large tract of land in Beaver county, and built this town Economy, where they remain to this day; and by the looks of the town it plainly shows that they are industrious, persevering and frugal in their habits, and have proven an orderly, inoffensive and