Fort Hunter, named during the French and Indian War and located north of Harrisburg on the bank of the Susquehanna River, contains many physical remnants of one of its earlier settlers, Archibald McAllister. Although he originally moved to the property in May of 1785, many of the structures he built still exist.
It would be inaccurate to say that Harrisburg, Pennsylvania has been an economic failure. For two and a half centuries It has enjoyed relative prosperity, providing livelihoods for most if not all of its residents, and very comfortable livings to many. On the other hand, the community never achieved the economic superstatus among American cities that its entrepreneurs aspired to at various stages in its development.
John Harris, Jr., the founder of Harrisburg, born on the Pennsylvania frontier in 1727, grew up in Paxton Township on the east side of the Susquehanna River in what was then Harris's Ferry. In 1748 he inherited the land from his immigrant father, and from that time until his death in 1791 he contributed to its development from a fragmented frontier settlement to a structured community town.
Grandfather was a sturdy little man with a voice that exceeded his size as Paul Bunyan towered over a pancake. "Four--by goshens" is one of my earliest memories. It was Grandfather's bid that he proclaimed in a tone ordinarily used by a mule driver in discussing the problem of forward ovement with his braying subordinates.
On 16 July 1790 an act for establishing the temporary and permanent seat of government passed by the Congress and was signed by the President of the United States.