Bloserville

In the late 1800s and early 1900s, newspaper editors encouraged readers to send items about their towns and villages, as well as the comings and goings of their neighbors, to share with the readers of their newspapers. On May 28, 1885, the Carlisle Weekly Herald published a very informative piece about Bloserville, but it likely embarrassed a few of its residents.

The unnamed writer informs us that “Bloserville, the town on the hill, is the capital of Frankford Township.”¹ It is where all official township business is transacted.

The town was laid out in about the year 1845 by William Bloser, Sr. who built the first house. There are now 28 dwelling houses, a Reformed church, an Evangelical church and two schools. To supply the needs of the town and surrounding area, there are two dry goods and grocery stores, a post office, a butcher, two harness makers, a blacksmith, a tinner, a shoemaker, a florist, a doctor, and a surveyor-scrivener.

The spring elections of Frankford Township are held in Bloserville. The town itself contains 20 voters: eleven Republicans and nine Democrats. The writer said that the readers of the Herald are aware that Frankford Township “is strongly Democratic, but last fall we rolled up a very large majority for our very worthy Judge of the county—W. F. Sadler. Now and then a Republican of smaller caliber than Judge of the Courts slips in, but of course the Democrats do it.” The writer continues:

“Our town contains 5 widows, 3 of whom are comparatively young, 2 are well stricken in years; 2 old maids, all of whom we think will wed if a good opportunity offers itself. We also have quite a smart sprinkling of young ladies who, of course are always ready to marry. The writer would say to old widowers, come; to young widowers, come; to young men, come, and if anyone wants an old maid—we can furnish 2 of them. We think that a man must be very fastidious if we cannot suit him to a wife.”

The writer then goes on to say that the town can furnish a candidate for Sheriff this fall in the person of Samuel Ensminger, who is a fellow of “the first water.” Even though he is a Democrat, that is a “very small objection when we have a No. 1 man in the field.” Mr. Ensminger is about sixty years old, a veteran of the Civil War, and carries the mail between Bloserville and Newville. He opened his campaign in Bloserville last week “by treating friends and foes to a first-rate article of cider which indeed was a very pleasant beverage.”

The writer notes at the end of his letter that “On last Saturday night, about 11 o’clock, the harness shop of H. A. Shanley, which stood near the Reformed Church was burnt to the ground with its contents. How the fire originated seems to be a mystery, but the supposition is that it was an incendiary fire. The building and stock in the shop was insured in the Centennial Mutual for $200.”

Samuel Ensminger was not elected sheriff.