History of Lebanon County - East Hanover
The following is reproduced from the 1875 Atlas of Lebanon County, Pennsylvania
East Hanover was first settled, mostly by Scotch and Irish, (the Irish predominating,) and was a part of Hanover township, Dauphin county, and it originally included Union, Cold Spring, and a part of Swatara in Lebanon County. The town of Hanover was erected about 1736-'7, from Peshtank or Paxton, and for several succeeding years was divided into the east and west end. The latter is mostly embraced at present in the limits of Lebanon county. The early settlers were mostly Presbyterians, and had the full characteristics of the wild, impulsive Irish blood. They were a proper people to defend a frontier against the incursions of a savage foe. It was from this township (the original Hanover) that many of the principal actors in the massacre of the Christian Indians at Lancaster came. In fact, it was often called the Paxton affair. The name of one of the principals was Lazarus Stewart, and he was a prominent leader, not only in this affair, but in many contests of the settlers with the Indians. This section was fully exposed to the brunt of the Indian attacks, and many were murdered by them. The savages had a hard foe to meet, for they believed in giving blows as well as receiving them. In November, 1755, no less than thirteen persons were murdered by a body of Indians from across the Susquehanna ; and in the autumn of 1756, a party of ten Indians killed and scalped Noah Frederick while ploughing, and carried three children into captivity. About this time, the attacks became so frequent that a great many of the inhabitants fled to a place of safety: but most of the men returned to protect their property, as well as they were able. On Monday, the 8th of. August, 1757, George Manerer was killed and scalped while cutting oats, and the records of the times are full of the accounts of murders and skirmishes. The Province kept 40 men in pay in this vicinity, and their exertions, aided by the courageous valor of the inhabitants, succeeded in saving a portion of the harvest. One John Harris kept 30 men at his own expense, to aid the inhabitants, for they were too poor to incur such expenses themselves. Still, the contest went on, and the editor of the "Pennsylvania" stated that no less than 123 persons had been killed or carried away by the Indians ; also, that 3 had been scalped, and yet escaped alive. This state of affairs continued to a great extent until 1763, when their incursions ceased. In 1813, East Hanover became a township of Lebanon county. It is mountainous in the northern part, and gently diversified in the southern. In the southern part, on the Indian Creek, Gen. Harrison long owned a woolen factory, which then passed into the hands of a Mr. Lemberger.
The town is well watered several fine streams make an abundant water-power. The Swatara flows along the southern border. In 1840, no less than six Revolutionary pensioners were still living in the township. It has no important villages, but is rich and of great fertility ; and now that the South Mountain Railroad passes through the township. there can be no doubt but that East Hanover is destined to be one of the leading townships, both in population and manufactures in the county. The population in 1870 was 1737.