USA > Pennsylvania > A history of the Juniata Valley and its people, Volume I > Part 9
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house was erected in this township as early as 1790. It was of logs, but later was replaced by a stone building, of which James Thompson, an old settler, said "That school house cost a drink of whisky for every stone in it." The Little Juniata and the Pennsylvania railroad run along the southwestern border and the Lewisburg & Tyrone rail- road from the northeast to the southwest through the township. Bir- mingham is the only borough and Warriors Mark is the largest town.
West township, located chiefly in the Shaver's creek valley, was established in April, 1796, its territory being taken from the old town- ship of Barree. Part of Oneida was taken from West in 1856 and it was further reduced in size by the erection of Logan township in 1878. James Childs settled in the township in 1762; William Wilson came the next year, and James and John Dickey in 1764. The first saw and grist mill was built by Alexander McCormick on Gardner's run, but the date when it was built is not known. John Ambrose erected a . mill on Lightner's run soon afterward. In 1798, two years after the township was organized, there were upon the tax lists the names of more than one hundred land owners. Shaver's creek runs through one of the most fertile valleys in the county and farming is the chief occupation of the people of West township. Samuel Anderson, who settled in that part of the township afterward cut off to form Logan, built a fort on the west side of Shaver's creek about 1778. Concern- ing this fort, J. Simpson Africa, late of Huntingdon, relates the fol- lowing incident :
"The inhabitants of the fort, after defending themselves for a long time against the attacks of the savages, finding their supplies becoming exhausted, fled to Standing Stone fort. In their flight two of the men, named Maguire, were killed by the Indians, and their sister, afterwards Mrs. Dowling, who was driving the cows, was chased by them. Spring- ing from ambush, the sudden surprise frightened the cows and they started to run. The foremost Indian caught her dress and imagined he had made sure of a victim, but she simultaneously grasped the tail of one of the cows, held on, hier dress tore, and she escaped. She reached Fort Standing Stone, half dead with fright, still holding on to the tail of the cow."
Wood township, the youngest in the county, was taken from Car- bon. The first petition for the erection of a new township in this por-
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tion of the county was filed with the court on September 2, 1901, C. E. Benson and Elbra Chilcott were appointed viewers and made their report on December 16, 1901, whereupon the court ordered an election for February 18, 1902, at which time the people were to vote upon the question of dividing Carbon township. The result at that election was tie vote and on January 5, 1905, the court ordered another election for February 2Ist following, when a majority of the electors expressed themselves in favor of a new township. On March 6, 1905, the court ordered the division of Carbon township, from the eastern half of which should be erected the township of Wood, the line running a short dis- tance east of Broad Top City.
In Huntingdon county there are eighteen boroughs, viz .: Alex- andria, Birmingham, Broad Top City, Cassville, Coalmont, Dudley, Huntingdon, Mapleton, Marklesburg, Mill Creek, Mount Union, Or- bisonia, Petersburg, Rock Hill, Saltillo, Shade Gap, Shirleysburg and Three Springs.
Of these boroughs Huntingdon is the oldest and, being the county seat, stands first in importance. The first white claimant to the land where Huntingdon now stands was Hugh Crawford, who was an en- sign in Captain Hamilton's company at the time of the French and Indian war. He claimed to have made an improvement here about 1753, but just how he acquired title to the land is not clear. By a deed executed at Fort Pitt (Pittsburgh) on June 1, 1760, he conveyed to George Croghan, for a consideration of £100, "a certain tract of land of four hundred acres on the north side of the Frankstown Branch of Juniata, known by the name of Standing Stone, including my improvements thereon, from the mouth of Standing Stone Creek to the crossing up the creek, and to the upperward part of a small island," etc. On December 10, 1764, Croghan perfected and strength- ened his title by obtaining from the proprietaries a warrant for the land, and on March 25, 1766, he conveyed the same to "William Smith, D.D., Provost of the College of Philadelphia," for the sum of £300. The following year Dr. Smith laid out a town on the Crawford or Croghan tract, which town later was named Huntingdon. Just when that name was first applied to the town is not certain. The oldest deed to be found is one dated September 7, 1768, in which Dr. Smith conveys to Samuel Anderson lot No. 12, situated on Allegheny street,
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between Third and Fourth. This deed recites that "William Smith hatlı laid out a certain Town called -, at Standing Stone, on Juniata, in the county of Cumberland, and divided the same into streets and lots, regularly named and numbered," etc. As a blank ap- pears in the deed where the name of the town should be, it is reason- able to suppose that no name had at that time been selected.
Rev. William Smith, the founder of Huntingdon, was an Episco- pal minister and a man of considerable learning and ability. He was elected provost of the University of Pennsylvania in 1755 and some time later made a journey to England to solicit funds for that insti- tution. Among those who responded to his appeals was the Countess of Huntingdon, who gave him a liberal donation for the university and the town was named in her honor. At the beginning of the Revolution Huntingdon was a straggling village of but four or five houses. The only known inhabitants at that time were Benjamin Elliott, Abraham Haynes, Ludwig Sell, one of the Cluggages and their families. The town was then, and for some years afterward, more frequently called Standing Stone than Huntingdon and when the latter was used the other name was often added as a matter of explanation.
Two brothers, James and David McMurtrie, came from Philadelphia about 1776 or 1777, having been sent there by their father, "a prudent Scotchman," to keep them from joining the "rebel army." They re- mained there and became useful citizens, David having been the first county treasurer. After the Revolutionary war the town grew more rapidly and on March 29, 1796, it was incorporated as a borough by act of the legislature, with the following boundaries: "Beginning at a large stone corner placed on the bank of the river Juniata, at or near the entrance of a fording place, and at the distance of two hundred feet, on a course south sixty-six degrees east, from the east side of St. Clair (now Second) street; thence north twenty-four degrees east, one hundred and nine perches to a stone; thence south twenty-four degrees west, including Charles (now Seventh) street, one hundred and ten perches, or thereabouts, to the river Juniata; thence down the same on the northerly bank or side, to the place of beginning; being the boundary of the said town of Huntingdon on record in the office for recording of deeds in and for the said county of Huntingdon."
Upon the incorporation of the borough Benjamin Elliott was
REV. WILLIAM SMITH. D.D.,
FIRST PROVOST OF UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA, FOUNDER OF TOWN OF HUNTINGDON.
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elected chief burgess and held the office for three years. By the act of March 27. 1855, the borough limits were extended to include what is known as West Huntingdon and some territory on the east side along both sides of the Standing Stone creek. A second extension of the borough limits was made on August 14, 1874, while Richard Langdon was chief burgess, when an ordinance was passed by the burgesses and town council annexing a part of Oneida township lying on the north and northwest of the town. On March 3, 1871, more than two years before the above territory was annexed, an ordinance was passed changing the names of the streets, St. Clair, Smith, Montgomery, Bath, Franklin, Charles, Fulton, Chestnut, Walnut, Spruce, Pine, Locust, Cypress, Anderson, Grant, Scott, Lincoln and Jackson being numbered from Second to Nineteenth, respectively. Standing Stone Ridge road was made First street. The same ordinance provided that each square should be divided into spaces of twenty-five feet, each space to con- stitute a street number. In 1873 the city was divided into four wards.
In laying out the town two lots on the south side of Allegheny street-one on the east and the other on the west side of Smith (Third) street-were set apart by the proprietor for a market place. When it became apparent that Huntingdon was to be the county seat, Third street was regarded as the most available site for the public buildings and a site for a market house was secured at the intersection of Penn and Fifth streets by widening the former to eighty feet, forming what has since become known as the "Diamond." This was done in August, 1787, and soon after a market house was erected there. Markets were held on Wednesdays and Saturdays of each week for many years, but the market laws were frequently infringed and on September 2, 1847, the burgess and council adopted a resolution ordering the market house to be torn down.
The first provision for protection against fires was made on January 10, 1801, when the borough authorities ordered the purchase of fire ladders and hooks, which were to be kept in the market house. In 1804 the old hand engine "Juniata" was built by Philip Mason of Phil- adelphia and arrived in Huntingdon early the following year. It was placed in charge of the "Active" fire company until June, 1852, when it was succeeded by the "Juniata" fire company. It was in turn suc- ceeded by the Juniata Fire Company No. 2 in September, 1873. The
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"Phoenix" engine was purchased in 1840 and committed to the Phoenix Fire Company, which was organized at that time. It was removed to the Fourth ward in 1874 and was soon after supplanted by a steam fire engine. The Independent Hook and Ladder Company was or- ganized in October, 1873. Huntingdon Fire Company No. I was or- ganized in December, 1872, and was incorporated on January 14, 1874. For several years it had charge of the first steam fire engine-a Silsby- which was exchanged for a La France engine in November, 1880, and the Silsby machine went to the Phoenix Fire Company. The engine and council house on Washington street was built about this time. It has accommodations on the ground floor for the hook and ladder truck, the Juniata hand engine and steamer No. I. On the second floor are rooms for the meeting of the borough council and quarters for the fire companies occupying the building.
The Huntingdon Gas Company was incorporated on March 14, 1857, and on August 29th, following, began supplying illuminating gas to the citizens. A charter was received by the Huntingdon Electric Light Company on March 19, 1886, and in 1902 the gas and electric light companies were consolidated under the name of the Huntingdon Gas Company.
In 1885 the Huntingdon Water Company (Limited) was organized and by the close of the year 1886 had its works in operation, taking water for the street hydrants and the use of citizens from Standing Stone creek opposite the east end of Washington street. The works have been improved from time to time until the borough has a bounti- ful supply of pure water, suitable for all domestic purposes.
The Juniata Valley Electric Street Railway Company was incor- porated on August 8, 1906, and soon afterward completed its line from the Pennsylvania railroad station over Fourth, Washington, Eleventh and Moore streets to the Juniata College. Cars commenced running regularly over this line on June 3, 1907. Plans are now (1913) under contemplation for the consolidation of this company with the Big Valley Electric Railway Company, by which the lines will be extended to Mount Union and into the Kishacoquillas valley. When the plans are carried out and the lines completed Huntingdon will become an important trolley center.
On August 1, 1880, was established the Central Pennsylvania Tele-
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phone and Supply Company, a part of the Bell system, with its prin- cipal office at Williamsport. The Huntingdon exchange was opened on April 1, 1881, with D. S. Drake as manager. This exchange now has about 700 local telephones connected with it and furnishes long distance communication to all parts of the state.
Huntingdon has three national banks, one private bank, one trust company, one daily, one semi-weekly and three weekly newspapers, a number of well appointed mercantile establishments, good hotels and several important manufacturing enterprises. Excellent educa- tional facilities are afforded by the high school, three ward schools and the Juniata College.
In 1792, four years before the borough was incorporated, the population of Huntingdon was eighty-five families. Since then the growth has been gradual and steady, the population in the various census years since 1810 being as follows: 1810, 676; 1820, 848; 1830, 1,222; 1840, 1,145; 1850, 1,470; 1860, 1,890; 1870, 3,034; 1880, 4,125; 1890, 5,729; 1900, 6,053; 1910, 6,861.
The borough of Alexandria is situated on the north side of the Frankstown branch of the Juniata river and the Hollidaysburg division of the Pennsylvania railroad, eleven miles by rail west of Huntingdon. It is on the line of the old Indian path and the first land warrant was issued for a tract where the borough now stands in 1755. The town was laid out by Elizabeth Gemmill in August, 1793. Lewis Mytinger opened the first store and was the first postmaster. William Moore and John Walker were the first tavern keepers, and Dr. John A. Buchanan was the first physician. Alexandria became the western terminus of a stage line to Harrisburg in 1808, and after the comple- tion of the Pennsylvania canal it became an important shipping point. It was incorporated by act of the legislature on April 11, 1827, and in July, 1847, Trimble's addition was made to the original plat of one hundred lots. The town has a good public school building, a public library, handsome church edifices of different denominations and in 1910 reported a population of 432, an increase of 26 over the census of 1900.
Birmingham, situated on the Little Juniata river and the main line of the Pennsylvania railroad, seven miles west of Huntingdon, was laid out in December, 1797, by John Cadwallader, "for a manufac-
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turing town at the head of navigation." The proprietor was generous in his ideas of building up a town, donating lots for educational and religious purposes, a "library hall," etc. On the plat, near the bank of the Juniata, was marked "the Public Landing." which was also desig- nated as the "head of navigation." In order to stimulate the sale of lots Mr. Cadwallader sold tickets at fifteen dollars, to draw a lot of two acres suitable for manufacturing purposes, or ten dollars for a regular town lot. These sums represented one-half the price of the lots, the other half to be paid after the drawing and the execution of the deed. The first store was started in Birmingham in 1811 by Dr. Burt, who was also the first physician. Thomas Stewart was the first postmaster. Birmingham was incorporated as a borough by act of the legislature on April 14, 1828, and the first election was ordered to be held at the house of Mary Jordan. The records of that election have been lost, so that the names of the first borough officers cannot be ascertained. The earliest records available are for 1831, when John Owens was the chief burgess. Birmingham has never come up to the anticipations of its founder and in 1910 had a population of only 196. On July 4, 1878, a soldiers' monument was unveiled in the old Metho- dist cemetery. It is about twelve feet in height, with a medallion profile of Abraham Lincoln, the inscription "With malice toward none, with charity for all." It is surmounted by an "Angel of Mercy" and cost about $800.
Broad Top City, a borough in the southern part of the county, was laid out by the Broad Top Improvement Company in 1854, while the Huntingdon & Broad Top railroad was under construction, and it was incorporated on August 19, 1868, with Paul Ammerman as the first chief burgess. The failure of the railroad company to extend the line to Broad Top City prevented its attaining the proportions its pro- jectors expected, though it is a mining town of some importance and in 1910 reported a population of 478.
Cassville, located in the Trough creek valley, south of the center of the county, was laid out by Benjamin and Robeson Chilcott about 1796 and was first known as Salisbury or Chilcoatstown. Three build- ings stood upon the site when the town was laid out. William Lovell was the first tavern keeper and Robert Speer the first merchant. Mr. Speer was one of the most energetic of the pioneers and carried one
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of the largest stocks of general merchandise in the county at that period. In September, 1830, Dr. Robert Baird and Andrew Shaw laid out an addition and the lots sold readily at from forty to fifty dollars each. A tannery was started in that year by Lemuel Green, and two potteries-one operated by Jacob Greenland and the other by E. B. Hissong-were started a few years later. In 1849 a public meeting was called to consider the advisability of applying to the proper authorities for the incorporation of the place as a borough. Some objected to the name of Salisbury and a committee of three was appointed to select a new name. A majority of the committee decided upon Cassville, and it was incorporated by that name on March 3, 1853, by an act of the legislature. The records prior to 1857 have been lost. In that year John S. Gehrett was the chief burgess. A seminary was established at Cassville in the fall of 1851. After several years of varying success, the building was purchased by Professor A. L. Guss, who conducted a school for soldiers' orphans for about eight years. The population of Cassville in 1910 was 165, showing a slight decrease during the preceding decade.
Coalmont, as its name indicates, grew up in connection with the development of the Broad Top coal fields. It is situated about two miles from the Bedford county line, on the Huntingdon & Broad Top railroad, and occupies a site formerly used for holding camp meetings. The first house in the town was built by David E. Brode in 1843. On August 10, 1864, a petition signed by twenty-seven citizens was filed with the court praying for the incorporation as a borough. The petition was granted and on November 11, 1864, Coalmont was in- corporated, with J. S. Berkstresser as the first chief burgess. The population in 1910 was 228. Coalmont is a trading center for a con- siderable district.
Dudley began as a mining village in 1859 and was named after a place in England. A Catholic church had been established here in 1857 and the settlement grew up around the church. In the summer of 1876 a movement was started to have the place incorporated as a borough, which was finally done on November 13, 1876, with William Brown as the first chief burgess. In 1910 the population of Dudley was 440, an increase of 150 over the census of 1900.
Mapleton (postoffice name Mapleton Depot) was first started as
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a station by the Pennsylvania Railroad Company and in 1858 con- sisted of three houses. The land belonged to John Donaldson, who laid out a town about the time the railroad was completed and on August 12, 1866, Mapleton was incorporated as a borough, with A. H. Bau- man as the first chief burgess. In 1870 the population was 389 and in 1910 it was 752. A postoffice was established here at an early date. In 1876 two sand quarries were opened near the town and have added materially to its growth and prosperity. Mapleton has a fine public school building, churches of various denominations and is a place of considerable commercial activity.
Marklesburg (postoffice name Aitch) is located near the head of James creek, about twelve miles southwest of Huntingdon and half a mile from Grantville, on the Huntingdon & Broad Top railroad. It was laid out in the summer of 1844 by Jacob Cresswell and was named for General Joseph Markle, at that time the Whig candidate for governor. The first house was erected by Jacob Skyles in that year. A postoffice called James Creek had been established there as early as 1840, with John B. Given as the postmaster. In August, 1855, trains began running between Huntingdon and Marklesburg and the latter place experienced a boom. Within a few years it boasted forty- five dwellings, three churches, a school house, three stores, two car- riage factories, blacksmith, cooper and carpenter shops and a popula- tion of 300. Then the railroad passed on and much of Marklesburg's trade was diverted to other points. The place was incorporated on November 19, 1873, with E. D. Beatty as the first chief burgess. In 1910 the population was 21I.
Mill Creek, a station on the Pennsylvania railroad six miles east of Huntingdon, was laid out in October, 1848, by James Simpson for David Zook & Company. It takes its name from the stream upon which it is situated. The first stores in this locality were opened at Wilson's Mills about 1828. Mill Creek was incorporated as a borough on De- cember 13, 1905, with I. N. Foust as chief burgess. The population in 1910 was 308.
Mount Union, the second town in importance in Huntingdon county, was first laid out by William Pollock in 1840, for John Sharrer. In 1849 Dougherty & Speer purchased the adjoining tract, having re- ceived a charter for the Drake's Ferry & East Broad Top railroad, and
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this place was designed by them as a transfer point, though no steps were taken to build the railroad. The first building in this immediate locality was a stone house near Drake's ferry, occupied by William Pollock as merchant and postmaster. This building was subsequently destroyed by fire. John Sharrer opened the American Hotel in 1848, a tannery was started in 1859, and in the meantime several business en- terprises had found a footing at Mount Union, which was incorporated as a borough on April 19, 1867, with Augustus Eberman as chief burgess. The town has two national banks, a number of good mer- cantile houses, hotels, several prosperous manufacturing concerns and in 1910 reported a population of 3,338. In 1900 the population was 1,086, and in 1890 it was 810. Few boroughs in the state show as great an increase in population and wealth during the last twenty years as Mount Union.
Orbisonia, a station on the East Broad Top railroad, which con- nects with the Pennsylvania at Mount Union, is the largest town in the southeastern part of the county. As early as 1760 George Irvin had an Indian trading post at this point. The Bedford furnace was opened in 1785 and two years later a grist mill was started. Another mill was built by Hezekiah Crownover in 1812. The store of Crom- well & Cornelius was opened in 1824, a postoffice was established in 1830 in Taylor Crownover's store, there were two distilleries in 1833 and in 1836 Jonathan Carothers opened the Eagle Hotel. Up to this time the town, like Topsy in Uncle Tom's Cabin, "just growed." There were no streets and the lots were of irregular size, straggling along on either side of the road. In May, 1850, it was regularly laid out and named Orbisonia, for Thomas E. Orbison, who located there about 1830 or 1831. The growth of the town continued and on November 23, 1855, it was incorporated as a borough, with Simon Gratz as the first chief burgess. Orbisonia has two banks, a weekly newspaper, churches of different denominations, a good retail trade with the sur- rounding country and in 1910 the population was 618. The first school house was a small log structure, but this has been replaced by a modern building.
Six miles west of Huntingdon, on the main line of the Pennsyl- vania railroad, stands the borough of Petersburg, one of the oldest towns in the county. It was laid out on May 21, 1795, by Peter Shoen-
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berger on the tract of land owned by him on the east side of Shaver's creek, opposite the site of old Fort Anderson. Mr. Shoenberger, for whom the borough was named, was the first merchant and also kept the first tavern. A postoffice called Shaver's Creek was established there at an early date, with Valentine Wingart as postmaster. Dr. Peter Sevine was the first physician. While the Pennsylvania canal was in operation Petersburg was quite a commercial center and ship- ping point. Flour and saw mills were established at an early day and the Juniata forge, operated by Hunter & Swoope, was located at the mouth of Shaver's creek. It was one of the pioneer concerns in the manufacture of the famous Juniata charcoal iron. On April 7, 1830, Petersburg was incorporated by act of the legislature and George Rung was the first chief burgess. Lodges of various benevolent socie- ties are located here; Juniata Grange, Patrons of Husbandry, was or- ganized in 1874; there are churches of different faiths, the Shaver's Creek Bank, several good stores and in 1910 the population was re- ported as being 705.
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