USA > Pennsylvania > Dauphin County > Commemorative biographical encyclopedia of Dauphin County, Pennsylvania : containing sketches of prominent and representative citizens and many of the early Scotch-Irish and German settlers. Pt. 1 > Part 11
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DAUPHIN COUNTY.
Rush and Middle Paxtang, to the Snsque- hanna above Dauphin. The valley is very narrow.
Powell's creek and valley, named for a family of that name who settled near its mouth about 1760, perhaps at an earlier date. Parts of the valley are quite fertile. Its source is in Jefferson township.
Armstrong creek, named for the first settler in that locality, takes source in Jackson township and discharges north of Halifax. The valley is a very fine one.
Wiconisco creek takes its rise in Schuyl-' kill comty, passing Williams, Washington and Wiconisco townships, discharging at Millersburg. The Lykens Valley railroad is along its southern bank. It is an Indian name, and is found spelled on earlier surveys as at present, except occasionally with the French Ouikonisko.
Lykens is a beautiful and fertile valley, named for Andrew Lycans, who was the first to make a settlement in it.
Mahantango creek is the north boundary of the county. It is also an Indian name. On the early maps it is called " Kind erecek." There is a finely cultivated valley on either side of it.
This account would beincomplete withont mention of the mountainous region of the northern portion of the county. Below Harrisburg, depressed spurs of the South mountain cross from east to west, none of them of great elevation. Above that city the Kittatinny range, known as First, Second, Third and Peter's dividing ridges, covers a great portion of Middle Paxtang, Rush, Hal- ifax, Jefferson and Wayne townships ; then the Broad, Thick, Sharp, Big Lick ridges ; then Berry's and Mahantango, occupying a large proportion of the area of that section of the county. Coal is found in the range along the Wiconisco ereck, principally in the Thick or Big Lick mountain. The local nomenclature differs very much from the geographical.
Peter's mountain has borne the same designation since 1729. Peter Allen came into the neighborhood from Conestoga, Chester, now Lancaster county. He was upon the first tax rate of that part of Chester county in 1717-18. His name is found after that in West Conestoga, then in Donegal, then in Paxtang, then in the present Middle Paxtang; his house is yet standing. That was the northeast boundary of Lancaster county as formed in 1729. Ile probably
came up the river in 1724, and made prepa- ration for permanent location about the time Chambers made his choice in 1725.
CHAPTER V.
Early Settlers and Settlements In the "Upper End."
Perchance no more interesting data can be furnished by the gleaner in historic fields than those of a reminiscential character; and owing to this fact we have concluded to give within the limits of this brief chapter various facts relating to the settlement and the early settlers of the "Upper End" of Dauphin county. The information was gathered twenty years ago [1876], which may account for references to individuals then living, but who have since passed off the stage of life. This should be borne in mind by the reader.
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How the Early Settlers Lived.
Little we know, in this day of comfort and luxury, how our ancestors fared. Although the elder settlers had some sheep, yet their increase was slow, owing to the depredations of wolves and other animals. It was, there- fore, a work of time to secure a crop of wool. Deerskin. was a substitute for men and boys, and all generally wore leather breeches; and occasionally women and girls were compelled to resort to the use of the same materials. The women did the spinning and generally wove all the cloth for the family, the men being engaged in clearing and cultivating the soil, or with their trusty rifle went in search of deer or other game for food. Our early settlers, Scotch-Irish as well as Ger- man, had large families, and it required the continued labor of the wife and mother to provide them with anything like com- fortable clothing. The men were not in- sensible to this devotedness on the part of their wives, but assisted in whatever was necessary, even in the cookery and the cases were few where they could not do all the work of the house. The patient endurance, however, of the women we commend to the ladies of the present. That endurance did not arise from a slavish servility or insensi- bility to their rights and comforts, but justly appreciating their sitnation, they nobly en- countered the difficulties which could not be avoided. Possessing all the affections of the
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HISTORICAL REVIEW
wife, the tenderness of the mother, and the sympathies of the women, their tears flowed freely for other's griefs, whilst they bore their own with a fortitude which none but a woman could exercise. The entire education of her children devolved on the mother, and not- withstanding the difficulties to be encoun- tered, she did not allow them to grow up with- out instruction, but amidst all her numerous cares taught them to read and instructed them in the principles of Christianity. Noble ma- trons! Your achievements have come down to us through a hundred years for our ad- miration and example.
Settlement of Uniontown.
David Snyder, Esq., of Lykens, gave ns this statement of the early settlement of Sny- dertown, now known as Uniontown :
The land npon which Uniontown is located was bought from the Hepner heirs by John Snyder, in 1818. The heirs were George, Christian, Peter and Henry. The land was sold by George Hepner and John Balthaser, executors, the whole tract being 360 acres. The principal street was laid out in 1818, simultaneously with the laying out of the town. The only road prior was a wagon- road leading from the stone mill, now owned by Isaac Boyer, to the left, and continuing eastward, north of Main street, to the old mill now standing in the eastern part of the town. Philip Derger built the first house, which stands in a street leading from the old cemetery northward to Main street. This was in 1819. The first church was a Union Reformed and Lutheran, built about 1834, now used for a dwelling and stands on the hill back of Boyer's hotel. The first school house stood on the same street, built in the year 1828. One hundred lots were first laid out by John Snyder, and seventy-five of these were sold by him for $30 cach-the balance for one-half price. No elections were held in the town until it became a borough, the people being compelled to go to Berrysburg for the purpose of voting. The first physi- cian was Dr. Ensweiler, who came there about 1838 and remained about four years. John Snyder, the founder of Uniontown, died about 1855, in Mercer county, at the age of 72 years. Philip Derger came from Berks county and subsequently moved to the West. Mr. Snyder paid $8,000 for the whole tract. It was owned before Hepner by Peter Hain.
Settlement of Wiconisco.
The late Christian Seip, of Wiconisco, to whom we were indebted for much informa- tion relating to the history of Lykens Valley, furnished this data:
The number of houses in and about Wico- nisco in 1846 was probably not twenty. A man by the name of Lance built the first house in Wiconisco, where the Methodist church now stands. He now lives in Potts- ville. Another house stood in the swamp, below the railroad, then occupied by a man named Wagner. Michael Shaeffer built the tavern now occupied by Neiffer. He never lived to take possession of it-died before it was completed and was buried in the old graveyard near the company's stables. He first kept tavern in an old frame house near the dirt bank. Many of the first miners boarded with him. Behind the old breaker there were two houses-one occupied by Mr. Couch, the company's superintendent. Mi- chael Shaeffer, with his brother Henry, came from Germany with their father when mere boys. It is thought from Hesse Darmstadt. An old block house near the company's stables was the meeting house-Methodist. Mr. Shaeffer took the coal trucks down to Millersburg with horses. The track began behind the old breaker. At that time "shin- plasters" were in vogue. The miners re- ceived no more than four dollars a week. Six dollars was considered very high wages. A man by the name of Frederick Alvord then received the highest wages, eight dollars per week, for blacksmithing for the company. In the beginning the trucks were only driven once a week to Millersburg, in trains of eight or ten. Drove only gangways then-no breasts. Mr. Bordner drove the first gang- way of the Short Mountian mines. During the earlier mining period the men were paid only every three or four months.
Old Settlers of Lykens.
Joshua Bowman, Esq., of Lykens, whose memory of the early days of Lykens and vicinity were quite vivid, gave us the follow- ing :
Passed through what is now Lykens in 1840. Was then living with my parents on the property adjoining the Forge. The first house then in Lykens was Ferree's house, now ocenpied by the brick buildings of Charles Martz. The second, Zerbe's, oppo-
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DAUPHIN COUNTY.
site 'Squire Ferree's. Next the Conner house, but lately demolished for the erection of the brick house of William A. Wallace. Stehley's stood in the woods near the creek. Next Kissley's, owned by Jacob Bordner. Next an old log house, built by the Fegley's, now occupied by Isaac Derger. Next Pat- rick Martin's, now Leah Martin's, bis wife. Next John Shecan's, now occupied by Gor- man & Hensel's foundry. There was a two- story and a-half frame house near the creck, back of the Valley House, on what is now Water street. This was built by Edward Myers for a man by name of Fisher. No store in Lykens at that time. Merchandise of every sort was chiefly brought from the store of Josiah Bowman, at the Forge. The . other store in all this part of the country was that of Henry Shaeffer's, at the Lykens Valley colliery. Some few of the people worked in the mines, others employed them. selves in the manufacture of shingles, spokes, posts and stays, which they traded for the necessities of life. No church at that time; but a place of worship in an old school house near the company's stable. The com- pany then mined coal without preparation. It was taken by horse railway to Millersburg, then flatted across the Susquehanna to Mt. Patrick, on the opposite side, and placed on the canal boats of the North Branch for ship- ment to Harrisburg. There was no public house at that time. The company would not tolerate any upon its own grounds, and would not sell ground for hotel purposes. Jacob Stehley, a gentleman at large, who died at Harrisburg a few years ago, rather eccentric, yet very entertaining and full of wit and humor-in his latter days fond of hunting and fishing-" botched" in the woods at that time, supported by his son John, at Harrisburg. Mr. Stchley was about sixty years of age, and quite intelligent, full of information and lively when in company, which he tried to avoid, preferring the life of a hermit. The mail was gotten at Thomas Harper's, at the Forge. Isaac Ferrce was quite an old man then. Had sons running a saw mill in " Greenland "-the only saw mill. then about. The mill in " Greenland " was erected in 1840, by the Ferree's-Joel, Jefferson, Washington, Uriah and Jacob. Shortly afterwards the mill at Round Top was erected by the same parties, and the one at Greenland abandoned. The elections were held at the tavern of Michael Shaeffer. Deer were plenty-bear also-fish in abund-
anec-wild turkeys. The men employed in the mines about twenty. The old Lykens Valley breaker was erected in 1845-7. No breaker in 1840. The mines were then a mere drift. In 1853 there were about fifty houses in Lykens. About the same number in Wiconisco. The orders in 1853 were the American Mechanics and Sons of Temper- ance. No Odd Fellows at that time. They organized shortly after. The orders men- tioned met in John Hensel's building on Main street, second story, steps on the out- side leading up. No minister then resident in Lykens. Preaching in the stone church, Lykens, the only church then, by Watson. it is thoughit. The first railroad consisted of wrought-iron tacked on wooden rails- called by the natives the "Slabtrack " road.
The Early History of Gratz.
To George Hoffman, Esq., of Gratz, are the citizens of that locality indebted for the in- formation which follows :
Ludwig Shoffstall, who came from Lancas- ter county, built the first house in Gratz-a two-story log, yet standing. Ed. Umholtz (tavern) lives in it. Frey kept his store in it for a long time-he then attached the tavern. Conrad Frey built the tavern about 1820. These buildings were followed in the succes- sion named by the log dwellings of Matthias Bellow, Faust, Rev. Handel, Daniel Fegley, Anthony Matthias, Squire Reedy and John Reichard. The first church was the brick,. built in 1832-German Reformned and Lu- theran. The first pastors, Revs. Isaae Ger- hardt and John Peter Shindel. Before the briek church was erected meetings were held by the said pastors in an old log structure, built for that purpose by Simon Gratz. The first school house was built in 1822 by Ehi Buffington, the carpenter of the old Hoffman church, which he erected about 1771. The original Simon Gratz donated the ground. Rev. Anthony Hautz was the first pastor of the old Hoffman church. He came back when he was seventy-five years of age-a very small, gray-headed man, about five feet in height. A grist mill was built quite early, about a quarter of a mile from town, by one John Salladay, and ran by a stream of water from a spring-wheel over twenty feet high. Mr. Salladay was one of the first settlers. Jacob Loudenslager was also one of the old settlers-lived about the present town, and had patented 400 acres in one tract. Old John Hoffman lived about a quarter of a
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mile south of the Hoffman church. Andrew Hoffman lived east of Jacob . Loudenslager a quarter of a mile and had patented about 100 acres. Peter Stein, adjoining, had 300 acres. Peter Hoffman lived down the Wico- nisco creck, a mile this side of the Forge, and had 400 acres. The Pottsville road was made about twenty years ago. The old Reading road about 1800. Peter Hain owned the Gap west of town. The Gap was named for him. He originally owned the lands upon which Uniontown is now situated, before Hepner. Adam Heller laid out Berrysburg. He lived where Daniel Romberger now lives, which was formerly called Hellerstown. He was a very lazy, indifferent man. The place where the brick church is now located, near Gratz, was formerly called Wild Cat Ridge, on account of the great number of wild cats congregating there. Conrad Frey came from Reading, Pa. The Methodist church was built in 1846.
Early Families in the " Upper End."
- Benjamin Buffington, the first of the name who located in Lykens Valley, was an early settler there. He came from Berks county, dicd in 1814, and was buried in the graveyard at Short mountain by request. His sons were Eli, George, Levi, and John. Eli settled near Gratz, where his grandson Jeremiah now resides. He married Eliza- beth Kissinger and their sons were Abra- . ham and John E. The latter, b. 1799; d. 1867; m. Susanna Artz, and had sons Elias, Jeremiah, and Daniel. The other sons of the elder Benjamin Buffington intermarried into the Hoffinan family, lived to be old men and had large families. Jacob Buffing- ton, Sr., b. 1800; d. 1878 ; was by occupa- tion a mechanic, and one of the most expert hunters in his day. He married Mary Gun- tryman ; and his sons were Isaac, Jonas, Jacob, Emanuel, and Levi. Solomon Buf- fington, b. 1819; d. Jan. 1, 1878; was a mechanic and farmer. He was a prominent member of the U. B. Church for many years and took an active part during the war of the Rebellion. Two of his sons were in the Union army. His wife was Margaret Mat- ter, and their sons were Moses C., Edward, and Uriah.
-Andrew Reigle resided on and owned the farın near the end of Short mountain, after- wards owned by his son Jacob. He was a soldier of the Revolution. He married in
1770 Catharine Hoffman. Their oldest son, John Reigle, was a justice of the peace many years and followed farming. He married Susan Sheetz, and of their children Simon resided at Harrisburg, and Obed J. in Will- iamstown. Daniel, son of Andrew Reigle, married Catharine Harman. Their son Daniel was a county commissioner in 1852, serving three years. Jacob, son of Andrew, married Nancy Hartman. Andrew, Jr., was a farmer and served in the war of 1812-14. He married a Miss Stine. Elizabeth Reigle, a daughter of Andrew, Sr., married Daniel Sheesly, and they were the grandparents of Sheriff Sheesly, of Harrisburg.
- Mathias Freck was a native of Baden, Germany, from whence he emigrated in 1815. In 1821 he married Eliza Penrose, daughter of Col. Joseph Penrose, of the Rev- olutionary army, and the year after settled in Lykens Valley, locating first at Gratz- town. Of their children Joseph M. Freck was a large coal operator, and resides at Pottsville, this State. Roland Freck was re- cently postmaster at Millersburg. John L. and Newton C. Freck are heavily engaged in the lumber business in Millersburg.
John B. Hoffman, b. in 1792; d. 1875. He was a blacksmith by occupation ; had been a military captain and promoted to a lieutenant colonelcy, and served in the war of 1812-14. He was a prominent member of the German Reformed Church, holding the offices of deacon, elder and trustee. Politically he was a staunch Democrat. Col- onel Hoffman married Margaret Bowman, and his sons were George, John, Christian, Josiah, James, and Peter A.
- Benjamin Bretz was born in Lykens Val- ley in 1796 and died in 1878. He was a grandson of Ludwig Bretz, who was one of the first settlers in that region, a sol- dier of the Revolution, and wounded at the battle of Long Island in 1776. Benjamin carried on farming ; filled the office of super- visor several terms and was prominently identified with the military. He was a mem- ber of the German Reformed Church and much honored and respected. He married Margaret Paul, and they had sons, John and Anthony.
Philip Runk was born in Lykens Val- ley, September 16, 1805, and died in Janu-
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DAUPHIN COUNTY.
ary, 1873. His father came to the valley after the Revolution, and was one of the first settlers in Jefferson township. The son was a farmer, served 'in the military in carly life, and a prominent member of the U. B. Church. He married Elizabeth Smith, and their sons were Jacob, Michael, and Adam. Jacob was at one time a presiding elder in the U. B. Church.
-Adam Cooper came to Lykens Valley during the Revolutionary war, and was a . private in Capt. Martin Weaver's com- pany of Upper Paxtang, which marched to the relief of the settlers on the West Branch in the spring of 1781. He was a farmer and a great deer hunter. He married a daughter of Ludwig Shott, an early settler, and they had a large family. The late John Cooper, who represented Dauphin county in the Legislature in 1850, and who recently de- ecased, was a son. Connected by marriage to the Cooper family are the descendants of Jacob Schwab, or Swab, as now written. He was a native of Berks county, and died in 1866, at the age of seventy-five years. He married Catharine Metz, and of their ehil- dren, Eli Swab filled the office of county commissioner two terms.
-Daniel Etzweiler, Sr., was born April 12, 1800, and died September 15, ISTS. He was a farmer, filled the office of supervisor two terms, served five years in a volunteer mili- tia company, and was one of the founders of St. James' Lutheran and Reformed church ncar Carsonville. He was"'a great hunter, and excelled in deer shooting and the trap- ping of bear on the mountains. Mr. Etz- weiler married Christiana Smith, of North- umberland county, and their sons were Jona- than, Daniel, Michael, Elias, Peter, Adam, and Henry.
. Dr. Robert Auchmuty, the son of Samuel Auchmuty, was born near Sunbury, North- umberland county, Pa., in the year 1785. He was descended from an old Celtic family of Scotland. Robert Auchimuty, the first of the American family of that name, an emi- nent lawyer, was in practice at Boston, Mass., as early as 1719. He died in 1750, leaving several children. Among these, Robert, who in 1767 became judge of the Court of Admirality at Boston ; Samuel, who was rector of Trinity church, New York city, and Arthur Gates. The latter came to
Pennsylvania as early as 1765, and located in then Lancaster county. In that year we find him commissioned as an Indian trader, with permission to trade with the natives at Penn's ereek, Shamokin and such other forts as may by his majesty or the Provincial au- thorities be established. He first settled at the mouth of Penn's ereek, on the Isle of Que, and from thenec removed to the oppo- site side of the Susquehanna, a few miles below Fort Augusta, in what is now Lower Augusta township, Northumberland county. During the war of the Revolution Samuel Auchmuty, one of his sons, and father of the doetor, entered the patriot army, and was in service from the winter at Valley Forge until the elose of the war. The veteran's re- mains rest in the old burial ground at Mil- lersburg, unmarked and the spot unknown. Dr. Robert Auchmuty received a good edu- eation, studied medieine and began the practice of his profession at Millersburg about 1830-31. Apart from the duties o: his profession he served many years as a jus tiee of the peace, being first commissione - by Governor Ritner. He was an enterprid ing, active citizen, and a warm advocate s- the common school system when that nobof measure was adopted, and was a gentlemale beloved and respected by his fellow citizenn He died at Millersburg in 1849, at the ags. of 64, and is buried in the new cemetery ae that place. He was the father of S. P. Aucht muty, Esq., of Millersburg.
- Hartman Rickert, an emigrant from Ger- many, settled near Short mountain at all early date; he died at the age of eighty-six years, leaving one son Hartnian Rickert, Jr., who married Catharine Seebold. They were upwards of eighty at their death. They had children : Ilenry, mn. Miss Romberger Martin. m. Elizabeth Yerges; Peter, m Miss Klinger ; Jacob, m. Elizabeth Hoover All left descendants.
John F. Bowman was born in Lancaster county Pa., May 10, 1771. His father was a farmer, residing on Pequea creek, not far from Strasburg. John F. was brought up as a millwright, but subsequently entered mercantile pursuits. In 1809 he removed to Halifax, where he was a merchant from that period to 1830, when, believing a larger sphere of trade was opened for him, he went to Millersburg, where he successfully con- tinued in business until his death, which oc-
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curred on the 6th of November, 1835. Mr. Bowman first married in 1794 a daughter of Isaac Ferree, whose farm adjoined that of his father. By this marriage they had the following children : Eliza, Maria, George, Josiah, m. Elizabeth Rutter. Mr. Bowman married, secondly, in, 1805, Frances Crossen, daughter of Jolin Crossen. They had issue as follows: John J., m. Margaret Sallade; Levi, Louisa, Isaac, Mary E., m. Rev. C. W. Jackson ; Lucinda, m. Dr. Hiram Rutherford ; Jacob, Emeline, Benjamin. John, F. Bow- man was one of the representative men of the " Upper End," enjoyed a reputation for uprightness and honesty, and highly es- teemed by those who knew him. Genial, yet quiet and unobtrusive, he never sought or would accept any local or public office. His second wife, Frances Crossen, b. August 13, 1786 ; d. September 30, 1846, and lies in- terred beside her husband in the old Metho- dist graveyard at Millersburg.
-Jacob Hoover settled in the " Upper End" in 1800; and built the mill now owned by Daniel Buffington. Of his children : Jacob, d. young; m Miss Bellas; Christian, m. Mise Feagley ; and their son Samuel was the first superintendent of the Short Mountain mines ; he removed to Minnesota many years ago; John, m. Margaret Lebo; he. owned the mill erected by his father ; Mary, m. John Shoffstall ; Katharine, m. George Kissinger ; Mary, m. Jacob Bordner, Susanna; m. Henry Umholtz.
Abraham Jury .- Among the carliest settlers on the Wiconisco was Abraham Jury, or, as it is sometimes written, Shora. He was of French Huguenot descent, and emigrated from Switzerland about 1755. He located within the valley not far from the town of Millersburg. He was a farmer and took up a large tract of land. In the Revolution he served during the campaign in the Jerseys, and subsequently on the frontiers, as did also his eldest son, Samuel. He died in August, 1785, leaving a wife Catharine, and the follow- ing children : Samuel, Abraham, Mary, Mag- dalena, Margaret, Catharine, Susanna, and Salome. Samuel, we presume, either removed from the valley or died early, for Abraham, Jr., seems to have come into possession of the old homestead. The latter died in November, 1805, leaving John, who was of age, and Jacob, Hannah and Sallie, minors.
Rev. Charles Edward Muench .- Any his- toric record of the Upper End would fail of completeness without some mention of the dis- tinguished "Dominie" of Hoffman church. We refer to the Rev. Charles Edward Muench, a native of Mettenheim, Wartenburg, in the Palatinate of Chur Pfaltz on the Rhine, Ger- many, born January 7, 1769. He was of Huguenot-French descent, his grandfather. Charles Frederick Beauvoir, fleeing France during the religious persecutions, and pur- chasing the " Muench Hoff," took his sur- name therefrom. Charles Frederick, the younger, was early sent to Heidelberg, where he completed his theological studies. It was just at the commencement of the general war in Europe, when on the occasion of his home being invaded by the French army he received and accepted a commission as cap- tain of a company of huzzars in the Allied armies, in which service he was severely wounded by a pistol ball in the leg, and a sabre cut on the left hand. He commanded the guard that conducted Lafayette to the prison at Olmutz. On the Sth of July, 1794, he was promoted quartermaster under Sir Francis of Wiedlungen. On the very day of his promotion he married Margaretha Bieser. In 179S he came to America, where he taught a German school successively at Shaefferstown, Lebanon county, and Rehrers- burg, Berks county. In 1804 he removed to Lykens Valley, at the Hoffman church school property ; but discouraged somewhat at the wild appearance of the land, he went to Union county. Subsequently, in 1806, the congregation at Hoffman church re- quested his return, when yielding thereto, he once more entered upon the duties of his station. For a period of twenty-eight years he was a faithful teacher, and although not the ordained minister, yet very frequently conducted the religious services in Hoffman church, and officiated on funeral occasions. He was greatly beloved by the people, and his death, which occurred on the 8th of Jan- uary, 1833, occasioned sorrow in many a. household. His beloved wife, Margaretha, died in the following year, 1834, and their remains lie interred side by side in the graveyard of old Hoffman church. The Rev. Muench was exceedingly expert with the pen-had a refined artistie taste as to draw- ing and designing-and in the ornamenta- tion of books and inlaying of furniture. He was a musician of no ordinary ability, and was an adept in all those essentials charac-
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