USA > Pennsylvania > Bedford County > Farquhar's official directory of Bedford County, Pennsylvania, 1878-79; containing a history > Part 2
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The central portion of the county is traversed by several moun- tain ranges-Terrace, Tussey's, Dunning's, Evitte, Will's and Buffalo mountains, all of which contain one or more valuable seams of fossil iron ore, except the first named, which contains an excellent red bem- atite ore. " There are over two hundred square miles of fossil iron ore within the limits of the county. Embosomed in these mountain ranges are some of the most beautiful and fertile limestone valleys to be
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found anywhere. Many of them are of the same geological formation as Lebanon valley, the great Cumberland valley, and the Limestone land of Lancaster county.
Within a distance of ten miles, on an east and west line, may be found every geological stratum within the state, except those beneath the Trenton limestone.
" The manufacturing facilities of the county are as yet comparative- ly undeveloped. There are several extensive iron furnaces, some of which have been nearly a century in operation. One, the Bloomfield furnace, in Morrison's cove, furishes iron of such peculiarly excellent and tenacious quality that it was exclusively used during the recent war for the manufacture of the immense cannon used by the govern> ment."
"The natural scenery of Bedford county is perhaps unsurpassed for picturesqueness and variety. The wild mountain views alternate with rare rural scenes. The valleys especially attract the attention of tourists, and some of the landscapes are pronounced, by persons trav- eled in this and other lands, as beautiful as any the sun shines upon. The climate is pure and healthful."
Among the many natural advantages of the county are its now famous Mineral Springs. Possessing medicinal properties of a very high order, and being generally, easy of access, they have become places of fashionable resort during the hot, summer months, as well as sources of considerable profit to their fortunate possessors. In short, too much can hardly be said respecting the universally known and admired Mineral Springs situated within a ten minutes ride of Bedford, Added to their admirable location, (surrounded as they are by some of the finest scenery in a country noted for its picturesque beauty,) there is a refreshing coolness in the air even during the enervating heats of midsummer, which lends an additional charm to the many others surrounding this immensely popular retreat. It is generally admitted that the time is fast approaching when these Springs will . rival in popularity their more famous cotemporaries, Saratoga and the White Sulphur Springs of Virginia, and indeed the increase in the number of visitors of late years lends a great probability to such a result.
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COUNTY STATISTICS.
The following table is an enumeration in detail of the number of acres, of seated and unseated lands, number of town lots, cattle and horses, valuation of real and personal property, In 1876, and the pop- ulation of the county from 1860, the date of the last partition, to 1876, inclusive .:
BOROUGHS
Lands
Seated
Unseated
Number of
Horses.
Cattle ....
Real & Personal
Valuation of
1860.
1870.
1876.
Bedford Borough ..
807
142
95
$676,000
1328
1247
2500
Bedford Townsnip
25755
8981
13
318
428
790 000
2105
2333
2515
Broad Top Twp
14321
13759
88
104
129
412,000
62.
1626
1100
Cumberland Valley Tp
23986
13532
26
246
339
400,000
1336
1357
1300
Colerain
14668
5322
210
262
400,000
1235
1201
1100
Coaldale
7
33
168
40
52
200.000
557
850
Harrison Twp
16178
4666
67
192
192
282,000
716
783
1120
Hopewell.
12312
8347
33
176
226
328,000
1011
1078
1100
Juniata
27172.
555
22
235
308
232,000
1390
1437
I630
King ±
6922
8275
124
106
132
93,000
791
930
Londonderry.
19168
11617
142
158
206
235,090
96
1255
1260
ManDt
45702
3180
37
432
437
360 000
1396
1719
1910
Napier.
30788
1160
84
469
554
526,000
1680
1825
I900
Providence East
21668
2543
286
277
261.000
1213
1274
1500
Providence West
20261
2319
47 68
186
213
280.000
1106
970
I150
Pleasantville borough ..
41
71
36
28
48,00J
......
250
300
Schellsburg borough ..
404
861
48
49
100,000
394
342
500
Snake Spring twp
9077
4525
43
133
148
318,000
696
631
725
Southampton
50896
6171
405
414|
230,000
1591
I647
I020
St. Clair East
18169
691
32
257
269
285:000
2173
2219
2230
St. Clair West.
15587
1295
25
193
255
220 000
St. Clairville borough ..
52
12
14
37 000
......
144
I60
Union and King
30561
5155
33
305
426
490,0001
1701
1791
1960
Woodberry Middle ..
17146
9285
33
409
423
875.0 0
1900
1483
1560
Woodberry South
13123
4721|
105
343
339
778,000
-
1439
1610
*Part of Woodberry.
¿Part of Union.
Included in Southampton.
318
370
Woodberry borough.
51
....
100
31
29
31,000
-
294
365
Saxton borough
....
....
108
5
10
63.000
. ...
...
......
615
Monroe
164
11
12
32 000
.....
262
200
Everett Borough
Town Lots.
TOWNSHIPS.
& cres.
Acres.
-
..
31
27
53,000
......
250
Rainsburgh borough ...
..
......
Liberty
.. ....
Bloomfield Tp*
Property ...
POPULATION.
Lands.
AND
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PUBLIC BUILDINGS.
COURT HOUSE. - This building, although of an ancient order of architecture, and possessing very little attractive- ness, since the late improvements is substantial and con- venient, having on the first floor six spacious and well ventilated offices; three iron, fire-proof vaults, two of which are 18x18 feet, and an excellent burglar and fire- proof safe in the County Treasurer's office.
On the second floor are the Court Room, three Jury Rooms and a Library, all in excellent condition. The building is warmed by furnaces in the cellar, and has water closets and stationary washstands in the corridors and Jury rooms.
COUNTY PRISON .-- This is but an ordinary two-story brick building, built 41 years ago, when the requirements of the county for a jail were very few, and is, consequent- ly as a house of detention, not at all equal to any unusual emergency.
The front is occupied by the Sheriff's family as a residence. In the jail are seven cells and two day rooms, arranged in the most primitive manner possible, without the slightest protection from fire, or assurance against the escape of prisoners. Prisoners charged with high crimes can only be retained by personal vigilance and cruel treatment. A high brick wall encloses a spacious yard at the back.
ALMS HOUSE -- Is a very commodious and well con- structed, three-story building, with accommodations for about 100 inmates. The house is well supplied with all modern conveniences, such as bath-tubs, water-closets, stationary wash-stands, sitting and dining rooms on each floor, and the building is so arranged internally that a complete separation of the sexes is effected. Over 100 paupers were provided for in the institution during the
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past year, in addition to 25 out-door recipients of county relief. 3751 meals were furnished tramps. Under the efficient management of the gentlemanly Steward, Mr. I. D. Earnest, the farm, which was in a wretched condition at the time of its occupation by the county authorities, has been brought into a high state of cultivation and produc- tiveness, as is evidenced by the following statement from last year's report:
Quantity of Grain raised, 1500 bus.
Potatoes 300 bus.
Hay
30 tons.
Cabbage,
2000 heads.
and an abundance of the smaller garden vegetables.
In the industrial department, under the management of the Matron, Mrs Earnest, about 600 articles of wear- ing apparel were manufactured. As an evidence of the sanitary condition of the establishment, but 5 deaths have taken place during the past year, 3 of which occurred from old age and decrepitude, and 2 from consumption. This branch is under the supervision of Dr. S. H. Gump of Bed- ford,
The expenses of the establishment for the year end- ing January 1st, 1877, in excess of income derived from the House and Farm, reached $9,000-making the average cost to the county of maintaining the poor less than 30 cts. per diem.
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RAILROADS.
-
HUNTINGDON AND BROAD TOP RAILROAD.
One of the greatest barriers to the growth and pros- perity of Bedford county was the necessity for greater facilities for the transportation of the products of the
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county. True we had the Loudon wagon and the Con- cord coach, with an excellent roadway, traversing the county from East to West, but it was not till the shrill voice of the steam whistle and the tread of the iron horse was heard echoing through our mountain passes, that her dormant energies were fairly aroused, the immense coal deposits of the Broad Top having attracted eastern capi- tal, the H. & B. T. R. R. was the result.
This road branches off from the P. R. R. at Hunt- ingdon, follows the course of the Raystown branch of the Juniata and enters the northeast end of our county near Cove Station, passing through Liberty, Broad Top, part of Hopewell and West Providence townships to Mount Dallas, one mile West of Everett. The financial condi- tion of this road is good -- its business has steadily increas- ed. About 32 miles of the road is in Bedford county. During the past year the traffic on the road footed up as follows : Passengers, 54,175; Freight, 400,000 tons. There are three branches from the main line -- the Shoup's Run, 92 miles; Six Mile Run, 43 miles ; Sandy Run, 3 miles-all of which penetrate the various coal deposits of Broad Top. Its officers are:
President -- B. Andrews Knight, Philadelphia.
Secretary-J. P. Aertsen. "
Superintendent-Gev. F. Gage, Huntingdon.
BEDFORD AND BRIDGEPORT RAILROAD.
--
This road, from its inception, was, in every respect, a Bedford county enterprise, and reflects great credit on the public spirited citizens of our county who were instru- mental in procuring its construction, as it was the impor- tant link necessary to connect our, hitherto, isolated in- terests with the great markets of the east and west. This road connects with the Huntingdon & Broad Top road at
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Mt. Dallas, eight miles east of Bedford; follows the beau- tiful Juniata through Snake Spring township to Bedford ; thence through Bedford township, part of Napier and Har- rison, through Londonderry to Mt. Savage Junction, thus penetrating the celebrated Cumberland coal fields. Length of road 39 miles. It is now leased to the P. R. R. and the returns of its traffic are merged in the reports of that road.
President -- Hon. John Cessna, Bedford.
DUNNING'S CREEK RAILROAD.
This road branches off from the B. & B. R. R. at Bedford, running up Dunning's Creek about nine miles, traversing extensive ore deposits, the property of Hon. John Cessna, J. W. Lingenfelter and others.
PITTSBURGH & CONNELLSVILLE RAILROAD.
About 15 miles of this road passes through Bedford county, entering a few miles west of Bridgeport, running down Will's Creek, parallel with the B. & B. road, to State Line, and from thence to Cumberland, Md.
President -- John King, Jr.
Treasurer -- Charles Donnelly.
BOROUGHS, TOWNS AND POST OFFICES.
BEDFORD BOROUGH, the county seat of Bedford county, is beautifully situated on the Raystown branch of the Ju- niata river, near the centre of the county. The B. & B. R. R., connecting with the Pittsburgh and Connellsville and the B. & O. R R.'s on the west, and the Penn'a. R. R. on the cast are the railroad communications at the present time. The Pittsburgh, Bedford and Chambers- burg Turnpike passes through the town and is yet in good condition, being the mail route between Everett borough
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and Chambersburg. The town was laid out in 1776 by Gov. John Penn, and incorporated a borough March 13, 1795, since which time the corporate limits have been greatly extended by the Watson and Haehnlen additions on the South, and the Shuck, Gephart and Defibaugh ad- ditions on the West, with the Mann extension on the North. The borough contains, within its present limits, about 350 improved and 550 unimproved lots, 35 business houses, 7 churches, 1 foundry and machine shop, 2 plan- ing mills, 1 tannery, 1 steam flouring mill, I banking house, 7 hotels, and about 350 private residences.
BARD -- A station on the B. & B R. R. in Harrison township. It contains a store, tannery, school house and 10 or 12 private residences. Distance from Bedtord, 14} miles.
BUFFALO MILLS-A station on the B. & B. R. R. in Harrison township. Its principal buildings are a church, school house, Granger Hall, store, hotel, grist and saw- mill, and about 20 private residences. It derives its name from the Buffalo mountain or ridge near its site. Distance from Bedford 13 miles.
BAKER'S SUMMIT-Situate in Bloomfidld township . near the celebrated Bloomfield ore mines. It contains a church, school-house, store and about 20 private residences. Distance from Bedford 26 miles.
BEAN'S COVE, P. O .- In Southampton township, be- tween Tussey's and Evett's mountains, 19 miles southeast from Bedford.
BURN'S MILLS, P. O. - In Juniata township, 3 miles West of Schellsburg and 13 miles N. W. from the county seat.
BURNING BUSH, P. O .- In Cumberland Valley twp. 9 miles south from county seat.
CHARLESVILLE -- A little village in Colerain township; has a store, schoolhouse, and 10 or 12 private residences; 5 miles southeast from county seat
CENTERVILLE -- In the centre of Cumberland Valley township, has of late years become a very enterprising town. It has good schools, a good church, an "Odd Fel-
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lows' " Hall, several fine stores, a good hotel, and perhaps 30 private residences. It is improving fast and will no doubt soon boast of a separate incorporation. Located 15 miles south of county seat.
CHANEYSVILLE, in Southampton township, is a flour- ishing little village. It has a fine hotel, store, an excel- lent grist mill, the property of Mr. B. O'Neal, a large planing mill and a wool factory, the property of Leonard S. Tewell. There is also a good church and schoolhouse near the town, and about 20 private residences. Distance from county seat 16 miles southeast.
CLEARVILLE, in Monroe township, 8 miles south of Everett, on a beautiful plain or table land lying between Ray's mountain on the east and Warriors' Ridge on the west. The settlement around (commonly called Clear- ridge,) is celebrated for its choice fruits and excellent po- tatoes. The town is regularly laid out and contains two stores, a public house, church, school house, tannery "Odd Fellows'" Hall and 30 or 40 private residences. Dis- tance from county seat 16 miles.
COALDALE-A small town on the Six Mile Run branch of the H. & B. T. R. R., in the heart of the coal region, and surrounded by large collieries. Its population is largely made up of miners and their families. It has two stores, a hotel, school house, and a good church. Dis- tance from county seat 26 miles via Railroad.
CESSNA P. O .-- In Bedford township, on the Dun- ning's Creek Railroad, and five miles north from Bedford by the township road.
CHAPMAN'S RUN P. O. is in Monroe township, 4 miles southwest from Clearville and 20 miles from county seat.
COOK's MILLS P. O .- A station on the B. & B. R. R. in Londonderry twp., 28 miles from county seat,
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EVERETT .- Situated on the Bedford and Chambers- burg turnpike, 8 miles east of the county seat, is the sec- ond town in size and importance in the county. The town lies in a curve or bend formed by the Juniata river, along the left bank of which it extends nearly a mile. The H. & B. T. R. R. approaches the town on the west, the ter- minus of the road being within a mile of the borough. The site was laid out in 1790 by Michael Barndollar and named Waynesburg -- the post office having been previous- ly established was named Bloody Run, after a stream of that name which is formed by two beautiful springs with- in the borough limits, and for three quarters of a century it bore that far from euphonious title. In 1860 Bloody Run was formed into a borough, and Feb. 13th, 1873, by a decree of Court the name was changed to Everett. For many years the growth of the place was exceedingly slow, but since the introduction of railroad facilities, the town has improved greatly in size and appearance. In 1850 there were but 20 houses, 3 stores and 3 hotels. Now there are 15 business houses, 5 hotels, 3 fine churches, an excellent graded school, a good banking house, a foundry and machine shop, planing mill, 2 steam tanneries and about 200 private residences, in and immediately around the bor- ough limits. The largest leather manufactory in Southern Pennsylvania is located here and owned by Messrs. J. B. Hoyt & Co. This establishment gives steady employment to about 60 men, and the annual production of leather amounts to 1,000,000 pounds, valued at $375,000.
ELBINSVILLE P. O. is in Southampton township, eight miles southeast from Chaneysville, and 24 miles from the county seat.
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FISHERTOWN -- In East St, Clair township, on what is known as the Quaker Valley road. It has a fine church, schoolhouse, store, and about 30 houses. Distance from Bedford 12 miles.
FOSSILVILLE P. O .- A small station on the B. & B. R. R., with depot, store and 8 or 10 houses. 19 miles southwest from Bedford.
HYNDMAN -See New Bridgeport.
HOPEWELL .- In Broad Top township, a station on the H. & B. T. R. R., 12 miles east of Everett. The celebrated iron furnace of Lowery, Eichelberger & Sons is located here. The manufacture of coke iron in this furnace has attained a high degree of excellence. Here are also the extensive machine shops operated for many years by C. W. Ashcom. The town has two stores, a hotel, church, schoolhouse, and about 40 private residen- ces. Distance from Bedford 20 miles via Railroad,
IMLERTOWN -- A small town in Bedford twp. (in what is locally known as "Dutch Corner,") named after the Imler family, so numerously represented in the vicinity. A fine church (German Reformed), a good school house, and an excellent country store are the principal attractions. It has about a dozen private residences and is distant from Bedford 7 miles.
Lafayetteville-A small town in South Woodberry township, at the foot of Dunnings Mountain, on the road leading from Bedford to Bloomfield. No business houses; no post office here. Distance from county seat 15 miles north east.
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Mann's Choice-The name of this town site was the result of a dispute between the residents as to the location of a post office. They left the selection of a site to Hon. Job Mann, then member of Congress from this district; hence the name. It is on the B. & B. R. R. four miles south of Schellsburg. Messrs. McNeal & Black have here an extensive steam tannery, the second largest in the county, the annual production being about 10,000 sides of heavy leather, and the consumption of bark about 2000 cords. There are two stores, a good church, a school house, a very fine hotel property, owned by Messrs. Mullin, and about 40 private residences. Distance from the county seat eight miles.
Mowry's Mill P. O. is in King township on Bobb's Creek. There is a grist mill, saw mill and store here. Distance from Bedford 16 miles.
New Enterprise- Situate in about the centre of South Woodberry township, in one of the most wealthy settlements in the county. A beautiful stream of water, called Three Spring Run passes through the village. Al- though the town is of comparatively recent date it already boasts a fine carriage manufactory, a lumber mill, plaster mill, tannery, a good hotel, two or three good stores, two churches and a select school. Distance from county seat 16 miles north east.
New Bridgeport, (non called Hyndman.)-In Lon- donderry township, at the confluence of the Little and Big Will's Creeks, and the Junction of the Pittsburgh & Connellsville and Bedford and Bridgeport Railroads, the two roads running parallel with each other from this point to the Maryland Line. The town is beautifully located
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on a spacious plain or plateau, formed by a curve in Will's Creek. Bridgeport possesses every facility and resource requisite [capital excepted] to make it a first class manu- facturing town, At present there are three churches, a good school house, several fine stores, 2 hotels. a fire- brick manufactory and about 60 private houses. Distance from Bedford via R. R. 23 miles. Incorporated into a borough Sept., 1877, and changed to Hyndman, Decem- ber of same year.
Nen Paris -- A pretty little village in Napier town- ship, on the west side of Chestnut Ridge, in the center of one of the finest wheat growing districts in the county. The United Brethren, Albrights, and German Reforms have each a good church here. It is also one of the oldest Quaker communities in the State. A good hotel, several fine stores and about 40 private residences make up the village. Distance from county seat 14 miles north west.
NEW BUENA VISTA-In Juniata township, four miles southwest from Schellsburg. This is a very pretty little village with several stores, a church, school house, &c., 14 miles west from Bedford.
OSTERBURG, on the road leading from St. Clairsville to Pavia, (about two miles northwest of the former,) a small town founded by the Messrs. Osters, who have a store and excellent grist and saw mills here. It has a fine location in the beautiful little valley of Bobb's creek, a rich agricultural settlement. In close proximity are three very fine churches and a good school. Distance from Bedford twelve miles.
PLEASANTVILLE BORO', Alum Bank P. O .- Situate in West St. Clair township, near the base of the Allegheny range, on the road leading from Bedford to Johnstown. It has an excellent steam tan- nery, foundry and machine shop, a grist mill, hotel, several stores, a church, school house, Odd Fellow' Hall and about 60 private resi-
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dences. With railroad facilities to enable its citizens to utilize the immense stock of timber in their immediate vicinity this borough would rapidly increase in wealth and population. Distance from Bed- ford 16 miles northwest, -
PATTONVILLE-Founded by Major James Patton, and now princi- pally owned by Wm H. Aaron, is in South Woodberry township, at or near the gap in the Tussey's mountain. The Yellow Creek, one of the finest streams for water power in the State passes through it, upon which are the extensive flouring and lumber mills of Messrs. Aaron, Fluck and Linton. There are two good stores, a tannery, a school house and about 40 private residences. Distance from Bedford 16 miles northeast.
PAVIA-In Union township, a small town near the base of the Allegheny mountains. It has a church, school house, store, grist mill, lumber mill and about 20 residences. Distance from the county seat 20 miles northwest.
PINEY CREEK P. O. is in Mann township, on Piney Creek, 22 miles southeast of Bedford.
PERCELL P. O. is in Mann township on Piney Creek, 7 miles east from Chaneysville and 25 miles southeast from Bedford.
PIPER'S RUN P. O. is a station on the H. & B. T. R. R., 6 miles north from Everett and 16 miles from Bedford northeast.
RAINSBURG BOROUGH, at the head of Friends' Cove, one of the most attractive spots in Bedford county, and the site in former years ot a select school. The fine seminary building is still standing and used for school purposes. It is the property of the Odd Fellows, however, and part of the building is occupied by the fraternity as a hall. The town has several churches, stores, hotel, carriage manufac- tory, tannery, grist mill, and about 50 private residences. Distance from Bedford 9 miles.
RAY'S HILL .-- In East Providence township, on the Bedford and Chambersburg turnpike, nine miles east of Everett. It was laid out by the late John Nycum, father of Simon Nycum, who is the owner
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of the farm from which the town was taken. The Lutheran and Meth- odist denominations have good churches in the vicinity. There is a good store, the property of the Nycums, and a large steam tannery owned and operated by J. B. Hoyt & Co. A neat hall for the Odd Fellows has been recently erected. Distance from Bedford 17 miles east.
RIDDLESBURG is situated on the H. & B. T. R. R. at the outlet of the Six Mile Run. Here are located the extensive iron furnaces of the Kemble Coal and Iron Co., the largest establishment of the kind in Southern Pennsylvania. This company mine all their own ores, coal and limestone, and manufacture their own coke. They have two furnaces, each 60x14 feet, only one of which is in blast. Their annual production of iron amounts to about 10,000 tons, and they employ in their mines and at the furnace from 200 to 300 men. The town is peopled largely by the employees of the company, and they are sup- plied with a store, church and a good school. Distance from Bedford 23 miles by railroad.
ROBINSONVILLE P. O, is near the S. E. corner of Monroe town- ship, and on the east side of Addison's ridge. There is a good store here. Distance from Bedford 25 miles southeast.
SIX ROADS P. O. (So called from the fact that six public roads centre here), is situate in W. St. Clair township. There is a good store at the place. Distance 14 miles from Bedford.
SCHELLSBURG is situate on the eastern slope of Chestnut Ridge, 9 miles west of Bedford, on the turnpike leading to Pittsburgh. The town was laid out by John Schell in 1810, and by an Act of the Leg- islature dated the 19th of March, 1838, was incorporated into a Bor- ough, The village is beautifully located on an elevated plain form. ing one of the approaches to the famous Allegheny. affording a delightful view of the surrounding hills and valleys and adjacent villages. The town has about 500 inhabitants, many of whom can boast of noble ancestry. The Society is good and morals excellent.
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