USA > Pennsylvania > Franklin County > Chambersburg > Historical sketch of Franklin County, Pennsylvania : prepared for the centennial celebration held at Chambersburg, Penn'a, July 4th, 1876, and subsequently enlarged by I. H. M'Cauley John M. Pomeroy, publisher. To which is added a valuable appendix by J. L. Suesserott, D. M. Kennedy and others, and embellished by over one hundred lithographic illustrations, drawn by W. W. Denslow > Part 23
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Since the Ist of January last their carpenter shop has turned out over 700 window and door frames, and over 500 pairs of shutters and blinds, made to order, and not including sales from the stock of frames and shutters kept on hand for sale. A good deal of this work has come to Chambersburg.
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They built one hundred Wind Engines for the Stover Company last year, and also made' and sold a large number of Hay Rakes, Fans and other agricultural implements.
They give, at the present date, employment to more than eighty hands, and usually run without stoppage, except at the Christmas holidays, during the entire year.
But J. B. Crowell & Co's leading line of manufacture is Grain Drills, and we do them no more than justice when we say that they make the best Drill that we have any knowledge of. They cut and bend their own Rims and make their own Spokes out of their own selected lumber, and season them on their own premises, and make their own Castings out of iron selected for its adaptability to this purpose. Their wheels, at the same time that they are made with an eye to neatness, have the weight and strength required to carry the Drill over rough ground without giving way, and the whole machine is both neat and durable -handsome to look at and certain to last long. These Drills have the improved Willoughby gum springs, and also corrugated rubber rollers which form a force feed that insures a constant and regular flow of seed.
Crowell & Co. make drills that sow grain alone, or grain and grass seed, or grain and fertilizers, or grain and grass seed and fertilizers. The purchaser can have his choice. The grass seeder is detachable and can be taken off at pleasure. Or if a farmer purchases a Drill without the grass seeder, he can at any time afterward order the seeder and put it on himself. Ordinarily they make the Drill with eight hoes eight inches apart, but in some instances they have made them wider and with shafts, so as to be drawn by three horses, one inside the shafts and the others outside. Numerous experiments have been made with hoes closer together or farther apart, but these have only resulted in establishing eight inches as the best distance.
The Crowell Drill is so constructed that it may be used with the hoes in a straight line, or zigzag, or alternately oscillating. Where there are large elods or rubbish on a field, the zigzag hoes, as is well known, clean much more readily than the straight; but here is an improvement that goes far ahead of the stationary zigzag The hoes alternately move forward and backward. While the odd num- bered hoes are going forward the even numbered hoes move back- ward. The motion is slow, and the distance traversed by each hoc is only seven inches ; that is, the hoe goes forward of the central line 33 inches and back of it the same distance. This motion greatly facilitates the cleaning process. At first it occurred to us that this oscillatory motion of the hoes might cause an irregular deposit of grain, but this thought was dissipated when we noted carefully how slow were the advance and retreat of the hoes compared with the progress of the drill over the ground. Besides, Crowell & Co. in- formed us that they had tested this matter carefully and thoroughly,
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and had found by actual measurement and count that the variation did not exceed one grain in five inches on the ground. The motion given to the hoes renders the tubes less liable to choke than in the old zigzag Drill. In faet they cannot choke at all.
This Drill seems to be perfeet in all its parts and combinations, and it is called for from distant parts of the country. Three car- loads have already been shipped to Kansas this season, and some are doing duty away in Texas.
The season for buying and selling Grain Drills had just opened when we were at Crowell & Co's, week before last, and it promised to be a good one. During the three days of the week that had gone by, they had shipped fifty-five Drills, and they expected to ship more in the three days that remained of the same week. We be- lieve they are the heaviest receivers of freight on the line of the Cumberland Valley Railroad, and we learn that in the year ending June 1st, 1877, they paid the company over $5, 700.
In exploring Crowell & Co's shops we were surprised to find a man at work in a branch of manufacture entirely new to this part of our State. He was making a Pipe Organ, and had previously made a Reed Organ, which was pronounced a good instrument. His name is Miller and he is a native of Denmark, where he learned his trade. He informed us that he had worked at this business in Philadelphia and Erie. He does not possess the necessary means to establish an Organ manufactory here, but Mr. Crowell informed us that there was some probability that a company might be formed at Greeneastle, and the manufacture established. We hope that this will be done, and that success will reward the enterprise And we wish Franklin county had a few dozen more such men as J. B. Crowell, whose quiet energy and enterprise have made his fine es- tablishment what it is-a credit to the town of Greencastle, and a benefit to the surrounding country.
MURDER OF THE TWO MISS RENFREWS BY THE INDIANS, NEAR WAYNESBORO', PA.
BY J. C. BORNS.
This murder, the last that was committed by the Indians in tile region of the country, occurred on what is now the farm of Mr. Peter Fahnestock, near Waynesboro', Pa. The year in which the murder took place, cannot now be ascertained, but I have reported- ly heard my father state that it was the very last murder committed by the Indians in this section of the State. I may add that I under- stand it to be the last committed by them in this valley, and so oc-
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curring after the murder of the teacher and children near Greencastle.
The small log house in which the young women lived, was situ- ated near the mill now owned by Mr. Fahnestock, and was standing until within a few years. I have often seen it myself, and many others remember it well. Traditionary accounts differ a little in regard to one or two particulars in connection with their death. Mrs. Royer, as I understand, stated that an alarm having been giv- en that Indians were about, the two girls in question had each a horse nearly ready for the purpose of escaping on horseback, when an Trishman came hurrying past and told them to be in haste, as Indians were near ; that shortly after he had passed they were shot.
The account as given by my father is as follows: that the girls in question were wa-hing clothes that day, when the Indians came upon them and shot and scalped them. The savages at once left, going westward. Two experienced hunters living in the neighbor- hood, one of whom had lived with Indians, gave pursuit. It ap- pears there were but two of the Indians. The hunters followed the trail towards Bedford, and on the second day, somewhere among the mountains, the pursuers, deeming by the freshness of the trail that they were drawing near the Indians, became more cantious; and noticing a small opening among the trees ahead, they carefully drew bear, and there, in a small, open glade, where were several wild plum trees, stood the two Indians under the trees eating wild plums. The extreme caution exercised by the savages while eating was curious. They were perfectly quiet, and each would cautiously rach up for a plum, pull it off, and then glance around the open area, at the same time listening, and then eat the plum.
The hunters in a whisper arranged their plan. They agreed not to fire until nearenough to see the plum seed drop from the mouth of each savage. Then stealthily creeping on the ground they advance- ed near enough, when, at a signal agreed upon, they both fired, and springing up they rushed forward to complete the work, if need be, with their knives. But it needed no completion. Each bullet had sped with deadly aim, and the two savages were still in death.
The men obtained the scalps of the two sisters slain near Waynes- boro', and scalping the two Indians, they rapidly retraced their steps with the four scalps, and reached the house where the Miss Renfrews had lived, just as the funeral train was about to leave for the place of burial. The hunters approaching the coffin, quietly laid down by the corpses the two scalps taken from them, and then laid down along side of those the other two-the Indian scalps. This told the story.
The remains of these two young women were buried on a quiet hill-side in view of the historic stream, Antietam. The grave can still be identified, and is within an enclosure now used as a burying ground by the Burns family, and near the grave of Miss Sarah
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Burns. A flat stone, set edgewise, marks the grave itself ; but there is no tombstone or inscription to tell whose remains lie beneath.
The only information as to the names of these two sisters, is simply their family name -- Renfrew.
FRANKLIN FURNACE-HUNTER & SPRINGER, PROPRIETORS.
Franklin Furnace, located in St. Thomas township, three miles due north of the town of St. Thomas, and at the foot of the moun tains, was built in the year 1828 by Peter and George Houstm. These men came from Berks county and put into active operation their knowledge of the iron business, learned in that section of the country. Their original purchase was the furnace property and thirteen hundred acres of land. The ore necessary to the running of the furnace was taken from the land which they had purchased, and mixed with other varieties, taken from the Shearer bank, near Loudon, and from banks near Greenvillage. From some cause or other, success did not attend their efforts, and about the year 1845 they leased the property to Brine, Filson & Lowe. In 1848, an as- signment having been made by the Honsums, the Furnace passed into the hands of B. & W. Phreaner, from Lebanon county. They operated the works until the year 1855, when B. Phreaner way killed while engaged in raising a building. After his death, and while in the possession of W. Phreaner and the heirs of B. Phrean- er, W. Phreaner and Elmira Phreaner, his sister, continued the business for several years. The heirs of B. Phreaner eventually sold their interest to Elmira, daughter of B. Phreaner, who intermarried with Charles Molly. A new firm was organized under the name of Molly & Phreaner. William Phreaner then sold his interest to Peter C. Hollar, and the firm name changed to Molly & Hollar.
This firm was succeeded by M'Hose, Hunter & Co., and the senior member retiring shortly afterwards, the present proprietors became the owners, and have held it ever since that time. At the time of the purchase by M'Hose, Hunter'& Co., the connected tract consist- ed of about 1500 acres, but by subsequent purchases, has, from time to time been increased until at the present time it contains about 5000 acres, of which, a tract containing 400 acres is farming land, and the remainder timber.
At the present time the ores used are obtained from the Cressler ore-bank, near Shippensburg, and a small amount from the Neikirk bank, on the adjoining farm. It is brought by rail to Chambers- burg, and from that point hauled by wagons to the furnace. The fuel is all made from wood cut on the furnace lands, about 250 acres being annually cut over for that purpose. The timber is felled by workmen constantly engaged in chopping on the lands of the fur- nace, and after culling out all that is valuable as lumber, the remain-
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FRANKLIN FURNACE. FRANKLIN CO.PA.
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RES. OF CHAS GILLAN, ON TURN PIKE, WEST OF SI THOMAS.
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der is cut into four foot cord wood and burned into charcoal. About 7500 cords are thus annually burned into charcoal and used in the furnace. The amount of iron manufactured from this use of fuel is about 1400 tons, although there has been over 1600 tons made at the furnace in one year. Abont 75 men are constantly employed in the various departments of the furnace, and the land, with the exception of 100 acres of the farming lands, are managed by the proprietors, and a store is carried on in the same connection, at which quite a trade is done with the surrounding farmers. Most of the men employed by the proprietors live in the houses belonging to the property, of which there are about 30 on the lands. A steam saw-mill is in constant use in the timber lands of the property, and also one run by water does a large amount of business. The iron made here commands the highest market price, being made cold- blast, and no higher tribute can be paid the furnace and its proprie- tors than the statement that with iron of similar makes from other furnaces, selling in the market at $26.00, the iron made at Franklin Furnace is finding a ready sale at $31.00. The business is in a very prosperous condition at present.
The firm now consistsof Messrs. John Hunterand Levi L. Spring- er. Both gentlemen are first class men, and have the highest standing, both as regards the management of their works, and in their business relations.
ONE OF THE FIRST AMERICAN CANNON.
A century ago, on the banks of the Antietam, three miles east of Waynesboro', Pa., stood a little blacksmith's shop Here, in 1775, worked honest John Bouins, who swung the hammer, and with lusty blows shaped the heated iron into implements fit for tilling the soil. The war alarum rang over the country, and to John Bourns it brought the tidings that he too must do his share to free his fair land from the tyrant's yoke. After casting about for some means of contributing his share to the common cause, he deter- mined to try his skill on a wrought iron cannon. An extra pair of bellows was set up, and his brother, James Bourns, together with some neighbors, called upon to give all necessary aid in keeping up a continnous hot fire for the purpose of welding. A core of iron, with a small bore, was first prepared, and bars of iron were welded one by one, longitudinally on this core. The welding having been accomplished successfully, a new drilling was made, and the bore brought to as perfeet a degree of smoothness and circularity as was possible with the tools accessible.
This small cannon was taken to the army and doubtless gave no uncertain voice in freedom's favor. On the eleventh of September, 1777, the battle of Brandywine was fought, and our cannon was
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captured and taken to England. John Bourns was afterwards draft- ed into the army, previous to the battle of Brandywine, and no doubt felt very badly when he found that his pet had fallen into the hands of the enemy. On account of hisgreat skill he was detached from active service and detailed to repair gun locks and make bayo- nets for the use of the army. I have no recollection of reading of the manufacture of cannon for the Revolutionary army earlier than the Franklin county one.
John Bourns was the father of the late General James Burns, of Waynesboro', and he and William Burns, his brother, have related frequently the story heretofore given, to many persons. Readers will notice the change in the orthography of the names of the father and son. Mr. J. C. Burns, of Gettysburg, furnished the writer with the facts contained in this article.
MELCHI SNIVELY'S PROPERTY-SHADY GROVE.
In order to give a history of the village of Shady Grove, situated three miles east of Greencastle, on the pike leading from Baltimore to Pittsburg, it is necessary to give a history of the Snively families who were the first settlers of this location. John Jacob Sehnebele, , from Switzerland, emigrated to the United States of America and settled in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, between the years A. D. 1707 and 1718, and was naturalized in the city of Philadelphia on the 4th day of October, A. D. 1729, and died at the age of eighty- four years, leaving an offspring of several children. One of these children was Jacob Schnebele, who was born A. D. 1694, and died August 24th, 1766, in the seventy-second year of his age, leaving an offspring of seventeen children, whence the numerous families, now universally known as the Snivelys, have descended. Some of these families located in Antrim township. Many also emigrated to other parts. As Shady Grove's origin and history is solicited, I shall en- deavor to follow the generations down to the present day, by com- meneing with Joseph Snively, Sen. About this time the name was changed to Snively. I refer first to the old Patent Deed from Rich- ard and Thomas Penn, for a tract of land called "Punk," which was entered in a land warrant, bearing date January 8th, A. D. 1753, by Samuel Menoch, who conveyed the same to Jacob Schnebele by deed dated 1756. Jacob Schnebele, by his last will and testament,, gave the property to his son, Joseph Snicely, Sen , who attained the age of 87 years. Joseph Snively, Sr., died on the farm he first settled on, leaving it to his son Joseph Snively, Jr., who also reached the age of 86 or 87 years. Joseph Snively, Jr., left the farm to his son, Samuel B. Snively. These lands have been handed down from one generation to another until the present time, a period of about 130 .
years, and that traet of land called Punck, was added to the origin-
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al about ten years after the first grant. Upon a part of this tract the village of Shady Grove is located. These lands were deeded by Joseph Snively Sr., to his son John Snively, who by will devised them to his son, Melchi Snively, who sold the lot upon which the first building was erected in A. D. 1837. At that time no idea was entertained that it ever would become a town. In 1848 the present residence and store of Melchi Snively was built. After doing business a few years the village increased to such a size as to warrant an application for a post office, which was obtained. The place was called Shady Grove P. O., and since that time has become a village of about 30 houses and shops. Mr. Frederick B. Snively has been Postmaster and merchant since 1856. The avocation of the Snively families predominates, and has predominated in agri- culture, (with a few exceptions), in connection with stock feeding and stock raising; pursuits which are so closely allied to the pros- perity of agriculturists that they are inseparable.
STEAN ENGINE AND BOILER WORKS-FRICK & CO., WAYNESBORO'.
In producing a consecutive history of the well-known Steam En- gine Works at Waynesboro', it is found somewhat difficult to gather the correct data and to trace the successive business developments from the beginning. Mr. George Frick, who at present writing is the General Superintendent of the works, was also the founder and constant conductor of the business. His own biography is so inti- mately connected with our subject that it is necessary to use it in this connection. He was born in Lancaster county in 1826, and in the spring of 1838 his father settled in this county, in the vicinity of Waynesboro'. At eighteen years of age, about 1543, George Frick went to the mill-wright trade, and in 1845 commenced business in a small way for himself, on the place now in possession of Henry Good, about one and a half miles north of Quiney, in Quincy town- ship, where he continued about two years, and then moved to the mill property on the Antietam, about two miles south of Waynes- boro, now owned by D. F. Good. Here he engaged in building grain drills. In a year later he commenced business near the town of Quincy, occupying a woolen factory for a shop, and manufactur- ing thresbing machines and other agricultural implements. It was at this place, in the fall of 1850, Mr. Frick built his first steam en- gine, a two-horse-power stationary; for his own use, and from his own patterns. In the following year he again removed to a country shop, about one-half mile north-west of the village of Ringgold, Md., and about 300 yards from the Mason & Dixons Line. Here the engine above alluded to ran the machine shop for the manu- facture of steam engines and various mill machinery. In 1859 he commenced building the Geiser Grain Separator. The increase of
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the business now necessitated better facilities, and in the following year, the entire business was removed to Waynesboro', and the manufacture of steam engines and grain separators continued on a larger scale. In 1865 he sold out the Grain Separator business to the Geiser Manufacturing Company. He immediately erected the present commodious buildings just opposite the old works, and made Steam Engines and Boilers of all kinds a specialty. In 1870 he took C. F. Bowman, of Lancaster, into co-partnership, who died in the fall of 1872. In February, 1873, a company was organized with a capital of $100,000, and facilities were largely increased, in order to supply the pressing demands of the trade.
The works comprise two commodious finishing shops, well fur- nished with all the machinery, tools and appliances, usually kept in a first-class, well-conducted establishment of this character; a large boiler shop, with every thing necessary to produce work of all kinds and styles in this line ; also steam forge shop, smith shop, fron foundry, brass foundry, paint shop, warehouse, pattern shop, and pattern house, with a very large collection of patterns used in manufacturing, and to which constant additions are being made.
Eight years ago fifty workmen were employed, now the company has about one hundred employees. One moral feature is not out of place in this connection. The company employs only sober men, and when any of the workmen are persistent in the use of intoxi- cating drinks, such are suspended or dismissed.
The manufactures produced by this company are the "Eclipse" Farm, "Eclipse" Portable, and "Eelipse" Stationary Steam En- gines, Horizontal and Vertical Stationary Engines, Steam Boilers of various styles, Circular Saw-Mills, Mill Machinery, and general machinist work. Their manufaemires are shipped to almost every State in the Union, and even to the West India Islands. They en- joy the enviable reputation of making superior machinery in their line. In the short period of three years past they have sold nearly 500 of their Eelipse Engines alone, and of the great number of boilers constructed, they have yet to hear of the first explosion. Their prospects are most promising, and bid fair for a very success- ful future.
J. K. ANDREWS' FARM.
The tract of land now belonging to Mr. James K. Andrews, of , which I write, is located in Hamilton township, along the Warm Spring road, and five miles south-east of Chambersburg. It eon- tains about one hundred and twenty seven acres of gravel land, of which twenty-seven are in timber and the remainder in farming order. On the property there are erected a two-storied frame dwell- ing house, large stone and frame barn, and all the necessary out- buildings. It is bounded by lands of John N. Snider, Andrew Bard,
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Israel Faust, Isaac Allison, Israel Faust, Jacob Picking and others. The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, in 1804, granted a patent to Andrew Dunlop, for a large body of land, of which this farm was a constituent part. A few years after, Dunlop sold the Andrews tract to James Speer. Speer was not able to pay for it, and an execution of judgment was issued. Jacob Merkle, High Sheriff of Franklin county, on April 14th, 1810, sold the farm to Thomas Poe, Esq. James Speer, Jr., purchased it from Poe, but only retained it until April 4th, 1812, when Frederick Wallick became the owner. For seven years it was in the possession of Walliek, when he sold, on March 24th, 1819 to Jacob Hatler. Hatler remained there for nearly half a generation, but sold to Michael Etter on March 21st, 1833. Two years afterwards, Etter became involved, and conveyed the farm on February 28th, 1835, to John Gird and Henry Bender to sell for the benefit of his creditors. No sale was made, however, and the property was re-conveyed to Etter. On April 2d, 1855, James J. Kennedy and James Nill became the owners, and on April. 2d, 1858 Judge Kennedy purchased Mr. Nill's interest, thus becoming sole proprietor. In the spring of 1860 Mrs. Sarah Andrews moved from New Village, Warren county, New Jersey, to our county, and on the sixth day of April, 1860, bought this property from Judge Ken- nedy. The frame house was then standing, but has since that time been thoroughly remodeled. In March, 1866, Mr. James Andrews, husband of Mrs. Sarah Andrews, died. Mrs. Andrews retained the farm until January 1st, 1876, when she sold to her sons, T. M. and J. K. Andrews. During. the summer of 1875 the present large barn was built by the proprietors, the work being done by Frank M. Andrews, Mr. James. K. Andrews bought out his brother's half interest on July Ist, 1877, and made extensive alterations in the dwelling house.
'The present proprietor is a thorough, go-ahead young merchant. At present he is engaged in the dry goods business, with E. Van Volkenburg & Co., importing and jobbing, 384 and 386 Broadway, New York City. In consequence of his business relations, he is necessarily, for the greatest part of the time, away from the county. His brother, Mr. F. M. Andrews, manages the farm.
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