History of Bedford, Somerset, Fulton counties Pennsylvania, Part 112

Author: Waterman, Watkins & Co.
Publication date: 1884
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 967

USA > Pennsylvania > Bedford County > History of Bedford, Somerset, Fulton counties Pennsylvania > Part 112
USA > Pennsylvania > Fulton County > History of Bedford, Somerset, Fulton counties Pennsylvania > Part 112
USA > Pennsylvania > Somerset County > History of Bedford, Somerset, Fulton counties Pennsylvania > Part 112

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

GEBHARTSBURG.

Gehhartsburg (Gebhart's postoffice) is a small collection of houses, one-half mile east of New Centreville. Village lots were laid out in this place on No ember 22, 1834, at the same time with New Centreville. George Gebhart was the founder of the place, and Simon Gebhart, his son, did the surveying. Until 1881, Geb- hartsburg was the voting-place of Milford town- ship. In that year, by vote of the citizens, two polling-places were established, the eastern half of the township voting at Rockwood, and the western half at Gebhartsburg.

The first house, after the lots were laid off, was erected by Henry Walter in 1835. It is a large frame building, used both as a store and a dwelling. In this building Charles A. Walter now carries on a successful mercantile busi-

ness, but it is owned by the widow of John Weller.

Opposite the old store is the site of one of the old log taverns of pioneer days. George Gebhart was the landlord, and is said to have entertained George Washington in the old house. The old structure disappeared about 1822, and the brick tavern stand, now owned by Mrs. Weller, took its place.

George Gebhart was the first blacksmith, probably over a hundred years ago. He had a shop on the old tavern site. It was afterward rebuilt on another spot, and has since been torn away and rebuilt twice.

The first schoolhouse in Gebhartsburg was erected in 1848, and rebuilt in 1860. The post- office, the first in the township, was established about 1808. Postmasters : John Gebhart, Geo. Gebhart, John Knable, Robert Walter, and Charles A. Walter, present incumbent.

The cheese-factory at the lower end of Geb- hartsburg was built by Charles A. Walter, in 1877, and is now owned by J. C. Weller. Geb- hartsburg has one store, one hotel, one black- smith-shop and a cheese-factory.

CHURCHES.

The first house of worship in the township was erected on James Wilson's farm by the Lutherans and Presbyterians. It was a rude log structure, and was erected long before 1800. Rev. Steck (1783-94) was probably the first Lutheran preacher here, succeeded by Rev. Fred- erick W. Long (1794-1808). Near the old church stood the first schoolhouse ever built in Milford. At present there are two Lutheran churches in the township-Laurel church, three miles south of Rockwood, and Pine church, three miles east of Centreville. Laurel church has a membership of about ninety, and is at present without a pastor. It was built at a cost of about twelve hundred dollars. Pine church cost nearly the same amount. It at present has about eighty members. There are also three union churches in the township : San- ners Lutheran and Reformed, about four miles east of New Centreville ; Union church, three miles east of Centreville, and Pleasant Hill church, three miles northeast of Centreville. A Brethren or German Baptist meeting-house was built about 1855 at a cost of one thousand dollars. The membership is large.

German Baptist .- Middle Creek church of

Digitized by Google

546

HISTORY OF SOMERSET COUNTY.

the Brethren or German Baptists was organized in 1849, with one hundred members. The dis- trict now has three hundred and twenty mem- bers and seven meeting-houses. The first meeting-house was built in 1850. Bishop, Adam F. Snyder ; ministers, J. D. Miller, J. C. Schrock, Valentine Blough, Silas Hoover, Wm. Meyers, J. Berkley, Cornelius Berkley, William Miller.

New Centreville Churches .- The first church in New Centreville was erected about 1813, by the Lutherans and the Presbyterians. It was a log building, erected under the superintendence of John Carbaugh. The building was not finished until 1819. The first ministers who preached in the old house were Rev. Frederick Long, Lu- theran, and Rev. John H. Giesy, Presbyterian. The old log church disappeared in 1878, its days of usefulness having passed away. In 1876 the members of the Reformed church built a new house of worship at a cost of nine thousand dollars, and the following year the Lutherans erected one equally as costly. Both congrega- tions are prosperous.

The Methodists had an organization quite early, and about 1850 erected a meeting-house in New Centreville. In 1880 the house was sold to an organization of the Christian church, which now worships in it.

Rockwood Churches .- The first church in Rockwood was built by the Evangelical Asso- ciation in 1871. The building is a frame, and cost sixteen hundred dollars. In building it, the society were assisted by subscriptions from citizens who were not members. The first class- leader was Zachariah Snyder; first trustees, Simon Snyder, Thomas Cupp and Zachariah Snyder. The pastors have been : Revs. Daniel Baumgardner, G. W. White, H. S. Staufer, W. A. Risinger, T. Eisenbower, I. Smith, E. F. Dickey and R. P. Vanmeter.

The United Brethren church in Rockwood was built in 1873, at a cost of about fourteen hundred dollars. Rev. John Felix, the first pastor, was succeeded by John Buel, William Zook, J. N. Munden and B. F. Noon. The first, and also the present trustees : P. F. Wolfers- berger, David Weimer and Anthony Growall. Class-leader, James Dillon. The present mem- bership is seventy. In 1882 a two-story dwell- ing, to be occupied as a parsonage, was erected by the society at a cost of thirteen hundred dollars,

The Reformed church in Rockwood was built in 1880, and cost sixteen hundred dollars. The building was dedicated by Rev. A. E. Truxel. Trustees : J. M. Wolfersberger and B. F. Kim- mel. The pastor is Rev. W. W. Dietrich. Present membership, twenty-five. Before the building of the church, worship was held in the schoolhouse.

BIOGRAPHICAL.

GEORGE DUMBAULD.

The Dumbauld family are of German extrac- tion, and were among the first settlers in Fayette county. Abraham Dumbauld settled near Indian creek, in the above-named county, and was one of the typical pioneers, strong, hearty and adventurous. He engaged quite largely in the chase, and in so doing, tradition says, had many narrow escapes. He reared a family of four sons and five daughters. One of his sons, named Peter, passed his life in the county of his nativity, his death not occurring until he had attained the age of eighty-six years. He was for many years a justice of the peace, and an influential member of the community. He married Sarah Cable, and they became the parents of seven children, as follows : Abraham, Jonathan, Samuel, Peter, Solomon, David and Elizabeth. Jonathan was born July 30, 1809. December 13, 1833, he was married to Eliza- beth, daughter of George Dull, who was born in Milford township, April 9, 1815. They made Fayette county their home for about twelve years, since which time they have been resi- dents of Somerset county. Mr. Dumbaugh has followed farming and droving-he operating quite extensively as a drover. He has served as justice of the peace for several years, and as county commissioner two terms, and is a man much respected. Mr. and Mrs. Dumbaugh are members of the Church of God, and were among the first members of this church in the county. They have been blessed with twelve children : George, Susan, Frederick, Sally, Christina, Daniel, Mary, Peter, William (deceased), Louisa, Susannah and Jonathan B. George Dumbaugh, the subject of this sketch, was born January 27, 1834, in Fayette county, Pennsylvania, and

Digitized by Google

Adam C. Sepley Mrs Adam. b. deplay

ADAM C. LEPLEY.

The first representative of the Lepley family in America came from Germany, accompanied by three sons, Michael, Jacob and Adam,and settled in Eastern Pennsylvania. Michael was killed by the Indians at Bloody Run, now Everett, in Bedford county. He had three sons, Jacob, who had seven sons and four daughters, moved to Ohio. Adam, who was born in Germany in 1758, settled in Somerset county. He married Barbara Bugher, who was born May 6, 1865, in Pennsylvania. They became the parents of six sons and two daughters. One of their sons, also named Adam, was born August 5, 1776, near Willard's Gap, in Larimer town- ship, Somerset county, where the turnpike crosses the Alleghany mountains. He became quite a prominent man in the com- munity, and was appointed justice of the peace by the governor and served in this capacity about twenty-five years. April 8, 1798, he was married to Elizabeth Hover, who was born July 26, 1780. Their children were as follows: Daniel, born August 12, 1799; Jacob, born June 7, 1801; Valentine, born April 23, 1803; Johannah, born February 2, 1806; Catharine, born September 18, 1807: Susanah, born June 3, 1810 ; Joseph, born November 26, 1812; Barbara, born December 28, 1824; Adam, born March 5, 1821; and Harmon, born December 28, 1824.

Daniel Lepley, who still resides in Larimer township, en- gaged quite extensively in business, for in addition to running a gristmill, he at the same time ran a sawmill, and thus manu- factured large quantities of lumber.

He also served as justice of the peace for ten years. He served as county commissioner one term. He married Elizabeth Beal, who died July 5, 1874, and they became the parents of ten chil- dren, viz .: Daniel, Louisa (Troutman), Nancy (Deal), Matilda (Wilhelm), Adam C., Christina, Mary (Yutzy), Samuel, Diana (Light), Ellen (Groft).

Samuel when a young man engaged in school teaching for some years in Somerset and Bedford counties, after which he went to the State of Illinois, where he also engaged in school teaching. Subsequent to the breaking out of the late rebellion he enlisted in Co. D, Ist Ill. Art. When moving upon Vicks- burg he was taken ill and sent to the hospital at St. Louis, where, after his recovery, he acted as clerk in Gen. Schofield's head- quarters until they were changed from the city, when he rejoined his command. He was again taken sick and sent to Jefferson barracks, where he soon thereafter died and was interred.

Adam C. Lepley, great-grandson of the elder Adam Lepley, and the only surviving son of Daniel, was born January 25, 1886, in Southampton township, Somerset county, Pennsylvania. In 1856 he was married to Saloma Engle, who was born January 14, 1839. Shortly after his marriage he purchased a farm of one hundred and seventy-five acres of his father and followed farm- ing six years, and then removed to his father-in-law's farm, which he ran for four years in connection with a sawmill, when he purchased the old homestead of one hundred and four acres of his father, which he still retains. By his first wife, who died March 22, 1874, he had the following children : John A. (who is married to Miss R. McNeer), born November 5, 1867; Lucinda (Poorbaugh), born June 9, 1859 ; Clarissa (Yutzy), born February 14, 1861 ; Marion F., born January 2, 1868, died February 4, 1868 ; Daniel F., born February 14, 1864 ; Solomon, born March 21, 1866; Herman G., born December 17, 1867; Charles, born December 12, 1869; Teny A., born November 15, 1871 ; Emma 8., born March 9, 1874, died September 21, 1874.

September 8, 1874, he married Mrs. Nancy Miller, formerly Miss Hershberger, who was born June 21, 1839. They have four children, viz .: Ada A., born February 28, 1876; Fanny, born February 8, 1878; Nancy S., born February 7, 1880; Etta, born June 25, 1882. In 1875 he moved to his present farm in Elk Lick township, which was then under a bad state of cultivation, with very poor fences. Under Mr. Lepley's efficient management it. has been wonderfully improved and now ranks among the good. farms of the township. When quite young Mr. Lepley began working in his father's sawmill, and in hauling lumber to market at all seasons of the year, through heat and cold, pleasant and stormy weather, and therefore had little opportunity to acquire scholastic attainments, but by judicious reading and close observation he has become possessed of a very considerable fund of general information, and is now one of the representative men of his section.

Mr. Lepley has filled the office of justice of the peace, as well as nearly all of the township offices, with great accepta. bility. Starting out in life with only twenty-five dollars when first married, he has made a success in life. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity and has filled nearly all of the chairs in the blue lodge. Politically and religiously he is republican and a member of the Reformed church.

Digitized by Google

547

ELK LICK.

when quite young, removed with his parents to Somerset county. When twenty years of age, and engaged in learning the milling business, he, in company with several others, started for the attractive golden fields of California, going via New York and the Isthmus of Panama, and . upon arrival there took up claims in Calaveras county, where he engaged in placer mining for three years with reasonable success. He then removed to San Joaquin county, and until 1864 engaged in farming and milling. In the spring of this year he, in common with thousands of others, decided to try his luck in Idaho, and the journey there was made up the coast to Port- land, Oregon ; up the Columbia river to the Dalles, and from there by means of Indian ponies to the mines on Moore's creek, where he met with gratifying success - placer mining- until fall, when he returned to San Joaquin county, and engaged in farming until the fall of 1869, when he returned home via the Union Pacific railroad, which was this year completed, after an absence of fifteen years. The fol- lowing spring he returned to California, and located in Merced county, where he took up government land and became among the first farmers, thus demonstrating the fertility of the soil, which had, prior to this time, been doubted. He also engaged in teaming with sixteen mules, which were attached to three and sometimes four wagons fastened together: This was in the mountainous counties of Inyo and Kern, along narrow defiles where the least misstep would have precipitated them down thousands of feet into a yawning abyss below.

He was present when the first church, which was free for all denominations, was dedicated in the Yosemite Valley by Rev. J. H. Vincent, well known among sabbath-school workers. Among the celebrities present were Joseph Cook, of Boston, and Rev. Thomas Gard.

In 1880 Mr. Dumbauld decided to return to the land of his fathers, from which he had been absent, except for one brief visit, twenty-six years, and the journey home was via the South- ern Pacific railroad. He is now located in Mil- ford township, on a fine farm of over three hundred acres, a view of which can be found on another page in this volume. Thus will perseverance and patient industry always find a sure reward.

CHAPTER LXVIII. ELK LICK.

The Name - Township Organized, 1785 - Tax-List, 1796 - Early Settlers- A Novel Method of Settling a Disputed Land Title- The First Wagon in the County - First Mills-The Borough of Salisbury - The Town Laid Out in 1794- Early Settlers of the Town - Business Interests - Leading Business Men - Religious Organizations of the Township and Borough.

E TLK Lick was so named from the fact that within the township was a lick which the elk and deer used to frequent. The township was organized as a division of Bedford county about the year 1785. Settlements were made very early by immigrants of German and Irish birth. According to the tax-list of 1796 the following persons were then resident taxables in Elk Lick township :

Michael Angle, Clemans Angle, Benjamin Ashmead, William Albricks,

James Agen,

James Boyd,

Christian Burntrager,

Christopher Barnhouse,

John Burkholter, Simon Blewboh, John Burger, Michael Breniser, Simon Blewbaugh, Jacob Breniser, Peter Bedford, George Barclay, Adam Brittle, Peter Bussard, Mountjoy Bailey, Jacob Crickler, Jacob Cover,

Henry Garlet, Ebenazer Griffith, Esq.,

John Griffith,

Charles Grandman, John Graham, Michael Hansel,

Henry Hostotler,

John Hostotler, Sr.,

John Hostotler, David Hostotler,

Solomon Clodfelty, Adam Clodfelty,

Joseph Hostotler, Andrew Haslet,

John Hershberger, Christian Hostotler, John Hoover,

Christian Hostotler,

John Hendricks,

Andrew Hendricks,

Christian Hershberger,

Samuel Haslet, John Hall,

John Hostotler, John Holtman, Henry Hains,

Anthony Hains,

Adam Eslor,

Abraham Flory, Jr., Abraham Flory, Sr. Joseph Forney,

Jacob Forney,

Thomas Johnston, Jr., Roger Johnston, Baker Johnston,

Thomas Johnston,

Adam Fadley,

Christian Fike, Abraham Feutch,

Adam Findley, Christian Fike, William Findley Samuel Findey, Peter Faidley Philip Firebaugh, Daniel Flick, Joseph Flory, John Fike, Samuel Foust,

David Griffith, Joseph Gundy, John Garlet,

John Christner,

David Cryder,

John Clink,

Andrew Clink,

Benjamin Cadington, John Drusel, George Dickey, David Dickey, Michael Domer, John Dorice,

Henry Deal, Shaped Dwire,

John Dust, Casper Dust, Jacob Dust, James Ervin, John Eigleberger,

John Hershberger, John Infield, James Johnston, Benjamin Johnston,

Peter Forney, Jacob Fick, George Folk, John Fike,

John Kayton, Christian Knagey,

Digitized by

Google

548

HISTORY OF SOMERSET COUNTY.

John Knagey, George Klingerman,

Abraham Richart,

John Riley,

Maurice Kennaday,

Jacob Roads,

Robert Kennaday,

Jacob Smith,

Peter Livengood, Jr.,

Peter Smith,

John Lape, Joseph Lighty,

John Schrack, Jr.,

Christian Lighty,

John Smith,

Honical Long,

Jacob Sayler,

Peter Lighty,

John Sayler, Sr.,

Christian Livengood,

George Sweet,

John Little,

Michael Starner,

Joseph Moyst,

Patrick Solovin,

Daniel Martin,

Henry Slaneborough,

Matthias Marker,

Henry Stom,

John Miller,

Matthias Swatsel,

Henry Miller,

John Smith,

Michael Miller,

George Sheckley,

Jacob Miller,

William Strating,

Mathias Markley,

Mary Simpson,

George Moyer, Sr.,

Isabella Somerville,

Jacob Miller,

Peter Sheckley,

Christian Moyst, Jacob Markley,

John Simkins,

Jacob Moyst,

John Tipnor, John Teetz,

Joseph Markey,

Benjamin Thomas,

Peter Markley,

Christopher Thomas,

John Markley,

William Tisue, Richard Thomson,

George Moyer,

Jacob Thomson,

Philip Nullard,

John Thomson,

John Olinger,

James Tate,

Widow Pare,

Henry Teal,

Christian Perkey,

Thomas Vickroy,

Abraham Pechey,

James Wilcox,

Peter Pechey, Jr.,

Michael Wince,

Peter Pechey, Sr.,

Michael Wilhelm,

Jacob Peck,

Jacob Wilhelm,

Stephen Pearson,

John Welch,

Elias Ramspiker,

Martin Wimer,

Adam Ringer,

Christian Wireman,

Matthias Ring,

Henry Wertz,

Michael Role,

Henry Yoder,

Mechael Ripple,

Isaac Youler,

John Reames,

Yost Zuch,

Jacob Smith, Collector. Total valuation, real and personal, seventy-one thousand one hundred and fourteen dollars. Amount of tax collected, three hundred and fifty-five dollars and fifty-seven cents.

Elk Lick township contains rich deposits of coal, iron ore and limestone. Since the build- ing of the railroad the development of these products has become an important industry.

The first settled farm* is believed to have been that now owned by John W. Beachly, situ- ated immediately north of the town of Salis- bury. The settler was Joseph Markley, who became the owner of a tract of land extending from the mouth of Pine run along the Cassel- man river to the mouth of Meadow run, thence along Meadow run for a distance of about one and one-half miles ; thence north to Pine run ; thence following Pine run to the place of be- ginning. The date of settlement was probably between the years 1755 to 1760. Markley also

claimed a portion of the land on the opposite side of the river, being a part of what is now the David Livengood farm. A man named Judy also laid claim to the same land. One day the two claimants met on the hill on the opposite side of the river, and proceeded to settle the dispute by a fistic encounter. Judy was vanquished in the fight, and Markley continued. in possession. From this affair arose the name of Flog hill.

Capt. Tissue owned the Sullivan and A. P. Beachy farms. He lived in the hollow above Beachy's present sugar-camp, and was in good circumstances for those days.' He kept a sort of public-house, which was a stopping-place for travelers and packhorse-men. Tradition says that on one occasion a train of thirty pack- horses, in charge of a man and his four sons, stopped at Tissue's. The landlord also having four sons, a wrestling match was proposed, and re- sulted in the vanquishing of the Tissues. The result was a free fight, in which .Tissue's sons were again beaten. Tissue took part in the revolutionary war, and during his absence his wife was murdered.

Peter Livengood, a native of Switzerland, came to America, married in Berks county, Pennsyl- vania, and removed to Elk Lick township, set- tling on the farm now known as the Arnold property. This was in 1760. It is said that there was then a small clearing on the farm which had been made by the Indians. A sketch of the Livengood family appears elsewhere in this volume.

Abraham Beachy was a native of Switzerland. He came with his parents to Maryland when young, and in 1780 settled on a farm three- fourths of a mile west of Salisbury, where he resided until his death. A more extended sketch of the family appears elsewhere.

Solomon Glotfelty, a native of Germany, set- tled one mile east of Salisbury in 1775, and fol- lowed farming and blacksmithing until his death. He was the father of Adam, Henry, Jacob, Cas- par, Elizabeth, Mary and Catharine. Jacob was born in this township in 1790. He followed. blacksmithing, and died in 1873. He married Elizabeth Showman, and was the father of eight children : Samuel, David, Jeremiah and John, living ; Michael, Harriet, Adaline and Elizabeth, deceased. Samuel Glotfelty was born in 1809. He commenced to learn blacksmithing when eleven years old, and for fifty-three years has been in business for himself.

. For this information, and several other interesting statements which follow, the writer is indebted to W. H. Welfley, of Somerset.

Digitized by Google

John Moyer,

John Schrack, Sr.,

I, W, Beachy

JOHN W. BEACHY.

John W. Beachy, son of Peter A. Beachy, whose history appears elsewhere, was born in 1826 and reared on his father's farm. He attended the school of that grand old instructor, Jost J. Stutzman, and thus laid the basis for his success in life.

Being the eldest son at home, at the early age of fifteen years he became the manager of his father's farming operations, his father's attention being largely absorbed in other business matters. His early man- hood being thus occupied with the arduous labors of farming, it perfected a naturally robust constitution, thus preparing him for the labors of after years, and at the same time inculcating in him the true theories of farm management, which are the basis of success- ful farming operations. He remained on the home farm for a time after his marriage, when he pur- chased, in 1848, the well-known Patrick Sullivan farm of five hundred and eighty acres. The soil was at this time so much exhausted by injudi- cious farming that it almost approached sterility. Mr. Beachy immediately commenced to supply the exhausted elements of the soil by the free use of lime, with almost marvelous results, for, after a period of fifteen years, the farm was redeemed and made one of the best in the county. So clearly was the efficacy of lime as a land-restorer demonstrated by him, that at last some of his neigh- bors (who in the meantime worked some of his land on shares, deeming their own nearly worthless) were induced to pursue the same plan, and they are now deriving the same benefits therefrom. Twenty years after purchasing this farm Mr. Beachy disposed of it, having in the meantime erected fine farm buildings, and purchased the farm near Salisbury, upon which

he lived fifteen years. He disposed of it to his son, Milton J., in 1883. In the erection of fine farm build- ings, surrounded with appropriate enclosures neatly whitewashed, Mr. Beachy has taken a foremost part, and the results of his example are apparent in Elk Lick township, where he takes rank as one of its best agriculturista, although at the present time he is not engaged in farming, he now being classed among their capitalists. He has successfully settled up some of the largest estates of the township.

Mr. Beachy was one of the original stockholders and a director in the National Bank at Meyersdale- now changed to a private bank-which went success- fully through the panic of 1873. In all of his finan- cial ventures he has been uniformly successful, which is the best of evidence of sound business judgment.

Mr. Beachy was one of the originators and heaviest stockholders of the Salisbury Foundry Company, which was organized in 1871, when the present build- ings were erected. He was the first treasurer of the establishment, which position he still retains, although since the spring of 1882 it has been leased to a com- pany who are now operating it. He also, in connec- tion with his brother, A. P., laid out quite an exten- sive addition to Salisbury on the south side, and as a result of their management, it has largely been built up by permanent residenters, thus materially increas- ing the population and business interests of Salisbury.

In 1846 he was married to Susan Lichty, daughter of John C., one of the pioneers, who was born in 1828. Mr. and Mrs. Beachy are members of the Ger- man Baptist church. They are the parents of eight children-Anna M., Harriet, Elizabeth, Milton, Frank- lin, Ellen S., Richard and John L.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

History of Bedford, Somerset, Fulton counties Pennsylvania, Part 112

Author: Waterman, Watkins & Co. Publication date: 1884 Publisher: Number of Pages: 967

Author: Waterman, Watkins & Co.
Publication date: 1884
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 967