History of Bedford, Somerset, Fulton counties Pennsylvania, Part 118

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

USA > Pennsylvania > Bedford County > History of Bedford, Somerset, Fulton counties Pennsylvania > Part 118
USA > Pennsylvania > Fulton County > History of Bedford, Somerset, Fulton counties Pennsylvania > Part 118
USA > Pennsylvania > Somerset County > History of Bedford, Somerset, Fulton counties Pennsylvania > Part 118

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).

The most interesting spot in the township is the old graveyard at the Six Poplars, on the bottom-land of the Casselman river. There are fully one hundred graves in this old cemetery, and the names of the greater portion of those buried here are now lost in oblivion. Few of the headstones have inscriptions upon them. The six poplars are themselves objects of inter- est. The trees are so closely grown together near the ground that they form one perfect trunk of large circumference. About six feet from the earth they separate and form six tall and stately trees. One of the trunks was de- stroyed by lightning a few years since, but five of them still remain thrifty and vigorous. A gravestone which reposed for many years in the forks of the many-bodied tree was supposed by many to have been lifted from the earth by the trees. This, as any thoughtful person can see, is an improbable supposition. The stone was doubtless placed there by human hands and forgotten.

Near the tree is the grave of Richard Green, who was born in 1734 and died in 1808. Three Richard Greens are buried here, representatives of three generations. The last was buried about

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Rolfs

GEN. MOSES ANDREWS ROSS.

The Rows family are of Scotch-Irish extraction. They were originally from the Highlands of Scotland; they were Cove- nanters, and in order to secure greater religious freedom, many of them removed to the north of Ireland, where Robert, the great grandfather of the immediate subject of this biography, and the progenitor of the American branch of the family, was born in 1709. In 1745 he came to this country and first settled in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania He had married in Ireland & Miss Jane Latta ; bisson Robert was born in Lancaster county, in 1758. At the breaking out of the war of the revolution he entered the Continental army under Gen. Wayne; he served with distino- tion through that sanguinary struggle, and in 1788 was married to Miss Dorcas Andrews, and removed to German township, Fayette county, Pennsylvania, near the present site of Masontown. He was closely identified with the early settlement of that section ; he was a man of powerful physique and was prominent in mili- tary matters. He reared a family of eight children : John, Rob- ort, Moses, Warwick, Hananiah, Mary, Jean and Dorcas. Robert, the father of Gen. M. A. Ross, was born November 28, 1786, and at the age of twenty-three years was married to Elizabeth Virginia Le Maire. Her father was a native of Picardy, France ; her mother, Elizabeth Monshi, was born in Paris. They were Catholics and loyal to King Louis XVI, and in 1791 took passage on board the ship Virginia for this country. During the voyage they had a daughter born to them, who, as before stated, became the wife of Robert Ross, who led an eventful life. During the war of 1812 he served his country as a private soldier ; he was taken prisoner at Detroit and was released on parole; he immedi- ately roentered the service ; he parti ipated in many decisive engagements, notably that of Lundy Lane and Fort Erie; In the latter he was severely wounded. In June. 1815, he was dis- charged, and in 1817 joined the regular army. He died in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, January 9, 1822. Gen. M. A. Ross was born in Masontown, Fayette county, September 14, 1810: when a babe of three months his mother died, and he was reared by his paternal grandfather; he received his education at the subscription schools, and at the age of eighteen came to Somerfield, Somerset county, and commenced life as a clerk in the store of John C. Darrali. The following spring he came to Petersburg and began merchandising, in which vocation he has been engaged fifty-

three years, and is undoubtedly the oldest and one among the successful merchants in the county. The attention of Gen. Ross has not been wholly absorbed by the cares of business, for he bas devoted much time to matters of public import ; hisstrict integ- rity and business capacity qualined him for many positions of trust and responsibility. For many years he was called upon to administer upon estates, and his decisions were always accepted. He has always evinced a deep interest in political matters, although not an aspirant for office. For seventeen years he was clerk of the township, and has served his constituency as magts- trate, postmaster, revenue commissioner, and as a member of the state legislature, to which position he was elected in 1864, and upon the expiration of his term was re-elected; he served on important committees and the last year was chairman of the committee on education. The general has always taken a deep interest in education ; he was the first director elected under the present school system, and served in this capacity for thirty years. He has always been a pronounced temperance man, and has held prominent positions in all the different societies in Addison township, and has been a member of the grand and national divisions of the "Sons of Temperance." He has been also conspicuous in military matters, and in 1845 was elected captain of the Addison infantry, and by successive promotions attained the position of brigade commander. In 1889 he became a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and has been for & half century one of the most active workers in the sabbath school. In him all church enterprises find & liberal supporter. He was a member of the general conference of 1880, and four times has been a member of the Lay Electoral conference. Gen. Ross has always been a great reader and & forcible writer; his library is well stocked with standard publications, besides many rare and quaint volumes that more pretentious libraries never knew.

March 7, 1883, the general was married to Miss Diana, daughter of John Mitchell, Esq. Two children were the result of this union : Cornelia, who died in 1852, and Orville A. Mrs. Ross died November 4, 1839, and in April, 1841, he was again married to Miss Cynthia A., sister of his first wife. By this marriage there were the following children: A. Marshall, Felecia H. (Mr). Sullevin Johnson), Robert E., Mansfield A., George C., Frank Moore, Mary Ida, Sophia E. and Hiram Lee. The two latter are deceased.

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1827, since which time few, if any, interments have been made in this graveyard. Mr. John Hauna, who assisted in digging this grave, states that in removing the earth he came upon a skeleton of such extraordinary size that it would seem that the bones were those of a man of gigantic stature. The body had been wrapped in a striped blanket and deposited in a coffin of chestnut puncheons, fastened together by wrought nails. The bones were collected together by the gravediggers and deposited in a hole at the bottom of the grave, and over them the remains of Green were then interred.

An old resident stated to Mr. Hanna that no person had ever been buried in that spot during the time of his recollection. The use of nails and a coffin indicates that the body was that of a white man. But who was the mysterious stranger who died here ? And who were his companions that laid him to rest in this wild and lonely spot ? The answer to these questions must ever remain a mystery.

There are traditions of earlier settlemente than any of which we have an accurate account. But as they are unsupported by any trustworthy accounts, and are contradicted by all known facts of history, it is not deemed advisable to enter upon a discussion of them in these pages.

According to authentic records, namely, the testimony of Rev. Capt. John Steel, who visited this locality in April, 1768 (see general history), the following persons were then resident at or near Turkey-Foot :

Henry Abrahams, Ezekiel Dewitt, James Spencer, Benjamin Jennings, John Cooper, Ezekiel Hickman, John Enslow, Henry Enslow and Benjamin Pursley. Some of these doubt- less lived within the bounds of Addison town- ship.

Addison township was originally embraced in Turkey-Foot. A new township was formed and given the name of Addison in 1800.

Through the southwestern part of this town- ship leads the road which Braddock followed to disastrous defeat in 1755.

The following were the resident taxpayers of Addison township in the year 1805. The as- sessor was James Campbell ; Philip Smith and Thomas Spencer, assistants.

Gabriel Abrams, Peter Augustine, Sr., Peter Augustine, Jr., distiller ; Frederick Augustine, distiller ; Jacob Brunner, John Burges, George .

Barnet, Henry Bowser, Peter Bowser, Anthony Brandeberry, James Bordman, William Burges, Edward Conley, cooper ; James Campbell, John Collier, Burtgas Derris, Gordon Darragh (gristmill), Widow Devis, Frederick Dively, Benjamin Durbance (fulling and oilmill); Isaac Fick, Widow Forchy, John Forchy, Aaron Ferebare, Jacob Fick, Samuel Francis, Jacob Foy, Richard Green, Thomas Green, David Gundsey, Widow Harnot, Widow Hart- zell, . Jonas Hartzell, George Heinbaugh, Sr., George Heinbangh, Jr., John Hershberger, Andrew Hereader, John Huver, Isaac Heston, John Heston, Martin Hilman, George Husher, Joseph Hershberger, Thomas Huff, Sr., Thomas Huff, Jr., Thomas Johnston, tailor ; Elia Jacobs, Joseph Jones, John Jones (gristmill and saw- mill), Peter Kimel, Edward Kemp (still), Widow Kemp, John Liston, James McNeer, Robert McNeer, John MoNeer, Samuel MeNeer, James Mitchell, G. Morrison, Benjamin Mitch- ell, George Miller, John Miller, Henry Meyer, John Mountain, Joseph Mountain, Robert MoClintock, Widow Mcclintock, William MoClintock, John Mitchell, Esq., Henry Nogle, Jacob Niclow, Christopher Ollinger, Henry Osler, blacksmith ; William Price, John Par- sely, Bedwell Parnel, John Peck, Sr., John Peck, Jr., Jacob Peck, John Rowen, Stewart Rowen, William Rowen, George Robison, Jacob Ruple, John Ruple, Henry Ridgely, James Smith, saddler ; William Sylbaugh, Con- rad Sylbaugh, Benjamin Spencer, James Spen- cer, Thomas . Spencer, Conrad Show (tavern), Jacob Smith, Philip Smith, John Shenon, smith; Nininen Tannyhill, Widow Turney, John Turney, George Turney, Isaac Tharp, Alexander Thomas, James Wright (still), George Wass, Jacob Welch (store and tavern), William Wil- kins, Conrad Wable, Widow Wilkins, Jacob Walter, Vachtel White, James Wilkins. Single freemen : Stewart Rowen, Alexander Thomas, distiller ; Fred Forman, carpenter; Henry Every, blacksmith ; Henry Huver, Peter Augustine, distiller ; Thomas Jones, Michael Deets, carpenter; Oliver Jones, Edward Dur- bans, Jona. Harnot, Abrm. Busenberg, shoe- maker ; James Still, Alexander McClintock.

James Mitchell was born in Ireland, in 1719. He was one of the pioneer settlers of Bedford county. About 1780 he moved to Somerset county, and settled in Addison township, near Confluence. He died in 1793. His children

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HISTORY OF SOMERSET COUNTY.

were James, Thomas, John, Lewis, Sarah (Mckinney) and Margaret (Wilkins). His son, John, born in Bedford county, in 1766, settled near Confluence, and died in 1829. His son, John, who was born in Addison township, in 1800, is still living, and in good health. He has followed farming and the mercantile busi- ness, and now lives on a farm once owned by his father.

Derrick Bird was born in New Jersey, in 1763. When about thirty-five years of age, he came to Addison township. He was a volunteer soldier in the war of 1812. He was accidentally killed by the falling of a tree. Mr. Bird married Elizabeth Barnet, and was the father of eighteen children, of whom six are living : George W., Alexander, Archibald, Catharine (Pratt), Mar- garet (Linsey) and Ellen (Clister). Archibald served in Co. B, 16th Penn. Cav., from February to August, 1865. He owns a farm of three hundred and thirty-five acres, and a sawmill.

John McClintock was the son of an early settler. He was a . large landholder in this township. He died about 1850. His children were : Alexander, John E. P., Robert E. P., James Y., Eston (deceased), Andrew, Mitchell E. P., William (deceased), Margaret (deceased), Polly (McClintock), deceased, Jane (McClin- tock), deceased, and. Rachael (Cunningham). Robert E. P., who was born in 1809, is still living on one of the farms formerly owned by his father. Jonas, son of Robert, is living on a farm which he bought in 1870. He has served as township auditor, school- director, assessor and county commissioner. Stephen, another son of -Robert, has taught school for ten winters. He has recently bought a farm near Harnedsville.

James Wright, an early settler, who lived on the James Y. MoClintock farm, was the father of twenty-three children, twenty of them being twins.

Conrad Silbaugh, a native of Germany, was one of the early settlers of this township, and improved the land on which his grandsons, William and Robert, now live. His son Will- iam, born in 1779, farmed on the homestead until his death in 1882. He married Jane Mo- Nair, and was the father of James, Robert, Moses, William, Harrison, Sarah (McClintock), Catharine (Bowlin) and Jane (Heinbach), liv- ing ; Henry, Noah, Annie, Mary (Ringer) and Elizabeth (Heinbach), deceased. William has

farmed during the greater part of his life. He has held various township offices.

Solomon Hershberger, a native of Elk Lick township, settled in Addison in 1863, on a farm of three hundred and fifty acres, which he purchased of Jonas Peck, his father-in-law. Mr. Hershberger has one of the most finely improved farms in the eastern part of the township. He also has a fine sugar orchard, from which he makes four or five thousand pounds of sugar annually.

Jacob Shoemaker, a native of Elk Lick town- ship, settled in Addison about 1858, having purchased land of his father, Anthony, an early settler. The homestead is now owned by William J., son of Jacob, who purchased it in 1878. His brother, Jeremiah J. Shoemaker, is also a resident of this township.

Andrew Cremer is a farmer and owns six hundred acres of land, both timbered and cleared. He has a sawmill, erected in 1872. Mr. Cremer's grandfather, James Wright, was an early settler of this township. Catharine Cremer, wife of Andrew, is a granddaughter of Jacob Augustine, one of the first settlers. Both Mr. and Mrs. Cremer were born in this township.

George Wass was born in Addison township. In 1854 he purchased eight hundred sores of land of Thomas Liston, including a sawmill. In 1871 he rebuilt the sawmill, and in 1878, erected a planing-mill. L. M. Lininger owns one-half of the property. The firm manufac- tures all kinds of building lumber, and, on an average, saws seven hundred thousand feet of lumber per year. George Wass, the father of the subject of this notice, was quite an early. settler in this township, and died in 1833, at the age of fifty-eight.

SOMERFIELD.

. Somerfield, formerly known as Smythfield, was laid out about 1816 by Philip D. Smyth, on his own land. It was once a place of considera- ble importance, but has declined until it con- tains only dilapidated houses and about eighty inhabitants. In 1888 Somerfield had two stores, one blacksmith-shop, a spoke-factory operated by William Endsley & Son, one wagonshop, one cabinetshop, one boarding-house, one physi- cian, Dr. T. J. Jacobs, and one church, Methodist.

PETERSBURG.

Petersburg (Addison postoffice) is a small vil- lage, situated on the west side of Winding

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ADDISON.

Ridge, at an elevation of twenty-one hundred or twenty-two hundred feet above the sea-level. It was laid out by Peter Augustine, on his own land, in 1818 .. The first house in the place was erected on lot number one, by Henry Stuller, in 1820. The same year John Brown built a tav- ern-stand in the eastern part of the village. The first store was kept in- the tavern by Andrew Mitchell and Henry Wentling. The old tavern was torn away in 1878, and in its place a dwell- ng was erected by George W. Turney, who now occupies it. A foundry was put in operation in 1844, by Thomas J. and Nathan Cooper, who carried on a successful business for many years. The business ceased in 1881. The first schoolhouse in the place was built about 1832. Samuel Gaither, Esq., now of Somerset, was probably the first teacher. The present school- building, adapted to the wants of the graded school, was erected in 1822, at a cost of about fifteen hundred dollars. In 1883 Addison con- tained five stores, two boarding-houses, three blacksmith-shops, three wagonshops, three shoe- makers' shops, two tanneries, one cabinetshop and one saddleryshop. One physician, Dr. William F. Mitchell, practices here. The tan- nery was erected by Richard Brooks, about 1825. Dean Brothers, who are the fifth proprietors, purchased the property of John Shaw in 1870. H. L. Dean & Brother have been running the tannery at Petersburg since 1870. H. L. Dean is a native of Fayette county, Pennsylvania, and his brother, S. A. Dean, of Garrett county, Maryland. These gentlemen came to Addison township in 1857. In February, 1864, H. L. Dean was mustered into the service of his country in Co. K, 116th regt. Penn. Vols. He was wounded at Petersburg, June 17, 1864 ; mustered out in August, 1865. S. A. Dean en- tered the service in March, 1864, in Co. K, 3d regt. Md. Vols. ; was mustered out as first ser- geant in June, 1865. Dean Brothers have also been engaged in the mercantile business since 1875.

Gen. Moses A. Ross was born in Masontown, Fayette county. In 1829 he came to Somerfield, Somerset county, and engaged in the mercantile business. In the spring of the same year he re- moved to Petersburg, where he still continues the same business. . He has held all the various township offices, and was school director thirty years and postmaster fifteen years. For seven years he was captain of the Addison volunteer

company of militia, and afterward was appointed brigadier-general of a Somerset county brigade, for five years. In 1865-6 Gen. Ross served as a representative to the state legislature. In 1880 he was a member of the general conference of the Methodist Episcopal church. Gen. Ross is now seventy-three years of age, active, healthy and energetic.

Lot Watson, a native of Fayette county, came to Addison township in 1850, and engaged in farming for about eleven years. In 1864 he bought the hotel of James Albright, in Peters- burg, and kept a licensed house until 1872. He died in 1880. His son, William M. Watson, who came to the township with his father, is now the owner and keeper of the hotel.

ODD-FELLOWS.

A lodge of Odd-Fellows was instituted at Addison, October 22, 1851, with the following charter members and first officers : Sam'l R. Lupton, N.G .; Henry Risheberger, V.G .; Thos. J. Cooper, S. ; David Hartzell, T .; M. A. Ross, James Fuller, Ephraim White, C. Dalrymple, Basil Bird, William Parr, M. Cramer, J. W. Wilson, Nathan Bradfield, John Kessler and Isaac Brown.

SONS OF TEMPERANCE.

Addison Division, No. 454, Sons of Temper- ance, was organized September 20, 1850. Officers and charter members : Sam'l R. Lupton, Will- iam Roddy, Ephraim White, Isaac Davis, M. A. Ross, Joseph Hendrickson, James Roddy, Isaac Light, Sullivan Johnson, Thomas J. Cooper, Henry McGee, William T. Beard and James G. Snyder.

LISTONBURG.

Listonburg is a small settlement, deriving its name from the Listons, who were the first to establish industries at this point. A tannery was started by John Liston about 1790. An oilmill was connected with it. This was destroyed by fire in 1834. The present tannery was erected about 1852, by Joseph Hendrick- son. It is now owned and operated by Jehu McMillen.

A woolenmill, a stone building, was erected at Listonburg as early as 1811. In 1834, Thomas Liston, a native of this county, came to Addison township and purchased about seven hundred acres of land, including the site of Listonburg. He engaged in lumbering and

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HISTORY OF SOMERSET COUNTY.

woolen manufacture, and in 1844 built the woolenmill, which is now operated by his sons, Jesse and Jeremiah, under the firm name of Liston Brothers. Thomas Liston died in 1874. Liston Brothers, in addition to their woolen- factory, operate a sawmill, a coal mine, run a store, and have a farm of five hundred and thirty acres. They manufacture, including cus- tom work, about thirty thousand pounds of wool per year, into all kinds of domestic woolens.

The first blacksmith in Listonburg was Ephraim Stuck, who came in 1849, and is still at work here.

The gristmill at Listonburg was built by J. Gregg, about 1864. It was purchased by its present owner, P. T. Frederick, in 1870. Mr. Frederick is a native of Shenandoah county, Virginia. He devotes his exclusive attention to his trade, milling.

Listonburg is situated in the midst of the most delightful and romantic scenery to be found in the southern part of the county. The village consists of about fifteen houses, and a very industrious population. There are, at this place, one store, one blacksmith-shop, one shoemaker's shop, one tailorshop, one gristmill, one woolen- mill, one sawmill, one tannery and one church.

A. S. Mitchell is a descendant of one of the early settlers. His father, John A. Mitchell, who died in 1858, inherited five hundred and seventy-five acres of land from his father, James Mitchell. John A. was a farmer, and died in this township. A. S. Mitchell has followed sur- veying for about thirty-five years. He has also worked at engineering and farming. Since 1850 he has resided at Listonburg.

Charles L. DeLanter was born in Frederick county, Maryland. He is a weaver by trade, and since 1868 has been employed by Liston Brothers.

John Englehart, a native of Garrett county, Maryland, came to Listonburg in 1868, and has since been in the employ of Liston Brothers.

Luther M. Lininger, of the firm of Wass & Lininger, is a native of Franklin county. He came to Addison township in 1872, and pur- chased a half-interest in Mr. Wass' business. In 1883 he became half-owner in the real estate.

CHURCHES.

Petersburg Churches .- The first church in Petersburg was erected by the Lutherans in 1882, but was not finished until some years later,

when the Reformed and Presbyterians assisted in completing it. The first Lutheran minister was Rev. Jacob Kriegler, of Berlin. The first trustees and elders : Frederick Augustine and Henry Miller. In 1853, a house of worship, of brick, was erected by the Lutherans at a cost of about one thousand five hundred dollars. The present membership of the church is about seventy-five ; sabbath school, sixty.

The Methodist Episcopal church, at Peters- burg, was built in 1889, and dedicated October 25, by Rey. F. M. Miller, of the Baltimore con- ference, minister in charge. The first officers were as follows : Henry Ringer, Andrew Ry- land, John A. Mitchell, Samuel H. Brook, Joseph Hendrickson, John N. Luddington and Moses A. Ross. Gen. Ross is the only surviv- ing member of the board now residing in Petersburg. The present membership of the church is one hundred and eighty. The sabbath school was organized June 16, 1834, with John N. Luddington, superintendent, and M. A. Ross, secretary. It now numbers, including teachers and officers, about one hundred and sixty. Gen. Ross and Daniel Augustine have been actively identified with the school from the beginning. By vote of the managers, it has always been under the control of the Methodist Episcopal church, but has been attended by pupils of all denominations.

The Presbyterians organized a church, under the ministry of Rev. Joel Stoneroad, about 1837. Their numbers have diminished on account of deaths and removal, until now there is not a member in the place.

Disciples .- The Disciples' church, in Addison, was erected in 1879, under the direction of Elder Hiram A. Hartzell. The first minister, Elder D. L. Kincaid, has been succeeded by Elders Ryan and Larimer. The present member- ship is about one hundred and fifteen ; sabbath- school pupils, about seventy-five.

Brethren .- Savage congregation, of the Breth- ren or German Baptists, worships in a frame meeting-house, erected in the eastern part of the township in 1881 at a cost of about twelve hundred dollars. The first ministers of this church were : Jonathan Kelso, bishop ; Nathaniel Merrill, John Meyers, L. A. Peck, Samuel Miller, Samuel Moss, Joel Nagy, Edward Hostetler, Daniel Fike and J. W. Peck. This is a branch of the Elk Lick church, and has forty members.

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S. S. Flickinger

CAnie In Blickunger

S. 8. FLICKINGER.

The Flickingers are of German extraction. We first learn of J. D. Flickinger, one of the representa- tives of this family, in Dauphin county, where he married Susan Will, of English extraction. They moved to Virginia, but ultimately settled near Savage Mountain. Mr. Flickinger died March 8, 1820, aged sixty-two years, and his wife January 1, 1840, aged seventy-seven years. They became the parents of eleven children-George, Susan, Peter, Jacob, Abra- ham, John, Polly, Daniel, Kate, Samuel and Leah. All are now deceased except Daniel, aged eighty- three, and Kate, aged eighty-one years.

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History of Bedford, Somerset, Fulton counties Pennsylvania, Part 118

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

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