History of Bedford, Somerset, Fulton counties Pennsylvania, Part 120

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

USA > Pennsylvania > Bedford County > History of Bedford, Somerset, Fulton counties Pennsylvania > Part 120
USA > Pennsylvania > Fulton County > History of Bedford, Somerset, Fulton counties Pennsylvania > Part 120
USA > Pennsylvania > Somerset County > History of Bedford, Somerset, Fulton counties Pennsylvania > Part 120

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).

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HISTORY OF SOMERSET COUNTY.

The church, once large, now has a member- ship of thirty-five. Most of the members left on account of the lack of employment when the furnace business suspended.

The first regular pastor was Rev. Henry Giesy, Reformed, who began his labors in 1798. Then followed Revs. H. Heyer, C. Lepley, C. Wittmer, S. P. Nellis, A. Cupp, H. J. Ketzmil- ler, Strausz, Crebs and Pfähler, Lutheran. The Reformed pastors have been Revs. Giesy, J. H. Keefer, H. E. F. Voigt, II. G. Ebbekan and B. Knepper. Rev. Knepper has served as pastor from 1846 to the present, a long period of faithful stewardship, during which his efforts have been greatly blessed. Preaching, formerly all German, is now in English only.

Rev. Benjamin Knepper, son of John Knep- per, was born in Somerset county in 1816. His education was gained by his own researches, aided by the limited school privileges of early years. On June 7, 1846, he was licensed as a minister of the Reformed church ; on June 18, he preached his first sermon as a licensed minis- ter in the old church at Wellersburg, and in November, 1846, he was settled as pastor over Wellersburg congregation. During the long term of his pastorate, Mr. Knepper has baptized nineteen hundred and fifty-seven persons, con- firmed eight hundred and fourteen, married four hundred and ten couples, and preached five hundred and ninety-one funeral sermons. Though now sixty-seven years of age, he is pur- suing his labors with all the vigor of early man- hood. He has four regular appointments, which he reaches on foot, and on an average delivers one hundred and forty sermons per year.

Comp's Reformed and Lutheran church is an old organization. In the first church-book noth- ing but baptisms are recorded. The date of the first baptism is 1810. The Comp, Troutman and Leidig families were the principal early members of this congregation.

Revs. Hunger, Heyer, Finkel, Meyer, Schlö- gel, Stuft, and John Nunner were Lutheran pas- tors ; Revs. H. J. E. Voigt and H. Ebbekan, Reformed. The present pastor, Rev. B. Knep- per, has been in charge since 1880.

The first church was probably erected about 1809. The present was dedicated in November, 1880. The membership is between forty and fifty. The services are conducted in German and English, alternately.

Gladden's Run Reformed and Lutheran church commenced with six members in Hoy- man's schoolhouse in 1846. In November, 1872, the congregation was regularly organized by Rev. B. Knepper, the pastor, who is still in charge. The first church officers were Israel Emrich and Andrew Everlain, elders; Bailey Shumaker and Samuel Shumaker, deacons. The oldest members were Jonathan Emrich, Benja- min Baker, A. Getz, Frederick Hasselroth, Solomon Shumaker, Nathan Emrich and D. Liebau. The church edifice, erected at a cost of about two thousand dollars, was dedicated November 24, 1872. Present membership of the church, eighty-four ; sabbath school, forty- five. The preaching is alternately English and German. It was formerly wholly in German.

Savage Run Reformed and Lutheran church, commonly called Fink's church, was organized by Rev. B. Knepper in 1849. The house of worship was erected in the fall of the same year at a cost of about nine hundred dollars. The first church officers were : Michael Fink, elder ; Israel Shumaker, deacon, for the Reformed ; Michael Moser, elder ; George Tressler, deacon, for the Lutherans. Other original members were : Jacob Fink, Jonathan Bittinger, M. Bit- tinger and A. Wessner. The present member- ship is thirty-one. Services are held both in English and German. Rev. B. Knepper has ministered to this congregation from its organi- zation to the present time.

The church of the Evangelical Association in Wellersburg was built about 1852, and cost eight hundred dollars. The building was erected by Jacob Albright. The church has but a small membership at present.

CHAPTER LXXIV.

MIDDLE CREEK.

Township Organization - Origin of the Name - Early Settlers and their Experiences-Later Settlers-Early Mills - Present Manufacturing Industries - The Village of New Lexington - The Lutheran Church.

M IDDLE CREEK township is called after the stream of the same name which flows about midway between Laurel Hill and Cox's creeks. The township was organized in 1853. The township contains several small veins of coal, which are mined for local use. A good

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MIDDLE CREEK.

quality of limestone is found. Considerable quantities of iron ore exist, but as yet they have not been utilized.

Caspar Harbaugh is supposed to have been one of the earliest pioneers in the present ter- ritory of Middle Creek township. He was originally from Germany. He served under Gen. Braddock in 1775, and resided in the eastern part of this state until 1789. In the spring of 1790 he came to the wild and sparsely inhabited region since known as Somerset county, and settled on the farm where Hiram Tedrow now lives, bringing with him a wife and two or three children. Harbaugh passed nearly all of the remainder of his life in this township. He died at the age of ninety years.

A few months after Harbaugh's arrival, Elijah Lyons, from Virginia, came and settled on the farm now owned by Alexander Moore. He was then a young man, but was married before coming to this neighborhood.

About 1791 Andrew Putman, from Maryland, settled on a farm adjoining that of Caspar Har- baugh. Like the other early settlers, he leased land from landholders residing in Philadelphia. Mr. Putman lived to be quite aged. . He died about 1850. The farm on which he.settled is now. owned by Peter Whipkey.

Daniel Moore emigrated from New Jersey to this county about 1800. After making a loca- tion and beginning improvements on a farm in the southern part of this township, he left, and for some years led the life of an itinerant miller, working in various places. Later he returned to his farm and made rapid improvements upon it. He died in 1844, and his wife (Mary King) in 1852. They reared eight children, five of whom are still living. One son is in Ohio ; Jesse is an old resident of this township ; Cath- arine (Gross) lives in Milford township; and Mrs. Barron and Mrs. Whipkey, in Middle Creek. Jesse Moore is the father of Philip K. Moore, who owns a beautiful farm of two hundred and forty acres in the northern part of this township. Though Mr. Moore, senior, has passed the alloted threescore years and ten, he is still active ; and being a man of observa- tion and good memory, recalls much that is interesting concerning the early settlers, their customs and manner of life.

Alexander C. Moore, another son of Jesse Moore, is a prosperous farmer, residing one mile north of New Lexington.

William Moore was born and reared in this township. In 1838 he came into possession of the homestead farm, inherited from his father. He married Rosanna, daughter of George Pile, an early pioneer of this township, and reared five children : Louisa (Mognet), Cyrus B., Wal- ter F., H. D. and Lyman K.

Cyrus B. served in the late war, and, after its close, established himself in the mercantile business at New Lexington, in 1866. He is still conducting a prosperous business. Dr. H. D. Moore read medicine, and, after graduating, settled in New Lexington, where he now has a successful practice.

George Pile located in this township in 1818, on the farm which he bought of Andrew Put- man, his father-in-law. He expended much hard labor in improving his farm and bringing it into good condition. He married Salome Put- man. Their son, Josiah, is one of the thrifty farmers of this township. He resides upon a farm which he purchased of Samuel Barclay.

George Putman was born in Somerset county, and lived in Milford township. His son John commenced life for himself as a farmer in 1848. He owns a good farm of one hundred and sixty acres, which he purchased from his uncle, Michael Putman. Mr. Putman was a soldier in the late war ; enlisted in the nine months' service in 1863. He has taken an active interest in educational matters, and has served as school director several terms.

George Barron became a resident of Middle Creek township in 1817, moving from a neigh- boring township. His mother was captured by the Indians in Morrison's cove. (For particulars, see sketch of Milford township.) Mr. Barron purchased a farm of John Weyant, and devoted his lifetime to improving it. His family con- sisted of ten children, all of whom are still liv- ing. Moses Barron owns one hundred and seventy acres of land in this township and operates a gristmill. He is a miller by trade, having learned the business thoroughly.

On the same site where Barron's mill now stands John Koozer erected a gristmill in 1806. It was largely patronized by the early settlers. Koozer's mill passed through various changes of owners, and, until it was purchased by Mr. Barron, always retained its original name. Peter Koozer had a carding-mill put in operation as early as 1808, near the present site of Baker's woolen-factory.

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HISTORY OF SOMERSET COUNTY.

Jacob Baker was reared near Rockwood. In 1855 he came to Middle Creek township, and purchased from Thomas Van Horn one-half in- terest in a woolen-factory. The following year Jeremiah Pile became his partner and the two conducted the business for six years. Mr. Baker's mill is almost new, having been built by him in 1876, at a cost of twenty-five hundred dollars. . The factory contains a full set of card- ing-machines, a spinning-jenny and three looms. It is run by water-power. Mr. Baker manufac- tures blankets, cassimeres, waterproofs, barred flannels and yarns. Since his residence here he has made important improvements. Besides erecting the factory, he has built a brick house and a stable.

Hiram Tedrow moved from Milford to Middle Creek township in 1859, and settled on a farm known as the David Young farm, which he pur- chased from Dennis Hay. Mr. Tedrow has greatly improved his place. The farm consists of two hundred and twenty acres, and is in a high state of cultivation. The wife of Mr. Tedrow is Amanda C., daughter of Jesse Moore, an old resident of this township. Mr. Tedrow is a son of John K. Tedrow, whose parents were early settlers in this county. During the civil war Hiram was drafted into the army twice.

William R. King is a son of Mesmore King, who lived for many years in this township, although he was born in a neighboring town- ship. The elder Mr. King was the owner of extensive tracts of land in various parts of the township. In 1875 he disposed of the greater part of his property and removed to Westmore- land county. William R. has also accumulated, as the result of industry and good management, extensive quantities of land, and is today the owner of over sixteen hundred acres.

Hon. Jacob R. McMillen was born and reared in old Turkey-Foot township, of which both his father and grandfather were residents. The name of the latter was Rush, and he was a sol- dier in the revolutionary war. J. R. McMillen came to Middle Creek in 1847, located in the southern part of the township, and purchased a tannery of Harris Luddington - an eccentric old gentleman, who was a "jack-of-all-trades" - a tanner, merchant, minister, lawyer, doctor, etc. Luddington had established the tannery and operated it only a few years when Mr. McMillen took charge. The latter had learned his trade with his father in Paddytown, in this county.

Mr. McMillen conducted the business success- fully for thirty-one years, then turned the man- agement of it over to his sons, R. S. and J. J. McMillen, who are now conducting it. Mr. McMillen has been prominent in public affairs and an active member of the republican party .. In 1866 he was elected associate judge of the county, and held the office during a term of five years. He was elected to the state legis- lature in 1872 and served two terms.

Michael Ansell settled on Laurel Hill in 1866, having purchased six hundred acres of land of Samuel King. The farm had been improved years before by John Pile, now of Fayette county. Mr. Ansell's farm is very rich in iron ore. There is also a mineral spring, the waters of which possess great medicinal virtues, situ- ated upon the place. Mr. Ansell served in the late war in Co. C, 142d regt. Penn. Vols., and was in a number of severe engagements, but fortunately escaped being wounded. He enlisted in 1861 and was mustered out at the close of the war.

Joseph B. Critchfield, an old resident of Mid- dle Creek, was born in Milford township. Early in life he came to Middle Creek, and after work- ing several years at various avocations, married Harriet King and settled on a farm which he purchased of Elizabeth Miller, of Salem, New Jersey. After residing on this farm twenty-two years, he sold it to Walter Moore, and subse- quently bought back thirty-eight acres of it, upon which he at present resides.

Isaac Barron, son of John N. Barron, who was a native of Berks county, settled in Middle Creek in 1868, on a farm purchased of Abraham Hostetler, which he greatly improved. Isaac Barron's mother, as mentioned in the history of Milford township, was captured by the Indians. Mr. Barron married Charlotte Moore. Two of their children are living : William H., who was a soldier in the late war and now resides upon the homestead, and Mrs. Anna Rebecca Meyers, in Fayette county.

The first gristmill and the first sawmill in the township were built by Philip King, on Middle Creek, about 1880.

The first store in the township was started by Elias Stahl, about 1840. . Stahl continued in business fifteen years, then sold out to Henry F. Schell.

In Middle Creek township the following in- dustries are at present carried on : Two grist-

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ALLEGHENY.

mills, one on Laurel Hill creek, owned by Moses Barron, the other on Middle Creek, owned by Israel Gross. The one general store and post- office (at New Lexington) are kept by Cyrus. B. Moore. Baker's woolen-factory is elsewhere alluded to.

The following is a copy of the official list of voters of Middle Creek township in 1854, one year after the organization of the township : John Boyts, Christian Barkley, Dav. Barkley, Jr., John Bongard, Geo. Barron, Benj. Bowman, Moses Barron, H. B. Barnes, Henry Boucher, John Boucher, Chas. Cramer, Josiah Crise, John Cummins, Jos. B. Crichfield, Dav. Cramer, Gabriel Christner, John Davis, Geo. Enos, Adam Felderkerchner, Geo. Ferguson, Jac .. Gary, Adam Gary, John Hidler, A. B. Hostetler, Jos. Herrington, Jac. Ilechler, Wm. Henry, John Hersh, John Infield, Derrick Kreger, John King, Henry Kreger, Jos. King, John R. King, Missimer King, Cassimer King, Sam. Kooser, Dan. Lee, Jona. Lions, Jac. L. Miller, Dan. A. Miller, Jesse Moore, John G. Miller, Jac. R. McMullen, Chas. McLelland, Abr. R. Miller, Mich. Nicholas, Hugh Nichel, Geo. Pile, Dav. Pletcher, Sam. Pletcher, Christian Phillippi, Sam. Phillippi, John L. Sayler, Jere. Sayler, Christian Schrock, Jac. C. Schrock, Henry L. Snyder, Dewald Snyder, Levi Snyder, Chris. Speicher, Jos. Saylor, Jona. Sayer, John D. Snyder, Mich. Sanner, Dav. Tedrow, Derrick Trimpe, Fred Uphouse, Henry Uphouse, Thos. Vanhorn, Abr. Walker, Henry Weyand, Peter Whipkey, Dav. Young, Dav. Younkin, Eli Sayler, Dav. Sayler, Francis Singer, Amos Schrock, Solomon Pile, Jere Pile, David'n Pletcher, John Weyand, Jac. Speicher, Peter Speicher, Noah S. Snyder, Sol. Boucher, Cassimer Cramer, Emanuel Caron, Geo. Feldkerchner, John Gross, Dav. Hoop, Hiram King, Geo. King, Arnold Kuhlman, Geo. Leer, Elijah Lyons, Jas. Mickey, Geo. Mickey, Jos. Mognet, Josiah Pile, Wm. Putman, Dav. Pletcher, Sol. Young, Isaac Younkin, Simon Barron, Chauncy Barron, Hiram Barron, Dan'l Barkley, Iliram Boucher, Sam. Cramer, Chauncy Cramer, Wm. Curry, Geo. Davis, J. G. Elder, Jona. Emert, Jac. Hechler, Jr., Aaron Hechler, Josiah Heminger, Chauncy Meyers, Eli Youn- kin.

NEW LEXINGTON.

The village of New Lexington was laid out September 14, 1824, on the land of David and Magdalena Tedrow. The village is in the south-

eastern part of the township, three miles west of New Centreville, in the midst of a thriving neighborhood. Its population consists of about one dozen families. The place contains one general store, a postoffice, three shoeshops, two smithshops and a tannery.

LUTHERAN CHURCH.

Middle Creek Evangelical Lutheran church was organized by Rev. William Uhl in 1850. Prior to the organization there had been preach- ing in the Putman schoolhouse for five or six years. The church edifice was erected in 1850, at a cost of twelve hundred dollars. The first church officers were : Diedrich Kreger, William Moore. George Pile and Frederick Uphouse. The pastors have been : Revs. Solomon Mc- Henry, J. K. Bricker, John Tomlinson, Charles Young, Josiah Zimmerman, Reuben Smith, John Unruh and - Zinn.

CHAPTER LXXV.

ALLEGHENY.

Organization of the Township - Slow Progress of Settlement - Taxables in 1814-Breastworks Erected During the Revolution - Family Sketches - New Baltimore - Founded by Michael Riddlemoser - Industries- Personal Sketches - Fair Hope- Brick Works-Churches-New Baltimore Catholic Church - Reformed and Union Churches.

LLEGHENY township was formed from a portion of Southampton in 1805. It takes its name from the Allegheny mountain, which forms its western border.

Settlements were made but slowly in this portion of the county, and it was many years before this township outgrew its primitive quali- ties. After other portions of the county had become comparatively well populated, much of Allegheny remained unimproved, and afforded a favorite resort for hunters. As will be seen from the following tax-list, the population of the township was but small in 1814.

The following were the taxable inhabitants of Allegheny township in 1814, according to a duplicate list made by Wm. C. Dorsey, Esq., assessor, and Henry Imhoff and John Fleming, assistant assessors : John Black, Jac. Burkhart (weaver), Jac. Burkhart, Dan. Burkhart, Sam. Burkhart, John Burkhart, Jona. Boyer, Henry Boyer (sawmill), Adam Boling (innkeeper), Geo. Brant, Henry Black, Dr. John Cook (inn-

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HISTORY OF SOMERSET COUNTY.

keeper), Jos. Cohenour, Cornelius Devore, Wm. C. Dorsey (justice), John Fleming, Christian Grove, Peter Gardner, Christian Gensler, Jas. Galiher (distiller), Val. Hoon (innkeeper), Dav. Husband, Henry Imhoof (innkeeper and sawmill), Jac. Kellar, Caspar Kellar, Christian Kinglesparger, Thos. Ken- nedy, John Lush (shoemaker), Terrance Mor -. rison (weaver), Elizabeth Mull (widow), Mich. Mull, John Mull, Dav. Mull, Jac. Menges, Abram Miliron, Henry Menges, John D. Peter- son (minister), Ph. Purbaugh, Henry Purbaugh, Adam Ross (joiner), Caspar Statler, Andrew Server, Andrew Server, John Shaffer, John Shaffer, Jr., Geo. Shaffer, Wm. Tipton, John Teeter, Henry Ware, John Wiley, John Teeter (sawmill), Teeter & Mull, Jac. Weyand, Jac. Yoner. Single freemen : Isaac B. Falkerton, John Knough, Fred. Peterson, Henry Pur- baugh, Eli Runman (blacksmith), Abram Shaffer (stagedriver), Peter Shaffer, Jonathan & Thomas Tipton (shoemakers), Aquilla Wiley.

Henry H. Wolfhop was born in Germany, in 1790 ; came to America in 1832, and settled on fifty acres of land at New Baltimore, which he purchased of Michael Riddlemoser. He was a miller by trade, and for several years ran the mill at New Baltimore. IIe died in 1870. His wife was Mary A. Brokhaga. Of eleven chil- dren, five are living : Henry, Bernard, William, Elizabeth (Hankinson) and Margaret (Bridge). Henry was born in Germany and came to this country. At an early age he began running the Riddlemoser mill, and continued for thirty-five years. In 1856 he purchased four hundred and thirty-one acres of land, and has since added one hundred acres at one time and four hundred and six at another. He sold his gristmill to Henry Suhre.

Breastwork run, a favorite resort for fisher- men on account of the large number of brook- trout which it contains, derives its name from breastworks thrown up at its source during the revolutionary war. The head of the stream is on the farm owned by Henry Wolfhop, a mile north of the Pittsburgh turnpike.

Matthias Suhre was born in Germany, in 1803 ; came to America in 1834, and settled at Fossilville, Bedford county. In 1851 he pur- chased four hundred and forty-six acres of land in Allegheny township, where he still resides. Mr. Suhre is a miller by trade. He is now

eighty years of age, and his wife, Mary Louisa, is seventy-eight years old. Francis Subre, son of Matthias, was born in Summit township. In 1863 he settled on a farm of one hundred and forty-six acres, purchased of his father, in Allegheny township. Mr. Suhre has held vari- ous township offices.

Henry Felten, a mason by trade, was born in Germany, and came to America in 1856. After residing two years in Baltimore and four in Cumberland, Maryland, he removed to Alle- gheny township, and purchased a farm of two hundred acres, upon which he now resides. Mr. Felten has held the office of school-director for eight years.

Charles F. Smith, a native of Germany, born in 1823, came to America at the age of sixteen, and commenced work in Bedford county, near Mann's choice. He afterward purchased of his father-in-law, Lewis Wambaugh, the farm in Allegheny township on which he now resides. Mr. Smith has the best orchards in Somerset county ; indeed they will compare favorably with any in this section of the state. He raises all kinds of fruit in great quantities, and ships to local markets as well as to Altoona and other points. Twenty-two years ago, his farm of one hundred and fifty acres, of which eighty are cleared, was a dense forest. Mr. Smith, by industry and careful management, has today one of the finest and most productive farms in this section.

Philip Walker was born in Somerset county. By his own industry and hard labor he became the owner of several farms situated in Summit and Brother's Valley townships. He died about 1834. He married Elizabeth Bettner, and was the father of George, John, Frederick, Peter, Elizabeth (Hay) and Susanna (Boos). George was born in Brother's Valley township, .and lived on a farm given to him by his father. He met his death on July 11, 1828, at the hands of an Irish laborer named Patrick Burns. Burns got into a dispute with Mr. Walker, and taking up his scythe, cut him across the abdo- men so that he died almost instantly. The murderer escaped. George Walker married Elizabeth Miller, and was the father of George G., Josiah, Abraham (deceased), William, Sam- uel, Rosanna (Barron) and Catharine (Horner). Hon. George G. Walker was born on the old homestead in Brother's Valley. In 1861 he settled in Allegheny township, where he owns

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S. C. Hochti, M, ,

S. C. FECHTIG, M.D.

Christian Fechtig, grandfather of the subject of this sketch, came from Germany, and settled in Hagerstown, Maryland, where his son John H. was born. Arriving at manhood's estate, he engaged in the labor of a tradesman. He mar- ried Sarah S., daughter of Samuel and Barbara Beecher. John H. Fechtig was a consistent member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and his wife of the Reformed church. He died while in his sixty-ninth year, and the partner of his life at the advanced age of eighty-four years. They were blessed with four children, viz .: Samuel C., Joanna A. (Hilleary), a resident of Cumberland, Maryland ; Matilda A. (Miller), a resident of Richmond, Virginia ; S. Athalia (Fink), a resident of Philadelphia.

Dr. S. C. Fechtig was born in Hagerstown, December 13, 1822, where he lived until twelve years of age, when he removed with his parents to Clear Springs, Maryland, which was his home until 1847.

While a resident of this place he studied medicine with Dr. J. Robert Ward of that place, and subsequently attended the medical depart-

ment of the University of Pennsylvania, from which he graduated April 3, 1846, and the fol- lowing year removed to Wellersburg, Pennsyl- vania, where he has since been engaged in the practice of his profession, continuously from January 1, 1847, to the present time, in which he has been eminently successful. His practice overspreads a radius of from eight to ten miles from his home. In addition to his practice he has superintended farming operations success- fully, for the past twenty years.

In 1849 he was married to Mary J., daughter of George and Elizabeth Winter, of Allegheny county, Maryland. They are the parents of thirteen children, of whom Radie, Lewis, Ellen and Florence H. are deceased. The following still survive : Frederick, Lizzie, Tillie, Samuel C., John, George, S. Athalia, Clara Bell, Lulu Hay.

S. Athalia is engaged in school-teaching. John, who formerly engaged in school-teaching, is now attending Bryant & Stratton's Commer- cial College, at Philadelphia. Mrs. Fechtig and all her grown daughters are members of the Lutheran church.

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History of Bedford, Somerset, Fulton counties Pennsylvania, Part 120

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

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