History of Bedford, Somerset, Fulton counties Pennsylvania, Part 137

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

USA > Pennsylvania > Bedford County > History of Bedford, Somerset, Fulton counties Pennsylvania > Part 137
USA > Pennsylvania > Fulton County > History of Bedford, Somerset, Fulton counties Pennsylvania > Part 137
USA > Pennsylvania > Somerset County > History of Bedford, Somerset, Fulton counties Pennsylvania > Part 137

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).

Anderson place was settled by the Andersons about 1812. Their son died soon after, and they moved west. The place has been improved and was Mr. Tenbrook's summer residence for years.

Ralph Eddowes was born in Philadelphia in 1819, and received a thorough classical educa- tion. He married Miss Rebecca Woolens, of Chester county, Pennsylvania, in 1844. Went to California in 1850; was in the lumber busi- ness for two years, came home, but returned in 1853 .; then came back to Chester county, Penn- sylvania, until 1858, when he removed to Buck Valley, Fulton county, Pennsylvania, purchased two hundred and fifty acres from W. E. Ten- brook, of Philadelphia, but took charge of Mr. Tenbrook's farm and summer residence and acted as agent for him for twenty years, then removed to Greeley, Colorado. Served in Co.

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E, 20th Penn. Vol. Cav. He was quiet and unassuming, but his attainments and character made him a welcome guest among all. He had four children. Ella Rebecca, married to Dr. Wm. L. McKebbin. Clara Teresa died October 3, 1881, in Colorado.

Ralph Eddowes, the subject of the above sketch, was the son of Ralph Eddowes, a mer- chant of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and a grandson of Ralph Eddowes, who was one of fourteen Englishmen who, on the 12th of June, 1796, at the suggestion of Dr. Priestley, who came to this country two years before, held a special religious meeting for the purpose of establishing a Unitarian church in Philadel- phia. It was the first formal public avowal of Unitarian belief in North America, and Ralph Eddowes was appointed the first minister.

John Taylor was born in 1800, in Lan- caster county, Pennsylvania. Married Miss Sarah McRaragan, of the same place. Moved to Union township in 1857, purchased twelve hundred acres of Wm. E. Tenbrook ; had four sons and one daughter : John, Jr., Lorenzo, Thomas, Harvey and Rebecca. John, Jr., was a member of the 126th regt. Penn. Vols. He was killed at the battle of Fredericksburg, Virginia, De- cember 13, 1862. Mr. Taylor was remarkable in his mental and physical organization, and far above the average man ; a consistent mem- ber of the Methodist church for many years ; an unflagging disciple of Vulcan, and one of the most successful farmers in the valley.

Mr. Jonathan Boor was born in 1819. He was married to Catharine Kirchner in 1844. He came from Cumberland valley, Bedford county, Pennsylvania, in 1860, and removed to Union. township, Fulton county, Pennsylvania. Was the father of eight children, four of whom, Mary Jane, Abraham, Amanda and William, died in 1862. Of the other four two are mar- ried. Laura Ellen, born in 1851, was married to J. J. Hendershot, 1871. Michle M., born 1847, was married, 1873, to Miss M. J. Divel- biss .. Michle has been a teacher for eight years. The other two, Irvine and Chalmer, are at home. Mr. Boor is a member of the Christian church, and a well-doing, prosperous farmer.

John T. Richards, son of Jacob Richards, a native of Chester county, Pennsylvania, who moved to Cecil county, Maryland, in 1819, mar- ried Sarah Taylor. Followed farming ; died August, 1881. Mrs. Richards died 1867. Reared

ten children : Stephen, Thomas, John T., Jacob, William, Dianah T., Jacob, Sarah, Isaac, Eliza- beth. J. T. came from Cecil, Maryland, April, 1859. Purchased one thousand acres of land (un- improved) of W. E. Tenbrook. Married Martha M. Neper. They have eight children.

William P. Lashley was born in Southampton township, Bedford county, Pennsylvania. In the spring of 1872 he engaged in mercantile business at Royalsville, Main township, Bedford county, until 1873, then moved to Barnes' Gap, then back to his old stand, then moved to Buck Valley in 1881. His store and dwelling with all his goods were burned, but he rebuilt, and is at present engaged in general merchandising. It is the only store in Union township.

The following is a list of the resident free- holders of Union township in 1867, taken from the assessor's returns for that year :

Henry Beatty, William Beatty, John Beatty, Lloyd Barnes, Samuel Barnes, Jonathan Boor, Robert Carson, David Deneen, Job Deneen, George Deneen, George Foster, Richard Foster, Henry Fisher, George M. Fisher, Jacob Ganger, George Ganger, Tolbert Hill, Daniel Hebner, Samuel C. Hendershot, Jacob D. Hendershot (of Samuel), Jacob D. Hendershot (of Charles), Jane Hoopengardner, David Hoopengardner, Joseph Hoopengardner, Jacob Hammon, Jacob Hess, Isaac B. Hunter, John Horning, James Ervin, Ralph Edows, William Lee, Elizabeth Lee, Alexander Lee, Henry Lee, Jehu Reed, Nathan Reed, Andrew Reed, Jacob Reed, James Ward, William Lafferty, John Leip, Isaiah Lehman, James Lafferty, Adam Len- hart, Joseph Leasure, John L. Littel, John McKey, William L. Mckibbin, George Mckib- bin, William McKibbin, John Miller, James Noble, Tighlman Northcraft, Squires Oakman, Francis Pressler, Josiah R. Potter, John W. Potter, Charles C. Perlett, Levi Potter, James Rough, Robert Rhea, John Rhea, Thomas Rush, John Richard, David Richard, Daniel Ritz, Charles Shipaway, John F. Schetrompf, George Schetrompf, John Schettompf, Chris- topher Schetrompf, Daniel Smith, George L. Shank, John Schnite, Mary Schenck, Daniel Staly, William Sigel, Henry Schrever, John Simon, Jacob Shoultz, Joseph Smith, John Taylor, John Taylor's widow, John Tosh, William Tinbrock, Mountain Tinbrock, Jacob Titmore, James Wilson.

The Buck Valley Presbyterian Church. - The

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first Presbyterian service held in Union township, Fulton county, Pennsylvania, was by Rev. Mr. Wilson, of Hancock, Maryland, who preached the funeral sermon at Harry Mckibbin's grave in the year 1847. Held service at Wm. Mckib- bin's house in the year 1849. Capt. Johnson, of Hancock, Maryland, gave a piece of land for Presbyterian church and school. The house was erected but never dedicated; it is now used for school purposes. In 1863, upon the invita- tion of Mr. Ralph Eddowes, Rev. Samuel J. Donnelly, pastor of Hancock Presbyterian church, held service in Zack's Ridge schoolhouse, where a meeting was called by Mr. John Sheat- rompf, with Rev. Mr. Donnelly in the chair, and W. L. Mckibbin, secretary. It was decided to build a church, Wm. Mckibbin offering a beau- tiful grove of three acres as a free gift for church and burying-ground, and deeded it to three trustees - Ralph Eddowes, John Sheat- rompf and Wm. L. Mckibbin. A building committee was appointed, with Mr. Eddowes as treasurer. A fund was subscribed and paid in, all denominations contributing liberally, with the understanding it was to be dedicated a Presbyterian church, but the doors were to be open to other denominations. In 1869 Rev. Maurice Waller, Rev. I. N. Hays and Elder Robert Budges organized the society with the following members : Martha M. Laffert, Thos. Rash, Mary A. Rash, Elizabeth T. Taylor, J. T. Richards, Martha M. Richards. The first officers were Elder Thomas Rash and John T. Richards. The pastors have been Rev. Samuel J. Donnelly, Rev. John T. Osler, Rev. M. Waller, Rev. E. L. Wilson, Rev. Richard Arthur and Rev. P. D. Stevenson. The present edifice was erected in 1866, at a cost of one thousand dollars, and dedicated January 14, 1867. Its present membership is fifteen.

CHAPTER XCVII. WELLS.

Organization in 1849- Change of Name in 1850- Wells, the Hunter and Pioneer Settler - Alexander Alexander, 1772- Flight of the Family to Escape the Indians -Incidents and Adventures - Mills and Other Industries - Wells Tannery - Schools, Churches and Odd-Fellows -Taxables in 1850.

A UGHWICK township, Bedford county, .was organized September 1, 1849. By act of the legislature, the name was changed to Wells, April 2, 1850. In the same year the

township became a part of the new county of Fulton.

Wells' valley," which includes nearly all of the township, derives its name from its first set- tler-a man named Wells, who came from Bal- timore about 1760. He built his cabin at the head of the valley on the farm since known as " Wishart's upper place," and here he was accus- tomed to spend the autumn and winter months, devoting himself to hunting, but returning to his native place every spring. How many sea- sons he hunted here is not known ; but in the year 1778 he was residing near the Allegheny mountains, where he had quite extensive im- provements.

Alexander Alexander, a Scotch-Irishman, fa- miliarly known as "Double Alick," is believed to have been the first permanent settler in the valley. He emigrated to America in 1763 and settled near Greencastle, Pennsylvania, whence he removed to Wells' valley in 1772. He ex- perienced the usual hardships of pioneers. His nearest neighbor, Jacob McClain, lived four miles distant, on Wooden Bridge creek, a short distance above Woodcock's mill. Alexander was obliged to go to McClain's to borrow coals to kindle his fire when he was unlucky enough to let it go out. He went to the vicinity of Fort Lyttleton for milling, to Fort Loudon for salt and groceries, and to Carlisle for drygoods. Alexander Alexander was a leader among the Presbyterians and was an elder of the "Great Cove congregation," the first church organized in the county. In the fall of 1777, with his wife and four children, he was driven from his home by the Indians, and sought shelter and safety among the inhabitants of the Great Cove, but the following spring he returned to his plantation.

In the early autumn, 1778, a party of hunters, twenty or thirty in number, came from the vicinity of Baltimore and made Alexander's house their headquarters while enjoying the sport which the woods afforded. But a party of Indians, coming over from Ray's cove, caused their hunting operations to cease suddenly, and to escape their wily foe they hastened homeward. Alexander and his family again fled and went to the Conococheague settlement, where they re- mained until the close of the revolution. The

.The greater portion of this chapter is taken from "Reminis- cences of Wells' Valley," a series of historical sketches written by W. Scott Alexander, Esq., and published in the Fulton Demo- crat in 1870.

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family then returned to their forest home, and Mr. Alexander erected a new house (now a part of the dwelling owned by his great-grandson, Harvey Wishart). He died November 8, 1815.

About the year 1785 emigration began to fill the valley with settlers. The families of Will- iam Hardin, William Wright and Giles Stevens became permanent settlers. The quality of the land became known and this led to rapid settle- ment. By the close of the eighteenth century no less than twenty families had made their homes in Wells' valley. Among the pioneer families were those of Bancroft Woodcock, John Osborne, John Moore, William Ports, Hethcote Picket, Josephus Murray, Samuel Danner, John Giles, William Piniard, Frazier, Joseph Edwards, John Crocker and others. Drs. Wishart "and Moulton, the first practicing physicians in the valley, were great acquisitions to the settlement, and their services were duly appreciated.

A man named Dillan erected a tubmill at New Grenada, afterward known as "Tubmill Gap," at an early date. In 1797 Bancroft Davis built a larger and more serviceable mill.

Martin Giles was the only man drafted from the valley for the war of 1812. His health was greatly injured in the service. About this time Jared Osborne built a powdermill, which was afterward operated by Alexander Ready. Ready also built one later.

Lewis, the noted robber, frequented the valley between 1820 and 1825, having his haunts along Sideling Hill. He was once captured by the citizens of the valley and brought before 'Squire Alexander. He was sent to jail, but escaped from his guard before he reached Bedford.

In 1865 the oil excitement pervaded New Grenada and vicinity. Operations were begun and large expenses incurred, all of which resulted in failure.

The people of Wells' valley have always evinced a commendable interest in educational matters, and today the schools of the town- ship rank among the best in the county. A building for a graded school was erected in district No. 1, in 1858, at a cost of seven hun- dred and fifty dollars. This building is known as the Fulton Institute. The district not being large enough to support two schools, the two grades became one after three or four years. Se- lect schools and literary societies have been held in the township at various times with good results.

Wells' tannery was erected by Lyon and Patterson in 1855. The main building, 434X 118 feet, was supplied with the necessary fix- tures of a steam tannery, and for several years a prosperous business was conducted. A store was kept by the proprietors of the tannery. In 1869 the store and its contents were destroyed by fire, and in the spring of 1870 the tannery also burned. It was rebuilt by Lyon & McClure the same year. In 1872 J. G. Lyon and J. M. McClure sold out to Chatfield, Underwood & Co., of New York city. The former owners had tanned only sole leather, and had a capacity for seven thousand hides annually. The new firm began to make leather for belting. In 1879 C. H. Chatfield became the sole owner and made great improvements. At present the tannery is worked at its capacity, twelve thousand hides annually. About twenty men are employed. Three thousand cords of bark are used each year. John W. Blackhart became superintend- ent in 1872, and still holds the position.

The following is a copy of the list of resident propertyholders of Aughwick (now Wells) township for the year 1850, taken from the assessment rolls on file in Bedford county :

William Alexander's heirs, John B. Alexan- ander, Esq., S. P. Anderson, John Bivens, black- smith, David Black, Charles Barton, carpenter, Benjamin Bradley, John E. Cunninghanı, black- smith, John W. Durant, James Dickson, Joshua Edwards, William Edwards, carpenter, John Foot, shoemaker, William Fisher, mason, John Gest, John Gibson, weaver, William Gray, Samuel Hockenberry, miller, John S. Houk, Thomas P. Horton, blacksmith, Henry Keath, Jacob Kegarice, Peter Kegarice, David Lane, Dr. James Moore, John Moore, Elmer Menkley, Henry Mulch, John Miller, David Osburn, Philip Oakman, John Piper, Joseph Richardson, carpenter, David C. Ross, tanner, John K. Ready, Alexander Ready's heirs, James Ramsey, wagonmaker, George Stewart, merchant, David Stevens, Matthew Stunkard, James Stunkard's heirs, George W. B. Sipes, postmaster, Baltzer Schwartz, John Wishart, John White, George White, Zechael White, shoemaker, John Wood- cock, tanner, Samuel Willett, Allen Willett, George Whitehill, Thomas Willett, Joseph Woodcock.

N. W. Horton, son of Henry and Elizabeth Horton, was born in Huntingdon county, Penn- sylvania, in 1815. In 1855 Henry Horton came

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to Fulton county and purchased the Giles farm, where he resided until his decease in 1865, aged seventy-six years. N. W. Horton came to Ful- ton county in 1860 and purchased the Alexander Ready farm, where he still resides. He is the father of five children, now living. His eldest son, Samuel M., is a surgeon in the United States army and is now stationed at Fort Doug- las, near Salt Lake City, Utah Territory. The other children are Mariah (Mrs. Dr. H. S. Wish- art), Catharine (Mrs. W. H. Marklay), Laura C. (Mrs. T. S. Dickson), Edwin A., married to Miss Sioux Glover. Mr. N. W. Horton is an elder in the Presbyterian church.

S. F. Geisinger, son of Adam and Eve, was born in York county, Pennsylvania, in 1823. His father died in 1833, aged fifty-three, and in 1842 he and his mother settled in Huntingdon county, where she died in 1859 at the age of seventy-six years. In 1869 S. F. Geisinger moved to Fulton, having purchased the farm in 1858, near New Grenada, where he now resides. He first purchased one hundred and twenty acres and has since added four hundred. He has a circular-saw mill and a good store prop- erty. In 1843 was married to Mary, daughter of James and Margaret McNeil. They are the parents of nine children. He has followed mercantile business five years and milling six years. The family are of German descent. John W., son of John and Phoebe Blackheart, was born in Bedford county, Pennsylvania, in 1847. John died in 1850, and Phoebe in 1876, aged sixty years. John W. enlisted when sey- enteen years of age in the 2d Penn. Cav. He participated in the battles of Bunker Hill, Darksville, Maryland Heights, Winchester, and some nine or ten others of greater or lesser magnitude. He received an honorable discharge at the mustering out of the troops. For three years he engaged in the tanning business in Maryland, and then came to Fulton county and engaged with the Wells tannery. For the past eight years has filled the position of superin- tendent of the tannery for C. H. Chatfield, of New York. Only two of the Blackheart fam- ily now live in this county-John W. and a sister, Eliza, the widow of J. G. Foster.

W. H. Baumgardner, son of William and Mary A., was born in Havice valley, Mifflin county, Pennsylvania, in 1854. Came to Fulton county in 1880, and engaged in the mercantile business, he having purchased the old stand of

C. H. Chatfield, where he runs a general store. He is building a new store, 45×23, with dwell- ing attached. In 1879 was married to Mollie M. Johnson, of Huntingdon county, Pennsylvania. She is a daughter of Irvin and Christina Johnson. He is an enterprising business man. A. S. Edwards, son of Joshua and Elizabeth Edwards, was born where he now resides, in 1849. His great-grandfather John came from England in 1770, and soon after settled in Bed- ford county, Pennsylvania. Joseph, one of the children of John, died, leaving a family of six children. One of these children, Joshua, died in 1871, aged sixty-seven years. He left thir- teen children, the offspring of two marriages. Three of his sons were in the United States army, viz .: G. W., Jehu and Arnon G. The latter was in the 26th Penn. regt., and died from the results of a wound received in the battle of Antietam. John was wounded in front of Pe- tersburg. Several of the boys were graduates of normal schools and followed teaching. A. S. Edwards is one of the fourth generation who resided on the farm settled by his ancestors.

John R. Foster, son of Septemus and Eliza- beth Foster, was born in Broad Top in 1849. John R. came to Fulton county with his par- ents about 1860 ; they purchased a tract of land where he still resides ; John R. lives on a part of his father's farm. He was married in 1870, to Mary F. Edwards, daughter of George W. and Alice Edwards. George W. Edwards now resides in California and follows millwrighting.

Jehu G. D. Cunningham, son of Joseph and Sarah, was born in Juniata county, Pennsyl- vania, in 1828. His uncle, John E. Cunningham, came to New Grenada, Fulton county, about 1845, where he followed blacksmithing some twelve years, during which time John G. learned blacksmithing with him, and has since carried on blacksmithing in this place, with the excep- tion of three years. After a residence of two years in Fulton county, moved to Texas, where his mother died in 1865, and his father in 1866. Jeha G.'s brother, Joseph, was in the army three years and was honorably discharged. Jehu's son, W. S. F., graduated at Shippensburg col- lege and is now teaching in Kansas.

John S. Houck, was born in Huntingdon county, Pennsylvania, October, 1811. He re- ceived an education in the common schools. He taught common schools and vocal music during the winter months from 1831 to 1850. In 1840

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he married Miss Henrietta Yocum, born in Hunt- ingdon, Pennsylvania, 1818. In 1845 he moved to a farm of one hundred acres, purchased in 1844, in Wells' valley, Bedford county. In 1850 he purchased one hundred and fifty acres. He died in 1857, his wife surviving him until Decem- ber, 1875. Their children were W. Mckenzie, J. Marshall, S. John, V. Sarah, E. Malinda, C. Rosswell, C. Milford, J. Emory. John S. died at the age of six years. In 1858 W. Mckenzie apprenticed himself to the manufacture of tin- ware and served thirty-one months, when he and his brother, J. Marshall, enlisted in Capt. H. S. Wishart's company of Fulton riflemen. This company, not being accepted by the government, he enlisted in Co. F, 77th regt. Penn. Vols., for three years, or during the war. He served with credit, and participated in the battles of Shiloh, Murfreesboro, Chickamauga, Franklin, Nashville, to the numerous battles fought by Gen. Sherman while marching through Georgia. He was wounded in the battle of Chickamauga, Tennessee, September 19, 1863. Was honorably discharged at the expiration of term of service. . He returned home to his mother, in Wells' valley, Fulton county, Penn- sylvania, and engaged in farming until 1876, when he purchased a property in New Grenada, Pennsylvania, and engaged in the manufacture of tinware, also in the hardware and agricul- tural implement business.

Marshall J., on his return from three-months service, enlisted in Co. F, 2d Penn. reserves, for three years or during the war, and partici- pated in all the battles fought on the Potomac, up to May 10, 1864, when he was wounded in the left arm so severely as to render its amputa- tion necessary.

Odd-Fellows .- Wells' Valley Lodge, No. 607, I.O.O.F., was organized in 1867. In 1870 the lodge erected a three-story frame building, 80×36 feet, in the upper story of which their meetings are held. The lodge is prosperous, with a good membership.

Presbyterian. - The Presbyterian church of Wells' valley, consisting chiefly of the descend- ants of Alexander Alexander, was never form- ally organized. It has always formed a part of the McConnellsburg charge. At the begin- ning of Rev. N. G. White's pastorate, 1834- 1864, a church-building was standing, but un- finished. Rough benches without backs served as seats. At a later period it was finished, weatherboarded and painted.

John Alexander, son of Alexander Alex- ander, was chosen elder of the Wells' Valley church and served with zeal until his death, in 1840. He was a noble christian, gifted with such a remarkable memory that it is said he could repeat verbatim nearly all of the New Testament, and more than half of the Old.

The present membership in Wells' valley is forty-five. For a list of pastors see history of the McConnellsburg church.

Methodist Episcopal. - Among the settlers who came into Wells' valley about 1790 were several families of Methodists. They probably had stated worship at private houses long before a church edifice was built, and it is believed that a class was formed before 1800. In 1818 they built a meeting-house, the first in Wells' valley, a simple log structure.' In 1828 it was torn down and its place supplied by a new and more commodious edifice, which was built under the leadership of Joseph Woodcock.

Joseph Edwards, Samuel Willett and Nathan Green were among the earliest members of the Methodist church, and were chief builders of the first meeting-house. The church now has fifty-five members and the sabbath school seventy.

Pine Grove Methodist Episcopal church, near Wells' tannery, was organized by Rev. George W. Bouse, in 1870. George W. White was the first class-leader. In 1881 a house of worship was erected at a cost of two thousand dollars. The church has forty-one members and the sabbath school one hundred and eighteen scholars.

Church of God .- This church was organized at New Grenada by Rev. Jacob Lininger about 1847. David Hoover was elected elder and J. E. Cunningham deacon. Worship was held in dwellings and schoolhouses until 1861, when a church-building was erected. No list of pastors can be given.

United Brethren .- The church of this denomi- nation was organized in 1850, during the pas- torate of Rev. R. G. Rankin. Samuel Willett was chosen class-leader, and George Lockard, Sr., steward. A house of worship was erected in 1853.

Baptist. - The Baptist congregation was organized June 24, 1861, during the minis- terial labors of Rev. Joseph Correll, with a small membership. There had been occasional preaching by ministers of this denomina- tion for several years prior to the formation of a society.

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INDEX.

BEDFORD, SOMERSET

AND

FULTON COUNTIES,

PENNSYLVANIA.

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SURNAME INDEX as compiled from Waterman-Watkins & Co.

HISTORY OF BEDFORD, SOMERSET AND FULTON COUNTIES, PENNSYLVANIA 1884

By Floyd G. Hoenstine Hollidaysburg, Pa. August, 1967

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Surname Index

AARON

305, 306 ABBERNATTY 590 ABBEY (Abey), 132

ABBOT 132, 152, 166, 169 609, 652

ABEY (Abbey), 590 ABRAHAMS

Abrams, 63, 69, 70, 73, 93, 534, 556, 557, 571

ACHE (Ake), 134 ACHUFF 132 ACKERMAN 131, 134, 159, 170, 410, 499, 518, 521 522

ACKERT 250 ADAIR 132, 133, 136 ADAMS

67, 69, 95, 96, 122, 124 132, 133, 134, 137,

138, 142, 154, 163

169, 176, 219, 220, 222, 223, 224, 225,

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History of Bedford, Somerset, Fulton counties Pennsylvania, Part 137

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

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