History of Bedford, Somerset, Fulton counties Pennsylvania, Part 56

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

USA > Pennsylvania > Bedford County > History of Bedford, Somerset, Fulton counties Pennsylvania > Part 56
USA > Pennsylvania > Fulton County > History of Bedford, Somerset, Fulton counties Pennsylvania > Part 56
USA > Pennsylvania > Somerset County > History of Bedford, Somerset, Fulton counties Pennsylvania > Part 56

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).

Robert A. Smith was born in East St. Clair township, Bedford county, Pennsylvania. When twenty-one years of age he removed to Ross

county, Ohio, where he remained until 1847. He then returned to Bedford county, and, after a brief residence at Schellsburg, located in Alle- gheny township, Somerset county, where he died in 1859. He was a miller by occupation, having learned his trade in the old stone mill at Wolfsburg. His wife was Miss Mary A. Mc- Candless, of Ross county, Ohio. Of ten children born to them eight were named as follows : John P., deceased ; Sarah J. (Wolf); Hannah H., deceased ; David R .; Miles N .; William R., deceased ; Susan B., deceased ; and Mary A. M. .(Lehman). David R. Smith was born in Ross county, Ohio, and came to Bedford county with his father in 1847. In 1864 he enlisted in Co. B, 56th regt. Penn. Vols., serving until May 30, 1865, or the close of the war. He then pur- chased a farm near Wolfsburg, which occupied his whole attention until March, 1881, when he established a mercantile house at Wolfsburg. Hence he is at present the proprietor of a fine farm and an extensive and varied stock of gen- eral merchandise, the sole merchant of the town.

P. G. Trout, a present resident near the town of Bedford, was born in the locality known as Bell's Mills, Blair county, Pennsylvania. Since attaining manhood's years he has been engaged in hotelkeeping and farming.

R. S. McCreary, son of Thomas W., was born in West St. Clair township, Bedford county. In 1878 he located at Cessna Station, where he has since enjoyed a profitable business.

David Anderson, a farmer and carpenter, was an early settler in Bedford township, and his name will be found in the list of residents of the year 1796. His children were John, Eliza- beth (Wisegarver), Mary (Ray), Sarah (Bixler) and James A. The latter was born on the farm . near Cessna Station, and married Margaret Tay- lor, of the same township. Their children were David, Elizabeth (Ickes), Margaret (Ickes), Mary A. (McCallan), Jacob T., William W. and James R. Of these sons, Jacob T. Anderson is a well-known farmer. In 1861 he married Miss Anna M. Miller, of Bedford county.

John Fluke (the grandfather of the present ex-sheriff, William S. Fluke) served as a team- ster in the American army during the revolu- tion. Soon after the close of that war he removed from his former home in Bucks county, Pennsylvania, and settled in Hopewell town- ship, Bedford county. His wife's maiden name

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WILLIAM TODD.

JOHN TODD.

THE TODD FAMILY-JOHN TODD.

The name of Todd is one intimately asso- ciated with the history of Bedford township; the date of their settlement was undoubtedly in those perilous times just preceding the revo- lutionary war, when stern material was required for the protection and maintenance of life. The progenitor of this branch of the family was William Todd. He was born in Scotland, and came to this country some time about the mid- dle of the past century; with him came five others by the same name, who became founders of families in various sections of the United States. From one of Todd's just alluded to, Mrs. Abraham (Todd) Lincoln was descended. William Todd first located at or near Philadel- phia, and from thence removed to Montgomery county ; from Montgomery county they re- moved to Bedford county and located a tract of land in the vicinity of Wolfsburg. On a part of this tract located by his grandfather, John was born and now resides ; and here, too, his worthy ancestor passed his life; he died when his son William was but seven years of age, 1796. William, Jr., came into possession of one of the two farms he owned at the time of his death, and lived and died on the farm on which he was born. For many years he kept a " tavern " on the old place, and was extensively known not

only as a good host but an upright and honor- able man. The children of William Todd, Sr., and his wife Hannah (Davis) were Elizabeth, Wilhelmina, Hannah, Ann, William and An- drew. William, Jr., married Elizabeth Sill, and to them were born three children : Ann (now Mrs. Thomas Hughes), John and William ; the latter died in 1825, at the age of twenty-three. John, the immediate subject of this biography, was born May 17, 1817 ; he, like his father, has spent his life thus far upon the farm located by his grandfather ; his boyhood days were given to the improvement of the paternal estate and the acquisition of such an education as the schools of that day afforded. After the death of his father he became the proprietor of the old farm, and the well-cultivated fields and com- modious buildings are evidence of the fact that he has been a faithful steward. He has been twice married ; his present wife, nee Miss Mar- garet C. Horn, to whom he was married in 1857, was a daughter of Henry Horn ; his father was a soldier in the war of the revolution, and an early settler of Bedford county. He has been the father of five children, only one of whom, Franklin, is now living. Mr. Todd is a member of the Presbyterian church, while his wife be- longs to the Methodist denomination.

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BEDFORD TOWNSHIP.

was Dorothy Ott, and to them were born sixteen children. Henry Fluke, son of John and Dorothy, was born in Hopewell township, Bedford county, April 10, 1785, and died in Morrison's Cove, Sep- tember 2, 1844. He married Christina Snider, whose father, John Snider, came from Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, and located permanently in Morrison's Cove, Woodberry township, soon after the close of the war for independence. He also had served as a teamster during the revolutionary war. He married Elizabeth Brolliar, and they were the parents of eight children. In 1812 he built the large stone dwelling in the Cove, long known as the Snider residence. Henry and Christina (Snider) Fluke were married by Henry Markley, Esq., of Wood- berry township, April 23, 1805, and to them were born eleven children - Susanna, John, Jacob, William S., Henry, Nancy, Christian, Emanuel, Mary, Levi and Samuel S.

William S. Fluke was born in Morrison's Cove, July 21, 1811. On the 1st of April, 1833, he began his apprenticeship as millwright with Immer Barrett, in Somerset county, where he remained until December, 1835, when he re- moved to Knox county, Ohio. After the expi- ration of his apprenticeship, he went to Chicago, Illinois, where he arrived June 28, 1837, and where he assisted in building the first drawbridge thrown across the river. In the fall of the same year he went to the Fox and Dupage rivers and superintended the construction of several grist- mills. Subsequently he visited St. Louis, Mis- souri, Galena and Rock Island, Illinois, working as a millwright, boat-builder and carpenter. He returned to Morrison's Cove in the fall of 1840. On December 27, 1842, he was married to Miss Elizabeth Moore, by Rev. Jacob Zigler - a mar- riage which has resulted in the birth of eleven children, namely, Charlotte M., Origen P., Mary E., Lucinda J., Nancy L., Hugh M., George D., Henrietta V., Elcy G., William H. and Rosadale.

John Moore (who was elected an associate judge of Bedford county in 1802) and two of his brothers were very early settlers in Snake Spring valley, their title to lands there extend- ing back to the year 1765. They came from Lancaster county, Pennsylvania. George Moore, son of John, was born in Snake Spring valley, then part of Colerain township, and married Elizabeth Dasher, whose grand- father, Henry Dasher, came from Chester

county, Pennsylvania, at an early day and laid out town-lots on the site of Stonerstown. The children of George and Elizabeth (Dasher) Moore were Hugh, George and Elizabeth (Fluke). As their names indicate, the Flukes (originally spelled Fluck), Sniders and Dashers were of German origin. The Moores were of Scotch descent. William S. Fluke has served as justice of the peace and sheriff. (See civil lists.)

When about twenty years of age, or in 1820, Andrew Satterfield came from Milford, Delaware, and for some time was employed by Asa Silvers, of Bedford township. About 1823 he married Miss Lydia, daughter of David Bowen, of the same township, and to them were born the following named children : William A. B., John E:, Jane A. (Williams), Elvina (Shoemaker), and Mary A., who died in child- hood. Of these children John E. Satterfield married in January, 1850, Miss Sarah A. Gates (daughter of Harry, whose parents came from Lancaster county and settled in what is now Hopewell township before the beginning of the revolution), and they are the parents of six sons and daughters-Harry, Howard M., Elvina J., Annie E., William W. and Edward A. Coal- dale is the present place of residence of this family.

Michael Holderbaum, Sr., settled in this township at an early day in its history. He was a young man and was accompanied here by a young wife. To them three children were born,-Julia (Zimmers), Hetty (Earnest), and Michael, Jr. The latter served as a member of assembly in 1842. He married Miss Catharine Bowser, of this township. Their children, seven in number, were John, Margaret, Elizabeth (Ober), Mary (Weimer), Susanna (Weimer), David, who married Miss S. R. Crissman, and Sarah (Beegle). Michael Holderbaum died September 9, 1880, aged seventy-nine years and five months. His widow is still living.

VILLAGES, ETC.

The town of Wolfsburg derives its name from the late Rev. David Wolf, who owned the land in the immediate vicinity at the time of build- ing the Bedford & Bridgeport railroad. It contains a Methodist Episcopal Church edifice, David R. Smith's store of general merchandise, a graded school, blacksmith-shop, wagon-shop, cigar factory, sawmill, about twenty private

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HISTORY OF BEDFORD COUNTY.

residences, a parsonage, and the ruins of the old stone gristmill.

The old stone gristmill at Wolfsburg, long a landmark in this part of the county, was built by Michael Sprankle in the year 1800. It was three stories in hight, and contained four runs of stone. It became the property of Dr. John Anderson in 1816, of J. S. Morrison about 1830, of Moses Wisegarver in 1842, of Jacob Foruer in 1848, of Joshua Pierson in 1857, of John Alsip in 1860. Subsequently, Robert Hutchi- son, Oliver E. Shannon, Asa Silver, Rev. David Wolf, Asa Stuckey, William E. Nicklin and Scott Stuckey were its successive owners. It was burned February 3, 1882.

Cessna is the northern terminus of the Dun- ning's Creek railroad. The railroad mentioned branches off from the Bedford & Bridgeport railroad at Bedford, and, running up Dunning's creek about nine miles, renders accessible ex-ten- sive iron ore deposits, etc., owned by Hon. John Cessna, John W. Lingenfelter, Esq., and others.

Imlertown is found in the region known, locally, as " Dutch 'Corner," and is named after the Imler family, which for many years has been numerously represented in that vicinity. A handsome church edifice (German Reformed), a good schoolhouse and an excellent store of general merchandise are the chief attractions. It has about a dozen private residences and is seven miles distant from Bedford.

Thomas Anderson and his wife, Alice (Lyon), were both natives of the north of Ireland, or, in other words, Scotch-Irish, but were married in America. A story is told that Anderson had won the affections of the fair Alice in Ireland, but by reason of his habits and proclivities the lady's parents objected to an alliance, and to prevent such a consummation, Miss Lyon was sent to the province of Pennsylvania as the guest of an uncle. In course of time Anderson and his lady love again met at Carlisle, Penn- sylvania. An elopement was at once planned and successfully executed, the borders of Vir- ginia were crossed, and in due time they became man and wife. Be this as it may, it seems that Thomas Anderson and his wife began their resi- dence in the town of Bedford about the year 1766, and there passed in peace and contentment the remainder of their days. He built and occu- pied a house which stood on the corner of Pitt and Richard streets, the site of the present Mc- Culloh building.

Of the children born to Thomas and Alice Anderson but one, Dr. John Anderson, attained years of maturity. In early life Dr. John Ander- son married Mary, the daughter of Col. David Espy. Their children were George W., Espy L., Mary E., who married Frank Johnston, of Pittsburgh, and Elizabeth S., who never married. Dr. George W. Anderson practiced his profes- sion but ten or twelve years, being engaged thereafter in the management of varied interests pertaining to the family estate. He died June 20, 1879. His wife was Miss Caroline Morsell, of Washington, D. C. Espy Lyon, the second son of Dr. John Anderson, was admitted as a member of the Bedford county bar January 24, 1832. His wife was Louisa H., a daughter of the first Dr. William Watson. He died May 29, 1866. His widow still survives. Their children (the survivors of whom are the present Anderson heirs) were John, who resides in Bed- ford ; Maj. William W. (who, after serving in the war of the rebellion as first lieutenant and captain in the 59th regt. Penn. Vols., and as major of the 181st regt. Penn. Vols., or 20th Cav., died in service near Harper's Ferry, January 17, 1865); Dr. J. Ross, who died in January, 1873 ; G. Espy, who resides in Cumberland, Maryland ; Mary E. (Middleton), of Bedford ; Eliza W. (Beatty), of Harrisburg ; Louisa H., (Hickock), of Harrisburg, and Edward H., of Bedford.

Although the Andersons have ever resided in the borough of Bedford, it has been deemed pertinent to associate their names with the famous springs they have controlled for the past three-quarters of a century.

CHURCHES.

The congregation composing the Messiah Evangelical Lutheran Church of Bedford town- ship was organized about the year 1790. - Soon after a log church edifice, 30X50 feet, was built, the labor and material being mostly donated. This building was occupied as a house of wor- ship until 1838, when a stone building, 38×52 feet, was constructed at a cost of one thousand dollars. In the summer of 1867 the stone church was taken down, and the present church edifice, a framed building, 40X60 feet in dimen- sions, was built at a cost of one thousand five hundred dollars. The building committee of the present structure being composed of Henry S. Sill, Daniel Fetter, George Zimmers and Adam Simons.

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SNAKE SPRING.

This church is located in the St. Clairsville charge, hence see the history of St. Clairsville church for list of pastors. The present mem- bers are about one hundred and twenty-five in number, of whom Joseph Tomlinson, Daniel Fetter, Adam Simons and Henry S. Sill are elders, William W. Phillips, Jacob Walter, John Imler and Frank Smith, deacons.

Saint Paul's Reformed Church of Bedford township was organized in the year 1862 by Rev. Henry Heckerman, and among its original members were Henry Koontz, Andrew Mellon, David Zimmers, Henry Koontz, Jr., Jacob Zim- mers, William Koontz, John Koontz, David E. Zimmers, George W. Zimmers and A. J. Wise- garver. Mr. Heckerman continued in charge until October, 1871, when Rev. Ellis N. Kremer assumed the pastorate, remaining until October, 1881. Since the latter date Rev. C. S. Slagle has officiated as pastor. The present members of the congregation are seventy in number. In 1870 a church edifice was built at a cost of one thousand nine hundred and fifty dollars.

Pleasant Hill Reformed Church, in the town- ship of Bedford, was organized in 1862 by Rev. Henry Heckerman. Prior to that date its members had belonged to the Bedford church. Among them were Adam Koontz, Daniel Koontz, John S. Ritchey, Jacob Yont, George Dibert, John R. Ritchey, John Wisel, Jacob Croyle, Michael Holderbaum, Catharine Ritchey, Eve Koontz, Mary Croyle, Rebecca Wisel, Mary Diehl, Jonathan Diehl, Catbarine Holderbaum, Elizabeth Reighard ; Jacob Dibert, who gave the lot on which the house of worship stands ; Sarah Dibert, Samuel Walter, Mary Walter, Daniel Walter, Abraham Reighard, Caroline Reighard, Frederick Schnably and wife, Andrew E. Dibert, Elizabeth Dibert, Ephraim Koontz, Rebecca Koontz, William Phillips and John B. Phillips.

The church edifice was commenced in 1861, and completed in 1862, at a cost of one thou- sand one hundred dollars. Andrew E. Dibert, John S. Ritchey and Ephraim Koontz composed the building committee. A Sabbath school has been maintained since 1865. The present mem- bers of the congregation number one hundred and thirty-five. The pastors and the length of their pastorates have been the same as for St. Paul's church - Rev. Henry Heckerman from organization until October, 1871 ; Rev. Ellis N. Kremer, from October, 1871, to October, 1881 ;

Rev. C. S. Slagle, from October, 1881, to the present date. Of the present church officials Abraham Reighard, William Dibert and Will- iam Fletcher are deacons ; Andrew E. Dibert and Adriel Koontz are elders. The first interment was made in the burial ground in 1861.

St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church, at Cessna Station, was organized in the fall of 1868, and until 1874 meetings were held in what was termed the Union Church edifice. During the latter year a house of worship was constructed at a cost of two thousand four hundred dollars. The members of this congre- gation were twenty-three in 1868, fifty in 1874, and now are thirty in number. The church is included in the St. Clairsville charge, Rev. J. M. Rice, pastor. Among early members were Elizabeth Taylor, W. C. Wisegarver and J. T. Anderson.

Prior to 1881 the members composing the Methodist Episcopal Church, at Wolfsburg, held meetings in the schoolhouse. The present church edifice, a framed Gothic building, was begun in 1880, and dedicated June 26, 1881. It cost one thousand four hundred dollars. Isaac Pierson, J. J. Wolf, D. R. Smith, F. M. Bizler and D. Merrill composed the building committee. The present pastor is Rev. James F. Reming- ton, who succeeded Rev. M. C. Piper. Among the early members of this organization were David Wolf and family, Moses Wisegarver and family, and Isaac Pierson and family. The present members are forty-one in number. A parsonage will be completed in July, 1883.

CHAPTER XXVI.

SNAKE SPRING.

Organization of the Township -Settlement of the Moores -Jobz. Moore -Seven Years in Indian Captivity - Elizabeth Tussey - Allaquippa's Town - An Early Indian Village - Indian Graves-Colonists' from Loudon County, Virginia - The Hartley Family - They Entertain President Washington - Family Sketches - Reminiscences.

NAKE SPRING township was organized in 1857. Previous to that date its territory had been included in Colerain and West Provi- dence. The spring in front of Edwin Hartley's present residence has been known as Snake Spring, from time immemorial. This fact" accounts for the somewhat singular name of the

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HISTORY OF BEDFORD COUNTY.

township. The tradition is that the Snake In- dians frequented the spring and had a village or camping-ground near it.

That portion of the county now included in this township was the scene of the labors of some of the first pioneers. The names of a few of the courageous men who invaded the solitude of this wild and unattractive region as far back as 1760 are still preserved by tradition ; but the names and the exploits of the greater num- ber have long since passed into oblivion.

Prior to 1763, three brothers by the name of Moore settled in Snake Spring valley. During a season of Indian depredations, the three brothers, together with the family of John Moore (afterward associate judge), started from their homes to seek the shelter of Fort Bedford. On the way one of the brothers was overtaken by the Indians, and it was supposed that he was slain. Seven years later, however, he returned to his home, having escaped from his savage captors. The Snyder farm is the land taken up by the Moores.

"Allaquippa's Town" is mentioned in a patent to a piece of land, situated near Mount Dallas, on the south side of the river, and now owned by William Hartley, of Bedford. Eliza- beth Tussey, widow, obtained a title to this land in 1763, and resided upon it several years. The mountain to the eastward, originally known as the Terrace mountain, was doubtless called Tussey after her name. We can form some idea of the boldness and courage of the pioneers by picturing to ourselves a widow and children in their lonely home in this wild region, savages and beasts of prey all about them, and the nearest protection, in case of attack, at Fort Bedford, seven miles distant. Mrs. Tussey sold her farm to the Parishes, of Philadelphia, from whom it was afterward pur- chased by William Hartley the first. She rode all the way from this place, on horseback, to Phila- delphia, to acknowledge the deed.

Allaquippa's Town may have been an Indian village of considerable importance. Allaquippa (by some written Allaquippus) was an Indian queen, and a woman of influence among her people. From this location she moved to Turtle creek. In 1754 she was living at the mouth of the Youghiogheny, and was there visited by Col. George Washington, in whose journal the incident is mentioned. A score or more of Indian graves marked the site of Alla-

quippa's Town at the time of settlement by the whites. They were mound-shaped and covered by heaps of stones. Many of these graves have been opened. Several were destroyed by the building of the railroad. Mr. William Hartley, who opened one of the mounds in 1855, informed the writer that he found glass beads, bones, a pipe, a piece of iron and a leaden bullet, all lying in such positions as to indicate that the warrior had been buried in a sitting posture, with his face toward the east.

The period of permanent population began soon after the revolutionary war. From that time onward the Juniata valley, Friend's Cove and the Snake Spring valley were peopled quite rapidly. The descendants of these early settlers are the principal occupants of the land today.

On the place long known as the England Farm, on the top of Tussey's mountain, a man named Gairhart was the first settler. He was driven from his home by the Indians, his cabin burned, and was compelled to take shelter in the Bedford fort to save his life.

The B. R. Ashcom farm was occupied very early. Deeds now in the possession of Mr. Ash- com show that it was surveyed for Christopher Miller in 1767. September 11, 1779, Christopher Miller and Susanna, his wife, transferred the property to John Bonnet ; consideration, nine- teen hundred pounds, lawful money of the State of Pennsylvania." The deed is attested by George Woods and George Woods, Jr., and signed by the marks of Miller and his wife. John Bonnet transferred the land to David Ir- win in 1779 ; consideration, two thousand five hundred pounds. Irwin sold it to Nicholas Crevingston. In 1785 Crevingston sold it to John Smouse for three hundred and seventy-five pounds. Smouse's heirs, Michael and Charles, were the next owners. They sold to Dewalt Leisinger in 1824. From him it passed into the hands of his son John Leisinger, together with fourteen acres additional to the original two hundred. Leisinger sold to Jacob Barn- dollar in 1834; and Barndollar to B. R. Ashcom in 1859. We give this one specimen of land titles for the purpose of showing the antiquity of the settlement of this township and the num- erous transfers and changing values of property. Many other examples equally complex might be added, but one will suffice.

Henry . Armstrong emigrated from England to America prior to the revolutionary war, and

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Henry S. Sill

Daniel Sills

THE SILL FAMILY.

George Sill, the progenitor of the Sill family in Bedford county, was born in Hesse-Darm- stadt, Germany, in 1733. He came to America in 1760, and on his arrival was sold for non-pay- ment of passage money to one John Woods, of Bedford, for whom he served six years. In 1766 he became the owner of three hundred acres of land in the locality known as "Dutch Corner." He immediately began to make improvements upon the tract. Desiring to dispose of a por- tion of his purchase, he wrote to his brother Michael, in Germany, to come over, which he did, and to him he sold the farm now owned by Michael Holterbaum's heirs. George Sill mar- ried Dolly Holsman, of Bedford township. Both lived to a good old age. He passed away July 18, 1813, at the age of eighty years ; she, in . June of 1817, at the age of seventy-nine. Their children were : John, born April 13, 1768 ; Abra- ham, December 27, 1776 ; Daniel, February 5, 1778 ; Samuel, June 19, 1781; Catherine and Phebe, the dates of whose births are not known. Michael also lived and died on the farm pur- chased of his brother, and after his death his family removed to Montgomery county, Ohio.

Daniel married Catherine Stiffler in 1805. He purchased a portion of his father's estate, and reared a family of six sons and five daughters : Elizabeth, born in 1806 ; Sophia, 1807 ; Daniel, 1814; Mary, 1815 ; Zachariah, 1817; Jonas, 1819 ; George, 1820 ; Michael, 1824 ; Magdalen, 1825 ; Henry, 1828 ; Susannah, 1831. He was an industrious and successful farmer. He pur- chased farma for each of his six sons. In 1832 he purchased the farm on which "he passed the remainder of his life, and which is now in possession of his son Henry. He died June 6, 1850. Both he and his wife were con- sistent and honored members of the Lutheran church.

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History of Bedford, Somerset, Fulton counties Pennsylvania, Part 56

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

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