History of Bedford, Somerset, Fulton counties Pennsylvania, Part 57

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

USA > Pennsylvania > Bedford County > History of Bedford, Somerset, Fulton counties Pennsylvania > Part 57
USA > Pennsylvania > Fulton County > History of Bedford, Somerset, Fulton counties Pennsylvania > Part 57
USA > Pennsylvania > Somerset County > History of Bedford, Somerset, Fulton counties Pennsylvania > Part 57

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).

Henry Sill was born August 7, 1828. He lived with his father until his decease, when he came into possession of the old place. He was married March 28, 1852, to Miss Maria, daughter of Samuel Earnest, of Bedford township. Three children have been born to them : William H., Sarah C. and Elmira M. Sarah married Jobn B. Phillips, and Elmira M., Franklin Todd.

Both he and his wife are members of the church of their ancestors, and are in every re- spect worthy members.

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settled in what is now Huntingdon county. He served in the revolution as a lieutenant. He removed to Snake Spring valley in 1787. His children were Joseph, Henry, John, Fannie and Samuel. Joseph was born in the town of Huntingdon in 1780. He was in the war of 1812 and held the rank of orderly sergeant. He died in 1856. His wife was Catharine Bottenfield and his children were Eliza, Henry, Susan, Joseph and D. B.

Loudon county, Virginia, furnished a large number of settlers to Friend's cove and Snake Spring valley. These were the Smouses, Diehls, Lutzes, Ritcheys, Koonses and others, whose descendants are still numerous in this county.

John Smouse was a wagoner during the French and Indian war, and at that time visited this part of the country. He and Christopher Miller were present with their wagons-having cut a road to that point - at the time of the fight at Bloody Run. His sons, Peter and George Adam, were soldiers from Virginia in the revo- lution. John Smouse and his family settled in Bedford county on the place which is now the Ashcom farm. John's sons were Peter, George Adam, John, David, Michael and Charles. His daughters became Catharine Ritchey, Susan Koons and Matilda Koons. Peter subsequently removed to the vicinity of Cumberland, and George Adam to Indiana county. The others remained and died in this vicinity. Michael Smouse was twelve years of age when he came to this county. He died in 1851, aged seventy- seven, on the place where his son George now resides. His wife was Sophia, daughter of John Nycum, an early Loudon county settler, who lived on the pike where George Koons now resides. Michael Smouse was the father of thirteen children, all of whom lived to be over fifty years of age : John (dead), George, Henry, Jonathan, Mary, Catharine (dead), Anna (dead), Michael, Elizabeth (dead), Margaret, Daniel, Sophia and William. George Smouse, the old- est of the survivors, was born in 1802 and has always lived near his birthplace. His recollec- tion of early days is distinct and vivid and his reminiscences interesting.

Samuel Diehl and John Lutz were also.from Loudon county. Lutz came here when a boy, alone and poor, to visit acquaintances. He re- mained in the county and worked for old George Smouse for several years. He exhibited indomi- table pluck and perseverance and died possessed

of considerable property. It was he who built the first carding-mill and cloth-fulling establish- ment in the township. The mill is still in operation, and is known as the Lutz woolen factory.

John Inglebright, a Hessian soldier, was another of the Virginians. He lived on the Mortimore farm. Peter Koons came here when young, and lived and died where his descendants now reside.

The pioneers manufactured every article of clothing worn by their families from flax and wool. There were men and women who were professional weavers, and they were generally kept busy. Women who followed spinning for a livelihood went from house to house, carrying their spinning-wheels on their backs. Poverty and hardship were the lot of all. There were no distinctions of rank or wealth, for there was nothing on which to found such distinctions. There was generally a fraternal, helpful spirit between neighbors. Of course there were alter- cations and disputes occasionally, but they were quickly and quietly settled. Envy and animosity could not exist among people whose very exist- ence depended upon the helpfulness of each other.

The Snyders were among the pioneers along Valley run. David, Joseph and Jacob had farms in that neighborhood at an early day.

The Hershberger farm is one of the oldest in the valley. It was occupied by John Hersh- berger soon after the revolutionary war; next by his son George, then by Henry, son of George, and now by his widow. On this place is an old graveyard. No one now living can tell who was first buried here, and the oldest graves are unmarked by any memorials. A clock in pos- session of the Hershberger family was brought to this county by John Hershberger. His cabin was too low-posted to allow it to stand in an up- right position, therefore a hole was cut through the floor. The ancient timepiece is still running, and on its case are marks made by the cabin floor against which it stood.

Small clearings and small crops sufficed to supply the wants of the pioneers. There were no markets and consequently no inducements for extensive farming. Trees were killed by girdling, and " frolics " were made for cutting timber, rolling and piling logs, digging stumps, etc. These were festive occasions ; much whisky was consumed, and generally some fighting took

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place. Neither young men nor old looked upon fighting as disgraceful, and there were some who thought it the highest possible honor to be regarded as the bully, or most famous fighter, of a neighborhood. Many trials of strength - sometimes good natured, sometimes impassioned - were witnessed at raisings, frolics and other gatherings.

The Mortimores are the descendants of one of the earliest settlers. James Mortimore was an Irishman, who located in Snake Spring valley and followed surveying. John, David, Joseph, George and James were his sons, and Jane (Evans), Elizabeth (Armstrong) and Isabel his daughters, all dead. John Mortimore, who died in 1863, was born in Snake Spring valley, in 1786. He married Emily, daughter of John Leisinger, an early settler, and was the father of fourteen children. But three members of his family are now living -John, Joseph and Andrew Mortimore.

The first mill within the limits of this town- ship was known as the Arnold mill, and was situated on the Jamison property. After it had gone to ruin, Leisinger's mill, further down the stream, took its place. In 1826, Dewalt Leisin- ger erected a second mill, the one now owned by B. R. Ashcom. It has been enlarged and repaired since Mr. Ashcom has owned it.

Abraham Ritchey, about 1825, erected a carding-mill and fulling-mill on Valley run, not far from the present site of Hoover's mill.

.William Hartley was an early settler on the Mount Dallas farm. A history of the family will be found in a biographical sketch given elsewhere.

William England, a German, or of German descent, was a hunter, and lived in Friend's cove, near the mountain, on what is now the Whetstone farm. The family were in the county prior to 1771. John, a brother of Will- iam, resided in this county for a time, but went. to Ohio. William's sons were James and William. The former was in the war of 1812. William, Jr., married Catharine Steffler, and James married Betsey Smith. William was the father of sixteen children ; all are living but two, and all in the West except James, .John and Peter in this county.

One of the earliest settlers in the western part of Snake Spring valley was Jacob Stude- baker. He settled in the woods and became the owner of several tracts of land. The stone

house now the home of Jacob Snyder was built by Studebaker in 1803.

Jacob Shuss, a native of Maryland, came to the valley in 1812 from Washington county, Virginia, and settled on the farm now John Baker's. He had two sons, Daniel and Adam, both living, and six daughters : Elizabeth (de- ceased), Catharine, Mary (deceased), Anna, Sarah and Priscilla.

Daniel Shuss came to this township when two years of age, and has since resided here. He settled on his present farm in 1834. The place had been improved previous to that time, but the buildings had been destroyed and the clearings grown up to bushes. Mr. Shuss worked earnestly and long, and succeeded in making a fine farm, building a good brick house, and surrounding himself with comforts for his old age. His son, Daniel H., now lives at home and manages the farm.

John Baker, a farmer and cooper, moved from the eastern part of this state and settled in Morrison's cove. He reared a large family, and most of his children settled in this county. His son Jacob was born in Franklin county, and came to this county when about two years of age. He settled in Snake Spring valley, where he died in 1882. His wife was Hannah Snyder, daughter of John Snyder (of Jacob). Jacob Baker was the father of four children, all of whom live in Snake Spring township-John, Samuel, Catharine (Mrs. John P. Gochnour) and Maria (Mrs. Kneisley).

John Shafer and family moved from Frank- lin county to King township in this county in 1798, and settled near Sarah furnace. John, son of the above-mentioned John, came to this county with his parents; was drafted into the United States service in the war of 1812, and was afterward a lieutenant in the Black Hawk war. He moved to Blair county in 1813, and to Snake Spring township in 1824. A success- ful farmer and a good citizen, he died in the eighty-fourth year of his age. His wife was Elizabeth Hess, and they had seven children who grew to mature years : Rachel, Adam, Henry, Catharine, Samuel, Margaret and John H. Adam, Henry and Samuel are still living. Adam Shafer is an old resident and a progress- ive farmer. He has resided on his present farm about forty-five years, and made many valuable improvements.

John H. Shafer was born and reared on the

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Shafer homestead. He was a worthy and re- spected citizen. He died in 1880, in the fiftieth year of his age. His widow, née Rosanna Bee- gle, now lives on the farm with her sons. Mrs. Shafer was born in Snake Spring township. Her father, Charles Beegle, was a native of this county. Before the Shafers, George Adam Smouse lived on the farm and had a distillery.

B. R. Ashcom, an old resident and one of the most prominent citizens of this township, has resided at his present home since 1848. He built the elegant and substantial buildings which adorn his farm, and has a beautiful and pleas- ant home. Mr. Ashcom has pursued a variety of occupations, having been a farmer, a school- teacher, a clerk, a furnace manager and a farmer by turns. He worked seven years for the Hope- well Furnace Company in the capacities of clerk and manager.

Lewis Triplett is a native of Fauquier county, Virginia, and has followed milling from boy- hood. He came to this county in 1850 and has since worked at his trade. Mr. Triplett is now miller at Hoover's mill, on Valley run. This mill was built by George Blackburn and is now owned by John H. Hoover. It started in 1867.

John H. Hoover is a native of Napier town- ship and is a son of Philip Hoover. His grand- father, Philip Hoover, was an early settler of Napier township and came from Hagerstown, Maryland. John H. Hoover has followed school-teaching for fourteen years and is a most successful and popular instructor. He owns a farm and mill property in this town- ship and has resided here since 1881.

S. J. Mattingly, an enterprising farmer of this township, is a native of Muskingum county, Ohio, and has resided on his present farm since 1878. His neighbor, Luke Kilcoin, came to this county from Cumberland, Maryland, in 1881, and is likewise a prosperous farmer. Mattingly and Kilcoin both own portions of the old Jamison property.

William M. Diehl is a native of Colerain township and a descendant of one of the earliest families in that neighborhood. His father, Joseph H. Diehl, is still living and resides on the old homestead of his father, John Diehl. William H. has resided in Snake Spring town- ship since 1869.

CHURCHES.

The churches in this township are four in num- ber-the Dunkard church and the Reformed

church in Snake Spring valley, and the Metho- dist church and the Union church on the turn- pike.

The Snake Spring congregation of the Breth- ren church was organized in 1840 with one hundred members. The first meeting-house was built in 1861. Four meeting-houses and a mem- bership of two hundred and eighteen now be- long to this church. Ministers : Jacob Koons, W. S. Ritchey, John S. Baker, John B. Fluck.

Concerning the German Baptist or Brethren church, the following sketch, prepared by a leading member of the denomination, may prove interesting :

About one hundred years ago there were a few scattered members in what now constitutes the congregations of Yellow Creek (New Enter- prise), Woodberry, Hopewell and Snake Spring valley, and Samuel Ulrich was the first bishop. As far as it is now known, Jacob Snyder was the first member who resided in Snake Spring valley,.on the farm now occupied by Rosie Snoe- berger, Sr., and was the first deacon in the valley. Isaac Ritchey, Sr., was the first resi- dent minister, chosen to that position about 1818. The first Love Feast was held at the stone house now occupied by Jacob Snyder, about the year 1807, and ministers from Morri- son's cove and the eastern counties officiated on that occasion. Part of the Morrison's cove ter- ritory was subsequently separated from the Snake Spring congregation, and after the death of Isaac Ritchey, Sr., Jacob Snyder became the bishop of the Snake Spring congregation, and in the meantime Jacob Steel, Andrew Snoe- berger and Isaac Ritchey, Jr., were chosen to the ministry. Steel became bishop after the death of Jacob Snyder, and Henry Clapper, Henry Hershberger, David Clapper and Jacob Koons were chosen to the ministry.

About 1872, what now constitutes Hopewell congregation was separated from Snake Spring congregation, leaving Andrew Snoeberger, Henry Hershberger and Jacob Koons as the ministers, and about a year afterward Andrew Snoeberger was made bishop. In 1878 William S. Ritchey was chosen to the ministry, in 1875 John S. Baker, in 1877 John Bennet, in 1880 John B. Fluck and on January 1, 1888, Christian Knisely was chosen to the ministry. The pres- ent deacons are John W. Snyder, Daniel S. Snyder, John S. Snyder, Thomas Dibert, Daniel Hershberger, Israel Bennett, John Stayre, Solo-

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man Hershberger and Daniel R. Snyder. The present membership of the Snake Spring con- gregation is about two hundred and fifteen.

A Reformed congregation worships in the Bald Hill union church on the turnpike. It was organized in the summer of 1853, by Rev. Henry Heckerman. Daniel Defibaugh was the first elder, and Joseph Mortimore the first deacon. The pastors of this congregation have been Revs. H. Heckerman, M. H. Saugree, D. H. Leader and W. I. Stewart. The church edifice was erected by the Presbyterians, Reformed and Lutherans in 1853, at a cost of nine hundred and ninety-eight dollars. In 1883, it was repaired at a cost of three hundred and fifty dollars. The present membership of the church is thirty.

Irvin Reformed church, in Snake Spring val- ley, was organized by permission of the Mercers- burg classis, July 2, 1882. There were nineteen original members, mostly from the Ritchey and Mock families. . The present membership is twenty-three, and thirty Sabbath-school scholars. Rev. William I. Stewart, of Everett, is the pastor. The house of worship was built in 1882, and dedicated on November 19. It cost eight hun- dred dollars.

A Methodist class was formed in 1853, under the ministerial labors of Rev. S. V. Blake. Will- iam Hartley was the first class-leader, and he and his brother, J. G. Hartley, were the leaders in organizing and building the church. The house was repaired about ten years ago by Mr. J. G. Hartley. It is a neat and tasteful little church. The membership is small.

CHAPTER XXVII. NAPIER.

Pioneer Agriculture - Primitive Customs-Shawnee Creek - The Site of an Indian Village - The Murder of the Tull Family by Savages - Early Settlers - Incidents of Early Days - Family Sketches - Schellsburg - An Old Town- Sketch of the Schell Family - History of New Paris.

N APIER township was settled very early by a few families. Its population increased very slowly and the work of developing the agricultural resources progressed moderately and by almost imperceptible gradations. Within the memory of men now living, the old-time manners and customs of pioneers prevailed. Many depended on hunting rather than the pro- ducts of the fields for sustenance ; the garments

worn were of home manufacture, and consisted solely of flax and woolen goods ; "Dutch scythes," that had to be sharpened by means of a hammer and anvil, were used in mowing, and the sickle was the sole implement used in reap- ing grain. Men and women worked side by side in the field ; the first ripened field of grain in the neighborhood was watched by all the young people, and when it was ready for the harvest, all hands engaged in assisting the owner to harvest the crop. Such occasions were denomi- nated " frolics," and they were very frequent. By such means almost every kind of farm labor was performed. Merriment and good cheer abounded ; helping hands were always ready to assist the needy and the unfortunate. Wealth and progress have changed the current of social life ; the old-time customs no longer exist ; but the memory thereof is a pleasant one and de- serves to be perpetuated ..

Napier township was organized about 1812. Its territory has since been reduced by the for- mation of Harrison and Juniata townships, but Napier still remains one of the largest townships in the county.

Shawnee creek was so named from the fact that the Shawnee Indians had a camp or vil- lage on the stream. It was probably nothing more than a temporary hunting station. The camp is supposed to have been located on the farm now owned by C. W. Colvin, one and one-half miles from Schellsburg.

Tull's hill was the scene of one of the many Indian massacres which lend thrilling interest to the early history of Bedford county. The fol- lowing account of the affair is from the pen of Dr. C. N. Hickok :

. Mr. Tull's house was on the summit of the hill, on the old road or packer's path, north of the present turnpike. The family consisted of the parents and ten children, nine daughters and one son. The son, fortunately, was absent and escaped; all the others, eleven souls, were murdered, scalped, and one burned with the house. At that time the Indians were especially troublesome, and the inhabitants had abandoned their improvements and taken refuge in the fort, but Tull's family had disregarded the danger, and remained on their improvement.

Mr. Williams, who had a settlement west of Tull's hill, near the present site of Schellsburg, had returned from the fort to his farm, to sow some flaxseed. He had a son with him, and remained out one week. On their return, as they approached Tull's, they saw a smoke, and, drawing nearer, found the burning ruins, and the father lying in the garden, scalped and just

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expiring, and the other members of the family lying dead and scalped all around, the mother, with the babe in her arms, both scalped. They also found an Indian's war-paint bag on the ground. Understand- ing that the Indians were near, they fled to Fort Bedford and gave the alarm. Maj. James Burns (the father of the late General and Judge James Burns, and ancestor of the Burns family of this coun- ty) was also a witness of the murderous scene. He was then a youth of about nineteen years, and came on the scene just after the Indians had departed, and he also made good his flight to Fort Bedford to evade the impending danger of capture or death. An armed force proceeded to the spot and buried the dead. The savages had escaped.

Among the earliest pioneers was the Will- iams family. Mr. Williams located near Schells- burg, on land which is still in the Williams name, and often had to seek the shelter of Fort Bedford on account of the Indians. James and Ephraim, sons of the old pioneer, were the fathers of the Williamses of Schellsburg and vicinity.

Amos McCreary, where John B. Miller lives, and Joseph Hewitt, on the farm now occupied by George Moore, were among the early set- tlers.

George Crissman and John Rogers both lived at the foot of the Allegheny mountain in this township. One day in winter, many years ago, they went out hunting, and got lost. They disa- greed about the course they should take in order to reach home, and each started off in a differ- ent direction. Rogers found his way home before nightfall, but Crissman was missing at dark, and a search, instituted by the neighbors, failed to discover him. When spring came his body was found east of the top of the moun- tain, in Somerset county, near the place where Jefferson Potts now lives. It was evident that he had perished from cold or hunger.

On June 8, 1794, a terrific storm swept across this county, causing immense damage to all property in its track. The cyclone crossed the Allegheny mountain, coming from the west- ward, swept down Hurricane branch, past the site of New Paris, and onward through the county. Trees were taken up and carried for miles, and the whole track of the storm was a scene of utter desolation.

Thomas Ellis, a native of Bucks county, Penn- sylvania, moved from Virginia to the farm now occupied by his grandson, George N. Ellis, about 1795. His children were Sarah, John, Mary, Thomas and Enos. John lived on the old home-

stead, and died in 1859, in his seventy-second year. He married Hannah Davis, who died in 1832. Their children - Thomas, George N., Enos and John -are all living except John. George N. served nine months in the late war, and was commissary sergeant. Enos served two terms.

The Blackburn farm near New Paris was bought in 1811 by Anthony Blackburn, whose son, Abraham, afterward owned it. Abraham Blackburn sold to William Blackburn in 1870. William was a son of John (an early settler who built the gristmill above New Paris), and was born in this county in 1792. William fol- lowed milling and farming. He died in 1872. He married Julia Ann Kegg, born in this county in 1806, who is still living. They had five children : Catharine E., Nicholas, Sarah, Thomas K. and William T. Nicholas and Sarah are dead. Thomas K. is a merchant in New Paris and William T. lives on the home farm.

Chestnut ridge, now considered excellent farm- ing land, and valued almost as highly as any part of the county, was for years neglected, and little of it came under cultivation until within a comparatively recent period. At the time of the first settlements the ridge was destitute of large timber and covered with a thick growth of ferns and shrubs. A destructive fire had caused the disappearance of the timber. Many men yet living can remember when the growth of wood upon the ridge was so little that a deer, running through the brush, could be seen for miles. The early pioneers considered the land valueless, and portions of it that were offered at fifty cents per acre found no purchaser for years.

The ridge is an interesting geological for- mation, doubtless thrown up by some potent natural agency. It is about ten miles in length by two in width, and extends from Spring meadow, in East St. Clair township, southward through Napier. The underlying rock is lime- stone. A peculiarity of the ridge is the " sink- holes," which are numerous in various parts of it. These are depressions of the shape of an inverted cone, and of dimensions varying from two feet to thirty or forty in depth. The springs of this locality are wonderful natural phenomena. At either end of the ridge is a spring of sufficient magnitude to drive a mill throughout the year. About midway of the ridge, on either side, is a spring of equal capacity, both of which are uti- lized as water-powers. Many small springs,

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yielding a never-failing supply of water, issue from the sides of the ridge in various places.

One of the first settlers on the ridge was John Rowser, probably a German, who came into the county soon after the revolution. His son, Joseph, lived at the foot of the ridge, near New Paris, on a farm which is still in the Rowser name. Gideon, a noted hunter, was another of his sons ; and a third, John by name, died in this township. Joseph married Elizabeth Swager, and his children were Sarah, John, Elizabeth, Mary, Joseph, Rebecca, Hannah and Isaac, all now dead. John, son of Joseph, was born in 1795 and died in 1867. In 1821 he lo- cated a mile from the eastern base of Allegheny mountain and was one of the first settlers in that neighborhood. . He married Mary Stiffler. Their children were Joseph, Peter, Elizabeth, Sarah, Rachel and John S. The latter, an in- telligent farmer, was a soldier in the late war. He now lives on a part of the homestead of bis father.

Gideon Rowser was an early settler on the mountain. He was a miller for a number of years. His son Andrew, born in 1808, now lives in the western part of this township. Gideon Rowser's hunting adventures would fill a vol- ume ; but we have only space to narrate one occurrence of his life. Once, having exhausted his ammunition in firing at a bear which he was chasing, he determined that the game should not escape him. The animal, somewhat wound- ed, had taken refuge in a tree. Rowser, taking a firm grasp upon a hatchet which he carried, ascended the tree. When he was among the branches, the bear reached out one paw and laid it upon a limb near Rowser, evidently for the purpose of moving toward him. A thought struck the hunter; he gave a quick blow and severed the claws from the foot. The animal, now doubly wounded and greatly infuriated, drew back the injured member and thrust the other forepaw forward angrily. The hatchet again came down, and the bear was now power- less to injure the hunter by his claws. Surging about, blinded with pain, the animal fell from the tree. Rowser quickly descended and de- spatched him with a handspike.

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History of Bedford, Somerset, Fulton counties Pennsylvania, Part 57

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

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