History of Bedford, Somerset, Fulton counties Pennsylvania, Part 61

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

USA > Pennsylvania > Bedford County > History of Bedford, Somerset, Fulton counties Pennsylvania > Part 61
USA > Pennsylvania > Fulton County > History of Bedford, Somerset, Fulton counties Pennsylvania > Part 61
USA > Pennsylvania > Somerset County > History of Bedford, Somerset, Fulton counties Pennsylvania > Part 61

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).

Nathan Oldham, son of William Oldham, came to West St. Clair in 1874, and purchased of Jacob Andrews the farm of two hundred.and sixty-two acres on which he now lives. Mr. Oldham lived at home in Shade township until twenty-five years of age, assisting his father in building mills and an iron furnace. His school privileges were few, as Shade township, in those days, was a wild and sparsely settled region.

John Feaster came from Huntingdon county with his parents in 1823. He was then but eight years old. In 1832 his father died and John began life for himself. In 1845 he bought of Enos Ellis the farm on which he now lives. In 1841 Mr. Feaster married Margaret Wisegarver. They have one child, J. C. B. Feaster, who lives at home with his parents.

Jesse Conner moved from Allegheny county, Maryland, to Hyndman in 1856, and was engaged in blacksmithing in that place until 1862. He then moved to Oak Shade, West St. Clair town- ship, where he is now following the business of blacksmith and, wagonmaker. Mr. Conner has been quite prominent in local politics. In 1878 he was elected county auditor, and in 1881 he was re-elected to the same office.

Theodore B. Potts was born in Bedford county and brought up in Shade township, Somer- set county. His father, Jephtha Potts, came from Franklin county when young, and learned the blacksmith's trade in Schellsburg. In 1842 he moved to Shade township, Somerset county. Since his residence there he has been a minister of the United Brethren. He married Mary Horn, of Schellsburg, and is the father of eight children living. Theodore B. Potts served in the late war during two terme of enlistment. In

1871 he married C. Ellen Beckley and settled near Oak Shade. For a number of years Mr. Potts has followed teaching during the winter with excellent success.

Isaiah Morris, who was born near Everett, re- moved to St. Clair township in 1855, and fol- lowed farming until 1872. He then engaged in the mercantile business at Oak Shade in partner- ship with Mary A. Sidney. In 1873 he pur- chased the entire stock and carried on the busi- ness alone. He has recently sold his stock to his son, J. F. Morris, who now carries on the business. J. F. Morris and his brother, B. C. Morris, are also engaged in general mercantile business at Cessna station, East St. Clair town- ship. They are enterprising young men and are meeting with deserved success.

H. B. Mock was reared in St. Clair township. In 1862 he moved to Spring Meadow, where he remained until 1874, then removed to Fisher- town, where he now resides. H. B. Mock is the father of five children : Lucretia (Penrose), Gideon M., Sarah E. (Ickes), Louie O. (Bowser) and William B. Gideon M. resided at home until 1874, then learned the carpenter's trade. Mr. Mock has since worked as a carpenter and contractor and builder, doing a good business.

The Beckley district is an enterprising and public-spirited community. In 1882 this district erected a school - building, 26×50 feet, at a cost of eight hundred dollars. The number of scholars in attendance is seventy-five. John M. Wade is principal, and Miss Jennie Conley, assistant. The new schoolhouse was built by Thomas S. Holsinger.

PLEASANTVILLE.

Benjamin Bowen and family were pioneer settlers, who located near Pleasantville and owned the greater portion of the land on which the town was laid out. At the time the town lots were laid off, Benjamin Bowen, son of Ben- jamin Bowen, Sr., owned the land. After the town plot had been made the land was sold to several parties, who subdivided the lots and sold them to purchasers. Nathan Wright plotted and sold lots in the southeast portion of the borough. Lands at the northwest of Mill street were sold in lots to different parties from 1845 to 1860. A large part of the town has been built up since the establishment of A. L. Hench's tannery, in 1872. The first house in the borough was built, in 1824-5, by William Hancock, on

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the lot where Mr. Hench's new dwelling is located. It was the first frame building in the place. About the same date Benjamin Bowen built a house at the extreme eastern limit of the borough.

The first gristmill in the place was built by William Hancock, in 1888. It is now owned by David M. Prosser. The first merchant was Moses Dubbs, 1833-6. His store was kept in a building which stood where A. L. Hench's house now is. The first licensed hotel was kept by David Sleek, in 1858, in a house near the south- east corner of Mill street. It is at present the dwelling of George Marshall.

John Bateman had a tannery of a primitive kind on the place where Mrs. Wisegarver lives, near the borough, which was probably started as early as 1790. The first tannery in Pleasant- ville was started by Samuel Dubbs about 1840.

Hench's tannery, one of the important indus- tries of the borough, was erected in 1872-3, and put in operation January 1, 1874. The size of the building is 40×176 feet. The works are run by a twenty horsepower steam engine. One thousand four hundred cords of bark are used, and twelve thousand sides of sole leather tanned annually. The product is shipped to Philadel- phia. Mr. Hench gives employment to twelve men regularly.

Atcheson L. Hench is a son of George Hench, for over fifty years proprietor of the Centre tannery, in Perry county, and one of the leading business men of that county. A. L. Hench came to Pleasantville in 1872, and has ever since been prominently identified with the interests of the town.

Alum Bank is the name of a place in East St. Clair township, where natural deposits of pure alum are found. A postoffice was estab- lished at the bank about 1812, Thomas Vickroy, postmaster. It was then the only postoffice between Bedford and Johnstown. After Vick- roy's death (about 1843) the postoffice was removed to the point of Chestnut ridge, and Joseph Sleek was postmaster. In 1855 the office was removed to Pleasantville ; it still retains its original name, Alum Bank.

Pleasantville Foundry, S. W. Hann, proprie- tor, was established by its present owner in 1872. The building is 80X116 feet. Mr. Hann does general foundrywork and repairing.

Pleasantville was incorporated as a borough March 10, 1871. The first board of school

directors elected in the borough consisted of Adam Ickes, A. J. Kegg, I. F. Bowen, Amos Harbaugh, Daniel Price, J. B. Smith. The first teacher in the borough was T. B. Potts. In 1879 a two-story school-building, size 38×40 feet, was erected at a cost of fifteen hundred dollars. The school directors for 1879 were : A. L. Hench, Morris Walker, D. W. Prosser, John Watkins, N. Walberg and Adam Ickes. Since the new house was erected Profs. Harvey Grazier and C. J. Potts have served as principals. The total number of scholars in attendance, in 1883, was eighty-six.

Pleasantville is a very attractive small town, neat, orderly and thrifty. The various indus- tries are well represented, as will be seen by the following summary: 4 general stores, 2 groceries, 1 hotel, 1 gristmill, 1 steam tannery, 2 black- smith-shops, 1 wagon-shop, 1 foundry with car- riage and machine shop attached, 1 hardware and tin shop, 1 saddlery-shop, 1 cabinetmaking- shop and 1 shoe-shop.

For much valuable information included in this article we are indebted to Henry Whitaker, of Pleasantville, an old resident and a veteran school teacher. Mr. Whitaker began teaching in 1837, and continued until 1860. His wages were fifteen dollars per month.

Benjamin H. Walker, of Pleasantville, came from York county to St. Clair township in 1827, and has since followed farming and shoemaking. He was postmaster of Alum Bank from 1869 to 1882. Mr. Walker was a strong anti-slavery man in the days when the word abolitionist was a term of reproach. Preceding the war he was an indefatigable worker in behalf of the slaves and one of the leading operators of the under- ground railway. He has assisted fully five hundred fugitives to gain their liberty, often keeping several of them concealed about his premises for weeks together. When he con- sidered the opportunity favorable, he would fill bags with straw, load his sleigh or wagon with them, and, concealing the negroes beneath the bags, take the load across the mountains, as if going to market. He delivered the fugitives into the hands of other friends, who assisted them further on their way toward freedom. For many years a standing reward of five hun- dred dollars was offered for the apprehension of Mr. Walker, and his life was often in danger.

Adam Ickes, son of Conrad Ickes, was born in West St. Clair township. From 1861 to

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1864 he was engaged in teaching. In the spring of 1864 he enlisted in Co. I, 91st regt. Penn. Vols., and was discharged July 6, 1865. From July, 1865, to April, 1867, he engaged in teach- ing. In April, 1867, he went into the mercan- tile business in partnership with N. H. Wright. In October, 1868, Mr. Ickes bought Mr. Wright's interest in the business and continued until 1870, when he sold out to Conrad Ickes. He then purchased T. P. Beckley's stock and has since been dealing in general merchandise and ready- made clothing.

Capt. H. Hammer is a native of Union town- ship, where he was brought up. As will be seen from the military record in another part of this volume, Capt. Hammer served in the army throughout the late war. Entering as a private, he was promoted through all the grades to captain. After his promotion to the command of his company (Co. K, 55th Penn.), the soldiers of his company presented him with an elegant sword and belt valued at one hundred dollars. April 2, 1864, he received a gunshot wound which necessitated the amputation of his left arm. February 1, 1873, Capt. Hammer was ap- pointed United States storekeeper and gauger in the sixteenth Pennsylvania district ; recom. missioned December 30, 1876, he is still dis- charging the duties of that office.

Prof. Cyrus J. Potts is a native of Shade township, Somerset county. He was educated in the schools of Somerset and Schellsburg, and was engaged in teaching at New Paris from 1873 until 1877. He next taught one year in Woodberry, then entered the California State Normal School of Washington, Pennsylvania, from which he graduated in 1880. In 1880 he became principal of the Pleasantville schools, a position which he has since filled very accept- ably. In 1881 Prof. Potts married Miss Jose- phine Beaver, of Schellsburg.

John H. Beckley, merchant, is a native of West St. Clair township. He came to this borough in 1874, and clerked one year for Thomas P. Beckley. In 1875 he kept a con- fectionery store. In 1876 J. H. and S. M. Beck- ley formed a partnership and engaged in general mercantile business. In 1880 this partnership was dissolved and the business has since been conducted by John H. Beckley, who is doing a good business.

Morgan Prosser was born in this county. In 1859 he came to Pleasantville, where he learned

the blacksmith's trade under Samuel Whitaker. In 1870 he commenced business for himself, and is now engaged in wagonmaking, black- smithing and general repairing.

D. W. Prosser was born in Bedford. In early life he followed farming. He was a soldier in. the late war, serving in Co. D, 55th regt. Penn. Vols., from 1861 to May, 1865. He was in the rebel prisons at Andersonville and Camp Lawton from May 16, 1864, to April 28, 1865. Since the war he has been engaged in milling principally. In 1875 he purchased the gristmill at Pleasantville, which he now owns and runs.

ODD-FELLOWS.

Pleasantville Lodge, No. 868, I.O.O.F., was chartered February 21, 1874, and instituted the 19th of the following March. The charter members were as follows : Israel Davis, N.G .; Thos. J. Croyle, V.G .; Adamn Ickes, Secy .; S. A. Mock, Asst. Secy .; S. B. Mock, Treas .; Wm. A. McGregor, M. M. Roudabush, Jas. M. Allison, Gabriel Burket, Michael Feather, Gabriel Dively, Joseph H. Griffith, Jas. V. Smith, T. B. Weyant. The present membership is forty-nine; total assets, one thousand three hundred and twenty- five dollars.

CHURCHES.

Methodist Episcopal. - There has been Meth- odist preaching in this township almost from the earliest settlement. One of the pioneer preachers was Rev. Wilson Lee. In 1800, Pre- siding Elder Christopher Spry preached here on the Huntingdon circuit. Revs. Gideon Draper and N. B. Mills were also early preachers. The church-building near Pleasantville was built in 1852. Its size is 30×40 feet. The building committee were Samuel Clark, John Chillcote and George Carrel. The congregation belongs to Pleasantville circuit. The present. member- ship of the church is fifty-five, and of the sabbath school one hundred and four.

The Methodist Episcopal church in the Beckley district was first organized in the year 1867, by Rev. A. E. Taylor, with three mem- bers. Meetings were held in the schoolhouse, until the United Brethren church was erected in 1870. The church has eighteen members and thirty sabbath-school scholars. It is a part of Schellsburg circuit.

Reformed Church. - From 1866 to 1869, meet- ings were held in the Lutheran church by the Reformed congregation. In 1868-9, during the

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pastorate of Rev. C. U. Heilman, a frame church, 34×40 feet, was erected at a cost of eighteen hundred dollars. Rev. William M. Deatrick preached the dedicatory sermon. Thomas Alli- son and A. J. Kegg were the building committee ; the same and Josiah Claycomb were elected trus- tees. The church is a part of the St. Clairsville charge. The membership when organized was sixteen ; present membership, thirty.

Lutheran .- The first preaching of this de- nomination was by Rev. Ruthroff, of the Schells- burg charge, in 1848-9, when services were held in a schoolhouse near Pleasantville. In 1852, under the pastorate of Rev. Kopp, a congrega- tion was organized with thirteen members, and a church, 30 X 40 feet, erected. The house cost seven hundred dollars. The first church officers were : Conrad Ickes and N. H. Wright, elders ; John Leighty and J. H. Wright, dea- cons. The present membership of the church is sixty five, and of the sabbath school, one hun- dred and ten. The church belongs to the Schellsburg charge. The sabbath school was organized, in 1852, with forty scholars. N. H. Wright, the first superintendent, held the posi- tion seventeen years. Since 1872, Adam Ickes has filled the office.

Brethren .- The German Baptists began hold- ing meetings in St. Clair township about 1841, under the preaching of Levi Roberts and Peter Lutz, of Johnstown. In 1842-3 a log church, 26×32 feet, was erected at a cost of five hundred dollars. It is still used by the congregation. The bishops of this church have been : George M. Holsinger, 1841-62 ; Moses Rogers and John S. Holsinger, the latter being now in charge. The present ministers are Gideon Rogers and John B. Miller. In 1870, a second mecting- house was erected in West St. Clair township, at a cost of fifteen hundred dollars. These branches form the Dunning's Creek church, which was organized in 1871, with a member- ship of fifty. The church now has ninety mem- bers, and sixty sabbath-school scholars.

United Brethren .- Meetings were held in the Beckley schoolhouse prior to 1870, when a meet- ing-house was erected at a cost of twelve hundred dollars. It was dedicated with a sermon by Rev. Raber, of Baltimore. Building committee: Isaiah Morris, Jacob Miller and Isaac Cuppett ; trus- tees, I. A. Cuppett, Enos Davis and Thomas McGregor. The church is a part of the New Paris pastorate, and has a fair membership.

CHAPTER XXX. WOODBERRY.

Morrison's Cove - An Agricultural Region of Unsurpassed Fer- tility - Early Settlement by Dunkards - Indian Troubles - Sketches of Early Families and Prominent Citizens - Wood- berry Borough -Settlement of John Holsinger - The Start- ing of Elizabeth Furnace - Business Interests - Churches, Schools and Societies.

W OODBERRY* township, as originally constituted, embraced within its terri- tory a considerable portion of what is now Blair county, as well as three townships and parts of other townships now in Bedford county. It was organized about 1785. Middle Woodberry, in- cluding the present townships of Woodberry and Bloomfield, was organized about 1844.

Morrison's cove, an agricultural region of the greatest fertility, attracted settlers very early. Doubtless there were settlers in this cove as early as 1760. But their situation was then precarious, and probably few, if any, remained long undisturbed by the Indians. Not until the close of the revolution did they secure peaceable possession of lands.

The Dunkards, or German Baptists, were the first to occupy the lands of the cove. On ac- count of their non-resistant principles, they easily fell victims to savage warfare. How many were murdered and scalped can never be known, as records and tradition are both wanting. In the fall of 1777, Indian hostilities were so fre- quent that nearly all the inhabitants left the cove, and thenceforth until the close of the war the settlers were in constant peril. Mor- rison's cove was named for a man known as Morrison, who settled in the northern part of the valley about 1770. The portion of it now embraced in Bedford county, notwithstanding its great natural advantages, was settled and improved very slowly. The reason for this backwardness was the great distance of the set- tlement from mills, markets and navigation. Early in the present century large quantities of grain were carried from the cove to the nearest shipping points, and transported, by means of flat-bottomed boats, to the towns in the eastern part of the state. This industry flourished for years, and only ceased with the advent of rail- roads.

Henry Brown, who lived near Keagy's mill,

* We offer no apology for our spelling of this name. Either Woodberry is correct, or the name has been wrongly spelled for nearly one hundred years .- ED.

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was a very early settler. His sons went west, excepting Jacob, who remained until about 1845, and then removed to the West.

The R. L. Replogle farm was surveyed in 1786 for William Hart, who secured a patent to the tract in 1797. Hart kept a hotel, which was one of the first in the northern part of the county. The old building stood until 1882, when it was torn down. Hart sold the farm to Jacob Bassler, from Lancaster county, in 1813. For many years all the musters of militia in the northern part of Bedford county took place on this farm.

Rinehart Replogle was born in Morrison's cove, and died in 1860, aged sixty-two years. HIe was a farmer and lived in South Woodberry, where his son, David L., now lives. His wife was Elizabeth Long, and their children were David, John, Rinehart L., Joseph, Simon, Rebecca (dead), Elizabeth and Esther (dead). Rinehart L. Replogle, a prominent farmer of Woodberry, has lived on his present farm since 1865. Mr. Replogle was one of the county board of poor directors, his term expiring in January, 1883.

Levi B. Replogle is a son of Daniel Replogle, who was born in Bloomfield township. Daniel died in 1871, aged seventy-two years. He mar- ried Nancy Brumbaugh, and was the father of fourteen children, ten of whom are living. Levi B., the youngest surviving member of the family, formerly followed mercantile business, and afterward engaged in butchering, near New Enterprise. He has lived on his present farm, in Woodberry township, since 1877.

John Furry, who died in 1878, was born in Franklin county and came to South Woodberry when seventeen years of age. After his mar- riage he moved to a farm which had about two acres cleared, and lived in a small log house which was without floor, doors or windows. At that time all the country was full of game, and deer and bears were especially abundant. While on his way to church one Sunday, Mr. Furry killed six black bear cubs with an ax. Mr. Furry married Mary Baker, of Franklin county. She died in 1874. The children of this union were Elizabeth (De Lancer), Jacob B., Catharine (Wyant), Andrew (deceased), Henry, Sarah (deceased), David, Jane (Christman), Susan (deceased) and Lewis.

Jacob B. Furry lived at home, in South Woodberry, until twenty-one years of age. He

then removed to Martinsburg, where he resided until 1850, when he came to Woodberry town- ship, where he has since lived. Mr. Furry is a plasterer by trade. He owns a well improved farm of forty acres, with good buildings. Mr. Furry has held the office of school director.

Samuel Casper and family moved from Lebanon county to this township in 1830. His sons, Frederick, Jacob and Christopher, and his daughter Margaret (Smith), are now living in this vicinity. E. S. Casper, son of Jacob, fol- lowed farming until recently, and since 1882 has been engaged in butchering in the town of Woodberry.

Peter Stern came from Lancaster county quite early and lived in Woodberry township, moving hence to Dunning's creek. His sons all went west except Peter, who lived north of Wood- berry borough, and died in 1875. Peter (the younger) was the father of seven children, of whom five sons are still living, Andrew B. being the only one, at present, residing in this county. He has followed farming and was in the foundry business one year. He has again returned to farming. Mr. Stern is one of the school directors of the township.

Jacob Detwiler, an old resident, is a native of Franklin county, who came to this county young and without capital. About 1840 he purchased of Martin Hoover the farm on which he now lives. Later he sold the farm at an advance of five hundred dollars, and after renting a place for seven years, bought it back at an advance of one thousand dollars. The farm was little im- proved and much of it was covered with timber. By industry and perseverance he cleared it, paid for it, and now has a comfortable and pleasant home. Mr. Detwiler married Lydia Wimerd, of this county, and has four children living : John W., Mary, Susannah and Kate. Levi, William, Lizzie, Ellen and Nancy are dead. John W. lived at home until of age, then followed thresh- ing for seven years. He was supervisor three terms. Since 1877 he has farmed on the old homestead. He is serving his third term as school director.

No longer ago than 1834 farmers had few of the implements of labor that modern ingenuity has devised for their benefit. Their houses, too, were generally devoid of books, pictures, papers or ornaments. Pianos and organs were un- known ; stoves had scarcely been introduced, and almost every article of furniture was of the

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DAVID F. BUCK.

Samuel Buck, father of David F., was born in Dauphin county, Pennsylvania, in 1790. In 1828 he emigrated to Bedford county and engaged in farming in Woodbury township, subsequently removing to New Enterprise, where he died in 1877. His wife Mary (Funk) departed this life in 1878, aged about eighty years. Both were consistent members of the German Baptist church. They became the parents of one child, David F., the subject of this sketch, who was also born in Dauphin county, March 23, 1818, and came to Bedford county with his parents. He improved the opportunities afforded in the schools of that time and subsequently engaged in school-teaching. Although reared on a farm, he early developed an aptitude for business, and in 1848 established himself in New Enterprise when it contained but one small dwelling-house, and thus became the founder of this village, which he also laid out, which now contains a popu- lation of two hundred and fifty. He little thought, when commencing merchandising, that through his example, encouragement and influence he would live to see the then embryo village assume the importance that it did. As a busi- ness man Mr. Buck was thorough and methodical, which, coupled with business sagacity, enabled him to accumulate a fine competency. In addi-

tion to merchandising, which he carried on for about twenty years, he purchased and success- fully operated several farms. He was appointed the first postmaster of his village in January, 1863, and held this position until succeeded by his son, S. L. Buck, in January, 1872. He was one of the first school directors in his township and was township auditor for many years.

Although prudent, he was among the first to avail himself of improvements and conveniences. To a very large extent he enjoyed the confidence and respect of those who knew him, for he was a man of sterling integrity and endowed with many amiable qualities. He departed this life April 4, 1873.

He was united in marriage with Barbara, daughter of Abraham and Nancy Longenecker, who was born in 1819 and still survives. Mr. Buck was a member of the German Baptist church, and his wife a consistent member of the Seventh-Day Baptist church. They were blessed with five children, as follows : S. Amanda (Mrs. O. S. Over), Charles L. (a Ger- man Baptist minister), Mary M. (Mrs. D. S. Brumbaugh), S. L. (married to Lotta F. Bren- neman), who is of the firm of S. L. Buck & Co., merchants, and successors of David F. Buck, and Sabina C. (deceased).

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History of Bedford, Somerset, Fulton counties Pennsylvania, Part 61

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

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