History of Bedford, Somerset, Fulton counties Pennsylvania, Part 65

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

USA > Pennsylvania > Bedford County > History of Bedford, Somerset, Fulton counties Pennsylvania > Part 65
USA > Pennsylvania > Fulton County > History of Bedford, Somerset, Fulton counties Pennsylvania > Part 65
USA > Pennsylvania > Somerset County > History of Bedford, Somerset, Fulton counties Pennsylvania > Part 65

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).

Jacob Weaverling, a brother of Peter, kept hotel on the State road and afterward on the pike. In 1843 he erected the stone building which is now J. P. Weaverling's residence. John, another brother, was in the war of 1812, and died in prison, of starvation.

At an early date Uriah Hughes emigrated. from New Jersey and settled on land which is now the J. B. Smith farm, where he lived several years. He afterward went to Ohio, and there died at the residence of one of his

sons. Uriah, his youngest son, lived and died in this township. He married Rebecca Hun- ner, who bore five children, one of whom is still living-Mrs. Eliza McDaniel, now in her seventieth year. Mrs. McDaniel's husband, John McDaniel, was born in Providence town- ship, and was the son of Amos McDaniel, an early settler. He died in 1847. He was the father of nine children, three now living : Wilson, Susan and George, all in this county. Wilson and George are well-known citizens of West Providence. George and his brother Lewis were both soldiers in the late war, in the nine months and three-years service. Lewis was killed during his second term of service.

Among the early settlers on the south side of the river was Valentine Holler, who moved from the eastern part of the state. Two of his children, Susan (single) and Rebecca (Manspeaker), are still living, the former in Everett and the latter in Allegheny City. Solomon, son of Valentine, was a soldier of 1812. He died on the old homestead. The farm is now owned by his son Philip.

Peter Morgart and family were early settlers in Fulton county, whence they removed to West Providence. Baltzer, son of Peter, was born in 1785. He married Mary Sparks, who was born in this township in 1798. They had eleven children, one of whom, Abram, lives upon the old homestead. The house, a sub- stantial stone structure, was built by Baltzer Morgart as a tavern, and kept by him many years. He also held some local offices and was closely identified with the interests of the Providence Baptist church. Abram Morgart is married to Miss Sarah McElwain. They have seven children living and two deceased.

Christian Fisher, a native of Germany, moved from Maryland to McConnell's cove, Fulton county, with his family. Ludwig Fisher, the father of Joseph Fisher, Esq., was born in Mary- land, and came to this state with his parents. Joseph Fisher was born in McConnell's cove. When ycung, he learned the trade of millwright, which he followed fifteen years. He next kept store at Broad Top five years, and in 1857 moved to his present farm. He has held the office of justice of the peace eighteen years, dis- charging his duties in a most faithful manner. In 1830 he married Mary Cook, of Huntingdon county.

The Woy family were early settlers, and re-

Digitized by Google

PETER M. BARTON.

Among the early settlers of what is now Ful- ton county was Elijah Barton, grandfather of the gentleman whose name is at the head of this article. He was a native of New Jersey, from which state he came to Fulton county, where he purchased a large tract of land, on which he settled, and on which some of his descendants now reside. He was the father of six children, all of whom are deceased. George Barton, father of Peter M. Barton, was born in Fulton county, and died about 1826. He mar- ried Catherine Morgart. She was born in Bed- ford county. By this union there were eleven children, as follows : John, Morgan, David, Mary Ann, Peter M., Eliza, Philip, Balsar E., George, and two who died in infancy. Four of these children are living : Mary Ann, widow of Timothy Acres, Peter M., Philip and Balsar E. Peter M. was born March 10, 1816, in Fulton county. He remained at home until he was twenty-three years of age, at which time he

was married to Miss Pennina A. Winters. She was also born in Fulton county, March 3, 1820. She died in August, 1862. By this marriage there were five children: Emma, born August 3, 1842 ; Margaret, born June 6, 1845 ; Loretta, born August 30, 1852; Mary C., born July 4, 1855 ; Caleb J., born May 25, 1858. In Novem- ber of 1866, he married for his second wife Mrs. Zadoch Whitfield, daughter of Joel and Rebecca (McDaniel) Clark. Two children were born by this marriage : Ella May, born May 17, 1867, and Bertie Blanch, born July 20, 1869.

Mr. Barton has devoted himself to agricul- tural pursuits, and in his chosen vocation has been eminently successful ; his home farm, con- sisting of two hundred and fifty acres, evidences his skill and thrift. He has always taken a deep interest in matters of public import, and has occupied various positions of public trust, notably among the number that of county commis- sioner, which office he filled acceptably for three years.

Digitized by Google

Google

Digitized by

311

WEST PROVIDENCE.

sided on Bunker's hill, in West Providence township. There William F. was born. He afterward lived in Cheney Loop of the Rays- town branch, on the farm now belonging to his son, Ezekiel C., and thence removed to East Providence township. E. C. Woy is one of a family of ten children. At the age of sixteen he enlisted in Co. K, 208th Penn. regt.

Uriah Hughes, when three years of age, came to Clear ridge with his parents from Bucks county. Two of his brothers, George and Joseph, went to Ohio. Uriah remained in this county, and died in 1866, in his seventy-second year. He followed bricklaying, plastering and farm- ing. He was brought up by Quaker parents. He married Delilah, daughter of Solomon Sparks. His children were Phebe (Noble), Blair county, and William and Bartley, this county. Bartley Hughes, a prominent citizen, has always resided in the neighborhood where he now lives. He has a fine farm, bought in 1877. His wife is Susan Leader, daughter of David Leader, a descendant of an early family.

Augustus Snider is of German descent, and is one of a family of four sons and four daughters. His parents came from Saxony, Germany, to Maryland, thence to Friend's cove, in this county, and from that place to a point near Everett. One of the sons died in Andersonville prison during the war. Augustus served two terms in the army, first in the three-months service, and second in Co. K, 208th Penn. regt., and participated in the battles of Fort Steadman and Petersburg. His wife is Anna, daughter of Capt. Adam Weaverling, of Everett.

John Armstrong was born in Snake Spring township. His father, Samuel Armstrong, was also a native of the same township. John has always followed farming. His wife, whose maiden name was Susan Miller, has borne twelve children, eleven of whom are living. In 1876 Mr. Armstrong purchased his present farm of two hundred acres from Jacob Weaverling. The family belong to the Reformed church.

The Price family, an early one in this county, is represented in this township by the descend- ants of Abraham Price, who moved from " Dutch Corners " to West Providence, where he lived to an advanced age. His sons, Michael and John, lived here afterward. The former is now in Maryland. John died in 1865 from the effects of disease contracted while in the army, where he served one year. ITis wife was Eve Garlick,

now Mrs. Joseph Weaverling. The children of John and. Eve Price are David, Gideon, Mary J. and Lizzie, all of whom live in the same neighborhood. Gideon and John bought land from Mr. Sparks, and have resided upon it seven years.

The O'Neils were an early family, whose de- scendants still reside in this township.

Daniel Sams, an old resident and a prominent citizen of this township, has followed surveying since 1838.

Abraham Avey came to this county. from Adams county and settled in Black valley .. He died in this township, leaving a large family of small children, of whom Joseph, William H., Mary and Catharine are living, and Henry, John and Susanna, deceased. Joseph and Will- iam H. have a fine farm which they purchased in 1867. William H. Avey served through the war, enlisting in the fall of 1861 in Co .. C, 54th Penn. regt. and re-enlisting in Co. H, of the same regiment ; he was discharged June 18, 1865. He lost an arm at Petersburg, April 2, 1865. He is now serving his second term as justice of the peace. Joseph Avey, in 1864, enlisted in Co. K, 208th Penn. regt.

David L. Suter is a grandson of Jonathan Suter, who lived and died in Somerset county. D. L. Suter's father was also named Jonathan. He settled in Napier township, where he reared a family of six sons and six daughters. Of the children, only D. L. has lived in this part of the county. He learned the trade of plastering when young, and has since followed it. From 1867 to 1869 he kept a hotel, without liquors, half way between Everett and Hopewell. He then located at his present home. Five of Mr. Suter's brothers were in the late war .. He was detained at home by the poor health of his wife, who died in 1874. Her maiden name was Sarah Kreger, and her father was Henry Kreger, of Schellsburg.

Frederick Mench came from Germany to Friend's cove in 1832. He died in this county in 1860. His children - Frederick, Godfrey, Maria, Catharine, John, Margaret, Jacob and Mary-all live in this county. John, a pro- gressive farmer of West Providence, located upon his present farm in 1866, and has. since built excellent buildings and made.many other improvements.

John England, whose ancestors are men- tioned in the history of Snake Spring township,

Digitized by Google

312

HISTORY OF BEDFORD COUNTY.

is an old resident of this county. He has re- sided in West Providence since 1871. His wife is Martha Beam, daughter of Frederick Beam, an early settler of Friend's cove. They had one son in the late war-Jacob, now in Illinois ; he served three years, and was eleven months in prison. Their son George resides with them, and is carrying on farming. He is also proprie- tor of a steam sawmill.

The tannery in the northern part of this township was erected in 1852-3, by Thomas and Jacob Ritchey, and is now run by James W. Ritchey.

CHURCHES.

Baptist .- The Baptists were once very strong in Providence township, but their organization expired years ago. They erected a log church, which is now the Union church, about the year 1823. Concerning early religious history, Mr. Asa Williams writes as follows :

" Among the preachers named in my hearing in early boyhood was Father Runyan, a Baptist clergyman of the olden time, who resided in what is now Belfast township, Fulton county. There was also an associate named Moses Star, a man far advanced in life when I first knew him, nearly, or quite, sixty years ago."

Christian .- William Caldwell, who broke off from the Presbyterian church in Kentucky about the year 1800, came to this township soon after, married a Miss Hevner, and settled in Black valley. There he remained until about 1835, when he removed to Rush county, In- diana. He was the first to advocate the pre- cepts of the Christian denomination in this sec- tion, and was the founder of several congrega- tions. Meetings have been held at various places in this township from his time until the present.

Mount Union Christian church was built in 1873 at a cost of about two thousand dollars. It is 85×45 feet, well finished and well fur- nished. Owing to the formation of a Christian church at Grange Hall in East Providence township, the present membership of Mount Union is less than one hundred.

Clear Ridge Christian church was organized by William Caldwell about 1825. Caldwell was succeeded in the pastorate by Daniel Long, Edward Lewis, Benjamin Seever, John Ramsey, William G. Proctor, and, in 1851, by B. A. Cooper. Under the labors of the latter, assisted by A. Miller and others, the church was reor-

ganized in 1856 with a membership of two hun- dred and fifty. It was subsequently divided into three organizations, now known as Clear- ville, Rockhill and Mount Union, each having a commodious house of worship. Rev. B. A. Cooper is the present pastor.

Mount Union has had the successive labors of Cooper, Barney, McDaniel, Logue and Sipes. Rockhill was under the pastoral care of B. A. Cooper from 1852 to 1874, and since that time, Elders Logue, McDaniel, Barney and Sipes.

Providence Christian church was organized by Elder Joseph Barney in 1874. It is weak in membership, and has an ordinary house of worship.

Methodist Episcopal .- The Methodists main- tain quite a flourishing organization in the southern part of the township, and meet at Baughman's chapel, a building erected in 1854 through the efforts of George Baughman, one of the leading members of the church. The society is a part of Ray's Hill circuit. No records are obtainable. The class was organized in 1838.

German Baptist .- The Brethren have main- tained a religious organization in this township for many years. The congregation is a part of the Snake Spring charge, and consists of about a dozen members. They erected a house of worship in the southern part of the township in 1876.

SCHOOLS.

Among the early school teachers remembered by the early residents was a certain Master Jaques, a very fine penman, and Francis Wil- kins. About 1818 Henry Whilt, who is still living in East Providence, taught a term in the second story of John Blackhart's house. Edward Kerr, of Bedford, taught in the same neighbor- hood, soon after, in a deserted cabin of rude structure. He was a fine penman and a good arithmetician, and continued his labors in sub- sequent years with good success. Asa Williams began teaching in 1838 .. He describes his schoolhouse thus : "It was a small log or pole cabin, about twelve feet square, with one small window, and a chimney constructed of small split sticks and clay. One day in spring, when the door of the schoolhouse was standing open, this rude chimney suddenly fell, and the school quite as suddenly left for the outside of the building without any formal dismissal from the teacher."

Digitized by Google

313

WEST PROVIDENCE.

Providence township adopted the free school system about 1837, but it was some years later before schoolhouses could be built sufficient to accommodate all the scholars scattered over the wide extent of territory then embraced in the township.

EVERETT.

This thriving and populous town is a recent outgrowth of the ancient village of Bloody Run. The natural query, What was the origin of the name Bloody Run ? has never been answered satisfactorily. An incident narrated in a pre- ceding chapter of the general history relative to the exploits of Smith's "Black Boys" has been quoted by several historians as being the occur- rence which gave rise to the name in question. But it is difficult to see how an affair which took place at Sideling hill could have any influence in bestowing a name upon a locality so far distant. Nothing in the Pennsylvania Archives, or any other record that we have examined, throws any light upon the subject. Some have a tradition of an Indian massacre here, but it is unsupported by any authority. The most rea- sonable and, we believe, the correct solution of the question is found in a tradition, widely cur- rent among the descendants of the early settlers, that when Forbes' army passed over the old mili- tary road in 1768, a halt was made near the spring, and that several cattle were slaughtered here to supply the army with meat. Such an incident, while sufficient to give a name to the stream issuing from the spring, was too unim- portant to be recorded.

No name is more conspicuous in the annals of Everett than that of Barndollar. Michael Barn- dollar lived in the vicinity of Philadelphia. at the time of the revolutionary war, and after- ward moved to Frederick county, Maryland. In 1787 he came to Bedford county and purchased a tract of land, including the site of Everett borough. He settled on the west side of Bloody Run and began keeping hotel. Finding it impossible to pay for his entire purchase, in 1800 he sold to Samuel Tate, of Shippensburg, all that portion of the tract lying west of Bloody Run, including his tavern-stand and improve- ments, and removed to the eastern side of the stream. In 1802 he erected the stone building - still standing and now a part of the Union Hotel -where he lived and kept store and tavern. He died in 1818, at the age of seventy- eight. His sons were Peter, Daniel, Jacob and

Michael, all of whom lived and died in this county, except Michael, who died in Fulton county.

Peter Barndollar was a farmer, and lived a mile from Everett. He was in the war of 1812. He died in 1858, in his eighty-first year. His wife was Ann Martin, daughter of Judge Mar- tin, an early settler of this county. Their children who reached mature years are still living : James M., Jacob, William, Catharine and Elizabeth. James M. is now the oldest native resident of the borough, and has been prominent in the affairs of the town for many years. He followed mercantile pursuits for eighteen years, and his son is one of the leading merchants at the present time.

Daniel Barndollar was a farmer, and died near Everett. Catharine, a daughter of Michael, Sr., married William Paxton, one of the first settlers of the town ; a second daughter was Mrs. Will- iam Woods; and a third, Elizabeth, wife of John Coulter. Coulter and Woods moved to Ohio.

Jacob Barndollar, Sr., was identified with the affairs of the town throughout his long life. The land now included within the borough was mainly owned by him. He established the first store of any importance at Everett, and con- tinued in business for many years. He was one of the earliest members of the Methodist church in this place, and contributed largely to its sup- port. In 1859-60 he erected a church edifice for the congregation. He was a good business man, shrewd and honest, and acquired a large property by prudence and sagacity. He was a member of the constitutional convention of 1837-8, and was otherwise interested in public affairs. Mr. Barndollar never married. He died in 1862, at the age of eighty-two.

Samuel Tate was possessed of considerable means, and paid in gold for the land which he purchased of Barndollar, doubtless driving a good bargain. He was a man of good business ability, and by various speculations added greatly to his property. He lived and died on his land, which remained intact until after his death. He died in 1849, aged eighty-five. Most of his estate was purchased by Jacob Barndollar.

After the death of these two landholders, their executors sold off the land. It was taken up quite rapidly, and instead of a few scattered houses, Bloody Run became a flourishing village.

Digitized by Google

314

HISTORY OF BEDFORD COUNTY.

A steady and, of late years, a rapid growth in wealth and population has characterized the town. Capital, energy and enterprise each found an entrance, and prosperity necessarily followed.

Michael Barndollar, Sr., caused a small village to be laid out on his land on June 15, 1795, and sold a few lots during the same year. He called the place Waynesburg, but the settlement took the name of the stream on which it was situ- ated, and was known as Bloody Run until finally it ceased to be called by any other name. The present name was not adopted until 1873.

Perhaps a dozen families lived in the village in the time of Michael Barndollar. Among the first residents were William Paxton and Robert Culbertson, sporting characters, who drove fast horses and were supposed to live by their wits ; Philip Fishburn, a school teacher, who afterward moved to Bedford ; William Long, Joseph Coul- ter, Charles Ashcom and Robert Shortwell. For years the town consisted of one tavern, one store, a blacksmith and wagon shop, a tailor's shop and a few log houses.

Culbertson, above mentioned, carried the mail from this point to Shippensburg at an early day, a distance of sixty miles, going and returning on foot. Jacob Barndollar was the first post- master at Bloody Run.

Paxton, and Culbertson once formed a part- nership. and decided to open a tavern. Accord- ingly they purchased a barrel of whisky, then, taking an inventory, discovered that their cash assets consisted of one "fi'penny bit." It was agreed that they should take turns at bartend- ing. The " fi'penny bit," left in the hands of one of the partners, soon changed to the posses- sion of the other to pay for a drink. Then fol- lowed a change of places and the ex-barkeeper became the customer. In short, the whole bar- rel was sold and paid for and that single piece of money was the only cash used.

Charles Ashcom, Esq., was born in St. Mary's county, Maryland, and came to this county at an early age, settling at Bloody Run (now Everett), about the year 1806. Here he followed carpentry. and cabinetmaking a number of years. He was appointed justice of the peace and attended to the duties of that office and worked at farming in later years of his life. Mr. Ashcom was one of the pioneer Methodists; he was the first leader of the Bloody Run class and held the office forty years. He also led the

Bedford class and was an indefatigable worker for the church. He died in 1871, in the nine- tieth year of his age. He was married to Mary A. Deal, and had nine children, two of whom are dead : Benjamin .. R., Amelia (Barndollar), George, Margaret (Buchanan), deceased, Susan (Everhart), Charles W., Catharine J., Dr. John P. (now of Renova, Pennsylvania) and Mary (Gibbony), deceased.

The oldest building in Everett is the house known as the "Tate mansion.". A part of it is built of logs, and is doubtless the original structure erected by Michael Barndollar.

A man named Speaker, who worked both as a tailor and as a barber, was an early resident, and kept tavern in the ancient building known as Coulter's tavern. Thomas Bird succeeded him as tavernkeeper. The house was next.oc- cupied by Joseph and James Coulter. The former kept a store and the latter a tavern.

Michael Barndollar started the first tannery soon after he settled here. It was on the east side of Bloody Run, and south of the turnpike. Before his death he sold the tanyard to his son-in-law, Philip Kumpfer, who changed its location to the north side of the street. After conducting the business some years, Kumpfer sold out to Adam. Ridingbaugh, and, on the de- cease of the latter, Jacob Barndollar, Sr., bought the establishment. Jacob Barndollar, son of Peter, managed the business for. him six or seven years, and in 1840 purchased the tannery. He continued the business until 1875, when he disposed of the entire property to his. son, M. D. Barndollar, who had been associated with him under the firm name of Jacob Barndollar & Son from 1867. Mr. Barndollar did a good business, for a country. tanner, shipping considerable leather to Philadelphia and Baltimore. . His tannery was run by water-power and in later years by horse-power.

In 1876 M. D. Barndollar erected his present tannery. The main building, not including the engine-house, is two stories high and 40X80 fect. The establishment is run by a twenty- horsepower steam-engine. There are fifty-six vats, and fifteen hundred cords of bark are used annually. Ten or twelve men are employed. Mr. Barndollar does a general custom business, besides being at present engaged in working under a contract for J. B. Hoyt & Co. He is now tanning about four thousand pounds of leather per week, which is about the average

Digitized by Google

315

WEST PROVIDENCE.

amount of work turned out through the year. Mr. Barndollar is a native of Everett and a veteran soldier of the late war. He served through three separate terms of enlistment, as will be seen by the military record elsewhere given.

One of the most important industries of Bed- ford county is the Tecumseh tannery, situated at Everett and owned by J. B. Hoyt & Co. There are about one hundred men employed, on an average, throughout the year, and the monthly payments to employés amount to about twenty-five hundred dollars. Ten thousand cords of bark, costing seven dollars and fifty cents per cord, are used annually.

Tecumseh tannery was built by Jason Hanks, in 1866, and operated by him until 1872, when it was purchased by the present owners. Mr. Hanks conducted the business on a small scale, never employing more than thirty men. The capacity of the works has been much enlarged by Messrs. Hoyt & Co., new buildings erected and every part of the establishment renovated. In 1872 there were ninety-two vats ; now there are three hundred and twenty-five. The main building is 43×140 feet and two stories high, with a lean-to connected, 22×140 feet. The yard is 42×520 feet, and there is a side-yard 40×100 feet .. There are two dryhouses, 28× 144 and 28X64 feet respectively. The bark-sheds are four in number, and have a storage capacity of ten thousand cords of bark.

The products of this tannery are oak sole and belting leather. The bellies are cut from the hides and tanned at Barndollar's tannery in Everett and at Ray's Hill tannery. Since 1872 the proprietors have tanned and shipped to market from Tecumseh tannery about thir- teen million pounds of leather, worth about three million seven hundred and fifty-two thou- sand three hundred and fifty-two dollars. In 1882. there were one million eight hundred thousand pounds tanned at this establishment, and the present year will show a large increase.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

History of Bedford, Somerset, Fulton counties Pennsylvania, Part 65

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

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