History of Bedford, Somerset, Fulton counties Pennsylvania, Part 68

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

USA > Pennsylvania > Bedford County > History of Bedford, Somerset, Fulton counties Pennsylvania > Part 68
USA > Pennsylvania > Fulton County > History of Bedford, Somerset, Fulton counties Pennsylvania > Part 68
USA > Pennsylvania > Somerset County > History of Bedford, Somerset, Fulton counties Pennsylvania > Part 68

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).

Anthony Felten, son of Christian Felten, is an old resident of this township. He is the father of nine children. One of his sons, John, followed the trade of a millwright a number of years, quitting it in 1872. In that year John and his father erected Felten's mill on the Rays. town branch. He is also proprietor of a ma- chine-shop, where he does general repairing work. Mr. J. Felten was in the army during the late war. After his return from service, in 1867, he married Nancy A., daughter of David Eshelman. They have nine children.

Philip Fisher, a son of an early settler in Fulton county, came to Ray's cove when a young man, and here he lived until his death. He was the father of nine children. His son, J.

W. Fisher, an enterprising farmer of this town- ship, lived upon the old farm until twenty-five years of age. At twenty-four he married Mar- garet, daughter of Robert Glenn, of this town- ship. They have four children living and two deceased.

O. C. Ramsey is a son of Thomas Ramsey. The father of Thomas was Welsh and the mother Irish. They lived in Huntingdon county. Thomas came to this county when a young man and settled near Ray's hill. He reared five sons and one daughter. O. C. Ramsey worked at home until sixteen years of age, then went to Bucyrus, Ohio, and learned the carpenter's trade. In April, 1861, he enlisted in the three- months service in the 13th Penn. regt., being the first man enrolled from East Providence. He re-enlisted in the 208th regt. Mr. Ramsey married Catharine, daughter of Capt. William Gracey, and is the father of seven children living.

The Riley family were among the early settlers in this county. Mrs. Riley, a widow, and two sons, John and William, both young, came here from Belfast, Ireland, and located near Bedford. William lived in East Provi- dence. He was the father of George Riley, who died in 1868. George Riley enlisted twice during the late war. At the second battle of Bull Run he was wounded and afterward dis- charged. Re-enlisting, he served until the close of the war. He was the father of seven chil- dren. One of his sons, R. F. Riley, has taught school six years in this township. He married Mary J., daughter of Samuel Himes, and has one child living.

Daniel Manspeaker, from the vicinity of Washington, D. C., settled near Juniata cross- ing quite early. His son John, who was born in Georgetown, D. C., lived in this township, and was the father of four sons and three daughters. One of his sons, also named John, was in the late war, and is now residing in this township. His wife's maiden name was Mary Dermer. They have nine children. The family belong to the Methodist Episcopal church.

Adam Hinish was an early settler in Ray's cove. His son, Adam, also lived here, and mar- ried Susan Ready, by whom he had seven chil- dren. Two of his sons, Jacob H. and George W., were in Co. E, 199th Penn. regt. Jacob H. married Anna Ritchey, daughter of Simon Ritchey, of Ray's cove. They have four children.

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Henry Colledge, a native of Virginia, came to this county when young, and followed team- ing a number of years. After marrying Miss Rinard, of Ground Hog valley, he settled in Ray's cove about 1831. He reared eleven chil- dren. His son Jacob now owns the old home stead. He learned the trade of a tanner and fol- lowed it several years. When twenty years of age he went to California, where he remained fourteen years, engaged in mining, operating a sawmill, etc. Returning home, he made a second trip to California, and about 1870 came back to this county. Mr. Colledge follows farm- ing and runs a sawmill.

Henry Chamberlain came from Baltimore and lived near Ray's Hill. Two of his sons, Jacob and Henry, are residents of this township. Jacob has resided on the farm he now occupies since 1862. He has served as constable of the township seventeen years, and held other local offices. He was in the army nearly two years, in Co. H, 22d Penn. Cav.

John Manspeaker came to Ray's cove, when a child, with his parents. He was the father of seven children. One of his sons, David, served three years in the army, and was killed in battle. A daughter of John Manspeaker, Eliza J., mar- ried Jacob Ritchey, son of Michael Ritchey, an early settler of the cove. Jacob Ritchey was one of a family of five children. He followed farming until 1864, when he enlisted in Septem- ber, and the following December he died at Fort- ress Monroe. He was the father of seven chil- dren. His widow now occupies the farm.

Capt. William Gracey is a native of Belfast, Ireland. When about eleven years of age he came to this state with his parents, who settled in Cumberland county. At the age of fourteen he was indentured as a tailor's apprentice. Hav- ing worked at the trade some years as an ap- prentice and journeyman, he started in business for himself, at Springfield, where he continued successfully for some years. In 1858 he located at Juniata crossing, where he kept hotel one year. In 1859 he came to his present home, formerly the Philip Fisher farm. Capt. Gracey has been married three times : first, to Lydia Daly, of Cumberland county, who bore six chil- dren, four of whom are living ; second, to Mar- garet Etter, of Franklin county, by whom he had three children, two of whom are living. In 1857 he married Mary, daughter of Philip Fisher, who is the mother of five children.

Capt. Gracey and three of his sons enlisted in Co. H, 107th Penn. regt. He was pro- moted to second lieutenant, then to first, and during the last year of the war had command of the company. At Gettysburg his sons James and Alfred were captured. They were in An- dersonville prison over twenty months.

Leonard Giffin is a native of Franklin coun- ty, where his father, John Giffin, a native of Ire- land, came when nine years of age. The family subsequently removed to Fulton county, where the father died. Leonard was left an orphan at the age of nine years. He learned shoemak- ing in early life and worked at it forty-seven years along the Chambersburg pike. About 1850 he settled upon his present farm. He married Hester M., daughter of Henry Whilt, the oldest man in this township. Mr. Giffin is the father of twelve children. His oldest son, Peter C., was in Co. F, 77th Penn. regt., and was killed at Liberty Gap, Tennessee.

William Weist was born in Ray's cove. His parents emigrated hither from Germany. He is one of a family of five children. He lived on his father's farm until 1877, when he pur- chased the place he now owns. The wife of Mr. Weist is Harriet, daughter of Henry Swartz, of Ray's cove. Mr. and Mrs. Weist are mem- bers of the Lutheran church.

Henry Whilt, now eighty-eight years of age, and one of the few surviving soldiers of 1812,came to this county from his native place, Philadel- phia, when twenty-three years of age. He set- tled at Schellsburg, and followed wagonmaking for several years. He married Jane, daughter of Daniel Davis, and four years later settled on the farm where he still lives. His father-in- law, Davis, was an early settler, and held sev- eral tracts of land and mill property on Brush creek. Mr. Whilt is the father of seven chil- dren - Hester M., Daniel H., Rebecca H., Jacob, Frederick, Barbara J. and Catharine-all living but Frederick. Daniel H. lives on the old homestead. He was a soldier in the late war.

Edward Conner, who has now lived over eighty years in this township, is the son of William Conner, who died during the time of the rebellion, aged nearly one hundred years. The family were among the early settlers. Mr. Conner married Ann Garlick for his first wife, and Elizabeth Ruter for his second. Two chil- dren by the first marriage are living - Isaac in

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this township, and Adam in Monroe. Lewis, David (deceased), Susanna, Jonas and Wesley are children of the second union. Isaac, Adam, Lewis, David and Jonas were in the army. David died in the service and Jonas was wounded.

Lewis Conner, an enterprising and respected farmer of this township, served nearly three years in the army, and passed through twenty- one engagements. He enlisted twice and served as private, corporal and sergeant.

The grandfather of Samuel Frazey was of Scotch descent and came from Long Island to Fulton county among the early settlers. While absent from home he was suddenly taken ill and died, and seventeen days later his body was found on the Pack-horse trail on the top of Ray's hill. John Frazey, his son, married Rachael Barton, daughter of Elijah Barton, one of the early settlers in this county, and lived in East Providence township. He died in 1861 at the age of seventy-five. His chil- dren - Rebecca, Noah, Mary, Nelson, Samuel, Anna, Rachel and Sarah-are all living and all married. Samuel has resided on his present farm since 1842. Two of his sons, Frederick L. and Henry P., were in Co. A, 11th Penn. regt. Both were wounded, Frederick at Antie- tam and Henry at Hatcher's Run.

Jeduthun Williams was born in West Provi- dence township, but passed most of his days on the farm now owned by his son Joseph. He was a minister, and labored many years in be- balf of the churches of the Christian denomina- tion. He died in 1879, in the eighty-first year of his age. He was married to Mary, daughter of Patterson Calhoun, of this county, and was the father of ten children, of whom four are still living : Joseph, Gideon, Asa and Nancy (Tewell). Joseph, Gideon and John P. (the latter now deceased) were soldiers in the re- bellion.

P. M. Barton is a native of Fulton county and a grandson of Elijah Barton, one of the early settlers who came from New Jersey. Mr. Bar- ton came to this township and settled on his present farm in 1846. He has a fine farm and excellent buildings. Mr. Barton has held several township offices. He was also elected a county commissioner by the democrats, and served one term. For several years he was a director of the Mutual Fire Insurance Company, of Clover Creek, Blair county.

Isaac Thomas is of German descent. He came to Fulton county with his father, Peter Thomas, when five years of age. In 1849 Isaac came to Ray's Hill, where he followed various kinds of work for two years, then entered the tannery of John Nycum, in which he worked fourteen years. In 1864 he enlisted and served till the close of the war. Since returning from the army he has been foreman of J. B. Hoyt & Co.'s tannery at Ray's Hill. Mr. Thomas mar- ried Margaret Himes. Their family consists of seven children living, one dead.

Adam Shuss is a native of Snake Spring town- ship, where his father, Jacob Shuss, settled in 1812. Mr. Shuss' grandfather, Adam Koontz, also settled in Snake Spring valley in 1812. The father of Adam Koontz came to this county very early and settled at Clevian spring, whence he was driven away by the Indians. Adam Shuss has lived in East Providence since 1851. His wife is Elizabeth (née Clingerman). Her father, Philip Clingerman, was reared on the Adam Shuss farm. Mr. Shuss was a soldier in the late war, and was present at Lee's surrender. He has made extensive improvements on his farm, and in 1882 erected excellent buildings, both house and barn. Mr. Shuss and his sons operate two steam sawmills. In 1881 they sawed over three million feet of lumber in Huntingdon and Blair counties.

Jacob Rice, son of an early settler of this county, war of German ancestry. He spent most of his life in Monroe township. He mar- ried Elizabeth Miller, and their children were : Jonathan, Henry (deceased), Solomon, Abra- ham, Isaac (deceased), Cornelius, Jacob, Hester A., Sarah (deceased), Elizabeth and Rebecca. All the sons were in the late war except Henry and Jacob. Isaac and Abraham were in An- dersonville prison, and Isaac died there. Cor- nelius is now a farmer of East Providence township, where he has resided since 1865. His farm was improved by Jesse Akers.

M. J. Jackson, a native of Fulton county, has lived upon his present place since 1867. Mr. Jackson has three hundred and sixty-four acres of land and a valuable mill property. He was a soldier in the late war and settled in this county immediately after its close.

John W. Sams, Esq., is a native of this county. He is an old resident and an esteemed citizen of East Providence township.

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HISTORY OF BEDFORD COUNTY.

MILLS.

Probably the first mill in the township was a " tubmill," a rude and primitive affair, which was situated on land now owned by S. Nycum, on a small stream still known as Tubmill run.

Davis' mill, near the present site of Jackson's mill, on Brush creek, was built soon after the settlement of the country. Daniel Davis was its first proprietor, and William Maiken the next. It was long the principal mill in the settlement.

Enslow's gristmill, still standing at Gapville, was also one of the earliest mills. A sawmill stood near it.

There are several good mills in the township, all of recent date, among which may be men- tioned the Tunnel mill on Brush creek, built in 1862, by Solomon Williams, and now owned by S. & G. Kegg. The water-power is ob- tained by means of a tunnel extending from the site of the mill to the creek on the other side of the hill.

Joseph Williams' gristmill was built by him in 1862. A part of the building was erected by Jeduthun Williams as a chopping-mill, about 1839. There was also a sawmill built here many years before.

Felten's mill on Brush creek, a large three- story structure, was built in 1852 by Henry and Frederick Felten, and is now owned by Henry Felten. Felten's mill on the river, elsewhere mentioned, was built in 1872.

The Jackson mill was built in 1839, by John Nycum. It is a large mill of good capacity. Simon Nycum, son of John, sold the property to Hanks & Jackson in 1867, and Hanks subse- quently disposed of his interest to M. J. Jack- son.

RAY'S HILL.

The little hamlet of Ray's Hill was founded and built by John Nycum, who bought a tract of land and settled here in 1820. He was born in this county, and was the son of William Nycum, an early resident of Snake Spring val- ley. John had two brothers, William and Philip, who lived and died near Mann's Choice.

All the buildings about the store at Ray's Hill, with the exception of a part of the old tavern-house, were erected by John Nycum. When he settled here he began farming and keeping tavern. About 1835 he opened the first store in the place. In 1836 he succeeded in getting Ray's Hill postoffice established, and

was appointed postmaster. He served in that capacity nearly all of the time up to 1867. His business career was a most successful one, and he was reckoned among the worthiest citizens of the county. Mr. Nycum retired from active business in 1868. He died in 1878, at the age of eighty-one years. His wife was Mary Shartzer, whose parents moved to Snake Spring valley from Lebanon county. Five children of John and Mary Nycum are living : Simon, Ray's Hill ; Mary J. (Shook), Lancaster ; Susan (Har- ry), Bedford ; A. J., Everett ; and John, Chi- cago. Simon Nycum, who resides at the old homestead, has been largely identified with the business interests of this part of the county. He is a large landowner and an estimable citi- zen. Two of his sons were in the army -Will- iam II. and John Q. The former served two terms of enlistment.

The Nycum store was run by John Nycum and John Nycum & Sons until 1868, and from that date until 1881 by S. Nycum & Son. The business is now conducted by J. Q. Nycum.

John Nycum started a tannery run by horse- power about 1836. The present steam tannery was built in 1868-9 by Simon Nycum, and sold by him in 1869 to J. B. Hoyt & Co.

John Lisinger, from Franklin county, settled opposite Willow grove, in Snake Spring town- ship, in 1803. He was the father of thirteen children, three of whom are living : George, a blacksmith, near Bedford ; Sophia, in Illinois ; and William, Ray's Hill. William Lisinger, born in 1805, has always resided in this county. He learned shoemaking in Everett, and in 1837 settled at Ray's Hill, where he has since carried on his trade in connection with farming. Mr. Lisinger states that when he came to his pres- ent home, there were nearly a dozen taverns on the turnpike between his house and Everett ; now there are none. Two of Mr. Lisinger's sons, George and John, were in the late war. George was taken prisoner, and starved in a rebel prison at Salisbury, North Carolina. John is now in Ohio.

January 20, 1773, James McCashlin was assaulted upon the road, near Ray's hill, by two men in disguise, and robbed of twenty-two pounds and a watch.

In 1841 James Rice killed James McBurney in a quarrel, near the top of Ray's hill. Both were drovers. Rice was convicted and hung. There were many desperate characters who fre-

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quented the turnpike, and robberies and fights were common.

CHURCHES.

The old Union church, still standing south of the turnpike, near Ray's Hill, was built (of logs) in 1826. In 1833, it was remodeled and weath- erboarded. It was erected mainly by Lutherans, Methodists, Christians and Reformed. The erection of Ray's Hill Methodist Episcopal church in 1855, and of Mount Zion Lutheran church (Ray's Hill) in 1856, caused it to be dis- used and go to ruin.

Ruy's Hill Methodist Episcopal Church .-- This is one of the many early church organizations of which no records exist. A class was formed many years ago, which met for a number of years prior to the erection of the Union church at the house of Charles Mclaughlin. The ap- pointment was formerly a part of the Bloody Run circuit. It is now on the Ray's Hill cir- cuit, and has a fair membership, manifesting a good interest.

Ray's Hill Lutheran Church .- The Evangeli- cal Lutheran congregation at this place was or- ganized in 1835, and for many years worshiped in the old-fashioned frame church which is still standing in the old graveyard. Rev. Solomon Ritz, a preacher of power and eloquence, labored here some years. In 1842 the congregation was placed on the Bloody Run (Everett) charge, and has since continued a part of the same. The first record we have of church officers is dated 1843. In that year, Christian Felten, Sr., was elected elder, and Henry Whilt, deacon. J. S. Sparks, elder, and Simeon Nycum, deacon, were the next officers elected. In 1844, Christian Felten, Jr., was elected elder in place of his father, and H. Whilt was re-elected deacon. The congregation is prosperous. Membership of the church, seventy ; sabbath school, forty-five. The new brick church, erected in 1856, is a sub- stantial and beautiful edifice, ample in size for the congregation.

The St. John's Evangelical Lutheran congre- gation at Ray's cove was organized in 1858, by Rev. G. C. Probst, with twenty members. For list of pastors, see history of Everett congrega- tion. The church now has fifty members. The first elders of the church were John Swartz and John Sleighter ; trustees, John Rinard, Henry Colledge and Henry Swartz. The lot on which the church is built is an acre of ground given to the congregation by Capt. William Gracey.

The house was finished in 1858, and dedicated by the pastor on the 7th of November. It cost over one thousand dollars.

The Cedar Grove congregation of the Lu- theran denomination was organized in 1875 by Rev. J. Brubaker. The church was erected in 1875-6. The congregation consists of sixty members in the church, and thirty in the sab- bath school. It is a part of Everett charge. It was formed mainly from former members of Mount Pleasant congregation.

Mount Pleasant Lutheran Church .- The Evan- gelical Lutheran church at Mount Pleasant was organized in 1857, by Rev. G. C. Probst, who has served as pastor ever since. The church edifice was built in 1857, and dedicated in August of that year. The congregation, organ- ized with sixty members, now has about seventy- five members. The church was separated from the Ray's Hill and Ray's Cove charge in 1867.

Mr. Probst has labored long and faithfully in behalf of the Lutheran churches of this county. He now preaches at Mount Pleasant, at Clear- ville, and at the old log church, four miles from Clearville. Mr. Probst is a native of Germany ; was brought up in Frederick county, Maryland ; educated at Gettysburg Theological Seminary, and began his pastoral labors at Everett in 1857.

Christian Church .- The Ray's Cove Chris- tian church was organized about 1825, by Rev. Daniel Long, of Virginia. Among the original members were: Leonard, John, Jacob and Simon P. Foor, Robert Hughey and their fami- lies. The present membership is about sixty. Meetings were held at houses and schoolhouses until a church edifice was erected, about 1860.

Elder Long was succeeded as pastor by Elders Jacobs, Lewis, Ramsey, Seever, Proctor, Miller, Cooper, Barney, McDaniel, Sipes and Logue.

Red Plains Christian church was organized in March, 1878, by Rev. J. N. McDaniel and Rev. B. A. Cooper. There were twenty-eight original members, and the present membership is about the same. This organization meets at Grange Hall. The pastors are Revs. Cooper and Garland.

Rev. B. A. Cooper, whose long services in be- half of the Christian churches of this county entitle him to special mention, is a son of Nicholas Cooper, who settled in this township, and a descendant of a pioneer Irish settler of Fulton county. Mr. Cooper was licensed to

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preach in 1845, and ordained in 1847, and has since devoted himself to the interests of the Christian churches in Bedford and Fulton coun- ties. He now has ten preaching appointments, involving a very large amount of work. Mr. Cooper and two of his sons were in the army. One son died at Fredericksburg.

Conference .- The Ray's Hill Christian con- ference was organized in 1846, with the follow- ing charter members : Jeduthun Williams, John Ramsey, Elisha Gardner, John Smith, James Pennell, L. J. Foor, G. W. Tillett and B. A. Cooper. Since its organization, the following have been members : Abraham Miller, Samuel Logue, James Rollins, John T. Mckinney, Jolın N. McDaniel, Joseph Barney, Michael B. Miller, Asbury K. Browning, William H. Clark, James W. Troutman, John H. Barney, Isaiah Jennings, John Jennings, Joseph H. Swaney, Silas W. Richardson, Elijah Shipley, John L. Schuck, Mason L. Sipes, William C. Garland and A. R. Garland.

The total membership of the Christian church in Bedford county is about one thousand.

Ray's Cove Reformed Church .- One of the few log churches still standing is the Reformed church of Ray's cove, built in 1850. It has not been used by the congregation for many years, but is still occupied by the Dunkards occasion- ally. Valentine Metz, Thomas II. Grove and the Nycums were among the early members. Rev. Dietrich was one of the first pastors, and Rev. Cramer the last.

Asbury Methodist Episcopal Church .- The Asbury Methodist Episcopal church in Ray's cove was built in 1857, during the pastorate of Rev. Wm. H. Stevens. For about two years previous the Methodists had met at the Re- formed church in the cove. The house is built of logs and boarded. Jesse Grove was the first class-leader. Among the early members were John and Martin Foor, John Manspeaker, and Peter and Andrew Ritchey. The church belongs . to Ray's Hill circuit.

ODD-FELLOWS.

Ray's Hill Lodge, No. 776, I.O.O.F., was in- stituted October 19, 1871. Following are the names of the charter members and first officers : William Gracey, P.G .; Simon Nycum, N.G .; Dr. E. J. Miller, V.G .; G. E. Staily, Secy .; G. W. Nycum, Asst. Secy .; John Manspeaker, Treas .; M. J. Jackson, J. Q. Nycum, H. C. Nycum, J. R.

Sproat, Daniel Manspeaker, Simon Ritchey, W. W. Ramsey, Jacob Fletcher, J. C. Barton, J. J. Shoaf, Benjamin Hanks, W. C. Ritchey, J. R. Jackson, Joseph Gray.

Sixty-eight have been admitted to member- ship since the formation of the lodge. Fifty- four is the present membership. The value of the lodge property is two thousand dollars. The amount paid in benefits, etc., up to March, 1883, was one thousand five hundred dollars.

GRANGE.

Pioneer Grange, No. 475, P. of H., was or- ganized in May, 1875, with twenty charter mem- bers. The present membership is about twenty. In 1877 they erected a hall at Red Plains, and in 1879 started a grange store. The originators of the enterprise were : Joseph Williams, B. A. Cooper, J. Plessinger, Wm. McDaniel and H. Mellott. The store is kept by Hiram Mel- lott, and the style of the company is H. Mellott & Co.

CHAPTER XXXIV.

LIBERTY.

Indians and Early Settlers - Shoup's Fort - Massacre of Captain Phillips' scout - The Shoups and Stolers driven away by the Indians- Early Events- Stonerstown - Saxton - An En. terprising Town -Powellton Furnace - Personal - Indus- trial - Religious.

IBERTY township was organized about

L 1845. It was a part of Hopewell township originally. The township is rich in minerals, and contains some excellent agricultural lands.

The township was among the earliest settle- ments of the county, and the pioneers encoun- tered their full share of the perils and hardships. Most of the early settlers were Germans, and their traits of thrift and enterprise are still evinced by their posterity.

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History of Bedford, Somerset, Fulton counties Pennsylvania, Part 68

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

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