History of Bedford, Somerset, Fulton counties Pennsylvania, Part 70

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

USA > Pennsylvania > Bedford County > History of Bedford, Somerset, Fulton counties Pennsylvania > Part 70
USA > Pennsylvania > Fulton County > History of Bedford, Somerset, Fulton counties Pennsylvania > Part 70
USA > Pennsylvania > Somerset County > History of Bedford, Somerset, Fulton counties Pennsylvania > Part 70

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).

S. B. Stoler, second son of Daniel Stoler, was born in Bedford county in 1844. He completed his education at the Normal School at Bedford, Pennsylvania. In the spring of 1868 he started for the Far West. He arrived at Denver, Col- orado, May 5, and from there went to the mines. After three years' time spent in the mines, he returned to Pennsylvania in the fall of 1871. After graduating at the Iron City Commercial College at Pittsburgh, he went into the mercantile business at Saxton. In 1876 the two brothers went into business together, under the firm name of S. B. & D. M. Stoler. Mr. Stoler has served as chief burgess of Saxton, and is a prominent member of the Masonic fraternity. He was married in 1881, to Mary P., daughter of F. M. Fryburg, of Saxton. Two daughters have been born to them -Amy Pau- line and Anna May.

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HISTORY OF BEDFORD COUNTY.

CHAPTER XXXV. BROAD TOP.

Organization -Settlement - Dr. Duval - His Colony - The First Mill -Donaldson's Prayer - Mineral Resources -Coal Min- ing - Iron Interests - Hopewell Furnace - Riddlesburg Fur- naces - Coaldale Borough - Churches, Societies, Personal Sketches, Etc.

B' ROAD TOP township was organized from a part of Hopewell, about the year 1834. The township now contains two thrifty villages and one borough. In mineral resources it is the richest portion of Bedford county.

One of the earliest pioneers of Broad Top was Dr. Jeremiah Duval, who came from the vicinity of Annapolis, Maryland, soon after the revolutionary war. He secured a title to his land in 1785. Dr. Duval brought with him several men with families, his object being the establishment of a colony. Through his influ- ence many other settlers were induced to come here after the colony was started, and after a few years the settlement became quite popu- lous and prosperous. Dr. Duval was a man of culture and talent, and for years was the lead- ing man among the settlers. He was a physi- cian of good attainments, and for many years his medical practice extended over a wide field. He died in 1832. Two of his children are still living-Mrs. Sarah Baker, of Fulton county, now eighty-five years of age, and Dr. Asa Duval, of Broad Top township. Dr. Asa Duval was born in 1800, studied medicine with his father, and practiced until the infirmities of age com- pelled him to cease.

Among those who were styled Duval's colo- nists were Jeremiah Shreeves - the Chaneys ; Edward, Gabriel, John, Lewis, Greenberry and Zachariah ; John and Jeremiah Williams, Zacha- riah Donaldson, William Anderson, Basil Foster, Reason Mobley, Smith, Tyler and Derrell. All these "squatted " upon lands in the then unbro- ken wilds. Some secured titles to their land, others made small improvements, lived here a number of years and then went elsewhere. Some of the descendants of the Chaneys and Ander- sons still reside here.

Jeremiah Shreeves' wife was the first person buried in the old cemetery known as Duval's graveyard. She came after her husband, and died the night after her arrival. There were no sawmills near the settlers, and Mrs. Shreeves' body was buried in a coffin rudely fashioned

from chestnut " puncheons." Barton Shreeves, son of Jeremiah, remained here a number of years and was a prominent citizen.

Thomas Whitehead, a revolutionary soldier, was an early settler who came after Duval's colony. He lived to be very aged, and his family is still represented here.

A tract of one thousand acres was among the earliest surveys of land made in this township. In 1791 it was purchased for one hundred and eighty pounds, by Amos Evans, of Chester county, and Samuel Horton, of Montgomery county, both of whom settled here and reared families.

Amos Evans had two sons, who live in this township - Miles and Joseph. His daughters were Mary (Williams), Elizabeth (Cook) and Abigail (Figard). Joseph Evans died in 1869, in the seventy-eighth year of his age. He was the father of Lemuel Evans, Esq., of Coaldale. The latter was elected justice of the peace in 1849, and held the office twenty years. In 1848 he was elected lieutenant-colonel of militia and served two years. In 1853 he was elected bri- gade-inspector of this county, to fill a vacancy. Re-elected in 1854, he served until 1859, when he was elected brigadier, in which capacity he served until 1864. IIe was also in the service in the late war, in Co. E, 49th Penn. regt., about thirteen months, and was wounded in the ser- vice.

Matthias Long was one of the earliest settlers. His son, Christopher Long, was born in Broad Top township (as now constituted) in 1777. Thomas M. Long, son of Christopher, is an old resident, and now resides in Coaldale.

Isaac Grove settled on Broad Top mountain before 1798. His son Francis was born in this county in that year. The children of Isaac Grove were : Francis, Elizabeth (Fought), Joseph, Frances (Anderson), William, Thomas, Julia (Bollman), Jesse, Jane (Livingston), John, Sarah (Rinard), and James ; all living except Eliza- beth, Joseph and Jesse.

In 1835 a very destructive forest fire ran over Broad Top mountain. Several farm buildings were destroyed and much damage was done to crops and other property. A sudden rain put a stop to the ravages of the flames.

During the progress of the fire an eccentric char- acter known as Mose Donaldson became greatly alarmed and excited, and, kneeling, prayed ear- nestly for rain. Donaldson was an ignorant and

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somewhat profane man, and when he was dis- covered by a neighbor in the unaccustomed attitude of prayer, the latter accosted him thus : "What, Mose ! Are you praying ? Don't you know that the prayer of a wicked man availeth naught ?" Mose jumped suddenly to his feet and retorted, " You are a-liar !" It is stated that within five minutes the rain began falling and the flames were speedily quenched. No doubt Donaldson was ever after a firm believer in the efficacy of his own prayers.

The grandparents of John C. Figard, Esq., lived in Cambria county. In 1806 James Fi- gard, his father, moved to Broad Top township. He was a farmer and mechanic. He died in 1852. John C. resides upon the old homestead, and is one of the enterprising and progressive farmers of this township. He has been a jus- tice of the peace sixteen years, discharging the duties of that office in manner highly satisfac- tory to his fellow-citizens.

Allison Edwards was born and reared in Huntingdon county. In 1861 he moved to Broad Top township. From 1865-9 he resided in Illinois. He has followed carpentry principally, though he has worked some at farming. The grandfather of Mr. Edwards lived in Wood- cock valley, Blair county, during the Indian troubles. His father, James Edwards, resided in Huntingdon county, near the Bedford county line. Jonathan Barnet, the father of Mrs. A. Ed- wards, moved into Broad Top township in 1839.

William Rogers, one of the prominent farmn- ers of Broad Top, is a native of Huntingdon county. He came to this township when a boy, and his home has been here ever since. He located on his present farm in 1863. Mr. Rogers has held various township offices. He also served one term as county commissioner, to which office he was elected in 1878.

Elisha Barton is a native of Fulton county, and a descendant of one of the early settlers of that county. In 1872 he settled at Coaldale. In 1877-8 he lived in Hopewell township, and about four years ago he settled upon the farm where he now resides.

The first gristmill in the Broad Top region was built on Six-Mile run, where the town of Coaldale now is, by Francis Moan, Esq., who was the first settler at this point. The land was warranted to him in 1785. Prior to 1800 the property was sold by the sheriff to Samuel Riddle.

COAL INTERESTS.

The semi-bituminous coal-fields of the Broad Top mountain region lie in Huntingdon county and the northeastern part of Bedford county. The coal is of a superior quality, and is valuable both for coking and fuel purposes. The exist- ence of this coal in Broad Top mountain has been known for at least a century, but not until within a recent period have important mining operations been carried on. The mines of this county are confined to two valleys, Six-Mile run and Sandy creek, both in Broad Top township. The vein that is worked contains about four feet of good mining coal. Most of the col- lieries are worked by means of drift-mining. The mines on Sandy run are exclusively of this kind. On Six-Mile run there are two shafts.

The first mines were opened near Riddles- burg prior to the year 1800. Some shipments of coal were made at that time by means of "arks" or flat-bottomed river-boats. The busi- ness was carried on by Samuel Riddle, one of the early lawyers of Bedford, his brother David superintending the work.

Some thirty-five years ago James Price and John Whitney began opening coal-banks at North Point. They also shipped by arks. The Huntingdon & Broad Top railroad was com- pleted as far as Hopewell in 1856, and from that time forward the mining industry has increased in importance and value.

In 1856 Alexander Post, of Huntingdon, operated at Riddlesburg. The Kemble Coal and Iron Company began operations on an ex- tensive scale for the supply of their furnace in 1869. R. B. Wigton began operations on Six- Mile run in 1862. Thomas Johns carried on quite extensive operations during the time of the war. The Duval shaft at Coaldale was sunk in 1863, and the Wigton shaft in 1871. Six collieries are now worked on Sandy run, all of which are reached by the branch railroad running up the valley from Riddlesburg to North Point, and a seventh mine will be added during the present year.

The first coal opening on Sandy run was made some sixty years ago on the John Shev- ington tract. In the winter of 1876-7 Richard Langdon and James Morley, having made leases of about eight hundred acres of coal-lands, began developing the Sandy Run valley. The work is now carried on by two mining companies, both employing about one hundred men. A coal

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HISTORY OF BEDFORD COUNTY.

road connects with the Huntingdon & Broad Top Mountain railroad at Hopewell.

Owing to a lack of transportation facilities in 1882, the collieries of the Broad Top coal region were not worked to their full capacity. The yield during the year 1883 will doubtless be much greater. The following statement shows the amount of coal shipped by the Huntingdon & Broad Top Mountain railroad from the mines in Broad Top township, during the year 1882 :

COLLIERY. OWNERS.

OPERATORS. TONS.

Mt. Equity.H. & B. T. M. R. R. Co. Kemble Coal & Iron Co .. 65,111

Defiance .. Reed, Wilson & Co .... A. Covalt & Co.

12,964

Duval ..... Rathmell Wilson ...... E. P. Jenkins .. 17,304

Anderson .. Rathmell Wilson.

... E. P. Jenkins ..... 106

Cunard ... R. B. Wigton ..

.R. B. Wigton & Sons. 22,974

Rommel ... Six-Mile Run Coal Co. . R. Maher. 7,756

Lane ...... H. L. Johnson .. .Sandy Run Coal Co. 28,130

Lane No. 2.H. L. Johnson. .Sandy Run Coal Co. 866

Cambria ... H. L. Johnson.

.Juniata Valley Coal Co. 28,961

Total.

.179,172

HOPEWELL FURNACE.

The Hopewell is the oldest furnace in South- western Pennsylvania. It still remains active, although hundreds of charcoal furnaces of later date have long since passed out of existence. Hopewell furnace was built in 1800, by William King and Thomas Davis, and put in operation in 1801. A forge was built a few years later. The original furnace was an old-fashioned cold- blast. It blew out about 1820. The forge was kept working, and managed by Grove, Couch, Duncan and others, until almost fifty years ago, when a man named Leslie bought the furnace property and rebuilt the stack. Leslie sold to Millegan & Benedict, of Lewistown. This firm failed and the furnace passed into the posses- sion of their creditors. From about 1840 to 1847 David Puderbaugh carried on the busi- ness, renting the furnace. The forge was not operated after he quit the business. The next change of owners was with the purchase of the property by the Hopewell Coal and Iron Com- pany, of Philadelphia. The building of the railroad necessitated the destruction of all buildings, etc., so that only the old stack was left standing. Lowry, Eichelberger & Co. bought the stack and some of the land of the Hopewell Coal and Iron Company, and started the furnace in 1863. The business was carried on by this firm until 1873, when the firm be- came Lowry, Eichelberger & Sons, who are the present owners of the property. The furnace is now rented by James Eichelberger & Co. During 1882 they made from forty-five to forty- seven tons of iron per week, a larger amount than was ever before produced. The metal is

worked up at the forge of this company in Petersburg, Huntingdon county.

The number of men employed in all depart- ments varies greatly, but probably the average is about eighty. The principal ore-banks are at Everett, where hematite of an excellent quality is obtained. About one-fifth of fossil ore is used with the hematite. It is obtained near the furnace and at Tatesville. The limestone used is obtained from quarries in Hopewell township.

HOPEWELL.

The village of Hopewell was laid out, in 1855, on the lands of the Hopewell Coal and Iron Company. There had, however, been buildings, a store, and other property of the furnace com- pany, on the site of the village, many years previously. Hopewell is a small, but thrifty place, containing three stores, two hotels, the furnace, the Keystone Foundry and Machine Works, and other minor industries. The busi- ness of the place is mainly supported by the mining and manufacturing interests.

Hon. C. W. Ashcom, one of the leading citi- zens and business men of Hopewell, is a native of Everett, and a son of Charles Ashcom, one of the early settlers of that town. He followed mercantile pursuits until 1857, when the im- portant industrial establishment known as the Keystone Foundry and Machine Shops, at Hopewell, was erected, which he has since superintended. Mr. Ashcom was a member of the legislature in 1861, and was collector of internal revenue for the sixteenth Pennsylvania district from May, 1867, until March, 1872. He has been a member of the Methodist Episcopal church since he was eleven years of age, and in 1872 was one of the lay delegates to the general conference held in Brooklyn, New York.

Capt. John Eichelberger is a native of Hopewell township and a son of the late David Eichelberger. In early life he followed making charcoal for the furnace, and later was a butcher at Hopewell village. He also took a contract for grading about two miles of the plank road in Hopewell township. In 1854 he married Sarah Eaton, of Armstrong county, by whom he has had ten children. In 1861 he went into the army as captain of Co. F, 8th Penn. reserves. In the fight at Mechanicsville, he, with forty-five of his men, was captured. The Captain was in Libby prison forty-two days ; he was then exchanged and returned to his

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DANIEL BARLEY.

The Barley family are of German extraction. Nicholas Barley, the first representative of this family, came from Germany in 1784, and settled in Bedford county in 1792. In common with the majority of emigrants to this country, he was not blessed with much of this world's goods, having in his possession but fifty cents when he reached the "New World," while he was indebted forty dollars for passage money-certainly not a very bright outlook for one in a foreign land, who was ignorant not only of the language but customs of the people with whom he had cast his lot. With a bold heart he struck out manfully for himself, nothing daunted by the obstacles that presented themselves, and soon after coming to Bedford county he purchased on credit one hundred and fifty acres of land at four dollars per acre, and in- dustriously set about paying for it, which after a time he accomplished. To the nucleus thus formed acre after acre was added until he possessed at one time one thousand acres, and was one of the most successful and prominent farmers of that section.

October 20, 1786, he was united in marriage with Mary E. Wagner, and they became the parents of fourteen children, only one of whom, Daniel, is now living. Mrs. Barley died in 1835, aged sixty-nine years, while Mr. Barley's death did not occur until 1848, when he had reached the mature age of eighty- five years. Both were devoted Christians and mem- bers of the Lutheran church, of which Mr. Barley was an elder for many years. He assisted in building the first Lutheran church in the valley.

Daniel Barley was born on the old homestead in

Bloomfield township, where he now resides, in 1809, and was reared to agricultural pursuits, early receiv- ing instructions in industry and economy, which he has ever practiced through a long and suc- cessful life. Until forty years of age he followed tanning and farming jointly, but since then has devoted his exclusive attention to farming, in which he has been eminently successful, and is now in possession of one of the best farms in Morrison's Cove, and is numbered among the most successful and enterprising farmers of the county, and it is to such men that we are indebted for the measure of prosperity we enjoy. In 1843 he was married to Sophia Croil, daughter of Adam and Mary Croil, of this county. They have been blessed with three children, two of whom died in infancy. Aaron C., the surviving son, is now thirty-eight years of age, and, following in the footsteps of his father, is, with filial love and duty, relieving him of much of the cares, labor and perplexities of business. Aaron C. has been twice married; first in 1868, jo Emily Pully, by whom he had one child, which died at the age of one year. Mrs. Barley died in 1873. He was next united in marriage with Louisa Boller, of Grant county, Indiana, and they have one child, Daniel A. Daniel Barley has held the office of justice of the peace for seven consecutive years and is a most admirable official. He has continuously held some official position in the Lutheran church for one-half a century, he having been a member for fifty-eight years. A church edifice is constructed on his farm, to the building of which he contributed liberally, as he does now for the support of the gospel.

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company. At Fredericksburg, December 13, 1862, he received a wound, in consequence of which he was discharged. Capt. Eichelberger is now engaged in keeping hotel at Hopewell.

James Eichelberger, who for some years has been one of the most prominent business men of Hopewell, is a native of Hopewell township. He married Susanna Adams. Two of his sons were in the service in the late war. Eli Eichelber- ger was a member of Co. F, 8th Penn. reserves; after the captain of his company, John Eichel- berger, was discharged in 1862, on account of a wound, he was promoted to the command of the company. J. A. Eichelberger was a member of Co. I, 194th Penn. regt. He is now engaged in iron manufacture and mercantile business.

John Malone, postmaster at Hopewell, is a native of Blair county, who came to this county when young. He followed farming and learned shoemaking. He enlisted in Co. D, 14th Penn. regt .; afterward in Co. C, 133d Penn., in which he served nine months, then re-enlisted in Co. F, 8th Penn. reserves. He was captured and confined in Andersonville prison. Returning home, he married Adeline Gates, of Hopewell township.

James Ross, blacksmith, Hopewell village, is a native of Center county, and moved to Hope- well township with his parents. He learned blacksmithing at Lemnos forge, and in 1860 moved to Hopewell, where he has since worked at his trade. In 1853 he married Lucy A. Malone.

A. J. Snowberger is a son of John Snowber- ger, and was born in Morrison's cove. He lived at home and worked at farming until his marriage with Loretta Wyon, after which he lived one year in the cove, then moved to Hope- well, where he is now carrying on the butcher- ing business.

ODD-FELLOWS.

Alaquippa Lodge, No. 547, I.O.O.F., of Hope- well, Pennsylvania, was chartered November 16, 1858, and instituted January 13, 1859, by D.D.G.M. Dr. B. F. Harry. The charter mem- bers were : Dr. J. P. Ashcom, N.G .; Richard Langdon, V.G .; John B. Castner, Secy .; David Jones, Asst. Secy .; and John J. Pearson, Treas.

Alaquippa is the parent of the following lodges : Coalmount, No. 561 ; Broad Top City, No. 579; Six-Mile Run, No. 588; Everett, No. 600 ; Wells Valley, No. 607. The present membership of the lodge is fifty-eight.

BIDDLESBURG.

Riddlesburg, named in honor of Samuel Rid- dle, its founder, is a place which has long existed, at least in name, although its history as a village dates only from the establishment of the furnaces. The land on which the village is situated was purchased by Samuel Riddle, who caused a town to be laid out and named Allensport, prior to 1800. He was the first man in Bedford county to ship coal from the Broad Top fields. His operations were confined to a few years, and Riddlesburg passed into oblivion. In 1856 it was partially resurrected by the build- ing of the railroad, and a few houses were built during that year. In 1868 the Kemble Coal and Iron Company purchased the site of the village and began the erection of two large blast fur- naces, which were completed and put in blast during the following year. The company built and own the town, which is one of the most active industrial places in this part of the state.

The Kemble Coal and Iron Company is an association of New York gentlemen, having the following officers : P. P. Parrott, president ; R. A. Wight, treasurer; William Lauder, gen- eral manager ; William Kelly, superintendent. The furnaces are making about sixty tons of iron per day. The ore-lands of the company extend about five miles along Tussey's moun- tain. The limestone quarries and coke ovens are situated at Riddlesburg, and the coal mines on Six-Mile run. About fifty-five hundred tons of coal per month is mined by the com- pany, the most of which is used in the works. A narrow-gauge railroad, six miles in length, ·has been built to bring in the supplies. In all departments about five hundred men are em- ployed. The village is neatly built and con- tains a store, postoffice, church and school. A well-supplied public reading-room is also main- tained for the benefit of the employés.

The store at Riddlesburg was started in 1869 by Bendford & Hedding. In 1872 the firm be- came Bendford & Ashcom, and so continued until 1876. Then the store was conducted by J. B. Williams for one year. It was then sold to the Kemble Coal and Iron Company, who are the present owners.

E. S. Ashcom, son of Hon. C. W. Ashcom, of Hopewell, has been connected with the store since 1872, and has been its manager since it passed into the hands of the furnace company. Stephen Burns, manager of the furnace and

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coke ovens of the Kemble Coal and Iron Com- pany, is of Irish descent. He came to Bedford county from New York State in 1869, and has since been in the employ of the company, hav- ing served in various capacities up to his pres- ent position.

COALDALE.

The borough of Coaldale is a small mining town containing three stores, one hotel and several small shops. As its population is mainly dependent upon mining for a livelihood, the number of inhabitants is a varying and un- stable quantity.

Coaldale (at first called Fairplay) was laid out in 1855 on the land of A. W. Evans. Some years prior to 1855 he built the first house now standing within the borough limits. The second house, opposite Figard's hotel, was erected by Lewis Anderson. The first hotel was kept by G. W. Figard, who erected his house and began business in 1855. The first store was opened by Gen. Lemuel Evans in 1854.

Coaldale was incorporated as a borough Sep- tember 9, 1865.

James Davis came to Coaldale from Mary- land in 1861. In that year he enlisted for three months in Co. G, 13th Penn. regt., and re- enlisted in the fall of 1861, in Co. 0, 28th Penn. regt. At Antietam he received three severe wounds in one day, being shot in the thigh, through the body, and losing a leg. Mr. Davis has been postmaster at Coaldale (Six-Mile Run postoffice) since 1871.

Gilbert McIntyre, a native of Scotland, came to this place in 1864, and for several years fol- lowed mining and farming. He has been en- gaged in the mercantile business since 1875.

Henry Rees came to this place in 1850. The town then existed in name only. Mr. Rees is a native of Wales. Since he came to this country, he has followed mining and farming.

ODD-FELLOWS.

Six-Mile Run Lodge, No. 588, I.O.O.F., of Coaldale, was granted a charter September 28, 1866. The following were the first officers : George D. Knee, N.G .; Thomas Johns, V.G .; A. H. Anderson, Secy .; Lemuel Evans, Asst. Secy .; D. R. Williams, Treas. John Pearson, William Foster, John and Alexander Taylor, Robert and John MoIntyre, David Young and Michael

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History of Bedford, Somerset, Fulton counties Pennsylvania, Part 70

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

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