History of Bedford, Somerset, Fulton counties Pennsylvania, Part 72

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

USA > Pennsylvania > Bedford County > History of Bedford, Somerset, Fulton counties Pennsylvania > Part 72
USA > Pennsylvania > Fulton County > History of Bedford, Somerset, Fulton counties Pennsylvania > Part 72
USA > Pennsylvania > Somerset County > History of Bedford, Somerset, Fulton counties Pennsylvania > Part 72

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).

H OPEWELL township was organized in October, 1773, from a part of Barree. Barree was one of the original townships of Cumberland county prior to the formation of Bedford county in 1771. Hopewell, as organ- ized, included Hopewell township, as it now is, all of Broad Top and Liberty and a great part of Huntingdon county. It was territorially large enough for a county of itself.

Several of the pioneers of this region were among the most distinguished men of their day, while a considerable number, whose reputations were not bounded by county limits, have claimed Hopewell township as their birthplace or early home. A name well known to those familiar with the history of this part of the state is that of Col. John Piper. He was lieutenant-colonel of Bedford county during the revolutionary war, and in his official capacity was actively en- gaged in protecting the frontier settlements from the hostile encroachments of the Indians. In 1800 he was appointed major-general of militia. He was born in Ireland, December 30, 1729, and died in Bedford county, January 31, 1816. In early life he came to this country and lived for a time at Shippensburg. Prior to 1771 he removed to Bedford county, and set- tled upon the stream now known as Piper's run. A log fort was erected at the southern end of Black Oak ridge, near Col. Piper's house, and at various times during the revolution was occu- pied by troops sent to protect the settlers. In 1777 (as is supposed from a date upon a brick in the chimney) Col. Piper erected a substantial stone house of two stories, to which many set- tlers, at various periods, fled for refuge, until the building became known as Fort Piper, as it is still called. The old house is remarkably well preserved, and its strong oaken woodwork seems capable of enduring as long as the masonry.

Col. Piper married Elizabeth Lusk. They had eleven children : Mary, born 1771 ; Will- iam, 1774 ; James, 1775, died, 1778 ; John, 1777, died in infancy ; John, 1779; Elizabeth, 1782 ;

James, 1784 ; Alexander M., 1786 ; David, 1788 ; Esther, 1791 ; Thomas C., 1794. The oldest son, Gen. William Piper, was for several years a representative to the state legislature from this county, and also served two terms in con- gress. He commanded a regiment in the war of 1812. Subsequently he served as adjutant- general of Pennsylvania. He was a remarkable athlete, and there are numerous traditions con- cerning his feats of extraordinary agility - one to the effect that he leaped across the open cir- cle, the highest in the dome of the state capi- tol at Harrisburg, a distance of sixteen feet, eighty feet above the floor.

James Piper was a surveyor, well known in this county. Alexander M. was connected with the state government, and commanded a com- pany in 1812. Two of his sons were officers in the late war.

Col. John Piper owned a considerable body of land, which was afterward divided into five farms, upon which five of his sons lived. His son John lived in the old stone house .until quite aged, when he built the frame house in which his son, James Piper, Esq., now lives. " Fort Piper " is now the residence of Samuel, son of Squire James Piper.

During the Indian troubles of the revolution- ary period, a man named Shorley, who lived with Col. Piper, was shot and scalped by the Indians while he was fishing in Yellow creek.

Under the date May 19, 1781, Lieut. George Ashman writes to President Reed : "On Friday the fourth of this instant the Indians came into this county, killed one man, a woman and two children, and took one man prisoner, within one mile of Col. John Piper's, on Yellow creek ;" but does not give the names of the victims.

William Kay, said to have been a Tory, lived in the northwestern part of the township. He was among the earliest settlers and located here during the revolution.

John Fluck came from Bucks county to this township soon after the revolutionary war. He had a family of sixteen children. His sons, Abraham, Henry, John, Jacob, Frederick, Eli, Michael, Tobias and William, all lived and died in this county. John Fluck, Sr., died in 1837, at the age of ninety.

Thomas Davis, one of the earliest settlers, came from Chester county previous to 1800, and was in partnership with William Lane in build- ing and managing Hopewell furnace. He had

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Um.H. Detwiler

DR. MOSES H. DETWILER.

The subject of this notice is a descendant of one of the early settlers of Bedford county. His grandfather, John Detwiler, was born in this county in 1779. He learned the trades of cooper and shoemaker, but followed farming principally. He moved to Martinsburg, Blair county, Penn- sylvania, where he died in 1863. The wife of John Detwiler was Miss Snowberger, a native of Woodberry township, Bedford county. Susan (deceased), Barbara, Jacob (deceased), Daniel, John and Samuel were the names of the children. Jacob, the father of Dr. Detwiler, was born at Hickory Bottom, Woodberry township, in 1815. He died in April, 1863. He married Mary Hoover, who was born in 1824, and is yet living. The children of this union were Moses H., John (deceased), Elizabeth, Catharine (deceased), Calvin, Anna, Jennie and George (deceased).

Dr. Moses H. Detwiler was born in Bedford county, on the 13th of September, 1842. At the age of seventeen he began teaching school, and he continued to follow that occupation until he

was twenty-five years old. In February, 1865, he enlisted in his country's service, and the fol- lowing September was discharged. In the spring of 1867 he began the study of medicine at Woodberry under the tuition of Dr. Samuel H. Smith. He entered the Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, in the fall of 1867, and graduated therefrom March 13, 1870. Dr. Det- wiler at once entered upon the practice of his profession in partnership with Dr. Smith. On the 20th of August, 1870, he moved from Wood- berry to Hopewell, where he still resides and practices. Dr. Detwiler is a gentleman of cul- ture and scholarship, as well as an able repre- sentative of the medical fraternity. His knowl- edge and skill have gained for him an extensive practice, and he is held in high esteem by the community.

Dr. Detwiler was married in September, 1871, to Miss Eliza Jane Eichelberger, daughter of Michael and Catharine (Tobias) Eichelberger, of Hopewell. One child, Pearl C. Detwiler, has blessed this union.

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HOPEWELL.

three sons, Isaac, Edward and William. Isaiah Davis was born in 1776, and died in 1854. He married a daughter of George Nixon, an early settler near Bedford. His sons were Thomas, James, William and Alexander. The latter, one of the oldest residents of this part of the country, now resides in Saxton. His grand. father, George Nixon, spent the last years of his life in Hopewell township, near Piper's, on a tract warranted to him in 1762.

William Lane also came from Chester county and settled on Yellow creek. He and Davis purchased a large body of land lying on both sides of the river and erected the Hopewell furnace about 1801. Lane also built, upon Yel- low creek, two miles above Hopewell, a forge for the manufacture of nails. It was at first known as the "slitting mill," but subsequently became the Lemnos forge, and was operated until 1850 or later. Lane was reputed to be very wealthy, and there is a tradition to the effect that he came into this county with two wagons, each heavily loaded with silver money ! He built a large gristmill a short distance west of Hopewell about 1827, which is still standing, but unused. He was a man of contentious disposition, and became involved in numerous lawsuits, which consumed the greater part of his estate. He died suddenly when on his way to Martinsburg with his neighbor, Wishart, to hold an arbitration. He had but one son, James, who removed to Illinois, where he died several years ago. The site of the Lane man- sion is marked by a stone chimney, which re- mains from the ruins.

The Livingstons were among the earliest settlers of the township. At a very early day one of them erected the first gristmill on Yellow creek. It was built of logs and stood where Hall's mill now is. The last named is the third mill which has stood on the same site. Near the old mill stood also one of the earliest saw- mills.

John King was one of the prominent citizens of Hopewell township in early years. He was the father of Judge King and Dr. James King, of Pittsburgh. In 1819, or a few years later, John King, in partnership with a Mr. Swope, erected the Bedford forge for the purpose of working up the product of the Elizabeth fur- nace in Woodberry. The forge was managed under the name of Swope & King until 1849. From 1842 to 1849 it was conducted by King's

executors and Swope. In 1849 it passed into the hands of Thomas and John King, sons of John King, Sr. About 1859 it was sold at sheriff's sale and purchased by Philadelphia parties, who in turn sold it to the Cambria Iron Company. The forge was worked little, if any, after 1859. It is now in ruins.

John King at first lived in a small log house near the forge. About 1824 he erected a large and substantial residence of stone, which at that date was considered almost palatial in its dimensions.

At an early day a certain Squire Flannegan was drowned in the water above the mill-dam at Lemnos forge. Some asserted that he had been murdered, and that the body was thrown into the water to conceal the crime, but the fact was never proven.

One of the earliest mills in the eastern part of the county was Jacob Chamberlain's log mill, on John's branch, about half a mile below the site of Woy's mill. It was probably built soon after the revolution. An old resident says it was considered an old mill in 1815.

John Woy's mill stood near the site of Tates- ville. It was erected prior to 1880. It was known as the "dry mill," as it frequently stopped for lack of water. It burned down sev- eral years since.

The progenitor of the Eichelberger family of this county was Michael Eichelberger, who came to Bedford county about 1800. He was the father of eight children, who reached mature years : David, John, Catharine, Fanny, Michael, James, Eli and Alexander. All lived in Hope- well township, where one of their sons, Alexan- der, is still living.

David Eichelberger died in 1876. He worked at farming, at the furnace business, and in later years kept store at Eichelbergertown. He was the father of Capt. John Eichelberger, of Hope- well village, and of A. K. and William H. H. Eichelberger, of Eichelbergertown. His daugh- ters, Mary A., Elizabeth, Caroline, Catharine, Emma, Harriet and Fanny, are all living except Mary and Fanny. A. K. Eichelberger married Margaret, daughter of Edmund Trimbath, a native of England. W. H. H. Eichelberger married Mary, daughter of Samuel Buchanan, of Scotch-Irish descent, but a native of this county. Mrs. Eichelberger's brother, George A. Buchanan, at the breaking out of the war, was a railroad conductor, running between New

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Orleans and Vicksburg. He was pressed into the Confederate army, but deserted, and after- ward served during three terms of enlistment in the Union army, holding a lieutenant's commis- sion. He died while a quartermaster in the regular army.

The Ritcheys are of German descent. Adam and William came to this county from Virginia soon after the revolutionary war. Adam settled in the loop in East Providence, and lived in the same house with a Mr. Livingston. He sub- sequently removed to the foot of Miller's knob, and for some time his family were obliged to seek the shelter of Fort Piper at night to pro- tect themselves from the Indians. Adam Ritchey's children were : Henry, John, Jacob, Daniel, Michael, Eva and Susan. Daniel lived upon the homestead, and was the father of Adam S., James W., David, Joseph, Daniel, Mary, Catharine, Martha and Amelia. Adam S., David and Joseph were in the late war. David died at Petersburg. Adam S. served three terms of enlistment, in all over four years. He is now living at Tatesville and keeping store. He has resided in his present location since 1868. His wife is Elizabeth Ramage.

Jack's Corners is named after one John Mc- Elnay, an Irishman, who settled at this point very early, while the Indians were still numer- ous in the country.

George Gates moved from Huntingdon county to Hopewell township about 1799. He was the father of eleven children : John, Jacob, Joseph, George, Thomas, Harry, Martin, Peter, Will- iam, Margaret and David. Joseph, the third son, was born in Huntingdon county in 1798. He married, first, Margaret, daughter of Eli Chamberlain, an early settler of Hopewell town- ship. For his second wife, he married Harriet Ross. By his first wife he had twelve chil- dren. One of the sons, John, now an old resi- dent, lives at Jack's Corners. Joseph Gates' second wife bore five sons, two of whom, Alex- ander M. and Gephart W., are living. A. M. Gates is now employed by the furnace company at Riddlesburg. He married Hannah, daughter of John Creps.

Joseph Ross is a son of James Ross, a native of Ireland, who came to Bedford county quite early and settled on Yellow creek. James Ross enlisted in the war of 1812 and served under Harrison and Perry. For gallant conduct he received a medal having upon it the bust of Com-

modore Perry .. He was the father of four sons and seven daughters, of whom two sons and four daughters are still living. Joseph Ross married Helen, daughter of Peter Gates, a rep- resentative of one of the early families of this county.

John Heffner is a native of Franklin county, Pennsylvania, who came to this county when young. He is a locomotive engineer by trade. His wife, née Margaret Price, is a daughter of Thomas Price, a native of England, who settled in Beltz's valley about 1850. Her uncle, James Price, now eighty-five years of age, is an old resident of this county.

William Ferguson moved to Hopewell town- ship about 1842, and for several years worked mining for the managers of the furnace. Sub- sequently he bought unimproved land, which he cleared and made a home. The place is now owned by his son George. William Ferguson is a son of John Ferguson, and was born in Snake Spring township.

John Sullivan was the progenitor of the Sulli- vans of this county. He was killed and scalped by the Indians, but whether in this county or not is not known to the present generation. At one time he resided near Chambersburg. His only son, Joseph, settled in this county, and lived and died near Schellsburg. He had but one son, Richard, who died in 1875, at the age of sixty. He was a carpenter, and spent most of his days in Morrison's cove. He married Susanna Bender, who is still living. The chil- dren of this union, now living, are Enoch, Henry, Ezra, Samuel, George, Charles, Mary, Jennie and Anna. Five of the sons learned the carpenter's trade. Enoch B. is a cabinetmaker and undertaker at Steeltown. Ezra Z. has worked at cabinetmaking and carpentry ; he also learned dentistry, which he practiced in this county six years.

William Treverton is a native of Gwennap, Cornwall, England. When sixteen years of age he went to Sweden, where he was employed as a mining engineer about fourteen years. Afterward he came to this country and has since been employed by the Kemble Coal and Iron Company, as superintendent of the ore mines at Tatesville. His brother, George Treverton, is foreman of these mines.

Jacob Steel located on his present farm in 1828. At that date there was no township road past his place, and all the surroundings

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were still wild. The site of the present village of Steeltown was then unimproved. The im- provements along the valley, as compared with the present condition of things, were small and unimportant. There were several small clear- ings in the neighborhood which were then unoccupied. Among Mr. Steel's neighbors was Isaac Bullman, on an adjoining farm; John Ewing, on the north ; George B. Kay, on the creek ; and down the valley, John Fluke, Capt. Buck, Jacob Fluke, Daniel Stutzman (an early settler), Samuel Livingstone, who had a distil- lery, and others. The Newcomers lived east of Steel.

Mr. Steel is a bishop of the Brethren church, and has held that office several years. In early life he followed coopering, and sometimes made and sold three thousand flour-barrels in one year. The barrels were used in shipping flour in the old-fashioned "arks" or river boats. At the time of his settlement here, Hollidaysburg, twenty-four miles distant, and the store at Everett were the nearest and most convenient places for trading and marketing.

Dr. Wishart, one of the early residents, was living on Yellow creek in 1828, and then owned the mill property now Hall's mill. His son George erected the mill now standing. Dr. Wishart was an educated Scotchman. He practiced medicine in this neighborhood a num- ber of years, and was much esteemed. His son Alexander became a doctor, and practiced at Martinsburg until his death.

John P. Smith was born on Piper's run, and was a son of John W. Smith, who was one of the first settlers, and married a daughter of one of the Pipers. J. P. Smith was in various kinds of business, such as clerking, farming, teaming, etc. He was in Ohio several years, but returned to Piper's run, where he died in 1868. He married Maria Eachus, who is still living. Her children are Mary, Amanda, John W., Eliza, Rufus E., Anna P., William P. and James V. John W. and Rufus E. were in the army. J. W. served three years and four months and Rufus about eighteen months. John was wounded at Fort Republic and at the Wilderness. He was twice captured, first at Fort Republic, then at Chancellorsville, and was in prison about four months in all. Rufus E. was gauger and storekeeper in this district several years, then became mail agent on the Huntingdon & Broad Top Mountain railroad

for one year. In 1882 he resigned this position, and his brother, James V. Smith, was appointed to it.

John Malone, a native of Dublin, Ireland, settled and died in Blair county. His widow (née Eliza Atkinson) moved to Yellow creek, about 1846, with four children : Lucy A., William, John and Charles. She subsequently was married to George Bowers, by whom she had six children : Henry, Mary, George, James, Belle and Albert. John Malone, a soldier of the late war, is now postmaster at Hopewell.

Joseph V. Snoeberger has been a resident of Hopewell township since 1876. He is engaged in farming, but sometimes practices law. Mr. Snoeberger is a man of education and ability. He followed the profession of school-teaching thirteen years. Both his father, David Snoe- berger, and his grandfather, Theodore Snoe- berger, resided in South Woodberry town- ship.

Tatesville, a small mining village in the southern part of the township, has been built mainly since the advent of the railroad in 1862-3. Concerning this village, Col. Joseph W. Tate makes the following statement :

"Tatesville is located on the old Indian trader's path leading from Fort Louden to Fort Bedford. At or near the site of D. Brollier's sawmill a powdermill was erected as early as 1756. Tatesville is included within a survey made in the name of Samuel Dilworth, which was purchased in 1816 by Samuel Tate. The village was laid out in 1857. Thomas M. Ritchey erected the first building, in 1858 or 1859, and kept the first store and tavern."

Steeltown is a small hamlet on Yellow creek. The first industry established at this place was Abraham Steel's gristmill, built in 1855 by Jonathan Carruthers and Abraham Steel. There were but two houses in the place prior to 1855. The first store in the place was started about 1866 by McCalmont & Byers. J. W. Smith, the present merchant, succeeded this firm in 1868.

The name of the postoffice at Steeltown is Yellow Creek. Hopewell was the name of the original office in this township, while the office at Hopewell village was known as Alaquippa. Subsequently Hopewell was changed to Yellow Creek and Alaquippa. to Hopewell. J. W. Smith has been postmaster at Yellow Creek since 1869.

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CHURCHES.

Reformed Church .- The first church edifice erected in Hopewell township was a log build- ing, which stood on the site now occupied by the Yellow Creek Reformed church. It was a union church, built by general subscription. It was probably erected as early as 1826, as there are gravestones in the churchyard bearing that date. The building passed into the ownership of the Reformed congregation, which in 1843 erected the stone church now standing. The church belongs to the Pattonville charge.

Presbyterian. - Yellow Creek Presbyterian church was organized by Rev. White, its first pastor, under whose ministry the house of worship was erected in 1842. Among the first members were the Pipers, Loys, Longs, Irvings and others. John Piper and George Long were the first elders. Among the pastors, following Rev. White, have been Revs. Elliott, Banks, Bowles and Lawrence. Rev. Wilhelm is the present pastor. Saxton, Riddlesburg, Water- side and Yellow creek form one pastoral charge. The membership, once large, is now quite small.

Methodist Episcopal. - The Methodists of Hopewell township probably formed a class as early as 1830. Meetings were held in school- houses and dwellings about 1855, when the Bedford Forge chapel was erected. The mem- bership is small. The appointment belongs to the Saxton circuit. The first preacher was Rev. Parkerson.

Brethren .- Hopewell church of the Brethren or German Baptists was organized in 1850 with four members. The first meeting-house was built in 1850. The congregation now numbers two hundred and seven members and has three meeting-houses. The church officers are : Bishop, J. Steel ; ministers, Henry Clapper, David Clapper, John S. Rush, Samuel Ritchey.

The Brethren church on Yellow creek was erected about 1858. Its size is about 40×65 feet. It was built for the church by Jacob Steel, and cost one thousand dollars. Isaac Ritchey was the first preacher in this neighbor- hood. Jacob Steel has been an elder many years.

Tatesville Methodist Episcopal Church .- This church, a part of the Everett charge, is an or- ganization dating back several years, but con- cerning it no records are attainable. The church is built on a lot of land 100×247 feet, deeded to the society in 1861 by Joseph W. Tate.

Tatesville Union Church .- This church was erected in 1872, by general subscription, and is now occupied by the Reformed, Lutheran and Christian denominations. The Brethren wor- shiped in this church until 1882, when they erected a building for their own use.

CHAPTER XXXIX. UNION.

Organization in 1834-Grand Mountain Scenery-The "Schweitz" - Pioneer Settlers - Settlement Retarded by the Operations of Speculators - The First Sawmills and Gristmills - Distil- leries - Two Children Perish in the Forest - History of the Village of Pavia - Schools - Churches.

U NION township was formed from portions of St. Clair and Greenfield in 1834. In 1876 King township was taken from Union.

The surface is hilly and mountainous. The hights of the Blue Knob and the Allegheny afford a view of some of the grandest mountain territory in the State of Pennsylvania. The "Schweitz," or "Switzerland," is a mountainous and uncultivated region, extending from the northwest part of Union township into Blair and Cambria counties. Wild and beautiful scenery render it worthy of the name it bears.

Pioneer settlements probably began soon after the revolutionary war. The following settlers (and probably others) were located in the town- ship prior to 1794 : Valentine Bowser, John and Frederick Garn (or Carn, as now written), Christ, - Mitang, Peter Sweezy, Daniel Mc- Gregor. The progress of settlement was very slow, owing to the nature of the country .. It was also further retarded by the operations of land speculators. In September, 1794, forty- three tracts of land, situated in that part of the county now included in Union, were purchased by Proctor and others, of Philadelphia. A sur- vey of these tracts was make in March, 1795. In 1814 Dr. Anderson, of Bedford, was appointed agent for Astley, Pratt & Bond, who were then the owners of these lands, and under his man- agement the tracts were sold to settlers. The first settlers were chiefly Pennsylvania Ger- mans, from the eastern counties of the state. Their descendants form the larger portion of the present population, and among themselves still speak the German language.

The first sawmill in the township was built by Frederick Garn, on the present Beard farm,

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James M. Madana.

Col. James Madalw was born in Franklin county, Pennsylvania, January 20, 1813. His father, Christopher Madara, a carpenter by trade, was a German, and came to Franklin county from German- town, near Philadelphia, the latter part of the eighteenth century. His mother, whose maiden name was Nancy Ray, was the daughter of James Ray, a Scotchman by descent, whose father, John Ray, first settled the town of Bedford, and after whom it and the river which flows by it were first named. Christopher Madara, having a family of eight children to support, did not have the means to provide many school advantages, and as a consequence James Madara never received more than the "reading, writing and ciphering " which were common at public schools in those days; but, being of more than ordinary ability and having great natural zeal, he improved his opportunities as life advanced by constant observation and read- ing; kept himself well informed on all public questions of the day. Preferring to " wear out rather than to rust out," his life was a busy activity from beginning to end. Early to bed and early to rise was a maxim which he not only taught but practiced constantly. Start- ing in life as a day laborer, chopping wood at forty cents a cord, he soon worked his way up to being founder, then manager of " Sarah," and later Bloomfield furnace, under Dr. Peter Shoenbarger. Being an excellent judge of human nature, and possessing all the qualities which command respect and obedience, he could control almost any number of men without an effort. As a furnaceman and business manager under Shoenberger, the then king of ironmasters in Penn- sylvania, he outranked all others, and enjoyed the greatest respect and confidence of his employer. His success as a business man was due greatly to promptness in action and determination in purpose. His judgment and dispatch in business matters were unsurpassed, and transactions of small or large amounts were made with astonish - ing rapidity. In politics he was a straight Andrew Jackson demo- crat until the Charleston convention in 1860, when, foreseeing the drift of southern sentiment, he changed to be a staunch Lincoln re- publican, which he lived and died, and, although sixty-six years old when he died, he never cast a vote for an unsuccessful presidential candidate. During the late war he was appointed government iron inspector, with the rank and title of colonel, by Secretary Stanton, which position he filled till the close of the war. As a citizen no man was more useful or had more influence in his community than he. A leader in all public enterprises, he always endeavored to cast his influence on the side of right and justice. Among his neighbors and business associates his word was always as good as bis bond, because be never allowed either to be protested. His last illness, which was short, was caused by pneumonia, and he died at Bloom- field Furnace, May 2, 1879, grieved for by all who knew him.

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History of Bedford, Somerset, Fulton counties Pennsylvania, Part 72

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

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