History of Bedford, Somerset, Fulton counties Pennsylvania, Part 75

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

USA > Pennsylvania > Bedford County > History of Bedford, Somerset, Fulton counties Pennsylvania > Part 75
USA > Pennsylvania > Fulton County > History of Bedford, Somerset, Fulton counties Pennsylvania > Part 75
USA > Pennsylvania > Somerset County > History of Bedford, Somerset, Fulton counties Pennsylvania > Part 75

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).

George Elder, an old and respected citizen of this township, was born in Cumberland valley, but has resided on his present farm since 1836. His father, James Elder, came to this county with his parents when a boy, and lived on the farm where William Elder now resides. George Elder, the father of James, was a native of Ireland, who came to this county in 1791. His oldest son, William, was in the revolutionary war. James Elder occupied the old homestead in Cumberland valley, and was the father of a large family. His sons, George, William, Achor, John, Samuel and James, are all dead but George and William. His daughters, Sarah, Susan, Rachel and Rebecca, are all dead. George El- der married Margaret Cessna. She died in 1876, having borne ten children, seven of whom are

living. Mr. Elder and his sons have cleared about one hundred and twenty-five acres of land, which was still in a primitive condition in 1836. Joseph W. Elder, the oldest son, now resides on an adjacent farm, a part of the old home- stead, where he began building in the winter of 1865-6. He has a good home and a well- improved farm.

Some of Mr. Elder's reminiscences of pioneer days are worthy of a place here. When he settled on the Buffalo, there were few improve- ments along the stream in this vicinity. Peter Brant lived where the village of Buffalo mills now is; the farm had been first improved by John Karns, who went to Ohio. John Hard- man lived on the farm now owned by his son Jacob. There was a schoolhouse on the site of Buffalo Mills village, and all the children from Milligan's cove, Dry ridge, and all the terri- tory around, down nearly as far as Mann's Choice, gathered to it to make up a school, so sparse was the settlement.

Levi Carpenter is one of the most prosperous and progressive farmers of the township. He owns about seven hundred acres of land and his farm is adorned by good buildings. Mr. Car- penter has been on the place since 1858. Adam Castner was an early settler on the property. Levi Carpenter is a son of Jacob Carpenter, who died in Londonderry township in 1872, aged eighty-three. Jacob Carpenter was born in Cumberland, Maryland, and came to this county with his father, George Carpenter, when about seven years of age. He married Susan Fait, and reared eight children : Hannah (deceased), Adam, Levi, Rosanna, George (deceased), Jacob, Drusilla and Samuel.

William Fraser (the name is now spelled Frazier) was born in Raystown, now Bedford, in 1759, and is supposed to have been the first white child born within the limits of Bedford county as now constituted. He was a tanner by trade, but generally a farmer by occupation. He married Jane Lafferty, who died in 1843. Their sons, James and Williams, died in this county. Two sons went west. One daughter, Mrs. Jane Kinsley, is the only surviving member of the family. William Fraser died about 1844. He was a pensioner of the revolutionary war.

Joseph Ling, son of Philip Ling, was born in Shade township, Somerset county, and resided there until 1866, when he moved to the Metzger farm on Dry ridge, where he died in 1875. He

*These mills were built by & man named Sutton, and were the earliest.in the neighborhood.

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wife was Sarah Specht. They had nine children, four of whom are living : Priscilla, Emanuel, Ellsworth and Thompson. Emanuel and Thomp- son live in this county, the former on Dry ridge. Thompson has a good farm on the Buffalo, where he has resided since 1871. His father bought the place from William Cook. It was formerly the Devore farm.

Valentine Hoon, an early settler, came from the vicinity of Carlisle. He at first located in Bedford county, then moved to Allegheny town- ship, Somerset county, where he died. His son Valentine remained on the home farm some years, then went west. Jacob, another son, lived and died in Allegheny township, Somerset county. He married Sarah Heckman, by whom he had nine children : Joseph, Christopher, Valentine, William (deceased), Mary (deceased), Ann, Stacy, Matilda and Samuel. Stacy Hoon came to Bedford county in 1861, and has resided on his present farm since 1870. It was one of the early settled farms of the township.

George Hurley came from Clearfield county and located on his present farm in 1870. The place was settled by a man named Fleigel, and was owned by Jacob Biechner at the time of Mr. Hurley's purchase. The farm is a good one, situated in the Buffalo Creek valley. Mr. Hurley is an enterprising farmer and is constantly making improvements.

Jonathan Hyde has been a resident of Harrison township since 1851. He purchased his farm from Solomon Leitig, and has improved it greatly. Mr. Hyde was born and reared in Colerain township, Bedford county. His father, Jonathan Hyde, came from New Jersey to Bed- ford county about 1810, and worked at his trade, coopering, until his death. He reared eight children, who reached mature years : Daniel, Catharine, Benjamin, Edward, Mary A., Mar- garet, Jonathan and John. Four are still living : Catharine, Margaret, Jonathan and John. Jona- than Hyde, of this township, had three sons in the rebellion : Abraham, John and Jonathan. Abraham died in the service at Fortress Monroe.

The Hyde family is of English origin, and John Hyde, its progenitor in this country, came from England to America over a hundred years ago, settling on Long Island. John Hyde, the grandfather of the subject of this notice, was seven years in the revolutionary war.

Frederick Beltz was born in Virginia, of Ger- man parents. About 1812 he came to this

county and settled on the Dichl place in Juniata township, where he died in 1815. He built a sawmill on the property now owned by Daniel Diehl, and, while at work about the mill, cut himself and bled to death. He was the father of ten children, five of whom are living : Henry, Frederick, Elizabeth, Catharine and Lewis.

Lewis Beltz, Esq., was born in this county, and has constantly resided in Juniata and Harrison townships. He taught school in early life and has served as justice of the peace. Three of his sons, Daniel E., Andrew J. and William H., were in the army. D. E. is now a practicing physician at Ligonier, Westmoreland county ; A. J. is a merchant at Limaville, Ohio; and W. H. is principal of the high school, Canton, Ohio.

A natural curiosity, known as the Flowing Spring, is situated on the farm where Mr. Beltz now lives. In former years it rose and fell hourly, pouring forth large quantities of water when at its flood. It was visited by hundreds of people, and was commented upon as one of the wonders of nature. Of late years the flow has subsided until it is now very nearly uniform.

Daniel Metzger is an old resident of this town- ship. A sketch of the Metzger family will be found in the Juniata history.

Probably the first settler of Milligan's cove was the man after whom the valley was named, John Milligan. Little is known concerning him. Tradition hath it that he was a hunter, who made his home in the lonely wilderness from a desire for adventure. His land became the property of Elias Miller.

John Cameron located on a piece of land now owned by H. E. May, and had a distillery. The buildings which he erected had gone to ruin before the memory of the present inhabitants. Henry Miller also owned a piece of land which now belongs to Mr. May. He was a young man, and had resided here but a short time before it was discovered that he was missing. The neighbors made a search, and the wasted skeleton of Miller was found hanging to a tree on the other side of Will's mountain. Some suspected that he was the victim of foul play, but the matter was never cleared up. Benjamin Jen- nings, a Yankee, was an early settler and in- herited Miller's property.

George Layman located where William Arnold now lives, and built a small log mill on the run at an early day. The early settlers generally went to Cumberland to get their mill-

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ing done. If a man was fortunate enough to own a horse, he could "pack " his grain with comparative ease ; many, however, were obliged to carry their grists upon their own backs.

A man named Hablin was one of the early pioneers of the cove. The spot where he set- tled is still known as "Hablin's field." John Moser, an early settler in the upper end of the valley, had one of the first sawmills in the neighborhood. The machinery had no roof over it, and Moser, in all kinds of weather, stood by it and attended to sawing. He died of consumption, brought on by this exposure. Duncan McVicker, from New Jersey, was an early resident on what is now the Baker farm.

John Leary located on land which is still known as the Leary farm. He was a small man, much crippled by rheumatism. He planted a fruit orchard, which for many years was considered the best in the neighborhood. Another early resident was Dr. McCartney, an Irishman, who practiced medicine on a small scale, roots and herbs being the only remedies he employed.

George Wertz was an early settler at the lower end of the cove. He followed distilling, became quite well-to-do, and owned several farms. His sons lived on the property after him, and some of their descendants still reside in the township.

The Millers of Milligan's cove are very nu- merous, and are reckoned among the most enter- prising and influential citizens of the township. They are descendants from Elias Miller, an early pioneer. John Miller, a brother of Elias, and, like him, a soldier in the revolutionary war, also settled in the cove. His son John -known to all the early residents as Big John, from the fact that he was tall, and weighed over three hundred pounds-lived and died on the place which afterward became the Carpenter and Baker farms.

Elias Miller was a native of Loudoun county, Virginia, and was present at the surrender of Lord Cornwallis, at Yorktown. Shortly after the war he came to Bedford county and lived on Dunning's creek, whence he was often obliged to take shelter in the Bedford fort dur- ing the Indian hostilities. He afterward moved to the cove, married Mary Leiberger, and spent the remainder of his days on the place where his grandson, J. R. Miller, now lives. He lived to be about eighty-six, and was remarkably strong

and healthy until the very last. He and his brother John located in the woods, and were afterward joined by other members of the family. They had a shop, and carried on weav- ing. Their brother Peter lived on the farm now occupied by A. M. Miller. Another brother, Abraham, moved to Somerset, became sheriff of that county, and officiated in that capacity at the celebrated hanging of the Frenchman.

Elias Miller had two sons, Abraham and John E., both of whom lived in the cove. Abra- ham was a minister of the Christian church many years. John E. lived on the old home- stead and died there in 1876, at the age of sixty- eight. His wife was Hannah Carpenter. They reared a family of eleven children, nine of whom are still living : Michael C., A. M., Elijah, Eve (Martin), Mary (deceased), Jacob (deceased), Ephraim, Simon, Amanda (Swartzwalter), Han- nah (Diehl) and J. R.

The Mays are another prominent family, and were among the first settlers. Daniel May, of German descent, was the progenitor of this family. He settled in the lower part of the valley, and reared a family, all of which resided in this vicinity. His sons were : John, Jacob, Leonard, George, William and Daniel. Leonard, of Juniata township, is the only survivor. John died in 1882, aged over ninety years. Daniel died in 1877, aged about eighty-five. His first wife, Rachel Miller, reared eight children, who are still living : John, Mary A. (Thomas), Sarah (Beltz), Catharine (Stuby), Abraham M., Heze- kiah E., Uriah and Susan (Wertz). Two of the sons, A. M. and H. E., reside in Harrison town- ship and are prominent and respected citizens.

A. M. May is living on a farm adjoining that on which he was born. After his marriage he moved to Monroe township, where he resided ten years, then went into the army. On his return he went west for a short time, and in 1867 located at his present home. On his property arc mineral springs which are widely celebrated. In 1872 he erected a house for the accommodation of summer boarders, and every summer it is filled with seekers after health and pleasure. The surrounding scenery is beautiful, and every feature of the valley attractive.

H. E. May has always resided near his old home, and, by prudent economy and well-directed industry, has gained wealth and prosperity. The celebrated White Sulphur spring is but a short distance from his house, and Mr. May's

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large and commodious residence is a favorite resort with summer tourists. His house was erected in 1874 and is but one of the many im- provements Mr. May has made. His home is visited by people from all parts of the country, and no one who has once enjoyed its hospitality fails to wish to come again. In summer Mr. May devotes his whole time to his guests, and his house is very popular.

The early pioneers enjoyed but few privi- leges. They had no roads ; they were far from mills and stores, and their opportunities for attending church and school were limited. Their farming implements were of the rudest kind. Sleds were used as a means of convey- ance for articles which could not be carried on horseback. The first wagons had wooden wheels, made by sawing "outs" from a large log. The first roads in the cove wound from house to house, and it was long before there. was any public thoroughfare. Snow was often very deep in winter, and board snowshoes were made to enable people to travel upon it. Hunt- ing was a favorite pursuit with many. There was no lack of game, either large or small. Many settlers made great quantities of maple sugar every spring, and this they could some- times dispose of at the stores in exchange for other necessaries. No one suffered for food or clothing.

As late as 1840 there was much land in the cove still unoccupied. Many fine fields have been reclaimed from the forest since that date. There were men who made clearing, for one- half of the first year's crop, their business. In this way many a sturdy woodman earned enough to purchase a farm.

Samuel Huffman is one of the oldest citizens of the township. He has resided on his farm since 1833. At that date he had few neighbors, and nearly all of the valley was in the state of nature. Mr. Huffman was born in this county in 1801. His father, Adam Huffman, came from the eastern part of the state and located at Wolfsburg, where he worked as a potter. The later years of his life he passed at the home of Samuel. The children of Adam Huffman were Jacob, John, Peter, Joseph, William, Adam, Samuel and Rachel. Samuel is the sole sur- vivor. He married Mary Moser, and has reared nine children : Mehitabel, Hannah, Mary, Elizabeth, Catharine, Sarah (deceased), Ellen, Samuel and Josiah. The sons are both indus-

trious farmers, and reside in the cove. Josiah was a soldier of the late war.

Michael Carpenter, an aged and respected citizen, was born in Londonderry township, near Hyndman. His father, George Carpenter, was a native of Germany, who located in this county about the year 1796. Michael is the only surviving member of the family in the county. He resided upon the old homestead until a few years ago. He is the father of eight chil- dren : Mary E., William J., Elizabeth A. (de- ceased), Samuel B., Abraham, J. B., Delilah and George S. S. B. Carpenter has resided on his pres- ent farm in Milligan's cove since 1868. When the farm came into his hands it was without buildings. Mr. Carpenter has erected excellent farm buildings, both house and barn, and now has a very pleasant home, as the reward of his industry and good management.

William Arnold is a native of Cumberland Valley township. His grandfather, Peter Arnold, was an early settler on the Jamison property, near Bedford. His son, Peter, was reared there, went to Colerain township, where he served an apprenticeship to John Gump, and learned the tanner's trade. He worked at this business several years in Cumberland Valley and Union townships, and about 1845 started the tannery in Milligan's cove, where his son Will- iam now carries on business. Mr. Arnold died in Cumberland Valley, in 1879, at the age of seventy-five. His widow, nee Hannah Smith, is still living. They reared ten children, eight of whom survive. William Arnold learned his trade with his father, and has been engaged in business at his present location since 1859.

MANN'S CHOICE.

This village is the largest in Harrison town- ship, and is growing quite rapidly. The place is named after Hon. Job Mann, at whose in- stance a postoffice was established at this point, about the year 1848. John McVicker, ex-deputy sheriff, who lived in a log house at the foot of Dry ridge, was the postmaster. V. V. Wertz and others kept tavern several years at the old stand, since known at the Cuppett House. A. J. Hickson, and afterward A. J. Sniveley, kept store, but there was no village until the railroad was built in 1871.

The building of the tannery gave the village its start. D. M. Black came from Perry county in 1867, and, in partnership with J. Bobletts,

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began the erection of a large establishment. The tannery was finished and business com- menced in 1868. Bobletts & Black were the proprietors during the first year. Bobletts then retired, and James F. McNeal succeeded him. The present owners, Prichett, Baugh & Co., of Philadelphia, bought the works in 1877, and are doing a largely increased business. The busi- ness employs about thirty men on an average, and in the bark season many more. The tan- nery has been the means of creating a new in- dustry for the farmers of the surrounding coun- try. They are able to earn considerable money by the sale of bark in the winter season. The capacity of the tannery has recently been en- larged, and ten thousand hides can now be dressed annually. Mr. Black has had charge of the establishment from the first. Joseph Keefe is foreman of the tanyard. Mr. Keefe is a native of Ireland, but was brought up in Monroe county, this state, where he learned his trade. He followed the business a number of years in Monroe and Clearfield counties, and in 1882 came to Mann's Choice to take his present position.

A store was started by the proprietors of the tannery in 1867, and the postoffice, which had been discontinued for some years, was re-estab- lished under the old name.

The village was laid out in 1872, principally on the land of V. V. Wertz (now W. H. Cup- pett's) and George W. Gump. James Harbaugh built the second store, and Oster & Co. the third. Joseph Cessna erected the hotel known as the Cessna House in 1872. The growth of the village was slow until 1877, but since that time many buildings and improvements have appeared.

Prominent among the industries of Mann's Choice are the Union Flouring Mills, Clark & Amos, proprietors. The mill was erected in 1882, at a cost of about thirteen thousand dol- lars. It is three stories in hight, and the ground dimensions are 35×65 feet. The mill is provided with new machinery of the best patterns, and is one of the most complete es- tablishments of the kind in the country. It was built by the present owners, John H. Clark and Frank M. Amos. This firm also manufac- ture and deal in lumber.

Mr. Amos, the junior partner, is a native of this county and a son of the late John Amos, of Bedford. He followed railroading seventeen

years, and changed to his present business in 1882.

H. S. Glessner is a native of Somerset coun- ty. In 1870 he established a wagon-shop and blacksmith-shop at Buffalo mills, where he con- tinued the business until 1880, when he re- moved to Mann's Choice. He manufactures wagons and buggies and does all kinds of re- pairing.

H. Gregory, merchant at Mann's Choice, was born in Bedford county, and brought up in Fulton county. In 1867 he engaged in the mercantile business, which he has since fol- lowed. In 1878 he removed from Fulton coun- ty to Mann's Choice, and bought the store of Oster & Co. In 1882 he erected a new store, where he is now carrying on a successful busi- ness.

The industries of Mann's Choice may be summarized as follows : One tannery, one gristmill, two hotels, three general stores, one clothing store, one shoemaker, one saddler, two tailors, two blacksmith-shops and two wagon- shops.

Adam Dennis, station agent at Mann's Choice, was born in Lancaster county. In August, 1861, he enlisted in Co. G, 79th Penn. Vol. Inf., and served until his discharge, January 26, 1864. He was in the engagements at Per- ryville, Stone River and Chickamauga. At the battle of Perryville, October 8, 1862, he was wounded in the left arm, and September 19, 1863, at the battle of Chickamauga, he lost his left leg. Returning to Lancaster, he learned telegraphy, and has since been in the employ of the Pennsylvania Railroad Company. In 1872 he was appointed station agent at Mann's Choice. Mr. Dennis has a one-half interest in the store of Bruner & Co.

A. G. Bruner, Esq., a native of Cumberland Valley township, engaged in the mercantile business at Mann's Choice in 1880. He is in partnership with A. Dennis, the style of the firm being Bruner & Co. Their store is one of the principal mercantile establishments of the place. The building which this firm now oc- cupy was the third store erected at Mann's Choice, and was built by G. R. Oster & Co.

W. H. Cuppett, landlord of the Cessna House, is a native of Napier township. After spend- ing some time in the West he returned to this county, and in 1877 began keeping hotel at the old Wertz tavern, having changed the name to

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the Cuppett House. In 1880 he took possession of the Cessna House, where he still continues business.

BUFFALO MILLS.

This village was mainly built up after it be- came a railroad station. It now contains three stores, a hotel and several shops. A postoffice was established at this point some years prior to the building of the railroad.

The first industry was the gristmill of John Alsop, erected about 1850. It was burned down several years before the present mill was erected. The first store was opened by John C. Devore. There were no other industries of impor- tance until the railroad was built.

M. C. Miller, Esq., was born in this township ; followed teaching, canvassing and farming in early life. He is now serving a fourth term as justice of the peace. Mr. Miller is one of the leading business men and most worthy citizens of the township. He served in the army, and, returning home, located at Buffalo Mills in 1866. In 1868-9 he erected a large flouring and grist mill, 30X50 feet, three stories in hight, with a basement beneath. The mill is run both by water and steam power. It contains three sets of burrs, each of which has a capacity of about fifteen barrels per day. Mr. Miller is still the owner of the mill.

James L. Norton, cabinetmaker and mill- wright, was born in Canada, but has lived in Pennsylvania upward of forty years. He came from Jefferson county to Bedford county about twenty-eight years ago and worked as a mill- wright. He came to Buffalo Mills and opened a cabinetmaker's shop in 1874. Mr. Norton has traveled extensively in the United States and Canada and is a well-informed man.

John Goad was born in England, and came to this country in 1865. He engaged in mining, which he followed in New Jersey, on the Con- necticut river and in this state until 1880, when he located on a farm at Buffalo Mills, his present home.

BARD.

Bard is a small village, a station on the rail- road, and has grown up since 1871. The first store was started by William Hill. There are now two stores in the place. A postoffice was established in 1874; Z. T. Carpenter, postmaster.

James H. Woy came to Bard in 1867. His house was then the only one in the place. Mr. Woy purchased from Levi Carpenter. Boyd

Taylor had started a tannery years before. This was included in Mr. Woy's purchase, and he carries on the business at the old stand. Mr. Woy is a native of East Providence township, Bedford county, and learned his trade in Fulton county. His father, William F. Woy, is a resi- dent of East Providence township. He was born in this county, and is a son of John Woy. Jacob Woy, the father of John, was one of the pioneer settlers of this county.

T. E. Kidwell, merchant at Bard, is a native of Morgan county, West Virginia. In 1874 be came to this county and clerked for Hedding & Cobalt, at Defiance, until 1877. He then went west and followed clerking and other occupa- tions. Returning to this county, he established a store at Bard in May, 1881, and is doing a very good business.

CHURCHES.

Presbyterian .- The Presbyterian church of this township is an outgrowth of the Schells- burg church organized in 1833. A part of the Schellsburg congregation worshiped at stated intervals at " The Forks." Rev. David D. Clark preached for some years in the schoolhouse. About 1845, under the pastorate of Rev. Geo. S. Inglis, the erection of the stone church was begun. The building was not finished until 1851. This congregation still continues a part of the Schellsburg charge. The first elders were John McVicker, John Sill and James Mullin. The building of the railroad necessitated the destruction of the stone church, and a frame structure was erected near Mann's Choice at a cost of about thirty-five hundred dollars.

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History of Bedford, Somerset, Fulton counties Pennsylvania, Part 75

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

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