History of Bedford, Somerset, Fulton counties Pennsylvania, Part 76

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

USA > Pennsylvania > Bedford County > History of Bedford, Somerset, Fulton counties Pennsylvania > Part 76
USA > Pennsylvania > Fulton County > History of Bedford, Somerset, Fulton counties Pennsylvania > Part 76
USA > Pennsylvania > Somerset County > History of Bedford, Somerset, Fulton counties Pennsylvania > Part 76

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).

Christian Church .- The Bible Christians held meetings at houses in Milligan's cove as early as 1825. Abraham Miller was one of the earliest preachers of this denomination and officiated here many years. John Hughes, Samuel Loge, Kidwell, M. B. Miller, B. A. Cooper and others have also ministered to the people in former years. Meetings were held at the Aruold school- house several years. In 1867 a neat and con- venient church edifice was erected. A large portion of the people of the cove are members and supporters of this church.

Methodist .- A Methodist Episcopal class was organized at Buffalo Mills in 1869 by Rev. Decker. George W. Horn was the first class- leader. The erection of a church was commenced in 1869, and the building was finished and dedi-

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cated the following year. The church is a part of the Schellsburg charge, and is in a flourishing condition.

In the fall of 1872 Rev. J. H. Johnson held a series of revival meetings, which resulted in the formation of a Methodist Episcopal society at Mann's Choice. . From that time the place became a regular appointment, and meetings were held at the Nycum schoolhouse. In 1882 a neat frame church was erected at Mann's Choice, at a cost of sixteen hundred dollars. The society numbers about thirty members, and forms a part of the Schellsburg charge.

Reformed Church .- Mount Zion's Reformed church was organized at Mann's Choice in 1873, under the ministerial labors of Rev. N. H. Skyles. The church edifice was erected the same year. Rev. William A. Gring was the second pastor, succeeded in 1882 by Rev. E. H. Dieffenbacher, present pastor. The charge con- sists of three churches, at Mann's Choice, Dry Ridge and Mount Pleasant. The membership of Mount Zion is ninety-one.

SOCIETIES.

Grange .- Buffalo Grange, No. 581, P. of H., was organized April 8, 1875, with twenty-eight charter members. The grange built a hall at Buffalo Mills, at a cost of about twelve hundred dollars. The lower part of the building is now occupied as a store and contains the postoffice. The grange has been very large and flourishing, but is now reduced to about thirty members.

Grand Army .- Harrison Post, No. 281, G.A. R., Buffalo Mills, Pennsylvania, was organized November 9, 1881, with thirty-one charter members. The post is now in a flourishing con- dition with fifty-eight members. M. C. Miller, Esq., has been commander since the post was instituted.

CHAPTER XLII. JUNIATA.

Organisation of the Township-The Pioneer Settlers- The Statler and Metager Families-George Newman -Bits of Pioneer Experiences -The Hillegasses, Corleys and Mowrys -First Store - First Mills - The Village of New Buena Vista - Religious Organizations.

J UNIATA township was organized in 1852. Until then its territory was included in Napier and Harrison. The productions of the township are largely agricultural. The people

are mainly descended from early Pennsylvania settlers of German ancestry, and are character- ized by habits of industry and frugality. Por- tions of the township were settled during the latter part of the last century, but by far the greater number of farms were first occupied less than fifty years ago. Buena Vista is the only village. The township is well supplied with mills, stores, churches and schools.

The first settlers of the township were the Statler and Metzger families. Caspar Statler located at West End as early as 1790. He kept one of the first taverns along the pike. He also started a small store very early. The Statlers were among the earliest settlers of Somerset county.

Caspar Statler was a genial, friendly, free- hearted man. He acquired such property as was esteemed a vast fortune in the days when nearly all the settlers were poor ; but he always exhibited generous traits, and frequently lent substantial aid to the needy and unfortunate. He owned many hundred acres of land in the western part of this township, which is now divided into more than a dozen farms. He is well remembered by-the older people, who bear cheerful testimony to his worth. On his de- cease, his property was divided among the sev- eral members of his family, and from them it passed into other hands. His sons were George and Josiah, who went west. His daughters set- tled in the neighborhood. They were Polly (Sterner), Elizabeth (Metzger), Kate (Statler), Nancy (Rock), Sarah (Fillson), Juliana (Whee- lan) and Maria (Palmer).

Marcus Metzger was a Hessian soldier under the British in the revolutionary war. After the close of the war he came to this part of the country with Elias Miller, who had been a soldier in the American army. Metz- ger went to Somerset, where he remained until 1797. He owned several lots now included in the town of Somerset, and thirty acres of land. He came to this county in 1797 and set- tled on Dry ridge, where he died in 1815, at the age of sixty-five. He began the business of tavernkeeping, which was continued by his son John. Few places along the turnpike were better known or had better reputations than Metzger's tavern. The children of Marcus Metzger were Andrew, John, Joseph, Marcus and Solomon, and three daughters who married and moved west very early. One daughter is

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John E. Miller.

JOHN E. MILLER.

Elias Miller, the father of John E., was born and raised in Loudoun county, Virginia, and served in the war of the revolution; shortly after its close, he, with two brothers, Peter and John, came to Bedford county, Pennsylvania, and settled in the borough of Bedford, where they with others suffered from Indian outrages. These three brothers were among the first set- tlers in Milligan's cove, where they continued to reside until their death. Another brother, Abra- ham, came some time afterward and settled in the borough of Somerset. He was elected the first sheriff of Somerset county, and noted as having hung the Frenchman for murder. Elias Miller married Mary Lybarger, of this county, and had born unto them five daughters and two sons. Abraham, the eldest son, was a minister of the gospel, and traveled a circuit covering most of Bedford aud Fulton counties, for up- ward of forty years, and was highly esteemed.

John E. Miller, the subject of this sketch, who was born September 3, 1808, received what was considered a very good common-school education at that day. He was married to Han-

nah Carpenter April 15, 1830. They became the parents of eleven children, two of whom died in their childhood. The other nine- Michael C., Abraham M., Eve, Elijah, Ephraim B., Simon G., Amanda, Hannah and Joseph R .- are still living and reside in this county. The four eldest sons above named served faithfully in the war of 1861-5. Mrs. John E. Miller died August 29, 1856. Mr. Miller then married Missouri Fletcher February 25, 1858, who still survives. He was a man of robust constitution and great muscular strength and powers of endurance. He was an intelligent and success- ful tiller of the soil and lived all the days of his life on the farm upon which he was born. He was a man of strict integrity and prompt in all his business transactions, and by reason of his industrious and temperate habits succeeded in accumulating considerable of this world's goods. He was a friend whose friendship never faltered, and as a consequence he commanded the respect and friendship of the best citizens of the county. He departed this life June 27, 1876, in hopes of a blessed immortality, hon- ored and loved.

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REV. D. S. A. TOM LINSON.

RESIDENCE & STORE OF REV. D. S. A. TOMLINSON, WEST END, BEDFORD CO., PA.

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REV. D. S. A. TOMLINSON.

Among the many families who emigrated to Bedford county the beginning of the present century, when the county was in a compara- tively undeveloped state, were the Tomlinsons. The exact date of their settlement was 1810, in which year Joseph Tomlinson came with his family from Adams county, Pennsylvania, and settled in Napier township. His wife having died after coming to this county, he remarried, but surviving his second wife he made it his home with his son, J. W., until his death, which occurred when in his eighty-seventh year. Joseph W. was born in Adams county in 1808 and came to Bedford county with his parents. In addition to farming he engaged in black- smithing. He married Catharine, daughter of Daniel Ling. They became the parents of seven children, two of whom died when quite young. The remaining members of the family are : John, a resident of Aaronsburg, Pennsylvania ; Sarah (Smith), a resident of Bedford township ; Joseph, who is a graduate of Pennsylvania col- lege, resides in Philadelphia ; Mary J. (Ellis) ; D. S. A .; Benjamin W., former pastor of the Evangelical Lutheran church of Lockport, New York (deceased) ; and Martin L., a very prom- ising young man and a member of the senior class of the Pennsylvania College when his death occurred, in his twenty-third year.

Rev. D. S. A. Tomlinson, the immediate sub- ject of this sketch, was born April 18, 1846. Having obtained a good common-school educa- tion, he engaged in school-teaching very success- fully for some six years, for he early developed the energy and the thoroughness which has ever

since characterized the man. He then read law with Judge Hall, of Bedford, but deeming it his duty to obey the scriptural injunction to "preach the Gospel," he cheerfully abandoned his worldly ambitions and attended the theologi- cal seminary at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, in order to prepare himself for his new field of arduous, self-sacrificing labor. He was ordained a minister in the Lutheran church at Somerset, Pennsylvania, in 1877. In 1879 he removed to his present field of labor and has been very suc- cessful in building up both the spiritual and material interests of his charge. Since his pas- torate a fine parsonage has been erected, very largely owing to his personal efforts. He has ever labored zealously for the establishment of new churches, and his labors have been abun- dantly rewarded, he having been instrumental in building two churches, one at Mount Olive and one at Lyberger. Being an indefatigable worker, both in and out of the pulpit, his enthusiasm is infectious, and he is enabled by means of his wise counsels to do much good when others, less practical, would fail. The genial qualities of nature and the earnestness which are valua- ble in the varied labors of the minister outside of the pulpit are possessed by him in a marked degree.

In addition to his clerical labors he conducts a farm, and also since the spring of 1880 has been engaged in merchandising. November 30, 1871, he was married to Lovanda, daughter of Josiah and Ann Berkheimer, and they are blessed with three children-Winifred, Fidelia and Martin L.

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JUNIATA.

still living in Iowa. The sons are all dead. Andrew was once sheriff of the county, and died in office. John served as sheriff one term, and as representative in the legislature three terms. He was a man of industry, integrity and pru- dence, and was one of the most prominent citi- zens of the county. He owned, at one time, about two thousand acres of land. He died in 1864, at the old Metzger homestead, in the seventieth year of his age. His wife was Eliza- beth, daughter of Caspar Statler. Their chil- dren - Sarah, Daniel, Mary, Ellen, Maria, Sophia and Louisa -are all living except Maria and Sophia. Daniel Metzger, Esq., resides in Harrison township, in the vicinity of his birth- place. He is a worthy and esteemed citizen, and has served as justice of the peace and in other local offices.

Nathan Treadwell, an early settler, lived be- tween the farms of Metzger and Statler on the pike. A family by the name of Eiss were also among the very first settlers. They lived on part of the Statler lands.

Leonard May, now upward of eighty years of age, is a native of Milligan's cove, and a son of one of the early pioneers. Mr. May had five sons in'the army during the late war, and all lived to return.

The Shroyers, of the southern part of this township, are an old family in this county. They were among the first settlers in that neighborhood.

The earliest settler on the bottom-lands south of Buena Vista was George Newman, who moved from Eastern Pennsylvania as early as 1797. He at first located on Buffalo run, but shortly afterward removed to the farm now occupied by James Leasure. Here he began farming in a small way, but subsisted mainly by hunting. Game was very plentiful in those days, and it was no unusual thing for the hunter to provide a supply of meat for his family's morning meal by shooting a deer before break- fast. Newman earned considerable money by the sale of deerskins, which were tanned and made into various articles of clothing. He had few neighbors ; all around him was the wilder- ness, and its solitude was seldom invaded save by the wolf, the panther, the bear or some other savage beast. On one occasion, when Mr. New- man was away from home, his family were startled by an unusual disturbance in the creek in front of the cabin. Mrs. Newman and her

daughter Polly went out to ascertain the cause, and were surprised to see a deer in the middle of the stream, struggling and splashing the water far above it. A panther, which was in pursuit of the deer, rushed at the mother and daughter, and they took refuge in the cabin.

There were no mills in the neighborhood until . many years later. Newman took his grists on his back and walked fifteen miles to Fate's mill, near Cumberland, in order to pro- cure supplies of flour or meal. Once he walked the entire distance on snowshoes. In those early days snow frequently fell of such depth that it was impossible for people to travel by any other method. The snow-shoes were some- times made of boards, but generally of strands of hide, woven and fastened to a light, oval- shaped frame, with a fastening for the foot in the center.

George Newman died about 1843, at the age of seventy-two. His children were : Daniel, Hannah (Borland), Polly (McVicker), Samuel, Betsey (Leasure) and Sarah (Leasure). Only Betsey and Sarah survive. The former is now eighty-six and the latter eighty-one years old.

James Leasure and his wife are among the oldest native residents of this county. Their wedded life has covered a period of over sixty years. Mr. Leasure was born in the Flintstone neighborhood in this county, in 1801. His father, Samuel Leasure, of Irish descent, came from the east among the early settlers. John Leasure, a brother of Samuel, died in this town- ship at the remarkable age of one hundred and eight years.

John Mowry was an early settler, who came from Montgomery county, and settled near Schellsburg. His descendants are among the prominent and wealthy farmers of Juniata and Napier townships. His sons were John, An-, drew and Peter ; his daughters, Barbara, Catha- rine, Elizabeth and Eve. Barbara is still living.

About 1809, Frederick Hillegass, from Mont- gomery county, settled on the bottom-land of the headwaters of the Juniata. He was a thrifty and progressive "Dutchman," and gained a good property. His sons are among the lead- ing farmers in the township. One of them, Michael Hillegass, recalls a bit of his experi- ence in boyhood which may serve to illustrate the wild condition of the country years ago. He was going to mill on horseback, and had proceeded as far as the A. Miller farm, when he

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HISTORY OF BEDFORD COUNTY.

saw a number of animals which he supposed to be dogs coming through the woods toward him. But it soon became evident that his pur- suers were not dogs, but wolves. Two of them rushed at the horse, and attempted to drag the boy to the ground. The horse was frightened as well as the boy. Michael rode as fast as the horse could go to Mr. Leasure's house, and suo- ceeded in distancing his enemies. Mr. Leasure took his gun and returned with him, and the wolves were driven back into the forest.

John Corley will be remembered by many of the older people of this county as an honest, industrious man, genial and good-humored. He was a millwright, and worked at his trade in this county many years. He came from Hagers- town, Maryland, about 1795, and settled in Napier township. In 1840 he moved to Dry ridge and located on a part of the Statler property, where he died, in 1876, in his eighty-ninth year. His wife was Eve Mowry, and their children were George, John, Catharine, Maria, Joseph, Jacob, Henry, Albert and Elizabeth. George, John and Maria are dead. ' Jacob re- sides in the bottom, has a good farm, and is a well-known and respected citizen. He was a soldier in the late war. Albert resides in this township, on the old homestead.

James Burns was a very early settler in the northern part of this township. Burns' Mills postoffice is called after his name. He erected a gristmill at this point, probably near the year 1800.

Isaac Fillson came from Franklin county, and was a comparatively early settler, on a part of the Statler estate, where his son-in-law, Enos Wertz, now lives. Fillson married Sarah, daughter of Caspar Statler. Though the bot- tom-land along the Raystown branch of the Juniata is among the best and most fertile in the township, but little of it was settled or im- proved early.

John McVicker was an early resident on the farm now occupied by A. Miller. His father, David McVicker, was one of the early settlers on the pike.

L. N. Fyan, a' native of Ireland, settled at New Baltimore, in 1840, and thence moved to West End. He built the large brick mansion on the farm, in the west of this township, and in 1857 erected a distillery, which is now owned by his son, A. E. Fyan, of Bedford. The grist- mill which he erected is still in operation, also

the distillery. The latter has a capacity for distilling about fifty gallons per day, and is an important industry.

The first mill in this section of the country was that at New Baltimore. The first in this township was built by Christian Wertz, about 1825, and rebuilt by Mr. Fyan. Kellerman's mill at Rockville and Riffe's mill on the Rays- town branch were among the early mills. Sawmills were generally established at the same time with gristmills. In dry seasons, peo- ple were often obliged to visit mills many miles from home, as those on the small streams were frequently stopped for want of water.

Leonard Bittner, Esq., is one of the leading farmers of this township. He was born in Brother's Valley township, Somerset county, and moved to his present farm in 1851, having purchased from the Ryder heirs. Mr. Bittner has made extensive improvements upon the place. In 1872 he erected a large and costly brick house, which is the best farm residence in the township. Mr. Bittner has served as justice of the peace and in other minor offices.

Adam Geller was born in Londonderry town- ship, and was the son of George Geller, an early settler. In 1847 Adam Geller came to the old Statler stand at West End, where he died in 1872. His widow is still living. Her maiden name was Elizabeth Leiberger. Mrs. Geller is a daughter of Daniel Leiberger, an early settler of Londonderry township. The old homestead of the Statlers is now owned by her son, Jesse Geller, a prominent and enterprising farmer. He was a soldier in the late war.

George A. Comp, who resides near West End, on a farm that was formerly a part of the Statler estate, was born in Somerset county, but came to this county with his parents when young. His father, John Comp, was born in Southampton township, Somerset county, and was a son of Jacob Comp, one of the early resi- dents of the " Comp Settlement." He followed farming, and passed the most of his life on a farm situated below Buffalo Mills.

As already stated, the first store at West End was opened by Caspar Statler. George Gardill, Esq., has kept a store at this point since 1856.

Rev. D. S. A. Tomlinson, a minister of the Lutheran denomination, and pastor of neighbor- ing congregations, is a native of Bedford town- ship. He has resided at West End for six years, and is engaged in the mercantile business,

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LONDONDERRY.

NEW' BUENA VISTA.

Many of the citizens of this township remem- ber when the site of the present village of New Buena Vista was a solitary spot in the heart of the forest, occupied by a single log cabin. Lewis Wambaugh, a traveling shoemaker, was the first known resident of the place.

The village dates back to about 1842. It was laid out in 1847, on the land of Jacob Adams. John Lawrence started the first store, and was soon followed by John M. Robinson, who kept store and tavern. Lewis Turner, tavernkeeper ; Daniel Raffensparger, blacksmith ; Jacob Bow- ser, wagonmaker, and a few others, were among the early settlers. The village grew slowly. It is now a quiet and pretty country place, contain- ing two stores, two hotels and the usual variety of industries of small villages.

CHURCHES.

In 1842 the first church in the township was erected by the Dry Ridge congregation of the Reformed and Lutheran churches. It was built of stone, and is still used as a place for worship. There had been preaching in private dwellings for some years prior to the erection of the church. Rev. Druskiani was pastor at the time the church was built. John and Daniel Metzger, Frederick Hillegass, Abraham Otto, George Powell and John Alsop took a prominent part in building the church. The Reformed congre- gation has seventy-five members.

The early settlers enjoyed but few religious privileges. Many lived for years in the wilder- ness without hearing the gospel preached once. So scattered were the families that it was with difficulty that the missionaries who occasionally visited these parts could gather a congregation of bearers without great difficulty.

A Union church, free for all denominations, was erected on the bottom, about 1843. Rev. Ryder, of the Brethren, was the first minister who officiated here regularly. Abraham Miller, Yeagle and Peterson were among the first who preached in the township. In early years, ser- vices were generally conducted in the German language.

A Reformed and Lutheran congregation wor- ship in a church situated in the Shroyer neigh- borhood. The congregation dates its origin several years back, but we were unable to ascer- tain the exact date of organization. A Lutheran church was built in District No. 8, in 1875.

Mount Zion Evangelical Lutheran church was organized by Rev. C. B. Gruver, September 1, 1877, with sixteen members. The pastors have been Revs. C. B. Gruver and J. H. Walterick. The house of worship was erected in 1875. Present membership, seventeen.

New Buena Vista congregation of the Re- formed church was organized by Rev. Henry Heckerman in 1855. Original members : Mi- chael Hillegass, Henry and Jacob Mowry, John Mowry, Sr., Conrad Guyger, Frederk Hille- gass, Jacob F., George and Peter R. Hillegass, Lewis. A. Turner. Michael Hillegass was elected deacon ; Peter R. Hillegass and Conrad Guyger, deacons. For list of pastors, see Schellsburg church history. The congregation now num- bers one hundred and twenty members. The lot on which the church stands was deeded to the Methodist Episcopal congregation in 1849, and the house erected the same year. In 1855 the building was sold to the Reformed congre- gation for four hundred and ten dollars.

CHAPTER XLIII.

LONDONDERRY.

An Early Settlement - Family Sketches -The Lybargers, De- vores, Wilhelms, Millers, etc .- Fait's Old Mill - His System of Perpetual Motion -Churches -Old Organizations of the Methodists and Lutherans - Hyndman Borough - Its Origin, Progress and Present Condition.

ONDONDERRY township is a very old settlement. The land is fertile, and much of it is beautifully situated. The creek bot- toms are superior farming lands, and settlers were attracted to them very early. The town- ship was organized about the year 1785.

Ludwig Lybarger was a very early settler. He located on Wolf Camp run, about one-half mile from the present Lutheran church, while the Indians were still so numerous as to give great annoyance to the settlers. The family were once obliged to flee to Cumberland for safety. His son John afterward lived here, but went to the Mexican war and never returned. He was the father of David Lybarger, who now lives on a part of the land once belonging to his grandfather.

Cornelius Devore, an early justice of the peace, probably located in the southern part of the township soon after the revolutionary war. He owned one of the first mills in this part of the

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county. John, Isaac, Jeremiah, Hannah (Ball), Catharine (Baker), Cornelius, Samuel and Charity (Devore) were his children.

Benjamin and John Tomlinson moved into the township about the same time with Devore. A Thomas Tomlinson, said to have been cap- tured by the Indians, was one of the earliest settlers at or near the Maryland line. He was a noted character.

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History of Bedford, Somerset, Fulton counties Pennsylvania, Part 76

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

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