History of Bedford, Somerset, Fulton counties Pennsylvania, Part 79

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

USA > Pennsylvania > Bedford County > History of Bedford, Somerset, Fulton counties Pennsylvania > Part 79
USA > Pennsylvania > Fulton County > History of Bedford, Somerset, Fulton counties Pennsylvania > Part 79
USA > Pennsylvania > Somerset County > History of Bedford, Somerset, Fulton counties Pennsylvania > Part 79

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).

CHAPTER XLV. CUMBERLAND VALLEY.

An Old Township -Organized prior to 1771-The Pioneers - The Indians - Coulter's Fort, Erected in 1781-First Mills in the Valley -Family Sketches -Centreville Village - Miscel- laneous Items - History of Churches.

( YUMBERLAND township was formed prior to 1771, and until that date remained a township of Cumberland county. In the early records of Bedford county, it is always' men- tioned as Cumberland township. When or by what authority the name was changed to Cum- berland Valley is not set forth in the records. The original township must have included a vast territory, but unfortunately there are now no means of ascertaining its limits.

Probably some portions of the narrow valley now constituting the township were settled soon after the building of the fort at Bedford. The early pioneers doubtless encountered many dangers and hardships. But the story of their lives is now buried in oblivion, and the writer of this sketch is able to give only such facts as can now be gathered from the descendants of the early settlers.

The early settlers of this township were the McFerrans, Elders, Boors, Bruners, McCoys, Hardingers, Cessnas, Zembowers, Wertzes, Vick- roys, Easters, Kelleys, Millers, Coulters, Smiths and Bridges. Some of these came prior to the revolution and others soon after the close of the war. The present inhabitants of the town- ship are mainly the descendants of the pioneer settlers.

Paul Wertz emigrated from Germany, and settled in Bedford county prior to 1771. He lived in Cumberland valley and on Dunning's creek during the period of Indian hostilities. His children were: John, Paul, Jacob, Henry, Betsy (McFerran), Kate (May), Mary (Lee), Rebecca (McFerran), Sarah (Mahoney) and Anna (Brosier), all of whom are dead. John Wertz, son of Paul, was born in Germany, and came to this county when a boy. He reared

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nine children : Henry, William C., Bonner (deceased), Josiah, John J., Rachel (Hardman), Catharine (Lee), Mary (James) and Rebecca (Easter). William C. resides in Cumberland valley, and is engaged in farming and stock- raising. His son, Scott A: Wertz, is also among the enterprising farmers of this township.

Nicholas Boor, a native of Cumberland county, was among the first settlers of Cumber- land valley. He reared six children : Martin, Michael, William, Philip, Nicholas and Eliza- beth (McCoy). Michael, born in Cumberland county, removed to this township with his parents. He was a blacksmith by . trade, but followed farming principally. He died in 1855. Samuel M. Boor, son of Michael, was born and reared in this township. In 1847 he removed to Juniata township, and in 1856 to Napier town- ship. In 1858 he returned to Cumberland val- ley, and purchased his present farm from Henry Smith. Mr. Boor follows farming and black- smithing. He held the office of poor director for three years. One of Mr. Boor's sons, John A., died in the army (see military history).

William D. Boor, son of Michael Boor, was born and reared in Cumberland valley. In 1869 he learned the tanner's trade, and, in partner- ship with H. Ressler, followed that business until 1871. He then purchased Mr. Ressler's interest, and conducted the business himself until 1877. He then sold his tannery and pur- chased a farm of Pierce Zembower. Mr. Boor was elected justice of the peace in 1875, and resigned in 1878.

William Boor, son of Nicholas Boor, was born in Cumberland county, and removed to this county with his parents at an early day. He married Miss Worley, of this township, and reared eight children : Nicholas, William, Martin, John, Hannah, Margaret, Ellen and Anna. John, son of William Boor, was born and reared in Cumberland valley. He began to learn the tailor's trade at the age of fifteen, under Jacob O'Neal, of Bedford. He worked at his trade in Schellsburg for three years, and since the spring of 1842 has carried on his busi- ness in the borough of Bedford. Mr. Boor was married in 1839, to Eliza J. Helm, of Bedford.

Nicholas Boor was born on the old Boor home- stead in Cumberland valley in 1804, and always followed farming. He married Martha Mc- Ferran, and was the father of Tobias, Samuel, William, James, Henry, Francis, Elmira (Elliott),

Anna (Morgart), Amanda, Eliza and Ellen. Samuel Boor and his brothers own over six hundred acres of superior land and have excel- lent improvements.

Martin Bcor, the early pioneer, had two brothers named William and Michael. Martin married a Miss Bear. When the family were on their way from the East, they took the small- pox, which, however did not prove very serious. Martin Boor died in 1810. His widow after- ward married Jonathan Cessna. She died about 1860, aged about ninety years. Martin Boor was the father of four sons: Michael, Jacob, John and Martin. Michael died in 1875, at the age of eighty-three. His widow (née Zembower) is still living.

The settlers of the valley naturally felt very insecure during the Indian troubles of the revo- lution. In 1781 Thomas Coulter erected a stone building which served as a fort for the protection of the settlement. Coulter's name and the date of the erection of the fort are cut in the chimney.

Thomas Coulter was one of the pioneers, and came to the valley before the revolution. For a time he acted as mail-carrier, carrying the mail on his back between Fort Bedford and Fort Cumberland. He was one of the early justices of the peace of Bedford county.

George Elder, Sr., settled in Cumberland val- ley in 1781, removing from Huntingdon county. His wife (née Sarah Vogan, born in 1741), while living in Huntingdon county, before the revolu- tionary war, was captured by the Indians and held a prisoner among them for two years. When she was exchanged, one of the British subjects gave Mrs. Elder a bible, printed in 1748, which is still in possession of the family. Other relics of the pre-revolutionary period are also in the Elder family. James Elder was born in Huntingdon county in 1776, and removed to Cumberland valley with his parents. He mar- ried Sarah Worley, of this township, and was the father of ten children : Sarah (Haney), Re- becca, George, William, Rachel, Susan (Ander-, son), Achor, John, Samuel and James. George, William and James are still living. William resides on the old homestead in the old house which his father built in 1819. He has a good farm, with good buildings and improvements.

George Sliger, Sr., settled in the valley quite early. His son George, born in this township in 1820, died in 1862. He was married to Eliza-

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beth Simons, and was the father of three children : Rachel (Boor), Frederick A. (deceased) and William C. William C. Sliger was born in this township, and has always resided here, except- ing a few years spent in Friend's cove. He is at present largely interested in the poultry business, having three hundred chickens and making use of artificial incubators.

Adam Zembower was an early settler of Friend's cove. His son John, born in, Loudon county, Virginia, moved to Bedford county with his parents. He moved to Cumberland valley in 1812, where he resided until 1834, working as a miller and millwright. He built the Zembower mill, and the Bruner mill at Centreville. In 1834 he returned to Friend's cove ; in 1836 he moved thence to Brush creek, in West Provi- dence township, where he died in 1860. John Zembower was the father of twelve children : Phobe (Boor), Adam, John, Mary (Hendricks), Elizabeth (Kegg), Rachel (Van Horn), Susan (Jordan), Rebecca (deceased), James, Josiah, Sarah (deceased) and Catharine (Smith).

Adam, son of John Zembower, was born in Friend's cove in 1800 and moved to Cumber- land valley in 1812. IIe worked with his father as a millwright until 1852, then purchased of Hendrickson's heirs a gristmill on Evitt's creek. The mill was run by the Zembower family until 1882 and then leased to Emanuel O'Neal. It is a three-story mill, 40X50 feet, containing two runs of stone. In 1874 Mr. Zembower purchased of John Blair the farm on which he now resides. He has served as justice of the peace ten years. Mr. Zembower is the father of twelve children, ten of whom are liv- ing. There are ten voters in his family.

It is said that the first clearing in this town- ship was made by the Indians-a small piece of land on the farm now owned by George Nave- where they planted corn.

Robert Anderson, from Frederick county, Maryland, settled in Southampton township in 1810. He was a farmer and weaver. He died in 1831. His children were Mary, John, Robert, William, Jacob, George and James. Jacob Anderson, the sole survivor of this family, was born in Maryland and reared in Southampton township. At the age of fifteen he began life for himself, working out as a farm laborer. In 1828 he learned the black- smith's trade, which he followed until 1847. From 1835 to 1842 he lived in Ohio. From

1842 to 1847 he worked at his trade in Centre- ville. He then engaged in mercantile business, at the same place, which he continued until 1864. Mr. Anderson then purchased of Daniel Hanks' heirs three hundred and sixty acres of land, upon which he has since resided, being engaged in farming.

William Growdon emigrated from Cornwall, England, in 1819, and settled in Cumberland valley. He was a miller and worked at his trade until 1830. He died at an advanced age in 1832. His children were William, Joseph, Jane (Welch), Elizabeth, Matthew, John and Thomas, of whom only John survives. John Growdon was born in England in 1797, and came to this country with his parents. In 1823 he married Sarah Blair, of Bean's cove, who died in 1875. For his second wife he married Elizabeth Mowry, of Juniata township. Mr. Growdon has been a local preacher of the Methodist Protestant church for several years, and has always taken a prominent part in re- ligious matters. At the time of his settle- ment in the valley there was not a meeting- house between Cumberland and Bedford. Mr. Growdon has assisted in building all but two churches between the places mentioned.

Mr. Growdon thinks that the first gristmill in Cumberland valley was built by Henry Simons, on Evitt's creek. The mill had the appearance of having been built for some time, when Mr. Growdon came from England.

David Simons was born in Cumberland val- ley, where he resided until 1858. He then moved to Will's creek, in Londonderry town- ship, where he is now leading a retired life. He is the father of four children : William J. (deceased), Jonathan, George W. and Sarah L. (Cook). George W. Simons was born in Cum- berland Valley township. After becoming of age he leased a farm in Londonderry, on which he lived until 1876. He then returned to Cum- berland valley and farmed until 1882, when he leased the Thomas Growdon gristmill, which he is now running.

The Growdon gristmill was built, by Thomas and John Growdon, about 1826. It is three stories high, 30×40 feet, and contains two sets of burrs. Soon after building the gristmill on Evitt's creek, the Growdons erected a sawmill near it.

William McGuinn was born and reared in Cumberland Valley township. His father, Timo-

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thy McGuinn, emigrated from Ireland, and settled in this township quite early. He died in 1857. William McGuinn lived on his father's farm until 1871. He has owned and improved several farms, and after greatly increasing their value by his work, sold them. In 1875 he pur- chased a farm in Southampton township, on which he resided until 1883, when he removed to his present home in Cumberland valley.

Burning Bush postoffice was established at the residence of Daniel Miller, in 1878. In 1880 the office was moved to the residence of S. M. Boor. Baltzer F. Boor is the present post- master.

CENTREVILLE.

Centreville is the only village in the town- ship. It contains two stores, one blacksmith- shop, one wagon-shop, one hotel, two shoe-shops, one saddler's shop, one gristmill, one sawmill, two churches, and an Odd-Fellows' lodge.

The first physician of Centreville was Dr. Thompson, who located in the place before the war. He was succeeded by Dr. Hosea Hudson. Dr. C. P. Calhoun was the next physician.

ODD-FELLOWS.

Cumberland Valley Lodge, No. 849, I.O.O.F., was chartered July 12, 1873, and instituted October 20, 1873. The following names are included in the charter : John Gephart, N.G. ; William Deremer, V.G .; D. A. Anderson, Secy .; J. B. Whip, Asst. Secy .; G. M. Leasure, Treas. The present membership is thirty-seven; value of lodge property, twenty- eight hundred dollars.

CHURCHES.

Lutheran .- Providence Evangelical Lutheran church was organized in 1837. In that year George Boortz deeded to the church a lot of land to be used as a church site. In 1841, under the ministerial labors of Rev. Kalor, a stone church, 35×45 feet, was erected at a cost of nine hundred dollars. The first church officers were : Valentine Weirick and George Boortz, elders ; Arthur Rose and Jacob Miller, deacons. These officers were installed by Rev. R. Weiser. The congregation consisted of seventy-five mem- bers in 1841. The church belonged to the Bloody Run charge for a number of years. It is now in the Friend's Cove charge. In 1871 the stone

church was torn down and a frame building erected in its place. The new church is 35× 45 feet, and cost fourteen hundred dollars. The present membership of the church is twenty- nine, and of the sabbath school, thirty.

New Bethel Methodist Episcopal Church .- The date of the organization of this congregation cannot be ascertained. Prior to 1867 services were held in a log structure near the site of the present church. In the above-mentioned year a frame building, 30×40 feet, was erected at a cost of thirteen hundred dollars. The church was dedicated in October, 1867, with a sermon by Rev. Mr. Cooper, of Frostburg, Maryland. At that date the membership was thirty-six. It is nearly the same at present. The sabbath school now has sixty members. The building committee for the erection of the church were Thomas Fisher, Jacob Sliger, Henry Hite, Samuel Elliott and John Blair.

Methodist Protestant .- Hopewell appointment of the Methodist Protestant church was taken up by Rev. Tyler Boyd. Meetings were held at Hunt's schoolhouse. In 1858, under the pas- torate of the Rev. Abraham S. Eversole, the place of meeting was changed to the school- house in Schober's valley, where worship was held until 1869, when, under Rev. James Thompson, pastor, the present church edifice was erected at a cost of five hundred dollars. The house was dedicated by Rev. David Wil- son. Hopewell appointment has recently been discontinued.

The Methodist Protestant church, a frame building, was erected in 1875, at a cost of twelve hundred dollars. It was dedicated with services by Rev. David Wilson, D.D., July 4, 1875. The membership was then small, and has remained about the same. The building committee were William D. Boor, J. M. Zembower, Adam Zembower, John Simons, Jacob Miller and John C. Miller. The number of sabbath-school schol- ars is sixty-five.

Union Church .- The Union church was built by the Methodists and Lutherans in 1858 or 1859, during the pastoral labors of Rev. Barnes, Methodist, and Rev. Yengland, Lutheran. It is a frame building, 25×36 feet, and cost one thousand dollars. The congregations are in the Bedford charge of the Lutheran and Meth- odist Episcopal churches, respectively. Both have but a small membership.

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MANN.

CHAPTER XLVI.

MANN.

Organized in 1876-Named for Hon. Job Mann- Early Settlers - A Mysterious Old Couple - Wealth Concealed in a Grave - Pioneer Reminiscences - The First Wagon - The Attention it Attracted - Family Sketches -Churches.

M ANN township is small both in popula- tion and territory. Up to the 8th of December, 1876, it was included in Southamp- ton. At that date the court formed a new township, which was named Mann, in honor of the late Hon. Job Mann. Mann township has an uneven and mountainous surface. Never- theless it contains some very good farms and is the home of an industrious, hospitable and thrifty people. There is much fine scenery in this part of the county.

John Shaffer was one of the earliest settlers in the county. He came when Indian hostili- ties were frequent, and was often in danger of an attack. He and his wife worked reaping grain with rifles strapped to their backs, in order to guard against surprise. John Shaffer was a hunter as well as a farmer. He wore buckskin pantaloons and a deerskin cap. He died about 1818. His children were : Rachael (who was the first person buried in the Shaffer graveyard), Anna (Wimer) and John. John, the father of Z. A. Shaffer, of Mann township, was born about 1796 ; lived in this county fifty- four years, and died in Minnesota. Z. A. Shaffer served in Co. F, 91st regt. Penn. Vols., from September, 1864, to June, 1865. He now resides on the farm formerly owned by Hon. G. H. Spang.

The Imes family were among the first settlers in this section. William Imes was the name of the first representative of the family in the county. He had a son William, who married Elizabeth Gordon, and was the father of eight children : Hugh, George, Barney and William, living ; and Morgan, Hiram, Javis and Elizabeth (Knee), deceased. Lawson S. Imes, son of William Imes (third), is one of the progressive farmers of this township.

Thomas Jay came to Bedford county prior to 1800 from Loudoun county, Virginia. He lived and died in Southampton township. His chil- dren were : Samuel, Betsey (deceased), Nancy, Christina (deceased) and Rosalia (deceased). Samuel Jay is living on the place formerly owned by Jacob Conrad, an early settler. He

married Miss Walter, and is the father of eight children : John, Thomas, David, James, Sam- uel, Nancy, Eliza, Mary and Sarah. Thomas was a soldier in the late war for eighteen months.

Elijah Shipley moved to Mann township from Maryland in 1808. He died at an advanced age. His children were : Leven, Nimrod, Provi- dence and Nancy, all of whom are dead. Leven died in Mann township, aged nearly ninety-two years. He owned about eight hundred and twenty acres, four hundred of which were in Maryland. His children : Nimrod (deceased), Dawson, Elijah, Bernard D., Samuel, Matilda, Nancy (deceased), Mary and Elizabeth. Elijah is living on the farm to which he moved in 1852. He has been township assessor for five terms.

John Lashley came from the vicinity of Washington, D. C., very early, and settled in Southampton township. He married Naomi Fisher, and was the father of ten children : Robert, John, Arnold, Asa, Nancy (Johnson) and Elizabeth (Fletcher), deceased ; William and Sarah (Baker), living. Arnold Lashley was born in 1802, and died in 1875. He was one of the early settlers of Mann township, and cleared up the farm on which his son Daniel K. now lives. Daniel K. Lashley served in the late war in Co. D, 55th regt. Penn. Vols .; mustered in in October, 1861 ; mustered out in fall of 1864. Mr. Lashley has held several township offices.

Curtis Carpenter was born in this township and followed the tanner's trade. He married Delia Bender, who bore thirteen children, eleven of whom are living. Among his children were three pairs of twins, each pair consisting of a boy and a girl. J. W. Carpenter, son of Curtis, is a shoemaker, and lives on the farm formerly the old Wigfield homestead.

Near the Wigfield homestead in early years there lived an old man and his wife, whose lives were a mystery to all. They were childless and reputed to be wealthy. No one now knows who they were or whence they came. The old lady died first and was buried by her husband. Tradi- tion says he buried his treasure with her. Finally the old man mysteriously disappeared, and some time afterward his grave was found beside that of his wife. Their graves are in the woods about two hundred yards from J. W. Car- penter's house. Never but once was search made for the supposed buried money. The searcher

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dug around the graves, but became frightened and left hastily, his effort being unsuccessful.

Primitive methods of agriculture were for years the only ones. The plows, scythes, hoes, shovels, forks and similar utensils, used by the pioneers with good effect, would be objects of curiosity could they be put on exhibition today. The first wagon that was seen in this township was more of a wonder to some of the younger people than the deacon's "One Hoss Shay," immortalized by Dr. Holmes. It was a. four- wheeled vehicle. One of the Shipleys is sup- posed to have owned it. Soon after, Henry Martin obtained a similar wagon and took it home. The boys, having never seen such an object, looked at it in awe and amazement, some of them being greatly frightened. Martin put the wagon in his barnyard, and during the first night, a calf hung itself in one of the wheels and died. The owner then built a high fence around the wagon, and it stood thus enclosed for a long time. Young people came to view it with curious eyes, and (from a safe distance)" wondered much at its appearance.

James S. Murphy, son of James C. Murphy, was born, and has always resided, in what now constitutes Mann township. He served in the late war in Co. D, 55th regt. Penn. Vols., from October, 1861, to August, 1865, and was wounded at Richmond, Virginia, April 20, 1865. Mr. Murphy follows the trade of cabinetmaker. He now holds the office of township auditor.

James Morse settled on four hundred acres of land prior to 1800. He probably came from one of the New England States. He died in his eighty-fifth year. His children were : Samuel, Philip, John, Morgan, Mary, Nancy and Susan, dead ; and Joseph, Betsey and Naomi, living. Samuel died in his seventy-fifth year. He was the father of John, Joseph, Morgan, Henry, Catharine, Elizabeth and Rachel, living ; and Philip, David and Samuel, dead. Three of the sons, David, Samuel and Morgan, served in the late war. David and Samuel died in the service. John has lived in Mann township since 1849. He. is a prosperous farmer and owns nearly one thousand acres, also a gristmill and sawmill.

Philip, son of James Morse, was born in this township and died here at the age of fifty-nine years. He served as constable and was justice of the peace two terms. His children were : John P., Joseph S., James and Mary A., living ; and George, Sarah, Nancy, Ellen, Cinderilla, Lucinda

and Matilda, dead. James is a miller by trade. He served in the late war four months. Joseph S. served six months. Joseph S. Morse is serving his second term as justice of the peace.

Moses Tewell, son of an early settler, was born in Southampton, where he has always re- sided. He is the father of seven children : Thomas, Moses, George W., William H., Amanda, Mary E. and Martha E. Thomas, the second son, is living on a farm formerly owned by his father.

Isaac Sowers, a shoemaker by trade, is a native of Maryland. He settled in Mann township in 1870, on the farm where he now resides. This farm, as well as several adjacent ones, was formerly owned by Artemas Bennett, who was among the first settlers of this locality. The Bennett farm was sold to Lewis Lashley and by him to John Bennett, the present owner of the homestead.

John Penrod was an early settler near Ber- lin, Somerset county, and, while yet a young man, was drowned in a stream near Berlin. His .son John, who was born in Berlin, re- moved to Martinsburg in 1838, and thence to Everett in 1848. In 1852 he removed to Hope- well township, his present residence. He served in the late war from November, 1861, to November, 1862, in Co. F, 8th Penn. re- serves, and was discharged by reason of disa- bility. John B. Penrod, his son, a resident of Mann township since 1875, was born in Martinsburg. As will be seen by the military record elsewhere given, he served throughout the late war, enlisting three times. At Gaines' Mill, June 27, 1862, he was taken prisoner. He was confined in Libby prison ; exchanged August 6, 1862. Mr. Penrod is the present township assessor.

A mineral, pronounced to be gold by ex- perts, has been discovered on Piney creek ; also specimens of gold dust. Whether the ore will pay for working remains to be de- termined.

RELIGIOUS HISTORY.

Christian Churches. - Fairview Christian church was organized by Elder Benjamin Seever about 1838, and has had the clerical labors of W. G. Proctor, James Pennell, John Smith, Abram Miller, B. A. Cooper, J. N. McDaniel and Samuel Logue. Elder Cooper is the present pastor. The church has a good house of worship and a large membership.

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MONROE.

Bethel church was organized by Elders Smith and Pennell in 1845. They were suc- ceeded in the pastorate by Elders Miller, Cooper, Logue, Sipes and Garland, the last two now officiating. It has a good house and a strong membership.

Greenfield Christian church was organized by Elders Smith and Pennell in 1854. Their successors have been Elders Miller, Barney, Cooper, Logue and .Garland, the latter being now in charge. This church is small in mem- bership, but has a comfortable house of worship. Members, fifty. The meeting-house was built in 1861.

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History of Bedford, Somerset, Fulton counties Pennsylvania, Part 79

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

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