History of Bedford, Somerset, Fulton counties Pennsylvania, Part 80

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

USA > Pennsylvania > Bedford County > History of Bedford, Somerset, Fulton counties Pennsylvania > Part 80
USA > Pennsylvania > Fulton County > History of Bedford, Somerset, Fulton counties Pennsylvania > Part 80
USA > Pennsylvania > Somerset County > History of Bedford, Somerset, Fulton counties Pennsylvania > Part 80

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).

Brethren. - The Brethren, or Dunkards, erected a church on the Bennett property in 1879, at a cost of one thousand dollars. John Bennett, minister.

CHAPTER XLVII. MONROE.

Organization - Early Settlement-Experiences of the Pioneers -Toll and Hardship -Game Abundant - Hunting - Slow Progress of Improvement - Family Sketches - The Villages of Robinsonville and Clearville- First Events -- Miscella- neous Matters - Churches.

M ONROE township was organized in 1840. It was settled early by a few families, but the process of development was exceedingly slow. Within the memory of many people now living, much of the township was a wilderness. Great improvements have taken place since 1840; farms have been cleared and improved, good buildings erected, and a steady growth in wealth and population has taken the place of the scant progress of former years.

The early settlers were of various nativities. A majority of them came from the eastern coun- ties of Pennsylvania. None of them were over- burdened with a wealth of this world's goods, and nearly all experienced hardships, such as people of the present day can scarcely conceive of. But though they were poor, they were in- dustrious, and in due time became fairly pros- perous. Many of them lived to see their toil rewarded. They secured homes for themselves and their posterity, built churches and schools, and even surrounded themselves with some of the luxuries of life. They were an honest, up- right and progressive people, and their descend- ants should honor their memories.

John Amick, one of the first settlers, located in this township at an early day and lived here until his death, which took place at an advanced age. He was a soldier in the war of 1812. His wife (nee Brill) lived to the age of one hun- dred and seven years. Their children were : Joseph, John, Samuel, David, Susanna, Mary, Margaret, Catherine and Katie. All dead but David and Katie. David was born and reared in this township, where he still resides. His children are : G. W., John C., Josiah (dead), Martin, Margaret, Mary, Elmira, Elizabeth, Sarah and Alice. Josiah died in the late war. G. W. Amick served in the late war during two terms of enlistment, and was forty days a pris- oner, in Castle Thunder and Libby.

The Gilliams were among the early settlers of this township. One of the family, Michael, now living in Southampton township, is an old resident of the county. He moved from Monroe to Southampton in 1863. Mr. Gilliam married Miss Bartholow, and is the father of three chil- dren : Michael, Caroline and Wilson. Wilson died at Williamsburg, Virginia, during the late war. Michael, Jr., also served in the war during two terms of enlistment, and was wounded (see military chapters). He is a mason and brick- layer by trade.

Jacob Fletcher came from Maryland to Mon- roe township in 1793. He spent all his life on the place where he first settled, and died here at the age of eighty-nine years. His children were : Philip, Jacob, John, Baltzer, Michael, David, Daniel, Elizabeth, Mary and Barbara, all of whom are dead. John, the third son, settled on a farm adjoining his father's, and followed farming and blacksmithing. He died at the age of eighty-six. His children were : Baltzer, Daniel, Jacob, Mary A. (deceased), Elizabeth and Caroline. Baltzer Fletcher, Esq., is living on the place settled by his grandfather. He has served two terms as justice of the peace. Daniel has served as township constable, and was county auditor, 1857-60. He lives on the home- stead of his father.

John Snyder, an early settler, located in what now constitutes Monroe township, about 1795. His children were : John (deceased), George, Philip, Betsey, Catherine (deceased), Barbara and Judith. Philip is living on the farm formerly owned by John Diehl, an early settler. His children are : David, John F., Daniel, Baltzer, Caroline and Elmira. David served in

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the late war nearly three years. Baltzer, youngest son of Philip, purchased and now lives upon his father's farm.

John Kennard, one of the early pioneers, came from Bucks county and settled in this township prior to 1800. He was the father of seven children : Moses, James and Joseph S., living ; John, Elizabeth, Honor and Maria, de- ceased. Joseph S. Kennard was born in this township and still resides here. He is the father of William B., John, James H., Elizabeth and Mary. John served three years in the late war and was wounded at Locust Grove. Will- iam B. enlisted, in 1861, in Co. D, 101st regt. Penn. Vols .; discharged in 1863, he immediately re-enlisted and served till the close of the war.

David Barkman settled in Bedford county about 1805. He married a Fletcher and was the father of Jacob, Michael (deceased), Philip, John, Hezekiah, David, Catharine (deceased), Mary A., Susannah, Julia (deceased), Emma (deceased) and Judith. Philip and Hezekiah served a short time in the late war. Jacob is living on the farm formerly owned by Joseph Wimer, an early settler of this township. He is the father of five children : David, Joseph, Michael, Judith and Mary. David has been engaged in hotelkeeping at Clearville since 1876. Joseph was county surveyor three years.

Wayne Thomas (whose maternal grandfather, Anthony Zimmers, was an early German settler, who lived and died in Bedford township) is living on the part of the farm formerly owned by the Means family, who were early settlers.

Henry Mearkle, an early settler of this town- ship, located near Cherry grove. He was the the father of ten children, nine of whom are living : John, Henry, Bartley, George, Susan (deceased), Mary (Layton), Eliza (Frazey), Sophia (Layton), Rachel (Akers) and Barbara (Clark). George Mearkle is a farmer near Rock hill. His son Barton served in Co. K, 208th regt. Penn. Vols., from September 7, 1864, to June, 1865. He is now engaged in farming. He purchased his farm from John Buzzard, to whose wife it was given as a present.

John L. Nycum was born in Monroe town- ship in 1789, and died in 1868. Little is known of the early history of the family. His children were : George (deceased), William, Mary (Fel- ten), Sophia (Nycum), Priscilla (Asherman), deceased, Elias, Elizabeth (Wimer), deceased, Josiah (deceased), Susannah (Mortimore) and

J. W. J. W. Nycum is engaged in farming in Monroe township. He has held the office of school director.

The early settlers found game abundant, and with many of them it formed their chief means of subsistence. Deer, turkeys and smaller game were always to be had by those who sought them. Buckskin garments were worn by boys and men. Bears and wolves proved very an- noying to farmers who tried to keep stock. Sheep were put in strong pens every night to secure them from the wolves. When hogs were allowed to run in the woods, not infrequently some of them were killed by bears. The town- ship had several noted hunters, whose exploits, as narrated by themselves, furnished a never-fail- ing fund of entertainment to the young people.

Jacob Ford, an early settler, was born in Ger- many in 1765. He settled in Pigeon cove and followed cabinetmaking. He died about 1843. The children of Jacob Ford and his wife Su- sannah were : Elizabeth (Coon), Barnet, Isaac, Hannah (Morgart), Barbara (Smith), Mary (May) and Susannah (Robinson), all dead but Mrs. May.

Laban Hanks settled in Monroe township in 1830. He served as justice of the peace six- teen years. He was married to Rebecca An- drews, and was the father of ten children, five of whom are living. Mr. Hanks died in 1875. His son, W. H. Hanks, has been keeping hotel in Clearville since 1881. W. H. Hanks served in the late war during two terms of enlistment, and was wounded in the service.

The Akers family were early settlers of Brush Creek valley, Fulton county. The father of Ephraim Akers was a revolutionary soldier, who came to that valley among the earliest pioneers. Ephraim Akers was the father of John H., J. S., Nazanzen (deceased), West A., Charles M. (deceased), Ephraim E. (deceased), Charlotte (Barton), Nancy (deceased), Rachel (deceased). J. S. Akers, a progressive farmer, cleared and owns the farm on which he now lives. Mr. Akers settled in Monroe township in 1849. He served in the late war in Co. H, 208th regt. Penn. Vols., from 1864 until the close of the war. James N. Akers, son of J. S. Akers, is a thriving farmer and lives near his father's.

George Von Stein, a native of Germany, came to Bedford county in 1840, from Franklin county. He was a mechanic and followed his trade. He died in 1877, aged seventy-one years.

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MONROE.

His wife was Mary Murray, and their children were: Jane (Reecy), Sarah A. (Robbins), Mary M. (Hixon), Catherine R. (Linn), Will- iam (deceased), Matthew M., John M., George M. D. and James K. P. George M. D. followed blacksmithing for several years, but during the past ten years has devoted his attention to farming.

Hugh Linn, born in Perry county, in 1808, settled in this township in 1863, and died in 1881, from the effects of disease contracted in the army. He enlisted in Co. B, 3d Md. regt., in 1861, and served twenty-two months. He was the father of thirteen children, twelve of whom are living. His widow now resides on the home farm, which is managed by her son Mason. This place was first settled by a man named Rohm, and afterward owned by George Blankney, from whom Hugh Linn purchased it ..

John Rhea, a native of Juniata county, settled in this township in 1868. Mr. Rhea follows his trade, shoemaking, and carries on farming.

Samuel Streightof, a native of Huntingdon county, settled in Monroe township in 1869, and is engaged in blacksmithing. Mr. Streightof served in the late war, from 1864-5, enlisting in Co. F, 107th regt. Penn. Vols.

ROBINSONVILLE.

Robinsonville is a small settlement called after the Robinsons. William Robinson cut the first timber and built the first house on the land where the village now is. The first school- house in the place, a log building, slab-seated, was erected in 1808. George Blankney was probably the first teacher. From the founding of the village until within the last year, a lite- rary society has been held in the schoolhouse.

William Robinson was born in Ireland in 1756. He emigrated to America in 1784, and settled in Franklin county. In 1797 he settled in Bedford county, near Robinsonville, where he died in 1802. He was a shoemaker by trade. He belonged to the Masonic fraternity, and a curious badge, made by hand from pure silver, is now in the possession of his grandson, Job Robinson. William Robinson was the father of four sons and three daughters, all of whom are dead. His son William, born in Monroe township in 1799, died in 1874. He was a blacksmith by trade. For over forty years he was a member of the Christian church. In 1847 he was appointed the first postmaster of

Robinsonville, which position he held until his death. William Robinson, Jr., married Susan Ford, and was the father of nine children : Sarah (May), William (died in the army), Susan (Steckman), Elizabeth (Elwell), Mary (Winters), Jonas (died in the army), Ruth, Job and Bar- bara (Fletcher). Job Robinson, Esq., has been postmaster since 1874, and has followed the mercantile business since 1876. He was elected justice of the peace in 1880. Mr. Robinson served in Co. H, 208th regt. Penn. Vols., from August 11, 1864, until June, 1865.

CLEARVILLE.

Clearville is a small village in Monroe town- ship, pleasantly situated. William Evan's was the original owner of the land on which the vil- - lage stands, and built the first house in the place in 1823. Philip Evans built and kept the first hotel in the village. The Eranses were large landowners. James Marshall was the first merchant. . He came to the place from Fulton county in 1835. He named the place.

The first physician in the place was Dr. Reichter. The present medical adviser is Dr. J. Thornton Rohm, who is a competent and suc- cessful practitioner.

George Sigel was a native of Germany, and served under Napoleon for two or three years during the great European conflict. In 1818 he came to America, and settled in East Provi- dence township, where he died in the ninetieth year of his age. He was the father of ten chil- dren, five of whom are living : Mary A., Eva, Sarah, Raphael and Stephen. Stephen has been living in Clearville since 1878. He is a basket- maker by trade. He served in the Mexican war for fourteen months under Gen. Scott. In the late war he enlisted in September, 1861, and served until January, 1863, when he was dis- charged on account of a wound. He was in Co. A, 11th regt. Penn. Vols.

John McGee came from Ireland in 1880, and settled in Monroe township. He afterward lived a short time in Southampton. Returning to Monroe in 1863, he died in 1871. He married Catharine Diehl, and was the father of Mary A., Philip, Michael, Joseph and William. Philip McGee has been following mercantile business in Clearville since 1880.

Valentine Freet came from Franklin county to Morrison's cove in 1846, and there resided until 1851, when he removed to Friend's cove,

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where he still lives. Mr. Freet is the father of nine children, seven of whom are still living. His oldest son, Isaac, has been engaged in the cooper business in Clearville since 1870.

CHURCHES.

Lutheran .- An Evangelical Lutheran congre- gation was organized in this township in 1823. Services were held in schoolhouses and dwell- ings until 1840, when, under the supervision of Rev. Height, the present building was erected. The first pastor was Rev. William Yeager, suc- ceeded by Revs. Fishburn, Peightel and G. C. Probst. The present membership is forty.

Methodist .- Clearville Methodist Episcopal church was organized by Rev. Ferguson in 1867. George W. Amick was the first class- leader. The congregation worshiped in the old Union church until 1872, when the Methodists erected a house of worship. The present member- ship is two hundred and nineteen. The pastors have been Revs. Ferguson, Horton, Gray, White, McClure, Creveling, Rhue, Dever and Ham.

Reformed Church .- Bethel congregation of the Reformed church was organized by Rev. Matthew Irvine, September 28, 1844. At the first communion, September 29, 1844, thirteen persons were confirmed. Henry Steckman was elected elder, and John Snider, deacon. The house of worship was completed in 1847, and dedicated on June 20. The church originally belonged to the Bloody Run (Everett) charge, and its pastors were : M. Irvine, 1844-56 ; C. F. Hoffmeier, 1856-62. It now forms a part of the Clear Ridge charge.

Clearville Union Church .- The first Union church, a log building, was erected in 1814. There was no floor and no door in the house at the time the first funeral ceremony was held. The congregation crept in under the sleepers, and sat on the sills during the service.

The Lutheran, Christian, Reformed and Ger- man Baptist denominations built a union church at Clearville, which was dedicated in the fall of 1881. The Lutherans and Christians each have an organization and regular preaching here.

'Christian Churches .- The organization and early history of Clearville and Rockhill Chris- tian churches will be found in West Providence township in connection with the sketch of Mount Union Christian church.

Methodist .- The first church in Robinsonville was built by the Methodist Episcopal congrega-

tion in 1880, at a cost of one thousand two hun- dred dollars, during the pastorate of Rev. J. W. Rhue.

Early meetings were held by various denomi- nations in dwellings and in schoolhouses. Among the first ministers in the township were Revs. Jacobs, Heeps, Comber and Proctor.

An organization of Methodist Protestants has been maintained for several years. The house of worship, known as Stevens' chapel, is located in the northeastern part of Monroe township.

ADDENDA.

Peace Branch Encampment, No. 114, I.O.O.F., of Pennsylvania, located at Bedford, was insti- tuted on the 24th of February, 1853, by D.D.G.P. Cummins. The following (being the charter members) were elected and installed as the officers of the encampment : Henry Nicode- mus, C.P .; C. N. Hickok, H.P .; A. J. Middle- ton, S.W .; B. R. Davis, J.W .; Thomas R. Gettys, Scribe ; James Strong, Treas.

The first member initiated after the institu- tion of the encampment was A. J. Sansom.

The following are the Chief Patriarchs who followed the first C.P., Henry Nicodemus : A. J. Sansom, John Mann, T. R. Gettys, J. L. Les- sig, J. R. Jordan, B. F. Harry, C. N. Hickok, A. J. Middleton, J. M. Shoemaker, B. R. Mid- dleton, J. G. Minnich, Jr., J. R. Durbrow, Eben Pennel, John I. Noble, W. L. Horn, H. D. Tate, B. F. Harclerode, M. P. Heckerman, Josiah Amos, D. W. Prosser, H. F. Irvine, D. W. Crouse, Levi Smith, Jacob Standenour, G. C. Leader, A. B. Cobler, Isaac Pierson, James F. Mickel, David Zimmers, W. B. Pierson, J. Ram- sey, W. C. Snively, N. Schack, A. L. Nycum, Joseph Evans, J. H. Jordan, R. G. T. Wolff.

The following are the present officers of the encampment : Jo. W. Tate, C.P .; Joseph S. Stayer, S.W .; F. W. Jordan, J.W .; R. G. T. Wolff, H.P., James F. Mickel, Scribe ; Joseph Evans, Treas .; W. I. Eicholtz, I.S .; J. Ramsey, O.S .; W. S. Newman, Ist W .; Isaac Marx, 2d W .; J. H. Carpenter, 3d W .; H. R. Hershberger, 4th W .; J. M. Shoemaker, Guide ; J. Ramsey, J. M. Shoemaker and W. I. Eicholtz, Trustees.

The encampment is now in a flourishing con- dition, having initiated twenty-five members during the year. The encampment is composed of good, working and energetic members.

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HISTORY OF SOMERSET COUNTY.

CHAPTER XLVIII.

ERECTION AND ORGANIZATION, PUBLIC BUILDINGS, TOWNSHIPS AND BOROUGHS.

Extracts from the Act Authorizing its Erection - First Officers Appointed-The Seat of Justice Established -The County Commissioners in Session - Extracts from Their Minutes - Subsequent Changes of Boundary Lines - Court-houses and Jails -Six Townships Organised Prior to Formation of County - Dates of Their Erection, and of All Succeeding Townships and Boroughs.

THE history of Somerset, in point of area, takes rank as the sixth county in the vast commenwealth of which it forms a part. It contains one thousand one hundred and two square miles, or seven hundred and five thou- sand two hundred and eighty acres of land. Its boundaries are the State of Maryland on the south, Fayette and Westmoreland counties on the west, Cambria county on the north, and the mother county, " old Bedford," on the east.

The Allegheny mountain was the western boundary line of the territory acquired from the Indians by the treaties of 1754-8. By the treaty of 1768 the Indians agreed to a further cession of lands extending from the Allegheny mountain westward to the western boundary line of the province. The provincial authorities never attempted to exercise jurisdiction over any part of the province until after the Indian title had been extinguished by treaty and purchase. Hence, from the year 1758, that part of the present county of Somerset lying east of the Allegheny mountain-Allegheny, Northampton, Southampton, Larimer and Greenville townships-formed part of Cumber- land county, and from 1768 until 1771 all of the region embraced by Somerset county today was called Cumberland county. During the twenty-four years succeeding March 9, 1771, the lands now within this county-Somerset- constituted part of the county of Bedford.

By an act of the state legislature approved April 17, 1795, entitled "An act for erecting part of the county of Bedford into a separate

county," Somerset county was ushered into ex- istence. The preamble and most pertinent sections of the act referred to are as follows :

WHEREAS, the inhabitants of the western part of Bedford county have, by their petitions, set forth to the General Assembly of this State the great hard- ships they labour under from being so remote from the present seat of justice, and the public offices : For remedy whereof,

SECT. I. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, in General Assembly met, and it is hereby enacted by the authority of the same, That all that part of Bedford county lying and being to the westward of a line drawn along the top of the Allegheny mountain, from where the Maryland line crosseth the same to where the line of Huntingdon county crosseth the same mountain, shall be and the same is hereby de- clared to be erected into a county, henceforth to be called Somerset.

* * * * *

SECT. III. And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, That from and after the fourth Monday in September next, the Courts of Common Pleas and General Quarter Sessions of the Peace in and for the said county of Somerset shall be opened and held on the Mondays next following the courts of Westmore- land county at Brunnerstown, in the said county of Somerset, until a court-house and gaol shall be erected as hereinafter directed, and shall then be held at said court-house.

SECT. IV. And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, That all the Justices of the Peace now com- missioned for the districts of the present county of Bedford, who reside within the limits of the county of Somerset, shall be considered as and shall be Jus- tices of the Peace for the said county of Somerset. .

* * * *

* *

SECT. X. And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, That the governor be authorized, and he is hereby required to appoint five commissioners who do not reside in the county of Somerset, which commis- sioners, or a majority of them, shall meet at the town of Berlin on the first Monday of September next, and proceed to view and determine upon the most eligible and proper situation for erecting the public buildings for the said county, and make their report into the office of the secretary of this common wealth on or before the first day of October next, which report so made shall be final, and shall fix and determine the spot for the seat of justice in and for the said county ; for which

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service each of the said commissioners shall have and receive three dollars per diem for every day they shall be employed in the said service, to be paid by warrants drawn by the county commissioners on the treasurer of Bedford county.

SECT. XI. And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, That it shall and may be lawful for the com- missioners of taxes of the said county, which shall be elected at the next annual election, to take assurance to them, and their successors in office, of such lot or piece of ground as shall have been approved of by the commissioners to be appointed as aforesaid, or a majority of them, for the purpose of erecting thereon a Court-House, Gaol, and offices for safe keeping of the records; and that for defraying the expenses thereof the county commissioners shall assess and levy, in the manner directed by the acts for raising county rates and levies, a sum not exceeding two thousand dollars.

SECT. XII. And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, That the aforesaid county of Somerset shall be and is hereby declared to belong to the fifth district, consisting of the counties of Allegheny, Westmoreland, Fayette and Washington, and that the president of the Courts of Common Pleas within the said district shall be President of the Courts of Common Pleas of the said county.

SECT. XIII. And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, That the said county of Somerset shall form a part of the district composed of the counties of Bed- ford, Franklin and Huntingdon for the election of a member of Congress, and of the counties of Bedford and Huntingdon for the election of a member of the Senate of the State of Pennsylvania.

SECT. XIV. And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, That where the division line aforesaid shall divide a township, the part of a township thus divided that will remain in Bedford county shall be a town- ship, and retain its original name, and the part of a township thus divided that will remain in the county of Somerset shall be a township, and retain its original name, until the same shall be altered by the Courts of General Quarter Sessions of the Peace for the said counties respectively.

SECT. XV. And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, That the inhabitants of the several town- ships of the said county of Somerset, qualified by law to elect, shall continue to hold their elections at the usual place where they have heretofore held the same.

The taxes collected in 1795 in Brother's Val- ley, Turkey-Foot, Quemahoring, Milford, Elk Lick and Stoney Creek, the six townships which composed the original county of Somerset, were paid into the treasury of Bedford county. But soon after the passage of the act above quoted, Gov. Thomas Mifflin appointed (as officers of the new county) James Wells, Abraham Cable and Ebenezer Griffith associate judges, and Josiah Espy prothonotary, register and recorder, clerk of courts, etc., whose commis-

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History of Bedford, Somerset, Fulton counties Pennsylvania, Part 80

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

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