USA > Pennsylvania > Huntingdon County > History of Huntingdon County, in the state of Pennsylvania : from the earliest times to the centennial anniversary of American independence, July 4, 1876 > Part 25
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HISTORY OF HUNTINGDON COUNTY.
the large loaf of gingerbread the desired section, first, how- ever, carefully wiping his knife on the skirt of the only gar- ment that adorned his person. Next and last was a log house in which Lewellyn Davis lived. This, with additions and re- pairs, is now the house in which Mrs. Rutter lives.
The grist mill and saw mill still occupy their then posi- tions, but have been much changed in appearance by repairs. The mill-race is the same.
OR
CHAPTER XLIII.
TOD TOWNSHIP-UNION-TROUGH CREEK VALLEY-CASS-SALISBURY CIIILCOATSTOWN-CASSVILLE-HON. DAVID CLARKSON.
Tod, one of the Trough creek valley townships, is bound- ed on the northeast by Penn and Cass townships, on the southeast by Cass and Clay, on the southwest by Carbon, and on the northwest by Hopewell and Lincoln. It con- tains five post offices, Cook's Mill, Eagle Foundry, Paradise Furnace, Tod, and Trough Creek.
Previous to the erection of Tod township, Union em- braced nearly the entire Trough creek valley, extending from the Juniata river on the north to the summit of Broad Top mountain on the south, and from Jack's mountain on the east, to Terrace on the west, and including the present townships of Union, Cass, Tod and part of Carbon. The following sketch of Cass township will contain some facts which relate as well to other parts of the valley.
The boundaries of Cass are Penn and Union on the north, Shirley and Cromwell on the east, Clay on the south, and Tod on the west and southwest.
Trough creek valley was settled chiefly by immigrants from the State of Maryland, at so early a day that the oldest person now living cannot give the year. We find that improvements were made in 1774, but few if any land warrants are dated prior to 1794. Of the inhabitants born here, Mrs. Ruth Wright, widow of the Rev. Dr. Jesse Wright, deceased, is the oldest. She is now 87 years of age. A year or two before her birth, her father, Richard Chilcott, moved to and settled upon the farm now owned by James C. Wright, in Union township, then and for some years afterwards farther north than any other improvement in the valley.
Among the earliest settlers were the Lilleys, Lucketts, Fitzsimmons, Corbins, Drennans, Brownings, Caldwells, Deans, Bomgartners, Curfmans, McClains, Chilcotts, Green- lands, Stevers and Robinsons. When these pioneers were
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HISTORY OF HUNTINGDON COUNTY.
endeavoring to make the country habitable, they sometimes exchanged farms or improvements, and in such cases it was customary for the parties to the transanction to exchange also all movable property, each leaving his household goods, cattle and agricultural implements upon the place from which he removed, and retaining none of his former posses- sions but his wife and children. This was done to avoid the expense and trouble of conveying them to the new home, through a region without roads, and without the vehicles which would have been necessary for their transportation.
It is related of one of the Chilcoats, called "Knob Josh," that he once set up a great lamentation concerning the alleged loss of $300, so affecting his financial condition, as he said, as to compel him to suspend payments. On being asked how he had lost so much money, he replied that it was because he had no hogs to eat the acorns. He was a farmer, as were nearly all of those we have named.
Richard Chilcott, esq., and Thomas Wright at one time seemed to be standing jurors, attending court at every term without compensation, and paying their own expenses. Eli- jah Corbin was commissioned a justice of the peace in 1809, by Governor Snyder, for the fourth district of Huntingdon county. Joshua Gosnell was also a justice of the peace and one of the first local preachers in the M. E. church. Among the first itinerant Methodist preachers were the Revs. Reilly, Hank, Sansom and Byerly. There had perhaps previously been "old school Baptist" preachers, but the first itinerating minister of that denomination was Richart Proudfoot, who traveled through the valley for a number of years. His sal- ary for 1826 was $31, six dollars of which was not paid him. During the latter part of his ministry he was a " new school Baptist." It is to be hoped that that paid better.
The Methodist ministers preached in George Smith's house, which stood within the present borough of Cassville. The first church in the valley was built where the new M. E. Church stands, at Trough Creek, Tod township. In 1823 or '24, the Lutheran and German Reformed church was built in Cassville, and the first person buried in the grave-
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HISTORY OF HUNTINGDON COUNTY.
yard. Rev. Aurandt, of Woodcock valley, was the first pastor. The valley now contains five Methodist Episcopal churches, two Methodist Protestant, two Lutheran, one Baptist, one Church of God, and one United Brethren.
As to management of schools in the valley, or one of them at least, at an early day, or before the adoption of the common school system, we give a literal copy of a manu- script in the handwriting of Esquire Corbin, now in the possession of Hon. David Clarkson :
"Whereas, there has heretofore been a school house erected Near the Long Bridge on Michael Mierley's land in Union township in the county of Huntingdon, known by the Name of the Union school house, which was built by the Neighbors, and whereas it now becomes Necessary to appoint trustees for said school house, the following persons have met this twelfth Day Oct. 1824, for appointing trustees as aforesaid, Namely, Michael Mierley, Jacob Miller, John Bom- gartner, David Bomgartner, Abraham Wright, Jesse Wright, George Smith, Jacob Bomgartner of Michael, Jacob Estep and Elijah Corbin and Michael Mierley, jr., at which time Elijah Corbin, Jesse Wright and Michael Mierley, jr., was Nominated and appointed trustees for said school house, whose Duty it shall beto attend to the Rules and Regulations of said school in future, that is to say where any teacher applies for a school at said house they are first to apply to said trustees who are to admit or Reject as they may think proper, and if admitted and a school is got then it shall be their Duty also to see that there is Regular and Due attention payed by said teacher according to his article." Signed by Abraham Wright, Michael Mierley, Jacob Miller, Jacob Estep, George Smith and two others whose names cannot be deciphered.
The principal grain market for Trough creek valley before the construction of the Pennsylvania canal was at McConnellsburg, in Fulton county, thirty to forty miles distant.
Salisbury, known also as Chilcoatstown, was laid out by Benjamin and Robeson Chilcoat previous to 1797.
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HISTORY OF HUNTINGDON COUNTY.
The plan of lots was recorded on the 22nd of February of that year. It lay entirely south of the present public square and Seminary street. Lots were sold by the proprietors for three pounds five shillings each and ground rent, or twenty dollars, one-half in hand and the balance the first fall month. Three buildings stood upon the site of the village when it was laid out, only one of which, now used as a stable, remains. It has been removed from its former position and has been replaced by the residence of Rev. Jesse Wright's widow, which was erected in 1841.
The first tavern was kept there by William Lovell, and the second by Robert Speer, father of Hon. R. M. Speer, of Huntingdon. The latter became a resident of the place in 1818 or '19. He was a man of considerable energy and built a large brick and frame dwelling, 102 feet in length· Having been the first merchant, as well as a tavern keeper, he kept the largest and most general assortment of dry goods the place has ever known, and did an extensive busi- ness in grain, controlling the trade from Broad Top to the Juniata river. He contributed more perhaps to the building up of the town than any other of its citizens.
On the 24th of September, 1830, Andrew Shaw and Dr. Robert Baird laid out an addition to Salisbury and sold lots at from forty to fifty dollars each. In that and the follow- ing year a number of lots were purchased and buildings erected. Lemuel Green then moved to the town and built his tannery, which has never since suspended, but is still in operation. Within the next ten years, James Henderson, John S. Gehrett, Dr. Jesse Wright and David Clarkson became residents.
In 1849, a public meeting was held to consider the expe- diency of having the place incorporated as a borough, and a committee, consisting of Robert Speer, D. Stever and D. Clarkson, was appointed to select a name. The ma- jority decided upon "Cassville" as appropriate, and by that name it was incorporated by act of Assembly, March 3rd, 1853.
Hon. David Clarkson, who is now serving his second term
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HISTORY OF HUNTINGDON COUNTY.
as Associate Judge of the county, and who has been promi- nent in every useful public enterprise in Cassville, was born near Philadelphia. He came to Trough creek valley when two years of age and lived about two miles west of Cass- ville until 1840, when he removed to the town. He was one of the projectors of the Cassville Seminary, a history of which is given in another chapter.
CHAPTER XLIV.
JACKSON TOWNSHIP-JOSEPH JACKSON-GENERAL WILLIAM M'ALEVY-HIS METHOD OF IMMIGRATION-M'ALEVY'S FORT-SCHOOLS AND CHURCHES- GREENWOOD FURNACE -- MITCHELL'S FURNACE -- STONE CREEK AND M'ALEVY'S FORT RAILROAD-CLAY TOWNSHIP-BRADY-MILL CREEK- SAND QUARRIES.
Jackson township, in the northeastern portion of the county, joins Centre county on the north and Mifflin county on the east and southeast, and is bounded by Barree on the west and southwest. Is is watered by the two branches of Standing Stone creek, which rise in the mountains near the Centre and Mifflin county lines, and unite into one stream shortly after passing out of the township. It was named after Joseph Jackson, Esq., one of the first settlers within its limits. The line dividing it from Barree passes through the farm upon which he lived, and which still belongs to his descendants.
Another early settler of note was General William Mc- Alevy, who is mentioned in the chapters relating to the Revolutionary war, and in connection with the political troubles in 1788. He was a Scotch-Irishman by birth, and had resided in Cumberland valley, north of Carlisle. His wife was a sister of John Harris, founder of Harrisburg. He came up to the place which afterwards took his name, about the year 1770, and after determining to settle there, made a canoe out of a pine tree, in which he descended Standing Stone creek and the Juniata and Susquehanna rivers to Harrisburg, and in which he returned, bringing his family up those streams to his future home. In the shallow waters of the creek his craft, light as it was, struck the rocks and bars, from whence it could be moved only by the power of a horse which the General kept conveniently near.
He acquired all the lands in and around McAlevy's fort. The fortification which was thus known, was but a block- house on the bluff east of the village, built as a defense
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HISTORY OF HUNTINGDON COUNTY.
against the hostile incursions of the savages. He was once wounded in the leg by the Indians, but escaped from them, while his companion was overtaken and scalped. Brave, resolute and daring, he was just the style of man that would be ready to take up arms in behalf of Amer- ican independence.
The old settlers were engaged principally in agricultu- ral pursuits, and by far the greater part of the present population follow the same avocation. The township con- tains eleven public school houses, one academy or high school, and five churches, two of which are Methodist Epis- copal, one United Presbyterian, one Presbyterian and one Lutheran.
Greenwood furnaces, two stacks, are situated in the southeast part of the township. The old furnace was built in 1833, by William Patton and William Norris. It has been in active operation ever since its erection, with the exception of two or three years. The new stack was built in 1860. These furnaces now belong to the Logan Iron and Steel Company.
In 1841 Thomas, John and James Mitchell, built a small furnace about a mile north of McAlevy's Fort, but the lo- cation being unfavorable and the management inefficient, it proved a failure, and now not one stone of it remains upon another. It was called the Little Furnace.
About six years ago the Legislature granted a charter for the Stone Creek and McAlevy's Fort railroad, and $20,000, the sum required from the people of the township, was subscribed toward its construction, but on the failure of Jay Cooke & Co., it shared the fate of many similar enterprises. The road may yet be made on the return of business pros- perity.
There are three post-offices in the township, McAlevy's Fort, Ennisville and Greenwood Furnace.
Clay township is bounded on the northeast by Cass and Cromwell, on the southeast by Springfield, on the south- west by Fulton county, and on the northwest by Carbon and Tod townships. The East Broad Top railroad crosses
AT MILL CREEK.
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HISTORY OF HUNTINGDON COUNTY.
the northern portion of the township, passing the boroughs of Three Springs and Saltillo. At the latter is a large steam tannery, owned by Leas & McVitty.
Brady township was named in honor of Ilugh Brady, a distinguished General of the United States Army, who is said to have been born within the walls of Standing Stone Fort. He entered the army at an early age and received various well-merited promotions until he attained the high rank he held at the time of his death. Other members of the Brady family lived in the vicinity of Huntingdon before the Revolutionary war. The father of the famous scout and spy, Capt. Samuel Brady, resided at the mouth of Crooked creek, on the opposite side of the river. During the war all of the Bradys removed to the West Branch of the Susquehanna.
The township is bounded on the northeast and southeast by Mifflin county, on the south and southwest by Union, on the west by llenderson, and on the northwest by Henderson and Barree. It has Jack's mountain on the east, Standing Stone mountain in the centre and the Juniata river on the south.
Its principal village is Mill Creek, on the Pennsylvania railroad and canal, laid out October 12th, 1848, for the proprie- tors, Messrs. Zook, Plank and King. On the stream of Mill creek, from which the village takes its name, is Mill Creek · Furnace, out of blast for a number of years. The place has considerable trade from Kishacoquillas valley and the ad- joining townships of Union and ilenderson.
At the end of Standing Stone mountain, in the southern part of the township, sand for the manufacture of glass is quarried and crushed by steam power. It is shipped to Pittsburg and used in the establishments there. As it exists in large quantities and is of the best quality, the erection of glass works in the vicinity of the mines, or at some other point in the county, seems to be demanded by every consid- eration of economy and convenience.
CHAPTER XLV.
PENN TOWNSHIP-SOIL-ORES-EARLY SETTLERS -- VILLAGES -- MARKLES- BURG-GRANTVILLE-GRAFTON-RELIGIOUS DENOMINATIONS-REFORMED -LUTHERAN-METHODIST EPISCOPAL-GERMAN BAPTIST-MENNONITE- CHURCHES-MILLS-SOLDIERS OF THE UNION ARMY.
In 1846 the township of Hopewell was divided into two nearly equal parts,and the northern or northeastern part erect- ed into the township of Penn. It is bounded on the north by the townships of Walker and Juniata, on the east by Union, Cass and Tod, on the south by Lincoln, and on the west by the county of Blair, the summits of Terrace and Tussey's mountains forming, respectively, the eastern and western boundary lines.
The township is about six miles from north to south, and eight or eight-and-a-half from east to west. It is watered by the Raystown branch of the Juniata, which runs along the base of Terrace mountain. James creek and its tribu- taries and some of the tributaries of Crooked creek also traverse the township.
The surface is broken by numerous ridges, which at some points assume the proportions of mountains ; the princi - pal ones being Mulberry, Warrior, Backbone, Piney and Alaquippa or " Allegrippus."
Woodcock valley, proper, includes the territory lying be- tween Warrior ridge and Tussey's mountain. Although somewhat broken, it is naturally a very productive limestone soil, and most of it is in a high state of cultivation. The slate soil of the ridges is less productive than that of the valley, but in favorable seasons, produces excellent crops. The soil of the valley of the Raystown branch is mainly a sandy alluvion, and is also highly productive. The town- ship is rich in iron ores. There are practically inexhausti- ble deposits of hematite, fossil and levant fossil ores. The former is found in the trough formed by Mulberry and Warrior ridges, the soft fossil and levant along the base of
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HISTORY OF HUNTINGDON COUNTY.
Tussey's mountain. Unfortunately for the community, the owners of these lands were induced some years ago, by specious but delusive promises, to execute perpetual ore leases to parties residing in other sections of the State, there- by depriving this locality of the full benefit of its great mineral wealth. Within the last twelve years upwards of one hundred thousand tons of ore were shipped from Marklesburg and Grafton, mainly to the Cambria Iron Company of Johnstown, and to Grove Brothers, of Danville, Pa.
Lead ore has also been discovered at different points on Warrior ridge, but so far not in any considerable quan- tities.
But few, if any, of the descendants of the first white set- tlers of what is now Penn township survive. The names of Hartsock, Kough, Fleck, Freld, Breckenridge, Bishop, Keith, Roberts, Hart, Owens, McMath and Graffius are among those that figure in its earliest local history. Thomas Wilson, an Englishman, was probably one of the few pioneer settlers still having representatives in the township. He lived on what is now known as the "station farm." He owned and probably built the first grist mill in this section of the country. It is represented as having been exceed- ingly primitive in structure. It was known throughout the neighborhood as " Tub mill," and stood near the site of the brick mill now owned by John S. Isett and Solomon H. Isenberg.
Mr. Wilson had two sons-Levi and William-and five daughters, married, respectively, to James Entriken, Wil- liam Enyeart, Samuel Glasgow, William Harvey and William Taylor. He died April, 1836, in the 95th year of his age.
Michael Garner came to Woodcock valley from the neigh- borhood of Sharpsburg, Maryland, in 1789. He purchased the "improvement" of Thomas Whitner, and on June 20, 1794, from "John Penn the younger and John Penn the older, through their attorney, Anthony Butler, two hundred and seventy-nine acres of land lying in Hopewell township,
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HISTORY OF HUNTINGDON COUNTY.
1
Huntingdon county, being a part of the tract known as Penn's Manor of Woodcock valley, paying therefor £112. 5s. 4d., current money of Pennsylvania, in specie." A part of this tract is at present owned and occupied by Geo. Garner, one of his numerous grandsons.
Mr. Garner had five sons-John, Michael, Matthew, George and Philip, and two daughters-Susan and Mary-married, respectively, to Daniel Stauffer and Jacob Grubb. His de- scendants outnumber those of any other family in the township.
Jacob Brumbaugh emigrated from Germany and first located near the Antietam, in Maryland, about the year 1780. He removed to Morrison's cove in 1788, and came to Woodcock valley in 1794. On the 4th day of August, 1800, he purchased from David McMurtrie a tract of land known as " Timothy Meadows," on the south side of War- rior's ridge, containing 219 acres. The tract was originally surveyed in pursuance of an application-No. 1709-entered the 2nd day of August, 1766, by John Mitchell, and the pat- ent subsequently confirmed to Solomon Sills. His grandson, Jacob Brumbaugh, senior, is the present owner and occu- pant of the old homestead.
Mr. Brumbaugh was twice married. He had fifteen chil- dren-nine sons and six daughters-of whom two are still living, viz: David Brumbaugh senior, of Marklesburg, aged eighty-three, and Mrs. Susanna Markley, of Ohio, a few years younger.
Jacob Grove was from Lancaster county. He located on the farm now occupied by David H. Grove, in the year 1796. He had five sons and three daughters. Of the former, Daniel, Jacob and Andrew still remain in the township.
John and Peter Beightell and Adam Auman also came from Lancaster county, and located in Woodcock valley at alout the same time.
Ludwig Hoover came from Maryland at an early day and settled on the Breckenridge farm -- the scene of the massacre by the Indians detailed in Jones' Juniata Valley. Ile had a hemp factory, an oil mill and a distillery. Ilis grandson,
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HISTORY OF HUNTINGDON COUNTY.
Ludwig Hoover, is the present owner and occupant of this historic old farm.
Isaac Bowers, from Berks, and Abramam Grubb, from Bucks county, came to this valley in the early part of the present century. The former purchased a farm from John Freed, and the latter purchased the Hartsock property, on which was located "Fort Hartsock"-famous in the history of Woodcock valley in Indian times.
Andrew, Henry, Jacob and John Boyer, brothers, came from Montgomery county, Pa., in the year 1799, and located in the neighborhood of the present village of Marklesburg, where most of the surviving children still reside.
Henry Summers and Joseph and John Norris came from the neighborhood of Hagerstown, Maryland, toward the close of the last century. The former located in Woodcock valley, where one of his sons, (the venerable and respected Jacob Summers, sr.,) and a number of his grandsons still reside. The Norris brothers settled on the Raystown branch, and were the progenitors of large and highly respectable families still resident in the township.
The Barrick, Beaver, Prough, Fink, Speck, Geissinger and Snare families are among the older ones of the township.
Marklesburg, a quiet and unpretending little village, is situated in the southwest part of the township, near the head of James Creek. It is distant half a mile from the Hunting. don and Broad Top railroad, at Grantville, and twelve miles southwest of Huntingdon, on the public road leading from Huntingdon to Bedford.
David Brumbaugh, sr., and Matthew Garner, dec'd, were the owners of the land on which the village is located. It was a part of the tract which was for many years in dispute between the bank of North America and the heirs of Doctor Allison. The former of the two proprietors mentioned, put an end to the conflict in titles by purchasing both claims. The village was laid out in the summer of 1844, by Jacob Cresswell, Esq., surveyor, and was named in honor of Gen. Joseph Markle, the Whig candidate for Governor.
The first dwelling house was erected by Jacob Skyles, in
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HISTORY OF HUNTINGDON COUNTY.
1844. The house was for a long time owned and occupied by Abraham Megahan, Esq .; Jacob Hess, sr., is the present owner. The second and third dwellings were also erected in 1844, by Frederick and Adam Garner. In the following year houses were erected by Anthony Beard, Adam Seigler and others.
Marklesburg has now forty-five (45) dwellings, three churches-Reformed, Lutheran and Methodist Episcopal- one school house, three stores, two carriage factories, two blacksmith shops, one harness shop, three shoe shops, three cabinet and joiner shops, and one cooper shop. It has three clergymen and one physician.
Its post-office, which retains its original name of James Creek, was established in 1840, and John B. Given, esq., was appointed first postmaster. Benjamin C. Lytle, Esq., dec'd, was the second postmaster. In 1874 the borough of Mar- klesburg was incorporated. It has a population of about three hundred (300), and can poll forty-five votes. At the election held Nov. 2, 1875, the vote for Governor stood : Pershing, 24, Hartranft 16, Browne 1.
It has two daily mails-one due at 9:45 a. m., and the other at 7 p. m.
Grantville is a station on the Huntingdon and Broad Top Railroad, eleven miles from Huntingdon. The first building erected at this place was a large frame warehouse, which was subsequently fitted up for and occupied as a dwelling- house. In 1866 it was destroyed by fire. On its site, John G. Boyer soon afterward erected a brick dwelling and store house. At about the same time Samuel B. Garner also erected a brick dwelling house.
The village has at present some fifteen dwellings, a station house, a store, a tin shop, a confectionery and a hotel.
Grafton is also a station on the H. & B. T. R. R., seven miles from Huntingdon. Andrew F. Grove erected the first dwelling house in 1868. It has at this time some 17 or 18 dwellings, a station house, a grist mill (steam power), a saw mill, a tannery, two stores, a carriage factory, two black- smith shops, one carpenter shop and one shoe shop.
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