History of Lycoming County, Pennsylvania, Part 68

Author: edited by John F. Meginness
Publication date: 1892
Publisher: Chicago, Ill. : Brown, Runk
Number of Pages: 1650

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Among the streams may be mentioned Beaver, which is the outlet of Beaver Dam, Big run, Gregg run, and Sugar run.

The surface of the township is generally rough and mountainous, offering but little attraction for the farmer. Owing to its elevation the climate is delightful in summer time.

The First Settlers were among those whose names are found in the assessment lists of Muncy township, which originally embraced it. Benoni Wiesner, a low- Dutchman, was an early settler near the base of the North mountain. Christopher Frey located near where Mt. Zion church now stands. And Thomas Strawbridge, John Craft, and Thomas Reed were among the pioneers in this wild mountain region.

Mills .- There are two steam saw mills, operated by Kahler Brothers and Wesley Sanders. The water mills are owned by the McClintic heirs, at Beaver Dam, Joseph McClintic, and George W. Phillips. But little timber remains in the township.

Postoffices .- Fribley was established June 26, 1873, and Robert E. Keeler was appointed postmaster. He is the present incumbent. Strawbridge was established

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HISTORY OF LYCOMING COUNTI.

June 28, 1SS6, and Jerry Holden was appointed postmaster. The office was discon- tinued, September 2S, 1SS7; then re-established, October 24, 1890, and Robert E. Keeler was again appointed. He still holds the office. There are two stores. kept, respectively, by Robert E. Keeler and Joseph Keeler.

North Mountain was established October 30, 1879; Burgess Swishar was appointed postmaster, and he is still in office.

Churches .- There are four churches-Mt. Zion, Lutheran, built through the labors of Rev. George Parson: Ebenezer. Evangelical Methodist; Kedron, Metho- dist, and Neff, Evangelical Methodist. Mt. Zion and Ebenezer churches have cemeteries.

Schools .- The township has six schools, viz: Lyon's, Derr, Neff, Shanty, McCarthy, and Creek.

CHAPTER XXXIX.

WASHINGTON, CLINTON, ARMSTRONG, AND BRADY.

WASHINGTON .- ORIGINAL BOUNDARIES AND SUBSEQUENT DISINTEGRATION-WHITE DEER VALLEY-FIRST TAXABLES-MILLS-FOUNDING, GROWTH, POSTOFFICE. AND INDUSTRIES OF ELIMSPORT-SCHOOLS-CHURCHES -CEMETERY.

CLINTON .- ERECTION -- BLACK HOLE VALLEY-PENNY HILL-EARLY HISTORY -- STREAMS AND MILLS-POSTOFFICES-CHURCHES-SCHOOLS.

ARMSTRONG .- FORMATION-GEOLOGY AND TOPOGRAPHY OF MOSQUITO VALLEY-LUMBERING -- WATER RESERVOIRS-SCHOOLS-CHURCHES.

BRADY .- EXTENT AND POPULATION -- GEOLOGY-MAPLE HILL-JUDGE PIATT-SCHOOLS CHURCHES.

WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP.

W ASHINGTON township was erected by decree of the court of Northumberland county. August 23, 1785, and is therefore one hundred and seven years old. It was decreed absolutely "that all that portion of Bald Eagle township above White Deer creek, commencing at a point above Widow Smith's on the West Branch of the Susquehanna, should be erected into a new township to be called Washington." The name of course was given in honor of General Washington, whose fame was then at its height. At that time all of the territory lying south of the river was known as Bald Eagle township. The western boundary was unknown, but it is supposed to have started from a point opposite the month of Pine creek. From the original territory of Washington the townships of Brady, Clinton, Armstrong, Limestone, Susquehanna, Bastress, and Nippenose have been formed within the present limits of the county, besides several outside. This territory alone embraced an area of 95,180 acres, which gives the reader a pretty clear idea of its extent.

As now constituted Washington is the thirteenth in size and contains 22,400 acres, with a population of 937 by the census of 1890. It is bounded on the east by Brady township and Northumberland county, on the north by Armstrong, on the

John Heitman

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WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP.

west by Limestone township and Clinton county, and on the south by Union county. In its prolongation it is much further south than any other part of the county.

Washington consists, geologically, of Medina and Oneida sandstone and conglomerates, (No. IV,) which form the north and south White Deer ridges and . occupy the l igh crest of the mountain in the western part of the township. Next follow Clinton shales, (No. VI,) etc., forming the rim and surface of the greater part of White Deer valley. Then follows lower Helderberg limestone (No. VI) in the middle of the lower end of the valley, to which succeeds a small area of Chemung measures (No. VIII).

White Deer Valley is a fine agricultural region, noted for its good soil, excellent farms, and charming surrounding scenery. Viewed from the northern slope of Bald Eagle mountain, on descending the fine turnpike, the scene in summer time resembles a vast moving panorama, in which are green fields, dotted with handsome farm houses and out-buildings, and thousands of acres of golden grain waving in the breeze. Limestone is quarried for use in the valley. The west end is mountainous and barren, forming a marked contrast to the fertile lands of the valley proper.

Washington township is watered by White Deer Hole creek, which flows along the north side of White Deer mountain. It has two branches-one called South creek, the other Spring creek. These two streams unite with the main creek about three miles west of the river.

There has always been much speculation regarding the origin of the name " White Deer Hole valley." Tradition says it was given to it because a white deer was killed near the creek by an early settler. John Farley, who was eighty-eight years old in 1870, was asked regarding this tradition and he said:

I was four years old when my father came here in 1787. We had plenty of red deer at that time. They could be seen every day when we stepped out of our cabins and went along through the valley or over the mountains. I never saw any white deer here, but a white deer is said to have been killed at an early day in a low hole or pond of water that once existed where my father built his mill, and that was the only white deer ever known in this valley.

Mr. Farley was mistaken. S. S. Miller, now living in that part of the township called "Texas," says that in 1850, he saw two white deer; and there are others who have seen them also. And Samuel Sunderland once shot a black deer.

Concerning the word "hole," which is attached to the name of this magnificent valley, Mr. Farley, on being interrogated, said:

There was a large circular basin of low ground of some ten acres in extent that originally existed where my father built his mill. This basin was pretty high at its sides and lowered gradually towards its center, where there was about an acre of ground that was always dry and covered with bushes, but more or less surrounded at all seasons of the year by standing water- a sort of pond. But after my father's mill and dam were built the water of the dam overflowed and covered the most of the hollow basin of ground.

The two foregoing circumstances gave the name of " White Deer Hole valley " to this charming section of the counties of Lycoming and Union. The word " hole " is being gradually dropped, and it will soon disappear altogether, leaving the name simply " White Deer valley," which is as appropriate as it is beautiful. The valley is bounded on the east by the river, on the north by Penny Hill and Bald Eagle mountain, on the west by Bald Eagle, and on the south by White Deer mountain. It comprises the townships of Washington, Brady, and Gregg, the latter being in

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HISTORY OF LYCOMING COUNTY.

Union county. In 1861, after a bitter fight, about three-fourths of Brady township were struck off and annexed to Union and called Gregg township. The valley proper is about seventeen miles long, with an average width of eight miles.

First Taxables .- The following is a list of the taxable inhabitants of Washing- ton township when erected: Bennet, Ephraim; Bennett, Justice; Bennett, Thad- deus; Bennett, Abraham; Bennett, William; Bently, Green; Brown, Charles; Brown, Judson; Brown, William; Caldwell, William; Creal, Michael; Coats, Widow; Eason, Robert; Emmons, John; Emmons, Jacob, (single); Gray, William, Jr .; Green, Ebenezer; Farley, John; Hendricks, Nathan; Hickendoll, Herman; Hood, Moses; Huling, Marcus; Hunter, Widow; Landon, Nathaniel; Layn, Abraham; Layn, Isaac; Low, Cornelius, senior and junior; McCormick, Seth; McCormick, Thomas; Mackey, William; Mitchell, John; Ramsey, John; Reynolds, Joseph; Shaffer, Nicholas; Stephen, Adam; Stricker, John; Sunderland, Daniel; Tenbrook, John; Townsend, Gradius; Towsend, Gamaliel; Weeks, Jesse. Assessors: William Gray, Joseph Allen, and Thomas McCormick.

Among the earliest township officers were the following: Constable, Jacob Emmons; overseers of the poor: Nicholas Shaffer, Thomas McCormick; supervisors: Seth McCormick, Justice Bennett.

Several of the foregoing names will be found among those who settled on the territory afterwards included in the townships of Clinton and Brady. Prominent among these may be mentioned Marcus Huling, who occupied a cabin on the river bank. He was a blacksmith, and had a wife and five children. He changed his location several times and finally left the valley. It is supposed that he was a cousin of Marcus Huling, also a blacksmith, who lived at Milton about the same time.

Seth and Thomas McCormick, brothers, lived near each other. Seth died, January 17, 1835, in the seventy-ninth year of his age, and was buried in the grave- yard at the "Stone church." He left a wife and nine children. His son, Seth T., was the father of Hon. H. C. McCormick, Dr. H. G. McCormick, Frank H. McCor- mick, and Seth T. McCormick, all residents of Williamsport. Thomas McCormick was a justice of the peace for several years. He died, October 6, 1826, aged seventy- two years, and was buried at the "Stone church."

John Farley was from New Jersey. He built a log grist mill, which was the first in the valley. His family consisted of a wife and seven children, and they are all buried in a private lot, enclosed by a stone wall, on a high knoll overlooking White Deer Hole creek.

Catharine Smith was a very old settler on White Deer creek. She was a woman of great business tact and energy, though she was the child of sorrow and affliction. The story of her life is briefly told by herself in a petition to the Assembly under date of December 8, 1785. (See Linn's Annals of Buffalo Valley, page 240.) In that petition she states that she was left a widow with ten children, with no means to support her family, except a location for 300 acres of land, including the mouth of White Deer creek. There was a good mill seat at this point, and as a grist and saw mill were much wanted, she was often solicited to erect them. Finally, in 1774, she borrowed money, and in June, 1775, completed the mills, which were of great advantage to the country; and the following summer she built a boring mill,

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where great numbers of gun barrels were bored for service in the Revolutionary army. She also built a hemp mill. During the Indian war one of her sons, her greatest help, went into the military service and never returned. When the Indians invaded the valley, July 8, 1779, they burned her mills and she was compelled to fly with her children. She returned in 1783 and was again solicited to rebuild the grist and saw mill, which, after much difficulty, she succeeded in doing. Before she had her business fairly under way, a suit in ejectment was brought against her by Claypole & Morris, who claimed a prior right to the land. She appealed to the Assembly for assistance, as she was now in such reduced circumstances that she was unable to support actions at law. The facts set forth in her memorial were certified to by William Bly, Charles Gillespie, Col. John Kelly, James Potter, the younger, and many other citizens of Northumberland county.

The Assembly, of course, could grant her no relief and the petition was dis- missed. How long litigation was continued is unknown, but that Mrs. Smith was finally dispossessed is shown by the fact that Seth Iredell took possession of the premises as tenant for Claypole & Morris in 1801. Her struggles were heroic but the hand of fate was against her. While litigation for possession was pending she is said to have walked to Philadelphia and back thirteen times! The little stone honse in which she lived and died is still standing, but the date of her death is unknown. The spot where she was buried is still pointed out, but the grave has long since been leveled by the plow. In making improvements years afterwards her bones were disturbed and her cranium, on account of her projecting teeth, was recognized by one who knew her well in life. It was the opinion of many at the time that gross injustice was done her by those who administered the law.

There is something unspeakably pathetic in the history of this woman. Her struggles in widowhood; what she accomplished for the benefit of the early settlers; the fact that she furnished a mill for the manufacture of gun barrels to aid in the achievement of our liberties; her misfortunes, and her last appeal to the law-making power for assistance; her death, burial, and the final disturbance of her bones, afford a theme for a volume. Part of the foundation wall of her grist mill is still pointed out and is carefully preserved as a relic of Revolutionary days. The large flouring mill which now stands over this historic foundation is owned by Capt. David Bly, of Williamsport, whose ancestors were neighbors of Catharine Smith and sympathized with her in her misfortunes. The spot is hallowed by associations that revive the sad memories of the past and call forth strong expressions of sorrow for one who did so much, and yet through the stern decree of fate was deprived of the comforts which she so richly merited. Her patriotism and heroic struggles stand without a parallel in the history of this valley; and at no other point in this part of the State were arms manufactured for the Continental Army.

And although this historic spot is now just outside the limits of Lycoming county, caused by changes in subdivision lines in recent years, it belonged to Wash- ington township in its beginning and long afterwards. It is therefore proper that its history should appear in this connection.

There were many other settlers in White Deer worthy of mention. Prominent among them were Robert Foresman, whose descendants became numerous and who came in 1790; Charles, William, and John Brown, and William Sedam. The latter

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HISTORY OF LYCOMING COUNTY.

was one of the representative men of his time, and his hotel, known as Road Hall, was a favorite place of resort. The old house still stands, but the sign has long since been taken down and it is no longer a public house. Mr. Sedam, who was born in 1797, died February 13, 1877, aged seventy-nine years, one month, and eighteen days. The Schneider family were the original owners of the site of Elimsport. James Hammond located on the farm now owned by Samuel Scott. The Oakeses, too, were early settlers, and their descendants are numerous. The Moores, Cutters, and Coates and Robert and John Eason were also among the first to found homes in the valley.

Another prominent early settler in White Deer was Matthew Brown. He was of Scotch descent. In 1720 his parents came to Pennsylvania and settled on the Swatara near Middletown. Here Matthew Brown was born, July 15, 1732. He was educated in the school of Rev. Francis Allison. In 1760 he settled near Car- lisle, but soon after removed to White Deer valley, and his name appears on the tax list for 1775 as the owner of sixty acres of land. He was one of the first overseers of the poor for White Deer township. In February, 1776, he was a member of the Committee of Safety for Northumberland county, and in June following he was a member of the Provincial Council that met in Philadelphia to dissolve our political relations with Great Britain. In July of the same year (1776) he was a member of the convention that formed our State Constitution, which he signed, September 28, 1776.

Mr. Brown also entered the army this year, and while serving as a soldier was striken with camp fever in the autumn. He managed to reach his home in White Deer while on sick leave, but died there in the spring of 1777. His remains were buried in a field near his house. The grave was enclosed by a stone wall by direc- tion of his widow, Eleanor Brown. She survived him for thirty-seven years, and when she died was laid by his side. The walled enclosure was about ten feet square. It was torn down a few years ago and replaced by a wooden fence, but that is falling into ruin. Two upright marble tombstones were placed there by their children and bear these inscriptions:

Matthew Brown, Died April 22, 1777.

Eleanor Brown, Wife of Matthew Brown, Died Aug. 9, 1814.

Mr. Brown was in the forty-fifth year of his age, but as the date of the birth of his wife is not given, her age is unknown. But as she survived him thirty-seven years she must have reached old age. In the closing years of her life she was familiarly called "Nellie Brown." Her cabin stood on the bank of White Deer Hole creek, about two and a half miles west of its mouth. She died at the cabin of her son, William Brown, about half a mile west of her own.

The graves of these historic characters, on account of the reduction of the original limits of Washington, are now just across the line in Gregg township, Union county. The tombstones are in fair condition. but as the burial ground is in the midst of a cultivated field, the plow of civilization will soon pass over it and all trace of the sacred spot will be lost. Few are aware that the ashes of one who took an

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WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP.

active part in the beginning of our Revolutionary struggle, and was a member of the first Provincial Conference, lie there. The farm on which this private burial ground is located belongs to Leonard G. Meek.

Matthew and Eleanor Brown (see Egle's Hist. Register, 1884, page 50) had eight children, viz: Hannah; Mary; John; Sarah; Jean; Thomas; William, and Matthew. Thomas was born in White Deer in March, 1772; he married Margaret Ainsworth, and died February 17, 1857, at Paxtang. Matthew, the youngest, was born in 1776, and with his brother Thomas was adopted by his uncle William, of Paxtang. He was educated at Dickinson College, where he graduated in 1794; he studied theology and was licensed to preach by Carlisle Presbytery, October 3, 1799; he was some time pastor at Canonsburg, first president of Washington College, 1806- 16, and president of Jefferson College, 1822-45. He died at Pittsburg, July 29, 1853. Several of the descendants of Matthew and Eleanor Brown still live in the valley.

Mills. - In 1791 or 1792 John Farley, referred to above, built a small two-story log grist mill near where the Gudykunst mill stands, not far from Uniontown. This was the first mill erected in this part of the valley. It had but one run of stones, but it was of great service to the settlers.

About 1798 Frederick Follmer erected the second grist mill on the same stream, and on the site now occupied by what was known for many years as Hunter's mill, and later as Spring Garden mill. In 1815 Samuel Foresman built the third mill on South creek, on the west side of Elimsport. But this mill long since disap- peared and the ruins of its race and dam are the only traces that remain. In 1817 John Brown built the fourth grist mill near the present residence of Daniel Follmer on White Deer Hole creek, but this mill has also succumbed to the ravages of time. In 1842 Isaac Hains built the fifth mill on Spring creek. It is a substantial brick structure and does much work. When these early mills were erected rude saw mills to manufacture boards and building stuff for the settlers soon followed, but they too have disappeared. The Hains mill is now owned by the Savings Institution of Williamsport, and is operated by John Braun & Brother. It is now in Brady township.

Elimsport is the only postvillage in the township. The history of how it got its name, as related to the writer by Robert H. McCormick, Esq., of Watsontown, (a native of the township) is interesting. About the year 1837 a German Methodist preacher-then called Albright, now Evangelical-located near the head of the valley. His name was George Schneider. "He started a small store and during the secular days of the week," says Mr. McCormick, "he attended to the physical, and on Sundays to the spiritual, wants of the people. He conceived the idea about the time he came that the people required a postoffice, consequently he made applica- tion to the department and asked to have the office named Elim. There being a postoffice named Elam in Delaware county, Pennsylvania, and the regulations not allowing two offices of the same name in any State, it was christened Elimsport.

" By referring to the Bible it will be learned that the name is derived from a place in Arabia called Elim. This was the second stopping place of the Israelites after they crossed the Red sea. The discontented and growling Jews were mad at Moses for taking them into the wilderness, and God stopped their growling by

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HISTORY OF LECOMING COUNTY.

leading them to Elim. where there were twelve wells of water and seventy palm trees. It is now supposed to be called Wady-Ghurandel. the most extensive water course in the western desert (See Exodus XV. 27). It is supposed Mr. Schneider suggested the name on account of the place being well watered and shaded with trees. "

In April, 1841, Mr. McCormick took charge of a small store at that place for R. & W. Brown, and became Mr. Schneider's successor as postmaster of Elimsport. The first contractor to carry the mail on that route, which extended from White Deer, (now Allenwood,) was Bernard Duffey, who lived at Larry's Creek. It was carried weekly.

The postoffice was established at Elimsport March 24, 183S, and George Schnei- der was appointed postmaster. His successors were appointed and served as follows: William Brown, October 21, 1841: Robert H. McCormick, January 25, 1843; Ingram MeLees, January 31, 1850: Robert F. McCormick, October 6, 1853; Robert Foresman, January 23, 1865; David A. Clark, June 26. 1865; Robert Dunbar, April 11, 1868: Robert Foresman, February 19, 1873; Stephen L. Mull, June 12, 1SS2: Robert Foresman, October 2S, 1889; Stephen L. Mull, April 11, 1890, present incumbent. When President Harrison came into office Mr. Mull was the first fourth-class postmaster appointed in Pennsylvania.

Although a small village. Elimsport has several industries. The most important is the spoke manufactory of C. Bailey & Company. It was first started as early as 1860 as a wagon factory, by Bailey & Balliet; then it was run by Weaver & Bailey; then by J. F. Weaver & Company, until the present firm took charge. The machinery is driven by steam.

Robert Dunbar operates a steam saw mill: Neyhart, McCormick & Allen, and Elias Neyhart. run water mills. They manufacture boards and building stuff.

William S. Fegley has been the "village blacksmith" for fourteen years. There are two stores, one of which is kept in the postoffice building.

The Elimsport Hotel was started by Robert F. McCormick about 1843. He was succeeded by D. Kent in 1866, who kept it until 1SS4, when William Trump, the present landlord, took charge. Since it was first erected it has been enlarged and improved from time to time. It is now a "landmark." and is noted for its good cheer. Before it was founded George Foresman kept a hotel a short distance west, but it long since disappeared.

Schools .- The first school house in the valley was a rude log building that stood near what was afterwards the residence of Thompson Bower. It was built about 1800, possibly a year or two earlier. The first teacher was an Englishman named Richard Fossit. Soon after this John Crawford taught in a log building erected farther up the valley. And still later Jack Dundas taught in a building that had been put up on the public road leading from Uniontown to Follmer's mill. These school houses were all built of round logs, and had open fire places and backless benches. Thomas Dickson and Edward Bush were among the old teachers. Thomas Rhorick taught in the old Baptist church. It was torn down before the close of the school and the term was finished in Piatt's tan shop. Reading, writ- ing. and arithmetic were the only branches taught for many years. Great changes have been made since those days. The township now has seven school houses,

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named as follows: Pleasant Green, Elimsport, Side Hill, Texas, White Hall, Ridge, and Pike's Peak. The enrollment shows 127 male and 198 female scholars taught by two male and five female teachers. Financially the township stands well. There is no school debt, but the resources are reported at $341.

Churches .- The Methodist Episcopal church is an attractive brick building erected in 1885, at a cost of $6,000. The church evidently owes its origin to the labors of Rev. Schneider as early as 1838.

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History of Lycoming County, Pennsylvania, Part 68

Author: edited by John F. Meginness Publication date: 1892 Publisher: Chicago, Ill. : Brown, Runk Number of Pages: 1650

Author: edited by John F. Meginness
Publication date: 1892
Publisher: Chicago, Ill. : Brown, Runk
Number of Pages: 1650