USA > Pennsylvania > Mifflin County > History of Mifflin County : its physical peculiarities, soil, climate, &c. ; including an early sketch of the state of Pennsylvania Volume I > Part 25
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From thirty to fifty tons a day are prepared for the market, but this amount could be readily increased. The sand is conveyed to. Granville railway station by means of one of Hadgron's patent tramways, one and one-half miles long. The following description of the tramway is from the Mining Journal, 1878:
The mine lies sixty-five metres above the level of the railroad .. The tramway has been constructed across the canal and Juniata River, which latter, on the line of the tramway, is eight hundred and fifty feet wide. This necessitated the erection of a centre pier, to support the rope on such a span ; and owing to the great amount of ice in the winter season, this pier had to be constructed of masonry work to the height of twenty-five and one-half feet, sur- mounted by a trestle twenty-three and one-half feet, making a total height of forty-nine feet. On the whole line there are fifty-three trestles over which the rope is carried, the general distance between the supports being one hundred and fifty-three feet, the two river. spans being four hundred and twenty feet.
The rope was manufactured in Trenton, New Jersey. It is three- fourths of an inch in diameter, of the best English cast stecl. It was made in one length, and weighs a little over eight tons. The. buckets, of which there are one hundred, are made of galvanized iron, and carry about forty pounds of sand each. The total weight of a loaded bucket and hanger is one hundred and eighty-seven pounds. .
The motive power is supplied by a ten horse power engine at the- mine, the steam being drawn from the mine boilers.
The rope travels at the rate of three miles an hour, the capacity of that speed being fifty tons a day.
The cost of this transam way, including the stone pier and mo- tive power, was five thousand three hundred and thirty-four dollars per mile. The shipping facilities at Granville station are very superior, and the processes of unloading the buckets and loading. the cars are not exceeded by any machinery in the country.
256
HISTORY OF MIFFLIN COUNTY.
THE TOWNS OF MIFFLIN COUNTY.
Lewistown.
L EWISTOWN is pleasantly situated on the banks of the " Blue Juniata," in a pleasant and picturesque valley, between Jack's and Shade Mountains, the " Narrows " of one leading to the " Big Valley," a few miles north of town, and the narrows of the other, through which passes the caual and Pennsylvania railroad, leading south-east, a short distance south-east of town. Nothing can be more picturesque than the splendid views afforded of this town and its vicinity. From every elevation is a new perspective; from every point a new view. The lights and shades of the ever varying mountain scenes are " ever changing, ever new."
" When the mists have rolled in splendor From the beanty of these hills, And the sunshine, warm and tender, Falls in splendor o'er the rills, We may read the shining picture In the rainbow and the spray, In the living light of morning, When the mists have cleared away."
We have a fanatical admiration for fine scenery, the beauties of Nature. Within the past year we have traversed the woods and plains of Eastern Texas, viewed the bayous of Northern Louisiana, admired the magnificent agricultural regions of Arkansas from Poplar Bluffs to Texarkana and Fort Smith. We have climbed the Ozark Mountains, and beneath the shade of the holly and the oak admired its scencry. We have drank the waters of Ponce De Leon's fountain of eternal youth. We have fished in the Ouachita and Red rivers, admired the Iron Mountains and undulating plains of Missouri, traversed the grand prairies of Illinois from Chicago to Cairo, rode over the rich farming regions of Cen- tral and Southern Indiana, admired the noble State of Ohio from the lake to the river and viewed her capital from her State House dome. We have been over the green clad hills of Virginia, the ag- ricultural, mineral and timber regions that surround the Smoky
257
HISTORY OF MIFFLIN COUNTY.
City ; we have viewed the rocky promontories of the Allegheny Valley, of Red Bank and Mahoning; breathed in the oleaginous regions of Oil City and Titusville; sailed on the placid bosom of Chatauqua Lake ; viewed old Erie from Brocton's elevated site ; admired the monotonous scenery of the Mississippi, the more varied shores of the Missouri and Illinois, the rocky foundations that hem in the beds of the Ohio, the Allegheny and Monongahela ; but we have not met a more beautiful picture than the sweet, nestled, pic- turesque beauty of the Juniata Valley, " whose beauteous vales and vine-clad bowers where dance the intervening shades," while " skies most beautiful and blue arch heaven's high dome." We need not go to the Eastern Continent for sublimity of scenery, for all nature is full of beauty. There is beauty in the scenes of this New World that wake heart and intellect. There is brightest green upon our western earth and freshness in our oceans, and a wildness in our rocks, a majesty in our mountains. There is music in our babbling brooks and glory in our matchless rivers, unrivaled beauty on our sky and in our sunsets.
Lewistown is the county seat of Mifflin county, and is the most populous and flourishing town on the Juniata River. It is fifty- five miles above Harrisburg, the State Capital, and one hundred and fifty-four from Pittsburgh. The town stands on an elevated plain, on the left bank of the Juniata, just above the confluence of the Kishacoquillas Creek. A high limestone ridge rises just above the town, from which a grand and imposing view may be had of the valley, the river and the wild and magnificent mountain gorge, with its various lights and shades, through which the river, the canal, the railroad and turnpike passes below the town, It derives considerable advantages as a business point, from the fact of it be- ing the junction of the Lewistown and Sunbury railroad, and the Milroy, both branches of the Pennsylvania "railroad, and unite with the main line on the right hand side of the Juniata, which they cross on a substantial bridge. It is the outlet for the trade of a fine scope of country at a distance, as well as for the contiguous valleys. There are several furnaces and steel and iron works in . near proximity to the town, and the iron trade of the county has been quite extensive on account of its superior quality. Of these, we will treat under the head of manufactures, in another part of this work.
Lewistown contains, in addition to the usual county buildings, an Episcopal, Presbyterian, Methodist, Lutheran, Catholic and African 17
258
HISTORY OF MIFFLIN COUNTY.
churches, most of them fine, well finished and commodious edifices. A splendid court house, on the north side of the public square, is an ornament to the town and most admirably constructed. The old court house occupied the centre of the public square, but has been long since removed.
The streets and public square are most admirably paved with pounded stone, are all in splendid order, and sidewalks in the same commendable condition, being well laid with brick ; and the gutters clean, smooth and all streets, sidewalks and gutters models of neatness and conducive to good health.
The early settlement of the Buchanans, at this point, is noticed in the department of this work, on the organization of the county. When the county was established, General James Potter, Judge William Brown and Major Montgomery, were owners of the land on which the town was laid out in 1790, when the neighboring val- leys had only a population of seven thousand five hundred and sixty-two. . The Juniata canal was finished as far as this place, in 1829, when the canal boat took the place of the big four and six- horse waggons in the transportation of the grain and merchandise of this region, to and from Philadelphia and intermediate points. The opening of navigation was celebrated by the people at that time, with appropriate ceremonies and a general rejoicing. Then the canal was held in higher estimation as a means of travel and transit,, than even railroads are at the present day, as they exist in such superabundance.
By an act of the Legislature, in 1814, the Lewistown Academy was chartered. It was not erected, however, for some years after- wards. (See educational institutions in another part of this work.) The public school house, a fine, brick structure, was erected in 1872, at a cost of abont thirty-five thousand dollars, and is a credit to the enterprise of the town.
Lewistown has a fair business in general merchandise, groceries, &c., of an unusual substantial character; also, a full line of me- chanics. Her carriage manufactories, sash and door works, car- penters and joiners, furniture shops, blacksmiths, boot and shoe shops, broom factory, marble works, pottery, bakeries, barbers, plasterers, bricklayers, masons, painters and other specialties which we have not named are all prosecuting a successful business in their numerous avocations. The four printing establishments will be spoken of under another heading.
Changes in business are not sudden nor frequent. The same is
259
HISTORY OF MIFFLIN COUNTY
true of her people. Both her business and her inhabitants are of the permanent and substantial order. One class of business Lewis- town has just reason to pride herself on-namely, her hotels ; and of them there can be no preference given ; they are all of the first order. There is a Young Men's Christian Association doing active work ; also, a public library, which it has not yet been our privilege to examine. On the east of the river, near the canal and a furnace, is the remains of an ancient mound of a prehistorie people, out of which have been obtained interesting relics of the past. This mound proves that the same race that preceded the Indians in their occupaney of North America from the Valley of the Hudson to the Colorado Mountains and from Alaska to Central America, also made a stay and had settlements in this vieinity. Remains of ancient masonry, built of rough, undressed stone, were found at an early day in Kishacoquillas Valley. Some years since an ancient macadamized turnpike road was found half buried at the foot of the mountains near Harper's Ferry.
Lewistown has two extensive furnaces, two tanneries, three flour- ing mills, manufactories of carriages and agricultural repair shops, and the numerous minor industries referred to above, and a popu- lation of about four thousand.
FIRE DEPARTMENT
Was incorporated in 1844.
The Henderson.
Present Officers-President, C. Stratford, Jr .; Vice President, J. M. Selheimer; Secretary, Thomas Strang ; Assistant Secretary, A. W. Porter ; Treasurer, John S. Garrett; Chief, S. A. Marks.
The Fame.
President, W. W. Trout ; Vice Presiden-, J. Denison ; Secretary, J. J. Quigley ; Treasurer, H. R. Zerbey ; Chief, Samuel Killian.
This department has two fine engine houses, an excellent steam engine, and all other fixtures and aeeoutrements in strictly first- class order, and the pride of the city they serve.
MILITARY OF LEWISTOWN.
Company G, Fifth Regiment, Fourth Brigade, National Guard of Pennsylvania.
John L. Garrett, Captain ; R. C. Elder, First Lieutenant,
H. Lytle, Corporal ;
G. L. Davis,
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HISTORY OF MIFFLIN COUNTY
, Second Lieutenant, W. A. Braman, Corporal,
W. S. Bannan, First Sergeant,
C. A. Miller,
J. F. Malin,
J. G. Jones, $
W. Ready,
Mark Toomer,
C. F. Chester,
Geo. F. Smith,
Thomas Shatzer,
J. S. Stackpole,
John F. Milliken, musician,
W. Miller, musician.
H. F. Armstrong, Private,
A. B. Brisbane, Private, George Brooks,
Thos. Bell,
66
J. H. Cummins,
W. C. Davis,
W. J. Davis,
W. A. Engle,
Thos. Gay,
Jas. A. Harris,
66
W H. Hunt,
J. W. Kays,
J. B- Mefford,
66
G. S. Mabin, 66
W. Malanapy,
W. Mutersbaugh,
S. Myers, 66
S. B. McLaughlin, 66
W. A. Omer,
66
A. Peters,
66
W. T. Quay,
66
A. Rarick, 66
John Slagle,
66
T. B. Smith,
P. Smith,
G. W. Snyder,
S. Snyder,
H. Shatzer,
66
Daniel Stine,
.6
H. Shimp,
J. B. Thomas.
66
H. H. Thomas,
66
M. L. Keats,
W. B. Warrell,
Frank P. Kelsh,
James White, .“
THE OLD LEWISTOWN CEMETERY.
In a walk through these old grounds, we reflect on the lives and experiences of those now sleeping here-the pioneers of this town and county.
There is a moral sublimity in his work. We note the following names and dates : Agnes Stark, died 1810, aged 65; Edward Mc- Carty, Sheriff of Mifflin county, died October 14, 1805; David Jordan, died 1822, aged 77; William Buchanan, died 1767, aged 25 ; Arthur, his son, died 1792, aged 28 ; George Forster, died 1805, aged 33; James Robinson, died 1842, aged 82; Robert Hope, died 1803, aged 32; Jenet, wife of Robert Hope, died 1849, born 1765 ; Andrew Keiser, died in 1848, aged 80; Hon. William McCoy, died 1841, aged 63; Jane Kerns, died 1825, aged 70; Amy Major, died
C. F. Blett, 66
F. Hart,
R. H. Krebs,
J. C. Limes, 66
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HISTORY OF MIFFLIN COUNTY.
1792; George McClelland, died 1811, aged 4 !. Other names fol- low of various dates. Among them we note the names of Kinsloe, Rittenhouse, Cameron, Steele, Montgomery, Caldwell and others.
This old cemetery has long since ceased to be used as a place of interment, there having been three or four others located in the suburbs of the town. The town and all the surrounding valleys are above an average in general health, and there are more cases of extreme longevity than we often meet in any locality.
Milroy.
Romantically located near the east end of Kishacoquillas Valley, south of the mountains that form its northern boundary, one of which terminates near the town in a majestic peak, very many hun- dred feet high, stands the town of Milroy. It forms the terminns of the Lewistown and Milroy Railroad ; and the town is very long and narrow, and follows the meanderings of Laurel Run, a fine stream of water that comes from the foot of the mountains north of the valley. The town has two hotels, six stores, a large number of mechanics, and of the most substantial class, and engaged in all the numerous businesses demanded by the rich and prosperous agricultural region by which it is surrounded. There are three substantial churches, viz : one Evangelical Lutheran, one Methodist and one Presbyterian. In manufactories, there is one woolen fac- tory, a tannery, an iron foundry, wagon and carriage works, &c. The pastor of the Lutheran Church is Rev. S. G. Shannon; of the Methodist, Rev. Johnston; of the Presbyterian, Rev. White. Rev. Shannon preached his first sermon July 16, 1871, and has since served his congregation in the most able, satisfactory and success- ful manner. He and his pleasant family reside adjoining the church.
Laurel Run meanders through the town, with its rippling music, or, more properly, the town mcanders along its banks (as the run was the oldest settler), and finally, some distance below, sinks into a bank, and rises again on Honey Creek, which, with the West End Branch and Tea Creek, form a junction at Reedsville. Below the confluence of these two streams they are called Kishacoquillas Creek, which flows on through the Narrows, Yeagertown and Logan, its banks being covered with manufactories, mills, &c., till it unites with the Juniata, at Lewistown. Milroy, a post office was estab- lished here in 1828, though the origin of the town was much earlier. The tannery and the mill were early improvements, the former owned at its origin by a Mr. McKee.
262
HISTORY OF MIFFLIN COUNTY.
. Hahn and McDowell, were the proprietors of the upper, newer part of the town. Moses Thompson was the proprietor of the first hotel, and built a stone house for that use, in 1800, which is now standing. Moses Thompson, the present postmaster, is the son and only successor of the postmaster appointed in 1828. The office was then called The Valley. Then the town was known as Perry- ville, and about 1845 to 1848, was changed to its present cogno- men, and named after General Milroy. The origin of the town can be safely fixed at as early a date as 1800. The two residents that are now here and have been here the longest, are Mrs. Jane Thomp- son and George McClanahan.
The town is rapidly improving, and in addition to the fine churches and schools, has many fine residences, beautiful homes of education and refinement. Of its educational institution, we expect to treat under another head, and close this by notes of a
WALK THROUGH ITS GRAVEYARD,
Where we meet those, who, done with the scenes of "time and sense," have gone to "that bourne whence no traveler returns." We note these to show the surviving population, where rests the mortal remains of the old pioneer. William P. Alexander, died 1850, aged 58 years, 6 months ; and wife. died 1848, aged 55 years ; John Hamlin, died 1852, aged 48 years; William McNitt, died 1864, aged 81 years ; Mary, his wife, died 1846, aged 65 years, 6 months; Rhoda, wife of David C. Miller, died Jannary 23, 1833, aged 33 years ; Moses Mitchell, born 1815, died 1860; Col. William Reed, died 1877, aged 81 years, 9 months ; James Thompson, died 1879, aged 78 years, 7 months ; Robert M. Thompson, died 1847, aged 45 years ; Christian Brown, died 1875, aged 66 years, 6 months ; William Brown, died 1844, aged 57 years ; and Mary, his wife, died 1844, aged 54 years ; Sarah Steeley, died 1844, aged 73 years ; Rachel, wife of Isaiah Coplin, died 1872, aged 72 years ; John McDowell, died 1869, aged 76 years ; Nancy, wife of John Beaty, died 1842, aged 75 years ; John Beaty, died 1840, aged 78 years ; Bruce McNitt, who lost his life by the burning of the Pacific Hotel, St. Louis, Missouri, February 20, 1858, aged 22 years ; James Brown, died 1841, aged 58 years; Nancy, wife of James Brown, died 1861, aged 73 years ; William McDowell, died 1851. aged 75 years, 9 months. Having passed away, here rests the hardy pioneer who braved the toils and perils of frontier life. These were people of experience and strong personal character. From them we learn that,
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HISTORY OF MIFFLIN COUNTY.
"Beautiful hands are those that do Work that is earnest brave and trne ; Moment by moment, the long day through.
Beautiful feet are those that go On kindly ministries, to and fro ;
Down the lowliest ways if God wills so.
Beautiful shoulders are those that bear Ceaseless burdens of homely care, With patient grace and daily prayer.
Not for the summer hour alone When skies resplendant shine,
When youth and pleasure fill the throne Their hearts and hands have twined.
But for those stern and wintry days, Of peril, pain and fear, When Heaven's wise discipline doth make This earthly journey drear.
Three Loeks.
Between Lewistown and the THREE LOCKS up the valley of the Juniata river is the most beautiful and picturesque scenery the eye might wish to behold. The river makes frequent passages aeross the valley from mountain to mountain, as it wends its way towards the long narrows, and along its meandering banks following the stream in some cases, and in others making straight lines, forming a base to its curves wend the canal on the north and the Pennsyl- vania railroad on the south side, but the river makes so many curves that the railroad sometimes bridges the stream for the sake of shortening distances.
Three Locks are what once were Hope furnace, run by Joseph Milliken, from 1850 to 1856, when it stopped work. These hills are full of iron to unknown depths and amounts, but here is dug the ore in endless quantities, from which the far famed Juniata iron takes its enviable reputation.
The river banks and beautiful undulation at the foot hills of the mountains are in a fine state of cultivation and ornamented with fine residences. The village that started under the furnace in- fluence, has since stood still. It contains a Baptist, a Methodist Episcopal, and at Anderson's station, a mile south, a Presbyterian church. There are three stores in the settlement doing a fair local trade, and the usual mechanics, though a large percentage of the population engage more or less in mining.
264
HISTORY OF MIFFLIN COUNTY.
Granville Station.
A short distance below Three Locks, south of the river is Gran- ville Station a fine thriving village from which quite an amount of shipping is done, especially in sand of which we shall speak under the heading of mines. This place contains three stores, a post office, quite a number of mechanics, and is one of the most prosperous localities in the county, with a most substantial and enterprising people. It is located about four miles west of Lewistown Junction.
Lillyville.
The above is a small pleasant village, nine miles east of Lewis- town, and in the east of Dry valley, a most romantically located among evergreen clad hills and murmuring brooks, and for health, quiet and beauty of surroundings none excell it. It has one store, one large flour mill, two churches, and one hotel, and the usual number of mechanics in a country village. In the vicinity is the celebrated Bridge's Springs, a noted place of resort, and in the country, near by, are other grist mills and several saw mills of steam and water power. The location of Lillyville is extremely picturesque
"Among beauteous hills and vineclad bowers,
Where dance the intervening shades."
Maitland.
The first station on the Sunbury railroad, east of Lewistown, is Maitland, on Jack's Creek, near or more properly directly at the foot of Shade Mountain. It has one fine grist mill, two stores, a post office, a church, school houses, &c., and is surrounded by ever- green clad hills and mountains. Near here is also a great natural curiosity, in the way of a cavern. Though it has never been ex- plored, if its chambers contain anything of the natural curiosities that the other caverns of Mifflin county does, it will well repay an exploration.
Painter.
A few miles east of Maitland, and one and a half miles south of Lillyville, is Painter, another mountain-surrounded home-made vil- lage. "Mortals might here the sweets of forgetfulness prove, had nature no wants to be supplied."
The town has one store, a post office and a number of mechanics. These towns all have one peculiar characteristic, viz : Substantial
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HISTORY OF MIFFLIN COUNTY.
home comfort of their inhabitants and that quiet contentment that makes a pleasant rural life.
"It is not that all nature has spread o'er the scene Her purest of crystal and brightest of green, It is not the soft music of streamlet or hill, Oh, no, it is something more exquisite still," It is home quiet and contentment.
Belltown
Is a small locality of that name, north-east of the town last named, and is simply a named locality in the county. Has no stores, mills or the like, but a congregation of country residences in a fine agri- cultural locality.
Reedsville. .
Among the pleasant towns of Mifflin county, and she has many of them, there are none of which she has justly reason to be proud of than Reedsville, nor of the substantial intelligent class of people of which her population is composed. There are a few things of most nnusual interest in regard to this village. They are her an- cient origin, her historical record, her most romantic location, her recent rapid progress and future brilliant prospects.
Of these we propose to speak as briefly as the numerons inter- esting facts thereof will allow.
In passing up the narrows, and the sublime scenery that sur- rounds this town with the lights and shades of the scenes, we are always reminded of the following lines :
"On every page of nature, on all the flowers I love, I read the old, old, story of Jesus and his love. Of Jesus' love and glory, of all I hold most dear, They tell the old, old, story in accents sweet and clear. Morn among the mountains, lonely solitude,
Gushing streams and fountains murmur God is good."
Here, the ever-green clad elevations, the little mountain flowers, the " bold rocks standing out of the green," the gushing springs and fountains, the stream that courses its way through the narrows, and along which so many historical romances cluster of our early pioneer ancestry, all combine to render this a point of unusual interest.
As near as we can fix dates, the first white man came here 1750 to 1752, and Reedsville has been a centre of attraction since that day.
266
HISTORY OF MIFFLIN COUNTY.
By Reedsville we mean the present village and its suburbs, in which are Logan's Spring, Brown's Mills and the ancient homes of Reed and Brown, and the old stone church, treated of under the head of churches as East Kishacoquillas Church, and the old cem- etery, where interments began, perhaps, as early as 1760 to 1765.
Here yet reside those who saw the light of heaven, and were little children when Reed, and Brown, and their families were yet residents of this locality. It was here Logan got Mrs. Brown's little daughter ; here he met, for the first time, Brown and McClay; here Brown first came and again returned east, and came back, after an absence of four years, to find his cabin overgrown with brush, while he and his wife, who then accompanied him, camped in a hollow sycamore tree. Here Mrs. Brown and Mrs. Cox, in their advanced years, when they went out to water their flax, would meet and talk over their early experiences. Here was the ancient Indian trail through the Narrows, now traversed by the locomotive instead of the Indian, with his quiver and bow; here, where the hotel now stands, was the house where Mrs. Brown died, in 1815. Where Mr. Mann now resides was the place where Mr. Brown passed away, in 1825. Here, too, Lewis and Conelly, the noted robbers of this country at that day, committed their depredations.
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