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 34
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J. McAferty,
J. McFadden,
W. W. Mayes,
J. Mallard, John Moon,
J. W. Dunmire,
J. B. Eckelbarger,
M. P. Essick,
D. Fincle, W. H. Freed,
J. Fincle,
J. Forsythe,
J. Gochenouer, John Gephart, Isaac Godard, H. Hassinger,
J. Somers,
.
HISTORY OF MIFFLIN COUNTY. 357
John H. Stull, J. A. Stout, A. D. Snook, J. Stuart, G. W. Settle,
George Smith,
S. Styers,
C. Ulrich, J. H. Weber, D. Wilson, Lewis Yeater.
"
1
358
HISTORY OF MIFFLIN COUNTY.
MISCELLANEOUS.
IN our researches for items of general interest in the history of Mifflin county, we find the field of research so rich and so va- ried that we introduce the following unintended department :
Through the courtesy and kindness of Mr. Rice, of Reedsville, we are put in possession of the account book of the officers of Ar- magh township, from which we make the following extracts, which not only brings down to us old names of the leading business men and the officials of the township at the dates given, but enables us to con- trast the manner of doing the business of our county "then " and " now." On the first page of the book before us we find the follow- ing account, in the following form, viz :
" April 13, 1799 .- Alexander Cochran and David Miller, super- visors. Examined the accounts of the supervisors and settled them, and find due to the township £10, 6s. 10d., to be paid to the next supervisors in work or money.
"Settlers :
SAMUEL MCCRARY, ROBERT MITCHELL, WM. McDOWELL, JAMES ALEXANDER."
" April 1, 1800 .- Benjamin Crisswell and John Cubbison, super- visors. Examined the accomp'ts of the supervisors and settled them, and find - - due to township, to be paid to the next super- visors."
(Signatures defaced by age.)
" Received, the 4th of July, 1800, of Benjamin Cresswell, the sum of ten pounds, it being in full of all demands against Armagh town- ship for building the bridges, and pay received by me.
HUGH ALEXANDER."
March 22d, 1802 .- Robert Mitchell and Robert Taylor, supervi- sors. Examined the accounts of the supervisors, and find a ballance coming to the township of three pounds three shillings and eight pence half-penny, from Robert Taylor, to be paid to the next su- pervisors in work or money.
"Settlers :
SAMUEL MCCRARY, WILLIAM CUMMINGS, WILLIAM MITCHELL, ELIJAH CRESSWELL."
359
HISTORY OF MIFFLIN COUNTY.
" April 1st, 1803 .- John Murphey and James Cochran, supervi- sors for the township of Armagh, Mifflin county. Examined the ac- counts of the above supervisors for the above township, then laying a tax of two hundred and seven dollars and thirty-six cents, which appears to be three-fourths of John Kyle's duplicate ; and find that they have paid to the above township, in money and services as su- pervisors, two hundred and thirty-two dollars and twenty-one cents, We find a ballance in their favor of twenty-one dollars forty cents. That is to say, James Cochrane is to pay out of what he has in the duplicate nine dollars thirty cents, to Murphey ; then the township stands indebted to James Cochrane seven dollars sixty-seven cents, and the township stands indebted to John Murphy - dollars ten cents."
The balance of the above statement is defaced by age, as not to be legible.
Then follows : " But upon their receiving the money, they are to be allowed their accounts, with five cents out of every dollar so by them collected, if sufficient, and the remainder, if any, returned to their successors. If not sufficient to defray their accounts, they are to be paid it by their successors in office. There is a ballance of work or money to the amount of eight dollars thirty-seven cents, returned in to James Cochrane by Robert Taylor, which he is to be accountable for, if he receives it, to his successors ; if not, he is not to be accountable for it.
(Signed)
WM. CUMMINS, ROBT. ALEXANDER, JOHN McDOWELL, ROBT. STERRETT."
" March 23, 1804 .- William Henry and William Mitchell, super- visors. Examined the accounts of the above supervisors, and find a ballance coming to the township of eight dollars and fifty cents, coming to that township from them; only the costs of the hand- boards have not come forward, which are to be reduced out of the above amount."
(Signatures defaced.)
"March 20, 1806 .- John McManigle and John Taylor, supervi- sors. Examined the accounts of the above supervisors, and find a ballance due to the township of sixteen dollars and nine cents.
"Examined by us :
SAMUEL MCCRORY, JOHN COOPER, WILLIAM HENERY, JOHN BEATS."
360
HISTORY OF MIFFLIN COUNTY.
" 21 March, 1806 .- We, the settlers, allowed John McManigle for six days, which he says he spent upon the roads after the above set- tlement was made.
JAMES ADAMS, WM. McDOWELL, WM. MITCHELL."
" 21 March, 1806 .- Alexander Cameron and James Flemming, supervisors. We, the settlers, examined their accounts, and by add- ing the ballance of the former supervisors, find them indebted to the township eleven dollars and sixty-two cents.
"Examined by us :
-
JAMES ADAMS, WM. MITCHELL, WM. McDOWELL."
" March 27, 1806 .- Received the township book with cleven dol- lars and sixty-two cents ($11-62), being the full sum charged be- tween
JAMES FLEMMING, ALEXANDER CAMERON.
By the orators, Felix Lee."
" March 1, 1807, John Heeman and Felix Lee, Supervisors .- We the settlers appointed to settle with the above supervisors, and after reducing the above recited eleven dollars and six cents from Felix Lee's account, find the township eight pounds eight shillings and one penny indebted to him, and the township stands indebted to John Heeman, one pound sixteen and four-pence halfpenny, John Heeman paying Haun three pounds fifteen and four-pence half- penny. Felix Lee paying to Moses Thompson - pounds seven and three pence." (Balance illegible.)
"1808, April 1, John W. McDowell and Joseph Yoder, Super- visors .- Examined all the accounts of the above named, and do find a ballance due to the township from John McDowell, of four dollars and twenty-seven cents ; also from Joseph Yoder, the sum of twenty- two dollars and thirty-eight cents."
(Signed)
"WILLIAM CUMMINS, MOSES THOMPSON, ROBT. STERRETT, RICHARD HOPE."
The above extracts show the names of the prominent and sub- stantial citizens of Armagh township, from 1799 to 1810, and the present substantial and intelligent people that are now, in 1879, their successors and descendants have reason to be proud of their an-
360
HISTORY OF MIFFLIN COUNTY.
cestry, in regard to their talents, enterprise, business abilities and all other qualifications that characterized the people of that day.
As time advances, we note a slight change in their business form -. ality.
" 1810, April 1, Moses Thompson and Hugh Alexander, Super- visors .- Examined the accounts of the above, and find a ballance of twenty dollars and forty-eight cents in the hands of supervisors." "(Signed )
" FRANCIS BOGGS, JAMES MILLIKEN,
WILLIAM MCDOWELL."
"1811, February 1 .- Received of Moses Thompson, of Armagh township, for the year 1809, the sum of six dollars and thirty-four cents, on acc't of a ballance due me by said township, as supervisor, in 1807.
FELIX LEE."
"April 1, 1811, Adam Christman and James Reed, supervisors for the last year, having examined all their accounts, and we, the set- tlers chosen by the township, close their accounts, the township owing them nothing but what is their due from the inhabitants,. and find no demand against them for the township.
" Signed by,
ROBERT STERRETT, DAVID FLEMING, WILLIAM McMANIGILL, HENRY TAYLOR."
Then follows records signed by Robert Cooper, John Beaty, Abraham Yoder, John Brisbin, Robert Cambell, John Smith and others, in 1815, whose names indicate rising men in succession to. office, while the older names continue among them. We cannot omit the following :
" March 26, 1816 .- We, the auditors appointed for settling the accounts of Armagh township for the year 1815, and having exam- ined the accomp'ts of W. M. Cummins and John Beaty, supervisors of the roads, and find the township indebted to William Cummins nineteen dollars and twenty-eight cents, and John Beaty is clear by working out his tax in full, and paying sixty-four cents to Wil- liam Cummins, supervisor ; also, an addition of four dollars coming to said William Cummins.
"J. McDOWELL, WILLIAM McMANIGILL, ROBERT COOPER, DAVID FLEMING."
362
HISTORY OF MIFFLIN COUNTY.
"March 26, 1816 .- Hugh Alexander laid in for four dollars and fifty cents, being the young men's tax for the year 1809, which is lost by the judgment of the court, which we allow the township is indebted to him, the said four dollars and fifty cents.
" DAVID FLEMING, WILLIAM McMANIGILL, PETER COOPER, JOHN McDOWELL."
" March 26, 1816 .- Finding a mistake of eighteen dollars and fourteen cents in Crawford Kyle's favor, leaves said Kyle indebted to the township twenty-four dollars and nineteen cents." Signed as above.
"Received, April 5, 1816, of Abraham Carver, thirty-six dollars and seventy-three cents, being the amount due the township from said Carver, which I am to account to the township for, received by me.
"WILLIAM CUMMINS."
" April 24, 1816 .- John Hawn paid R. Hope five dollars for the township."
May 1 .- Received of Christian Yoder, by the hands of Christo- pher Horrell, twenty dollars, for the use of the township. Re- ceived by R. Hope.
"Received, May 17, 1816, of John Hawn, twenty-four dollars and fifty cents, for the use of the township. Received by me,
"R. HOPE."
" Also, two orders, one for six dollars and seven cents, and the other for two dollars and sixty-seven cents, drew William Cum- mins."
"Received, May 21, 1816, of Richard Hope, forty dollars; also, two orders drew by William Cummins against John Hawn for nine dollars and thirty cents, making in all forty-nine dollars and thirty cents received by me,
"WILLIAM CUMMINS."
We omit the records of several successive years, and record from the same interesting book of ancient records the following :
"We, the auditors elected to settle the accounts of the super- visors for the year 1820-William McDowell and Samuel MeClay, supervisors-meet at the house of Jacob Hawn, on Saturday, the 31st day of March, 1821, and having examined the accounts of William McDowell, and find the township of Armagh, county of Mifflin, indebted to William McDowell the sum of ten dollars and
363
HISTORY OF MIFFLIN COUNTY.
thirty-five cents ; also, the account of Samuel MeClay, and find the same McClay indebted to William McDowell seven dollars and twenty-five cents, which will in part of the above due from said township to William McDowell and the supervisors for the year 1821, to pay William McDowell three dollars.
"Signed,
WILLIAM McMANIGILL, JAMES BRISBIN, J. YODER."
" March 31, 1821 .- It does appear that there are a balance due to Hugh Alexander, from the township to him, of four dollars, what the next supervisors is to pay to him.
"WILLIAM McMANIGILL."
" We, the auditors elected to settle the accounts of the super- visors for the year 1821, Robert Sterrett and Christian Hooley, met at the house of Jacob Hawn, in said township, on Saturday, the 13th day of April, 1822, and find Christian Hooley indebted to the township three dollars and twenty-two cents, including two dollars and seventy-three cents, which he has paid Hugh Alexander on account of the above statement ; and also find Robert Sterrett in- debted to said township twelve dollars and fifty-two cents, of which three dollars is to be paid to William McDowell, and the remaining nine dollars and fifty-two cents to be paid to Alexander B --- tt ; and also order Christian Hooley to pay Alexander B-tt the above sum of three dollars and twenty-two cents.
"FOSTER MILLIKEN, JAMES BRISBIN, WILLIAM McMANIGILL."
" Received of Robert Sterrett for Christian Hooley three dollars and twenty-two cents the ballance found against him at the town- ship settlement and by the settlers directed to be paid unto me. ALEX. B. McNITT."
August 23, 1822.
" At the same time of Robert Sterrett nine dollars and fifty-two cents the ballance found against him at the township settlement and by them directed to be paid over to me.
ALEX. B. McNITT."
"20 January, 1823 .- Received of Robert Sterrett three dollars, being in full of three dollars payable to me from the year 1820. WM. W. McDOWELL."
Supervisors auditors of 1824 were Samuel Maclay, Henry Hall, Robert Milliken, A. B. McNitt. Settlement in 1825 signed by Fos-
364
HISTORY OF MIFFLIN COUNTY.
ter Milliken, Alex. B. McNitt, James Thompson, Henry Taylor .. George Swartzel. Supervisor in 1825 introduces on the records a system of Dr. and Cr. accounts as was also done by his successors Gideon Yoder and Joseph Cochran. We quote a sample of account :
"Joseph Cochran supervisor of the township of Armagh for the year 1826 in account with said township.
Dr.
To amount of tax as per duplicate, $189 69
Cr.
By amount of work done, - - - $181 59
" personal attendance 30 days,
30 00
" amount paid Auditors, 3 00
214 59
24 90
" balance due J. Cochran, -$189 69.
" We the auditors elected to settle and adjust the accounts of the township of Armagh for the year ending 24 of March, 1827, after examining the accounts find them as above stated."
(Signed by Auditors.)
Among the successors in official positions in the succeeding years we find the names of Robert Miliken, Wm. Ramsey, Wm. McKinney, Joseph Kyle. John Taylor, supervisor in 1833, suc- ceeded by John Mark, and Wm. Fleming in 1835. Then James Beaty, Cyrus Alexander, John Sterrett, Shem Zook, James Reed. Then comes the account of John Taylor for the township of Brown and John Byler for the same township for 1836 and 1837, his acts audited by Shem Zook and J. Brisbin. Then Hugh Alexander, for 1838 and 1848. C. Zook and Andrew Watt, for 1839 and 1840, and Henry Taylor, 1841. Wm. Flemming and James Kyle, 1845. Jolın Kyle, in 1846. John Henry, 1847. John Yoder, 1848 and 1849. Joseph W. Harshbarger, 1850, and thus these well kept records con- tinne to the close of the year 1877. . Few books have done a better service or served their country longer than the more than seventy- eight years this one was in use, and its neatness and preservation shows the care and economy of the hundreds through whose hands. it has passed.
365
HISTORY OF MIFFLIN COUNTY.
HISTORICAL SKETCH OF THE
EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH OF MILROY, MIFFLIN COUNTY.
From all the records now extant, we find that the Salem congre- gation of the Evangelical Lutheran Church, of Mifflin county, Pennsylvania, was organized in a log school house, which stood near where the Misses Alexander now live, some time in 1831 or 1832, under the pastoral care of Rev. Charles Wiles, who was the first permanent Lutheran minister in Kishacoquillas Valley.
Rev. Father Hines, who was successful in organizing the "churches between the mountains," in Juniata and Perry counties, and whose ashes rest in Loysville graveyard, marked by a marble slab, visited the valley prior to 1832, as a missionary. This organization was effected under the pastoral care of Rev. Wiles, with John Swanger, Mary Swanger, Augustus Ahrenfeld and wife Charlotte, George Marks and his wife Maria, John Christman and wife, and some others whose names are not known, as members. After a perma- nent organization was effected, measures were taken to erect a new church. After considerable manœuvering, a lot of ground was purchased from one John Wolfe, for forty dollars, and deeded to John Marks and George Christman, and the ercction of a church was accordingly commenced ; and with trials, self-denial and even sacrifices on the part of a few members, the work proceeded. The church was raised of logs, many of the land owners of the vicinity furnishing a round of logs, and from surviving individuals we learn that it was built of the choicest lumber, as there was a rivalry as to who could furnish the choicest round. The members looked for- ward with a sense of gratitude to its completion, when they would have a home to worship God, according to their own sense of right. The long looked for period at length arrived. The church was raised and a shingle roof placed upon it, and according to ancient custom, was "chunked and daubed." Suitable seats, in keeping with the outer part of the building, were placed in position, and a pulpit of the "Goblin " style, was placed against the rear wall. Thus the building was completed, and some time during the month of October, 1833, it was solemnly set spart to the service of the Triune God. Rev. S. S. Schmucker, D. D., preached the dedica- tory sermon, assisted by Rev. Frederick Ruthrauff, of Gettysburg, and Rev. Daniel Moyler, of Pinegrove Mills, and Rev. Charles Wiles, the pastor in charge.
366
HISTORY OF MIFFLIN COUNTY.
Services were conducted on Saturday, Sunday and Monday. The sacrament of the Lord's Supper was administered at this time, and a confirmation was held, but there is no records to show who- was confirmed at this time. From what information I can gather, the Salem church originally cost $500, independent of the lot. Previous to this there were but two churches in the valley, the old Stone church on the hill near Reedsville, and the Centre church near the seminary, both Presbyterian. During the pastoral care of Rev. George Sills, the church assumed quite a different appearance .. On the 4th of June, 1854, John R. McDowell, Frederick Preck and William Nale were appointed a committee to remodel the church. Under their persevering and untiring energy, the rough walls re- ceived a beautiful coat of white plaster, and the pulpit was remod- eled and brought to its present appearance.
The whole church was painted and assumed a more beautiful and attractive appearance at a cost of $850. During the administra- tion of the venerable father Crist, the church was re-dedicated on the 27th of May, 1855. Rev. Charles M. Clink, of Lewistown, preach- ed the sermon on that occasion. To show the friendly feeling with the Presbyterian church it is worthy of note, that as they were- pulling down their old church, preparatory to the erection of a new one, and without a place of worship, on the 6th of July, 1856, this congregation met and passed a series of resolutions, inviting them to the occupancy of their church. It is fitting to say that the Stone. church Presbyterians have not forgotten these resolutions, and are assisting in the erection of a new church at Siglerville. At this time the Salem and Milroy congregations were undivided. Some- time during 1858 a congregation was organization at Milroy, as a branch of the Salem congregation. During the winter of 1871, William J. Ehrenfeld and John Havice, trustees of Salem congre- gation, purchased a lot from Hugh Aitkins, of Siglerville, for the sum of $300, and sold one-half of said lot to John Havice, for $150 .. This lot is deeded to the trustees of congregations of the Salem and Evangelical Lutheran church of the General Synod of United States of America. November 4, 1877, a corner stone was laid for a new edifice 36x60, on said lot. Rev. H. Zeigler, D. D., of Selins- grove Mission Institution, preached the sermon on that occasion. The following is a list of pastors and term of service since organi- zation :
Chas. Wiles, 1832, served to 1840 ; C. Lesley, '40 to'43 ; M. Schu- mucker, '43 to '45 ; T. H. Flint, '45 to '46 ; Adam Hight, '47 to '48;
367
HISTORY OF MIFFLIN COUNTY.
Geo. Sills, '50 to '54 ; J. B. Crist, '55 to '57; J. N. Birket, '57 to '59 ; J. C. Lunger, '59 to '61 , D. C. Truckenmiller, '61 to '63 ; J. M. Rice, 1864 ; F. A. Fair, '64 to '65; J. F. Dietrich, '66 to '68; P. Sheeder, '69 to '71; S. G. Shannon, 1871 to the present time (1879), and to whose kindness the author is indebted for the above full and com- plete history of those societies whom he so faithfully, so acceptably and so ably serves.
Townships and Wards in Mifflin County.
Armagh, New,
Armagh, Old,
Bratton,
Brown,
Derry,
Decatur,
Granville,
Lewistown, East ward,
Lewistown, West Ward,
Mc Veytown,
Menno,
Newton Hamilton,
Oliver,
Union,
Wayne.
Total, fifteen places of voting.
HISTORICAL SKETCH OF KISHACOQUILLAS VALLEY.
BY DR. SAMUEL MACLAY, OF MILROY. Read at the Fourth of July Celebration, 1879.
Owing to the absence of authentic written accounts by the first settlers themselves, we find it difficult in many cases to ascertain the date of the first settlements in the valley. In the early settlement of Pennsylvania, the emigration followed the streams, the canoe and pack-horse being the only mode by which household goods, women and children, provisions, &c., could be moved. Many squatters lo- cated along the Juniata and the larger streams entering into it, as high up as the mouth of Kishacoquillas creek. Poketytown (now Lewistown), where Arthur Buchanan and his sons, Robert and Ar- thur, had a trading post, and bought land from a chief called Poke- ty, whom he named Captain Jacob. Adventurous men from the Cumberland Valley crossed the mountains to the Sherman and Tus- carora Valleys, and to the Valley of the Aughwick. The Indians complained to the Proprietaries of these encroachments on their hunting grounds, and threatened war if these squatters were not re- moved. A number of them were removed by the Colonial authori-
368
HISTORY OF MIFFLIN COUNTY.
ties and their cabins burned, but the Proprietaries finding that they could not, without extremely severe measures, control the frontier settlers, who were obliged to subsist in a great part by hunting and fishing, held a council with the Six Nations at Albany, at which a treaty was made, by which Thomas and Richard Penn bought from the chiefs their title to all the lands lying south and west of a line beginning on the Susquehanna River at the Kittattiny Mountains, and running up that river to a point one mile above the mouth of Penn's Creek, and thence north-west by west to the western bound- ary of the Province, including all the valley of the Juniata and ad- joining valleys, and the country west of it to the Ohio river. The price paid for this territory was four hundred pounds sterling. This treaty was signed and the deed executed July 6, 1754.
The Indians were dissatisfied with the sale of their land, but abandoned and destroyed their towns and wigwams and moved over the mountains, to Kittatinny, where they were encouraged by the French, to commence hostilities against the white settlers. In the alarm and Indian war which followed the defeat of General Brad- dock, in 1755, most of the early settlers abandoned their homes for safer quarters, and although some of them soon returned, several years elapsed before emigration fully set in.
Kishacoquillas Valley derives its name from a distinguished chief, of the Shawnees, Kishacoquillas or Kishakokelas, who gave his name to this and the neighboring valley on the south, distinguish- ing them as big and little Kishacoquillas. The latter is now known simply as the Little Valley. The Chief Kishacoquillas, was known as the friend of the whites, and it was probably owing to his influ- ence, that the chief, Logan, was also friendly-that the early pros- pectors were not molested by the Indians. But few depredations were committed by them in the valley. Robert McNitt, a little son of Alexander McNitt, eight years old, was taken prisoner and car- ried to Canada, but on the conclusion of the war, was restored to his family, and probably at the same time that the cabin of Mathias Ruble, was reconnoitered by the Indians, but exhibiting Quaker guns at the portholes and giving noisy commands as if to a band of sol- diers, he frightened them off. It is not known that any murder ever occurred in the valley.
There is no doubt that Judge Brown and his brother, and James Reed, were in Kishacoquillas Valley as early as 1752, looking out suitable locations for a settlement, and probably others soon after ; but from the known law-abiding character of Judge Brown, it is
369
HISTORY OF MIFFLIN COUNTY.
not very probable that he commenced a permanent settlement be- fore the title to the land was acquired in 1754.
Mrs. James Reed, accompanied by her husband, was the first white woman in the valley. They encamped under a large syca- more tree near the junction of the branches of Kishacoquillas Creek, until they built a house or cabin, when Mr. Brown returned to Cumberland Valley, married his wife and brought her to the valley, and he and his brother settled on opposite sides of the creek, at Reedsville and Brown's Mills. From the best information we can gain, the east end of the valley was settled first, the settlers be- ing attracted by the springs of water and abundance of game.
Among the first to enter the east end, either with or soon after Judge Brown, were the McNitt brothers, Alexander, whose son was taken prisoner by the Indians, Robert, Jolin, William and Mathias Ruble, Edward Bates, Henry and Mathew Taylor, Thomas and Alexander Brown, and after them, the Sterretts, Colonel McFarland, D. Cameron, W. Thompson, J. Kyle, S. Milliken, James Scott, James McClure, N. McManigle, S. Mitchell and many others. The warrants for McNitt's lands are dated 1775, and much of it is still held by their descendants. The first permanent settler in the west end of the valley, was James Alexander, who came in 1755, and settled near where his grand-son, James Alexander, now resides.
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