USA > Pennsylvania > Northumberland County > History of Northumberland County, Pennsylvania > Part 83
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Miller's mill is situated on Little Shamokin creek along the road leading from the Tulpehocken road to Trevorton, about four miles from the latter place. The first mill at this site was a small frame structure erected by Colonel Thomas Jones some time between 1790 and 1800. The present mill was built in 1850 by David Miller, by whom it was owned until his death; it then became the property of his son, Hiram Miller, the present owner.
Shipman's mill is situated on the road leading from the Tulpehocken road to the Susquehanna river, along Little Shamokin creek. It is a two- story frame structure and was erected by Abraham Shipman in 1850. After his death it became the property of Isaac Shipman and was owned by him until 1890, when it was purchased by Solomon Miller.
Fagley's mill, on a branch of Little Shamokin creek in the southern part of Rockefeller township, is a frame structure fifty-three by twenty-five feet, and was built by Samuel Lantz in 1856. Soon after its erection it was pur- chased by Jacob Fagley, the present owner.
SCHOOLS.
Rockefeller township sustains seven schools and has an equal number of school buildings. One is situated at Seven Points; one at Augustaville; one near Solomon Miller's mill, known as the Shipman school; two on the Plum Creek road, known, respectively, as the Upper and Lower Plum Creek schools; one near Emanuel Reformed church, and the other on the Irish Valley road.
792
HISTORY OF NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY.
CHURCHES.
Zion Church, Lutheran and Reformed, is situated on the Tulpehocken road six and one half miles from Sunbury. The ground was presented by Martin Raker in 1814, and some of the timbers for a church building were prepared in that year, but it was not completed until 1816. It is a stone structure two stories in height; originally there was but one story with in- terior galleries around three sides, but at 'a meeting on the 18th of January, 1861, it was decided to substitute a second story for the galleries. This was accomplished during that year under the supervision of Elias Emeric and J. F. Lerch. Some years later the building was remodeled at a cost of five hundred dollars.
The first organization occurred in 1806 with eight members, and public worship was conducted in a log school house which stood about four hundred yards from the present church edifice. This school house was constructed with a swinging partition in the middle; one end was used as a school room and the other as the teacher's dwelling, but on preaching occasions the partition was swung open and the whole became a place of worship. Among those most active in the original erection of the church edifice were George Long, William Reeser, Samuel Bloom, George Haupt, Martin Raker, Jacob Raker, Conrad Raker, Jacob Raker, William Bartholomew, Jacob Zimmerman, and George Savidge. Rev. J. P. Shindel was pastor in 1816, when the building was dedicated.
The following is a list of ministers who have served the congregations since their organization: Lutheran-Reverends J. P. Shindel (who became pastor in 1813 and remained until 1851), Peter Born, D. D., George P. Weaver, L. H. Sherts, Joseph Focht, Mr. Berry, A. K. Zimmerman, Mr. Harsh, Sidney Bateman, Mr. Felker, and Cyrus E. Benson, the present pastor; Reformed- Reverends Steily, Fisher, Steinmetz, Cremer, Haas, Daniel, Reider, Shoe- maker, Hertzel, and Mutchler.
In connection with this church and situated in the same lot to the rear of the building is a burying ground, the oldest in the township. This lot was laid out as a place of interment as early as 1800 by Martin Raker, who died in October, 1803, and was the first person interred here.
Eden Evangelical Lutheran Church was organized in 1844 by Rev. J. P. Shindel. The first officers and signers of the constitution were George Savidge, John Drear, George Fausold, Philip Weiser, Henry Fausold, and Daniel Conrad, in addition to whom there were forty-six original members. The erection of a church edifice was immediately begun and the corner-stone was laid on the 22d of April, 1844, Rev. J. P. Shindel officiating. It was a one-story frame structure, situated on the Plum Creek road, and served as a place of worship until 1873 when it was removed and the present two-story brick edifice erected. This was dedicated, October 12, 1873, at which time Rev. A. K. Zimmerman was pastor. Since its organization the church has
Maises Bucher
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ROCKEFELLER TOWNSHIP.
been served by the Reverends J. P. Shindel, Peter Born, D. D., George P. Weaver, L. H. Sherts, Joseph Focht, Mr. Berry, A. K. Zimmerman, Mr. Harsh, Sidney Bateman, Mr. Felker, and Cyrus E. Benson, the present pastor.
Emanuel Evangelical Lutheran Church was organized on the 8th of April, 1848, and has had the following pastors: Reverends J. T. Hornberger, 1860 to July, 1864; J. H. Schmidt, October, 1864, to April, 1868; L. G. Eggers, May, 1869, to May, 1871; J. Albert, October, 1871, to January, 1875; A. Berk, 1875 to 1877; H. T. Clymer, August, 1879, to August, 1882; J. W. Early, January, 1883, to March, 1886; A. J. L. Breinig, December, 1887, present incumbent.
At a meeting of the Reformed and Lutheran congregations, June 5, 1847, an agreement was entered into for the erection of a union place of worship, which was accordingly built. The Lutherans withdrew from this union on the 26th of April, 1884, and at once undertook the erection of a church edifice; Joseph Emeric and John Lantz were appointed to secure funds, and, with the assistance of the pastor, select a site. A lot on the northeast corner of Wolf's cross-roads was offered by Joel Wolf and accepted. Joseph Emeric, Daniel Clinger, and William Eister were appointed as a building com- mittee, November 27, 1884; the corner-stone was laid on the 24th of May, 1885, by Reverends J. W. Early and M. B. Lenker, and the dedication occurred, November 8, 1885, when the pastor was assisted by Rev. L. Lindenstruth.
Emanuel Reformed Church was organized in 1848. The first church edifice, a one-story brick structure, situated on the Little Shamokin Creek road four miles southeast of Sunbury, was jointly occupied by this congrega- tion and the Lutherans until 1884, when the latter disposed of their interest; it was then used exclusively by the Reformed organization until 1886, when the present edifice, a one-story brick building with Sunday school room at one side, was erected. Henry Arnold, Samuel Keefer, and Jacob Goss con- stituted the building committee. The corner-stone was laid on the 8th of April, 1886, and the church was dedicated in the following November.
Ebenezer Methodist Episcopal Church was organized in1860, and num- bered among its membership the families of Gonsar, Tucker, Shipman, Long, and Malick. A small frame church edifice was erected on the Hollowing Run road in the same year; in 1875 it was enlarged, but has been much damaged by a storm and never repaired.
Seven Points Church of the Evangelical Association was organized in 1866, although public worship had been conducted by ministers of this denomination in that vicinity as early as 1855. The church edifice, a one- story frame structure, was dedicated on the 23d of December, 1866. Rev. . David Lantz was largely instrumental in effecting the organization and hav- ing the church building erected.
45
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HISTORY OF NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY.
CHAPTER XL. RALPHO TOWNSHIP.
SUCCESSIVE STEPS IN THE PROCEEDINGS BY WHICH THE TOWNSHIP WAS ERECTED- LINE OF DIVISION FROM SHAMOKIN-DRAINAGE AND ROADS-PIONEERS-EARLY HISTORY, GROWTH, AND SECRET SOCIETIES OF ELYSBURG-INDUSTRIES-SCHOOLS- CHURCHES.
R ALPHO township borders on Columbia county on the north and east, Coal township on the south, Shamokin on the west, and Rush on the north. Its territory was part of Augusta from 1772 to 1785, of Catawissa from 1785 to 1788, of Ralpho in 1788-89, and of Shamokin from 1789 to 1883. Its erection originated in a movement to divide Shamokin into two election districts, the propriety of which was favorably reported upon, May 3, 1880, by Isaac Campbell, John Eckman, and Richard B. Douty, viewers appointed by the court, March 12, 1880. Exceptions to this report were filed, however; on the 4th of January, 1881, it was set aside and the matter referred again to the same viewers. A second report was made, February 7, 1881, and on the 1st of August, 1882, this was confirmed, dividing the township into two election districts, to be known as North and South Shamokin. In the meantime the formation of a new township had been agitated and on the 5th of September, 1882, a petition presented with that object was referred to Ira Shipman, Peter H. Snyder, and Solomon Weaver, who reported favorably, December 15, 1882, the line of division to coincide with the channel of Shamokin creek from the line of Coal township to a point in the middle of the stream at the county bridge near Reed's church and thence deflect north fourteen and one fourth degrees east two hundred sixty rods to the line of Rush township. The question was sub- mitted to a vote on the 20th of January, 1883, when the proposed change received popular approval; and on the 5th of February, 1883, a decree of court was promulgated, erecting the township of Ralpho from that part of the former territory of Shamokin east of the division line and adjacent to Columbia county. The first election for township officers occurred on the 20th of February, 1883.
The surface of the township is undulating and in many parts hilly; it is drained by tributaries of Shamokin and Roaring creeks, the former form- ing the western and the latter the eastern boundary. The highest elevation in this region is Gilger's hills, a range extending east and west through the central part of the township. The Shamokin Valley and Pottsville railway
797
RALPHO TOWNSHIP.
passes through the western part of the township; the lines of the old Centre and Danville turnpikes cross its territory, while numerous lateral highways lead in all directions.
PIONEERS.
Settlements were attempted in this section prior to the Revolutionary war, but none proved successful until 1779, when Obadiah Campbell, a na- tive of New Jersey and a soldier of the Revolution, immigrated to the vicinity of Elysburg, where he secured a tract of four hundred acres. About the same time or a few years later, Jacob Pensyl, who had previously settled at the site of Shamokin, established himself upon a tract of two hundred acres in Ralpho township. William F. Kaseman, Peter Demmig (Dimmick), Peter Haas, Henry Fisher, and the Geiger family were also among the pioneers. Henry Fisher located where Peter Leisenring now resides, where he built the hotel and mill and owned fifteen or eighteen hundred acres of land. Abia John arrived in 1795 and located two miles east of Perry John's pres- ent residence; Casper Adams and Abram Arter located at the respective residences of John Campbell and John Repley. John Reeder was also an early settler, but did not remain permanently. In 1807 George Krick located where John Krick, his grandson, now resides.
ELYSBURG.
This village is pleasantly located in the southern part of the township, in which it is the only place of importance. The plat was laid out in 1830 by Peter Haas, from whom the place received its first name, Petersburg. When the postoffice was established a change became necessary, and the present designation was adopted. Historically it is the more appropriate, as the Ely family has been represented at this locality from an early period. As early as 1800 George Ely kept hotel in this vicinity; the first house within the present village limits was built by Samuel Ely, whose carpenter shop was also the first local industry. Among the first store keepers were John Irvin, Joseph Dickson, and Fisher & Higgins; David Higgins, a member of the last mentioned firm, was the first postmaster. Dr. James Pasco was the first resident physician but did not remain any length of time; Dr. Joseph C. Robins was the first to locate permanently at Elysburg, where he was in active practice forty-two years. Jesse Campbell was the first saddler, and William Bird the first blacksmith; the chair-making industry was pursued at one time by William Persing. The original town plat was subsequently enlarged by Dodge & Barton and E. Chidester.
Secret Societies .- The following is a list of secret societies, with dates of organization or institution: Elysburg Lodge, No. 548, I. O. O. F., January 1, 1859; Lucy Jane Lodge, No. 80, Daughters of Rebekah, September 22, 1873; Elysburg Lodge, No. 414, F. & A. M., March 4, 1868; Washington Camp, No. 186, P. O. S. of A., July 26, 1887.
798
HISTORY OF NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY.
INDUSTRIES.
John W. Reed's mill is a two-story frame building, equipped with four sets of buhrs. The first mill at this site was built by Bernard Eyregood; it was a frame building with two sets of buhrs, and had an overshot wheel. The present mill was built in 1830 by Samuel Sober.
Peter Leisenring's mill at Bear Gap was originally erected at an early date by Henry Fisher; it was rebuilt and enlarged by Jacob Leisenring.
William Krickbaum's mill is situated in the eastern part of the township on Roaring creek; this is an old mill site and the present structure, a three- story frame building with four sets of buhrs and an overshot wheel, was erected in 1840 by Mr. Krickbaum.
Isaac Hull established a small tannery in 1830; some years since it passed . into the possession of William Pensyl, by whom the plant was enlarged and improved. Lemuel Teitsworth also conducted a tannery at Elysburg a num- ber of years.
SCHOOLS.
One of the earliest schools of the township was conducted in an old log building that stood upon the site of St. Jacob's church. The first teachers were Charles Stock and William H. Muench; the latter taught twenty-four years. At an early date Obadiah Campbell built a log school house on land now owned by Joseph Ent. He also gave the ground for the first school house at Elysburg, and re-enforced this generous donation with a liberal subscription; the building occupied the site of the present school house in that village, and William Cunningham, Rev. Samuel Henderson, Joseph Campbell, and David Anderson were among the first teachers. The congre- gation of St. Peter's church erected a brick school house at an early date where the present church edifice stands; Francis P. Schwartz and a Mr. Lat- timer were among the first teachers.
The Elysburg Academy was for some years a prominent educational fac- tor in this part of the county. A two-story brick building thirty by forty feet in dimensions was erected in 1865 by a local stock company at a cost of thirty-four hundred dollars. William Biddle, Rev. John Adams, and H. H. Bartholomew were the first principals. Since the regular sessions of the academy have been discontinued, different persons have conducted private schools in the building during the summer months.
CHURCHES.
St. Peter's Church, Lutheran and Reformed, was organized more than a hundred years ago. John Pensyl donated an acre of ground for church and burial purposes; a log building was erected thereon as a place of worship and a brick building for school purposes. The latter was replaced by the present church edifice, of which the corner-stone was laid on the 5th of Sep-
799
RALPHO TOWNSHIP.
tember, 1863. It is a brick structure forty feet wide and eighty feet long. John Pensyl and Peter Demmig (Dimmick) were among the most active of the early members. The present (1890) official boards are constituted as follows: Lutheran-Adam Dimmick and Henry Hoffman, elders, George Buffington and Egbert Adams, deacons; Reformed-Franklin Erdman and David Kase- man, elders, G. F. Herb and F. P. Martz, deacons. The cemetery adjoining the church is tastefully arranged and inclosed with a neat iron fence.
St. Jacob's Church, Lutheran and Reformed, was incorporated about the year 1812; among the corporators were Jacob Reed, Matthias Kershner, Jacob Fry, Andrew Fry, Andrew Smith, John Smith, Abram Arter, and Solo- mon Krick. Ground for a church edifice was donated by John Jones, and Casper Reed gave the land for the cemetery. The first church building, a two-story brick structure, was dedicated on the 14th of August, 1816; it was two years in course of erection, as the corner-stone was laid on the 28th of August, 1814. Jacob Reed was the largest contributor and virtual founder, and his services are still recognized in the popular designation, "Reed's church." The present church edifice is a two-story brick structure seventy feet long and forty feet wide with tower and bell, and cost seven thousand dollars; the corner-stone was laid on the 1st of May, 1870, and the dedica- tion occurred on the 20th of November following. Among the early members of these congregations were Jacob Reed, Casper Reed, Christian Bauschlog, Peter Swank, Jacob Swank, Henry Swank, Conrad Yost, William H. Muench, Abram Arter, Solomon Krick, George Krick, John Hirsh, Jacob Scholl, John Vought, Sr., John Vought, Jr., Daniel Vought, Sr., Daniel Vought, Jr., Val- entine Vought, E. H. Vought, H. H. Knoerle, Samuel Haas, and John Miller. The following is a list of pastors: Lutheran-Reverends J. P. Shindel, J. O. Adams, J. H. Wampole, Philip Williard, Mr. Bricker, and S. G. Shannon, present incumbent; Reformed-Reverends John W. Ingold, John Dietrich Adams, Martin Bruner, Mr. Knoebel, R. A. Fisher, Mr. Hoffman, Mr. Ritten- house, Mr. Hibschman, Mr. Losch, Mr. Kelly, Mr. Reiter, Mr. Shoemaker, Mr. Hartzel, and Mr. Sando.
Elysburg Methodist Episcopal Church is supposed to have been organized about the year 1791 by Bishop Asbury, the founder of this denomination in America. The place of worship was the school house built at Elysburg by Obadiah Campbell until 1850, when the frame building now owned by the Masonic Lodge was erected. The present one-story frame church edifice superseded the latter in 1885. The following is a list of pastors since 1866: 1866, J. Forrest, J. M. Akers; 1867, J. Forrest; 1868, Henry S. Mendenhall, William W. Reese; 1869, Henry S. Mendenhall, A. S. Bowman; 1870, Henry S. Mendenhall; 1871, J. F. Bowman, Theodore Faus; 1872, J. F. Bowman; 1873, T. O. Clees; 1874, T. O. Clees, G. V. Savidge; 1875, T. O. Clees, W. B. Smith; 1876, John Guss, C. J. Buck; 1877, John Guss; 1878, John Guss, Jonathan Guldin; 1879-81, Gideon H. Day; 1882-83, Timothy
1
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HISTORY OF NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY.
H. Tubbs; 1884-86, Henry B. Fortner; 1887-89, Andrew W. Decker; 1890, William A. Lepley.
Oak Grove Methodist Episcopal Church was organized in 1834; among the early members were Adam Gilger, Robert Taylor and wife, John Rep- ley, Henry Repley, Joseph Yocum and wife, John Fisher, and David Snyder and wife. Meetings were held for some years at the house of John Repley, and subsequently in the school house. The present church building, a frame structure thirty-eight by forty feet, was dedicated on the 1st of January, 1863.
The Society of Friends has been represented in Ralpho township since its first settlement, but no local meeting was organized until 1840, when, through the efforts of Elida and Perry John, a number of Friends residing in this locality and formerly connected with the meetings at Catawissa and Roar- ing creek were separately constituted. A school house and subsequently Krickbaum's mill were used as places of worship until the present brick meeting house was erected.
Elysburg Presbyterian Church was organized in 1850 from a member- ship formerly connected with the old Shamokin church. Prominent among the first members were Obadiah Campbell, William Kase, Alexander Moore, Samuel Sober, and their families. They built a brick church edifice and worshiped therein until 1889, when the present brick building was erected upon the same site. Reverends Samuel Henderson, John Sellers, John Hudson, Mr. Williamson, David Hull, Mr. Sturgis, John McElroy, John Caldwell, W. R. Mather, Mr. Finney, and F. F. Christine, the present incumbent, have successively served as pastors.
CHAPTER XLI.
GEARHART TOWNSHIP.
ERECTION AND . ORGANIZATION-THE FOUNDING, GROWTII, AND MUNICIPAL GOVERN- MENT OF THE BOROUGH OF RIVERSIDE-SOUTH DANVILLE-SCHOOLS-CHURCHES- CEMETERY.
T THE movement that has recently culminated in the division of Rush township had its origin in the formation of Gearhart independent school district some years ago; subsequently two election districts were formed, and, at December sessions, 1889, proceedings were instituted for the formation of two separate and distinct townships. Ira Shipman, C. D. Ober- dorf, and John F. Derr, commissioners appointed by the court to take the
801
GEARHART TOWNSHIP.
matter under advisement, reported favorably to a division by the line of the independent school district. The question was submitted to popular vote on the 3d of June, 1890, when eighty-three ballots were cast in favor of divis- ion and fifty-one against; the township of Gearhart was accordingly erected, September 10, 1890, by decree of court.
The first election occurred on the 27th of September, 1890, resulting in the choice of the following township officers: constable, Conrad Fisher; justices of the peace: J. Hudson Kase, Charles Kase; supervisors: A. M. Sechler, W. F. Gearhart; overseers of the poor; James C. Carr, H. H. Vas- tine; assessors: Samuel Gulick, Samuel Reader; auditors: F. W. Clayton, D. R. Eckman, Daniel P. Crossley; school directors: Thomas Welliver, J. N. Bird, M. F. Gulick, Peter Burger, Daniel P. Crossley, S. K. Hummer; judge of election, B. F. Landan; inspectors: Thomas A. Adams, O. H. Am- merman.
BOROUGH OF RIVERSIDE.
Riverside is pleasantly situated on the south bank of the North Branch, directly opposite Danville, Montour county. The site was originally em- braced in the farm of Daniel Cameron, from whom it passed successively to William D. Gearhart and William Hancock; from the latter it was purchased by Rev. Irvin H. Torrence, with whom the project of laying out a town had its inception. In the consummation of this project Thomas Beaver and Benjamin G. Welch were associated with Mr. Torrence; subsequent addi- tions have been made to the original plat, and thus the borough embraces several hundred acres. The streets, extending north and south, are num- bered consecutively from First to Twelfth; the avenues cross the streets at 'right angles, and are distinguished by a series of letters, all the letters in the Alphabet from A to I being used. The Sunbury and Danville road, which passes through the plat, has been widened under the name of Sun- bury street.
The borough is situated on the line of the Sunbury, Hazelton and Wilkes- barre railroad, and is connected with Danville by a river bridge; its popula- tion is principally employed in that city, of which it is virtually a suburb and in the prosperity of which it has largely shared. No manufacturing or business interests of importance have developed; it is essentially a place of residence, and in its attractiveness in this respect has doubtless realized the design of the projectors.
Municipal Government .- The borough of Riverside was incorporated, May 4, 1871, by act of the legislature; until the first election for borough officers should occur, this act provided that Edward Crompton should act as burgess, and A. Motzenbacher, W. Yeager, Daniel Leiby, W. A. Miller, Joel T. Baily, and O. H. Ostrander as councilmen. Since 1873 the following per- sons have been elected to the office of burgess: 1873, C. P. Gearhart; 1874,
802
HISTORY OF NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY.
R. P. Laird; 1875-76, Joseph L. Shannon; 1877, William Minier; 1878, Joseph L. Shannon; 1879, Benjamin G. Welch; 1880-82, C. P. Gearhart; 1883, R. P. Laird; 1884-85, Joseph L. Shannon; 1886, Caleb F. Persing; 1887-91, Joseph L. Shannon.
SOUTH DANVILLE.
South Danville adjoins Riverside on the east, and is located at the south- ern terminus of the Danville bridge. The site was formerly embraced in the farm of Harmon Gearhart; the town was laid out by William F. Gear- hart, with George W. West as surveyor. Logan, Montour, Chestnut, Factory, and Mill streets extend north and south, intersected by Railroad, Wall, Dew- art, Gearhart, and Sunbury streets. The town possesses substantially the same character and prospects as Riverside; owing to the immediate prox- imity of Danville, where the population is principally employed, no local business or industries of any magnitude have come into existence.
SCHOOLS.
The Riverside school building, a brick structure forty by twenty-six feet and two stories high, was erected in 1871 at a cost of four thousand seven hundred forty-eight dollars, twenty-nine cents; the first term was opened in the autumn of that year with Miss Mamie Wilkes as teacher. The first school directors, appointed by the legislature in the act incorporating the borough, were J. W. Scott, William Faux, Daniel Huber, Benjamin G. Welch, C. P. Gearhart, and O. Longacre.
CHURCHES.
The Methodist Episcopal Church of South Danville has existed as an organization from an early period in the history of the Methodist denomina- tion in central Pennsylvania. Rev. Francis Asbury, the first Methodist bishop in America, makes mention in his journal of having been the guest of General William Montgomery at Danville, whence he crossed the river and preached at Judge Jacob Gearhart's; the Judge's barn was the place of public worship, while class and prayer meetings were regularly held at his house, which occupied the site of the present residence of Rev. Irvin H. Torrence. The preachers of the Philadelphia, Genesee, and Baltimore Con- ferences successively included this point in the field of their labors; and here the first Methodist church edifice in that part of Northumberland county south of the North Branch was erected in 1829. It was a frame building one story high, and was situated within the inclosure of Mt. Vernon cemetery; John Gearhart, a son of the Judge, supervised the work of construction, and Will- iam Gearhart performed the mason-work. This structure was occupied for re- ligious purposes until 1872, when a brick edifice was erected at Riverside; this is the present Episcopal chapel, which, on account of financial embar-
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