USA > Pennsylvania > Perry County > History of Perry County, Pennsylvania, including descriptions of Indians and pioneer life from the time of earliest settlement, sketches of its noted men and women and many professional men > Part 119
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a blacksmith, carrying his tools and anvil from place to place. He died in 1800, and lies in the Loysville churchyard. Nicholas Ickes left Mont- gomery County in 1795 and settled in Perry County on 230 acres of land bought of Robert Robinson. He also purchased 260 acres of mountain land from Dr. Mailey, and 130 from Charles Elliot. He purchased 170 acres from George Sanderson in 1816, on which he lived and where he died in 1848, aged eighty-four years. lckesburg is located on part of this tract, hence the name-Ickesburg. It was laid out in 1816. Thomas Drom- gold, progenitor of the Perry County Dromgolds, was from near Dublin, Ireland, and located at Domally's Mills, making his way on foot from New Castle, Delaware, to the Chesapeake Bay, and thence up the rivers. He purchased a farm near Ickesburg in a short time, and at his death had 600 acres which descended to his son, John Dromgold. Thomas Dromgold was naturalized in the Perry County courts, January 5, 1830. In Ireland he had been a millwright, merchant and farmer, and the old stone house and mill owned by him still stood in 1900, when W. A. Dromgold made a trip to the ancestral home and was entertained by relatives yet in pos- session. While at Donnally's Mills he wooed and won the fair Elizabeth Donnally, and, as he was a miller, was no doubt in the employ of the Donnally family in milling. The fifth generation of Donnallys, as repre- sented by L. A. Donnally, a former member of the legislature, reside at Donnally's Mills, where he still operates the mill.
The date of the earliest school in this township is shrouded in mystery, so long ago was it already in use. It was located on a small plot of ground opposite the lane leading from the old Ickes mill to the public road, where the Boden farm joined, and one of the corner stones was there yet at the end of the century, a mute relic of the "schoolhouse by the road," as immortalized by Henry W. Longfellow, the poet. From districts as far away as "Mountain Home," Roseburg and Eshcol, came boys and girls seeking knowledge. The mother of the late Nicholas Hench attended school here as early as 1785, and the schoolhouse had been in use before that. Among the teachers before 1800 were John Bolton, Thomas Steven- son, J. Watts, Thomas Meldrum and George Williams.
In 1800 Linn's school was started, near the residence of Thomas Shull. It was still in use in 1825, as there is record of a Sunday school there in that year. The building was later sold and moved away. In 1803 a Mr. Jamison taught a school at Duffie's Hill.
There was quite a fight in this township on the question of the adoption or rejection of the free school system in 1836, although it had been in operation the previous year. Robert Elliot, associate judge of the county at the time, favored it, and Andrew Shuman, with considerable following, opposed it. The western part of the township voted almost unanimously against it, and the northern part strongly for it, but a majority was against it. In 1835 there were three male and two female teachers, whose salary for one and one-fourth month's services was $16.50. There were sixty- eight male and seventy-one female pupils.
Summit schoolhouse, near Ickesburg, was thrice burned, the first being a frame building, and two years later a brick building. It burned again in 1911. It was first used about 1860.
On the Harry C. Boden farm, near Ickesburg, is a cave 250 feet long, 12 feet wide, and 18 feet in height. There are several apartments. It was first discovered in January, 1857.
According to the report of the mercantile appraiser the following are in business in Saville Township, the dates being the time of starting:
General stores, Kochenderfer & Bro., S. A. Rice, R. B. Rodgers (1897), post- master at Saville, 1900-1920 ; Samuel H. Swab, Lloyd Smith.
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HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
J. C. Gray, auto supplies ; David Rice, cigars ; Samuel Stewart, harness ; D. W. Reisinger (1916), stoves and tinware, established by E. C, Reisinger (1897) : Luther Smith & Bro., auto supplies.
Ickesburg. Robert Robinson warranted a tract of 250 acres and allow- ances, on May 25, 1774. He got his patent in 1796, and almost immediately sold the property, which actually contained 275 acres, to Nicholas Ickes, a native of Montgomery County. About 1818-soon after the erection of the township-he laid out streets, plotted lots and named the town Ickesburg.
When the county was formed, two years later, the residents were : Henry Flickinger, shoemaker; Nicholas Ickes, distillery and sawmill; Jonas Ickes, physician ; Daniel Lutman, Edward MeGouran and John Rice, merchants. In 1819-20 John Rice built two log houses, and in 1821 a stone house. Merchants there were Samuel and Nicholas Hench, sons of Nicholas Hench, Henry Roberts, James Milligan and others. In 1820
Photo by H. W. Flickinger.
ICKESBURG AND LANDSCAPE.
a weekly mail was established, and William Elliot was made postmaster. After the erection of the tannery it was carried twice a week. Later post- masters were Jesse Comley, George Rice, Samuel Rice, A. B. Wilson, Peter Toomey, Alexander Barnes, William Boden.
The Ickesburg tannery was erected in 1821, by 'Squire Taylor and Dr. John Parshall, who sold to Alexander Power. It was later sold to Samuel Hench and Henry Duffield. They sold to John Kendig.
A tannery was built above town in 1821, by James Sanderson, George Sanderson operating it as late as 1831. It was later owned by William Blair, and still later by Peter Swartz, who was killed while rolling leather by the falling of the chimney, whose foundation had been weakened by incessant rains.
In 1835 a foundry was established by John Servis. It was destroyed by fire in 1838. Another, known as Clinton foundry, was built by Samuel Liggett, and was later owned by Elias Weidle. The property is now owned by Mrs. Emma Scott.
Dr. Jonas lekes practiced about 1820-23. He was of the Ickes family from whom the town took its name. He was the first physician to locate at Ickesburg. About 1830 Dr. Thomas Simonton practiced for a number of years. His son, Dr. William Simonton, read medicine with him and succeeded him to the practice. They later removed to Illinois. They were succeeded by Dr. Black, who, after practicing several years, moved to Cumberland County. Dr. Briner, a native of the county, practiced from 1850 to 1860. He then located at Topeka, Kansas. Dr. Jackson, a graduate of the Jefferson Medical College, succeeded Briner, practicing until his death, which occurred about seven years later.
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Dr. William R. Cisna followed. He was a graduate of Dickinson Col- lege as well as a graduate in medicine. After getting his medical diploma in 1865 he located in Ickesburg, where he practiced until about 1882, when he located in Chicago. Dr. Charles Delancey succeeded Dr. Cisna, but soon moved to Loysville. Then Dr. Dean was there a short time, but moved to Millerstown. Dr. Newton Bryner, son of George Bryner, of Cisna's Run, a graduate of the University of New York, located in Ickes- burg in 1881, where he practiced until his death, which occurred April 29, 1877, aged twenty-nine years. Dr. J. H. Bryner graduated at Columbus Medical College in 1885, and located at Ickesburg, where he practiced until 1912, when he removed from the county. Dr. E. Kenneth Wolff located here in 1910, and practiced until 1917, since which time Dr. George Kinzer has been located here. Dr. Kinzer is a graduate of the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Baltimore, '92.
Eshcol. Eshcol is a hamlet surrounding the Shuman church and mill. named after the scriptural Eshcol, owing to the features suggesting it, according to the late William E. Baker. It was long known as "The Narrows," then as "Shuman's Church," and "Gaylortown." It has had several stores, a tannery, a blacksmith shop and a few houses. The post office was originally at the upper Shuman mill. It was transferred to the settlement and named Eshcol. John D. Baker was the first postmaster. He was succeeded by Jacob Kleckner. The first stores were kept by John D. Baker and John Harmon. The tannery was built by Michael Gaylor, and was later operated by Rev. L. A. Wickey. In 1889 George McC. Long and I. Lane Long erected a store building and went into business, the latter buying out the former six years later and continuing in business there until 1910, when he sold out to Mrs. Lucy Campbell, and located at Dauphin, Pennsylvania, where he opened a large general store and where he is vice-president of the Dauphin National Bank. The Longs descended from Henry Long, who came from York or Adams County in 1795, and settled in what is now Saville Township.
Dr. John D. Baker, a graduate of American University of Philadelphia, began practice at Eshcol in 1880, and continued until his death, in 1915.
United Brethren Churches. Many years ago there had been a United Brethren Church at Ickesburg, which on June 2, 1883, was sold to a cornet band then in existence. After that period, following the Sectional War, there was a charge known as the Eshcol charge, which comprised the churches at Eshcol, Mannsville, Otterbein chapel, near Donnally's Mills, and Gingrich's church, between Ickesburg and Donnally's Mills. The Esh- col church was erected in 1870. One of the pastors, Rev. I. A. Wickey, left his impress on the community. He was located there six years, and was stricken with paralysis in his pulpit, January, 1898, dying four days later. He was an able man. Rev. J. N. Crowell was the last pastor. In 1916 the church was sold to Harry C. Boden, who removed it.
The Reformed Church at Buffalo. Before this church was built the members of the Reformed faith worshiped at Loysville and at St. Peter's Church, in Spring Township. During the pastorate of Rev. Scholl, on the Sherman's Valley charge ( 1819-40), he began holding services in the terri- tory of Buffalo church, the meetings being held in the homes of members of the faith. He also held services in the old log schoolhouse located "on the rise, just south of Buffalo Mills." The congregation was organized in 1839, but was then known as "the New Church." It is not mentioned as Emanuel Church in synodical reports until 1843. The first officers were Jonathan Swartz and Philip Kell, elders, and Adam Orris and Henry Kell, deacons. With the building of the church entire families belonging to the Loysville Lutheran Church withdrew and connected with the Buffalo
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HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
Church, the Lutherans assuming the unpaid portion of the building. The church was built of stone and was erected in 1840. Conrad Rice and Jonathan Swartz composed the building committee. Henry Hartman and Henry Kell were long faithful pillars of this church. Jointly these two peoples-Reformed and Lutherans-worshiped here until 1886-87, when each erected its own edifice. This Reformed congregation has had the reputation of having been one of the leading churches of that faith in the county to do things, according to Rev. Groh's historical sketch.
The new church was dedicated on March 7, 1886, the stained glass me- morial windows having been designed by Prof. J. C. Miller, the penman, himself a member of the congregation. It was a part of the Blain charge from the beginning, which was known as the Sherman's Valley charge until 1841. The list of pastors appears under the Blain chapter.
Buffalo Church, Lutheran Congregation. This people occupied, with the Reformed congregation, the stone church at Buffalo, built in 1840, as stated above. Rev. Heim preached for them in private dwellings, but dis- couraged their building a church and never preached iu it when built. For about a year a Rev. Boyer preached there occasionally. They were unor- ganized at that time. Then for several years, or until 1847, the Lutherans attended the Reformed services in the church. On June 12, 1847, the Lu- therans organized by electing Benjamin Rice and John Buttorff, elders, and George Rice and John Peck, deacons. Conrad Rice was made trustee. The pastors from then on have been :
1847-49-Rev. Lloyd Knight. 1854 -Rev. Adamı Height.
1849-52-Rev. Jacob Martin.
1852-53-Rev. Wm. Gerhardt.
1855-59-Rev. D. H. Focht.
As the Buffalo church lay nearer the Loysville field, on June 1, 1860, it was attached to that charge. The pastor was Rev. G. M. Settlemnoyer, 1860-61. The congregation then withdrew from the Loysville charge and became a part of the Blain charge, with the same ministers as Blain until 1886, when it became a part of the newly formed Ickesburg charge. The names of the later ministers appear in the history of Blain and Ickesburg churches, elsewhere in this book. A new brick-cased church was built in 1886-87, but later burned and was then replaced with a frame structure.
Buffalo Presbyterian Church. This church was organized in April, 1823. In that year a log church was built upon lands secured from Philip Kell, located one and one-fourth miles west of Ickesburg. Rev. John Linn, the pastor of Centre Church, had previously been holding services in the vicinity. Several histories credit its organization to Rev. James M. Olni- stead, but the History of Presbytery, by Rev. William West, names Rev. Nathan Harned as the first pastor, 1823, with Rev. Olmstead following in 1825-32, and Rev. John Pomeroy, 1832-33. In 1834, when Rev. John Dickey came to New Bloomfield, Buffalo church was added to that pastorate and so remained until 1855, under Mr. Dickey. It was then united with Mil- lerstown and was served by Rev. John B. Strain, 1856-60, and Rev. Thomas P. Cochran, D.D., 1862-67. In 1868 Buffalo and Blain united and called Rev. J. J. Hamilton, who made his residence in Saville Township. The History of Presbytery then places the name of Robert McPherson as stated supply during 1877-81. Rev. John H. Cooper, 1884-85, resided at Blain, but filled both pulpits. The four churches, Buffalo, Blain, Centre and Landisburg, were then served by Rev. William M. Burchfield from 1887 until 1895, when he was retained by Centre, and the churches at Buf- falo, Blain and Landisburg formed a charge.
St. Andrew's Lutheran Church. This Lutheran Church is really the cradle in which was nurtured the religious faith of that denomination in so far as Saville Township is concerned. When the last century was born
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there were settling around the vicinity of present-day Ickesburg the Ickes, Lyons, Shuman, Long, and many other families of that faith. Their nearest churches were from eight to twelve miles, and at stated periods a minister would come into the district and preach, usually in some home or a school building. About 1806 Rev. Frederick Oberhauser began hold- ing regular services near Ickesburg, as well as at many other points in western Perry. In 1815 he conducted a catechetical class at Andrew Shu- man's home, at Shuman's mill, conducted a communion service and con- firmed twelve members. Owing to the infirmities of age he soon ceased preaching here. He died in 1821. From then until 1828 Rev. John William Heim preached occasionally. In that year Mr. Heim settled at Loysville and still preached occasionally at Shuman's thereafter.
The log church was not built until 1831. It was erected on an acre of land donated by Andrew Shuman for a Union church (Lutheran and Re- formed) and a graveyard. Andrew Shuman and Jacob Bealor were the building committee. The first council was as follows: Frederick Anders, elder; John Beistlein, deacon; Peter Long, John Swartz, trustees. The pastors since then have been Rev. Heim, who served until 1849; Jacob Martin, until 1852; Rev. Wm. Gerhardt, Rev. Adam Height, Rev. David Focht and the successive pastors of the New Bloomfield congregation, until 1866, for which see the chapter devoted to that town. Under Rev. Martin and the beginning of Rev. Focht's pastorate the services were held alternately in English and German. In 1886 it became a part of the newly formed Ickesburg charge, the pastors being the same. See Ickesburg Lu- theran Church.
St. Andrew's Reformed Church. This congregation's place of worship was the same as that of the Lutheran Church, described immediately pre- ceding. Rev. Jacob Scholl was the pastor from the time of its building in 1831 to the time of his death, September 4, 1847. Rev. Daniel Gans fol- lowed until 1851, and Rev. Samuel Kuhn, until 1862. It was then united with the Blain charge and so continued for a few years, when it was abandoned as a regular pulpit by the members of that faith on account of its close proximity to Ickesburg and Buffalo.
Ickesburg Lutheran Church. Although the Buffalo church, three miles away, was the home of a Lutheran congregation, and St. Andrew's Lu- theran Church existed at Eshcol, still closer, the Lutheran families of Ickesburg organized a congregation and built a church, which was dedi- cated December 6, 1885. Its cost was $4,500. Most of the older Lutheran families then residing at Ickesburg were members of one of these two - churches, and other families moving in would not unite with churches three miles away, neither would the young people, which resulted in the building of the Ickesburg church. A congregation was organized and also a Sunday school, the United Brethren Church being rented and the pastor from Blain, Rev. Clair, filled the pulpit. The Presbyterians then offered their church, and in it the meetings were held until the church was dedi- cated. Following Rev. Clair, came Rev. Frazier, Rev. Heisler, and Dr. Neff. Blain and New Bloomfield showed a tendency to release Buffalo and St. Andrew's Churches, with the result that Ickesburg charge was formed of the three churches. For a short time a fourth church, St. Mark's, at Kistler, was attached, but it soon dropped out, and to-day even the building is gone. The new Ickesburg charge has been served by Rev. Trostle, Rev. Deitterich, Rev. Nichols, Dr. Diven, Rev. Romig, Rev. Daubenspeck, and the present pastor, Dr. A. C. Forscht.
The Reformed Church of Ickesburg. Settlements did not always follow the location of churches, and this was true of Ickesburg. To the west was Buffalo Reformed Church, and to the south was Shuman's Reformed
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HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
Church. The former was three miles away and the latter was at the period of its disintegration. The members of the faith residing in Ickesburg organized April 10, 1869, with George Orris, Peter Swartz and John Simon- ton as elders, and Alexander Barnes, G. W. Kochenderfer and Thomas M. Kochenderfer, as deacons. It was named St. Luke's, and in 1871 erected a brick church. In the beginning the Ickesburg congregation was subor- dinate to the Buffalo Church. The Blain pastor serves this church, and in the Blain chapter will be found a list of the pastors.
Ickesburg Methodist Church. The Ickesburg Methodist Church was built in 1843. It was long served by the pastors of the New Bloomfield charge, but of later years was connected with the Millerstown church. Services were held in it until 1920. During 1921 it was sold to the school board.
SPRING TOWNSHIP.
While there appears to be no authentic account in the court records re- lating to Spring Township there is evidence that the preliminary petition to the court asking for the formation of the new township was presented at the January sessions in 1848. The viewers appointed were Richard Adams, James Black and Wm. B. Anderson. The report signed by Mr. Adams and Mr. Black, recommended the creation of the new township and named it Lawrence, but at the August sessions of court when the re- port was confirmed, although almost 200 citizens protested, it was made a township and named Spring. It was formed from lands taken from Ty- rone Township.
Spring Township is bounded on the north by Saville and Centre, on the east by Centre and Carroll, on the south by Cumberland County, and on the west by Tyrone Township. Its outline on the north and east is irregu- lar. At the census of 1850, succeeding its formation, it had a population of 1,281, 105 farms, 215 houses, and 14 productive establishments.
On February 4, 1755, one day after the lands which now comprise Perry County were opened to settlers, John Sanderson warranted 150 acres, the eastern end of Elliottsburg now being located on this property, and the road from the present hotel to the north being the line between him and Samuel Fisher, who patented his tract on May 1, 1755. A note signed by John Lukens, surveyor general, attached to Fisher's warrant, says: "I understand the land called Samuel Fisher's in this warrant to be the land first settled by Richard Kirkpatrick, and that there was a line marked between said Kirkpatrick and Sanderson by consent." Accordingly both Kirkpatrick and Sanderson must have been upon the grounds before the lands were open to settlement. As far as Kirkpatrick is concerned there is evidence to that effect, as quoted in one of the chapters in this book relating to the Indians, he having been one of those removed from the lands by the provincial authorities. John Sanderson warranted other tracts in 1785 and 1789. He resided on this original claim but owned 1, 100 acres in one plot. In 1782 he was assessed with two stills and a gristmill, which was run as late as 1873 by John Snyder. When he died, in 1790, he be- queathed to his nephew, George Elliot, 400 acres. In 1829 George Elliot sold this property to George S. Hackett, who kept a hotel in what is stated to be the first brick house in Perry County, it having been built by San- derson before his death in 1790. It stood until 1884.
Near the limestone ridge, east of Elliottsburg, Thomas Fisher, a son of Samuel Fisher, referred to above, took up 337 acres. William Power warranted eighty-six acres south of Elliottsburg and adjoining it, in 1788. Abraham Smith and Casper Comp took up 150 acres. The farm long known as the John Reapsome place, and the John Rice place, south of Elliottsburg, was taken up by Matthias Pierson, June 28, 1788, and com-
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prised 216 acres. It was described as being three miles in length and the shape of a horseshoe, the width at one end being ten rods, and at the other sixty-one. James Baxter warranted 207 acres. The "Little Germany" tracts were taken up by John Fuas (Foose) in 1794. In 1820 he was assessed with 300 acres, a sawmill and a distillery. Edward Irvine, in 1766, took up a large tract, and in 1795 Casper Comp took up sixty acres, in- cluding an improvement of Hermanus Alricks, who, with his brothers, James and West, had taken warrants for adjoining lands in 1784. In February, 1803, George Stroop warranted 250 acres adjoining lands, which he had purchased, east of Landisburg. While living in this vicinity Stroop was sheriff of Cumberland County. When the county was formed his heirs were assessed with over 1,300 acres of land.
Stroop's main tract, passed to Martin Swartz in 1822, and in the same year to John Junkin, of Cumberland County, who located there and was associate judge of Perry County for nineteen years, after the death of the first incumbent, William Anderson. Mr. Junkin, in 1854, with his entire family, except B. F. Junkin, who later became president judge, removed to Iowa. When sold in 1822 it had erected thereon "a large brick house, gristmill, sawmill, five tenant houses, etc." On his removal Mr. Junkin sold to John Brown, who in 1866 conveyed it to Win. P. Heckendorn. After his death it was conveyed to Jos. M. Bolze, in 1906. A year later it passed to C. E. Kuller, after whose death, in 1911, it passed to Edward Cless, the present owner. This farm passed to John Brown, in 1854, and a few years later to Samuel Spotts. Mr. Spotts sold twenty acres of it, on which had been built a gristmill and a sawmill, to William Heckendorn, a few years later. This property eventually passed to M. L. Rice & Brother, who abandoned the mill about 1900.
In 1755 James Diven warranted 195 acres on which he later built a tan- nery. David Beard, in 1763, took up 150 acres, and in 1791 another sixty- five acres. Hugh Kilgore, in 1755, warranted 217 acres, and in 1766 an additional claim of 123 acres. In 1784 David Robb took up 100 acres, and int 1785 an additional seventy acres adjoining it. There was a pine mill and a still on one of these properties, probably where the Wetzell mill later stood. Near Bridgeport four Ross brothers-Jonathan, John, Samuel and Thomas-warranted almost a thousand acres from 1762 to 1784. These lands extended almost to Landisburg. John Waggoner, the head of the family prominent in the milling industry of the county from then until now, purchased 500 acres of these Ross lands lying on both sides of the creek, and in 1805 erected the mill, now known as the B. P. Hooke mill. See "Old Landmarks, Mills and Industries."
Near the line where Spring is joined by Carroll Township, along Sher- man's Creek, George Gibson took up fifty acres in February, 1785, and an- other fifty acres in 1787. Ann West Gibson took up 100 acres in April, 1793. This was the Falling Springs property. She was the wife of George Gibson, who was killed in 1791 in battle, and took up the claim after his death. Her father, Francis West, and Ross Mitchell owned adjoining claims. George Gibson and his wife, Ann West Gibson, were the parents of five children, two of whom became prominent, John Bannister Gibson being a Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, and George Gibson, Commissary General of the United States. See chapter devoted to their lives. The old Gibson mill was built by Ann West Gibson prior to 1782, its history being embraced in the chapter on Old Landmarks, Mills, etc. When the county was formed in 1820, the Gibson heirs were assessed with 450 acres of land, a sawmill and a gristmill. The Wests, of which family Mrs. Gibson was a member, were descendants of Francis West, who came over with William Penn on his second voyage to America, from
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