USA > Pennsylvania > Union County > History of that part of the Susquehanna and Juniata valleys, embraced in the counties of Mifflin, Juniata, Perry, Union and Snyder, in the commonwealth of Pennsylvania. V. 1, Pt. 2 > Part 10
USA > Pennsylvania > Mifflin County > History of that part of the Susquehanna and Juniata valleys, embraced in the counties of Mifflin, Juniata, Perry, Union and Snyder, in the commonwealth of Pennsylvania. V. 1, Pt. 2 > Part 10
USA > Pennsylvania > Snyder County > History of that part of the Susquehanna and Juniata valleys, embraced in the counties of Mifflin, Juniata, Perry, Union and Snyder, in the commonwealth of Pennsylvania. V. 1, Pt. 2 > Part 10
USA > Pennsylvania > Perry County > History of that part of the Susquehanna and Juniata valleys, embraced in the counties of Mifflin, Juniata, Perry, Union and Snyder, in the commonwealth of Pennsylvania. V. 1, Pt. 2 > Part 10
USA > Pennsylvania > Juniata County > History of that part of the Susquehanna and Juniata valleys, embraced in the counties of Mifflin, Juniata, Perry, Union and Snyder, in the commonwealth of Pennsylvania. V. 1, Pt. 2 > Part 10
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from the Juniata River, as the water in the 'banking office. A contract was made and the
The officers of the company are Colonel R. H. Lee, of Logan, president ; William Russell, treasurer ; and General T. F. McCoy, secretary.
The Lewistown Gas Company was incorpor- ated April 6, 1855, with authority to sell twelve hundred shares of stock at twenty dollars per share. The company was organized by the elee- tion of E. L. Benedict president, and John W. Shaw secretary. Nine hundred and ninety shares of the stock were sold, realizing $19,800. A lot was purchased at the west end of Market Street and on the canal-bank. A contract was made with Theodore D. Irish, of Carliste, for
the erection of gas-works and the laying of six- inch mains in Grand Street and four-inch mains in the other streets. The entire cost of the plant was $19,800. Mr. Benedict was sue- ceeded as president by Andrew Reed, who still holds the position.
BANKING .- The Juniata Bank of Pennsyl- vania, located on the Main Street in Lewis- town, was in operation in the year 1815. In that year William Armstrong was cashier, and he continued to hold that position until 1823, when William P. Maclay succeeded him. The bank continued doing business until 1835, when it failed. In Jannary, 1841, David Condor was appointed Sequestrator of its affairs.
The Bank of Lewistown was chartered by aet of Assembly April 14, 1835, with an au- thorized capital of two hundred thousand dol- lars. At a meeting of the stockholders Joseph Milliken was chosen president, and John Fors- ter cashier. He soon after resigned to become cashier of the Exchange Bank of Pittsburgh. The teller, J. E. Whiteside, was elected cashier to fill the vacancy, and R. F. Ellis was made teller June 15, 1836. Mr. Whiteside died July 23d of the same year, and A. W. Burns was made cashier in October, 1836. On the 13th of December, Henry Stoner, James Par- ker and Henry Long, a committee from the stockholders, advertised for proposals to build a present residence and banking office of William Russell was erected for that purpose. In that year R. F. Ellis was cashier. On the 8th of December in that year the bank suspended payment and was not again revived.
In August, 1849, the Bank of Lancaster es- tablished a branch bank in Lewistown, which was placed in charge of William Russell. The office of the Bank of Lewistown was secured and business opened. In November of that year, by anthority of the State, Mr. Russell burned the remaining bills of the Bank of Lewistown. The Lancaster Bank failed about January, 1851, and Mr. Russell opened the banking business on his own account, and has continued in business from that time to the present.
The Mifflin County Bank was chartered on
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the 26th day of March, 1860, with an author- ized capital of one hundred thousand dollars; It was not, however, nutil the 17th of Septem- ber, 1861, that the organization was effected. At a meeting of the stockholders held at that time, E. L. Benedict was chosen president, and on the 2d of October following, Robert 11. Wil- liams was elected cashier. The rooms now oc- cupied by D. W. Woods, attorney, were fitted for a banking office and business was begun October 29th in the same year, and was trans- acted at that place until April 1, 1866, when the office was removed to the present location.
The bank was reorganized as the Mifflin County National Bank by authority of a charter granted September 22, 1865, which was renewed September 22, 1885. E. L. Benedict remained president until January 10, 1871, when Andrew Reed, who still holds the position, was elected. Robert II. Williams resigned the office of cashier September 20, 1864, and was sucrceded, October Ith of the same year, by II. J. Walters, who served in that capacity until March 23, 1867, when David E. Robison, the present cashier, was elected.
A private bank was established in 1871 by E. L. Benedict, and kept by him until his death, iu 1879, after which its business was suspended.
OLD-TIME TAVERNS AND MODERN HOTELS. -The first mention of a tavern at what is now Lewistown is given in an account of one Me- Murtre, who was traveling through this region on his way to what is now Ihuntingdon, in the vear 1776. In writing of it in late years, he says: " I stopped at the solitary tavern of old Mr. Buchanan, where Lewistown now is, and at another cabin at Waynesburg." (The landlord was an Indian trader, and in 1755 had located a large tract of land at the mouth of the Kisha- coquillas.) This tavern was also kept in 1788, and probably up to the time of the laying out of the town, as it was at the house of Arthur Buchanan the first court was held. A writer in the Columbia Magazine in the year 1788, in a description of the Inniata River, says: " Mier passing through the Long Narrows, that innedi- atoly upon the other side stands the town or settle- ment called Old Town, consisting of a lavern and a few scattered hovels and containing noth-
ing worth notice." This was probably the tav- ern of James Alexander, who was licensed by the Mifflintown court in June, 1791. It was at his house a part of the voters met in September following, an account of which will be found in the history of the Bench aud Bar of Mifflin County. At the September term of the same vear Hannah Howe and Jeremiah Daily were also licensed to keep public-houses in Lewis- town. In August, 1792, Michael Foneannon, William Powers and Benjamin Brearley were licensed ; in August, 1793, Jeremiah Jacobs; and in April, 1795, Edward Williams. The name of James Alexander as a tavern-keeper soon disappears. It is probable that his tavern was at the corner of Main and Water Streets. On October 1, 1813, Elias W. Hale advertised the property for sale, and says of it : " It has been occupied for fifteen years and is now and ever has been the only Stage-House in town." The location was the natural place where Buch- anan would open business when he came among the Indians, and where the business clustered for a long time. In 1823, and for some years after, it was kept by Benjamin Patton as " The Stage House." It was later kept by Christo- pher Mills, Jacob G. Lebo, S. W. Stewart, and last, from 1840 to 1811, by James Turner, who in that year built, with Alexander Wilson, the National Hotel. A room in Jeremiah Daly's house was used by the grand jury at different times. Michael Foncannon's tavern was on the present site of Pratt's grocery. It was kept by him for several years. Abont 1798 he ex- changed property with David Jordan, who owned the Seven-Mile Tavern property, in the Long Narrows. Ile, however, remained in the tavern in Lewistown until 1809, when he moved to the Long Narrows, and David Jordan be- became the landlord of the tavern in the town. Jordan was succeeded by Abraham Householder, Henry Spangler and Thomas Carr. The house has not been used as a tavern for many years. William Powers kept the tavern on the corner of the square, now occupied by the National Hotel. In 1806 it was kept by his widow, who later married Francis Ellis, after that event the landlord for many years. It had not been used as a tavern for several years prior to 18 13,
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JUNIATA AND SUSQUEHANNA VALLEYS IN PENNSYLVANIA.
in which year James Turner and Alexander Wilson purchased the property, erected a large part of the present hotel and opened it in 18 15. It has been kept by James Turner many years and passed to . Alexander Wilson, who rented it to Adam Hamaker, James S. Galbreath, Jolm A. Ross and others. In 1867 the property was purchased by Adam Hamaker and is now owned by his heirs. It has since the purchase been kept by J. D. L. Bear, Mrs. J. D. L. Bear, C. D. Breneman, and at present William G. Thomp- son is proprietor.
The tavern kept by Edward Williams in 1795 was from 1809 to 1812 kept by his widow Mary.
In 1803 Peacock Major appears on the rec- ords as owning a house and lot on the corner of Third and Main Streets, which was the location where he kept tavern for nearly thirty years. It was famous for its long piazza, which was a favorite resort for the sporting men of the town. In 1833 it was assessed to his heirs, and was soon after abandoned as a tavern. The site is now occupied by the brick residence of Joseph Miller.
Francis Ellis in 1809 was landlord of a log tavern where Mrs. James Burns now resides, and later was proprietor of the tavern on the site of the National. On March 4, 1813, he advertised the brick house on corner of Main and Market streets, fronting the court-house, as for rent as a house of public entertainment, saying : " Its situation renders it among the best stands for either a store or tavern in the borough."
Andrew Keiser erected in 1810 a tavern on the corner of Market and Brown Streets, which was known as " The Bear." He was the land- lord until 1813, when he rented it to James Kinsloe, who kept it for several years.
The Valley House was kept about 1800 by Samuel Sloane, and for many years after by others, and finally abandoned. It was in later years reopened, and is now kept by Mrs. Breneman.
The Lewistown House, on the corner of' Mar- ket and Main Streets, on the square, was built about 1820 by David Reynolds as a residence, but he opened it as a hotel and kept it for sey- eral years. Hle sold the property to James
Quinlan, of Philadelphia, who added the third story, and in July, 1845, it was kept by him as a tavern. In 1817 it was the property of Wil- liam T. Moyer, and later passed to Adam Hamaker, who kept it as a hotel for several years and finally fitted it for a residence. The property is now owned by his son.
In August, 1834, Daniel Watson laid out the " Lafayette Gardens," and fitted up a house as a place of refreshment at the west end of the bor- ough, on the place formerly owned by James Parker.
In 1833 the tavern-keepers of Lewistown were as follows : Jacob G. Lebo, Samuel W. Stuart, Daniel Eisenbise, Joshua Beale, Thomas Osborne, John L. Porter, Francis W. Kinsloe, Melker Stoffey, Joseph Lechnere, Thomas M. Elliot and James Sherrard. The house kept by Daniel Ei-enbise was the " Red Lion," which stood on the site of the present Coleman House. Major Eisenbise continued as landlord of the " Red Lion " until his death. He was brigade inspector for many years, and in the perform- ance of his duty mustered the Logan Guards into the State service in 1865.
A writer, in speaking of him, says, --
" Who can fail to remember the day when we were mustered into the State service by our Uncle Dan in gorgeous array, immense chapeau, glittering epan- lettes, nodding plumes, with first-class horse equip- ments? Who can forget him as he mounted his charger at the Red Lion Hotel, and in all the pomp and circumstance of war gave rein to his steed and bravely galloped out Market Street to the armory on Logan Street with his face beaming with smiles ?"
The Red Lion Hotel was destroyed by fire some years ago.
The Juniata House, located on the bank of the canal, was, about 1835, kept by John M. Wiley, and in 1845 by S. W. Stewart, and later by Major T. J. Hyneman.
The Union Hotel, now on Market Street, was opened in the year 1830. The hotel at the depot was completed in the fall of 1849, and opened in March, 1850, by James Allison, as proprietor. There were many other taverns kept in an early day not here mentioned, but which were of short-continuance.
BRIDGEs .- The first bridge across the Kisha- coquillas Creek at Lewistown, was built in
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MIFFLIN COUNTY.
1791 by John Johnston, who contracted for its erection with the commissioners of the county. It is mentioned as being "opposite the public square." The bridge was paid for by the com- missioners in 1795-96, in three orders, Nos. 4, 35, 48, which called for $106 13s. Ad. each. This bridge seems to have passed to the care of the borough, and in November, 1802, a petition was presented to the commissioners stating "that the bridge over the Kishacoquillas was ont of' repair and dangerous in passing," that an entirely new bridge was needed, and that a greater outlay was required than the borough authorities thought they could afford alone, and they therefore asked the county to assist in the erection of a new bridge. The commissioners examined the bridge, but it was not until 1805 a new one was built at the place.1 Contract was then made with Isaiah Willis, who built the present stone bridge and warranted it for five years. There was a heavy flood in the creek in the year 1810, and the last year of his warrant. He was very much concerned for its safety, but it was not affected.
A town-meeting was held at Lewistown, De- cember 7, 1836, to consider the idea of building a bridge over the Juniata River. The agitation caused by this meeting brought forth fruit in the presentation of a petition to the Legislature in the session of 1837-38, and on the 4th of April, 1838, the Lewistown and Tuscarora Bridge Company was incorporated. The commissioners appointed to receive subscriptions and superin- tend the ercetion were John Norris, James Mil- liken, David Cummings, James Parker, Finley Ellis, Abraham S. Wilson, James Diekson, Samnel Comfort, William Reed, William Mayes, Samuel Alexander and Henry Hall. The shares were limited to five hundred, at twenty dollars per share. Subscriptions were made, and on Angust 7, 1840, the commissioners of the comty subscribed for one hundred shares of the stock. The bridge was not completed for sey- eral years, but was in process of erection by William Shimp in the year 1817. On Friday, the 8th, and Saturday, the 9th of October, in -
that year, the greatest flood since 1810 occurred in the Jimiata and Kishacoquillas Creek, and the first span of the bridge was carried away. The stone bridge over the Kishacoquillas was entirely submerged and the buildings beyond it were filled to the second story. The water reached thirty-one feet above low-water mark. From this time the bridge was pushed to com- pletion, and in 1819 was in use and opened as a toll bridge. It was used exclusively as a road bridge until about 1865, when the Pennsylvania Railroad wished to form a connection with the Sunbury and Lewistown Railroad, and privilege was obtained to lay a track across the bridge and use it for the passage of trains. It was used as a railroad and toll bridge until July -1, 1874, when a high wind blew it down. In the mean time the railroad company had purchased a controlling interest in the stock of the company. The bridge was immediately rebuilt and the toll feature was abandoned.
Before the destruction of the railroad and toll bridge there seemed to be a necessity for another bridge across the luniata River, as ac- eidents had occurred several times on the Water Street bridge. An appeal was made to the county for assistance, and on April 15, 1874, the commissioners made a contract with D. H. & C. C. Morrison to build an iron bridge across the Juniata at the foot of Market Street for twenty-two thousand dollars, and with Wil- liam G. Stahl for the mason-work for nine thousand nine hundred and eighty-seven dol- lars. The bridge was built in that year and used a little over a year, when it fell, having an insecure foundation. The commissioners advertised for proposals to rebuild the bridge June 30, 1876, and let the contract to the King Bridge Company for fourteeen thousand three hundred dollars, the bridge to be completed in November of that year. It was completed at the time specified, and has since done good service.
NEWSPAPERS .- The first newspaper estab- lished within the limits of the territory here treated was The Millin Gazelle, published at Lewistown in 1796. In its columns were pub- lished the proposals for building the court-hon-e on the Diamond, and on the ISth of May in
! William P. Elliot says the bridge fell when a team of horses with a loaded wagon were passing over it.
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JUNIATA AND SUSQUEHANNA VALLEYS IN PENNSYLVANIA.
that year, 1796, the commissioners passed a bill later to George W. Patton, and in April, 183, in favor of Joseph Charles for advertising the proposals and for advertising unseated lands. William P. Elliott, the oldest printer in the United States and a native of Lewistown, hats no recollection of hearing any mention even of this paper or its edition. But the fact stated above is in the minutes of the commissioners and was there found.
was owned by William Ross, of Thompson- town, who changed the name to Mifflin Gazette. Later in the same year it was purchased by William P. Elliott, one of its founders, who re- tained it until about 1839. The name was again changed, and it was called the Lewistown Gazette and Mifflin and Juniata Advertiser. Richard S. Elliott, a lad of eighteen years and The Western Star, a four-column paper, was son of the proprietor, assumed the editorial
N. B. Elle. it.
established on the 26th of November, 1800, by Edward Cole and John Doyle; the latter re- tired January 22, 1801, and Cole continued the paper until about 1805, when, for some offense, his office was destroyed.
charge in the year 1835, but soon after went West, and Mr. Elliott again assumed charge, Jume 10, 1836, and continued a short time. On January 5, 1837, the name of G. P. Ed- miston appeared as printer and publisher. At this time William P. Elliott retired finally from editorial charge. He is still living at Lewistown, and is now in his ninety-third year. He was born in Lewistown January 12, 1798. His father was John Elliott, who kept
The Juniata Gazette (now The Lewistown (asette) was established in the spring of 1811 by James Dickson and William P. Elliott ; the latter retired in 1814. Mr. Dickson continued a few years and sold the paper to T. W. Mitchell, who owned it in 1819. It passed tavern in a log house that stood on the site of
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MIFFLIN COUNTY.
the banking office of William Russell. His mother was Jane Power, a sister of Colonel William Power, of what is now Perry County. William P. Elliott attended school, in 1805, in the old stone school-house, which is yet stand- ing in the rear of the old brick house on Third Street. He learned the printer's trade in Car- lisle, and established the Gazette in 1811 with James Dickson. He was in the War of 1812 and served seven months. He was afterwards commissioned major by Governor Snyder. His presence at the unveiling of the moment to Governor Snyder at Selinsgrove, in the summer of' 1885, was a marked feature of the occasion. In 1815 he became interested in the mann- facture of iron at Mt. Vernon Forge, below Millerstown, where he continued about two years. Returning to Lewistown, he served several years as deputy sheriff, and held other local offices. He retired to a farm in what is now Granville township and resided there eighteen years, part of the time conducting the Gazette, of which he again became the pro- prietor. In 1841 he removed to Lewistown ; was appointed postmaster and served during the terms of Presidents Harrison and Tyler. He married Miss Emily Smith, of Huntingdon County, March 17, 1814. Their children were fourteen in number, of whom four are living, -- Richard S., John, Mrs. Auma King, of Pitts- burgh, and Miss Jane Elliott, who resides with her father.
Richard Smith Elliott now resides near St. Louis. He became interested with Captain J. B. Eads in the construction of dikes or jet- ties at the month of the Mississippi River, and has been connected with the enterprise from its inception to its completion. John resides in Idaho. D. Stewart Elliott was a soldier in the Mexican War and in the late war. He was killed at Baxter Springs. James, the youngest son, was also in the late civil war. He entered the service May 5, 1862, as sergeant of Com- pany Il, Eighteenth United States Infantry. He was in the battles of Murfreesborongh, Chicka- mauga, South Mountain and Mission Ridge. For distinguished service in the last he received honorable mention in the official report of the commanding officer of the First Battalion.
From disease contracted in the service he died in Henry Clay Hospital, May 1, 186 1.
Reverting to the history of the Gazette, we find that about 18:39 it came into possession of Henry Liebert, who changed the name to the Mifflin County Gazette and Farmers' and Me- chemies' Journal. In 1811 F. C. Merklein be- came associated with Liebert and later was sole editor. In 1842 it was purchased by Adam Grier, who published it one year and sold it to William Ross, who, on November 18, 1843, changed the name to The Lewistorm Gazette, which it still retains. On the 24th of October, 1846, George Frysinger became editor and proprietor, and continued its publication until March, 1865, when he sold it to Daniel Over, who kept it ten months and it was again taken by Mr. Frysinger, who became the editor and G. R. Frysinger publisher. In March, 1875, G. R. & W. M. Frysinger became publishers. The latter retiring in 1876, G. R. Frysinger be- came local editor and publisher and George Frysinger editor and proprietor. In January, 1883, the paper was leased to George F. & .I. S. Stackpole, who became the purchasers January 1, 1884, and are now editors and proprietors.
The Mifflin Eagle, a paper established in Mifflintown was moved to Lewistown in 1826 and published by D. W. Ilulings and Levi Reynolds from May in that year to 1832, when it was suspended. It was succeeded by the Lewistown Republican and Workingmen's Ad- vocate, which was established by John W. Shu- gert and Stephen Cummings as a five-column paper. The first number was issued Angust 11, 1832. The name of C. C. Hemphill ap- pears as editor and publisher November 15, 1836, succeeding John W. Shugert. Mr. Hemphill was followed, in about one year, by James A. Cunningham, who conducted the paper until December 7, 1842, when it passed to Henry Eisenbise. Henry J. Walters became associated in partnership January 1, 1844. Under this management it continued until Jan- nary 1, 1845, when James A. Cunningham be- came the owner and Henry J. Walters editor. The name was changed to The True Democrat. In 1819 it passed to Henry JJ. Walters and Wil- liam R. MeCay, by whom it was managed until
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JUNIATA AND SUSQUEHANNA VALLEYS IN PENNSYLVANIA.
the death of Mr. MeCay, in 1853. In 1851 it was purchased by Henry Frysinger, who conducted it until August, 1879, when it passed to D. h. Sollenberger, who published it but a few weeks, when it was merged with the Democratie Senti- net, and, with change of name, is The Demo- crat and Sentinel as now published.
The Democratic Sentinel was established Sep- tember 1, 1871, by the Democratic County Committee of Mifflin County, with H. J. Walters as editor. It was conducted under his management until October 1, 1879, when it was consolidated with the True Democrat, and the name changed to the Democrat and Sentinel, under the management of H. JJ. Fosnot, who is editor and proprietor.
The Free Press, an independent paper, was established February 13, 1880, as an eight-page quarto, by W. W. Trout, who is editor and publisher.
The Aurora, established in 1852 by W. F. Shaw, was the organ of the American party for some years. It expired, the press and material being purchased for use in the West.
Senoors .- By the plan of the town, laid out in 1790, lot No. 120 was designated for a school- house lot, and in 1804 it was deeded to the county for that purpose. Upon this lot a log school house was erected. It was made of round logs, without regularly-formed win- dows, but lighted by panes of glass fitted in between the logs. A " nine-plate stove" was in the centre of the room, the pipe from which extended through the ceiling into the loft, from whence the smoke escaped between the logs and the roof. Boys were often put in the loft as punishment, and it was not un- common for the occupants below to be smoked ont through the mischievous eovering of the pipe by the little urehin above. The lot is on Third Street, and is now ocenpied by the old stone and brick school-honses.
William P. Elliott attended school in the old log house in 1806. An Englishman by the name of Robert Cooper was the teacher. He afterwards taught at Strode's Mills, died there and was buried in the old grave-yard at. Lewis- town. Ilis widow, well-known by the older citizens as " Aunty Cooper," was also a teacher,
and taught school from abont 1810 to 1820 in a little log school-house on Third Street, above Brown. Mrs. Cooper and her niece, Betsey Smiley (afterwards the wife of Rev. Mr. Van Horne, who was also a teacher) lived in the back part of the house. Mrs. A. B. Long was a pupil who went to school in this house in 1815.
In the year 1809 what is now known as the old stone school-house was built on the site of the log honse. James Kinsloe was the first teacher in the stone house, and taught in 1809-10. Samuel Crawford was teacher in 1811; Alexander Coulter, 1814; Captain Theo- dore Franks about the same time. Schools were kept by subscriptions until the public-school system was adopted. Immediately preceding the adoption Jabez Spencer and John HI. Hickox were teachers.
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