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 20
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 20
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 20
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 20
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 20
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SIGLERVILLE.
The first building in Upper Siglerville was a blacksmith-shop, built by Joseph Sigler iu 18.7. During the next year, 1818, he built the first dwelling-house in that place.
Upper Siglerville now contains fourteen dwelling houses, two churches, two dry-goods stores, one double brick school-house and one
blacksmith-shop, and contains sixty-three in- habitants.
Lower Siglerville is built upon what was the William McDowell property. It contains six- teen houses, one church and one blacksmith- shop, and contains seventy-four inhabitants.
(The account of the Free Church, erected in 1883, will be found in the sketch of Milroy.)
THE PRESBYTERIAN CONGREGATION of Mil- roy creeted a brick church building, thirty-five by fifty-two feet, in Lower Siglerville, in the year 1848, at a cost of one thousand five hundred dollars. The Rev. John W. White, pastor. It has been under the care of the Presbyterian Church of Milroy from that time.
THE FREE CHRISTIAN CHURCH IN SIGLER- VILLE is a very neat frame building, thirty-two by forty-two feet, with a pulpit recess at the rear end and a vestibule at the front. Thad. A. Crissman was the contractor and builder. The house cost nineteen hundred dollars.
LUTHERAN CHURCH .- At an carly day the Lutherans and German Reformed united because their number was small and their means limited. The first preacher (of whom we have any account) who preached for them was F. P. Ferdinand Kramer, V.D.M., a German Reformed minister, who was very highly educated, as may be seen from some of his books, which are still in exist- ence. One of them, the writings of " Francisci Buddei," published in " Lipsiac " in 1783, is in the possession of John Swartzell, and is written in German Latin. The Rev. F. P. F. Kramer preached in the grove and in various houses, to suit the convenience of the people, because they had no church building at that time. When he began to preach in that neighborhood and when he quit i- not known, but it is certain that he was there in 1819, and remained some years afterward. He preached in German. When he left, the congregation was supplied by Rev. Nicolas Stroh, who preached for them once in four weeks. He was a German Reformed, and was the regular preacher for the congregation in Lewistown. The time Rev. Stroh preached for this congregation cannot be given. His usual place of preaching was Alexander's school- house, and in summer, when the weather was pleasant, he preached in the grove near the
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school-house. He also preached exclusively in German. When he left, the congregation was supplied by Rev. J. Ruthrauff, who preached in tierman once in four weeks. His place of preaching was Alexander's school-honse, After he left, the Rev. Muck, from Union County, preached for them. He was German Reformed and preached in German once in four weeks, His place of preaching was the house of Jacob Ruble, located in the extreme castern end of the settlement at that time. After he left they were served by Rev. Jacob Bossler, from Union County. He was German Reformed, and preached in German once in four weeks. ITis place of preaching was AAlexander's school-house, and in the grove near the school-house in sum- mer. He remained about two years, and during that time instructed a large class of catechumens, who were taken into the church on the last Sabbath of his stay with them. The majority of the class were ladies, who, according to the custom of the church then, were dressed in white and wore white caps.
Rev. Charles Weyl, the Intheran preacher from Lewistown, assisted Rev. Bossler on the day of his last services, in 1832 About this time some of the members began to talk about the necessity of having a church in which to have preaching. After varions plans had been proposed, they finally agreed to build a log house.
Up to this time there was no church organ- ization. They elected George Marks and John Cri-man trustees of the Lutheran and Ger- man Reformed (Imreh in East Kishacoquillas Valley. One acre of land was purchased of John Wolf, which was laid off at the southeast corner of his farm and for which they obtained a deed the 23d day of Jannary, 1833. Sub- scription-papers were circulated. Some sub- scribed logs for the building, others money. The logs were delivered on the ground, and on a fixed day the people of the neighborhood met and the house was raised a certain height. The congregation then concluded to raise it three rounds higher in order to make room for a gal- lery. In a few days afterward the logs were brought on the ground and the house was raised to the desired height under the superintendence
of' Adam Ramsey. No gallery was put in at that time. The building is thirty-one by forty- one feet and stands nearly southeast and north- west. The main entrance is at the south end ; there was a door at the east side of the house, and from this door an aisle, extending into the middle of the church, where it intersected the main aisle, which extended from the door at the south end to the altar. The pulpit was at the middle of the north end of the building. This church was consecrated in October, 1833. The ministers present at the time were S. S. Schmucker, D.D., professor of the Lutheran Seminary at Gettysburg ; he read the dedicatory services and called the church Salem. He also preached the first sermon. Rev. Frederic Rothrauff, of Gettysburg, and Rev. Charles Weyl (the pastor) were present, and each took their proper part in the services, which included Saturday, Sunday and Monday. This church was used in this condition for some years, when it was weather-boarded and a short gallery put in the south end of the building. Reese Davis, of Milroy, was the contractor and carpenter. Nothing more was done at the building until 1855, when it was remodeled and greatly im- proved. The door at the east side was closed, the positions of the windows changed, the door at the middle of the south end was closed and two new doors put in at the south end, so as to divide the inside by two aisles, which would divide the building into four equal parts, so as to have a set of single pews at each side and a set of double ones in the middle. These two aisles extended back to the altar. The old pul- pit was taken down and one of more modern style put in its place. It was rededicated May 22, 1855, Rev. J. B. Christ, pastor; and Rev. Charles M. Kline preached the dedicatory ser- mon, In this condition the church was used as a place of worship until March 10, 1878, when Rev. S. G. Shannon preached the last sermon in old Salem Church, from Second Corinthians, thirteenth chapter and eleventh verse : " Final- ly, brethren, farewell."
After the sermon, Rev. Shannon requested all in the house who had heard the first sermon preached by Rev. S. S. Schmecker to rise ; some eight or ten stood np. He then requested
JUNIATA AND SUSQUEHANNA VALLEYS IN PENNSYLVANIA.
that all who heard the second dedicatory ser- mon preached, in 1855, should rise, and about sixteen or eighteen rose. It was discovered that some of those present had heard the three sermons, including the first and last. The fol- lowing are the names of the ministers who preached in this church as pastors of this coll- gregation :
Rev. Charles Weyl (Lutheran) was pastor from thesummer of 1832 to 1838. Rev. J. H. A. Bomberger, German Reformed, was pastor from 1838 to 1840. This was the last German Re- formed. All thefollowing were Lutherans : Rev. C. Lepley was pastor from 1840 to 1842. Rev. Mosheim G. Schmucker from October, 1842, to 1845. Rev. Thomas M. Flint from October 14, 1845, to 1847. Rev. A. Ileight from 1847 to 1849. Rev. G. Sill began April, 1849, to 1854. Rev. J. B. Christ from 1854 to 1857. During Rev. Christ's time Salem was rededicated. Rev. J. N. Burkett was pastor from 1857 to 1859. Rev. J. C. Langer was pastor from 1859 to 1861. Rev. Lunger died on this charge at Mechanicsburg. Rev. D. S. Truekenmiller from 1861 to 1863. Rev. F. A. Fair began in June, 1864, to 1865. Rev. Fair , resigned be- cause of failing health, and died of consump- tion soon afterwards, Rev. J. F. Deterich was pastor from 1866 to 1868. Rev. Philip Shee- der was pastor from 1869 to 1871. Rev. S. G. Shannon was pastor from 1871 to 1881.
During the pastorate of Rev. S. G. Shannon the new Lutheran Church at Siglerville was built. This is a neat frame building, thirty-six by sixty feet, with a pulpit recess, and is nine- teen feet high, exclusive of the basement, which is built of stone. The door is at the centre of the north end of the house, and the main aisle extends along the church to the pulpit, which is at the south end. There are likewise two small aisles, one at each side of the house, along the wall to nearly opposite the pulpit, to a small cross-aisle, which is at right angles to the others. The house is seated with chairs instead of pews. The windows are all memorial and are filled with stained glass of various colors. The pulpit is plain, made of solid walnut and is on an elevation of three steps high.
vember 4, 1877. The basement story was dedicated March 24, 1878, and was used as a place of preaching and prayer-meetings until the upper part was completed. The upper part or audience-room of the church was finished and was dedicated the 13th day of June, 1880. Professor P. Borne preached the dedicatory sermon. The church is painted white, and cost nineteen hundred dollars.
Rev. S. G. Shannon continued as pastor until the 1st day of April, 1881, at which time he cleared his pastorate. Rev. Andrew J. Bean preached a short time after Rev. S. G. Shannon left, say to June 19, 1881. Rev. D. A. Sterner began June 26, 1881, and left October 9, 1881. Rev. C. M. Aurand began in 1882 and left March 17, 1884. Rev. J. II. Houseman began in 1884 and is the present pastor. The elders of the church are as follows :
1843 .- Frederick Pecht.
1854 .- John R. MeDowell, Isaac Wagner.
1859, June 19 .- Frederick Pecht, E. P. Harvey.
1861, September 15 .- Frederick Pecht, Frederick Havice.
1864, February 28 .- Frederick Pecht, Frederick Haviee.
1866, May 6 .-- Frederick Peeht, William Nale.
1870, May S .- Frederick Pecht, John Havice.
1872, May 26 .- Frederick Pecht, John Havice. 1874 June 21 .- Frederick Pecht, John Havice.
1876, July 16 .- Frederick Pecht, C. P. Ramsey. 1878, June 3 .- C. P. Ramsey, John Havice.
After this one-half the number of elders were elect- ed each year.
1879, March 23 .- Philip Fickes.
1880, June 3 .- Frederick Havice.
1881 .- C. P. Ramsey. March 2d, A. J. Aitkens filled the unexpired term of Frederick Hayice.
1882, March 19 .- A. J. Aitkens.
1883, April 8 .- Frederick Havice.
1884, April 6 .-- A. J. Aitkens.
SCHOOLS. - The following sketches of carly school-houses have been obtained with much difficulty, and in some cases it has been impos- sible to obtain dates.
The first school-house in what is now Armagh township (as far as known) was built along the old road leading to Pean's Valley, perhaps twenty rods north of where the present Thomp- son factory now stands. This house was built of round logs and had a clapboard roof, and
The laying of the corner-stoue was on No- Iwas used for school purposes nutil the school-
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MIFFLIN COUNTY.
house was built on Cameron's Hill. James Hall was teacher in this house in 1806.
There was in carly times a school-house built on the south side of Cameron's Hill, on the property of Alexander Cameron. It was built on what was then known as Potter's road to Centre County, and near the present line of the property of Alexander and James Brown. This house was destroyed by fire.
After the first school-house on Cameron's Hill was destroyed by fire, the citizens of the district united and built another school-house on Cameron's Hill, locating it on the north side of the hill, alongside of the Potter's road. This house was eighteen by twenty-six feet, was built of round logs, had a slab roof; the seats were made of slabs with pin-feet. The first teacher was William Weckes; others were Robert Loomis, Jolm Nevin, Benjamin Snyder, William Morrison (the people called him "fly-by-night "), George Gibson, Joseph Alexander, - Sturgeon, Margaret Kinsloc, John Davidson, Alexander Glass, William Stephen and Martha Cottle (afterwards Mrs. William Ingraham); the latter was the last teacher. When the country became more thiekly settled it became necessary to change the size of districts for the sake of convenience; consequently, the school-house on the north side of Cameron's Hill was abandoned, and a new honse was built a short distance north of Mil- roy, on the lawn property, and was always known as the Laurel Run school-honse. The first Laurel Run School-house was built of hewn logs, was eighteen by twenty-five feet, and had a shingle root on it. The first teacher in this house was Samuel Kays; second, - Dunbar ; third, Timothy Ladd (he was a erip- ple and could not walk ; the boys hauled him to and from school on a small wagon; he was highly respected by the school, and implicitly obeyed) ; fourth, George Green, Esq. ; and fifth, Robert Harper .. In the course of a few years this house became too small for the number of pupils in the district ; a new frame house was built near the site of the old one, and was larger and had much more room. It was used many years as a school-house, and was finally abandoned.
Beatty's Knob school-house was built in the year 1810. It was located on the north west corner of the property of Jolm Beatty, Sr., three fourths of a mile north of (then) Sterrett's mill, on the east side of the public road leading to the north side of the valley. This house was frame, with shingle roof and weather- boarding put on in the rough. The inside had long desks along three sides of the house, face to wall. George F. Ehrenfeld was the first teacher, and William C. McClenahan the last one.
The Alexander school-house was built in 1814, on the property of Jonathan Alexander. The house was about twenty by twenty-five, built of hewn logs. It was used as a school- house up to 1835, when, by the free-school law, the districts were changed, and this house was abandoned. Prior to this time a school-house was built of round logs and stood immediately across the road, on the Reed property. This house was built according to the means of the settlers in those days. It had a clapboard roof. As nearly as can now be ascertained, the teach- ers in the old house were John Payden, Wil- liam Hall and Robert Crosthwite. The teach- ers who taught in the new house were Sammel Barr, Absalom Time, Robert Scott, Joseph .Al- exander, Joseph Rankin, William Stephen, Wil- liam Murphy, William Smith, John Gilleland, John Andrews, Thomas Wilson, Daniel Jones, Joseph Vanhorn and George F. Ehrenfeld, who was the last teacher who taught in this school- house.
One of the first school-houses along the south side of Armagh township was built in an carly day, and was located on the property of James Alexander, on the west side of Honey Creek, on the south side of the public road and about twenty rods from the creek. Joseph Alexander was the first teacher who taught in this house, George Gibson was the second and William Stephen was the last. This house was small and had an minviting appearance outside.
About sixty-five years ago there was a school- honse near Sterrett's mill, located on the prop- erty of John Sterrett. The house, eighteen by twenty-four feet, was built 'of hewn logs; the cracks were chinked and daubed inside and out-
JUNIATA AND SUSQUEHANNA VALLEYS IN PENNSYLVANIA.
side, but not plastered. There was one long, movable double desk in the house, which resen- bled a carpenter's work-bench. All the other seats were low, made of slabs and puncheons, and had no backs. Some of the teachers in this house were - Woods, John Brown, George Gibson and William Stephen. William Stephen tanght in 1828, and was the last teacher.
The school-honse at Sterrett's mill being so near the cast end of the district, the citizens united and built a more comfortable house on a lot obtained from William MeDowel, along the public road leading from Sterrett's mill to Brown's mill, and very near the centre of the distriet. Distriets were very large in those days. This school-house was built in 1828, of white-pine logs nicely hewn, and had a shingle roof. It was abont twenty-five by thirty-five feet. William Stephen was the first teacher who taught in this house. After several terms the upper and lower floors were laid down tightly and long single desks placed along the walls. The other seats were neatly made of boards, but had no backs to them. William Stephen taught for a number of years, and after him John Brown taught until the time the new school law was accepted in Mifflin County. Brown then left and various teachers taught in the house. It was taken down by the order of the school di- rectors and was rebuilt at the east end of Milroy, and was there used as a school-house some years, and was again taken down and was rebuilt near the property of John MeNitt. It was built there to supply the place of the Salem school- house, which had been destroyed by fire the previous season.
In 1833 the citizens of Perryville (now Milroy) and vicinity united and built a small frame build- ing on the property of Jacob Hahn, about twenty- five rods west of the Fertig mill, on the north side of the public road. This house was used as an academy for females until September 80, 1837, when it was sold to the directors of Armagh township for seventy-eight dollars and forty cents, in full for the house and lot. This build- ing was used as a public school-house until the first double school-house was built on the Kanagy lot, in 1868, and when the new school-honse was opened for school the above academy building
was abandoned, but was afterward sold and is now a tenant-house.
The Coleman school-house is built on the old Coleman property; it is a substantial frame building with shingle roof, and is lathed and plastered inside. It is twenty by twenty-four fort and was built by mutual agreement by and be- tween five persons, viz., J. W. Francis, presideut, and Joseph Filson, secretary, Edward Coleman, George Goss and Win. 1. Reed. This school- house and lot was sold to the Armagh School District in 1878 for two hundred dollars. Since that time it has been used by the district for publie-school purposes.
The school-house at Crissman's Knob was built late in the fall of 1834. It was of hewn logs and was built by voluntary con- tribution. John Crissman and John Havice did the greater part of the work and paid the greater part of the expenses. It was daubed on the inside and temporary benches and desks were put up, and Dr. John C. Breckenridge was the first teacher and taught during the winter of 1834. In the summer of 1835 the outside of the house was daubed and the inside arranged so as to be made more comfortable. It was then taken as a public school-house and was used as such nutil 1867 when it was moved by George Showers (contractor) and was rebuilt at the Crissman's Gap Rnu, in the lower end of Havice Valley. The district continued to nse this for a school- house until the summer of 1879, when a neat, well-finished frame school-honse was built abont forty rods farther east ward, on a lot bought from Joseph Ramer. This new house has all the modern improvements.
The school-houses of which accounts have been given were built prior to the public-school system, which came into force under authority of an ad of Legislature which was approved April 1, 1831. In accordance with the provisions of the act, it became the duty of the court of cach county to appoint school dircetors, who were to serve until the next election. At the November term of Mifflin County Court in that year Joseph Kyle and Show Zook were appointed directors of Armagh township. On the Ith of March, 1835, a meeting of directors
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was held, and it was resolved to establish ton -chools in the township, as follows :
No. 1, near Sterrett's Mills. No. 2, at Ramsay's school-house.
No. 3, near the stone church. No. 4, at Yoder's, near Fleming's mill. No. 5, at the school-house near Centre Church. No. 6, at the Gap school-house, near Dr. Henderson's. No. 7, at Kyle's. No. 8, near Perryville. No. 9, at the Lutheran Church. No. 10, at Crissman's school-house.
At this meeting they arranged for sealed pro- pozals for teachers, to be sent to David Graham, at Norris' Mills, up to the 25th of March, at which time the directors were to meet at the house of John Kerr and make contracts with the teachers,-John MeDowel, secretary of the board of' director.s.
A meeting of the board of directors appears to have taken place at the house of John Kerr, at Brown's Mills, on the 2d day of April, 1836.
The board organized by electing James Alex- ander, president ; Samuel Maclay, M.D., seere- tary; and David C. Miller, treasurer. The business before the board on that day appears to have been the erection of a school-house near Abner Reed's, in what is now Brown township. The board next met April 16, 1836, at which time they agreed to let the building of this house to Willis Coplin for one hundred and fifty- five dollars, the building to be frame, twenty- two by twenty-six feet, on a stone foundation, raised eighteen inches above ground, the wea- ther-boarding to be mplaned, and the school room to be lined with boards on the inside.
On the 16th day of August, 1836, the board met again at the house of John Kerr ; on mo- tion they resolved to divide the district into twelve sub-districts, according to the pro- visions of the school law (see See. 8, Article Ist). Also that the sum of fifty-four dollars be ap- propriated to each school district for the em- ployment of teachers. During the years 1836- 37, 8886.201 were drawn from the treasury for school purposes in Armagh township, including Brown, which was set off' in the latter year.
Saturday, April 1, 1837, the board of school
directors of the lately-formed township of Ar- magh, who were elected on the 17th day of last March, met this day and organized by appoint- ing Joseph Rothrock president, Sammel Mac- lay, M.D., secretary, and Thomas Reed treas-, urer. The board then examined proposals for building a school-house near Marion Furnace. The contract was awarded to William Orr for eighty dollars, to be paid as soon as the house was finished. The building was frame, twenty- four by twenty- eight feet, raised eighteen inches from the ground, on a stone wall. The agree- ment was made and concluded April 6, 1837, and the house was finished in accordance with the agreement.
The school-honse here mentioned is near the site of the old Laurel Run school-house, and is known as the second Laurel Run house.
About 1840 the school directors erceted a school-house on the east bank of Honey Creek, a short distance northwest of a blacksmith-shop, and which is now owned by Henry MeAuley. It was a small frame building, very low in the story ; it was used for a public school until abont 1864, when it was destroyed by tire. The di- rectors then secured a lot from Henry MeAuley on the east side of Dry Creek and on the south side of the road. On this lot they erected a frame weather-boarded school-house about twen- ty-five by thirty feet, which is still used.
On the 4th of May, 18-10, the school diree- tors of Armagh District bought a lot from John Beatty and built a very ordinary frame build- ing on it. The house had rough weather- boarding on the outside, was lined with boards inside, with the intervening space filled with leached tan-bark. It was used as a public school- honse till the spring of 1865. George F. Eh- renfeld was the first teacher in this house and W. C. McClenahen was the last one.
The Salem school-house was built on the Sa- lem Church lot in 1810. It was a frame build- ing and was like the Beatty's Knob school-house. This was used as a public school-house many years, when it was destroyed by fire. James (. Hassinger was teacher at the time it was burned.
The first school-house in New Lancaster Val- ley was built by the order of the school direc-
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JUNIATA AND SUSQUEHANNA VALLEYS IN PENNSYLVANIA.
tors of Armagh township in 1815, and was located on the land of John Filson. The house was twenty by twenty-four feet, and was built of white pine hewn logs; had a lap-shingle cool. John Wilson was the contractor and builder. The first teacher was John Snook. This house was used for public-school purposes until about 1881 or 1882, when the new or second school- house was built.
The second school-house in New Lancaster Valley is a substantial, well-finished frame build- ing, and was built in 1881-82 by Edward Krichbaum. The house is located near the east line of Calvin Filson's property, and on the north side of the road.
On the 23d day of September, 1853, the board of directors of Armagh township con- tracted for the building of a new school-house near William Thompson's, on the east side of the turnpike road, above Milroy. On the 4th day of February, 1854, John Barger, Esq. and Ezra M. Hoops made an agreement with the directors to build the house for two hundred and forty-seven dollars ; the building to be twenty-four by thirty feet, on a good stone foundation, raised eighteen inches above ground ; door of the house to open into an entry or ves- tibule on the outside of the main building. This vestibule to be six by fourteen feet, in which there shall be one window. At the time the agreement was entered into, the contract price was raised from two hundred and forty- seven dollars to two Inindred and seventy dol- lars. This building was used as a school-honse until 1868, when it was given up for that pur- pose. It is now used as a dwelling-house.
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