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 28
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 28
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 28
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 28
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 28
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Hle married Ilester Hamilton, a sister of Margaret Hamilton, of Newton Hamilton. She | tember 28, 1784, an improvement adjoining was captured by the Indians when a young woman, bound and taken up the river. She managed to loosen her bonds, and escaped. She hid in a hollow log, which the Indians passed iu looking for her. After all was quiet she made her way to the river and followed it down- stream to her home. Her half-brother, Hugh Brown, was killed near what is now Newton Hamilton. Colonel Bratton settled on a part of the old homestead and built the stone house by the burying-ground, now owned by James Kyle, where he died over eighty years of age. A saw- mill was built ou the stream above the burying- ground, and in 1798 one was erected on a stream below. The race of the last is still to be seen. Ile had two children, Andrew and Elizabeth (Mrs. James Langton). The last settled on the homestead. Andrew married Rebecca, a dangh- ter of Samuel Holliday, aud for several years was a merchant in MeVeytown, and engaged also in the mill which, with Samuel Holliday, his brother-in-law, he built and which is now in ruins above the canal. In 1827, his wife having died, he married a daughter of Adam Holliday, of Hollidaysburg, who now resides with her son-in-law, D. M. Dull, of Lewistowu. About this time he retired to the home-tad, where he lived till his death. Ile was a mem- ber of the Legislature in 1831 35. A store had been kept at the old Bratton homestead before
1827 by William Armstrong. The island in the river opposite the house of Israel Zook is known as Pompey's Island, and is said to have derived its name from Pompey, a slave of Col- onel William Bratton, to whom it was given. General John Ross married Sarah, a daughter of Andrew Bratton, by his first wife.
Of the many Brattons who took up lands at an early day, George Bratton took up on war- rants about a thousand acres in this and adjoin- ing townships. He also purchased other lands in this township of Edward and Jacob Bratton and others.
He died before 1798, and his son George was his executor. He had come to the township many years before, and lived adjoining Nathaniel Standly, or Stanly, where he had two distil- leries. He conveyed to his son Edward, Sep- lands of William Bratton and James Crisswell. William Junkin was led to visit this section of comitry by his old acquaintances, the Brattons and the Hollidays, and took out a warrant, August 6, 1766, for one hundred and fifty acres of land, (now owned by William Harshbarger), where he erected a log house, and about 1782 built a grist-mill and in 1790 a saw-mill. His children were JJames, who lived and died on the homestead; Andrew, who moved to Me Vey- town, where he was a merchant for several years, and moved to Lewistown, where he died ; Mrs. T. M. Uttley, of Lewistown, is a daughter. Of the daughters, Rebecca became the wife of Archibald Moore and settled in what is now Oliver ; Jane married JJohn McCoy and settled in what is now Walton township; Catharine married David Lusk and moved to MeVey- town ; two of the daughters became Mrs. John- ston and Mrs. Steele. On the 13th of Oeto- ber, 1836, Richard Miles, as administrator of the estate, offered for sale three hundred acres, grist-mill, saw-mill, chopping-mill, four tenant- houses and two apple orchards. It was sold to William A. Moore, and the homestead now be- longs to Wallace Harshbarger. In 1836 Joseph Price was running the grist-mills.
Johu Beatty, a native of Ireland, came to this country, and on the 21st of October, 1772, took out a warrant for one hundred and fifty acres of
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MIFFLIN COUNTY.
land, now in part owned by William Harsh- barger. He had but one son, George, who died young, and six daughters, of whom Jane mar- ried John Ferier; Catharine, Thomas Knox; Margaret, John Dull; Susan, Alexander Stew- art ; Elizabeth, Robert Forgy ; and Martha remained single. John Beatty was a weaver, and carried on the business at the place. Ile lived until after 1800, and the farm passed to his daughters.
John Beard took ont a warrant for two hnum- dred acres of land March 27, 1788, and on No- vember 24, 1795, for seventy aeres. Samuel Beard warranted two hundred acres November 2, 1785, and March 24, 1789, two hundred aeres. The land John Beard located was on Shank's Rim, where, in 1793, he had a saw-mill. In 1836 a mill on the site was owned by John Montgomery.
George Mitchell (3d) married a daughter of John Beard, and lived cast of the Beard farm (now Kauffinan's). On the 3d of June, 1762, James Galley took ont a warrant for two hundred acres of land in right of George Mitchell, who settled upon it. In 1783 he was assessed on three Ini- dred acres, which in 1793 was assessed to his widow. A saw-mill was later erected on a small run, which in 1836 was owned by Abraham Kanffman.
Marshall Stanley in 1783 was in possession of three hundred and twenty-four acres of land in Wayne township (now Bratton) opposite Me- Veytown, and on which Mattawana stands. In 1793 he owned two Inindred acres. On May 10, 1802, NNathaniel Stanley, his son, sold the land to, Joseph Yoder, who came to the town- ship from Beni, Berks County, and settled upon it. Nathaniel Stanley married Mary, a sister of' Archibald Moore, and moved to the West. Joseph Yoder lived on the farm until his death and the property was left to his sons, John, Christian and Joseph, who settled there, and whose heirs still own a part of the property. David Harshbarger also owns a part. A part of the Stanley tract was patented May 5, 1773, to Sammel Wharton. Another part was pat- ented as " Mount Pleasant." Application was made for a part, December 15, 1776, to Sammel Brown, and patented as "Stanley's Choice."
The Rev. Matthew Stevens in 1783 owned one huidred and twenty-five aeres of land ad- joining James Crisswell, on the Juniata River. In 1802 he was living in Huntingdon County, and July 19th sold the farm to Nathaniel Stanley.
John Carlisle in 1783 was living on fifty acres of land, which, with one hundred and fifty acres additional, he received a warrant for Feb- ruary 27, 1787. He had several children, who sold the farm. It was for many years in pos- session of David Bell, and is now owned by Lewis Ilesser.
On the 18th of March, 1793, Jolm Anderson took ont a warrant for four hundred acres of land on the mountain back of Longfellow Sta- tion ; October 20th, the same year, Joseph took out a warrant for three hundred acres; Febru- ary 28, 1794, William warranted four hundred aeres; March 12th, the same year, Thomas warranted four hundred acres ; May 21, 1795, Samuel took out a warrant for three hundred and fifty aeres ; December 22, 1814, Samuel Anderson warranted one hundred acres where Longfellow Station now is. This land was mostly on the mountain and was never used for farming purposes, but for its timber. Samuel lived near Longfellow Station and died unmar- ried.
The first of the name of Crisswell who took up land in this county were Elijah and Benjamin, who, June 1, 1775, took out a warrant for twenty acres ; Angust Ith, of the same year, Elijah took up twenty-five aeres ; March 29, 1775, Charles warranted twenty-five acres; June 12, 1786, John took up forty acres ; March 23, 1787, Elisha warranted forty acres which was appropriated on a previous order of January 30th, the sune year, to Alexander and Archibald Stewart. Elijah warranted seventy acres April 1, 1789. In 1783 James Crisswell is assessed on one hundred and sixty acres and Robert Crisswell's heirs on one hundred acres. In 1793 John Crisswell is assessed on one hun- dred and forty aeres. The tract of Robert Crisswell was abont a mile below Mattawana and is now owned by Levi Hartzler. The farm was sold to David Hartzler and passed to his . son Levi. He had one son, James, who mar-
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JUNIATA AND SUSQUEHANNA VALLEYS IN PENNSYLVANIA.
ried Anna, a daughter of John Vance, and pur- chased a farm of four Indred acres in Oliver township and lived there for several years, and moved to Me Veytown, where he became engaged in merchandising, contracting for the canal and in the fornace. With John Oliver and Caspar Dull he built the Columbia and Peach Bottom dams. Hle was an associate judge of the county, and postmaster of the borough of Me- Veytown. His sons Michael and John Vance were associated with their father in business.
James Johnston, Sr., Lancelot, Edward and Richard Johnston, were in 1783 owners of three hundred and eighty acres of land across from Me Veytown, adjoining the Junkin prop- erty ; the family has long since disappeared.
John McCoy came from Northumberland County, near Sunbury, abont 1790 and settled in the family of William Junkin, whose daugh- ter Jane he afterwards married. Hedied about 1820. William, the oldest son, settled in Me- Veytown, where he was a merchant, justice of the peace and burgess of the borough. Sarah, a danghter, married Thomas JJacobs and lived in Wayne township, (now Oliver). John became a clerk at the Tyrone Forges and later manager of iron-works in different parts of the State. Catharine, Margaret and Nancy remained un- married, Rebecca became the wife of Captain Mathias Neice, of Me Veytown. James G. set- tled in McVeytown, where he conducted the business of a saddler and harness-maker for mamy years and still resides in the borough. Thomas F. McCoy settled also in the borough, published the Village Herald from 1813-15 and in 1816-74 was in the Mexican War. In 1850 was elected prothonotary of the county and moved to Lewistown, where he still resides and is an at- torney-at-law. Ile was active in the late Rebel- lion and attained distinction in the service.
Sonoous-The township of Bratton was erected in 1851 and at that time contained three school districts, known as Bratton, Humphrey and Yoder. At present there are six schools. and three hundred pupils in attendance.
The earliest school-house of which anything is known was built of logs on the old Bratton farm abont 1880. James Jacobs was a teacher. In 1831 Andrew Bratton built a brick school-
honse on his farm, which for many years was a pay-school and became one of the district-houses in 1851, when Bratton was divided into school districts. A log house was erected on the Yoder farm soon after the Bratton house, which was nsed many years.
A log school house, with greased paper for window-lights, was erected on the John Beard farm before 1800. William White was a teacher. He was succeeded by his son William, who taught after 1812. Alexander Mckinstry also taught there. A new log house was built on the site, which, abont 1838, was replaced by the stone house still standing. It was aban- doned upon the erection of the frame building a short distance above it. The first directors elected after Bratton became a township were William A. Pocht, Charles Bratton, Joshua Yoder, Michael Yontzey, Daniel Yoder and Thomas Rook. The township at present has six schools and has three hundred pupils attend- ing school.
The names of the justices of the peace who have served the township since its erection, in 1851, are as follows :
1851. Henry Leatton, 1870. Thos. J. Robinson.
Charles Bratton. 1871. Washington Watt.
1854. Richard Bratton. 1872. John Harshbarger.
Adam Hartzler, 1873. Christian K. Moist. 187.4. Jonath. Bothecker.
1856. Charles Bratton.
1857. Thomas Fritz,
1858. Thomas McCord.
1859. John Wolfkill.
1860. Thomas Fritz.
1876. James Youngman. 1877. John Rhinchart. 1878. M. MeLaughlin. 18St. John Wilson.
1861. Moses Gillespie. 1862. Charles Bratton.
1882. A. K. Gunter.
1866. James Powell.
1867. Jotm Wolfkill.
1868. William Reynolds.
1869. Richard Bratton.
1883. Daniel Rodgers. 1884. M. Melanghlin, 1885, Isaac Long.
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CHAPTER XII.
UNION TOWNSHIP !!
Tuk territory that now comprises Union and Menno townships was part of Derry from 1757 to 1770, when Armagh was erceted, with Jack's mountain as the dividing line. Its territory
1 By Miley Haffley.
1875. Samuel MeClure.
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MIFFLIN COUNTY.
remained in Armagh from that time until 1790, when it was erected, embracing the western part. of Armagh township. It was the first town- -hip creeted after the organization of Mifflin County. At the March term of Mifflin County Court, 1790, a petition of the inhabitants of the west end of Armagh township was presented, a-king that a new township be formed, and that the division line should begin at a certain stream of water extending from the Phuub bottom to Kishacoquillas Creek, emptying into the same wear the Widow Alexander's. The petition was held under advisement until the June term of court, when it was ordered that the said town- ship of Armagh be divided according to the prayers of the petitioners, and that the town- ship erected out of the west end be called and known by the name and style of Union town- -hip, and that the inhabitants thereof choose township officers according to law. It retained its territory without alteration until January, 1837, when Meuno township was erected from the west part.
The township is bounded north by Hunting- don County ; east, by Brown township; south, by Jack's mountain, and west by Menno. The Kishacoquillas Creek flows northeasterly through it, and the settlements are along the creek in the Kishacoquillas Valley, reaching back to the foot of the hills. It contains two villages --- Belleville and Mechanicsburg.
The assessment roll of Union township is here given for the year 1791, the first assess- ment after the township was erected, ---
General John Armstrong, 300 acres; Dr. James Armstrong, 1150 acres and slave; William Alexan- der, 250 neres: Jolm Alexander, 200 aeres; Rosanna Alexander, 200 acres ; Thomas Alexander, 100 acres ; Joseph Alexander, 100 acres ; Nathan Allen, 100 acres ; Robert Allison, 160 acres and still ; Francis Alexander, 100 acres; Edward Ashcroft; Robert Barr, Jr. ; David Barr, 250 neres ; Robert Barr, Sr. ; George Bell ; Joseph Brown, 50 acres ; Joseph Clay- ton, 100 acres ; John Campbell, 300 aeres and 2 stills ; Robert Campbell, 250 acres ; John Emmett ; William Fleming, 160 acres; Heury Fleming; Robert Gard- ner, 150 acres ; James Hunston, 200 acres ; James Hazlett, 180 acres and still; Andrew Hazlett, 500 here -; Matthew Kenney, 200 acres; Joseph Kyle, 100 acres; William Lyons, 100 acres ; James Logan, 30 acres; John Mc Dowell, E-q., 250 acres; James
McBride, 250 acres ; Hugh MeClelland, 200 acres and aslave; Thomas MeElroy, 250 acres; Charles Mellen- ahan, 150 acres ; James Mateer, 30 acres and 2 stills; Morris MeNamara, 100 acres; Alexander MeIntire; Daniel MeCalla, tan-yard ; Robert Nelson, 50 acres ; Manuel Pecht, 50 acres ; Frederick Pecht, 50 acres ; John Riddle, 300 acres; John Reed, 300 acres; James Reed, 100 acres; Joseph Swartzel, 100 acres; William Stewart, 100 acres; Sammel Sample; John Steel, 200 acres ; Jonas Steel, 50 acres ; Jacob Steel, 50 acres; Daniel Steel, 50 acres ; Samnel Steel, 50 acres; William Sankey, 100 acres and 2 stills ; Rob- ert Scott, 200 acres; Jesse Tanyer, 200 acres; Wil- liam Vance, 260 acres and mill; John Wilson, 300 acres; Frederick Wyman, 60 acres; Samuel Wills, 190 acres; William Young; Michael Yotter, 100 acres.
EARLY LOCATIONS .- As soon as it became known that the land of the new purchase of 1754 was open for settlement, many flocked to the country to select locations on which to settle. The Sherman, Buffalo and Tuscarora Valleys, and along the Juniata, attracted most attention, and most of the locations made in 1755 were in that region. Others, however, ventured farther up and back into the valleys of the streams that flowed into the Juniata. One of the first to locate in the valley of the Kishaco- quillas Creek, was James Alexander. He was a son of James and Margaret Alexander, natives of Armagh, Ireland, where he was born in 1726, and when ten years of age emigrated with his parents to America and settled in West Nottingham, Chester County. From there the family moved to Cumberland County. When the purchase of 1754 was made, Hugh, the elder brother of James, located in Sherman's Valley, and James pushed further west to the valley of the Kishacoquillas, which attracted him by the excellence of its soil, its valuable timber, and the many fine springs in the vicin- ity. He located a tract in 1754, and received a warrant for it dated Feb. 5, 1755, the second day after the opening of the Land Office. This land when surveyed contained two hundred and thirty-nine acres and one hundred and twenty- five perches. It was resurveyed August 17, 1798, and found to contain two hundred and sixty-one acres and seventy-six perches. Ile made improvements upon this place and built a log cabin. He was driven ont in 1756, when
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JUNIATA AND SUSQUEHANNA VALLEYS IN PENNSYLVANIA.
the Indians were raiding in this section of coun- try. About 1762, when the trouble with the Indians had somewhat subsided, Mr. Alex- ander and his wife Rosey ( who was the daugh- ter of Robert Reed, of Chambersburg), returned to their home. A log house, with an outside chimney-stack and a capacious fire-place, was erreted to take the place of the little log cabin. This was replaced later by a stone house, which is now part of the residence of the heirs of Na- poleon B. Alexander.
In 1773 Mr. Alexander took out a warrant for one hundred and eighty acres of land adjoin- ing his other land; in 1786 one hundred and fifty aeres, and in 1793 two hundred aeres; other lands were also purchased. He served in the Commissary Department of Washington's army at Valley Forge in the winter of 1777-78. For this service he received sixteen hundred acres of land, which was located in Clearfield County. He died in 1791 at the age of sixty- six years, and was buried in the church-yard of the West Kishacoquillas Presbyterian Church. The lands in the valley were left to his sons Robert, John and James, and the Clearfield County lands to his sons William B., Hugh, Joseph and Reed.
The children of James and Margaret were eleven in number,-Jane, Robert, Elizabeth, John, James, Hugh, Joseph, Rachel, William B., Rosanna and Reed. They were all born be- tween the years 1763 and 1786.
Jane, the oldest child, married Colonel Alex- ander Brown, brother of Judge William Brown. Hle located a warrant for three hundred acres of land in the year 1783 and later three hundred aeres additional, now ocenpied by John R. Gar- ver, Jonas and John G. Kauffman. Col. Brown settled on the land he first located and left it at his death to his daughter Elizabeth, who was the wife of Hugh Alexander. He died in Phil- adelphia in 1791. His widow married David Semple and removed to Stone Valley, Pa., where she died in October, 1841.
Robert, the eldest son, was born in 1766, and settled near Stone Mountain on part of his father's land. He married Elizabeth MeClure in 1790 and remained on the farm until his death, in 1813. He was for forty years a jus-
tice of the peace and in 1823 was elected to the Legislature. His eldest daughter, Elizabeth, married Alexander Gibboncy, who settled in the valley and whose family is quite numerous. Silas, a son of Robert, settled on the homestead and later sold the place to - Yoder. The tract is now owned by Joseph %. Yoder, Jacob Yoder and John Hays, Sr.
Elizabeth Alexander, daughter of James, was born in 1768 and married, in 1786, John Wake- field. They moved to Spencer County, Ky., the next year, where their descendants are mimer- ous.
John Alexander, the second son of James, was born in 1769 and died in 1820. He mar- ried Anna, the daughter of Henry Taylor, and settled upon the middle section of his father's lands, and built the house now owned and ocru- pied by James Alexander. It is said that 1.0- gan, in 1767-68, when he resided in this vicinity, built his wigwam near the spring-house on this farm, and that he cut upon an oak tree near by the picture of an Indian with a toma- hawk. This tree stood many years, and becom- ing decayed at the top was finally cut down. John Alexander had eight sons and four daugh- ters, of whom Josiah settled on the homestead of his father for several years and moved to Milroy and died in 1817. Hugh, also a son, studied medicine with Dr. Joseph Bard and Dr. Joseph Henderson, and after attending lectures at the Medical Department of the University of Pennsylvania graduated in March, 1824, and settled near Dayton, Ohio, where he was in the practice of his profession, and died in 1865.
James, the fifth child of James and Rosa Alexander, was born February 16, 1772, and in 1792 married Jane Adams, born in Phila- delphia September 15, 1776. Their children are Mary, born 1793 ; Rosey, 1795 ; Elizabeth, 1798; James, November 27, 1801 ; William, 1803 ; Jessie, 1806 ; Jane, 1810 ; Robert, 1813; Matilda, 1816 ; Napoleon B., 1819. James Alexander improved a mind naturally strong and active by varied reading, and was regarded as a man of more than ordinary intelligence. He died April 17, 1817, in his seventy-sixth year, and his wife July 27, 1831, aged fitty- eight years.
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619
MIFFLIN COUNTY.
James Alexander, the subject of this biograph- ical sketch, though trained by his father to the owenpation of a farmer, was led by his restless, married to Celia, daughter of Robert Alexander, Esq., of Kishacoquillas Valley. Their children are Jane Elizabeth, wife of Rev. Lefferd Lease Hanghawont ; James Porterfield, married to Annie Angusta Halsey, daughter of Joseph J. and Mildred J. Halsey, of Virginia; Celia Anna ; Missouri Mary ; Napoleon B., deceased ; Matilda Virginia, deceased ; Lucy Josephine, deceased ; Robert Ard, married to Maggie, daugh- enterprising nature to spend a large portion of his busy life in the more exciting pursuits of merchandising and trading. He removed to the farm two years after his marriage, and while managing varied interests abroad, still retained it as his home. Through many vicissitudes his busines tart, good management and ceaseless ter of Charles Maclay and granddaughter of
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1
Alexander
energy brought a reasonable measure of success. Among his possessions is a section of land in Illinois, where he has been extensively engaged Napoleon B, a son of the third James, lived on the site of the residence of the first James and his heirs now reside there. in farming. Though a firm adherent to the principles of Democracy, Mr. Alexander never accepted or hell office, preferring the honors to Rachel Alexander, the daughter of James, the settler, was born in 1780, married David Sample and settled near Belleville. He died in 1827 and his wife in 1833. Their children settled in the vicinity. William Brown Alex- fall upon those who participated in the active work of the party. Though not a member, he has ever been a willing supporter of the East Kishacoquillas Presbyterian Church. Mr. Alex- ander was, on the 17th of February, 1834, ander, the ninth child of James, was born in
Judge Robert Maclay, of Mifflin County ; and Emma Rosalind.
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JUNIATA AND SUSQUEHANNA VALLEYS IN PENNSYLVANIA.
1782 and in 1806 married Nancy, the daughter of John Davis, of the valley. In 1800 he went with his father to Clearfield County to make choice of his portion of land. His brothers had sold their clains, reserving to William B. the right of choice. In 1809 he removed to that section with his wife and two children, where he remained until within a few months of his death, which occurred March 30, 1862.
Rosanna, the youngest daughter of James Alexander, married John Taylor, also born in the valley. They settled on the Taylor farm for several years, and in 1806 moved to Ohio and soon after settled on a tract of land, be- tween the Big and Little Miami Rivers, where he died in 1843. She was living in 1878, aged ninety-one years, and was surrounded by num- crous descendants.
The place now owned by Henry Taylor, on the opposite side of the road from James Alex- ander, was once owned by the Ilon. Samuel Maclay. He surveyed many tracts of land in Mifflin County and took up for himself many warrants. He died in Buffalo Valley October 5, 1811.
There are many springs in the valley of the Ki-hacoquillas, especially in the region of the Alexander and Taylor lands. They are nearly all claimed as the Logan Spring. One of these is on the present Taylor farm and said to be the one at which Judge William Brown first met Logan, the Mingo Indian chief. Ile related the incident as here given,-
met at the spring and shook hands. This was Logan, the best specimen of humanity I ever met, either white or red. He could speak a little English, and told me there was another white hunter a little way down the stream, and offered to guide me to his camp. There I met a Mr. Maclay. We remained together in the valley near a week, looking for springs and select- ing lands, and laid the foundation of a friendship which has never had an interruption in the slightest degree.
" We visited Logan at his camp, at Logan's Spring, and Maclay and Logan shot at a mark at a dollar a shot. Logan lost four or five rounds, and acknowl- edged himself beaten. When we were about to leave, he went into his hut and brought out as many deer- skins as he had lost dollars, and handed them to Mr. Maclay, who refused to take them, alleging that we had been his guests, and did not come to rob him ; that the shooting had been a trial of skill, and the bet merely formal. Logan replied with dignity, and said : ' Me bet to make you shoot your best ; me gentleman, and me take your dollar if me beat.' So he was obliged to take the skins, or affront his friend, whose sense of honor would not allow him to receive a horn of powder in return."
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