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 35

Author: Ellis, Franklin, 1828-1885, ed; Hungerford, Austin N., joint ed; Everts, Peck & Richards, Philadelphia, pub
Publication date: 1886
Publisher: Philadelphia : Everts, Peck & Richards
Number of Pages: 912


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 35
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 35
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 35
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 35
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 35


Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).


Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72


Neither of these bills passed and Mifflin County was still unchanged.


In the session of 1830-31, John Cummins, a member of the Legislature from Mifflin County and resident below the Narrows, was leader of a movement to bring about the erection of Juniata County. The bill to divide Mifflin County passed the House, and on the morning of February 28, 1831, passed a third and last reading in the Senate and on the final vote the bill received eighteen yeas and twelve nays.


The act was approved by Governor Wolf March 2, 1831, and Juniata County, after vain- ly struggling for a place nineteen years, at last was admitted as an independent body.


The boundaries, as described in the aet, are as follows :


" That all that part of Mitllin County laying south


-


- -


663


JUNIATA COUNTY.


and east of a line beginning on the summit of Black Log Mountain, where the Huntingdon County line crosses the same, and running thence along the summit thereof to the Juniata River; thence across the same to a marked black oak, standing by the road on the north side of said river, about the middle of the Long Narrows, known as a line-tree between Derry and Fermanagh townships, in said county ; thence along the summit of Shade Mountain to the line of Union County, and thence along said line down Mahantango Creek to the Susquehanna River, shall be and the same is hereby erected into a separate county, to be called Juniata."


LOCATION OF COUNTY-SEAT .- Section 9 of the act of erection provides,-


" That the Governor be and he is hereby author- ized and required, on or before the first day of May next ensning, to appoint three discreet and disinter- ested persons, not residents in the counties of Mifflin or Juniata, whose duty it shall be to fix on a proper and convenient site for a court-house, prison and county offices within the aforesaid county of Juniata, as near the centre thereof as circumstances will ad- mit, having regard to the convenience of roads, terri- tory, population and the accommodation of the peo- ple of the said county generally."


In accordance with this authority, Governor Wolf appointed General Philip Benner, of Centre, Major Joel Baily, of Dauphin, and Chauncey Frisby, Esq., of Bradford County, commissioners for the purpose of fixing the seat of justice of the new county of Juniata.


The Juniata Telegraph (Mifflintown) of June 9, 1831, says the commissioners "arrived in this place Wednesday evening last, and are now actively and industriously engaged in ful- tilling the duties of their appointment. On Monday morning they set off from this town for the purpose of viewing Tuscarora Valley and returned last evening. This morning they will start through Lost Creek and Greenwood township in order that equal and exact justice may be rendered to all the different conflicting interests."


After the merits of the different sites had been examined, the commissioners located the seat of justice at Mifflintown, where it had been located forty-one years before as the seat of jus- tice of Mifflin County.


The county buildings were erected at Milllin- town and used many years. In 1868, when the question of erecting new public buildings was


brought before the people, an effort was made to remove the county seat to Perryville or Port Royal, and excitement ran so high that a bill was presented to the Legislature for the follow- ing purpose : " Authorizing an election to be held in the County of Juniata relative to a change of county-seat and the erection of new county buildings." This act was approved April 11, 1868 ; the election was held on the 13th of October, 1868, as provided, with the result as given below by townships :


For.


Against.


Miflintown.


200


...


Fermanagh


215


...


Walker.


210


92


Fayette ..


856


5


Delaware


155


45


Thompsontown


41


13


Monroe.


165


16


Greenwood.


67


19


Susquehanna


122


6


Patterson


141


9


Milford ..


162


78


Perrysville


3


121


Turbett ..


13


138


Spruce Hill


1


192


Tuscarora.


105


149


Beale


89


118


Lack.


10


159


Black Log


37


5


2122


1165


The new buildings were erected at Mifflin- town and it still remains the county-seat. .


On the organization of Juniata Connty the Governor appointed the following officers : Prothonotary, William Kirk ; Register, etc., James S. Law, of Fermanagh ; Justices of the Peace, Second District, Fermanagh and Walker, Hugh MeAlister and John Knox ; Third Dis- triet, Milford and Turbett, James Hughes and John North ; Fourth District, Lack and Tusea- rora, Thomas I. McConnell, Esq., and David Glenn, Esq.


ERECTION OF COUNTY BUILDINGS .- On the 22d of March, 1832, twenty-seven inhabitants and proprietors of Mifflintown, in consideration of one dollar, conveyed to the commissioners of Juniata County the public square now occupied by the court-house. It was described as " being the same piece of ground originally laid out by John Harris, the proprietor of said town, and


-


664


JUNIATA AND SUSQUEHANNA VALLEYS IN PENNSYLVANIA.


intended by him for the purpose for which it is now conveyed, and for none other." It contains one acre and fifteen perches and is one hundred and fifty by three hundred feet.


Plans were prepared for a court-house by Thomas MeCurdy, which were accepted by the commissioners and contract made with Amos Gustine and Everett Oles for the erection of a


it was torn away and the present structure erected. The grand jury of the county, in February, 1868, reported in favor of and recom- mendation of the erection of a new court-house. At that time an effort was made to remove the county-seat to Perryville, which, npon being submitted to a vote of the people, was lost. The matter of repairs or new buildings came. np


JUNIATA COUNTY COURT-HOUSE.


court-honse at a cost of thirty-nine hundred and forty dollars. The house was completed and the last payment made January 22, 1833; a bill of $225.93 for extra work was also paid. The first court was held in the new court-house in May of that year, court having previously been held in the old stone Presbyterian Church, which stood in the burial-ground.


The court-house was in use until 1873, when


from this time often before the commissioners. On the 19th of May, 1873, Mr. L. M. Simon, an architect of Harrisburg, was requested to meet with the commissioners and draw plans for repairing the old house or to build a new one. William Ulsh, president of the board, was appointed to go to Harrisburg with Mr. Simon in relation to remodeling the court-house. No mention is made in the commissioners' min-


---


-----


1


1


665


JUNIATA COUNTY.


utes of a report having been received of Mr. Ulsh or a resolution to build a new court-house, but on the Ist of June, 1873, a contract was made with John B. M. Todd to deliver at the court- house four hundred and twenty-five thousand good brick for a new court-house, twenty thon- sand of them to be pressed briek. At a meeting of the board of commissioners July 14, 1883, it was decided to advertise for proposals and to let the contract August 11, 1883, at which time Messrs. Hetrich & Fleisher, of Newport, Perry County, were awarded the contract to build a new court-house, in accordance with plans and specifications, for the sum of forty-two thousand one hundred dollars, the court-room to be fin- ished in time for holding court at the December term, 1884, the whole to be completed Jannary 1, 1885. On February 6, 1874, contract was made with G. W. Smith to take down the old court-house. The location of the new house was decided March 23, 1874.


Ou the 15th of September, 1873, the commis- sioner's resolved to borrow fifty thousand dollars on the credit of the county, under provision of an act of Assembly passed April 9, 1868. Bonds were issued for eight years, at six per cent. interest, which were to be paid in eight annual installments.


Courts were held during the erection of the new building in the Lutheran Church. The house now standing on the northeast corner of the public square was erected for the use of offices until the offices in the court-honse were ready for occupancy. The court-house was completed according to contract, and with bell, clock, furniture, pavement, fences and other im- provements, cost about sixty-three thousand dollars. The first floor contains the offices of the prothonotary, register and recorder, Or- phans' Court-room, county commissioner, sherill' and county treasurer. The second floor con- tains the court-room and three jury-rooms, while in a third story are the rooms for the grand jury.


The commissioners, -General Lonis Evans, William Wharton and George Gilliford, -upon whom the task of building the court-house and jail devolved, procured plans for a jail from the Hon. Everett Oles, and advertised for proposals


to be handed in between February 9 and 26, 1833, for the erection of a stone jail. Contract was made with Emmanuel Wise and Thomas McCurdy for its erection for the smin of twenty- six hundred dollars. It was completed and is still used.


CIVIL LIST OF JUNIATA COUNTY .- Follow- ing are rosters of the officials of Jun 'ata Coun- ty, and of her representatives in the State and national Legislatures, from 1831 to 1885, in- elusive :


MEMBERS OF CONGRESS.


Amos Gustine, Twenty-seventh Congress, 1841 to 1843.


Andrew Parker, Thirty-second Congress, 1851 to 1853.


Louis E. Atkinson, Forty-eighth Congress, 1883 to 1885. Re-elected to Forty-ninth Congress.


MEMBERS OF STATE SENATE.


1808 .- Ezra Doty (then Mifflin County).


1812 .- William Beale (then Mifllin County).


1840 .- James Mathews.


1850 .- J. J. Cunningham.


1855 .- James M. Sellers.


1860 .- Dr. E. D. Crawford.


1868 .- John K. Robinson.


1871 .- Dr. D. M. Crawford.


1877 .- Dr. D. M. Crawford.


MEMBERS OF ASSEMBLY.


1831. John Cummings.


James Hughes.


1832. William Sharon. John Funk.


Thomas Stinson. John H. McCrum.


William Curran. .


William Cox.


John Adams.


Andrew Patterson.


James Mathews.


John McMinn.


Union and Juniata.


1850. John McGlaughlin.


1864. John Balsbach.


1852. William Sharon. 1869. A. H. Martin.


1853. John Beale.


1870. Abraham Rohrer.


1854. John W. Simonton.


1871. Jerome Hetrick.


1876. Jerome Hetrick.


1855. James W. Craw- ford.


1877. T. D. Garmon.


1856. George W. Strouse.


1878. William Pomeroy.


1857. Thomas Bower.


1879. Dr. Lucien Banks.


1859. John J. Patterson. 1861. John J. Patterson.


1881. John. D. Milligan.


1884. James North.


1863. George W. Strouse. SHERIFF'S (1831 TO PRESENT TIME).


1831-34. Amos Gustine.


1859. George Reynolds.


1835-37. John Beale. 1862. Jas. W. Hamilton.


1838. Henry Miller.


18.10. Wm. W. Wilson.


1868. John Deitrich.


1813. William Bell.


1871. Joseph Ard.


1874. Wm. 11. Knouse:


1877. W. D. Walls.


1880. Joseph B. Kelly.


1856. D. M. Jamison.


1883. George Shivery.


-


1843. Saml. Mc Williams.


1850. David Mckinstry. 1853. Joseph Bell.


1865. Samuel B. Loudon.


-


666


JUNIATA AND SUSQUEHANNA VALLEYS IN PENNSYLVANIA.


PROTHONOTARIES.


December, 1831, William W. Kirk. February, 1836, Robert Patterson. Jannary, 1839, Tobias Kreider. February, 1839, Lewis Burchfield.


December, 1845, James M. Sellers. December, 1851, J. Middagh.


December, 1854, Amos H1. Martin.


December, 1860, R. M. Sterrett.


December, 1863, George W. Jacobs.


December, 1866, George Reynokls.


December, 1869, Robert E. MeMeen.


December, 1872, 1. D. Wallis.


December, 1876, Jacob Beidler.


December, 1879, George Reynolds.


January, 1882, George S. Conn. Jannary 1885, Theodore HI. Meminger.


REGISTERS AND RECORDERS.


1831. James S. Law. 1855. John P. Wharton.


1833. Robert Barnard. 1861. R. P. McWilliams.


1836. Tobias Kreider. 1867. Joshua Beale.


1839. Joseph Bogg. 1870. Eli Dann.


1815. William Reader.


1873. J. T. Mittlin.


1848. Benj. Bonsell. 1876. J. D. Musser.


1854. Alex. Magonigle. 1880. J. M. McDonald.


1855. Joseph L. Stewart. 1883. S. Brady Coveny.


TREASURERS.


[The treasurers were appointed by the commission- ers until 1842, when the office was elective.]


Oct. 20, 1831. J. Cum- mings. 1858. D. W. A. Belford. 1860. George W. Stroup. 1836. Wm. H. Patterson. . 1862. Jacob Suloff. 1837. Amos Gustine. 1864. John B. M. Todd.


1838. Robt. Barnard. 1866. Robert E. Parker.


1840. James Kirk.


1868. Jacob A. Christy.


1842. Saml. Penebaker. 1870. David Watts.


1844. James Kirk. 1846. Benj. Bonsell. 1874. Saml. H. Showers.


1818. Jos. M. Belford. 1876. Robt. E. Parker.


1850. Benj. F. Kepner.


1879. John W. Kirk.


1852. George Jacobs. 1854. John Yeakley.


1881. Jacob Lemon.


1881. John M. Copeland.


COMMISSIONERS.


1831 .- Joel Bailey, P. Benner, C. Frisbie.


1832-33 .- George Gilliford, William Wharton and Lonis Evans.


1831 .- John Funk, Louis Evans and David Glenn. 1835 .- John Funk, Louis Evans and David Glenn .? 1836 .- Michael Bushey, Paul Cox.


1837 .- Emannel Wise. 1838 .- Daniel Collins. 1839 .- John North. 1810. - John P. Shitz. 1811 .- John Kenawell. 1812 .- John Crozier.


1813 .- John F. Saeger. 1844 .- James Lauthers. 1815 .- John Dimm. 1816 .- David Beale. 1817 .--- Ezra MeLin. 1848 .- Robert Inners. 1849 .- Samuel Rannels. 1810 .- David Alexander. 1851 .- John Anderson. 1852 .- Thomas J. Milliken.


1853. - William Adams. 1851 .- Joseph Sciber. 1855 .- Din ' I Flickinger.


1856 .- James Anderson. 1857 .- Barnett Rapp.


1858 .- Joseph Kerliss.


1859 .- Henry McConnell.


1860 .- John Landis.


1861 .- William Kohler.


1862 .- James S. Cox.


1863 .- John Foltz.


1864 .- John Kenawell.


1865 .- Matthew Clark, William Logne.


1866 .- David Diven.


1867 .- David Suloff, Sr.


1868 .- Walter App. 1869 .- E. R. Gilliford.


1870 .- William Ulsh.


1871 .- William Von Swearinger.


1872 .- David B. Diven.


1873 .- Alexander A. Crozier.


1875 .- Thomas Watts.


1876 .- James MeLaughlin, David B. Cox, William H. Groninger,


1879 .- J. Banks Wilson, Hugh L. McMeen, John B. Mc Williams.


1881 .- J. Banks Wilson, Hugh L. MeMeen, David Partner.


1884 .- O. P. Barton, John T. Dimm, W. N. Sterrett. COMMISSIONERS' CLERKS.


1831. James Mathers. 1857. Joseph Middagh.


1835. Robt. Barnard. 1862. John Huzzard.


1836. J. A. Christy. 1865. A. J. Greer.


1844. Caleb Parker. 1866. Joseph Middagh.


1847. David M. Crawford. 1872. James Dean.


1848. Lewis Burchfield. 1879. James Irwin.


1851. John Huzzard. 1885. Samuel Loudon.


1855. Tobias Kreider.


SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENTS.


David Laughlin, commissioned July 5, 1854; re- signed July 5, 1855.


W. M. Burchfield, commissioned July 1, 1855 ; term expired June 1, 1860. John B. Porter, commissioned June 8, 1860; term expired June 1, 1863.


11. B. Zimmerman, commissioned June 1, 1863; term expired June 1, 1866.


--.


-


1856. Benj. F. Kepner.


1872. Wm. C. Laird.


667


JUNIATA COUNTY.


George W. Lloyd, commissioned June 4, 1866; re- elected June 4, 1869; term expired June 1, 1872.


David E. Robinson, commissioned June 6, 1872; term expired June 6, 1875.


Jolm M. Garman, commissioned June 7, 1875; term expired June 1, 1878.


Wellington Smith, commissioned Inne 1, 1878; term expired June 1, 1SS1; re-elected June 1, 1881; time expired June 1,. 1881.


Wilson E. Amman, commissioned June 1, 1881; now in office.


POPULATION OF JUNIATA COUNTY.


1800 1810 1820 1830| 1810


(1859) 1860 | 1870 1880


Fermanagh


1505


2529 1132


831


887 1101


993


1111


Greenwood


969


180 ) 2008


1237


1651.


635


7.1.1;


601


Milford


1812


1551 1537


1821


1373, 110%


115%'


1311


Turlwit


1165 1131


1319


1399


703


714


7.17


Lack


1511


671


761


1116 1340


1290


1439


Tuscarora


827


1379


1123


1193


1719


1608


Delaware


956


1126


1557


1079


Fayette ..


1291


120


48.


767


857


812


Monroe.


10211


1078


1125


Patterson Bor.


659


703


Port Royal Bor


518


559


681


Spruce Hill.


1007


Susquehanna


×20


590


733


Thegapsontown Bor


980


275


Richheld


131


Mexico


102


5387


8559,9051 11080 13029 16986 17623 18286


CHAPTER II.


Miscellaneous Matters-Progress of Settlement -- Oddities from the Old Records - Election Districts - Negro Slavery.1


PROGRESS OF FIRST SETTLEMENT .- Statis- tical tables generally make very dry reading ; but if the reader will study and analyze the fol- lowing figures, he will find food for some very interesting reflections on the beginning and prog- ress made by the early settlers. It shows that even during the trying times of the Revo- Intionary War there was a steady advance in clearing and stock-raising, and no doubt much stock was driven to the army, and taken farther west by the onward-moving settlers, es- pecially about the close of the war. The mim- ber of persons owning stock is the best index to the number of actual settlers. Subtracting the stock-owners from the owners of land, leaves mostly non-resident land-owners. A very few names appear withont either land or stock. The land speculators mostly lived at Carlisle, Lan- caster and Philadelphia.


1 By A. L. Gnss.


There must have been a good many residents not taxed, as they appear and disappear so offen without any apparent cause. In 1766 Rev. Charles Beatty says there were eighty-four fiumi- lies residing then in Tusemora Valley ; but the assessment of 1767 does not show more than seventy. He also speaks of there being fifty families on the north side of Juniata who moct together for worship ; yet the Fermanagh list for 1767 does not show more than forty residents " below ye Narrows." It seems pretty certain that in these early days poor people who had no land or stock were generally not placed on the assessment lists. Judging by the population given in 1784, which gives a ratio of 5.72 souls to a dwelling, there must have beeu not far from forty families, in the three townships, of whose presence there is no evidence upon the tax-lists of 1785. Many were drifting westward, hardly tarrying long enough in one place to get on a tax-list. It is apparent, however, that during the decade covering the Revolutionary War the population about doubled itself.


Owners of Land.


Owners of Cleared


Acres of Cleared


Taxables.


Single Freemen.


Owners of Stock.


Horses.


Cows.


Sheep.


1763.


Lack.


71


77


7


.....


Est. for Milford 1 ..


·18


4-4


5


Fermanagh ..


51


51


1


Do. Est. for part2, 1767.


32


32


1


Lack


82


67!


625


84


3


61 110 107


60


Est. for Milford 1.


60'


-18 475 62


758 115,


1 88 156 142: 32


Do. Est. for part 3 1768.


55:


3 403 52.


1 36 66 58


3


Lack


96


78' 587 104


10


70 85


961 45


Est. for Milford !


61


54 412 65


6 47


57


651 28 481 10


Fermanagh. 1769.


78


60 327 73


12. 41


50


-


Lack.,.


54: 23. 184 55


9 24 29 27


Milford.


73 57


426' 77


11 49 61 55


Fermanagh .... ....


86 63 541: 87. 17


46 56 61


1591


Walher


1699 1170 2028


MitHintown Bor


Beale ..


711


973


1039


11:30


...


! An estimate of that portion of Lack which fell into Mil- ford.


2 An estimate of that part of Fermanagh west of the Cocalamns.


" An estimate of that part of Fermanagh below the Nar- rows. In the summary of 1767 only this estimate of the Juniata County part is included. The seeming decrease in the acres of cleared land in 1768 is owing to the reduction in the number held by the several individuals, especially in Fermanagh, as given by the assessors, which was done, perhaps, to reduce The taxes as much as possible.


2 48. 80 82


40


Fermanagh. ....


109 86


Land.


Land.


1192


1175 130%


1550 2000- 2051


668


JUNIATA AND SUSQUEHANNA VALLEYS IN PENNSYLVANIA.


OWLers of Land.


OWEer of Cleared


Acres of Cleared


Taxables.


Single Freemen.


Owners of stock.


Hurks.


Cess.


sheet.


1770.


LACK.


58.


220


10


17


65


29


Fermanagh


86


68,


620. 98 23


60 5


30


31


32


6


Milford.


68


61


129


69


10


54


82


67


39


Fermanagh ...


102


80


769 106


21


58


66


79


31


1772.


Lack


62


10


239


67


7


32


20


28


Milford ..


79


73


817


85


21


67


95


90


56


Fermanagh.


89


73


10-18


93


19


56


75


87


1773.


Lack.


69


39


502


69


12


34


47


46


16


Milford ..


79


76


945


81


8


73


79


98


69


76


66


892


84


15


62


71


82


17


Lack


63


49


380


64


6


35


47


47


Milford.


89


85 1010


93


12


107


12


84 101


123


60


Laek


80


48


702 91


10


41 71 89


42


Milford ..


113


91 1331 118


11


89 137


139 125


Fermanagh. 1776.


103


88


1013 108


10


85


97


117


72


Lack


84


48


627 97


9


48 66 66 33


Milford


117 111


1247 137


88 1989 108


27


73


85


104 61


Lack.


76


57


826


15


53


74


88 50


Milford.


108


97 1697 125


17


92


96 122 69


Fermanagh. 1779.


112


99 2264 137


2-1,114


67 209.162


Lack


105


126


10


63


90 99


Milford ...


124


182


25 1 42 243 323


Fermanagh 1780.


152


198


23 152 280 327


Lack.


108


122


11


79 128,162


Milford.


123


167


30 134 253 353


Fermanagh 1781.


147


185


32 154 292 102


Lack.


115


142


15


96 187 246


Milford


129


186


38 156 803 410


Fermanagh 1782.


11


179


36 183 303 384


Lack.


97


125


15 88 171 195 143


Milford


133


193


31 170 278 319 155


Fermanagh 1783.


165


2.15


31 194 334 428 401


Lack


121


146


96 159 183 167 20


Milford


136


193


18 157 258 259 211


Fermanagh


150


1871


20 128 232 295


1784.2


Lack


15 178 210 188


Alilford.


33


290 331 275


Fermanagh. 1785.


Lack


115


186 21 91 169 173


Milford 1-11


181 61 152 235 260


Fermanagh ..


180


1222 33 163'295 330' . .


' in 1777 no assessment seems to have been taken. 1t was not because the settlers were driven out by the In- dinns, us was the cuse in 1764 66, but because of the


YEARLY SUMMARY.


Owners of Lan i.


Owners of Cleared


Land.


Acres of ("leane) Land.


Taxables.


single Freempez.


Owners of Stock


Horses.


Cows


Sheep.


1763.


122


128


1767


1.10


110 1028


136


1


97


165


63


1768


169


138 914


177


23


115


176 135


144


55


1769 ..


213


143 1151


219


37


236


37


235


36


142


155


169


197


282


143


1775.


296


228 3046


317


31


342


58


345


56


58


73


89


77


452


783


942 699


1783.


416


526


53


65


542


115


40 699 763


THE REGION IN 1775-FITHIAN'S JOURNAL. -The following interesting account of a jour- ney made from Path Valley, through the whole


chaotie condition of civil affairs incident to the Revolution- ary changes in the government.


2 The 1784 list was not recovered; but a summary found gives us the following facts, some of them being particulars not found on any other list :


Lack has 122 dwelling-honses, 69 other buildings, 549 inhabitants, 3 stills, 2 grist and 2 saw-mills, 17,828 acres; taxes, £216 16s. 5d.


Milford has 175 dwelling-houses, 178 other buildings, 986 inhabitants, 1 tan-yard, 14 stills, 9 negroes, 3 grist and 3 saw-mills, 21,231 acres; taxes, $394 13x.


Fermanagh has 187 dwelling-houses, 75 other buildings, 948 inhabitants, 6 stills, 1 fulling and 7 grist and 8 saw- mills, 9 negroes, 25,823 acres; taxes, 0501 69. 104.


Greenwood as then constituted had 118 dwelling-houses, 125 other buildings, 498 inhabitants, 1 tan- yard, 2 stills, 2 grist and 4 saw-mills, 2 uegroes, 124 horses, 142 cows, 119 sheep, 19,390 acres ; taxes, £192 16s. 4d.


From this data we would estingite that in 1781 there were within the present limits of Juniata County 450 dwelling-houses and 2575 inhabitants.


The taxes for 1786 were as follows: Lack, quota for United States government, 965 53. 67; State tax, 270 4%. 6d .; county tax, $11 114. Milford, quota for United States, €121 1Is .; State tax, $183 173. 2d .; county tax, E26 16x. 5d. Fermanagh, quota for United States, £168 2s, Ad: State tax, £172 132. 7d .; county tax, 031 11s. 4d. Greeu- wood (mostly now in Perry County), quota for United States, 870 11s. 4d .; Sinte tax. 677 7s. 5d .; county tax, .C15 98. 6d.


Milford


69


1771.


Lack.


54:


34


232.


119 146


134 172 195


125


1771


224


175 1430


186-2104


245


47


35


30


202 252


218 305 345


296


336


419 281


1779


381


1780


378


1781.


388


1782


395


563


1784


722| 872 808


1785 ..


439


181 2339


234


1774.


257


224 2198


264


1776 ..


298


247 3861


1778


291


253 1787


50G


357


613


749


929;


673 793,1040


Fermanagh. 1775.


105


90 1108


83 104 112


83


1772.


20


1773


218


161 1451


1770.


76


178 205


..


102


Fermanagh 1774.


474


367


435


179 190


228


259


237


381 649 737| 77.9


17 107 145 166


Fermanagh. 1778.1


97


50, 6111 75'


Land.


Lind.


35


19


52,


81!


143


239


507


83


17 254 331 3-15


---


669


JUNIATA COUNTY.


length of Juniata County, to Simbury in 1775, is taken from the diary of Rev. Philip Fithian. He was a graduate of the College of New Jer- sey in 1772, and licensed to preach by the first Presbytery of Philadelphia, November 6, 1774. There being no vacancies near home, he received an honorable dismissal, and af a Presbytery held near Mercersburg. was commissioned to visit Central Pennsylvania as a supply to the scattered churches. May 9, 1775, he left his home at Greenwich, N. J., on horseback, for a tour through Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania and Virginia. His journal is all interesting, but we give place to only that part which relates to Juniata County. It was addressed to his sweet- heart, Miss Elizabeth Beatty, whom he after- wards married after his return, October 25th. In June following, he became chaplain of Col- onel Newcomb's battalion of New Jersey mili- fia, and died of dysentery at Camp Fort Wash- ington, October 8, 1776. He kept his journal up until after the battle of Long Island, the last entry, on Sunday, September 22d, being : " Many of our battalion sick ; our lads grow tired and begin to count the days of service which remain." We start with him in Path Valley, in Franklin County,-


" Thursday, June 22, 1775 .- This valley is in many places not more than a mile wide ; it is level, and the land rich ; the mountains are both high and so near, that the sun is hid night and morning an hour before he rises and sets. I rode on to one Elliot's; 1 he keeps a genteel house with good accommodations. I saw a young woman, a daughter of his, who has never been over the South Mountain, as elegant in her man-


ner and as neat in her dress as most in the city. It is not plaec, therefore, but temper makes the person, In this valley we have many of the sugar tree ; it is very like a maple ; the bark is more rough and curled. It grows in a low, level, rich land. They told me there has been frost here two mornings this week.




Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.