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 52
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 52
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 52
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 52
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 52
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After the death of Mary M., his first wife, Abraham Guss, Sr., was married to Elizabeth,
daughter of JJacob Partner, and widow of Joshua Shuman, and she is still living.
AAbraham Guss, Sr., died August 9, 1881, aged eighty-three years, ten monthsand twenty- six days, and was buried at the Lutheran Church in Licking Creek Valley.
Ilis children were all by the first marriage, -Uriah, married Catharine Sicher ; Catharine, married Abraham Gnss, Jr .; Elizabeth, mar- ried Christopher Hardy, Jr .; Mary M., married Michael Sieber ; William, married Mary R. Shuman (then Mary A. Moyer) ; Abraham L., the subject of this sketch ; Salina, married John T. Mettlen ; Jefferson, J. A., of Company 1, One Hundred and Twenty-sixth Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteers, died February 11, 1863, aged over twenty-one years.
Abraham L. Guss, son of Abraham Guss, Sr., and Mary Magdalena Ache (now Anghey), was born August 21, 1834, in Milford township, Juniata County, in Licking Creek Valley, four miles west of Milllintown. In his carly youth he attended the public schools, where a desire for more knowledge was awakened. He entered the preparatory department of Pennsylvania College, at Gettysburg, in the fall of 1851, in which he spent two years, and then three years in the college classes. In the year 1856 he married Susan Maria, daughter of Christian and Margaret Mummert Rindlaub, residing in Stra- ban township, Adams County, who was born January 11, 1836. They removed to Johns- town, Cambria County, where he taught a year in the gymnasium as associate principal, and then a year in the graded public schools. He then returned to college, and was graduated with the class of 1859. By private study he entered the second year's course in the theological semi- mary the same fall, and in the spring of 1860 was licensed by the Evangelical Lutheran Synod of Central Pennsylvania, and in July took charge of the congregations in and near Diek- inson (Centreville), eight miles above Carlisle, in Cumberland County, where he remained a year, returning home during the winter. He purchased the Juniata Sentinel in July, 1861, and published a strong Union paper, npholding the ilincoln administration in every effort to suppress the Rebellion. In the fall of 1865 he
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sold the printing-office and took charge of, as principal and proprietor, a soldiers' orphans' school at Cassville, Huntingdon County, under! laws relating thereto in the commonwealth. He conducted this school with great success until December, 1872, when he purchased the Hunt- ingdon Globe, removed to that town and became ? its editor. In the fall of that year he took an active interest, through the columns of his paper and by personal effort, in a Congressional con- logical and biographical sketches. His oldest
the 26th of August, 1885, when, being an " of fensive partisan," he had the honor to resign by request, deeming this a testimonial of his influ- ence and manhood. While in charge of the or- phans' school he was designated the " professor," which has ching as a convenient but meaning- less handle to his name ever since. He has written and published several addresses, a mi- ber of articles on Indians, and historical, genea-
A. I Guess.
test. He continued to edit the Globe until July, [ child, Adelaide L., died at the age of four and 1877 ; having demonstrated his capacity to de- a-half years. He has one son, Harry T., and four daughters,-Annie M., Mary F., Katie B. and Panna G. Harry T. is a student of medi- cine, and resides in Philadelphia. fond his own castle, he ceased to fight other men's battles at his own expense, and retired hom the turmoils of politics. The next two years were spent in closing up business and in CAPTIVITY OF LEONARD GRONINGER .- Leon- and Groninger and Stephen Donghman lived mal Lewisburgh prior to the Revolution. They can to 'Tuscarora in 1797. The Donghmans lived on the Sterreit farm. Groninger died in 1831 ; he had broth- ers named Jacob, Joseph and Daniel ; and their father's name was also Leonard. He and his wife historical pursuits, especially in collecting mat- ter relating to Juniata County. In December, 1879, he accepted a clerkship in the Internal Revenue Burcan of the Treasury Department in Washington, D. C., where he continued until
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were both killed by Indians about the time of the | soon as they would be recaptured. Reigert visited Wyoming massacre. Leonard, Jr., who came to Groninger after he had removed to Tuscarora. Jacob's brothers moved to Indiana. He married, first, Nancy Hench, and, second, Sidney, daughter of Richard, son of Mountain Thomas Wilson. His sons are John, Leonard, Jacob, Orrin, Henry, the first wife's children ; and George, Samuel, William, Ben- jamin and James N., all of whom are among onr well-known and substantial citizens." Jimixta, was married to Barbara, daughter of George Moy, Sr., and had sons named Jacob, Henry, Leonard and George. Jacob was born in 1796 and is still living. When Leonard was seventeen years of age, a short time before his father's death, as they were plowing, they saw some Lilians cross the head of the field. They alarmed the neighbors, who turned ont and hunted two days for them, but gave it ap and re- turned to the fort. Groninger was with two men, Moore and Ilimpleman. As they were passing through the woods they noticed Himpleman's dog act- ing very queer, and then suddenly he ran away. As Groninger cast his eye into the bushes at the side of the road, he looked right into the muzzle of a gun. Instantly they were fired upon. Moore ran back and escaped. Himpleman was killed. Groninger being shot in the hand, ran a distance and sat down. The Indians came upon him ; one lifted his tomahawk to split his skull; another held it and asked him if he was able to travel. He said, yes. They burned his father's house. There was among them a white man named Conrad Houser, who was the most cruel, and wanted to kill him. They went to the Genesee Val- ley, near Rochester. In the spring they were put to planting corn with the squaws and old Indians. After he had been with them nine months, one day, while the warriors were on an expedition, one of the cap- tives named Reigert, while squaws were cooking din- ner, stepped into the edge of the woods, and throwing down his hoe, declared that he would never hoe an- other hill of corn for the Indians. After a consulta- tion, he and Groninger struck for the heads of the Susquehanna. When they came to the river they tried to make a raft, but, observing a bark canoe float. ing down, they got into that and worked their way down the stream for two days. At last they ran under a tree and were scraped out and lost the canoe. After some time they found an old dug-out canoe, which they used. They ;lived on tea-berries and sassafras leaves, and they became very weak. Groninger had white swelling on his leg, and could scarcely walk. Reigert found something to eat, but eat it him- self, saying to Groninger: "You won't live any way." At length they were going to stop under a sheltering rock one night, and, ou entering, were alarmed by a rattlesnake, whose dormitory they had invaded. Fleeing in terror, they again took to their boat, and, by the current and their feeble efforts, moved on all night. At daylight they were rejoiced to hear it heralded by the familiar barn-yard fowls. They came to lechitations and rejoiced once more in freedom, safety and civilization. A man who rode up the river a mile or two that morning was shot by pur- suing Indians. The snake had saved them. Another man who was with the same Ilians returned in after- years and told how the Indians made splints before the remaining captives, to burn the two runaways as
THE FORGE ON LICKING CREEK .- From information gained from the tax-lists, it is found that in 1791 Thomas Beale and William Sterrett were in possession of one hundred and fifty acres of land, and in a review of a road, reported at the March term of court, the forge of Thomas Beale is mentioned. It was built upon the one hundred and fifty aeres mentioned above. In the next year the firm had four hundred and fifty acres and a saw-mill addi- tional. In 1800, Thomas Cromwell is taxed with the same property. After this it disap- pears from the lists. In 1792 the forge was valued by the assessor at eighty pounds ; in 1794, at one Inidred pounds ; and 1799, at one thion- sand dollars. November 10, 1797, the forge was sold by Sheriff Andrew Nelson, and pur- chased by Thomas Cromwell for ten hundred and twenty pounds. It included, with the real estate, "a forge and two hammers." Three pounds equaled eight dollars.
The pig-iron used in this forge was hauled to the Juniata from furnaces in Centre County, and from the furnace owned by Cromwell, at Orbisonia, and floated down the river in rafts to Patterson, and thence hauled ont to the forge. On one occasion a raft stranded in the river above the island and a lot of pig-iron lost in the water. Pieces were afterwards fished ont by the settlers and used as andirons. The writer well remembers the two pieces of this old pig- iron used on the ancestral hearth. The forge was not a paying investment to Beale & Sterrett. They were too far from base. William Sterrett was the son of Ralph, the Indian trader, and said to be the first white child born in the county. He was in Fermanagh 1785-89 and 1801-06, and in Milford 1790-1800 ; sheriff in 1785. Beale lived at Pomeroy's store, and built the first mill west of the river. The forge seems to have crippled him financially during
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JUNIATA AND SUSQUEHANNA VALLEYS IN PENNSYLVANIA.
life. When his father died he provided in his will that all the money for which he and his son David had gone security should be first paid ont of the share coming to Thomas. When this was done there were less than sixty pounds left of his patrimony. Among the sims thus to be paid, in 1801, was one hundred and seventy-six pounds to R. Coleman, of Cornwall Furnace, Lebanon County. Cromwell no doubt was a creditor, which induced his purchase. Cromwell never ran the forge after his purchase. l'eter Shitz says it was standing yet when he came to the comty, in 1808. Soon after some men, who were gigging with pine-lights one night, passed over the dam and dropping some fire among a lot of dry drift wood about the forebay, the fire spread to the buildings and all was con- sumed. Now only stone-heaps and charcoal- colored ground marks the spot of this truly early and only iron enterprise in this county. No other iron-works were ever started in this county.
PAPER-MILL. ON LACKING CREEK .- There was a paper-mill built on Licking Creek, seven miles west of Mifflintown, in 1817, by James Norton and William Selheimer. As early as November, 1816, there was an application for a road " from where a new paper-mill is about to be erected on Licking Creek." Norton, having died, was succeeded by William Kirk, in 1823, and upon the death of the other partner, his son, Absalom, father of Colonel John B. Selheimer, of Lewistown, succeeded in 1827, and under this firm the mill is still on the tax-lists of 1831, and valued at two thousand dollars. From 1832 to 1834 the paper-mill and saw-mill of Kirk & Selheimer are valued at one thousand dol- lars; but from that time the paper-mill ceases to be assessed. To get lumber a saw-mill was fir-t erected, which was built in 1817, which ran many years after the paper mill era-el open- tions. The firm kept a team, and their rags were gathered from all parts of the surrounding country, wagons being the only means of' such transportation. It employed about half a dozen expert men, the same number of women, and a number of boys; the latter were engaged iu assorting the rags. It was in active opera- tion about twelve years. Printing paper,
writing-paper and brown wrappings were made here. Some of the carly JJuniata Valley newspaper enterprises received their supplies from this mill.
THE JUNIATA TANNERY .- In 1831, Sing- master & Co. created a large tan-factory on Licking Creek, six miles west of Mifflintown. A large dam gave ample water-power. Part of the time it went inder the name of' Miller, Lip- pincott & Co., but the Singmasters had an in- terest all the time, and William Miller, resident manager, was married to a sister of the Sing- master brothers. The rock oak bark was taken from the adjoining mountains to their very tops. Over five hundred cords were ground in this factory in a year. The company kept a store, and also run a saw-mill. Heury Singmaster, who remained on the ground until about 1863, died recently at Stroudsburg, worth one hundred thousand dollars, which he donated to the theo- logical schools of the Lutheran Church. Since the abandonment of the factory the buildings have decayed or been removed, and only a saw- mill now remains.
In 1817 Milford lost one hundred and seventy- five out of her four hundred and forty taxables by the formation of Turbett ; and in 1843 she again lost one hundred and forty out of her four hundred and forty taxables ; in 1856 she again lost that part of her assessment roll included in Pattersou borough.
In 1832 the following pleasure vehicles were all that were in use in Milford (including Beale) township: John Beale and John Patterson, gigs; Benjamin Kepuer, John Robison and Robert Sterrett, dearborns ; John Kepner, a carriage. There were two hundred and ninety- two taxables and twenty-four single men. Lands were rated in seventeen grados, at from twenty-five cents to thirty dollars per acre.
By act of March 11, 1851, part of Milford town-bip above the run below Med ahan's school- house, in Licking Creek Valley, was made asep- arate road district.
Pumae Senoors-There are seven public schools in Milford. 1. Muddy Run, brick, built in 1881 ; cost, $1287.50. A frame build- ing previously stood near by, and a stone house, still older, stood westward on the road near
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Shelburn Robinson's. Valentine Carboy kept school in 1797, in an old housenear where JI. E. MeCrum lives. 2. Red Bank, built in 1807 ; cost nine Inundfred and ninety-five dollars. The old house has given place to a good frame. Captain Thomas Horrell taught at. Red Bank when the writer first went to learn the alphabet. William Hardy, about 1803, taught in the loft of his father, Thomas', still-house. The venera- ble John Robison, of Paterson, went to school here. Thomas MeCurdy, William Hardy, Joseph Steele and Thomas Gallagher taught where David Partner's stable now is. William Cunningham, in 1818, taught where Ernest Dopple now lives. 3. McCahan's, Upper Lick- ing Creek, built of brick in 1883 ; cost, eleven hundred and forty-seven dollars. A school- honse was built here in 1858. During the run- ning of the tannery the Methodists had an organization, and stated services were held in the school-house. An early Sunday-school was started and kept up in this house. Just behind the residence of Mrs. Elizabeth Guss, on Tront Run, stood a genuine, old-fashioned school-house with the usual fire-place and a greased-paper- covered crack window. Here Abraham Guss, Sr., went to school to David Powell, 1815-17. It was burned down. After this house was burut, a lot was bought, May 2, 1822, at Me- Cahan's, where the present house stands and a house built by subscription ; deed from Patrick McCahan to Nathan Hoover, W. M. Selheimer, George Doughman, for five dollars. 4. Locust Grove. This house was built in 1852, cost four- teen hundred aud seventy-five dollars, and the present brick, twenty-eight by thirty-six feet, took its place in 1873 ; cost, seventeen hundred dollars. Here the township elections are held. About. 1812-15 Nathaniel Steele taught in a loft of Cunningham's spring-house, formerly used as the forge store-room. 5. Kelly's, brick, built in 1871; cost, sixteen hundred and twenty-four dollars. Before this there was a house at Kep- ner's, on the township line, which wasabandoned after Bele township was formed. In 1812 Samuel Wharton taught in the MeKonnan school-house, not far from Judge Burchfield's residence. In 1815 there was school kept near Sterrett's. 6. McCulloch's Dam, frame, built in
1869 ; cost, $899.50. This accommodates the region outside of Port Royal borough. In 1805 Benjamin Love taught opposite McCulloch's Mill. 7. Jackson, built in 1856, burnt down August 21, 1878; rebuilt ; is twenty-eight by twenty-four feet ; cost, ten hundred and ninety- three dollars. This accommodates those who live near the Tuscarora Creek. From the tax-lists we learn of the following teachers in the town- ship : "Magrahon, the school-master," 1792; James Butler, 1824-29 ; William Knox, 1824- 26 ; James Boggs, 1827; Jolm Wright. The number of children in Milford attending schools in 1884 was three hundred and fifty.
Milford township has been the birth-place of a number of distinguished men, among whom are Hon. James P. Sterrett, of Pittsburgh, now one of the judges of the Supreme Court; Dr. John P. Sterrett, his brother, a physician now of Pittsburgh ; Rev. J. Hervey Beale, the chaplain of the First Pennsylvania Cavalry, now of Philadelphia ; Rev. Thomas Robison, son of "Creek John," now in Illinois ; Rev. John Guss, now deceased, of the Methodist Episcopal Church ; and Rev. Professor Samuel Anghey, L.L.D., of Lincoln, Nebraska, who is certainly the greatest scientist, and probably the most va- ried in the general scope of learning, of any man boru in this county. His works on the phys- ical geography, botany and geology of Nebraska are monuments of his genius and ability.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHI.
LEWIS BURCHFIELD.
Lewis Burchfield is the grandson of Aquilla Burchfield, who, with three brothers, emigrated from Maryland, one locating in Lancaster Conuty, Pa., one in North Carolina and a third in Erie County, Pa., while Aquilla settled in the present Jumiata County, Pa. Thomas, an- other brother, also made the same county his home, and served during the War of the Revo- Intion. The children of Aquilla Burchfield were Aquilla, Thomas, James, Robert and sev- oral daughters. James, of this muber, was born in Greenwood township, Juniata County,
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JUNIATA AND SUSQUEHANNA VALLEYS IN PENNSYLVANIA.
on the 4th of September, 1774, where his life was spent in farming employments. He was united in marriage to Rachel Cookson, born September 29, 1769, whose maternal grand- father, Benjamin Miller, came into the State with William Penn and settled in Philadelphia, where he is buried. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Burchfield are Thomas, born December 5, 1794 ; Aquilla, December 25, 1795 ; Elizabeth (Mrs. Joseph Edmiston), October 4, 1797 ;
comnon schools afforded him a knowledge of the rudiments of English, though his education was chielly the result of careful reading and study at home, after which he engaged for a brief period in teaching. Having from boy- hood assisted his father on the farm, at the age of twenty he removed with him to Beale town- ship, Juniata County, and for two years con- tributed his services in the cultivation and im- provement of his land. He was, on the 23d of
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Lewis Burchfields,
Sarah (Mrs. Samuel McWilliams), November | March, 1830, married to Jane, daughter of 22, 1800; William, April 18, 1803 ; James, Patrick McKennen, of Milford township, Ju- niata County, born February 12, 1812. Their children are Elizabeth, wife of J. Shelbouru Robinson, born November 6, 1830; Melvina, Angust 25, 1832, who died July 7, 18:45; Je- rome O., September 18, 1831, whose death or- curved April 15, 1835; Adaline Anu, wife of Elder Guilliford, February 8, 1836 ; Mary E, widow of Samnel Y. Shelley, February 2, November 14, 1805; Lewis, April 18, 1808 ; Hannah (Mrs. John Harris), August 18, 1810 ; and Washington P., July 31, 1811. All, with the exception of the subject of this sketch, are deceased. The birth of Lewis Burchfield oc- cnrred in Greenwood township, Juniata Comty (then Milllin), from whence he carly removed to Walker township, of the same county. The
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JUNIATA COUNTY.
1838; Clarissa J., wife of John D. Milligan, May 3, 1810; George W., February 22, 1842, married to Elizabeth Halderman ; Charles, June 9, 1811, died June 15, 1811; Benjamin Franklin, December 27, 1815, married to Mary Halderman ; Thomas J., No- vember 12, 1818, who died December 12, 1849 ; Ida C., August 9, 1851, whose death occurred December 11, 1859; Azile, wife of William Neely, February 23, 1856. Mrs. Burchfield died August 15, 1872, and he was again married, January 28, 1874, tu Mrs. Josephine Brown, daughter of William MeMcen. In 1833, Mr. Burchfield rented a farm in Mifflin County, upon which he con- tinned for three years, meanwhile holding the commission as postmaster at Stroud's Mills, in Oliver township, of that county. He then ro- turned to Juniata County and was, until 1839, associated with his father. During the latter year he was appointed prothonotary of the county by Governor Porter, and subsequently elected for two terms, being for seven years the incumbent of the office. Ile then returned to the life of a farmer, and, in 1852, purchased his present home in Milford township, where he has since been engaged in agricultural pursuits, though having abandoned active labor ; the farm is at present rented. Mr. Burchfield was, as a Democrat, in 1861, elected associate judge of Juniata County, in which capacity he served for five years. He has been largely identified with the interests of both township and county as a leading citizen. In his religious views he is a Presbyterian and member of the church of that denomination in Mifflintown.
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CHAPTER X. TURBETT TOWNSHIP.1
Tins township was erected under the authority of the court at Lewistown, by a division of Mil- ford township. A petition to this purpose was presented at the August sessions, in 1815, and William P. Maclay, of Armagh, David Rey-
I By A. L. Gutes.
nolds, of Fermanagh, and Andrew Keiser, of Lewistown, were appointed viewers. They re- ported the line as follows :
" Beginning at Tuscarora Creek, where the same crosses the line between Milford and Lack townships, thence down the middle of said ereck to the lower corner of the land of Nicholas Okeson on said creek, thence along the line between the said Okeson and a tract of land surveyed in the name of John Sherrard, to Tuscarora Creek, at John Patterson's Mill Dam, thence down the middle of said creek, the several courses and distances thereof, to the Juniata River."
At the November sessions, opening on the 20th, the Hon. Jonathan Walker presiding, the "Court confirm the said division and name the southern division "Turbett,' after Colonel Thomas Turbett, under whom the President of this Court marched as a common soldier against the Indians during the Revolution. He was brave, vigilant and humane." The first assess- ment was taken in 1817, and showed about one hundred and forty-five resident taxables and twenty-nine single freemen, which still left in Milford about two hundred and fifteen taxables and fifty freemen.
In 1858 Turbett was divided, the western end being formed into a township called Spruce Hill.
Turbett township is bounded on the west by Spruce Hill, on the south by Tuscarora Moun- tain, on the east by Walker and the Juniata River, and on the north by Milford, on the line of Tuscarora Creek. Limestone Ridge traverses it from west to east, and is bisected near the middle of the township by Blue Spring Hol- low, down which flows Hunter's Run, empty- ing into Tuscarora just below the mouth of Licking Creek.
As Turbett formed a part of Lack up to 1768, and part of Milford up to 1816, the reader will find the names of the first taxables in this region in the assessments of those town- ships; and the Milford township lists can be re- ferred to for the early taxable industries.
EARLY SETTLERS,-Captain William Pat- terson, son of the Captain James who lived at Mexico, and grandson of the Indian trader, James, of' Lancaster County, took up by war- rant of February 5, 1755, a tract of three hun- dred and thirty-six acres opposite Mexico.
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This he sold to Philip Strouse in 1772, and removed to Fontz's Valley. The land now comprises the farms of Lawrence Wetzler, Philip Stronse and James North. Here the " young Captain" William Patterson raised nineteen men, and marched to Middle Creek, in Snyder County, in January, 1768, and ar- rested Frederick Stuinp and his servant, John Eisenhour (iron-cutter), for killing the " White Mingo" and nine other Indians, and lodged them in the Carlisle jail. They were afterwards for- cibly taken from the jail by a band of some seventy-five horsemen from Sherman's Valley, -an event that shook the old provincial gov- ernment from the mountains to the Delaware. For this arrest Patterson was made a justice of the peace,-the first one west of the Tuscarora Mountains. Here William Patterson erected a fort, or block-house, as a defense against the Indians. It stood about thirty feet west of the present Wetzler House, and the cellar pit is yet visible, and the surface paved with stones has never been plowed. It was built partly of stone and partly of logs, and stood until a few years ago, performing the peaceful duty of a corn crib. The logs were well-hewn and notched down flat on each other, with loop- holes for defense. They are now in a house at the railroad near by. This fort, erected by William, must not be confounded, as has been done, with " Patterson Fort," on the other side of the river, mentioned in the colonial records ; and it will prevent confusion to bear in mind that there were two Captain Pattersons,-father and son, James and William, one on each side of the river.
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