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 54
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 54
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 54
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 54
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 54
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
Beside the old grave-yard and cemetery on Church Hill, there is in the middle of the township a burial place commonly called Kil- mer's Grave-Yard. It is said to be older than that at Church Hill. There are many unmarked, but the oldest marked is 1811. The names occurring are Kilmer, Strouse, Kepner, Bolinger,
Inmaker, Lange, Morrison, Mohler, Jacobs, Harris, Hartman, Crozier, Logan, Brandt, Moss, MeBride and others. On the creek-bank, below Groninger's bridge, on Johnson's farm, in the orchard, are buried a connection of Littles (later Lytle) and Sandersons, who were first settlers here. Gradually the plow, furrow by furrow has encroached upon these graves, until now not a grave is distinguishable,-a sad com- ment on the avarice of men. About two hun- dred yards cast of this, on the line fence, is an- other grave yard, chiefly of the Brandt family. Christian Brandt died on this farm October 6, 1822, aged seventy-four years. He was a Men- nonite, and had big meetings at his house, but most of that sect came from the east side of the river.
The bridge across Tuscarora Creek, at Old Port Royal, was built in 1818. In 1822 the frame and roof were put on, and it still stands, the first and oldest of all the bridges. John Rice lived at the north end and filled up the abntment. The petition for this bridge was first presented to the court at August term, 1815, and was said to be where the road from Mifflintown over the Tuscarora Mountain crosses the ercek.
Sonoon-HOUSE -.- Turbett township has live public schools. 1. The one near the river, on the south side, is called the Olive Branch. It is on the Stronse farm and took the place of an older Olive Branch on the North farm. 2. Next up the valley is the new Mt. Hope, on the Kohler farm, built in 1850, and it took the place of an older Mt. Hope built in 1820 on the farin of Koon's heirs. B. The upper one is called Freedom, and is on the Turbett farm, now Graham. These three are built of brick. The house that preceded the Freedom was called the Bottom, and stood at the same place. A still older Bottom school-house stood near by. 4. Near the dam on the north side of the town- ship is the Old Port or Dam school-house. 5. The last house is called Church Hill, being near the old church grounds. The two last name are frame buildings. There was formerly a school-house at Kihner's grave-yard. It is said to have been the first in the township and in use as late as 1820. Teachers: James Garner
781
JUNIATA COUNTY.
'as early as 1798), Jacob Buchler, David Powell, Benjamin Lane. There was in carly times a school-house in connection with the Church Hill Lutheran church, James MeKean, Peter Hench, George Gibson, William Knox, George Meloy, Michael Fletcher, " a fine scholar and good musician," and Olsdorf (German) taught here. Sandy Point school-house, built of stone in 1839, was used until 1850, when the new Mt. Hope and Olive Branch were built. A third and oldest Mt. Hope stood at the forks of the road near James Koon's. In a deed of Ben- amin Kepner, in trust for a school-house, to James MeLaughlin and John Franks, the place is thus described : "That piece or lot of land that the said Benjamin Kepner has lately laid off for a school-house lot on the public road leading from Colonel Thomas Henderson's towards the Tuscarora Mountain and Kilmer's, and on a handsome round rise of a small hill and including a spring." Teachers: David Powell, Richard Morrison, John Meloy, George W. Baker, Jesse Fry. Another old school stood on the Turbett farm, at the south corner, older than the Bottom houses above named, in which Samuel McFadden and David Powell taught. Here the father of the Hon. William A. Wal- laee did his first teaching after coming to this country, and ever felt great gratitude to Stew- art Turbett for securing him the school. The first schools under the free school laws were at Church Hill, Kilmer's and Freedom. There were one Inmdred and sixty children attending school in 1884.
THE GOSHEN ROAD .-- From the region of the Tuscarora Station there was a road made along the south side of the river, down below opposite Thompsontown. It is known as the "Goshen road." Near Vandyke Station was a eclebrated shad fishery, where "Goshen" Jolm Thompson lived. Some say the road was called after him, but the fact is, "Goshen" was a name given by the people to that locality and the road, to distinguish them. Old people, now living, " went to Goshen for shad." As the Is- raelites were assigned to the lands of Goshen, because it was a good pasture-ground for their flocks (Gen. Alvi: 31), the farmers along the north river-bank were in the habit of putting
their stock across the river during the summer, and thus arose the name for that strip between the river and mountain, and that part at Thompson's was patented under the name of the " Happy Banks of Goshen." The name is in use to this day. This strip was in Milford formerly, as the record shows: June term, 1791, a petition from inhabitants of Milford township "setting forth that a small part of this town- ship situate between the Tuscarora Mountain and Juniata River lies detached from the main body of the township, and very convenient to Fermanagh township. Your petitioners there- fore request that the strip or neck of land lying below Widow Bonner's plantation, and extend- ing along the Juniata to the Cumberland County line, may be struck off from Milford and an- nexed to Fermanagh township." The court appointed James Harris to view and report uext session. This strip constitutes those portions of Walker and Delaware now south of the river.
Tuscarora Station, on the Pennsylvania Rail- road, is located on the Captain James Patterson tract. It was made a block signal-station in 1876. There is a large reservoir here to supply engines with water. A short distance below Tuscarora Station James Williams once had a small tannery.
The Roaring Spring is a short distance below the station. Before the railroad was made over it, a large stream issued from crevices between the rocks with such force as to eanse a loud roaring sound, that could be heard at quite a distance. The flow of water is still aecompa- nied by considerable sound.
CHAPTER XI.
BEALE TOWNSHIP.1
As early as April 17, 1820, nine petitions were presented to the court, signed by two hundred and eighteen citizens of Milford and Turbett townships, praying for viewers to lay off' a new township out of parts of Milford and Tarbett, but with discretionary powers as to the boundaries. Nothing resulted from these efforts.
1 By A. L. Guys
-
782
JUNIATA AND SUSQUEHANNA COUNTIES IN PENNSYLVANIA.
Beale was formed by a division of Milford ( liam Stewart, Sr., was killed by Indians, as given under the head of Spruce Hill township.
on February 8, 1813. The viewers were Wil- liam Dunn, of Fayette; Thomas Stinson, of Walker ; and William Sharron, of Fayette. The division line follows a public road first laid ont in 1768, from Tuscarora Creek to a point near the Shade Mountain, and from the top of that mountain to Tuscarora township line. The first assessment was taken in 1813, and showed about one hundred and twenty-five resident taxables, besides fifteen single freemen. The name given it was a compliment to one of the oldest families in the county, and long promi- nent in its affairs and in business enterprises, and especially in honor of Hon. John Beale, who was a man of unsullied integrity, kind- hearted and a patriot. He died January 7, 1867, aged sixty-eight years.
By an act of March 15, 1853, the farm of John Woodward, hitherto in Milford township, was annexed to Beale township.
Beale township is bounded by Milford on the north and cast, by Spruce Hill on the south and Tuscarora on the west. The northeastern quarter is drained by Markce or Big Run, for- merly called the South Branch of Licking Creek. The balance of the township is drained by streams running southward into the Tus- carora Creek, the principal one of which is Doyle's Run. The Herring Bone Ridges extend westward through the township, and the lime- stone formations in the Johnstown Valley spoon out against the Shade Mountain.
As the territory of Beale township was in Milford prior to 1813, and in Lack prior to 1769, the reader is referred to the assessment lists of those townships for lists of the first set- tlers and their locations, and to Milford for a list of early taxable industries.
EARLY SerTLEes,-Commencing on the creek adjoining the Milford line, we have : Alexander Maginty obtained a warrant for three hundred and twelve acres, February 8, 1755. Wilson Laird, Michael Lauver and John Allen now reside npon it.
Above Maginty, towards the ridge, Clement Horrell warranted ninety-seven acres, June 27, 1768, now divided among the above named present owners. It was on this tract that Wil-
The following quaint doenments relate to the lands at Academia and Pomeroy's Store, and the first one is the oldest paper pertaining to land titles that has been found in Juniata County. They are given as in the original,-
"For & in Consideration of ye sum of eighteen pounds to me in Hand, Paid, or said to be Paid, by Saml. Waddle, of Chester County, in Pennsylvania, ye Recept of which I Do acknowled, and my Self therewith fully Satisfied have Bargained, Sold & Set over all my Right Property and Interest of an Im- provement of Land Situate on ye Tuscarora Creek To ye said James Waddle, Bounded on ye Creck from a Ridge of Hills which as ye Extent north of ye In- dian Claim who is now Settled on ye Bottom Sur- rounded by ye Creek Southward from ye East End of ye Said Ridge down ye Creek Crossing another Ridge of high hills Bounding on ye Land Settled at present by Robert Bell, and westward to James Kenedy's Settlement on ye end of ye Said Ridge of mountains at ye west End, and Eastward on ye Said Ridge of hills to ye plase of Beginning to ye afore- Said Waddle, his Heirs and assigns for Ever, & do Bind and Oblige myself to Hold and keep ye Said Claim for ye said Waddle until ye first Day of Octo- ber next Ensuing ye date here of and Deliver ye Said Improvement at ye Said time Clear of Incom- berance to ye said James Waddle, his heirs or as- signs, and to ye True Performance of ye Same I do Bind my self in ye Pennal Sum of Thirty & Six Pounds Current money of Pennsylvania, allways Ex- cepting ye Indians & Proprietor of this Province ex- cepted ; in wittness whereof I have Put my hand and Scale this first day of ye month Called June, 1754.
"ROBEART TAYLOR. [seal].
"Witness Present : William Beale, Samuel Kenny, Charles Kenny."
(On the back.)
" Know all men by these Presents that I, James Waddle, of the township of East Calm, Dos Sign over all my Interest, Right and title of the with in Bill of Sale unto William Beale, of Whiteland, in the county Chester and Province of Pennsylvania, Ycoman and his heirs for ever ; Dated this fourteenth Day of Octo- ber, 1760. "JAMES WADDELL.
"Witness present : Abiah Parks, Benj. Elliott.
" (Endorsed) : Bill of Sale, Robert Taylor to James Waddle."
"Know all men by these presents that I, James Waddle, of the township of East Calm and County of Chester and Province of Pensylvania, farmer, have sold all my right and title of a Curtain Teniment im- provement Situated in the Tu-koraro Valy Near the
783
JUNIATA COUNTY.
River Juniata, In Cumberland County, It being a purchas from Robert taylor by a Bill of Sale Dated the first day of June, 1754. Aud by these Presents `Do acknowledge 'To have Sold and made over all my Right and Interest in Said Improvement Tenement and piece of Land Situated as Before Su Unto Wil- liam Beale, of Whitelaud, in the County of Chester, Yeoman for the Consideration of thirty Pounds To me in hand paid, as witness my hand this fourteenth Day of October, 1760.
"And further have signed over the Said Bill of Sale, and allso do acknowledge the warrant taken ont of the office Bearing Date the 4th Day of Febry, 1755, to be for the taking up of the Said land, and to be for the Use of the Said William Beale, his Executors, ad- ministrators and assigns for Ever.
"do witness my hand and Seal this fourteenth Day of October, Being in the thirty-third year of his majesty king George the Second, one thousand Seven hundred & sixty, 176). "JAMES WADDELL.
" Witness Present : Benjm. Elliott, Abah Parker.
" Received of Willian Beale ye Sum of thirty Pounds for the aforesaid Value Received-I say Re- ceived the above P sum for me this fourteenth Day of October, 1760. " JAMES WADDELL.
" (Endorsed) : Artikelsofa grement made for a sarting pease of land in Toskerorer Valey from James Wadel to Wilm. Beale."
The tract described above is in the vicinity of Tuscarora Academy, and comprises hundreds of acres of the best kind of land. The lines de- scribed are a specimen of the quaint old style of surveying by the eye and without a compass.
David and Thos. were sons of William Beale, and the family had come over with Pen, and had always been Quakers. When they moved to AAcademia they had to cut the road, a mere path, to get to their location. The place they crossed the ereck, at the bend where their unele, " old John Bales," lived, has been, in consequence, called the Quaker Ford ever since. The sons of Thomas Beale were William, John, Wash- ington, Albion and Hannah, married to Isaac Evans. Peter Bale, Sr., was the ancestor of a family now also spelled Beale; but being a Ger- man they are not related to the above.
To the lands William Beale held in the right of Waddle, he added at several dates three adjoining tracts. These lands are now in possession of J. "Nevin Pomeroy, heirs of' An- drew Patterson, Widow Samuel Okeson and the academy grounds. Merchant John Patterson
bought the William Beale tract in 1807, and moved his store down from the ridge to where Pomeroy's store now is, in 1816. Here he carried on merchandising until his death, in 1836. He became wealthy, owned a great many tracts of land, and for long years no man was better known in the county. The title " Mer- chant John " was always used to distinguish him from " Esquire Jolm," his cousin, also well known.
-
Ilon. Joseph Pomeroy, for many years owner of the Beale-Patterson homestead and mill, was an active and successful business man ; a mer- chant ; associate judge of Juniata County. He was of French-Huguenot stock. The Pome- roys were among the earliest settlers, and Thomas, the ancestor of the family, was killed by Indians in Franklin County.
The first grist-mill west side of the Juniata River is taxed to Abraham Stamford (Sanford), as a renter, in 1767. The only other mill in the county that year was that of James Patter- son, at Mexico. The next year there are two mills west of the river,-one taxed to Thomas Beale, who held his father, William's, property at Academia; the other to Robert Campbell, who was on Licking Creek. Beale also had a saw-mill, 1769-71 and 1801-2. In 1811, Merchant Jolm Patterson appears with grist and saw-mills at this point, and held them till his death, in 1836. The first mill was built down near the dam. It was washed away by a flood. The second mill was situated midway between the first and the present.
By an act of Assembly, February 26, 1796, the Tuscarora Creek, from its mouth up to Thomas Beale's mill-dam, was declared a pub- lic highway.
James Kennedy, whom we know had a " set- tlement " already in 1754, was a little slow in getting a warrant for it. Where he had been sleeping is not known; but when, on June 4, 1762, he came to survey in his two hundred and fifty-nine aeres, he found that a slice of fifty acres, which he wished for, was in William Beale's survey. There was some trouble over it ; but the older warrant held the ground. His tract was loug known as the Nicholas Okeson property, who kept a public-house as early as
-----
-
--
784
JUNIATA AND SUSQUEHANNA VALLEYS IN PENNSYLVANIA.
1790, and the land is held by his grandson, Jonathan.
Ralph Sterrett took up one hundred and forty-six acres, July 27, 1762, sometimes called the " Fort property " and " the old Barclay place," and it is now owned by William Milli- ken. It is very probable that Ralph Sterrett lived here, if anywhere in this county. The run was called after him. He was an Indian trader, and at home in the woods alnost any where. IJe had a son William, part owner of the forge on Licking Creek, and once sheriff of Mifflin Connty, who is said to have been born in Bigham's Fort, and the first white child born on this side of Tuscarora Mountain. March 5, 1764, Ralph Sterrett and his wife Martha, sold this tract to JJames Chambers, whose only daughter, Mary, married William Barclay, and their only child, Isabella, married John Milliken, and became the parents of W. B. Milliken, who now resides on the place, as also James M., John A., Joseph, Mrs. Joseph Criswell, Mrs. Iekes and Mrs. Charles Book.
Above Sterrett, on the creek, Thomas Free- man warranted one hundred and sixty-three acres February 24, 1755, including in it the celebrated Indian Mound, treated of elsewhere, now the land of Charles Book. Ralph Sterrett had some kind of a squatter claim on this tract, which he disposed of to Freeman. He was a dealer in such claims.
North of Freeman, David McNair warranted seventy-one acres August 8, 1769.
James Williams warranted eighty-nine acres February 6, 1755, ou the river, now JJohn Imes. This survey ran across the creek.
David Bowel warranted sixty-seven acres March 23, 1767, now owned by James Beale. The names David and Thomas Bowel (the lat- ter having land near the old forge) may be sup- posed to be varied spellings for Beale ; but they belonged to a family after whom Boalsburg, Centre County, was named.
James Scott got an order for two hundred and nine aeres, April 16, 1767, on the creek (and partly across it), now McNair Wilson and David Imes, formerly Theophilus MeDonald.
Above this, at the southwest corner of the township, Joseph Scott warranted two hundred
and eleven acres Jime 17, 1767, now Jacob Bair. These are all by the creek,-now by the Valley road.
Samuel Fear warranted a tract about the year 1771 (now the heirs of James Leach). Here, in a gap, on the old abandoned road " from Waterford lo Milllin," was The " Old Store Place," where Merchant John Patterson lived from 1791 to 1807. Here he laid the founda- tions of his fortune. It is now in a very out- of-the-way place, but was then a central point and on the main road. Here, in this gap, John Simmison was shot and wounded by In- dians in 1756, but recovered and lived to be an old man, as related by his son, who lately died near Carlisle, nearly one hundred years of age. Sammel Brice warranted two hundred and two acres, December 16, 1755, at Doyle's Mills, now partly owned by William Okeson's heirs and Captain James J. Patterson. Brice's war- rant says, adjoining Ralph Sterrett and James Seott. It appears that Robert Pollock, of To- boyne, was a squatter on this land and sold his right to James Scott. The date was probably in 1754. The sale to Brice is worth preserva- tion. The following is a
" BIA. OF SEAL FROM SCOOT :
"Know all men by these presants, that I, James Scot, of the County of Cumberland and township of Lack, hath set, sold and Delivered, In plain and open market, unto Samuel Brice, of the County of Lancaster and township of paxtown, an improufmt that did Belong to Robert poak, for a sartin sum of money gave in hand; which said Right and Improuf- ment I warrant and Defend from all manor of persons Laing aynay Claim, Right or title to the said band adjoining to Reff Starit on the south est side, and James Scot on the West side, and Abraham Dewit on the north side, which said Land I warant from all men, the honrable prepareator Exsopted.
"As witnes my hand and Seal this 7 day of febau- ray, 1755.
"Sined, Sealed and delivered in the presance of these witnes presant.
" (Signed by mark), JAMES Scor [Seal]. "(Witnesses): Andrew Johnston, William Shakley."
At a later day it was deemed necessary to get something in writing from Pollock, and, accordingly, a quit-claim deed was excented by him to Robert Walker for twenty shillings, August 21, 1771. Brice sold this tract to
785
JUNIATA COUNTY.
Robert Walker May 22, 1773. Walker sold part (two hundred and two acres) to Thomas Harris November 12, 1774. Harris erected a grist-mill as early as 1779. Harris sold it to Dr. John Archer, of Harford County, Md., October 12, 1788. Archer sold it to Thomas HI. Stewart, of Huntingdon County, March 21, 1810.
It seems that the two Inidred and two acres sold to I larris did not includeall thetract claimed by Walker. For this there was then issued a warrant to Robert Walker June 5, 1770.
William Okeson, about 1833, bought of Thomas HI. Stewart about two hundred and twenty-five acres of the Brice lands, on which he resided during his long, active business life. This fine farm still belongs to his heirs.
The " Bill of Seal from Seoot," above given, is the work of the subscribing witness, Andrew Jolison, who seems to have been the first law- yer in Juniata County. He had his office at MeWilliams' Shop. John Johnson, the White IIunter, was likely his brother. An- drew left his settlement on the head of " Reff Starit's Run " at an early day.
Lieutenant-Colonel George Stewart lived at the Okesou mansion at Doyle's Mills. He was taxed as owning a negro slave, who is the an- cestor of Robert Johnson, colored, now living in Beale. Thomas Harris, who probably went to Maryland from near Harrisburg, bought the old Brice lands at Doyle's Mills about 1776, and divided them between his son, Jolm Harris, and son-in-law, George Stewart, the father of Jolm, the surveyor, who was related to the Lyons, for whom he did surveying. Surveyor lohn was the father of John Harris Stewart, also a surveyor. Among the descendants may be named Dr. Joseph Stewart and his sons, -Rev. Robert, Rev. J. II., George HI., of Pittsburgh, and John, late of the Forty-ninth Regiment Pennsylvania Vohiteer Infantry; and also the descendants of Mrs. Annie Stewart, wife of Dr. Joseph Kelly. Colonel Stewart took an active part against the Indians on the border during the Revolution.
The post-office established in 1863, Doyle's Mills, was named after Richard Doyle, who long owned the mills at this place, Jonathan
Doyle being the first postmaster. Captain James J. Patterson succeeded in 1868, and John P. Kelly in 1872.
Abraham Dewitt warranted two hundred and twenty-seven acres August 21, 1767, now ocen- pied by William Leech and others. William Irwin, an active man in the Presbyterian Church, long owned this place. Dewitt bought the Sunbury Ferry October 8, 1779, and his widow (then Eleanor Coldron) sold it to John Lyon October 25, 1787.
James Heddleston, west of Brice, was an early settler, but only warranted his one hun- dred and seventy-five aeres May 4, 1789, now owned by heirs of John Harris. This was the old George Saunderson improvement. George Sanderson had an order of survey, and held a large body of land, but the survey was never returned. At length he sold out his claims, such as they were, to John Harris, James Boggs, Jonathan Kearsly and others.
The following facts relate to the lower side of the township, in the Johnstown Valley : John McMahan warranted one hundred and fifteen aeres, above Robert Huston and below Jolms- town, July 5, 1762, enlarged by two surveys in the name of his widow, Margaret ; now the property of T. K. Robison, Mrs. Frankhouse, Rev. J. Hervey Beale, JJ. Kelly Patterson and William Swartz.
James McMahan warranted one hundred acres February 4, 1755, and two hundred and sixty-two acres more May 12, 1767, just above John's tract. It passed to Jolm Henderson, then to William Beale, surveyor. The bulk of it is now owned by Sammel and William Panne- baker, David Adams, Haldeman's heirs and others.
A small portion of William Beale's land came into possession of his son, the Hon. John Beale. Hle sold it out in lots, and the place, taking his first name, was called Johnstown. When, later, a post-office was established here, it was named "Walnut," but the village retains the old name, somewhat to the confusion of mail matter. The town has the usual hotel, stores and shops of a country village. A post-office was first estab- lished here in 1833. John Harris was the first postmaster, and has since been succeeded by
50
-----
-----
786
JUNIATA AND SUSQUEHANNA VALLEYS IN PENNSYLVANIA.
Samuel Bnek, Joshna Beale, Mahlon Kerlin, John Adams, Jacob Lemon, Solomon Dongh- man, lohn II. Rogers for eight years, Mrs. Sarah Hostetler and Alexander Wood ward since 1871.
The first. Methodist camp-meeting in Juniata County was held in the grove just above Johns- town abont 1820. The land then belonged to George Hlikes, a nurseryman, who wasan active member of that society. Owing to its novelty and some extravagant actions, it attracted in- mense crowds of people. The father of this man Hikes kept a nursery near Newville, Cum- berland County, and from him Merchant Jolm Patterson got a large lot of choice apple trees, which were planted at Academia, Pern Mills, on the farm of the late Abraham Guss, Sr., in Mil- ford, and elsewhere. They were the earliest good grafted fruit introduced into the county, at least in large quantities. They were called Rambos, Hoops, Penieks, Russetts, Red Streaks, Winter Sweets, Vandevers, Pippius, Oats and Collins.
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.