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 55
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 55
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 55
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 55
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 55
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John Irwin, on February 1, 1755, took out a warrant for two hundred aeres to be located on Tuscarora Crock, but before he got it surveyed the tract was surveyed to others. On June 12, 1766, he had resurveyed to him three hundred and fifty acres, now a fine piece of land and in the heart of the valley. After his death it was divided, Dersaber 23, 1791, between James, Jr. and Robert Irwin, his sons. This tract now comprises the farms of E. Sonthard Parker, Abraham G. Partner and Abraham Brubaker.
On the road from Johnstown to Academia, on the top of the ridge, at the head of Tar Hollow, is a traet which was warranted to Matthew Ma- teer, one hundred and thirty-four acres, July 3, 1767. Here once lived, for about fifty years, Robert Miskelly. It is now owned by I. Cal- vin Beale.
ence between poor and good land as well as peo- ple do now. The dates in the case of the Irwins show that they knew where to locate their war- rants. There were men who located their sur- veys on the good land, but erected cabins ou adjoining nplands, which they could thus hold by right of improvement, in addition to their surveys, and they did this, especially for a few years, where the timber was small and thin and easily removed, and where they could with little labor raise something to get a start and give themselves time to clear the more fertile and more heavily-timbered lands. The first settlers dug uo wells, and always located where there was good water, which sometimes was not con- venient to the main body of their lands.
Several tracts above were ocenpied and claimed By one John Woods as early as 1755. The stream rising in this region was carly called Sterrett's Run, after Ralph Sterrett, who lived near its month, and later, Woods' Run. It is now known as Doyle's Run.
James Irwin, Sr., bonght, in 1762, the right of John Irwin, who held in the right of Jolm Woods, and warranted two hundred and seventy- four acres February 25, 1773. He also bought the tract warranted by John Woods, two hundred and twenty acres, November6, 1772, thus making four hundred and ninety-four acres. He also took up in his own right one hundred and fifty- two acres more, March 26, 1788, situated be- tween his other land and the mountain.
This traet was sold to Benjamin Fahnestock, who built a saw-mill on a mountain stream in 1797. Part of it passed to Rudolph Bollinger, then to Daniel Bollinger, who added a small chopping-mill. The. place was afterwards owned by Jacob Bushy, Samuel Allen and now David W. Allen.
The other part is now owned by James Sher- lock, David Hertzler, Harrison Minium, Wil- liam Stewart and Widow Hannah McDonald. William Cochran warranted two hundred and twenty-four acres March 8, 1765. On the north line of this traet is St. Paul's Evangelical Luth- eran Church, and the point here is known as Me Williams' Shop, or Allenville. John P. Kelly occupies the old man sion place, and on
Christopher Irwin is stated to have had an im- provement north of John Irwin, above the ridge, in 1786, but he is on the tax-list already in 1773. Hle warranted three hundred and thirty acres May 19, 1795. The Irwins are said to have settled above the ridge, because the valley was too swampy. There is a great deal of mis- apprehension among the people now as to the farts in such cases. Men then knew the differ- , a draft of December 20, 1805, the stream is still
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called Sterrett's Run. On Finley's survey, made September 29, 1762, " Joseph Day's, for- merly Andrew Johnson," is on this Cochran tract.
Sammel Finley, who also figured in lands at various points, had warranted two hundred and four acres June 1, 1762, "on the head of Star- rett's Run," where Harrison Reed and others now reside.
William Reed warranted June 4, 1770, one hundred and fifty-one acres. On this tract John B. Bordell resides, and on the edge of it is Pine Grove school-house.
Michael Yeater's place was taken up by Alexander Glassford. A warrant to John Dil- lon " to cover an old improvement," April 2, 1805, embraces one hundred and sixty-four acres, now John Bardell.
About 1795 there was a great emigration to the vicinity of Cincinnati and other points along the Ohio River, some going into Kentucky. More followed at intervals, and took from Tus- carora Valley many of its most active young men. In later years the tide was farther north into Ohio. In 1836 to 1840 there was a great moving west into Ohio and beyond. Descend- ants of those who once lived in Tuscarora may be found in great members in Wayne County, about Wooster, Bucyrus and New Lancaster. In places, especially in Beale township, the exodus of 1836 took nearly one-fourth of the inhabitants.
THE INNIS FAMILY AND THEIR CAPTIVITY .- Francis Iunis settled with his family at an early period, where his great-grandson, Robert Innis, now re- sides, on the main road from Doyle's Mills to Me- Coysville. The maiden-name of his wife was Milli- ken. At the time of the taking of Bighan's Fort, June 11, 1756, Innis, his wife and three children were carried away by the French and Indians. It is a question whether they were taken at the fort or on their farm. The tradition in the family has always been that they were taken in the fort ; that only In- nis and another man were at the fort, the others hay- ing gone ont to look after their farms ; and this cor- responds to what Rev. Beatty says in his journal printed elsewhere. (See also article on the fort under the head of Tuscarora township). The children taken were Jane, afterwards married to James Thompson, Nathaniel and Mary. They were taken to Kittanning, where Mrs. Innis had a splint run into her breast during the running of the gauntlet, to which she was
subjected. They were divided among the Indians ac- cording to their customs and taken northward, to- wards Niagara. The infant child, Mary, was put under the ice because it was sickly. Mr. Innis was a Scotch-Irishman, raised to strict ideas of Sabbath ob- servance. He refused to work for the Indians on Sunday, and for the offense was threatened with death at the stake. Just at this joncture a party of French traders came among the Indians, and gave them some goods for their captive. Mrs. Imuis was with some Indians and in charge of some old and decrepit per- sons. This was probably near the St. Lawrence. Be- ing in want of provisions, they saw a vessel coming, and they sent her in a battoe to beg bread for thew, because the French would much more likely give to a white person than to an ludian. As luck would have it, she here found her husband on board, and he besought the French to bny his wife, which they did, and they thus both got to Montreal, where they re- mained near a year. Their son James was born there. Here he worked and repaid the French for the price at which he and his wife had been purchased. They were then allowed to return home. It has been pub- lished that they did not returu nutil after the peace in 1764, being held in captivity eight years. This is a great mistake. According to the Colonial Records (vol. viii. 147) Robert Taylor and Francis Inns and sister, were examined before the Council, July 14, 1758, as to the conduct of one Lawrence Burk, who had married among the Indians and remained with them during the whole war. They were, therefore, back to Philadelphia at that date already, probably on their way home. The sister is perhaps a mistake for his wife, -- it is certain that the woman, whether wife or sister, had also been in captivity. Taylor was ab- dueted at the same time with Innis. It is a tradition in the family, and doubtless true, that on their return they found their land occupied by some squatter, who refused to remove, and that Mrs. Innis walked to Philadelphia, to the Land Office, to have him removed. The records show that 233 aeres were warranted to Francis Innis, June 3, 1762, and this property has been held in the family ever since. Their two older children, however did not return with them. It will be seen in Pennsylvania Archives, (vol. iv. 106), that early in 1763 they sent the Governor, James Hamilton, this petition :
" That in June, 1756, your petitioner. his wife and three children were taken and carried away from Tuscarora by Beaver King and his company; that your petitioners' youngest child was put to death in December following. Your petitioners were bar- tored away for French goods, etc., and your petitioners' son and daughter are still prisoners left behind. They, therefore, humbly bog leave to remind your Honor, and pray your wanted care in enquiring for your petitioners children, and your distressed peti- tioners, as in duty bound, shall over pray.
"(Signed) FRANCIS AND MARGERY ENNIS."
In the fall of 1761, at the end of his expedition
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JUNIATA AND SUSQUEHANNA VALLEYS IN PENNSYLVANIA.
into Ohio, Colonel Bouquet returned with a large umber of captives which had been surrendered to him, and among these the Innises recovered their two children, who had been held in captivity for eight years. A man in Philadelphia had taken the boy to raise, and refused to surrender him until his parents proved his identity by a private mark. This mark was on his back, where two boils had been lanced. The father told the man who held him that unless these marks were found upon him he would not claim the boy. The girl, when told to go into a room among a number of gentleman, at once recognized her father. She had not lost sight of her brother, having seen him occasionally during their captivity. There must have been great rejoicing when these children were restored to their home. Their son Nathaniel moved to Ken- theky, and died there. Francis, Jr., born after their return from captivity, married a Gray, and moved to Cincinnati, and bought a farm before there was any town there, and which is now all built over, and con- stitutes part of the city. He took a boat-load of pro- duce to New Orleans, which he there traded for sugar, which he shipped to Baltimore, where he died soeg after landing. Ile left a tract of land in Black Log Valley, which the family have lately recovered after a remarkable search among family records and land titles. His only child died young in St. Louis. The living Innis families are descendants of James. It is stated on his monument : His parents being taken captive in the year 1756 by the French and Indians at Bigham's Fort, Juniata County, he was born in Montreal." He served two tours in the Revolutionary War. By the first wife, Aun Arbnekle, his children were Francis, William, Samuel, James, John, Eliza- beth, Nathaniel, Alexander, Joseph, Ann. By the second wife, Isabella Oliver, he had Sarah, Mary, Isabella, Robert, Jane, Ebenezer, Nancy, the last still living. The older sons went to Brown County, Ohio, the rest by the first wife to Rush County, Ind. Robert's children were Sarah Ann, Elizabeth and Mary respectively married to John Milliken, MeCon- nell Beale and John Adams. Ebenezer's children were Jennie, Belle and Robert, respectively married to Matthew Rogers, Alfred Patterson and Victoria Junk.
LOWER TUSCARORA PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. -- In 1766 Rev. Charles Beatty traveled through the Tuscarora Valley and preached, August 20th, at a house three miles after crossing the Tuscarora Mountain hy the Traders' Path ; after service he traveled three miles farther and lodged at William Graham's, now near David Esh's, in Spruce Hill. The next day he went two and a half miles, where his companion, Rev. George Duffield, preached at " a place where the people had begun to build a house for worship
before the late war, but by accident it had been hurned." This was at Academia and at the site of the present Lower Tuscarora Church. By some means the above statement has been made to read in several written and printed sermons, that Rev. Duffield preached "at a place where a house of worship had been com- menced, but was discontinued on account of the war." Our quotation is from the original. The church burned by accident was, therefore, the first one. The second one was built soon after Mr. Beatty's visit. It was built of round logs, covered with clapboards, was without a floor, and had a large fire-place in the end. It stood on the road to the present church-the road running over its very foundation. The grounds where the church is situated were granted by order of survey No. 134, to " John Lyon, William Graham, Robert Houston and Joseph MeCay, in trust for the Presbyterian Society or Congregation in Milford township, Tuscarora valley, under the care of the Synod of New York and Philadelphia," twenty neres adjoining William and John Beale on one side and a ridge on the other. It was surveyed, May 27, 1818, for the congregation, "say 25 aeres, John Patterson, Esq., to pay the fees." In 1823 it is called the " Milford township Glebe," twenty-four acres. The old round-log church gave place, about 1790, to one of hewn logs, which stood between the present church and the public road. It had no ceiling, no plastering and small windows. The floor and pews were made of sawed boards. The pulpit was high, and stood at the west end. There was a door at each side near the pulpit end, and an aisle ran across from door to door, from which two long, narrow aisles ran back to the rear end of the building, three blocks of pews, beside one at each side of the pulpit in the corners, making thirty-six pews. A diagram of the " sitters " in 1803 has been preserved. There were ninety-three families, and their stipends foot up $122 11%. This house was huilt under Rev. Ingh Magill. In 1816 the fourth edifice was erected under Rey. John Coulter. It was built of stone, and at the time regarded as altogether too grand and costly an undertaking ; but time showed the pastor's pro-
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gressive ideas and shrewd forecast of the wants of the people, for it gave the congregation a prominence and prestige among all the churches of the region. Stewart Laird was the contractor, and did his work well, for it still stands on the point or forks of the road, now remodeled and turned into a two-story school building, and so' nsed since the burning of Tuscarora Academy. Being seen of all, it needs no description. The present church edi- fice is of brick, and was built under the pas- torate of Rev. Dr. G. W. Thompson, in 18-19, and cost sixty-five hundred dollars.
From the time that this infant organization was visited by Revs. Beatty and Duffield sup- plies were occasionally sent from the churches cast of the mountains in the older and more thiekly populated regions, In 1771 an effort was made to get Rev. Mr. Rhea, but it was not sueressful. The congregations in Tuscarora and at Cedar Springs renewed their "supplications" for supplies and for a regular pastor. A Rev. Samuel Kennedy, whom the Presbytery refused for some reason to recognize as a minister, came and preached, and soon won adherents, which bred division and a great deal of trouble in both congregations. Presbytery attempted to restore order; sent its moderator to read a paper; it was snatched from his hand, and, to avoid a riot, he deserted the field. At length, in 1776, came Rev. Ingh Magill, first as a supply for ten months and afterwards, getting a call, he was installed as the first pastor of Lower Tuscarora and Cedar Springs Churches on the fourth Wed- nesday in November, 1779. After seventeen years (1796) he resigned the Lower Tuscarora (Inirch and continued at Cedar Spring until his death, September 1, 1805. For six years the church was dependent on supplies. Rev. John Coulter preached his first sermon January 1, 1800, and was installed Angust 11, 1801. He continued to preach until his death, June 22, 1834, that day being the first time in thirty- three years that he failed to meet his appoint- ment. He was the son of James Coulter, who lived in Lack from 1791 to 1823, by the tax- lists. Before his marriage he lived near Johns- town ; after that, at the Randolph farm, above McCoysville. His son James prepared for the
ministry, but died, never having preached but one sermon. Revs. Coulter and Hutcheson were married to sisters named Wangh. Ilis sons, David and John, moved West. Isabella married George Noss; Eliza, Joseph S. Laird ; Jane, Dr. Galbreath. Rev. Coulter was an able and faithful pastor. Prior to his advent the Presbyterians in the upper end of the valley worshipped at an old log church at Me Williams' Grave-yard, in Lack township, and were served by a preacher from Path Valley. About the time of Mr. Coulter's coming they organized Middle Tuscarora at McCulloch's Mills, and Upper Tuscarora took its place at Waterloo. Coulter served the two former, while Rev. Al- exander Mellwaine was installed pastor of Up- per Tuscarora and Little Aughwick at Shade Gap, November 5, 1799. He died March 6, 1807. In November 1834, Rev. MeKnight Williamson began to preach at Lower Tusca- rora, and was installed, the next year, pastor of this church alone, and continued until April 14, 1845. Hle is now near eighty-five years of age. In 1842 there was a great revival in Tuscarora, imder Rev. William Ramsey, a new-school Pres- byterian minister, who had come to visit his sis- ter, Mrs. Judge Beale. From the school-house it went to the Camp-Ground and then to the church. The valley had never witnessed such an awakening before. Rev. Williamson assisted the movement, and many were added to his «Inirch. The next pastor was Rev. Benjamin H. Campbell, in 1846, who continued only a few months. In the spring of 1847, Rev. G. W. Thompson took charge of Lower Tuscarora Church and served it for seventeen years, until his death, January 28, 1864, in the forty-fifthi year of his age. Since then the pastors have been as follows: Rev. Samuel Milliken, 1864 to 1870; Rev. L. B. W. Shryock, 1870 to 1873; supply for one year, Rev. J. II. Stewart and Rev. Thomas Robison; Rev. J. II. Oliver, 1875 to 1884; Rev. C. S. Dewing, 1884, present pastor.
PUBLIC SCHOOLS .- There are six public schools in Beale township, and the buildings are all frame, - Pomeroy's, John Mclaughlin, Thomas McCoy, John Casner and Miss Rey- nolds taught here at an early date. Academia,
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JUNIATA AND SUSQUEHANNA VALLEYS IN PENNSYLVANIA.
George Meloy and James Steele tanght here be fore 1812. Rock, Johnstown, McAllister's and Pine Grove. Kepner's school-house, near John Jenkins', on the township line, was not used after Beale township was organized. James Butler, in 1817, taught in the old house near l'omcroy's school house. The number of chil- dren in Beale attending schools in 1881 was two hundred and sixty-seven.
James Butler was an Englishman. He wrote the book called "American Bravery Displayed." He compiled a school reader of choice extracts, mostly patriotic, which is still in mannseript in the hands of his grandson at MeCoysville. The following is from the pen of Andrew Banks;
"The only anthor, either of prose or poetry, which this county has at any time prodneed was James Butler, E-q., who used to indulge himself in framing a kind of doggerel, mostly satirical, notwithstanding which, they possessed some degree of merit. Some of his pieces were published, one in particular, on the subject of St. Clair's Defeat, which, of course, was tragical. It pos- sessed considerable merit and was published, but not now in circulation, as far as known. He also wrote and published a novel entitled ' Fortune's Football,' which possessed some merit. For many years he kept a record of all the births and deaths which fell under his notice until his death (at Mitllintown), about two years ago (1842), at the age of eighty-seven years."
TUSCARORA ACADEMY .- Rev. John Coulter, aboat 1800, opened a classical school in the house of Hugh Alexander. This was the first school of the kind in the county, and was contin- ued until 1805. About the year 1805 Rev. John H Intcheson started a similar school in Mifflintown, which was continned until about the time of the opening of Tuscarora Academy.
Rev. MeKnight Williamson opened a school in 1835, in a house on the farm now owned by Henderson Gilson. Ile taught the classics and other higher branches. In 1837 he taught a class of about fifteen students in a house belonging to Andrew Patterson. Merchant John Patterson gave two thousand dollars and several acres of' land for the use of the school. Many other resi- dents of the valley also gave liberally. The Legislature, in 1837, incorporated "Tuscarora Academy," which was the first institution of the kind established in the county. The school was opened in 1839 with Professor David Wilson as principal, and continued until 1852, with the
exception of about two and a half years, during which time he was at the head of the Lewistown Academy. The academy for many years had an minterrupted side of success. From 1852 it passed successively under the control of Rev. Dr. G. W. Thompson, Rev. G. W. Garth- waite, Dr. Isaac Blauvelt, Dr. J. HI. Shoe- maker, Dr. David D. Stone, W. A. Me- Dowell, Dr. D. D. Stone, Captain J. J. P'at- terson, and Dr. D. D. Stone, under whom, in October, 1873, the building used as the board- ing and dormitory departments was burned. The trustees purchased the building now used as the boarding department, and the school has been continued ever since by Dr. Stone, Dr. Cleveland, Captain J. J. Patterson, Ilar- kins Brothers and Rev. Vaughan, present in- cumbent. It has at present over thirty students.
Beale township has sent out some of her own sons to enlighten others. Calvin McDonald now edits the San Diego Herald in California. Rev. N. A Okeson is an Episcopal clergyman at Norfolk, Va.
INDIAN MOUND AND FORT .- At Bryner's bridge, two miles above Academia, there are the remains of an ancient Indian mound of human bones, and near by there was once an Indian fort. The mound is on the creek bottom, about one hundred yards from the north end of the bridge, on the upper side of the road, and now consists only of an nn- plowed spot, thirty feet long and twenty wide, grown up with wild plum bushes. Originally it was a huge sepulchre. Octogenarians living near informed the writer that they conversed with the original settlers concerning it, and were told that when they first saw it, it was as high as a hunter's cabin (fifteen feet), and that its base covered an eighth of an acre. Other old folks describe it as hay- ing been twelve feet high and one hundred in diame; ter, with an oval base. Ninety years ago there stood upon it a large elm-tree. Some eighty years ago this property was owned by George Casher, who, with his sons, Frederick, Jacob and John, hauled ont the greater portion of the mound and scattered it over the fields. An old lady says she saw the bottom all white with bleaching bones after it had rained. Even after this spoliation the mound was six feet high ; but afterwards it was plowed over for a num- ber of years until it became nearly level. Students from the academy frequented it for teeth and other relies. Quite a number of stone axes and flint arrow. heads, pipes and other relics were exhumed, all of which have been lost sight of and carried away. It is believed by intelligent old citizens that this mound
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was the result of some terrible battle between two hostile tribes, who thus summarily disposed of their dead.
"THE OLD FORT FIELD .- At the lower end of the bottom, Doyle's Mill Run enters the creek. Its bank on the side next the mound, for some distance, has a perpendicular cliff about twenty-five feet high. Be- tween this cliff and the high bank bordering the bot- tom, at the edge of the swamp, there is an elevated flat of perhaps twenty acres, of triangular shape, ex- tending on the west to a high ridge, the end of which is opposite the mound. This elevated point between the run aud swamp is called the Old Fort Field. The point of the Fort Field is down the ereck, and about three hundred or four hundred yards below the mound. No one knows how long the name Old Fort Field has been in use. There are three things about this field that deserve notice, and, as in the case of the mound, it is a pity that they were not described by a competent scholar before they were obliterated. "1. There was an earth-work thrown up, from the Cliff on the run to the creek bottom bank, enclosing about three acres of the elevated point, which, by nature and art, was thus rendered perfectly inacces- sible. Persons yet living saw this carthen bank when it was three feet high. It was semicircular in form, with the concave side next the point of the elevated land. It was composed entirely of ground, and had elever saplings growing upon it. By frequent plow- ing and cultivation it has now become almost entirely obliterated.
" 2. Within this enclosure Mr. Milliken, some years ago, plowed up an old fire-hearth or altar, com- posed of flat, smooth creek stones, on which rested a quantity of charcoal and ashes, articles which are almost indestructible. Such altars among the Ohio mound-builders are not regarded as mere fire-places, but probably connected with the council-house or sacrificial devotions.
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